Requires 64-bit CPU, 8 gigs of free space and (of course) an Apple dev license

Feb 17, 2012 08:18 GMT  ·  By

As many of you have already learned, Apple released a new version of OS X yesterday via its developer distribution channels to offer a look at the next major version of the company’s desktop operating system.

Described as “the ninth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system,” Mountain Lion brings popular apps and features from iPad to the Mac.

Mountain Lion introduces Messages, Notes, Reminders, Game Center, Notification Center, Share Sheets, Twitter integration and AirPlay Mirroring, just to name the key additions of a pool of more than 100 new features.

To download the developer preview of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, you need to be a registered Apple Developer ($99 a year). If that’s you, the steps to downloading the OS are:

1. Log in to your developer account;

2. Access the Mac section;

3. Click the OS X Mountain Lion tab;

4. Click Get Redemption Code (next to the OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview or OS X Mountain Lion Server Developer Preview).

The Mac App Store should launch and your download should begin automatically.

System requirements include an Intel-based Mac running OS X 10.6.7 Snow Leopard or later (including OS X 10.7 Lion), at least 8GB of free disk space, and a 64-bit processor.

In addition to OS X Mountain Lion, Apple is also making available Xcode 4.4 Developer Preview - also exclusively available to Mac Developer Program members, but downloadable from the Mac Dev Center.

An Xcode version is downloadable by anyone from the Mac App Store. Version 4.3 was also released yesterday and replaces the Install Xcode package and adds support for delta updates. The new toolkit also has a new "Downloads" preference pane that lets users install command line tools, previous iOS Simulators, and other optional components.