Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 28th Oct 2008 19:02 UTC
Windows 7 is out and about. Microsoft has been unusually secretive about Vista's successor, but now that PDC is under way, they have unveiled the various enhancements to the user interface. Windows 7 might not have any significant under-the-hood changes (in fact, all your applications and devices will still work), but on the outside, Windows 7 represents the biggest change for the Windows user interface ever since Windows 95 came out.
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Member since:2005-06-29
RE: Great artists steal
by BluenoseJake on Tue 28th Oct 2008 22:42
in reply to "Great artists steal"
Member since:2005-08-11
Are you really starting spewing that again?
Taskbar = gimped OSX dock 2001
The changes to the taskbar are really kinda minor, and probably reversible. The taskbar has been around for over 14 years. It's still not the dock, as you can tell the difference at a glance between a running app and a app launcher, little dots or triangles don't really do it.
Desktop Gadgets = gimped BeOS replicants 1999
Desktop gadgets have existed for decades, and MS demoed the sidebar with gadgets in the earliest Longhorn builds. The first destop widgets could be considered oldschool DOS TSRs (if you don't remember them, you don't know enough computer history to be even commenting) or Apple desk accessories, both in the mid 80s.
Libraries = BeOS queries 1997
Yeah, like BEOS is the only OS that can search and save File searches. Windows 95 could, only the underlying technology is different. Beos is dead, get over it.
RE[2]: Great artists steal
by niemau on Tue 28th Oct 2008 22:53
in reply to "RE: Great artists steal"
Member since:2007-06-28
The first destop widgets could be considered oldschool DOS TSRs (if you don't remember them, you don't know enough computer history to be even commenting) or Apple desk accessories, both in the mid 80s.
i see where you're going with this... but, not so fast. TSRs are really not equivalent to desktop widgets. while they could be (in a limited capacity) used for things that widgets might provide nowadays, most people only used TSRs for things like mouse drivers, and did not have any direct knowledge of their existence. not to mention the difference in ease of use. mac desk accessories, better comparison. but, it's not really a fair assessment to say that people who "don't remember" TSRs shouldn't be commenting. not everybody needed knowledge of them, for one. average users probably were just happy that everything was working. not to mention that back in the DOS days, many users were still running classic macs, amigas, C64s, and many others. they'd have no reason to remember TSRs.
just saying...
(edited for clarification)
Edited 2008-10-28 22:58 UTC
RE[2]: Great artists steal
by Zenja on Wed 29th Oct 2008 02:09
in reply to "RE: Great artists steal"
Member since:2005-07-06
Are you really starting spewing that again?
The first destop widgets could be considered oldschool DOS TSRs (if you don't remember them, you don't know enough computer history to be even commenting) or Apple desk accessories, both in the mid 80s.
The first destop widgets could be considered oldschool DOS TSRs (if you don't remember them, you don't know enough computer history to be even commenting) or Apple desk accessories, both in the mid 80s.
Buddy, the first program I ever typed into a computer was on a teletype printer connected to a Dec PDP11/50 series back in 1978. Thats right, no monitor. My first computer was a Vic20 back in 1981. Terminate & Stay Resident programs are ancestors of Desktop Widgets? The interrupt driven crap that was intended to convey the illusion of running multiple programs under DOS was the ancestor of Desktop Widgets? Can I have some of what your smoking?
My entire quote was about publishing an interface to allow applications to embedd views into the desktop. Geez,
Member since:2007-03-26
I understand the concept of your argument, but the examples you gave were very very poor.
Let me correct a few factual errors you made:
I cant wait for Windows 8. It will bring us the following:
- seperate the maximise and close buttons
They are seperate in classic mode. Always have been.
- vertical taskbar, since monitors are widder than they are taller.
Windows has done this since the dawn of the windows taskbar. Just drag and drop it.
- unified menu bar for all applications
Not everyone likes unified menu bars. I certainly don't.
- right click directory navigation
You'll have to expand on what you mean there, but directory navigation isn't any harder in Windows than in any other OS i've used.
- a preemptive desktop where each view is a seperate thread (pervasive multithreaded OS)
This feature has been around since Windows 2000 (maybe even longer). Granted it's not enabled by default, but the setting isn't hidden away either should anyone want to find it.
- scheduled performance time for media sources
Media processes do get a greater processor schedule than non-media processes. In fact this is one of the very features linux fanboys use against windows.
- customisable node based media path
NTFS holds a great deal of metadata about media and there's plenty more options hidden around XP (for example) if you know where to look.
And in Windows 10, we'll get:
- modular component / servers which can be restarted dynamically.
- modular component / servers which can be restarted dynamically.
You mean like windows services?
- A new C++ API which is designed by someone who actually undestands OO.
Many people seem to like .net. Personally I don't, but then it's been some years since I was a heavy developer for the windows platform.
- A reworked file layout that actually makes sense.
Windows directory structures make sense. It's just a pity Windows, its users and its software developers aren't stricter about adhearing to the structure. But I guess that's one of the prices you pay for allowing users to install applications manually rather than via software reposatories
So, to summarise: I don't have a problem with people taking a dislike to Windows (I personally can't stand 90% of Windows releases either). But, for the sanity of this site, please at least keep your grievences factually accurate.
Edited 2008-10-29 01:50 UTC
Member since:2005-07-06
I cant wait for Windows 8. It will bring us the following:
- seperate the maximise and close buttons
- seperate the maximise and close buttons
don't know about vista, but in xp they are seperated
- unified menu bar for all applications
unified like in osx? it's one of the worst ui-concepts i've ever seen
- vertical taskbar, since monitors are widder than they are taller.
- right click directory navigation
- right click directory navigation
like in winXP?
http://temp.funtech.org/WinXP-1.png
or like in beos?
RE[2]: Great artists steal
by phoenix on Wed 29th Oct 2008 16:00
in reply to "RE: Great artists steal"
Member since:2005-07-11
"- vertical taskbar, since monitors are widder than they are taller.
like in winXP?
http://temp.funtech.org/WinXP-1.png
or like in beos? "
Actually, it's been an option since the original taskbar appeared in Windows 95. You can dock it to any side of the monitor. You'd be amazed at how many helpdesk calls we get regarding "broken taskbars" because someone inadvertently dragged theirs to somewhere other than the bottom.
Personally, I've had the taskbar in Windows at the top of the screen, set to auto-hide, since Windows 98.
What I'd like to see in Windows, is the ability to separate the application launcher from the taskbar. Let me put the app launcher at the top of the screen, with the app menu on one side, the systray on the other, and a set of quick launch buttons in the middle, all set to auto-hide. With a separate taskbar at the bottom of the screen that just shows what apps are running. It's a much nicer setup than everything crowded together in one bar.
News
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/22/13 22:23 UTC
"Sony gave the PS4 50% more raw shader performance, plain and simple (768 SPs @ 800MHz vs. 1152 SPs & 800MHz). Unlike last generation, you don't need to be some sort of Jedi to extract the PS4's potential here. The Xbox One and PS4 architectures are quite similar, Sony just has more hardware under the hood. Weâll have to wait and see how this hardware delta gets exposed in games over time, but the gap is definitely there. The funny thing about game consoles is that itâs usually the lowest common denominator that determines the bulk of the experience across all platforms. On the plus side, the Xbox One should enjoy better power/thermal characteristics compared to the PlayStation 4. Even compared to the Xbox 360 we should see improvement in many use cases thanks to modern power management techniques." AnandTech does its usual in-depth thing.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/22/13 13:38 UTC
"The Verge has learned that HTC's Chief Product Officer, Kouji Kodera, left the company last week. Kodera was responsible for HTC's overall product strategy, which makes the departure especially notable on the heels of the global launch of the make-or-break One. It's not just Kodera. In the past three-odd months, HTC has lost a number of employees in rapid succession." I really hope HTC pulls it together.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/22/13 13:30 UTC, submitted by JRepin
"It is with huge pleasure that the Debian GNU/Hurd team announces the release of Debian GNU/Hurd 2013. This is a snapshot of Debian 'sid' at the time of the Debian 'wheezy' release (May 2013), so it is mostly based on the same sources. It is not an official Debian release, but it is an official Debian GNU/Hurd port release." Important note: 75% of Debian packages are supported bu Debian GNU/Hurd. Impressive.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 22:06 UTC
"The first killer app was VisiCalc. This early spreadsheet turned the Apple II from a hobbyist toy to a business computer. VisiCalc came with room for improvement, though. In addition, a new architecture and operating system, the Intel-based IBM PC and MS-DOS, also needed a spreadsheet to be taken seriously. That spreadsheet, released in early 1983, would be Lotus 1-2-3, and it would change the world. It became the PC's killer app, and the world would never be the same. On May 14, IBM quietly announced the end of the road for 1-2-3, along with Lotus Organizer and the Lotus SmartSuite office suite. Lotus 1-2-3's day is done." Impressive 30 year run.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:45 UTC
"There's a disconnect between how Apple CEO Tim Cook sees his company's tax strategies and how some members of the US Senate view it. That became clearer than ever today after Cook and two other Apple executives testified before Congress, explaining why they're holding most of their international income in Irish subsidiaries like Apple Operations International, which declare no tax residency anywhere in the world. AOI hasn't filed a tax return anywhere in the world for the last five years, yet it earned $30 billion in income from 2009 to 2012, according to a Senate report released yesterday." Just because something is legal, doesn't mean it's just. Apple, Google, Microsoft, and many more - these companies might not be breaking any laws, but it's obvious to anyone that what they are doing is scummy.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 15:53 UTC
The new WebKit Opera for Android has been released. "Opera 14 for Android is built on top of Chromium 26, with a total overhaul of the UI in native code, making it fit well with the latest Android design guidelines. Go get the build from Google Play or point your browser to m.opera.com, and give it a spin!"
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 22:43 UTC
The Verge pointed me to a blog post by Leap Motion - which reveals how their Kinect-like motion control works with Windows 8. "From the second you plug in your Leap Motion Controller, you'll be able to browse the web and interact with your computer just by moving your hands and fingers in the air. With Leap Motion technology and Windows, you can do everything that's possible with multi-touch inputs - without actually touching anything. This also means that existing applications in Windows 7 and 8 will respond to your natural hand and finger movements. Soon, we'll show you how Leap Motion will work with Mac OS X." Quite cool.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 21:50 UTC
PocketNow interviews Marc Dillon, and there's an interesting note about why Jolla is keeping the display properties under wraps: "We're leaving some of those details out because we do understand that there are a lot of really big players in the market and they tend to take certain components in the market and dominate them. We created the ability to actually be able to run Sailfish on multiple hardware displays and be able to swap components, so this is part of the demand and supply planning phase. We are committed to this industrial design which is a 4.5-inch display, an 8 megapixel camera on the back and a front-facing camera at the front, and the exact specs of the display we'll provide when we're close to delivery." Something you rarely hear anything about.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/19/13 23:15 UTC
"This is my NeXTstation Turbo Color booting the Mac System 7.1 Operating System using a hardware add-on called 'Daydream'. The Daydream has a Mac ROM and a few custom ICs in it and hooked up to the NeXTs DSP port. Turns your NeXT into a full fledged 68k powered Mac." So cool.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/19/13 23:11 UTC, submitted by Drumhellar
"The NetBSD Project is pleased to announce NetBSD 6.1, the first feature update of the NetBSD 6 release branch. It represents a selected subset of fixes deemed important for security or stability reasons, as well as new features and enhancements. Please note that all fixes in the prior security/bugfix updates (NetBSD 6.0.1 and 6.0.2) are also in 6.1."More News »
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Member since:
2005-07-06
Taskbar = gimped OSX dock 2001
Desktop Gadgets = gimped BeOS replicants 1999
Libraries = BeOS queries 1997
Explorer Previews = OSX Expose 2005
Keep in mind that Windows 7 will probably be out late 2009-mid 2010. Ah Microsoft, shoving the future down your through for all 90% of the population a decade behind the other computer users.
I cant wait for Windows 8. It will bring us the following:
- sliding window title tabs.
- seperate the maximise and close buttons
- maximise does a resize to fit, not fullscreen
- vertical taskbar, since monitors are widder than they are taller.
- unified menu bar for all applications
- right click directory navigation
- live queries
And in Windows 9, we'll get:
- a preemptive desktop where each view is a seperate thread (pervasive multithreaded OS)
- scheduled performance time for media sources
- a context switch less than 3ms
- customisable node based media path
And in Windows 10, we'll get:
- modular component / servers which can be restarted dynamically.
- A new C++ API which is designed by someone who actually undestands OO.
- A reworked file layout that actually makes sense.
Again, Microsoft is dragging the unwilling populace into the future, 10-15 years behind the competition, whether the people want to or not.