The Mac operating system, which will be released in the summer of 2011, will be based around the sort of multitouch capabilities popularized by the iPhone and iPad as well as an app store for the computer, which will be launched in the next 90 days. The app store will feature the same sort of free and paid downloadable software applications found on Apple's mobile devices.
Some of the touch features have already been incorporated into Apple's laptops, Magic Mouse and trackpad, but the company will not migrate them to the computer screen itself because it is ergonomically problematic to use them vertically, chief executive Steve Jobs said at a product launch event on Tuesday.
The Lion operating system will therefore be optimized for control via touch-enabled attachments.
"Touch surfaces want to be horizontal," he said.
The Macintosh app store will also have an advantage over standard methods of buying software because it will offer better organization and automatic updating, Jobs said. Users will be able to flip between their standard desktop display and the sort of app grid found on iPhones and iPads through an interface called Mission Control.
Apple also announced the immediate launch of its Facetime video calling capability for Mac computers. The feature allows computer users to make video calls to people who own the latest iPhone or iPod devices, although those people are still only able to connect to such calls if they have a Wi-Fi connection handy.
Apple has not yet announced a deal that will allow iPhone 4 users to make Facetime calls over their cellular connection.
The company also launched a pair of slimmed down Macbook Air notebook computers, as well as an update to its iLife software for computers.
Source:http://www.cbc.ca
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