Apple Announces Mavericks Will Be Free, Available Later Today

Apple has announced that their next major OS update, OS X Mavericks, will be available today, Tuesday, October 22nd.

Mavericks brings better multitasking to the Mac with improvements to the Finder and multiple displays. Finder tags let anyone organize their documents with colorful descriptions that organize documents under a single, searchable keyword. And Finder tabs let you browse your filesystem like the web, reducing the number of open windows needed to move files between folders. Better handling for multiple displays lets Mavericks handle each connected monitor individually, so you can use fullscreen apps and desktop apps at the same time. These improvements also carry over to AirPlay and the Apple TV, which allows the TV to become a second display.

Mavericks also features two brand new desktop versions of Maps and iBooks. Maps contains all the same key features as the iOS version, including Flyover for viewing locales in 3D, local search, and Yelp reviews. With Maps on the Mac, you can even send directions to the iPhone so that they’re ready when you need them. With iBooks, you can read eBooks purchased in the iBooks Store on your desktop, make highlights, and share your notes with other devices through iCloud.

Lastly, Mavericks updates Safari with a host of new ways to find cool stuff and log into websites more readily than before. Underneath an updated design, Safari’s new sidebar introduces Shared Links, a quick way to view websites shared by friends and colleagues on Twitter and LinkedIn. And thanks to iCloud Keychain, you can log into websites with a simple click, and generate hard to guess passwords when you’re ready to register with another.

Mavericks will be available to download in the Mac App Store for free. You can upgrade from Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion in a single-step update.

Update: OS X Mavericks is now available on the Mac App Store.

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