For ‘developers’ willing to shell out $99 for an annual membership in Apple’s group of Mac OS app creators, Lion is old news already . However the remainder of you could finally download Apple’s latest operating system — Mac OS 10.7 — by hitting up the App Store in your Snow Leopard (10.6.8)-equipped Mac, assuming it’s powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. From our experience with the pre-release version, the 4GB download could take over an hour, even on a high-speed connection, but after you have the installer in hand the upgrade process itself needs to be complete in about 20 minutes. We’ll be posting a whole review of Lion later this week, but you are able to have a look at our hands-on preview for a sneak peek at Apple’s latest consumer OS meanwhile.
CUPERTINO, California-July 20, 2011-Apple® today announced that Mac OS® X Lion, the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system with greater than 250 new features, is obtainable today as a download from the Mac® App Store™ for $29.99. The various amazing features in Lion include: new Multi-Touch® gestures; system-wide support for full screen apps; Mission Control, an innovative view of everything running to your Mac; the Mac App Store, the greatest place to locate and explore great software, built right into the OS; Launchpad, a brand new home for your whole apps; and a wholly redesigned Mail app.
“Lion is the perfect version of OS X yet, and we’re thrilled that users around the globe can download it starting today,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice chairman of global Product Marketing. “Lion makes upgrading a Mac easier than ever before; just launch the Mac App Store, buy Lion along with your iTunes account, and the download and install process will begin automatically.”
Additional new features in Lion include:
Resume, which conveniently brings your apps back exactly the way you left them after you restart your Mac or quit and relaunch an app; Auto Save, which automatically and continuously saves your documents as you’re employed; Versions, which automatically records the history of your document as you create it, and provides you a great way to browse, revert or even copy and paste from previous versions; and AirDrop, which finds nearby Macs and automatically sets up a peer-to-peer wireless connection to make transferring files quick and simple.
Pricing & Availability
Mac OS X Lion is out there as an upgrade to Mac OS X version 10.6.6 Snow Leopard® from the Mac App Store for $29.99 (US). Lion is the simplest OS X upgrade and at around 4GB, it’s concerning the size of an HD movie from the iTunes Store®. Users who shouldn’t have broadband access at home, work or school can download Lion at Apple retail stores and later this August, Lion may be made available on a USB thumb drive in the course of the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) for $69 (US). Mac OS X Lion Server requires Lion and is accessible from the Mac App Store for $49.99 (US).
Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM. Lion is an upgrade and will be installed on your whole authorized personal Macs. Details regarding Business and Education licensing are located at apple.com/macosx.
The OS X Lion Up-to-Date upgrade might be available throughout the Mac App Store at no additional charge to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller on or after June 6, 2011. Users must request their Up-to-Date upgrade within 30 days of purchase in their Mac computer. Customers who purchased a qualifying Mac between June 6, 2011 and July 20, 2011 can have until August 19, 2011 to make a request. More information are available at apple.com/macosx/uptodate.
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