launchpad
Latest
Apple Mac OS X Lion available now in the App Store
For 'developers' willing to shell out $99 for an annual membership in Apple's group of Mac OS app creators, Lion is old news already. But the rest of you can finally download Apple's latest operating system -- Mac OS 10.7 -- by hitting up the App Store on your Snow Leopard (10.6.8)-equipped Mac, assuming it's powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. From our experience with the pre-release version, the 4GB download could take over an hour, even on a high-speed connection, but once you have the installer in hand the upgrade process itself should be complete in about 20 minutes. As Apple previously announced, those with slower connections can also download Lion at an Apple retail store, and the company's also now revealed that it will be offering it on a USB thumb drive as well, which will be available through its online store later this August for $69 (yes, that's a $40 premium). We'll be posting a full review of Lion later this week, but you can check out our hands-on preview for a sneak peek at Apple's latest consumer OS in the meantime.
Apple: Mac OS X Lion to hit the App Store tomorrow
Well it looks like the cat's finally out of the bag virtual box. Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer just confirmed during today's earnings call that Mac OS 10.7 is due to hit the Mac App Store tomorrow, making Lion available as a 4GB download for $30. The new operating system packs 250 new features, including an iOS-like app launcher, multi-touch gestures, AirDrop for direct file sharing, and system-wide Resume. More enhancements that will feel particularly familiar to iOS users include a new version of Mail with conversation view, and reverse touchpad scrolling. We'll have a full review of Lion later this week, but check out our hands-on preview for our initial impressions. Want to collaborate on projects with multiple machines? Lion Server will also be available as a $50 download -- for those of you that need to support an entire pride.
Mac OS X Lion to feature iOS-like 'jiggling' app unistaller
New features of Mac OS X Lion are slowly leaking out after the last Lion Developer Preview was released. The latest find, noticed by AppleiGuide.co.uk, is a built-in uninstaller function, reminiscent of the way you remove apps in iOS. The Lion app uninstaller works through Launchpad, Mac OS X's app launcher "home screen" layer. When Launchpad is displayed, a user can click and hold the mouse cursor on an app's icon; after a brief pause, all the app icons will begin jiggling. An X will appear in the upper left-hand corner of the icons, and clicking it will cause a dialog pop-up to appear asking the user, "Are you sure you want to delete the application?" Clicking Delete will move the app and any associated files to the Trash. Currently, this uninstall feature only works with apps purchased through the Mac App Store. New Mac users are commonly confused about how to delete Mac apps. Coming from a PC, they are used to uninstallers and don't realize that one can (usually) simply drag any app to the Trash to delete it. The new uninstall feature in Lion is another sign that Apple wants to take the simplicity of iOS and apply it to the Mac in hopes of making OS X more familiar and intuitive to anyone using a Mac for the first time. [Thanks, Sam]
QuickPick update in limbo for Lion similarities
On Wednesday, QuickPick 2.0.3 was apparently ejected from the Mac App Store, according to a tweet from developer Seth Willits. A day later, Seth tweeted that the app is still in the store -- as of this writing that's the case -- but update 2.0.3 had been rejected, increasing his confusion. Additionally, he mentions that an Apple rep told him that QuickPick would be "removed from sale," citing a "confusingly similar" argument. For now, the app is in limbo. QuickPick is a full-screen application and document launcher which offers several features reportedly missing from Apple's app launcher -- as it exists today at least. For example, the app's dedicated preferences can set a global keyboard command or hot corner for activation, while users can identify their own most frequently used items to display and leave icons "scrambled" on screen to suit their own organizational style or lack thereof. Most importantly, QuickPick runs on Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Apple may perceive the app as direct competition to Launchpad, one of Lion's most highly touted new features. If users see low-cost alternatives to a potentially costly Mac OS X upgrade, they may be dissuaded from spending the time and money to make the leap to Lion when it arrives this summer (though one feature vs. all of Lion's improvements decreases this likelihood). Perhaps Apple is simply rejecting the app to prevent confusion in their own marketplace; an argument Willits isn't buying. "QuickPick existed years before Launchpad...[Version] 2.0.2 isn't any different than 2.0.3." Willits continues to plead his case with Apple. In the meantime, for US$10, QuickPick 2.0.2 is still available on the Mac App Store and version 2.0.3 is available through the Araelium Group website. [via MacNN]
Mac OS X Lion hands-on preview
Apple announced Mac OS X Lion with considerable fanfare at its Back to the Mac event last October, and now it's dropped the first developer preview on the world -- giving us a chance to sample some of the big cat's new features and UI concepts. We installed the dev build on one of our MacBook Pros and used it over the weekend, and while we won't be able to see any huge changes in day-to-day workflow until our favorite apps are updated to take advantage of Lion, we did see plenty of interesting system-level features and additions -- and yes, iOS's influence is all over the place. Read on for a full breakdown of what's new! %Gallery-117806%
Rumor: Mac OS X Lion to have UI overhaul, developers to see beta build soon?
Since Apple's official announcement of Mac OS Lion last October, there's not been so much as a peep, let alone a roar, on the new operating system. We know to expect Lion at some point this summer, but as summer fast approaches, all we know about Lion is what Apple has told us (full-screen apps, Launchpad and Mission Control). However, TechCrunch is reporting it's got wind of a few OS X Lion tidbits. First, they claim that OS X Lion will have a major user interface overhaul. With Apple already introducing Launchpad, Mission Control and full-screen apps as key features of Lion -- all user interface related -- as well as saying its bringing the best of iOS to the Mac, it's not too far a stretch to expect we'll see some further significant changes to the new version of OS X. Unfortunately, that's all TechCrunch has got to say on the matter. Second, in light of the above, TechCrunch says, "we're hearing that a developer beta [of Lion] should begin soon." With summer about four months away, developers will need time to prepare for the new UI features. While there's not much to corroborate this claim, MacRumors reports they've heard "...whispers that Lion may begin seeding soon," too. [Via MacRumors]
Novation Launchpad speaks Ableton Live's language... on video!
Look for a new slate of buttons to control Ableton Live? Even if you're shaking your head as if to signify "negative, Jim," you still owe it to yourself to peek the video in the read link. The newly announced Novation Launchpad is the self-proclaimed Ableton Live controller, with an 8 x 8 grid of do-anything keys, dedicated scene launch buttons and nearly limitless possibilities. It's up for order now from a variety of respected e-tailers, and based on the preview alone, we'd say it could very well be the best $199 you've ever spent. (This month.)
