About Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Apple's long awaited new operating system brings more than 200 new features to Mac users. Technically speaking, Tiger boasts an open source core, 64-bit system, and support for the High Definition H.264 video codec. But, every user will enjoy the highlights of this new release: a new search tool, cool new mini applications, real-time RSS feeds in the browser, improved email, amped up audio and visual conferencing, parental controls, automation of tedious, repetitive tasks, and the list goes on.

OS-Level Search: Spotlight. Handled by Tiger's search technology, Spotlight, users may search across documents, images, movies, music, PDFs, email, calendar events, and system preferences with one keyword. Spotlight reviews text content, filenames, and keywords (metadata) applied by users and automatically stored by files to return search results. Results are fast and smart, providing previews of returned files and the ability to filter them by kind, date, people, and location.

More Robust Conferencing: iChat AV. iChat AV updates the Panther version with various new features. Enjoy three-dimensional, multi-participant video meetings with better resolution and compression. Conduct audio conferences with up to 10 members utilizing a graphical panel with sound meters for each speaker that indicate who is speaking. Purchase and run your own Tiger server and conduct instant messaging behind your firewall.

Parental Controls. Set computer profiles for children using the aptly named Parental Controls and limit their access to system controls, documents, printers, burners, applications, email, chat, and the Web. With multiple profiles, parents can set varying levels of access for each child. Even downloaded or emailed applications are subject to parental approval first.

Drop and Drag Tool Panels: Dashboard. Pull in mini applications from a menu, named the Dashboard, to complete frequent tasks, like tracking flights and stocks or looking up words in the dictionary. Add and rearrange these panels, called "widgets," on your desktop as you choose, and hide or show them with the click of a button. Some other widgets include a calendar, calculator, weather report, yellow pages, language translator and unit converter.

Automated Repetitive Tasks: Automator. Choose pre-programmed "actions" from a library and automate tedious tasks when they have to be done in bulk, like editing images for slideshows and creating birthdays in the address book. There are hundreds in the can and sure to be more as third-party vendors create and make them available.

Real-time Browser: Safari. Quickly view news headlines and article summaries from around the world with Tiger's browser, Safari. Take advantage of RSS protocols to get the latest news updates automatically.

Improved Mail. Tiger's email program, Mail, uses Spotlight to manage your mail. Find messages easily and let Mail automatically organize your messages as they come into the box. New photo resizing, archiving, and slideshow options enhance your ability to share and enjoy pictures via email.

Centralized Computer Sync: .Mac Sync. Use .Mac to sync all your Mac computers, wherever they are. .Mac Sync allows you to conveniently sync your Safari bookmarks, iCal appointments, Address Book contacts, passwords, and Mail settings for multiple Mac computers over the Internet.

VoiceOver. Apple's spoken interface technology, VoiceOver, gives people with visual and learning disabilities equal access to Mac.

Enhanced QuickTime 7. Featuring the new standards-based H.264 video codec, QuickTime 7 brings you incredible video quality with lower data rates and smoother playback.

Product Features:

• DVD-Video
• Safari RSS technology that delivers the latest news, information and articles from thousands of web sites in one simple-to-read, searchable article list right to your Mac.
• The latest iChat AV delivering multi-way video and audio conferencing with true-to-life picture and sound quality.
• Revolutionary Spotlight technology that lets you search every corner of your Mac instantly: files, emails, contacts, images, movies, calendars and applications. Even save results as Smart Folders that update automatically.
• A set of nifty, beautifully designed mini-applications called widgets for checking stocks and weather, looking up phone numbers, performing calculations, finding dictionary definitions and more — with one click right from your personal Dashboard.
• A personal assistant for automating all of your time-consuming, repetitive manual tasks efficiently and effortlessly. It's simple to create custom Workflows just by dragging items, pointing and clicking.