WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2006

[MacsRgr8]

I wonder if Leopard is going to offer any features that leave PPC users out in the cold, to encourage upgrades to Intel-based Macs?

Maybe some SSE3 acceleration / features that will not work on PPC with AltiVec? Nah, don't think so.

The fact that 10.4 still runs on a G3 (with FireWire), makes me very confident that upcoming releases of Mac OS X 10.x will keep supporting PPC. Presumably PPC with AltiVec and Quartz Extreme will be required.
I can't imagine any G5 being left out in any of the features in Leopard.

Mind you, it will be the first universal binary release of the Retail Mac OS X 10.5.
I wonder how many maxxxxxxuussssss-cracked PC's out there will be running this.

 

[dirteemac2]

Wow, that's ONLY five months from now. I can hardly wait for another disappointing Apple product launch.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

I wonder if Leopard is going to offer any features that leave PPC users out in the cold, to encourage upgrades to Intel-based Macs?

That is a really paranoid question. There won't be any split between Universals. You don't piss of millions of PowerPC users who have deployed systems and go, "Get a new intel one and shut up already!"

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Does anyone else foresee a redesign of the PowerMac enclosure? Perhaps I am too demanding (an amelioration of something my wife calls me), but one thing that has always turned me off in looking at the PowerMac is the immense size of the case.

I realize the design follows from the interior functions, and Apple certainly did well to create a case that has worked for them, but I, for one, would look more closely at a PowerMac if the form factor would conform more gracefully with other furniture. An added motivation for Apple would be to disassociate their high-level machine from a look generally evocative of the G5.

the system caters to those who wish to max their internal storage options and add-on card options. If you don't like that form factor then don't buy one.

 

[~Shard~]

Wow, that's ONLY five months from now. I can hardly wait for another disappointing Apple product launch.

You obviously have never participated in the WWDC before.

The Leopard preview is what I am most looking forward to. I could see an announcerment regarding the Conroe towers as well, but I think shipping dates on them would be a few months out, nothing immediate. New displays (with built-in iSights of course! ) could show up as well (if not sooner), and I'm sure we'll get more UB announcements as well.

Definitely looking forward to the event!

 

[Ja Di ksw]

I'd much rather them fix things that need fixing before concentrating on new features.

If there isn't a MAJOR overhaul of the Finder announced then I will not be a happy bunny, not matter what else they announce.

I'm quite interested to see what they can do with new features and Finder. Personally, I have no problem with Finder, each of my files has a folder to go to, and it's all under my Home folder (except my applications, which have their own spot). I guess I just don't understand the "Finder is horrible" attitude.

 

[p0intblank]

August...? Why so late?! Oh well, at least we'll have at least one keynote to look forward to before then.

 

[ScottB]

If there isn't a MAJOR overhaul of the Finder announced then I will not be a happy bunny, not matter what else they announce.

I want to see a finder overhaul too. It's the one part of OS X that lets it down. Oh and don't forget, no more metal were going iLife 06 style.

I pray for MacPros and a Leopard preview, and one more thing...

As for MacPro's and Leopard, I guess these are all but confirmed and your prayer may be answered.

 

[illegalprelude]

I realize the design follows from the interior functions, and Apple certainly did well to create a case that has worked for them, but I, for one, would look more closely at a PowerMac if the form factor would conform more gracefully with other furniture. An added motivation for Apple would be to disassociate their high-level machine from a look generally evocative of the G5.

are we being serious? A. I just love the modern feel of the PMG5's. They complete my setup very well but thats personall.

B. More to the issue, the Powermac isnt designed to sit in ur living room as a DVR or to steam music with (although if u got the money to burn, hellz yea ) Its more of a work horse. Big, beautiful and rugged. Perfect for a work envirment. Plus like u said, the design is to keep it cool with the casing and allow room for air and upgrade.

 

[ScottB]

No, I don't think so. A great majority of Mac users are still on PPC, and there's no way they would alienate them so quickly. But I do think it's possible that Leopard will be the last PPC Mac OS, with the new 2 years+ release schedule, putting 10.6 in late 2008/early 2009.

That sounds very realistic, but I might take it further and say that it will be after 2010 before we see apple not supporting PPC. I can perhaps see however, them dropping older PPC computers from 10.5.

 

[mark88]

Personally, I have no problem with Finder, each of my files has a folder to go to, and it's all under my Home folder (except my applications, which have their own spot). I guess I just don't understand the "Finder is horrible" attitude.

When you've used Path Finder, and even Windows explorer, you really see just how lacking finder is. It's the thing I dislike most about my mac. Clunky, slow, basic, inconsistent, buggy....it just sucks.

It's so important that the Finder gets fixed because it's a vital part of the OS. You can use Path Finder sure, but you can't escape 'save as' dialogs and wot not.

I imagine light users think Finder is just fine, for the same reason people are happy with one button mice, that's fine. But Apples approach to making things simple ain't that great for power users after so long.

 

[Bubbasteve]

I remember when Jobs previewed Tiger for the first time... I was simply blown away.

I really can't imagine what special addition they will have for Leopard (as Dashboard and Spotlight were for Tiger).... all I could possibly imagine is a new finder (but obviously that won't be it).

Oh man, it's already iCal'd

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

I can't wait.

I wonder if the look of the Finder will be different.

 

[p0intblank]

When you've used Path Finder, and even Windows explorer, you really see just how lacking finder is. It's the thing I dislike most about my mac. Clunky, slow, basic, inconsistent, buggy....it just sucks.

It's so important that the Finder gets fixed because it's a vital part of the OS. You can use Path Finder sure, but you can't escape 'save as' dialogs and wot not.

I imagine light users think Finder is just fine, for the same reason people are happy with one button mice, that's fine. But Apples approach to making things simple ain't that great for power users after so long.

I consider myself a power user and I don't have many complaints with the Finder. I do agree with your argument about it being slow and lacking a path command feature. Simply adding an address bar of some kind will definitely speed things up, but I don't have any major complaints with the way the Finder is now. I do look forward to what Apple is adding.

And Bubbasteve, I feel the same way as you do. We all know the Finder is getting an overhaul, but what else could be done? The only thing that jumps to mind is customizable themes/skins.

 

[boncellis]

are we being serious? A. I just love the modern feel of the PMG5's. They complete my setup very well but thats personall.

B. More to the issue, the Powermac isnt designed to sit in ur living room as a DVR or to steam music with (although if u got the money to burn, hellz yea ) Its more of a work horse. Big, beautiful and rugged. Perfect for a work envirment. Plus like u said, the design is to keep it cool with the casing and allow room for air and upgrade.

Note that I didn't necessarily mean "home furniture," though I could understand how that might come across. I have nothing but praise for Apple and how they made the G5 case work and look good considering the desire for expandability and the heat issues of the processor. What I am trying to determine is whether the case design is here to stay the way it is considering the change in architecture.

I appreciate you actually having read what I wrote, unlike another previous poster. I like the PM case, I just wish it weren't quite so big. And for the other fellow who apparently missed everything that I wrote but still felt compelled to quote me: I am not going to buy one, as I already stated.

You think the PM enclosure is here to stay (at least for a while)?

 

[dongmin]

And Bubbasteve, I feel the same way as you do. We all know the Finder is getting an overhaul, but what else could be done? The only thing that jumps to mind is customizable themes/skins.

A lot of things have been discussed before:

1. stacks (which made its debut with aperture)
2. multiple desktops
3. gestures
4. expose/dashboard improvements

 

[treblah]

Mind you, it will be the first universal binary release of the Retail Mac OS X 10.5.

Has Apple said this?

I have this wacky idea that Apple is gonna have some system in place in order to upgrade Intel Tiger to Leopard. Do they still include these with new hardware?

 

[mcdermd]

After all, Systems 7 - 9 ran on both chips (PPC and 68040 chips)
Apple will not likely leave PPC machines out in the cold, at least
through 10.6 ......

All 68k's were left in the dust after 8.1.

 

[alexstein]

The iPod nano has no place at WWDC.

The move to August is surely because of one (or both) of the following reasons, more likely the latter:
1: This date corresponds loosely to the release of Merom, Conroe, and Woodcrest.
2: Leopard simply wouldn't be ready for preview and/or beta release in June.

That's what I was thinking as well.

 

[Platform]

Thats really late.....oh well, just gives them more time to work on Leopard, to show us more features and a stable version.

 

[Eraserhead]

All 68k's were left in the dust after 8.1.

They droped 68030's after 7.6, but with 7.6 they were as slow as hell, (with 7.5 a 25Mhz LC 3 is quite fast at starting up and stuff didn't take 1-2minutes to load a web browser...), so with only one generation better chip by 8.1 a 68040 would probably be really slow too, so it wouldn't be worth using with a better OS... I bet they'll drop PPC when they get up to requiring a G5 to run the OS, maybe the revision after that...

 

[Will_reed]

Apple will announce that Leopard will be available in a true 64-bit version, but only for Intel processors. For PPC systems 64-bit will remain as it is - no graphics, no cocoa, no....

now that would just be silly apple has to think of the quad core g5s

 

[zap2]

this being my 2nd WWDC as a Mac Zealot, anything can be better then last year... which was people complaining about intel Macs(thats all we got)

Now we don't hate intel Mac.. but they still lack that "not intel" thing the PPC Chips had

 

[macdong]

Does anyone else foresee a redesign of the PowerMac enclosure? Perhaps I am too demanding (an amelioration of something my wife calls me), but one thing that has always turned me off in looking at the PowerMac is the immense size of the case.

I realize the design follows from the interior functions, and Apple certainly did well to create a case that has worked for them, but I, for one, would look more closely at a PowerMac if the form factor would conform more gracefully with other furniture. An added motivation for Apple would be to disassociate their high-level machine from a look generally evocative of the G5.

don't know which planet you are coming from
i think the PowerMac looks very nice no matter where you put it.
but a redesign case would be nice.
perhaps with a glassy look-through surface?

 

[mark88]

If theres a new case, i hope it has more bays!