What is Apple Up to Now?

Overview: Mac OS X 1.5 Leopard, Leopard Server, XServe, iTV, and more are coming in 27 for Apple's Macintosh fans, from All Covered: IT Services Partner for Small Business.

We have an exciting Mac Corner this month!  We'll be previewing Mac OS X 10.5 and Mac OS X Server 10.5 (code-named 'Leopard') as well as the latest Intel-based Macintosh with a special business interest, the XServe; speculating on when the Apple set-top box (code-named 'iTV') will be released and what its final feature set will enable home theater enthusiasts to do, and finishing up with a Mac rumor roundup.

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Apple proudly proclaimed: 'Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Vista 2.0' on banners at the World Wide Developer conference in August.  Now that Windows Vista has been released to manufacturers (RTM) and is slated for consumer release on 30 January, the race is on.  Mr. Jobs has already told us 'shipping in Q1 2007' so that could mean as late as March.   What does the next big cat have in store for us? Let's take a look at three of the most anticipated new features:

  • Time Machine: Apple already has Backup, but has gone one better with Time Machine.  Initially it makes one complete backup of your system (on an external drive or network sharepoint) and then periodically backs up files that have changed.  You can retrieve past versions of files or files you've recently deleted by zooming your window back through time just like the name suggests.
  • Mail: Mail, Apple's email program, is much improved in Leopard.  Stationery templates, notes and to-do lists, which are able to cross-propagate to iCal, make their debut here.
  • Spaces: Take your desktop and cadre of constantly running applications to task, and organize it.  It can be pretty busy, even with Exposé to organize things.  Spaces allows you to divide your running applications and items into multiple desktops; a 'web' space for your browser(s), HTML authoring apps, etc., a 'creative' space for iLife and iWork, etc.  The names we've suggested here are just that- suggestions.  Your limits are your own.

Check out the rest at Apple's website.  http://www.apple.com/macosx/

Leopard Server (Mac OS X Server 10.5)

Mac OS X Server 10.5 is Apple's sixth release of its Mac OS X Server operating system in as many years.  Leopard server brings to the table a few much anticipated features, as well as a couple unexpected ones:

  • iCal Server: is based on the CalDAV standard, a conglomeration of existing standards allowing cross-platform calendaring, free-busy checking, and full Open Directory integration. 
  • Teams Directory: is Apple's catch phrase for its built-in Wiki Server, taking their previous attempt at a blog-server (based on bloxsom) one step further.
  • Spotlight Server: adds Apple's incredibly-fast content and meta-data search engine capability to mounted volumes, allowing for lightning-fast searches across your company's gigabytes (or terabytes?) of shared storage.

Though Apple's website does not mention it, rumors are about that Time Machine may extend a backup service of sorts to connected workstations.

XServe

Apple's last product line to make the transition from PowerPC processors to Intel was the XServe, announced back in August and expected to ship in October.  That ship date was pushed to November and was well worth the wait.

The XServe is powered by up to a pair of Intel dual-core 3.0GHz Xeon processors, boasting some 500% performance boost over its G5-powered predecessor.  Along with performance gains, the XServe sports a few high-profile features as well as a few things IT professionals will appreciate:

  • Built-in mini DVI
  • Dual PCI-Express slots (one can be configured as PCI-X)
  • Optional dual power supplies
  • Lights-out Power Management (allows for remote full power cycling)
  • Support for up to 32GB DDR 667MHz memory
  • DB-9 serial port
  • Dual FW800, dual USB 2.0 ports
  • Slide-out tab for easy serial number and MAC address reading and bar-code scanning

The XServe comes with Mac OS X Server 10.4.8 Universal (a build capable of running on the PowerPC Processor or Intel Processor). As always, Apple eschews Microsoft's a-la-carte mode of distributing client access licenses, giving customers a completely unlimited licensing approach to all services on the operating system. 

iTV

This past fall Apple announced it was selling movies on the iTunes Store and followed right along with something not seen in a blue moon; a pre-announcement for a product.  Apple showed off the 'iTV' (a code name, not the final product name): a set-top box that will stream your iTunes media (movies, music, TV Shows) from your PC or Mac to your TV wirelessly (or ethernet if you wish).  The iTV has HDMI and component video outputs to send video to your TV, as well as digital audio outputs capable of delivering 5:1 surround sound.

All we have to do now is wait for the first quarter of 2007 when Apple has said they will ship it.

I heard a rumor...

The rumor mill has been a-flurry with talk of a 'true video iPod' ever since the 5th generation iPod came out and showed customer the wonders of 320x240 pixel U2 music videos.  It would supposedly have a video screen across the entire front of the unit and feature 'no-touch' controls, allowing your fingers to hover directly above the screen to control selection and playback.  No official announcements as yet, so we'll have to see.

Apple fanatics have also been looking for Apple's iPhone: a rumored device that would not only be able to download music straight from Apple's iTunes Store, but also be linked to the carrier of your choice.

How All Covered Can Help

If this is an issue for your business, All Covered provides Macintosh and Apple consulting and services for small businesses nationwide.

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