OS X 10.11 Could Feature Control Center, 'Rootless' Security and More, iOS 9 to Support A5-Based Devices

[omihek]

The report claims that Apple plans to convert its own apps to Swift in 2016 as part of iOS 10 and OS X 10.12.

I think you mean iOS X.

 

[redheeler]

They won't move to San Fran (the watch font) system wide as it doesn't make any sense when they standardized on Helvetica Neue just recently. I am sure they will add it though.

It was designed for a watch face.

Why do you think it was designed for a watch face? I'm already using it instead of Helvetica Neue and think it's a lot better.

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I don't see anyone complaining that Dashboard, being totally useless with the advent of Notification Center, is still active in Yosemite (and still with skeuomorphic calculator and weather no less).... I expect that Control Center will serve a similar function, same command, but actually useful.

I recently put Dashboard in my Dock. Maybe it's because I'm used to seeing it on my PPC Macs, but it does a couple things which I still find convenient, like displaying parts of webpages without having to go to them in the browser. I'd be happy if Apple keeps it as a legacy feature again in 10.11, but I doubt it'll happen.

 

[flaw600]

Then it will be a very long time, cos it's here to stay... Why would Apple introduce flat icons then suddenly change it to an older looking style ?

Unless enough users complain, which i also doubt would happen.

This new "trusted Wi-fi" Apple is putting out almost sounds like "known networks" we currently have....

In that, i do not see a difference... because known networks are joined automatically without needing to input your password. Same on iOS.

Is Rootless the same as not requiring root ? If so, why is a good thing ?

Rootless is a just an internal codename. It's a stupid codename

Trusted Wi-Fi I think is a way to implement the way 'known networks' works without the networks being 'known' aka already joined to.

 

[deconstruct60]

Oh dear, this worries me. Does anyone think this could be a step to further lock down OS X and force users to rely on the Mac App Store? Or is it just to prevent users from modifying system files?

it is probably a Mandatory Access Control framework weaved into the kernel that could potentially do either one. It depends upon how the policies are set. Something that locked down everything possible would be a ton of work. I don't think Apple is out to do a ton of work. Most likely it is skewed toward the latter above. ( protect Apple kernel and basic system services ). System files and core system services. The notion is to do less by leverage the "ultra super duper user" powers of the classic Unix root account to get things done. Similarly lots of flip/flopping between processes run as root and more normal users.

Windows has MACs and the sky didn't fall. Security Enhanced Linux exists (e.g., RedHat variants ) and the sky didn't fall there either.

and I'd like to be able to install applications from alternate sources if possible.

Apps with somewhat sloppy installers may run into a problem. More than a few Unix installers and some sysadmins cover up doing things loosey-goosey but just use root superuser powers to cover up the mess they kind of make at install. (reasons why have a "repair permissions" in the Disk Utility ... wouldn't have to repair if had not incorrectly mutated them in the first place ) Installations

I'm sure there will be "doom and gloom" talk about how evil Apple is that there are new procedures and rules to installing apps. It is probably going to be a matter of updating the installer scripts/tools to use the new tools and mechanisms provided to properly do the installation under the outlined rules and roles. Apps probably won't be able to stick their files anywhere they want to. ( that never was a good idea/practice in Unix. There were always places things were suppose to go.... somethings would ignore that and just do whatever they wanted. Those kinds of apps will have problems. )

 

[deconstruct60]

...
Also, how is this going to affect sysadmins that have Macs on a corporate/educational network? We use root to do various things like mass-join systems to Active Directory, install updates, and so on.

This sounds like a cluster**** waiting to happen.

It is probably more work updating procedures , scripts , and tools than a cluster***. If just adding MAC controls (ala SELinux , TrustedBSD, Trusted Solaris) then there are more precise tools to accomplishing roles and tasks than just using root's "ultra super powers" to do anything and then clean up after. Shouldn't really need all the powers of root to install the overwhelming vast majority of software at all.

"Something new" is problem going to generation more moaning and groaning that real, long term problems.

Apple's OS X security model is fine as it is. If it weren't, we would have heard about Macs being mass-compromised by now.

Unix has problems. That means OS X has problems. There was a big giant bash hole relatively recently. The unnecessarily excessive privilege escalation is a security problem.

Your are looking at external network worm/virus/etc propagating threats. There is more than that.

 

[SteveW928]

They just won't put power sapping features on the older devices. Looks like they're taking a different approach, and have built a core operating system and are seeing what will and won't run.

I just hope they test the keyboard! On my iPad 2, iOS 8's keyboard input is so sloppy and erratic, it pretty much kills the whole user experience and productivity.

 

[oldmacs]

I just hope they test the keyboard! On my iPad 2, iOS 8's keyboard input is so sloppy and erratic, it pretty much kills the whole user experience and productivity.

Did you do a clean install of iOS 8??

 

[KNPaige]

Here's hoping to not just an improved keyboard but in general improved performance with iOS 9 on the good old iPad 2. My family has a tradition of passing down their iPads from person to person whenever someone upgrades so until someone inevitably gets the iPad Air 3 in my household, I'm rocking the iPad 2. I love that Apple has kept it going for so long, but iOS 8 did bring lag.

 

[randian]

Standard email and thus IMAP doesn't have any encryption except for the login data (password).

It doesn't encrypt data at rest, but IMAP over SSL has been standard for a long time. Most email vendors, including Apple I believe, use opportunistic TLS to encrypt outgoing SMTP links. Nobody is getting your email without physical access to the receiving or sending machines.

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Mac OS X 10.11 Mail update?

Apple doesn't seem to care much about fixing its bugs, especially it's IMAP problems.

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It's basically the same thing as SELinux, except it's XNU.

They might be going least-privilege, but I seriously doubt they'll add mandatory access control.

 

[RickyB]

Change the system font to San Francisco?

Bad idea! #

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_(1984_typeface)

 

[Zxxv]

To my mind a really nice addition to the continuity features would be if all devices which have "Hey Siri" activated could communicate about which device answers when they are too close together and all receiving your command.

You could set a preferred hierarchy, for example that if you have an iPhone, iPad and iMac altogether in one room, only the iMac answers (given that they implemented Siri in OS X).

Or the devices could dynamically decide which one is best suited to answer your request, for example if you're saying something app-related only a device which has the mentioned app installed answers.

Or maybe even easier, you could just mention the devices name, like "Hey Siri, put my phone to flight mode" or "Hey Siri, FaceTime call with Maria on my iPad".

But what if I decide I'm leaving and want to answer on iPhone and walk out the door. But it's not ringing cause of the suggestion of yours.

 

[GhostRaider]

Will this rootless thing affect Hackintoshes in any way? There is always a need for a custom Mac.

And iOS9 on iPhone 4S? Hmm, Apple has impressed me now.

 

[KNPaige]

And iOS9 on iPhone 4S? Hmm, Apple has impressed me now.

I know, right? I was expecting iOS 8 to be it for my iPad 2 but here it is, continuing on long after many Android flagships have come and gone! It beats the heck out of Android's fragmentation any day.

I suspect there may be some underlying changes to prevent Hackintoshes at a kernel level. To Apple, a Hackintosh is just as bad as a Jailbroken iPhone, if not worse. It's a computer running a system with numerous workarounds that leaves it inherently less secure and overall a poor representative of what OS X can really do.

 

[Zxxv]

I suspect there may be some underlying changes to prevent Hackintoshes at a kernel level. To Apple, a Hackintosh is just as bad as a Jailbroken iPhone, if not worse. It's a computer running a system with numerous workarounds that leaves it inherently less secure and overall a poor representative of what OS X can really do.

I had a hackintosh. It allowed me to experience OS X without the high cost of entry. Guess what it led to

Hackintosh is a gateway drug for many. I hope it lives on.

 

[KNPaige]

I had a hackintosh. It allowed me to experience OS X without the high cost of entry. Guess what it led to

Hackintosh is a gateway drug for many. I hope it lives on.

Glad it worked for you. I've primarily been a Linux user for the past several years but have found myself increasingly attracted to Apple hardware in the past few years. I'll always keep a custom desktop around for gaming but I definitely want a MacBook Pro for a powerful on-the-go development machine and a robust "bedroom" computer if you will.

Long story short, I love the computers, and judging what I've seen from my limited exposure to the OS, I'll probably like OS X too.

 

[matthewhuk]

Overall I like the stability and speed improvements.

However ANOTHER panel that slides out of the side? Already I have this damn one that appears at random when I'm trying to do something. For example, I'll be in iMovie sliding along the timeline when suddenly focus will snap to a panel sliding out of the right side of the screen. I have to stop what I'm doing, close it, and then get back to my editing. I hate that panel. I don't even know what it's for, I've never looked at it long enough. I've also never figured out how to get it to fold out when it ISN'T the most inconvenient and inopportune time. I just call it the "piss me off panel".

I agree, they really are making it irriating rather than a pleasure to use, expose used to be far simpler better than control centre, notifications are just like those annoying windows xp pop ups, and too many guestures now for the track pad that you usually end up triggering something by mistake! I'd happily revert back to Snow leopard if I could!

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Then it will be a very long time, cos it's here to stay... Why would Apple introduce flat icons then suddenly change it to an older looking style ?

Unless enough users complain, which i also doubt would happen.

This new "trusted Wi-fi" Apple is putting out almost sounds like "known networks" we currently have....

In that, i do not see a difference... because known networks are joined automatically without needing to input your password. Same on iOS.

Is Rootless the same as not requiring root ? If so, why is a good thing ?

Flat will look dated soon enough, that is one consolation I guess. That thin font already looks dated!
I just find they way they have implimented it has caused useability issues.
I.e it's not clear if something is clickable etc, hidden menues iTunes 12 is a prime example of an aweful piece of flat software that is frustrating to use, i dread to think what yosemite is like so I will be sticking to Mavericks for as long as I can hold out!

 

[kissmo]

SSD Trim..

Why do I have the feeling that Enabling TRIM on non Apple SSDs will become tough....

Maybe I am wrong, I hope...

 

[mr.bee]

It all depends upon what they put into control center, how easy it is to work with and how easy developers can access the panel. Like others have mentioned something's are done easier form the keyboard. Things like screen brightness, volume and such.

I'd like to see network access moved to such a screen as it would free up menu bar width. I'm thinking here to minimize right hand menus.

I see your point, but isn't the ease of use of OS X build on the fact that you can choose the way you want to interact? If you want to use a mouse with a right button, you can, if you still prefer one button and ctrl you still can.

The same thing applies here, there's no 'best' way to adjust screen brightness from the keyboard. it's actually, to me, about time, they center some functions to be controlled easily, so people have a choice again.

Correct, it all depends on what they will put into that center and how

 

[kristoffer4]

OS X 10.11 Could Feature Control Center, 'Rootless' Security and More, iOS 9 ...

I hope they optimise boot up time on non ssd MBPs. Mine is terrible on Yosemite.

I guess we should also expect a small battery improvement on the portable macs.

 

[FoxMcCloud]

Urgh.

Why can't Control Centre and Notification Centre be the same thing?

Most annoying thing ever on the phone, to be swiping while browsing and have that bloody thing pop up.

Merge today and notifications into one screen, and put controls on the next. Simple.

Now the desktop is gonna have two panels that swipe in, left and right.
And yet people moaned when Windows did the same thing 2 years ago.

 

[kristoffer4]

OS X 10.11 Could Feature Control Center, 'Rootless' Security and More, iOS 9 ...

I've developed an app that does just this, with a very easy to use graphical file interface. Please spread the word

Cool.

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Urgh.



Why can't Control Centre and Notification Centre be the same thing?



Most annoying thing ever on the phone, to be swiping while browsing and have that bloody thing pop up.



Merge today and notifications into one screen, and put controls on the next. Simple.



Now the desktop is gonna have two panels that swipe in, left and right.

And yet people moaned when Windows did the same thing 2 years ago.

I agree completely. I hate swiping between the two, it just seems unnecessary complicated.

 

[subsonix]

They might be going least-privilege, but I seriously doubt they'll add mandatory access control.

Mandatory access control has been there since Leopard (or was it Lion).

 

[MacServiceGuy]

your responses are a joke, right...?

I'm being punk'd right...?

you just read an article on how apple is potentially introducing "rootless" security and you cheer?

Ok let me break this down for those of you not quick enough to understand what's going on.

ever since 10.7/lion apple has been foisting on the mac os and its users the slow and steady "integration" of iOS "featuers" into mac os X

how have any of you missed that the main 'FEATURE" of iOS is complete control by apple of all you can do on your device?

apple does this in the name of virus protection and "safety" and all of you go to sleep as the pied pipers play along and, like rats, you march off the edge of a cliff.

and how have any of you missed that this rootless security garbage is the first major step apple is taking to remove your power to control your machine as the root user.

once again.. in the name of "security" and "safety"

ben franklin was right:
"Those who give up their liberty for more security [safety] neither deserve liberty nor security."

 

[bcc2k]

I counter disagree

The problem is that by continuously supporting outdated hardware with a platform like iOS they won't be able to truly use their newer processors to their full potential.

That's not true. Since iOS 7 the Apps and iOS are compiled for older 32Bit and the newer 64Bit Architecture (introduced with the A7) separately. The support of the older hardware will lead to a more frugal implementation, which will benefit the newer devices too.

 

[MrUNIMOG]

But what if I decide I'm leaving and want to answer on iPhone and walk out the door. But it's not ringing cause of the suggestion of yours.

Why should my suggestion affect phone calls? I was talking about the "Hey Siri" feature.