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I think the use of an invisible identifier to label the mapping between a file and it's app is a really non-intuitive interface. Getting rid of files without ex

by allenp 17y ago

I think the use of an invisible identifier to label the mapping between a file and it's app is a really non-intuitive interface. Getting rid of files without extensions and making it dead simple to know what will happen if you open a file improve the experience, even if it seems backwards, clunky, or non-sophisticated. I think this change is a really mature decision on Apple's part even if it isn't the traditional Mac way of doing things.

roc 17y ago
At the same time: extensions are a poor way to communicate with the user, largely arbitrary and very fragile. If they were going to make a change in the name of consistency, they could have done better.
- CrLf 17y ago
  It used to be the case that the file's icon represented the file's type. But with icon previews, that's no longer the case, so the extension is the only visible means of conveying the file type.
  - moe 17y ago
    They could overlay a small line of text or sub-icon over the actual icon, though.
wmf 17y ago
In the old days creator codes weren't invisible because they determined the file's icon. Now that icons are thumbnails that's no longer the case.