“Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs previewed the next release of the Mac OS X operating system on Monday, claiming it will boast some coveted features that Microsoft Windows won’t include until 2006,” May Wong reports for The Associated Press. “‘It’s going to drive the copycats crazy,’ Jobs said of the software, which he promised for next year, before an enthusiastic audience at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco’s Moscone Center.'”
Code-named ‘Tiger,’ the upgrade will be the fifth version of Mac OS X in its four-year history. Among 150 planned new features will be an advanced new searching tool called ‘Spotlight’ that can instantly search for keywords across different types of files in the machine – whether they’re in an e-mail, image, or text document,” Wong reports.
“Finding data on a single, bulging desktop remains largely a hassle, especially when compared to the ease of searching the Web with Google. Jobs demonstrated how, with Spotlight, typing the words “Half Dome” into his computer instantly found the right information, even a digital map of Yosemite National Park with the famous mountain marked,” Wong reports.
“Microsoft Corp.’s impending ‘Longhorn’ Windows release also is to include a more sophisticated searching method as a key element,” Wong reports. Other highlighted ‘Tiger’ features included support for multiple participants in the iChat video-conferencing program; a new version of the Safari browser that can generate a news feed-like interface for Web sites; support for the next-generation video-compression standard known as H.264; and a ‘Dashboard’ feature that allows users to pull up a custom collection of tools, say, the calculator, iTunes control panel, and a to-do list – all with one keyboard tap.”
“The new version is to be available in the first half of 2005 at a suggested retail price of $129,” Wong reports.
Full article here.
More info on Mac O X 10.4 ‘Tiger’ here.
cool
i really can’t wait…
Hmm, I hope she’s wrong about the cost.
I’m not convinced that I’ll pay for another upgrade for a while… Panther seems pretty good for me – until my apps take advantage of it that is.
Tiger sounds more like an update than an upgrade. I rather save $130.00 for the Longhorn release. By then, I will make enough interest to cover the cost.
Actually I think Longshot is Vapor-ware. Just another “Whistler” or whatever that so-called product was called. Invest your money in Tiger.. afterall you already have Longshot if you have win 95, win 98, win 98 SE, win ME (very commical and poorly written os) or 2000 or XP. Microsoft has been selling the same OS for years and there are many unfortunate people who think they are getting the “latest and greatest” Take the IE browser for instance.. IE 6.0 Circa 1996!! Now that is innovation! Perhaps you can explain why viruses effect all of these operating systems? BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SAME!!!!
Those poor windows idiots don’t know what they’re missing. They think the eMac is expensive while they turn the eMachine into a doorstop and the dell into a squirrel trap.
“Oooh, when Longhorn ships then life will be good!” Yeah, whatever. Computer bliss is already at hand. It’s called OS X.
I went to the Apple site and watched the movies showing Tiger in action. I think the Spotlight feature is so obvious I don’t know why they didn’t think of it before. I also loved the Safari demo I saw. The Dashboard feature I’m not so sure of… it’s not like it’s a problem clicking many of those items from the dock. I guess it will depend on other “widgets” we can add.
Overall, I am very pleased with what I saw and will spend the dough on the upgrade. Of course, I have to wonder what the requirements will be for Tiger, and if my iMac will be suffice to run it.
Doubt if W_users are looking forward to longhorn; they’re limited to looking forward to getting their comp “cleaned” and up and running again.
Interesting but will it be a little quicker than Panther on the same machine as Panther was to Jaguar.
Check it out Mac-heads.
http://marketwatch-cnet.com.com/1606-2_3-5250702.html?tag=ne.vid
Thanks Meat of Moose.
That iChatter in the middle is hot.
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The single biggest news today was clearly multi-way video and audio iChat. This is HUGE and worth the cost of upgrading all on its own.
B
meat of moose,
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Thanks for the link. But does anyone else think it’s ironic that it’s Real and Windows media only?
Copycats? I do not think a plural is necessary. We all know who Steve Jobs is refering to here.
Well said Beeblebrox,
Most people don’t seem to understand how big a deal personal videoconferencing is. This a biggie.
the updates to the OS are great but what about some exciting new hardware or the next ipod. Im disapointed arnt you?
I never though videoconferencing was until, on two separate occaisions,
I was a supposed to be a part of a business conference about 4 years ago. It was based upon some Windows “wonder application.” Frankly, I don’t remember what the name of it was.
It never came off due to technical problems, which wasted about 100 man hours each time, before they gave up.
If Apple can get this one right AND IF THEY TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT, it will be great. Sorry for the cap emphasis, but Apple has to get rid of their elitist attitude which says to people and companies: We are superior, therefore we will not lower ourselves to advertise to the great unwashed masses, you must kiss the ring and come to us and ask us: Please sir, may I have more?
Great products, just terrible marketing. Hope springs eternal.
Wonder if the Redmond spin is a red herring for those who expected PB-G5s or G5 iMacs. It’s too soon for the iPod and PBs; the iMac, though, is a desktop and should’ve had the footprint for an air-cooled G5. It’s also positioned too near the eMac and hasn’t had a recent speed bump so it was — and still is — due for some update.
What I can’t figure out is why Apple would showcase Tiger so far from its release date. Perhaps the iMac was a planned release that didn’t come through in time. Perhaps too, the shipping version of Tiger will have more than what was showcased and this presentation was to throw M$ off the scent of certain innovations. Rash speculation — yes [here we go again].
I hope that the new iChat AV can be purchased as a stand-alone application before OS X 10.4 gets released. We may be laughing about it now but it is only a matter of time before Microsoft copies everything that makes iChat AV so impressive.
If you ask me Apple is coping MSFT by showing something that you cannot buy yet. They must be really worried about Longhorn or why else would they do it. Everyone knows there will be millions of switchers to Windows from the little (toy-like) mac when Longhorn comes out.
It will be superior & cheaper especially the hardware as macs are way too overpriced for what you get.
The only half decent thing apple makes is the IPod.
Now, now Chilli, there is no need to cry just because we can’t buy OS X 10.4 yet. Keep in mind that this was a developer conference and Apple had to let the cat out of the bag in order for the application developers to start planning their products for next year. Adobe for example can start writing the code for a version of PhotoShop that will handle unlimited amounts of memory. Widgets and the spoken interface are two more example that need to be implemented in popular applications for 2005.
Besides, for every one of you who complains about the long wait there are ten other people who complain that Apple charges too much for annual updates.
You mac fanatics can’t see passed your own noses. Sure its nice & sunny in macland but the storm clouds are building on the horizon. Longhorn will make macland like a nuclear wasteland & all your pretty daisys & pansies will die of the cold. Its over guys, macs won’t be made in 2010. HELLO MORONS. Get with the real world, Apple will be a music company based on itunes &IPod; & whatever else they dream up.
Sol, you continue to kiss your pansies with your macland queer friends. The sun won’t shine forever: here comes the winter.
Ok anybody know if Chili is a troll or a really sarcastic poster like Sputnik? I cant tell. I was wondering how Apple was going to top Panther, and they really surprised me again. Im really impressed and excited. I will upgrade as soon as it comes out.
Chilli’s my bitch!
Chilli… chill! While i realise that threatening with nuclear demise stems from being scared, it is you that must embrace the truth. That’s right… just walk into the light… stop hanging onto your pedestrian bug-ridden “reality”.