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Mac OS X v10.9 "Mavericks" and FileMaker Pro 12.0v5

Late last night (as soon as it became available) I upgraded both my Macs to the latest version of the Mac OS: version 10.9 "Mavericks." I also upgraded FileMaker Pro to 12.0v5, an update that mainly seems to provide better compatibility with the new Mac operating system. Tested some of my existing FileMaker database solutions and everything seems to be working fine. If you do upgrade to Mavericks, be sure to upgrade FileMaker Pro, as well.

As for Mavericks itself, it's underwhelming, but that's not a bad thing, especially since it's free.

The Notes, Calendar and Contacts apps got facelifts, which they needed. But Notes and Contacts are only slightly improved, while the new Calendar looks like one of the new iOS 7 apps, and I don't mean that as a compliment. I'm okay with "flat," but "flat and shapeless", not so much. I dunno. Maybe I'll switch back to Google Calendar.

Tabs in Finder windows? A good idea, I guess. But seriously, using the Finder in full-screen mode, in column view, with tabs, has made me think back to the late 1980s when I was using one of those user-interface enhancements for my Microsoft laptop, you know, a program that made it possible for me to manage my files. If Apple's next step is to restore the command line, well, I'll be okay. Working with the command line was a LOT faster.

I think the big deal for many Mac users will be — or at least should be — iCloud Keychain. This provides Apple users with a free (well, built in) alternative to commercial apps like 1Password. Me, I'm sticking with 1Password, which is way better. But iCloud Keychain is way better than what most Mac users have been relying on, which is nothing. If you don't currently have a serious password management utility, check out iCloud Keychain, or ask me about 1Password.

And of course, check out John Siracusa's review of Mavericks over at Ars Technica.

And while you're at it, update your iPad and iPhone, as well. iOS 7.0.3 provides support for iCloud Keychain (if you need that), and gives you the option to get rid of some of the animations in the operating system (if you're one of those people who were experiencing motion sicking using your iPhone).

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