New Tiger builds include Address Book sharing, PDF bookmarking, more
New builds of Apple's Mac OS X Tiger operating system are beginning to surface with dozens of previously unpublicized features.
The first external builds of Mac OS X Tiger to leave Cupertino in recent months are packing new features. Sources have already provided details on Jabber iChat support, parental controls, and RSS feed customization. Additional enhancements are said to include Address Book sharing, PDF bookmarking, and incremental Energy Saver settings.
Screenshots: Address Sharing; Address Backup; iTunes Screensaver
The latest developmental versions of Address Book— the centralized repository for contact information in Mac OS X— have revealed support for both sharing and backup of contacts. Through a new preference panel, users can add or send invites to other users, allowing them to view or edit contacts present in their address book. Likewise, the addition of a second preference panel will aid users in backing up their contact listings on a daily or weekly basis.
Tiger's version of Preview is another Mac OS X application that is reflecting significant changes. According to sources, the new version sports text annotation capabilities and PDF bookmarking. A text annotation tool will encapsulates PDF content in red ovals and let the user record comments, while a new Bookmarks application menu provides instant access to specific PDF document pages.
A revised version of Tiger's Energy Saver application now displays six new settings buttons, each capable of retaining its own set of customized power management preferences. Users may reportedly use the new feature to denote incremental energy saver preferences, ranging from "Better Battery Life" to "Better Performance."
The latest builds of Mac OS X Tiger also include file sharing capabilities for host machines running off Dynamic DNS or Apple's Xsan Network file system. Meanwhile, additions to Tiger's "Screensavers" and "Security" preference panes have unveiled a new iTunes album art screensaver and an option to encrypt memory when its being swapped to disk, respectively.
Among several other noticeable additions, the new Tiger builds reveal a brand new Mac OS X Graphing Calculator application, iCal calendar groups, and an enhanced dialog that provides bug report and safe relaunch options following an unexpected application crash.
31 Comments
Yes! Oh god, yes! Address Book sharing, 'show birthdays calender', PDF bookmarking and annotation, Xgrid, Xsan!!!
The graphing calculator still looks rough around the edges...it's clear the toolbar icons are placeholders but it looks pretty sweet.
This looks really nice, especially the graphing calculator. Once I saw the pictures of the graphing calculator I knew they were familiar. It looks like Curvus Pro X, a graphing calculator produced by Arizona. After noticing this, I went to the website and discovered an interesting little tidbit. "On July 22, 2004 Curvus Pro X was bought by an international company and its distribution has been discontinued. It is therefore not possible any longer to download nor to buy any kind of registration license for this program." http://www.curvuspro.ch/osx/en/index.html As far as I figure Apple must have bought the rights to the program so that they could include it in Tiger. I am glad to see this as Curvus Pro X was a great graphing application.
This looks really nice, especially the graphing calculator. Once I saw the pictures of the graphing calculator I knew they were familiar. It looks like Curvus Pro X, a graphing calculator produced by Arizona. After noticing this, I went to the website and discovered an interesting little tidbit. "On July 22, 2004 Curvus Pro X was bought by an international company and its distribution has been discontinued. It is therefore not possible any longer to download nor to buy any kind of registration license for this program." http://www.curvuspro.ch/osx/en/index.html As far as I figure Apple must have bought the rights to the program so that they could include it in Tiger. I am glad to see this as Curvus Pro X was a great graphing application.
Are some of the toolbar icons from the Curvus Pro X app? Like the blue Aqua toolset in the left part of the toolbar?
edit: heh...it's exactly Curvus Pro X but with the brushed-metal interface.
Wow, the graphing calculator's (beta) interface looks absolutely horrible.
I guess this goes to show how bad software can be prior to adequate apple polish.
This is looking more and more like Apple is going to deliver a very major upgrade to OS X. It's going to drive MS nuts that they are falling so far behind, especially when it comes to Spotlight. The graphing calculator will add some kick to students and some scientists.
The real issue for me is that Apple continues to move forward with major steps in both software and hardware. All with "only" 2% of the market share.