New Releases Round Up: OS X Lion, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, 27″ Thunderbolt Display

It’s been quite the release morning for Apple today. It was confirmed during yesterday’s earnings conference call OS X Lion would be available today. But Apple also released updates for the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and introduced a new 27″ Apple Thunderbolt display. Also, the White MacBook is dead, and a few OS X Lion software updates are now available. Let’s go over the details in this quick round up, shall we?

OS X Lion

CUPERTINO, California—July 20, 2011—Apple® today announced that Mac OS® X Lion, the eighth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system with more than 250 new features, is available today as a download from the Mac® App Store™ for $29.99. Some of the amazing features in Lion include: new Multi-Touch® gestures; system-wide support for full screen apps; Mission Control, an innovative view of everything running on your Mac; the Mac App Store, the best place to find and explore great software, built right into the OS; Launchpad, a new home for all your apps; and a completely redesigned Mail app.

“Lion is the best version of OS X yet, and we’re thrilled that users around the world can download it starting today,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Lion makes upgrading a Mac easier than ever before; just launch the Mac App Store, buy Lion with your iTunes account, and the download and install process will begin automatically.”

OS X Lion comes in at 4 GB, and is available in the Canadian Mac App Store for $29.99. Apple retail stores will offer the new OS on a USB thumb drive for $69 in August. OS X Lion Server is $49.99.

MacBook Air Updates: Latest Core i5/i7 Processors, Thunderbolt, Backlit Keyboard

CUPERTINO, California—July 20, 2011—Apple® today updated the MacBook Air® with next generation processors, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, a backlit keyboard and Mac OS® X Lion, the world’s most advanced operating system. With up to twice the performance of the previous generation, flash storage for instant-on responsiveness and a compact design so portable you can take it everywhere,* the MacBook Air starts at $999 (US) and is available for order today and in stores tomorrow.

“Portable, affordable and powerful, MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “MacBook Air features our most advanced technology and is an ideal match for Lion, especially with its new Multi-Touch gestures, full-screen apps, Mission Control and Mac App Store.”

11-inch Air model options:
– $999: 1.6GHz dual core i5 processors, 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD,
– $1199: Same as above but 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD

13-inch Air model options:
– $1299: 1.7GHz dual core i5 processors, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD,
– $1599: Same as above but 256GB SSD

If you’ve been waiting to buy a MacBook Air, this is the time. Backlit keyboard, Thunderbolt, plus spec upgrades? No-brainer.

27″ Apple Thunderbolt Display

CUPERTINO, California—July 20, 2011—Apple® today unveiled the new Apple Thunderbolt Display, the world’s first display with Thunderbolt I/O technology and the ultimate docking station for your Mac® notebook. With just a single cable, users can connect a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac to the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display and access its FaceTime® camera, high quality audio, and Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire® 800, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt ports. Designed specifically for Mac notebooks, the new display features an elegant, thin, aluminum and glass enclosure, and includes a MagSafe® connector that charges your MacBook® Pro or MacBook Air®.

“The Apple Thunderbolt Display is the ultimate docking station for your Mac notebook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With just one cable, users can dock with their new display and connect to high performance peripherals, network connections and audio devices.”

This new 27″ display is available for $999 CDN.

Cables – Built-in Thunderbolt cable, Universal MagSafe cable (up to 85W)

Peripheral connections – Three powered USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port, Gigabit, Ethernet port, Thunderbolt port, Kensington security slot

Includes built-in FaceTime HD camera with mic, and a 49 watt 2.1 speaker system.

Mac mini Updated: Optical Drive Disappears, i5/i7, Thunderbolt, SSD Option

CUPERTINO, California—July 20, 2011—Apple® today updated the Mac® mini with next generation Intel Core processors, new discrete graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and Lion, the world’s most advanced operating system. The new Mac mini delivers up to twice the processor and graphics performance of the previous generation in the same amazingly compact and efficient aluminum design.* Starting at just $599 (US), the new Mac mini is available for order today and in stores tomorrow.

“Mac mini delivers the speed and expandability that makes it perfect for the desktop, living room or office,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With faster processors, more powerful graphics and Thunderbolt in an incredibly compact, aluminum design, the new Mac mini is more versatile than ever.”

Mac mini options:

$599: 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 2GB RAM, 500GB hard drive
– Options for 8GB RAM, 750GB hard drive.

$799: 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 4GB of memory, 500GB hard drive
– Options for 2.7GHz dual-core Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of memory, and a 750GB hard drive with an option to add or replace with a 256GB solid state drive.

$999: 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Mac mini with Lion Server, 4GB of memory and dual 500GB hard drives.
– Options for up to 8GB RAM, two 750GB hard drives, or up to two 256GB solid state drives.

In other updates, iWork has been updated for Lion, iTunes 10.4, and Safari 5.1 are all available for download too. It’s been a great day for Apple updates! Let us know how your OS X Lion upgrade goes. Be sure to do a backup beforehand.