When is it that Apple intends to release Mac OS 10.6.3?
Now that I have returned to the Mac after an 8 year period on Windows XP, I can't wait for an OS update, although I believe that it is scheduled to coincide with a Tuesday MacBook Pro refresh.
As a former Windows XP user, I miss the following Windows XP features on my 27 inch iMac with Mac OS 10.6.2:
- Using Cut & Paste in Finder windows as a way to move programs, music files, documents or folders from one folder to another;
- Using the Forward and Back buttons as a way to change .jpg slides while viewing .jpg slides. The function seems to be present on my iMac, but it is not functionning;
- Upgrading graphic drivers to the just released ATI Catalyst 10.1 drivers;
- Using 64 bit Windows programs, especially music programs. Because the open source MacFuse program used by Mac OS 10.6 is 32 bit only, I can't use any 64 bit Windows program with Mac OS 10.6;
- Listening to lossless classical music and operas in Monkey's audio .ape, Free Lossless Audio Codec .flac, or WavPack .wv files. FLAC is an open source music codec recognized as a music compression standard by the European Union and Music Recording Companies, yet it is not supported by iTunes. WavPack is also open source, but again, it is not supported by iTunes. As for the Monkey's Audio APE files, they were the first lossless compressed files on the internet and still the most prevalent (80% ?).
If you love classical music and operas as I do, lossless compression is the only way acceptable. iTunes 256 kbps compression doesn't cut it. The problem with Mac music software is that iTunes is just a storefront which doesn't really support lossless music "if it is not bought on iTunes".
As for third-party music software on the Mac, a small market share has lead to little development for software like Play or Tag. The features and ease of use of software like dbPowerAMP, Tag&Rename or FlashRenamer just doesn't exist on the Mac. My solution: use Windows applications on the Mac with Macindows, but is it acceptable for the long term?
I sure hope that Apple will address the weaknesses of iTunes and Mac OS 10.6 in the near future. There is a very large number of Windows users at work who might buy a Mac at home if only the Mac weaknesses were adressed. And with a $40 billion treasure chest, what is keeping Apple from hiring talented programmers and helping selected third party developpers to close the gap between Mac OS X and Windows 7?
If Apple doesn't wake up, dissatisfied Windows switchers will spread the word and prevent others from switching back to the Mac.
Complacency and self-satisfaction are the ennemies of the Mac.
”- Using Cut & Paste in Finder windows as a way to move programs, music files, documents or folders from one folder to another;”
I agree. At least one shouldn't have to drag an item to move it (as it is now). I don't know why Apple insist on not having the cut and paste feature. Maybe it's because there can be some trouble is (for bigger items and folder with lots of items) there's an interruption of some sort the original can get messed up. I know this has happened to me one time in Windows because of copy and paste.
”- Using the Forward and Back buttons as a way to change .jpg slides while viewing .jpg slides. The function seems to be present on my iMac, but it is not functionning;”
Agree again.
In Preview.app you first have to open all the files you want yo switch between. I also find it strange that you can't just open one image and then be able to open the next or previous in alphabetical order by simply clicking ”Previous” or ”Next”.
”- Upgrading graphic drivers to the just released ATI Catalyst 10.1 drivers;”
The Catalyst drivers are only for Windows and as far as I know updates to that are of no benefits for the Mac. You have to wait for Apple to release an OS update (like 10.6.3) and there might be some graphic drivers updates in that.
”- Using 64 bit Windows programs, especially music programs. Because the open source MacFuse program used by Mac OS 10.6 is 32 bit only, I can't use any 64 bit Windows program with Mac OS 10.6;”
Don't really get what you want here. You want to be able to use Windows programs directly in Mac OS X? What music programs?
As for the flac support and other software I suggest a look around on MacUpdate. http://www.macupdate.com/
?- Using the Forward and Back buttons as a way to change .jpg slides while viewing .jpg slides. The function seems to be present on my iMac, but it is not functionning;?
Agree again.
In Preview.app you first have to open all the files you want yo switch between. I also find it strange that you can't just open one image and then be able to open the next or previous in alphabetical order by simply clicking ?Previous? or ?Next?.
There is a WONDERFUL utility called Max that lets you transcode FLAC into ALAC (Apple Lossless), well, losslessly. It even does multiple files in parallel for amazing speed, and preserves all the metadata.
This is free, open source, and amazing. Check it out.
There is a WONDERFUL utility called Max that lets you transcode FLAC into ALAC (Apple Lossless), well, losslessly. It even does multiple files in parallel for amazing speed, and preserves all the metadata.
This is free, open source, and amazing. Check it out.
BTW: for free, you might try Picassa. The advantages to both of these programs is that you do not have to "import" anything to a database like iPhoto. You can just browse your images based on the directory file/folder organization you already have.
Comments
The real question is:
When is it that Apple intends to release Mac OS 10.6.3?
Now that I have returned to the Mac after an 8 year period on Windows XP, I can't wait for an OS update, although I believe that it is scheduled to coincide with a Tuesday MacBook Pro refresh.
As a former Windows XP user, I miss the following Windows XP features on my 27 inch iMac with Mac OS 10.6.2:
- Using Cut & Paste in Finder windows as a way to move programs, music files, documents or folders from one folder to another;
- Using the Forward and Back buttons as a way to change .jpg slides while viewing .jpg slides. The function seems to be present on my iMac, but it is not functionning;
- Upgrading graphic drivers to the just released ATI Catalyst 10.1 drivers;
- Using 64 bit Windows programs, especially music programs. Because the open source MacFuse program used by Mac OS 10.6 is 32 bit only, I can't use any 64 bit Windows program with Mac OS 10.6;
- Listening to lossless classical music and operas in Monkey's audio .ape, Free Lossless Audio Codec .flac, or WavPack .wv files. FLAC is an open source music codec recognized as a music compression standard by the European Union and Music Recording Companies, yet it is not supported by iTunes. WavPack is also open source, but again, it is not supported by iTunes. As for the Monkey's Audio APE files, they were the first lossless compressed files on the internet and still the most prevalent (80% ?).
If you love classical music and operas as I do, lossless compression is the only way acceptable. iTunes 256 kbps compression doesn't cut it. The problem with Mac music software is that iTunes is just a storefront which doesn't really support lossless music "if it is not bought on iTunes".
As for third-party music software on the Mac, a small market share has lead to little development for software like Play or Tag. The features and ease of use of software like dbPowerAMP, Tag&Rename or FlashRenamer just doesn't exist on the Mac. My solution: use Windows applications on the Mac with Macindows, but is it acceptable for the long term?
I sure hope that Apple will address the weaknesses of iTunes and Mac OS 10.6 in the near future. There is a very large number of Windows users at work who might buy a Mac at home if only the Mac weaknesses were adressed. And with a $40 billion treasure chest, what is keeping Apple from hiring talented programmers and helping selected third party developpers to close the gap between Mac OS X and Windows 7?
If Apple doesn't wake up, dissatisfied Windows switchers will spread the word and prevent others from switching back to the Mac.
Complacency and self-satisfaction are the ennemies of the Mac.
”- Using Cut & Paste in Finder windows as a way to move programs, music files, documents or folders from one folder to another;”
I agree. At least one shouldn't have to drag an item to move it (as it is now). I don't know why Apple insist on not having the cut and paste feature. Maybe it's because there can be some trouble is (for bigger items and folder with lots of items) there's an interruption of some sort the original can get messed up. I know this has happened to me one time in Windows because of copy and paste.
”- Using the Forward and Back buttons as a way to change .jpg slides while viewing .jpg slides. The function seems to be present on my iMac, but it is not functionning;”
Agree again.
In Preview.app you first have to open all the files you want yo switch between. I also find it strange that you can't just open one image and then be able to open the next or previous in alphabetical order by simply clicking ”Previous” or ”Next”.
”- Upgrading graphic drivers to the just released ATI Catalyst 10.1 drivers;”
The Catalyst drivers are only for Windows and as far as I know updates to that are of no benefits for the Mac. You have to wait for Apple to release an OS update (like 10.6.3) and there might be some graphic drivers updates in that.
”- Using 64 bit Windows programs, especially music programs. Because the open source MacFuse program used by Mac OS 10.6 is 32 bit only, I can't use any 64 bit Windows program with Mac OS 10.6;”
Don't really get what you want here. You want to be able to use Windows programs directly in Mac OS X? What music programs?
As for the flac support and other software I suggest a look around on MacUpdate. http://www.macupdate.com/
I know what flac files can be played in iTunes using a plug-in. This perhaps? http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/28768/fluke
Edit:
By the way – do you know about Apple Lossless?
?- Using the Forward and Back buttons as a way to change .jpg slides while viewing .jpg slides. The function seems to be present on my iMac, but it is not functionning;?
Agree again.
In Preview.app you first have to open all the files you want yo switch between. I also find it strange that you can't just open one image and then be able to open the next or previous in alphabetical order by simply clicking ?Previous? or ?Next?.
Use Quick Look instead.
Use Quick Look instead.
That works somewhat, but it's not quite good enough in all cases.
For example there doesn't seem to be an easy way to view each picture by its actual size. (except the first used to Quick Look, the rest gets scaled)
[I]
Edit:
By the way ? do you know about Apple Lossless?
There is a WONDERFUL utility called Max that lets you transcode FLAC into ALAC (Apple Lossless), well, losslessly. It even does multiple files in parallel for amazing speed, and preserves all the metadata.
This is free, open source, and amazing. Check it out.
http://sbooth.org/Max/
There is a WONDERFUL utility called Max that lets you transcode FLAC into ALAC (Apple Lossless), well, losslessly. It even does multiple files in parallel for amazing speed, and preserves all the metadata.
This is free, open source, and amazing. Check it out.
http://sbooth.org/Max/
Thanks, I already have Max on my hard drive.
It's ouragan you should address this info to.
That works somewhat, but it's not quite good enough in all cases.
For example there doesn't seem to be an easy way to view each picture by its actual size. (except the first used to Quick Look, the rest gets scaled)
You might like this little program:
gBrowser
BTW: for free, you might try Picassa. The advantages to both of these programs is that you do not have to "import" anything to a database like iPhoto. You can just browse your images based on the directory file/folder organization you already have.