Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, OS, Software, Mods, Leopard
Leopard's new menubar is hideous
I haven't watched the keynote yet, and I've been spending most of my time looking through the other new features of Mac OS X Leopard. After I found that non-transparent menubar mod for Leopard, however, I can't get over how hideous that new menubar really is. I also hate to say it, but Apple's secrecy with this UI change until now screams 'Cupertino borrowed one of Redmond's photocopiers' (the new Windows Vista, for those who haven't seen it, contains what many - including myself - consider to be a literally dizzying overabundance of transparent window borders and menus). Seriously: what is Apple thinking by turning the menubar nearly invisible, but keeping the 'just slightly' translucent aspect and white color of previous menus? I think this looks absolutely dreadful, as it doesn't even look like the menubar and the menus have anything to do with each other anymore, and I'll be damned if Apple takes the actual menus this translucent as well. In fact, if they went that over the edge, I could comfortably say that I wouldn't buy a copy of Leopard until someone developed a modification that switches the menubar and menu back from the brink of "hey look, Vista went transparent!"-ness (of course, a simple Apple-provided checkbox in System Preferences would do just fine as well).
Given Peter Maurer's mod and disinterest in this change surfacing from others, I can only hope that more voice their opinion - whether they do or don't like it - and that Apple listens if it the consensus on this menubar change turns out to be a thumbs down. After all, Leopard still is a developer-only beta, and October is still a long way away.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
lios said 12:08PM on 6-17-2007
i) It can be switched of from System preferences.
ii) REALLY does improve focus with windows. Try a program called Menushade.
iii) Vistaness becomes from huge blurry borders, which is complitely opposote of Leopard where there is no borders at all. Tiger still has some with Brushed Metal apps.
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Micah Neumark said 12:11PM on 6-17-2007
I heard people are questioning this move, but the few people who have actually used it have actually ended up liking it. Don't bash it until you actually use it.
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Gist said 12:14PM on 6-17-2007
Geez... is this Cry-more-Sunday? Ever think that Apple might have this as an option along with the "classic" menu bar in Sys Prefs? Or that the solid Menu Bar leaves a nice screen burn-in, even on LCDs? Or that you're bitching about a BETA product still months away from going gold?
Does the TUAW weekend staff consist of goth kids pissed off that Hot Topic won't accept their mom's credit card without her being present?
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Rafael Millan said 12:17PM on 6-17-2007
This post is just your opinion, some people may actually like the new menubar.
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Joe Bella said 12:16PM on 6-17-2007
Whatever. It's a friggin' menubar. Get over it already. Why does everyone always have to pick on the smallest most insignificant thing and blow it up into a federal case? Do you know how ridiculous you sound to 99% of the computer buying public when you say you wont buy an OS because you don't like the look of it's menu bar? This is why windows users think we are crazy.
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graham said 12:17PM on 6-17-2007
I quite like it to be honest. It could be a little less translucent so it's easier to read the menu items, but overall I like it.
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dp said 12:19PM on 6-17-2007
I quite like it. It's obvious they took the idea from Vista which I thought was interesting yet kind of a shame. Reminded me that Apple are really watching Microsoft closely.
However I think it's ridiculous that the look of the menubar is so important to you. It is an operating system. If the appearance of a small transparent strip at the top of the screen can put you off buying the whole OS altogether I think you are an idiot.
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ijan said 12:20PM on 6-17-2007
Try this with MenuShade first, it is realy cool, after a while you get really really used to it.
It let's you focus on your programms and windows and after switching back the Tiger one looks too bright.
If it works great and it has similarities with vista, who cares.
Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect of the Status Quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
But the only thing you can't do, is ignore them.
Because they change things. They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones. We see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world.
Are the ones who do.
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derek said 12:24PM on 6-17-2007
is that what it really look like? the drop-downs arent transparent? I was hoping it would look like PhotoPro... but that... oh dear...
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deevee said 12:27PM on 6-17-2007
now what about the dock? that's what I call ugly!
i hope it can be change also!
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SLN said 12:30PM on 6-17-2007
No, there currently (in the WWDC seed) isn't a a way to turn of the transparent menu bar. I'm using the seed and Apple has not (yet) put a hook in to it to allow it to be changed. There is probably a way to change it via the terminal (defaults write menubar... something or other), but that hasn't surfaced yet.
The good news is that during a Leopard UI session at WWDC, the presenter mentioned that he had gotten a lot of feedback on the new menubar (the insinuation is that it wasn't positive). I believe there will be a preference to adjust it in the final build.
And if there isn't, I expect someone to introduce a hack that will do it.
Personally, I'm not crazy about it, but it isn't so bothersome that I've abandoned using my Leopard seed.
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Tim Kimberl said 12:30PM on 6-17-2007
Yea, I find it crappy too... but hey, apple could throw us a polished turd and there would still be a ton of people who would love it.
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dp said 12:31PM on 6-17-2007
Joe Bella - Exactly what I thought.
I like macs, but hate the whole mac fanboy thing.
I wish people would stop bashing other OS's just because they think their own OS is better. Windows, Linux, and Mac OS all have their own advantages and disadvantages. I can happily use all three. I don't need to go around saying Vista is "literally dizzying" because they use transparent window borders.
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Josh Farkas of Pixelton said 9:02PM on 6-17-2007
Hate to agree, but both the dock and menubar are horrid. Im actually considering NOT upgrading so I don't have to look at their Vista-wannabe visuals.
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Aaron said 12:33PM on 6-17-2007
I can't believe that this was a post, there has to be something better to write about.
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ChrisM70 said 12:35PM on 6-17-2007
I agree that the menu bar shouldn't be too transparent - or it makes the type hard to read! Owning an Apple is about functionality and ease of use, right?
Perhaps Apple could change it so that the menu bar is very transparent, BUT becomes more opaque when your cursor hovers over it - making it easier to read when you need it.
Kind of like how the window buttons have X - + appear when you hover over them.
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AS said 12:39PM on 6-17-2007
Dude, what the F*** is your problem? Can't you at least wait till you actually use the OS before you bash things in it as "hideous." All these people complaining about the menu bar and the dock should really think about the fact that every time there's a UI change, there will have to be some adjustment. So, at least try it before you write what IMHO is a childish entry.
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MajorMauser said 12:39PM on 6-17-2007
Probably a little kid running the Leopard Show now. When a menu bar is as important as it is in OS X why do this and to even mention this as one of the new features.... What about Menu Meters and all of the Menubar Items... what were they thinking. Also a 3D dock that does nothing new is not a feature. If the Dock Rotated to reveal new app's now that would be something. But Apple is to pre-occupied with the OTHER side of Apple Computer.....Apple Inc.
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Charles said 12:40PM on 6-17-2007
This is a non-problem. If you don't like the transparent menu bar, just make your own desktop image with a white bar at the top where the menu is. No system hacks required.
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Roberto Mateu said 12:44PM on 6-17-2007
I agree with you 100%. If you see the Keynote, you'll notice that people laugh after Steve shows the new desktop. kinda expecting it was a Windows Vista joke.
I find the menu bar terrible in its gui principles. But the new 3D Dock is just fugly.
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