The latest version of Mac OS is considered the most advanced operating system in the world. It was on it that Apple finally completed its transition to 64-bit technologies. The main differences of this OS are the high speed of installation and operation. The specified version requires less free space on the hard drive. And, surprisingly, the cost of Snow Leopard is much lower than its previous counterparts.
Mutually beneficial cooperation
At some point, the rivals had to stop competing. And this happened exactly with the release of Snow Leopard. Apple and Microsoft realized that they could complement each other perfectly, and began to cooperate. Recently, this situation has become a trend, and in the future will not seem something out of the ordinary. Companies whose activities are related to information technology, began to unite and produce joint products, making good profits, expanding the range of products and conquering new markets.
The release of the package, which combines MS Office and Mac OS, did not surprise anyone. Apple's latest version of the operating system supports Microsoft Exchange. Moreover, the developers have ensured their maximum interaction, so now no additional applications will need to be installed.
Release history
The first operating system of this series from Apple came out in 2001 and was called Cheetah. Over the next eight years, the world saw five more versions. All of them are quite symbolically called wild cat breeds - cheetah, cougar, jaguar, panther, leopard and snow leopard.
The first five years since the release of the first version, Apple introduced Mac OS every year. Versions over the years have been replaced by a new “wild cat”. There was a race of functionality. Every Apple product has become increasingly advanced. The company focused on the image, loudly announcing its releases.
For the first time, Mac OS X Tiger was released with a delay. The developers launched the version a year and a half after the previous one. Mac OS 4 X Tiger 10.5 changed the fourth only after two and a half years.
The latest Snow Leopard replaced Leopard in 2009. But its fundamental difference is that if earlier the presentation of the operating system was an explosion of opportunities and technologies, then this time it went quite calmly. In previous packages, developers focused on upgrading the interface and expanding functionality. This product shows that Apple worked more errors, improved what was available. But, despite the lack of hype, Snow Leopard has fully justified itself as the most advanced OS.
Consumer View
Not all Apple Macintosh users rated the new operating system. Many people wonder what has changed. To say that the company has made a leap forward, of course, is impossible. However, the developers made such changes that at first glance are not available for a full assessment by ordinary users, but in the process, the latter should feel some improvements. Apple has optimized the following points:
- Reduced installation speed. It can not be argued that this is vital for the user, because the operating system is not reinstalled so often.
- Weight reduction of seven gigabytes. The latest version of Mac OS leaves more free space on your hard drive.
- Increase on and off speed.
- Fast downloads, instant search for the nearest Wi-Fi.
- Automatic software update for printers.
- Increase video resolution in iChat.
- Implementation of Expose Technology. It provided improved navigation between open windows.
- QuickTime X update.
- Application of Finder technology in Mac OS X file manager. It influenced multithreading support.
Not all happy Makbook owners have been waiting for a new product. So, owners of equipment running on PowerPC processors were not in the best position, because now Apple's operating systems do not support this generation. Literally in one year, in 2005-2006, the company switched from CPU to Intel. And now the new operating system cannot be installed on old Macs. Thus, the company decided to stimulate its customers to buy new laptops from Apple.
Microsoft's addition was the integration of Exchange Server. This means that now various applications (mail, calendar, notepad, and so on) are part of the integrated structure of many companies whose email activities are related to Microsoft products. Previously, for such a merger, you had to purchase Microsoft Office for Mac. This product included an analogue of Outlook - the Entourage application. From now on, the necessary add-ons can work together with Exchange Server (starting with the 2007 version).
Specifications
The latest version of Mac OS is distinguished by its modifications of the filling. The main technical achievements made by the developers in the “Snow Leopard” include:
- full support for 64-bit computing;
- Grand Central Dispatch - a system that provides multi-threading;
- OpenCL - a function due to which the GPU can transform intensive computing;
- QuickTime X is a fully integrated multimedia system for Macintosh Operating System X.
64-bit computing
According to the developers themselves, this achievement is the most significant in this version. The first hints of such a discharge appeared in version 10.4. At the moment, not all extensions are rewritten and make it possible to load the kernel in 64-bit mode. This, for example, is the software with which the drivers of some devices are implemented.
Apple left 32-bit, but made it more flexible and compatible. Users can work with both 32-bit programs and 64-bit ones. And all thanks to the Snow Leopard operating system. Most applications on the Macbook run on 64-bit and can access sixteen billion gigabytes of memory.
Development allows for a high level of performance. But the latter is only available if the laptop has a good supply of memory and 64-bit mode.
Grand central dispatch
As mentioned above, the latest version of Mac OS is distinguished by its relative simplicity and modesty of innovation. Apple developers came to the conclusion that the main work should be focused on performance, energy consumption and heat dissipation. Applications should be multifunctional - work on different cores and in unusual conditions. But for this it is necessary to implement the multithreading function. This is exactly what was done in the latest version of the operating system. The life of application developers has become easier, since now the Grand Central Dispatch system takes on the work of distributing the flow. Thanks to her, applications have become more productive.
Opencl
In order for the Apple Macintosh to be able to perform serious computing operations, the Open Computing Language function was conceived. An additional load was received by the computer's power, which had previously been wasted. These are specialized graphic coprocessors. To do this, specialists (using the OpenCL language) modified some fragments of their applications. This technology has already been recognized by NVIDIA, ATI, and Intel.
Quicktime x
The technology was introduced back in the nineties. The main purpose is the support and processing of multimedia files. In the latest version of the operating system, QuickTime was improved - an updated interface and support for modern codes appeared.
Improved features provide the user with new features. All Apple technologies are aimed at improving comfort when working with brand technology.
Installing a new OS version
To upgrade the Mac OS version, you must hold down the Alt key when installing the system from the boot disk. Then you should choose the option to boot from disk and the installation language. In the launched "Installer" you have to select the HDD and click the "Continue" button. The program will offer to mark objects for installation, among which:
- the operating system itself;
- support for printers (if you select the option, the system after installation will automatically download the necessary drivers when connecting the printer in the future);
- additional fonts;
- language packs (unchecking this option allows you to save at least 1.62 GB of disk space);
- X11 (it is better to leave the object selected);
- Rosetta (allows you to run applications developed for PowerPC on the Intel platform);
- Quick Time 7.
When the installation is complete, the computer will prompt you to restart. After the reboot, you have to choose the country of residence, the keyboard layout, set the network connection, enter the registration data and so on. This completes the installation of Snow Leopard.