Mac OS X Interface Tweaks?

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by shadowfax
the coloration isn't really the difference. the difference is that they are moving towards a sharper, less rounded look. the graphite one looks like it's a gel-cap pill, vaguely. the other one looks like a piece of almost flat metal--really, just like the apple logo on the iMac base. notably, it's totally opaque, which the aqua logo really isn't (which is why it looks like a gel-cap).

Well, the difference between graphite aqua and chrome isn't only the coloration. The chrome logo has the other properties of chrome, which is exactly what you cited--flat metal and opaque, and I'll add, highly reflective.

 

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
Well, the difference between graphite aqua and chrome isn't only the coloration. The chrome logo has the other properties of chrome, which is exactly what you cited--flat metal and opaque, and I'll add, highly reflective.

right. if you mean "graphite aqua." you just said "graphite" at first, which made me think you were talking about a color (because the graphite aqua has only color in common with graphite, which has a very dull, almost leaden, grainy texture to it). sorry about the confusion.

 

[NicoMan]

Originally posted by MacBandit
Okay here it is. This is the image off of the system disk folder that came with my MDD PowerMac.

Looks familiar doesn't it.

Well that was on my TiBook's box too. For your info, my PB was a 667/VGA/DVD-ROM and I bought it in october 2001. That's how long that Apple logo has been around...

 

[NicoMan]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
Well, the difference between graphite aqua and chrome isn't only the coloration. The chrome logo has the other properties of chrome, which is exactly what you cited--flat metal and opaque, and I'll add, highly reflective.

Well that sort of swoosh across the logo is there to make it look much more curved and much less flat, IMHO. It's there to accentuate the texture impression (as if it had been sculpted in a drop of mercury).

 

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by NicoMan
Well that sort of swoosh across the logo is there to make it look much more curved and much less flat, IMHO. It's there to accentuate the texture impression (as if it had been sculpted in a drop of mercury).

The swoosh is the chrome counterpart to the shadow on the Aqua/iMac Apple logo.

 

[cnladd]

Re: Re: Does one of the world's great logos really need a 'swoosh?'

Originally posted by NicoMan
I disagree. The logo identity comes from its shape, not its colour or texture. That's why seeing it in blue, red, green, white or multicolor doesn't make any difference. Everyone now recognizes the logo by the shape. Apparently, the patent on the logo only describes its silhouette.
Besides, the ability to change the colour has provided Apple with ways to adapt to design fashion/trends, giving it a dynamism that a logo set in stone wouldn't give them.

NicoMan has hit on something here that I think is very important.

I'm a Switcher, from Windows/UNIX. I've been watching Apple closely ever since the first iMac. I've always loved Apple's designs -- from their hardware, peripherals, software, and operating system. Even their logos.

In a way that I can't quite describe, I got very excited when I installed Jaguar and saw the new, grey Apple logo on bootup. The same way as when I first got drawn to the iBooks, with the glowing logo on the back. One of my favorite features of the "Milk" theme is the milky-white Apple logo that is used.

But besides the theme, Apple seems to have embarked on a strategy of changing their logo's colors and textures to signify major releases of both hardware and software. These are visual cues to the user to show a changing, up-to-date Apple at each new release.

Think of the textured "X" on the Jaguar box, or the new metallic "X" (blockier, more solid looking) that's accompanied Apple-provided news and information about Panther.

In a way that most companies would never be able to do, Apple is able to modify one of their core identifying marks in such a way that it's still fully recognizable, but drastically different (and exciting) for the consumer. It's pure marketing, sure, but at the same time it's devilishly genius.

 

[soosy]

Well, I'm glad they are still visually tweaking the interface, because for once in the life of Mac OS X, I'm not exactly thrilled with all the choices.

Specifically, I really hate the outline on selected icons. Also, I'm very hesitant on finder metal.

One thing I've always hated about Windows is the drab gray. I've always loved that the Mac was mainly white. Panther is a bit grayer, but it still looks good and bright enough to be called Mac I think. ...But for the people who are complaining that Jag is too bright for you—How 'bout turning down your monitor brightness? My LCD certainly isn't up all the way.

Finally, I hope Apple listens to all the users requesting themes. Refining the Aqua interface with each new release makes sense... but it would also be nice to give users the option of look depending on their mood. I'd love to see themes for "Aqua Classic", "Aqua Jaguar", "Aqua Panther" and "Metal Panther" or something along those lines.

 

[NicoMan]

Originally posted by soosy
One thing I've always hated about Windows is the drab gray. I've always loved that the Mac was mainly white. Panther is a bit grayer, but it still looks good and bright enough to be called Mac I think.

I think it's fair to say that just because Panther is grayer, that doesn't make it like Windows. It's not only about colour: the texture, shading and anti-aliased fonts give a totally different clarity, and in that respect, it's still unmistakably OS X.

Finally, I hope Apple listens to all the users requesting themes. Refining the Aqua interface with each new release makes sense... but it would also be nice to give users the option of look depending on their mood. I'd love to see themes for "Aqua Classic", "Aqua Jaguar", "Aqua Panther" and "Metal Panther" or something along those lines.

I totally agree. People want to be able to customize the look-and-feel a little bit more than what's currently offered in the Jaguar preference pane. And I personnally feel that we shouldn't have to go get such and such 3rd-party hack (which get broken after each point-update of the OS) to achieve that. Is this a feature of Panther?

 

[loopdreams]

Originally posted by Krevnik
In using LCD screens, pre-Panther Aqua is sort of drowned out in the brightness some of these screens have. My Lombard looks bright and almost painful, even when I run through a screen calibration.

Panther makes elements much clearer on these earlier LCD displays and less is drowned out by the display. I much prefer Panther's aqua to Jaguar's because of the fact that is is easier on the eyes with my laptop.

That's true, the default LCD profile for LCDs isn't very good, but it is possible to calibrate it to something akin to what you would see on a crt. I've got a profile here which I use on my Pismo, I can send it to you if you'd like. It might make a difference.

 

[encro]

Originally posted by NicoMan
I think it's fair to say that just because Panther is grayer, that doesn't make it like Windows. It's not only about colour: the texture, shading and anti-aliased fonts give a totally different clarity, and in that respect, it's still unmistakably OS X.

...and to further validate your point; Microsoft's latest OS offerings (XP/2003) come in big, bright, bouncey Luna so once again Apple is trying to differenciate itself.

I look forward to the zoom!, zoom!!, zoom!!! of Panther and the productivity improvement more so than how it actually looks on screen.