|
[Reality] [Reality Archives] [Send Rumors Here] [The Rhapsody Page] [MacNN] |
Thursday, November 13, 1997
Reality News Is Updated Every Monday And Thursday
|
[Reality] [Reality Archives] [Send Rumors Here] [The Rhapsody Page] [MacNN] |
Check Out Our Blue Box Report Here
Site IssuesCOS will make it's debut today, supposedly. Omega has set up three download servers that will free up at 12:00 MET.
Assuming Omega's claims are true, users will have to back up all their data; COS will format and encrypt the entire drive upon installation.
If you have the 6 floppy disks installation will occur upon insertion of the first disk.I strongly suggest waiting a day or two and let the brave test this piece of software. I'm not questioning Omega's word, but you never know.
Go Back To Reality's Main Page
The HFS Plus Volume FormatWe'll I tried making Reality "Different" from the other sites. It obviously didn't work out due to the fact that I got more complaints about the format than compliments. So we are trying something new. A Simple layout and Black on White (I can hear the cheers now). These pages should load super fast now.
Let me know what you think, send comments, suggestions and so on to jeffv@webspan.net
Now, on a better note we have a new columnist, John Paff, who has written for such publications as MacWeek, and is currently an IT journalist. This week's editorial is entitled "A Second Bite at the Apple? " , it's a MUST Read so click here and check it out!
On a side note, are situation with Apple hasn't changed. In fact, we haven't heard from them at all, and they never responded to our last E-Mail. Hopefully things will stay this way.
-JeffGo Back To Reality's Main Page
HFSPlus is on its way. It packs quite a bit of "Punch" for a volume format, but you must realize Mac OS 8.1 will not take full advantage of its features. We will have to wait for future releases of the Mac OS in order to take full advantage of such features as longer file names and the full feature file info feature.
A reader who would prefer to remain anonymous sends us the following notes on the HFS Volume Format."Goals
There are several goals that guided the design of the HFS Plus volume format, including:
• Time to market
• Efficient use of disk space
• International-friendly file names
• Future extensibility of metadata
• Ease booting on non-Mac OS operating systems
This section describes these goals and the major differences between HFS and HFS Plus due to these goals.Time to Market
HFS Plus is very similar to HFS, primarily to make it easy to develop a complete, stable implementation in a short period of time. HFS Plus attempts to correct the primary problem of HFS (allocation block size), and add support for a few critical features that are likely to be needed in the future.
Efficient Use of Disk Space
HFS divides the total space on a volume into equal-sized pieces called allocation blocks.
It uses 16 bit fields to identify particular allocation blocks, so there must be less than 2 16
(65536) allocation blocks on an HFS volume. The size of an allocation block is typically the smallest multiple of 512 such that there are less than 65536 allocation blocks on the volume (i.e. the volume size divided by 65535, rounded up to a multiple of 512). Any non-empty fork must occupy an integral number of allocation blocks. This means that the amount of space a fork occupies is rounded up to a multiple of the allocation block size. As volumes (and therefore allocation blocks) get bigger, the amount of allocated but unused space increases.
HFS Plus uses 32 bit values to identify allocation blocks. This allows up to 2 32 allocation blocks on a volume. This allows for many more allocation blocks, especially on vol-umes of 1 GB or larger. More allocation blocks means less average wasted space (the fraction of an allocation block at the end of a fork, where the entire allocation block is not actually used). It also means you can have more files since the available space can be more finely distributed among a larger number of files; this is especially true of small files.International-Friendly File Names
HFS uses 31 byte strings to store file names. HFS does not store any kind of script infor-mation with the file name to indicate how it should be interpretted. File names are com-pared and sorted using a routine that assumes a Roman script, wreaking havoc for names that use some other script (such as Japanese)1 ; whatÕs worse is that this algorithm is buggy, even for Roman scripts. The Finder and other applications interpret the file name based on the script system in use at runtime.HFS Plus uses up to 255 Unicode characters to store file names. Allowing up to 255 characters makes it easier to have very descriptive names. Long names are especially useful when the name is computer-generated (such as Java class names).
The HFS catalog B-tree uses 512 byte nodes. An HFS Plus file name can occupy up to 512 bytes (including the length field). Since a B-tree index node must store at least two keys (plus pointers and node descriptor), the HFS Plus catalog must use a larger node size. The typical node size for an HFS Plus catalog B-tree is 4K.
In the HFS catalog B-tree, the keys stored in an index node always occupy a fixed amount of space, the maximum key size. In HFS Plus, the keys in an index node may occupy a variable amount of space determined by the actual size of the key. This allows for less wasted space in index nodes, and causes a substantially larger branching factor in the tree (requiring fewer node accesses to find any given record). It also complicates the algorithms for splitting and joining nodes since a key can be replaced by another key that is shorter or longer than the original key.Future Extensibility of Metadata
There are very few unused bits in the catalog entry for files and folders under HFS. Apple's software teams and developers are often looking for space to store Metadata (descriptive data about a file, logically not part of one of the forks of the file) that would be automatically kept with the file as it is moved and renamed. There have been a num-ber of specific solutions for specific products (such as the PDS for AppleShare and File Sharing, and the desktop database for comments), but since those are not managed by the file system, they are bound to become out-of-sync with the catalog.
HFS Plus has an attributes file (another B-tree) that can be used to manage and store Metadata Since it is part of the volume format, the attributes can be kept with the file as it is moved or renamed, and can be deleted when the file is deleted.
Note
It is acceptable for an implementation to delete a file without deleting the corresponding attributes for the file. A different implementation that properly deletes attributes will need to check for these orphaned attributes and delete them when the volume is mounted.2 Obviously, it is best for an implementation to delete attributes rather than orphan them.Ease Startup on Non-Mac OS Operating Systems
HFS Plus has as part of its volume format a special startup file that is described in the volume header (similar to the HFS Master Directory Block), not in the catalog. The startup file is essentially just an unstructured fork that can be used easily during startup, especially on systems that donÕt have HFS or HFS Plus support in ROM.
The startup file is a generalization of the HFS boot blocks, but providing a much larger, variable-sized amount of storage."Click on the links to view corresponding images
For those of you that don't full understand these concepts, that's O.K. HFS Plus is an improvement (in most cases) from today's standard HFS volume format. It will save you, the average user, tons of disk space and hopefully speed things up.
Note: In order to take full advantage of HFS you MUST format your disks with this volume format which is labeled Mac OS Extended in the initialize options of 8.1
Note2: In order to simplify things for those who seem lost in all of this volume format discussion. HFS Plus = Sequoia =MacOS Extended.
Over the course of the next two to three weeks we will review a majority of today's Be OS. The latest version is BeOS Preview Release 2 and all of our reference will be from this release. Please feel free to click on the links to view full size images of the corresponding material.
InstallationInstallation is the procedure that took the most time for me, though it wasn't difficult at all. Follow the instructions and you'll be a happy camper. In order to install Be you'll need to partition a drive or devote an entire drive to Be. In my case I partitioned an Iomega Jaz Disk. First I initialized the disk using the MacOS Initialize option. Next I opened HDTK(Hard Drive Tool Kit) and formatted the drive into two segments. 700 Megs and 300 Megs. I then went on to prepare the 300 meg partition for Be by installing the included install script. The installer installs a Launcher application. Click on the launch restarts your Mac and opens the BeOS Boot Options (you must hold down the left shift key, though all this is clear in the instructions). I then proceeded to install Be. However, in my case I was just updating for DR9. After 15-20 minutes Be is installed. All in all, the installation process is very smooth if you follow the directions.
First Impressions
Be is VERY fast and very smooth. Copying files are VERY fast and with PR2 users can now copy from BeOS to any Macintosh volume. BeOS gives you the option to mount any MacOS volume. The desktop is very simple. Take a look at the BeOS desktop displaying application menu .
BeOS is fully customizable. In the MacOS we have Control Panels, in Be you have the preferences menu which contains many useful settings apps ranging from scrollbar appearance virtual memory setup.
The BeOS menubar is very similar to the Windows 95 Bar. You can drag it from the top to the left to the bottom and so on. Take a look at the vertical Be menu view. The "Tracker" tracks the system processes and system windows. Each other option controls the corresponding individual application. You can hide all windows in an app, view only one window, quit and so on.
Installing applications in be is as simple as the MacOS. The user selects the destination of the app via pop up menus and the install process dialog works exactly as the MacOS one does.
Right now, as in Rhapsody, you may still need to use the Terminal to carry out some processes. The terminal is fully drag and drop savvy.Net Access In Be
The first thing I did once I got Be Up and Running was to set up Internet access. This is a very simple process when following the directions. The user must go to the Network Preference and select "New Interface ". In my case I set Be to use PPP dial up access. Once in the interface setup the user must enter the access number and select their modem type and speed then save it. Next the user adds the domain name of his or her ISP and their local DNS numbers and presto, their set.
The BeOS PPP dialer automatically launches and connections when opening an Internet application. With in 10 minutes of installing Be I was connected and surfing the web with Net Positive ( the BeOS Standard Browser ).
More to come in the next few weeks.
Rhapsody-Simple Network Starter
An anonymous reader sends us the following information on his experiences starting a network on Rhapsody with the Next Simple Network Starter. The corresponding images are posted below.
In the NeXTAdmin directory lies the SimpleNetworkStarter.app. I ran app. Although this is Rhapsody, the SNS application still used the Next look and feel. I'm sure this won't be the case in the unified release.
Now I didn't want to set up an InfoNetwork so I selected Option 1 which is use the network, but don't share administrative data. Then I typed in the network host name and clicked the network options button on the right. Once I was in the "Other Network Information" option window all I had to do was fill in the router.Then I set the options. I then went back to the main config window and hit "configure" and I was done.Below we have posted the corresponding images that go along with the readers experiences.
Simple Network Starter Next Admin Folder Simple Network Starter App Other Network Options
Go Back To Reality's Main Page
Rhapsody Markups Continued....
Check out our updated OmniWeb on Rhapsody section.Each week we compile Rhapsody coverage from some trusted sources who would prefer to remain anonymous. This week, as last week, we must go images less due to Apple's demands. For those of you who are new viewers to Reality, we'll be covering Rhapsody right up until it's release and there on after. Each week we show you a little more of what's planned for Rhapsody through Apple Markups, First, and Second Hand information. Click on the links below to view the corresponding sub pages.
Rhapsody Feature Descriptions Rhapsody's Finder Application Rhapsody's Undo Feature Rhapsody's Icons.........
QuickTime 3.0 Further Behind Than You Think
Rhapsody & OmniWebQuickTime 3.0, code named "siskel" has been delayed again by Apple, but why? and for how long? To let you in on a little secrete....It's Not done. In fact, it isn't even close to finished. Our sources tell us that siskel (QuickTime 3.0) is still in its alpha stage; the latest build being alpha 17 which was posted on Friday 24, 1997. QT 3.0 still needs to pass the alpha stage, enter the beta stage, pass through the beta stage, then enter the fc stage (final candidate), then finally it will go Golden Master. This is a far ways off. So despite the fact that MacOSRumors posted that MacOS8.1 will include the new version of QuickTime, this will most likely not be true. Don't believe everything you read because you will be greatly disappointed 50% of the time.
Right now QuickTime 3.0 stands as a 5 meg archive for Macintosh and a 7 meg archive for windows. The reason for the delay is due to diligence on Apple's part. They want and NEED this release to work flawlessly when released, both on the Macintosh and PC side. 3.0 is full of outstandingly new features, if you want to know more check out Apples white paper on Quick Time 3.0.
Weeks ago posted a Quicktime 3.0 preliminary document . Over 2 Megs of everything you wanted to know about QT3. (Get it while it lasts)Go Back To Reality's Main Page
Rhapsody
Each week we compile Rhapsody coverage from some trusted sources who would prefer to remain anonymous. This week, as last week, we must go images less due to Apple's demands. For those of you who are new viewers to Reality, we'll be covering Rhapsody right up until it's release and there on after. Each week we show you a little more of what's planned for Rhapsody through Apple Markups, First, and Second Hand information. Click on the links below to view the corresponding sub pages.
Rhapsody Feature Descriptions Rhapsody Finder Views Rhapsody Browser Views Rhapsody And OmniWeb
Please check our Archives and Rhapsody
sections for past Rhapsody
Markups, Screen shots, and Information.
Omni Web, the Browser that is said to Put Netscape and IE to shame is now available for Rhapsody. We have a few shots of Rhapsody displaying the OSRumors Page which has little or no format. The second shot is of the OmniGroup Home Page so you can see how the Browser handles format. (I'll get one showing Reality Soon :) ) We are currently gathering developer reactions to Omni Web and will hopefully post them by Wednesday or Next Monday, so stay tuned.
OmniWeb OmniWeb Running On DR1 OmniWeb With Book Marks Window OmniWeb Menu Bar
This listing is an index of the shots described above.Update - Omni Web Performance
One reader notes "Omni Web for Rhapsody is still very buggy yet stable enough that it doesn't crash. I really don't like the way it loads backgrounds; backgrounds load in waves, piece by piece. I personally find this very annoying after using Netscape for all those years. Another down point is slow rendering. It seems to drag along. This could also be due to the fact that Rhapsody its self is very slow at this point.
More to come.......
AOL 4.0 The New Interface- Changed Again!
AOL 4.0 has hit Beta 25. Thanks to our only anonymous AOL source who sent us the following images and comments on the new Beta Version of AOL's Client.
Click on the links to view images of the corresponding content "The new build of the client has turned for the better, yet for the worse. As time goes on it seems as if everything is getting slower. I made myself a bagel and buttered it by the time AOL's new web Browser loaded. [A new version of Internet explorer]. 4.0's web integration is very poor. Its a nice try though.
LoadingAOL takes quit a while to load all the excess libraries and tools. I opened Photoshop 5 a lot faster than AOL. The 2.7 client was great, a click of the icon and there you were. The application folder now takes up 20 Megs of Hard Disk Space as well.
Setup Assistant
AOL 4.0 has setup assistant built into it. Upon choosing the setup option the assistant will scan your computer for the presence of a modem or ethernet connection. In my case I use a modem and TCP to AOL, so I set it accordingly .
Sign On Process
The new sign on/ sign off screen is nice, but a bit bland at the moment. I'm assuming AOL is still working on a graphic to fill the blank white space. The connection process is a lot nicer as well. The art is smoother and the dialog is now a window allowing the user to do other things while connecting.
The Tool Bar
The Tool Bar ; I guess we can say this has improved slightly. Before it was hideous, now its "O.K." with room for improvement. The Tool Bar has a new option which will let users display the Tool Bar in a Text Only Version . [Best for people with small screens] Still, there remains a bunch of useless junk to the far right. Do we really need that stuff there? The pop up menus on the tool bar are VERY Slow. Its like "Click and take a bathroom break, come back and choose your option"
Instant Messages
Instant Messages; These things seem to grow faster than Bill Clinton's belly. The Instant Message chat window takes up half the screen and contains a text bar that is totally useless if all you want to do is chat. Its fun to see all the pretty colors but this gets tiring after a while and people will find it annoying as hell. The Chat windows are the same.
E-mail; AOL has successfully screwed these forums up as well. Can we say time for Ads? Ads in the E-mail window , how nice of Steve C. Lets wait longer for our mail to show up! You can paste pictures in the hideous new E-Mail windows . Yeah I know, I can't contain my excitement.
Other Features
The new Menu Bar is less cluttered. The buddy list has color icons now. And this new Picture Capture feature that I couldn't get to work.
I really hope they fix some of this.....More to come very soon"
AOL 4.0 Images
This table contains an index of the images displayed throughout the notes above
Updated Images And User Experiences!
An anonymous reader forwards us these following comments on his experiences with AOL version 4.0
"I just installed AOL 4.0b25Some observations (many of these echo what's already been reported):
-Opening the app takes*forever*. Like the report on Reality says, it's worse than Photoshop....
-The setup assistant is very helpful, and it was even smart enough to recognize my TCP/IP connection on Ethernet.
-The web Browser isn't all that bad this time around. It still lacks some features of a standalone web Browser ("View Source", for example), but it's a lot better than previous browsers. (The Browser in 3.0 had a hard time with the various incarnations of the <HR> tag, for example).
-The popup menus in the toolbar work fine for me (no delay, or minimal delay). Of course, trying t o guess where they put each specific command is a pain....(They keep moving 'em).
- E-mail and IMs have gone from bad to worse (advertising in e-mail, both have gotten way too complex w/ all of the formatting options)
- I can't stand the new graphics (the toolbar is better, though)
- Items in the toolbar can be *removed*! Option-click on the item and drag it to the trash (on the desktop). It works for only the stuff on the right side of the bar (weather, AOL exclusives, and quotes). Even better, you can drag a favorite place to the toolbar. Finally....a (sort of) customized AOL.
-In their infinite wisdom, AOL has removed the "ignore" option from the "new mail" window. This forces you to either read the mail (most of which is spam) or delete the message, which brings up the damn "are you really sure you want to delete this?" dialog. Using ignore would get rid of the mail without the dialog.
-Chat looks a little better, but could do w/o the advertising and the text formatting. I'm on a T1, so the ads don't slow me down, but I imagine they'd slow stuff down pretty well on a modem."
| AOL4 Contextual Menus | AOL4 Help Menu |
| AOL4 Color Chat | AOL4 SignOff Menu |
| AOL4 Sound Support | AOL4 Web Browsing |
| AOL4 Edit Menu | AOL4 Window Menu |
| AOL4 File Menu | AOL4 Window Menu2 |
This Weeks Apple NewsYour input is welcomed here at Reality. We encourage you to interact with us. If you are testing Rhapsody, MacOS, or any Macintosh product and would like to share your experiences with Reality's viewers please E-Mail me . Let us know what's new, what you hate, what you love about those products. The more people that help this site, the greater it will grow.
Anonymous info, material and so on is also welcomed via E-mail .
We do read each and every email, we try to respond to as many as possible, but sometimes it isn't possible.Go Back To Reality's Main Page
The Big Event
-The Big Event will happen Today and we'll bring you full coverage in the days to come
Apple Direct Sales
-Apple will announce their direct sales page on Monday during the "Big Event"
-There will also be an 800 number for Apple Direct Sales.MacOS b3 Seeded To Developers
-Mac OS 8.1 is now halfway through the Beta stage.
-This release is marked by the "Smile" menu.
-Various bug fixes in this release.HFS Plus d7 Seeded To Developers
-HFS Plus d7 was seeded to developers on November 4Th.
-Many bugs still remain.Open Transport 1.3b8c1 Seeded To Developers
-Open Transport 1.3b8 is now standard install on MacOS8.1b3
