Apple OS X 10.5 Leopard features leaked?

Look, before you start in on how we're publishing too many Apple rumors in the runup to WWDC 2006, you should know that really, if this wasn't for the fact that this one came from O'Grady's PowerPage, we'd probably just ignore it. But being that it is, and being that they claim to have the scoop on what OS X 10.5 (aka Leopard) has to offer, we've got to convey the info: Spotlight 2.0, Dashboard 2.0, Safari 3.0, iChat 4.0, Automator 2.0, QuickTime 7.2, Mail 3.0, iCal 3.0, Address Book 5.0. As one might imagine, these are all incremental improvements to currently existing software; apparently we can expect interface improvements for Spotlight and Dashboard (as well as the inclusion of desktop widgets, among other things), integrated FTP and enhanced security on Safari, 7 way video for iChat, Real and DivX support in Quicktime, lots of new tweaks on Mail, and new UIs, formats, and integration for iCal and Address Book. But c'mon, let's be honest, it's not Leopard everyone's purring about, right?

[Kenny @ Aug 4th 2006 12:40PM]

MSN INTERGRATION for iChat.

Please be true.

[Craig @ Aug 4th 2006 12:45PM]

That's right it's the darn "Phone" we want I want the Phone... with widgets! I want to check the weather instantly, get a quick address, check movie times without a charge! That small packet of info should be real easy to make happen. So I am officially starting my own rumor. Stevie "Wonder" Jobs called yesterday and said "Craig your phone is ready and it has widgets!" Did I say Steve, he hates it when I call him Stevie.

[craig @ Aug 4th 2006 12:49PM]

Rumour overload!!! I can't take many more rumours...

[Kyp Pilalas @ Aug 4th 2006 1:00PM]

I just want WWDC to come so all this rumor crap will be over! That is, until the next big Apple unveiling.

[Kevin @ Aug 4th 2006 1:08PM]

Sounds cool, but I'd like to see some innovative new features not just updates to existing features.

[Kyle @ Aug 4th 2006 1:16PM]

You serious? I know a few people who have the pre release already.

[Ryan Block @ Aug 4th 2006 1:19PM]

Sorry, I'm really trying to keep the rumor overload under control... there's just obviously a lot of information out there right now, and people want to know. If you're not down with the last minute Apple rumors, bear with us, it'll all be over soon!

[greg @ Aug 4th 2006 1:22PM]

u can already use msn in ichat, through thr jabber option. its limited to just text but its pretty good

[Max @ Aug 4th 2006 1:22PM]

Will the updates to programs such as Safari and iChat be available to Tiger users as well? Or will I have to buy Leopard to upgrade these things?

[Steven @ Aug 4th 2006 1:26PM]

I think we can all say "DUH" to the updates to all of those. I could've told you new versions of those programs were coming out with a new OS.

[Taylor Alexander @ Aug 4th 2006 1:31PM]

All i know is that my friend at iTunes was told "You have probably been following the rumor sites... August is going to be a big month for us."
It's not a real tip because it's vague as hell, but it is actually honestly true, so at least we know we're not going to be completely disappointed! :)
-Taylor

[Scott Scratch @ Aug 4th 2006 1:37PM]

Uhh, the photos on that dude's blog are fake. I'm not sure if he's posting them knowingly, but there is an OS 9 folder in the dock, as someone pointed out. OS 9 doesn't exist anymore as far as new Mac OS X developments are concerned. Not only that, but I really don't see anything new here...maybe the new developments are real, but the pics don't help this dude's credibility a bit.

[donut @ Aug 4th 2006 1:55PM]

maybe it's because the pictures are mockups based on what he heard? The feature list sound pretty legit

[Morty Salt @ Aug 4th 2006 1:58PM]

Everything Jason said is correct...He is just being an a$$ because of what happened a few years ago. I really hope Apple takes Jason down hard. If jason new the names of Hezbolah cells in the U.S. he wouldn't say. Nice going, I hope come monday Steve said, well no reason for me to present anything because Jason wants to spoil all the suprises...moron. Rumors are supposed to be fun... we don't want the truth!!!!!!!!

[Robert 'Groby' Blum @ Aug 4th 2006 2:20PM]

I *seriously* doubt the veracity of the claims. As others have mentioned, the photos are rather bad photoshop jobs. Let me just pick a couple of the other features that I think are completely fabricated:

Safari "shield mode" is not something Apple would do. It's a bad UI decision - the user needs to consciously decide to be in a safer environment. Shield by default is the only sane UI decision, and it breaks a lot of use cases.

Safari Tabs over more than one line - again, would be a horrible UI decision.

iChat with "optimize your video stream". Again, dubious. That's something a linux hacker would come up with, but Apples goals are reaching out to the normal user, not the power user.

"More english AppleScript". What, and break all existing AppleScripts? Or have an *alternate* syntax, and thus two versions of AppleScript?

iCal update as described by him ("25 different organization techniques"??) is highly unlikely - it's Apple's red-headed step child. (Plus, I really hope it doesn't happen - I've got a project that fixes iCal nastiness, so that'd be chopping me off at the knees ;)

Collaborative abilities for the address book? What would be the purpose of that? Now, if he said Apple works on .Mac, that'd be something...

[booboo @ Aug 4th 2006 3:59PM]

DivX support?

I thin I see a pig is flying!!

[Stephen @ Aug 4th 2006 4:08PM]

Why are so many people obsessed with Apple putting out a phone. Did I miss something? That's a big market to break into and I really don't see them trying to do it. In all their current markets they have a vertical integration model. See the ipod (hardware, itunes, music store) So they may be able to make a good phone but as usual Verizon, or Cingular, or whoever determines how that phone will interact with their network.

[drivebybiped @ Aug 4th 2006 4:14PM]

dear god please no more widgets
please, please no more
they suck up system resources for no good reason. I can usually get to the information I need much faster by using a web browser. Sure it doesn't look as cool but seriously, I used to associate Mac's with a clean look and clean interface. Now Apple seems to be all about shoving clutter down our throats.

[Gordy @ Aug 4th 2006 4:18PM]

My prediction...

Seamless Windows integration that puts Parallels and WINE to shame in Leopard.

[Visual @ Aug 4th 2006 4:54PM]

"Uhh, the photos on that dude's blog are fake. I'm not sure if he's posting them knowingly, but there is an OS 9 folder in the dock, as someone pointed out. OS 9 doesn't exist anymore as far as new Mac OS X developments are concerned. Not only that, but I really don't see anything new here...maybe the new developments are real, but the pics don't help this dude's credibility a bit."

What a moron this guy is. Do you not realize that some programs were discontinued when OSX came out due to the company not having development money. There are still programs that run in OS9 (particularly print programs and font programs).

[PreGHz @ Aug 4th 2006 7:19PM]

What, no iSync update?

For shame.

[evo @ Aug 4th 2006 7:37PM]

Groby--

I don't know or really care whether these rumors are true, but your justifications for questioning their accuracy are specious:

- The article clearly indicates that the user selects isolation mode manually in Safari, and that there is a simple UI metaphor for indicating that status. Very innovative UI and extremely plausible. There is no reason to think that isolation mode on by default is the "only sane UI decision". How does it have anything to do with UI anyway?

- Safari tabs over more than one line: It may not be an ideal UI, but it's been used in many places for a long time, and the use case of being able to read your tab labels at all can easily be an overriding factor.

- Optimized iChat video stream: This is likely as simple as a slider that scales quality vs. smoothness. How is this something a hacker would devise? It would be an elegant and easily comprehensible solution to a common problem.

- English AppleScript: There's nothing technical stopping Apple from updating the grammar of the language to support more natural language usages in addition to the current grammar. That neither has to break the language nor fragment it.

- iCal: If it is indeed the red-headed stepchild as you say, then this update sounds like it would fix that problem. Sounds more like fear on your part.

- Collaborative address book. That would be extremely useful. Have you ever used LDAP lookup with your mail client? The ability to share a common set of address book entries between teammates would be extremely useful.

[Robert 'Groby' Blum @ Aug 5th 2006 1:15AM]

Evo:

- It is an easy metaphor, but Apple pretty much *always* opts for the safer option by default. Doing that in Safari means using "shielded" by default - which has the potential of breaking lots of web apps. (Depending in how restrictive the shield is, of course). Also, in terms of UI, it makes much more sense to warn about dangerous conditions than alert you to safe conditions. I remain doubtful. (Heh - we'll know soon enough ;)

Safari Tabs: You've got a point. I consider the solution visual clutter, and I'm not convinced Apple will go for it, but yes, it might just be.

Optimizing video: It's a tradeoff (framerate vs. quality). Apple rarely gives the user the freedom to make tradeoffs. Still dobtful

English AppleScript: Unless they want to break existing applications and their scripting dicts, they'll be limited to superficial syntax changes. (Plus, AppleScripts main problem is that it tries to be English). In light of the fact that they just introduced Automator to make scripting easier, I very much doubt they'll touch AppleScript.

iCal: Yes, they might fix it. They *should* fix it. Then again, how long have we been clamoring for a fixed Finder?

Address Book: It already *has* LDAP support since 10.2. So, unless this is cryptic shorthand for "Yes, we'll fix the pile of dung that is .Mac", I don't see it.