Apple has released the first update to its OS X Mavericks operating system. The update, which Apple has been working on since before the initial release of Mavericks, offers the usual stability and compatibility fixes for the operating system, and is a recommended update for all who are using OS X.

The update 10.9.1 revolves largely around the use of Apple's Mail program and its integration with services like Gmail, and specifically improves the following features of OS X:

• Improved support for Gmail in OS X Mail, and fixes for users with custom Gmail settings
• Improves the reliability of Smart Mailboxes and searches in Mail
• Fixes an issue that prevents contact groups from working properly in Mail
• Resolves an issue that prevents VoiceOver from speaking sentences that contain emoji
• Updates Shared Links periodically when open in the Safari Sidebar

The update is available via the Mac App Store, and can be accessed through the Software Update service in the Apple menu. Apple has so far not made stand-alone updates available, but as with prior versions of OS X, both combo and delta updater packages are expected to be available in Apple's recently redesigned support downloads page.

Apple might have promised 12 days of gifts starting the day after Christmas, but that hasn't stopped the company from going for lucky No. 13.

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Apple on Monday released a free offer to those who have downloaded its 12 Days of Gifts app, giving consumers a free download of musical artist Lorde's "No Better" single. The offer also includes a music video for her breakout hit "Royals."

The 12 Days of Gifts app launched earlier this month with Apple promising that it'll give away... [Read more]

Yahoo Weather, one of the more popular tools in the App Store for finding forecasts, has made its way to Apple's iPad.

Yahoo announced the change on Monday, noting that the application comes with the same design and feel as the iPhone version but has been optimized to work on the iPad's larger screen.

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Yahoo's Weather app comes with high-resolution images behind its forecast data, making it a bit more visually friendly than other services. In addition, the app lists forecast data, current temperatures, and animations when scrolling through forecasts.

In addition to announcing its iPad app, Yahoo said that its app has been updated to include screenshot sharing and, on the iPad, forecast sharing.

The app is free and available now in Apple's App Store.

[Read more]