Government Specific Changes in Panther?

[MacRumors]

MacTeens.com posts (http://macteens.com/exclusives_more.php?id=272_0_4_0_C) a report that the login interface files from a recent build of Panther (7B53) contains text and images for a U.S. Government specific login interface.

Embedded images include seals for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, Nactional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Public Health Service.

A recent report (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/08/20030828052452.shtml) noted that Mac OS X was recently added to a list of computer platforms officially supported by the U.S. Federal Government.

The implication of these files is left to speculation, as it is unknown whether there are already plans to deploy Mac OS X systems in government departments.

[Mudbug]

Neato - I think that a neat way to get all of these rumors to wrap together would be to have the government get involved with the supercomputer at Virginia Tech, use it for GlobalThermoNuclear War games, and rename the thing to call it WOPR. Then they would have a use for their own private login. :D

P.S. - the password is "joshua"

[jamesatzones]

I wonder if the government is looking for a way right now out of the homeland security windoz deal. This is great news that Macs are supported now by the gov, lets get the market share up...

[SiliconAddict]

whoa. This "could" be huge. I don't see apple adding frivolous stuff to Panther without a really good reason. Esp something such as gov logons unless there was a specific request for such a thing. Is there any precedent of Apple ever doing this before?
It will be interesting to see if this remains in the final shipping version of Panther.

[beefcake]

Maybe the government is getting sick of worms, I know I was sick of them just before switching to OS X.

[Powerbook G5]

It's good to finally see the Macintosh platform is making it into more government positions. It has seemed like in the past they have shafted the Mac platform, but this looks like it is a positive leap forward.

[e-coli]

It seems as though Al Gore has been busy using his connections in Washington. ;)

[JtheLemur]

Indeed, if Apple is working towards a gov't "spec" OS, or even WITH the gov't to deploy OS X, it's a realy great win for Apple.

But more impotantly, it means parts of the gov't are moving AWAY from Windows. Heck, in a broad sense, I really couldn't care less WHAT OS the gov't moved to, as long as it was away from Windwos - OS X, any Linux, any UNIX, whatever. I'll feel a lot safer when gov't systems can't be taken down with a simple (yet ingenius) worm! (ie, Slammer =)

[LagunaSol]

I'd love to see more Macs in govt. I work for the agency you all love to hate (hint: April 15) and I emailed our commissioner a couple of years ago griping that while the U.S. govt. was suing Microsoft for illegal behavior, govt. departments were standardizing on all MS products (no more Lotus Notes/cc:Mail, no more WordPerfect, etc.). All Windows only and MS Office only. I thought that was quite a contradiction. He responded that it's more cost effective to standardize on MS.

That may be the case, but the govt. is not allowed to specify exclusive manufacturers in other areas (for example, we're not allowed to buy only Herman Miller furniture and nothing else), so why should it be allowed to deal with one software maker exclusively?

Lame. I think our publishing department has a few Macs, but that's about it, out of 100,000 employees.

So the govt. sues MS and then turns around and writes it a huge check for an MS Office upgrade. Unbelievable.

(P.S. These are obviously my personal opinions)

[herr_neumann]

Originally posted by Mudbug
Neato - I think that a neat way to get all of these rumors to wrap together would be to have the government get involved with the supercomputer at Virginia Tech, use it for GlobalThermoNuclear War games, and rename the thing to call it WOPR. Then they would have a use for their own private login. :D

P.S. - the password is "joshua"

I see somebody else watched "War Games" on tv today.

[Code101]

Originally posted by e-coli
It seems as though Al Gore has been busy using his connections in Washington. ;)

Well, I hope not! If the Army, NAVY, Airforce and so on are using Macs, it's not because of Al Gore. They don't like him much. I think the government is using Apple more and more bacause of OS-X. OS-X is the big make or break of Macs. It's the best OS out there! The DOD needs the best of the best at all times. That makes sense since they are protecting us. Give them what they need. What better than to give them OS-X.

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by jamesatzones
I wonder if the government is looking for a way right now out of the homeland security windoz deal. This is great news that Macs are supported now by the gov, lets get the market share up...

I doubt it, otherwise the Department of Homeland Security seal would be there.

Embedded images include seals for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, Nactional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Public Health Service.

But not the Marine Corps. Guess it's a good thing I didn't enlist after all...

[ibookin']

These have been in the builds since the WWDC build or earlier (first build I saw them in).

The icons look really cool, and all the new security features (on the fly, real time encrytion, anyone?) in Panther will likely give it a big push into government institutions/projects.

[J@ffa]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
I doubt it, otherwise the Department of Homeland Security seal would be there.



But not the Marine Corps. Guess it's a good thing I didn't enlist after all...

Check the site - there is a seal for the Marine Corps.

[daRAT]

Originally posted by LagunaSol
I'd love to see more Macs in govt. I work for the agency you all love to hate (hint: April 15) and I emailed our commissioner a couple of years ago griping that while the U.S. govt. was suing Microsoft for illegal behavior, govt. departments were standardizing on all MS products (no more Lotus Notes/cc:Mail, no more WordPerfect, etc.). All Windows only and MS Office only. I thought that was quite a contradiction. He responded that it's more cost effective to standardize on MS.

That may be the case, but the govt. is not allowed to specify exclusive manufacturers in other areas (for example, we're not allowed to buy only Herman Miller furniture and nothing else), so why should it be allowed to deal with one software maker exclusively?

Lame. I think our publishing department has a few Macs, but that's about it, out of 100,000 employees.

So the govt. sues MS and then turns around and writes it a huge check for an MS Office upgrade. Unbelievable.

(P.S. These are obviously my personal opinions)

As someone who works for an engineering firm I can agree with the above statement ... However, you CAN specify and exact model/make IF you write the specifications correctly. As an example, almost all painting spec's have the line "Sherwin-Williams, or approved equal .." Now your a contractor, and instead of trying to send in catalog cuts for a paint that is not SW, I would just use Sherwin-Williams paint.

On another note, we have a new school just being completed, and they are all Macs in the school! :>

I do not buy into the thought of switching to Macs will save us from worms/virii. If the sales were switched, 95% Mac users and 5% windows users, we would see the Mac platform being attacked. At 5%, why would these attackers even bother, they are looking for large scale effects.

Now, if the Gov switches to Mac servers (I think you are seeing a swap over to Mac internet (web, mail etc), servers, not workstations, wouldn't virii/worms start appearing for Macs?

Don't get me wrong, I love my Mac, but I also love my PC, they are tools nothing more. :P

*kicks the soapbox to the next speaker*

[rotorblade]

The Apple Store for Gov't entities/employees has offered a Federal Smart Card package for some time now. I'd venture to say this is just a continuation of that work which provides the requisite login messages and warnings associated with using most gov't computers.

Edit: Want the link?

http://store.apple.com/AppleStore/WebObjects/BEPPStore.woa/72005/wo/rj40I4asvaEp3y09m4j2jQXZtdW/0.0.7.1.0.5.57.1

[daRAT]

Originally posted by J@ffa
Check the site - there is a seal for the Marine Corps.

USMC I believe was running Linux before, I saw an article on it a few years ago, they swapped over.

Correct me if I am wrong :)

[Stike]

As the government switches towards OS X I see the possibility of a "Terminator-3-Scenario" shrink towards zero ;)

[zapp]

But not the Marine Corps. Guess it's a good thing I didn't enlist after all... [/B][/QUOTE]


The USMC falls under Department of the Navy. They are not there own Department.

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by e-coli
It seems as though Al Gore has been busy using his connections in Washington. ;)

God bless him :p

[Sayhey]

If nothing else, it would indicate that Apple is serious about going after the government market.

[synergy]

Originally posted by LagunaSol
I'd love to see more Macs in govt. I work for the agency you all love to hate (hint: April 15) and I emailed our commissioner a couple of years ago griping that while the U.S. govt. was suing Microsoft for illegal behavior, govt. departments were standardizing on all MS products (no more Lotus Notes/cc:Mail, no more WordPerfect, etc.). All Windows only and MS Office only. I thought that was quite a contradiction. He responded that it's more cost effective to standardize on MS.

That may be the case, but the govt. is not allowed to specify exclusive manufacturers in other areas (for example, we're not allowed to buy only Herman Miller furniture and nothing else), so why should it be allowed to deal with one software maker exclusively?

Lame. I think our publishing department has a few Macs, but that's about it, out of 100,000 employees.

So the govt. sues MS and then turns around and writes it a huge check for an MS Office upgrade. Unbelievable.

(P.S. These are obviously my personal opinions)


Hey LagunaSol,
You seem to work for the same agency I work for as well. :-)
Where I work we only use PCs. For the stuff we do though it does not really matter. We could use Macs just as well. We need word processor, excel spreads, email and internet. We do use DOS but there are solutions to keep us using DOS as well. Of course we rely on the 3.5" disk for our time keeping application.
I think eMacs instead of PCs would be an excellent change.

[Rower_CPU]

Just a warning: keep the political discussion elsewhere.

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by zapp
The USMC falls under Department of the Navy. They are not there own Department.

That is certainly true, but they are their own branch of the military.

The US Marine Corps is on an equal footing with the US Navy, US Army, and US Air Force. The Commandant of the Marine Corps is a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force and the Chief of Naval Operations.

It is true that the US Marine Corps reports to the Department of the Navy, as the Army and Air Force report to, respectively, the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force. However, this is higher up in the actual DoD command structure. The Department of the Navy is not the same thing as the US Navy. Rather, it is the civilian administrative section (as the US Navy is the actual, uniformed military service.) The US Marine Corps is a separate uniformed military service.

[MacBliss]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Just a warning: keep the political discussion elsewhere.


Say what? How can one talk about the Governement's actions and decisions without getting political? Any comment on the governement's actions will be commenting on the ideology (or lack thereof) behind these actions. Wouldn't this be a political statement by definition?

Indeed, YOU have made the strongest political statement in this thread so far, by asking us to keep the political discussion elswhere in a thread dicussing the governement's choice and actions.

So, just a warning: keep YOUR political views elsewhere...

[Phil Of Mac]

MacBliss, he's a moderator. What he says, goes. Disagreeing with him on these matters is not considered safe if you value your continued participation on these boards.

[whooleytoo]

Originally posted by LagunaSol
So the govt. sues MS and then turns around and writes it a huge check for an MS Office upgrade. Unbelievable.


I find it a little hard to fathom too.

Previously, when I worked at Motorola, a memo was circulated saying how all Macs were to be phased out "in the interests of increased productivity". If I still worked there, I'd return the memo, with endless clippings of MSBlast and SoBig news stories, with the cover page: "See enclosed, Definition of Irony".

Mike.

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by whooleytoo
Previously, when I worked at Motorola, a memo was circulated saying how all Macs were to be phased out "in the interests of increased productivity". If I still worked there, I'd return the memo, with endless clippings of MSBlast and SoBig news stories, with the cover page: "See enclosed, Definition of Irony".

You worked at Motorola? LYNCH HIM!!!!!!

Just kidding :D

[mvc]

Originally posted by whooleytoo
Previously, when I worked at Motorola, a memo was circulated saying how all Macs were to be phased out "in the interests of increased productivity"…

LOL. Mouldyroller and productivity in the same sentence. I reckon they could get more projects out on time if they were using a Mac Plus. Clearly the PC's didn't help! :p

[Code101]

Originally posted by LagunaSol

So the govt. sues MS and then turns around and writes it a huge check for an MS Office upgrade. Unbelievable.

(P.S. These are obviously my personal opinions)

There is more political talk here than you think! Enough with screwing Microsoft. This is just as political as you would like to admit. I like both and happen to think there is some good in Microsoft as well.

The topic at hand is how the government is going to use Panther, not how good Al Gore is and how evil Microsoft is.

[Phil Of Mac]

Al Gore wants gays in the military to use Panther because Microsoft is evil.

No, no. I'm just kidding.

[/user/bin/login]

There is no conspiracy here.

The images in question may be found here:
/System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgentPlugins/SCLoginPlugin.bundle

relevant shell commands are here:
mcp:/System/Library xxx$ ls -al /usr/sbin/cac*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root admin 2047 26 Aug 22:19 /usr/sbin/cac_addid
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root admin 2027 26 Aug 22:19 /usr/sbin/cac_anchors
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root admin 6972 26 Aug 22:19 /usr/sbin/cac_cron
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root admin 5901 26 Aug 22:19 /usr/sbin/cac_setup
mcp:/System/Library xxx$

The function of these tools is neatly summed up in this press release here:
http://www.activcard.com/newsroom/press_releases/062203_us.html?m=0

Google, folks - this is the Internet after all.

[whooleytoo]

Heh, I should point out:

a) I didn't work in Motorola for long.
b) I didn't work in the semi-conducters department.
c) I joined Motorola after being made redundant at Apple, and to restort my karma rejoined Apple again after! Haha.

[Rower_CPU]

Originally posted by MacBliss
Say what? How can one talk about the Governement's actions and decisions without getting political? Any comment on the governement's actions will be commenting on the ideology (or lack thereof) behind these actions. Wouldn't this be a political statement by definition?

Indeed, YOU have made the strongest political statement in this thread so far, by asking us to keep the political discussion elswhere in a thread dicussing the governement's choice and actions.

So, just a warning: keep YOUR political views elsewhere...

You seem to miss the point. We're discussing the government as a whole and it's supposed collaboration with Apple for adoption of OS X. A non-partisan and non-political discussion.

I made the warning because some posters had decided to make comments of an inflammatory nature. Those posts have been removed, which is why you might think my post is out of left field. It's a heads-up for those who already did and a warning for those who might.

There is a dedicated forum (http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=47) for political discussion and this is not it. :)

[edit - Further OT discussion will result in the thread being closed.]

[devost]

Clearly showed Jack B. uses a brand new G5 at the CTC.