Apple Inc released OS X Mountain Lion version 10.8 for
Macintosh computer on July 25, 2012. This operating system can be used on
desktop and server operating system computer. In this new OS X Mountain version
10.8, Apple added some new features and some features were replaced with
iPhones, iPads and iPod touches operating system. It also includes the latest
version of the Safari web browser,
Safari 6.
System
requirements
1.
2 GB of RAM.
2.
8 GB of available hard disk or solid state
storage.
3.
To upgrade from an old version of OS X, the
computer must be running at least v10.6.8.
The
following models are officially supported
1.
iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
2.
MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or
newer)
3.
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
4.
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
5.
Mac Mini (Early 2009 or newer)
6.
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
7.
Xserve (Early 2009)
The
following models support AirPlay Mirroring
1.
iMac (mid-2011 or newer)
2.
Mac Mini (mid-2011 or newer)
3.
MacBook Air (mid-2011 or newer)
4.
MacBook Pro (early 2011 or newer)
The following
models support AirDrop
1.
MacBook Pro (late 2008 or newer)
2.
MacBook Air (late 2010 or newer)
3.
MacBook (late 2008 or newer)
4.
iMac (early 2009 or newer)
5.
Mac Mini (mid-2010 or newer)
6.
Mac Pro (early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card or
newer)
New and
changed features
Application
updates
1.
Chess — app now supports Game Center.
2.
Dashboard — widgets can be managed in a UI
similar to Launchpad.
3.
Game Center — adopted from iOS.
4.
Mail — new VIP feature, to save frequent
contacts.
5.
Messages — a multi-protocol instant messaging
and texting client (replacing iChat); supports the iMessage service. Also
available on Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" as a beta version.
6.
Notes — new notes application, now separate from
Mail in its own application, with support for desktop notes added.
7.
Notification Center — a desktop version similar
to the one introduced in iOS 5. Application pop-ups are now concentrated on the
corner of the screen, and the Center itself is pulled from the right side of
the screen.
8.
Preview — new app featuring an improved user interfaces.
Ability to fill out forms in PDF documents that don't contain actual PDF form
fields.
9.
Reminders — new to-do list application, now
separate from Calendar in its own application.
10.
Safari 6 — new release, features a new omnibar;
a combination of the address bar and the search field. The omnibar also has a
"Reader" button, showing the user just the text of the article
without advertisements and distraction. When the user is on a website with no
article, the button is disabled.Safari 6 also available as a download for Mac
OS X Lion.
11.
Time Machine — able to do rotating backups on
more than one storage medium.[18]
Other
major updates
1.
AirPlay Mirroring — wireless mirroring of a Mac's
screen to an Apple TV.
2.
Chinese features — new additional features for
users in China, including support for Baidu as an option for Safari search
engine, QQ, 163.com and 126.com services for Mail, Contacts and Calendar,
Youku, Tudou and Sina Weibo are integrated into share sheets.
3.
Dictation — system-wide.
4.
Facebook — full integration, following an update
in late 2012.
5.
Gatekeeper — an anti-malware feature based on
digital signatures and the Mac App Store.
6.
Power Nap — allows a MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or
newer) or a MacBook Pro with Retina display to synchronize with iCloud while
sleeping. Power Nap also allows a Mac to download App Store and OS X updates as
well as make periodic Time Machine backups when it is plugged in and sleeping.
7.
Screensavers — new ones added.
8.
Share Sheets — a "Share" button and
dialog box in Safari and other applications.
9.
Twitter — full integration from within most apps.
Other
minor updates
1.
App updates — apps automatically install from
the Mac App Store.
2.
iCloud library UI integration — includes new
Open and Save dialog boxes across built-in applications, iWork and third-party
applications via an API. Applications that make use of this API support a new
user interface to view and manage documents in the cloud that are specific to
the application being used.
3.
Document renaming — documents can now be renamed
from the title bar.
4.
Document synchronization — iWork documents
automatic synchronize with iCloud.
5.
Full screen ability on any display.
User
interface changes
1.
Dock — has received an updated look, emulating
the appearance of the aluminum metal surface that much of Apple’s current hardware
line-up sports.
2.
Scroll bars widen when the mouse hovers over
them.
3.
Finder displays a progress bar in the
"size" column when copying a file, and on icons in Launchpad when
downloading from the Mac App Store.
4.
Launchpad — now has Spotlight search for finding
applications.
Renamed
applications
1.
“Address Book” renamed "Contacts".
2.
“iCal” renamed "Calendar".
Dropped
and changed features
1.
iChat — replaced by Messages and FaceTime.
2.
MobileMe — replaced entirely by iCloud,
specifically in System Preferences options.
3.
RSS support in Mail and Safari has been removed;
a message is shown to suggest to users that they search the Mac App Store for
an RSS app.
4.
Software Update — has been unified into the
MacApp Store. The list of updates installed in the past has been removed.
5.
Web Sharing — option removed from System
Preferences. Apache is still included with the operating system and can be
enabled using third-party software.
6.
X11.app — users are directed to the open source
XQuartz project instead.
7.
Xgrid — support has been removed (including in
OS X Server edition).
8.
Display Preference Menu — replaced by Airplay icon,
and it is no longer possible to quickly switch resolutions without first
opening up preferences.
9.
Battery life — option in Menu Bar to display
with Time no longer offered. Instead, the only option is to display battery
Percentage. However battery time can still be viewed in the dropdown by
clicking on the battery icon.
