Notes on Leopard
These are just a bunch of small things that either I’ve noticed or have been pointed out to me about Leopard:
iChat supports IRC-style status updates. You can type “/me is installing Leopard” into an IM window, and it will display it in a style similar to iTunes track notification messages, or away message changes, substituting your name for “/me”. (thanks, Andy)
GOOD: iChat now has a profile editor, catching up with the official AIM client. From 1998. BAD: Lime green and/or white italic underlined text on hot pink backgrounds.
Because iChat officially supports invisibility now, it no longer displays the ‘This person is not online.’ alert when you try to message an offline contact (since it has no way of knowing if they’re offline or just invisible). Instead, AOL seems to be queueing messages for the next time they log on. That’s cool, because now you can leave a message for someone, instead of setting up an alert to notify you when they do log on, in hopes that you’ll still remember whatever it was you wanted to say.
GOOD: iChat can log into multiple AIM/Jabber accounts simultaneously. BAD: Five simultaneous accounts means five separate buddy lists. Still, slowly catching up to Adium.
Spaces is awesome, especially on an untethered laptop (meaning: away from additional 20” display). I never “got” virtual desktops before I used this implementation.
Screen Sharing is nice to have in the OS, but I was very disappointed that it doesn’t go all full screen and swoopy when used outside of iChat. It also doesn’t work out-of-the-box with Ubuntu’s built-in VNC server (Gutsy Gibbon). (Update: It works using instructions found here.)
Stacks are ugly. Which folder is that, anyway? Also, you have to mouse around with the contextual menu just to actually open the folder. No amount of clicking, double-clicking, or mashing modifier keys helps.
Some issues that it would be wonderful if plugin developers could address:
Time Machine should issue a Growl notification when a backup finishes (because it gives me a fuzzy feeling to know that the last hour or two of work is now safe)
Time Machine needs a Dashboard widget displaying its current status, which is currently only viewable in the system preferences pane.
Quick Look needs to report on the contents of archives: .zip, .gz, .tar, .dmg, etc. A nice little list of the files’ names and sizes would be extremely helpful (I shall arrogantly assume
AladdinAllumeSmithMicro is already working on one for .sit). Also, CSS files’ previews should render as text, like .txt and .php files do.iChat should employ some sort of Quick Look-like view for inline images. Once you’re used to Quick Look in the Finder, it’s frustrating to hit the space bar and have nothing happen, then remember you have to launch Preview to see that image at a comprehensible size.
And, as is tradition, I’ve already got my installation hacked up with a bunch of plugins, some Alpha-quality, some not:
Chax 2.0 — Adds the features Apple forgot
WidescreenMailPlugin — Makes your Mail window extremely narrow
MiniMail — Like the mini iTunes window, but for Mail
Saft for Leopard — Essentials like type-to-find, double-click-for-new-tab, and undo-tab-closing
PlugSuit — Plugin enabler and manager prefpane. Lets you use many regular old InputManagers on Leopard.