Apple’s next iteration of OS X is named Mountain Lion and developer releases show a convergence of the mobile iOS platform and the legacy desktop edition. As per usual, a number of APIs are added and applications updated though Mountain Lion introduces a new security tool called Gatekeeper allowing users to enforce execution rights based on an application’s origin. Additionally, Apple continued with its typical policy of abandoning older hardware where only the following platforms are expected to run Mountain Lion:

• iMac (mid 2007 or later)
• MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later), (15-inch, 2.4/2.2 GHz), (17-inch, Late 2007 or later)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
• Mac Mini (Early 2009 or later)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
• Xserve (Early 2009)

How will Apple’s cavalier attitude towards long term support impact your opinion on their products? Only months ago, Apple alienated their professional user base by stripping down Final Cut Pro of many longstanding features (some of which only came back as users jumped ship). Along with the lack of an update to the Mac Pro and potential watering down of OS X to merge with iOS really makes one wonder what more is to come.