[July 20, 2011] Apple starts selling Lion operating system Tweet (Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Having just reported a blowout quarter, Apple Inc. began selling its latest operating system, Lion, as a download for $30 on Wednesday. The company also updated its ultra-thin MacBook Air computers with new processors, a backlit keyboard and its Thunderbolt technology, which can carry data 20 times faster than most current processors. The MacBook Air costs $999 and up. Apple also released a Mac mini with new Intel core processors, as well as Thunderbolt and the Lion operating system. The Mac mini starts at $599. Shares of Apple rose $11.76, or 3.1 percent, to $388.61 in midday trading. Earlier, the stock hit a $396.27, a record high. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]