World of Apple

Over the last few days since the introduction of Leopard at WWDC speculation has been wrought concerning the Teams project featured on Mac OS Forge.

Text from Mac OS Forge:

Teams is a feature of Mac OS X Server, slated for Leopard (10.5). Among its features, it includes a web-based calendar client which works with the Calendar Server.

A further insight has been posted in the OS X Server mailing list by Eric Zelenka:

Teams is a revolutionary new way for people to work together. Teams lets people share contacts, resources, information and communicate more effectively—as a team.

But thats not all. Launching the new Teams Directory application gives you access to shared accounts for people, groups, locations and resources within your organization. You can use Teams Directory to find information, or define new shared contacts, assign people to groups and logically organize groups based on hierarchy. With Teams Directory you can define office locations complete with searchable building and location maps, as well as manage shared resources such as conference rooms and projectors.

During the Keynote today Apple showed off ten feature set to make it into the future OS, Leopard.

It was also announced that Leopard would be shipping in Spring of 2007.

• Time Machine – a new backup system which automatically backs-up everything on your Mac.

  Right from the start, Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard makes a complete backup of all the files on your system. That includes your system files, applications, accounts, preferences, music, photos, movies, documents — everything you keep on your Mac. As you make changes, Time Machine only backs up what changes, all the while maintaining a comprehensive layout of your system.

  Time Machine shoots back through the Finder using 3D animation
• Core Animation – allows developers to keyframe and tween to create great looking applications.

  Creating dynamic scenes can get confusing without a systematic approach. Using Core Animation, Mac developers can create snazzy animations in their programs using different media types, such as text, 2D graphics, OpenGL renderings, and video, simultaneously. Core Animation dynamically renders these media layers together, complete with transparency effects and Core Image filter and effects. When content changes, Core Animation updates it, automatically.

• Spaces – Virtual Desktops are now a standard feature of Mac OS X, you can run four desktops simultaneously and switch between them using the Dock or short keys, changing between desktops happens much like an Exposé window switch.

  Create a Space for work. Create a space for play. With the click a function key, you can drag all your application windows onto different Spaces. Keep all your work projects in one Space and that fun flick you made in iMovie in another. Create a communication Space for iChat and Mail. Organize your Spaces however you want just by dragging windows into them. You can even rearrange your Spaces with drag-and-drop ease — shift a Space and every window in it comes along for the ride.

  Spaces – Multiple desktops in Mac OS X Leopard
• Dashboard Enhancements – Dashboard now features Web Clip, which allows you to crop a section of a web page for live previewing straight from the Dashboard.

  Dashcode is now officially released with templates and libraries.

  Web Clip – take quick live snapshots of webpages from Safari
• iChat Enhancements – You can now do live Photo Booth effects over an iChat video conference, but you can also show friends and family Keynote presentations and iPhoto slideshows.

  You can also now share your desktop during an iChat for collaborative working.

  iChat also features Backdrops for your video chats, drop yourself in front of any photo or video for a bit of fun.

  PhotoBooth effects can now be previewed live over an iChat video conversation
• Mail.app Enhancements – To Do lists that tie into iCal and other apps on the system. Stationery for creating HTML emails much like iWeb. Notes to help remind yourself.
  Photo Browser and Stationery in Mail.app
• Universal Access – Now supports closed captioning in Quicktime, braille support, and more natural voiceovers.

  The new synthesized English voice in Leopard, Alex, uses advanced, patented Apple technologies that deliver natural intonation, even at very fast speaking rates. And Alex works with any application that supports Apple’s speech synthesis.

• 64-bit and the Complete Package – Leopard now supports 64-bit natively. Leopard will deliver 64-bit power to Intel and PowerPC Macs.

  Leopard also packs new versions of Photo Booth and Front Row as well as bundling Boot Camp as standard.

• iCal – Calendar sharing, event scheduling can now be done in iCal.
  The new iCal in Leopard
• Spotlight – Spotlight now searches networked machines and whole workgroups as well as the ability to do boolean searches. Spotlight also bundles an application launcher and lists recent items.

Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard, the next major release of Apple’s award-winning UNIX server operating system. Leopard Server, scheduled to ship in spring 2007, builds on Apple’s legendary ease of use with new Server Assistant and Server Preference features that make it easy for even non-technical users to setup and manage a server with just a few clicks of a mouse. For the first time, Apple is delivering native 64-bit server applications that take advantage of the increased processing power of 64-bit computing. Other new features include iCal Server, the easiest way to share calendars, schedule meetings and plan events; a wiki server that makes it simple for teams to share and communicate; Spotlight Server, the fastest way to find content on servers; and Podcast Producer, the ideal way to automate Podcast production.

“Leopard Server brings a new level of 64-bit power together with Apple’s legendary ease of use in one server operating system,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Leopard Server is our best Mac OS X Server release yet and includes many new innovative features, such as iCal Server, a wiki server and Spotlight Server, making it ideal for education, small businesses and large enterprises alike, and a great alternative to Windows and Linux servers.”

Leopard Server enables small businesses and workgroups to take full advantage of the benefits of a server without an IT department. Leopard Server features a new setup interface with built-in Network Health Check, a new Server Preferences administration interface and automatic client setup support that automatically configures Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard clients to use the server for all essential services, including file and printer sharing, Mail, iCal, iChat, Address Book and backup.

The core services in Leopard Server, including Apache 2, MySQL 5, Postfix, Cyrus, iChat Server and QuickTime Streaming Server, are now 64-bit, allowing users to take full advantage of their 64-bit hardware’s performance and processing power, and to work with larger data sets. Since Leopard Server is fully 32-bit compatible, users can run 32-bit and 64-bit applications natively side-by-side.

For the first time, Mac OS X Server will include a calendar server for users and groups to coordinate events, schedule meetings, reserve resources and use time more effectively. iCal Server uses the open CalDAV standard for integration with leading calendar programs, including iCal 3 in Leopard, Mozilla’s Sunbird, OSAF’s Chandler and Microsoft Outlook. Leopard Server also includes a wiki server to make it easy for teams to create and share information through their own shared website and provides web-based access to shared resources such as team calendars, weblogs and Podcasts. Spotlight Server is the fastest way to search and find content on servers within a network. Designed for workgroups with shared documents, projects and file archives, Spotlight Server works with Leopard clients to deliver quick, lightning fast searches of content stored on mounted volumes across the entire network.

With Podcast Producer, anyone can record content, automatically upload it to the server and convert it into a Podcast. Using Xgrid, Podcast Producer can leverage any Mac on the network to encode the video. The Podcast can then be delivered over the Internet or even to multimedia enabled cell phones over high speed wireless networks using QuickTime Streaming Server.

Other new features in Leopard Server include:

• Mail Clustering for higher availability and reliability when used with Xsan,
• Apple’s clustered file system for storage area networks;
• iChat Server 2 with instant message federation that lets users communicate with GoogleTalk and other XMPP instant messaging systems;
  QuickTime Streaming Server 6 with support for 3GPP Release 6 bit rate adaptation for smooth streaming when delivering content to mobile phones regardless of network congestion;
• new Adaptive Firewall technology to actively monitor for attacks and proactively block individual hosts from connecting to the server; and
• Xgrid 2 featuring GridAnywhere for distributed computing in environments without dedicated controllers, and Scoreboard for prioritizing job distribution to the fastest available CPU.

As WWDC quickly approaches every Mac addict on Earth is pulling out the stops to dig up some dirt on the upcoming products.

Naturally World of Apple will be providing Live coverage of the Keynote and will be hot on every detail of the show in general. Within the next 24 hours World of Apple will have published the classic Rumour Round-up.

WWDC Banner Photo

Pictures are circulating of a large banner situated in the Moscone West entrance hall, the banner shows nothing new but does hold some possible clues such as the prominent display of Apples 64-bit logo and what looks like the side of the current PowerMac G5.

Banner situated in the Moscone West entrance hall

View of the whole banner situated in the Moscone West hall at WWDC

iPhone Images

Images that claim to be of the Apple iPhone have appeared on the Internet, the images which depict the phone having a candy bar style have been widely debunked but no images have been officially removed by Apple.

iChat Mobile – Is this the Apple iPhone?

Leopard Preview

Late yesterday evening Apple posted a page to their developer site which listed “Leopard Preview” as a requirement. The page was swiftly removed but a screenshot remains.

Apple lists Leopard Preview as a requirement

Apple today announced a partnership with Ford, GM and Mazda which claims to result in seamless iPod integration.

“We’re delighted that Ford, General Motors and Mazda will support iPod connectivity in nearly all of their new models,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “Now more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles will offer iPod integration, with General Motors alone making it available on all 56 of its models, representing millions of cars and trucks.”

Ford and General Motors will feature iPod integration in the majority of their 2007 models in the US beginning later this year, while Mazda’s entire global 2007 lineup of cars and SUVs will offer iPod connectivity. iPod offerings for Ford, General Motors and Mazda provide drivers with outstanding sound quality while charging the iPod, while conveniently storing the iPod in the glove compartment. Seamless iPod integration also allows drivers to use their car’s multifunction controls to select their music using artist, album, playlist or shuffle songs, as well as to easily skip between tracks and playlists.

Apple today announced a partnership with Ford, GM and Mazda which claims to result in seamless iPod integration.

“We’re delighted that Ford, General Motors and Mazda will support iPod connectivity in nearly all of their new models,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “Now more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles will offer iPod integration, with General Motors alone making it available on all 56 of its models, representing millions of cars and trucks.”

Ford and General Motors will feature iPod integration in the majority of their 2007 models in the US beginning later this year, while Mazda’s entire global 2007 lineup of cars and SUVs will offer iPod connectivity. iPod offerings for Ford, General Motors and Mazda provide drivers with outstanding sound quality while charging the iPod, while conveniently storing the iPod in the glove compartment. Seamless iPod integration also allows drivers to use their car’s multifunction controls to select their music using artist, album, playlist or shuffle songs, as well as to easily skip between tracks and playlists.

Yesterday Apple and Coca-Cola announced a partnership that would result in 70 million songs being given away.

The new Coca-Cola Music website is the main feature of the promotion with complete iTunes integration.

In the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, unsigned artists will be encouraged to upload tracks that will vie to be featured in the artists highlights and podcasts available on iTunes, as well as to receive invitations to perform at Coke-sponsored music festivals.

Starting in August in the UK song codes with be available on promo packs of Coca-Cola and Diet Coke resulting in 70 million songs being given away for free.

In September in Germany, Coca-Cola will be giving away an iPod and 50 iTunes tracks every hour for eight weeks.

Engadget is reporting that two separate “trustworthy” sources have cited information to Engadget about Apple including eBooks with the next iPod.

We’d say the possibility is very real, since according to a source at a major publishing house, they were just ordered to archive all their manuscripts — every single one — and send them over to Apple’s Cupertino HQ.

Engadget also bolsters rumours that the next iPod will feature significant screen real estate which will allow book reading.

Engadget also believes that Apple will begin selling eBooks via the iTunes Music Store.

The EETimes is reporting that nVidia has won a major contract for the designing of the multimedia chip for upcoming iPods.

The current line of iPods use a Broadcom multimedia chip, it seems that the nVidia chip could be powering the long awaited video iPod.

Many astute Mac users have feverishly ripped apart the recent iPod Firmware Update in a hope to discover some unknown intricacies.

The latest firmware appears to include references to an “t_feature_app_PHONE_APP” with other common occurrences being “kPhoneSignalStrength,” “clPhoneCallHistoryModel,” prPhoneSettingsMenu,” “prPhoneSettingsMenuView,” prPhoneEnableSetting” and “prPhoneMenuItem.”

The firmware also lends clues to the possibility that Apple may be prepping a form of iPod-based instant messaging, with clues reading; “t_feature_app_MESSENGER_APP,” “clMessengerModel,” and “clMessengerApplication.”

Two new games also appear to have been discovered by the names of “Simon” and “Stacker”.