WWDC: Leopard Details
At WWDC today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs dedicated most of his keynote address to overviewing Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" and detailing some of its top-secret features, including a new desktop user interface and a new Finder.
Desktop
Leopard's new desktop will feature a variety of enhancements, including:
- Enhanced, 3D Dock. Slimmer and more functional.
- Stacks (organization tool similar to a stack of paper). Can fan out or pop up in a grid.
- No more brushed metal. Consistent look.
Readers with keen memories may recall that Stacks (aka "Piles") was originally rumored to be included in OS 10.3 "Panther".
Finder
Leopard's revised Finder has a new sidebar and numerous improvements to searching, including the ability to search shared computers. Also added was a Finder feature called Back To My Mac for connecting to Macs not on the same LAN, using .Mac to identify the computer's IP address automatically, so remote connections can be created more easily. Cover Flow has also been incorporated into the new Finder.
Other
While Mr. Jobs spent a considerable amount of time reviewing features previewed at last year's conference, he did note that iChat would include AAC-LD (AAC low delay), which promises enhanced audio quality in iChat conversations.
Leopard will be available in October for $129 USD.
MacRumors would like to thank our sponsors, who made live coverage of the WWDC keynote possible.
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Desktop
Leopard's new desktop will feature a variety of enhancements, including:
- Enhanced, 3D Dock. Slimmer and more functional.
- Stacks (organization tool similar to a stack of paper). Can fan out or pop up in a grid.
- No more brushed metal. Consistent look.
Readers with keen memories may recall that Stacks (aka "Piles") was originally rumored to be included in OS 10.3 "Panther".
Finder
Leopard's revised Finder has a new sidebar and numerous improvements to searching, including the ability to search shared computers. Also added was a Finder feature called Back To My Mac for connecting to Macs not on the same LAN, using .Mac to identify the computer's IP address automatically, so remote connections can be created more easily. Cover Flow has also been incorporated into the new Finder.
Other
While Mr. Jobs spent a considerable amount of time reviewing features previewed at last year's conference, he did note that iChat would include AAC-LD (AAC low delay), which promises enhanced audio quality in iChat conversations.
Leopard will be available in October for $129 USD.
MacRumors would like to thank our sponsors, who made live coverage of the WWDC keynote possible.
mophie.com
crushftp.com
ipodmechanic.com
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
61 months ago
And it seemed great - I was expecting more "wow" perhaps from the secret features.
61 months ago
I like the new user interface, definetly the time for a replacement to Aqua.
61 months ago
Nothing so far has impressed me that much. I'll reserve full judgement to later, but where were the secret features?
Also, can that transparency be switched off? It almost seems a bit child like to me. OS X has grown up now.
Also, can that transparency be switched off? It almost seems a bit child like to me. OS X has grown up now.
61 months ago
"Cover"flow looks more fun than productive, but nobody's forced to use it.
The rest of the new UI sounds great!
(But I'm sad to see the classic wavy blue default background change to... grass? Ah, well, I guess Microsoft copycatted the wavy blue wallpaper one too many times.)
PS, before anyone says Apple stole transparent top-bars from Vista... Vista stole them from OS X. OS X had transparent window titles in 2000 but removed them in later versions since it's a bad idea for things that stack. Luckily the OS X menu bar will not suffer that problem.
But do pick a low-detail backdrop for menu readability. A nice soft wavy blue might work nicely. (Grass? Really? OK, I'm past it :) )
No reality could EVER equal the hype of rumor-fueled imagination. The new UI was secret. Now it's not.
The rest of the new UI sounds great!
(But I'm sad to see the classic wavy blue default background change to... grass? Ah, well, I guess Microsoft copycatted the wavy blue wallpaper one too many times.)
PS, before anyone says Apple stole transparent top-bars from Vista... Vista stole them from OS X. OS X had transparent window titles in 2000 but removed them in later versions since it's a bad idea for things that stack. Luckily the OS X menu bar will not suffer that problem.
But do pick a low-detail backdrop for menu readability. A nice soft wavy blue might work nicely. (Grass? Really? OK, I'm past it :) )
And it seemed great - I was expecting more "wow" perhaps from the secret features.
No reality could EVER equal the hype of rumor-fueled imagination. The new UI was secret. Now it's not.
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