Thread: Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Yep, mines at 64bit, I did what Daffy said and changed it to 32bit. And I really don't know what I'm looking for to see a difference so I changed it back.

can't believe Apple is supporting the Java platform, one of the worst piece of software crap. Oh wait, makes sense now

I refuse to install any application that relies on Java, except for one or two major exceptions

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

Only thing that I've noticed is that when I installed Vuse, my little green/yellow/red NAT indicator is gone from the bottom of the screen.

From the software description (when Vuze is properly spelled): "Vuze brings the popular Java-based BitTorrent client to a new level of stability, usability, and speed."

It's Java based, so there will be some issues.

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

Yep, mines at 64bit, I did what Daffy said and changed it to 32bit. And I really don't know what I'm looking for to see a difference so I changed it back.

Did you also bother checking if there is a newer version of Vuze available than the one you are using?

Current version is 4.2.0.8, and it was released on the day Snow Leopard was released.

Notable changes / improvements:

UI | Fixed Speedtest not working
UI | OSX 10.6 support (opening torrent from file)
Core | OSX 10.6 support (not getting data from connected peers)
Core | Fixed deadlock during UI initialisation

Seems to be having some 10.6 compatibility fixes. You might want to make sure you download and install the update.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Current version is 4.2.0.8, and it was released on the day Snow Leopard was released.

Yes this is the version of vuze I'm running.

Only noticeable differences so far are:

The NAT lights gone - its nice to have when I'm outside of my home but I mainly download at home and last night was getting 450-500 speeds.

The initial 'opening box' which shows you the file list and gives you the option to force download etc, has gone.

And the Torrent drop down menu form the top has gone.

Apart from that I'm not noticing much with regards to SL. You know what it like when you've got a new toy, and I've been rushing to get all my programs back on it before work today.

Originally Posted by slackula

I use Transmission for my torrenting needs, it has performed flawlessly since the day I installed it. Currently it is serving up Slackware 13 32 bit and 64 bit DVD iso files to a bunch of people

I had bad experiences with Azureus back in the day. Transmission just does what it is told to do and doesn't get in your face. Vuze/Azureus strike me as having feature creep for a torrent client.

Same here, Transmission on Mac and Linux and everything is fine. Very light torrent client.




Still waiting my copy of Snow Leopard ...

Originally Posted by slackula

I had bad experiences with Azureus back in the day. Transmission just does what it is told to do and doesn't get in your face. Vuze/Azureus strike me as having feature creep for a torrent client.

Mostly I avoid it because it's Java based -- most Java based programs aren't so bad because of Java per se, it just seems most of the 'amateur' programmers using Java are hacks with nary any style... and no competence when it comes to writing solid code.

^^Here's one of the new backgrounds incase you want to change your av whilst you wait.

Thanks but I have already a large collection of alternative avatars.

Apple already testing Mac OS X 10.6.1 Update

AppleInsider | Apple already testing Mac OS X 10.6.1 Update

^ So they obviously released 10.6 way too early

Again, not sure if this has anything to do with Snow Leopard or not but my Thunderbird keeps beeping and jumping up and down saying that I've got an email and then when I look in there there's no message.

This will happen 2 or three times every 10 mins and then I get all three at once.

Originally Posted by lom

^ So they obviously released 10.6 way too early

Softwares without bugs or possible fixes doesn't exist. If Leopard was released in november we still have had some updates later.

I don't know if you use Linux, but software updates in Linux are available nearly everyday. So what, it will never be perfect and bug free. Would it be Linux, Mac, Windows or anything else.

At least known bugs are fixed when we report them.

I've never really understood this rush to update software thing.
Especially when 10.5.7 works so well.

I'm going to wait until I have to upgrade hardware before any sofware updates. You usually get them for free by that time.

You guys can be the crash test dummies if you like!

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

I've never really understood this rush to update software thing.
Especially when 10.5.7 works so well.

Yeah, I agree -- I mean, I'm still running OS 9.2.1, which was the bestest OS ever -- it took me quite some work to hack it to get it to run on my PowerMacs, but it's worth it -- I just don't trust any of that newfangled OS X stuff.

Why update?

For starters, because just with a software update, my MacBook Pro suddenly runs and feels up to twice as fast than previously - that's good enough for me, for spending $29.

As an aside, though, it's worth spending the money on the Mac OS Boxset, which includes iLife and iWork as well, and basically gives you OS X 10.6 at no charge at that price.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

I'm going to wait until I have to upgrade hardware before any sofware updates.

Thats what I've just done. I had to buy a new Mac Book and I had no idea that it was going to come with Snow Leopard on it until I got to the shop on Wednesday.

Gotta say though, I'm pretty happy with it. Its hard to tell the differences between Leopard and Snow Leopard but that could just be because my old machine was getting a bit slow and now I'm running a new os on a new machine.

Originally Posted by Wallalai

Originally Posted by lom

^ So they obviously released 10.6 way too early

Softwares without bugs or possible fixes doesn't exist. If Leopard was released in november we still have had some updates later.

I don't know if you use Linux, but software updates in Linux are available nearly everyday. So what, it will never be perfect and bug free. Would it be Linux, Mac, Windows or anything else.

Apples and oranges..
Of course all software has bugs and of course there will always be updates.
But starting with bugfixes 4-5 days after the release of a payware OS, whether MacOS or Windows is a sign of a too early release and a too short beta test period.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

I mean, I'm still running OS 9.2.1,

OS 9 was nice, but still very unstable compared to OSX

at least the Finder in OS9 was still usable, unlike now. I still run OS9 on my old PowerMac 8600

Originally Posted by lom

But starting with bugfixes 4-5 days after the release of a payware OS, whether MacOS or Windows is a sign of a too early release and a too short beta test period.

Quality Control has never been Apple forte, actually in that regard they have been worst than MS as far as I remember, but because their software do less and they are not as many users using them, it goes unnoticed. The Mac platform is riddle of silly software bugs by all vendors, no exception.

In the OpenSource community you don't see that many bugs.

This is what happens when you let Marketing run the development division.

Originally Posted by lom

But starting with bugfixes 4-5 days after the release of a payware OS, whether MacOS or Windows is a sign of a too early release and a too short beta test period.

You're obviously unfamiliar with the realities of product manufacturing and shipping lead times.

The version that is available now, was finalized at least 4-5 weeks ago, in order to reach consumers at the planned deadline - this holds even more true when a physical product is involved.

Additionally, Apple (and, I would hope, all manufacturers) are constantly working on the next version -- there is a time where a present version is 'frozen' and sent off to manufacturing, to meet a shipping deadline. This doesn't mean that continued developments stop to appease an erroneous impression of finality.

Lastly, additional developments to OS X do not exclusively include 'bug fixes', but also provide for additional features, and additional refinements, as well as changes in response to user feedback, for example.

By your own argument, then, no product would ever be good enough to ship, and would never be available. Ever.

sounds a bit back to front, but the only thing i want from snow leopard is boot camp 3 for the windows 7 compatibility features.

More Hidden Refinements in Snow Leopard
by Jeff Carlson and Glenn Fleishman

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard doesn't feature many major new features (see "What's New in Snow Leopard," 2009-08-27), but it does incorporate hundreds of tiny changes that can affect how you use your Mac on a daily basis. Here, we note some refinements that we feel are noteworthy beyond what Matt already covered.


Time for Password -- A subtle change in the Security preference pane can affect laptop users. The first option under the General preferences now lets you set an amount of time before the Mac requires a password after going to sleep or engaging the screen saver. In Leopard, the option was simply to require the password or not. Choose among several increments between 5 seconds and 4 hours. [JLC]


Smart Eject -- Two of the most irritating long-term problems in Mac OS X have finally been eradicated in Snow Leopard: knowing when the system has ejected a hard drive, thumb drive, disk image, or network drive; and knowing why it sometimes refuses to eject a disk.

Snow Leopard adds a visual cue to let you know an eject is in process: it dims the disk's icon. This lets you know thatsomething is happening. When ejection is complete, the disk icon disappears from the Desktop.

If Snow Leopard cannot eject the disk because an application or process is accessing or has open a document on the mounted volume, it displays a dialog that tells you which program or system component is in use. Previously, you'd have to use the lsof command via Terminal and learn to understand the results.

And even better, a Force Eject button lets you override Mac OS X when you believe it's in error or you really need that disk off the Desktop. (Warning! Ejecting disks that are truly in use can corrupt open documents.) [GF]


Bigger iChat Theater -- We've always liked iChat Theater, a way to push a presentation, pictures, or other Quick Look-supported media to a remote party - we use this for presentations with user groups, among other purposes. In Snow Leopard, Apple says you can now push iChat Theater - and any iChat video - at up to 640 by 480 pixels while using as little as 300 Kbps upstream, about a third of the previous requirement for a lower resolution.

Jeff Carlson shared a PDF with me via iChat Theater, and the text was clearly readable. Pages instantly refreshed as he flipped through the PDF on his end. [GF]


Location via Wi-Fi -- Apple can now set your time zone via Wi-Fi, most likely using the Skyhook Wireless positioning system that's also part of the iPhone OS. Bring up the Date & Time preference pane, click the Time Zone view, and check the Set Time Zone Automatically box.

A progress spinner shows up while Snow Leopard sends information off about Wi-Fi signals in your vicinity and receives data back. I've seen this both fail and succeed, but usually Mac OS X quickly tells me I'm in Seattle (whew). [GF]


Wake on Demand -- Putting your Mac to sleep saves power, but it also disrupts using your Mac as a file server, among other purposes. Wake on Demand in Snow Leopard works in conjunction with an Apple base station to continue announcing Bonjour services that the sleeping computer offers.

The requirements are complex. You must have firmware release 7.4.2 installed on either an AirPort Extreme Base Station or Time Capsule. If WPA or WPA2 encryption is turned on, the base station can't be in bridge mode. Only newer computers - every 2009 model and at least several 2008 models - can be woken over Wi-Fi; all Macs can be woken via Ethernet. Apple provides more details in a support note, and our Glenn Fleishman wrote a long article with the ins and outs for Macworld.

You toggle this feature in the Energy Saver preference pane. It's labeled Wake on Network Access for computers that can be roused either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet; Wake on Ethernet Network Access or Wake on AirPort Network Access for wired or wireless only machines, respectively. Uncheck the box to disable this feature. [JLC]


Expose Shortcuts -- As one of the few feature changes in Snow Leopard, you've probably seen how Expose now works from the Dock, arranges windows in an easier-to-read layout, and enables you to move content between applications. Here are a few shortcuts that will make Expose even more useful:

With all windows visible (press F9 or the Expose key [F3] on recent Mac laptops), press Command-1 to arrange the windows by name.
Also with all windows visible, press Command-2 to arrange them by application.
Press the Tab key to view all windows belonging to one application (equivalent to pressing F10 or Control-F3 on recent laptops). Press Tab again to switch between applications while remaining in Expose. You can also click an icon in the dock.
Hover your mouse pointer over a window and press the spacebar to view a larger Quick Look version of that window. [JLC]

iCal's New Inspector -- Admittedly, this new feature feels more like a workaround hack than a solution, but we'll take it. The Leopard version of iCal made editing events more difficult than in the Tiger version. To view details about an event, for example, you must double-click the event to reveal only some information in a pop-up box; you then need to click the Edit button (or know to press Command-E) to edit an item's information. In contrast, iCal in Tiger provided an optional drawer to reveal and edit those details. In Snow Leopard, choose Edit > Show Inspector (or press Command-Option-I) to bring up a floating Inspector that provides an editable view of any items selected in your calendar. [JLC]


Screenshots Named Better -- Gone are the inscrutable "Picture 1" files on your Desktop. Snow Leopard instead names screenshots taken with the built-in screenshot feature along these lines: "Screen shot 2009-08-31 at 12.57.39 PM." Wordy, but it gives you a slightly better sense of what might be inside. [GF]


240 Pages of Snow Leopard Details -- Available the day that Snow Leopard was released, Jeff Carlson's latest book, "The Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Pocket Guide," includes details like these as well as a great overview of Mac OS X, all in just 240 pages of clear text and screenshots. The book retails for $14.99, and is available in bookstores and at Amazon.com (currently discounted to just $10.19). (A downloadable excerpt should be available from Peachpit.com by the time you read this.)


Tip of the Iceberg -- As we mentioned above, these changes are merely the hidden refinements that jumped out at us right away and demanded to be trumpeted to our readers. To learn more about other tweaky changes straight from the cat's mouth (some of which are useful; others of which are merely marketing points), check out Apple's Snow Leopard Enhancements and Refinements page. We'll be keeping an eye out for additional refinements in the coming weeks - stay tuned!

Im looking forward to see how chrome os shapes up.

i think it will take fair chunk of market share from apple when it is released.

Originally Posted by mc2

Im looking forward to see how chrome os shapes up. i think it will take fair chunk of market share from apple when it is released.

I don't think Chrome OS will cause much consternation at Cupertino. My guess would be that it is the dev team of Office who will be keeping a wary eye on it.

Originally Posted by mc2

i think it will take fair chunk of market share from apple when it is released.

I guess it's nice and flattering that people constantly think Apple is Google's target, yet failing completely to understand Google's real strategy (hat tip to Slackula, who gets it)