What Does OS X 10.10 and iOS 8 mean for us?

As I’ve said before, the ergonomic of an iPad, iPhone, and desktop Mac differ drastically. You don’t work the same way on these devices. But you do work with all of these devices. 

 

Apple’s goal with OS X 10.10 and iOS 8 is enabling you to start a project on one device and seamless switch to another device. They call the underlying technology for this Continuity. 

You will need both an iOS and a Mac to use the best features. For instance, you can make a call from your Mac through a Bluetooth connection to your iPhone. Even better, you can do text messaging through your iPhone from your Mac. 

You will be able to use AirDrop to send files to a Mac from your iPhone and vice-versa. You will be able to set up ad hoc networks of Macs and iPhones using the Multipeer technology introduced for iOS devices in iOS 7. 

The look of OS X 10.10 will change to a flatter appearance. You will not have a 3-D dock in this version. The icons will change as well to a flatter, iOS-ish, appearance. 

If you can run 10.8 Mavericks on your Mac, you can run 10.10. At that’s what we know now, based on the Developer’s Preview. 

 

Tom Briant

Editor, the MacValley Blog