Posted on by Rahsheen on Black Web 2.0

Apple Uses iOS, iPhone, and iPad Magic on Mac OS X Lion and Mac Air

The aptly named Back to the Mac event that Apple did today brings everything full circle. Mac OS X, Apple desktops, and laptops influenced the development of iOS, iPhones, iPods, and iPads. They took what they already had and parlayed their technology into a successful mobile business. Now, Apple is taking what they learned in developing these amazing mobile devices and cramming it back into their desktop and laptop machines.

If this sounds familiar, it should. It’s the same path that Google is following with Android. The main difference is that Google didn’t start with a successful desktop platform first. Not sure who had the idea first, but it could be a big win for users, especially if Microsoft figures it out as well.

Mac OS X Lion

iLife ‘11 actually gives us a glimpse of the new paradigm of modal computing Apple is heading toward. Instead of having windows and tabs scattered all across your screen, the OS allows you to focus on one thing at a time. This is the type of user interface you’re used to on your iPhone, Android, or iPad. Many apps will take over your entire screen just as they do on your mobile device.

Launchpad shows you all the applications installed on your computer. These apps are managed by the App Store just as they are on your mobile. Using gestures, you can page through what you have installed to find the app you need. Mission Control takes Exposé to a different level, showing you all your open windows grouped by application. It also integrates your dock and dashboard.

Mac App Store

Yes, the App Store is coming to your desktop and laptop. You’ll get access to the new store in Snow Leopard in 90 days. For developers, submissions will run through the month of November. While it is already dead simple to install things on a Mac, having an App Store will make it easier to find and install things for the average user. The main question on your mind right now is probably whether you’ll be able to play Angry Birds. I haven’t heard anything on that yet.

Facetime for Desktops and Laptops

Facetime caused a stir when it was announced for the iPhone, but it was limited. There are other ways to do the same thing with less hassle (Skype, Fring, etc.). Today, Facetime steps its game up by launching for desktops and laptops. This opens the possibilities way up and should put some heat on Skype, the video-calling favorite. You can grab the beta of Facetime today.

iPad and Macbook Have a Baby

I don’t know which one is the daddy, but the babies are beautiful. Apple launched 2 New Macbook Air laptops at the event today. Again, taking what they learned from cramming as much as they could into iPhones, iPads, and those tiny new iPods, they have made these laptops scary small. One of the new Macbook Air laptops is only 0.68″ thick and tapers down to 0.11″. Weighing in at about 2.9 pounds, this one is the big brother.
These things are like iPads with full keyboards, ditching their hard drives for flash storage and getting the Instant On feature. They are fast, small, and silent. You can run them for 5-7 hours straight on WiFi with 30 days standby time. The 11″ model has a 1366×768 display, while the 13″ runs at 1440×900. So small yet they still include stereo speakers and “FaceTime cameras.” Did I mention you can get one right now for $999?

via Gizmodo, SlashGear


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