Some may think this idea odd, or a no brainer, but I have wished for it several times so that I could make applications and their support files stored in the same drawer more distinct than having to manually trudge about for the app in a minefield of various not uniform other icons... Hopefully it will have a "supersize apps only" option..
Sometimes Steve Jobs hits a homerun and is a brilliant man, other times he's just an arrogant stubborn child.
I didn't realize Steve Jobs was doing software development in addition to being CEO, on the BOD at Disney, and giving numerous presentations and interviews. Man, he must be a busy guy...
This is not a new idea. We had this back in the old Commodore Amiga days! Ah, memories...
I can't recall that Workbench could resize the icons according to some rule, like file size. This seems to be the second part of the patent. And.. I think you could resize individual icons in OSX even now. I think I've seen some hack on OSXHints that did this.. The setting didn't stick for very long though.
How many versions of OS X will it take before they naild this?
The Finder still has problems remembering window states, views, ... and we're at 10.4.9
Here's to hoping for a seriously updated Finder in Leopard
Well, being that the one of the biggest complaints throughout the history of OS X was the inconsistencies and general unfriendliness/uselessness of the Finder (and I'm already ignoring all commentary about how its no longer a 'spatial' finder, or the talk that the OS 9 finder was the greatest of all time, none of which I particularly believe), and all Apple has done over the years is change superfluous UI elements (look, no more tool bar icons, they're now on the side!), I don't hold out too much hope. Unless this is going to be one of OS X's "secret features" we've heard so much about.
My prediction is that, of all the things apple does, the changes to the finder will all be in the areas that work well now and screwing them up, not touching the stuff that was already screwed up (we can send robots to mars but we can't set column widths to cover all windows in list mode? Or, even easier, have the stupid computer remember that you actually did check "Display all file sizes"?), and basically be told by the faithful that its even better then before.
What if you could set a preference for the icons to be sized proportionally to the number of times application X was launched or folder Y was opened?
That's *exactly* what I was thinking. It would be like a tag cloud The most important items that you access the most could be given dominance over the others. It wouldn't be as dynamic as a tag cloud since it's just one user using it, and you might also have an issue with a new *very important* file being left to the bottom because it's new and hasn't been clicked on a lot. Unless the sizes would change depending on their most recent activity. Or if a change is detected in activity it would automatically adjust. It could become a complicated algorithm, but if it worked reliably I can see how it would be useful.
That's *exactly* what I was thinking. It would be like a tag cloud The most important items that you access the most could be given dominance over the others. It wouldn't be as dynamic as a tag cloud since it's just one user using it, and you might also have an issue with a new *very important* file being left to the bottom because it's new and hasn't been clicked on a lot. Unless the sizes would change depending on their most recent activity. Or if a change is detected in activity it would automatically adjust. It could become a complicated algorithm, but if it worked reliably I can see how it would be useful.
Or the scrolling menus in Windows XP/2000. Just kidding, but that did come to mind.
huh? I'm trying to make sense of what that means. Can you elaborate please?
If Louzer means what I think he means, if you alter the width of one column while in list mode, it doesn't keep that setting for future use or auto-adjust the other columns automatically.
It's really a pain in the ass. I'm going to some very negative feelings about Apple if the Finder isn't updated by the time Leopard ships.
I for one don't want Finder to be like Path Finder. It could use some enhancements here and there, but for goodness sake. Path Finder is an ugly, horrible, bloated mess. Not attractive at all and provides way too much "features" for my liking. I don't care what Merlin Mann and Leo Laporte say.
Some things I'd like to see in Finder
Better use of meta data, similar to how iTunes will provide different fields for movies than it does for music or for podcsts. Do the same in finder, and let people set custom tags.
Have "browse" functionality similar to iTunes.
That's all I can think of really.
EDIT: Fixed the application I was talking about. I meant Path Finder, not Quicksilver.
I'd like to be able to set Finder windows up once and have them remain where I put them the next time.
I'd like for my entire system not to freeze when it can't find a previously used network share.
I'd like the ability to remove old network shares without having to use the Terminal.
I'd like to see the total size of selected items at the bottom of the Finder windows instead of the number of items selected and the available space left on the disk.
I'd like to have a Cut option like in windows, instead of having to drag and drop to achieve this functionality.
I'd like not to have to "yo-yo the mouse at the top or bottom of the Finder window to get it to scroll far enough for me to move a file/folder.
I'd like Finder not use .DS_Store files, which may not be possible; but at the very least, I'd like Finder not to use them on non-HFS+ partitions.
I'd like Finder to be able to read Windows shortcuts. After all, all it needs to do is parse the fie for the location.
I agree that there is a problem with Finder keeping certain prefs. Otherwise, Finder is excellent in my opinion. There are so many different ways you can use it. I always find new ways other people use it completely different from my own. Personally, I almost always use column views unless I really need to see info about a list of items and my Finder always keeps things in columns unless I double-click the item. Generally, I think Apple is good about not changing things too much when they add new features so they can go unoticed if you don't use them.
If Louzer means what I think he means, if you alter the width of one column while in list mode, it doesn't keep that setting for future use or auto-adjust the other columns automatically.
Yeah, that's a pretty annoying problem. You figure with all of the .DS_Store files Finder poops out everywhere, it'd be able to keep that setting.
And I love column view for navigating quickly through filesystems, but I've had the auto-preview cause Finder to beachball on a number of occasions. Multi-threading for Finder would be nice.
Also of annoyance: if you use Apple-K to connect to a network share, sometimes the little window which shows "Connecting to ..." doesn't close when you finally connect to the network share. And you can't close the window at all. The only way to get rid of it is to relaunch Finder.
And as mentioned above, Finder is pretty brain-dead when it comes to network shares which disappear.
Comments
It was an extremely useful feature and I seriously hope they bring it back!
The Finder still has problems remembering window states, views, ... and we're at 10.4.9
Here's to hoping for a seriously updated Finder in Leopard
Sometimes Steve Jobs hits a homerun and is a brilliant man, other times he's just an arrogant stubborn child.
I didn't realize Steve Jobs was doing software development in addition to being CEO, on the BOD at Disney, and giving numerous presentations and interviews. Man, he must be a busy guy...
this isnt new. you could do this in 10.0 (or 10.1 or so)
Currently there is no way to have different size icons in the same folder. That's what this patent is revealing.
By the way, I love the Mac OS 8/9 window widgets
This is not a new idea. We had this back in the old Commodore Amiga days! Ah, memories...
I can't recall that Workbench could resize the icons according to some rule, like file size. This seems to be the second part of the patent. And.. I think you could resize individual icons in OSX even now. I think I've seen some hack on OSXHints that did this.. The setting didn't stick for very long though.
Three words: PLEASE UPDATE FINDER
what is wrong with the finder? I use it, it works for me. What does it need to do that it doesn't now?
How many versions of OS X will it take before they naild this?
The Finder still has problems remembering window states, views, ... and we're at 10.4.9
Here's to hoping for a seriously updated Finder in Leopard
Well, being that the one of the biggest complaints throughout the history of OS X was the inconsistencies and general unfriendliness/uselessness of the Finder (and I'm already ignoring all commentary about how its no longer a 'spatial' finder, or the talk that the OS 9 finder was the greatest of all time, none of which I particularly believe), and all Apple has done over the years is change superfluous UI elements (look, no more tool bar icons, they're now on the side!), I don't hold out too much hope. Unless this is going to be one of OS X's "secret features" we've heard so much about.
My prediction is that, of all the things apple does, the changes to the finder will all be in the areas that work well now and screwing them up, not touching the stuff that was already screwed up (we can send robots to mars but we can't set column widths to cover all windows in list mode? Or, even easier, have the stupid computer remember that you actually did check "Display all file sizes"?), and basically be told by the faithful that its even better then before.
What if you could set a preference for the icons to be sized proportionally to the number of times application X was launched or folder Y was opened?
That's *exactly* what I was thinking. It would be like a tag cloud The most important items that you access the most could be given dominance over the others. It wouldn't be as dynamic as a tag cloud since it's just one user using it, and you might also have an issue with a new *very important* file being left to the bottom because it's new and hasn't been clicked on a lot. Unless the sizes would change depending on their most recent activity. Or if a change is detected in activity it would automatically adjust. It could become a complicated algorithm, but if it worked reliably I can see how it would be useful.
we can't set column widths to cover all windows in list mode?
huh? I'm trying to make sense of what that means. Can you elaborate please?
That's *exactly* what I was thinking. It would be like a tag cloud The most important items that you access the most could be given dominance over the others. It wouldn't be as dynamic as a tag cloud since it's just one user using it, and you might also have an issue with a new *very important* file being left to the bottom because it's new and hasn't been clicked on a lot. Unless the sizes would change depending on their most recent activity. Or if a change is detected in activity it would automatically adjust. It could become a complicated algorithm, but if it worked reliably I can see how it would be useful.
Or the scrolling menus in Windows XP/2000. Just kidding, but that did come to mind.
huh? I'm trying to make sense of what that means. Can you elaborate please?
If Louzer means what I think he means, if you alter the width of one column while in list mode, it doesn't keep that setting for future use or auto-adjust the other columns automatically.
It's really a pain in the ass. I'm going to some very negative feelings about Apple if the Finder isn't updated by the time Leopard ships.
Some things I'd like to see in Finder
Better use of meta data, similar to how iTunes will provide different fields for movies than it does for music or for podcsts. Do the same in finder, and let people set custom tags.
Have "browse" functionality similar to iTunes.
That's all I can think of really.
EDIT: Fixed the application I was talking about. I meant Path Finder, not Quicksilver.
That's all I can think of really.
That is it?
EDIT: I also agree with solipsism
If Louzer means what I think he means, if you alter the width of one column while in list mode, it doesn't keep that setting for future use or auto-adjust the other columns automatically.
Yeah, that's a pretty annoying problem. You figure with all of the .DS_Store files Finder poops out everywhere, it'd be able to keep that setting.
And I love column view for navigating quickly through filesystems, but I've had the auto-preview cause Finder to beachball on a number of occasions. Multi-threading for Finder would be nice.
Also of annoyance: if you use Apple-K to connect to a network share, sometimes the little window which shows "Connecting to ..." doesn't close when you finally connect to the network share. And you can't close the window at all. The only way to get rid of it is to relaunch Finder.
And as mentioned above, Finder is pretty brain-dead when it comes to network shares which disappear.
[*] I'd like Finder not use .DS_Store files, which may not be possible; but at the very least, I'd like Finder not to use them on non-HFS+ partitions.
I seem to remember a tip on MacOSXHints about stopping this. Let me check...
Yup:
Here's the first tip for stopping .DS_Store creation on network volumes
And here's the second tip for stopping creation of resource fork files and stopping poop files from being created on USB drives