"Gold master" (GM) is a label some developers use -- Microsoft calls it "release to manufacturing," or RTM -- for software that has been completed and presumably is ready to send to duplicators and distributors.

In Apple's case, however, Mac OS X 10.7, aka Lion, will not need to be burned onto DVDs, packaged in boxes and shipped to retail stores because it will be available only as a download from the Mac App Store.

The appearance of the Lion GM, which was reported Friday by several Apple-specific blogs, including , and confirmed later in the day by Computerworld, sparked renewed speculation that the operating system will be released within days.

Apple has said only that it will ship Lion this month.

Several prospective release dates have been forecast by blogs -- all quoting unnamed sources -- including next Wednesday, July 6, and the Thursday of the following week, July 14.