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Mac OS X Tiger Released and Analyzed
bonch writes "Ars Technica has gone under the hood of the Tiger release and offers up detailed impressions on the new OS X update. The review covers everything from interface changes, new kernel updates and programming interfaces, the unification of UNIX system startup services into one service called 'launchd', the return of metadata, to the fact Apple has announced that from 10.4 forward there will be no more API changes. A fascinating read about the technical details behind Tiger and the specific changes that have occurred since Panther's release 18 months ago." Today is the update's official launch day, though some lucky people have had it for a few days already.
Does anyone know the list of file types that Spotlight will be able to index out-of-the-box? OpenOffice maybe?
G'day all,
/Users, /Documents and /Applications/apps (where I put any applications *I* install) - yes, I'm a paranoid bugger - I did a boot->nuke->install of Tiger last night onto my PowerBook G4
.Mac details (you gotta play!)
My copy arrived from TNT 24hours ago. Along with a friend who's copy arrived at the same time, we upgraded his iBook and my PowerBook overnight.
I have two words for you:
1. Spotlight
2. Dashboard
If you don't know what I'm talking about (presuming you all do!)... --> http://www.apple.com/ and read all about them! Say no more!
Well, I can happily report that my experience has been a happy one! After backing up
All I can say is that Tiger be pretty, Tiger be fast! It was a complete surprise to find that at long last my problems syncing my Sony Ericsson P900 seem to be over, as are my faxing problems. I haven't tried either *fully* yet, first impressions are good, and happiness should prevail.
A couple of interesting things noted last night:
* The install *really* doesn't like it if you don't enter in valid
* The almost-missed "sending registration details to Apple" message was kind of surprising. My fault for giving my PB a working network connection, but it would have been nice to be asked first before sending off data! Having said that, it's nice not to need loads of installation
keys, etc. And hey - it's probably in the EULA which of course I read in detail before installing (*NOT*)
So, for anyone out there holding out to see what the feedback is like - don't! You'll just kick yourself harder the longer you hold off upgrading!
I take it you haven't actually used Tiger? Unike what we usually get from the generous ladies and gents over in Redmond, Mac OS X updates actually contain new features, and not simply cosmetic touchups and bug fixes that should have been available as a free update.
But the nicest thing about OS X updates is that they continue to improve performance on hardware across the board, including older supported hardware. My G4 1.33GHz is noticeably snappier than it was on Panther.
On the other side, can you even fathom someone uttering the words "Wow, that new version of Windows really makes my P3 fly!"
For those who've already picked up Tiger, how well is application compatibility preserved?
I'm worried that some apps that I have might be broken and may take a while for fixes to arrive. The one I'm worried about the most is Office for Mac being broken ( yeah yeah I know iWork is better but I got this for free from a friend )
Do you see the difference between an application (where you compile it and send multiple copies out for users to (ab)use) and a "service point" like a web-site or in-house app. In other words: PHP domain (which I believe still kicks dotnet's ass for the web, despite its naivety, or maybe because of it) and Delphi/VC++ domains. OTOH - I've seen tons of Java applications, but have yet to see a reasonably "commercial grade" dotnet app. You know why? Because standalone apps are hard to make right and for web apps basically anything goes.
There's a coupon for CD media, but you've got to surrender your DVD media to get it. I _like_ my DVD media...but I've also got an (pre firewire) iMac that can't read DVD's....can I make a dmg on an external usb/firewire drive and install it that way?
"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."
I like that, "Longhorn is bound to be a new WindowsME by all the signals." I hadn't thought about it like that before, but you're probably correct.
I'm pretty sure this is an upgrade I won't be making. I'm perfectly happy with XP and see no reason to upgrade (many said this about 2k). I really dont' like the fact that their preliminary stated minimum requirements are 1GHz 512MB RAM. Yes my computer exceeds that, but that will pretty much mean I'll be on the lower end of the spectrum requirements-wise. I don't want to take a step back, and I certainly don't want to have to purchase a new computer to just to run a new OS that doesn't offer me all that much.
I am hoping to buy a mac at some point though. I just need to wait until I get some other things taken care of and my job situation stabelizes. I've had my eye on a powerbook for a while, and now Tiger is making me go to www.apple.com even more than normal.
The article and summary both mention the consolidation of many launching methods into an new 'launchd' daemon that is responsible for a wide-range of tasks including starting and stopping applications and other daemons on behalf of users and the system. After more than 100 comments, I have not seen even one mention of it. Is this because it is uninteresting, no one has RTFA, or because nobody really knows what it does yet? The Arstechnica reviewer advocates that the other UNIX type systems immediately steal this idea and code and incorporate it. Nobody here has an opinion on that?
Until there is a way of pulling (good, relevant) metadata out of most (all) file types Spotlight etc will be at best half features.
:)
I have difficulty getting users (intelegent users, mind) to file things in a single directory consistantly (yes I know this is ment to avoid directories but a location is only one example of metadata) . Fill in meta data as well? I may as well ask them to fly!
Ok text docs, spreadsheets etc will be fine (ish) as some occasionally appropriate info will be extractable, but what about drawings, scans, films. I know companies and the analy retentive will fill this in but an awful lot of people will not.
On the plus side I see this as the near end of application (un)installation hell....
rm *.mozilla !
ls *.apache !
or whatever syntax you choose, as the metadata will gladly be added by distro builders/app programmers. I've never heard this mentiond.
Ah well I'm off for two weeks holiday. Promise to think of you all while walking the dog
Jo