mail.app to get metal interface

[quote]Originally posted by os10geek:
<strong>There will be no Aqua left by the end of this! :eek: </strong><hr></blockquote>

You're not kidding.

My guess for Apple's updated suggestions / guidelines for Brushed Metal / Textured:

- interface for a digital peripheral, or managing data shared w/ digital peripherals

- apps that strive to re-create a familiar physical device

- single-window applications that stress simplicity and ease-of-use

I'm also beginning to think that Aqua will also get a glossy, less pinstriped refresh in either 10.3 or 10.4 -- somewhat akin to the new buttons on Safari.

Just speculatin'.

[ 03-13-2003: Message edited by: Hobbes ]</p>

Flamebait: I don't mind metal all all.

low-fi

[quote]Originally posted by Steve:
<strong>The Cocoa toolbars were a great idea, that's all. </strong><hr></blockquote>

this is the killer feature that is in OW and not Safari...

it really is a blow to safari and all brushed metal apps... how hard would it be to make the toolbars native cocoa?

iTunes isn't real either... and parts of iPhoto too (or at least i was told)

thats why I try and use 3rd party whenever possible... it stimulates development for the platform and it is a better solution...

OW rules!

[quote]Originally posted by Paul:
<strong>iTunes isn't real either... and parts of iPhoto too (or at least i was told)
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes, I'm aware of that. All the iLife apps are artificial so that they can run on 10.1 as well (only 10.2 has a real metal skin).

Fact is, they feel as they should. There's never any real operations in iTunes outside of playing/pausing/skipping songs, so it naturally lends itself to brushed metal (this mentality applies to QT, too). Same for iPhoto, where the "options" dynamically change with what viewing mode you're in. It works great for iMovie, too, being that most of its actions are drag-and-drop ones.

To have a metal interface in iCal, though, is just absurd, with all the crap going on in that thing, too. iChat is even worse, since they actually implant push buttons onto the interface, which cry out to be full-fledged Cocoa buttons, on both the buddy list and the IM windows. Backup actually HAS a Cocoa toolbar, and it looks like ass when it's comprised of metal. And we've already discussed Safari.

I dun care! I use Entourage anyway! :)

[quote]Originally posted by drewprops:
<strong>Am I correct in my hunch that there's really no chance that Apple will produce an option to re-skin the OS (and all affected apps) without resorting to a dangerous hack?

I'd love to run a nice milk-white theme that the hack by unsanity runs, but Brad has convinced me to steer clear of that kind of hack.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I would say you're correct.

I wouldn't say themes are dangerous hacks, though, exactly. (And wouldn't you say that Apple has given some tacit approval to theming by not attempting to have theming sites shut down...?) Lots of folk run themes like Milk, Max's Brushed Metal, Smooth Stripes, and Quicksilver with no problems at all. Just back up before you fire up Duality or Theme Changer.

Am I the only person here who would like the entire OS to be brushed metal? What is it you're against, the metal scheme itself or the lack of coordination and continuity accross the OS?

Except all buttons should be submerged. Maybe we should just get Jonathan Ive to redesign the GUI.

Andrew

It's spymac.

creditability = zero.

iChat is metal because it's going to hook into webcams.

it's all logical except safari, but based upon the tabs and the bookmark organization, it's now effectively a single-window app.

and, the custom tabs would have looked completely ass in aqua.

Originally posted by Nano
What do people mean when u say i tunes is fake and parts of iphoto have fake meltal?

'Fake Metal' is when a app does not use the system wide API for the metal appearence. Meaning that iPhoto, iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, Quicktime all have their metal look hard coded into them.

Questions:
1) why didn't they get "real" skins and,
2) when WILL they get "real" skins and,
3) when they DO get "real" skins does that mean that OS X themes will be officially sanctioned?

and,
4) how would any of you know the answer to #2 and #3?

Originally posted by drewprops
Questions:
1) why didn't they get "real" skins and,


Because they also run in Mac OS X 10.1.x - only 10.2.x has built in metal.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Don't do this!!!!!!

It will destroy the feel of the OS!:smokey: :smokey: :smokey: :smokey:

It doesn't look too terribly bad but it still makes no sense whatsoever to add metal to it.

:\ Blargh. I'd still use Mail.app but I wouldn't be happy about the change.

Click for a "metal mail" snapshot:

I'm with SquidThing on this... I love brushed metal. Significantly easier on the eyes. Why is there so much animosity towards brushed metal? I don't understand it. It is NOT beginning to look like XP. Every windows app that uses some sort of metal interface looks like crap. Apple's are elegant and look great, not to mention aren't so bright and "shiny" like so many of the windows apps.

I do like aqua, but I now significantly prefer metal.

Now, I wouldn't mind at all for Apple to implement some sort of theme switching capability. Choices are a VERY good thing. The more the better!

i like it better

I've gotten used to Safari's metal interface- so much so that turning it off in Safari Enhancer (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17776) is like flicking on stadium lights (http://rewind.cx/images/photos/Stadium_Lights_Pittsburgh.jpg) in a dark room. 8)

I'd like to see some onscreen email notification implementation. Sort of like how address book makes phone numbers larger onscreen. That would be cool. :smokey: