Best of What's New 2011

Computing

Apple OS X Lion

The next step toward convergence
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Mac OS X Lion Jeff Harris

A deft merger of features in OS X Lion, the latest iteration of Apple’s desktop operating system, is beginning to close the gap between computers and gadgets. As mobile devices get faster, they become more capable of taking on tasks normally left to computers, such as photo editing and high-def streaming. Yet the groups remain divided by their operating systems—unless that OS is Lion. Through a trackpad or multitouch mouse, a Lion user navigates a desktop as if it were an iPad—with gestures. Beyond pinching-to-zoom, swiping sideways moves between programs, and reversed scrolling mimics mobile (flick up to go down, and pull down to go up). The OS and much of its software are no longer loaded from CD-ROMs but downloaded from a central app store. All told, OS X Lion is the first step toward a computing landscape in which one interface can serve all purposes. $30

4 Comments

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BlazeEagle
11/19/11 at 11:06 am

Not just Apple, sheesh!

This can be a part of ANY OS as long as the OS is designed to accept a touch/swipe sensor. This should be obvious.

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delventhalz
12/16/11 at 3:54 pm

Any feature CAN be a part of any OS, multi-touch gestures ARE a part of Lion. What's your point?

That said, Lion is a turd. I hate it.

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drdam4n
12/16/11 at 6:23 pm

Windows PCs already have touch screen interfaces (have had them for years. Apple is not innovative...suckers.

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kernels
02/29/12 at 7:34 pm

@drdam4n
that touch screen interface is more of a marketing gimmick than something innovative

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