OS X Mountain Lion brings lots of changes, some of which are fun to discover as you explore the new OS. But there are other changes, such as the ones Apple made to the Software Update feature, which you should check out right away.
Screen shot courtesy of Coyote Moon, Inc.
There is nothing terrible or overly concerning about how the Software Update feature works in Mountain Lion, but it's quite different from the way the feature worked in previous versions of the OS. It also has new capabilities that are worth checking out.
Software Update now primarily uses the Mac App Store to check for and download system updates. At the same time, the Mac App Store will also check for updates to any apps you have purchased; it's a one-stop update service.
But the real news is that Software Update is now capable of downloading and installing system and security updates on its own. Fortunately, you have the option to rein in its activities and handle things yourself, if you prefer.
For the complete scoop on the new Software Update service, take a look at: