8 Features that OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) Borrowed from iOS
Apple has released a developer preview of OS X Mountain Lion (10.8). The next Mac OS X version “borrowed” some popular apps and features from iOS (iPad/iPhone): Messages, Notes, Reminders, Game Center, Notification Center, Share Sheets, Twitter integration, and AirPlay Mirroring.
Read on for the details.
Table of Contents
1. Messages
Messages has replaced iChat, the instant messenger in Mac OS X. Just like iMessage in iOS, Messages lets you send unlimited messages (text, photos, videos, file, contact) to anyone on a Mac or iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. With the same Apple ID, you will receive your message across all your Macs and iDevices.
Now you can download Messages beta for Mac OS X Lion.
2. Reminders
Reminders is another app ported from iOS to OS X Mountain Lion. It is a simple ToDo apps with list. Reminders use iCloud to sync your lists on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
3. Notes
Like Notes in iOS, Notes for OS X Mountain Lion is a simple app for you to jot down notes with photos and attachments. You can also pin notes on Mac desktop as your virtual sticky notes. Notes are synced across your Macs and iDevices using iCloud.
4. Notification Center
Notification Center brings iOS app notifications to Mac OS X. Before this, we use Growl app to get app notifications. Notification Center for OS X pop up Notification Banners on event, swipe to the left, and you see a list of all recent notifications.
A new Share button is added to many OS X Mountain Lion apps (Safari, Notes, Reminders, Photo Booth, and iPhoto) allow you to easily share information by email, Messages. Post photos to Flickr. Send videos to Vimeo. And tweet to Twitter.
6. Twitter integration
Have a Twitter account? OS X Mountain Lion, like iOS, has integrated Twitter. Sign in once and you can start tweeting links, photos with the new Tweet Sheet. You also get notification when someone mentions you in a tweet or sends you a direct message.
Follow @liewcf on Twitter
7. Game Center
Like on iOS, Game Center for Mountain Lion helps you to connect with other games on the Mac, iPhone, and iPod touch around the world. You can play a multiplayer game against gamers on different iDevices and Mac.
8. AirPlay Mirroring
AirPlay Mirroring feature allows you to broadcast your Mac OS X Mountain Lion’s screen to HDTV via Apple TV, wirelessly.
Availability
The preview release of Mountain Lion is available to Mac Developer Program members now. Mac users will be able to upgrade to Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store in late Summer 2012.
My two cents
I am glad to see Apple ports some great features of iOS to Mac. The gap between Mac and iOS will become smaller and good for user experiences. The AirPlay Mirroring feature would be the reason I buy an Apple TV. Wire no more!
Also, iCloud will become the must-have online service for all Apple customers. I would like to see more apps integrate iCloud sync.
Which OS X Mountain Lion feature you like most?
