CBS News/ July 10, 2012, 10:57 AM

Mountain Lion release date, Apple OS X updates

OS X Mountain Lion

/ Apple

(CBS News) Rejoice Macheads! Apple's new operating system Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion is almost here.

Apple released the "gold master" version of the software to developers Monday. The public will likely get the same copy of Mountain Lion, which is expected to be made available for download on July 25. Several sources speculate the software will be released the day after Apple's earning call on July 24.

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Mountain Lion was originally announced in February, with details of its features presented at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The software update includes Reminders, iMessage and Notification Center. The new Mac OS X will get features that integrate better with Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, which runs on iPads and iPhones.

Mac OS X Mountain Lion will also get voice dictation, AirPlay mirroring from OS X to Apple TV and GameCenter, which is Apple's social gaming hub.

The software will include better integration with iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service. Once a user is logged in with an Apple ID, all devices and computers should sync with iCloud. Notes, reminders and calendars will sync on MacBooks, iPads and iPhones through the service.

Messages will make its way to desktop computers - at the expense of iChat. Apple's instant messaging client will be retired for iMessage, which is already available on iOS devices. Sending a message to the iPad, iPhone and MacBooks will be a more seamless experience.

Mountain Lion will retail for $19.99 and both Lion and Snow Leopard eligible for direct upgrade. The software is available for download at the Mac App Store.