Filed under: OS, WWDC, Apple, Leopard
Apple posts Snow Leopard website
It is clear that Apple isn't ready to talk too much about the next version of OS X, Snow Leopard, but they are eager to set expectations. In addition to the press release we pointed to earlier today Apple has created a new section on its website explaining the focus of Snow Leopard.
Snow Leopard is all about making sure that users have a consistent experience across Apple products. Apple will be adding full Exchange support in Mail, Address Book, and iCal because it is in the iPhone. Apple is working on shrinking the amount of hard drive space OS X requires, no doubt because they figured out how to make OS X much smaller to run on the Apple TV and the iPhone. We'll also be seeing a new version of QuickTime, QuickTime X which will support 'all modern codecs.'
There isn't a ton of information on the site, but there is enough to leave you wanting more.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
codeman38 said 11:10PM on 6-09-2008
"Apple is working on shrinking the amount of hard drive space OS X requires, no doubt because they figured out how to make OS X much smaller to run on the Apple TV and the iPhone."
That, and stripping out all the PowerPC code, since Snow Leopard is to be Intel-only...
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codeman38 said 11:17PM on 6-09-2008
...Erm, never mind my above comment. Seems like I got my pre-WWDC rumors mixed up with actual fact; I can't find anything in Apple's press materials to actually substantiate the "no more PPC support" rumor.
Anyone want to throw me a fail macro? ^_^
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Nate Whistler said 11:20PM on 6-09-2008
Looks like they have a section for the server too.
Finally getting ZFS.
http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/snowleopard/
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Skunk Ape said 11:22PM on 6-09-2008
How much is this going to cost? Apple has already gotten more than enough money off me from almost yearly releases of new operating systems, but I seriously don't think I can stomach giving them another $130 for an OS I can't even install on my G4 Powerbook.
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Guillermo said 11:39PM on 6-09-2008
How much do you think you would stomach giving for an OS you can't install on your PowerBook?
Aaron said 11:49PM on 6-09-2008
I would venture to guess that this may not become a full $129 upgrade. The use of the name "Snow Leopard" makes it seem as though it will be a major revision to Leopard, but not necessarily a 10.x upgrade that we're used to paying in full for.
Although, the timeline for its release is right on point with the 12-18 month cycle that is in place.
Nick K. said 11:22PM on 6-09-2008
Hrmmm...
I really can't wait, although I do wish they wouldn't charge us for the update (I'm assuming they are charging full-price considering it's over a year from that point since a refresh). Also, a change in visual elements... It would be easy to confuse Leopard with Snow Leopard, although we've had this issue for 10.0-10.4. =P
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chrism238 said 11:28PM on 6-09-2008
So, have we yet worked out if OpenCL stands for Open Compute Library, or Open Computing Language? Reports differ, though the Snow Leopard states the former.
And why is there very little information on OpenCL via Google, other than reports of WWDC'08 or the now renamed Open Cryptographic Library which was renamed in 2005? What is OpenCL?
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lee said 11:53PM on 6-09-2008
vincent,
exchange support for address book, mail, iCal will be in 10.5.4 shipping in a few weeks (3-4 at a guess.)
lee
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onedollarbill said 12:01PM on 6-10-2008
@Lee
Info that shows/proves this?
Quine said 12:06AM on 6-10-2008
I might actually be more excited for this than I was for leopard. New features are great (and I really appreciate leopard's ones after using them a few months, I miss them on other platforms) but a major tune-up would be fantastic. Leopard already runs nice and fast for me but faster is always better :D Go apple, shed that shinier but slower aura and make it snappy.
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jordan said 12:18AM on 6-10-2008
From Their Website:
"Since 2001, Mac OS X has delivered more than a thousand innovative new features. With Snow Leopard, the next major version of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X changes more than its spots, it changes focus. Taking a break from adding new features, Snow Leopard — scheduled to ship in about a year — builds on Leopard’s enormous innovations by delivering a new generation of core software technologies that will streamline Mac OS X, enhance its performance, and set new standards for quality. Snow Leopard dramatically reduces the footprint of Mac OS X, making it even more efficient for users, and giving them back valuable hard drive space for their music and photos."
English Translation:
"We fucked up with leopard.. Allow us to take 130 more of your precious dollars and will give you a version of Leopard that works. Hell, we won't even change the name!"
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Tyrone Rugen said 1:06AM on 6-10-2008
Where did you find the pricing information? Oh wait, you didn't.
Kaepora said 2:40AM on 6-10-2008
It doesn't seem to have enough new features/improvements for me. It doesn't sound much like a major update the way Leopard was for Tiger, for example.
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Mike said 4:29AM on 6-10-2008
Whatever happened to Apple?!? Since when is a Microsoft feature at the top of an Apple product's feature list!?!
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Jonathan Wise said 7:38AM on 6-10-2008
Exchange Support is about getting into the enterprise -- the business world. Its an important step for Apple, with a critical mass building behind it. More and more people are wanting the friendliness of their Mac at work, but Active Directory support and Exchange support are two must-haves.
In recent versions of OS X, Active Directory support has improved, but Exchange support has been left to Microsoft's Entourage product (and its not that great a product.) I'm glad to see Apple taking the Enterprise market seriously -- I'd love to be able to run a Mac at the office (and not have to worry about I.T. breathing down my neck)
Rhywun said 8:18AM on 6-10-2008
Good luck with that... the only way my company is going to allow a Mac anywhere near its network is if the president buys one. Baby steps, I guess...
John Mc said 4:51AM on 6-10-2008
What about iSCSI? There isn't a single solution out there for Mac OS X to provide iSCSI Target functionality. It's a royal pain in the ass, and it should be available in the OS as standard. I'm debating whether to re-install my Mac Mini with Linux at the moment to get me out of a hole and I shouldn't have to do that. Either that or I go and buy a new system to install Linux on.
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Kev Orng said 8:44AM on 6-10-2008
They're running out of big cats!
After seeing Snow Leopard, I'm kind of surprised they didn't have a
Ghost Tiger as well, and maybe a mountain lion or a Pink Panther.
Anyway, I'm interested in Quicktime X, even though my company will have to buy all new QT Pro licenses. grrr. What do they mean by all modern codecs, Does that include (eek) WMV? I don't like WMV but that doesn't mean I don't have to use it sometimes. In fact, some of our clients expect WMV files from us all the time.
Oh, and will it be pronounced Quicktime Ex or Quicktime Ten? :-)
(I actually don't care how it's pronounced, but i know the Ex vs Ten discussion comes up occasionally on some other sites)
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jwilliek said 4:57PM on 6-11-2008
hmmm...when I think 'modern codecs,' I think Blu-ray Disc playback...