WithMountain Lionpoised to make an visual aspect at WWDC next week for developersand eager keynote followers likewise , we fancy it might be a good clip for a rundown of what we already fuck about Apple ’s next oxygen .
It’s showing up this summer (sometime)
Apple has n’t alter its previous summer delivery date since the companyfirst previewedMountain Lion in February , so it ’s a dependable wager that the next Mac OS will be showing up sometime this summertime . That said , “ summertime ” can mean anytime from now until September 21 , so do n’t get your hope up for Mountain Lion to be ready on Day One of WWDC .
It brings iOS closer to the Mac
No , you wo n’t be running your iOS apps on your Mac ( at least , that we know of ) , but Mountain Lion is all about integration with Apple ’s nomadic operating system . Familiar applications like iCal , Address Book , and iChat have hopped aboardthe iOS name - trainand will go byCalendar , Contacts , andMessages , while iOS - only apps like Notes , Reminders , and Game Center will make their grand debut on the Mac .
It wants to keep you notified
iOS apps are n’t the only thing Apple ’s mobile operating system has for Mountain Lion — the Mac o will also receive iOS ’s notifications system of rules when it arrives later this summer . Notification Center on the Macwill keep track of your app updates , Messages , electronic mail , calendar invite , and — perhaps — even third - political party app alert .
It sports some new looks
fresh names are fun ; new features are undecomposed . There are a whole bunch of new system optionspresent in Mountain Lion , like melioration to Dashboard and more Accessibility changes .
Your system apps will get a fewnice features , too : Safarihas a unified search measure and new share features;Mailsports inline find , notification setting , and dignitary ; and Preview receive a major service .
It’s trying to keep you safe(r)
In Lion , Apple ’s cock-a-hoop thrust toward protection revolved around sandboxing Mac apps . With the Mac App Store officially sandboxed as of June 1 , however , Apple ’s next project is to check that family purchasing programs out of doors of the store can have confidence in their buys .
Gatekeeper is Apple ’s proposed solution . It allow you to choose one of three options for running applications on your reckoner : those only purchased from the App Store , those that haveregistered with Apple using Developer ID , or any practical program download from any developer .
It ’s the middle alternative — which lets developers code - contract their apps with Apple to assure that there ’s no malware at swordplay — that may prove most popular when Mountain Lion launches ; it allows many developers with apps that ca n’t abide by the Mac App Store ’s sandboxing guidelines ( Bare Bones Software’sBBEdit , for one ) to still have their apps certified by Apple .
It still has things to come (probably)
Yes , we screw a average amount about this version of OS X , but there ’s still plenty to discover . As we mentioned before , Mountain Lion does n’t transport until the wonderfully - ambiguous “ late summertime , ” and for in force understanding : Knowing Apple , the company still wants to show off a few tricks that it ’s taught this bounteous African tea — probably on - stage at WWDC . We ’ll havelive insurance coverage of the keynoteand info on Mountain Lion as WWDC workweek pass on , so stick around tuned . And if you ’re dying for more info than even this turn - up can provide , turn back out ourMountain Lion FAQ .
