AppleInsider Staff
The download is currently available on Apple's developer site. The term "Golden Master" means that the software is likely a final build that will be identical to the software that will be released to the general public, barring the discovery of any last-minute bugs or problems.
People familiar with the software said it is known as 11A511. Scheduled for launch sometime this month, Mac OS X Lion will only be available for upgraders through the Mac App Store for $29.
Apple has been steadily paving the way for the launch of Lion. Just last week, it released Mac OS X 10.6.8 for Snow Leopard, which packed enhancements in the Mac App Store in preparation for Lion.
The release of Lion may also be accompanied by a hardware refresh in Apple's Mac lineup. As first reported by AppleInsider, Apple is holding off on the release of new Mac hardware — namely, a refreshed MacBook Air with Thunderbolt — until Lion becomes publicly available.
Also overdue for a refresh is Apple's entry-level MacBook notebook. While there haven't been any specific rumors of a hardware refresh, this week AppleInsider noted that stock of the polycarbonate white MacBook has become extremely low.
Prior to Friday, the last major update to early Lion builds provided to developers came in the form of Preview 3, which was issued in mid-May. That build enabled the Reading List feature and adding a dedicated app for the Mission Control window management feature.
With Lion, Apple will bring a number of popular features from its highly successful iPad back to the Mac platform. New additions include full-screen applications, auto-save functionality, an iOS-style homescreen, and new multi-touch gestures.
For more on Lion, see AppleInsider's extensive Inside Mac OS X Lion series.
-m.jpg)
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
-m.jpg)
152 Comments
Maybe the new Airs will be released Wednesday.
I wonder what the release date will be. And I'm still curious about getting an OS without a DVD. I'm really looking forward to Lion. I switched from a mouse to a Magic Trackpad in anticipation of this release (and because my MX Revolution was finally dying).
I wonder what the release date will be. And I'm still curious about getting an OS without a DVD. I'm really looking forward to Lion. I switched from a mouse to a Magic Trackpad in anticipation of this release (and because my MX Revolution was finally dying).
I hope you love the Mac Trackpad. I do. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't run on the Lenvovo-POS Windoze machine that I have to use at work!!
I wonder what the release date will be. And I'm still curious about getting an OS without a DVD. I'm really looking forward to Lion. I switched from a mouse to a Magic Trackpad in anticipation of this release (and because my MX Revolution was finally dying).
It speeds up the time between GM and release by at least a couple weeks. If this is really the GM then it could come as early as next week.
This lends credence to the rumours about the launch being next week then. I'm hoping that is indeed the case, I want me some OS X Lion-y goodness.