Apple Makes Mac OS X Mavericks Available As Free Update

Apple has made the latest version of its OS X operating system, OS X Mavericks, available as a free download to Mac users.

Mavericks is ready to download from the Mac App Store and brings more than 200 new features to OSX, including iBooks, Maps, enhanced multi-display support and power consumption improvements, such as compressed memory that automatically shrinks inactive data to keep machines fast and responsive.

Other new additions include iCloud KeyChain, which safely stores user names, passwords, credit card information and Wi-Fi credentials and pushes them to trusted devices and interactive notifications, while finder tabs consolidate multiple windows into a single Finder window and Finder Tags helps users organise files.

Mac OS X Mavericks

Any Mac capable of running Mountain Lion can run OS X Mavericks, although users can upgrade from Snow Leopard or Lion if they meet the minimum requirements. Apple says it decided to release Mavericks as a free update so that as many Mac users as possible can make use of the latest software.

“Mavericks is an incredible release, which introduces significant new apps and features, while also improving the performance and battery life of your Mac,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering. “We want every Mac user to experience the latest features, the most advanced technologies, and the strongest security. We believe the best way to do this is to begin a new era of personal computing software where OS upgrades are free.”

Microsoft released the latest version of its operating system, Windows 8.1, as a free update last month, while Apple has also announced plans to make its iLife and iWork suites free to owners of new Macs and iPads.

The Cupertino-based company has also announced new versions of the iPad, iPad Mini, MacBook Pro and MacBook as it refreshes its product portfolio ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

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