Apple's New OS X El Capitan Offers Split-Screen View, Other 'Rock-Solid' Upgrades

(CBSLA.com) — Apple just released an upgrade for iMac and MacBook systems on Wednesday. The OS X El Capitan update rolls out several important refinements to the existing OS X Yosemite system.

Apple says of El Capitan: "There's more to love with every click." And it seems that's true, according to several industry experts who've reviewed the product.

Some are calling it the "rock-solid" update Yosemite and iOS needed. "An iterative update compared to Yosemite's massive overhaul, El Cap still packs some solid features and performance upgrades I think you'll be happy with," Nate Swanner writes on TheNextWeb.com.

The upgrades aren't as expansive as when Yosemite rolled out, according to Swanner, but builds on the Yosemite system - which is possibly why Apple chose to name this system El Capitan, after the mountain located inside Yosemite National Park.

The biggest improvements are as follows:

• Split-view screen: Lets you work on two items or open two apps side-by-side, eliminating the need for two monitors.
• Notes: You can now add photos, videos, audio, PDFs, map locations, spreadsheets and more. Also easier to share content from other apps into Notes.
• Spotlight: links to apps and can use natural language to search for items on computer. Spotlight now sources video from YouTube, Vevo and Vimeo in its search. Results also show most popular Safari page on the subject. Still no plans to bring Siri to the Mac.
• Metal: Apple's graphics technology boosts rendering times up to 50 percent, making gaming, apps and opening files work faster.
• Safari: Now introduces pinned tabs, which lets you take a tab and pin it to the top of the screen as a small favicon. They're harder to close so you're less likely to close a website you were trying to save. You can also quickly mute audio without hunting for the tab. Now features AirPlay to stream video from a web page to an HDTV.
• Mission Control: More streamlined and organized, it's now easier to spread out your work. With a single swipe, all windows on your desktop arrange themselves in a single layer, with nothing stacked or hidden. It's easier to spot the windows you're looking for and make room for new ones.
• Photos: Enables third-party editing tools. Also features faster performance and better organization.
• Maps: Incorporates public transportation information. Easily plan route on your Mac, then send it to your iPhone.

For more info about the other new features visit Apple's OS X El Capitan page.