Mac OS X Mountain Lion set to roar in July

Mac OS X Mountain Lion -- the ninth major release of Apple's desktop operating system (OS) -- will be arriving in the Mac App store in July priced at just $19.99.

The OS sports more than 200 new features, the most noticeable of which include the Notification Center, a universal Messages app, Dictation, Facebook integration, AirPlay Mirroring, Power Nap, Game Center and the Gatekeeper security feature.

"The pace of innovation on the Mac is amazing, OS X Mountain Lion comes just a year after the incredibly successful launch of Lion," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "With iCloud built right in and the new Notification Center, Messages, Dictation, Facebook integration and more, this is the best OS X yet."

On Twitter microbloggers were discussing Power Nap, a newly announced OS X feature that updates your Mac while it's sleeping.

Power Nap "Automatically updates your Mac (software updates, backups, email, Photo Stream, calendar, reminders) while it sleeps," said Tweeps who called it the "Best Feature of Mac OS X 'Mountain Lion'' and also compared it to Microsoft's Windows SideShow and Connected Standby.

The new Dictation for Mac feature was also a topic of discussion on the microblog.

"Say goodbye to keyboards on your computers!!... Dictation in #MountainLion," "Can't wait for OSX Mountain Lion with dictation" said some while others joked "Tweeting with dictation? How could that go wrong?"

Both Apple and Microsoft are gearing up for the launch of their next-generation operating systems. Microsoft is yet to announce the price of its Windows 8 OS (which is expected to arrive in October) but recently confirmed that people who purchase a qualifying Windows 7 PC between June 2- January 31, 2013 will be eligible to upgrade to Windows 8 for $14.99.

Apple is offering a free upgrade to Mac OS X Mountain Lion to customers who purchase a qualifying Mac with OS X Lion on or after June 11.