WWDC 2006

[Matt T]

I finally managed to watch the keynote, and I'm still a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong - all the announcements are great, especially the Mac Pro - but I'm disappointed because we really didn't have any surprises; we all expected to see the Mac Pro (which didn't have a redesigned case, which I thought was disappointing) and new Xserves, and we knew that we were going to see Leopard (which didn't really blow me away the way I thought it would). And I know that we haven't seen all of Apple's Leopard features, and it's still a BETA product, but still the biggest feature seems to be Time Machine, which is cool and all but it's nothing completely new.

And still on the subject of Leopard, I was amazed - and somewhat concerned - at how Microsoft-y it seemed. It seems a bit bloated, especially Mail and iChat. The stationary in Mail, although not a new concept, does look pretty good, but does an e-mail client really need notes and to-do's? Creating a marriage of Address Book and iCal, adding notes and to-do's and calling it Organiser seems to make more sense to me.

In iChat, I LOVE the idea of iChat Theatre - I think that's probably the best thing they could have ever added to iChat. Backdrops and video effects on the other hand, although cool at first, seem pretty pointless. Screen sharing might come in handy for some people, but I doubt I'd ever use it. Tabbed chats - again, not something I think I'd use but I'm sure others will appreciate it. The thing that really shocks - no, horrifies - me is that Apple gave iChat an Aqua interface. Maybe I'm on my own here, but OS X's interface inconsistency is one of the things I really like about it; I really hope that doesn't change in Leopard.

Spaces doesn't seem like something I'd use, but then again, maybe I'll feel different when I actually use it. And I really don't like it's icon - I think it looks cheapish.

Dashboard - the Web Clip widget might come in handy, but otherwise I'm a bit disappointed that nothing else really changed.

The Spotlight enhancements sound great. Apparently Spotlight in Leopard is faster and has more file groups (web pages, for example), so I'm looking forward to that. The multiple-Mac searching is also a great idea.

iCal - it's new features don't mean much to me, but I'm sure others will appreciate it.

Accessibility - I'm really impressed with "Alex", the new VoiceOver voice. And again, I'm lucky enough to not need accessibility features, but I'm all for better compatibility with all humans.

64-bit doesn't mean much to me, but a lot of people seem to be excited about it, so yay.

Core Animation - I suppose it will excite me more when I either start using it myself or see it in action in person.

Other than the announcements, I REALLY didn't like the keynote itself. I didn't like the way that Phil, Bertrand and Scott where such a big part of the keynote - Steve seemed to talk about hardly anything at all. And of course, none of them where as good at speaking at Steve - Steve always seems to be able to generate excitement and suspense, but Phil and Scott seemed kind of dull and flavourless, and Bertrand was hard to understand. I mean, come on - if next year's WWDC keynote wasn't done by Steve, we wouldn't be as excited, would we? I know I certainly wouldn't.

So yeah, I'm still a bit disappointed. Hopefully Leopard's top secret features will change my mind when they're announced.

[shodan]

Well Matt, I've just finished watching the keynote too (finally!!!), and I should say I'm still disappointed but less...

I mean, when I watch all the "new" features of Leopard on the Apple page I was really annoyied.... but watch them live is much better.

Especially Time Machine, i first thought I would never use it, mostly because it needs and extra drive, that can't be used for store more data... :(, but now I can see the potentiality in it.... and I'm starting to think about it.

By the way, those features alone can't justify 2 years of work on Leopard, there should me something more for sure, and something BIG, otherwise it won't be a major release like Tiger was.

I'm really sure that we will see the BIG things at Macworld, and that this keynote was just to say: Hey guys at Microsoft, we're coming with Leopard! We didn't forget about that!

Oh, one last thing (eh eh eh), anyone noticed that Scott while demoing Time Machine had the need to clarify "...just the STANDARD Finder window..." ?!? Should this mean something?

[.Neo]

And still on the subject of Leopard, I was amazed - and somewhat concerned - at how Microsoft-y it seemed. It seems a bit bloated, especially Mail and iChat. The stationary in Mail, although not a new concept, does look pretty good, but does an e-mail client really need notes and to-do's? Creating a marriage of Address Book and iCal, adding notes and to-do's and calling it Organiser seems to make more sense to me.

I agree. Apple is cramming more and more additional features into Mac OS X while maintaining the same basic user interface and when it doesn't fit they're adding new desktop layers:

• Expos?
  
• Dashboard
  
• Front Row
• 
  

They need to make some real updates to Aqua so it can host all these new (and future) features without looking overcrowded.

[RadishTM Veteran]

Finally posting in my own topic after all the server issues :laugh:

I thought the keynote was a good pace at first, then it just dragged on towards the end.

The "Leopard Preview" was good, but they didn't reveal enough features like they did with "Tiger" (due to Microsoft). And the features shown weren't really a breakthrough (apart from "Time Machine").

Blown away by "Time Machine" :yes:, the simplistic design of it will make sure people will get the most out of it. The "Mac Pro" should be been shown last IMO :/

Radish?

[Hurmoth]

I've voiced my opinion of the WWDC in other threads, so I won't waist to many people's time, but when compared to previous WWDC keynotes that I've watched in past years, this is without a doubt one of the worst. Three things were important IMO: Time Machine, Spaces, & Mac Pro. Everything else was a waist of my time.

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

I agree. Apple is cramming more and more additional features into Mac OS X while maintaining the same basic user interface and when it doesn't fit they're adding new desktop layers:

• Expos?
  
• Dashboard
  
• Front Row
• 
  

They need to make some real updates to Aqua so it can host all these new (and future) features without looking overcrowded.

You make a good point there, but I wouldn't consider Time Machine a layer, its more like an OS application but non the less, they are adding more and more to a simplistic design. It struck me that especially mail, it didn't seem very Apple like. Spaces had apple all over it, it was just something that looked like an apple design.

But Time Machine, while awesome, seemed a little off. And Mail just seemed way to crowded. But I really think that we will see a new UI before its released. We better or OS X is going to have some problems.

But just looking at the features by themselves, they show a lot of potential and could shape the OS into a great addition to the family. But they need some work, lol.

[sn00pie]

You guys(the staff) should make one thread on discussion on Leopard, there's been quite a few threads that are quite similar, and we end up discussing the same things in those threads, quite confusing if you ask me.

Anyone agree? :)

[.Neo]

You make a good point there, but I wouldn't consider Time Machine a layer, its more like an OS application but non the less, they are adding more and more to a simplistic design.

No you're right it's not the same type of layer as the rest, but it's still this special non-standard full screen thing. Anyway, I think you know what I mean. :)

But Time Machine, while awesome, seemed a little off. And Mail just seemed way to crowded. But I really think that we will see a new UI before its released. We better or OS X is going to have some problems.

Yeah, Time Machine does seems off. I wouldn't know what the space background has to do with Aqua and IMO Apple has gone a step too far.

I really hope you're right about seeing a new UI. I for one would be extremely disappointed if we get yet another minimal tweaked Panther type Aqua version. :/

[shodan]

Well time machine with a normal Aqua interface wouldn't be a Time Machine. The whole idea is to take the backup operations and make it look like you're really travelling into time... so I found the interface really amazing! :woot:

On the other hand, i still believe that we will see a new revamped interface on Leopard, I personally belive that Brushed Metal will go away (daring fireballs anyone!?!? ;) ), and the system moving to the unified look of the new iTunes.

I still hope for a new set of icons, that are not updated since OS X 10.0.... :(

[.Neo]

Well time machine with a normal Aqua interface wouldn't be a Time Machine. The whole idea is to take the backup operations and make it look like you're really travelling into time... so I found the interface really amazing! :woot:

I'm not saying they should use a normal Aqua interface, but something that at least resembles Aqua.

I'm starting to think that the only reason Apple implemented Time Machine the way they did is to show people Mac OS X can do advanced 3D effects too and that it's not a Windows Vista only thing. But who knows.

I'll probably start appreciating it more when actually using it. ;)

[acies]

Also, people love a nice interface that make it enjoyable to use.

[Matt T]

I'm starting to think that the only reason Apple implemented Time Machine the way they did is to show people Mac OS X can do advanced 3D effects too and that it's not a Windows Vista only thing.

That's what I thought too.

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

Unfortunately, Apple is probably going to have to do that a bit more just so they have proof to consumers that they can do everything that Vista does. I mean we all know it can because we are all Mac users and we know something about the technology behind OS X, but the average joe that is trying to decide between a Mac and a Dell with Vista will want to see his pretty shiny object. Vista is showing their stuff with the glass and though I find it very messy and annoying, it does have the shinny object effect to average consumers. OS X needs its own shiny objects in its OS.

[.Neo]

That's why Apple needs to make some actual changes to the current Aqua interface so it looks really new instead of just an update.

After running the Preview build I don't see anything radical happening except for the replacement of Brushed with Unified Brushed. All the standard "iApps" that come with Mac OS X are either modelled after Mail (like Preview, iChat) or iLife '06 (like DVD Player, iCal) and Apple is already equipping them with matching control buttons.

Why would they do such a thing if something new is about to be unveiled?

[Southern Patriot]

OS X needs its own shiny objects in its OS.

It's had that from the start (including a version of the "Glass" effect at one time). Where do you think Microsoft got the idea? LOL :whistle:

[.Neo]

(including a version of the "Glass" effect at one time).

It had transparent titlebars for inactive windows and menus had higher transparency levels. In all fairness I'd hardly call it the glass effect with Windows Vista's Aero in mind.

[Southern Patriot]

It had transparent titlebars for inactive windows and menus had higher transparency levels. In all fairness I'd hardly call it the glass effect with Windows Vista's Aero in mind.

I was hoping someone would say that. My point in mentioning it was to parody the people who were saying that Time Machine was copied from Volume Shadow Copy.

I also mentioned it because it was something that Apple tried out years ago, and determined that it was pointless, so they removed it. Obviously Microsoft will have to learn that themselves.

[.Neo]

I was hoping someone would say that. My point in mentioning it was to parody the people who were saying that Time Machine was copied from Volume Shadow Copy.

Glad I could help you with getting your message across and giving you the opportunity to explain it, so everyone can understand. (Y)

I also mentioned it because it was something that Apple tried out years ago, and determined that it was pointless, so they removed it. Obviously Microsoft will have to learn that themselves.

Microsoft already learned that lesson from Apple by adding a setting that allows you to disable the transparency. You already knew that right?

Plus, Apple didn't tone down the high amounts of transparency because it was pointless but because they got a lot of complaints from users that intensively worked with Mac OS X. Same goes for the 10.2 Jaguar (and below) Pinstripes.

Edited August 18, 2006 by Neowave

[PyX]

Transparency is nice, but it's not really needed... It's just nice because we can make nice rounded and anti-aliased shapes, and we can do shadows... other than that, bah it can be nice sometimes.... sometimes!

But damn, an updated Intel iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo hasn't been presented yet... I'm waiting! :p

[Matt T]

But damn, an updated Intel iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo hasn't been presented yet... I'm waiting! :p

Ditto.

[.Neo]

I don't know what's always taking Apple so long to update their products. First they had problems with IBM not providing new CPUs fast enough - the switch to Intel would fix that - but now the recent iMac model is still around 8 months old.

Sometimes I just wish they would focus more on actual hardware updates and less on media spectacles (One More Thing, Keynotes etc.).

[PyX]

Yeah, I thought Apple was going to be the first to use the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. That's what disappointed me in the keynote of WWDC :(

The Mac Pro is a very nice machine, don't get me wrong on that, but I won't have the money for that until january, and honestly, it may be a great machine, but the iMac is the best ratio quality/price. I mean... for 2300 CAD, I can get a very nice 20" display, dual-core 2.0ghz, a kinda good video card, a built-in iSight and 1 GB of memory. It's an all-in-one and for the first time, I'd get a widescreen panel. It takes no space, and there wouldn't be all those wires behind my desktop, it's chaos right now... That's why I don't like Mac Pros. I mean, they're awesome towers for hardcore gaming (w/ XP SP2), companies or science, but not really for me at this price. For 3000 CAD, all I get is a lot of speed.

Btw, usually, do we see new stuff at the Apple Expo at Paris or if it's just to show the current hardware and apps? Is there any chance that an updated iMac will be presented? I'm really impatient knowing that Intel Core 2 Duo is already out...

I have seen the timeline of the iMacs on Wikipedia, and usually, there's an update before 8 months. What's happening? Are they changing other things, the design, a switch to nVidia, something else, I don't know? It wouldn't take that much time though? As I'm always saying, the DAY it's out, I'm buying it with probably 2 GB of memory.

[.Neo]

It would be nice to see an updated design (not that there's anything wrong with the current one), but I wouldn't count on it.

[sn00pie]

Apple doesn't need to change the design of the iMac's it's still one of the best looking computers available. :yes:

I'm really hoping that Apple can come out with something that will fit in-between the Mac Pro and Mac Mini. Something like a beefed up Mac Mini in a miniature Mac Pro enclosure? :D

When is the next Apple event? I'm hoping for new iPod Nano's, new iMac's and maybe even new Mac Mini's.

[Huy]

Another G4 Cube? :p

Sometime in September-October would be a good time for new product announcements. iPods and consumer Macs need revamping.