OS X Leopard to ship this month

Apple's OS X Leopard is to be released on October 26, the company has disclosed. The new version adds user interface improvements, a backup tool called Time Machine, and integrates the Boot Camp support for running Windows for the first time.

Officially Mac OS X version 10.5 but codenamed Leopard, the new release features a redesigned desktop Dock with Stacks, a way of organising files for easy access without cluttering the desktop.

Among its key features is inclusion for the first time of the Boot Camp tool that lets users set up an Intel-based Mac in a dual-boot configuration with Windows XP or Vista.

The Time Machine function automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything stored on the Mac, allowing users to instantly restore files, applications, or the entire system, from an external drive.

Mac OS X Leopard requires a minimum 512MB RAM and costs $129 (£64) for a single user licence.