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The hidden message in Lion (Steve Jobs hand is missing)

10 points by apress 15y ago

orangecat 15y ago
Lion is the beginning of the transition from Mac OS X to iOS, which is exactly what Steve wants. (And why I fear my recently purchased Mac will be my last).
- marcusestes 15y ago
  I disagree. The core Mac fanbase (media markers and programmers) needs total access to the file system. No way around it. And that's not a feature that will ever be engineered into iOS.
- Bud 15y ago
  I agree that Lion transitions towards iOS, but this doesn't have much to do with the author's point, which is that crappy interface decisions in Lion reveal a certain lack of Steve-ization. The examples given by the author aren't examples of Lion becoming more iOS-like than Snow Leopard; they are examples of crappy interfaces and crappy implementation. I say this as a devoted Mac user who, overall, really likes Lion. That doesn't mean I like every detail, though.
  - TomOfTTB 15y ago
    His main point (the only one he really elaborated on in the current post) is Launchpad which is the very definition of OSX becoming more iOS like.
- ethank 15y ago
  Like I said elsewhere, until you can make ObjC apps on your iPhone, this is a polemic, trolling link-baity statement. Steve's footprint is ALL OVER Lion, starting with the total abandonment of the HIG in a lot of the core apps, which from what I understand from people at Apple was all a result of Garageband for iPad. Apple often likes to completely disrupt things in order to progress them, even if it means there is a Darwinian process whereby some stuff doesn't last (see the iterations of the iPod Shuffle). Merging iOS with OSX is something you see in Lion? Where? Scrollbars? Launchpad (which is purely an additive not substitutional feature)? Anywhere else? Stop with the "iOS is infecting OSX" trolling please. For 9/10 people who use a personal computer, iOS feature in OSX is a welcome addition (i.e., my dad loves Launchpad and the promise of iCloud because he doesn't understand files).
  - orangecat 15y ago
    until you can make ObjC apps on your iPhone I expect that to be possible within two years or so. And even if Macs remain the primary platform for developing apps, what's available to normal consumers is a separate matter. I stand by my prediction that by 2016, Apple won't sell any mass-market products that allow root access or running arbitrary software. Steve's footprint is ALL OVER Lion, starting with the total abandonment of the HIG in a lot of the core apps Agreed, which is why the article is incorrect. Steve doesn't care about interface consistency (at least across versions), or functionality for power users. Merging iOS with OSX is something you see in Lion? Where? Scrollbars? Launchpad Yes, along with fullscreen mode with non-support for multiple displays, reversed scrolling, removal of functionality in Spaces, and the app store being the only publicized way to install it. Steve himself said in the "Back to the Mac" presentation that a major goal of Lion is to incorporate parts of the iOS user experience, so it's not clear what you're disagreeing with.
    - ethank 15y ago
      A few notes: Fullscreen mode does work with multiple displays, in a way that makes a whole lot of sense. Most engineers at Apple use multiple displays, so more functionality will come soon. What I disagree with is the notion of the core OS being merged in, which it most decisively is not. User experience aspects? Sure, but that's to be expected as the divergent teams merged.
- cageface 15y ago
  I'm sure Steve is still making the big strategic decisions, but his absence is the best explanation I've heard yet for the miscarriage of the iCal and Address Book UIs. I never use Launchpad so I haven't given it much thought but I agree with the author that spilling every executable on the machine into Launchpad displays a similar lack of discipline.

10 points by apress 15y ago

Lion is the beginning of the transition from Mac OS X to iOS, which is exactly what Steve wants. (And why I fear my recently purchased Mac will be my last).

marcusestes 15y ago
I disagree. The core Mac fanbase (media markers and programmers) needs total access to the file system. No way around it. And that's not a feature that will ever be engineered into iOS.
Bud 15y ago
I agree that Lion transitions towards iOS, but this doesn't have much to do with the author's point, which is that crappy interface decisions in Lion reveal a certain lack of Steve-ization. The examples given by the author aren't examples of Lion becoming more iOS-like than Snow Leopard; they are examples of crappy interfaces and crappy implementation. I say this as a devoted Mac user who, overall, really likes Lion. That doesn't mean I like every detail, though.
- TomOfTTB 15y ago
  His main point (the only one he really elaborated on in the current post) is Launchpad which is the very definition of OSX becoming more iOS like.
ethank 15y ago
Like I said elsewhere, until you can make ObjC apps on your iPhone, this is a polemic, trolling link-baity statement. Steve's footprint is ALL OVER Lion, starting with the total abandonment of the HIG in a lot of the core apps, which from what I understand from people at Apple was all a result of Garageband for iPad. Apple often likes to completely disrupt things in order to progress them, even if it means there is a Darwinian process whereby some stuff doesn't last (see the iterations of the iPod Shuffle). Merging iOS with OSX is something you see in Lion? Where? Scrollbars? Launchpad (which is purely an additive not substitutional feature)? Anywhere else? Stop with the "iOS is infecting OSX" trolling please. For 9/10 people who use a personal computer, iOS feature in OSX is a welcome addition (i.e., my dad loves Launchpad and the promise of iCloud because he doesn't understand files).
- orangecat 15y ago
  until you can make ObjC apps on your iPhone I expect that to be possible within two years or so. And even if Macs remain the primary platform for developing apps, what's available to normal consumers is a separate matter. I stand by my prediction that by 2016, Apple won't sell any mass-market products that allow root access or running arbitrary software. Steve's footprint is ALL OVER Lion, starting with the total abandonment of the HIG in a lot of the core apps Agreed, which is why the article is incorrect. Steve doesn't care about interface consistency (at least across versions), or functionality for power users. Merging iOS with OSX is something you see in Lion? Where? Scrollbars? Launchpad Yes, along with fullscreen mode with non-support for multiple displays, reversed scrolling, removal of functionality in Spaces, and the app store being the only publicized way to install it. Steve himself said in the "Back to the Mac" presentation that a major goal of Lion is to incorporate parts of the iOS user experience, so it's not clear what you're disagreeing with.
  - ethank 15y ago
    A few notes: Fullscreen mode does work with multiple displays, in a way that makes a whole lot of sense. Most engineers at Apple use multiple displays, so more functionality will come soon. What I disagree with is the notion of the core OS being merged in, which it most decisively is not. User experience aspects? Sure, but that's to be expected as the divergent teams merged.
cageface 15y ago
I'm sure Steve is still making the big strategic decisions, but his absence is the best explanation I've heard yet for the miscarriage of the iCal and Address Book UIs. I never use Launchpad so I haven't given it much thought but I agree with the author that spilling every executable on the machine into Launchpad displays a similar lack of discipline.