Hasta La Gadget!

This morning is the first in which users with Mac computers are able to download Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion operating system – and right off the bat there have been a couple of minor incidents you should be aware of. Apple’s up-to-date program allows anyone who purchased a new Mac on or after June 11, 2012, to receive a free upgrade to the newest operating system. Early problems have included redemption codes not functioning correctly and users in general not understanding the connection between the redemption codes and the free nature of the upgrade.

The redemption code program went live earlier this week and some users reported it appearing before its official launch time. Because of this, it seems, there may have been some incorrect codes sent out to the public. On the other hand, users grabbing codes both before and after the official launch time for the program have both been reporting non-functional redemptions.

Not to worry, though, Apple’s program for new users doesn’t end until August the 24th. This means that anyone who has a code that has not worked thus far can certainly very easily call up Apple, email them, or head down to their local storefront to make the new upgrade so. Those of you who purchase new Mac computers starting today that still have Lion installed on them will have 30 days from the date of purchase to upgrade your computers to Mountain Lion for free as well.

Check out our timeline of Mountain Lion features from the past day or two, and don’t forget to check out our full review of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion as well!

[via MacRumors]

OS X Mountain Lion up-to-date program seeing early evolution pains is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Those of you considering upgrading your Mac to OS X Mountain Lion from an earlier version of the system like OS X Lion should be asking: what’s new? That’s why SlashGear has the simple guide you’re about to look over, complete with a collection of the most important set of changes and updates that play a big part in Mountain Lion’s “200 new features” touted by Apple. This system is the next big step towards perfect integration between your Mac, your iPhone, and your iPad – that’s the first thing to keep in mind.

Before you go too far, be sure to check out our [Mac OS X Mountain Lion full review] to make sure you know what you’re getting into. After you do, continue below if you still need a quick run-down of what you’ll be getting that’s above and beyond the previous version of OS X, Lion – without the Mountain.

iCloud

This feature was introduced several months ago to make connections between your desktop computer and your iDevices much simpler. Now with Mountain Lion you don’t just have to rely on your web browser to deliver your various bits of media between devices. Documents in the Cloud allows instant updating of documents between devices with this new update, these documents sitting kindly on your Mac, updating with ease.

Messages

You’ll no longer be using iChat, instead you’ll be working with the same message environment that the iPad and the iPhone use. Messages are now seamless between the iPad, the iPhone, and your Mac.

Reminders

You’ll now have the same convenient ability to leave yourself reminders that pop up whenever you want them to – these reminders also work between devices, so you can create one on one device and each of your devices will know to notify you when the time comes for your reminder to remind you.

Notes

Similar to the functionality of Reminders and Documents in iCloud, you’ve got Notes which also work in iCloud – it’s basically a very simplified version of the situation. You’ve got a stack of notes and they’re all synced no matter which device you’re on.

Notification Center

Just like your iPad and iPhone, you’ve now got a list of notifications from your apps and system. Calendar invitations will pop up independent of your email system, you’ll be able to get alerts from apps when they need or want an update, and you’ll have a quick overview of it all in the upper-right of your display whenever you want it.

Safari

Mac’s built-in standard web browser now includes a Smart Search Field with instant reaction to your typing of URLs or search terms. You’ve also got Tab View that shows off open tabs – and iCloud Tabs allow you to pick up wherever you left off in your web browser no matter which device you’re on.

Sharing

Safari is only one of several apps throughout OS X Mountain Lion that benefit from the system’s ability to instantly share a variety of elements. Built-in sharing allows you to use Mail, Messages, AirDrop, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Vimeo to share.

Facebook

Just as it is in iOS 6 – coming to an iPad and iPhone near you soon – you’ll be able to easily work with Facebook throughout your Mac. Sign in once and you’ll have easy posting of links and photos forever more. Your Facebook friend will appear in your Contacts automatically and you’ll receive updates in your Notification Center as well.

Twitter

Like Facebook, you’ll be able to quickly access Twitter from locations throughout this updated operating system. Tweet from your apps, sign in once to be able to share with Twitter from many places throughout your Mac, and get instant integration between the people you follow on Twitter and your Contacts list.

Game Center

Just as it is on your iPhone and iPad, you’ve now got full integration with Apple’s Game Center for social networking in a purely gaming level. You’ll be able to track your achievements, connect with friends to play collaborative games, and interact with your friends using their iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

AirPlay Mirroring

This is the first version of Apple’s OS X desktop operating system that allows instant mirroring of your Mac’s display to your HDTV with your Apple TV. This wireless system allows high-definition mirroring of both your computer’s visuals and audio at once, seamlessly.

Note that AirPlay Mirroring requires that your Mac be one of the following: iMac mid-2011 or newer, Mac mini mid-2011 or newer, MacBook Air mid-2011 or newer, or MacBook Pro early 2011 or newer. Your Apple TV needs to be 2nd generation or newer as well for AirPlay Mirroring to function with OS X Mountain Lion.

Dictation

With Mountain Lion you can now speak out loud and have what you’re saying instantly typed up by the system. “Talk anywhere you can type” is their new motto, and no training or setup of any new system is required to make it all so.

Power Nap

While your Mac is sleeping, you’re now able to receive emails, software updates, calendar invites, and more. Where before if you wanted your computer to continue to keep up to date and synced with all things web-based, you’d have had to keep it awake – now you don’t. Simple as that. Note that Power Nap only works MacBook Air models mid-2011 and newer as well as MacBook Pro with Retina display.

Gatekeeper

You’ll have a new selection of controls for the entirety of your Mac, Gatekeeper giving you control over which apps are allowed to be downloaded and which apps are allowed to be installed as well. This feature has been implemented primarily to continue Apple’s battle against malware, and should very much be keeping the torch lit through the foreseeable future.

Download

You can download OS X Mountain Lion for your Mac right this minute through your Mac’s App Store for the cool price of $19.99. If you’re in need of instructions on how to do so or need guidance on what’s necessary to make the install happen, head to our post entitled Prepping for Mountain Lion: three steps you must take.

Also head to the timeline below to catch up on all things Mountain Lion while you stay tuned to our OS X Mountain Lion portal as well!

SlashGear 101: What’s new in OS X Mountain Lion? is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

For those of you looking to upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion today, you’ll be glad to know that not only do you have a vast collection of updates to your Mac, you’ve got an app store based update as well: Game Center. Though you’ll be able to connect to your friends and associates with the in-game version of Game Center in more of a social networking way, you’ve also got an app store section now titled Game Center as well. This is Apple’s first real push for a gaming machine in the Mac.

After you have a peek at our OS X Mountain Lion full review, you’ll want to grab that update for yourself and follow up by heading to the Game Center. In this new section of the app store you’ll find a collection of just seven games for starters. These seven games represent a rather interesting cross-section of genres and gameplay, but what’s most important about all of them are their cross-platform abilities.

Every single one of the games in the Game Center for Mac right now also works with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. With these games you’ll be able to play with your friends and associates via the Game Center functionality they also all work with in-app.

Anomaly Warzone Eath
Mancala FS5
Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy
Real Racing 2
SpellTower
Cut the Rope
Osmos

Each of these titles are available for between $3.99 and $12.99, each of them able to be played on whatever Apple device you’ve got, more or less. We recommend Osmos first and foremost – it’s been essentially the same game for more than two years now, and it’s still very much one of our favorites – grab it!

Also have a peek at the timeline below to see other bits and pieces coming with Apple OS X Mountain Lion asap!

OS X Mountain Lion also brings on iTunes Game Center is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

OS X Mountain Lion is now available to the general public, and you know what that means, right? Yep, bugs and glitches not exposed during the beta might crop up once millions of people install the thing. Have you noticed anything weird after installing the new OS? Let’s talk about it below. More »

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion is here. You’re probably going to read a lot about all the new features and how Apple’s out of ideas. Here’s a guide to what will make using all that ML stuff easier—and what’s going to make the new OS a pain. More »