OSX Themes and Hardware
With OSX more than ever before, it seems like Apple's trying to get the OS to share a similar design feel to the hardware. The problem, is that they keep changing little details in the hardware (pinstripes -> white, dark grey apple -> chrome, etc.)
With the Jag-U-ar previews, it seems like they've dropped the pinstriped dock (as they have the pinstriped hardware with the iMac/iBook/iPod). They've also bumped up the TiBook-esque textured look in iChat, Address Book, etc. I don't get the feeling that they'll stop tweaking their hardware designs anytime soon...so here's my thought: Do you think we'll start seeing more Apple-originated themes in OSX to keep the system look and feel the same as the hardware?
rr.
With the Jag-U-ar previews, it seems like they've dropped the pinstriped dock (as they have the pinstriped hardware with the iMac/iBook/iPod). They've also bumped up the TiBook-esque textured look in iChat, Address Book, etc. I don't get the feeling that they'll stop tweaking their hardware designs anytime soon...so here's my thought: Do you think we'll start seeing more Apple-originated themes in OSX to keep the system look and feel the same as the hardware?
rr.
Comments
I was disappointed that Aqua was the only theme in OS X final... I liked being able to go NeXTy in Beta, if just for fun!
The main reason I am looking forward to this is fact that the vast majority of user-themes (such as Sosumi, etc.) are "OK" but seriously lack high-quality and system-wide "integration" (such as handing the drawing on menu bar extensions over dark menus without artifacts...)
I seem to remember someone mentioning they would like a slightly darker Aqua. I concur... especially on some LCDs, Aqua seems really really bright or overly contrasted. This isn't a config.problem so much as an aesthetic one... I am the type that will sit in a dark ass room and code, and my eyes tire from bright white menus/titlebars/windows...
As cute as Aqua is (it really has grown on me a bunch since its inception), I would love to see some slightly toned down, non-throbbing, real-estate respecting themes. Power-users will rejoice should this occur, IMHO.
I also hope that if they decide to make a desktop manager that lets you have multiple workspaces, they support different themes in different workspaces.
Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I would really really love apple to make a workspace management concept built into the Finder at system level (i.e. 3rd party apps are all and good, but I think it would be higher-quality/better implementation coming from Apple (even if it is brushed metal crap! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> )) Having the ability to switch from my Net-Browsing space to a say....Development space would be great. An individual Dock per workspace would be a must.
I also think that making a personally-mandated conceptual division between the spaces would also help the Dock bloat that the Dock's detractors whine about so much (i.e. it would spread the large number of aliases in the Dock to varied apps across several semantically divided areas that were conceptually and practically easy-to-use.)
This may be more of a power-user feature (and that group cetain isn't being catered to lately) if only from the fact that it was henceforth mostly a feature of enviroments most roach-users have never touched nor seen (KDE, etc.) But it is an important one for the reasons above...
I would really like to hear what people think about this... I may bring it up with Apple developers at MacHack in June. I am considering making this a thread... I am a junior member and am a little afraid of starting my own thread (they grow up so fast!
Nonetheless, I really like OS X. I can't wait to get rid of my 8600 and buy a new mac so I can use it.
Brushed metal is a fair example, though most if not all the elements aside from the metal areas themselves are the same as Aqua pinstripes, e.g., icons, window widgets, scrollbars, etc. As far as I can tell there is no functional difference between Aqua pinstriped windows and brushed metal with exception that the metal can be dragged anywhere -- something Apple should think about with regard to the pinstripes, similar to how it was handled in Classic Mac OS. Textures connoted "tactile" areas for the pointer, i.e., where you could grab a window. this was a pretty good clue about widow functionality. That's what brushed metal connotes, and it actually works this way too. good for them. Anyway, the more Apple codifies this stuff and makes it transparent to the interface creator, the easier and more successful custom appearances will be.
I could also understand from Apple's point of view making the appearances/themes/schemes (whatever you call them) in a similar vein, a family of Apple appearances with plug-ins for those so inclined to seek them out. That way, Apple can still make its brand apparent.
I mentioned this elsewhere, though this seems like a pertinent point to make here. As far as the ability to create brushed metal appearances, I expect Apple to update their HI guidelines to dictate what situations brushed metal may be used, and when it definitely shouldn't be used.
OK, I'm rambling...