1. It will be called “Lion”

Don’t laugh. It might be just a name, but it tells us a lot about the product.
First, it’s a clear cut from the previous OS X versions. Unlike “Snow Leopard”, which was a stripped down, polished and accelerated version of “Leopard”, “Lion” is destined to be something completely new.
They could have chosen another cat. Frankly, even OSX “Simba” sounds better than “Lion”. What about Lynx, Cougar, or even Clouded Leopard? But the Lion is after all the king of the jungle, which indicates that Apple is aiming high.
Snow Leopard is an excellent system, but Apple was resting on their laurels lately. Now that Windows and Ubuntu are slowly catching up, it’s time for some real change.

2. It will feature a redesigned UI

OS X has seen some small but significant UI design improvements along the years. The main theme, Aqua, now features a sleek gradient instead of the brushed metal featured in the previous OS X versions, but even a gradient can get old.
Newer apps, like AppZapper, Transmit or the CS5 suite have demonstrated new kinds of UI designs, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple change the way OS X looks.
Of course, when it comes to Apple, I’m always open to surprises, but the new UI is probably going to look like the one Quicktime X is using: dark, elegant and sleek.

3. Performance, performance, performance

Performance is like iOS apps, you can never get enough. Newer technologies allow more efficient coding, newer processors allow better multi-threading and multitasking.
But to be honest, OS X 10.6 is already bloody fast. So what could be improved? 3D performance is the answer. As it turns out, one of the largest gaming companies has recently opened its doors to Mac, and this will probably play a major role in OS X 10.7′s handling of heavy 3D graphics, or at least we shall hope so. I want to play Crysis on my MacBook!

4. Multitouch

Multitouch is at the core of Apple’s mobile technology, and it has already found its way to the Macintosh line: the truly phenomenal glass trackpad on unibody MacBook Pros and the Magic Trackpad rely on multitouch gestures to make the OS X experience so smooth.
More, deeper, and better multitouch integration is bound to be integrated to OS X in some way or another, be it thanks to hybrid MacBooks (A MacBook Air made of an iPad with a keyboard?) or simply gigantic multitouch surfaces on Cinema Displays.
Regardless of the way multitouch is used in OS X, one can safely state that the UI will have  a major impact here.

5. The cloud

I’m not a huge fan of the cloud. I like having my media on my own hard drives. But regardless of personal preferences, the fact remains that cloud storage becomes cheaper faster than physical storage does. Cloud apps becomes increasingly popular, and with the slow adoption of HTML5, they will be able to match desktop apps.
Apple knows that, and I would not be surprised to see their MobileMe scam being transformed into something actually quite usable. iTunes will, eventually, work like Spotify.

… And surprises

I recently ranted on and about Apple’s increasingly boring predictability. OS X Lion is the perfect occasion for Steve Jobs to rise back to his own standards and surprise the world with something revolutionary, something that we, mere mortals, simply can’t imagine.
October 20th will also probably be the day that iLife ’10 get’s unveiled, and maybe, who knows, some new hardware.
Any specific feature you’d like to see in OS X 10.7? Let us know in the comments.

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Yes, mentioning Apple’s spectacular comeback in the 00′s makes the present situation seem even more surprising. Steve complaining about the media? Apple losing legal battles? How did we get here? And more importantly, what can Apple do about it?

Well, first of all, Apple and Google, stop being babies and burry the hatchet. You two were forming one of the most beautiful alliances in the tech industry. Don’t you remember the “uuhhs” and “aahs” in the audience, when Steve Jobs, during his first iPhone keynote, was showing off Google Maps on the touch interface? Let Apple distribute media, and let Google find it, there’s no need for wars. Android is a nice mobile OS, and even if it does not really threaten iOS, a little competition won’t hurt. Google and Apple can still be friends.

Apple should also surprise us again. The iPad is great, and will probably blossom into a full laptop replacement one day or another, but it’s not revolutionary. The concept has been around for ages, and people were expecting Apple to launch it.
I’m talking about something like the iPod. A life-changing device. Something that has the potential to revolutionize an industry. Again.

Keep prices high. I hate to say this, especially as a student, but there are a couple of good reasons to do it.
First, Apple needs to remain the tech underdog. Doesn’t matter if they make billions, a Mac has to remain a rarity, a premium product.
Second, a low market share is the best antivirus there is. As a Mac user, I fear the day when the first big Mac virus will infect millions of unprotected Macs. Not to mention all the goodies a cash surplus will allow them to spoil us with.

Tighten corporate security. The whole iPhone 4 drama spoiled the launch for us. Even though hype may boost sales at first, on the long run, it will only create a lack of interest in Apple’s products. So Apple, lock everything down, create your own CIA, but please, don’t let this happen again.

Do not even think about the ads business. Not only is this Google’s territory, but nobody likes ads. While introducing iOS 4, Steve Jobs spent a fair ammount of time talking about Apple’s new iAd, and to be honest, I was appalled. Since when are ads a feature of an OS? Ads are there to provide financial means of sustainability without having to charge the customer, and they should not become the center of gravity of an operating system. This is especially true in Apple’s case, where the share of payware apps is higher than in other online app-stores, and where customers pay a not-so negligible premium for their products. So please, Apple, don’t put ads in OSX.

Steve Jobs should also stop responding to every email he gets. It’s cute and all, the big-shot CEO taking care of customers in person, but the problem is that emails can be faked. Even when they are not, they’re just too easy to quote out of context.

One more thing: put some friggin’ bluray drives in Macs. It’s a stable, proven, and lucrative tech. Those magnificent Cinema displays are in dire need of good cinema.

Finally and above all, Apple should stay Apple. A dynamic tech company, creating revolutionary products, focusing on excellence and quality. Some people don’t need free software. Some people need the best software. And when it comes to that, Apple delivers, and will hopefully continue to do so.

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DELL DITCHING UBUNTU MACHINES FROM ONLINE STORE

Dell reassures it’s Linux users by telling them that “this is not a permanent decision, and Dell remains committed to offering Ubuntu,” but most people are not convinced. This decision reaffirms the lack of commitement that Dell has for its Ubuntu offering.

Removing Ubuntu computers from the Dell website is not a decision that has much impact to tell the truth, neither for Dell or even for Ubuntu. Nobody bought Dell computers with Ubuntu pre-installed apparently.

The Dell spokesperson [...] suggested Ubuntu is failing to win over the public. “The reason why they’re not on our main pages is because Ubuntu systems are primarily targeted towards advanced users and enthusiasts, and the vast majority of consumers purchase PCs with Microsoft Windows pre-installed,” reads PC Pro’s article.

This, according to me, is the stupidest thing we’ve heard from a PC OEM’s spokesperson for a long time. Of course most consumers buy Windows machines, and of course only Ubuntu enthusiasts buy Ubuntu. Most people don’t even know there is an alternative.

If it surprised Dell that nobody would magically convert to Dell’s Ubuntu machines by magically finding the Dell Linux website (which you can’t find unless you know it exists), they have a serious problem. I’m sure that Dell knew that if you want to sell a product to someone that knows nothing about it, you must advertise it.

I’m not going to hate Dell for that. After all, why should they advertise Linux when they have no compelling reason to do so. Linux is not their operating system and, as a business, they won’t spend money when there’s no return. My grudge on Dell comes from another source.

Several months ago, I wanted to buy a new computer. I don’t need Windows, so I started looking for a vendor that would sell me a machine without Microsoft’s OS pre-installed. For me, buying a Windows machine equates to a couple of hundred dollars going down the drain. Fortunately for me (or so I thought) I remembered that Dell–one of the world’s top PC brands–sold a few boxes pre-loaded with my favorite OS. I happily typed “dell.com” in my browser, the address where I thought I could fin those machines. After ten minutes of fruitless search in the overly complex website, I found that the only mention of any OS was the “Dell Recommends Windows 7″ near the top of every page.

With a quick Google search, I discovered that Ubuntu machines were sold separately, on another website specifically built for Linux lovers. That’s when I got it: Dell is not selling Linux loaded on computers for the general public, Dell is selling Linux for people who already know they want it. Fair enough, I want Linux. Checking the offers was both quick and disappointing. Six months ago, there were only a few machines preloaded with Ubuntu, all with mediocre specs. Now there was only one: a netbook running UNR. I have nothing against the netbook remix, on the contrary. It’s been my primary OS for a while. But I already have a netbook, and the overpriced Dell offering could do nothing to attract me. There it was: nothing.

Thinking I was doing something wrong, I went back to the main website and selected the tower that interested me most (a high-end XPS). I clicked “customize” and ran though the options until I reached the OS selection. Ah, there it is!

But if you believe all I would have to do is select the radio button next to the “Ubuntu” entry, you will be disappointed: there wasn’t any. In fact, there was no way to even change the version of Windows they were proposing!

I moved away from my screen, head down and seriously pissed off. I had spent almost two hours trying with all my heart to buy a product that did not exist. A product that was so easy to offer.

Now I have a question to ask to Dell. If Ubuntu is only for the Linux enthusiasts, why would anybody buy your Ubuntu netbooks? Don’t you know that “Linux enthusiasts” can install an OS by themselves?

Micheal Dell, the founder and CEO of the company, reportedly used Ubuntu on one of his machines and one Dell spokesman told us that Linux is the superior operating system (as if anyone doubted that). Did they just say so because they kew that only Linux users would hear it anyway? If they did, they’re playing a very low game. If they didn’t, they have to explain their Linux strategy.

Ubuntu’s goal is to go beyond the realm of Linux enthusiasts and to appeal to the general public, but nobody–and I really mean nobody–will ever buy a product that they have to search for actively and that they have never heard about. When Apple started it’s renaissance, it advertised its OS aggressively. Even until recently, it told people why they would like to “be a Mac” instead of a “PC.” Most people understand the difference now, or rather think they do, because Apple spend time and money to inform them. Most people have no clue what Ubuntu is.

I really believe that Dell, or any other company, could encounter a big success if they sold–and advertised–Ubuntu. Better yet, they could differentiate themselves by creating their own, unique Linux Distribution. It’s not that hard (literally anyone could do it) and it would make them stand out much like Apple does nowadays. They’d already have the apps, a community appearing almost automatically that’s ready to help, and millions of tools at their disposal. All they’d have to do then is advertise their OS, much like this:

OMG! Ubuntu! describes the video as “a stunning few minutes of Ubuntu-filled win”. Oh wait, is that a Dell ad? Why hasn’t anybody seen it (apart from people that read OMG! Ubuntu! that is)?

To me, there can be only one reason: courage. Betting on anything that’s not already been proven requires some intelligence and a lot of courage. As of now, the only company who has these two characteristics is Apple. However much I dislike their products, their strategy and their fanboys, this company deserves its reputation. My heart is with them and their proprietary OS, however much they differ from my ideals. Until someone has the guts to stand up to them, I’ll just stand, watch, and laugh. I have no friendship for Dell, even if it continues to sell Ubuntu computers. Its lack of commitment makes them useless to Ubuntu and Ubuntu useless to them.

I’m not sure that Dell is realizing what they are missing.

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