Apple's "New" GUI

[.Neo]

No idea what Apple was smoking when they decided it would be a good idea to have random pictures behind the dock icons.

At that stage the Dock simply didn't support real transparency, so it was just a placeholder. By the time Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah went GM it was fully transparent, like it still is today (apart from a pinstriped background).

It just doesn't show off OS X in a good light to me. The current default desktop shows off OS X really well & still looks great (to me) even after a few years. I'll just change it if it remains the default. I guess I'm disappointed because the Tiger desktop has been my preferred one for so long I was hoping for a new one along similar lines. Maybe I'll grow to like it, I dunno?

There's enough time for Apple to include a new one. Personally I find it hard to believe they won't, but only time will tell.

[.Neo]

In 10.2 and earlier, Finder was even more like the NeXT version since it had the favorites at the top instead of at the left as in the current version (shown below).

It's still possible to drag files and folders to the toolbar:

[Southern Patriot]

It's still possible to drag files and folders to the toolbar:

I didn't mean that it wasn't possible, just that this wasn't the default setup. But you still end up with the ones on the left as well, unless you hide them. Not quite as clean as the way it was in 10.2.

[Guest]

Beautiful. Now I'm definitely buying myself a MacBook. I'll just have to wait until October :(

[Tech_Dude_5000]

Beautiful. Now I'm definitely buying myself a MacBook. I'll just have to wait until October :(

keep in mind, they may just update it to the 2ed gen.

[Jordan Green]

Well overall i think it looks great but i have to agree with FOOOD on this one i just dont think the plants wallpaper does the whole UI justice i think it deserves something better because i always thought apple to be recognised as using blues and white and greys as there main colour but its totally up end now, but you can change the wallpaper like steve said so im not fretting about it too much. I dont particulary like the transparents menubar but i suppose ill come to live with it. BUt the new finder with the new UI does look fantastic and the dock is really something aswell its loads and loads eye candy!!!!

[Southern Patriot]

I dont particulary like the transparents menubar but i suppose ill come to live with it.

For the umpteenth time, you can turn off the transparency in the menu bar!!!!!!!!

[Timan Veteran]

For the umpteenth time, you can turn off the transparency in the menu bar!!!!!!!!

So its been confirmed there is a checkbox somewhere that lets me toggle this?

[Tech_Dude_5000]

I'm sure there is one. Apple knows there are people that will hate the transparent. (if they are a true apple fan boy, they would) so they got to have that option.

Wouldn't transparency affect battery life on notebooks?

[.Neo]

So its been confirmed there is a checkbox somewhere that lets me toggle this?

According to WinMacLin, yes.

[sundayx Veteran]

Checkbox or slider bar that can tweak the level of transparency?

[Quillz]

Checkbox or slider bar that can tweak the level of transparency?

Ideally both, figure default transparency is set to 75%, I'm sure some would like to see 25% or 50% as well as opaque.

[Tech_Dude_5000]

can't the beta testers of leopard send that sugestion in? I'm not familer with mac betas so please excuse me if I'm wrong.

[NeoXY]

No. If they talk, secret Apple police will come and take them away.

...no seriously.

(you have no idea the hell that broke out last time Tiger had a leak. No one in their right mind will talk about the UI (or anything) without permission from Apple)

[Tech_Dude_5000]

i mean, send a sugestion in to apple. Like beta testers did with <insert name here>. Is the apple beta thing like that?

[Fusion]

For the umpteenth time, you can turn off the transparency in the menu bar!!!!!!!!

So its been confirmed there is a checkbox somewhere that lets me toggle this?

According to WinMacLin, yes.

I've heard the direct opposite, that there is not an option to turn it off. Which is why some developers who already have the Leopard beta have made programs to do it.

[divinatum]

There is NO option to turn transparency off. But actually, after using it, It grows on you. It's very nice.

[Quillz]

There is NO option to turn transparency off. But actually, after using it, It grows on you. It's very nice.

That's how I see matters, too. The transparency is very well done in Vista, you barely notice it. It will be the same with Leopard. Frankly, the loss of the rounded corners is a bigger shock, a feature of Mac OS since 1984.

[Southern Patriot]

Wouldn't transparency affect battery life on notebooks?

No, why would it? It's handled by the GPU and for OS X there is no appreciable difference between opaque and transparent as far as performance is concerned.

[osirisX]

Also, if that was true the Dock and HUD palettes would suck up huge amounts of battery.

[.Neo]

There is NO option to turn transparency off. But actually, after using it, It grows on you. It's very nice.

A lot of people here had to cry themselves to sleep tonight. :p

That's how I see matters, too. The transparency is very well done in Vista, you barely notice it.

I can see what you mean when it comes to the taskbar, but the rest of the Vista doesn't really share that subtlety. :/

What I like a lot is Vista's blurring effect, would be nice if Apple did something like that (or another effect) as well behind transparent elements.

Edited June 21, 2007 by .Neo

[aerowave]

Could you imagine the reaction if the images behind the Menu Bar were blurred?

[FOOOD]

I can see what you mean when it comes to the taskbar, but the rest of the Vista doesn't really share that subtlety. :/

Yea, I have to admit I like the taskbar (except for the round orb thingy), but I don't like the transparency/UI anywhere else.

[+Fahim S. MVC]

I can see what you mean when it comes to the taskbar, but the rest of the Vista doesn't really share that subtlety. :/

In your opinion, in mine - I find the interface more subtle than OS/X.

What I like a lot is Vista's blurring effect, would be nice if Apple did something like that (or another effect) as well behind transparent elements.

Cupertino start your photocopiers ;-)

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

I had also been told by someone using the WWDC build of Leopard that the transparency was not tunable (or turn off-able) on the menu bar up top... not a disaster by any means.. but i'm sure a tool will come out that will allow you to do it!

What I wanted to know was how it looks when you but a bright white wallpaper behind it because white on white is going to look a bit odd. I'm sure Jobs said in the keynote that it will change colour depending on the wallpaper behind it? Or did I just imagine that..?! :)