Apple OS X El Capitan
In these days of free operating system updates, major OS X updates feel much more routine than they used to. Apple has chosen not to roll out major features piecemeal throughout the year though, which still makes this the biggest change your Mac will experience this year.
El Capitan is very much a refined version of OS X Yosemite, a recognisable progression from its predecessor. (In iPhone terms, it would be Yosemite S.) Apple says this update is all about a refined user experience and improved performance. But it’s traditional for Apple to take its no-big-deal upgrades and add in a bunch of new features anyway, and El Capitan is no exception. This is a packed release, and one that makes sense as a follow-up to Yosemite.
The basics
Often people are cautious about upgrading their computers. After all, if an application you rely on is incompatible with the new operating system, your entire workflow can be affected. It’s worth checking with the developers of any programs you rely on before upgrading – most will post compatibility information on their websites.
Most major OS X upgrades feature a lot of under-the-hood security improvements, which is a good reason to stay up to date.
One of these is a feature called System Integrity Protection, which clamps down on malware’s ability to hijack your Mac by masquerading as a user with system-administration privileges. While this is a good thing, you may find that some programs rely on that same vector to do their jobs. You can turn off System Integrity Protection if you absolutely need to, but most software will be able to function with it turned on.
Mission Control
There’s a devoted (but small) subset of Mac users who love using Mission Control (formerly Exposé) to arrange their windows and workspaces, or frequently use Full Screen mode for apps. If you’re one of those people, or if you’ve always been tempted to improve how you organise your workspace, we’ve got good news for you – El Capitan offers loads of boosts to Mission Control and Full Screen Mode.
The most notable addition is Split View, a feature that also appears on the latest iPads in iOS 9. Unlike Apple’s tablet, though, Mac users have always been able to run two windows next to each other. What Split View does is add an extra dimension of utility to full-screen view. Now it doesn’t just have to feature one program stretched out to take over your entire screen – you can split the space between two programs, one on the left side and one on the right.
To enter Split View, click and hold on the green plus/maximise