CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple’s iPhone and iPads have been such hits that the company is looking for ways to bring some of their cachet to its laptops and desktops.
Apple Inc. offered glimpses Wed nesday of an updated Mac operating system, called Mac OS X Lion. The company highlighted features that borrow from the lighter-weight iOS that runs on its mobile gadgets.
The company also unveiled two new versions of its MacBook Air ultralight laptops.
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs drew laughs when he introduced the new models by saying, “We asked ourselves: What would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up?”
Lion — Apple uses names of big cats to differentiate between versions — is expected to arrive next summer. Lion will include a built-in store selling Mac software, similar to the iTunes store that sells apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
Those devices have been successful, in part, because of the tens of thousands of games and other programs available as free or paid downloads in the app store. Apple may be looking to a Mac app store to boost interest in its computers, which make up a tiny but growing percentage of the personal- computer market. In the second quarter, Macs accounted for about 4 percent of PC shipments worldwide, according to research group IDC.
Apple plans to vet Mac programs before they are sold in the store. Software developers will be able to submit apps for review starting in November. The Mac store will be open for business in the next 90 days.
