Nealry two years ago, we and others reported on Apple’s patented “Piles” (Apple’s patent was filed in 1994), and the rumors that Apple would bring “Piles” to Mac OS X, which didn’t happen with “Panther.” Some MDN readers also suggested at the time that “Stacks” would probably be a better and more-palatable name for the feature than “Piles.”
We provided a link to a flash demo from Piles Preview creator Richard Das who showed his impression of how the rumored feature ‘Piles’ would work here.
Now, we see from Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows that Longhorn will feature, “Stacks” (screenshot) which “will help aggregate content by such things as authors, keywords, type, and so on. You can then group Stacks by various properties, such as name, size, modified date, type, or authors, in order to provide multiple relevant views on the same data.”
Is this “business as usual” for Microsoft or are Longhorn’s “Stacks” an original idea?
Full SuperSite for Windows’ article here.
[Thanks to MDN reader “Tom V” for alerting us to the Longhorn “Stacks” information.]
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Mac OS X 10.3 Panther ‘Piles’ screenshots posted online – April 26, 2003
The Register goes deep inside Apple’s Piles – April 23, 2003
Mac OS X Panther ‘Piles Preview’ author comments on rumored ‘Piles’ implementation; can’t do this on Windows – April 17, 2003
Readers not happy with ‘Piles’ name suggest Panther ‘Stacks’ instead; link to preview ‘Piles’ here – April 16, 2003
Preview shows the promise of rumored Mac OS X Panther ‘Piles’ – April 15, 2003
KernelPanic, tell me, does Bill Gates have a nice colon?
so what? It’s a neat visual trick, but who wants their documents buried under other documents? It’d be worse than view by icon…
Now, if you could somehow click on a folder and get a list of what’s in it without having to open the folder, that would be useful.
KernelPanic:
For your information I use BOTH Mac and windows Systems on a daily basis.
And believe me, after 14+years of using both systems including DOS (before windows gui was released) I know which operating system IS better and which company is better to do business with.
I have been around long enough using computers to base my opinions on experience and knowledge – and not what is the latest ‘hip’ thing in IT.
At the end of the day the Mac does everything better because of one reason.
And that reason is very simple (even you might understand it!) – the reason is that Apple is THE ONLY COMPANY that makes both the hardware and the OS. The same guys who design the OS are only an office away from the same guys who design and build the box for the OS.
THAT is why Apple’s products are better (and the fact that they employ the best industrial/software designers/engineers in the world).
End of story.
“Now, if you could somehow click on a folder and get a list of what’s in it without having to open the folder, that would be useful.”
beatsme – its called Column View in Mac OSX. Works great.
Piles/Stacks in any ui are a poor idea, Apple or Microsoft. They are simple a GUI list view where you can only see the top item. Why hide the rest of the info?
List view serves the same purpose.
whuh..? stacks is a great idea? *yawn … give them credit for coming up with.. well.. for consulting a Thesaurus at least..
The question is.. will the lawyers bother?
As for the UI.. It’s probably beyond comprehension for Paul Thurrot to say to all his friends, “Hey guys, WIndows is still ugly.” Come on, they thought Luna was pleasing to look at….
They’re basically gonna make the whole OS look like Windows media player..which.. shudder is nice..
Here’s a thought.. anyone remember Encarta back when CD roms were so common?
Encarta looked NICE.. what happened to the software guys who worked on that.. did Gates have them taken out and shot cuz they were found with small amounts of marijuana or something?
word up, Solar Flare!
When you’ve got Smart Folders with Tiger,
http://www.apple.com/ca/macosx/tiger/spotlight.html
why would you need Stacks?
I think Piles was part of a good idea that found itself without enough data to really make it work. Once the way to get at the data was worked out (Spotlight) it was clear that Piles was too tiny of an idea and were morphed into the infinitely more useful Smart Folders.
Meanwhile Microsoft is still trying to figure out how to make a GUI that consists of single documents, Folders, and Stacks all make sense…somehow…without a technology like Spotlight behind it.
I actually think the Apple version of this idea is really terrific. Certainly not stolid and boring like the Longhorn rendering. Ugly!
And another thing. By the time Longhorn ships next year, or whenever, OS X will be about ready for 10.5 and we’ll be another step ahead.
So that’s the new look of Windows. Still sucks.
“Is this “business as usual” for Microsoft or are Longhorn’s “Stacks” an original idea?”
An original idea from MS?!?! Please – it would be almost a first. So far the only documented “original” ideas from MS are “Bob” and that equally stupid “Paper Clip” – http://www.vcnet.com/bms/departments/innovation.shtml – everything else has been flat out stolen
Greg, you still have to open a folder or volume to use column views. I was suggesting that the folders work like the dock shortcuts: you click and hold, and you get a list of the contents.
Um…How is Windows copying if they are going to implement it in their next OS and Apple does not? In other words, if Windows puts it in first, who wins?
The fact is, we need smarter ways of doing “groups” of files and folders than simple “Smart Folders”: we sometimes need them to actually contain items beyond being simply a dynamic search. Piles seemed a great way to tag-combine items, smart items and scripted behaviours. I don’t know why Apple has left the tech languish.
By the way, about computer companies buying others: I’d suggest checking how many ones Apple has bought and buried in order to build its AV suite. Rather a lot.
Longhorn makes me nervous. It really does.
Complain all you want about MSFT being copiers and followers, but consumers and companies don’t care.
Longhorn looks to have comparable functionality to Tiger, a UI which is better for users (example: it explains why you need the password vs. OSX which just asks for it. I’ve seen this confuse people to no end.)
Plus, it will be secure. No question about it. MSFT took the hit to delay Longhorn over and over to re-write more than they were planning.
Once again, MSFT is doing what keeps them in control. Copying Apple to the point where people won’t switch, and adding more functions than Apple does which matter to IT geeks in corporations which ensure the majority of companies stay on Windows.
And again, Longhorn will be locked down. MSFT has learned the hard way.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate these guys. I hate everything they do. This is why I am worried.
Tiger looks awesome, and the good news is Apple will have about a year to a year and a half jump on Longhorn.
My only hope is MSFT does like they always do. A lot of hype, but the quality still sucks. If there are still tons of security holes, there is hope for a mass exodus to Linus and OSX.
If not, the market will stay with “good enough.” And with Longhorn, “good enough” is getting pretty damn good.
DO your research – there is a well known and documented history of what Microsoft has ripped off from Apple and other companies.
Uhh… yeah… because after all, Apple would never do that… get a grip.
Why don’t you a little research as to where iTunes came from?
LongHorn actually looks pretty good. Macs are fantastic, pretty and all that, but still, the way it restricts you into doing it the Apple way frustrates me to no end.
atomic flower, Apple bought Sound Jam from Casady and Greene, and hired their programmers to write iTunes.
Piles is just a different way of doing things, and maybe is inspired by Hypercard. Looks interesting, though.
Why don’t you a little research as to where iTunes came from?
—
It was bought, to save time in getting the damn 1.0 shipped. So?
Look what Apple’s done with iTunes since way back then.
My parents are still on OS 9 with iTunes 2.. it’s a freakin joke compared to 4.7
Longhorn DOES look good.. that’s because you need a 4-5GHz computer to run the damn thing.. The full version won’t be out until like 2007.. by which time, Apple will have already gone back to the Thesaurus for a new cat.
and to:
If not, the market will stay with “good enough.” And with Longhorn, “good enough” is getting pretty damn good.
Eh, many many people (bank tellers, whatever) are on Windows 98 okay?
You just described the mediocrity of most peoples PC experience.. good enough..
Good enough to run Office? Sure.. Surf the web? Sure.. Email? Got it.. Games.. Yup.. Who needs Longhorn, again?
That’s like telling someone to spend more money on vegetables and cut out the junk food and Kraft dinner..
it’s more expensive, but it’s good for you.. guess which one they’ll take
(hint you need a real nice computer to run LH)
I hope those of you expressing amiration for the forthcoming Longorn OS are being ironic or sarcastic.
As a recent switcher to the mac (PB 15″), I can attest that none of the improvements or feature enhancements contained within Longhorn rouse even the slightest desire to switch back. Furthermore, when taking into account that Longhorn will not be released until the Summer of 2006 or later, a period of time which will see the release of 10.5 Tiger (think Spotlight and Dashboard, the two features I most looking forward to) and potentially 10.6, I find the comments of atomic flower and retro cat to be perplexing.
Comming from a guy who cant get the versions of OS X right..Its no wonder you switched Huh?
Mike: I dont know where you live dude, But where I come from I couldnt drive around all day and find a single 98 box in a bank, or in alot of peoples homes for that matter.
“Longhorn DOES look good.. that’s because you need a 4-5GHz computer to run the damn thing.. The full version won’t be out until like 2007”
You obviously havent a clue on that one, Longhorn will run on any box today and gold will be out next year.
Oh, I am so sorry Kernel Panic. I so obviously meant 10.4 and 10.5.
It doesn’t change the fact that OSX rocks XP’s and (already) Longhorn’s world.
Keep arguing like a five year old by pointing out trivial mistakes to prove your point, whatever it was…non sequitur anyone.
“Longhorn DOES look good.. that’s because you need a 4-5GHz computer to run the damn thing.. The full version won’t be out until like 2007”
Show me a 4-5Ghz pc. Seriously, the higest clock speed right now is 3.8Ghz, sure there are a few people who have gotten over 5Ghz on liquid nitrogen. I’m running a 700Mhz athlon system with 512MB ram and a radeon 7500. Guess what OS is on it? LONGHORN PRE-ALPHA. that’s right bitches. It runs with the themes and all the bells. You mac bastards pretending to know about PCs is like me saying my turds smell like fucking roses.
Oh yeah, the only reason OSX is “so good” is because they had to steal bits of another OS just to make it. Yeah, so it sounds like MS, at least they can actually create their own OS. All crApple did was write a desktop environment and put it on Unix. Oooooh, very innovative. It’s been done before. You all will probably find fault with this post, but before you comment I have two words “eat me”
I am sorry for being so crabby earlier, it is just that I was on a blind date last night and everything was going fine; dinner was great, we went to my house afterward, we started making out…you know things were going great. Then things started to get hot and heavy and she said she wanted me to do f@%k her in the ass; having never done that before I jumped at the opportunity. I turned the lights off and she got on her knees on my bed. She pulled her skirt up and I pusher her panties to the side and just slid it in. Oh God was it amazing, I mean it was so smooth and tight; damn, pure heaven! But then things start to go down hill, I noticed that something was slapping against my sack every time I thrusted forward. I tried to just forget about it and continue, but my curiosity got the best of me and I reached around to feel what it was. HOLY CRAP, it is a nut sack, this b@%ch is a dude. I was screwing a dude. I pulled out and hopped off the bed and turned on the lights, she/he asked, “What’s wrong?” I yelled back, “Are you a dude?” Now with a much lower voice she/he responded, “In the dark, I can be what ever you want me to be…” And as she/he said this she/he whipped out this huge cock; right then and there I almost got sick. I made her/him leave and sat in front of my PC contemplating what had just happened. Feeling sexually confused I decide to reassure myself and surf the web for some go ole’ big tit porn and right as I was about get to the goods, guess what…BLUE SCREEN!!!!
So you can see where I am coming from, an awful night made worse by Microsoft. It is out of jealousy that I lied and acted rudely before…and for that I am truly sorry.