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Apple announces OS X Mountain Lion
Apple released a stunning new OS today. Notice I said OS and not Mac OS, because in this version, Apple has officially dropped the mac title from it. While in developer only, it is still making mac users around the world anticipate the release.

Top Features in OS X 10.8
Mountain Lion

  • Notification Center: You'll start seeing even more integration (if possible) between your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and your Mac, or at least some software similarities. Notification center is imitating the iOS style, complete with banners, a drop down, and even a touchpad gesture to mime swiping down from the top. Notifications will be things like email, iTunes alerts, etc. What would have the bouncy iCons in the dock (they are doing away with that, by the way) will now be shown smoothly in the Notification Center.
  • Messages: This one is available for all users in beta testing here. Apple decided to integrate all of the old iChat, iOS' iMessage, and FaceTime all into one app. Like FaceTime, iMessage, after 3 months, has come to the mac. The new features include an easy-to-use search bar at the top with an option to use AIM, Google Talk, or iMessage to contact them. Users who don't approve of too much change will not fear; the new one is barely different.
  • iCloud: You thought documents in the cloud was nice? Well, I did too, but this is even better. Now, pages automatically uploads them and downloads them as opposed to uploading them to iWork.com or whatever we are supposed to do. Many things that were on iCloud.com are now being copied to your mac, so you only have to use the website when you are on a public computer or a PC.
  • Twitter Integration: YES! I thought it was nice being able to send a tweet right from Safari, without having to use that stupid slow twitter app. Now I can do it on my mac and not have to worry about going to bit.ly, buffer, and 4 other websites just to post a 140 character tweet.
  • Share Sheets: This one is similar to Twitter integration. OS X Mountain Lion will now add a share button to many of its apps, or even multiple ones for each app. Find that handy mail this icon (like the one in iOS notes) just about anywhere, in iPhoto a post to flickr, iMovie--YouTube, and tweet just about anything. Apple knows it failed at Ping (iTunes has a small social network for music) so it just sends you to people who do it better.
  • Game Center! Have an iPhone, but your much better on your Mac at gaming? Well, come no further. Game Center for OS X now easily features the upload stats just like any iOS game. Complete with fullscreen, friends, and everything it always has plus more, Game Center will be an amazing addition to OS X.
  • GateKeeper: I don't know about you, but I have always enjoyed the difference between Mac and PC security. Whenever I get a new windows box or laptop, I spend the first six hours on my new computer installing virus protection software. When I upgrade my macs, I tell it my Apple ID and I can use my computer. With GateKeeper, Apple is giving you more and more control over what you download, what pops up, what installs, what has access to the internet. If you have heard of Little Snitch, which is an application that blocks certain programs from accessing the web, you'll love GateKeeper.
So, many people are examining Apple's website as the 25 Billion App Download Countdown heads up, and the new OS keeps everybody commenting all over the web. Some people are saying, "This is awesome, Apple!" Some people are calling Apple copycats, but, although there are many similarities, lets remember who designed iOS before taking part in calling Apple names.



By Calvin Spangler Young
Apple Geek/fan, iKnow it all, homeschooled nerd, and guru for any thing with the prefix of a lowercase i.
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