diff --git a/OpenBoard.pro b/OpenBoard.pro
index 5f073bea..4ba4b151 100644
--- a/OpenBoard.pro
+++ b/OpenBoard.pro
@@ -128,32 +128,34 @@ win32 {
 
 macx {
    LIBS += -framework Foundation
+   LIBS += -framework Cocoa
+   LIBS += -framework Carbon
    LIBS += -lcrypto
 
-   CONFIG(release, debug|release):CONFIG += x86
+   CONFIG(release, debug|release):CONFIG += x86_64
+   CONFIG(debug, debug|release):CONFIG += x86_64
 
-   # [03-02-2011] We must use the 32bit version for the moment
-   # because the Quicktime components used by this application
-   # are not yet available in 64bits.
-   CONFIG(debug, debug|release):CONFIG += x86
+   # TODO Craig: switch to 64bit
 
-   QMAKE_MAC_SDK = "/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.6.sdk"
-   QMAKE_MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = "10.5"
+   QMAKE_MAC_SDK = macosx
+   QMAKE_MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = "10.10"
 
-   VERSION_RC_PATH = "$$BUILD_DIR/version_rc"
+   QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -Wno-overloaded-virtual
+   #VERSION_RC_PATH = "$$BUILD_DIR/version_rc"
 
+   # No references to breakpad in the code =>is this still used?
    # Embed version into executable for breakpad
-   QMAKE_LFLAGS += -sectcreate \
-       __DATA \
-       __version \
-       $$VERSION_RC_PATH
+   #QMAKE_LFLAGS += -sectcreate \
+   #    __DATA \
+   #    __version \
+   #    $$VERSION_RC_PATH
 
    QMAKE_CXXFLAGS_RELEASE += -gdwarf-2 \
        -mdynamic-no-pic
 
-   QMAKE_CFLAGS += -fopenmp
-   QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -fopenmp
-   QMAKE_LFLAGS += -fopenmp
+#    QMAKE_CFLAGS += -fopenmp
+ #   QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -fopenmp
+  #  QMAKE_LFLAGS += -fopenmp
 
    CONTENTS_DIR = "Contents"
    RESOURCES_DIR = "Contents/Resources"
@@ -364,7 +366,7 @@ macx {
    system(mkdir -p $$BUILD_DIR)
    system(printf \""$$OSX_VERSION"\" > $$BUILD_DIR/osx_version)
    system(printf \""$$VERSION"\" > $$BUILD_DIR/version)
-   system(printf "%02x%02x%02x%02x" `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 1` `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 2` `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 3` `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 4` | xxd -r -p > "$$VERSION_RC_PATH")
+  # system(printf "%02x%02x%02x%02x" `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 1` `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 2` `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 3` `printf $$VERSION_RC | cut -d ',' -f 4` | xxd -r -p > "$$VERSION_RC_PATH")
 }
 
 linux-g++* {
diff --git a/src/adaptors/UBThumbnailAdaptor.cpp b/src/adaptors/UBThumbnailAdaptor.cpp
index 96545d0f..660e3a7f 100644
--- a/src/adaptors/UBThumbnailAdaptor.cpp
+++ b/src/adaptors/UBThumbnailAdaptor.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ const QPixmap* UBThumbnailAdaptor::get(UBDocumentProxy* proxy, int pageIndex)
 #ifdef Q_OS_LINUX
         pix->load(fileName, 0, Qt::AutoColor);
 #else
-        pix->load(fileName, 0, Qt::AutoColor, false);
+        pix->load(fileName, 0, Qt::AutoColor);
 #endif
     }
     return pix;
diff --git a/src/board/UBBoardView.cpp b/src/board/UBBoardView.cpp
index 6024b07a..57b61d6f 100644
--- a/src/board/UBBoardView.cpp
+++ b/src/board/UBBoardView.cpp
@@ -872,7 +872,6 @@ bool UBBoardView::directTabletEvent(QEvent *event)
     tEvent = new QTabletEvent(tEvent->type()
                               , mapFromGlobal(tEvent->pos())
                               , tEvent->globalPos()
-                              , tEvent->hiResGlobalPos()
                               , tEvent->device()
                               , tEvent->pointerType()
                               , tEvent->pressure()
@@ -905,7 +904,7 @@ QWidget *UBBoardView::widgetForTabletEvent(QWidget *w, const QPoint &pos)
 
     QWidget *childAtPos = NULL;
 
-    QList<QObject *> childs = w->childItems();
+    QList<QObject *> childs = w->children();
     foreach(QObject *child, childs)
     {
         QWidget *childWidget = qobject_cast<QWidget *>(child);
diff --git a/src/core/UBApplication.cpp b/src/core/UBApplication.cpp
index 5225655b..24558e59 100644
--- a/src/core/UBApplication.cpp
+++ b/src/core/UBApplication.cpp
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@
 #include <QFontDatabase>
 #include <QStyleFactory>
 
-#if defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-#include <Carbon/Carbon.h>
-#endif
-
 #include "frameworks/UBPlatformUtils.h"
 #include "frameworks/UBFileSystemUtils.h"
 #include "frameworks/UBStringUtils.h"
@@ -91,27 +87,6 @@ bool bIsMinimized = false;
 
 QObject* UBApplication::staticMemoryCleaner = 0;
 
-#if defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-static OSStatus ub_appleEventProcessor(const AppleEvent *ae, AppleEvent *event, long handlerRefCon)
-{
-    Q_UNUSED(event);
-    OSType aeID = typeWildCard;
-    OSType aeClass = typeWildCard;
-
-    AEGetAttributePtr(ae, keyEventClassAttr, typeType, 0, &aeClass, sizeof(aeClass), 0);
-    AEGetAttributePtr(ae, keyEventIDAttr, typeType, 0, &aeID, sizeof(aeID), 0);
-
-    if (aeClass == kCoreEventClass && aeID == kAEReopenApplication)
-    {
-        // User clicked on Uniboard in the Dock
-        ((UBApplicationController*)handlerRefCon)->hideDesktop();
-        return noErr;
-    }
-
-    return eventNotHandledErr;
-}
-#endif
-
 
 UBApplication::UBApplication(const QString &id, int &argc, char **argv) : QtSingleApplication(id, argc, argv)
   , mPreferencesController(NULL)
@@ -368,11 +343,6 @@ int UBApplication::exec(const QString& pFileToImport)
     if (pFileToImport.length() > 0)
         UBApplication::applicationController->importFile(pFileToImport);
 
-#if defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-    static AEEventHandlerUPP ub_proc_ae_handlerUPP = AEEventHandlerUPP(ub_appleEventProcessor);
-    AEInstallEventHandler(kCoreEventClass, kAEReopenApplication, ub_proc_ae_handlerUPP, SRefCon(UBApplication::applicationController), true);
-#endif
-
     if (UBSettings::settings()->appStartMode->get().toInt())
         applicationController->showDesktop();
     else
@@ -390,14 +360,14 @@ void UBApplication::onScreenCountChanged(int newCount)
     mainWindow->actionMultiScreen->setEnabled(displayManager.numScreens() > 1);
 }
 
-#ifdef Q_OS_OSX
 void UBApplication::showMinimized()
 {
+#ifdef Q_OS_OSX
     mainWindow->hide();
     bIsMinimized = true;
+#endif
 }
 
-#endif
 
 void UBApplication::startScript()
 {
@@ -590,11 +560,7 @@ bool UBApplication::eventFilter(QObject *obj, QEvent *event)
     {
         QFileOpenEvent *fileToOpenEvent = static_cast<QFileOpenEvent *>(event);
 
-#if defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-        ProcessSerialNumber psn;
-        GetCurrentProcess(&psn);
-        SetFrontProcess(&psn);
-#endif
+        UBPlatformUtils::setFrontProcess();
 
         applicationController->importFile(fileToOpenEvent->file());
     }
diff --git a/src/core/UBApplication.h b/src/core/UBApplication.h
index 2ab2c65a..ccb8f605 100644
--- a/src/core/UBApplication.h
+++ b/src/core/UBApplication.h
@@ -124,9 +124,9 @@ class UBApplication : public QtSingleApplication
     private slots:
 
         void closing();
-#ifdef Q_OS_OSX
+//#ifdef Q_OS_OSX // for some reason this is not compiled if the ifdef is uncommented
         void showMinimized();
-#endif
+//#endif
         void onScreenCountChanged(int newCount);
 
     private:
@@ -136,10 +136,11 @@ class UBApplication : public QtSingleApplication
         bool mIsVerbose;
         QString checkLanguageAvailabilityForSankore(QString& language);
     protected:
-
-#if defined(Q_OS_OSX) && !defined(QT_MAC_USE_COCOA)
+/*
+#if defined(Q_OS_MAC) && !defined(QT_MAC_USE_COCOA)
         bool macEventFilter(EventHandlerCallRef caller, EventRef event);
 #endif
+        */
 
         UBPreferencesController* mPreferencesController;
         QTranslator* mApplicationTranslator;
diff --git a/src/core/UBApplicationController.cpp b/src/core/UBApplicationController.cpp
index b4ae6a28..203aad85 100644
--- a/src/core/UBApplicationController.cpp
+++ b/src/core/UBApplicationController.cpp
@@ -67,9 +67,6 @@
 
 #include "ui_mainWindow.h"
 
-#ifdef Q_OS_OSX
-#include <Carbon/Carbon.h>
-#endif
 
 #include "core/memcheck.h"
 
diff --git a/src/core/core.pri b/src/core/core.pri
index fedfde3f..a60978ad 100644
--- a/src/core/core.pri
+++ b/src/core/core.pri
@@ -34,5 +34,3 @@ SOURCES      += src/core/main.cpp \
                 src/core/UBOpenSankoreImporter.cpp \
                 src/core/UBTextTools.cpp \
     src/core/UBPersistenceWorker.cpp
-
-
diff --git a/src/desktop/UBWindowCapture_mac.mm b/src/desktop/UBWindowCapture_mac.mm
index 9e39b3b6..1de369fe 100644
--- a/src/desktop/UBWindowCapture_mac.mm
+++ b/src/desktop/UBWindowCapture_mac.mm
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@
 
 #include "UBWindowCapture.h"
 #include "UBDesktopAnnotationController.h"
+#include <QDialog>
 
 #import <Foundation/NSAutoreleasePool.h>
-#import <Carbon/Carbon.h>
+#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
 
 
 UBWindowCapture::UBWindowCapture(UBDesktopAnnotationController *parent) 
diff --git a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils.h b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils.h
index c7b99bc1..e0b3f4ff 100644
--- a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils.h
+++ b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils.h
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ public:
         static UBKeyboardLocale** getKeyboardLayouts(int& nCount);
         static QString urlFromClipboard();
         static QStringList availableTranslations();
+        static void setFrontProcess();
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_OSX
         static void SetMacLocaleByIdentifier(const QString& id);
diff --git a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_linux.cpp b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_linux.cpp
index 73e901a0..17011217 100644
--- a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_linux.cpp
+++ b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_linux.cpp
@@ -429,3 +429,8 @@ QString UBPlatformUtils::urlFromClipboard()
 
     return qsRet;
 }
+
+
+void UBPlatformUtils::setFrontProcess()
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_mac.mm b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_mac.mm
index 9b73b850..b2623080 100644
--- a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_mac.mm
+++ b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_mac.mm
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <QWidget>
 
 #import <Foundation/NSAutoreleasePool.h>
+#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
 #import <Carbon/Carbon.h>
 #import <APELite.h>
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ OSStatus emptySetSystemUIMode (
     return noErr;
 }
 
-void *originalSetSystemUIMode = 0;
+//void *originalSetSystemUIMode = 0;
 
 void UBPlatformUtils::init()
 {
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ void UBPlatformUtils::init()
     // http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/Carbon/Reference/Dock_Manager/Reference/reference.html#//apple_ref/c/func/SetSystemUIMode
     //
 
-    originalSetSystemUIMode = APEPatchCreate((const void *)SetSystemUIMode, (const void *)emptySetSystemUIMode);
+    //originalSetSystemUIMode = APEPatchCreate((const void *)SetSystemUIMode, (const void *)emptySetSystemUIMode);
 
     setDesktopMode(false);
 
@@ -92,9 +93,9 @@ void UBPlatformUtils::init()
 
 
 void UBPlatformUtils::setDesktopMode(bool desktop)
-{
+{ /*
 #ifndef OS_NEWER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO_1010
-    OSStatus (*functor)(SystemUIMode, SystemUIOptions) = (OSStatus (*)(SystemUIMode, SystemUIOptions))originalSetSystemUIMode;
+    //OSStatus (*functor)(SystemUIMode, SystemUIOptions) = (OSStatus (*)(SystemUIMode, SystemUIOptions))originalSetSystemUIMode;
 
     if (desktop)
     {
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ void UBPlatformUtils::setDesktopMode(bool desktop)
         functor(kUIModeAllHidden, 0);
     }
 #endif
+*/
 }
 
 
@@ -533,13 +535,16 @@ void UBPlatformUtils::SetMacLocaleByIdentifier(const QString& id)
 {
     NSAutoreleasePool *pool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
 
-    const char * strName = id.toAscii().data();
+    const char * strName = id.toLatin1().data();
+
+    CFStringRef iName = CFStringCreateWithCString(NULL, strName, kCFStringEncodingISOLatin1 );
 
-    CFStringRef iName = CFStringCreateWithCString(NULL, strName, kCFStringEncodingMacRoman );
 
     CFStringRef keys[] = { kTISPropertyInputSourceCategory, kTISPropertyInputSourceID };
     CFStringRef values[] = { kTISCategoryKeyboardInputSource, iName };
     CFDictionaryRef dict = CFDictionaryCreate(NULL, (const void **)keys, (const void **)values, 2, NULL, NULL);
+
+    // get list of current enabled keyboard layouts. dict filters the list
     CFArrayRef kbds = TISCreateInputSourceList(dict, true);
     if (kbds!=NULL)
     {
@@ -552,3 +557,17 @@ void UBPlatformUtils::SetMacLocaleByIdentifier(const QString& id)
     }
     [pool drain];
 }
+
+/**
+ * @brief Activate the current application
+ */
+void UBPlatformUtils::setFrontProcess()
+{
+    NSRunningApplication* app = [NSRunningApplication currentApplication];
+
+    // activate the application, forcing focus on it
+    [app activateWithOptions: NSApplicationActivateIgnoringOtherApps];
+
+    // other option:NSApplicationActivateAllWindows. This won't steal focus from another app, e.g
+    // if the user is doing something else while waiting for OpenBoard to load
+}
diff --git a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_win.cpp b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_win.cpp
index 1d46586a..ed698a39 100644
--- a/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_win.cpp
+++ b/src/frameworks/UBPlatformUtils_win.cpp
@@ -424,3 +424,7 @@ QString UBPlatformUtils::urlFromClipboard()
     //  Not implemented yet
     return qsRet;
 }
+
+void UBPlatformUtils::setFrontProcess()
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/gui/UBFloatingPalette.cpp b/src/gui/UBFloatingPalette.cpp
index 749320c2..0aa19233 100644
--- a/src/gui/UBFloatingPalette.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/UBFloatingPalette.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ UBFloatingPalette::UBFloatingPalette(Qt::Corner position, QWidget *parent)
 #endif
 #ifdef Q_OS_OSX
         setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacAlwaysShowToolWindow);
-        setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacNonActivatingToolWindow);
+        //setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacNonActivatingToolWindow); // no longer exists
         setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacNoShadow);
 #endif
     }
diff --git a/src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.cpp b/src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.mm
similarity index 98%
rename from src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.cpp
rename to src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.mm
index 401242bb..f5d12959 100644
--- a/src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.mm
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <CoreServices/CoreServices.h>
 #include <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>
-#include <Carbon/Carbon.h>
+
+#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
+#import <Carbon/Carbon.h>
 
 #include <QMap>
 #include <QString>
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ void UBKeyboardPalette::createCtrlButtons()
 
 void UBKeyboardPalette::checkLayout()
 {
+
     TISInputSourceRef selectedLocale = TISCopyCurrentKeyboardInputSource();
 
     CFStringRef sr = (CFStringRef) TISGetInputSourceProperty(selectedLocale,
@@ -96,6 +99,7 @@ void UBKeyboardPalette::checkLayout()
             }
         }
     }
+
 }
 
 void UBKeyboardPalette::onActivated(bool)
diff --git a/src/gui/UBMagnifer.cpp b/src/gui/UBMagnifer.cpp
index b6ce41cf..0d492655 100644
--- a/src/gui/UBMagnifer.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/UBMagnifer.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ UBMagnifier::UBMagnifier(QWidget *parent, bool isInteractive)
 #endif
 #ifdef Q_OS_OSX
         setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacAlwaysShowToolWindow);
-        setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacNonActivatingToolWindow);
+        //setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacNonActivatingToolWindow);
         setAttribute(Qt::WA_MacNoShadow);
 #endif
     }
diff --git a/src/gui/UBRubberBand.cpp b/src/gui/UBRubberBand.cpp
index a6c36e98..8fdd3117 100644
--- a/src/gui/UBRubberBand.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/UBRubberBand.cpp
@@ -31,15 +31,11 @@
 #include <QStyleFactory>
 #include <QStyle>
 
-#ifdef Q_OS_OSX
-#include <QtGui/QMacStyle>
-#endif
-
-#include "core/UBApplication.h"
-#include "board/UBBoardController.h"
 #include "board/UBBoardView.h"
 
 #include "core/memcheck.h"
+#include "core/UBApplication.h"
+#include "board/UBBoardController.h"
 
 UBRubberBand::UBRubberBand(Shape s, QWidget * p)
     : QRubberBand(s, p)
@@ -53,7 +49,7 @@ UBRubberBand::UBRubberBand(Shape s, QWidget * p)
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
     customStyle = new QWindowsXPStyle();
 #elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-    customStyle = new QMacStyle();
+    customStyle = QStyleFactory::create("macintosh");
 #elif defined(Q_OS_LINUX)
     customStyle = QStyleFactory::create("oxygen");
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gui/gui.pri b/src/gui/gui.pri
index dd1fd260..38f5f654 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.pri
+++ b/src/gui/gui.pri
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ SOURCES += src/gui/UBThumbnailView.cpp \
     src/gui/UBOpenSankoreImporterWidget.cpp \
     src/gui/UBStartupHintsPalette.cpp
 win32:SOURCES += src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_win.cpp
-macx:SOURCES += src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.cpp
+macx:OBJECTIVE_SOURCES += src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_mac.mm
 linux-g++:SOURCES += src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_linux.cpp
 linux-g++-32:SOURCES += src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_linux.cpp
 linux-g++-64:SOURCES += src/gui/UBKeyboardPalette_linux.cpp
+
diff --git a/src/podcast/UBPodcastController.cpp b/src/podcast/UBPodcastController.cpp
index 12641434..45a5e435 100644
--- a/src/podcast/UBPodcastController.cpp
+++ b/src/podcast/UBPodcastController.cpp
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
     #include "windowsmedia/UBWindowsMediaVideoEncoder.h"
     #include "windowsmedia/UBWaveRecorder.h"
-#elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-    #include "quicktime/UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder.h"
-    #include "quicktime/UBAudioQueueRecorder.h"
+//#elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
+//    #include "quicktime/UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder.h"
+//    #include "quicktime/UBAudioQueueRecorder.h"
 #endif
 
 #include "core/memcheck.h"
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@ void UBPodcastController::start()
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
         mVideoEncoder = new UBWindowsMediaVideoEncoder(this);  //deleted on stop
-#elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-        mVideoEncoder = new UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder(this);  //deleted on stop
+//#elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
+//        mVideoEncoder = new UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder(this);  //deleted on stop
 #endif
 
         if (mVideoEncoder)
@@ -795,8 +795,8 @@ QStringList UBPodcastController::audioRecordingDevices()
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
     devices = UBWaveRecorder::waveInDevices();
-#elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-    devices = UBAudioQueueRecorder::waveInDevices();
+//#elif defined(Q_OS_OSX)
+//    devices = UBAudioQueueRecorder::waveInDevices();
 #endif
 
     return devices;
diff --git a/src/podcast/podcast.pri b/src/podcast/podcast.pri
index 88943d78..d6d5aa94 100644
--- a/src/podcast/podcast.pri
+++ b/src/podcast/podcast.pri
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ win32 {
                 src/podcast/windowsmedia/UBWaveRecorder.h
 }            
 
-macx {                
+#macx {
 
-    SOURCES  += src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder.cpp \              
-                src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeFile.cpp \              
-                src/podcast/quicktime/UBAudioQueueRecorder.cpp
+#    SOURCES  += src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder.cpp \
+#                src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeFile.cpp \
+#                src/podcast/quicktime/UBAudioQueueRecorder.cpp
 
-    HEADERS  += src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder.h \              
-                src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeFile.h \              
-                src/podcast/quicktime/UBAudioQueueRecorder.h          
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+#    HEADERS  += src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeVideoEncoder.h \
+#                src/podcast/quicktime/UBQuickTimeFile.h \
+#                src/podcast/quicktime/UBAudioQueueRecorder.h
+#}