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Reality News Is Updated Every Monday And Thursday
With all the press we've given Mac OS 8.5 over the past 8 months, the most overlooked feature would have to be Sherlock, Apple's super charged Find 2.0 application. Up until September, the new Find application was deemed Find 2.0, but at the last minute renamed by Jobs. We consider this a worthy move on his part, for "Sherlock" carries not only a meaning, but a significance and purpose.
Control clicking on specific files in the hard disk search results will enable a contextual menu option to "Find Similar Files". This option will only function correctly if the user has indexed their hard drive using Sherlock for the 'Find by Content' option [see below]. Users will find three additional search options by holding down the option key and selecting the search criteria pop-up menu. This will enable options for search by visibility, custom icon, and name/icon lock. Another notable feature of Sherlock is this ability to have multiple search result windows open at one time.
We conducted an internet search test using Sherlock that took a total of 27 seconds from the time we launched Sherlock till the time we began reading the information we were searching for. Sherlock does an outstanding job of searching for content based on very general and very specific phrases, even those that use slang or other moderations to the English language. In our case we searched for "yosemite apple power macs". Search results were instantly displayed, with Reality's news page in the top 4 results, of course. Results in Sherlock's internet search are ranked in relevancy with 3-D relevance bars.
Currently six search sites are expected to ship with Sherlock; AltaVista; Apple Tech Info Library; Encyclopedia.com; Excite; InfoSeek; and Lycos. Yahoo apparently gave Apple a hard time about including their search site, while HotBot had to be removed because its relevance ranking was programmed to rank above every other search engine no matter what the case was; neither are terribly missed. Apple has also built an "Update Search Sites... " option into the Find menu which will search the net and automatically download search site updates. Mac OS 8.5 beta testers noted that search site updates will automatically be checked by the application every few days, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Indexing your hard disk for the Search by Content feature is the most annoying part of the entire Mac OS 8.5 experience. Indexing of a 4GByte drive takes several hours and takes its toll on the system for the duration of the indexing process. The resulting index file is also quite large, but that is understandable. Never the less, once a file has been created users will only need to update this file, and not create it all over again. Users can schedule times when the index file should be updated, with options for individual drives and so forth.
Once the drive has been indexed completely, you can now search files by content. Again, search results will be displayed in relevance as they are in the internet search results. Control clicking on individual search results enables a "Summarize to Clipboard" option which takes the selected file, summarizes it, and pastes the summery into your clipboard. We'd also like to mention that this feature really works as well. (This feature is also available in the Finder for text based documents)
Sherlock also enables users to save their search criteria into a handy executable file. Find, Find by Content, and Search Internet all are saved with different custom icons so you can differentiate between the three types. These files are pretty much like bookmarks for Sherlock, only they are dynamic, in producing results.
Sherlock also comes complete with its own set of handy preferences. An option to show current search status will display the number of items found as the application performs its search. Addition options for indexing allow users to specify the speed of the indexing process and files which should not be indexed. Sherlock is also fully documented in the new Mac OS Help.
To sum things up, Sherlock kicks butt. This is the way the internet SHOULD be integrated into the OS, not by making your desktop into a web browser, or having your hard disk windows open in internet explorer with your icons as graphics in gif format. We only have one minor gripe: it would have been nice if Apple implement a direct command to Sherlock's Search the Internet tab. Instead you must first launch Sherlock and switch to the Internet tab. No big deal. If this is all we have to complain about, we must be spoiled. If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us. |
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1)Sherlock: An Exclusive Inside Look |
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| Microsoft Bribes CNN; MS Media Player In, QuickTime Out |
As of recently there has been some public concern, mainly by Macintosh users, as to the disappearance of video on demand files in QuickTime format at CNN's website. In fact to date there is little, and in some case no Macintosh support for certain features and video. Sources with insights into the Microsoft corporation have informed Reality that though this may sound like another story of diminishing interest in supporting Macintosh users, but rather a result of another sneaky business practice by the bad boys of personal computing.
Sources with contacts at both Microsoft and CNN online state that CNN had originally chosen Real Audio and Video as their primary format for delivering digital media to their online viewers. Somewhere along the line, a bell went off in the head of one of the many Microsoft executives who saw dollar signs and big business in CNN.com. After all, if anyone is to out do Microsoft, it will be themselves.
Apparently Microsoft was quick to negotiate a deal with CNN where they would agree to offer content in Microsoft's Media Player format (the next generation Microsoft Netshow). CNN being one of the most visited sites on the Internet would mean millions of people downloading Microsoft's software and installing it on their machines. In return Microsoft wrote CNN a check for $250,000 and provided them , free of charge, with tens of thousands of dollars worth of hardware and software, sources said. Among the hardware and software were, of course, high performance media player servers and other related items.
In addition to the cash and material goods Microsoft also provided CNN with a technical staff to help run it all, according to sources. Microsoft placed a free ride on a silver platter, how could CNN say no? They couldn't. Sources state that in fear of losing their position at CNN.com, RealNetworks also paid a sum of money and offered some similar services to secure their format at CNN.com. Not wanting to support more than two formats, CNN dropped QuickTime Audio and Video, our sources said.
Though a Macintosh version of Microsoft's Media Player is due in less than two weeks, this does little to console the loss of the more advanced, the *better* format from one of the worlds most popular Internet venues.
It's a shame others resort to bribery in order to boost their position in today's market. On the other hand, Apple faithful can take pride in the fact that every barrier Apple breaks, they do it fairly and without the help of a deep pocket.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
| El Capitan Keyboard and Mice, Lombard, Mac OS 8.6 |
El Capitan Accessories
Sources with contacts at Apple Computer have relayed some information on additional El Capitan design features. Apparently Apple's Industrial Design Studio has been experiment with eye catching new designs for both the El Capitan Keyboard and mouse which will ship standard with every workstation. Both USB imput devices, the keyboard and mouse for the El Capitan models are much different than the iMac's according to one source. The darker translucents apparently give off a sleeker hi-tech look, rather than the soft friendly look of the iMac's lighter translucents.
"The keyboard prototype I glanced at was an extended version. It had more of a body to it than the iMac's keyboard, nice and smooth, not sharp edged. Very stylish if you ask me. It's all translucent, though not so much that it looks like "cheap plastic". It's a soft touch KB and it will act as a hub just as the iMacs does. The lettering is done in white."
Lombard PowerBooks = 101
Ogrady.com is reporting that the "Lombard" code name for the next generation PowerBooks due in the first half of 1999, was only used when the unit was still in a blueprint phase. The new PowerBooks in their physical state are said to go by the code name "101", according to Ogrady.com sources.
Reality sources state that the dark translucent casing is being optimized to fit a single standard 14.1 inch screen, which is highly contending to be the only available display size on the future product line. As mentioned in previous reports, 101 will be much more compact than the Wallstreet models, and slightly lighter.
Mac OS 8.6
As mentioned in last weeks report, additional Apple branded themes will slip to the Mac OS 8.6 release in early 1999. Sources state that Apple will attempt to implement some of the remaining lost Copland features such as animated icons and so forth. Support for extended file names is still not planned, however. Mac OS 8.6 will primarily be a bug fix, optimization release.
In other news, Mac OS 8.5f6 has been seeded, and things are looking pretty nice.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
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The NEW Reality is being delayed for technical reasons. We're also attempting to make as smooth a transition as possible, and are aiming to have everything functional from day one, though this may be harder than previously expected....hang in there.
| Apple Plans Corporate iMac NC? |
A more appropriate title would seem to be "Return of the Apple NC", but then again our sources claim that the Apple NC strategy was never "Steved", just delayed some. A lot of it had to do with the fact that the core technologies were uncompleted, but it would have proven to be a poor business strategy to make a bid for corporate market share when you have a declining consumer market.
A couple of weeks ago we published a report entitled "Apple Secretly Developing a Business Mac?" where we illuded on rumors of a super charged iMac. As we mentioned in that report, all the hoopla regarding a souped-up consumer iMac may very well be rumors of Apple's low cost business oriented Macintosh which is said to be in the works.
Over the past few weeks numerous sources have written in with information on what appears to be several low-cost Apple units derived from the iMac. One containing a built in DVD-ROM with MPEG decoding hardware and speedier Motorola G3 Processor; another packing both a speedier processor and a PCI slot. Others tout a barebones iMac currently sitting in red translucent iMac plastics. While the former appears to be a contender for the next consumer version of the iMac, the latter two are in line for a version of the iMac sufficient for the corporate world.
Sources from various locations around the globe claim that in the first half of 1999 Apple will make way in its product strategy for a corporate Macintosh offering, most likely in the form of a couple of iMac NC terminal configurations with the option of a high-performance Mac OS X Server. One configuration said to stand on its own as a business unit, and another to rely heavily on an AppleTalk network and Mac OS X server. The Pro line, in theory, will be more distinctively positioned at media professionals and power users (like ourselves), while the corporate customer will be directed to Apple's business offerings which may only be available for businesses.
Apple has spent a lot of time revving the Mac OS to the point where it could excel as a network client platform with high speed ethernet drives, fast Finder/network copy, awesome network management applications and improved security; all of which we'll see in Mac OS 8.5 on October 9th.
This weekend MacTheKnife also gave credence to our rumors of the business oriented iMac, where he notes that certain corporations have chosen to purchase the current consumer iMac in lots of thousands for business oriented use.
The corporate solutions offerings from Apple are said to debut with their own division of the Apple Online Store allowing corporations to custom configure their order (Terminals/Servers/Software). Apple is apparently developing some very powerful servers to complement the business clients. Muore on all of this some time soon.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
| Mac OS 8.5: Apple Axes Hi-Tech, Gizmo Themes (Again) |
Mac OS 8.5, code named Allegro, is just hours away from going Golden Master where it will then be shipped off to be burnt to CD and distributed in early October. In the meantime however, reliable word has it that Apple has officially pulled the plug on the Gizmo and Hi-Tech Mac OS themes. Though this has yet to be officially confirmed, word has it that both the additional themes sacrificed system stability and therefore were 'Steved'.
The additional theme files had not been seeded with the weekly builds since beta 6 back on August 12th. It is important to note that Mac OS 8.5 will still ship with support for themes, in fact the default platinum appearance is a theme file itself in Mac OS 8.5. Third parties will still have the ability to develop additional themes for use with Mac OS 8.5, as well.
Word has it the Apple will try again with the additional themes in February or March with Mac OS 8.6.
In other Mac OS 8.5 news: Mac OS 8.5 final candidate 4 was seeded on September 2nd and is currently the latest build. Jobs has had the blue team officially rename the Find application "Sherlock". The File menu in the Finder is the only place in the system that you'll see the Find application referred to as "Find". It is now officially called Sherlock.
The HotBot internet search site file has also been removed in f4, we suspect for legal reasons.
Update: "HotBot was yanked from the latest build of OS 8.5 because HotBot tends to rank relevancy a bit more generously than the other search engines. So that means when ever you did a search, HotBots findings were always on top. Sneaky ;)"
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
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Our transition is taking longer than previously anticipated. We are running on a limited update basis.
Strong hurricanes and tornados which have hit our central New York location have set things back even further. We're as eager to get back to business as you are, so hang in there.
| Consumer Portable to Outmatch iMac? |
Some additional details regarding the consumer portable have caught our ears in recent weeks. Most notably is the rumor that the Consumer Portable will have more in common with the iMac than just a motherboard architecture. While sharing the same motherboard architecture, referred to as 'columbus' or 'gossamer junior', recent rumors suggest that the consumer portable will also share a similar iMac color scheme and plastics.
The consumer portable has been referred to in many ways, to run down the list of some of the most common names, we have ; eMac, cNote, cMac, gMac, P1, Consumer Portable, and now iBook. eMac is on the way out. Apple is developing a consumer portable, not an education portable, though it will serve its place in the education market. We'll refer to the consumer portable as iBook for the duration of this report.
With rumors, comes talent, and there is a lot of talent on the web, in this case Digital Concepts. They have a very nice portrayal of the iBook concepts and rumored features, and have placed them into a brilliant 3-D rendering of an iBook concept. Though the color scheme may be boldly bondi, the consumer portable is said to sparkle in iMac translucent colors, only weighing 42lbs less, and packing a lot of punch.
iBook (Consumer Portable) Concept Design
iBook (Consumer Portable) Concept by Digital Concepts.
For more, larger scale, quality iBook concept images, check out Digital Concept's iBook site.
While rumor has it that Apple is readying a new version of the iMac, running at 300Mhz, to debut many months down the road, the latest word around the Apple campus is that the iBook may debut with a 300MHz low voltage G3 chip. Expected to ship with Mac OS Lite, a slim version of the Mac OS with several enablers and touch screen/handwriting recognition support, the iBook will also run Mac OS X, according to sources.
Sources have also attempted to confirm other rumors, heard first at Reality, and then lifted and published elsewhere on the web. We've heard stories that support our rumor of the iBook folding 360 degrees to form a tablet (see image), and in addition have received support regarding the rumor that the iBook will feature an enhanced sleep mode to allow instant access to the iBook. Its been mentioned that the Newton Message Pad basically sits in sleep mode, and reboots only when necessary; this is said to be the plan for the iBook.
As far as battery life, the iBook may feature Lombard PowerBook Gen batteries. Numerous times we've heard about the possibility that the iBook would use flash RAM to store and manage the System, but no support has been present on that issue.
The iBook will obtain its low street price by featuring the cheaper low voltage chips, smaller drives, no floppy, a small passive matrix screen, and a new battery implementation. Less material will also be needed to produce each iBook, another plus.
Rumor has it Steve was planning to turn Macworld SF into the iBook show, as he turned Macworld NY into the iMac show. If you ask us, we don't think it'll happen in time.
For more information on the Consumer Portable check out the Apple Hardware Information Archive.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
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More to come today or tomorrow as our situation returns to normal...
| Chablis & Moby |
We apologize for presenting the following few reports in this dirty unprofessional format, but our time will be limited for the next week and a half as discussed above. Yes, we'll be back to full stories ASAP.
Chablis & Moby: Details Trickle In
Our latest report on Chablis and Moby, the new couple of handsome Apple displays due alongside El Capitan, drew an onslaught of updated inside reports, and apparently fed other media outlets who then illegally duplicated portions of our report for the benefit of their publication later in the week.
As we reported to you first last Monday, Chablis: the code name of the 17 inch display, and Moby: the 20 inch, are a new set of displays under development at Apple that will feature top notch industrial design and a sexy new set of dark translucent plastics. The new designs will allow the displays to complement the new desktop casings (code named El Capitan) quite nicely.
While previously suggest to be the new additions to Apple's flat-panel Studio Display line, sources have helped conclude that Chablis and Moby are not flat-panel at all, but rather cleverly crafted CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays. On the other hand, sources promised that additional flat-panel LCDs will be forth coming from Apple some time in the future.
Below are some of the rumored details for the new displays nick named after the fruit of wine:
A few questions still remain however: Will Chablis and Moby incorporate ColorSync technology, therefore allowing them to replace both the Multi-Scan and ColorSync product lines, or are ColorSync versions forthcoming? With word that larger LCD Studio displays are forthcoming, will these new displays accommodate a space in the Studio Display line, the Multi-Scan line, or will they form their own display line?
We hope to answer these questions and more on the next edition of unsolved mysteries.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
Recent Reports
New Studio Displays to Complement El Capitan Project
DVD For iMac to Fill Mystery Slot
Yosemite, Alti-Vec, QuickTime, Mac OS X Server, and More
PowerBooks in 1999: Update
Apple Secretly Developing a Business Mac?
Mac OS 8.5 Benchmarks And Tests
Huge iMac Advertising Campaign Around the Corner
Apple's PowerBook Plans
DVD Playback for "Silk" Power Macintosh G3s?
New Apple Hardware in August!
New Apple G3 Servers Revealed!
Mac OS 8.5b5 Update Seeded
Mac OS 8.5b4 Inside Report
Apple's Consumer Portable Will Morph?
Unreleased iMac Radio Spots
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