Mac OS X 10.4 – the much-anticipated update to Apple’s operating system – hits retail shelves Friday at 6 p.m. local time. But the company has already begun talking up the massive OS X update known as Tiger. While many of OS X 10.4’s marquee features – including Spotlight, Automator, and an updated version of Safari – have been publicly known for almost a year, Apple executives say there is a lot in the OS that will make Mac users’ lives easier. And they add that you’ve been hearing a lot about Tiger’s Spotlight search technology for a good reason.

Of course I have my copy on order.