Apple has released the developer preview of the next version of the OS, OS X Mountain Lion, which introduces iOS apps such as Messages to the Mac, along with Twitter integration.
OS X Mountain Lion will include iPad apps, such as Messages, Notes, Reminders and Game Centre. Messages will replace iChat and will allow users to send messages, images and videos from a Mac to another Mac or iOS device. It will also support AIM, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. OS X Lion users can download a beta of the Messages app from Apple’s website.
The Game Centre will let users find new games and play multiplayer games with players across the Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
OS X Mountain Lion’s Notification Centre will provide quick access to alerts from Mail, Calendar Messages, Reminders, system updates and third-party apps. There will also be Share Sheets to help users share links, photos and videos from Apple and third-party apps.
Twitter is integrated in the new version of the OS, letting users tweet directly from the Safari browser, Quick Look, Photo Booth, Preview and other third-party apps. It will also include AirPlay Mirroring, letting users wirelessly send a 720p video stream of what’s on their Mac to a HDTV with Apple TV.
The OS will let users set up iCloud more easily and use their Apple ID to set up apps such as Contacts, Mail, Messages, Calendar, FaceTime and Find My Mac. iCloud Documents will push any changes to all devices, keeping documents up-to-date. There will also be a new API to help developers make their document-based apps work with iCloud.
There will be a new security feature called Gatekeeper, which gives users control over which apps are downloaded and installed on their Macs, whether it’s directly from the Mac App Store or from any source.
OS X Mountain Lion will be available from the Mac App Store in late summer.
