Mountain Lion developer preview (screenshots)
by CNET | February 16, 2012 6:00am PST | Image 1 of 11
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This is an early OS developer preview of Apple's Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. We got a chance to check out some of the new features so you can get a quick tour of Apple's latest big cat OS in this slideshow.
Mountain Lion will be Apple's first major OS release since iCloud came into play. Now everything from setting up a new Mac to syncing your info across iOS devices and Mac computers becomes possible when you log in with your Apple ID.
Read Apple unveils OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to developers for more about Apple's next operating system.
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@jdakula Lion, for all of its iOS similitude, still works like a computer. Metro, for me, is too much like a super-gigantic phone.
@rbethell
And what makes you think that Windows on a non Tablet/Touch Device is NOT going to have a classic interface? MacOS has the Launchpad which looks just like iOS but Macs do not have a touch capable computer.
And what makes you think that Windows on a non Tablet/Touch Device is NOT going to have a classic interface? MacOS has the Launchpad which looks just like iOS but Macs do not have a touch capable computer.
@bobiroc that's a matter of some opinion. Anyone who's used a Macbook's trackpad in Lion is used to thinking of it as a remote control touchscreen, since that is exactly how it works.
And if Windows 8 on most computers really consists of people batting Metro out of the way so they can get back to their Win7 style UI, then I have to ask - what's the point?
And if Windows 8 on most computers really consists of people batting Metro out of the way so they can get back to their Win7 style UI, then I have to ask - what's the point?
@rbethell
Are you referring to the trackpad gestures that you can do. Maybe it is because my Macbook (running lion) is from 2007 but it doesn't do that. I can do some of the gestures but lininig it up so my clicks on the touchpad are relevant to the screen does not work. Besides you know Windows Notebooks have multi-touch/gesture touchpads these days too right. Work very similarly to the one in my Macbook.
As far as the Metro UI on desktop goes I still think that remains to be seen. So far the main focus of Windows 8 has been tablets and touch capable devices. You never know by the time it is released there may be an option for full desktop/laptop computers to have it launch directly into the more classic GUI.
I guess I am not ready to judge the OS based on assumption until I see what it can do when the Release Candidate comes out. I also plan on using the "preview" to provide constructive feedback based on actually using it instead complaining about what I have not experienced first hand.
Let the record show I have both Windows Based Computers and a Macbook Running Lion because I support and use both in my daily life. I find both operating systems to be very "usable" and stable. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages and in today's computing world comes down to mainly user preference for most average computer users.
Are you referring to the trackpad gestures that you can do. Maybe it is because my Macbook (running lion) is from 2007 but it doesn't do that. I can do some of the gestures but lininig it up so my clicks on the touchpad are relevant to the screen does not work. Besides you know Windows Notebooks have multi-touch/gesture touchpads these days too right. Work very similarly to the one in my Macbook.
As far as the Metro UI on desktop goes I still think that remains to be seen. So far the main focus of Windows 8 has been tablets and touch capable devices. You never know by the time it is released there may be an option for full desktop/laptop computers to have it launch directly into the more classic GUI.
I guess I am not ready to judge the OS based on assumption until I see what it can do when the Release Candidate comes out. I also plan on using the "preview" to provide constructive feedback based on actually using it instead complaining about what I have not experienced first hand.
Let the record show I have both Windows Based Computers and a Macbook Running Lion because I support and use both in my daily life. I find both operating systems to be very "usable" and stable. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages and in today's computing world comes down to mainly user preference for most average computer users.
@bobiroc
I agree with rbethell's comment regarding your assertion that Macs do not have a touch capable desktop computer.
Your wrong, Bob. Apple's wireless Magic Trackpad mates with Apple's wireless keyboard almost perfectly allowing a multi-touch experience for iMac, Mac Pro and Mac Mini users.
As for myself, I have both a wireless Magic Mouse (with multi-touch gestures enabled) on the right side of my keyboard - I'm right handed - and the Magic Trackpad attached to the left side of my keyboard. (A little bit of tape on the underside of the trackpad connecting it to the keyboard mates the two devices quite well and is invisible to the user.
Of course, the trackpad is a $70.00 dollar option but money well spent.
The Apple solution to Multi-touch gestures on a desktop computer is "infinitely" preferable to the alternative requiring "gorilla arms" on some other PCs being sold today.
I agree with rbethell's comment regarding your assertion that Macs do not have a touch capable desktop computer.
Your wrong, Bob. Apple's wireless Magic Trackpad mates with Apple's wireless keyboard almost perfectly allowing a multi-touch experience for iMac, Mac Pro and Mac Mini users.
As for myself, I have both a wireless Magic Mouse (with multi-touch gestures enabled) on the right side of my keyboard - I'm right handed - and the Magic Trackpad attached to the left side of my keyboard. (A little bit of tape on the underside of the trackpad connecting it to the keyboard mates the two devices quite well and is invisible to the user.
Of course, the trackpad is a $70.00 dollar option but money well spent.
The Apple solution to Multi-touch gestures on a desktop computer is "infinitely" preferable to the alternative requiring "gorilla arms" on some other PCs being sold today.
@baggins_z
Now that's funny..
Now that's funny..
@bobiroc
I do have a serious question for you, Bob, regarding the relative usability merits of various operating systems.
I'm going to defer any expertise in Win 7 and Win 8 matters to you because I lack sufficient experience with either OS. On the other hand, I understand OS X and iOS rather well.
Does Win 7 or Win 8 have the same degree of built-in wireless synching capability among a user's various computing devices that OS X (Lion and Mountain Lion) and iOS devices have?
Specifically, I'm referring to iCloud synch and AirPlay (which Mountain Lion will have.)
I really appreciate and enjoy the ability to share digital images from one OS X machine to various iOS devices (and visa versa) via AirStream and iCloud technologies. For example, I wirelessly downloaded a series of photo images yesterday from my iMac to my iPad using AirStream in order to show those iPad images to a friend at her home.
Now, I understand that Mountain Lion will incorporate AirPlay capability. I imagine that MacBook Air and the new MacBook Pro laptops users will enjoy the same type of mirroring capability between their device and an HDTV (using an Apple TV bridge) that I have enjoyed between my iPad and home HDTV units. (And MacBook users as well. I own a white MacBook as you do so if you upgrade to Mountain Lion and purchase an Apple TV, you can experience that same mirroring capability)
BTW, one doesn't need a monthly WiFi telcom signal to enjoy this ability. My external Seagate GoFlex Satellite HD and WiFi transmitter provides the WiFi signal that I can (and have) used to support AirPlay mirroring between my iPad, Apple TV and an HDTV system. Sort of neat.
Does Windows 7 or 8 enjoy this type of system wide connectivity and display ability?
I consider these capabilities great OS usability features.
I do have a serious question for you, Bob, regarding the relative usability merits of various operating systems.
I'm going to defer any expertise in Win 7 and Win 8 matters to you because I lack sufficient experience with either OS. On the other hand, I understand OS X and iOS rather well.
Does Win 7 or Win 8 have the same degree of built-in wireless synching capability among a user's various computing devices that OS X (Lion and Mountain Lion) and iOS devices have?
Specifically, I'm referring to iCloud synch and AirPlay (which Mountain Lion will have.)
I really appreciate and enjoy the ability to share digital images from one OS X machine to various iOS devices (and visa versa) via AirStream and iCloud technologies. For example, I wirelessly downloaded a series of photo images yesterday from my iMac to my iPad using AirStream in order to show those iPad images to a friend at her home.
Now, I understand that Mountain Lion will incorporate AirPlay capability. I imagine that MacBook Air and the new MacBook Pro laptops users will enjoy the same type of mirroring capability between their device and an HDTV (using an Apple TV bridge) that I have enjoyed between my iPad and home HDTV units. (And MacBook users as well. I own a white MacBook as you do so if you upgrade to Mountain Lion and purchase an Apple TV, you can experience that same mirroring capability)
BTW, one doesn't need a monthly WiFi telcom signal to enjoy this ability. My external Seagate GoFlex Satellite HD and WiFi transmitter provides the WiFi signal that I can (and have) used to support AirPlay mirroring between my iPad, Apple TV and an HDTV system. Sort of neat.
Does Windows 7 or 8 enjoy this type of system wide connectivity and display ability?
I consider these capabilities great OS usability features.
@baggins_z
You, sir, are hilarious!!
You, sir, are hilarious!!
is a giant step backward in usability for desktop computers.
@jdakula W8 vs ML interface, like yahoo.com vs google.com. Full screen and full information vs simple and plain. It's depends on how your mind thinking, do you like having all information on your table, or you only want to see the one you need.
@NoAxToGrind
Really? Well, they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Really? Well, they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I still prefer PPC. I have SL at work, & I don't ever want any of those big cats that break every expensive app in the world. Just my opinion, but with nearly the entire world going over to Intel, SkyNet here we come, & a field day for hackers.
It's basically shipping with a copy of outlook, but split out into many different apps to make it look more meaningful? with a copy of windows live thrown in, but with access to much fewer people.
@rbethell
You seemed to have misunderstood what i am trying to say...
Basically everything they are offering and calling amazing through Icloud, i can set up on my phone, pc, and any tablet using outlook express... Hardly impressive, i've been able to do that since around 2000.
You seemed to have misunderstood what i am trying to say...
Basically everything they are offering and calling amazing through Icloud, i can set up on my phone, pc, and any tablet using outlook express... Hardly impressive, i've been able to do that since around 2000.
@danjames2012 Outlook on Mac has nice functionality, but the startup time is several minutes (for me and several colleagues) and if you have a flaky network connection it is nearly impossible to type a mail, because it wants to synchronise and does not understand that you just want to type and synch can wait ...
I fled back to Apple Mail (which still has problems talking to Exchange).
I fled back to Apple Mail (which still has problems talking to Exchange).
@dirkroorda
Interesting. It doesn't seem to take that long on the 5+ year old Macs we have running Lion and MacOffice 2011 connected to exchange. I have been using it for few weeks now since I upgraded to Lion and Office 2011.
Interesting. It doesn't seem to take that long on the 5+ year old Macs we have running Lion and MacOffice 2011 connected to exchange. I have been using it for few weeks now since I upgraded to Lion and Office 2011.
@danjames2012 Yeah right.
hope its better than Lion (OSX Vista) buggiest, slowest Mac OS I've ever used.
Nice timing... 2 weeks before the Consumer Preview of Win8 is being released. I don't think that was accidental. It'll be interesting to see the download numbers compared of each of these OS previews.
@kris_stapley@... no comparison. You have to be in the Apple development group to download it (Microsoft allowed anyone to download it). You'd have to have Apple hardware to install it on, which means there are fewer possible computers to install it on.
Another Windows ripoff. Come on Apple, be more creative.
I like the integration features. Very linux-esque, but it's nice to see the features available in a more mainstream OS.
Maybe I'm getting too adverse to change in my old age, but I'm just not liking this whole convergence of iOS and OS X thing going on. I tried to use Lion, but just got too frustrated with it. This looks like more of the same, so I'll probably be sticking with Snow Leopard on my Mini and Macbook for the forseeable future. (And, with a nod to @Starman35 and his conspiracy theory, keeping my old dual-G4 running Tiger handy in case there's another forced march, and invasion of the planet by way of Intel processors. 
)
) 
Really? Tweeting from various apps, iOS apps & games, Flickr, video chat, tethering to Apple approved vendors, these are the next great advances in the newest Apple OS?
Do people really use Twitter, Facebook, video chat and otherwise spend that much time in front of their computers?
Sheesh, I own two home computers, two laptops, one tablet, one smart phone (WP7), and work with technology (Senior Systems Analyst) for 10 hours or more a day most working days, and for some reason I just have no desire to be online more, chatting, tweeting, Facebooking....guess I have a life.
Just say'n is all.
Do people really use Twitter, Facebook, video chat and otherwise spend that much time in front of their computers?
Sheesh, I own two home computers, two laptops, one tablet, one smart phone (WP7), and work with technology (Senior Systems Analyst) for 10 hours or more a day most working days, and for some reason I just have no desire to be online more, chatting, tweeting, Facebooking....guess I have a life.
Just say'n is all.
Puma, their name is Puma. Mountain lion is just a common name for those who can't pronounce Puma. Steve Jobs never would approved calling something "Mountain Lion." No poetry in their souls.
It's actually called a cougar. Puma can refer to any cat in the puma genus. Which is the cougar, jaguarundi, and a few others.
Also wasn't OS x 10.1 called puma?
Also wasn't OS x 10.1 called puma?
@SantaCruzRed right, cause pronouncing puma is like difficult or something and mountain lion is so much easier with fewer syllables.
Apple is still just making dopey comsumer devices dumbed down to the extreme.
For Linux users, Canonical introduces Ubuntu/Unity - looks like a smartphone/tablet OS
For Windows Users, MS introduces Windows 8/Metro - looks like a smartphone/tablet OS
For Mac users, Apple introduces OS X/Mountain Lion - looks like a smartphone/tablet OS
Do we see a trend?
For Windows Users, MS introduces Windows 8/Metro - looks like a smartphone/tablet OS
For Mac users, Apple introduces OS X/Mountain Lion - looks like a smartphone/tablet OS
Do we see a trend?
@softdrat@... Mac OS X 10.8 will always be a desktop OS for both iMacs and MacBooks, for crying out loud.
If you don't care to use iOS features in Mac OS 10.8 which I don't really care for, don't use it.
If you don't care to use iOS features in Mac OS 10.8 which I don't really care for, don't use it.
@Grayson Peddie Same can be said for Windows 8
All this lloks interesting, but I would like to know what, if anything, Apple is doing about the unreadable screens in iCal, etc. Is it too much to ask that lines and text be dark enough to an old man to see? My eyesight is normal for my age (72) and iCal, in and of itself, is enough to make me consider either writing my own calendar app or going to the dark side (Microsoft Office).
Start with SMBX. Stuff that used to work with Samba and Snow Leopard is now broken with SMBX and Lion. And enough with the dumbed down interface. Jeez...do I have to go to Linux?
neighbor's step-sister made $15111 the previous month. she is making income on the computer and got a 468000 dollar house. All she did was get lucky and set to work the directions revealed on this web page NuttyRich.c o m
Simple Equation for Apple:
Mountain Lion = Copy Cat (Windows 8 integration with Windows Phone 8, Pun Intended)
Mountain Lion = Copy Cat (Windows 8 integration with Windows Phone 8, Pun Intended)
Windows 8 defeated.....
Apple is doing the gradual approach to a post PC environment for desktop and laptop users. Apple is probably only going to charge mac users 10 dollars for the upgrade. Windows upgrades are usually 100 to 200 bucks depending on which version you get. But for most advanced PC users know the pitfalls of upgrading windows and it's performance issues and errors it causes. This is why most windows gurus prefer a clean install. Retail versions of windows cost 300+ dollars. It's almost better to buy another PC. This is the formula that MS has used for years to sell PC to the masses. This formula does not work like it used to, not when much cooler mobile devices are availible. Metro is a balls out way for MS to stay relevant in the changing of computing habits. Its flawed because it has the love it or hate it mantra. Many may feel that way about iOS too, but why is that Android soo well propogated because its the iOS that's not "apple". Or in others the iPhone that "not an iPhone"
Apple is doing the gradual approach to a post PC environment for desktop and laptop users. Apple is probably only going to charge mac users 10 dollars for the upgrade. Windows upgrades are usually 100 to 200 bucks depending on which version you get. But for most advanced PC users know the pitfalls of upgrading windows and it's performance issues and errors it causes. This is why most windows gurus prefer a clean install. Retail versions of windows cost 300+ dollars. It's almost better to buy another PC. This is the formula that MS has used for years to sell PC to the masses. This formula does not work like it used to, not when much cooler mobile devices are availible. Metro is a balls out way for MS to stay relevant in the changing of computing habits. Its flawed because it has the love it or hate it mantra. Many may feel that way about iOS too, but why is that Android soo well propogated because its the iOS that's not "apple". Or in others the iPhone that "not an iPhone"
...doesn't look like a very impressive update so far, just more of a pandering to all the iPhone customers who'd never used a Mac before.
Meh. Haven't seen a reason to upgrade to Lion. Mountain Lion adds features I don't need or will use. Afterall, I don't give a crap about Twitter or Fakebook or any other social media crap. I use my MacBookPro for WORK.
@snideb
You could buy an Apple TV and then show your presentations on a large HDTV screen at your office meetings. Or are you one of the lucky ones that are not saddled with two or three meetings a day!
You could buy an Apple TV and then show your presentations on a large HDTV screen at your office meetings. Or are you one of the lucky ones that are not saddled with two or three meetings a day!
@snideb I use my MBP for work, have never used Twitter, go on Facebook maybe once every six months and have never used any other social networking but have been very happy with my upgrade to Lion and what it gives me.
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