Summer NAMM 2007: Predictions

[DHR53]

Hmmm... I've been using Macs for over 20 years, and I STILL download files to the desktop for one reason. I don't always know if I want to keep the file on my machine permanently. So I DL, make sure it's something I need or want, THEN place it in the proper location afterward... Just a habit I got into a long time ago... since NOTHING goes on my desktop but my HD icons

[grillo]

I think Sasha is quite right, and let's not forget other main innovations in the next os version are well, animated stuff and an improved im / video chat client. Although that 64 vs 32 bit head to head looked really promising i'd say.

[Sascha Franck]

Thing is, Apple seems to be trying to sort of re-invent the wheel. Why not concentrate on something useful instead?
There's really no *need* for such "stacks". You can organize things almost identical since ages. A simple folder on your desktop called "downloads" would suffice. Then drag it into the dock and you can always access it quickly anyways. Besides, I never even see my desktop. Why should I? I'm using computers to get work done, so why would I even want look at the desktop? I leave at least one instance of Finder open all the time, and then there's applications running. Desktop shmesktop - f**k desktops.
They should rather concentrate on a file browser/manager deserving that name. Finder can't keep displaying long filenames (because it doesn't remember collumn widths but resets to the default all the time you change locations or reopen it), there's no keyboard shortcut for "cut", etc. Instead we're getting iTunes-alike look. Yeah. Cool. Just what the doctor ordered. Visual gizmos instead of functionality. Truly innovative.

I give you that I really like the Quicklook idea. But, this requires companies to adjust their saved format types to be compatible with it. And I'd rather have said companies concentrating on the core functionality of whatever they're working on. As much as I'd like to see mini preview versions of my Logic arrangements straight in Finder, I'd like it even better if Logic finally got less buggy or offered some decent, 3rd millenium-worthy audio editing functions at least. Until that's going to happen, f**k Quicklook.

To get back on topic, while I don't expect anything spectacular from NAMM, I'd still love to see two things:

Softwarewise, I still want my super drum-machine. In a nutshell: A slicer, drum sampler and drum synth in one package. All fully integrated and interacting. Even better if it was interacting with my sequencer of choice (actually, *that* would be something Apple could offer with Logic, as their plugins are embedded anyways).

Hardwarewise, I really, really, really want someone to finally come up with a guitar vibrato bridge that you could lock in case you don't need it, so all those country style bends would still be possible on a whammybar equipped guitar. Or break a string without having to entirely stop playing. The Steinbergers had something like that, but of course you can't put it into any other axes. I really wonder why nobody is coming up with such a thing for stock vibrato bridges. Oh, and I wouldn't mind if there was an adaption of Steinbergers TransTrem, either. God, how much I loved that thing (and being the stupid idiot that I am, I sold my Steinberger, *aarrrgh*).

[anti-banausic]

The strangest thing about leopard is that for me, the best thing about OSX is using quicksilver, which is the most intuitive way to use an OS I have ever come across. I like a bunch of things in OSX, but for me, if quicksilver was also available for Windows, I would probably use windoze a lot as well. I am truly surprised that Apple didn't either pick this little app up, or model something after it.

It could be even better if something like quicklook was imbedded in it, which it might be given that the developer has been working on a leopard version for the past few months.

i think that, if lucky, we may be seeing that third party developers are actually better in some ways than the developers themselves. By this I mean, to develop an OS from the ground up is difficult I presume (not a developer), but one third party developer can have a nifty idea, and change the way people interact with their computers.

Don't really know. I want L8. It would be fantastic if it were a nice combination of SoundtrackPro and L7.

Best,
AB

[meister eder]

Finder can't keep displaying long filenames (because it doesn't remember collumn widths but resets to the default all the time you change locations or reopen it),

Change column width while holding the Option key, close the window, re-open the window: Column width remembered (only for all columns at once though, not for different individual column widths - but better than nothing).

[aMUSEd]

I give you that I really like the Quicklook idea. But, this requires companies to adjust their saved format types to be compatible with it.

I think that's why Windows dropped it years ago (Quickview - never caught on though the third party app is still available I think I found it too inconsistent for that reason)

[hibidy]

hmmmmm, kinda bummed.....thought my nessie message was going to go over bigger.....

too dry? Maybe allot like a dry martini with NO vermouth?

[DHR53]

People have been making finder enhancements for the Mac OS as long as I can remember... I used Disktop for years in OS9 because it let you MOVE things, as well as Copy... something Windows users have always been able to do QuickKeys will do most any type of file moving, network switching/printers and Macros as well... which I've also used for years. But OSX crippled a lot of the best features of QuickKeys unfortunately. I still use it, but Apple as always steadfastly refused to do a few simple enhancements to the finder that would make EVERYONE who uses a Mac's, life easier. And these days it's all about "touchy feely" consumer oriented stuff that has no interest for the professional at all... DOH!

[Sascha Franck]

Change column width while holding the Option key, close the window, re-open the window: Column width remembered (only for all columns at once though, not for different individual column widths - but better than nothing).

I know that one. Just as I know about moving files by holding the option key. Doesn't make Finder much better, though. It's a lousy file organizer.

[Curois]

Code: Select all

I predict that Reason 4 STILL won't be released.

At least Propellerheads actually showed us a preview of Reason 4 a few months back. Apple have been unreasonably silent about Logic 8, leading many people to think they may have abandoned Logic in favor of Soundtrack Pro and Garageband.

Bwahahahahaha, now THAT would really crack me up! All those people swearing by Apple were so happy when Apple got Logic from Emagic, because Apple is really concerned with what their userbase want. So when Apple abandons Logic because they probably get much more money from the smaller more commercially interesting programs like soundtrack, it becomes apparent that apple is no different from Microshit at all

[releasetherapy]

So can we agree that Ableton will almost certainly bring out Live 7

[shamann]

So can we agree that Ableton will almost certainly bring out Live 7

Well, there are no certainties when it comes to software upgrade paths, but it is generally what they do.

[jones-y]

Btw, I've just seen the WWDC keynote and I am majorly embarrassed. I've never seen a lousier product presentation.

I agree.

Also, should make you think why one of the Top 10 points (which is what Jobs showed) of a new OS (!) would be that the ability to run another OS. Why, if the new OSX is such a superior OS, would anyone make a big deal out of that? Because they know they're still not on par with Windows regarding a whole lot of aspects. Otherwise there wouldn't be a need for Bootcamp.

But you addressed the purpose for bootcamp in your first paragraph: Apple is a hardware company, first and foremost. It has nothing to do with any perceived inferiority. Besides I think 10.4 is way superior to XP SP2. I also thought 10.2 was better than XP, and I thought OS9 was better than 98 (but I thought that 2000 was better than OS9)... I haven't tried Vista or (of course) 10.5 so I can't comment.

In addition, the keynote contained quite some further bullshit, such as the presentation of stacked folders, their existance mainly being explained by "oh yes, we all know how much your desktop is messing up with all those downloads". Does that mean Apple users are too f**king stupid to download to any other more sensible location than their desktop? The last time I downloaded something to the desktop was like 10 years ago or so.
Oh yes, and there's gonna be more games for OSX now. Right, exactly what I've always dreamt of.

I agree, and for me, it was the underlying technologies I wanted to hear about, esp. Core Audio (and rumors of a new file system). After a bit of hunting, I did see some of the plans for Core Audio in 10.5 (can't seem to find it at the moment), but being that this was a Developer conference, I thought they would be at least bulleted, if not highlighted...

[Sascha Franck]

Well, after all, to me it seems that now, after the appearance of the rather affordable IntelMacs, Apple is trying to market their OS in a way it becomes more attractive to the masses as well.
Quite understandable from a business point of view - but given their "creative technology leader" claims, you'd expect something more than just that, and at the WWDC the only two things aiming at least a bit towards the professional market have been Time Machine (even if so far I think it's more of an "easy rescue/recover" than a professional backup application) and full 64bit support, the latter rather being a must.

Don't get me wrong, I may even enjoy some of the new features, but as said, I certainly expect something else as well (apart from them announcing a Logic update).

[mateo]

Don't get me wrong, I may even enjoy some of the new features, but as said, I certainly expect something else as well (apart from them announcing a Logic update).

Thing is, there's a lot more new features in leopard than what was announced in the keynote, even if a lot of it is under the hood. The improvements to Objective-C, the APIs, and the development tools are compelling enough that some devs are making their apps leopard only, and that's probably going to have a greater impact on us than most of the other announced features. There's also the fact that all the people who got the feature complete betas are under NDA, so it seems there's still some stuff that apple doesn't want the world to know about just yet.

As far as Logic goes, if they're using leopard only features (and it's not unreasonable to assume they are) it's quite possible they're waiting for leopard's release to announce it, as they don't have anything to gain by pre-announcing it.