Apple said it will offer its OS X Mavericks operating system for free, a move which could throw a challenge to Microsoft.
On Tuesday, October 22, Apple announced the OS X Mavericks, which is the tenth major release of OS X, the company's desktop operating system. Apple confirmed that the latest operating system will include over 200 new features to its Mac computers.
Some of the new features include iBooks with which customers can download and read books and iCloud Keychain that allows customers to store relevant personal details that can be accessed whenever required.
The new OS X Mavericks will also allow users to plug in a second display to use it with a Mac computer without the need of any configuration.
"Mavericks is an incredible release, which introduces significant new apps and features, while also improving the performance and battery life of your Mac," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "We want every Mac user to experience the latest features, the most advanced technologies, and the strongest security. We believe the best way to do this is to begin a new era of personal computing software where OS upgrades are free."
Apple announced the OS X Mavericks at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June this year but at that time it did not reveal its plan to offer the operating system for free. The latest OS will work on Mac computers dating back to 2007. Previously, Apple charged customers to download any software update.
The company's biggest rival, Microsoft, also charges its customers for both operating system updates as well as software suites like Microsoft Office. Apple's current move will definitely affect Microsoft's software business.
Apple will kill competition in the software business if it offers software and apps for free to its users. Companies like Microsoft will either have to bring extraordinary and unique software features that will tempt customers to buy the software or app or else, give away its the software for free.
The latest OS X Maverick is available to download for free from the Mac App Store. However, OS X Server 3.0, which require Mavericks is available from the Mac App Store for $19.99.
