“I’ve been using Mavericks for a week now and here are a few of my stand out experiences,” Ben Bajarin writes for TechPinions.
“Perhaps it is fitting that with this version of OS X named Mavericks, which is named after the epic big wave surf spot near Half Moon Bay, CA, Apple has released hands down the best web surfing experience on a Mac yet. The new Safari is noticeably faster,” Bajarin writes. “It was no surprise to me, given my workflow, that I appreciate the new multiple display features. In particular, the menu bars and docks are now available on all monitors, which is extremely handy. It may seem like a little feature but it’s actually a big deal in increasing efficiency of workflow when using multiple monitors. You kind of feel like you are using three actual Macs when in this multi-screen mode.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As Bajarin discusses in his full article, you haven’t lived until you’ve run OS X Mavericks on a new MacBook Air. Wall outlets in airports, etc.? Who needs them? They’re for the Windows PC craptop sufferers.
I hope that the menu bar on all the monitors is an option, not a requirement. If you know all your key commands, there is no need for a menu bar at all. Computing gets much faster, and more screen real estate is to valuable for me to give up for a duplicate menu.
From what I’ve seen in the videos, I don’t think you will even notice the difference. The Dock and Menu bar stay on the first display by default, like they do currently. The new feature is you can now summon the Dock or Menu Bar by moving your mouse to the top or bottom on any display – which ain’t gonna happen if your hands are glued to the keyboard.
You’re a dying breed Slamm. I do hope it’s optional too. I don’t do anything command line any more, and my key command set memory is dwindling from lack of use. If it isn’t, I’m sure there’ll be an app that will make it so.
I don’t think he meant the command line, PGoodwin. I take it that he simply meant knowing keyboard shortcuts.
Yeah. I know. I just guessed he was a command line guy too..
I don’t know how relevant this is to Slamm’s particular case, but at the WWDC keynote, Craig Federighi demoed OS X Mavericks driving multiple monitors displaying windows from different apps. In the video about 25:15 he goes full screen on each app independently.
Operating purely from the keyboard you’d need to remember which app you were in and which monitor was active. If the design is good, there’ll be some sort of cues to remind you.
I don’t expect that Apple now allows us to reclaim the area taken up by the Finder menu bar even when we’ve banished the thing, but who knows? Maybe they’ve worked that out as well.
Command + Tab probably still works fine for switching between Apps when they are on full screens. While holding Command, pressing Tab once switches to the most recent App you were in, pressing tab again switches to App before that, and pressing the left and right arrow keys moves you between all open Apps.
“The new Safari is noticeably faster.”
Is that, like, snappier?
Mavericks. Give me a break. What’s next, Fresno?
Bring back the cats.
Being raised in California, I rather like the new naming scheme…
Big Sur
Yosemite
Napa
Tahoe
I’m sure Apple already has all the names picked out.
Apple is obviously proud to be in California.
Michael, I lived in CA for 30 years and LOVED it. But no offense, you’re not a marketer. Have you ever heard the expression “What’s in a name? Everything!” Naming anything that doesn’t imbue a feeling, or imagery is a failed concept. A great name will inspire and at least speak something to a majority of people. Naming software after a surf spot is the dumbest thing I could imagine and shows me that Apple or more, TC can’t think beyond his back yard and is not thinking globally, passionately or the least bit effectively. Some may say I’m being petty, but I’ve been on the fence about TC trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. But the icons and Macericks, are indicitive and broke the camel’s back for me. Gloves off. Just like the first time I heard Tim present I was indeed WOWed, but not with being impressed. But rather: “REALLY? That’s Steve’s replacement?” And sold my AAPL shares, sadly, but immediately. Everything used to be exciting at Apple. Even it’s mistakes! Now everything is flat and boring. Zero passion. TC needs to take some Acid. Badly and like yesterday.
Not a marketer, but I can see links between the old and new Apple campaigns. Mavericks is a Cali location, which ties into their current ads centred around the ‘designed in California’ theme. Mavericks are also rebels, and ties back to the Think Different campaign. I think all of this is an effort to re-establish who Apple is
And the iPad will never sell because the name immediately makes everyone think of women’s hygiene products, right? Another monumental failure by Apple.
I hated the name instantly. It means nothing to anyone outside CA who surfs. And is that the graphic? The X when OSX was released to all the cats had a sense of wonder, awe, lithe, even danger. Probably other adjectives if I thought about it. Point being, they served great marketing purpose and passion. And just worked! Mavericks like, the new icons and even TC are all a sad sad bore. Is there no one at Apple that can muster a hint of what Steve would do? Fake it for God sakes!
Technically, Mavericks isn’t actually the name of the OS iteration, but rather the code-name. The name of the OS is OS X. The name of the iteration or version is 10.9.
I know it may sound like I’m splitting hairs, but non-techies (I.e. people that would never think of reading a site like MDN) usually don’t know whether they are running Snow Leopard or Lion. They call the OS by 10.5 or 10.6.
My point is, code-names are internal monikers for the development staff. They’re placeholders for the marketing guys. I know that Apple is guilty of really selling the code-name with OS X, with going so far as to print the type of cat on the box, etc, but really these names were never that big of a deal.
I’ve been running both Mavericks beta build releases and I will tell you that Safari 7.0 is awesome! It will be the best OS X version yet!
Look, if you go to Safeway and buy a cake, you are going to pick the one with the best frosting.
If you go to a French or Italian bakery and buy a cake, you will buy the one you know will be the most awesome cake you have ever tasted. If you don’t know, you ask for help. But you most certainly shouldn’t make your choice based on the frosting.
A name and icons are non-functional frosting. It only adds to the appeal of a product, if you know nothing about it, or you don’t care about what’s inside.
Since some people are complaining about names and icons, and having second thoughts about Apple or weather they will use the product or jump ship, then you can just leave, you can waste your time on Windows or Linux and live with even uglier products that have little substance. (I am being a little harsh on linux, but hay, collateral damage)
Now if you want to complain about the decoration, and offer positive or helpful criticism, not bash the creators, and truly appreciate the product, then by all means go ahead. But keep in mind, you won’t change anything, the name is done, the icons are done, what you see is what you are going to get for now and maybe the next three versions.
If you are artistic and have pride for Apple, help them choose something that meets their goals and works for you.
Design your own icons, keep in mind Apple will never ever use them. Once you show them what you have, they won’t touch it, because they won’t want to “owe” you anything. So offer them something you won’t mind throwing away, to help give free ideas.
Naming Mac OS X. If you don’t like surfing, creative people or Mavericks, then what does exist in California that you do like? If you don’t like anything at all in California, then you are being prejudice and a prick.
Here are a few things in California that I think the world could enjoy.
Sonoma
Napa
Humboldt
Tahoe
Armstrong
Sierra
Mojave
Joshua Tree
Coronado
Santa Barbara
Monterey
San Simeon
Sequoia
Yosemite
Mammoth
Mono
Half Dome
El Capitan
Eureka
Mt Whitney
Big Basin
Palo Alto
Lassen Peak
Mendocino
Trinity
Dunsmuir
Shasta
Calistoga
Klamath
Trinidad
Slavyanka (Russian River)
Sebastopol
Of course you also have esoteric California names like
Weed
Whiskeytown
Look many names aren’t good. As people have pointed out, Maverick’s wasn’t the best name to start with, but maybe it was, according to what Apple was and intends to be. However my point is, there’s tones of names in California, and I am barely scratching the surface.
California is a geographically and geologically diverse region. It’s oil independent, has an amazing coast, agriculture that feeds people nationally and globally, has world class wineries, skiing, film industry, tech industry and universities. It’s people are open minded, demographically diverse, free and independent thinkers, both conservative and liberal. It’s not afraid to elect an an actor as governor, (twice, both Republican BTW). It was home to legendaries like Einstein (short time), Charles Shultz, Luther Burbank, Gorbachov (short time), many others, not counting Steve Jobs.
Look, you want to lambast Apple, or lambast California, for what? Illogical reasons. You pick one little thing, like politics, where you can see most every other state has their own equal or worse problems, and then sink the rest of everything else here with it.
I am tired of the cry babies. The people who are greedy. Greed is not good. It may drive desire, but as long as it contributes to dishonesty and underhanded tactics, then I think it’s more caustic than good. It’s a desease.
Rush Limbaugh got his start in Sacramento, California. He was famous here, before anywhere else.
Sea Lion is cleverer,
much less that ‘fern bar’
thing,
Don’t see why the name matters at all to end users. Apple could call it Rats Tail for all I care – ill still upgrade if it offers great new features. Sure, Mavericks may not mean a thing to us on the other side of the planet, but it is just a name! Can’t wait to see all the features when it is released.
Interesting points. If correct, then I would still say I wish the art would be compelling & not flat & being a designer, boring. Perhaps that’s my prejudice. But I love professional tasty eye candy. One of Steve’s tenets was Apple stuff should delight users. In that regard, graphically, I sense from what I’m seeing, this is being lost. Hopefully the features will make up for the graphics.
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