Mac OS X Lion Server runs $50 in July, adds iPad file sharing, iOS push notification support

They’re not consumer-facing features in the strictest sense of the word, but Apple looks like it’s trying to appeal to a wider audience with the next generation of Mac OS X Server, calling the Lion version “a powerful server that’s perfect for home offices, businesses, schools, and hobbyists alike.” User profile management -- settings, permissions, policies, so on -- is simplified thanks to a new web-based Profile Manager, and all server features can be accessed directly from the new (and aptly-named) Server app. The most interesting additions, though, are a couple of key integration points with iOS: file sharing with connected iPads via WebDAV, and push notification integration that will move emails, calendar entries, and contact changes to iPhones and iPads in real time. Of course, encouraging “hobbyists” to try out Lion Server requires reasonable pricing, and Apple’s bringing it -- it’ll be $49.99 when it launches in July, $20 more than the standard version. That’s a sharp contrast from Snow Leopard Server, which ran a brisk $499 with unlimited users.