Panther 7B39 Screenshots

[MacRumors]

AppleInsider has posted (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=133) a couple screenshots from Panther 7B39 -- the most recent build.

FileVault has made its appearance in the most recent Panther build, with control panel settings to enable the new security feature of Mac OS X. Also shown is the Bluetooth Keyboard/Mouse control panel previously mentioned (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/08/20030817140827.shtml).

Meanwhile, a reader submitted this screenshot (http://www.macrumors.com/downloads/7B39about.jpg) of the About This Mac window from the new Panther build.

[Vonnie]

If the login-password is stored in the netinfo database, readable by all users, hashed using a simple DES algorithm, limited to 8 characters, is FileVault that secure?

Depending on your password strength, a cracker could get to your encrypted files within a week (ie by using John).

Here is to hoping that Panther does MD5 or SHA-1 password hashes by default, doesn't make it world-readable.

[idea_hamster]

Sweet -- but doesn't the lock for the "Click the lock to prevent further changes" look an awful lot like PGP's application icon?

Of course, how many shapes/colors of generic pad lock are there? Not so many that you'd expect these to be different, but if PGP has their icon registered as a trademark, we might start seeing Apple make some adjustment to that button.

[Catfish_Man]

Originally posted by Vonnie
If the login-password is stored in the netinfo database, readable by all users, hashed using a simple DES algorithm, limited to 8 characters, is FileVault that secure?

Depending on your password strength, a cracker could get to your encrypted files within a week (ie by using John).

Here is to hoping that Panther does MD5 or SHA-1 password hashes by default, doesn't make it world-readable.

Panther has greatly improved password security. I don't recall the details, but it's no longer limited to 8 chars, among other things.

[Powerbook G5]

It sounds like Panther is wrapping up pretty soon, I cannot wait for my copy!

[simX]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
It sounds like Panther is wrapping up pretty soon, I cannot wait for my copy!

No kidding! As soon as Apple announces pre-orders for Panther, I am *SO* going to the Apple Store for Education and ordering my copy. :) I don't care if it comes in December, I just want to plunk down my money and pre-order!

I want Panther! Wah!

[nighttraitor]

Originally posted by Catfish_Man
Panther has greatly improved password security. I don't recall the details, but it's no longer limited to 8 chars, among other things.

I think there was an article referenced in MacBytes about how Linux and Mac OSX were using 12-bit encription now and windows was still using 8-bit. I couldn't find the article there, maybe someone else knows where it is.

[SiliconAddict]

Is anyone else concerned that the "supposed" shipping date is about a month away and they are still working out bugs in the applications?


Apple is still pounding out bugs in Panther that cause eMacs and CRT based iMacs from failing to wake up from sleep.

Meanwhile, glitches remain with Trash icon updates and application aliases in the dock, where the applications reside on separate partitions. Finally, the Panther versions of ImageCapture and iTunes remain fussy, with one hanging on start and the other crashing when quit, respectively.


Talk about going down to the wire. The people programming this OS and the apps for it must have a Jolt IV drip going 24/7.

[F/reW/re]

Originally posted by SiliconAddict

Talk about going down to the wire. The people programming this OS and the apps for it must have a Jolt IV drip going 24/7.
Could not agree more! (If that really was ironi)

[Powerbook G5]

That's the best way to work, though!

[CrackedButter]

Whats the hoopla with the About Box?

[beware_phog]

Talk about going down to the wire. The people programming this OS and the apps for it must have a Jolt IV drip going 24/

If you've ever done any software development, you'd know that your work is never done. So many opportunities for error. Impossible to test everything all the time. I'm glad they are keeping at it and moving things along.

[Fukui]

Originally posted by SiliconAddict

Talk about going down to the wire. The people programming this OS and the apps for it must have a Jolt IV drip going 24/7.
No, just Steve Jobs and a 24-Volt cattle prod....:D

[CybrCyfr]

Does anyone know if this build is more stable when using the Finder and Safari compared to 7B28?

I have been reluctant to logon to the ADC and download it due to stability issues I saw with 7B28.

[thatguy_youknow]

Originally posted by CybrCyfr
Does anyone know if this build is more stable when using the Finder and Safari compared to 7B28?

I have been reluctant to logon to the ADC and download it due to stability issues I saw with 7B28.


This is by far the best build yet. :o :D
Get it if you are an ADC member.

Question: When ctrl+clicking on the dock icon of an open App with multiple windows has it always given a list of the windows. :confused: I mean in Jaguar and earlier versions of OS X.

[Modano]

Originally posted by thatguy_youknow
Question: When ctrl+clicking on the dock icon of an open App with multiple windows has it always given a list of the windows. :confused: I mean in Jaguar and earlier versions of OS X. Yes, Jaguar does this, and I think Puma did too.

[BillyShears]

Originally posted by thatguy_youknow
This is by far the best build yet. :o :D
Get it if you are an ADC member.

Question: When ctrl+clicking on the dock icon of an open App with multiple windows has it always given a list of the windows. :confused: I mean in Jaguar and earlier versions of OS X.

Yes. In Jaguar and earlier, you would right/control click on the Finder icon and it would say "No Windows", which brought great joy to many a mac fan.

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by CrackedButter
Whats the hoopla with the About Box?

Well, didn't the past Panther builds have the build number in the about box? The fact it says "Pre release" really suggests they're coming down to the end now. A couple more bug-fix releases and they'll be looking at release candidates I garner.

[york2600]

Nope they've always done this. It kinda sucks this way. You have to open up the system profiler to check the build. I'm sure there's like 100 ways to do it in the terminal too.

[WM.]

Originally posted by SiliconAddict
Is anyone else concerned that the "supposed" shipping date is about a month away and they are still working out bugs in the applications?

Talk about going down to the wire. The people programming this OS and the apps for it must have a Jolt IV drip going 24/7.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a software developer. I probably couldn't program my way out of a paper bag to save my life if my pants were on fire (to mix a few metaphors). I do know how to make my TI-83 display menus. But that's about it. :D

Anyway, what else would Apple's SW developers be doing for that last month besides squashing bugs? Gossiping about Avie Tevanian? Now that they're done implementing features, that's all there is to do, right? And of course there'll be some revisions (10.3.1 et al.), and most of the improvements will be bugfixes. In other words, I imagine almost all of the development on Panther from now until the release of 10.3.6 (or whatever) will be squashing bugs (aside from making it compatible with any new hardware and stuff like that).

On a completely different topic, am I to understand that you can't click on the "10.3 (pre-release)" text and get a build number, and click again and get the serial number? If so, well, that really sucks. :)

WM

[SeaFox]

Drat, well I guess the only reson one would post the about box would be to... (I give up, what?)

[Powerbook G5]

Maybe you are reading too much into it and it was just posted because the picture was there and for the sake of posting it. It is a bit different the the regular "About" box, so perhaps it's just to show the change in its layout.

[mara]

"Nope they've always done this. It kinda sucks this way. You have to open up the system profiler to check the build. I'm sure there's like 100 ways to do it in the terminal too."

Actually you don´t have to. Just open About this Mac and click the "Version" text. Then you get the serial number as well as build number.

Or do you mean Panther? But it is working there too I think...

[Foocha]

The about box illustrates that Apple has abandoned the Aqua-style OS X logo & use of Apple Garamond in favour of a flat grey Apple logo and Myriad. It seems the Aqua-style Apple logo for the Apple menu is the last artifact of the old style - expect it to turn grey before the final release!

[ErikGrim]

Originally posted by Foocha
It seems the Aqua-style Apple logo for the Apple menu is the last artifact of the old style - expect it to turn grey before the final release!

But it's already grey!

...you mean you don't run graphite?

[dhaveconfig]

Originally posted by Vonnie
If the login-password is stored in the netinfo database, readable by all users, hashed using a simple DES algorithm, limited to 8 characters, is FileVault that secure?

Depending on your password strength, a cracker could get to your encrypted files within a week (ie by using John).

Here is to hoping that Panther does MD5 or SHA-1 password hashes by default, doesn't make it world-readable.


You get your hope. Can't remember what the encryption algorithm is, but Panther has shadow passwords, and any apps which rely on crypt authentication will fail.

[Vonnie]

Originally posted by dhaveconfig
You get your hope. Can't remember what the encryption algorithm is, but Panther has shadow passwords, and any apps which rely on crypt authentication will fail.

Great! Another reason to buy Panther :-)

[AppleMatt]

Sniff...

...goodbye Aqua. I'll miss you.

AppleMatt

[CaptainScarlet]

I'll tell you one thing, this build is ALMOST GM, at least in my eyes.

This version ROCKS!!

Yes there are bugs, but not as bad as the last one!!

[CybrCyfr]

Actually, in the about box click on the Pre-Release label and it will show the build number. Click it again and it shows the serial number.

This feature has been here since 10.1 I think...


Originally posted by SeaFox
Well, didn't the past Panther builds have the build number in the about box? The fact it says "Pre release" really suggests they're coming down to the end now. A couple more bug-fix releases and they'll be looking at release candidates I garner.

[Powerbook G5]

I hope we'll see Panther go GM before too long, it definitely looks like it is close to the horizon and I am excited as hell for it to come. Once I get a new PowerBook, I'll want it running Panther ASAP.

[AppleMatt]

Originally posted by CybrCyfr
Actually, in the about box click on the Pre-Release label and it will show the build number. Click it again and it shows the serial number.

This feature has been here since 10.1 I think...

This is correct. I didn't want to post it as I'm still downloading 7B39, and so couldn't test to see if it had been removed.

AppleMatt

[Powerbook G5]

So does anyone notice any significant stability improvements with the latest build?

[cnladd]

Originally posted by SiliconAddict
Is anyone else concerned that the "supposed" shipping date is about a month away and they are still working out bugs in the applications?

Not at all.

Things that are working fine in one build can often become broken in a later build, especially when the focus is on implementing new features and getting those new features stable.

In many cases, the "bugs" are just remnants of the development process that need to be cleaned up before release. In any development, especially something like this, they'll be working out bugs right up until they create their gold master.

Even after RTM they'll continue working out bugs, the fixes for which will show up in Software Update.

Bugs are typically listed with a priority, with the most visible bugs and the bugs that most affect the user listed higher. These will be tackled before RTM. They'll release a product with known bugs, and with a development schedule for getting them updated. Happened with Jaguar, Puma, and the others.

Happened with OS9 and earlier. It happens much more often in Windows. It's normal.

[CaptainScarlet]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
So does anyone notice any significant stability improvements with the latest build?

Yes, the Finder has greaty improved!! Finder doesn't crash...

I would have to say it's the best so far....

But....There is a nasty bug with carbon based apps. You can't open or save files!!! You can open them by clicking the file, but good luck trying to do a save as......Nasty!!

So it's back to the old....Apple changed the /System/Library/Framework.....

It's a bummer, cause the build rocks!!

If no own else has this problem, then I need to format and resintall..instead of archive and install....


CS........out

[jaedreth]

Exactly.

If developers of programs, let alone operating systems, waited until there were absolutely no bugs to ship, then nothing would ever ship, and when it did, new features would almost never be added, due to the length of time it takes to make sure every possible combination of code won't cause a glitch. No one does this. And if Apple had, we'd have *never* left System 6.

Glad to hear this seed is stable, now I really want it. But I'll wait and purchase it when available, like everyone else who can't cough up the developer $$.

Jaedreth

[CybrCyfr]

The new internet connect application is a GREAT improvement over 10.2. There are lots of small tweaks here and there, ssubtle improvments that make all the difference. See screenshot...

[Powerbook G5]

I wonder how many more seeds are going to be planted before we get to a final candidate release...I'm quite anxious to to finally read "final candidate release" so I know GM will be just around the corner.

[rag on a muffin]

i have jaguar :D. in most cases its exellent, but there are many bugs :(. i got it from a developer freind, im a beta tester. if anyone wants to know anything, just post. its version 7B28. only 500 mhz tho so no big performance tasks (darn ibook).