Mac OS X Lion Released Wednesday

The wait is over. Enthusiasts have been pulled from date to date as anticipation for Mac OS X Lion built, but Apple confirmed that the new software will arrive on Wednesday.

Apple's CFO Peter Oppenheimer said the company is very excited to be launching Mac OS X Lion tomorrow, as he fielded questions on the company's quarterly earnings call.

The statement puts to end speculation that surfaced ever since Apple introduced the next-generation operating system at the World Wide Developer Conference last month. This was mixed with a recent slew of wild predictions from tech-blogs, pointing to one date or another.

Mac OS X Lion is expected to bring over 250 enhancements to Apple computers, including gesture technology, wireless sharing, among other features.

The announcement comes on the back of a blow-out quarter for the company.

Revenue in the June-ended quarter rose 82 percent, year over year, to $28.6 billion, yielding earnings per share of $7.79 per share.

Analysts on average were expecting $25 billion in revenue and $5.85 in EPS.

We're thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent, said CEO Steve Jobs. Right now, we're very focused and excited about bringing iOS 5 and iCloud to our users this fall.

The sheer number of iOS based devices sold during Apple's third-quarter gave rise to the success.

Apple sold 20.3 million iPhone units in the quarter, it said, and 9.52 million iPads, blowing away expectations of roughly 17 million and 8 million respectively.

It also doesn't appear that the other tablets are getting any traction to speak of, said Cook.

The company also sold 3.95 million Macs and 7.54 million iPods.

Though the Cupertino-Calif. Based consumer electronics giant did not give any details on the upcoming Macbook Air, sources told IBTimes a move is likely soon.

An Apple employee told IBTimes last week that Apple's next generation ultrathin notebook computer will employ Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processor and accompanying technology.

While widely expected by industry analysts, the confirmation puts to rest speculation Apple was going to run with other vendors, including reports that surfaced in May suggesting a move to UK's ARM technology.

The low-voltage chip follows the technology trajectory laid out by the current Macbook Air's, and the chip's added ability to process graphics cuts the need for other chips, enhancing battery life.

Also in line with expectations, Apple will package the new notebook computer with Mac OS X Lion, the company's next generation operating system introduced earlier this year.

The move was widely expected as both products are set to be released at roughly the same times.

It doesn't make sense to release hardware without the software, the source said, wishing to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

The information corroborates supply-chain checks from Wall Street analysts and Apple's own corporate moves earlier this year.

See Also: Mac OS X Lion Enroute: Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade