The next iteration of Apple's desktop OS X, Lion, is scheduled for release sometime this summer. A just released developers preview gives a good idea of what Apple has been working on for this version.
On Apple's website, the company detailed Lion's improved support for multi-touch gestures using a trackpad. In addition to more ways to swipe, pinch, zoom, and more, one notable change is that scrolling now works as it does on iOS devices—drag down on the trackpad to scroll down, drag up to scroll up—complete with "rubber-band" effects at the end of scrollable areas. This is in contrast to all previous versions of Mac OS X, where dragging down scrolls up and vice versa.
Apple also previously mentioned auto-save and auto-resume features last fall, but didn't go into much detail about them. Now we know that apps updated for Lion will gain the ability to autosave all documents as changes are made. Documents can be locked to prevent inadvertent changes, and Apple said that documents will be "auto-locked" after two weeks. Lion also includes automatic file versioning, saving the state of a document every hour it is open and allowing you to step back to any previous state in a graphical Time Machine-like experience. You can go back through previous versions to revert to a previous state or copy and paste data from an older version into the current one.
Apps updated for Lion also gain the ability to automatically save state whenever they quit. When reopened, the application appears as it did when quit, including any open documents and windows. Lion can also automatically resume any open applications whenever you need to log out or reboot. This is especially useful for getting back up and running after performing an OS update, for instance, lessening the pain of lost productivity and increasing the likelihood that important updates get installed instead of ignored.
Apple also disclosed three major new feature additions for Lion on Thursday. One is that Lion will include a new version of Mail that uses a vertical list of e-mails on the left and a full message view on the right, à la iPad. Apple says this new layout works better for widescreen displays and many users of plug-ins for previous versions of Mail that re-arrange the panes in this way would likely agree.
Lion will also include a new file-sharing feature called "AirDrop." AirDrop allows you to view a list of logged-in users of compatible Macs connected to the same network. To transfer a file to any user, you can just drag-and-drop a file to their name in the list, transferring it directly to that user's Downloads folder. If a logged in user is in your address book, you'll see their contact photo, making it easier to identify the right target on a crowded network.
However, the most surprising revelation from Apple is that Mac OS X Server will no longer be a separate product. Mac OS X Lion will include all the necessary serversbits and easy configuration to set up any Mac as a server. It includes all the usual server services, such as user and group management, push notifications, file sharing, calendaring, mail, contacts, chat, Time Machine, VPN, web, and wiki services. A new "Profile Manager" will enable easier set up and management of Mac OS X and iOS devices, integrating with existing directory services. Lion's WebDAV services will automatically allow iPad users to share files remotely, and Lion will also include an updated version of Wiki Server.
