OS X Lion Developer Preview 4: what is not said, Steve?

The new test version under the symbol 11A480b was given developers a few hours after intoxicating keynouta Steve Jobs.

Few have missed such an important event, and of course our readers are aware of such significant innovations like iCloud and AirDrop. Therefore, let us turn our attention to those moments that remained behind the scenes of the exhibition center Moscone West.

installation

Let's start from the very, very beginning, with updates on the Developer Preview 4. installer interface has undergone significant changes. Some dialog boxes have been removed or reworked, changed the installation package icon.

Time zone and the user's location is determined automatically by the system

Lion meets user already traditional for the final release of the background image in the form of space. It seems that this image will be flashed on the screens of Apple computers in the next few years, as many promotional materials created with its use. So that get used (3200h2000).

Launchpad and Dock

Launchpad icon seen everything. Duplicate it, in order to get even a drop of aesthetic pleasure.

But this is not a major change Launchpad, is much more important that the application started to display additional information. Comfortable and it was not enough. Now, the dock can be dispensed with altogether, if there is such a desire. On the dock reappeared beacons running applications, they are enabled by default.

The abandonment of the dock can contribute to the expansion of full-screen mode, almost all major applications Mac OS. For example, Terminal got such treatment. Even third-party applications already have those, the same MarsEdit. While writing these words to my mind completely ignored the two arrows on the right.

Mission Control and System Settings

Current icon Mission Control knocked until the appearance of the top PrefPane line. Apparently her drawing and concept designers to deliver a lot of problems. Mission Control The window on the other hand, acquired completeness and conciseness. The changes are expected only cosmetic.

Panel "Appearance" was renamed the "Main", and while it does not seem logical.

Has undergone a change in Magic Mouse and Trackpad Settings window. Gestures are divided into two tabs, "Selecting and pressing" and "Other gestures."

When sending location information, the icon is identical to that in iOS appears in the menu bar. In the "Privacy" (System Preferences) there is a special box, from where it is possible to prohibit the use of coordinates in some applications.

Safari and Mail

Of Safari has been completely removed the old Downloads window. There was only a new version of what was to be expected. Added animation similar to those in the Reading List, link to download the file with jumps in the pop-up download window, and turns into a progress bar.

Safari Sam finally stopped "spam" user to restart the page. Failures happen, but rarely. 1Password works, testers and volunteers are not left without a simple way to input passwords and forms.

Against the background of hype around the latest MacDefender phishing and other members of the family, in the Lion appeared next checkbox (see Figure), however to understand its importance in the Russian-language version of the strength is not to each. In the original, the phrase looks like "Automatically update safe downloads list«. Indirectly, this suggests adding in DP4 latest security updates.

The Lion has already processed information. I confess, somewhat lost sight of this point, but in one of the previous file builds itself is not found. Apparently Help is added in DP4.

Mail.app already in the last update would make anyone want to go to the test build, what are some "chain" messages. Recent updates are not so obvious, but no less useful. Grouping messages by name, improved find and fix bugs in the map interface.

iTunes

The latest beta version of iTunes 10.5 was not included in the assembly, did not have time to get into the way of even with OS X update Player to 10.3. If "treshka" nothing special stands out to 10.5 to the delight of many famous has been removed "traffic lights". The interface is more... in general a better place than it was. This is facilitated skrolbar of iOS, full screen mode and a gradient of the upper bar. And most importantly - iTunes 10.5 now works in 64 bit mode.

β-stuff

On AirDrop iCloud and all the fun it was said at WWDC. It remains only to admire it:

Unfortunately this is still a beta version yet, although it must be admitted, very stable. As always, was not spared the complexity of some of the configuration during installation. This time the problems were seen with the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro this year. All the same iTunes at startup strives to be on the first desktop, rather than to ascribe the second. A positive note faster and at the same time smooth animation using Mission Control and Launchpad, and some progress in improving localization, although there is a lot of work.

Gold Master friends are not around the corner, the wait is long. Of all the innovations in the OS X Lion, in the amount of more than 250+, you can learn a special Apple page.