Computer Connections - Lion Update - June 2011
Apple's new Mac OS - Lion arrives next month. Here's what you need to know:
Finder
There has been a small re-do of the Finder. You can now resize the Finder windows from all four corners of the edge of the windows. The sidebar icons resemble those of iTunes - black and white and simple. In Finder windows, they no longer show the status bar revealing the available drive space (default). Users can enable it. There is a new All My Files pseudo-folder in the Finder displays of all the documents seen on users Macs. They are grouped by type.
No Scroll Bars
Lion has been created to work better with trakpad input using multitouch gestures. Scrollbars, are hidden and can be activated as you move your mouse over the scrolling part of the window. There is a preference setting to keep scrollbars visible too. Without a trakpad, multitouch gestures won't be the same - some can be mapped to keyboard shortcuts. With a trakpad, Apple brings the inverse scrolling resident in iOS devices to the desktop Mac. Users pull down with their fingers to make their documents move down - towards the top of the document. If you prefer, scrolling preference can be reversed to the way you are used to - pull down, go down towards the bottom of the document.
Launchpad
Launchpad gives Mac users instant access to all the applications on their computers. The screen resembles one of an iPad. All of the users applications are presented on-screen in icon form. You can rearrange your applications, arrange folders and scroll through pages as you like. People who use an iPhone would feel at home here too! For those who have too many apps, Spotlight will still work for you. This App is aimed at the iOS generation of users. If you are more comfortable with the Finder, you can use that too....
Mission Control
Apple is betting that Mission Control will be easier to use than Spaces and Expose. They have re-invented those into a virtual desktop and window-switching interface where you use trakpad gestures (can use keyboard shortcuts, too) to switch between different workspaces and rapidly view all the running applications. This includes the dashboard, apps running in full screen and multiple apps. Before, users would go to the System Preferences pane to configure what went where. Now, you drag and drop windows and apps into new spaces using the Mission Control view.
AirDrop
WOW! It's one of the coolest inventions I have read about recently. Here, Apple has designed a file-sharing feature that allows users to transfer files wirelessly (up to 30'). It finds other users in your area (even without a Wi-Fi network) and lets you swap files with them. To use, you select the AirDrop item in the Finder's Sources sidebar. Then icons of other airdrop users on your local network appear. To share a file, drag it on top of the icon of the one you want to transmit it to. That person will get a dialog asking them if they would accept or reject the transfer. So cool....
App Store
The Mac App store will change when Lion arrives. Mimicking their iOS brothers, Macintosh App developers will be able to add-in app purchases and push notifications. Apple will require app makers to add sandboxing (prevents apps from getting into other pieces of data on your computer) for better security. Software updates will be sped up by the Mac App Store downloading just the changes in code during software updates rather than the whole application.
OS App's Updates
Lion has updated the following programs: QuickTime, Safari, Preview, iCal, TextEdit, Mail, Address Book and Photo Booth. Expect to see and use these applications in a much more efficient way, with some of them more closely resembling their iOS counterparts.
Requirements
Apple says that you will need a Mac with: an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 or Xenon processor to run LION. Click on the Apple menu icon (upper left of your window) and select About This Mac to see the processor description. Starting with the Intel based Macs made in late 2006 and beyond (first Core Duo Mac), you should be compatible. The older the Mac, the lower performance you will get out of it (that's Apple for ya'). Just so you know, the Mac I am using is the first Xenon Mac - from late 2006.
Installation
You purchase the Lion upgrade from the Mac App Store. There will be an approximately 4GB installer app downloaded to your computer. After the download completes itself, you will launch the installer and voila! Lion is on your Mac. You don't need to create a bootable installer or drive. At press time, we are not sure whether Apple will offer you an option to burn a bootable disc, or flash drive. You can copy this installer to your other Macs, provided that they are authorized to use your Mac App Store account.
Multiple Mac Installs
A big benefit of Mac App Store distribution is that, just like with App purchases, any Mac you own can have Lion installed as long as that Mac has an Apple ID that was used to purchase the OS. So, for the $30 it costs you to buy this OS [yes, I said $30 ], all your Macs will have the upgrade (as long as they are compatible). Remember the old days - one license was $129, $199 for up to 5 Macs? Apple is changing the way and pricing of buying system software! Plus, if you bought your Mac after on or after June 6, 2011 Apple will give you 30 days to request a free copy of Lion. Check the App Store for more details.
When
Apple is saying that the update will be available in July of 2011. Look for the update to appear in the App Store some day next month. Remember, this is the only place to get it. No CD, no Apple Store (brick and mortar) purchase can be done (for now - we will see how it goes).
Recommendation
Just do it (if you have a compatible Mac and 30 bucks).
Nuff said
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
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