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Inside Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: new iOS-like About this Mac app

After converted Mac OS X's Apple Menu to link to the new Mac App Store market rather than just linking to its "Mac OS X Software" web page, Apple has now turned its attention to the pedestrian "About This Mac," providing easy access to system details.

The command now launches a simple new app titled System Information, which provides an Overview panel linking to both Software Updates and a hardware System Report (which launches the existing System Profiler for more detailed information).

A Displays panel details the current video interface and settings, providing a link to the Display panel in System Preferences.

The Storage panel provides an iTunes-like overview of how disk space is being used by each attached volume and partition, providing a link to Disk Utility.

Memory and Battery panels detail the status of installed RAM and batteries, linking to an external website of "memory upgrade instructions" and the Energy Saver panel of System Preferences.

The new app also provides links to Support information, including a Mac OS X user manual and link to Apple's OS support pages, as well as a hardware user manual, specifications, and hardware support pages.

Finally, a Service panel provides links to AppleCare for checking warranty coverage status and other options for service and repair, along with a link selling an extended AppleCare agreement.

38 Comments

christopher126 17 Years · 4366 comments

I'm impressed and would not make fun of this.

This is the attention to detail that sets Apple above the rest. And I mean way above the rest!

There's only one way to do things and that's the right way.

Best

bartfat 16 Years · 434 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyperpunx

so its just a flashier front end?

Not exactly. The old System Profiler to get more information about the system is a bit intimidating to users. It's something only a technician or a tech-savvy user would be comfortable in. This app definitely wraps it up in a nice GUI, but it also is more approachable and plus, it has the AppleCare warranty upsell built-in

ireland 19 Years · 17437 comments

Good idea, but I think they could simplify this up even more.

jb510 17 Years · 129 comments

I'm liking all the UI tweaks (scroll bars, window resizing, etc) but really care a LOT more about the actual OS changes (versions, ASLR, resume, etc).

Could we please get more reporting on the actual OS features? Any signs of a new file system burried in there? Any apps using versions or resume? How well does file vault work qnd does it work with Time Machine and Time Machine Server? A video of air drop working would be great....