Yes. It gives you a rough overview with regard to application processes for GUI apps that are probably taking up most of your memory. Of course, command-Tabbing might be a good alternative, especially if you keep your Dock hidden.
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Do you prefer your dock indicator lights on or off?
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Yes. It gives you a rough overview with regard to application processes for GUI apps that are probably taking up most of your memory. Of course, command-Tabbing might be a good alternative, especially if you keep your Dock hidden.
Interestingly though, the indicator lights are meaningless for some apps and it is clear that going forward they will be even more meaningless.
In the Ars review it says an app with an indicator light on could actually not be running and an app with one off could be running.
It's going to become meaningless sooner rather than later!
On - I like to see what apps are running
as for just ignoring them and having them off and leaving Lion to close if needed, I dont want my dock filled with every app I have opened
as for just ignoring them and having them off and leaving Lion to close if needed, I dont want my dock filled with every app I have opened
I turned them back off.
I removed everything from the Dock, except for Finder, Launchpad and Trash.
Now I know if something is running, it's in the Dock. I don't need the indicators, the icon being in the Dock is indication enough.
Going to try this out for a few weeks, but so far I LOVE it... I feel less OCD about what's running, and more focused on what I need to do!
I removed everything from the Dock, except for Finder, Launchpad and Trash.
Now I know if something is running, it's in the Dock. I don't need the indicators, the icon being in the Dock is indication enough.
Going to try this out for a few weeks, but so far I LOVE it... I feel less OCD about what's running, and more focused on what I need to do!
Good point. Applications like QT Player, TextEdit, Preview.app and Automator already behave like that. If you've closed all of their windows and switch away from the app, the indicator light should disappear, but the system will still be holding on to their processes. Only when the system runs out of memory, will it actually terminate them. And if, for example, you have all of your open windows in such an app hidden, and the system runs out of memory, the process will terminate, but the indicator lights will still be shown.
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Do you know if it does this if an app is in full screen but you are away from the app in such a way that you cannot see it? Or will it always persist?
Not quite sure. It does say something about apps whose windows aren't currently on screen, because the user switched spaces here.
Wheres my light ?
Lights ? You mean that same dock light you saw in Snow Leopard...
I have done both clean install and upgrade (because i wanted to test), and I can''t say i ever saw the dock light. However, this attached below is with my clean install of Lion and i get no Light.
Lights ? You mean that same dock light you saw in Snow Leopard...
I have done both clean install and upgrade (because i wanted to test), and I can''t say i ever saw the dock light. However, this attached below is with my clean install of Lion and i get no Light.
Attachments
I am currently experimenting with the lights off. There are some times where I definitely want to know which apps are running, despite the fact that myMac Pro will never run into memory issues. (at least under normal conditions).
It is interesting to see where Apple is going with this. Especially if you read Ars Technica's review you will better understand why Apple is giving the option to turn the indicator lights off.
It is interesting to see where Apple is going with this. Especially if you read Ars Technica's review you will better understand why Apple is giving the option to turn the indicator lights off.
Wow it does say:
This is actually pretty profound the more I think about it! At first I thought it was only for apps that all windows closed by doing command+W or pressing the X. Now an app can be automatically terminated if you think the app is running and is in a different window or space and you are not there. I am guessing it takes a snapshot of that space so it still looks like it is on and when you back it is seamless and seems like the app was always running.
This is pretty awesome! I only hope everyone begins supporting this!
Lion has some huge changes even if they are not quite apparent yet!
Thats strange i done a fresh install as well but mine were on, i didn't even know there was an option to switch them off.
I only have programs that are open in my dock, so OFF is an easy choice for me. If I kept any unopened programs down there I'd go with on I'm sure.
You might get confused down the road because an open app in the doc might not actually be running and terminated!
I kept mine off and only put the apps I use on a regular basis in the Dock, if I need to access another App I pull up the launch pad. Looks cleaner and works very well.
Why don't you guys who have the indicator lights turned off (as have I) just use the cmd-tab task switcher to see what programs are running? That way you can still keep at least your favorite programs in the Dock, regardless of their process state?! It's also super-easy to rapidly quit one or more programs from the task switcher when you keep holding down the command key and additionally press 'q'. I also like that the selection can be changed either with the mouse cursor or by tabbing via the keyboard.
One of Panther's most awesome features
One of Panther's most awesome features
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I'm not sure what you mean. There are lights. I've circled them in the shot below.
