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Spaces (software)
Encyclopedia
Spaces was a virtual desktop
feature of Mac OS X
, introduced in version 10.5 "Leopard". It was announced by Steve Jobs
during the opening keynote
at the Worldwide Developers Conference
on August 7, 2006. As of Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion"
, it has been supplanted by Mission Control.
s suited to the unique needs or work habits of the user. A user could, for example, create and assign a "space" to office work—enabling them to leave a work-related application (such as a Word processor
or a Spreadsheet
) running full-screen—and then switch to a different space designated for browsing the Internet, or navigating file structure in Finder windows. Up to 16 spaces can be created, and applications can be bound to specific spaces. There are various ways to navigate between spaces, including user-configured function-key combinations, hot corners (via Exposé
), or by dragging windows and applications—in the direction of the desired space—to the corresponding edge of the screen, and holding for a moment until the space switches.
, a checkbox labeled "Enable Spaces" must first be checked in the "Exposé & Spaces" preferences, under the "Spaces" tab. Then, as many as 16 spaces can be created by adding rows or columns. Application assignments may be added and bound to specific spaces listed, by their corresponding numbers, in the right-hand column. When an assigned application is launched, it will open on the designated space and remain in that location unless it is moved manually to another space.
There are a few settings for activating and switching between spaces. A checkbox at the bottom of the panel allows switching spaces automatically when switching between applications bound to spaces. This is achieved either by clicking on application icons in the dock, or by pressing ⌘ (Command) + Tab, and Spaces will jump directly to the space that the chosen application has been assigned to. A limitation of Spaces lies in the fact that some applications featuring tool palettes and/or multiple open document windows (such as Adobe Creative Suite
or Microsoft Office applications
) cannot be consistently bound to a specific (numbered) space. In such cases, the "switching" function responds to the most recently active document, regardless of which space it has been opened upon, so it is usually more efficient to avoid assigning such applications to a specific space and to run them unassigned, opening documents in the desired space.
Function-key combinations can also be configured to activate the full-screen Spaces grid view, switch between spaces directionally, or switch directly to a specific space by number. A function allows applications or windows to be moved into (or through) adjacent spaces by dragging and holding the window (or document) at the edge of the screen. During a transition to a new space, a small, translucent image representing the Spaces grid configuration will be shown in the center of the screen for a few seconds, with arrows representing the movement, and the active space highlighted.
When viewing the full-screen grid, spaces themselves may be re-arranged by dragging and dropping (requires clicking on the blue "desktop" area, instead of on a window within it). This does not change the application assignments, but is equivalent to manually moving a window or document to a new space. The application will retain its assignment and when launched at a later date, will run on the originally assigned space.
Spaces also works effectively with Exposé
, another Mac OS X feature, where you can designate a "hot corner" to activate the full-screen feature of Spaces, showing a "zoomed-out" grid of scaled-down thumbnails for each space. Also, when the Spaces grid has been activated, Exposé
may be additionally deployed to reveal the active windows or documents on each space.
for a number of years. The first platform to implement multiple desktop display as a hardware feature was the Amiga 1000, released in 1985.
Virtual desktop
In computing, a virtual desktop is a term used with respect to user interfaces, usually within the WIMP paradigm, to describe ways in which the size of a computer's desktop environment is expanded beyond the physical limits of the screen's real estate through the use of software, This saves space...
feature of Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, introduced in version 10.5 "Leopard". It was announced by Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
during the opening keynote
Keynote
A keynote in literature, music, or public speaking establishes the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address...
at the Worldwide Developers Conference
Worldwide Developers Conference
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, commonly abbreviated WWDC, is a conference held annually in California by Apple Inc. The conference is primarily used by Apple to showcase its new software and technologies for developers, as well as offering hands-on labs and feedback sessions...
on August 7, 2006. As of Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion"
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....
, it has been supplanted by Mission Control.
Overview
Spaces enables users to create multiple virtual desktopVirtual desktop
In computing, a virtual desktop is a term used with respect to user interfaces, usually within the WIMP paradigm, to describe ways in which the size of a computer's desktop environment is expanded beyond the physical limits of the screen's real estate through the use of software, This saves space...
s suited to the unique needs or work habits of the user. A user could, for example, create and assign a "space" to office work—enabling them to leave a work-related application (such as a Word processor
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
or a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
) running full-screen—and then switch to a different space designated for browsing the Internet, or navigating file structure in Finder windows. Up to 16 spaces can be created, and applications can be bound to specific spaces. There are various ways to navigate between spaces, including user-configured function-key combinations, hot corners (via Exposé
Exposé (Mac OS X)
Exposé is a feature of the Mac OS X operating system. First previewed on 23 June 2003 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference as a feature of the then forthcoming Mac OS X v10.3, Exposé allows a user to quickly locate an open window, or to hide all windows and show the desktop without the need...
), or by dragging windows and applications—in the direction of the desired space—to the corresponding edge of the screen, and holding for a moment until the space switches.
Use
In Mac OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard System PreferencesSystem Preferences
System Preferences is an application included with the Mac OS X operating system that allows users to modify various system settings which are divided into separate preference panes...
, a checkbox labeled "Enable Spaces" must first be checked in the "Exposé & Spaces" preferences, under the "Spaces" tab. Then, as many as 16 spaces can be created by adding rows or columns. Application assignments may be added and bound to specific spaces listed, by their corresponding numbers, in the right-hand column. When an assigned application is launched, it will open on the designated space and remain in that location unless it is moved manually to another space.
There are a few settings for activating and switching between spaces. A checkbox at the bottom of the panel allows switching spaces automatically when switching between applications bound to spaces. This is achieved either by clicking on application icons in the dock, or by pressing ⌘ (Command) + Tab, and Spaces will jump directly to the space that the chosen application has been assigned to. A limitation of Spaces lies in the fact that some applications featuring tool palettes and/or multiple open document windows (such as Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Creative Suite is a collection of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications made by Adobe Systems. The collection consists of Adobe's applications , that are based on various technologies...
or Microsoft Office applications
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
) cannot be consistently bound to a specific (numbered) space. In such cases, the "switching" function responds to the most recently active document, regardless of which space it has been opened upon, so it is usually more efficient to avoid assigning such applications to a specific space and to run them unassigned, opening documents in the desired space.
Function-key combinations can also be configured to activate the full-screen Spaces grid view, switch between spaces directionally, or switch directly to a specific space by number. A function allows applications or windows to be moved into (or through) adjacent spaces by dragging and holding the window (or document) at the edge of the screen. During a transition to a new space, a small, translucent image representing the Spaces grid configuration will be shown in the center of the screen for a few seconds, with arrows representing the movement, and the active space highlighted.
When viewing the full-screen grid, spaces themselves may be re-arranged by dragging and dropping (requires clicking on the blue "desktop" area, instead of on a window within it). This does not change the application assignments, but is equivalent to manually moving a window or document to a new space. The application will retain its assignment and when launched at a later date, will run on the originally assigned space.
Spaces also works effectively with Exposé
Exposé (Mac OS X)
Exposé is a feature of the Mac OS X operating system. First previewed on 23 June 2003 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference as a feature of the then forthcoming Mac OS X v10.3, Exposé allows a user to quickly locate an open window, or to hide all windows and show the desktop without the need...
, another Mac OS X feature, where you can designate a "hot corner" to activate the full-screen feature of Spaces, showing a "zoomed-out" grid of scaled-down thumbnails for each space. Also, when the Spaces grid has been activated, Exposé
Exposé (Mac OS X)
Exposé is a feature of the Mac OS X operating system. First previewed on 23 June 2003 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference as a feature of the then forthcoming Mac OS X v10.3, Exposé allows a user to quickly locate an open window, or to hide all windows and show the desktop without the need...
may be additionally deployed to reveal the active windows or documents on each space.
Comparison
Although Spaces was a new feature for Mac OS 10.5, virtual desktops existed for quite some time on other platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, AIX and BeOS. Virtual desktops also existed for Windows and for the Mac OS via 3rd party software and It has been a standard feature on GNU/Linux desktopsDesktop Linux
Desktop Linux, also called Linux on the desktop, refers to specialized Linux distributions with features designed for desktop personal computer users. These features include a graphical user interface and personal use applications....
for a number of years. The first platform to implement multiple desktop display as a hardware feature was the Amiga 1000, released in 1985.