Apple Making OS X More Like iOS

When the iPhone and iPad first debuted, Apple sought to make these mobile devices work like its desktops and laptops. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and features of iOS are being added to OS X.

Apple released a preview edition of OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) this morning, and iPhone users should immediately recognize many of its new features: Messages, iCloud, and Notification Center. Some of these have clearly been added to make it easier for people with a Mac and an iOS device to collaborate.

Years ago, this company introduced iChat for Macs. This is being phased out in place of Messages, the IM client that debuted in iOS 5.

iCloud support will allow iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to easily share documents. For example, someone could edit a Word doc on their desktop, and the version on their iPhone and iPad would automatically, and immediately, be updated.

More iOS Features
Not a collaboration tool, but Apple is bringing the iOS Notification Center to OS X. A two-finger swipe from the right side of the trackpad will bring up a list of recent emails, calendar items, Facebook updates, etc.

The Reminder app, another new feature in iPhones and iPads is coming to Macs too. So is the Game Center and AirPlay support.

These are not all the new features in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion -- just the ones that are migrating over from iOS.

Apple sells far more iPhones and iPads than it does desktops and laptops. It seems the company is trying to make those who are familiar with its mobile offerings more interested in buying a Mac to go along with them.

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