NSButton

NSButton now includes the following new properties:

• springLoaded—Indicates whether spring loading is enabled for the button.

• maxAcceleratorLevel—Indicates the maximum number of discrete levels of pressure for a button of type NSMultiLevelAcceleratorButton.

NSButtonCell

The NSButtonType constant of NSButtonCell now includes the following button types:

• NSAcceleratorButton—When the user force clicks (applies pressure), an accelerator button sends repeating actions as pressure changes occur. It stops sending actions when the user releases pressure entirely.

• NSMultiLevelAcceleratorButton—A multilevel accelerator button is a variation of a normal accelerator button that allows for a configurable number of stepped pressure levels. As each one is reached, the user receives light tactile feedback and an action is sent.

NSEvent

The properties phase and pressure now support pressure events.

NSEvent now includes the following new properties:

• stage—Pressure events can go through multiple stages, each representing a pressure curve—not enough pressure for a click, enough pressure for a click, or more than enough pressure for a click (force click). This property indicates the current stage of the event.

• stageTransition—This property is specifically intended to provide a value for the transition animation between the stages of a pressure gesture event.

• associatedEventsMask—This property pertains to mouse events, and may be used to determine if the input device issuing the event can simultaneously issue pressure events.

The NSEventType constant of NSEvent now includes an NSEventTypePressure event type.

The NSEventMaskFromType constant of NSEvent now includes an NSEventMaskPressure mask.

NSGestureRecognizer

NSGestureRecognizer now includes a new method pressureChangeWithEvent:, which is invoked when a pressure change occurs as the result of an event.

NSResponder

NSResponder now includes a new method pressureChangeWithEvent:, which is invoked when a pressure change occurs as the result of an event.

NSSegmentedControl

NSSegmentedControl now includes the following new properties:

• springLoaded—Indicates whether spring loading is enabled for the control.

• trackingMode—The type of tracking behavior the control exhibits.

NSSegmentedControl includes a new method doubleValueForSelectedSegment, which returns the value of the selected segment when the tracking mode of the segmented control is set to NSSegmentSwitchTrackingMomentaryAccelerator.

The NSSegmentSwitchTracking constant of NSSegmentedControl now includes an NSSegmentSwitchTrackingMomentaryAccelerator tracking type, which specifies that a segment should activate when the user force clicks it, send actions at repeating intervals or as changes in pressure occur, and deactivate when the user releases pressure entirely.

Document Data Migration

The iCloud infrastructure is more robust and reliable when transferring documents and data between user devices and the server. When a user installs OS X v10.10 and logs into the device with an iCloud account, the iCloud server performs a one-time migration of the documents and data in that user’s account. This migration involves copying the documents and data to a new version of the app’s container directory. This new container is accessible only to devices running OS X v10.10 or iOS 8. Devices running older operating systems will continue to have access to the original container, but changes made in that container will not appear in the new container and vice versa.

Cloud Kit

Cloud Kit (CloudKit.framework) provides a conduit for moving data between your app and iCloud. Unlike other iCloud technologies where data transfers happen transparently, Cloud Kit gives you control over when transfers occur. You can use Cloud Kit to manage all types of data.

Apps that use Cloud Kit directly can store data in a repository that is shared by all users. This public repository is tied to the app itself, so it’s available even on devices without a registered iCloud account. As the app developer, you can manage the data in this container directly and see any changes made by users through the Cloud Kit dashboard.

For more information, see Cloud Kit Framework Reference.

API Modernization

Many frameworks on OS X have adopted small interface changes that take advantage of modern Objective-C syntax:

• Getter and setter methods are replaced by properties in most classes. Code using the existing getter and setter methods should continue to work with this change.

• Initialization methods are updated to have a return value of instancetype instead of id.

• Designated initializers are declared as such where appropriate.

In most cases, these changes do not require any additional work in your own app. However, you may also want to implement these changes in your own Objective-C code. In particular, you may want to modernize your Objective-C code for the best experience when interoperating with Swift code.

For more information, see Adopting Modern Objective-C.

New Frameworks

The following frameworks are new in OS X v10.10:

• Crypto Token Kit (CryptoTokenKit.framework). The Crypto Token Kit framework provides native support for smart cards, including:

  • Enumerating connected smart card readers and monitoring them for card insertion and removal

  • Transmitting commands and responses to and from smart cards in the reader

  • Supporting new smart card reader hardware

• FinderSync (FinderSync.framework). The FinderSync framework enables Finder extensions to:

  • Express interest in specific folder hierarchies

  • Provide "badges" to indicate the status of items inside those hierarchies

  • Provide dynamic menu items in Finder contextual menus, when the selected items (or the window target) are in those hierarchies

  • Provide a Toolbar Item that displays a menu with dynamic items (even if the selection is unrelated)

• Hypervisor (Hypervisor.framework). The Hypervisor framework allows virtualization vendors to build virtualization solutions on top of OS X without needing to deploy third-party kernel extensions (KEXTs). Included is a lightweight hypervisor that enables virtualization of the host CPUs.

• Multipeer Connectivity (MultipeerConnectivity.framework). The Multipeer Connectivity framework brings OS X to parity with iOS and allows cross-platform connections between devices running iOS 7, iOS 8, and OS v10.10.

• Notification Center (NotificationCenter.framework). The Notification Center framework helps you create and manage extensions—typically called widgets—in the Today view. The framework provides an API you can use to specify whether a widget has content to display and to customize aspects of its appearance and behavior on both platforms. In OS X, the Notification Center framework also enables you to customize the editing and searching experience in a widget.

  For more information, see Notification Center Framework Reference.

AppKit Framework Changes

The following sections highlight changes and enhancements in the AppKit framework.

AV Foundation Framework Changes

AV Foundation framework adds support for a broad cross-section of audio functionality at a higher level of abstraction than Core Audio. The new AV Foundation audio capabilities are available in both OS X and iOS and include a new API that allows manual control of the camera focus, white balance, and exposure settings. In addition, bracketed exposure captures allow automatic capturing of images with different exposure settings.

You can now capture metadata over time while shooting video. This capability allows arbitrary types of metadata to be embedded with a video recording at various points in time. For example, you might record the current physical location in a video created by a moving camera device.

Other new capabilities in AV Foundation include:

• Audio recording and playback

• Audio file parsing and conversion

• Audio units that allow for the creation of sound effects, filters, audio distortion, and reverberation effects

• Pitch and playback speed management

• A built-in equalizer and mixer that you can use in your applications

• Stereo and 3D audio environments

• MIDI compatibility

• Automatic access to audio input and output hardware

For information about the classes of this framework, see AV Foundation Framework Reference.

Core Data Framework

The Core Data framework (CoreData.framework) enables you to update multiple records in a store without first loading the record data into memory.

For information about the classes of this framework, see Core Data Framework Reference.

Core Image Framework

The Core Image framework (CoreImage.framework) includes the following changes:

• Accessing the second GPU in the Mac Pro is significantly easier. Use the offlineGPUCount method to find the number of GPUs that are not currently driving a display and can be used for image processing. Use the offlineGPUAtIndex method to create a CIContext based on an offline GPU index.

• You can use core image detectors to detect rectangles and QR codes in an image.

For information about the classes of this framework, see Core Image Reference Collection.

Core Location Framework

The Core Location framework (CoreLocation.framework) now allows you to determine which floor the device is on if the device is in a multistory building.

For information about the classes of this framework, see Core Location Framework Reference.

Foundation Framework Changes

The following sections highlight changes and enhancements in the Foundation framework.

Game Kit Framework

The Game Kit framework (GameKit.framework) has the following changes:

• Features that were added in iOS 7 are now available on OS X 10.10, making it easier to use these features in a cross-platform game.

• The new GKSavedGame class makes it easy to save and restore a user’s progress. The data is stored on iCloud; Game Kit does the necessary work to synchronize the files between the device and iCloud.

• Methods and properties that use player identifier strings are now deprecated. Instead, use GKPlayer objects to identify players. Replacement properties and methods have been added that take GKPlayer objects.

For information about the classes of this framework, see Game Kit Framework Reference.

Javascript Core Framework Changes

The Javascript Core Framework introduces APIs to expose and aid in debugging JavaScript in JavaScriptCore JSContexts and WebKit WebViews.

Scene Kit Framework Changes

The Scene Kit framework includes several enhancements to support developing casual 3D games and apps with 3D content:

• Integration with Sprite Kit. Use the overlaySKScene method to render a Sprite Kit scene above the 3D content in a Scene Kit view—this option is useful for adding a heads-up display to a game. You can also use Sprite Kit textures (see the SKTexture class) or entire animated scenes (see the SKScene class) in Scene Kit materials, mapping their contents onto 3D objects.

• Game development features. Use the SCNAction class for a declarative way to animate your scene (matching the SKAction programming model in Sprite Kit). You can also use the SCNAction class to implement new methods in the SCNSceneRendererDelegate protocol to manage your game’s scene graph in a traditional update/render loop.

• Physics. Scene Kit physics simulation models the effects of forces and collisions on objects, and it updates the displayed node tree automatically. Use the SCNPhysicsBody class to add physics characteristics to nodes. Use the SCNPhysicsWorld object attached to your scene to control global attributes of the physics simulation.

  Advanced physics features include fields that apply forces to all bodies in their area of effect (see the SCNPhysicsField class); joints for connecting physics bodies (see the SCNPhysicsBehavior class); and vehicle behaviors that easily and efficiently simulate cars or similar vehicles (see the SCNPhysicsVehicle class).

• Visual effects and animations. Use the subdivisionLevel property on SCNGeometry objects to create smooth surfaces from low-resolution geometry. The SCNLight class supports new shadow rendering options. The SCNSkinner class can now create and edit skeletal animations for 3D models. The SCNTechnique class enables you to build custom shader-based post-processing techniques such as color grading, motion blur, and screen-space ambient occlusion. The SCNParticleSystem class implements animated 3D particle effects that you can add to a scene, such as fireworks, smoke, and rain. Use the Scene Kit Particle System editor in Xcode 6 to experiment with particle system settings.

• Asset management. All Scene Kit objects support the NSSecureCoding protocol, so you can save and restore entire scene graphs—including Scene Kit features such as physics, particle systems, and constraints—with the NSKeyedArchiver and NSKeyedUnarchiver classes. Scene Kit can now load scene content from files in Alembic (ABC) format, used widely in the 3D authoring industry, in addition to existing support for reading and writing files in Digital Asset Exchange (DAE) format. Use .scnassets folders in Xcode 6 to optimize 3D assets for quick loading and smooth rendering at runtime.

In addition, the default behaviors of several Scene Kit classes change for apps built with the OS X v10.10 SDK or later:

• Animations loaded from scene files automatically play repeatedly using the system time. To change this behavior, use the SCNSceneSourceAnimationImportPolicyKey option.

• Custom GLSL programs (SCNProgram) are assumed to render opaque fragments. Use the opaque property to tell Scene Kit when your program requires alpha blending.

• Lights that cast shadows use forward rendering. This option improves performance but disables shadow coloring. Use the shadowMode property to enable deferred shadowing (the default on OS X v10.9 and earlier).

• The default type for newly created lights is SCNLightTypeOmni.

• The locksAmbientWithDiffuse property of materials defaults to YES.

• The shininess property of materials no longer has a maximum of 1.0.

Scene Kit is also available in iOS 8, so you can build cross-platform games or create custom tools for OS X to aid development of your own 3D games for iOS.

For information about the classes of this framework, see Scene Kit Framework Reference.

Sprite Kit Framework Changes

The Sprite Kit framework (SpriteKit.framework) adds new features to make it easier than ever to support advanced game effects. These features include built-in support for custom OpenGL ES shaders and lighting, integration with Scene Kit, and support for advanced new physics effects and animations.

Xcode 6 also incorporates many new Sprite Kit editors, including shader and scene editors that save you time as you create your game. Create a scene’s contents, specifying which nodes appear in the scene and characteristics of those nodes, including physics effects. The scene is then serialized to a file that your game can easily load.

For information about the classes of this framework, see Sprite Kit Framework Reference and SpriteKit Programming Guide.

Store Kit Framework Changes

The Store Kit Framework adds support to the In-App Purchases API for a deferred transaction—a transaction for which there is an indeterminate delay before the transaction reaches its final state of succeeded or failed.

WebKit Framework Changes

The WebKit framework introduces a unified, extensible API for iOS and OS X and exposes the new underlying multiprocess architecture.

Deprecated Frameworks and APIs

Periodically, Apple adds deprecation macros to APIs to indicate that those APIs should no longer be used in active development. When a deprecation occurs, it is not an immediate end of life for the specified API. Instead, it is the beginning of a grace period for transitioning from that API and to newer and more modern replacements. Deprecated APIs typically remain present and usable in the system for a reasonable time past the release in which they were deprecated. However, active development on them ceases, and the APIs receive only minor changes to accommodate security patches or to fix other critical bugs. Deprecated APIs may be removed entirely from a future version of the operating system.

As a developer, avoid using deprecated APIs in your code as soon as possible. At a minimum, new code you write should never use deprecated APIs. And if your existing code uses deprecated APIs, update that code as soon as possible. Fortunately, the compiler generates warnings whenever it spots the use of a deprecated API in your code. You can use those warnings to track down and remove all references to those APIs.

The following frameworks and APIs are deprecated in OS X v10.10:

• The IOAudioFamily framework

• Methods and properties in Game Kit that use player identifier strings

• The NSGarbageCollector class (execution support for garbage collection is not affected)

• The NS_DEPRECATED_MAC attribute has been added to many previously soft-deprecated AppKit methods. Searching AppKit headers for NS_DEPRECATED_MAC and filtering for 10_10 will yield a list of affected symbols.

Removed Frameworks

The following frameworks are no longer part of the OS X SDK as of version 10.10:

• AppleShareClientCore

• RubyCocoa

Safari

Safari includes a variety of enhancements, such as:

• WebGL. Safari support for WebGL allows developers to create 3D experiences that work natively in the browser.

• IndexedDB. The IndexedDB API allows web developers to store structured data for web applications that work online or require large amounts of data to be cached client side.

• JavaScript Promises. Safari enables JavaScript authors to more naturally work with asynchronous programming patterns.

• CSS Shapes and Compositing. Using CSS, websites can now easily flow text around images and geometry shapes, and perform image compositing operations on DOM elements.

• SPDY. Safari supports SPDY, an open networking protocol that websites can adopt to reduce page load latency and improve security.

• HTML5 Premium Video. Websites that provide video can now take advantage of EME to deliver encrypted, energy-efficient video in the browser.