Apple’s new operating system, OS X El Capitan, doesn’t fit the feature-rich category, but by all means, it’s still a fitting successor to the Yosemite.
The design team at Cupertino always tried to make their products seamlessly sync with each other: this is evident in El Capitan, as a number of its apps and features are integrated with its mobile counterpart, the iOS. In any case, we can safely say that it makes the overall experience a better one, not just for desktop users but also for mobile ones.
Yes, it is somehow making the iOS a better operating system, and here are the reasons why it does:
Synced Photos app
Apple ditched iPhoto back when they introduced Yosemite and reintroduced it as Photos, effectively creating a single photo storage, editing, and management app for all of its devices. Basically, whenever you take a photo, it’s stored in your iOS devices and your desktop ones: allowing you to seamlessly look into them.
Though the iOS app now has good editing features, it is better suited for the desktop.
A better Notes app
Especially in the soon to be released iPad Pro, the Notes app is shaping up to be one of the most important utilities of your computer. Back in its earlier versions, it was simply an app wherein you’re supposed to, well, take notes. It barely had any other features and was a shadow of what it was now.
Nowadays, it is also with the OS X and introduced new functions such as the attachment of various multimedia and even map directions. Though Notes on the OS X lack the sketch feature present in the iOS, it’s just a minor boo-boo and won’t be missed.
Anyway, the awesome thing about Notes on the OS X is if when you create one, it immediately syncs to your mobile device. Sure you can create long to-do and shopping lists on your phone, but it’s easier and more convenient to work on them using a desktop device. It’s also easier to manage the multitude of notes on a Mac than on an iPhone.
So yes, we can safely say that El Capitan further improves the Notes experience.
An evolved Maps app
Apple Maps was once the laughingstock back then, due to its 8-bit design, uncanny ability to give you wrong directions, and urge you to turn to no man’s land while you’re driving. Nowadays though, there’s more to it than its embattled and laughable history: it’s now more comprehensive, has a better interface, has share plugins, and is comparable to the industry leader in digital maps technology, Google.
Let’s say you’re at home in front of your computer, looking for the quickest route to the trendy doughnut shop which opened across town a week ago. As you’re you’re setting your destination on your computer and tracking your route, the information you entered automatically syncs to your iOS device. You can easily just work on the maps, leave home, and open the app on your iPhone while you’re on a traffic stop and you will find the data you entered on your desktop.
Everything is automatic, so you do not have to stress on creating a mobile version of your map entries.
Also note that Apple Maps now displays transit information for selected cities, so it’s something you would want to use if you’re trying to catch a train or having trouble finding the nearest bus stop and have no clue about what time they arrive.
The new trackpad touch features
Using MacBooks and Macs are increasingly becoming more similar to using mobile devices simply because of the new trackpads which support Force Touch features. Back in spring, the newly-released MacBook has one, while the Mac has a new standalone one – the new Magic Trackpad 2. Note that this device is only compatible with devices running El Capitan.
Overall, Apple does a perfect job in integrating El Capitan and iOS together. Everything, from the apps and the way they are being synced, provides an outstanding experience.
We have no complaints in the Photos app. In fact, the integration phase is merely starting: Apple put Metal, its graphics processing program, to give you better photos and a better experience in viewing them. There are also extensions being crafted and placed on both the OS X and iOS, so better watch out for those as they could give added functionality and editing options. Though they may only provide basic functions, they will prove useful to users who aren’t well-versed in advanced photo editing apps, like Photoshop.
Though the two operating systems are entirely different, Apple does an excellent job in integrating them along with the devices running them. We can only look forward to the future installments of the operating systems and look forward to what the guys at Cupertino dish out.
