LoopRumors - 10.3 Due this Fall
From LoopRumors.com:
It appears that Apple is going to upgrade MacOS X to version 10.3 codenamed "Panther," the next major revision of its operating system, this Fall. Improvements are said to be as follows:
System-wide metal interface
Support for 64-Bit architecture
QuickTime 6.5
iChat 2.0 with videoconferencing capabilities
Final Safari release 1.0 GM
Updated iApps (possible inclusion of iWorks?)
Enhanced Dock features
Overall system speed enhancements
Optimized for the new systems
We'll keep you informed of any new developments and information we receive as it becomes available.
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Obviously I think the one item catching everyone's eye here is "System-Wide Metal Interface". Is today April Fool's Day??? Wow, that really stands out as being blatantly wrong. Have you noticed how hard it is to read the text on the tabs in Safari due to the metal interface?? Guh.
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RosettaStoned
It appears that Apple is going to upgrade MacOS X to version 10.3 codenamed "Panther," the next major revision of its operating system, this Fall. Improvements are said to be as follows:
System-wide metal interface
Support for 64-Bit architecture
QuickTime 6.5
iChat 2.0 with videoconferencing capabilities
Final Safari release 1.0 GM
Updated iApps (possible inclusion of iWorks?)
Enhanced Dock features
Overall system speed enhancements
Optimized for the new systems
We'll keep you informed of any new developments and information we receive as it becomes available.
-----------------------
Obviously I think the one item catching everyone's eye here is "System-Wide Metal Interface". Is today April Fool's Day??? Wow, that really stands out as being blatantly wrong. Have you noticed how hard it is to read the text on the tabs in Safari due to the metal interface?? Guh.
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RosettaStoned
Comments
Next they'll be telling us that 10.4's default theme is Platinum...
Plus the list of 10.3 features looks rather underwhelming considering half of the mentioned bullets are applications rather than system features.
I think the soonest we'll see 10.3 will be winter unless it's a "free" download that is required for the 970.
The metal doesn't really bother me but I can't imagine that this is the best UI look that Apple can create.
I'd be happy to have the OS use it, although I admit it should be a preference and not the default.
Originally posted by robster
I like brushed metal, I find it much better than the washy white/gray pinstripe.
I'd be happy to have the OS use it, although I admit it should be a preference and not the default.
The Brushed Metal prediction is by far the most controversial item there. Everything else is all pretty predictable.
I have trouble seeing a move to all Textured/Brushed Metal as early as 10.3, though. Only 20-30% of Mac users are using OS X; it seems odd for Apple to revise the OS look so dramatically before even a majority of people have used OS X.
So it seems entirely possible that Apple will leave Aqua alone, with only minor refreshments.
At the same time, there's a growing chorus of people who love Aqua, but are intrigued by the simpler, unified look of Textured (despite the helter-skelter way in which it's applied), and are growing more than a little weary of the pinstripes. Also, the way Apple is throwing Brushed Metal on nearly every one of their recent apps almost certainly points to a growing preference for Textured at Apple.
So I've no idea, really. I wonder if they instead might update Aqua to kind of "Aqua Titanium", with some of the more progressive features of Brushed Metal (dynamic gradient, increased simplicity, easier window dragging), and tone down or even replace use of the pinstripes with the crystal look (the highly glossy white used in Safari and other iApps' buttons).
Although I do wonder if "Textured Windows" render faster in OSX because the OS isn't compositing Windows on top of each other.
More info please.
Originally posted by hmurchison
Although I do wonder if "Textured Windows" render faster in OSX because the OS isn't compositing Windows on top of each other.
More info please.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this post. Textured windows are "rendered" the exact same way as regular windows with the exception of the added gradient. As far as window layering goes, they're all double-buffered like any other normal windows. Therefore it is safe to assume that textured windows are more CPU-intensive (albeit only by a small amount) to create and manipulate textured windows than the Aqua windows.
Originally posted by frawgz
I'm not sure what they mean about Final Safari 1.0, either. The current Safari Beta expires, right? I wouldn't count Safari 1.0 as a feature of 10.3 unless it's exclusive to 10.3. That would mean Apple plans on getting people to upgrade OS X itself just to get the final version of Safari? Naw..
Ah, but there's a gap between Those Who Follow Apple's Every Wee Move and Those Who Don't. Thus, (intone in prophetic voice) just as QuickTime 6 was included as a feature of Jaguar, even though it was freely downloadable well before Jag's release, so will the GM version of Safari be listed as a feature of Panther.
Originally posted by Brad
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this post. Textured windows are "rendered" the exact same way as regular windows with the exception of the added gradient. As far as window layering goes, they're all double-buffered like any other normal windows. Therefore it is safe to assume that textured windows are more CPU-intensive (albeit only by a small amount) to create and manipulate textured windows than the Aqua windows.
Sort of OT here, but Brad, might you have any idea why -- if Safari is using your standard, normal 10.2 Textured window -- closing a Safari window that's tiled behind your current window (by its widget) will cause the current window to flicker?
It's just a beta, of course... but I love the ability to click-through to another window, and the flicker is like a disturbing ripple in space, reminding me I'm in the Matrix.
Originally posted by Estevan2737
Seems like "Fall" is a little soon as well considering that 10.2.5 is just now hitting developers and probably won't be public until late April.
Plus the list of 10.3 features looks rather underwhelming considering half of the mentioned bullets are applications rather than system features.
I think the soonest we'll see 10.3 will be winter unless it's a "free" download that is required for the 970.
The metal doesn't really bother me but I can't imagine that this is the best UI look that Apple can create.
Why does that matter? It's not like they're holding off working on 10.3 until 10.2.5 is out the door. In fact, I imagine many more resources are currently going into 10.3 than 10.2.5
Originally posted by Flounder
Why does that matter? It's not like they're holding off working on 10.3 until 10.2.5 is out the door. In fact, I imagine many more resources are currently going into 10.3 than 10.2.5
I know that when I was at Apple, 10.01 or whatever the point release was at the time, my team started testing it a couple weeks before Chetah was shipping.
Originally posted by Flounder
Why does that matter? It's not like they're holding off working on 10.3 until 10.2.5 is out the door. In fact, I imagine many more resources are currently going into 10.3 than 10.2.5
My point was simply that I would expect that 10.3 will need some time during which it is being distributed to developers for testing and that hasn't occurred yet. WWDC isn't until May so if that is the point where it becomes "beta" for developers it doesn't seem like much time to get it out for Fall. Admittedly...a weak point.
Anyway...the list of features listed by LoopRumors isn't very earth shaking and I expect 10.3 will be a bit more exciting.
Originally posted by Estevan2737
My point was simply that I would expect that 10.3 will need some time during which it is being distributed to developers for testing and that hasn't occurred yet. WWDC isn't until May so if that is the point where it becomes "beta" for developers it doesn't seem like much time to get it out for Fall. Admittedly...a weak point.
yes, a weak point. since that was EXACTLY the situation with Jaguar. demoed for developers at WWDC, shipped in fall.
Originally posted by pesi
yes, a weak point. since that was EXACTLY the situation with Jaguar. demoed for developers at WWDC, shipped in fall.
Actually, Jaguar shipped in the Summer. Wasn't it August 20 or something around there?
If 10.3 doesn't ship until "Fall" you would have to assume it will be more mature than Jaguar was out of the box.
Originally posted by Hobbes
Sort of OT here, but Brad, might you have any idea why -- if Safari is using your standard, normal 10.2 Textured window -- closing a Safari window that's tiled behind your current window (by its widget) will cause the current window to flicker?
Flicker? Do you mean that it brings the rear window to the front before closing it?
If so, that is (unfortunately) the standard behavior for all metal apps. Just try it is QuickTime Player (although it still "fakes" the metal), Calculator, iSync, or Address Book. If a window is in the background and you click a widget, it brings the window to the front before performing the operation.
This behavior is inconsistent and annoying. I encourage you to file a feedback report on Apple's site expressing your discontent with it.