OS X Yosemite

OS X Yosemite is a pivotal release in the history of Apple's desktop operating system, primarily because it introduced the most significant interface redesign since the initial launch of OS X and established the "Continuity" features that define the Apple ecosystem today.

• Version Number: OS X 10.10

• Release Date: October 16, 2014

• Predecessor: OS X Mavericks (v10.9)

• Successor: OS X El Capitan (v10.11)

Major Design Overhaul

Yosemite's appearance followed the design direction introduced in iOS 7 (2013), moving away from the "skeuomorphic" (realistic, physical) designs of previous versions:

• Flatter Look: The overall aesthetic became much flatter and simpler, with a focus on clear lines and two-dimensional icons, including a 2D translucent rectangular Dock.

• Translucency: It emphasized blurred translucency throughout the OS, making toolbars, sidebars, and the Menu Bar semi-transparent, allowing a hint of the desktop wallpaper or the window content behind them to show through.

• New Typeface: The system font was changed to Helvetica Neue (later replaced in El Capitan with Apple's custom San Francisco font).

• Redesigned Spotlight: Spotlight search was moved from the upper-right corner to a large, prominent window in the center of the screen, acting more like a search engine by integrating results from Wikipedia, Bing, Maps, and more.

Feature

HandoffStart work in one app (Mail, Safari, Pages, etc.) on your iPhone or iPad, and an icon appears on your Mac's Dock (or vice-versa), allowing you to pick up exactly where you left off.

Phone and SMS RelayYour Mac, using your iPhone as a conduit, can make and receive standard phone calls (speakerphone style) and send/receive SMS text messages (not just iMessages).

Instant HotspotEasily connect your Mac to your iPhone's Personal Hotspot with a single click from the Wi-Fi menu, without needing to enter the Wi-Fi password.

AirDropEnabled AirDrop transfers between Mac and iOS devices for the first time, simplifying file sharing across the ecosystem.

iCloud DriveA new file system integrated directly into the Finder, acting as Apple's answer to Dropbox, allowing easy access to files stored in iCloud from any Mac or iOS device.