MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

 MacDailyNews Poll

Deal of the Day

5 Day Most Commented

Opinion Archive

Current Headlines

Latest Joy of Tech

  • Latest Joy of Tech!

MacNN

AppleInsider

Macworld UK

TUAW

MacRumors

Yahoo! Finance AAPL

iTunes Top 10 Albums

Mac OS X Downloads

Sat, Jul 04, 2009 - 11:16 PM EDT  —  AAPL: 140.02 (-2.81, -1.97%)  |  NASDAQ: 1796.52 (-49.20, -2.67%)

Apple patent apps provide glimpses of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard’s ‘Chardonnay’ Finder, Spotlight?
Monday, March 13, 2006 - 11:03 AM EDT

"Some Apple patents for Spotlight have recently surfaced and they show sides of the Finder we haven’t seen before. Apple is expected to release the next version of OS X - 10.5 'Leopard' by the end of 2006 or early 2007. Little information has leaked about Leopard but rumours suggest that the Finder of OS X 10.5 (code named ‘Chardonnay’) is going to depend heavily on Spotlight (Apple’s metadata and search tool)," hrmpf.com reports.

Improvements to the Finder include:
• New Spotlight User Interface
• Hierarchical Nested “Smart Folders”
• (More) Human Readable Search Queries
• better metadata creation- OCR, voice recognition, analysis of images etc.

More info and images form the patent apps are here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "David" for the heads up.]

See also hrmpf.com's related article "Apple, Chardonnay, Leopard and Spotlight" here.

Advertisements:
Apple's brand new iPod Hi-Fi speaker system. Home stereo. Reinvented. Available now for $349 with free shipping.
Apple's new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.

Bookmark and Share

Always -- Free ground shipping with orders over $50 at the Apple Store.

Reader Feedback: = registered.
Unregistered users: Feedback from multiple usernames are subject to deletion. Off-topic and posts from suspected astroturfers will be removed.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:18 pm Comment from: Ampar

Too early to wine about it?

tongue wink

Mar 13, 06 - 12:19 pm Comment from: The Bart, the

Sites are slow as molasses to load, I'm going back to sleep.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:22 pm Comment from: GOW

I wonder what minimum specs will be? My hunch is the G3 will not be supported, probably G4 and higher, 1 ghz recommended or there abouts. This will probably be the last OS for the G4, 10.6 probably G5 and Intel only.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:22 pm Comment from: j

I think their server's down. I'm also going back to bed

Mar 13, 06 - 12:24 pm Comment from: Jim

Can't seem to access Hrmpf.com

Mar 13, 06 - 12:25 pm Comment from: Turd Ferguson aka Tyrone Biggums

Personally, I prefer Merlot with steak. A good chardonnay and cheese for the appetizer and then some crack coccaine for dessert...

Mar 13, 06 - 12:27 pm Comment from: someguy

Last time we were tempted with screenshots of Leopard, we opened a big can of worms... literally.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:28 pm Comment from: Ampar

Re: hrmpf.com
Could be the Slashdot effect. Harumph, indeed.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:39 pm Comment from: Noraa Haras

As long as it's not a 3D Finder. I want a 2-mouse interface, or a multiple-touch interface. I'll find files by pulling, twisting, pointing and clicking until the Finder gives up its secrets.

Then I want to browse the UNIX file system that's hidden from the Finder.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:41 pm Comment from: dennis

You guys need to wake up. This stuff is amazing.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:42 pm Comment from: ccap1

Are these images from an actual patent application? If so, on the final few slides of the flickr gallery, where they show example barcodes (of an OCR type of metadata creation) there is a barcode translated into: "touchscreen iPod". Is this some kind of leak or just a fanciful example?

Mar 13, 06 - 12:44 pm Comment from: ArchAngelNix

Maybe it is the fact that I have been using Macs since the OS 7 days and am use to the way I work, but I have really never used Spotlight. I don't use Smart folders (except in iTunes and Mail). I still make folders and keep my machine organized. And as thus, Spotlight does nothing for me. I can access data faster through the Finder than Spotlight could ever find it; because I know where everything is.

For me to change the way I deal with my files, the new Finder needs to reinvent the way we deal with data. Spotlight isn't it. It is just a new slant on an old paradigm. Lets think out of the box. But if not, I am content on how I currently organize my machine. I am use to it and it works... And works a lot better with Path Finder.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:45 pm Comment from: dab2

Looks cool but I am still waiting for piles!

Mar 13, 06 - 12:48 pm Comment from: Joe the Farmer

"I wonder what minimum specs will be? My hunch is the G3 will not be supported, probably G4 and higher, 1 ghz recommended or there abouts. This will probably be the last OS for the G4, 10.6 probably G5 and Intel only."

I think I know some powerbook users that would be a little miffed if the laptop they bought in 2004/5 won't support the 2007/8 operating system- not to mention anyone who has bought an iBook or eMac recently.

There would be no reason to phase out the G4 chip that quickly seeing as how they are *still* selling G4 machines. I would be surprised not to see G4 support stick around until at least 10.7, if not 10.8. I don't really see how there would be a big advantage to dropping it.

Also, why would the performance requirements increase so much dramatically? Just to phase out people using older PPC hardware to try and get them on the intel platform? Seems a bit early for that.

Mar 13, 06 - 12:50 pm Comment from: Turd Ferguson

"I didn't get a hurrumph outta that guy!"

"Give the governor "Hurrumph"!"

~ Hedley Lamar

Mar 13, 06 - 12:52 pm Comment from: Macs King

I hope Apple implements "Automatic Mind Control".

Mar 13, 06 - 12:56 pm Comment from: Preston

My estimate is that Apple is trying to beat WinFS to the punch, since WinFS was delayed and won't be shipping for Windows Vista until after its release.

My hope is for arbitrary relationships between files, so that I can connect a file to another file. For instance, an iChat contact sending me an image should have their Address Book contact entry be connected to that image file. Or if I write two documents for a college class, I should be able to connect the two files so that the Finder knows they're related. The end result of all this is the ability to do a Get Info on a file and find out all the other files it's somehow related to. Over time, Finder will learn to give you not just the locations of your files, but also their context.

I can't visualize the interface for this beyond Ctrl-dragging a line between two files as you do in Interface Builder to connect controls to objects, but I think it would be a useful thing.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:05 pm Comment from: ron

>Looks cool but I am still waiting for piles!>

Then you'll need bum cream.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:08 pm Comment from: Dave H

Logical extension of what Spotlight already does. It'll be fun to compare this against Microsoft's effort.

I also think Leopard is going to drop G3 support, but not G4. After Leopard my PowerBook will probably get blessed by holy penguin pee for good, so I'm not too worried about what hardware 10.6 supports.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:10 pm Comment from: GOW

Joe the Farmer, you make good points, I'm probably one OS too fast on eliminating the G4, but I'll be curious to see if Leopard supports the G3, we'll find out in August maybe.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:12 pm Comment from: Wingsy

Ya know what I want in Leopard? Ah, thanks for asking...

A real-time multiuser option. And I'll pay a few hundred extra for it too. I'd connect a second monitor, second mouse, and second keyboard, and TWO people use this SAME Mac at the SAME time. Hey, computers (big ones) used to do this alla time, remember? The extra cost for this option would partially offset what Apple might otherwise make from selling 2 Macs rather than one. Once they factor in the number of people who might be buying this option vs how many would actually just buy 2 Macs for 2 people, I feel sure that Apple could charge way less than the price of a 2nd Mac for this option. Apple could even go so far as to assign a priority to each core for each user so one user couldn't totally hog the system doing a movie encode or something.

So 2 people in adjoining cubicles would both be using one system for less than the price of 2 systems. I'd think a lot of businesses would find that quite attractive. I have a use for this at home right now.

Like the ad says, think of the possibilities.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:20 pm Comment from: down

I wish there was a "send to", "move to" contextual menu or some way to easily send files from one directory to another. Dragging a file from one folder to another can be anything from cumbersome to almost impossible depending on the destination.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:24 pm Comment from: Quevar

Preston and Wingsy,

I totally agree with both of your hopes.

I would love to have the ability to mark relationships between files. You can sort of make it work in Spotlight now, but it's not quite right. I'm hoping for some much better uses in Leopard.

As for two people using the same computer with different monitors and keyboards - I've been hoping for this for quite a while. Imagine school labs set up this way. A quad core could easily handle the load of 4 (or even 8 with enough graphic ports) for simple stuff that happens in computer labs. This would also solve a lot of issues in the house (i.e. sharing computers). And it makes maneagement much easier because there are fewer computers to deal with.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:25 pm Comment from: hmmm

Doesn't anyone else get the reference to WINE?

Forget the drinks. I wonder what Apple really has going on in the kitchen...

Just don't serve us "Crap ala Vista". Leave the stupid 3D angled windows and transparency overuse to someone else.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:40 pm Comment from: Feedback

ArchAngelNix said:

"Maybe it is the fact that I have been using Macs since the OS 7 days and am use to the way I work, but I have really never used Spotlight."

Take a bow, ArchAngelNix -- you and me both. My work habits were set with System 6.

I boot into System 9 and eradicate Spotlight by changing Search.bundle's name. This doesn't affect the Cmd-F search, but it gets rid of the Spotlight icon. The freebie EasyFind is much better, anyway. But I have to remember to change the name back to Search.bundle before running Software Update.

I hope Leopard will allow Classic Menu to run, though it should because it's an application, not a hack.

The World Health Organization eradicated smallpox. The dock should be next on its list.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:46 pm Comment from: bwhaler

With Vista being a ringer of a knock-off of OSX, including--and let's be fair here--some improvements, I really hope Apple makes 10.5 the quantum leap over 10.4 that OSX was over OS9.

Apple needs to change the game again on Microsoft. Not just by ensuring that 10.5 is more secure, easier to use, and with better functionality, but Apple needs to really beef up the eye candy.

Yes, eye candy for the stores, the online reviews, and drumming up the community matters.

I hope we seen an epic leap. It's absolutely critical to the viability of Apple given Vista is once again, a "good enough" upgrade backed by $100,000,000 worth of marketing which will prevent switchers from making the move.

Mar 13, 06 - 01:57 pm Comment from: excellent

This is the advancement I've been waiting for. I use spotlight a lot and like smart folders for some things, but still keep my old folder system. However, the nested hierarchical smart folders will probably be my method if they work as depicted on those pages. A key reason is cross-referencing, which is currently a major problem with my manual folder system of managing thousands of PDFs. Hey, I love making aliases as much as the next person, but I could really get into simply downloading the PDF and knowing it is already in the folder for the 4 or 5 different areas under which it should be filed.

Mar 13, 06 - 02:24 pm Comment from: dogfriend

I'm hoping for something good and usable.

Mar 13, 06 - 02:29 pm Comment from: Mr Bill

Still runiing 10.4.3 on the old 500mhz G3 iBook I keep at work, for 'personal use,' and 10.4.4 on my G4 at home. Honestly, I've been toying with the idea of going back to 10.3.9 on the iBook just to free up some resources. I don't use widgets on the iBook and had to max out the ram when I upgraded to 10.4. Don't think there would be many 'above-the hood' features that I would be losing by downgrading. iTunes maybe...

Opinions?

Mar 13, 06 - 02:30 pm Comment from: Schmutz!

The finder part with the image preview looks similar to what XP is currently doing with thumbnails and slideshow. It's embarrasing that XP beat us to it. Very nice feature to add to OS X, can't wait.

Mar 13, 06 - 03:27 pm Comment from: Holy Mackerel

'voice recognition, analysis of images'

Didn't somebody from Apple (Phil Schiller?) years ago talk about your Mac 'recognising' and reacting to you. May this is why there's an iSight in most new Macs. How about 'my face is my password'! 'Welcome Joe, I have some new mail for you, and your mother called'.

Looks like the Knowledge Navigator is becoming real!

Mar 13, 06 - 06:15 pm Comment from: Real IT guy

"Then I want to browse the UNIX file system that's hidden from the Finder."

In Finder select Go> Go to folder> and enter /private in the box.

Voila' all the Unix crunchy goodness.

Tinkertool also lets you make all the invisible files and folders visible.

Mar 13, 06 - 06:40 pm Comment from: Freeze

Alcohol obsession? First "whine" from MacBook Pros, and now Chardonnay.
I bet there's going to be an iBar in iLife '07. Lets you share drinks, find drink recipes, and mix drinks with special hardware.
Hah.

Oh well. Finder needs a fix. Hopefully Apple will do what they need to do to beef up Finder enough so that it's good again.
Only thing is.. I don't quite know what the point of Spotlight integration in Finder is. Why give Spotlight support to Finder when Finder and Spotlight are two very different methods of doing ultimately the exact same thing?
Sort of like integrating a cooler into a refrigerator.

Mar 13, 06 - 10:02 pm Comment from: Cubert

Mr. Bill,
Dashboard is my life! I want to see Apple improve this more than anything else in Tiger. There is so much room for improvement with Dashboard it is sick! I could never go back to Panther for this reason alone (and the GUI speed increase was nice, too).

grin

Mar 13, 06 - 10:37 pm Comment from: me, myself & I

What's with Apple's obsession with French (spit, spit) words? First Rendevous, then Bonjour, now Chardonnay? Why not use good ol' American words: Hey There, What's Up, or Brewskie?

Maybe the possible law change in France that could affect iTMS will cause Apple to stop using those damn frenchie words.

MW: end, as in "End the $%^*%$ frencHie madness!"

Mar 13, 06 - 11:56 pm Comment from: François

What's with Apple's obsession with French (spit, spit) words?

Champagne, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Porsche. Obsession is French.

Mar 14, 06 - 02:00 am Comment from: Niff Stipples

Mr Bill,

Ya -- got me a G3 800 MHz iBook running 10.4.5, and discovered that Tiger sucks down the RAM more so than Panther did - contemplated returning to 10.3.9 Panther, but Tiger's networking capabilities with PCs is better, which is important to me -- I could care less about Spotlight on a slow G3, and don't use widgets -- miss the old find file, which did not exclude some system level directories/files like Spotlight does.

Niffy

Reader feedback page 1 of 1 pages:

Always -- Free ground shipping with orders over $50 at the Apple Store.

Add Your Feedback:

Register or Login

Name:

Email: (optional)

Emoticons | Allowed HTML Tags

Remember my info   Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the "MDN Magic Word" you see in the image below: