Apple: Get Ready to Upgrade to OS X 10.7 Lion

Apple has released the final requirement for downloading and installing Mac OS X Lion, the eight major version of the company’s operating system.

“Enhance the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion,” reads the first line of text in the release notes for Mac OS X 10.6.8, the latest incremental update to Snow Leopard, the current Mac OS used by millions worldwide.

Moving past the key focus of this update, Apple outlines the various tweaks and enhancements included in this update:

- Resolves an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit.
- Improves support for IPv6.
- Improves VPN reliability.
- Identifes and removes known variants of MacDefender malware.
- Corrects timezone data in iCal for Lisbon-Portugal.
- Adds the ability to use Kerberos authentication to a web proxy server.
- Fixes an issue when saving documents from Xcode or TextEdit when using an NFS home directory.
- Fixes an issue when importing certain media files into Final Cut Pro.
- Includes RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras.

Mac OS X v10.6.8 also includes fixes provided in a previous maintenance update that focused on addresses an issue in which some OpenType fonts didn’t display correctly in certain applications.

The Mac OS X v10.6.7 Snow Leopard Font Update further resolved issues printing from Preview, addressed an issue with PDF files not opening in third-party PDF viewing applications, and resolves invalid font errors when printing to PostScript printers.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is set to debut next month, in accordance with Apple’s June 6 confirmation at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Lion borrows key elements from the iPad version of iOS, and features multiple enhancements like new multi-touch gestures; full screen apps; Mission Control, Launchpad; Auto-Save, Versions and Resume; AirDrop; a brand new version of Mail and more.