OS X Leopard Preview

While Microsoft readies Windows Vista, encorporating featuries already familiar to Mac & Mozilla users, Apple is working on OS 10.5 (a.k.a. "Leopard"). Pay attention Mr. Gates, here are some of the new features slated to be included in the new OS X release (scheduled for late 2006/early 2007):

1. PowerPC and Intel compatible. The first and most obvious feature will be the fact that the entire operating system will be available for both PowerPC and Intel processors. Builds since 10.0 have been written for both processors, but never publicly available as a retail product until Leopard.

2. More Transparency. The control panel will feature a customizable transparency control that allows users to change the opacity in which the menus and dock are displayed. A slide control allows these items’ backgrounds to go from fully opaque to completely transparent.

3. Animated icons! Those bouncing icons in your dock will come alive. Reports suggest that the dock icons will have much more life to them when opening an application or alerting users about an application. Alert sounds that accompany the animation are also being developed but may not be included with the final release.

4. Dashboard improvements. The dashboard will see major speed changes in Leopard. Widgets will load and run in the background so when Dashboard is launched, there is no delay or load time before accessing the widgets.

5. New desktop pictures and screen savers. Although every new release of the Mac OS has seen new desktop pictures and screen savers, we’re learning that these two items may be combined into one, allowing a screen saver to run on the desktop, behind windows and applications.

6. Streamlined Theme. New information indicates that the entire user interface is said to lose the “brushed metal” look in favor of the new “solid” metal windows we’ve seen in iTunes 5. This conflicts slightly with previous reports of a transition to a more translucent theme throughout with more of a “glass” look. If the latter is true, this would mean that Apple is taking a page from Microsoft’s Vista (formally Longhorn) which is said to have a frosted glass. Windows are also said to be less rounded on the corners, giving the entire operating system a sleeker, strict look.

7. An iPod Home feature. Leopard is said to incorporate even tighter integration with the iPod. Our source tells us that Leopard will allow users of two different computers to finally use one iPod. Although music is still not allowed to be copied from the iPod to the Macintosh, a shared Home directory will be available to users of multiple machines. Leopard will warn that the iPod is linked to a different music library, but the Home directory will be available for use.

8. iChat Tabs and Sharing. iChat 4 will allow users to chat with multiple people in one window by using tabs. This reduces window clutter and keeps iChat real estate to a minimum. Another feature Apple is working on to increase productivity within iChat is a whiteboard feature. A common window, shared between users live that will allow images, sketches and documents to be transferred live and stored for later use and access. iChat 4 is said to record video chats and save them as mpegs allowing users to play them back at a later date.

9. Full-Screen Applications. The latest release of iPhoto has given us a preview of what we can expect in many of Apple's iApps. A full screen calendar (iCal) that can be used as a desktop picture. iTunes will also allow users to run in full-screen, optimizing the screen real estate on displays such as the 17" iMac.

10. Home Integration. We're receiving early information that Leopard will have tighter home integration allowing users to control certain features within their homes. Controlling iTunes wirelessly through your home stereo already exists. However, information we're receiving suggests that applications such as iChat, Keynote, and iPhoto can "photocast" and "videocast" images, video and music to your television allowing for videoconferences, presentations or slideshows on your television. We've also received information that Apple is testing ways to monitor your home remotely, using the iSight camera, and control turning on and off lights, alarms, etc. Whether this feature will make it to the final version is unknown.

11. Remote Control Access. Leopard will allow users to send specific information between two computers for troubleshooting purposes. For example, an experienced user can send a link to the system preferences to a less experienced user. This allows for easier troubleshooting. Another feature here will be the ability to mirror the screen over the internet or a network, so during a conference, users can troubleshoot, or simply look at another person's screen.

[source: LoopRumors.com]