Valhalla Island

It feels like it was years ago when Leopard was first announced. The Macworld keynote didn’t do an amazing job of raising my anticipation. There was a promise of 300+ new features, now that list of 300 new features has been published and there’s so much to look forward to I’ve pre-ordered my copy. These are my favourites.

• Automator UI recording. This will make using Automator so much easier.
• A more distinctive active application window will help a lot in the sea of windows I usually have open.
• The spring loaded dock will be great, this is an extension to what I already primarily use the dock for.
• Wikipedia in Dictionary. Dictionary is one of my favourite OS X apps, if not the favourite app. I also use Wikipedia a lot, it’s a great combination.
• Auto-zoom in DVD player will be handy, it annoys me when all that screen space is wasted.
• I really dig the look of the new iTunes-esque finder sidebar.
• Printable font sheet previews look really great. I can put my favourite type on my wall.
• Everything new and improved in iCal and Mail. My two most commonly used apps that, while still better than anything else, have some glaring flaws.
• The new AirPort menu will be great, currently you need to test connecting to every listed network to find an open one.
• Many, many updates to another much loved app, Preview.
• Calculator built-in to Spotlight is really cool. I might have to reactivate Spotlight just for that.
• Finally the default Spotlight result is the top hit, it’s ridiculous that this was never the default.
• Time Machine.

I’ll write up my detailed opinion on Leopard after a few days of use. Leopard is released on the 26th of October.