Why did Apple release Mountain Lion?
Ever since upgrading I have been pondering this question. Was it to stay one jump ahead of Microsoft and others? Was it to keep pushing OSX towards IOS and hope that, customer reception wise, Windows 8 is more Vista that XP? Was it to lay the foundations for freezing out non Apple cool-aide drinking developers? Was it to force us all into a narrow channel of Apple approved and sand boxed apps? Maybe its aim was to allow some gentle (or not so gentle) encouragement to update hardware and software? Possibly just to generate revenue? Or, of course, all of the above (and probably more).
But in most, if not all, of the above Apple are not so much steering, but actually coercing us in the direction they feel we should want. This isn’t new for Apple they’ve always been strong in abandoning hardware and moving swiftly forward and I’m sure a lot of other companies would love to able to treat their customer base this way
So, is Mountain Lion god or not? Yes it is. Both that is. Some of the new much lauded features/tools are good; It seems pretty stable and certainly hasn’t made my hardware any slower than Lion did (there are caveats to this see notes in “hiccups”).
It seems to have a more polished feel than Lion, an almost intangible sensation, something I’ve never felt with an operating system update before.
But on the flipside, under the mantras of security and ‘It Just Works’ I feel my Mac is no longer my Mac; it’s theirs. ML has introduced some restrictions; yes we knew they were coming and there are some alternatives, but restrictions nonetheless.
The biggest restriction is the App store. In future all software updates will be dished out by the App store. If you have bought every piece of software through the App Store then you are fine. Me? I got Apple stuff that I didn’t get there. I do not know at this stage whether updates will appear or not. Obviously I will still be able to go to the updates web page but it is no longer an automated process.
Secondly, I discovered very quickly that my Python Apps could no-longer be launched just by double clicking. I also found a few other apps such as hardware control interfaces and older midi apps which didn’t launch either. A simple change of the security settings fixed it but notice the wording on the options.
Essentially, Apple is implying if it’s not from the App Store it ain’t safe. Apple get away with the App Store approach on IOS for a variety of reasons I won’t go into here but my Mac is not my iPod/iPad. The App Store only lets you have what Apple wants you to have. This is good for security, less unintended consequences of interacting apps and good for Apple as they take a hefty cut on every app sold. It’s also plain old censorship. Do you think the Tolpuddle martyrs or the Suffragettes would have got an App in the App store? Not likely. I am a grown up computer user and I am able to make my own decisions so please Apple stop taking that power away from me.
The new features
As far the features go my favourite new feature is Dictation. Ignoring privacy concerns for a moment, it does mostly understand my accent and I have always wanted to tell my damn computer what to do. It is best to approach it as would with any dictation, IE speak clearly and slowly which feels slightly unnatural at first but the results I’ve had are pretty impressive. It should also be obvious that background noise diminishes its capabilities. Just remember the audio is sent to Apple servers for transcribing and who knows where it goes after that? Maybe that big building in Fort Worth, MD? …Bear it in mind anyway.The Second favourite is the Notification Centre. This is a nice addition, functions pretty well and is very IOS like again. Another IOS borrowed application is Messages which works great but I have very few friends on messages . The integration of an IOS like notes is fine and usable but I use Evernote for cross platform note taking and will do until there is a Notes for Windows, Linux etc.
I do use reminders on my IOS devices so do I like its inclusion here but the rest of the extra iCloud support is a wash for me because I need to have cross platform support and don’t use iWork often as it sucks at opening and saving in MS format.
One unexpected bonus which may just be co-incidental is that both Logic Express but especially GarageBand, are much more responsive (but see note below on possible unconnected GarageBand issue) – which is not only good but I have seen no reference to this elsewhere.
Hiccups
I did have some hiccups too. The new Mail makes the CPU run at near 100% nonstop. I have a couple of inboxes which I rarely use and only work when connected to the work network. It seems these inactive networks are really causing issues for Mail (They didn’t in the past).A couple of things happened which may be related to the upgrade or may just be bad luck. First, for recording I use an E-mu 0404 USB2 to take audio signals (Guitar, mics, etc.) and convert to digital. Since upgrading to ML, while recording still works I cannot get Garageband to output to the E-MU at all. Of course the unit might have gone bad, the drivers may have an issue but it is pretty hard making music when you can’t hear the rest of the song. Oddly enough it all works fine in Logic and music output functions great from iTunes.
Secondly and more worryingly, Last night for the first time I can ever remember my MacBook just froze. No spinning Beach ball of death it just froze. It’s maybe a USB audio App I was running, a memory stick going bad but my Mac has never ever just frozen before.
Also in iPhoto (V8/iPhoto ’09) places doesn’t work anymore. Just doesn’t show up the list of locations at all. I have not tried trouble shooting this at all yet but I really don’t want to upgrade as iPhoto 11 has a fearsome reputation for trashing your library*.
They’ve caged the Cougar
So in brief ignoring the odd error and the iPhoto issue the new IOS style additions are nice and the system feels more polished. However, in my opinion, forcing everything through the App Store is such a step back it makes me re-consider my investment in a Mac. To herd all developers and users through this single Apple controlled & revenue making channel just seems wrong. Ironic really that the company that bought us the iconic Superbowl 1984 hammer wielding commercial is behaving more and more like a dictator.
Update:
*After I wrote this I did find time to pop into see a Genius. The staff were all fun and interesting as usual. After looking at iPhoto and much goatee scratching they gave me a ‘free’ upgrade to iPhoto 11 (as well as instructions on how to down grade if I wasn’t happy). Try getting that help from Microsoft. I did also chat with two of them about my concerns on the app store and they did seem genuinely surprised that I had worries. In their eyes it was just a “good idea that worked on IOS so why not port it?”. Perhaps I am just paranoid
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Bazza
