Why IT staff, users will like Apple's plans

Leopard's spots

This brings us to Mac OS X 10.5, or Leopard. There has been no end to the speculation of what would be included in the preview. To quickly recap, Steve Jobs included the following 10 features in his demo:

-- 64-bit processor support throughout the operating system, including the ability to run 32- and 64-bit applications side by side.

-- Time Machine, a continuously running backup application that allows users to maintain a backup of every file on their computer -- either on a second hard drive or a server. Time Machine also allows users to go backwards and forwards in time to locate specific versions of files that have been changed or deleted and sports an impressive user interface. As with Spotlight, developers will be able to integrate Time Machine into applications.

-- A complete package approach that includes a final release of Boot Camp for running Windows in a dual-boot system (Apple will not include virtualization in Mac OS X, leaving that for other developers such as Parallels to provide) and significantly enhanced Front Row and Photo Booth updates.

-- Virtual Desktops called Spaces that allow users to place similar applications and open files in separately defined areas that promote ease of workflow. Drag-and-drop and Dock support will be included in Spaces.

-- Improved Spotlight searching, which will allow searching of remote computers and servers, as well as advanced search options.

-- Core Animation, which will enable developers to create complex animated effects easily for any manner of use.

-- Revamped Universal Access, which offers vastly improved voiceover, closed-captioning and other improvements.

-- More robust Mail, offering easy rich (HTML) mail editing as well as notes and a systemwide to-do feature.

-- A next-generation version of Dashboard that includes Dashcode tools for developers and the ability for end users to create widgets out of any portion of a Web page.

-- A much more robust iChat, with features like Photo Booth effects, the ability to place graphics or video as a background in video chats, the ability to share your screen/desktop with remote users, and the ability to do slideshows and keynote presentations through a feature called iChat Theatre.

Also mentioned but not demonstrated yesterday was the fact the iCal will be multiuser.

Of these Leopard announcements, I want to focus on several in more depth.

First, there's Time Machine, which has incredible potential for systems administrators and technicians. Although many commercial backup tools offer the ability to back up workstations, the client tools are often somewhat clunky and mean additional licensing fees. Time Machine, paired with a dedicated backup server, could eliminate the need for third-party software. This could easily cut the cost of developing an extensive backup strategy.

Its apparent ease of configuration and the fact that the operating system on the workstation would manage the backup creation and access on the server (rather than vice versa, as is more typical) will simplify creating a backup strategy and make restoring data much simpler. The fact that the user interface is easy to understand -- and at the workstation level -- also means that users could more readily retrieve lost or deleted files without the need for a systems administrator, and possibly without the need for any aid other than a quick call to a help desk. It also means users need not worry about copying files to an alternate location for backup, as is often done in situations where workstations are not backed up.

The Spotlight update is also big news. Systems administrators often spend a great deal of time planning share points and folder structures so users can easily locate files. But it can sometimes be difficult to create an ease-of-use situation while maintaining security. The ability to search remote servers will help users locate files much more easily. Again, this could result in fewer help desk calls when users can't remember where they have saved something. Spotlight's dramatic ability to search within files will also be handy, especially in networks that contain multiple servers and many share points.

The issue Apple will need to resolve is ensuring that Spotlight searches don't generate so much network traffic that they create problems. It may also force systems administrators to be much more conscious of permissions in folder hierarchies. Generally, being able to stop someone from browsing for files where they shouldn't have access can be very effective. However, users can often locate and open items by search or by file path, even if they can't browse for them. The expanded searchability of network data may allow users to find files, even if those files are located within folders that would traditionally block outside access.

Mail's next generation promises to be very inviting. I've often heard Microsoft Outlook users complain that Apple's Mail is too limiting. Integrating notes and to-dos is a great move, though since Mail is not truly a PIM application, it seems a somewhat arbitrary place for to-do lists. It might have been better to roll iCal into Mail with these features.

That to-dos will be integrated as a system-level feature is icing on the cake. Being able to create a to-do at any point is beyond helpful. One of the reasons I never used Outlook's to-do list was the simple fact that it required me to stop what I was working on, switch to Outlook and then choose the to-do list in order to add an item. That would completely break my concentration (so I'd just write stuff down on a scrap of paper, which I'd usually lose). Any professional Mac user will benefit from this feature.

And since I've mentioned complaints from Outlook users, the lack of multiuser support in iCal has got to be mentioned. I'm actually surprised this feature was mentioned almost as an afterthought in yesterday's keynote. What's even better is that not only is iCal multiuser -- and integrated with Mail's new to-do feature -- but Leopard Server's implementation of multiuser iCal functions is CalDAV-based. CalDAV is a standard method for sharing event data that is supported by other applications, including Outlook. This means that iCal's multi-user functionality is also multiplatform. In fact, this makes Leopard Server a great competitor for Exchange Server in a multiplatform environment. (I'll get to Leopard Server in my next article).

Finally, let's talk about iChat for a moment. Instant messaging has always had a minor role in the professional world. Yes, it's easier than sending an e-mail and less obtrusive than a phone call, but it's still always seemed like something for mainly personal communication. The new iChat Theatre feature changes that dramatically. Yes, sharing and being able to narrate a slideshow is cool. But being able to make presentations remotely is beyond big business. Companies have been developing separate technologies for video conferencing, remote presentations and other forms of distance collaboration for years. And here it is, completely free, using hardware built into almost every Mac and using free software. And, when used with iChat server under Leopard Server, this feature can be encrypted for secure communication.

This is most definitely a far cry from the earliest versions of iChat.

Another great new iChat feature is the less-mentioned ability to IM the contents of your screen. This ability, which has been built into Apple Remote Desktop, is great for collaboration (you can actively edit a document in Photoshop while the client is looking at it in real time) or for help desk purposes; a help desk agent can see exactly what is happening and offer advice (although Apple Remote Desktop would be a better choice here). Needless to say, there is a place for this new iChat in the professional world (and the world of personal contact and fun). And at no extra cost, that place can enable small businesses the collaborative abilities formerly not available to them.

All in all, Apple has given Mac professionals a lot to look forward to in the coming year.

Ryan Faas is a freelance writer and IT consultant specializing in Mac and multiplatform network design and troubleshooting. He is the co-author of Essential Mac OS X Panther Server Administration (O'Reilly Media, 2005) and the author of Troubleshooting, Maintaining, and Repairing Macs (Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2000). He is a regular contributor to Inform IT. For more information, visit RyanFaas.com.