Looks interesting and something I wouldn't mind trying out, but what we really need more of in OS upgrades is universal features like exposé that benefit everyone. I can't see that many general mac users using this, I hope there is something big out there we have yet to hear of.
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Apple Pipeline?
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There seems to be quite a few things missing from the screenshot-- there's no GUI components for one thing, so it's not very useful for standalone apps...
It almost looks like this is less for building quick AppleScript applications and more for helping to manipulate data on your system. The name Pipeline reinforces that feeling-- it reminds me of "piping" data through a chain of processors on a Unix command line.
Looks like it would let you say "Find items in iPhoto from my vacation | Resize images to 640x480 | Find addresses in Address Book for Family | Mail pictures as attachments To: address list"
Rather than pipe it, you'd graphically build the Workflow.
With the pieces I see here, I don't see anyway of actually programming an application. No GUI, no loops, no control statements, no generic processing blocks... I don't see a menu where they could be hiding, and there's no scrollbars in then Category pane indicating there is anything else hiding there...
It almost looks like this is less for building quick AppleScript applications and more for helping to manipulate data on your system. The name Pipeline reinforces that feeling-- it reminds me of "piping" data through a chain of processors on a Unix command line.
Looks like it would let you say "Find items in iPhoto from my vacation | Resize images to 640x480 | Find addresses in Address Book for Family | Mail pictures as attachments To: address list"
Rather than pipe it, you'd graphically build the Workflow.
With the pieces I see here, I don't see anyway of actually programming an application. No GUI, no loops, no control statements, no generic processing blocks... I don't see a menu where they could be hiding, and there's no scrollbars in then Category pane indicating there is anything else hiding there...
nsb3000 said:
There is actually a concept behind Metal. Self-contained Apps are Metal. and Apps that have Palettes and other menues are Aqua. It's what Apple say themselves in their HI Guide.
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nubero said:
Apple is breaking the rules every other second. Metal used to be for programs, that had something to do with multimedia and external devices. Safari broke that, Calculator broke that, Adress Book broke that, iCal broke that. So they came up with the rule, that apps with one window may be metal. But Finder and Safari still break that. If you look at the current version of the Human Interface Guidelines, the rule has become more or less "Use metal if you think it looks good". And in Xgrid, Apple has even broken this rule
Bottom Line, Apple will use Metal whenever they want to. That's nothing counting for or against a screenshot.
While it is interesting, I am not so sure about all this stuff being added to an OS.
Maybe it is time to bring to market the idea of modular OS and Apps. Give a core set of ability and buy the rest of it to fit your needs. Like Sherlock, it is something that I have yet found useful for me. Same for Rendezvous.
Maybe it is time to bring to market the idea of modular OS and Apps. Give a core set of ability and buy the rest of it to fit your needs. Like Sherlock, it is something that I have yet found useful for me. Same for Rendezvous.
I HOPE Apple BOUGHT this from the Konfabulator people. Otherwise we'll accelerate the problem that came up when Apple just copied Watson to bring out Sherlock 2; developers that stop writing code for the Mac because they cannot compete with free software (ala Adobe).
Looks like an intriguing concept - I wonder if it's real or not - there must be some truth to this rumor...
I like the concept - making something that's relatively easy to do (AppleScripting) easier for the average user and more intuitive. If this is indeed the case, there will be many more Mac users out there taking advantage of this feature who normally associate the words "Applescript" with "complicated programming" (even though that's not the case).
I like the concept - making something that's relatively easy to do (AppleScripting) easier for the average user and more intuitive. If this is indeed the case, there will be many more Mac users out there taking advantage of this feature who normally associate the words "Applescript" with "complicated programming" (even though that's not the case).
I agree that Apple probably should be a bit more diplomatic when they do things like this, but I also think that Apple usually does a better job integrating a "borrowed" feature into the Mac Experience than the shareware developers do (although Sherlock is a bit of an exception).ogun7 said:
A perfect example is Pather's Command-Tab application switch, which was "borrowed" from LiteSwitch X. The LiteSwitch people got really upset, but their application still offers features that Apple's app switch doesn't, and they could (and probably should anyway) add more features to make their idea more unique (they also advertised their app as "Dear Apple: You forgot something", so they were kinda inviting Apple to "borrow" their idea).
Anyway, if Dashboard is real the Konfabulator folks are hardly out of business. They're actively developing a Windows version, and Konfabulator still offers many features Apple wouldn't (I'm assuming), like the easy-to-write java-based widgets. Konfabulator's achille's heel is still its $25 price tag, IMO.
As for Pipeline, it really sounds like it could be another one of those features that only Apple could pull off. Can you imagine M$ trying something like that? "I made a app that moved all my WMA files into a folder just for them, and Windows deleted the folder and gave me a blue screen of death!"
The cats take a nap after Tiger
This is reportedly the last rapid fire release of the cat series of OS upgrades. This fact of course gets one speculating what the next (10.5) upgrade will bring the Macintosh. Tiger may be the last refinement upgrade of the Mac OS X as we know it. Will 10.5 be the next big leap forward as in full 64? In 2-3 years Apple hardware should have gone G5 including the consumer line. Tiger may be with us on shipping Macs for two years unlike its predecessors Panther and Jaguar coming every 12-14 months apart. As for the "Screen shots" I believe they are real. Some of the new ideas like a search option in the Preferences panel is the kind of idea that could only come from Apple. As the OS becomes more complicated in function it is Apple's response to help users find "buried" controls and options. All those knit-pickers out there that dismissed these screenshots on text inconsistencies miss the inspiration behind the enhancements shown. I think it is quite smart how control panes that are candidates for a search are highlighted for the others, very Apple.
This is reportedly the last rapid fire release of the cat series of OS upgrades. This fact of course gets one speculating what the next (10.5) upgrade will bring the Macintosh. Tiger may be the last refinement upgrade of the Mac OS X as we know it. Will 10.5 be the next big leap forward as in full 64? In 2-3 years Apple hardware should have gone G5 including the consumer line. Tiger may be with us on shipping Macs for two years unlike its predecessors Panther and Jaguar coming every 12-14 months apart. As for the "Screen shots" I believe they are real. Some of the new ideas like a search option in the Preferences panel is the kind of idea that could only come from Apple. As the OS becomes more complicated in function it is Apple's response to help users find "buried" controls and options. All those knit-pickers out there that dismissed these screenshots on text inconsistencies miss the inspiration behind the enhancements shown. I think it is quite smart how control panes that are candidates for a search are highlighted for the others, very Apple.
kerryb said:
Or, perhaps this will be not only the last cat revision of the OS, but the last OS X revision too - perhaps there will not be a 10.5, just OS XI! Although I could see one more revision at least - 10.5 could be "Lion", and could be marketed as "the king of the jungle".
So what will Apple move to for OS XI? Trees (Sequoia, Redwood, Evergreen)? Mountains (Ranier, Fuji, Everest)? Planets? "Introducing OS 11.1 'Mars' - it's out of this world!"
wdlove said:
Tough to say - guess we'll just have to wait and see! Maybe Jobs will keep releasing cat OSes (hmm, just realized that could refer to Cisco as well as Apple
) until 10.10, and then release just "11". There would still be plenty of cat names to go through - Ocelot, Cheetah, Cougar, Bobcat, Puma, Siamese Cat - hmm, maybe that last one could be like "Siamese twins" and be the name of 10.10 - "twin 10s"... Oh, and don't forget the always-popular Asiatic Desert Cat and Norwegian Forest Cat... 
Why do people assume Apple will skip to version 11? I think it's fairly obvious looking at the history of OSX , that we'll see a 10.5, .6, .7,.8,.9 and then perhaps OSX XI. There seems to be no rush towards hitting some arbitrary number for OS versioning.
I'm wondering if this Pipeline is true. Guess I'll know tomorrow.
I'm wondering if this Pipeline is true. Guess I'll know tomorrow.
no os 11 will be "LIGER" because it will be a hybrid 64 and 32 bit os funcioning natively and optimized for both types~Shard~ said:Tough to say - guess we'll just have to wait and see! Maybe Jobs will keep releasing cat OSes (hmm, just realized that could refer to Cisco as well as Apple
Cochrane said:Apple is breaking the rules every other second. Metal used to be for programs, that had something to do with multimedia and external devices. Safari broke that, Calculator broke that, Adress Book broke that, iCal broke that. So they came up with the rule, that apps with one window may be metal. But Finder and Safari still break that. If you look at the current version of the Human Interface Guidelines, the rule has become more or less "Use metal if you think it looks good". And in Xgrid, Apple has even broken this rule
Bottom Line, Apple will use Metal whenever they want to. That's nothing counting for or against a screenshot.
I was opposed to metal for a long time, but time has shown that it is a great texture when working with dozens of windows on the screen. If they were all aqua, I would have a constant migraine.
1. A browser *can* be considered a device for browsing the 'net.
2. A calculator is a real, physical device, so metal works well for it.
I think there's a point of having too much metal. If you have noticed as I have, there's starting to be a merge between Aqua and Metal. Take a look at Adium and you'll see a pseudo-metal being used.. its chat window tabs have the shape of Safari tabs, but not quite a translucent Aqua appearance either. It's a beautiful sight for sure, and very easy on the eyes.
Apple is about inspiration. It's up to the developers to run with the ideas.
pipeline could be major
I await the integration of pipeline with Inkwell and gestures and support for metadata which is rumored to appear in Tiger. This could create a booming market for "piping" apps BTW.
I await the integration of pipeline with Inkwell and gestures and support for metadata which is rumored to appear in Tiger. This could create a booming market for "piping" apps BTW.
yeah, i didn't get a chance to see it either. is it supposed to be the workflow app image that is still on thinksecret?wdlove said:
i feel that this is a fantastic idea for those who are too intimidated to give applescript a try.
FightTheFuture said:
My thoughts exactly - even though Applescript is relatively easy to use, I think many people have some incorrect/informed preconceived notions about it, and just avoid using it, assuming it's too difficult or what have you. This "Pipeline" tool might entice more people to give it a try, thus allowing them to become more productive, carry out tasks easier, etc.
Can't wait for the keynote and the Tiger presentation!
coolfactor said:
A word processor can be considered a device for creating documents.
The Preview app can be considered a device for viewing pictures (and PDFs).
A spreadsheet can be considered a device for performing simple or complex mathematical calculations and displaying the results in various formats.
If you stretch a point, *any* program can be considered a "device" for performing some function.
Therefore, the point becomes meaningless.
my two cents......
tick....tock....tick....tock.....
we'll know for sure soon enough. but if it is essentially konfabulator integrated with the OS, then i can't wait to use it. i havn't used konfabulator, but from what i can gather it sounds pretty cool. if it is a rip-off, then i hope the konfabulator guys have been tossed more than a few bones.
anyhoo, not long now.....
tick....tock....tick....tock.....
we'll know for sure soon enough. but if it is essentially konfabulator integrated with the OS, then i can't wait to use it. i havn't used konfabulator, but from what i can gather it sounds pretty cool. if it is a rip-off, then i hope the konfabulator guys have been tossed more than a few bones.
anyhoo, not long now.....
I don't see how either "Pipeline" or the new Expose' feature ("Dashboard") can be in any way related to Konfabulator.
Pipeline appears to be a graphical AppleScript editor, nothing more and nothing less. It relies upon existing applications that expose functionality via AppleScript to function. This is in no way related to Konfabulator: it is based on PHP and is mostly intended to display data rather than to facilitate complex concatenations of actions.
Dashboard appears to be a generalisation on the very early concept of a "tabbed Dock", except this one leverages on the Expose' technology to make it disappear at will. Just because the Dashboard is shown displaying "Konfabulator-esque" applets doesn't mean it is a Konfabulator clone.
For those who are wondering about what a "Tabbed Dock" is, I suggest you look at these very early OSX interface mockups from back in the heady days when Apple had just acquired NeXT:
The Expose' "hide and seek" technology has merely allowed Apple to resurrcet the very sensible "Tabbed Shelf" idea that they had originally abandoned in the interests of limiting screen clutter.
Konfabulator has absolutely nothing to do with either of these technologies.
Pipeline appears to be a graphical AppleScript editor, nothing more and nothing less. It relies upon existing applications that expose functionality via AppleScript to function. This is in no way related to Konfabulator: it is based on PHP and is mostly intended to display data rather than to facilitate complex concatenations of actions.
Dashboard appears to be a generalisation on the very early concept of a "tabbed Dock", except this one leverages on the Expose' technology to make it disappear at will. Just because the Dashboard is shown displaying "Konfabulator-esque" applets doesn't mean it is a Konfabulator clone.
For those who are wondering about what a "Tabbed Dock" is, I suggest you look at these very early OSX interface mockups from back in the heady days when Apple had just acquired NeXT:
The Expose' "hide and seek" technology has merely allowed Apple to resurrcet the very sensible "Tabbed Shelf" idea that they had originally abandoned in the interests of limiting screen clutter.
Konfabulator has absolutely nothing to do with either of these technologies.
FWIW, the version of Stickies in Panther 10.3.4 is 4.2, I just checked.coumerelli said:
Would be an interesting concept to build an operating system GUI around stickies though. I bet 3M would be interested... I guess you can't get more spacial than stickies either, so I bet the good people at arstechnica would be delighted.
Kudos to harperska, it looks like it's gonna be that way.
I was cruising over the screenshots supplied by Cuk.ch here (http://g4.wasd.dk/files/cuk.ch/tiger_cuk_preview.html) and it also had Pipeline but when I looked over the screenshots it was exactly like Automator here.
Since when does Apple do two names for one app?
I think it's possibly regional. Presuming the Cuk.ch is based in France it could be European differences.
Suggestions are that it was originally called pipeline but it's name was changed recently, apparently it can be seen when Steve's doing the demo of Spotlight wehn he types the "Pi" of "Pixar", Pipeline shows up.
I was cruising over the screenshots supplied by Cuk.ch here (http://g4.wasd.dk/files/cuk.ch/tiger_cuk_preview.html) and it also had Pipeline but when I looked over the screenshots it was exactly like Automator here.
Since when does Apple do two names for one app?
I think it's possibly regional. Presuming the Cuk.ch is based in France it could be European differences.
Suggestions are that it was originally called pipeline but it's name was changed recently, apparently it can be seen when Steve's doing the demo of Spotlight wehn he types the "Pi" of "Pixar", Pipeline shows up.