The latest version of OS X has been announced and will launch very soon. Apple is now asking Mac developers to submit applications optimized for OS X Mavericks. On Apple's "News and Announcements" Web page for registered developers, the company states:
Submit your OS X Mavericks apps today.
Make sure your app takes advantage of the great new features in OS X Mavericks when the world's most advanced desktop operating system becomes available to millions of customers later this fall. Download OS X Mavericks GM seed and Xcode 5.0.1 GM seed, now available on the Mac Dev Center. Build your apps with these latest seeds, then test and submit them to the Mac App Store.
The software update - dubbed OS X Mavericks and numbered 10.9 - brings more than 200 new features over and above those in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, many of which have been borrowed from Apple's iOS. These include an iBooks app, a Maps app, iOS-compatible AirDrop, and Safari push notifications.
Mavericks includes a number of improvements, including tabbed Finder browsing and much-improved multi-screen monitor support.
The OS X 10.9 Mavericks release date will probably be late October. The Gold Master (final shipping version) is already available for developers.
Although pricing for the OS X 10.9 hasn't been announced yet, last year OS X Mountain Lion cost just $19.99 in the Mac App Store. We're expecting Apple will match or even lower this price with OS X Mavericks.
Meanwhile, Apple has sent out invitations for an event on October 22, which it is widely expected to unveil a host of new products. The event invite reads: "We still have a lot to cover."
This is likely to include a Retina display iPad Mini, a new full-size iPad, a brand new MacPro computer tower, a series of new MacBook laptops and potentially an update for the OS X Mavericks, as well as its release date. The event will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco at 10 AM PDT.
Learn more about the OS X Mavericks at http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/.
