Apple released the OS X 10.8.3 update for Mountain Lion users, and one of its most exciting features is actually for Windows users.
The new update, released Thursday, includes official support for Boot Camp with Windows 8, which allows users to run Windows on their Macs.
OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.3 update also comes with a new and improved Safari 6.0.3. The browser update fixes some small bugs and should generally improve performance. Another exciting feature for 10.8.3 comes into play with the Mac App Store. Users can now redeem iTunes gift cards by taking a picture of the card with their computer’s built-in camera.
Apple is adding support for Boot Camp with Windows 8, as well as support for Macs with more than 3 terabytes of hard drive space.
And as the Mac Observer discovered, the 10.8.3 update also improves battery life for MacBook Pros with Retina Display. Last September, Mac Observer tested out the effect that switching from OS X 10.7 Snow Leopard to 10.8 Mountain Lion had on battery life, and found that switching to Mountain Lion resulted in significantly shorter battery life for the MacBook Pro. But updating to 10.8.3 increased battery life from 398 minutes to 421 minutes for a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
Here’s what the 10.8.3 update includes, via Apple’s website:
The 10.8.3 update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users and includes features and fixes that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including the following:
- The ability to redeem iTunes gift cards in the Mac App Store using your Mac's built-in camera
- Boot Camp support for installing Windows 8
- Boot Camp support for Macs with a 3TB hard drive
- A fix for an issue that may cause Logic Pro to become unresponsive when using certain plug-ins
- A fix for an issue that may cause audio to stutter on 2011 iMacs
- Includes Safari 6.0.3
