Article: The Leopard Screenshots Backlash
Last week, the public saw what were allegedly screenshots of the forthcoming version of Mac OS X “Leopard”. Some saw them as plausable early examples of the new operating system, while others were convinced that they were just some high-quality Photoshop work.
A few days later, it was revealed that the screenshots were fake, and we got to learn about the process behind making them. Although we’re still a ways off from hearing from Apple about Leopard (maybe a month or two), many are already suggesting what features they’d like to see.
Because of this, I’d like to share the features that I’d like to see added to the next version of OS X.
PowerPC Support
This is probably a given, but I just wanted to reiterate that many people are still plugging along with G3s, G4s, and G5s. Let’s make sure that the next version of OS X still work with them.
Extra Goodies for Intel Macs
Apple should buy Parallels and then further make the barrier between Windows and OS X transparent. Boot Camp was a start, but wouldn’t it be cool to run Windows applications right within OS X? Think of it as a new breed of Classic.
Updated Finder
Although some say the Finder will be dead in 5 years, I beg to differ. People still like to find things on their computer by browsing. Let’s give people the option to switch between an interface that works like iTunes/iPhoto and the current model, much like users could choose between the normal Finder format and column-view (remember that?).
A Smarter Dock
Many applications don’t have much to offer in terms of Dock icons contextual menus. Apple should update their applications to have more features in this regard, as well as having icons that give better feedback.
Sleeping
I’m happy with putting my Mac mini to sleep when I’m not using it, but what if I want to move it? I have to shut it down, unhook everything, hook it back up, and then turn it on. What if we had the Mac-equivalent of Window’s Hibernate function? I know it exists for certain models, and with some hacks, but it should be a built-in feature.
The Apple PIM
The writer at Trinity Rubicon suggests combining the Address Book and iCal. While I don’t want to see an Apple-equivalent of Entourage, what if certain items were combined in one tool (to save Dock space)? A standalone Address Book application could still exist for those who wanted to use their own PIM software, but you could have iCal, Address Book, iSync, and a memo pad all in one place. Also, it would be nice if the AIM online status used in programs like Address Book and Mail worked with third-party clients, such as Adium.
Safari Fixes
Safari is pretty good as it is, but the RSS reader stinks if you use it for more than 10 feeds. I envision a fancier RSS reader within Safari that is still easy-to-use, but with some of the features of basic standalone readers.
I’ve been using Mail for over a year now, and it works quite well. Get rid of those stupid toolbar icons officially. Is that too much to ask?
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We have iPods that can hold a lot these days, so why not finally implement the take-your-Home-folder-on-your-iPod feature everyone has mentioned at some point or another? Heck, for that matter, why not make it so that you can sync two computers (laptop and desktop) with FireWire?
Surprise Me
I’m sure Apple will add some other things I haven’t thought of. Although improvements to things like Dashboard and Spotlight are assumed, I always can appreciate it when apple introduces something that changes the way I work.
Well, that’s it for now. I think that list is pretty decent of what I and many others want to see in the next version of Mac OS X. Got your own suggestions? Share them with us and we’ll feature select responses in a Mailbag column.