OS X Yosemite

Apple issues Security Updates for OS X El Capitan and Yosemite

Apple on Thursday issued Security Updates for OS X El Capitan and Yosemite. The releases patch multiple vulnerabilities that allow an application to disclose kernel memory, and executive arbitrary code with kennel privileges.

If this sounds familiar, it's because these are the same exploits patched in the latest iOS 9.3.5 update. Apple again credits Citizen Lab and Lookout research firms with the find, and recommends that all users install the updates.

How to disable transparency effects on your Mac

The release of OS X Yosemite in 2014 gave the Mac's user interface a fresh coat of paint in part through adopting much of the transparency effects that Apple added to iOS 7 in prior year.

Transparency is used throughout macOS and can be observed on the desktop and seen in drop-down menus, title bars, sidebars and toolbars.

This post will teach you how to disable transparency for all user interface elements that have a translucent appearance on your Mac.

Apple brings some El Capitan features to Yosemite and Mavericks users with Safari 9.0 update

In addition to releasing the major OS X 10.11 El Capitan software update for the Mac, Apple has also posted a Safari update for Yosemite and Mavericks users. In addition to improving your privacy, compatibility and security, the Safari 9.0 update for Yosemite and Mavericks systems includes some controls found in the El Capitan edition of Apple's web browser.

These mainly include the ability to mute audio in tabs and additional viewing options in Safari Reader, but not the new Pinned Sites feature.

Apple seeds OS X 10.10.5 beta 3 to developers

Apple on Thursday seeded the third beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 to developers. The software, labeled build 14F25a, is available to all registered Mac developers in the Updates section of the Mac App Store, or as a standalone download from Apple’s dev portal.

Beta 3 of 10.10.5 comes just one week after the second developer beta, suggesting that the software is nearly ready for a public release. The most recent OS X update, 10.10.4, arrived at the end of June with Wi-Fi fixes, and improvements to Mail and Photos apps.

Apple seeds OS X 10.10.5 beta 2 to developers

Apple on Thursday seeded the second beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 to developers. The software, labeled build 14F19a, is available to all registered Mac developers in the Updates section of the Mac App Store, or as a standalone download from Apple's dev portal.

Beta 2 of 10.10.5 comes two weeks after the first developer beta, and just a month after 10.10.4 was released to the public. It also comes on the same day as beta 2 of iOS 8.4.1, suggesting that Apple is looking to shore up its two OSes before their major fall updates.

OS X 10.10.5 beta now available to public beta testers

Apple is now testing the next major OS X Yosemite update with public beta testers, shortly after making OS X 10.10.5 beta 1 available to members of the Apple Beta Software Program. The software has the same build number of '14F6a' like the developer seed of OS X 10.10.5 which was released two days ago, implying identical code.

Apple seeds OS X 10.10.5 beta to developers

In addition to posting iOS 8.4.1 beta 1, Apple on Tuesday released the first beta of what would become the fifth major Yosemite software update. OS X 10.10.5 beta 1 is now available for download to members of the Apple Developer Program through Apple's portal for developers.

It's unclear what new features, if any, the pre-release OS X 10.10.5 software (build number 14F6a) may bring to Mac fans when it launches for public consumption.

Apple posts OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 with Wi-Fi fixes, Mail and Photos improvements and more

In addition to the new iOS 8.4 software update with a redesigned Music app, Beats 1 radio and Apple Music for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, Apple also released the free OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 software update for Macs.

In addition to various other big fixes, enhancements and nice-to-haves, this release of OS X Yosemite gets rid of the dreaded “discoveryd” network process which was responsible for a range of network issues, marking the return of the old but way more reliable “mDNSResponder” process.

How to automatically hide a Mac app when clicking elsewhere on the screen

Maintaining a clean workstation is perhaps one of the best ways to help with productivity and clear-thinking. Not only does this apply to one's desk or office, but for those of us who work with computers, it extends to the Dock, folders, and desktop. Keeping things clean and orderly in OS X is vital for getting things done efficiently, and this Mac tip helps do exactly that.

Apple seeds OS X 10.10.4 beta 4 to developers, public testers

Apple on Tuesday seeded the fourth beta of the upcoming OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 software to both developers and public testers. The update, labeled build 14E26a, is available through the Update tab in the Mac App Store, and the Dev Center for all registered Mac developers.

OS X 10.10.4 has been in testing since mid-April, and we have yet to see it bring about any significant user-facing changes or new features. It appears that the release will be more of a maintenance update, as Apple attempts to iron out remaining bugs and other known issues.

OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 beta 3 now available to public beta testers and developers

In addition to seeding iOS 8.4 beta 3 to its registered developers, Apple this morning also released OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 beta 3 to public beta testers and developers. The pre-release software carries a build number of 14E17e and should be released ahead of WWDC in June, alongside iOS 8.4 which includes an all-new Music app and other new features.

According to release notes, Apple is asking public beta testers and developers to focus on any issues with the stock Photos app, Migration Assistant as well as Arabic and Hebrew localization.

How to use the Pixelmator Repair Tool extension on Mac

One of the most under-the-radar new features to hit OS X Yosemite was the addition of extensions. Action extensions are particularly nice, because they allow apps to interface with other apps directly.

Some app developers, such as Pixelmator ($29.99 on the Mac App Store), have brought third-party extensions to the Mac, which demonstrates how beneficial extensions can be. Watch our video that showcases Pixelmator's Repair Tool extension to see what I mean.