What We Want to See in Leopard

[GodBless]

Here is more new features for the Leopard. Reading all of the posts has made me think of more ways to enhance Tiger.

Updates:
- .gif Animations Playable in Preview (maybe with a QuickTime plugin)
- Better Mouse Acceleration

Imitation:
- From Windows - Sound Recording Application

Innovation:
- iTunes with an Online Lyric Database (and maybe the Lyrics Embedded in the ID3 Tags of the Downloaded Songs if it is Possible to Do So)

 

[iMacZealot]

Imitation:
- From Windows - Sound Recording Application

Innovation:
- iTunes with an Online Lyric Database (and maybe the Lyrics Embedded in the ID3 Tags of the Downloaded Songs if it is Possible to Do So)

Yes, I was going to say a Sound Recording Application would be great, but of course, you do have GarageBand.

A Lyrics database would be nice, but remember that lyrics are copyrighted material.


Oh, and I thought about the processors and Leopard. I remember Jobs saying that "Leo" will focus on the Intel processor, but remember that Leo, the cat, (forgive my puns) will be let out of the bag in Late 2006 to early 2007, and about half of the Macs will still be PowerPC then. So, chances are Leo will be friends with both Intel and PowerPC.

I would have thought that Mac OS 11 (or Mac OS XI) would come after Tiger. It looks like we'll be using System 10 for nearly a decade. (2001-2010?) When System 11 rolls around, I'm guessing we'll be saying goodbye to our feline friends. What will we go to next? Marsupials? Bears? I can see it now, "Come to your nearest Apple Store for Mac OS Kangaroo 11.0." Perhaps 11.1 will be code-named Opposum. Sorry, I have a strange sense of humor.

 

[GodBless]

Yes, I was going to say a Sound Recording Application would be great, but of course, you do have GarageBand.

No actually I am someone who doesn't have GarageBand (although I'd like to have it) on my main system. It's just on my mini. GarageBand isn't built into the OS it is add on software part of the iLife suite. I want a lightweight sound recording Application that loads instantly. GarageBand takes quite a while to open on my mini. I would really like it if Apple had kept iLife part of the OS (at least iTunes is still part of it though). Then again having lots of good software here and there makes Apple look like a software company when critics take a look at Apple.

A Lyrics database would be nice, but remember that lyrics are copyrighted material.

There are many lyric databases online and none that I know have have been shut down. Apple could make a lyric database for their music store too. If contracts from record companies are necessary however it wouldn't be too much trouble for Apple at all since they already have made contracts with countless record companies for their music to be in the store. Music was the hard part, lyrics to the music will be easy to contract. Lyrics are already in the songs and the songs are copyrighted so they could at least put the lyrics in the ID3 tags of the downloaded songs and integrate lyrics into iTunes while listening to your purchased music. Maybe even have a new technology that highlights each word that is being sung in the song as it is played.

It looks like we'll be using System 10 for nearly a decade. (2001-2010?) When System 11 rolls around, I'm guessing we'll be saying goodbye to our feline friends.

That sounds about right.

What will we go to next?

Good question.

 

[Flying Llama]

But none of us can figure out the BIG, main feature for Leopard. Tiger had Spotlight and Dashboard, Panther had expose, fast user switching, filevault and a few others. Sure, options for this and more drivers for that, but there has to be at least one groundbreaking feature...

llama

 

[stridey]

But none of us can figure out the BIG, main feature for Leopard. Tiger had Spotlight and Dashboard, Panther had expose, fast user switching, filevault and a few others. Sure, options for this and more drivers for that, but there has to be at least one groundbreaking feature...

llama

If we could figure that out, we'd be writing Leopard, instead of talking about it on a forum

 

[iMacZealot]

No actually I am someone who doesn't have GarageBand (although I'd like to have it) on my main system. It's just on my mini. GarageBand isn't built into the OS it is add on software part of the iLife suite. I want a lightweight sound recording Application that loads instantly. GarageBand takes quite a while to open on my mini. I would really like it if Apple had kept iLife part of the OS (at least iTunes is still part of it though). Then again having lots of good software here and there makes Apple look like a software company when critics take a look at Apple.


There are many lyric databases online and none that I know have have been shut down. Apple could make a lyric database for their music store too. If contracts from record companies are necessary however it wouldn't be too much trouble for Apple at all since they already have made contracts with countless record companies for their music to be in the store. Music was the hard part, lyrics to the music will be easy to contract. Lyrics are already in the songs and the songs are copyrighted so they could at least put the lyrics in the ID3 tags of the downloaded songs and integrate lyrics into iTunes while listening to your purchased music. Maybe even have a new technology that highlights each word that is being sung in the song as it is played.

That is true about GarageBand, but when you buy a new Mac, GarageBand is already on there. Nevertheless, it would be nince to have a sound recording application, ala Image Capture.

That is also true about the lyrics. However, remember that lyrics, too, are copyrighted material. I bought my Fountains of Wayne CD yesterday, and while looking through the album art and everything, they have the lyrics to the song. When it goes to credits, it says:

All songs Collingwood/Schlesinger (C) 1996 Monkey Demon Music.
BMI/Awkward Paws Music/PolyGram International Publishing, Inc,. ASCAP.
Lyrics used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

I think what the dealio here is that the online lyrics databases come from what people hear, and that can, and usually, is wrong in some ways. I think if whoever is giving the lyrics away and want to get the lyrics from the artist must pay or either get permission. Look at the last line there in my quote from the album.

 

[iMacZealot]

But none of us can figure out the BIG, main feature for Leopard. Tiger had Spotlight and Dashboard, Panther had expose, fast user switching, filevault and a few others. Sure, options for this and more drivers for that, but there has to be at least one groundbreaking feature...

llama

10.1 "Puma" didn't really have a main feature, other than taking away the heathen "Dock Extra" icons and fixing some other errors. In my opinion, 10.1 shouldn't have been Puma but rather Hyhena. (sp)

Anyways, I don't know what 10.5 will feature. Chances are we'll get details at MacWorld in Paris. According to MacOSRumors.com, (who isn't the most accurate) Leo will have a major User Interface revamp. I just don't see where they got that idea.

 

[michaelrjohnson]

But none of us can figure out the BIG, main feature for Leopard. Tiger had Spotlight and Dashboard, Panther had expose, fast user switching, filevault and a few others. Sure, options for this and more drivers for that, but there has to be at least one groundbreaking feature...

llama

You make an interesting point. I'm not sure what it will be, though. As stated above. MOSR claims it will feature major UI enhancements. Which I'm okay with. I suspect much further Spotlight integration into the Finder, and perhaps rid us of heirarchical (sp) folder "trees" for good!

I would absolutely *love* to see a combination of Smart Folders (using Spotlight) but also full implementation of tagging documents/folders/items rather than filing them. Ah well... I can dream.

 

[Flying Llama]

10.1 "Puma" didn't really have a main feature, other than taking away the heathen "Dock Extra" icons and fixing some other errors. In my opinion, 10.1 shouldn't have been Puma but rather Hyhena. (sp)

Anyways, I don't know what 10.5 will feature. Chances are we'll get details at MacWorld in Paris. According to MacOSRumors.com, (who isn't the most accurate) Leo will have a major User Interface revamp. I just don't see where they got that idea.

But wasn't Puma free? I'm not paying $129 for bug fixes and a vector based os...

llama

 

[iMacZealot]

But wasn't Puma free? I'm not paying $129 for bug fixes and a vector based os...

llama

True.

 

[GodBless]

But none of us can figure out the BIG, main feature for Leopard. Tiger had Spotlight and Dashboard, Panther had expose, fast user switching, filevault and a few others. Sure, options for this and more drivers for that, but there has to be at least one groundbreaking feature...

llama

We can make some pretty good guesses on what Leopard main features will be though.

My guess is that Leopard will offer things that Longhorn was supposed to have. This way people who are technologically advanced and were waiting for Longhorn's features that Microsoft won't follow through with (Longhorn has been losing promised features for months now) will switch to the Mac, to get the features that weren't in Longhorn but were promised for the release, because they have been wanting them for a long while. But in order to make the switch certain Apple would have to make sure they have just about everything extra that Longhorn has (and that is lacking in Tiger) in Leopard.

In this case Apple will get some of the most technically knowledgeable Windows users to become Mac users. This will be the catalyst to help the market share of OS X skyrocket.

Some of the new features that Longhorn will offer that aren't in Tiger yet are in the following list (and please, if you know more Longhorn features list them in a reply):

- In icon view the first few seconds of each movie are looped in each movie file icon
- Advanced 3D Interface (From what I've heard Longhorn's 3D interface is more advanced than Tiger's.)
- Optional Customizable Sidebar (I don't think this is that necessary of a feature.)
- New Interface

Some of the promised features that Microsoft promised but won't be in Longhorn are in the following list (and please, if you know more Longhorn features list them in a reply):

- New File System
- Presentation Manager
- Release Date when Promised

According to this article: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1822972,00.asp the three main features or the "three pillars of Longhorn" have all been removed.

I am sure we will see this much and a whole lot more in Leopard. Thank you hard working OS X design and programming teams!

 

[BWhaler]

Chances are we'll get details at MacWorld in Paris.

Not a chance.

There is simply no way Apple is going to tell Microsoft what is coming in Leopard that early when MS will have plenty of time to copy it.

Leopard will be shown, in part, at WWDC in June of 06. And just enough to get the developers what they need and pour some water on Longhorn.

By June 06, Microsoft won't have time to steal features and ideas from Apple. And even then, Apple won't take any chances.

Make no mistake about it, this is a huge ego contest for Bill and Steve. And Apple won't tip their hat a moment before they have to.

The good news is we all win in this scenario.

Windows users may actually get a decent OS. And of course, Mac folks are going to be blown away because Steve wanted to prove how Apple has leap-frogged Microsoft yet again and all MS is doing is copying Apple from five years ago.

 

[JFreak]

From what I've heard Longhorn's 3D interface is more advanced than Tiger's.

in what way? what's the functionality longhorn will offer that does not exist in tiger? having 3D windows just for 3D's sake is like having a great set of golf clubs and not having learnt how to swing.

tiger has turning widget windows, and i guess that is more 3D functionality than longhorn will offer. tiger also utilizes GPU very efficiently and i strongly believe microsoft cannot top that.

so what is it that microsoft's has more advanced than apple's?

 

[JFreak]

no way Apple is going to tell Microsoft what is coming in Leopard that early when MS will have plenty of time to copy it.

are you referring "plenty of time" to the five years they have had time since XP release? at this pace microsoft has probably copied leopard in 2010 or so

 

[JFreak]

Windows users may actually get a decent OS

only if they are wise enough to switch

 

[GodBless]

The good news is we all win in this scenario.

Windows users may actually get a decent OS. And of course, Mac folks are going to be blown away because Steve wanted to prove how Apple has leap-frogged Microsoft yet again and all MS is doing is copying Apple from five years ago.

The great thing about competition is that the products competing just get better and better faster and faster.

 

[GodBless]

Windows users may actually get a decent OS

only if they are wise enough to switch

I love it!

 

[Diatribe]

- .gif Animations Playable in Preview QUOTE]

That was a feature in the old Preview in Panther. I don't know why they dropped that... But If you go to www.apple.com you can send them feedback to bring that back again.

 

[GodBless]

- .gif Animations Playable in Preview

That was a feature in the old Preview in Panther. I don't know why they dropped that... But If you go to www.apple.com you can send them feedback to bring that back again.

I used Panther all the way from 10.3.0 to 10.3.9 and I don't remember once that a .gif was playable in Preview at all during any of the Panther releases.

 

[Diatribe]

I used Panther all the way from 10.3.0 to 10.3.9 and I don't remember once that a .gif was playable in Preview at all during any of the Panther releases.

Yep. It was, they even had a toolbar icon for that. I am currently using Panther's Preview as I hate the new Tiger Preview.

 

[GodBless]

Yep. It was, they even had a toolbar icon for that. I am currently using Panther's Preview as I hate the new Tiger Preview.

Boy if they don't fix Preview in Tiger they better get it right in Leopard.

 

[GodBless]

A few more ideas for Leopard:

Updates:
- Have a better way to handle locked files that won't empty
- Have Spotlight use Safari's cached web pages
- Make QuickTime plugins in Safari and iTunes run faster

Imitation:
- From Windows: Ability to empty one file at a time from the Trash
- From m-w.com: Have the built-in Dictionary Application pronounce words with a sound file (yeah I know it will make the OS huge -- maybe have it as an optional install)
- From Firefox: Give Safari the ability to remember what pages you had open when you reopen it
- From Firefox: Have Safari warn you when you close a window if it has more than one tab open
- From StuffIt: Replace all of StuffIt's features
- From SuperDuper!: Have a built-in bootable hard drive back up utility
- From WakeOnLan: Make it possible for Network Utility to wake up computers on a local network
- From WINE: Make Leopard able to run Windows .exe files

Innovation:
- Give Leopard the ability to open items in the trash
- Fast logout/login (this feature was pulled from Tiger)
- Make Core Image Fun House a full-sized image editing program

 

[iMacZealot]

Not a chance.

There is simply no way Apple is going to tell Microsoft what is coming in Leopard that early when MS will have plenty of time to copy it.

Leopard will be shown, in part, at WWDC in June of 06. And just enough to get the developers what they need and pour some water on Longhorn.

By June 06, Microsoft won't have time to steal features and ideas from Apple. And even then, Apple won't take any chances.

Make no mistake about it, this is a huge ego contest for Bill and Steve. And Apple won't tip their hat a moment before they have to.

The good news is we all win in this scenario.

Windows users may actually get a decent OS. And of course, Mac folks are going to be blown away because Steve wanted to prove how Apple has leap-frogged Microsoft yet again and all MS is doing is copying Apple from five years ago.

Yes, Jobs did say at WWDC 2005 that he would have details about Leo in the next WWDC. It would be rather early to show off Leo at MacWorld.

 

[iMacZealot]

But wasn't Puma free? I'm not paying $129 for bug fixes and a vector based os...

llama

I was reading a little old news, just for fun and see how far Apple's gone, and System 8 and 9 users had to pay $129 for Puma, although there was a Mac OS Up-To-Date Program for people already using 10.0.x.

 

[mkrishnan]

Innovation:
- Give Leopard the ability to open items in the trash
- Fast logout/login (this feature was pulled from Tiger)
- Make Core Image Fun House a full-sized image editing program

With respect to the first one, I guess either a haxie or a sys prefs option to set this would be okay, but I think it's much more a conscious decision (pokeyoke) than any structural limitation in the OS. I don't think you want most people running files from their Trash -- didn't one of the IT horror stories threads have a story about a woman who used the Trash bin as her place of storage for all of her files?