OS X Lion To Launch July 19th Alongside New MacBook Airs

By

MacBook-Air-Lion

Apple teased the latest features in the upcoming OS X Lion operating system at WWDC early this month, but when it comes to a release date, the company has left us hanging. Now a new report claims that Lion will launch on July 19th… and will drag new MacBook Airs out to customers immeditely in its wake.

Two separate sources, both of which are “connected to Apple in different capacities,” have revealed to Apple’n’Apps that the internal launch date currently being thrown around the Apple camp for both OS X Lion and new MacBook Airs is July 19th — the same day Apple is to hold a conference call announcing its Q3 financial results.

While the sources note that this date isn’t set in stone and could change, they claim that if everything goes according to plan both products will begin shipping on that date.

Apple’n’Apps notes that there are already subtle indications that suggest OS X Lion and the new MacBook Air will launch hand-in-hand:

The basis of Lion is to bring features from iOS to the Mac, and the MacBook Air is the closest blend of Mac OS and iOS. It only makes sense for Apple to highlight Lion with a new set of MacBook Airs, so the indications may prove correct. The main images on the Lion page on Apple’s site are shown running on a MacBook Air. The Air takes cues from the iPad in its construction with solid state storage, instant-on, great standby battery life, as well as lightweight construction.

This report strengthens previous speculation claiming Apple will build 400,000 MacBook Airs this month to get the device ready for a July launch. The next-generation of notebooks are expected to come equipped with Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors and the company’s high-speed Thunderbolt technology — features which were recently introduced to Apple’s iMacs and MacBook Pros.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.