While there’s still hope that OS X Lion will drop today, the chances are slim. Previous speculation was that Apple would announce Lion alongside new Mac hardware today, but that hasn’t seemed to pan out just yet.
So when is it coming? We’ve received a tip that claims a July 26th Lion launch date, seemingly confirming a similar report earlier today… and our tipster received his word straight from an Apple Store Genius’s mouth.
Reader Stephen writes:
“So last week, I was at an Apple store in Houston buying a new iPad. The employee training me said, “And when Lion comes out on the 26th, then you can do a whole lot with your Mac and your iPad.” He said it with such confidence, it might actually be true–and I didn’t even ask him about the release date; he said it in a very non-chalant way.”
Take this tip with a grain of salt, as one Apple employee’s word doesn’t mean a definite launch date. However, this does line up perfectly with the other rumors of a July 26th Lion and Apple hardware launch. Also, while a Genius is hardly an authoritative source, it should be noted that he said that Apple would release Lion on the 26th with a great deal of certitude a week before the Internet began tipping that date as possible.
As we previously noted, Apple’s updated MacBook Airs, white MacBooks, and Mac minis could be the reason that Lion was delayed today. Retailers in the US are still waiting for Apple’s new hardware to ship. Apple is probably waiting to ship Lion on its new hardware, so we expect a simultaneous launch of new software and hardware in a couple weeks. Apple promised that Lion would be out by July, so there’s still plenty of time left.
Don’t lose hope. The Lion will roar… eventually.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
47 responses to “Apple Genius Says OS X Lion Is Coming On July 26th [Reader Tip]”
Our source, which is also being reported by CNET, says 7/15. But none of us will know for sure until we are downloading it for ourselves.
Check out the story here:
http://friendsofmac.net/2011/0…
I feel like I’m living Deja Vu isn’t this the same article you had when you guys said July 14th? Only you edited the 14th with the 26th? Everything lines up? Come on guys, face it, apple isn’t even sure when it’s coming out. They love the PR!
Free advertising for Apple (like they need it). We love them anyway!
-Chris
FOM
Seems like they’re just pulling out random dates now. I for one heard from 100 reliable sources that it will come out on July 21st!
Finally somebody thinking like me. Unfortunately I think our friend is right, basically because 2 days ago, Apple asked for developers to send their apps for approval. Now think about the amount of work they’re going to have in the next few days taking care of all Lion’s Apps. The average time is one week, but in regular times, not pre-releases times. This takes us to a 2 weeks maximum to take care of everything, so if they started to accept Apps by the 12th, plus 7 = 19th + 7 = 26th. Finished our math, I say we will have Lion in the same day Genius just said. It all makes sense.
Pre-WWDC you had an article that said a Genius had told a customer buying iPhone4 to ‘Wait and see what happens, they won’t regret it.’ Apple have got another 2 weeks before end of July, and let’s not forget how many times we thought the white iPhone4 was being released.
If you put your faith in rumors and vague stories of “An Apple Store employee said…”, then you shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t pan out. Apple will let us know when the product is being released. Until then, relying on rumor and speculation as “fact” is just foolish. Go back to your mommas’ basements, y’all.
I’ve heard it will be before the end of this week because apple will want to make the software available for purchase before it reports its third quarter earnings next Tuesday.
http://www.ibtimes.com/article…
A guy named “Steve” told me that Mac OS X 10.7 will be available in the Mac App Store no later than July 31.
So you can put this date on your calendars.
It would be nice if it did release tomorrow, mainly for the hardware updates that are being held back!
http://appledrunk.com/rumour-l…
Or he said the 26th because that is the last Tuesday of the month and Apple tends to launch software on Tuesdays.
My personal punt was across two days! the first being the 17th but that is a Sunday and the second being the 26th, i only came to this mad assumption because they are the two dates that are shown on the calendar app that is in the screen shots advertising OS X Lion
But they launch OS X on Friday’s
Why? What is the significance?
Apple will most likely launch july 18h,,, thats my prediction,, sunday night at midnight,, it takes traditionally 2 weeks to get an app approved by apple for sale in the app store, so last week they were collecting new lion apps,, they want the current apps as well as new ones to play nice with the new os,,,
also of note, imovie, and works applications are not yet full screen ready as they have not pushed out an update as of yet for those apps….once that happens i think you will see lion is a go!
C’mon Apple, let the poor guy out already! http://twitpic.com/5q7q6n
Who ever this employee is, he should be very careful. Apple has a strict policy against speculating about Apple’s future releases. He could get himself fired for it.
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Okay, so Lion is coming on July 26. Of what year?
How did you write your HTML code so that the left edge of the text is jammed up against the edge of the browser window in Safari? Are you trying to get people to move to Firefox?
If it is that late then it will come out on the 29th. Anytime after the quarterly conference call on Tuesday would be a good time to release a hardware update. Apple quite like Friday releases for OS updates so I would wager money on it being released on either the 22nd or the 29th.
they better fricken release it i cant wait come on come on come on
The 26th really seems likely. That Apple Store employee said with confidence that it will be released “on the 26th”, your catch in the calendar is probably not a coincidence, and today is the 17, and it hasn’t been released yet.
Having said that, I have to play the Devil’s Advocate. I called my local Apple Store yesterday, and the guy said even the Apple Retail employees are kept in the dark, and that they find out when the rest of us do.
i downloaded the GM of Lion the other day and aside from a few bugs its AMAZING!!!!!!!!