nosewheelie

Beaten by Gruber again (I blame the timezone), Apple has released a non-beta version of Java 6 (1.6.0_05) for the Mac:

This update provides Java SE 6 version 1.6.0_05.

This release does not change the default version of Java. This release is only for Mac OS X v10.5.2 and later, and should not be installed on earlier versions of Mac OS X. This release is for 64-bit Intel-based Macs only and cannot run on PowerPC-based or 32-bit Intel-based Macs.

Software developers can visit the Java Reference Library for information on this release’s features.

Here’s the download link.

It’d be nice to see this fix some of the issues with Java apps (not) interacting with Spaces.

Update: To get this working in Java apps, edit /Applications/App.app/Contents/Info.plist and ensure the JVMVersion string is set to 1.5+. Then open /Applications/Utilites/Java/Java Preferences.app and ensure “Java SE 6 (64-bit)” is at the top of the application order (drag it up). You may also want to update any JAVA_HOME, JDK_DIR, JDK_HOME, etc. environment variables, and potentially update the /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/CurrentJDK symlink to point at /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6. Should catch all command line apps and build scripts, etc.

We’ve been performance tuning Scoodi for the last few days, making extensive use of FireBug and YSlow in Firefox. Surely there’d have to be something similar for Safari? Please don’t make me start Firefox when I need to do this sort of work…

I’d heard about Safari’s Web Inspector and Drosera a while ago, but the latest Safari 3.1 makes these easily available in a new “Develop” menu (enabled in Safari’s preferences). The Web Inspector is nothing short of spectacular, it seems to have a lot of FireBug’s features (I’ve not found anything apart from the selection widget that FireBug has over it), wrapped up in the usual Mac eye candy.

Here’s a screen shot of it in action against the Scoodi UAT site, showing HTTP headers.

You can also attach it to the browser window (FireBug style) with the icon on the bottom left. I noticed this morning also that IE 8 now bundles a developer console also.

As usual, the link is from Gruber.

On the ramifications, from Jason Fried:

What we saw today was the spark. The explosion will continue for twenty years. We will all feel the warmth.

What we saw today was the beginning of two-decades of mobile domination by Apple. What Microsoft and Windows was to the desktop, Apple and Touch will be to mobile.

And while mobile platforms have been around for a while, they never really gained passionate traction. Palm sorta had it for a while. Windows Mobile has been getting better. RIM is the current choice for business email on the go.

But just like there were a lot of players in the portable music space, there were no clear leaders. Until Apple came to town.

…

Apple has the superior product, the big momentum, the cool, the lust, the business hooks, the consumer hooks, the customer experience, the interface, the design (interface and industrial), the smooth development environment, the vision.

Via Gruber comes Disable Space switching on Command-Tab in 10.5.2.

defaults write com.apple.Dock workspaces-auto-swoosh -bool NO

This is fantastic news, I really don’t like this “feature” of Spaces. I can see why it’s useful for some use cases, however none of these are mine.

While I’m yet to install it on either of the Macs I use, it looks very tantalising!

Over the years, Apple periodically comes under fire for not listening to its customers—specifically, for deciding on particular features (or a lack thereof) and then sticking by its guns regardless of the reaction. Although some of this criticism is off-base, some of it is spot-on.

But Monday’s release of the Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update shows that sometimes Apple does listen, and occasionally even reverses design decisions because of user feedback. Consider some of the tweaks featured in this update to Leopard.

Source: 10.5.2 update shows Apple listens to users.

See also Ars’ 10.5.2: What’s new, pussycat (and what isn’t).

I managed to get hold of Leopard on Friday, and I must say it’s quite nice, here’s some initial impressions. Overall it’s not a single new feature that nails it, it’s the combination and maturation that makes it worthwhile.

Update: Sanjiv has posted photos!.

Here’s the good bits I’ve noticed so far:

• It’s fast, damn fast.
• Software update has received a nice facelift, it even warned me to plug in to a power source before running it. After installation, it finally lets me dismiss the “restart now” dialog. There’s also some Windows Vista-ish pre-shutdown messages.
• Menus look a lot better and have rounded corners.
• PPC apps run under Rosetta now work again after being broken in 10.4.10.
• Font rendering is much better, which I find amazing.
• Spaces rocks, only problem I have is running apps in multiple workspaces, I’ve heard you can do it, but not looked. It also doesn’t do more than four horizontal workspaces (I usually use five).
• I don’t mind the much maligned dock. Using QuickSilver, I don’t keep any apps there permanently, and it’s auto-hidden, so it’s not too much of a worry.

And some gripes…

• The Finder does not re-sort icons when you enlarge or shrink a window in icon mode. This is really annoying.
• FrontRow no longer supports streaming to an AirPort express. iTune provides a similar UI so it’s not too much of a pain.
• The transparent menu bar sucks, lucky there’s a fix.

If you want an in-depth review there’s always Ars’ John Siracusa.

The shiny new box arrived this morning! Now if only I wasn’t at work… As usual the packaging is ultra schmick, with some form of hologram on it.

I’ve been wanting this one for ages, and a commenter finally nails it. Control-Eject will bring up the following dialog:

The goodness includes Restart, Sleep & shutdown. What more could you ask for?

Via The Design of the Mac OS X Shutdown Feature, via Daring Fireball in response to the Windows Vista shutdown debacle.