Mac OS X is the “client” release of Mac OS X Server, targeted at any Mac that Apple shied with Power G3 processor or better. Some Linux users say Mac OS X has future over Linux, because there is a lot more to a desktop platform than just the OS; it is the entire infrastructure that matters. A solid desktop OS needs all manner of support from front foundries, file conversion utilities, installers and an ability to open and work with documents across all other platforms in friendly fashion.
Mac OS X is a uniquely powerful development platform, supporting multiple development technologies including UNIX, Java, and a host of open source, Web, scripting, database, and development technologies.
At the center of Apple Computer’s OS X as a BSD Unix kernel and other BSD components, together called Darwin. Additional open-source components sit on top of Darwin, as well as applications written by Apple. Any changes Apple makes become available to the open-source community, and many find their way to FreeBSD.
When it comes to UNIX on the laptop, Apple is ahead of the game. For years, it has had OS X running on its PowerBooks. Apple’s unified operating system strategy means OS X a small desktop is the same as on a G5 server. New releases extend across Apple’s product line. The company likes to take advantage of existing components with open-source licenses. For example, rather than write a Web server from scratch, Apple has innovated o top of Apache.
The development directions are pointing to make Mac OS X an amazing multifaceted platform. The current release brings developers revolutionary new technologies like Spotlight, Dashboard, Autotamor, Core Data, and Core Image. These powerful additions to the modern, UNIX-based foundation make Mac OS X Tiger the most advanced operating system available.
Just like Apple’s transition from Mac OS9 to Mac OS X requires new versions of the applications we use every day, the transition to Intel-based Macs is forcing developers to update their code once again. Apple is doing its best to make that transition as painless as possible for developers and end-users alike through a new type of application type called Universal Binary (UB). A UB application contains the necessary code to run natively on a PowerPC-based Mac as well as an Intel-Based Mac, like the new iMac or MacBook Pro.
The good news is that users can get faster, more powerful Macs in their hands far earlier than expected. The bad news is that many developers weren’t ready for the quick release, and don’t have their applications ready to go.
Microsoft publicly committed to a five-year agreement with Apple to continue developing and supporting Office for the Macintosh. The downside is that it did not explicitly state when Universal Binary versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and entourage will be available. Based on early reports, however, that shouldn’t be a big problem. The Office applications seem to be running just fine in Rosetta.
In theory, Java-based applications should run without a hitch on the Intel-based Macs. In reality, there may be some problems. A PowerPC-based application that relies on Java that includes the JNI Libraries, the application most likely won’t even launch.
The entire Mac community, both developers and users, have entered into a multi-years transition. Apple is currently selling PowerPC and Intel-based Macs, which is forcing developers to support two hardware platforms with their applications. Until the transition is complete, expect to see slower release cycles, since essentially two versions of an application need to be developed and tested before they are delivered to users.
Once Apple finishes its transition, however, there will still be several years where users have a mixed PowerPC and Intel environment, thanks to the resilience of the Mac. Unlike the Windows world, Mac users can continue to use a machine for five years, seven years, or even longer. But don’t expect to see developers writing Universal Binary applications ten years from now. Odds are that they will be writing Intel only versions by that point.
Although we may go though some rough patches now, things will smooth out once we all have shiny, new, faster and more powerful Intel -based Macs sitting on our desks.
Mac OS Tiger was already over its time in 2005, but this was not a reason to stop its evolution. The Apple’s engineers are continuing to go on … Let’s raise the curtain on the immediate future: there is Mac OS X Leopard. It offers functionalities, which simplify the research and the access to all that is on a computer to benefit from it truly.
Leopard presents a new functionality: the “Time Machine”. It is much more powerful than a simple function of safeguard. Time Machine gives the possibility to restore the system, activating its navigator. It gives the possibility to seek files lost or removed, navigate between various versions of the same project or examine the whole system as from the first day of its installation.
What about more flexible parental controls of the Leopard? It enables the user to impose restrictions on the use of Internet. He can, for example, define a moment of the day and a duration when his child can play War craft. Thanks to the new remote control, the user can also parameterize the parental control of anywhere.
The new version of Builder Interface makes possible to carry out operations of refactorisation and to add animation effects to any applications. X-ray compares the user events and measurements of performances in order to provide invaluable information to optimize any application.
“Spotlight” from Leopard can now activate a research in the network’s files, which makes possible to carry out researches on several Macs. Thanks to the research options, even more powerful and flexible, Spotlight gives the means of locating any file on the computer and beyond. All this functionalities and much more will be available in a universal operating system, completely accessible, on 64 bits, available in 2007.
