OS X Yosemite Preview 4 brings redesigned Calculator, updated Dark Mode
Alongside a host of bug fixes, the latest developer preview of Apple's next-generation desktop operating system brought a few small but noticeable visual tweaks to some of OS X's oldest components.
Like iTunes -- which received a new user interface earlier Monday -- OS X's stalwart Calculator app has been updated to bring it into alignment with Yosemite's visual style. The display is now a darker translucent material, and the buttons have been flattened.
Apple had previously updated the Calculator's icon, but did not bring the visual refresh to the application until now.
Also coming along for the ride in the fourth Yosemite beta is a change to Dark Mode. First unveiled at WWDC and enabled in the second Yosemite beta, the feature gained a System Preferences toggle in Preview 3.
In Preview 4, that toggle now reads "Use dark menu bar and Dock," suggesting that Apple's default applications may not ship with Dark Mode-specific user interfaces. In addition, Apple appears to have refined the Dark Mode versions of some of its own menu bar icons.
Like iTunes -- which received a new user interface earlier Monday -- OS X's stalwart Calculator app has been updated to bring it into alignment with Yosemite's visual style. The display is now a darker translucent material, and the buttons have been flattened.
Apple had previously updated the Calculator's icon, but did not bring the visual refresh to the application until now.
Also coming along for the ride in the fourth Yosemite beta is a change to Dark Mode. First unveiled at WWDC and enabled in the second Yosemite beta, the feature gained a System Preferences toggle in Preview 3.
In Preview 4, that toggle now reads "Use dark menu bar and Dock," suggesting that Apple's default applications may not ship with Dark Mode-specific user interfaces. In addition, Apple appears to have refined the Dark Mode versions of some of its own menu bar icons.
Comments
OT .. It maybe imagination but I am feeling the whole experience seems faster. It had a laggy feeling in the prior version. This not a Safari joke BTW ... I am being serious
Really? Redesigned calculator is news? Ok then . . . How about some stability and better app compatibility and stuff like that?
Agree. However, it's likely a lot of things also changed under the hood. This update just came out today; it will take time for people to test things like stability and compatibility.
Bit stupid name %u2026
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/origin_of_word_yosemite.html
I like the dark mode menus.
OT .. It maybe imagination but I am feeling the whole experience seems faster. It had a laggy feeling in the prior version. This not a Safari joke BTW ... I am being serious
I agree. I'm wondering if portions of the OS were re-written because system applications are opening up on my iMac in half a bounce and that has never happened with any of the previous OS's.
When did they ever say otherwise?
Aren't those distinctive, dark lines enough to distinguish the boundaries of the button?
Looking forward to 'dark mode'.
It looks almost identical to the free calendar app I have on my iPad/iPhone
The calculator GUI has zero distinctiveness between numerical buttons and everything else.
On my display, the numerical buttons are distinctly lighter than the other buttons, but perhaps it's not enough difference for those who don't calibrate?
Glad calculator was finally updated fro the 80s look. That was such an eyesore.
Glad calculator was finally updated fro the 80s look. That was such an eyesore.
To me what's surprising is not the look of the new design -- that's a subjective call -- but that Apple is devoting engineering resources to it at all. When people complain about bugs or long-standing interoperability issues between Apple apps, the apologist's response is that there are only so many engineers to go around. If that's really the case, maybe the prudent approach is to repair the framing and floors before redecorating.
Then again, structural repairs won't attract buyers the way splashing on a coat of fresh paint will.
What bugs are you talking about. Each Mac OS X point update has several betas that list "No known issues" before they are released.
What bugs are you talking about. Each Mac OS X point update has several betas that list "No known issues" before they are released.
Just one of my favourites:
Create a new appointment in Calendar, then drag a contact into the appointment. See what the address looks like in Calendars.
I can give you a few other examples but the specifics of any particular strange behaviour isn't really the point. The point is allocation of limited resources.
The fact that they claim "no known issues" apparently means that they don't consider those behaviours to be "issues." That speaks volumes all by itself!
What?! No known issue ? no issues. Have you submitted this bug? I assume you must have if you're telling us about it here, so what is the status of it?
To me what's surprising is not the look of the new design -- that's a subjective call -- but that Apple is devoting engineering resources to it at all. When people complain about bugs or long-standing interoperability issues between Apple apps, the apologist's response is that there are only so many engineers to go around. If that's really the case, maybe the prudent approach is to repair the framing and floors before redecorating.
Then again, structural repairs won't attract buyers the way splashing on a coat of fresh paint will.
The resources being devoted to theming are quite likely mutually exclusive from the resources necessary for fixing the "long-standing interoperability issues" and/or bugs you're talking about.