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Macworld New York 2002

 

Jaguar, which Jobs pronounces "Jag-wire," has over 150 signifcant improvements or innovations. We're watching a Jaguar demo showing some cool Finder interface improvements: ah, springloaded folders! There's a new built-in search feature, and an easy way to to set desktop picture changes (at different intervals).

QuickTime 6 is built into Jaguar. Over 1 million downloads of QuickTime 6 have occurred in the last day and a half. Jobs talks about MPEG-4 and says everyone is "jumping onto it" except Microsoft (even to the point of specifically dissing proprietary formats)... And now a demo: the new audio codec of QuickTime 6 only takes 10 percent of the bandwidth previously required. MPEG-4 video takes only 33 percent of the former MPEG-2 bandwidth. [This should be great for those with dial-up connections]. QuickTime 6 also features "Instant-on" screening.

Sherlock 3 has been completely redesigned and now features "Internet services for the rest of us." No Web browser required. One channel will show stock prices updated every 30 seconds. Another locates movies playing in your area after inputting your ZIP code! This includes theater addresses, movie times, and the ability to buy tickets online. There's an eBay channel, and -- [Oops! Our first total audio dropout of the day! Pictures and no sound...] Jobs is now searching for sushi restaurants using Sherlock 3.

Rendezvous locates devices or files on any IT network. Jobs demos how this can be used to access an iTunes playlist on one computer from another, without using file sharing (at least on an AirPort network). This feature will be implemented in the next few months and will allow instant, zero-configuration networking. Rendezvous will be open to anyone. Network printing will now be a breeze..

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