Apple Ends OS X 10.8.4 Beta Testing Program, Suggesting Imminent Release

Aside from the irritatingly slow shutdown, Mountain Lion 10.8.3 isn't giving me any problems - probably because I use fairly standard apps and hardware setup.

The only thing that would now make me upgrade to 8.4 is if Apple reduces shutdown time, otherwise, I'll just wait till they tidy everything up in the last update, perhaps 10.8.5

I feel aggrieved that, with new OS's coming out every year, that the previous OS never get to the level of rock solid performance that comes with a few iterations, such as 10.6.8 and 10.5.8 and 10.4.11

And all this updating of new OS's, FOR WHAT, APPLE!!!! If you look at the survey below,

http://www.macworld.com/article/2040308/survey-the-os-x-features-you-love-the-most-and-those-you-dont-love-at-all-.html

the poll shows that most people, including myself, hardly use any of the stupid new features. Yet, the price I've had to pay for these new OS's are upgrades to several software. The one that gets me irritated the most is that when ML came out, it wrecked my 4.10 VMWare setup, so I upgraded to VMWare 5.0, but the old VM data file didn't work under the 5.0 upgrade, so I had to reinstall the entire Microsoft Windows environment. And many of the old software I used in the XP environment weren't available, so I had to buy Windows 7. All this nonsense because Apple brought out Mountain Lion with silly main features that most people don't use.

Even with Messenger, why can't Apple just bring out an App? Why must they integrate it with the OS, so we are forced to upgrade? e.g. Skype messaging works great as an App that works cross-platform etc.

Furthermore, with these useless upgrades, my older iMac can't use Mountain Lion.

And Apple links its Mail program to the OS, so I cannot upgrade Mail in my older Macs (two of them). Why can't Apple create a standalone Mail app that is sold in the App Store, like Aperture or Final Cut Pro? I hardly use any of the ML-introduced features. I need to keep my IMAP in a very basic configuration so it doesn't go crazy. IMAP can be very temperamental, so I don't use these fancy smart boxes etc. Of course we know why - by integrating Mail into the OS, it forces us to buy new hardware when our old hardware can't run the latest OS with totally useless features that most people don't use.

You and I know we are all complicit in a game where Apple does anything to force us to buy new hardware more frequently than we really need. It's a mugs game. But, sad to say, I'm not ready to shift to Windows 8 yet. Apple is the lesser of two evils.

And all this updating of new OS's, FOR WHAT, APPLE!!!! If you look at the survey below,
http://www.macworld.com/article/2040308/survey-the-os-x-features-you-love-the-most-and-those-you-dont-love-at-all-.html
the poll shows that most people, including myself, hardly use any of the stupid new features.

Why is it, that when people don't use something, they call it 'stupid' or other such terms? Very weird. It's almost as if they don't consider that there are many people who have a different opinion.
Why don't non-users just say, 'I don't like it, so I won't use it'? That is their choice. No need for mindless comments like 'stupid new features'.
I actually find the usage figures in that survey for the most useful features- IMHO - very encouraging.
75% use Messaging, 82% Notification Center and 67% Reminders.
What I will say is that most of the new features only come into their own if you have iOS devices synced to your Mac.

Um, this isn't good news. I still have open and acknowledged issues with WiFi using both 2.4 and 5 GHz spectrums, com.apple.launchd issues (sleepservices, memory, iCloud stability), and others. All effecting my Mac Pro, Mac Mini, MacBook Air (all current gen) and a 2011 27" iMac. Let's not even get into OpenGL Core support.

Apple, get on the ball with OS X.

I can't remember Apple ending a Beta Testing Program before..?

Usually the last seed of a beta... well just is the last seed, which becomes the GM = Public.

It's a little bit more complicated than simply "ignoring" a stupid feature and applauding the minority of people that do use it. Apple's resources are limited and they have internal deadlines. That means working on useless eye-candy and silly-assed features for a minority of users only detracts the coders from working on more important things most all of us could actually use.

Exactly. People forget or never knew that Apple keeps a small team of iOS/OS X engineers and often moves them between departments. OS X engineers are often pulled into iOS development, resulting in OS X delays such as Leopard. However, Leopard's delays were forgiven as the iPhone launch was paramount to Apple's future in mobile computing. Many of us gave it a pass believing it a one time hiccup.

With Apple's monetary resources, it's time they hired more engineers and ended the "Jobsonian" need to keep small, tight knit interchangeable groups. The company has grown rapidly, requiring more in house engineers and designers. It's been apparent since 10.6 that OS X is suffering from a lack of engineering and focus.

I feel aggrieved that, with new OS's coming out every year, that the previous OS never get to the level of rock solid performance that comes with a few iterations, such as 10.6.8 and 10.5.8 and 10.4.11

And all this updating of new OS's, FOR WHAT, APPLE!!!! If you look at the survey below,

http://www.macworld.com/article/2040308/survey-the-os-x-features-you-love-the-most-and-those-you-dont-love-at-all-.html

the poll shows that most people, including myself, hardly use any of the stupid new features.

Well stated; excellent points. I sincerely hope WWDC is a return to power systems and pro-apps, iLife, iWork and 10.9 proving to be a shift back to stability, quality, efficiency, improved Finder and graphics support and iOS integration for those who use it for work (i.e. document syncing, opening access/less sandboxing in iOS 7). Keeping my fingers crossed.