14 DAY TRIAL // One of the many touch-based features in OS X Lion, Mission Control is an advanced version of the legendary Mac OS X Expose function, which now allows users to preview everything running on their Mac with a simple swipe.
“Mission Control is a powerful and handy new feature that provides you with a comprehensive look at what’s running on your Mac,” Apple says.
As revealed in the company’s promotional video showcasing the various touch gestures supported by Lion, Mission Control is just a swipe away.
In a second, your desktop gives you a bird’s-eye view of everything, including Dashboard and full-screen apps.
Once activated, users can see all their open windows grouped by application, as well as thumbnails of the apps running in Full Screen (another Lion-specific function).
The Dashboard, running all your handy widgets, is also there.
According to the Cupertino tech giant, “…you can get to anything you see in Mission Control with just one click. Making you the master of all you survey.” Mission Control is also dubbed ‘Mac command central’ by Apple. We have noted on several occasions that Apple’s Magic Trackpad has failed to catch on as a replacement of the mouse, or even as an add-on. Folks simply don’t find much use for it.
With Lion, it’s all going to change. The OS is so heavily focused on touch input that the Magic Trackpad will become a must have, for some.
Mac OS X Lion is scheduled to debut this summer, though Apple is yet to confirm whether it will release the software publicly at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
It is widely believed that Apple is gearing up to release a GM1 of Lion internally, followed by a potential new GM (Golden Master) release, or the final version of the touch-centric OS.