Some Niceties
Spring-loaded folders are back. We didn't realize just how much we missed them.
The Aqua interface has been toned down just a bit. We think it achieves a more professional look and probably adds some speed to the Finder.
A Search field is included in the header of each Finder window. Just type in the word(s) to be searched for and hit the "Return" key. Make sure the correct drive, volume or folder is highlighted (selected) before hitting the "Return" key. [Updated]
The new Calculator has an "Advanced" button that turns it into a scientific calculator and a "Paper Tape" button that emulates a paper tape no less.
TestEdit has more text editting features.
The cursor arrow is 3D!
The Bluetooth menu icon is the cool Bluetooth logo rather than a triangle with a dot.
We really like the new default desktop background. We were getting tired of the cool but "aging" foams.
Selecting "Shut Down" brings up a dialog box asking if one really wants to shut down.
When a software update finishes, the dialog box presents "Shutdown" as well as "Restart". [Updated]
System Preference Panels: We probably missed some things but here are the new features in the preference panels of the System Preferences application that we found:
Desktop--Aside from the new default desktop background, jaguar fur has been added to the Nature set.
General--Font smoothing has four styles, including one expressly for flat panels.
Login Items--It contains only the items list. The automatic login setting has been moved to a renamed "Accounts" preference panel.
My Account--This is a new panel with settings specific to the logged-in user.
CD & DVDs--A new panel that allows one to determine what action will occur when a CD or DVD is inserted in the drive.
Screen Effects--Renamed from Screen Saver, this panel lost the Icons module but gained Flurry and .Mac modules along with a Random setting that plays each module randomly. [Update] The .Mac module is actually a slide show publisher/player that allows one to play slides from the .Mac account of another member. Here's a tutorial by Brad Hopkins.
Energy Saver--The Energy Saver panel has separate settings for the power adapter and battery on a laptop.
Mouse--There is a setting for scrolling speed that appears in the Mouse panel of our G4 Cube with a GeForce3 graphics card but not in our other Cube with a GeForce2 MX card nor in our TiBook, iBook or iMac G4.
Sound--There is an independent output level setting for our iSub in the output tab of this panel.
Internet--The iTools tab is renamed .Mac, an iDisk tab is added and the News tab is eliminated.
Network--The Active Network Ports setting is now called Network Port Configurations. The modem scripts include an Apple v.92 script. Hopefully, the V.90 script has been fixed so that solid connections can be made.
Sharing--There are more options including printer sharing, personal firewall and NAT (software router) internet sharing.
Accounts--The check box for an automatic login is located here instead of the Login Items panel.
Speech--There is a Spoken User Interface tab with more settings. This is really cool but we rarely use it.
Universal Access--Tabs are added for Seeing and Hearing enhancements in addtition to the original Keyboard and Mouse tabs.
Next we will cover performance and use of the new applications. Stay tuned.
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