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OS X Lion Update Brings iCloud to Your Mac

 & Sara Yin Junior software analyst

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It's not all about Apple's mobile devices today (hello iOS 5). On Wednesday, Apple released Mac OS X 10.7.2, the second update to OS X Lion that, above all, is required to download the brand new iCloud on your Mac.

The 435.5MB update also addresses stability, compatibility, and security holes in the previous version, and includes a new version of the Safari browser.

With iCloud on your Mac, you'll be able to sync all your locally stored email, calendars, contacts, Safari bookmarks, and Safari Reading List in a remote server, and access these files on other supported Apple devices. The iCloud also adds a "Find My Mac" feature, which helps you find a missing Mac and remotely lock the computer or wipe its data (presumably, this is more useful for iPhones).

After installing 10.7.2, you'll be prompted to set up iCloud with your Apple ID.

The update also includes Safari 5.1.1, which adds 10 improvements, like the ability to reorder desktop spaces and full screen apps in Mission Control; drag files between desktop spaces and full screen apps; improved compatibility of Google contact syncing in your Address Book, and booting in to Lion Recovery from a locally attached Time Machine backup drive. More details are available on apple.com.

Separately, Apple also released a Lion Recovery Update file through the over-the-air Software Update, a 452.5MB file that improves Lion Recovery and addresses an issue with Find My Mac when using a firmware password. Apple also released iTunes 10.5, a 60.9MB update that essentially adds support for the iCloud, like being able to access your iTunes playlist on any Apple device without syncing.

For more, see How to Get Apple's iOS 5 as well as PCMag's full review of iOS 5 and the slideshow below, which highlights 10 of its most exciting features.

About Our Expert

Sara Yin

Sara Yin

Junior software analyst

Sara Yin is a junior analyst in the Software, Internet, and Networking group at PCmag.com, pouring most of her energy into app testing and security matters at Security Watch with Neil Rubenking. She lies awake at night pondering the state of mobile security (half-true). Prior to joining PCMag.com, Sara spent five years reporting for publications in New York City (Huffington Post), Hong Kong (South China Morning Post), and Singapore (Campaign Asia, Men's Health). Follow her on Twitter at @SecurityWatch and @sarapyin, or contact her the old school way: email. That's sara_yin AT pcmag.com.

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