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10.4 on Display at FOSE

Posted by timothy on from the slickery dept.

CmdrStone writes "Just thought I'd post to let people know that while at FOSE today in the Washington, D.C. Convention center I lingered at the Apple pavilion / booth. To my surprise every machine had 10.4 running. The build number matches the build number found on the rumor sites; 8A428. Does this presage Tiger hitting the shelves soon? Personally, my main interest was how much iSync was expanded to support more devices, phones, etc. The Apple rep confirmed that the number of devices has expanded. He lamented that his Symbian phone, the Nokia 9500 Communicator, still was not included in the supported phones. He did tell me that he was able to tether his Powerbook and get online via his 9500's T-Mobile connection."

11 of 326 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by thundercatslair · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It did go gold about a week ago, so yes you should see it on store shelves soon.

    1. Re:Well... by __aaxpkq8573 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Been 18 months since Panther was released. Maybe in Longhorn months that would be 6 months.

    2. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Dude,

      Either you have a tiger preview under the terms of an ADC non-disclosure agreement, in which case you have a legal obligation to STFU, or you got it from a file-sharing network, in which case you're admitting to a crime. Either way, your post was Not Very Bright.

    3. Re:Well... by Baricom · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I *have* used Windows in the last six years (it's my primary platform until this computer breaks and I switch to a Mac) and the GP poster is absolutely correct. Each release adds more and more "features" designed to "protect users from piracy" by removing their control of their own computer.

      Consider, for example, Product Activation, which Microsoft added in Windows XP. Now, not only do you have to pay Microsoft for the privilege of using their operating system, but you must also ask Microsoft permission each time you do so.

      There are innumerable accounts of people who've had problems with Product Activation, but let's assume activation is flawless and that no legally-licensed Windows user will ever be flagged for activation. This February, Microsoft changed the rules, and all of a sudden, owners of an OEM edition of Windows (almost everybody) now have to call Microsoft EVERY TIME they reinstall their hard drive, and answer questions to prove they own (excuse me, _license_) the software they're trying to install. This "service" is a feature of Microsoft's Genuine Advantage program, but I don't see any advantage in being treated like a criminal.

      Windows Media Player is also the subject of "enhancements" by Microsoft, and in June, 2002, Microsoft decided to add a new condition to Media Player's EULA with the patch for security bulletin MS02-032. Now, instead of consenting to updates to their computer, Microsoft gets to decide that Media Player updates "will be automatically downloaded onto your computer, [and] these security related updates may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other software on your computer."

      Now, Longhorn will soon be released (eventually), and users will find that their computer is the subject of even more restrictions. Palladium was canceled for both PR and time constraint reasons (thank goodness), but make no mistake - Longhorn will have more "features" designed to take even more control from computer owners and put it in Microsoft's hands.

      So, now what? Well, you'll no doubt tell me that we have the freedom to switch to Linux, but how free is it? Neither Dell nor the other PC manufacturers will sell me a computer with an empty hard drive at the same price as the bundled version, let alone cheaper. I should not have to pay for an unused copy of Windows (which Microsoft will not refund the cost of, in violation of THEIR OWN EULA), and I should not have to purchase my computer from a fly-by-night retailer who might not be around next year to honor my warranty.

      Yes, Apple has their own problems with intellectual property ethics. For example, I have not and will not purchase music from the iTunes Music Store unless they remove DRM from the "bargain". However, at the moment, Apple is still mostly treating their customers right. Until iWork, for example, their was no such thing as typing in a serial number in an Apple product. I am concerned that Macromedia and Adobe are starting to implement activation on the Mac versions of their software, but there are FOSS alternatives that I can use.

      I'm not an Apple troll - I've been using DOS and Windows for 15 years, and I used to ridicule Apple until OS X was released. I have no loyalties to any company - I will happily give my money to the companies that treat me as a valued, important customer, rather than a criminal.

      Change is in the air. It started about the time Microsoft began demonizing the people who lined their pockets.

    4. Re:Well... by henryhbk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Point 2 really applies to professional level software, rather than consumer (how many people bought webobjects, DVD Studio Pro, Motion or FCP HD for their own home use [other than me I guess])

  2. Improved Palm support would be nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's great that the list of supported devices is expanded and everything, but do you suppose Apple could get their iSync Palm Conduit to work a little better? I wouldn't mind if they could get the devices they currently support to work better before they start adding support for every phone on the planet.

  3. Re:Torrent, anybody? by macslut · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Well, 8A425 isn't even the GM release, so it might not be as risky as hosting, say, 8A428." IANAL but, I think that's just the opposite way of thinking. Apple can go after who leaked 8A425 because someone violated an NDA/Developer contract. In doing so they can get the log files and see who downloaded it. With the GM release they would just be going after the "pirates". In the past, they've never chased after "pirates", but they have successfully gone after the person(s?) that leaked a pre-release and got access to the logs showing who downloaded it. Either way of course it's a risk, and people are far more nervous about torrenting Apple software than they were before. Me? $95 on Amazon...is TOTALLY worth it!

  4. I know people are jackasses about.... by AvantLegion · · Score: 4, Insightful
    ... acronyms and missing info in titles, and usually they're just being tools. But for this story, I think it would help to say "Mac OS X 10.4" instead of just "10.4". At least it had the "Apple: " part prefixing it.

  5. Not that anyone will read this. by Microsift · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There's nothing in the Apple copy protection scheme that prevents me from installing their Pro software on more than one box. All their activation number does is allow me to use the software, it doesn't inform Apple that I've installed it. It does add some hassle, but it's a one time thing, and is pretty much standard across the industry (Adobe's Photoshop has done the same thing for years).

    --
    My other sig is extremely clever...
  6. Re:What's the Hold Up? by MonkeyBoy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why go through all the hassle of reinstalling? Why not get a 2nd HD and just use Carbon Copy Cloner to duplicate your perfectly-working setup prior to the upgrade?

    That'll take maybe 30 minutes (just be sure to quit all running apps prior to starting up CCC). Booting off of it, to verify it boots, then switching back to your original boot drive, should take another 5. If you have any custom folders off the root, be sure to copy them over at this time, but the standard OSX folders will get copied (applications, library, user, etc) by CCC.

    Then you can do your 10.4 install and worst case if it all goes to hell you can just boot off your other HD and be back up and running in the time it takes to restart and boot off your backup drive. If you want the extra speed or something you can erase your original boot drive and CCC the working setup back.

    I CCC before every minor rev install (10.3.x), I'm sure as hell going to do it before a major rev install 10.x). It save a hell of a lot of time. Someone please buy Mike Bombich a beer or something.

    --

    Moof!

  7. Re:Here is how you do it ... by As+Seen+On+TV · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What stops you? The fact that that's a massively stupid thing to have to do to a computer.

    Look, I understand your point. "Just do it this way, it's simple." But I would never, ever recommend something like that to a Mac user. The fact that it's possible doesn't mean it's something to brag about. If you're happy with an answer like that, you're probably not a Mac user. You're probably happy with something like Linux already. And frankly, if that's the case, you wouldn't be asking. You would already know how to do it because, like, you have to know how to do those things in order to make Linux work on a network. So bottom line, if you're asking the question, that answer will just make you mad.