Apple's OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion has reached the final stage before it's uncaged. The new software has been released to developers in Gold Master form, the last step before its full release later this month.
Older Macs won't be able to tame this big cat, so Apple has revealed the specs required. You need a computer running OS X version 10.6.8 Leopard or later, with 2GB of memory and 8GB of available disk space.
You're good to go if you have an iMac from mid-2007 or newer, a 2009 plastic or 2008 aluminium MacBook, a mid-2007 MacBook Pro, a late-2008 MacBook Air, a 2009 Mac mini or 2008 Mac Pro.
Mountain Lion is the next generation of software for MacBook laptops and iMac desktop computers, following the current version, Lion. If you buy a new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or iMac now, you'll get Mountain Lion for free when it's released as a digital download from the Mac App Store. If you already have a Mac, Mountain Lion will set you back just £14.
New features include lots of stuff inspired by Apple's mobile software, such as iPhone and iPad-style notifications, souped-up Messages, and voice control. Developers have spotted hints in the code for iOS 6 that Apple's new Maps app may come to Mac computers as well as tablets and phones.
You also need an Apple ID for many of the features, including downloading the software in the first place.
There's no exact date yet for release, but it will be this month. The next version of iOS 6, the software for iPhone and iPad, is expected to follow this autumn.
Microsoft's rival software Windows 8 arrives in late October, and will span tablets as well as computers.
Are you excited about OS X Mountain Lion? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 9
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anonymous 10 July, 2012 13:49
always excited when a new Mac version comes out. Windoze? Don't make me laugh! Microsoft are imitators, never innovators, and there truly non-business like disneyland interface and colours make it appear like the toy it is. Mac's however, get a very professional looking interface and gui, intuitive and reliable, because it has a Unix engine. Macs may be more expensive than pcs, but it is a price worth paying. Because there are a multitude of companies making pc clones, microsoft need to keep bringing out updates for every different type of pc being made. Macs just work, running an OS designed just for them.
anonymous 10 July, 2012 14:08
^^ HAHA! its funny, cos this guy has no ****^
anonymous 10 July, 2012 14:21
So it was not too long to wait before the Microsoft fanboys reared up to become abusive.
It seems they have deep rooted problems with Apples success and the fast growing popularity of the Mac. Get over it children!
Mark Anderson 10 July, 2012 14:43
@anonymous
Hmm... it's a shame that OS X doesn't teach some of its users capitalisation, sentence structure, spelling or grammar apparently. And 'Windoze'? Please. That's the hallmark of a twit in the same way that crApple and LinSux are.
As a Mac user myself I can only say that the rest of your post is so appallingly ignorant as to beggar belief. You really shouldn't type about things that you rather obviously know nothing about.
Just sayin'.
Mark Anderson 10 July, 2012 14:46
Oh and as for Windows 8 being 'rival' software, I think the fact that even Windows Vista currently has more people using it than every version of OS X combied according to Statcounter means that term may be a little optimistic in Apple's case.
anonymous 10 July, 2012 15:54
Shamefully lazy eye photoshopping there apple...
shauney3 10 July, 2012 17:33
As both a Windows and Mac User I can safely say, personally, I think Windows is slightly better, but I much prefer my iMac as OSX looks better =)
Both are extremely good anyway.
stylx 14 July, 2012 00:20
Windows as a great interface, But a crap under pining, isn't it time that microsoft ditched the compatibly mode and gave windows a unix base and then you wouldn't have to pay the road tax for programmes like norton, For this reason I love mac and linux both are rock solid. Just a shame there no iTunes in linux
anonymous 15 July, 2012 15:19
No. Not excited at all. Lion was a huge disappointment. Launchpad is useless, the change to Spaces was completely pointless, the fullscreen feature is implemented in a way which just doesn't make sense when you use multiple monitors. I could go on.
It seems to me that Apple are only really interested in introducing new features to their operating systems if it suits their corporate goals, not if it suits the needs of end users. Everything Apple does seems to be about having complete control over the hardware and software they produce, even after they have 'sold' it to customers. They put pressure on users to buy their latest products by excluding basic features and introducing them later on, making their hardware extremely difficult to repair or upgrade (a perfect example is how they removed the ability to easily replace the battery in a MacBook Pro), and making peripherals with poor durability and then selling replacements at extortionate prices (e.g. the utterly crap Apple headphones, power cables etc.).
They also build 'features' into their operating systems such as the App Store which has the potential to be useful, but in order to use it you are forced to sign up for an account with Apple, all content is controlled by them, and developers are forced to give up an enormous share of their profits for the privilege of being included. Everything they do is about milking their customers for more and more money.