Brushed metal initiative

[Koelling]

I don't have a problem with Apple trying to make their brand visible, but why is brushed metal so different than Aqua? It's the exact opposite of branding, it's confusing.

Ever watched a new wouldbe switcher? They will show you a lot of insight about what works and what doesn't. The thing he noticed most was being able to drag itunes around from any edge and not being able to expand the itunes window like every other window (green zoom button). To us it's taken for granted but to them they need consistency. I would argue that the brushed metal vs. aqua is the same way. It's just confusing.

No I don't think there should be a choice, because you sit at two computers and they act differently on either one. I abhor brushed metal but I would live with it if it followed Apple's rules, and the rules all other applications follow.

[Arden]

Many of the choices Apple makes seem to be influenced by the Next people. Next wanted OS X to be their brainchild OS, which was way different than the "old" Mac OS, so Apple removed many features and put in many different features (Dock in place of Applications & Apple menu, etc.). The brushed metal look, while not part of Next, seems to be following the same stubborn lines of "This is what we think is cool and what people want, so we're going to shove it down everyone's throats." Annoying, isn't it?

[tjw]

I agree with the branding comments. People who see my computers who are seeing OS X for the first time take the look of the OS as the visual representation of a Macintosh. It should be obvious that Apple is a very image conscious company. (and rightly so, their sucky marketing has to be compensated somehow ) If I were in Apple's shoes, I would do the same thing they are doing. Your look is the most powerful aspect of your identity, it's the user's first impression and you would want it to be consistent.

On a side note, I've been programming some apps, and I looked into iTunes, iChat, etc. and Apple has some very underhanded ways of making certain widgets very proprietary to Apple software. A lot of image files, hard code, etc. rather than freeze-dried nibs. It's quite obvious why switching many of Apple's apps to Aqua would be a little more complicated than turing a switch on or off. A lot of the widgets will still look the same (brushed metal).

[Dekatophil]

While I like the new Aqua style, the grey of the Menu Bar etc. is just terrible. In my view it makes the whole thing look dreary and dirty. I would be content if that alone could be changed. I posted a new thread on that. If you like, opine there.

[Arden]

Why should we go to a new thread when this one already has our opinions on it? No offense, but having multiple threads of the same topic can get confusing, and they often get merged if they get big enough.

I hope the brushed metal theme works well enough that you can ignore it. Apple really shouldn't have changed everything, but what are you to do.

[MacFeel]

Hi!
I wonder why Apple dont implement it in OS X?
Now if ever would be nice,especially when the G5´s are out.
It would look really good to have a complete metal in OS X.I hope that Apple will consider it.We should do something about this

M

[danskinnyman]

to the dude that said that finder is a cocoa app now:
LIES! The finder is not a cocoa app, ie it still swallows your clicks on buttons and such when it is in your background (doesn't register them) you don't get spell check for basic text entry, command-click doesn't let you operate it while in the background and when you drag it to the dock the title bar (top of the window now :P) stays above the dock, as opposed to cocoa apps which can be dragged past the dock. It is not a cocoa app.

[Arden]

MacFeel, 10.3 is completely brushed metal. The point of this thread is that many of us feel we should at least have an Apple-endorsed option of using Aqua or brushed metal, me included. Brushed metal, while matching the G5, is more cumbersome and thicker than Aqua, and it doesn't have the niceties like transparent title bars for inactive windows and such.

And the Finder should be Cocoa. Apple has no reason not to make it such.