Apple Releases OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 7

[iMat77]

Inconsistencies

I think that, from how things look right now, Apple should really focus on the graphic overhaul of OSX. The OS suffers of so many inconsistencies that things are becoming really annoying.


Case in point:
Full screen apps. Why is the "bar on top" never visible? It shows relevant information (battery status, menus for apps and so on). The purpose of the bar is exactly the reason why it has been created in the first place.

Now, when in Safari I go with the mouse on the top of the window and the bar "appears" including the bookmark bar. Everything "moves" down so that these new parts don't hide any relevant info.

Now, back to iTunes. If you go on the top, the bar simply covers iTunes' top part of the fullscreen view.

This is just ONE example (don't get me started on the iBooks vs "every other app" icon design...)

 

[NightFox]

Pretty sure Hershey paid Google to do it

Do you think Google has to pay Hershey to use Kit Kat?

Neither, Google have said that "no money changed hands" between them and Nestle (the Swiss owner of Kit Kat - Hershey are just a licensee) in either direction.

 

[Tyler23]

Don't be ridiculous! That's been there BEFORE!!!!

Jeez, is the anger really necessary?

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Given Apple's prior history of announcing release dates no more than 1-3 days prior (since Lion), I fully expect Apple to do the same with Mavericks. This implies there would be no mention of Mavericks at the Sept. 10 media event, but it WOULD be mentioned at a later date, as yet unknown.

 

[n-evo]

I think that, from how things look right now, Apple should really focus on the graphic overhaul of OSX. The OS suffers of so many inconsistencies that things are becoming really annoying.

[...]

This is just ONE example (don't get me started on the iBooks vs "every other app" icon design...)

At some point you'll just have to deal with the fact that no operating system is going to be 100 consistent. OS X is still heaven compared to the mess that is Windows 8. Hell, not even Microsoft's own new "Modern" apps work and look consistent. However, I do feel apps like iMessage and iBooks look incredibly out of place.

 

[foodog]

Disagree If you mean in terms of stability. Windows 8 & the Windows 8.1 preview were extremely stable, I used it as primary OS for a while.

Stable <> Better, necessarily.

 

[MacModMachine]

i see the new maps app added....although its slow.

 

[foodog]

Don't be ridiculous! That's been there BEFORE!!!!

WOW! switch to decaf ASAP

 

[gstevie]

Still finding it will not sync books to my devices. Out of date information in iTunes under books and the Sync options in iBooks lists all other options apart from "books"! It will sync bookmarks ext but not books? Strange problem.

 

[milo]

This is not correct. GM = Gold Master = public release

Not quite. Apple misuses the term GM a bit, what they call GM is actually a GM candidate. It doesn't happen often but there are examples of Apple releasing a build called GM then following it up with a second "GM".

It used to refer to the master disc sent out for replication to CD or DVD. Now that it's all download and no discs are burned, they can call releases whatever they want.

There were 4 DP's but they were released monthly, not every 2 weeks. So Mavericks would need 8 DP's to get the same amount of testing before GM.

Nope, only four of the releases were named DP but there were nine builds released in total. Looks like we're heading to about that same number again.

 

[DFZD]

Just now DP7 showed a popup for a Mavericks tour, I clicked on show, and it opened this page in Safari, which awkwardly as it is, is offline right now.

https://help.apple.com/osx-mavericks/whats-new

 

[jecowa]

Not quite. Apple misuses the term GM a bit, what they call GM is actually a GM candidate. It doesn't happen often but there are examples of Apple releasing a build called GM then following it up with a second "GM".

It used to refer to the master disc sent out for replication to CD or DVD. Now that it's all download and no discs are burned, they can call releases whatever they want.

Were the GMs actually made out of gold back then?

----------

Is this the size of the entire package or just the update? I'd like to see Apple focusing on slimming down the OS rather than bloating it like Microsoft OEMs seem to do.

That's the size of the DP7 update for users of DP6. The whole installation of Mac OS X 10.9.DP7 Mavericks takes about 13 GB on my SSD. That includes all the apps it comes with like Safari, Maps, Chess, etc.

 

[jeherron]

Pretty sure Hershey paid Google to do it

Nestlé owns the brand. Hershey just does the licensing in the US.

 

[cg399]

I know it'll cause massive server load, but aren't they going to want to release this alongside iOS 7.

With features like iCloud Keychain and Maps syncing between iOS and OSX, and changes to airplay etc. isn't it in their best interest to bring them out simultaneously?

Also, iOS 6 and OSX 10.8 came out at the same time, when there wasn't really the same need?

 

[hauntvictim]

Looking forward to Mavericks

So looking forward to Mavericks over the "brightness" of iOS 7. Mavericks with iBooks and Maps so cool. However; I hope the books app work better than the podcast app does. Hardly syncs my podcasts correctly from iTunes.

 

[ghostface147]

I wish they would allow me to modify autocorrected words. I use the ellipsis frequently and it compresses them to a smaller space. I could disable that in ML, but not in M. Sucks.

 

[JohnDoe98]

I know it'll cause massive server load, but aren't they going to want to release this alongside iOS 7.

With features like iCloud Keychain and Maps syncing between iOS and OSX, and changes to airplay etc. isn't it in their best interest to bring them out simultaneously?

Also, iOS 6 and OSX 10.8 came out at the same time, when there wasn't really the same need?

I agree they should, ideally, launch together, but as others have noted it isn't clear Mavericks will be ready in time. Take iBooks for instance, though there has been some small progress across the DPs, it's still a long way from prime time, and it is one of the big new features in Mavericks, so they can't exactly release Mavericks until it's ready. Remember when they pulled people off the OS X team to help bring iOS along? I wonder if that's having an impact now. Ideally they would also bring all the UIs into line with iOS, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen this year either, given the progress in current DPs.

 

[JohnDoe98]

So looking forward to Mavericks over the "brightness" of iOS 7. Mavericks with iBooks and Maps so cool. However; I hope the books app work better than the podcast app does. Hardly syncs my podcasts correctly from iTunes.

I'm not a fan of the iOS new look either as of right now, but one thing is sure, the theme will make it's way to OS X eventually. Maybe not this year in Mavericks since they had so much other, more pressing, work. But it's just a matter of time.

 

[arkmannj]

I know it's stupid and petty, but am I the only one annoyed by how "Tags" no longer colors all of the text? (It now just adds a color dot.) heck I miss the OLD days when labeling something ment the whole icon got a color overlay.

 

[Mattsasa]

This is not correct. GM = Gold Master = public release

The GM *is* the public release version, identical by definition.

I thought Gold Master is still a developer version?

But usually is very close or identical to the public release

 

[cg399]

I agree they should, ideally, launch together, but as others have noted it isn't clear Mavericks will be ready in time. Take iBooks for instance, though there has been some small progress across the DPs, it's still a long way from prime time, and it is one of the big new features in Mavericks, so they can't exactly release Mavericks until it's ready. Remember when they pulled people off the OS X team to help bring iOS along? I wonder if that's having an impact now. Ideally they would also bring all the UIs into line with iOS, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen this year either, given the progress in current DPs.

You may well be right, which would be a shame. Still, as Apple have discovered in the past, better to wait and get it right!

I definitely agree about the UIs - I was expecting a much cleaner Mavericks than it looks like we will be seeing. Still, gives us something to look forward to in OSX 10.10!

 

[Tyler23]

I thought Gold Master is still a developer version?

But usually is very close or identical to the public release

When it's seeded to developers, it's called the GM. Once it's released to the public, it's the Public Release. It's still the same build.

 

[CPD_1]

Safari is still effed up. Crashes left and right, for example when you pinch out to the tab view and back into a tab again.

But since no one else seem to complain, I'm starting to guess it's just me. Or can anyone say they have the same thing?

Haven't experienced it myself.

 

[CPD_1]

Do you think Google has to pay Hershey to use Kit Kat?

Kit Kat is a Nestlé brand, and from what Google has said, it's a mutual agreement without an exchange of money.

 

[CPD_1]

Totally destroyed VLC. Hangs. Same with MplayerX. Whole system seems slow. Powering down and back up to see if it helps. So far looks COMPLETELY screwed up.

I'm not experiencing any hangs with MplayerX (I don't have VLC installed, so I can't speak to that). Tried several video formats at differing resolutions, and couldn't see any issues. What model mac are you running it on, and what video types are you trying to play back?