Danny Gorog16 October 2007, 7:23 PM
Apple today announced that Leopard, its next generation operating system is finally going public on October 26 at 6pm.
Apple today announced that Leopard, and Leopard Server, its next generation operating system is finally going public on October 26 at 6pm. If you're keen to get it on Friday you'll be able to pick it up from Apple authorised resellers, or you can order online now, for estimated delivery on the 26th.
Leopard will cost $158 (inc. GST) for a single user license. The Leopard Family Pack is a single residence, five-user license that will be available for $249 inc GST. If you've just bought a Mac (after 1 October) you'll be eligible for the Mac OS Up-To-Date upgrade package for a shipping and handling fee of A$12.95 inc GST. Leopard server will be $598 inc GST for a 10-client edition and $1199 inc GST for an unlimited-client edition.
If you want to run Leopard you'll need a minimum of 512MB of RAM and any Mac with an Intel, PowerPC G5 or G4 (867 Mhz or faster) processor. Full system requirements can be found here. If you want to run the server version you'll need 1GB of RAM and at least 20GB free disk space.
Poking fun at the various, confusing different versions of Windows Vista, Steve Jobs said that Leopard was the 'best upgrade' Apple had ever released, and "everyone gets the ‘Ultimate’ version.
Apple has had developer betas of Leopard out now for some time , so there isn't much we don't know about it but here is a recap from Apple's press release:
Leopard’s new desktop includes the redesigned 3D Dock with Stacks, a new way to organise files for quick and easy access with just one click. Leopard automatically places web, email and other downloads in a Downloads stack to maintain a clutter-free desktop, and users can instantly fan the contents of this and other Stacks into an elegant arc right from the Dock. Users can also create their own Stacks for quick access to folders, documents or applications. Leopard’s gorgeous new look extends to all applications, with every window on the desktop offering a consistent design theme and active windows outlined by deeper shadows that make them stand out.
The updated Finder includes Cover Flow and a new sidebar with a dramatically simplified way to search for, browse and copy content from any PC or Mac on a local network. Content on any computer on a local network can now be searched using Spotlight, browsed using Cover Flow or copied across the network with a simple drag and drop. .Mac members can use the new Back to My Mac feature to browse and access files on their remote Macs over the Internet.
Quick Look is the fastest and easiest way for users to look inside files without launching them or even having the application that created them. With Quick Look, users can instantly view full-screen, high-resolution files of virtually anything, even media files, from any view in the Finder.
Spaces gives users a powerful new way to organise their work by creating customised desktops which can contain only those applications or documents needed for each project, with the ability to quickly switch between Spaces with the mouse or keyboard.
Time Machine lets users easily back up all of the data on their Mac, find lost files and even restore all of the software on their Mac. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac.* In the event a file is lost, users can search back through time to find deleted files, applications, photos and other digital media and then instantly restore the file. If it’s ever necessary, Leopard can also easily restore an entire system from the Time Machine data on an external drive.
Mail has been updated in Leopard and features more than 30 stationery designs and layouts that look great on a Windows PC or Mac so users can easily send stylish, personalised emails with beautiful graphics and photos. Notes and To Dos help users stay organised by acting just like emails that can be easily created, saved as drafts, synced across multiple Macs and stored in Smart Mailboxes. Data detectors automatically sense phone numbers, addresses and events so they can be added to Address Book oriCal with just a few clicks, and users can keep up-to-date by getting the latest news and blog feeds delivered directly to their mailboxes with a built-inRSS reader.
iChat, the easiest-to-use video conferencing application on any personal computer, offers even richer video chats in Leopard with iChat Theater, which makes it easy to show photos, presentations, videos or files in a video conference; screen sharing which lets users remotely view and operate another Mac; and Photo Booth effects for fun distortions and video backdrops that can instantly make users appear to be anywhere they choose.
If that doesn't sound like $158 worth of value check out this list which features all 300 new features. With the installed Mac user base growing at an impressive rate, it's likely Mac OS X Leopard will be the highest-selling Mac OS release in Apple's history.