The lion roars today. As promised Apple launched Mac OS X Lion this morning, CNET reported.

At the same time, Apple released a new MacBook Air with Intel Sandy Bridge processor options, as well as new Mac Mini models, featuring a Thunderbolt port and faster processors.

Apple said the latest update to its operating system comes with over 250 new features, including a full range of multitouch gestures that allow people to control on-screen content with their fingers. In addition, the system will let users view applications in full screen.

Another new feature of Lion is Mission Control, which provides users with a glimpse into all the programs running on the Mac. The Launchpad feature helps to quickly access and launch applications from the operating system.

With Lion, you'll never have to worry about unsaved work. Its Versions feature automatically saves your work and allows you to go back to different versions of a file. A new Resume feature helps users get back to where they left off in a respective application after their Mac has been shut down or restarted.

Lion also comes with a built in Mac App Store.

Apple's Lion debut comes just a day after the company reported a strong fiscal Q3. Apple reported yesterday that its revenue hit $28.57 billion during the period, and it earned a profit of $7.31 billion. The company sold 20.34 million iPhones and 9.25 million iPads during the period, representing a gain of 142 percent and 183 percent year-over-year respectively.

The Mac OS X Lion upgrade is available in the Mac App Store for $29.99 as a 3.49GB download. Next month, Apple plans to make the operating system available on a USB thumb drive for $69.

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