Apple releases first developer preview of Mac OS X Lion

First demonstrated last October, we have not heard anything from Apple since. But now Apple, along with the release of their updated line of MacBook Pro, has provided us with some info on their new features in Mac OS X Lion which is all set for a public launch later this summer.

Apple today released a developer preview of Mac OS X Lion, which takes some of the best ideas from iPad and brings them back to the Mac for the eighth major release of the worlds most advanced operating system. Lion features Mission Control, an innovative new view of everything running on your Mac; Launchpad, a new home for all your Mac apps; full screen apps that use the entire Mac display; and new Multi-Touch gestures. Lion also includes the Mac App Store, the best place to discover, install and automatically update Mac apps. The Lion preview is available to Mac Developer Program members through the Mac App Store today, and the final version of Lion will ship to customers this summer.

Apple has also outline a number of key features that will be included as part of Mac OS X Lion:

-Mail, a new version of Mail, with an elegant, widescreen layout inspired by the iPad; Conversations, which automatically groups related messages into one easy to read timeline; more powerful search; and support for Microsoft Exchange 2010;

-Versions, which automatically saves successive versions of your document as you create it, and gives you an easy way to browse, edit and even revert to previous versions;

-AirDrop, a remarkably simple way to copy files wirelessly from one Mac to another with no setup;

-Resume, which conveniently brings your apps back exactly how you left them when you restart your Mac or quit and relaunch an app;

-Auto Save, which automatically saves your documents as you work;

- the all new FileVault, that provides high performance full disk encryption for local and external drives, and the ability to wipe data from your Mac instantaneously; and

-Mac OS X Lion Server, which makes setting up a server easier than ever and adds support for managing Mac OS X Lion, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.

More information on the upcoming Mac OS X can be found on Apples feature page for it here.

Source: Apple