New Snow Leopard beta build includes screen recording capabilities, a certain je ne sais quoi

If you're keeping track of Snow Leopard's progress, you'll be pleased to know that a new build (10A335) has been released into the hands of devs (and consequently, the world). Most interestingly, however, is that it seem this new iteration has a handy screen grab feature that hasn't made an appearance until now -- namely, the native ability (under QuickTime) to "record" your on-screen activities. There are other third-party apps that handle this duty, like the classily-named Snapz Pro X, but the inclusion in this latest beta will almost certainly mainstream the function. It should come in handy if you're constantly trying to tell you parents how to change their network settings, or if you're thinking about producing your own version of You Suck at Photoshop.

[Via Mac Rumors]

[Nehemoth @ Apr 25th 2009 5:44PM]

So they're copying the Windows 7 Problem recorder?.

Nice

[dlewis @ Apr 25th 2009 5:45PM]

That is not even close to what will be included in snow leopard.

[anthony909 @ Apr 25th 2009 5:55PM]

there not copying anything from windows

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Apr 25th 2009 6:01PM]

From the name, it sounds like "Windows 7 Problem" recorder is for recording problems, not anything that happens on-screen.

In related news, somehow I bet they'll find a way to 'disable' recording of DRM-encrusted movies.

[jakem @ Apr 25th 2009 6:29PM]

No, the problem recorder doesn't record video. It only records the steps taken to reproduce a problem including screenshots. It's a cool new feature but isn't the same as this.

The Windows equivalent of this would be something like Camtasia Studio by TechSmith.

[dolapo10 @ Apr 25th 2009 6:36PM]

if windows 7 came out after this will be hearing the same thing BUT you know you apple fans would take every chance to detroy windows on lack of creativity and Apple's cool innovations

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 25th 2009 6:38PM]

Actually Nehemoth, these two features are not comparable, in fact they are in two different leagues; one is made to ease up problem solving and the other is just another video screen recorder.

What I'm really bothered from is how Apple is always allowed to add built in functionality to their system, but if Windows adds something like a screen recorder they suddenly get antitrust lawsuits and will have to drop it in their next release, because "It is unfair and it will kill the competition."

Why is Apple allowed to add all of that software to their main OS but MS isn't allowed?! Why is it okay for Apple but a "Monopoly" for MS? Aren't they both the exact same thing? Am I missing something here?

Look at Windows 7, although I'm in love with speed and looks, I'm certainly annoyed by how much software and functionalities has been dropped out from the main OS, and I mean A LOT!

[Sean @ Apr 25th 2009 6:47PM]

@Saad

Why is it OK for a small guy beat up a big guy? Yet, when a big guy turns around and punches, it's suddenly unfair. Same concept, except with market share. That or people just hate Microsoft.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 25th 2009 6:54PM]

@ Sean:

Although I can't really understand the similarities in your example to real world, I will assume that I get you and say: MS is not allowed to add extra functionality EVEN when it is for the consumer's sake?!

[Sean @ Apr 25th 2009 6:58PM]

I'm saying that Apple can't monopolize that market with less than 10% of the OS market share.

[Kevin T. @ Apr 25th 2009 7:08PM]

"there not copying anything from windows"

No, *they're* not.

Oh, except the ability to restore files from the Trash.

Which has been around in Windows since Win95.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 25th 2009 7:09PM]

Actually Sean, from what I understand is that MS's monopoly cases were held against them only within their OS's limits, ex. MS is not allowed to include the "fix" functionality to their photo viewing software because it will crush competition "only in their OS" (Picasa for Windows and others.)

MS and Apple run two different systems, and I don't know if it is actually possible to have a monopoly from one over the other.

Now, if MS's addition for a "fix" functionality is considered wrong (because people will not consider buying or downloading other software), why isn't Apple's addition and inclusion of a screen recording software considered monopoly and crushing competition (people will not consider buying screen capturing software for Mac)?!!

[KarlW @ Apr 25th 2009 7:32PM]

Your argument is that Microsoft's moves are limited because of its monopoly? That's not true.

The danger is that Microsoft uses its monopoly in desktop operating systems to gain a monopoly elsewhere - for example, if they made Windows only work with Windows Mobile phones and incompatible with iPods or iPhones. That's an example of the anticompetitive business practices that Microsoft will be taken to court about. And you might think it an absurd example, but that's exactly the kind of thing Microsoft tried to do when they broke internet standards to kill Netscape and try and make the internet a Windows-only tool.

There are cases when those concerns clash with products that you'd reasonably expect to be included in the OS - in which case Microsoft isn't trying to establish another monopoly and it's a natural evolution of the product. In such cases, as we've seen for media players and web browsers, there are resolutions that still allow Microsoft to evolve their products, so long as they don't shut out 3rd parties.

For example, if Microsoft wanted to provide an antivirus tool with Windows, so long as it was easy to replace with a 3rd party solution, there would be no legal case against them. Microsoft won't do that because then they can't promise you "increased security" in the next version of Windows. They tell you it's a legal issue, but that's rubbish. It's part of their business strategy.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 25th 2009 7:44PM]

@KarlW: "They tell you it's a legal issue, but that's rubbish. It's part of their business strategy."

What about this?

http://www.hunterstrat.com/news/allchin-says-no-antivirus-bundled-in-vista/

http://www.hunterstrat.com/news/symantec-complains-to-eu-about-microsoft/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/10/eu_probes_ms_security_plans/

Windows OneCare was going to be bundle if it wasn't for the EU again. Also in 2004, European regulators took exception with the bundling of Windows Media Player with the company’s operating systems, arguing that the practice inhibited competition!!!!

Explain that to me!

[tudor @ Apr 25th 2009 8:18PM]

@saad

maybe it's because when MS bundles something into their OS it's usually with the intention of killing competition and padding their bottom line.

this is going to make me sound like a fanboy, but when apple adds a feature like this it's usually to improve the UX. unless those rumors about a full-featured quicktime x being included free in snow leopard turn out to be false that is.

[010111 @ Apr 25th 2009 8:23PM]

"Kevin T. @ Apr 25th 2009 7:08PM

Oh, except the ability to restore files from the Trash.

Which has been around in Windows since Win95."


which is a feature from (at least) Mac OS 7.1 that was removed in OSX and is just being added back in. Mac OS 7.1 predates Windows 95 by several years. 7.1 came out in 1992. and the feature itself might have been in 7.0 or even 6... but i am not certain.

but yeah... go ahead and continue believing that was a brilliant Windows 95 invention that Apple is just ripping off. makes you look like quite the MENSA candidate.

[Bobsley @ Apr 25th 2009 8:28PM]

I would just like Safari to stop crashing every time I try to open a complex page or a quicktime on the web. Goddamnit!

Also can we fix Final Cut Pro of all the annoying bugs and crash? It suppose to be a pro program...

I wish my ex-favorite company would stop with the shinny new features and fix what is already there.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Apr 25th 2009 8:29PM]

I'm sorry, but if you don't understand why Microsoft gets crap for this stuff and Apple doesn't, you just aren't paying attention. Either you're too young to remember the 1990s, or you're too lazy to read a Wikipedia article or two.

Microsoft has a LONG history of ripping off other companies in MUCH more brutal ways than Apple could ever be accused of. They've been repeatedly convicted by US and European courts of abusing their market dominance to push inferior products and drive innovative companies out of business. If you think this is because the courts are filled with Microsoft haters, again, you're simply too young to get it. If anything, the courts would side with a company like Microsoft -- especially in the US, where MS wields a ton of power.

It's not an accident that Microsoft lied about products being bundled together in order to justify pushing them on the public. It's not mere theatrics that CEOs of major companies have been TOO SCARED to testify against Microsoft in a court of law. Please read just ONE article about Microsoft's tactics against their competition. In the 90s there was a new case every month where Microsoft stole a MAJOR piece of technology from a competitor. When they weren't stealing, they were driving other companies out of business by forcing inferior products on the public via the Windows monopoly -- There's a REASON Word killed the vastly better Multimate, why Internet Explorer destroyed the vastly better Netscape Navigator, how Windows Media Player came to be what it is, how MS stole Stac's Disk Doubler compression technology.

If you've only started paying attention more recently, I can understand your confusion. Microsoft doesn't intimidate people nearly as much as they used to. Part of this is because they've come under so much scrutiny. Microsoft can't force OEMs to pre-install Windows *only* as they used to. They've lost enough high-profile court cases that they're somewhat cut off at the knees, and their utter lack of innovation in the past 10 years or so has made them look a bit sad, rather than like a massive menace.

Against this backdrop, the newbie to the tech industry will look at the two companies and see Microsoft favorably. Apple is certainly ruled with an iron fist; controlled by Steve Jobs' whims, and a lack of tolerance for doing things differently from the way Steve wants them to be done.

But even in digital music players, Apple can only dream of having the dominance that Microsoft STILL has in operating systems -- and, despite only a tiny loss in market share, Microsoft's power over the industry these days is maybe 1/10th of what it was 10 years ago. In computers, who cares? If you think Steve Jobs is an asshole, DON'T GIVE APPLE YOUR MONEY. This is a much easier proposition than refusing to give Microsoft your money, and, again, 10 years ago, it was virtually impossible to avoid paying the Microsoft Tax. Today's computing industry looks like paradise compared to the control Microsoft wielded over it 10 years ago.

It is the scrutiny that Microsoft is under that keeps them on their best behavior. These days they seem more harmless than they used to, but they still have a de facto monopoly in the Operating System and Office Suite markets. In order to seriously lose market share, they'd probably have to increase prices 10-fold. This kind of power over the industry is still greater than any other company has.

So before you complain about Microsoft being treated unfairly, please, try doing just a tiny bit of reading. There is a REASON people have been violently turned off of Microsoft. The miracle is not that people hate Microsoft so much -- really, the miracle is that people still tolerate them to the extent that they do.

[KarlW @ Apr 25th 2009 9:43PM]

@Saad

Of course Symantec would complain. Microsoft has a history of being anticompetitive, so it would have a harder time defending itself. However, bundling an antivirus system in to the operating system is not, by itself, an anticompetitive act. If they made it difficult to remove (as they did for IE and WMP) or let it be more integrated with the system than 3rd parties could be (as they did for IE and WMP), then it would be anticompetitive.

By creating a level playing field, they mean by stopping practices such as trying to destroy web standards. When Microsoft left IE alone after IE6, they weren't adding more destructive non-standard "features". Standards were allowed to flourish, and Firefox gained marketshare in the newly competitive environment.

Creating a level playing field doesn't necessarily mean not including features. In the above case, Microsoft were actively sabotaging the web by not following standards and making sites only render properly in IE, making them effectively Windows-only sites. As soon as they stopped, the browser market became competitive again. Maybe they're a different company now, and the increased competition has certainly made them improve their products, but it's clear that you can allow 3rd parties to compete (as Firefox surely is doing against IE) whilst bundling the product in to the OS. The extra effort in installing a 3rd party application is not extremely detrimental.

[Steveorevo @ Apr 25th 2009 10:08PM]

@UnixSystemsEngineer

Very well said.

[maveric101 @ Apr 25th 2009 11:14PM]

UnixSystemsEngineer: so you're saying that even though Microsoft has changed, they're still being forced to pay for their past crimes? (which they had already paid for with whatever punishment the courts decided)

[str1f3 @ Apr 25th 2009 11:28PM]

If you think microsoft has changed you're crazy. Look at IE8. It scores 20/100 on the latest Acid 3 Test. There are still trying to control the Internet by Active X. The reality is that it hinders adoption of new web tools because so many people use IE. This is the reason why the EU wants to break up the browser in Windows from the OS. Microsoft has always pulled this kind if garbage and they're trying to do it again with Silverlight.

If Windows could add this feature they would. Right now microsoft is more concerned with mimicking OSX features like the dock and ripping features out of Windows 7 in order to make it faster.

Apple, who is not tied down with legacy code (in fact it will cut ties with PowerPC) will have a lean and mean OS with more features and enhancements.

[Quix @ Apr 26th 2009 12:24AM]

How is it that people like Saad Rabia manage to blame Microsoft's software shortcomings on the LEGAL SYSTEM???

And thank you UnixSystemEngineer for the savvy explanation of why Microsoft is in the legal mess it's in (which, BTW, is NOT the cause of Microsoft's software shortcomings).

Microsoft made their bed, now they have to lie in it. Boo hoo. Let the Saad Rabias of the world wail and gnash their teeth all they want - they're just demonstrating a fundamental ignorance of Microsoft's previous 20+ years of business.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 26th 2009 12:38AM]

@UnixSystemsEngineer:

Thank you so much for the great response. I still wonder when is this going to end? Windows is getting stripped off many great software, not great but needed, and I really don't see the problem about adding a free software with their OS.

Let us talk about now. What MS is doing is exactly what Apple is doing: bundling software to satisfy the consumer. I could say something like this: Apple is using its power to include a free copy of iMovie on every system they ship thus creating an unfair lead against competition from many other companies that offer movie editing software for Mac. And this is only one example. (You get what I did here?)

What would happen if Apple becomes the bigdog of the computer industry? Will they also be forced to strip down their system out of useful and functional software because "it might hurt the competitors"?

I really do understand where the court is coming from, and controlling Microsoft's actions is necessary sometimes, but to ask them to strip off the media player and movie editor and not allow them to add an antivirus that will help millions have better experience even though it was proposed that that antivirus was "uninstall-friendly"! and and and, all of this is kind of an overreaction reaction at this day and age! 5 - 10 years ago, fine, but until now? and with more restrictions?!

How is including standard features considered wrong?!! (And I'm not talking about IE). Windows Media Player plays mp3s just like any other player, why is the EU considering it dangerous? Can't we say that Apple is forcing their AAC format through iTunes by using their market share dominance on online music distribution?

[Jubei @ Apr 26th 2009 2:48AM]

@Saad

AAC is not an Apple format. It's open for all to use. See Wiki for details.

[Mark Anderson @ Apr 26th 2009 6:02AM]

@USE

I am old enough to remember the 90's. To say Netscape was a better program than IE is, to say the least, debatable. Netscape died because they moved away from a sensible core proposition and went into feature overload - which they then wanted to charge for.

MS have been convicted of abusing their monopoly and they should have. However, to suggest that they were pushing inferior products is nonsense.

[Jasonbot @ Apr 26th 2009 6:12AM]

Now I can record all my rented movies so I can keep them forever, just keep that between me and you though :)

[axemt @ Apr 26th 2009 8:24AM]

@Saad

I totally agree with you. I don't think you're going to make anyone else change their minds because their hatred is too deep to even step outside the box and look at the two companies in the same light for a minute.

If MS can't include any "cool, nice, innovative, etc." feature in their OS without a public outcry, there is never going to be a "MS OS-of-the-moment is cool." One of the things that makes OSX superior in some things is the ability to come out with new, cool tools that were out of the OS (3rd party) and now are native (like the example here.)

[xconan @ Apr 26th 2009 6:09PM]

Is apple trying to become a microsoft monopolist by integrating apps into the os? They're copying camtasia and putting it into an os. Maybe techsmith will sue both apple and microsoft for copying their idea...

[VanillaSpice @ Apr 26th 2009 10:15PM]

UnixSystemsEngineer (do you mind if I call you USE?) - thanks for the great rundown of why antitrust actions against MS were based on specific actions they took, and does not mean that OS vendors cannot include new features. Ought to be part of common knowledge and sad that it is not.

You mentioned that they'd probably disable recording of DRM-encrusted movies; I'd say it is a certainty - like if you take a screenshot of DVD Player in OSX you'll just get a black square where the movie is supposed to be. No doubt they will do the same with this feature, I am guessing both for DVD playback and those DRM mp4 files from the iTunes Store.

[Skeezle @ Apr 27th 2009 11:59AM]

@UnixSystemsEngineer

WELL SAID!

[B3astofthe3ast @ Apr 25th 2009 5:45PM]

Snow leopard vs. Windows 7!

FIGHT!

[Jarhead111 @ Apr 25th 2009 5:49PM]

Both Snow Leopard and Windows 7 are seeming to be some of the best operating systems in a long time. Now we hear about Snow Leopard's screen recording functionality and just a few hours ago we heard about 7's XPM. Between the two new features, I think that XPM will be much more useful. Especially among the enterprise crowd.

[warom @ Apr 25th 2009 6:05PM]

To me Windows 7 feels like an intermediate release, not like the XP - Vista like change. The new taskbar but similar to Vista design, the new XPM feature, Windows Live, etc. I have a feeling Windows 8 is going to be quite a major release, hopefully a good once, I can stick to Windows 7 for atleast 3-4 years so they should have the time to do what they want.

[Shunnabunich @ Apr 25th 2009 6:41PM]

Well, Win7 *is* an intermediate release. The version number is 6.1; they're only calling it "7" in the same sense that they called the Xbox 2 the "Xbox 360". Higher numbers = newer-seeming, and, in Win7's case, less (visibly) Vista-like.

[Kevin T. @ Apr 25th 2009 7:41PM]

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Snow+Leopard&word2=Windows+7

[cmsb55 @ Apr 25th 2009 7:32PM]

From what I have heard, Snow Leopard isn't going to bring many new features; Apple is simply making the OS more stable and faster. However, Win 7 seems to be a release containing fairly large improvements over Vista and some fairly innovative things (like the new taskbar) so I think 7 is a more important release and will hopefully fix Microsoft's bad name.

[John @ Apr 25th 2009 8:27PM]

I think inbuilt virtuailzation is a bit more impressive than the ability to record what's on your screen. But it's not like this is Apple firing back with screen recording to one-up the XPM stuff...

[Steveorevo @ Apr 25th 2009 9:01PM]

Finally,

!!! Its about the software !!!

Faster, more stable, its anti-bloatware. This is what we are paying for, not just 'sorta works ok', but optimization. What is does, it does very well. Sign me up.

[Decoy @ Apr 26th 2009 2:28AM]

Snow leopard and Windows 7!


Co-exist peacefully and end this fanboy crap.

[Mike @ Apr 26th 2009 3:19AM]

imo, both will be pretty equal in competition, considering the current leopard v vista.

snow leopard looks to be some minor update to leopard, whereas windows 7 seems to have a whole lot more improvements to vista.
from the mainstream consumer point of view, i dont see why i would want to upgrade from leopard to snow leopard. but from vista to 7, definitely.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Apr 26th 2009 3:41AM]

looks like win7 wins in the googlefight!

[Jarhead111 @ Apr 25th 2009 5:46PM]

I'd like to see this become a standard feature among many different OS's. I often have to scrounge around looking for some 3rd party application to do just this sort of task, but a 1st party version? Problem, solved.

[ipodrulz @ Apr 25th 2009 5:58PM]

Scrounge no more! Go check out ScreenFlow. I always feel like it's an Apple coded app it's so great.

[Pitchy @ Apr 25th 2009 6:49PM]

Problem solved unless in you are in the business of selling those 3rd party apps...

[Warren @ Apr 25th 2009 5:48PM]

A death knell for some third party apps..... Had this been proposed for inclusion in another operating system, the European Union Anti-trust committee would already be flooded with 10s of complaints from Techsmith et al........ hm.

[Nehemoth @ Apr 25th 2009 5:48PM]

@dlewis

Could you explain yourself please, explain a little more.
I really would like to know what exactly will be with this feature in Leopard

[dlewis @ Apr 25th 2009 5:53PM]

The windows 7 problem recorder is just for fixing issues, It recored what you did to cause what ever error you are getting.

This will be a full on screen capture program like ScreenFlow. This should be done in every OS.

[wyatt @ Apr 25th 2009 9:07PM]

this feature has been available with Windows Media Encoder for years. It's a free download http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

[Steveorevo @ Apr 25th 2009 10:08PM]

Windows Media Encoder is NOT the same thing.