Apple's Leopard is Here

Apple has announced the availability of its latest OS, Leopard for the Indian market.

This new upgrade has more than 300 new features and introduces a brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to access files from the Dock; a redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application; Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; and Time Machine, an interactive way to automatically back up everything on a Mac.

Leopard’s new desktop includes the redesigned 3D Dock with Stacks, which is an easier and faster way to organize files and documents of a similar variety for quick and easy access with just one click. This is especially helpful as Leopard automatically places web, email and other downloads in a Downloads stack to maintain a clutter-free desktop.

The updated Finder includes Cover Flow and a new sidebar which is a simplified way to search for, browse and copy content from any PC or Mac on a local network. Content on any computer on a local network can now be searched using Spotlight, browsed using Cover Flow or copied across the network with a simple drag.

Quick Look helps users to look inside files without launching them or even having the application that created them. With Quick Look, users can instantly view full-screen, high-resolution files including media files from any view in the Finder.

Spaces is a new way to organize their work by creating customized desktops, which can contain only those applications or documents needed for each project, with the ability to quickly switch between Spaces with the mouse or keyboard.

Time Machine lets users easily back up all of the data on their Mac, find lost files and even restore all of the software on their Mac. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac. In the event a file is lost, users can search back through time to find deleted files, applications, photos another digital media and then instantly restore the file.

Mail has been updated in Leopard and features more than 30 stationery designs and layouts. Notes and To Dos help users stay organized by acting just like emails that can be easily created, saved as drafts, synced across multiple Macs and stored in Smart Mailboxes. Data detectors automatically sense phone numbers, addresses and events so they can be added to Address Book or iCal with just a few clicks.

iChat offers richer video chats in Leopard with iChat Theater, which makes it easy to show photos, presentations, videos or files in a video conference; screen sharing which lets users remotely view and operate another Mac

In terms of pricing Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard is available now through Apple Authorized Resellers for a maximum retail price of Rs. 6,200 for a single user license. The Mac OS X Leopard Family Pack is a single-residence, five-user license that is available for a maximum retail price of Rs. 9660. The standard Mac OS Up-To-Date upgrade package is available to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from an Apple Authorized Reseller on or after October 1, 2007 for a shipping and handling fee of Rs. 461.