iPhone News Updated

Apple unveils revamped operating system

At its World Wide Developers Conference, company also unveils new laptop in its top line with fastest processor in its history.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Apple began its annual World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday by unveiling its revamped operating system, a faster notebook computer in its MacBook Pro line, and slashed prices for its laptops.

Apple announced that the new operating system, Snow Leopard, will be available in September and can perform some tasks up to 90% faster than its current Leopard OS.

Rival Microsoft has said its new Windows 7 operating system will be unveiled in October.

The new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros will both showcase a 3.06 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, the fastest processor Apple has ever used.

Like the larger 17-inch MacBook Pro, the 15-inch will also feature a new lithium battery that gets up to seven hours of battery life and three times the recharges of most laptops.

The company announced the MacBook air will cost $1,499, a $700 price cut. A 13-inch MacBook Pro will cost $100 less at $1,199, and the the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros will be $300 less expensive at $1,699 and $2,499, respectively.

There was widespread speculation before the event that Apple’s Chief Executive Steve Jobs could show up at the conference. Jobs is due to return from his six-month long medical leave from the company at the end of June.

Jobs usually delivers the keynote address at the event, but the conference began with marketing vice president Phil Schiller on stage.

Apple is widely expected to announce a new operating system for the iPhone, after competitor Palm launched its much ballyhooed Pre phone over the weekend. Some analysts also expect Apple to unveil a new, lower-priced iPhone.

– Fortune’s Philip Elmer-DeWitt contributed to this story

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