AppleInsider StaffEarlier this week, Apple Computer provided its developers with Mac OS X Tiger build 8A323, the third widely distributed pre-release version of its next-generation operating system.
Some fixes delivered in the latest build cover iSight recognition by iChat, font activation, archive installs, SMB filesharing, Finder item locking, Classic, Workgroup Manager, and Login Window.
To compliment the notes, developer sources have provided a pictorial of other known, but undocumented changes to the Tiger OS since build 8A294 was seeded last month:
- Spotlight now deactivates itself while indexing is in progress. The Spotlight menu displays a notice to the user, along with a time estimate and progress bar.
- A tutorial on Automator, Apple's new automated workflow assistant, confirms reports of an upcoming Automator website from Apple. The document also notes that Automator scripts can be activated through iCal alarms.
- QuickTime 6.6 now automatically determines a user's connection speed. With the new version, Apple has also returned fine-tune audio and video settings to the free version of QuickTime player. These controls were previously reserved for paid "Pro" license holders. Meanwhile, Pro users now have access to record audio and video through the QuickTime player.
- The fast user switch menu is now operational, sporting shortcuts to the Mac OS X Login Window and Account Preferences.
- TextEdit now supports tables and organized lists in addition to page breaks, line breaks, improved text selection, and a beefier 'Find' function.
- Apple has added a 'Fax and Print' menu that lets the user toggle fax receiving on or off.
- The Mac OS X 'Grab' functions are now accessible from within the Preview application.
- The upcoming Apple Hot News screen saver has seen modifications in recent builds. This saver now sports a liquid blue motif.
- Address Book has gained support for importing contact information from tab-delimited and comma separated values (CSV) files. The update application will also be capable of printing envelopes and 'mini' pocket-sized versions of a user's address book.
- An updated Universal Access preference pane contains controls to increase the size of the mouse cursor.
- The Mac OS X Calculator application sports dozens of currency rate updates.
According to sources close to Apple, the operating system is now in the late stages of development. Its expected that within the next 30 days Apple will announce favorable update on Tiger's expected release.
The company continues this month to distribute Tiger solely on DVD, further suggesting the shipping product may also require a DVD drive for installation.
Charles Martin
Wesley Hilliard
Marko Zivkovic
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
Christine McKee
69 Comments
Tiger just keeps on sounding better and better. Hopefully it will be released early enough that by the time i can afford and buy an iMac, it'll come with Tiger.
According to sources close to Apple, the operating system is now in the late stages of development. Its expected that within the next 30 days Apple will announce favorable update on Tiger's expected release.
Wow. If true, maybe we are looking at a March release date, not June/July-ish? I'd be pleasantly surprised.
Uh-oh, I see a Spring Fever marketing campaign looming...
So the input menu went back to the country-specific flag? That's a bit disappointing.
Everything else looks nifty.
Wow. If true, maybe we are looking at a March release date, not June/July-ish? I'd be pleasantly surprised.
I would think a March release date is all but set. Based on history but also progress they have made. A summer release date would mean this would have had an insanely long development cycle.It is shaping up to be a beautiful release. I'm a bit dissapointed that we haven't seen them attempt any significant breakthroughs yet though. I keep waiting for that one killer advanced feature no one has thought of yet that will change how we work. Tiger has many improvements that will do so to some but I think the next big breakthrough is a change in the finder. It seems to be the weakest link to me. The entire heirarchy thing just seems tedious. Spotlight changes this in ways but doesn't address the finder as much as makes you avoid it
If you want something to replace the finder, checkout quicksilver. I find it replaces most of the stuff i do in the finder, and more.