Apple is expected to launch Mountain Lion, the latest version of its Mac OS X, on Wednesday, according to a report.

The Cupertino, Calif., company said at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June that Mountain Lion would launch in July, but it did not give a firm date.

Now the website 9to5 Mac is saying that employees at a number of Apple Stores around the world have been scheduled for overnight hours next Tuesday, which indicates that Mountain Lion will launch the next day.

Apple is also scheduled to release its third-quarter earnings Tuesday, and 9to5 Mac expects the company to announce then that it will release Mountain Lion the next day. The news site says this is likely because Apple did the same thing last year with Lion: It released its earnings July 19, announcing the operating system's launch date, and rolled out Lion on July 20.

9to5 Mac admits that some of the stores it contacted hadn't heard of a Tuesday overnight meeting and that the earnings report's timing may just be a coincidence. But, the site says, with less than two weeks left in July, a Wednesday release just seems like a good bet.

After launching 10 new MacBooks along with slightly improved Mac Pros at WWDC in June, Apple said it would give free Mountain Lion upgrades to anyone who bought a new Apple computer after June 11 from Apple or an authorized retailer.

Mountain Lion will be available for download from Apple's Mac App Store for $19.99.

Apple halts Mountain Lion Up-to-Date Program after brief launch

An error resulted in Apple's Up-to-Date program going live this morning, though the service is expected to be active soon with Mountain Lion's release.
This morning Apple's Up-to-Date program for OS X Mountain Lion appeared to be activated for a short while, allowing a number of people to submit applications for their free copies of Apple's new OS; however, this appears to have been an error on Apple's part and the Up-to-Date Program has been taken offline.

For people who have purchased a new Mac on or after June 11, Apple is offering a free upgrade to OS X 10.8, which is due out any day now. When the OS is released, users can go to the Up-to-Date Web page and submit an application for their systems. When the application is submitted users will receive a claim code, and when the systems and purchase dates are verified Apple will e-mail a redemption code for use in the Mac App Store. This code will allow a free purchase of Mountain Lion. However, unlike standard purchases that can be installed on any machine, the redemption code is to be used for only one machine.

Apple is expected to release Mountain Lion sometime this week (a Wednesday launch is rumored), and today's brief enabling of the Up-to-Date Program suggests the release is imminent.

According to MacRumors, those who were able to submit their purchase information and receive a redemption code have found the Mac App Store claims it is not a valid code. If you are one of these people, for now wait until Mountain Lion is officially released and then try your code again. If this still does not work, then try submitting the Up-to-Date application again. Alternatively you can contact the App Store support and explain how you got your initial redemption code.

The Up-to-Date Program is expected to be officially active when Mountain Lion is released.

dani1luv: and so??

dani1luv: and so??

Blackteeth: Why are there apple threads making frontpage when most Nigerians dont use the apple products? This explains why these apple threads have less posts.

brabus:

Apple fans are not "Noise-Makers". Maleeq, thanks for the update.

Blackteeth:
Because you are very few. Simple.

Blackteeth:
Because you are very few. Simple.

brabus:

Apple fans are not "Noise-Makers". Maleeq, thanks for the update.

Blackteeth:
Because you are very few. Simple.

Apple has announced the latest version of its Mac operation system will be released today, Wednesday 25th, July 2012.

OS X Mountain Lion makes it easier to share material to social networks and also introduces a notification panel similar to that found on many smart phones. Apple has announced the latest version of its Mac operation system will be released on Wednesday.
The news was revealed in the company's third quarter earnings release. Mac sales were 2% up on the year, but the results fell short of many analysts' forecasts.

The firm's shares dropped about 5% in after hours trading on Wall Street.

Mobile to Mac

Apple first announced the latest update to its operating system in February. The update continues a trend to introduce features to its desktop and laptop families that have already been implemented on its iPad and iPhone mobile devices.

These include the ability to upload and synchronise material with its iCloud internet storage service; the introduction of the iMessage service allowing text message-like chats between the firm's computers and handsets; the ability to easily share material to Twitter; and an application to compare the user's video game scores against those of their friends.

The firm has also taken steps to aid its expansion in China including the adoption of Baidu as a search service built into its web browser's toolbar, and buttons to make it easy to share material to the Sina Weibo microblog, and the video sites Youku and Tudou.
However, the firm's decision to keep its Mac system distinct from iOS for mobile devices is set to be challenged by October's Windows 8 release by Microsoft. Microsoft is offering users the chance to run the same system on both their tablets and desktop computers, making it easier to share software between them.

Windows 8 - and its touchscreen Metro apps - have been described by Microsoft as the biggest revision to its interface in over a decade. But one analyst said Mountain Lion was more of an incremental step forward.
[b]"While there are a lots of new features this is not a major upgrade like the last version Lion was," [/b]said Brian Blau, research director at tech research firm Gartner.

"But Apple has also been improving its Office-like software and creation applications along the way, so maybe it didn't need such a big revision. And you have to bear in mind it is only charging $20 [£13.99 in UK] for the change."

By contrast Microsoft is charging $39.99 for a Windows 8 upgrade, while Linux-based systems, such as Ubuntu and Debian, can be downloaded for free. The news was revealed in the company's third quarter earnings release.

Mac sales were 2% up on the year, but the results fell short of many analysts' forecasts. The firm's shares dropped about 5% in after hours trading on Wall Street.

Olisa74: Thanks Maleeq for the updates. Waiting for the release of Windows 8, and the subsequent Windows 8 vs Mountain Lion debates!