Apple will release its next version of the Apple operating
system, dubbed Snow Leopard, on 28 August.
The new operating system features built-in support for Microsoft
Exchange Server 2007, improvements to 90% of the features, and
slimmed-down code that takes up half the space of previous
operating systems.
The improvements include:
- Mail messages load twice as quickly
- 80% faster initial back-up using Time Machine
- Safari browser that is 50% quicker
- Redesigned QuickTime player
- A 7Gbyte saving in disc space.
Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard, which uses 64-bit processors,
offers increased performance and improved security while remaining
compatible with 32-bit applications, the company said.
It features Grand Central Dispatch (GCD), which allows software
developers to write applications that take advantage of multicore
processors.
OpenCL, a C-based open standard, allows developers to tap the
power of the graphics processing unit for other tasks.
Apple is offering Snow Leopard to existing users for an upgrade
price of £25.
Apple will also release the server version,
Mac OS X Server
Snow Leopard, which includes innovative features, including
Podcast Producer 2 and Mobile Access Sever, for £399, including
unlimited client licences.