macOS Archive

OS X Makes Macs Less Unpopular in Heterogenous Networks

David Adams 2002-12-03 macOS 15 Comments

A Yahoo Mac Central article notes that, due to the new Apple OS' support for familiar tools and services, IT managers that formerly turned up their noses at the Macs in their organizations are now embracing them. This is particularly true in organizations with a lot of Unix workstations, of course, though the efforts that Apple has made to integrate the Unix tools that make interoperability with Windows easier have benefitted OS X in Windows-heavy offices too.

Introduction to MacOSX Web Services

Submitted by Fernando Hernández 2002-11-23 macOS 11 Comments

This and subsequent chapters in this book introduce you to Web services available on Mac OS X. The toolkits and frameworks, including Apple’s WebServicesCore.framework, a client-side framework for accessing Web services from Mac OS X which is new in Mac OS X version 10.2, are discussed in Chapter “Tasks”. Some of the tools and techniques for writing Web services glue and adding it to Cocoa, Carbon and AppleScript applications are also discussed.

Apple Releases New MacOSX Security Update

Eugenia Loli 2002-11-22 macOS 1 Comment

Apple released Security Update 2002-11-21 for MacOSX 10.2 Jaguar (via the Software Update utility). It fixes potential vulnerabilities introduced in BIND, the domain server and client library software package from ISC, that is shipped with OS X and OSX Server. BIND version 8.3.4 addresses the recently-discovered potential vulnerabilities where an unauthorized person may disrupt the normal operation of the DNS name service. BIND is not activated by default on OSX.

MacOSX Journaling: What it is, who Needs it

Eugenia Loli 2002-11-15 macOS 17 Comments

"The journaling operation itself does impose a performance penalty on disk writes. Mac OS X Server alters the sizes of certain buffers used for file transactions when journaling is enabled, which mitigates much of the performance hit, reducing it from the 10-15 percent range down to the 2-5 percent range, for a system with 512MB of RAM. The more RAM you have, the more buffering can be used, so your performance hit decreases accordingly. This buffering does not occur on "regular" OS X, which is one reason why Apple is not supporting or recommending its use on non-OS X Server systems." Read the article at WorkingMac.

Mac OS X 10.2.2 Released

Eugenia Loli 2002-11-11 macOS 57 Comments

The MacOSX 10.2.2 update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications and technologies: Address Book, iChat, IP Firewall, Mail, Print Center, Rendezvous, Sherlock and Windows file service discovery. It also provides a foundation for the journalling filesystem (JFS - not to be confused with IBM's JFS), which may currently be enabled via Disk Utility on Mac OS X Server systems. Journaling can also be turned on via the command line.

Poll: Is MacOSX Slow?

Eugenia Loli 2002-11-08 macOS 124 Comments

Slashdoters discuss today the possibility of people finding MacOSX slow in general (regardless of hardware) or not. What do you think, is the whole MacOSX 10.2.x experience slower than other modern operating systems, generally speaking? Let's allow users to vote and decide over this!

Comparing Apples and Penguins

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-29 macOS 51 Comments

"As good as Mac OS X is for desktops and laptops, one wonders if the FreeBSD inside is not too restricted by the Apple jacket around it to also make for an efficient, secure and fast server OS. Apple is now busy convincing the world that Apples make also for excellent server appliances in the handy U1 format, thanks to OS X. That new product is called Apple Xserve. Many potential buyers are, however, asking themselves if OS X—given its recent introduction—is ready today to handle their critical apps." Read the article at Byte. In the meantime, Apple released Darwin 6.0.2 for both PPC and x86.

Java 1.4.1 Developer Preview for MacOSX Available

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-25 macOS 6 Comments

"The wait is over! Apple is excited to announce our first official Developer Preview of Java 1.4.1 for Mac OS X version 10.2! The preview includes almost all of the 1.4.1 VM and UI implementation--much more complete than the version supplied at WWDC. It's now posted on ADC for download, and is accessible to all ADC members, Online->Premier. The seed is named "J2SE 1.4.1 Developer Preview 2" and has been posted to the "Download Software" section of the ADC web site. If you're not an ADC member, now is a good time to join." Read the announcement here.

Top Ten Mac OS X Tips for Unix Geeks

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-23 macOS 8 Comments

"I recently got a copy of my new book, 'Mac OS X for Unix Geeks', and as I anxiously await its arrival in bookstores, I have a little time to reflect. So, I'm offering the top ten tips that I gathered while working on the book. These tips will show you the differences between Mac OS X and other flavors of Unix; help you find the bits that resemble the Unix you are used to; and even feather your nest with XFree86 and ports of popular open source applications." Read the article over at O'Reilly.

Why Unix Matters to Mac OS X

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-22 macOS 44 Comments

When you think of open source and Unix, is your next thought Mac OS X? The O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference is the third Mac developers conference this year that company founder and president, Tim O'Reilly has keynoted. Sure this is his conference and he can do anything he wants, but earlier this year he spoke to developers at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference and to hardcore Mac geeks at the Mac Hack conference. And then there's Jordan Hubbard. Sure, he's now an Apple employee, but he's known for his work on FreeBSD." Read the article at OReilly.

Mach-O ABI Costs MacOSX 12% of Speed

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-21 macOS 16 Comments

An Unsanity developer writes in his blog that MacOSX, by using the CISC-optimized Mach-O ABI, which is derived directly from NeXT, can see a decrease of speed of up to 12%. Attempts to rewrite that ABI would result in breakage of applications and binary compatibility.

Mac OS X to Get Journaling

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-15 macOS 42 Comments

The journaled file system, which will run atop the Mac's traditional HFS file scheme, will be switched off by default; users will be able to switch it on via the command line, sources said. They reported that while "Elvis" runs in the background, enabling Journaling FS will slow current system performance by 10 percent to 15 percent. Read the full report at eWeek.

Jaguar Does Windows–and Then Some

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-03 macOS 31 Comments

"I sat down at my Macintosh at home to do some photo editing when I realized the pictures I wanted were on a Windows computer. Although the two machines are just a few feet from each other, moving the files from one to the other would, until recently, have required me to copy the pictures to some sort of removable storage unit, probably a recordable CD. Then plunk that into the Mac." Read the article at BusinessWeek.

Flirting With Mac OS X

Eugenia Loli 2002-09-26 macOS 43 Comments

"Regular readers of this column already know there is no lost love between me and GUIs. In fact, I rarely use them; I do most of my work from the regular console, using a variety of tools to do all the things I'd ever need from a GUI: Multiple terminal sessions (screen, Linux virtual terminals, Emacs, vim) and a good e-mail client (nothing beats pine)." Read the article at Byte.

MacOSX 10.2.1 Now Available

Submitted by Prognathus and Sebastian 2002-09-18 macOS 33 Comments

The MacOSX 10.2.1 Update (via OSX's Software Update) delivers enhancements and improvements to the following applications, technologies and components: Mail, Image Capture, Help Viewer, graphics, printing, networking, Rendezvous, Kerberos, USB, FireWire, SCSI device compatibility and includes additional Digital Hub peripheral device support. Also, iTunes 3.0.1 was released today, while in related news, here is a review of MacOSX 10.2 along with the availability of the high end PowerMac.

MacOSX 10.2.1 Release Imminent

Eugenia Loli 2002-09-17 macOS 27 Comments

Apple put up a knowledge base page about the release of MacOSX 10.2.1, but they later retracted it. It seems that a patch release is pretty close. Read here of what is most likely to come with 10.2.1.

Mac-On-Linux Now Supports MacOS 10.1 and 10.2

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-09-08 macOS 38 Comments

The latest release of Mac-On-Linux now includes MacOS X support. Check out these screenshots of MacOSX 10.2, also known as Jaguar, running under Linux. Please note that Mac-On-Linux is not an emulator, but it's more like VMWare, therefore, it can only run on some PPC hardware.

Guide to User Experience Differences Between Windows & OSX

Eugenia Loli 2002-09-08 macOS 66 Comments

Mac OS X users know when a product doesn't quite "feel right", and so do product reviewers. Despite the similarities that seem to exist between the Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows XP user interfaces (UI) and the Aqua interface of Mac OS X, there are significant appearance and behavioral differences. A successful Windows to Mac OS X transition requires abandoning key elements of the Windows user experience in favor of the Mac OS X alternatives. This document outlines typical areas of concern when porting a Microsoft Windows application to Mac OS X, and provides guidance for transitioning to the Mac OS X UI.

Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar Review at ArsTechnica

Submitted by My Friend Oliver 2002-09-05 macOS 49 Comments

"I want to believe. Those words set up my review of Mac OS X 10.1 almost a year ago. Mac OS X began life as the last, best hope for Apple's decade-spanning quest for a modern operating system. At first, it was enough for it to simply exist as a stable, feasible product strategy. But while developer releases revealed some very interesting technology, they also raised some red flags. The public beta was a warning shot across the bow of an anxious community of early adopters. The initial release reinforced the old Apple saying: "real artists ship." Mac OS X 10.0 had arrived, but there were problems." Read the review at ArsTechnica. Also, 19" iMacs are on the way.

Mac OS X: Look who Else is Switching

Eugenia Loli 2002-09-05 macOS 22 Comments

"From the moment Mac OS X was announced, one of its most compelling features for me was its ability to run Mac and Unix software at the same time. It meant I wouldn't have to keep multiple systems around, booting into one or the other as needed. And now, with the release of version 10.2 (aka Jaguar), OS X is a better Unix than ever. Make no mistake: Mac OS X has been a real Unix from the start, albeit one that could actually run desktop apps like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and BBEdit, and let you play Warcraft III and (soon) Halo. But now, Jaguar's Unix underpinnings have been given a much-needed refresh." Read the editorial at ZDNet.