All about Apple's upcoming OS Mountain Lion

20 FEB, 2012, 05.50AM IST, KARAN BAJAJ,ET BUREAU 

Apple's next version of the OS X operating system is heavily inspired by the iPad and it will have over a hundred new features when it arrives this summer. ET sifts through the announcement to highlight the prominent ones. 

Messages 
The new Messages application replaces the existingiChat application with the added feature that you can send and receive messages (including photo and video attachments) to and from iOS devices and Mountain Lion systems. It will also sync with the iMessage app on your iOS device - you can start a conversation on the Mac and continue it on your iOS device. Messages will continue to work as a multi-IM client with built in support for GTalk, Yahoo Messenger, Jabber and AIM. 

Reminders & Notes 
Reminders now come to OS X desktop and support multiple list creation. You can set deadlines and get alert notifications as well. Notes on the other hand, lets you jot down your thoughts along with photos, videos and other attachments. You can share notes via mail or messages and even pin them to the desktop for viewing later. Both the Notes and Reminders application use iCloud and will sync content with your iPhone/iPod Touch or iPad - you can edit them on the go and they will be updated across devices. 

Notification Center 
Taking a cue from iOS devices, Mountain Lion will come with its own Notification Center. A simple swipe will bring down the Notification Center on the right side of the display with notifications about mail, messages, reminders and so on. If you have other apps running, notifications will appear as banners and disappear quickly so as to not interrupt what you are doing. Clicking a notification will launch the relevant app. 

Share Sheets & Twitter integration 
Focussing on social networking, Apple has upgraded this new desktop OS with full fledged Twitter integration. Simply sign in with your Twitter ID and the new Tweet Sheet feature allows you to tweet directly from within supported apps like Safari, iPhoto or Photo Booth. Share Sheets adds a new feature to the 'Share' button in supported OS X apps. The Share button now enables you to share pictures, videos, notes and links with friends via social networks, mail or Messages. 

GateKeeper 
Gatekeeper is OS X's new security feature that prevents installation of malicious software on your Mac. You can choose to only install apps available from the Mac App Store, apps that have a developer ID associated with them or keep it the same way as OS X Lion (the lowest security setting for advanced users, which enables you to install any apps from anywhere on the web). This way, OS X steps up the security amidst reports that malicious software was on the rise. 

Game Center 
Game Center on OS X allows you to keep a track of your friends as well as leaderboard scores. It will also identify which games are Game Center enabled - making it easier to compete with others who have the same game on their Mac or iOS device. New friends can be added by sending requests directly from your Mac, even to people using iOS devices. It also has a provision to add multiple email addresses so that people can find you easily.