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How to quickly switch between Mavericks and Yosemite beta

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated January 19, 2023

Following Apple's release of a public beta of OS X Yosemite, iDB reader Antony Verros sent us some code he wrote in AppleScript, which allows users to quickly restart a computer and automatically boot up in the installed OS of choice. For anyone who installed the OS X Yosemite beta on a separate partition, this is an easy solution for booting up into Yosemite or Mavericks without having to hold down the Option key on boot to select the desired partition. The script can even be tweaked to work with BootCamp.

While it's mostly a matter of time-saving convenience, this method can prove to be quite advantageous over time, particularly for users who find themselves frequently switching between OSs, whether it be a Yosemite beta, Mavericks, or Windows 7. Having an easily accessible application for booting into another OS while making a sandwich or refilling a cup of coffee, versus having to wait around to hold down Option, can be highly useful...

Upgrading to a 4K monitor: enjoy Retina quality graphics on an external display

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

As many of you know, I'm rocking a 13" Retina MacBook Pro, and I love it. The screen is killer, it's fairly fast, and it's portable.

But as I begin to take on more "intense" projects, I'm starting to realize that I simply don't have enough screen real estate to be the most productive I can be. I need an external monitor.

The problem is, and if you're a current Retina MacBook owner you've no doubt faced a similar conundrum, most of the popular external displays pale in comparison to the Retina display. Even Apple's mighty Thunderbolt Display, with its 27" screen and 2560x1440 native resolution, looks downright grainy when placed side-by-side with the Retina screen of a MacBook Pro.

So what to do? You could hold off until Apple finally decides it wants to get with the program and offer a Retina capable Thunderbolt Display, or...or...or! You could get a ultra-HD 4K capable monitor right now and enjoy a "Retina" experience.

That's exactly what I decided to do. Inside, I'll break down some of the pluses and minuses of my latest pickup, Dell's ($799 on Amazon) 24" ultra-HD display, the UP2414Q.

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse leaps onto the Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Following its release on the iPhone and iPad last November, Sega's 1991 adorable platformer has at last made its way to the Mac.

Developed by Feral Interactive and published by Disney Interactive, the $14.99 download features eye-candy cartoonish graphics and stars Mickey Mouse who is on the quest to save his lovely Minnie, kidnapped by the jealous witch Mizrabel.

The game involves lots of running and jumping along a side-scrolling landscape, spiced up with attacking enemies, throwing projectiles, solving puzzles and more. The Mac edition has of course been brought to the 21st century with new layouts, updated graphics and silky smooth 60FPS execution...

Select ComiXology titles now available to download without DRM restrictions

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 25, 2014

I downright hate digital-rights management (DRM). No, I'm not a cheapskate who'd rather pirate someone else's hard work rather than support publishers with my wallet - my average monthly spending on iTunes is about $50, for those wondering.

Now, it's perfectly understandable that content owners should be entitled to imposing copy protection on their digital products, but the annoyances to consumers far outweigh the benefits to content owners, methinks.

ComiXology is a typical example. But, but - comics want to be free of the clutches of DRM! Having realized as much, ComiXology on Friday sent out en email informing customers they can now download backup copies of select titles from certain publishers without the dreaded DRM restrictions, using its free iOS app...

Can’t redeem Yosemite beta code? Here’s a fix.

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Apple today opened the floodgate by posting the public beta of its upcoming OS X 10.10 Yosemite software, which launches officially sometime this Fall, and already a bunch of people took to Twitter over an error message saying the redemption code has already been used.

Each copy of Yosemite beta requires a promotional code which must be redeemed in the Mac App Store to download the installer. Is there anything you can do about this error message?

Yes, there is - and a remedy couldn't be simpler. Read on...

Apple rolls out OS X 10.10 Yosemite public beta – are you in?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 24, 2014

As promised, Apple today opened up OS X 10.10 Yosemite betas to the first million applicants who've signed up for the OS X Beta Program using their Apple ID. If you haven't yet signed up for the program, better hurry up! Otherwise, be patient as Apple will email you soon (using your Apple ID contact details) to let you know when your OS X Yosemite Beta redemption code is ready.

There's a lot to love about Yosemite - both in terms of the simplified, flattened user interface and new features that take integration between iOS and the Mac to the next level.

It also marks the first time Apple has permitted both its registered Mac developers and the general public to access betas of a work-in-progress Mac operating system update.

Today's poll asks a very simple question: are you, or are you not, going to install the public Yosemite beta on your Mac?

10 things you need to know before installing public OS X 10.10 Yosemite beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

As we told you earlier in the morning, general public can get a taste of Apple's upcoming OS X 10.10 Yosemite desktop operating system for Macs by signing up for a public beta over at the OS X Beta Program webpage starting tomorrow.

The company has said that the public beta will only open to the first million applicants so you better sign up now if you haven't already. Here are a few things you should know if you plan on taking Yosemite for a spin...

Everyone can try out OS X Yosemite Public Beta preview starting tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 23, 2014

In years past, only Apple's registered Mac developers were given access to early betas of OS X builds. With OS X Yosemite, Apple has changed tactics and is now allowing everyone to get in on the action by signing up for its new Public OS X Yosemite Beta preview program.

Apple has said that it will open up Public Yosemite beta for everyone later this summer and now CNET is reporting that the company is set to release the beta version of OS X 10.10 Yosemite to the public on Thursday, July 24...

Hearthstone ‘Curse of Naxxramas’ expansion now available

Cody Lee ∙ July 23, 2014

Just a heads up for all of you gamers out there, the highly anticipated 'Curse of Naxxramas' expansion for Blizzard's Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is now available. It's available on both Mac and iPad, and the first quarter is free.

Blizzard intends to release the Naxxramas expansion in five quarters over the next five weeks, beginning with the Arachnid Quarter. Additional quarters will cost money, but Arachnid is free to anyone who participates in the launch event...

Apple seeds OS X Yosemite Preview 4, redesigned iTunes 12 and Yosemite Recovery Update

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

In addition to seeding the fourth beta of iOS 8 this morning, Apple has also released the fourth Developer Preview of its new OS X Yosemite operating system. The update comes two weeks after Preview 3, and well over a month after Apple announced Yosemite at WWDC.

The update is labeled as build preview 4 1.0 and can be downloaded via an update in the Mac App Store, or as a full download from Apple’s online developer center. It does not, however, appear to be out in Apple’s recently-launched public Yosemite Beta Seed program yet…

The best icon packs for OS X

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated January 19, 2023

As a follow-up to our recent article on how to change app icons in OS X, we've scoured the internet for the best icon packs for Mac apps in existence. The result is a beautiful assemblage of icons that is certain to give your Mac a fresh, new look.

In addition to large, themed icon sets, we've added several individual icons of third-party applications that have received an early update from independent graphic designers, who took inspiration from iOS 7, OS X Yosemite, and Apple's pre-Yosemite designs for iBooks, iLife, and iWork...

Launch of 12-inch Retina MacBook may be pushed back to 2015

Cody Lee ∙ Updated September 28, 2016

Taiwan's Economic Daily News is reporting tonight that the launch of the 12-inch MacBook with Retina display may be pushed back due to Intel processor delays. The long-rumored hybrid laptop was expected to finally launch later this year.

The problem is, the new MacBook, said to strike a better balance of performance and portability, is believed to be tied to Intel's 14-nanometer Broadwell chips. These chips have been delayed several times, and now may not land until 2015...