A look at Apple’s Mountain Lion
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Apple’s newest operating system, Mountain Lion, is now available for download in the Mac App Store for $19.99. The new operating system more closely integrates with Apple’s iPhone and iPad, so a change in any of those devices —- like reading an e-mail — will be reflected all linked devices. Learn more about the announced features.
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Messages everywhere: The new operating system allows users to send text messages and photos between computers and handheld devices and on multiple accounts. So, one could start chatting on the computer, then pick up the conversation on an iPad later while riding home on the T.
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Dictation: The software will bring dictation to Macs, essentially allowing the computer to type as you talk.
Left: Craig Federighi, Apple senior vice president of software engineering, discussed the new operating system in June.
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Reminders: Set deadlines and alerts for projects and tasks and sync them with your iPad and iPhone. The application allows you check off tasks as you complete them.
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Notes: Take quick notes — including text, photos, and attachments — that are synched with your handheld devices. The notes can posted on your desktop or saved for later.
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Notifications: The Notifications Center was one of the biggest advancements in Apple’s iPod/iPad operating system last year. It helps you keep track of e-mail, texts, friend requests, stock ticker, the weather, and other notifications in one place.
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Share Sheets: Many apps in Mountain Lion will have an easy way to send directly to Twitter, Flickr, and other social media sites — rather than having to navigate to another site to share and post.
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Power Nap: Power Nap keeps your Mac updated even while it’s in power-saving “sleep’’ mode. It will get your e-mail messages, back up your files and download software updates automatically. It will work with recent MacBook Air computers and the higher-end MacBook Pro model, the one with the sharper, “Retina’’ display.
Left: Apple’s Federighi discussed Power Nap in June.
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Game Center: Using your Apple ID, you can create a gaming account to compete against other users. The center was introduced to handheld devices last year. This will bring the gaming to desktops.
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Airplay: Using an AppleTV device, you can stream your desktop screen onto a television screen. The streaming only works on the second-generation AppleTV and on newer desktops and laptops, including the iMac since mid-2011, the MacBook Air since 2011 and the MacBook Pro since 2011.
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