Apple's Focus on iPhone OS 4 Diverting Resources From Mac OS X 10.7?

[cybaster]

If the OS isn't released to developers until mid 2011, it's possible that Apple releases it at the same time - I wouldn't put it past Apple to do that to developers.

At the same time, if Apple delays it too much, it will allow Microsoft to get Windows 8 out of the door before Apple can get 10.7 out, potentially letting MS once again out-shine* Apple in their OS release.

*I simply mean that the work that MS did to Windows far more noticeable than any work that Apple did to Snow Leopard - This is not a comparison of OS's, but a comparison of which matured as compared to their respective prior release.

/Flamesuit

Haha, I almost fell off my chair. Although the majority of users still use MS, I personally think Win7 was really a "oh no people hate Vista" release. Yes, what MS did to Windows IS far more noticeable, but I don't think anyone will think OS X is lacking in comparison to it. If you are comparing the maturity of the OS, then Snow Leopard matured a lot more compare to what windows 6.1...err i mean 7 has to offer.

But you are right, the things that Apple refined for snow leopard is really under the hood, so is is not easily seen. If maturity of an OS is only dependent on the "eye candy factor" of what the UI has to offer.

For example, lets look at Expose vs the window Snap on 7. Typical OS X users opens up many applications all at once, with the most recently accessed window on top (focus). Expose (especially the way that I have hot corners set up) allows you to quickly see all your windows at a glance, and pick the one you want. I even have another hot corner set to show the desktop so I can quickly access files there. Everytime I show non OS X users this, they all say "OMG That is cool, can I get that on my (windows) computer?" (the answer is yes btw, but its nowhere as smooth)

Now, in traditional windows, you would Alt Tab the windows until you find the one you want, and then choose that window. Windows Vista (and now 6.1... er i mean 7...), the flipping windows (or carousel?), its just traditional Alt-Tabing in disguise. Windows 7's Snap feature is worse. ok, so you have 2-3 web browsers opened, maybe iTunes opened, Microsoft Word opened. What Snap is trying to do is make a program take a side of the screen and Snaps to it... after all the screen real estate is used up,each windows' size is smaller, the current focus still block others behind it, and there are still no efficient way to switch applications. (and i compare efficiency with expose... so its not a low bar at all)

Just by comparing expose vs Alt-Tab/Snap alone, you can see that Apple put a lot of thought into its OS (now i didn't say Expose was invented by apple).

 

[ten-oak-druid]

Would palm employees be good hires for Apple? Perhaps those who worked on palm OS could work on iphone OS?

 

[PandaOnslaught]

Perhaps by 2011, iPhone 4 will be OS X. I have a suspicion that eventually there will be no more OS X as we know it now. Everything will be touch-activated widgets.

if this happens, this will be the sole cause of the nuclear apocalypse,
"ALL WIDGETS FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[NebulaClash]

So how exactly do you plan on syncing all of those i-devices if Apple stops making Macs?

The way the 21st-century is going, we'll be syncing to the cloud no matter what device is in our hands.

 

[RT2020]

Wow Steve! Prepared to get &^%ed by Windows 8

OSX for professionals? OSX in the enterprise? HAHAHA

Oh well least you will own the Tweener market.

 

[pcorrado]

10.7: Lion
10.8: Lynx
10.9: Cougar

Anyway, the fact that they are focusing on the release that is closer should not be surprising to ANYONE.

I would thnk the final version of OS X would be Lion - you know the king of all the jungle.

I would like to see tree names for the next os. Maple, Oak, Joshua

 

[Digitalclips]

I call BS

I don't buy his educated guess for one second! I have no doubt the reason for OSX team and iPhone team to be working together is mutual help and advancement . This is Apple we are talking about here guys not Microsoft!

 

[Peace]

@greg400
10.7: Lion
10.8: Lynx
10.9: Cougar


I think Lynx is too similar sounding to Linux. Would Cougar be positioned for the 40s-50s woman's demographic?

Lynx is already an OS. A web browser and a few other things computer centric.

 

[MacAddict2000]

Leopard was uncooked, buggy and slow. Snow Leopard is what they really wanted Leopard to be. Run Tiger or Snow Leopard, but ditch Leopard!!

Amen.

 

[TripHop]

No Problem. iPhone OS 4 Is Most Important This Year

I don't have a problem with this prediction. With Snow Leopard only less than a year old to the public by the time the WWDC happens this year and the need for a strong focus on iPhone OS 4 for both the new 2010 iPhone and iPad, it makes sense for the 10.7 developer program to not start until the 2011 WWDC or a little sooner if Apple will be ready to do that. I wouldn't expect for 10.7 to be a released product for sale to the public until near the end of 2011 or even in early 2012 if necessary.

 

[Digitalclips]

...not forgetting the fact that they've run out of cat names

Nooo lol, still some more biggish ones not to mention they can start on extinct ones and even small ones. How about OS X Saber Tooth or even Tabby Cat?

 

[greg400]

Lynx is already an OS. A web browser and a few other things computer centric.

Right, remember when Apple used Tiger and TigerDirect sued and lost the lawsuit? Remember when the iPhone name was already in use yet Apple still used it? When has previous product names affected Apple's products? If you are really that picky about it then replace Lynx with Ocelot.

The way the 21st-century is going, we'll be syncing to the cloud no matter what device is in our hands.

Great, 60MB of storage with fees here I come!

 

[mrchinchilla]

And what have we had since then? More Macs, better Macs, better versions of OS X - and more on the way.

So I guess you're admitting that your fears were unfounded.

Better in what sense? Memory and processor speed upgrades are inevitable with the advances in technology. And just how many 'innovations' have we seen in OS X post iPhone release?

So how exactly do you plan on syncing all of those i-devices if Apple stops making Macs?

They will probably just sync via Mobile Me or a 'cloud'-based technology. Or maybe computers will become redundant in Apple's eyes. As touch-based computing is surely leading to the death of the keyboard and mouse.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

Nooo lol, still some more biggish ones not to mention they can start on extinct ones and even small ones. How about OS X Saber Tooth or even Tabby Cat?

OS X.7 Maine Coon

 

[Schizoid]

I would thnk the final version of OS X would be Lion - you know the king of all the jungle.

I would like to see tree names for the next os. Maple, Oak, Joshua

The LARCH!
I believe it's to be based on mythical creatures from now on, Stevie boy is quite keen on Unicorn, Dragon and Cyclops, although Bertrand Serlet doesn't like the last one for some reason...

 

[nkawtg72]

As a human factors guy, and I know a number of people who echo this sentiment, I feel that while OS X may be built on some robust technology (Quartz, QuickTime etc etc), it is a usability nightmare. From accidentally launching docked apps, to constantly re-sizing windows to annoyingly small file select dialogs to a lack of creative 'Microsoft Notes / Courier' like next gen interface technology etc etc. (I know many who MUCH prefer the snappy spacious nature of OS 9 - myself included.) Stability is the only real benefit of OS X.

As I stated on my blog over a year ago, Apple should focus on turning 'iPhone' OS into their primary OS - with tight cloud based architecture and semantic file storage and sharing technology. Using creative apps on iPhone OS is, no matter their initial simplicity, an order of magnitude more intuitive and fun than any OS X equivalent.

I for one would pay big money for a multi-touch 27" 'iMac Touch' with an MS Courier like GUI for spontaneous accurate creativity and productivity.

No matter what Apple have invested in OS X, they have to consider the future. It is just not good enough from a usability angle.

So toast me!

not sure you know what you're talking about. you do realize that OS X and iPhone OS are the same operating system? they're only differences are a lack of code in iPhone OS that isn't needed on a mobile device, and iPhone OS has frameworks in it to support the touch and the GUI not found in the desktop version formally called OS X.

any development done to one will benefit the other in the long run.

 

[PandaOnslaught]

Nooo lol, still some more biggish ones not to mention they can start on extinct ones and even small ones. How about OS X Saber Tooth or even Tabby Cat?

lol @ tabby cat
they should just get rid of names and start using hieroglyphics to show how awesome OSX is

 

[aptenergy]

Here are some things we oughta see:

1) Built in, defaults-to-secure, easy to configure firewall
2) Easier networking controls for windows-centric environments
3) Built in app launcher e.g. Quicksilver that is aware of new apps being added (no need for manual database rebuilds)
4) Dock that defaults to left-anchoring for visual/muscle memory
5) User hacks added by most people built in
6) menubar control over itunes (following Synergy)
7) Some form of malware/virus protection
8) Dramatic Time Machine improvements including ability to back up a specific set of folders via SFTP
9) Anything Tog wants, Tog gets
10) Built in support for Classic/PPC software via institutional support for and incorporation of SheepShaver, the same way MS has its XP Mode in Win7
11) Better explanation and organization of various control panels and no need to quit and restart for 32 bit panels
12) ... this really should be #1... but a Conflict Catcher-like easy interface that lets us SHUT OFF STARTUP ITEMS (and such) no matter where they are. You can go crazy trying to find a specific service and get rid of it even WITH third party startup-item apps.
13) Better system wide de-installation system
14) Ideally, a system wide software update system that lets you poll for changes and choose what to update (like yum).

1) Huh? The firewall is as easy to configure as it gets.
2) No comment on this one, since I don't have any expertise in this.
3) It's called Spotlight. Spotlight is programmed to list apps first. If you want something that autolearns abbreviations, you're a power user who's likely to install your own program anyway.
4) Uh… no. This doesn't even make any sense. Windows, Ubuntu, and every Mac OS all use the bottom or top.
5) Right, user hacks built in. That's the Mac approach - if someone wants it, just program it in…
6) This is actually a good idea.
7) There's already some form of this in SL - an expanded form might be nice. But, I think there's more to be said about general security improvements rather than spending time on a virus scanner.
8) I would vote for other improvements, like not copying a whole file every time it's modified only slightly. I don't think SFTP backup is important - you'd have to be a power user who has their own personally managed site for this to be relevant, and the whole point of Time Machine is that it's dead simple. What's more, OS X doesn't even support SFTP out of the box.
9) Mmhmm…
10) OS X came out in 2001. So did Windows XP, if my memory is correct. What exactly do you need to run that's so old it needs to run on OS 9?
11) What exactly is so difficult about the current setup? Though I do agree somewhat about 32-bit panels… it's annoying. But what can you do?
12) It's called Login Items, under Accounts. There's rarely anything more complicated than that, and I bet Joe User never has anything that they really need to manage. A conflict catcher should be the least of concern.
13) This could be useful, but this is more for people who install and uninstall lots of apps who are really intense about keeping their preferences folder clean - the Mac OS is not like the registry where com.company.stupidapp.plist is going to screw your entire computer over. Also, there are already paid/free utilities that do this.
14) This could be pretty cool. I don't think connecting it to yum is the best comparison though. But working with Sparkle to create a similar app update system would be pretty sweet.

Very few of these really stand out to me as a big deal.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

The way the 21st-century is going, we'll be syncing to the cloud no matter what device is in our hands.

Or we will be syncing to our own clouds, at least. If there's any desire to make the iPad a real option for stand-alone computing, there's going to be some kind of Time Capsule like device with an "iTunes Server" built in. Something to handle updates, syncing, and backups automatically, without the need for a Mac.

This would benefit Apple TV as well - make it a true stand-alone set top box.

 

[rwilliams]

Leopard was uncooked, buggy and slow. Snow Leopard is what they really wanted Leopard to be. Run Tiger or Snow Leopard, but ditch Leopard!!

Maybe it's because I didn't start using Mac OS X until the last couple of updates to Leopard, but I haven't noticed much difference between Leopard and Snow Leopard since upgrading. If anything, I've found Snow Leopard to be more annoying, with far more beachballs & appearances by the Black Box of Death. And it's not like I'm running ancient hardware - it's the last version of the aluminum 13" MacBook before they incorporated it into the MacBook Pro line.

 

[Yamcha]

I'm really looking forward to 10.7, even more so then OS 4.0.. I hope there will be a demo at least sometimes later this year..

 

[iSlave]

Who cares? Win 7 has won already and OSX is becoming more irrelevant by the day.

 

[lilo777]

Right now, making Snow Leopard more stable and faster is more important than adding new user-level features. I hope, though, that once OS 4 is released they will shift resources back to OS X.

Are you implying that Snow Leopard is unstable OS?

 

[Eidorian]

Yes hardware!!!! 12 core baby! But Snow Leopard is really the best! Leopard was uncooked, buggy and slow. Snow Leopard is what they really wanted Leopard to be. Run Tiger or Snow Leopard, but ditch Leopard!!

I still consider Tiger to be the best version of OS X to date. Snow Leopard is worse than Leopard in my experience.

 

[Schizoid]

I still consider Tiger to be the best version of OS X to date. Snow Leopard is worse than Leopard in my experience.

OS 8.6 - their finest hour.