Going by the recent revelations at the Apple site, Apple's next operating system - the Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - will start shipping sooner than the earlier expectations! While it was being said that the updated Snow Leopard will hit the markets in September, Apple's own site now says that the operating system, 'Up-To-Date' for existing users - who bought a qualifying Mac or Xserve June 8 onwards - will be available from Friday, August 28, 2009!

However, the Up-to-Date Programme scheme - which will run through December 26, offering customers the choice of upgrading to Snow Leopard at a cut-rate price - has the Apple Web site still saying "Expected Product Availability: September 2009"; and Amazon UK also stops short of mentioning the OS' release date or price, currently showing "Sign up to be notified when this item becomes available."

It is the Apple UK online store page that reveals the latest about the OS, saying: "Mac OS X Snow Leopard Up-To-Date - If you purchased a qualifying Mac or Xserve on or after June 8, 2009, that does not include Mac OS X Snow Leopard, you can upgrade to Mac OS X Snow Leopard. £7.95 Ships: By August 28th."

While US prices for Snow Leopard are set at $29 for the upgrade, $129 for the full package, the UK prices are still to be confirmed!