What's that mess on Lion's desktop?

[genome2k]

Someone showed me a screenshot of the OSX Lion dev preview. And at the very first moment of my first sight on it, I was thinking.. Oh my, what's that mess on the desktop?? All those app icons on the desktop?? And spanning all over the entire desktop??? seriously?

I hope those are just aliases instead the real .app files. Because the first thing i wish to do would be trashing all those icons and have a clean desktop. But they told me those were NOT aliases.

For a freshly installed system, a clean desktop with everything in their places on the dock, that's what a Mac should look like, and is what a Mac has always looked like.

The last thing we need is a Mac looks like Windows, or an iOS. (anyone feel the same?)

So what happens to /Applications/ now? Are we still gonna be able to have a clean desktop?

 

[TheAppleDragon]

Someone showed me a screenshot of the OSX Lion dev preview. And at the very first moment of my first sight on it, I was thinking.. Oh my, what's that mess on the desktop?? All those app icons on the desktop?? And spanning all over the entire desktop??? seriously?

I hope those are just aliases instead the real .app files. Because the first thing i wish to do would be trashing all those icons and have a clean desktop. But they told me those were NOT aliases.

For a freshly installed system, a clean desktop with everything in their places on the dock, that's what a Mac should look like, and is what a Mac has always looked like.

The last thing we need is a Mac looks like Windows, or an iOS. (anyone feel the same?)

So what happens to /Applications/ now? Are we still gonna be able to have a clean desktop?

Are you referring to Launchpad?

That's not the Desktop - the Desktop is exactly the same as it always has been.

Launchpad is an optional feature meant to serve as a home for Apps you get off the Mac App Store. It doesn't automatically turn on. It's basically an overlay application that floats over your other applications and the Desktop. Kinda like Dashboard, but with apps and a layout akin to iOS.

 

[talmy]

You were seeing Lauchpad, which is an application that displays all the installed applications in a view like iOS. It's intended to draw in new people that have iPhones, iPads, or iPod Touches into buying Macs. There is no reason to ever use it if you don't want it (I'll never touch it!). The Dock is still present, as is the /Applications folder.

 

[genome2k]

Oh Thanks TheAppleDragon and Talmy for the clarification

*exhale* I guess I can sit back in peace now

 

[Firen]

Desktop:


Launchpad:

 

[BLACKFRIDAY]

Someone showed me a screenshot of the OSX Lion dev preview. And at the very first moment of my first sight on it, I was thinking.. Oh my, what's that mess on the desktop?? All those app icons on the desktop?? And spanning all over the entire desktop??? seriously?

I hope those are just aliases instead the real .app files. Because the first thing i wish to do would be trashing all those icons and have a clean desktop. But they told me those were NOT aliases.

For a freshly installed system, a clean desktop with everything in their places on the dock, that's what a Mac should look like, and is what a Mac has always looked like.

The last thing we need is a Mac looks like Windows, or an iOS. (anyone feel the same?)

So what happens to /Applications/ now? Are we still gonna be able to have a clean desktop?

Relax. You'll be just fine.

 

[xgman]

I assume that if you delete a Launchpad app, you are NOT deleting the app itself right? Basically the opposite of IOS?

 

[sheeracali]

no, when you delete an app off launchpad, it deletes the real app from the Applications folder

 

[xgman]

no, when you delete an app off launchpad, it deletes the real app from the Applications folder

Are you sure? This really makes this feature useless. There are so may useless icons in random order by default. I hate this thing. maybe it only deletes the apps from the app store source and jsut the icons for the rest. Still useless.

 

[acurafan]

...There are so may useless icons in random order by default. I hate this thing...

i have so many duplicates b/c i use aliases (which are not indicated as an alias) and i have citrix published apps from the receiver that shows up...for me useless feature.

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

Are you sure? This really makes this feature useless. There are so may useless icons in random order by default. I hate this thing. maybe it only deletes the apps from the app store source and jsut the icons for the rest. Still useless.

It is just a quick way to get to the Apps you want to use. You don't have to use it.

 

[ratzzo]

Yep, that would have been a terrible excuse for a desktop, eh?

I don't think I'll ever use it. I'll stick to stacks-list view thank you!

 

[ErikGrim]

You can't remove non-App store apps from the launchpad at all, which causes me to have a page of shame like this (notice non-removable empty folders). JUST LIKE ON iOS!

Launchpad screenshot

 

[ratzzo]

To be fair, the point of Lion was to unite iOS and OS X together in some ways. I guess this is just one of them.

 

[maclaptop]

To be fair, the point of Lion was to unite iOS and OS X together in some ways. I guess this is just one of them.

Yes it is. It's the beginning of convergence. For now there are elements of iOS and OS X living in the same quarters if you will. Yet moving forward as each new OS rev is released, they will be closer and closer until they are one.

At least that's the impression I get.

So, again, I'm taking a wait and see approach since I certainly want to remain open minded and give it a try. I just hope my initial impression does not come true. Apple seems to have completely given up on anything but the average Joe in the retail space.

Focusing on retail customers is wildly profitable, but requires a Fischer Price mentality as opposed to "gasp" building for professional computer users, as well as the public.

The reason I feel this way is Apple seems hyper focused on "it just works", "no learning or thinking required". iCloud "it's all automagic".

Yeah, it's automagic alright. We "Apple" are taking every bit of control away from you the dumb user, and you will have absolutely no choices. After all we don't want to confuse you (morons) we just want all of your money

It's this line of thinking that makes it ideal for the public and trained chimps, but not so great for serious Mac Users.

I'd hate to see OS X suffer, and be dumbed down just so that granny can use a Mac...

 

[Jagardn]

Yes it is. It's the beginning of convergence. For now there are elements of iOS and OS X living in the same quarters if you will. Yet moving forward as each new OS rev is released, they will be closer and closer until they are one.

At least that's the impression I get.

So, again, I'm taking a wait and see approach since I certainly want to remain open minded and give it a try. I just hope my initial impression does not come true. Apple seems to have completely given up on anything but the average Joe in the retail space.

Focusing on retail customers is wildly profitable, but requires a Fischer Price mentality as opposed to "gasp" building for professional computer users, as well as the public.

The reason I feel this way is Apple seems hyper focused on "it just works", "no learning or thinking required". iCloud "it's all automagic".

Yeah, it's automagic alright. We "Apple" are taking every bit of control away from you the dumb user, and you will have absolutely no choices. After all we don't want to confuse you (morons) we just want all of your money

It's this line of thinking that makes it ideal for the public and trained chimps, but not so great for serious Mac Users.

I'd hate to see OS X suffer, and be dumbed down just so that granny can use a Mac...

Your right, they appear to be merging, but as long as they keep the all of the power user stuff and a normal desktop, I'd be glad to have my Mac Double as an iPad. Just hoping they are working on making all of the Mac/iOS apps from the stores compatible with all Apple products.

 

[xgman]

Apple is letting the success of the ipad and iphone dictate the direction of OSX. This is a big mistake, at least for now. OSX and Mac are for completely different purposes than ipad and iphone. They are headed in the wrong direction. (in my opinion of course). Actually from a demo I saw of Windows 8, it looks to be shaping up more Mac like than Lion does. Sad really. . . (again my opinion)

 

[JonHimself]

Your right, they appear to be merging, but as long as they keep the all of the power user stuff and a normal desktop, I'd be glad to have my Mac Double as an iPad. Just hoping they are working on making all of the Mac/iOS apps from the stores compatible with all Apple products.

The weird thing about the "iPadification" of OS X is that people just see the surface changes (ie Launchpad) and assume that all of a sudden the OS is "dumbed down". I'm pretty sure that a lot of (most?) the power user functions are still there, they're just making parts of the OS easier (in their opinion) and more familiar to people who may have got their first Apple product as an iOS device.