Apple Retail Stores Receive Golden Master Copies of OS X Lion

lioninstallApple appears to be setting up the final pieces for OS X Lion's launch this week. A previous report even pinpointed the release as early as Wednesday morning.

We've now been able to confirm that Apple Retail stores have begun receiving final copies of OS X Lion today. The installations have come on hard drive and are meant for the Apple Retail demo computers on the store floor. This, of course, doesn't guarantee a specific launch date, but brings Apple one step closer to launch.

Apple has said that OS X Lion will be launching in July but has not publicly committed to a launch date. Apple seeded the Golden Master version of OS X Lion to developers on July 1st. The Golden Master version is typically the final shipping version of the operating system. Apple is also widely expected to refresh the MacBook Air and Mac Mini computers around the same time as Lion's launch.

Top Rated Comments

iStudentUK Avatar
165 months ago
So soon we will be able to replace all the "where is Lion" threads with "Lion bugs" threads!
Score: 85 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gibbz Avatar
165 months ago
So soon we will be able to replace all the "where is Lion" threads with "Lion bugs" threads!

Yeah, I am awaiting the general comments of "Lion is the worst OS ever! Why did Apple remove the ____ feature? <Insert additional snarky comment about being able to write better software despite not being an engineer.> Lion is clear proof Apple only cares about the iPhones. These hipster kids and their iOS devices. When I was a nerd back in the 80's, Apple was a rebel company who cared about their users. Now they sold out and are like Microsoft."
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
165 months ago
Isn't this tantamount to admitting that the Icloud and the Apple Application Store is a failure?

Why would Apple insist that customers download 10.7 from the network, but send physical copies to their own stores?

The mind boggles at the duplicity.

I imagine that it's actually a disk image of Lion tailored for the retail experience, with a few iTunes tracks, pictures, videos and the concierge thing that all the demo Mac's get refreshed with every night. It'll be less effort for the tech guys in the Apple stores just to swap a drive in the store's server than to have to initiate, monitor and execute a download.

Purely speculation on my behalf though, just adding my thoughts to your own.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGuardian Avatar
165 months ago
Isn't this tantamount to admitting that the Icloud and the Apple Application Store is a failure?

Why would Apple insist that customers download 10.7 from the network, but send physical copies to their own stores?

The mind boggles at the duplicity.

iHypocrisy. Physical media's still the best solution for some people is it Apple? :rolleyes:

Seriously? Downloading Lion from the App Store and installing it on that machine is fine for the average user. The average user does not need to install an operating system on 20+ computers at once right before store opening.

These are different situations entirely. Different situations require different means. This is in no way “hypocrisy."
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NAG Avatar
165 months ago
So soon we will be able to replace all the "where is Lion" threads with "Lion bugs" threads!

As well as "why does my ppc application not work" threads.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mentholiptus Avatar
165 months ago
Meh.

I'm going to miss the Mac operating system. There have been rough releases over the years, but all and all, it's been a good run. This final version of Snow Leopard turned out to be the best of them all. Apple sure went out with a bang on that one. I can see using it for the next year until applications no longer run on it. After that, I guess I'll figure out where to go from there.

Not sure what's in store for the future, but so far... things are looking dismal for the ol' Macintosh. But I guess if you are into iToys like the iPhone, or iPad... then I suppose there's a lot to be looking forward to, so have fun with that.
Jesus, what a bunch of ____ing drama queens.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
Reasons to Not Upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14

macOS Sonoma 14.4: Reasons Not to Update

Monday March 18, 2024 9:36 am PDT by
Since Apple unveiled macOS Sonoma 14.4 on March 7, the transition to the latest software update has not been entirely smooth for everyone, and a number of issues have been reported by users that significantly impact their daily workflow. This article lists the most prominent challenges users have faced since updating to macOS Sonoma 14.4, and offers potential solutions where available. USB...