OS X Yosemite Download Available Now: How to Update Mac OS to Yosemite

Apple has released the new Mac operating system called the OS X Yosemite and it's now available for free download at the Mac App Store.

Apple calls the Yosemite the "future of OS X," featuring "incredible new design and amazing new apps, all engineered to work beautifully with iOS."

During the Yosemite launch event on Oct. 16, Craig Federighi, senior vice president of Software Engineering at Apple, said they have created "a seamless experience for our users across all our products that is unparalleled in the industry," which he claimed, "is something only Apple can deliver."

Apple says that new continuity features in Yosemite bring OS X and iOS closer together, calling them "perfect companions." When your iPhone or iPad is near your Mac, a feature called Handsoff will let you start something on one device and then continue on another.

SMS and MMS messages on your iPhone will now appear in Messages on all your devices. You can also reply from, and have phone calls through your Mac.

Apple says the OS X Yosemite has a "fresh and modern" look where controls are "clearer, smarter and easier to understand."

The interface also includes streamlined toolbars and translucent elements. "App icons have a clean, consistent design and an updated system font improves readability," the Cupertino, California-based tech giant says.

A new part of the interface is the Today view within the Notification Center which gives you an overview of the information from widgets such as Calendar, Weather, Reminders and even social networks.

Spotlight now appears at the front and center of the desktop and includes new categories of results. You can also get suggestions from Wikipedia, Maps, Bing, App Store, iTunes, iBooks Store and more.

Yosemite runs on the following Macs: iMac (mid-2007 or later), MacBook (13-inch aluminum, late 2008, or the 13-inch early 2009 or later), MacBook Pro (13-inch, mid-2009 or later, or the 15-inch, mid/late 2007 or later, or the 17-inch, late 2007 or later), MacBook Air (late 2008 or later), Mac Mini (early 2009 or later), Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later), and Xserve (early 2009).

The requirements for Yosemite are the same as those for OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the current operating system for Mac.

So, how do you download and install the Yosemite?

First, go to Apple's Mac App Store. Once you are sure that your Mac can run Yosemite, then you are good to go.

Make sure you have sufficient space on your machine to install and run the software. Yosemite requires 2GB of RAM and 8GB of free storage space.

After opening the Mac App Store, look at the top for the free downloads. Upon reaching the Yosemite page, click on the appropriate download button. You'll need to enter your Apple ID and password.

The installer will begin downloading, and it will be saved to the Applications folder in your hard drive.

As Yosemite is 5GB, it may take a little while for the download to finish.

The installer will launch after the download is complete, and you'll have to agree (twice) to the license agreement.

When the thumbnail image crops up, indicating that the installer is read to update your current OS, choose the volume you'd like to install Yosemite on.

Pre-installation will be signified by a grey progress bar, and once that's done your Mac will restart.

After the restart, and a brief appearance from the Apple logo, the Install OS X window will present a blue progress bar.

This part takes around 15 minutes, and when it's done you'll begin the configuration process.

Sign in with your Apple ID, decide whether you want to "share my location" on the iCloud so the device can be tracked by the Find My Mac service, and sign off an another terms and conditions (twice).

If you're installing for the first time, you'll have to enter your details and set up your accounts. But if you're installing over a previous Mac OS, then your time will be cut in half as Apple already knows who you are.

And there you have it. You're running OS X 10.10 Yosemite.