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John Siracusa's Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Review

371 points| thisisblurry | 14 years ago |arstechnica.com

212 comments

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[+] bengl3rt|14 years ago|reply
Siracusa strikes me as a power user type so I'm extremely surprised that he neglected to mention how patently awful and useless Mission Control is on multiple monitors.

Whereas in the Spaces view in Snow Leopard I could move a window to a different space AND a different monitor with a quick drag, Mission Control doesn't allow this - I have to first move the window to the correct "Desktop", then exit MC and drag it to the correct monitor.

Full Screen Apps are similarly useless on multiple monitors - regardless of which monitor the window originates on, clicking the full screen button returns it to whatever display is designated "primary". Even worse, while you're in full screen on one display, the others become useless as it blocks them out with Apple's new favorite canvas texture. Why?

At first I thought all this was intentional and that Apple was leaving multi-monitor users in the dust to focus on Macs that are very close to iOS devices (11" Macbook Air comes to mind), but today they also announced a new Cinema Display that lets you daisy chain two monitors off a single Thunderbolt port. Clearly it's still a mode of operation they intend to support for some time - so why have they crippled it so horribly in this release?

[+] ethank|14 years ago|reply
Actually interestingly enough full screen apps that have palettes are really nice on multiple monitors. Omnigraffle, etc. The palettes can live on top of the linen on your secondary display. it makes using Keynote, omnigraffle and similar apps such a joy.
[+] jsz0|14 years ago|reply
I think the assumption here is that if you have multiple displays you would rarely need full screen apps in the first place. It's definitely a feature that works best on a laptop display. The best alternative I can think of is to full-screen all the windows on each display. So for example if you had 3 monitors with 3 Safari windows, one on each display, they would go full-screen on their respective display. (downside is it would be awkward to leave full screen since the controls for it reside on the menubar)
[+] axxl|14 years ago|reply
Regarding Mission Control and multiple monitors, what it will let you do is if it's on your second monitor in your current space, you can drag it to the second monitor of another space. It is odd that it doesn't let you do it directly (it even highlights if you drag it over, but just doesn't drop). So I guess you have to move it to the second, then go to mission control, then change what space it's in. Although this is just a different workflow it does make a bit more sense. Hopefully a change will come for this however.
[+] pkamb|14 years ago|reply
Windows is just as bad. Windows 7 doesn't ship with multiple taskbars for your secondary monitors. Seriously?

What's worse is that the developers actually making these features are probably using more than one monitor. And hitting those productivity gaps every day.

[+] cubicle67|14 years ago|reply
wasn't ready in time and will be fixed for 10.7.1?
[+] albedoa|14 years ago|reply
As someone who has never used OS X as his primary operating system, I am confused about what is being shown off as new in the Window Resizing section [1]. Were you not able to resize windows from all of those eight points before Lion?

1. http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7.a...

[+] asolove|14 years ago|reply
No, this has been one of the fundamental UI differences between Mac OS (from farther back than OS X) and Windows/Linux. Mac windows can only be resized from the bottom-right, with those other points being used to drag the window around.
[+] iamelgringo|14 years ago|reply
Nope, and no "Full Screen" mode or "Maximize" mode for windows on OSX.
[+] jsdalton|14 years ago|reply
Since the article didn't mention it, I'll ask here.

Anyone know the versions of Python, Ruby, Apache, PHP, etc. that come installed with OS X Lion?

[+] nzoschke|14 years ago|reply 

  $ /usr/bin/python -V
  Python 2.7.1
  
  $ /usr/bin/ruby --version
  ruby 1.8.7 (2010-01-10 patchlevel 249) [universal-darwin11.0]
  
  $ /usr/bin/php --version
  PHP 5.3.6 with Suhosin-Patch (cli) (built: Jun 16 2011 22:26:57) 
  Copyright (c) 1997-2011 The PHP Group
  Zend Engine v2.3.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2011 Zend Technologies
  
  $ /usr/sbin/httpd -V
  Server version: Apache/2.2.19 (Unix)
  Server built:   Jun 16 2011 22:09:54
  Server's Module Magic Number: 20051115:28
  Server loaded:  APR 1.4.2, APR-Util 1.3.10
  Compiled using: APR 1.4.2, APR-Util 1.3.10
  Architecture:   64-bit
  Server MPM:     Prefork
    threaded:     no
      forked:     yes (variable process count)
  Server compiled with....
   -D APACHE_MPM_DIR="server/mpm/prefork"
   -D APR_HAS_SENDFILE
   -D APR_HAS_MMAP
   -D APR_HAVE_IPV6 (IPv4-mapped addresses enabled)
   -D APR_USE_FLOCK_SERIALIZE
   -D APR_USE_PTHREAD_SERIALIZE
   -D SINGLE_LISTEN_UNSERIALIZED_ACCEPT
   -D APR_HAS_OTHER_CHILD
   -D AP_HAVE_RELIABLE_PIPED_LOGS
   -D DYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=128
   -D HTTPD_ROOT="/usr"
   -D SUEXEC_BIN="/usr/bin/suexec"
   -D DEFAULT_PIDLOG="/private/var/run/httpd.pid"
   -D DEFAULT_SCOREBOARD="logs/apache_runtime_status"
   -D DEFAULT_LOCKFILE="/private/var/run/accept.lock"
   -D DEFAULT_ERRORLOG="logs/error_log"
   -D AP_TYPES_CONFIG_FILE="/private/etc/apache2/mime.types"
   -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="/private/etc/apache2/httpd.conf"

  $ perl -v | head -2

  This is perl 5, version 12, subversion 3 (v5.12.3) built for darwin-thread-multi-2level
[+] endian|14 years ago|reply
What about `sqlite3 -version`?

Can we haz 3.7 and its Write-Ahead Log?

[+] dochtman|14 years ago|reply
Pretty sure Python is 2.7 (but don't remember sources).
[+] cubicle67|14 years ago|reply
Love the (lack of) scrollbars. My perfect OS would have no visible window chrome at all, no edges, no title bar, no buttons, nothing other than my work. The other bits would fade in as needed, then disappear again. not sure how exactly though...
[+] natesm|14 years ago|reply
On resuming application state:

>So, how's that "geek panic" now? Still there, huh? Well, let me try to reassure you. As a committed user of a great Mac text editor that, years ago, implemented its own version of almost all the document management features described so far, I can tell you that you get used to it very quickly. Spoiled by it, in fact. Ruined by it, some would say. Yes, it's a very different model from the one we're all used to. But it's also a better model—not just for novices, but for geeks too.

This works fine with text editors (although I'd argue that if invoked via the equivalent of "mvim" or "mate" they should discard this), but it absolutely falls apart with media creation applications. Photoshop and Illustrator files can be big, and they can take a long time to open. Just so that you can close it immediately and open a different one. Logic Pro currently does this, and it isn't nice or better. It's annoying.

Then there's the privacy concerns. If a designer is working with multiple clients, the last thing he or she wants is a different client's work showing up when he or she is showing something to a client.

[+] YooLi|14 years ago|reply
I'm not sure I follow. You mean that when you are working on something, you just shut down the application to close all your open files?

BTW, the apps need to be updated to take advantage of resuming application state, so application authors can choose to not support it if it doesn't make sense (giant Photoshop files, etc.).

[+] ddagradi|14 years ago|reply
Don't worry - Adobe won't be updating the Creative Suite with these features until at least the next release cycle. I imagine that, as you said, "Resume" will not be supported for performance reasons alone.
[+] hamedh|14 years ago|reply
there's an options in system preferences to turn it off. but it's global for all apps
[+] asolove|14 years ago|reply
I would love to see serious developer tools integrate the new file/state APIs creatively.

- Will it be possible to populate the list of previous file versions from another source, like a git or svn repo?

- Could the application state API include a shell intelligently reopening itself and launching the development environment that was running before a restart?

- Can applications read old versions of files edited in another application? E.g. could I tell Chrome to view a page in one tab, and in the next tab view the version of that page from a week ago to compare differences?

[+] euroclydon|14 years ago|reply
I'm disappointed in the answer to the following questions:

Can I tile two windows without 17 clicks and mouse movements? Fortunately for the creator of Cinch, it seems the answer is no.

Can I archive a gmail message? No?

[+] RexRollman|14 years ago|reply
From page 13 of the review:

"With ZFS out of the picture, Brtfs presumably eliminated due to its licensing, and future development of ReiserFS uncertain, its hard to see where Apple will get the modern file system that it so desperately needs other than by creating one itself."

There is one BSD licensed option I can think of: HammerFS. However, considering the fact that the creator of BFS is an Apple employee, I could totally envision them creating their own from scratch.

[+] masklinn|14 years ago|reply
> However, considering the fact that the creator of BFS is an Apple employee, I could totally envision them creating their own from scratch.

Dominic has been working at Apple since 2002. I'm guessing if they wanted a new filesystem they'd have tapped him quite a long time ago.

[+] snorkel|14 years ago|reply
"Terminal also—finally—supports 256 text colors with its new xterm-256color terminal type."

Woohoo! Finally a true MediumAquamarine comment-face in emacs in mac term.

[+] hesdeadjim|14 years ago|reply
Agreed, about time! Having to hack the terminal's prefpane to make my terminal colors work has been a total headache every time I upgrade or switch machines.
[+] sigjuice|14 years ago|reply
Does the new Terminal.app support xterm mouse reporting?
[+] callahad|14 years ago|reply
Woah. I actually reported an erratum and John responded within 10 minutes for clarification and subsequently updated the article.

(Previously, page 18 stated that "The old lock screen didn't allow account switching." Turns out it has, since at least Panther back in 2004.)

[+] Perceval|14 years ago|reply
I've emailed John before to ask him about language issues on OS X – I think this was back around the time that Apple decided they weren't going to roll their own Java runtime anymore. He responded back promptly and pointed me toward some reading material he thought was insightful.

Not only are his reviews and articles awesome, he seems like a really decent, chill guy.

[+] eykanal|14 years ago|reply
The one point (OK, one of the points) which I think will be VERY confusing to the power user is that the "Automatic Termination" function will remove programs from the application switcher. Given that they're still existing as a process, what's the point of this? The whole point is that launching and quitting apps should be transparent. Why remove it from the application switcher - which will now be the only way to see what apps are running, given that the little doc light gems are gone by default - thereby making the user click on it to restore it? There's no benefit, and it's a jarring concept ("Hey, where'd my app go? I didn't quit it!") I don't see the point.
[+] sharninder|14 years ago|reply
I've observed my parents, wife and sister using OS X and they've NEVER ever quit an application "the Mac way". They just click the red cross and think that quits the application as it does on windows. The only person who gets upset about their behavior above is me and with this change, even I don't need to bother. I think it's a change for the better. The policy for automatic termination is VERY conservative so I doubt an application will be terminated when you really don't want it to.
[+] unknown|14 years ago|reply

[deleted]

[+] chc|14 years ago|reply
I've been running Lion for a while and I have the lights under open apps without doing anything special. Does yours not?
[+] scott_s|14 years ago|reply
The entire point is that you shouldn't be concerned with what applications are running - the article discusses this idea.
[+] blahedo|14 years ago|reply
ARGH. I'm still bitter over the introduction of Spaces in the first place—a crappy implementation of virtual desktops that nevertheless drove all the third-party versions out of business—and now they cripple their already-weak version further?

Over and over in this review I'm seeing Steve Jobs's message come through loud and clear: "You should be on an iPad. We're going to make Macs as much like iPads as we can, even when this makes no sense and observably degrades productivity and user experience. If you're still somehow holding on to your non-iPad existence, we don't give a shit."

[+] ugh|14 years ago|reply
Spaces is now implemented in a way people might actually be willing to use. That's what Apple typically does.
[+] ethank|14 years ago|reply
A bit hyperbolic don't you think? Have you used Lion yet?
[+] etherael|14 years ago|reply
What changed in spaces? I really can't stand stock spaces in snow leopard and am currently using hyperspaces to get reliable hotkey switching in spaces, if something breaks this I would like to know so I can not upgrade.
[+] mweibel|14 years ago|reply
Seems like arstechnica is a little bit overloaded by the number of requests (or am I the only one getting errors sometimes?)
[+] petekp|14 years ago|reply
You're not alone :)
[+] kahawe|14 years ago|reply
I just got:

"Our servers melted!"

"Our servers are misbehaving"

[+] ojosilva|14 years ago|reply
I saw "John Siracusa" and said to myself Damn, wasn't that the RoseDB ORM author from CPAN?

http://metacpan.org/author/JSIRACUSA

Yup. I had no this idea he was a tech writer/editor for Ars Technica. I really like his (Perl) work. The article has great insight too.

[+] mixmastamyk|14 years ago|reply
I look forward to JS's reviews... so detailed and well-written. I always read them thoroughly even though I haven't had a Mac on my desk since the old beloved IIci at work.
[+] dmauro|14 years ago|reply
"Lion adds Emoji support to Mac OS X. So that happened."

:D

[+] enterneo|14 years ago|reply
I am not able to understand how a 3.7GB install image can later fit into a 650MB recovery HD partition (and if it somehow could through some compression magic, then why not compress it even before to only give me 650MB to download from the app store)?