Resume may close unused apps

A variety of less publicized changes have been made in Mac OS X Lion, the developer preview shows. One of the most important is an overhauled Finder, sporting new buttons and a different sidebar. The file browser automatically sorts items by type, and is also described as more responsive.

System Preferences now includes an "Internet Accounts" option for configuring accounts tied to programs like Mail. Upgraded apps include not just Mail but iCal and Address Book, which have similarly been modified to resemble their iPad counterparts. Safari has been updated to v5.1; aside from running in Lion and supporting fullscreen mode, the browser now separates rendering and application processes, also dedicating unique processes to each plugin. The change should increase stability and security, although WebKit plugins are no longer being supported.

The Resume function -- which restores an app's state after an event like logging out -- shares still more traits akin to iOS. While remembering details like selections and window positions, it may also decide to halt an app on its own if it appears to be unused or simply have no windows open. Reopening a program, however, is said to to be virtually instantaneous. Apple is allegedly telling developers that quitting an app is no longer necessary.

by MacNN Staff