[Amorya]

I think I understand when to use metal or aqua. Tell me if you agree.

If the app separates the concept of a window from the concept of a document, use metal.

If window == document, use aqua.

If both happen in one app (eg mail, viewing vs composing) then pick one at random


Think about it. The finder in Panther, when in metal mode, has 'browser' windows. In aqua mode then one window is equivalent to the folder it represents.

In iPhoto, then the window isn't tied to its content. Close the window and you don't lose anything. Ditto itunes. iMovie has one window holding lots of clips, etc, so I can see why it's brushed.

Safari also doesn't have one window == one document. For a browser, that would be really silly - every link would open in a new window, unless you already had that page open... in which case it'd pop to the front.

Mail's aqua because you can do one window per document (if you hide the preview pane)... and composing messages always works this way.

Quicktime Player I think is wrong. It should be aqua using this scheme.


Amorya

[Zadian]

Originally posted by Amorya:
I think I understand when to use metal or aqua. Tell me if you agree.

I agree with you. Exactly what i was thinking about brushed metal and standard aqua.

[eevyl]

There is no logic (from this Universe at least) in the Apple scheme of chosing brushed metal or Aqua.

In Jaguar the interface guidelines were really clear about it: only applications with connections with digital gadgets or representation of gadgets itself (like calculator) would be brushed metal.

In Panther however, no one knows for sure, because the guidelines have become lousy, extended to "any app that uses a sidebar"...

I reallly would love to have a conversation with the engineer(s) working with the UI in OS X about this...

For example in Panther the new Disk Utility have all the signs to be brushed metal: interacts with digital gadgets (HDs, CDs, etc) and it even has a sidebar. But, surprisingly it is Aqua...

[Xeo]

There is a metal/aqua thread that's still going. Use that. There's no need for two identical topics running.