It seems like Apple’s postponed OS, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is finalized. Various Mac sites are reporting that the new operating system could be unveiled as early as October 26.

Though, as MacRumors noted, a Gold Master hasn’t been declared yet. In the software world, an application reaches Gold status when the code has been completed and it is considered very stable.

The next level is RTM or Release The Manufacter, which is version to be burned on distribution discs.

Earlier this year, in April, Apple was forced to postpone Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard in order to meet the announced release date of iPhone.

Previously to the announcement the company had plans to release its next OS in June at Worldwide Developers Conference.

Mac OS X 10.5 is the first operating system to be released after Apple has started using Intel processors in its Macs.

Leopard, which considered by Apple as the main competitor of Windows Vista, will have many consumer-oriented features including sophisticated data backup, improved graphics and a series of new user control abilities.

According to AppleInsider, the last pre-release of Leopard was unveiled in late September under the name Mac OS X Leopard build 9A559. AppleInsider believes that this could be the release candidate to be declared Gold or RTM.