Lion will replace Mac OS X 10.6, or Snow Leopard, as the company’s newest operating system for the Mac, and includes several features that started life as iOS elements on the iPad. The OS includes new multi-touch gestures for navigation, an iPad homescreen-like Launchpad for organizing apps, and full screen view for individual apps.
Apple to release Lion on Wednesday
Apple announced the immediate availability of OS X 10.7 Lion on Wednesday. Lion replaces Mac OS X 10.6, or Snow Leopard as Apple’s most current Mac operating system and marks the first time the company has distributed its OS only as a download.
Lion will be available only as a download at Apple’s Mac App Store and the company isn’t offering a version on DVD, as it has with previous version of OS X.
Apple reported US$28.57 billion in revenue for the quarter with $7.31 billion in earnings, marking the company’s best quarter to date. 20.34 million iPhones, 9.25 million iPads, and 3.95 million Macs shipped during the quarter.
OS X Lion is priced at US$29 and is available as an upgrade for Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher at Apple’s Mac App Store.