May 12, 2002
Jaguar or Jackalope?
Apple will perform several more or less difficult, more or less impressive stunts when it releases Mac OS X 10.2, code name Jaguar, late this summer. Michael Swaine reviews these yet-to-be-accomplished feats.
The Fifth Column
Apple will perform several more or less difficult, more or less
impressive stunts when it releases Mac OS X 10.2, code name
Jaguar, late this summer. Steve demoed some of these stunts at WWDC, but
demos are just demos. Still, despite the fact that I haven't seen any of
these stunts yet except as demos, I thought that I would review them all
for you here and now.
One reason that I wanted to do this is that I have been going around in
circles with Edelman PR and Apple for months over a product that I'd
like to review if Apple would only send it to me. (Addresses are often
meaningful: Microsoft is at One Microsoft Way; Apple is at One Infinite
Loop.) I thought that it would help the process along if I showed them
that I don't really have to have the product to review it, and let them
see what kind of review I give a product when I can't get my hands on it.
| Stunt |
Degree of Difficulty
(1-5) |
Score (6-10) |
Judge's Comments
(I'm the only judge, but I sometimes have conflicting opinions.) |
| iChat |
4 |
7 |
1. Now you can be
annoyed by AOL users in real time.
2.
I can't help it, I'm a sucker for word balloons.
|
| Quartz Extreme |
4 |
8 |
1. What a novel idea:
an OS taking advantage of graphics hardware.
2. It doesn't work on my machine. |
| Rendezvous |
3 |
8 |
1. What I like is
that Apple is proposing this as an industry standard for dynamic discovery
of computers and devices on IP.
2. I don't understand it.
1. Just accept it, it's good for you.
2. But --
1. Hey! What did I say? |
| Inkwell |
5 |
10 |
1. Handwriting recognition
in the OS is a strong hint that some interesting new hardware will be coming
this year. High marks for rumor generation.
2. It doesn't work on my machine.
1. And, it's a testament to the creative inspiration of single-malt scotch. |
| Sherlock 3 |
2 |
7 |
1. As Sherlock gets
older it starts to look more and more like Watson; Sherlock 4 will be keeping
bees in Sussex.
2. Which Watson, the actual product or the Applescript Studio demo project?
1. Which Watson. Jeez. Alexander Graham Bell's assistant Watson, OK? |
| Quicktime 6.0 |
4 |
8 |
1. First they have
to solve the licensing problem.
2. Speed up. Lawyers sighted on the critical path.
1. Lawyers? Wait till the Hollywood lawyers realize that you can make your
own movies on a Mac. They'll get Fritz Hollings to try to pass a law against
it.
2. Now, don't get me started on Hollywood lawyers. |
| Finder Mutithreading |
3 |
10 |
1. Anything that
makes it faster. Does Apple even test software on G3s?
2. I hope they put the "Oops, user let cursor dawdle over Recent Items
menu item a quarter of a second too long, so spin the dreaded globe for
an eternity" process in its own thread. |
| USB Sharing |
2 |
7 |
1. I'm on my break.
You take this one.
2. But isn't Bluetooth going to replace USB? |
| Windows Support |
1 |
7 |
1. Is good. SMB browsing
and sharing, built-in PPTP VPN security, Active Directory support. I approve.
2. Isn't this in the category of "play nice with the class bully?"
1. No, it's "have sympathy for the bully's victims." |
| Unix Tools |
1 |
8 |
1. It would be denigrating
useful tools to call this shovelware, right?
2. One of the tools is FreeBSD 4.4. Who bundles another operating system
with their operating system?
1. It's not another operating system. Mac OS X is Unix. |
| Improved Mail Program |
1 |
8 |
1.Lots of improvements,
much needed. There's even a cross-application address book that can dial
numbers on your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. I love it! Or I would if I
had a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone.
2. Whatever they did, I welcome it. I could use some improved mail. |
| Universal Accessibility |
2 |
8 |
1. Much needed by
those who need it. This is Apple at its best.
2. Honey, I blew up the pixels! |
| The Mac OS 9 funeral |
1 |
6 |
1. Well, it wasn't
"Six Feet Under."
2. No, but if it was, Steve would be Brenda. |
| Come for the Java,
stay for the Cocoa |
1 |
7 |
1. Apple's slogan
for the event was warm and inviting.
2. Caffeine and chocolate are both stimulants; with the announcement of
Sherlock 3, they could easily have worked in cocaine. Another missed opportunity. |
| Return of spring-loaded
folders |
1 |
10 |
1. Life is good again.
2. Amen, brother. |
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