Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 Launch Day Roundup - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 Launch Day Roundup

Today, Apple launched OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for $19.99 on the Mac App Store. The latest version OS X provides a number of new features borrowed from iOS as well as some Mac specific ones. This overview video from Apple provides a quick look at the biggest new features.


Other sites have put together more detailed videos showing smaller changes and a more detailed look at AirPlay mirroring.

In general, the reception has been positive amongst reviewers, especially given the $19.99 price tag. The launch, however, has resulted in the removal of OS X Lion from the Mac App Store. While this isn't too big a surprise, it could leave some owners of older Macs stuck if their Mac isn't supported by OS X Mountain Lion but were supported by OS X Lion.

The other major hiccup in today's launch was the distribution of codes for Apple's Up To Date program. The Up To Date program offers Mountain Lion OS X to customers free of charge if they have bought a new Mac since June 11th. Apple seems to be aware of the issue and is working on reissuing faulty codes.

There have been a number of OS X Mountain Lion related software updates and news items today. If you aren't following our full RSS feed, you may have missed the many updates on our Mac Blog today:

- Adobe and Avid Report Only Minor Issues With Mountain Lion
- Microsoft Confirms Office 2011 and 2008 Compatibility with OS X Mountain Lion
- Create a Bootable Mountain Lion USB Key Installer
- Apple Updates iPhoto, iMovie and Aperture Alongside OS X Mountain Lion
- Apple Updates iWork with iCloud and Dictation for OS X Mountain Lion
- Apple Launches 'OS X Server' for Mountain Lion for $19.99

Tidbits offers a nice overview of tips and little details from Mountain Lion. Macworld has posted a number of detailed looks at Mountain Lion's Safari, Messages, and Reminders. Finally, MacRumors readers have been posting in our Mountain Lion forum for questions and tracking issues.

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
ios 26 4 pastel

iOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Friday March 20, 2026 2:44 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or...

Top Rated Comments

178 months ago
So much faster!

I have an early 2008 iMac and wow I've noticed an increase in speed that I haven't seen since Leopard that was original installed on my iMac. Snow Leopard was quick too but Lion was pretty sluggish. I can't get over how fast Sarfari is now too, super quick! Good job Apple. :)

For $20 Mountain Lion is 100% worth it.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F4C4 Avatar
178 months ago
they only changed the wallpaper! propaganda, propaganda!

I am officially down voting this!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
178 months ago
I have an early 2008 iMac and wow I've noticed an increase in speed that I haven't seen since Leopard that was original installed on my iMac. Snow Leopard was quick too but Lion was pretty sluggish. I can't get over how fast Sarfari is now too, super quick! Good job Apple. :)

For $20 Mountain Lion is 100% worth it.
I agree. Safari sure does feel snappier :D
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
frunkis54 Avatar
178 months ago
I agree. Safari sure does feel snappier :cool:

never gets old....
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
178 months ago
Another thing I like about Mountain Lion is that now it doesn't "auto save" and there seems to be less of a focus on the "Resume" feature.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
178 months ago
Aww... I kinda miss "Software Update" ;) RIP
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: News | Iphone | Travel | World News | Entertainment