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Mac OS X Leopard

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Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard” is the name of the sixth major release of the Mac OS X operating system for Apple’s Mac line of personal computers, the successor to Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger". Leopard was shown to developers for the first time at the 2006 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).[2] Leopard was released on October 26 2007, and is being sold for US$129, €129, CA$129, GB£85, and AU$158.[3] Apple also sells a US$199 "Family Pack" that includes five licenses, and the single user version for students at US$116 (both prices plus tax).[4] Apple offers a US$9.95 (plus tax)[5] upgrade to people that purchase new Apple computers between October 1, 2007 and December 29, 2007 that do not already have Mac OS X v10.5 pre-installed or a Leopard upgrade DVD included starting October 26, 2007.[6]

Mac OS X v10.5 “Leopard”
File:OSXLeopard.png
Mac OS X v10.5.0 Leopard with the new Finder
DeveloperApple Inc.
OS familyMac OS X
Working stateSupported
Source modelClosed source (with open source components)
Latest release10.5.0 / October 26 2007[1]
Kernel typeHybrid kernel
LicenseAPSL and Apple EULA
Official websitewww.apple.com/macosx/

According to Apple, Leopard contains over 300 changes and enhancements,[7] covering core operating system components as well as included applications and developer tools. Leopard introduces a significantly revised desktop, with a redesigned Dock, Stacks, a semitransparent menu bar, and an updated Finder that incorporates the Cover Flow visual navigation interface first seen in iTunes. Other notable features include support for writing 64-bit graphical user interface applications, an automated backup utility called Time Machine, support for Spotlight searches across multiple machines, and the inclusion of Front Row and Photo Booth, which were previously only included with some Mac models.

Apple missed Mac OS X v10.5’s release time frame as originally announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. When first discussed in June 2005, Jobs had stated that Apple intended to release Leopard at the end of 2006 or early 2007.[8] A year later, this was amended to "Spring 2007", however on April 12 2007, Apple issued a statement that its release would be delayed until October 2007 because of the development of the iPhone.[9]

New and changed features

End-user features

  • Time Machine, an automated backup utility which allows the user to restore files that have been deleted or replaced by another version of a file.[10]
  • Front Row and Photo Booth are available with the purchase of a new Mac, and are included with Leopard. Front Row has been reworked to closely resemble the interface used by the Apple TV, and Photo Booth includes video recording with real-time filters.
  • Spaces, an implementation of "virtual desktops" (individually called "spaces"), allows multiple desktops per user, with certain applications and windows in each desktop.[11] Users can organize certain Spaces for certain applications (e.g., one for work-related tasks and one for entertainment) and switch between them. Exposé works inside Spaces, allowing the user to see at a glance all desktops on one screen.[12]) Users can create and control up to 16 spaces, and applications can be switched between each one, creating a very large workspace.
  • Spotlight incorporates additional search capabilities such as Boolean operators, as well as the ability to search other computers (with permissions).[13]
  • Redesigned Finder with features similar to those seen in iTunes 7, including Cover Flow and a Source list-like sidebar.
  • New Desktop, comprised of a redesigned 3-D dock with a new grouping feature called Stacks.
File:LeopardDock.png
The new Dock, showing some Stacks.
  • Quick Look, a framework allowing documents to be viewed without opening them in an external application.[14]
  • Enhancements in Universal Access: significant improvements to applications including VoiceOver, along with increased support for Braille, closed captioning and a new high‐quality Speech synthesis voice.[15]
  • Enhancements to Mail including the additions of RSS feeds, Stationery, Notes, and to-dos. To-dos use a system-wide service that is available to all applications.[16]
  • Dashboard enhancements, including Webclip, a feature that allows users to turn a part of any web page into a live Dashboard widget, and Dashcode to help developers code widgets.[17]
  • iChat enhancements, including multiple logins, animated icons, and tabbed chats, similar to features present in Pidgin, Adium and the iChat plugin Chax; iChat Theater, allowing users to incorporate images from iPhoto, presentations from Keynote, videos from QuickTime, and other Quick Look features into video chats; and Backdrops, which are similar to chroma keys, but use a real-time difference matte technique which does not require a green or blue screen. iChat also implements desktop sharing, a feature previously available with Apple Remote Desktop.[18][2][19]
  • Parental controls now include the ability to place restrictions on use of the Internet and to set parental controls from anywhere using remote setup.[20]
  • iCal calendar sharing and group scheduling as well as syncing event invitations from Mail.[21] The icon also reflects the current date even when the application is not running. In previous versions, the icon would remain at July 17th until the application was run.
  • Boot Camp is included. It is a software assistant which has been available as a beta release download for Mac OS X v10.4 from Apple’s website since April 5 2006.[22] It assists in the installation of Windows XP or Windows Vista to a separate partition (or separate internal drive) on Intel-based Macs.
  • Safari 3 is included.
  • Back to My Mac, a feature for .Mac users that allows users to access files on their home computer while away from home via the internet.
  • Dictionary can now search Wikipedia, and a dictionary of Apple terminology as well. Also included is a 200,000-word dictionary and 25,000-word thesaurus for the Japanese language, provided by the Japanese publisher Shogakukan.[23][24]
  • Preview adds support for annotation, graphics, extraction, search, markup, and size adjustment tools. [25]
  • Improvements to network file sharing include more granular control over permissions, consolidation of AFP, FTP and Samba sharing into one control panel, and the ability to share individual folders, a feature that had not been available since Mac OS 9.[26]
  • Sherlock, a search software included in Mac OS since OS 8.5, is no longer included.[27]

Developer technologies

  • Native support by many libraries and frameworks for 64-bit applications, allowing 64-bit Cocoa applications. Existing 32-bit applications using those libraries and frameworks should continue to run without the need for emulation or translation.[28]
  • Leopard offers the Objective-C 2.0 runtime, which includes new features such as garbage collection. Xcode 3.0 supports the updated language and was itself rewritten with it.[29]
  • A new framework, Core Animation, allows a developer to create complex animations while specifying only a "start" and a "goal" space. The main goal of Core Animation is to enable the creation of complex animations with small amounts of program code.
  • Apple integrates DTrace from Sun’s OpenSolaris and adds a graphical interface called Instruments (previously Xray). DTrace provides tools that users, administrators and developers can use to tune the performance of the operating system and the applications that run on it.[30]
  • The new Scripting Bridge allows programmers to use Python and Ruby to interface with the Cocoa frameworks.[31]
  • Ruby on Rails is included in the default install.
  • Leopard’s OpenGL stack has been updated to version 2.1, and uses LLVM to increase its vertex processing speed.[32] Apple has been working to get LLVM integrated into GCC;[33] LLVM's use within other operating system facilities has not been announced.
  • Leopard’s security frameworks support Mandatory Access Control, sandboxes and code signing.[34]
  • The Graphics and Media State of the Union address confirmed many other features are possible because of Core Animation, such as live desktops, improvements to Quartz Composer with custom patches, a new PDF Kit for developers, and improvements to QuickTime APIs.

In mid-December 2006 a pre-release version of Leopard appeared to include support for Sun’s ZFS.[35] Jonathan Schwartz, CEO and President of Sun Microsystems, stated on June 6 2007 that ZFS has become "the file system" for Leopard.[36] However, the senior project marketing director for Mac OS X stated on June 11, 2007 that the existing HFS+, not ZFS, will be used in Leopard. Apple has since clarified that a read-only version of ZFS would be included.[37]

Security Enhancements

Leopard has improvements in security over Tiger OS X 10.4 in a number of ways. Ultimately these enhancements help not only to provide better defenses from attack, but also better internal resiliency if an attack is successful.

  • Time Machine - Data is now more easily backed up which will ensure the security of user data.
  • Buffer Overflows - Leopard implements Library Randomization similar to Windows Vista in order to help prevent buffer overflow vulnerability exploitation. Previously the memory locations for system data were set, and a buffer overflow could easily rewrite this information by just knowing the memory address. Now that it is variable, it is a great deal more difficult to use a buffer overflow to run a virus.
  • Application Signing - Used to verify the authenticity of a program and to ensure it has not been tampered with to run a virus.
  • "Sandboxing" - This isolates certain programs that are known to be more susceptible to attack and reducing their control over parts of the system that they need no access to such as Bonjour, Spotlight, and Quick Look.
  • Application Specific Firewall - The firewall can now be turned on and off according to specific applications.
  • Guest Account - Guest accounts now delete all information off the computer after the guest has logged off.[38]

Compatibility

Like Mac OS X v10.4, Leopard supports both PowerPC and Intel Macintosh computers. However, Leopard was not released in separate versions, but instead consists of one universal release that runs on either processor.[28] Leopard supports any Mac with a PowerPC G4 processor running at 867 MHz or higher, any G5 processor, and any Intel processor, dropping support for slower G4 and all G3 processors.[39] In the past, each new major release of Mac OS X has dropped support for at least some older Macs; v10.3 dropped support for Macs without built-in USB ports, and v10.4 dropped support for computers without FireWire ports.

Documentation contained with the Developer Preview DVD states that a PowerPC G4 or G5, or Intel processor is a minimum requirement. Despite this, some users have managed to install Leopard's developer preview version on Macs with G3 processors by editing a particular file and then creating a new installation DVD with this edited file. However, even though these hacked Leopard installations can be installed on G3-based Macs, some applications (for example Safari and iChat) will not function.[40] It is not known whether this is possible with Leopard's final shipping version.

Leopard is certified as fully UNIX compliant. Certification means that software following the Single UNIX Specification can be compiled and run on Leopard without the need for any code modification.[31] The certification only applies to Leopard when run on Intel processors. Leopard also removes support for Classic applications.[41]

System requirements

Apple states the following basic Leopard system requirements, although, for some specific applications and actions (such as iChat backdrops) an Intel processor is required:[39]

  • Processor must be any Intel, PowerPC G5 or G4 (at 867 MHz or faster)
  • DVD drive (for installation of the operating system)
  • Built-in FireWire
  • At least 512 MB of RAM (additional RAM is recommended for development purposes)
  • A built-in display or a display connected to an Apple-supplied video card
  • At least 9 GB of disk space available

Packaging

The retail packaging for Leopard is significantly smaller than that of previous versions of Mac OS X. It also sports a hologram on the front, making the 'X' appear to float above the default purple Leopard desktop picture. An image and unboxing gallery can be found here.[42]

Version history

Mac OS X
version 		build release date notes
10.5.0 9A581 October 26, 2007 retail

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/10/16leopard.html
  2. ^ a b Ryan Block (August 7 2006). "Live from WWDC 2006: Steve Jobs keynote". Engadget. Retrieved 2006-08-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Simon Aughton (June 12 2007). "Apple reveals Leopard's new desktop design". PC Pro. Retrieved 2007-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/promobar_leopard_utd.html
  5. ^ http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/
  6. ^ Apple, Inc. (October 16 2007). "Apple - Mac OS X Leopard - Up-to-Date". Retrieved 2007-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Mac OS X Leopard - Features - 300+ New Features". Apple Inc. October 16 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Apple's Intel switch: Jobs' keynote transcript". CNet. June 15 2005. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Apple, Inc (April 12 2007). "Apple Statement" (Press release). Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Rob Griffiths (August 9 2006). "WWDC: Apple's Time Machine looks to ease backups". Computerworld Inc. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Apple Inc. "Leopard Sneak Peek - Spaces". Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  12. ^ "OS 10.5 Leopard Spaces + Exposé". GoogleVideos. GoogleVideos. 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  13. ^ Rob Griffiths (August 15 2006). "Leopard first looks: Spotlight". Macworld. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Apple Inc. "Quick Look". Apple. Retrieved 2006-04-11.
  15. ^ Apple Inc. "Leopard Sneak Peek - Accessibility". Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  16. ^ Apple Inc. "Leopard Sneak Peek - Mail". Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  17. ^ Apple Inc. "Leopard Sneak Peek - Dashboard". Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  18. ^ "WWDC 2006 Keynote - Live Coverage". Retrieved 2006-08-07.
  19. ^ Apple Inc. "Leopard Sneak Peek - iChat". Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  20. ^ Apple Inc. "Mac OS X - Leopard Sneak Peek". Apple. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
  21. ^ Apple Inc. "Leopard Sneak Peek - iCal". Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  22. ^ Apple Inc. "Boot Camp". Apple. Retrieved 2006-04-11.
  23. ^ "Non-mentioned Leopard features". Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  24. ^ "Apple - Mac OS X Leopard - Features - 300+ New Features". Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  25. ^ Apple Insider. "Road to Mac OS X Leopard: an extensive look at Preview 4.0". Retrieved 2007-10-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  26. ^ Glenn Fleishman (October 25 2007). "Leopard Simplifies Sharing". TidBITS. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Think Secret. "Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard". Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  28. ^ a b Apple, Inc. "Mac OS X - Leopard Sneak Peek". Apple. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
  29. ^ Apple Inc. "Mac OS X Leopard Sneak Peek - Xcode 3.0". Apple. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
  30. ^ Mike Shapiro (August 7, 2006). "DTrace on Mac OS X at WWDC". $<blog. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
  31. ^ a b "Mac OS X Leopard - Technology - UNIX". Apple. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  32. ^ Lattner, Chris (August 15, 2006). "A cool use of LLVM at Apple: the OpenGL stack". LLVMdev. Retrieved 2006-08-21.
  33. ^ Siracusa, John (December 4, 2005). "Avoiding Copland 2010: Hints of things to come?". FatBits. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
  34. ^ http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#security
  35. ^ World of Apple (December 17, 2006). "ZFS Makes it to Leopard". World of Apple. Retrieved 2006-12-17.
  36. ^ Schwartz, Jonathan (June 6, 2007). "Washington D.C. Sun Conference". sun.com. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  37. ^ Gonsalves, Antone. "Apple Says No Sun File System For Leopard". InformationWeek. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  38. ^ http://db.tidbits.com/article/9251
  39. ^ a b Apple, Inc. "Mac OS X Leopard- Technical Specs". Apple. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  40. ^ http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=24736
  41. ^ "Do Classic applications work with Mac OS X 10.5 or Intel-based Macs?". Knowledge Base. Apple Inc. January 13 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ arn. "Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Packaging". Retrieved 2007-10-25.
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