Apple To Add Platinum Theme?

[nagromme]

This is NOT a third theme. It's just Aqua's white look evolving--and we saw this long ago with Tiger's System Preferences.

From what I see, this is just the WHITE theme that we already have, modified in one way: the line between the title bar and tool bar has been removed, so the title bar gradient is now the background for both.

Yes, that title gradient is darker than other bright white elements--but that was already true ever since Panther. (Right down to the way stripes appear when inactive.) This is ONLY a removal of the visible division between the tool bar and window title. A minor evolution. (Mail itself has changed in other ways, but that does not make a new overall window scheme. And individual buttons and highlights continue to evolve--just as with Jaguar and Panther. Still not a third theme--by that standard, OS X already includes numerous themes with different button and tool styles.)

Also, this is NOT the first we've seen this. Tiger's System Preferences has shown this new title bar style ever since it first appeared months ago.

I really like it--it looks cleaner and you can probably drag the window by the whole top area--and so I hope the new title bar look quickly spreads to all the white apps--otherwise there will be a visual inconsistency for a while. (As you can see now with Tiger Mail's own prefs not using the new tool bar style.)

But this change would ONLY affect apps with a toolbar anyway--so many windows would not change at all.

I posted the same at AI and predicted that AI's headlines on this issue would set off a cascade of complaints about Tiger having three themes. Now MacRumors is repeating the misunderstanding Look at what's really changed, though: just the tool bar. (For the better!)

 

[Mr.Bob]

Just Looks Great....

This is the right track to be on. There is a large dislike for brushed metal by some and this is a natural evolution for me. Just makes me wonder how worried MS must be with Longhorn not avaailable at best until 2006 and OS X interface just better (and getting better with Tiger by mid-2005).

I can see the next OS X update (Lion) coming out right after Longhorn with the best of all interfaces, taking MS a year or two to copy just to catch up again.

Apple has the high ground and MS won't catch the innovative rabbit this time around......

 

[nagromme]

Please - don't do this. Mail currently supports 'rich' format which will let you include colour/font/images if you need. HTML mail was a bad idea, invented by a bad company (microsoft of course).

HTML email is often abused, but MS didn't invent HTML, it's a standard, and why should we close it off from email? Online newsletters etc. can be composed with much better layout control in HTML than in RTF. No, that's not the most important thing on earth, but it does show that RTF is not a true replacement for HTML.

Email apps should also have a setting to block images EXCEPT from certain sources. So at the top of an email with linked images, Mail would have two options: "Show Images" and "Always Show Images From This Sender."

Then you have your spam blocking AND rich, formatted--even Flash-enabled--newsletters, greeting cards etc. when you want them.

PS, I agree with removing the drawer from Mail. Drawers are a useful concept, but if you don't show/hide a drawer often, that's a sign that you may as well just make it part of the window.

 

[beatle888]

i think its a step in the wrong direction. first impressions was microsoft (hope bill isnt being to personal there).

clunky, childish layout. this is way off for apple. the only thing i can think of is apple is going to make us deal with a more windows look in order to keep the casual windows user from shying away.

this is the worst ive seen. LOL as a matter of fact im typing this from my girlfriends windows machine and the new theme looks much like IE for windows.

how sad. apple is compromising in areas that made them so unique...interface design. they need to tighten it up, have a talk with their designer or SOMETHING.

and as another poster said...whats with the super large icon bars and all that waisted space? sucks.

 

[Xtremehkr]

Just following random links through that other site...

What? I know the ipod thing, but what's the source on BMW redesigning idrive, and this soon, and with appple? Please, let them redesign the rear end of the 5 and 7 series, first. Otherwise this is a statment of BMW loosing their panache rather than appple gaining.

Excuse my excitement, it is just a rumor, but a good one if it turns out to be true.

Apple flavored BMW iDrive?

Auto enthusiast web site Auto Spies has published an article containing an unconfirmed rumor that Apple is aiding BMW in a redesign of its iDrive for the next BMW 7-series. Introduced by BMW in 2001, the iDrive is a combined pioneering driver information/entertainment system, but has been met by a severe lack of customer satisfaction. If you have any further details on subject, please let us know.

http://www.autospies.com/article/index.asp?articleId=3374&categoryId=10

that is the link to the article above.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=670

that is the link to get to that page.

And here is an excerpt from the article:

On a serious note, the 7 will come with BMW's new 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine and high-energy electric motor as standard as a hybrid being one of the first models offered. Initial interior designs are also very different, but sadly BMW are committed to the i-drive, though a rumor that Apple is helping in a redesign is unconfirmed.

There are some sketches out on the www but from what I have been told, they are outdated current 7 series drawings so nothing useful can be gained from them.

 

[virividox]

im not sold bleh

 

[beatle888]

im not sold bleh

good point. it isnt going to be the interface that gets me to buy tiger.

 

[QFace]

it's so easy to have safari check spelling as you type.

how do u get safari to check spelling as you type?

 

[må¥å]

how do u get safari to check spelling as you type?

Edit > Spellings > check spellings as you type.

 

[må¥å]

By the way I think the image is a FAKE, since look at the first image on the far right at the scroll bar. Tells me its a FAKE.

 

[mim]

By the way I think the image is a FAKE, since look at the first image on the far right at the scroll bar. Tells me its a FAKE.

Hmmm? Looks pretty right to me. What are you seeing?

Assuming that it is real there are a few things that look really nice - an "unread" folder (like a sort by unread mail I guess), and smart folders (today's email, etc). The idea of system wide smart folders in Tiger is pretty cool.

 

[HiRez]

I've come to sorta like Brushed Metal over time, after really loathing it at first. However, I think the texture should be toned down, much like the pinstripes were in Aqua between 10.2 and 10.3. That would sort of be a compromise between Brushed Metal and Platinum, which I think looks pretty dull and I agree with others when they say vaguely Windoze-like. I also wish Apple would make the UI they use for their pro apps -- like FCP and Motion -- available for developers to use in Interface Builder.

The larger issue is that Apple has made so many exceptions to and variations from their own UI rules that they no longer have much credibility as the interface gurus. There is some real innovation there, but it's so inconsistent and muddled I think it has confused both users and developers alike. Having all the Java-based Dashboard widgets floating around in Tiger is only going to make it worse. Fortunately they continue to employ clowns as M$ who have such a loose grasp of design, who continually make OS X look amazing by comparison no matter what Apple does.

 

[BrianKonarsMac]

By the way I think the image is a FAKE, since look at the first image on the far right at the scroll bar. Tells me its a FAKE.

nice spot. i too am thinking it's a fake now. the adjustable divider splits the scroll bar in half, as well as the scroll bar only having ONE directional arrow (that is also active for a mailbox that does not exceed the limit of the inbox "window"). anyone have an explanation for that?

 

[Rower_CPU]

By the way I think the image is a FAKE, since look at the first image on the far right at the scroll bar. Tells me its a FAKE.

It is odd that the top pane (message list) has a vertical scrollbar, but the list of messages doesn't appear to extend beyond the displayed area, and there's an odd section that looks truncated.

Although, with a pre-release OS, it's not impossible for there to be GUI glitches like that.

 

[BWhaler]

I think these screen shots are fake. Totally fake.

If you look at the new widgets, they are bright, multi-colored. I predict this is the way each new OSX app is going to be, each with their own unique bright color. Mail in bright red. iCal in dark green. Preferences in flashing yellow.

Seriously, this new platinum look is just a decoy to throw Microsoft off so they copy the wrong thing in Longhorn

 

[Natron]

Hmmm? Looks pretty right to me. What are you seeing?

Assuming that it is real there are a few things that look really nice - an "unread" folder (like a sort by unread mail I guess), and smart folders (today's email, etc). The idea of system wide smart folders in Tiger is pretty cool.

1) Look at the scroll bar next to the last 3 message listings.
2) There is no way to scroll through the message.
3) The bottom corners are funky.

 

[BrianKonarsMac]

I've come to sorta like Brushed Metal over time, after really loathing it at first. However, I think the texture should be toned down, much like the pinstripes were in Aqua between 10.2 and 10.3. That would sort of be a compromise between Brushed Metal and Platinum, which I think looks pretty dull and I agree with others when they say vaguely Windoze-like. I also wish Apple would make the UI they use for their pro apps -- like FCP and Motion -- available for developers to use in Interface Builder.

The larger issue is that Apple has made so many exceptions to and variations from their own UI rules that they no longer have much credibility as the interface gurus. There is some real innovation there, but it's so inconsistent and muddled I think it has confused both users and developers alike. Having all the Java-based Dashboard widgets floating around in Tiger is only going to make it worse. Fortunately they continue to employ clowns as M$ who have such a loose grasp of design, who continually make OS X look amazing by comparison no matter what Apple does.

preach the gospel brother!!! amen to that. apple has really turned the UI into a nasty, fermenting witch's brew of elements...i like some of it, other parts i don't, but the inconsistency is just unacceptable. i too don't understand why they don't use the pro app design for OS X, it's far better, more "high-tech" if you will, which is the look everyone wants to go with the sleek hardware.

 

[BWhaler]

I don't mind the change in the look. I am wondering whether or not the iCal integration actually handles Exchange calender events like Outlook. Does anybody have any clues on that yet?

I am with you 100%. I hope to God Apple makes iCal a serious and professional quality program.

It doesn't need every bell and whistle on the planet. Just make it comercial quality.

 

[må¥å]

IMHO I still think its a FAKE, or some sort of ploy by Apple or Apple Insider, to get some traffic. Compare this Mail to the previous mail application, yep I know some things are bound to change however not so radically. Compare for yourself and you will see a lot that is wrong with this image. I have noticed:

1) the weird scroll bar (even for a alpha or beta these scroll bars have not changed so I see no reason for bugs with it).

2) No OutBox weird.

3) look at the search field there is now downwards pointing arrow even if there is nothing typed in the search field it still has one. compare with the current mail.app


Seems either AI or they source has pull some sort of PS hack, smart folders YEAH you can copy paste them easy.

This doesn't seem like Apple style, to go from Aqua and then Brushed Metal to this, and then AI calling it platinum.

Not buying it for a second, until I actually see something with better screenshots. Look at the window active and inactive, no email messages, now look at the side bar there it is looks the same as the active window, except hold on nothing in the trash or anywhere else.

Seems like an attention grabber by AI for now, until further proof. We all remember that FAKE iMac leaked pictures in the elevator in Paris AP.

 

[pascalpp]

privacy edit artifacts

nice spot. i too am thinking it's a fake now. the adjustable divider splits the scroll bar in half, as well as the scroll bar only having ONE directional arrow (that is also active for a mailbox that does not exceed the limit of the inbox "window"). anyone have an explanation for that?

Can't be certain, but it's possible that whoever made these screenshots was removing some email messages in order to protect their anonymity, and in so doing, accidentally messed up the screenshot a bit. I'm inclined to think the screen shot is real.

 

[sorryiwasdreami]

You're not the only one.

You aren't either.

That really makes me think of windows xp/longhorn. It really looks like it's trying to be a windows app. Sorry for the downer.

 

[Zaty]

I really like the interface and was already looking forward to using Mail 2.0 until it turned out it might be a fake. Oh well. I hope that Mail will get iCal integration.

 

[nagromme]

Opinions on Mail 2 itself a side (looks good to me!) this so-called "new theme" isn't some major thing, it's a minor (but welcome) refinement of Aqua white.

If you think that refinement is a fake, look at the link below at Apple.com, where it has been shown for months. (I'm not sure why AI implies the new title bar style is something never-before-seen. Mail 2 is news, the "new theme" is old.) The other elements seen in Mail 2 echo things we've seen before too--from Apple, not MS. (Any resemblance to Windows is because MS has copied Apple.)

If you think Mail 2 specifically is a fake in these images... could be, sure. But AI does have a good track record lately. They may even have taken the shots themselves off a build of Tiger. Visual glitches could indicate a fake... or they could indicate a work in progress, which Tiger is.

See the "new theme" (aka, new toolbar blended with the SAME OLD Panther title bar) in Tiger's System Preferences:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/search_prefs.html

(And why are people calling this "Platinum"? It has no name from Apple because it's NOT a new theme. It's a new toolbar style as Aqua white evolves.)

 

[GFLPraxis]

It totally thought it was "Windows" like. Maybe it was just the font/picture, but kinda ug. I totally have faith in our guys though, just don't want it to look like that. I especially like having the Mailboxes hidden away as it is in Jag/Panther. I only have 3 mailboxes, and enjoy the clean interface with them hidden away. I am sure though that there would be a slider on the edge of the pane to tuck it all away.

While I got your attention. With so many of us macheads feeling left out of a cool product that even "WINDOWS" users can enjoy, sorry our 2.5 year old computer has an Airport b, is it so wrong for us diehards to be able to experience a totally cool product like Airport Express!? Just don't leave some of us folks who rode this revoluition with you behind! My original iPod still works, this 1st gen flat/panel 700 imac still runs great, we've all kept up with OS X for you, come on Apple, we have chosen you; you are OUR solutions and our future plans, figure a way to through us a bone on this one. Airport Express is too cool!!

sorry 'bout that

Excuse me, uh, what? Airport Express works fine with 802.11b (the old Airport), it just runs at B speeds instead of G. What's with your little rant about a nonexistant problem?

 

[ssamani]

.Mac brushed metal

Has anyone noticed that brushed metal has been dropped from the .Mac home page and also from the some of the Preference screens that used to be brushed metal. The Mail page was always Aqua, but on a quick look only the menu bar at the top is still brushed metal.

Sanj