5 Ways to Get the Most Out of OS X Yosemite The latest version of the Mac operating system is rich with features for making the device uniquely your own.

By Larry Alton Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Hadrian / Shutterstock.com

If you've already upgraded your Mac to the latest version of OS X, you might you love it, or you might feel like you're using a giant iOS device. Either way, you can customize this new operating system with these little settings, tweaks and third party software. Here are five ways to personalize OS X to meet your needs.

1. Audio call shortcut

Apple's native process for making a phone call from your computer can be a bit clunky, especially since you have to sign into your FaceTime app, choose a contact, and click on the "Audio Call" option. But what if you want to manually dial the number on a takeout menu? Instead of fiddling with your contact, just install the Continuity Keypad, a beta application developed by Eytan Schulman and Harrison Weinerman. This app gives you access to a stylish desktop keypad, which allows you to dial any number and even save these manually dialed numbers as contacts for future use.

Related: A Quick Guide to Apple's iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite

2. Record your iOS screen

This exciting feature has several practical uses. Have you ever wanted to display the screen on your iOS device to a larger computer monitor for presentation purposes? Or perhaps you've wanted to display and record your iOS screen to create a mini-tutorial. Now you can do all of that by plugging your iPhone or iPad into your computer, launching QuickTime, selecting "New Movie Recording," and then choosing your iOS device from the drop-down menu next to the red "Record" button.

3. Screen sharing

Do you ever wish that you could show someone on-screen what you're talking about, instead of describing it in painstaking detail over the phone or writing out instructions step-by-step? Now you can screen share directly with other iMessage users by clicking on the "Details" button next to a contact in the Messages app, and then click the little icon that looks like two conjoined screens. Invite your contact to share a screen, and then the other user will be able to see exactly what's on your screen. You can exit the session by clicking the screen share icon in your system toolbar and selecting "End Screen Sharing."

Related: Lookin' Sharp: Apple Adds Retina Display to iMac Desktop

4. Dark mode

Are you tired of the light and translucent feel of your OS X navigational interface? You can change it to "dark mode" by launching system preferences, clicking on "General," and checking off "use dark menu bar and Dock." You'll notice that your system toolbar, menus, and your Spotlight will become dark.

5. Custom notifications

Custom news and widgets are just a menu away. Open your Notifications menu, scroll to the very bottom, and click on the "Edit" button. From here, you can add a slew of native and third party widgets, like the Calculator or even the Continuity Keypad that we described earlier in this article.

OS X Yosemite bridges user aesthetic and usability gaps between IOS and OS X. This operating system comes with some really exciting productivity changes, which can completely change the way you use a Mac at home or at work.

Related: New iOS 8 Feature Can Help You Find a Lost iPhone, Is Also Kind of Creepy

Larry Alton

Freelance Writer & Former Entrepreneur

Larry Alton is an independent business consultant specializing in social media trends, business, and entrepreneurship. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Since Middle School': She Started a Side Hustle on Facebook Marketplace — Then a 'Game-Changer' Grew It to $25,000 a Month

Leena Pettigrew's "entrepreneurial spirit" inspired her to build a business with earnings that outpaced her full-time income.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.