Leopard
Thursday 15th March, 2007 12:28 Comments: 9
There's been talk about Mac OS X Leopard, as it'll probably appear halfway through this year, and the Apple website has a sneak peek at some of the new features.
Time Machine
Looks identical to System Restore, which Microsoft has had since Windows Me.
Mail
Looks a lot like Outlook Express/Windows Mail, right down to the new stationery templates (that annoy everyone), with a couple of features that Outlook 2007 provides (notes and RSS feed support).
iChat
I admit this does look quite pretty, but iChat has already had two vulnerabilities discovered in it, unlike Windows Live Messenger - which it appears Microsoft weren't allowed to pre-install with Vista, as you have to click a link to get to the webpage to download the file.
Spaces
It sounds like a neat trick to group applications to a specific virtual desktop. But that's all it is, a neat trick. If this is one of the big features they're pushing for Leopard, it had better not be an expensive upgrade.
Dashboard
It's still the same application as before, but now with more widgets. Seriously, more widgets as a big new feature? They're really running out of ideas now.
Spotlight
Now with a Quick Look preview. Wow, I bet that took a lot of time to write.
iCal
A lot like Windows Calendar. A calendar's a calendar, not something that's usually exciting or worth writing about. I don't remember Microsoft mentioning it at all.
Accessibility
It has a single new voice. Microsoft have new voices for loads of languages. Some of the other features do sound good though, such as braille and positional cues. Improved closed captioning support appears to be part of QuickTime, so I suspect you'll get it if you grab the latest version for free from their website.
64-bit
Something Microsot and Linux has been able to do for years. For most people this won't offer much of an improvement. It's not like most Macs come with enough RAM to need 64-bit addressing.
Core Animation
Eye candy.
If you want improved accessibility and some extra eye candy, then Leopard sounds interesting. For everyone else, I can't really see why anyone would pay money for features that people like Microsoft would typically provide in a Service Pack. Vista might seem expensive, but it's unlikely you'll have to pay another penny until Vienna arrives sometime in 2009.
Time Machine
Looks identical to System Restore, which Microsoft has had since Windows Me.
Looks a lot like Outlook Express/Windows Mail, right down to the new stationery templates (that annoy everyone), with a couple of features that Outlook 2007 provides (notes and RSS feed support).
iChat
I admit this does look quite pretty, but iChat has already had two vulnerabilities discovered in it, unlike Windows Live Messenger - which it appears Microsoft weren't allowed to pre-install with Vista, as you have to click a link to get to the webpage to download the file.
Spaces
It sounds like a neat trick to group applications to a specific virtual desktop. But that's all it is, a neat trick. If this is one of the big features they're pushing for Leopard, it had better not be an expensive upgrade.
Dashboard
It's still the same application as before, but now with more widgets. Seriously, more widgets as a big new feature? They're really running out of ideas now.
Spotlight
Now with a Quick Look preview. Wow, I bet that took a lot of time to write.
iCal
A lot like Windows Calendar. A calendar's a calendar, not something that's usually exciting or worth writing about. I don't remember Microsoft mentioning it at all.
Accessibility
It has a single new voice. Microsoft have new voices for loads of languages. Some of the other features do sound good though, such as braille and positional cues. Improved closed captioning support appears to be part of QuickTime, so I suspect you'll get it if you grab the latest version for free from their website.
64-bit
Something Microsot and Linux has been able to do for years. For most people this won't offer much of an improvement. It's not like most Macs come with enough RAM to need 64-bit addressing.
Core Animation
Eye candy.
If you want improved accessibility and some extra eye candy, then Leopard sounds interesting. For everyone else, I can't really see why anyone would pay money for features that people like Microsoft would typically provide in a Service Pack. Vista might seem expensive, but it's unlikely you'll have to pay another penny until Vienna arrives sometime in 2009.
Yamahito - Thursday 15th March, 2007 19:34 You troll you ;)
Time Machine: So not at all like system restore. Much more powerful, and will back up externally. I'm far more worried about how much disk space it'll hog.
Spaces: What you should be saying about this is 'Linux has had it for years!' What might be interesting with it is how well it will integrate with multi-monitor support. And parrallels.
Dashboard: What's new is the widget creation tools.
Spotlight: Network searching.
iCal: Yeah, it is a lot like windows calendar. Oh wait, sorry, got that the wrong way around, as iCal has been around for yonks. Microsoft went to great pains to ensure that you couldn't copyright or patent UI designs. Just as well, as this is an example of them blatently stealing design from Apple. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Accessibility: it's not just a new voice, it's a new voice engine. I agree, nothing majorly exciting, unless you appreciate how natural it sounds compared to the old ones. Ok, a little meh on my part, too.
Core Animation: I think maybe this is the biggest one that actually comes close to offending me with how you've written it off. Just Eye Candy? No. Remember that these features were unveiled at the developer's conference, and were meant to push their buttons. Some of the reason why I've turned into such an apple fanboy over the last ten months or so are their interfaces: this thing makes 3d animation very very easy for apple developers. I hope you're not going to throw away any 3d animation as purely 'eye candy'.
These are a few features of Leopard. You can bet that there'll be something else in there, too. And don't think I didn't notice you failing to mention that apple will finally begin to support boot camp: that means that an apple can do everything the PC can do and more. And less than £50 for an OS? Man apple and MS can learn from each other. The one needs to make its OS available cross platform, the other could stand to drop their price, legal jargon, and that bug up their arse :)
Now, all I have to do is sell a kidney to afford one of those bastards.
Time Machine: So not at all like system restore. Much more powerful, and will back up externally. I'm far more worried about how much disk space it'll hog.
Spaces: What you should be saying about this is 'Linux has had it for years!' What might be interesting with it is how well it will integrate with multi-monitor support. And parrallels.
Dashboard: What's new is the widget creation tools.
Spotlight: Network searching.
iCal: Yeah, it is a lot like windows calendar. Oh wait, sorry, got that the wrong way around, as iCal has been around for yonks. Microsoft went to great pains to ensure that you couldn't copyright or patent UI designs. Just as well, as this is an example of them blatently stealing design from Apple. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Accessibility: it's not just a new voice, it's a new voice engine. I agree, nothing majorly exciting, unless you appreciate how natural it sounds compared to the old ones. Ok, a little meh on my part, too.
Core Animation: I think maybe this is the biggest one that actually comes close to offending me with how you've written it off. Just Eye Candy? No. Remember that these features were unveiled at the developer's conference, and were meant to push their buttons. Some of the reason why I've turned into such an apple fanboy over the last ten months or so are their interfaces: this thing makes 3d animation very very easy for apple developers. I hope you're not going to throw away any 3d animation as purely 'eye candy'.
These are a few features of Leopard. You can bet that there'll be something else in there, too. And don't think I didn't notice you failing to mention that apple will finally begin to support boot camp: that means that an apple can do everything the PC can do and more. And less than £50 for an OS? Man apple and MS can learn from each other. The one needs to make its OS available cross platform, the other could stand to drop their price, legal jargon, and that bug up their arse :)
Now, all I have to do is sell a kidney to afford one of those bastards.
Also, it'll be out by the end of apple's first quarter - end of April, unless there's an official delay. And all of those features were announced (and showcased) ages ago - go look at the last but one Keynote presentation on the apple website.
Time Machine: So not at all like system restore. Much more powerful, and will back up externally. I'm far more worried about how much disk space it'll hog.
Okay, perhaps a combination of System Restore, Shadow Copy and the File and Settings Transfer Wizard? ;) And I can't wait to see Windows Home Server (damn Microsoft's Connect site making my invitation invalid *sigh*)
Spaces: What you should be saying about this is 'Linux has had it for years!'
It's had the virtual workspaces, but I wasn't aware that you could group applications. Then again, it probably depends what desktop manager you choose (KDE? Gnome? Ice?).
Spotlight: Network searching
Microsoft has a free add-in for Vista/Desktop Search (free) that provides this ability.
Oh wait, sorry, got that the wrong way around, as iCal has been around for yonks
So if it's been around for yonks, why are they pushing this as one of the "Sneak Preview" features and reasons for getting Leopard?
Core Animation... Just Eye Candy? No
Does it improve security? Stability? No. Does it allow third party applications to easily add 3D animation? Yes. Therefore it's eye candy. Don't get me wrong, pretty is nice, but I'm not sure it's worth jumping to Leopard purely for this. After all, if that were true, far more people would jump to pretty looking Vista, and it's obvious that most people are happy with XP, despite its flaws and weaknesses.
And less than £50 for an OS?
Until the next £50 update arrives. And the £50 after that.
apple and MS can learn from each other
For once we're in total agreement! ;)
You can bet that there'll be something else in there, too
If only they'd push it on their website.
apple will finally begin to support boot camp
True, but you know my feelings on dual booting. People should go one way or the other, and use virtual machines (or other computers) if they can't abandon an OS.
BTW I chose those features because they're all listed here: http://www.apple.com/macosx/ It also says it's out in spring 2007. I suspect that means the end of spring.
There are no "killer features" or strong motivation for moving to Leopard if you've already got Tiger or Vista.
Man, working with computers has robbed you of the ability for appreciating the abilities the computer affords us..
For instance, you seem to completely underestimate the importance of good UI design, and the difference between it and eye candy.
Security and stability are not the only valid criteria. In fact, they restrict. What should be more important is what enables.
For instance, you seem to completely underestimate the importance of good UI design, and the difference between it and eye candy.
Security and stability are not the only valid criteria. In fact, they restrict. What should be more important is what enables.
you seem to completely underestimate the importance of good UI design, and the difference between it and eye candy
The new ribbon toolbars in Office 2007 are a great example of good UI design. This is why I think Office 2007 is worth upgrading to, unlike Office 2003. The Flip 3D effect in Vista is what I'd call eye candy, the ability to scroll through the windows in order to find the application you're after isn't a particularly great example of UI design, and this is what I suspect Core Animation will be like. Give me a logical toolbar with the most commonly used options over 3D effects anyday.
What should be more important is what enables.
I don't think security should be compromised in order to make things easier to use. Not having a password to a computer and giving all users full control makes it considerably easier to get on with things, but it also makes it easy for a malicious person to access and tamper with your device. Ultimately there's a balance, but that tends to be things like remembering a PIN or password instead of forcing people to carry around a 4096-bit private key. For now.
//I don't think security should be compromised in order to make things easier to use//
Are you serious? In that case the best security would be a computer that had no contact with the outside world/internet, no third party software, no upgradability... hell, just take out the graphics card, memory and network card out of your computer and whammo! perfect uncompromised security.
Of course computing like almost anything is not about avoiding compromise, it's about choosing compromise wisely.
I haven't seen the ribbon nor the flip 3d effect in vista, so I can't comment on your examples. Maybe that's why I don't know what you're talking about scrolling through windows for.. you know that core 3d is a part of the graphics framework for mac os x and cocoa, right? Programming tools that have no intrinsic function themselves? Sure it's going to be used for a lot of crap, but that's hardly a reflection on its potential, is it?
I'm not entirely sure what your point is on the giving all users full non-password control is, either... the only OS you've been able to do that on in the last five years is windows, isn't it?
Are you serious? In that case the best security would be a computer that had no contact with the outside world/internet, no third party software, no upgradability... hell, just take out the graphics card, memory and network card out of your computer and whammo! perfect uncompromised security.
Of course computing like almost anything is not about avoiding compromise, it's about choosing compromise wisely.
I haven't seen the ribbon nor the flip 3d effect in vista, so I can't comment on your examples. Maybe that's why I don't know what you're talking about scrolling through windows for.. you know that core 3d is a part of the graphics framework for mac os x and cocoa, right? Programming tools that have no intrinsic function themselves? Sure it's going to be used for a lot of crap, but that's hardly a reflection on its potential, is it?
I'm not entirely sure what your point is on the giving all users full non-password control is, either... the only OS you've been able to do that on in the last five years is windows, isn't it?
Are you serious? In that case the best security would be a computer that had no contact with the outside world/internet, no third party software, no upgradability
By compromised I meant weakened to the point that it unnecessarily exposes something to danger. It should be possible to make something easier to use without making it fundamentally less secure. For example, a server on the internet can rely on things like firewalls (and layers of firewalls, supplied by different manufacturers) so that it's realistically no worse than a server that isn't connected to the internet (user interaction on a computer is another matter, but that can be mitigated by using low level processes/accounts and sandboxed applications - similar to IE7's Protected Mode and Java's sandbox for applets). It should also be possible for users to access their files from any PC on a network without making all files available for everyone to access (or forcing them to carry their files around on a portable storage device), something that is provided by roaming profiles and file permissions. An example of compromising security would be allowing plain text ftp access in order for a user to upload files from legacy or proprietary devices - it'd be better to provide a user friendly application that supports encryption for these devices, as this won't compromise security. In some cases this isn't going to be possible, and I'd rather the user looks for alternative devices or abandon the idea entirely than see them use something that's inherently insecure. Ideally you should only add a feature as long as it doesn't weaken security.
It's easier if you don't have to remember a password to start using a PC, you can install anything you like if everyone has full access, you can access any files without any trouble with permissions. But just because it's easier to use a PC by abandoning security measures, such as username and passwords and permissions, it doesn't mean we should do it.
the only OS you've been able to do that on in the last five years is windows, isn't it?
If you badly configure the OS, I think any of them can do that. If you meant Windows is the only OS that you couldn't properly restrict users (due to a lack of file permissions), you'd have to go back to the 9x days. Windows Me was the last 9x version of Windows, which came out in September 2000, nearly 7 years ago, and was very quickly replaced by Windows XP barely over a year later. Talking of users and passwords, Vista got a lot of criticism for the default account being a member of the Administrators group (which then causes Administrator to be disabled), but the behaviour is identical to OS X, where the first account created on a OS X system is an administrative account, and the root account is disabled.
Also, it'll be out by the end of apple's first quarter - end of April, unless there's an official delay
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/03/22/leopard-not-ready-for-april--barely-beta-not-final-or-gold-master
http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20070322PD214.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/12/leopard_delay/
Apple Computer has delayed the highly anticipated release of Leopard - aka Mac OS X 10.5 - by four months so it can devote developers and QA resources to its other labor of love, the iPhone. That slates the unleashing of Leopard for October instead of early June at Apple's developers conference.
The announcement confirms rumors that a final version of Leopard wouldn't be delivered until the fall, even if the basis for much of the speculation proved incorrect
The announcement confirms rumors that a final version of Leopard wouldn't be delivered until the fall, even if the basis for much of the speculation proved incorrect
iPhone contains the most sophisticated software ever shipped on a mobile device, and finishing it on time has not come without a price - we had to borrow some key software engineering and QA resources from our Mac OS X team, and as a result we will not be able to release Leopard at our Worldwide Developers Conference in early June as planned