Mac OS X Leopard’s True Exciting Features
There are many obvious reasons why people like Mac OS X, but when I switched to Apple I was really charmed by the not so obvious features. So when Apple announced Mac OS X Leopard last WWDC many people were excited by the obvious new features like Time Machine and Spaces. I however am again more excited with the not so obvious features. Let me share with you two of the major things I look forward to.
User Interface Fixes
Many Mac fanatics like myself use Apple’s superior user interface as an argument why to get a Mac. Apple even specifies in their Human Interface Guidelines how developers can make their products have the same look and feel as the OS. Additionally, Apple’s IDE (xcode) has some nice features that help interface designers to conform to those rules.
Strangely however Apple breaks there own rules all over the place. Some of their applications have a brushed metal look, while others have an Aqua look. Finder is more or less a product that should have been replaced years ago, and the use of icons differs from every application.
However, in some of the screenshots of Leopard new details have been spotted. First of all Apple is silently moving all their applications to a more sleek, flat, metal design. Where Vista goes for 3D details wherever possible, Apple realized that the main use of effects like shadows should be supportive. I think this is fine reasoning, and maybe the new user interface details might make the switch easier for some people.
Other details that have come out about Leopard are tabs in both Finder and Terminal, updated Preference Panes layouts, and not the least Core Image.
Taking Existing Software To The Next Level
Officially Bootcamp is still in beta, Front Row has been announced to get a new major update, and with the launch of the iPhone and Apple TV a lot of new features can be expected. Personally I look forward to the prospect that the Apple TV’s interface holds for the new interface of Front Row. I have a Mac Mini converted to “media center” using Front Row and I think the next interface might really remove some problems that the current interface has. There is no reason for Apple not to adapt the Apple TV Interface to Front Row as the Apple TV is way cheaper than the best next alternative: a Mac Mini.
Bootcamp recently already got an update to support Vista, but it would be interesting to see what Apple is holding back for Leopard. Linux support wouldn’t be a bad new feature, and imagine what nice new tools Apple might introduce to ease the switching between OS X and Windows.
