NEW YORK — The name of Apple’s new Mac operating system says a lot about what to expect.
“El Capitan” won’t offer dramatic changes but, rather, refinements and enhancements to the current Mac system, called Yosemite.
In real life, El Capitan is a rock formation in Yosemite National Park. It’s as though the new Mac system isn’t big enough to leave Yosemite.
Nonetheless, it’s an upgrade worth having, especially because it’s free. Although you’re not getting a lot of new functionality, El Capitan is packed with goodies that will shave off seconds here and there. Those seconds will add up.
Back up your system before upgrading, and make sure any apps you use frequently will work with the new system. Sometimes, it takes app makers weeks or months to catch up.
Here are features worth checking out:
• Pinning websites: A pin is like a bookmark on Apple’s Safari browser, except the website you’re pinning is always open and refreshing in the background. If you visit another website and come back, pins remember where you left off — as long as you don’t close the browser.
• Split screens and spaces: The Mac has long let you run multiple apps in separate windows, but you’ve been limited to one app in full-screen mode. This changes with El Capitan’s Split View, a feature Microsoft has had since Windows 8’s release in 2012. Although you can come close to split screens by resizing two windows and placing them side by side, you now just need to press and hold the green button on the top left of an app’s window.
The introduction of split screens also uncovers a little-known feature called Spaces. If your desktop feels cluttered, you can spread your apps out in groups, or Spaces. One Space might be for your productivity apps, such as spreadsheets. Another might be for goofing off.
• Better notes: The Notes app traditionally has been little more than a word-processing app. Now, it’s possible to drag in photos, add map locations and create checklists. It’s also easier to sift through Web links and attachments you’ve added. The Notes app on iPhones and iPads got a comparable update, and your notes sync across Apple devices.
• Smarter search: You can search for old documents using natural language, such as “find me spreadsheets from March 2013.” The search tool also retrieves more types of information, including weather and stock quotes.
