“Much of the Mac’s Desktop and Finder metaphor came from Raskin,” McElfresh reports. “That was then. This is now. The way we manage files, apps, and interact with our Mac hasn’t changed much since Raskin’s Mac efforts went public in 1984.”
McElfresh reports, “It’s still a Desktop and Finder world. What’s the next great thing? Maybe it’s touch. But not touch in the way we use our iPhones. Touch in the way we use a Mac. Only different. Better? Maybe.”
“‘Raskin’ is a Finder replacement which changes the way we interact with our Macs. Finder? Desktop? Goodbye. And, with the right equipment attached to your Mac, [interaction that’s] perhaps easier, perhaps better, certainly different.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: A free 30-day trial of Raskin in available here.
OK IM FINE WITHOUT FINDER (said sobing voice) i will miss it though. I AM NOT FINE WITHOUT /APPLSCRIPT/ (which this did not disable or replace)
OK IM FINE WITHOUT FINDER (said sobing voice) i will miss it though. I AM NOT FINE WITHOUT /APPLSCRIPT/ (which this did not disable or replace)
I’m a dinosaur. Keep the finder…..
I’m a dinosaur. Keep the finder…..
this looks like one of those cute ideas that turn into a giant pain in the ass.
this looks like one of those cute ideas that turn into a giant pain in the ass.
@h2a
I completely and wholeheartedly agree
@h2a
I completely and wholeheartedly agree
Try “Leap”. Don’t file and sort, search.
Try “Leap”. Don’t file and sort, search.
I don’t see any use for DeskTop but Finder is essential. No wait, there’s no Finder in iPhone/iPad and they still work.
I don’t see any use for DeskTop but Finder is essential. No wait, there’s no Finder in iPhone/iPad and they still work.
I’d loike to see this approach demonstrated on a designer’s machine, where there can be literally hundreds of visually similar layouts for a company or product. Without some sort of structure — or an intelligent computer that “knows” what you’re looking for — a pure visual interface simply falls flat…
I’d loike to see this approach demonstrated on a designer’s machine, where there can be literally hundreds of visually similar layouts for a company or product. Without some sort of structure — or an intelligent computer that “knows” what you’re looking for — a pure visual interface simply falls flat…
When iOS grows to become the next desktop operating system (and this will happen very soon, sooner then you think), I have no doubt that there will appear some scripting language similar to AppleScript that will allow those few power users who need such a thing to automate some processes. It may be Apple’s own offering, or some third-party initiative, but if there is a need, somebody will eventually fill it.
When iOS grows to become the next desktop operating system (and this will happen very soon, sooner then you think), I have no doubt that there will appear some scripting language similar to AppleScript that will allow those few power users who need such a thing to automate some processes. It may be Apple’s own offering, or some third-party initiative, but if there is a need, somebody will eventually fill it.
I remember a few years ago when the big news was Spotlight was going to replace the Finder.
Because finding one file in a list of thousands is exactly what I had hoped for in a Finder replacement.
I remember a few years ago when the big news was Spotlight was going to replace the Finder.
Because finding one file in a list of thousands is exactly what I had hoped for in a Finder replacement.
since finder is the WEAKEST link in the whole mac experience it should go. path finder is better. the whole machine should not lock up and freeze just because a network volume has gone offline. just saying..
since finder is the WEAKEST link in the whole mac experience it should go. path finder is better. the whole machine should not lock up and freeze just because a network volume has gone offline. just saying..
@predrag yes u spoke my mind
@predrag yes u spoke my mind
@finder blows
actually finder is the second best part of the mac experience (next to osa of course) i’v never had it hang because a network volume went offline and infact finder is what convinced me MacOS is better then linux.
@finder blows
actually finder is the second best part of the mac experience (next to osa of course) i’v never had it hang because a network volume went offline and infact finder is what convinced me MacOS is better then linux.
I agree with Predrag.
I agree with Predrag.
I’ve been using Spotlight more and more, and its command-spacebar shortcut. Usually gets me right to the program or file I want to open from any application I’m in with just a few keystrokes. (I do find myself using the Finder less and less.)
I’ve been using Spotlight more and more, and its command-spacebar shortcut. Usually gets me right to the program or file I want to open from any application I’m in with just a few keystrokes. (I do find myself using the Finder less and less.)
Ugh! Just fix List View. If I set one folder inside to icon view, I don’t necessarily want to set other folders to the same view. But no… Finder knows better. Not!
Ugh! Just fix List View. If I set one folder inside to icon view, I don’t necessarily want to set other folders to the same view. But no… Finder knows better. Not!
Anything that would permanently deep-six the damned dock (Classic Menu’s author deserves a Nobel, though the dock is only undead) would cause the spontaneous eruption of world peace.
Anything that would permanently deep-six the damned dock (Classic Menu’s author deserves a Nobel, though the dock is only undead) would cause the spontaneous eruption of world peace.
Spotlight loses it’s usefulness when you can’t remember a filename out of hundreds you’ve created. A Desktop folder comes in real handy at that time. Hopefully you organized things a bit in advance. I’m on the iPad a lot these days and miss a Finder.
Spotlight loses it’s usefulness when you can’t remember a filename out of hundreds you’ve created. A Desktop folder comes in real handy at that time. Hopefully you organized things a bit in advance. I’m on the iPad a lot these days and miss a Finder.
Right now it’s not good for publishing or Photoshop
on my ‘desktop’ / MacBook Pro and 30″ Apple monitor.
It is an interesting concept and might have possibilities
for the iPad. Then again, it might go the way of
Dashboard. You do remember Dashboard? Anyone
use it lately?
Right now it’s not good for publishing or Photoshop
on my ‘desktop’ / MacBook Pro and 30″ Apple monitor.
It is an interesting concept and might have possibilities
for the iPad. Then again, it might go the way of
Dashboard. You do remember Dashboard? Anyone
use it lately?
Raskin is OK when you can identify thumbnails, but only a small % of my files can be visually identified.
Between that and human inertia, I see stick with what is now fast, intuitive and able to flip to a visual panning mode when needed.
“PathFinder” is a Finder replacement that gives me additional things I need so I think Raskin will just be an add-on.
Raskin is OK when you can identify thumbnails, but only a small % of my files can be visually identified.
Between that and human inertia, I see stick with what is now fast, intuitive and able to flip to a visual panning mode when needed.
“PathFinder” is a Finder replacement that gives me additional things I need so I think Raskin will just be an add-on.
Raskin sucks. I tried it a while back and it did nothing to simplify the Finder. In fact I found it convoluted and slow to do anything.
Raskin sucks. I tried it a while back and it did nothing to simplify the Finder. In fact I found it convoluted and slow to do anything.
this seems like a recycled idea…
this seems like a recycled idea…
I think Raskin works actually quite cool when using the trackpad, with pinch to zoom and swipe it’s very easy to browse through files. It also seems very similar to what Firefox wants to do with Panorama (Tab Candy).
I think Raskin works actually quite cool when using the trackpad, with pinch to zoom and swipe it’s very easy to browse through files. It also seems very similar to what Firefox wants to do with Panorama (Tab Candy).
Raskin creates a visual interface to your Mac so you can open apps, open documents, open images, all without digging around in the Finder.
Who “digs around in the Finder” anymore? I use Spotlight, as does just about everyone else who knows what it is. Two or three clicks of the keyboard, and I’ve got what I want.
A “visual” representation of the contents of a computer is a huge step backward. What we want is to not have to look for something at all. And that’s what Spotlight does for you.
——RM
Raskin creates a visual interface to your Mac so you can open apps, open documents, open images, all without digging around in the Finder.
Who “digs around in the Finder” anymore? I use Spotlight, as does just about everyone else who knows what it is. Two or three clicks of the keyboard, and I’ve got what I want.
A “visual” representation of the contents of a computer is a huge step backward. What we want is to not have to look for something at all. And that’s what Spotlight does for you.
——RM
I actually wish they would rename the Finder to “Desktop” like it was in the OS X beta. Much less confusing to newbies.
I actually wish they would rename the Finder to “Desktop” like it was in the OS X beta. Much less confusing to newbies.
@Macromancer,
“Because finding one file in a list of thousands is exactly what I had hoped for in a Finder replacement.”
@Macromancer,
“Because finding one file in a list of thousands is exactly what I had hoped for in a Finder replacement.”
Call it by any other name, it is still the Desktop in anyOS. You can rename the file folder the file drawer but it is still a directory. Years past there were ways of setting up dynamic or live webpages as your “home screen”. That sure took off.
Call it by any other name, it is still the Desktop in anyOS. You can rename the file folder the file drawer but it is still a directory. Years past there were ways of setting up dynamic or live webpages as your “home screen”. That sure took off.
When people suggest the demise of the Finder, do any of you use Macs in an office? where you have to file MS word documents by client, then by project, then by date etc. where these documents must parallel and mirror a paper file for that client? Please. Imagine the lunacy of trying to find documents and store files merely using a random find system like Search. Please, we need both Finder and more intuitive finding systems. Each has its own use.
When people suggest the demise of the Finder, do any of you use Macs in an office? where you have to file MS word documents by client, then by project, then by date etc. where these documents must parallel and mirror a paper file for that client? Please. Imagine the lunacy of trying to find documents and store files merely using a random find system like Search. Please, we need both Finder and more intuitive finding systems. Each has its own use.
I will be the stubborn old timer…
Keep the finder and desktop… 😀
I will be the stubborn old timer…
Keep the finder and desktop… 😀
Spotlight is awesome. I use it all the time. But it doesn’t replace the Finder. It’s only good for finding a file. It doesn’t organize. If you are doing work of any complexity, you still need to organize files by project or by client, and to separate work and personal files.
Spotlight is awesome. I use it all the time. But it doesn’t replace the Finder. It’s only good for finding a file. It doesn’t organize. If you are doing work of any complexity, you still need to organize files by project or by client, and to separate work and personal files.
I’m sure whenever Apple comes up with a “different” way of finding files there will be a “classic” view selection to wean us off of our old ways.
There will have to be. Why? Because if Windows 8 (or whatever the hell it is called) is more Mac-like to some Mac users than Apple’s offering, you might see people jump ship for the first time.
I wouldn’t for stability reasons, but for every five people who’ll love the new paradigm, there will be one that just can’t handle it.
I’m sure whenever Apple comes up with a “different” way of finding files there will be a “classic” view selection to wean us off of our old ways.
There will have to be. Why? Because if Windows 8 (or whatever the hell it is called) is more Mac-like to some Mac users than Apple’s offering, you might see people jump ship for the first time.
I wouldn’t for stability reasons, but for every five people who’ll love the new paradigm, there will be one that just can’t handle it.
With Spotlight. How would I search for a file, if I didn’t know the file “name”?
Indeed. How would I search for a file if I didn’t name it, or enter any kind of tags? Content is hit-n-miss, unless you know.
Spotlight is a great tool. But, if you’re downloading loads of jpgs (or any number named files) it’s not gonna help. Unless I was Raymond Babbitt.
I still need the Finder. It’s an ‘old’ tool. But, it’s still VERY useful.
—
[As an aside. I haven’t used Dashboard in ages. Dashboard may have been ‘better’ had it been built to run ‘desk accessory’ style. On the same level as the Desktop. Why switch to another mode? It’s clumsy.)
MW: ‘Until’ there’s something better. Don’t fix what ain’t broke.
With Spotlight. How would I search for a file, if I didn’t know the file “name”?
Indeed. How would I search for a file if I didn’t name it, or enter any kind of tags? Content is hit-n-miss, unless you know.
Spotlight is a great tool. But, if you’re downloading loads of jpgs (or any number named files) it’s not gonna help. Unless I was Raymond Babbitt.
I still need the Finder. It’s an ‘old’ tool. But, it’s still VERY useful.
—
[As an aside. I haven’t used Dashboard in ages. Dashboard may have been ‘better’ had it been built to run ‘desk accessory’ style. On the same level as the Desktop. Why switch to another mode? It’s clumsy.)
MW: ‘Until’ there’s something better. Don’t fix what ain’t broke.
Steve Jobs may have fooled some of you with using iOS as a replacement for a real desktop OS UI, but I’ve been around since DOS and know he’s just sold you a limited desktop concept UI in a bright new fancy package.
Eventually iOS will become another desktop OS UI, the ergonomic needs of humans will demand it.
Then Steve will have what he wants, you all locked into the App Store as your only source of what your allowed to run on your device.
You don’t even know the cage is being lowered over your heads.
Steve Jobs may have fooled some of you with using iOS as a replacement for a real desktop OS UI, but I’ve been around since DOS and know he’s just sold you a limited desktop concept UI in a bright new fancy package.
Eventually iOS will become another desktop OS UI, the ergonomic needs of humans will demand it.
Then Steve will have what he wants, you all locked into the App Store as your only source of what your allowed to run on your device.
You don’t even know the cage is being lowered over your heads.
I’ve been using PathFinder almost as long as I’ve been using Macs. I don’t even bother with the regular finder anymore, PathFinder is superior.
And I’ve added FileBrowse to the mix recently, lets me see all my files with nice big previews.
I’ve been using PathFinder almost as long as I’ve been using Macs. I don’t even bother with the regular finder anymore, PathFinder is superior.
And I’ve added FileBrowse to the mix recently, lets me see all my files with nice big previews.
To those dissing Spotlight, do you even understand it’s power?
You don’t need to know the filename of a document to find it with Spotlight. Just type in a phrase from the document. Spotlight indexes the entire content of the document, not just the name.
Sheesh. All this power under your fingertips and it goes to waste.
——RM
To those dissing Spotlight, do you even understand it’s power?
You don’t need to know the filename of a document to find it with Spotlight. Just type in a phrase from the document. Spotlight indexes the entire content of the document, not just the name.
Sheesh. All this power under your fingertips and it goes to waste.
——RM
MDN member Predrag sez: “When iOS grows to become the next desktop operating system…”
AHEM! iOS is merely a subset of Mac OS X. AppleScript will remain as integral as desired. ANY Mac OS X technology can run on iOS. The change in processors makes no difference at all thanks to Mac OS X / iOS running on the Mach/XNU kernel.
What we experience as new in iOS is mainly the GUI and the added touch capabilities. Otherwise it’s mostly Mac OS X under the hood.
MDN member Predrag sez: “When iOS grows to become the next desktop operating system…”
AHEM! iOS is merely a subset of Mac OS X. AppleScript will remain as integral as desired. ANY Mac OS X technology can run on iOS. The change in processors makes no difference at all thanks to Mac OS X / iOS running on the Mach/XNU kernel.
What we experience as new in iOS is mainly the GUI and the added touch capabilities. Otherwise it’s mostly Mac OS X under the hood.
@ Bizzarro
This cage kicks ass.
@ Bizzarro
This cage kicks ass.
As for killing the Finder, We The Geeks will always require a way to traverse the file system. That is what the Finder does. There will certainly be kewl ways in the future, as there are now, to hide the fact that the file system with all of its paths. But it will still be there keeping order.
What will undoubtedly evolve over time will be variations on the Finder concept, providing different ways to find what you want, buried somewhere in the file system.
I personally believe a fully 3-D interface alternative is long over due for the Mac. I want to be able to literally traverse my ‘universe’ of files on my computer. I want to be able to organize stuff into planets and moons and asteroids and comets, etc. Trash is sent into a black hole. My documents are stored on my private planet. All the traversing can be done by finger gestures.
Unfortunately, in our gradually dumbing down world, a lot of people find dealing with more than a 2-D computer interface to be overwhelming. I still want it. There is no reason it cannot be run as a simple Finder alternative on top of any Mac. This is what PathFinder does. So why not another Finder alternative that makes use of OpenGL?
As for killing the Finder, We The Geeks will always require a way to traverse the file system. That is what the Finder does. There will certainly be kewl ways in the future, as there are now, to hide the fact that the file system with all of its paths. But it will still be there keeping order.
What will undoubtedly evolve over time will be variations on the Finder concept, providing different ways to find what you want, buried somewhere in the file system.
I personally believe a fully 3-D interface alternative is long over due for the Mac. I want to be able to literally traverse my ‘universe’ of files on my computer. I want to be able to organize stuff into planets and moons and asteroids and comets, etc. Trash is sent into a black hole. My documents are stored on my private planet. All the traversing can be done by finger gestures.
Unfortunately, in our gradually dumbing down world, a lot of people find dealing with more than a 2-D computer interface to be overwhelming. I still want it. There is no reason it cannot be run as a simple Finder alternative on top of any Mac. This is what PathFinder does. So why not another Finder alternative that makes use of OpenGL?
First, the iOS is a branch off OS X. It isn’t going to replace the Finder, unless you long for moving your computing experience back ten years.
IOS is cute, but just think of all the things you can’t do with it.
That’s not to say that the Finder won’t borrow some features it.
First, the iOS is a branch off OS X. It isn’t going to replace the Finder, unless you long for moving your computing experience back ten years.
IOS is cute, but just think of all the things you can’t do with it.
That’s not to say that the Finder won’t borrow some features it.
This looks like one huge conglomeration of crap.
If you have any clue about how to set up your file structure, then Finder is great.
I’m sure something better will come along at some point, but I don’t think this is it.
When you have thousands of files to access as I do, you don’t want to find them by looking at pictures.
Having said that, I am going to download the 30-day trial so I’m not just speaking outta my ass.
Maybe I’ll like it.
This looks like one huge conglomeration of crap.
If you have any clue about how to set up your file structure, then Finder is great.
I’m sure something better will come along at some point, but I don’t think this is it.
When you have thousands of files to access as I do, you don’t want to find them by looking at pictures.
Having said that, I am going to download the 30-day trial so I’m not just speaking outta my ass.
Maybe I’ll like it.
I guess I’m pretty dim.
I just watched the video of Raskin a couple of times, and I have no idea how zooming in to look at thumbnails would be a good way to look for files.
I guess I’m pretty dim.
I just watched the video of Raskin a couple of times, and I have no idea how zooming in to look at thumbnails would be a good way to look for files.
The way iOS work is that you never need to know where your files are. The OS looks after them.
At this point I believe the files in embedded in the app. Which is okay until you delete the app.
Most people don’t save files in an organized manner so an iOS approach would work for them.
Of course we don’t really make that many files on an iPhone so it is difficult to tell how the system will work in a typically PC environment where multiple files are created.
The way iOS work is that you never need to know where your files are. The OS looks after them.
At this point I believe the files in embedded in the app. Which is okay until you delete the app.
Most people don’t save files in an organized manner so an iOS approach would work for them.
Of course we don’t really make that many files on an iPhone so it is difficult to tell how the system will work in a typically PC environment where multiple files are created.
Maybe we should replace the round wheels on cars and replace them with triangle shaped ones. No need for that pesky hand brake.
Maybe we should replace the round wheels on cars and replace them with triangle shaped ones. No need for that pesky hand brake.
GREAT CONCEPT, but needs more development.
I am in FAVOR of ditching Finder AND the whole top “pull down” menu bar on Mac OSX. This is the last “throw back” to the Mac OS’s of the past…LOSE them.
If we MUST keep the upper bar, then please make it like the lower icon bar the just appears when you move your finger/mouse to the top of the screen. LOSE the “bar” reference & just have “floating capsules” with the titles in them / no background white bar / that you can roll over & cascading menu drops down. OR have a “Heads Up Display” right click on track pad” or “MT finger haptic gesture” to have upper menu to appear on screen where you are pointing.
iOS will definitely merge with Mac OSX UNIX in the future to transform into a new hybrid Mac OS with “Multi-Touch”.
GREAT CONCEPT, but needs more development.
I am in FAVOR of ditching Finder AND the whole top “pull down” menu bar on Mac OSX. This is the last “throw back” to the Mac OS’s of the past…LOSE them.
If we MUST keep the upper bar, then please make it like the lower icon bar the just appears when you move your finger/mouse to the top of the screen. LOSE the “bar” reference & just have “floating capsules” with the titles in them / no background white bar / that you can roll over & cascading menu drops down. OR have a “Heads Up Display” right click on track pad” or “MT finger haptic gesture” to have upper menu to appear on screen where you are pointing.
iOS will definitely merge with Mac OSX UNIX in the future to transform into a new hybrid Mac OS with “Multi-Touch”.
@LLIBSEATG
do you use boot camp?
anyway no you should get rid of the menu bar (if you have not noticed micro$oft tried that and now everything they make is insanely hard to use (it took me 15 minutes to find the print command in I.E.)(not that it already wasn’t hard to use))
also ios is in fact MacOS 10 except without many of the frameworks and a windowing-system
@LLIBSEATG
do you use boot camp?
anyway no you should get rid of the menu bar (if you have not noticed micro$oft tried that and now everything they make is insanely hard to use (it took me 15 minutes to find the print command in I.E.)(not that it already wasn’t hard to use))
also ios is in fact MacOS 10 except without many of the frameworks and a windowing-system
I like it the way it is.
But then, that’s probably why Steve never asks my opinion! ; )
I like it the way it is.
But then, that’s probably why Steve never asks my opinion! ; )
No.
Not just no. Hell no.
No.
Not just no. Hell no.