Introduction to Mac OSX Leopard
Apple´s Challenge to Microsft Windows Vista Offers Unique Features
Leopard promises to be more than just an upgrade: It could be defining personal computer use for the decade ahead.
When Steve Jobs stood on stage at the World Wide Developers Conference and demonstrated Leopard´s latest features, comparisons by computer journalists with Vista´s new interface and functionality were inevitable. One major problem though with such comparative lists is that Microsoft's marketplace domination and pre-installation contracts ensure their digital hegemony and wide support amongst the big media organisations. Despite this, Microsoft has recently shown itself vulnerable to innovation from other companies - failing publicly in the battle of the mp3 player and losing ground in the browser wars to Firefox and Safari. Now even its flagship operating system seems only to be able to shadow the graphical innovations of Apple´s new OSX: Leopard.
Leopard is not a revolutionary upgrade, but there are several features that could possibly change our working relationship with personal computers through the simple concepts of automation and stimulation:
Time Machine
Both Windows and OSX have incorporated back-up or system restore functions before now but in a rather limited and clunky fashion. Leopard looks set to change this by totally automating the process and/or stimulating the user to actively use the program. This is what Apple does best: It takes a dull activity and either automates it or provides a user interface that just is beautiful to use. Take a look at Apple´s Time Machine preview to see some of these effects.
Spaces
Apple is not the first to offer virtual desktops, but it is their insistence on clean lines and white space that will make this tool attractive to use. Spaces provides for multiple desktops that can each be devoted to a specific task, such as web browsing, music or design.
Alex is the new English voice on Leopard. It works with any program that supports speech synthesis. With greater pronunciation accuracy, Alex can read out mail or web page news items whilst you multi-task on other projects. This has enormous scope to take over from text reading on screen. Speech synthesis has now developed to the point where it is able to read articles and store them as mp3´s in i-Tunes for later listening to on your mp3 player.
New Finder
In a not-so-subtle move to tempt Windows users over to Macs, Apple has redesigned the Finder to follow more closely the i-Tunes format. As i-Tunes is already on the PC for millions of potential switchers, any transition will be now be much easier due to its familiar interface and functionality. The integration of Cover Flow into Finder hints at a possible touch screen future, such as that featured on the i-Phone.
The battle between the two companies for the best graphical interface began back in the early 1980´s and it is here, that ultimately, the contest will be settled. Both Microsoft and Apple are trying to set new standards and to define future directions with their own exclusive software. Both companies clearly have the ability to create a new user experience over the next decade: Windows Vista has the clout, but Leopard appears to have the vision.
