Updated

1. Notification Center

Apple has created a very beautiful version of the third party notification app Growl.   When new messages come through in iMessage, Mail, Twitter, and other supported apps, a message will discreetly alert you of the new information without you leaving the screen that you are on by presenting you with a small pop-up notification.

2. Dictation

From wheelchair accessibility in Apple retail stores to access to technology and the internet, Steve Jobs has always taken inclusion of any type of user very seriously.  Apple had text-to-speech software built-into its native OS before any of the other major players.  With Mountain Lion, you can dictate text into any field. It will even work in applications like Microsoft Word.

3. Sharing

The box with an arrow coming out of it that any iOS user is familiar with, now comes to Mac apps. You can now share to a variety of locations both between apps and different social networks like Flickr, Twitter, Message and Email.

4. Power Nap

Ever wished that your computer would simply take a nap instead of going completely to sleep? Now you can set up Power Nap to automatically backup and refresh your data so that when you are ready to come back to your machine, everything is backed up and all the information is updated and ready to go.

5. Airplay Mirroring

You will finally be able to share your screen to your Apple TV wirelessly.

6. Game Center

Take your bragging rights everywhere with your iPhone, iPad and now your computer with Game Center.  Never lose out on a badge or a documented high score again.

7. Search in Launchpad

Too many free apps from the app store filling up your Launchpad screen? Now you can search for that specific app in Launchpad. Since it only sorts the search by the name of the app, it is a more efficient search than the Spotlight search.

8. Offline Reading List

See a long-form article in Safari that you simply do not have time to read and appreciate? Save it for Offline Reading so that you can access it any time, anywhere.