It’s nearly time for another upgrade to Mac OS X, and to help you prepare for a trouble-free experience, we’re pleased to bring you Joe Kissell’s “Take Control of Upgrading to Mountain Lion,” the latest version of a book he has written for every big cat since Panther. It’s available now with a $5-off introductory price, and will receive a free update with all the details once Apple lifts our non-disclosure agreement. You can also pre-order Matt Neuburg’s “Take Control of Using Mountain Lion,” again with a $5-off introductory price.

Two quick bits for you this week — Serenity Caldwell’s highlights of new features in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion over at Macworld, and Chris Foresman’s article at Ars Technica about the new Mastered for iTunes section of the iTunes Store.

Notable software releases this week include CrashPlan and CrashPlan PRO 3.2, Skype 5.6.0.143, Keyboard Maestro 5.1, Fantastical 1.2.2, and Apple Software Installer Update 1.0.

Notable software releases this week include iMac Wi-Fi Update 1.0; Firmware Updates for iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro; ScreenFlow 3.0.5; Camino 2.1.1; and PDFpen and PDFpenPro 5.7.2.

In June 1982, the National Science Foundation released a commissioned report describing how electronic information technology would transform America. Turn on your teletext to find out how accurate it was.

Apple has now released OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion as a developer preview, and TidBITS Security Editor Rich Mogull provides a first look at how Mountain Lion will bring key iOS features and apps to the Mac, make iCloud essential, and significantly change the security playing field with Gatekeeper.

Notable software releases this week include TinkerTool 4.8, Hazel 3.0.4, SpamSieve 2.9, and App Tamer 1.2.1.

Notable software releases this week include Mac OS X 10.7.3 Supplemental Update; Hazel 3.0; GraphicConverter 7.6.2; DEVONthink Personal, Pro, and Pro Office 2.3.3; Firmware Update for MacBook Pro (15-inch, late 2008 models); HandBrake 0.9.6; Fetch 5.7.1; TextExpander 3.4.1; and iMac Wi-Fi Update 1.0.

Notable software releases this week include Acrobat X Pro and Adobe Reader X 10.1.3, Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.2.0, Final Cut Pro X 10.0.4, KeyCue 6.1, and TextWrangler 4.0.

For a second time, Apple has extended the deadline for requiring App Store developers to sandbox their apps. Unfortunately, this delay does little to ease the problems that surround the sale of apps that do not fit Apple’s distribution model.

The Flashback malware, which has evolved significantly since its discovery in September 2011, now uses sufficiently subtle infection methods that non-technical users could easily fall prey to it. Worse, neither Apple’s XProtect malware detection system nor the forthcoming Gatekeeper in Mountain Lion can stop the current Flashback variant.

Notable software releases this week include Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.2.1, Pear Note 3.0, Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.5, Send to Kindle for Mac 1.0, Firefox 12.0, PDFpen and PDFpenPro 5.8, and Bookle 1.0.5.