This is the third installment of ThinkSecret’s “Inside Panther” series, covering Mac OS X Version 10.3. Elsewhere, TheAge has a Panther article too, titled “Panther makes things purr“.
Inside Panther: A look at the Finder and System, Part III
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
…keeps getting better all the time. Now what we need is 970 PowerBooks and G4 iBooks!
At the current prices!
All the updates to Ink makes me (and the rest of the world) think that Apple will soon be releasing some sort of stylus-based input device which will use the Ink engine for handwriting recognition.
I think Apple is starting to “get the message” about the discontiguity of the typical Aqua pinstripe look and brushed metal. Unfortunately, Apple’s solution seems to be to make the pinstripe windows look a bit more metallic. However, I can’t argue with results:
http://www.thinksecret.com/archives/images/pantherfindersystem3/ink…
I’m sorry but I think these reports are so boring. For me it sounds like: “And our CEO mr Steve Jobs decided that placing this little image over here would be better”. And all the sites go: “New MacOS Revolutionary Enhancements; New Icon To make your life easier..
The only talent Steve Jobs has is to sell a pile of shit as gold. I’m sorry but there is nothing special about the finder. It looks diffirent but at the end it just does what any other file explorer does.
BTW: How many reports do you see about MS explorer or the Linux explorers? Do you realy think they have less features? No way there is just more going on those OS’s then a file managment tool.
Go ahead baybe flame me.
“I’m sorry but I think these reports are so boring. For me it sounds like: “And our CEO mr Steve Jobs decided that placing this little image over here would be better”. And all the sites go: “New MacOS Revolutionary Enhancements; New Icon To make your life easier..”
Huh? What the heck are you talking about?
“The only talent Steve Jobs has is to sell a pile of shit as gold.”
I think the talant is yours in your attepts to sell us on the idea that this pille of gold is shit.
“I’m sorry but there is nothing special about the finder.”
Sure there is. It maes the user more efficient than the old version.
“It looks diffirent but at the end it just does what any other file explorer does.”
Exactly. (Helps you locate files and open them. Except for the new version makes you more efficient. You do you get so insecure about this?
“BTW: How many reports do you see about MS explorer or the Linux explorers?”
I see few about Windows and see many many from Linux explorers.
“Do you realy think they have less features?”
its not about “features” its about increased usability over the old version. OS X, Windows and Linux are all making improvements in this area… some more than others.
“No way there is just more going on those OS’s then a file managment tool.”
Hypothetically speaking, why couldn’t more be going on in an area such as this in one OS than another?
increased usability
Is a feature in my book. Actualy a basic feature since the start of pc’s. And should not be the only one.
Exactly. (Helps you locate files and open them. Except for the new version makes you more efficient. You do you get so insecure about this?
I’m sorry but having shortcuts to often used folders is not new and not realy something for the history books. Without it, it would take me maybe 3 seconds more to navigate. A nice improvement but again nothing special to write about.
And I’m not insecure just unimpressed and saying what I think. But then I’m the kind of person who thinks he can do it better.
Hypothetically speaking, why couldn’t more be going on in an area such as this in one OS than another?
File managers are so non exciting. It sucks or it works thats it, nothing more. I’m more interested about the lowdown specs of osx as I think it has realy good (and not often said) features in the sence of audio, video and other things.
Realy in ten years when about every 1st world person has used or is using a pc. The tiny usabilty diffirences between the main OS’s are nothing. So its time to make a good OS besides a nice UI.
“>>increased usability
Is a feature in my book. Actualy a basic feature since the start of pc’s. And should not be the only one.”
Thankfully its not the only one.
“I’m sorry but having shortcuts to often used folders is not new and not realy something for the history books.”
Noboday said it was, but placing them in a location that makes the user more efficient is worth nothing for a web site devoted to such things as is the case inthis instance.
“Without it, it would take me maybe 3 seconds more to navigate. A nice improvement but again nothing special to write about.”
Noboday said it was, but for a web site devoted to such things as is the case inthis instance it certenly is.
“And I’m not insecure just unimpressed and saying what I think.”
The fact that you implied that such features were “shit” would suggest otherwise. if it were just saying what you think, you would be saying, “I’m unimpressed” but the fact that you claime such advancements to be shit suggests insecurity.
“But then I’m the kind of person who thinks he can do it better.”
I think I already have you pegged. You’re the type of guy that will cast an ill will upon anything that is not familair to you and then say that you could do it better, but you never actually do it better.
“File managers are so non exciting. It sucks or it works thats it, nothing more.”
I disagree. Either is sucks, it works or it works better than the example that just “works”.
“I’m more interested about the lowdown specs of osx as I think it has realy good (and not often said) features in the sence of audio, video and other things.”
I agree, but that’s no reason to offer negativity as you did. (Referring to the shit comment)
“Realy in ten years when about every 1st world person has used or is using a pc. The tiny usabilty diffirences between the main OS’s are nothing. So its time to make a good OS besides a nice UI.”
Seems to me that Apple is doing both.
The tiny usabilty diffirences between the main OS’s are nothing. So its time to make a good OS besides a nice UI.
No, you’re wrong. The tiny differences are everything. The reason I *use* a Mac is because of these “tiny” differences. You may not care enough to notice (do you even use a Mac?!?!?), but others do. The placement of a single button, the color of a single icon, the wording of a dialog box, the clarity of on-screen text, the accessibility of a function — these things are the FOUNDATION of computing in my book. I don’t care what’s under the hood, it’s the day-to-day interaction with the computer that gets me excited (in the case of OS X or BeOS) or frustrated (in the case of Windows or Linux).
Jared
[i]”Noboday said it was, but placing them in a location that makes the user more efficient is worth nothing for a web site devoted to such things as is the case inthis instance.
Nothing should read: noting
Ok I take my shit remark back. But its a normal expression where I live.
Its just as I said those little UI thingies are not important to me. Windows is good enough, Linux is gettting there (however I do have complaints about it).
Linux is getting very low latency results with the latests kernels. I think Linux is a thread to apple’s multi media OS.
BTW: Windows is one of the worst OS’s (latency) for multimedia.
I think these are more important aspects of an OS and GUI enhancement are needed but should be secondary news.
“Ok I take my shit remark back. But its a normal expression where I live.”
Where do you live?
“Its just as I said those little UI thingies are not important to me. Windows is good enough, Linux is gettting there (however I do have complaints about it).”
This is where my comment about insecurity came from. Noboday said that this feature in OS X was better than those in Windows or Linux. it was simply said that it was improved. You jumped in as if somebody called your mother a bad name.
If you don’t care much for UI improvements and are content using something that is “good enough” rather than very good then continue to do so. We’d rather you not say or imply that these improvements aren’t improvements or make disparaging remarks about them.
As you noted, it would be acceptable to say that these improvements don’t excite you.
“Linux is getting very low latency results with the latests kernels. I think Linux is a thread to apple’s multi media OS.
BTW: Windows is one of the worst OS’s (latency) for multimedia.
I think these are more important aspects of an OS and GUI enhancement are needed but should be secondary news.”
While I agree that latency is certenly something that should be covered as news, UI advancements should be covered with equal interest.
I like the fact that Apple distinguishes the Finder from the look of a web browser which a few other OS file managers tend to do. I always hated that.
The new changes are all positive – Brushed metal? Who gives a rat’s rear end? I’ll work faster with the new finder, it’s a better way to organize things and that’s all I care about.
@smurf975
It’s funny how Linux and WIndows have nothing to do with this story. It’s not a conspiracy – I’ve noticed those OSes get talked about the same way, when there’s something to report.
The “It sucks or it works thats it” comment is priceless. You must be the type of person that throw’s out the TV remote control when the batteries die.
It’s faster, and looks and behaves a bit different.
For instance, if you select an icon on the desktop, it hilites the icon in a shaded effect, and the descriptor text is hilited in blue, looking similar to safari’s way of hiliting the bookmarks text in the menu bar.
An improvement is how you can move files very easily in a finder window.
Lots more
Nice to see that not everyone worships the little bits of change here and there (most of which are simply the return of features that were in OS9 that didn’t make it into the first, second or third release of OS X).
Frankly, I still think Apple has it wrong with that menu bar. Oh yeah… since they’re busy adding [back] all these little tiny features (some of which I do like) have they still ignored the FUNCTIONAL and PERFORMANCE problems of the Finder or did they actually address them? THAT’S what I care to know about. I want to know if the damn Finder behaves better, not what new tiny cosmetic changes there are (I have to say I dislike Apple’s new “we’re not using tabs anymore” design with those buttons – Apple continues to disprove their so-called UI design specialty).
And if someone here asks me “WHAT performance/functional problems in the Finder?? It works great for me!” I will scream. I’ve bitched about it here so many times that you must all have my bitching memorized by now.
*HINT: Real-time file system content updating would be nice (and, frankly, it’s stupid for ANY OS NOT to have it by now, for crying out loud).
“Frankly, I still think Apple has it wrong with that menu bar.”
I disagree. Its worked out for me as a quick way to access files.
“Oh yeah… since they’re busy adding [back] all these little tiny features (some of which I do like)”
Was the word “tiny” really necessary?
Many tiny enhancements work out (at least in this case) a very respectible set of interface enhancements.
“have they still ignored the FUNCTIONAL and PERFORMANCE problems of the Finder or did they actually address them?”
Those were addressed SEVERAL months BACK with Quartz extreme. No longer is there even a SLIGHT bit of sluggishness when scrolling and such. I’m running panther preview and its is even FASTER.
(While all the cap letters? I don’t know. I’m just following the trend you started)
“I want to know if the damn Finder behaves better”
I don’t know about the damn Finder, but the finder works even better than before.
“not what new tiny cosmetic changes there are”
Panther offers more than cosmetic changes… as the article has illustrated for you.
“(I have to say I dislike Apple’s new “we’re not using tabs anymore” design with those buttons – Apple continues to disprove their so-called UI design specialty).”
First of all…. quotes? When did Apple say that?
Second of all, what are you talking about?
“And if someone here asks me “WHAT performance/functional problems in the Finder?? It works great for me!” I will scream.”
There definately was major problems in the first release. The 10.1 update kindof helped. 10.2 helped a lot (if even the problem still persisted in some regards). Jaguar pretty much cleared any last remnant of slugishness. And now, panther will make it very fast.
I’m in agreement with several of the posters above. Panther really doesn’t have very much meat to it. The biggest feature IMHO is the final version of the X-Windows emulation layer, which seems to be downplayed but gives the OS a chance to run lots of free, high-quality software for little effort. Now if they’d only replase the Task Bar with something more NeXT-ish…
I haven’t heard any news about pricing yet, so I’m assuming Jobs & Co. are planning to charge another $129 for the upgrade. Bastards.
For the record, I’m still using Mac OS 10.1. I figure once dirt cheap on Ebay from those suckers who upgrade right away, heh heh..
well gee golly. lookie what we got here ma. these mac heads worshiping that steve fella again. I don’t know when they will ever learn that prettyness is the only reason it’s more expensive. well I tell ya what, my pc here can beat their mac anyday without fuss and at a cheaper price. wonder how they’re gonna like that?
I’m sorry but I think these reports are so boring.
I have to agree. The Think Secret reports are nothing but screenshots of practically every user interface element. The things they are showing certainly qualify as “little improvements”.
Nonetheless, there will be big improvements in Panther. X11 is one, and Expose looks like the best task switcher ever conceived.
Also, a lot of little improvements can make a big difference in usability for any program.
I haven’t seen this mentioned so what is the state of Sherlock in 10.3? Is it any value for non-us customers for once or have the effort been put to good use where it matters for us in other parts of the world?
“I’m in agreement with several of the posters above. Panther really doesn’t have very much meat to it.”
So far, its just been one person.
” I haven’t heard any news about pricing yet, so I’m assuming Jobs & Co. are planning to charge another $129 for the upgrade. Bastards.”
Why the negative reaction. This is a big update… with a lot of new improvements. its not like the cost isn;t unwarented.
“well gee golly. lookie what we got here ma. these mac heads worshiping that steve fella again.”
Who in this thread is worshiping Steve. Was that another trolling attempt?
“I don’t know when they will ever learn that prettyness is the only reason it’s more expensive.”
Pretty? Attractive is a better adjective.
The only reason its more expensive? Mac’s offer a lot more than attractiveness.
more expensive? Hardly.
“well I tell ya what, my pc here can beat their mac anyday without fuss and at a cheaper price.”
It probably can considering the fact that nobody is using the G5. Thankfully we as Mac users still have the boasting rights to fastest desktop machine out there.
Is this what we have to expect from the new troll?
I still haven’t seen definitive word from Apple as to whether the Finder will finally be a Cocoa app, or if it is still Carbon. Anyone know for sure?
Mac OS X keeps getting better all the time
…as oppose to all other OSes which are deteriorating rapidly.
Mac OS X keeps getting better all the time
…as oppose to all other OSes which are deteriorating rapidly.
Well, that’s equally insightful. You’re a glass half empty kind of person, huh?
Apple topics tend to really fire people up. Especially something as controversial as a look at the new Finder – oooh!. Gripping stuff.
Why the negative reaction. This is a big update… with a lot of new improvements. its not like the cost isn;t unwarented.
The problem is that I haven’t heard much of anything that says that this is a BIG upgrade. Upgraded Finder, a neat application switcher, and that’s about it. It’s like the upgrade from Windows 98 to Windows ME.
For someone upgrading from OS 9, $129 would be more than a fair price, but if you were already running 10.2, I’d wait until at least 10.4 came out before plonking down that kind of money.
Pretty? Attractive is a better adjective.
The only reason its more expensive? Mac’s offer a lot more than attractiveness.
I’ll agree with this. It’s not just the attractiveness of the computer and OS that make a mac cool. Granted, it is the best looking OS out there, but there is more to it than just the looks. I haven’t used OS X a whole lot, but I read about it all the time. It seems to be a pretty crisp operating system. Lots of nice features, not to mention it’s a UNIX operating system.
more expensive? Hardly.
Well, actually yea they are way more expensive. The fact that you can’t really build a mac is where the big price difference comes in. Last year I built a fully loaded, top of the line PC for under $1000, which was faster than any mac available at the time. You know how much I would have paid for the best mac at the time? Between $3000-$4000. So yes, they definitely more expensive.
“For someone upgrading from OS 9, $129 would be more than a fair price, but if you were already running 10.2, I’d wait until at least 10.4 came out before plonking down that kind of money.”
“For someone upgrading from OS 9, $129 would be more than a fair price, but if you were already running 10.2, I’d wait until at least 10.4 came out before plonking down that kind of money. ”
This is a reasonable statement. You are a reasonable user then. A refreshing change from the Maczealots , that advocate give your wallet to Steve, drop your pants and say ahh, because Apple are the best, so nothing is good enough for the man.
I think the same way about G5, if you think that Jaguar is fast enough, stick to it. Don’t go out buying hardware[64bit] that a 32bit “Transition” OS cannot *fully* utilize. Later if Apple puts out a 64bit OS then consider a G5, otherwise you are throwing your money away. Specially if Jaguar fits your bill(pun).
The performance problems I’m talking about have NOT been “mostly addressed” by Jaguar. I’m using it right now. Besides, it’s not just the UI sluggishness (my god it takes a long time to switch focus on this thing!). I’m talking about such things as worse than horrible I/O performance with file systems such as FAT16/32. Bad error messages that provide no useful info (“error -6 has occurred” instead of “sorry, but the file name exceeds the 31 character limit of an HFS volume, please rename the following file: [insert name here]”). Problems like how icons that should be appearing on the Desktop NOT actually appearing there until I switch focus to it (the desktop is horribly unresponsive to FS changes).
Oh and the menubar… was a great idea when Mac OS ran only ONE application at a time. Ever since it went multi-tasking, the goodness of it went right out the window. But everyone praises Apple for it anyway because they got used to it and think it’s “good enough” or “just fine!”
By the way: all caps are used for quick emphasis. But you know that already; you were just looking for another way to be sarcastic.
I think the same way about G5, if you think that Jaguar is fast enough, stick to it. Don’t go out buying hardware[64bit] that a 32bit “Transition” OS cannot *fully* utilize. Later if Apple puts out a 64bit OS then consider a G5, otherwise you are throwing your money away.
That’s a rather shallow generalization. There are plenty of advantages to using a G5 regardless of whether or not it runs a 64-bit OS. Maybe you don’t want/need a G5, but it’s ridiculous to accuse someone of throwing away money when they have perfectly valid reasons to get one.