iTunesque: small (Snow) Leopard changes
Mac OS X “Leopard” came as a (slight) disappointment for many users in terms of the general User Interface (UI), because while its goal was to unify the UI, many aspects still fall short of this unification. Snow Leopard, which just came out, doesn’t seem to change much of that.
One of the greater qualms people have with the (Snow) Leopard UI is the continued use of “Aqua” elements, especially when iTunes, historically Apple’s “new UI testing ground”, has been devoid of Aqua scroll bars and list headers for some time.
This page is therefore a collection of small modifications you can bring to the (Snow) Leopard UI in order to make it more unified.
Note: they are now included among the many options of iLeopard (since iLeopard 2.1).
Snow Leopard users: new iTunesque versions have been included. See the download section.
If you wish to bring back the iTunes 8 look to iTunes 9, see the download section as well.
List of different changes
General list headers, scroll bars and progress bars
click to view full size
As you can see in this image (which has Finder, Forklift and WebKit on it, FYI), a number of Aqua elements have been replaced by “iTunesque” elements: scrollbars (normal and small), progress bars, and the list headers.
This modification will be referred to as “SPL” once we reach the final stage (where you get to choose exactly what modification you want).
iTunes 9 changes: iTunes 9 comes with different scrollbars (among other changes). As such, some iTunesque packages have been made to match the iTunes 9 look. These will be called “SPL 9″ in the final stage.
Traffic lights
The so-called “traffic lights” are the three little blobs you find in the top left corner of windows, the “close”, “minimise” (sorry, British spelling) and “zoom” buttons.
In Leopard, Apple has moved away from the Aqua feel of the Tiger traffic lights, but seems to have considered partially returning to them in an advanced UI drawing method that we believe may come into use in OS X 10.6 or 10.7, resolution independence. As I prefer these Aqua-ish traffic lights to the Leopard ones (for some reason, Aqua feels right here), I have also made a small modification for this:
top: “new” traffic lights; bottom: standard Leopard traffic lights
This modification will be referred to as “Aquaffic” in the final stage. The reason for this name is because I hope to also make some traffic lights in the same vein as iMetal, which would then be “Metaffic” in the final stage.
Mail & Preview capsules
The original Mail & Preview toolbar buttons are in the shape of “curved pills”, but they do not match the style adopted for the standard Leopard rectangular toolbar buttons (style which was adopted by many applications, also in the form of curved pills).
As such, I have made a mod which replaces these by ones that do fit in:
top: pills in an active window (left: Mail, with “Icon & Text”; right: Preview, with just “Icon”); bottom: pills in an inactive window
But that’s not all!
There is also a mod that transforms these into rectangular buttons such as the ones in the Finder:
top: pills in an active window (left: Mail, with “Icon & Text”; right: Preview, with just “Icon”); bottom: pills in an inactive window
And just to confirm that they do look like the ones in the Finder, here’s a comparison of the “Icon only” Mail buttons with the Finder buttons:
left: Finder; right: Mail
Not perfect, but close enough.
The curved pills will be called “CurPill” in the final stage, and the rectangular ones, “RecPill”.
Mail & Preview glyphs
MacThemes user Dustin was kind enough to make new glyphs to go with the new pill appearance.
The following image was a mock-up made by Dustin Schau, but you can view a more comprehensive preview of the glyphs at this post (the release of the glyphs):
These glyphs will be called “Glyphs” in the final stage.
Note: the glyphs are completely independent from any theme elements and are located within the applications in question. As such, you can use them with any theme, but you may have to re-apply such modifications if Mail and/or Preview are updated.
Final stage: choose your theme pack
ITUNES AQUAFFIC USERS: if you want the Aquaffic traffic lights, download one of the following updates, according to your version of iTunes, and apply it after having installed your iTunesque package.
[For other versions of iTunes, please contact the author.]
Other iTunes mods (work with iTunes 9 & 9.0.1):
- Josh Janusch’s mod to bring the iTunes 8 look to iTunes 9 (which changed many UI aspects)
- Aquaffic version of Josh Janusch’s mod
Here are the different options I am offering as a download with an installer and uninstaller:
With SPL 9 (based on iTunes 9):
- SPL 9 + CurPill: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL 9 + RecPill: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL 9: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- iTunes 9 scrollbars only (not list headers, …): Snow Leopard (no automatic installer)
With SPL:
- SPL + Aquaffic + CurPill (note: don’t forget the Aquaffic updater): Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL + Aquaffic + RecPill (see Aquaffic update): Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL + CurPill: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL + RecPill: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL + Aquaffic (see Aquaffic update): Leopard – Snow Leopard
- SPL: Leopard – Snow Leopard
Without SPL:
- Aquaffic + CurPill (see Aquaffic update): Leopard – Snow Leopard
- Aquaffic + RecPill (see Aquaffic update): Leopard – Snow Leopard
- CurPill: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- RecPill: Leopard – Snow Leopard
- Aquaffic (see Aquaffic update): Leopard – Snow Leopard
Glyphs:
If you have any problems with these files, please contact me (details on the “About” page), or post on this page.
Note: if you wish to combine two themes (“iTunesque” & “KISS me”, for example), read this tutorial.
Magnifique theme packages (Leopard only)
Magnifique is a theme manager and installer for Leopard, and there are now two iTunesque packages for Magnifique. If you wish to obtain additional iTunesque packages for Magnifique, please let me know.
The one available from the Magnifique website and from within the Magnifique application is the "SPLC" variant with glyphs.
A second variant available from here (to add manually to Magnifique) is the SPLAR variant. Note: this contains Aquaffic for iTunes 8.1. For other (and future) versions of iTunes, check the Aquaffic updaters above.
24 June 2008 at 20:05
Peter thank you very much for this great theme. Finally Leopard will have a unified GUI.
Is there gonna be a version with blue traffic lights?
24 June 2008 at 20:39
Blue traffic lights like the “iMetal” ones? If so, yes, but only if I get my hands on some resources (right now, about to start an internship, so time will become sparse very soon
). Or I might try to create some of my own in August.
24 June 2008 at 21:13
I was referring to the aquaffic in blue
The iMetal ones will look very good in the original traffic colors
24 June 2008 at 21:17
This is great! this is really all I wanted for interface tweaks, just to make the scrollbars match the ilife apps.
found that iLeopard (while nice) went a little too far in its changes.
except though, I would LOVE to see the imetal spotlights!
D
24 June 2008 at 21:24
the spotlights from tenFiveBlue are almost exactly like the imetal ones, and had been released so you could get the resources
http://diamondlte.deviantart.com/art/TenFiveBlue-67111107
26 June 2008 at 10:28
You need to use those buttons!
http://blog.kevinandersson.dk/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/mobileme.png
26 June 2008 at 16:39
Started work on a blue version of Aquaffic (for the “Aqua”, not Graphite, appearance), before getting into tenFiveBlue…
And what do you think of this?
4 July 2008 at 20:57
[...] chyba nieco lepszą skórkę do Leoparda. Jakby ktoś chciał to tutaj link: iTunesque: small Leopard changes – Peter’s twaddle Komputer: MacMini 1.83GHz | Intel Core2Duo | 1GB DDR2 | Leopard (10.5.4) Odtwarzacz: [...]
5 July 2008 at 10:52
Thank you! Thats great! The best theme is iTunesque
10 August 2008 at 20:08
Great work !
However, can you tell why the scroll bars in iTunes are a little darker than those in SPL?
10 August 2008 at 20:34
I never noticed. Well spotted. Or is it a recent change?
In any event, I prefer the lighter ones, so I guess I’ll have to try to make a new, darker version on top of the current one.
10 August 2008 at 21:03
Checked with the Color Meter.
I thought those scroll bars were iTunes resources, weren’t they?
(unless they’ve been updated by iTunes).
11 September 2008 at 12:38
DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE iTunes 8 installed, otherwise it will not enable you to use iTunes.
11 September 2008 at 20:38
Thanks for noticing that, Apple Macintosh. Working on an update that will enable both iTunes 7 and iTunes 8 users to have it (custom installations based on system configuration – the user will have to know which version of iTunes he/she has).
12 September 2008 at 16:35
There we go, updated for iTunes 8. Works with both iTunes 7 & 8 (the user has to say which iTunes version he/she has).
14 September 2008 at 22:02
Do you think of contributing iTunesque to iLeopard?
),
since this provides a grey SPL like iTunes theme
yours would fit in perfectly !
I installed iLeopard and over it iTunesque SPL
(crossing fingers and having at hand my backup
though some iLeopard selections (like Bevel buttons and
Finder like Mail & Preview buttons are overwritten by SPL).
Btw I wanted to point out that the thinniest of the scrollbars
are not displaying correctly.
15 September 2008 at 08:17
iTunesque has been part of iLeopard since iLeopard 2.1
(and it even includes the blue traffic lights which I didn’t release with iTunesque).
I will, however, write that in the main article, so that it’s clear.
16 September 2008 at 22:36
Scroll bars are grey in iLeopard, blu in iTunesque (blue as in iTunes).
Could you pls check it?
17 September 2008 at 23:13
Indeed… I asked Guillaume Campagna (developer of iLeopard), and he told me that he’s a bit too busy right now to add that option.
Edit: I’ve written a tutorial on how to combine such elements.
22 November 2008 at 15:33
Do not use Aquaffic if have updated to iTunes 8.0.2, as it will not show !! iTunes deviod of aqua spotlights.tiff
22 November 2008 at 15:38
Sheesh, I updated iTunes, and forgot to update iTunesque…
Update coming soon, I promise!
22 November 2008 at 15:47
There, a small updater has been added for iTunes 8.0.2 users (you can read the page, or download the package directly here).
The ZIP file is 10.82 MB total (just in case you download too early, while it’s still uploading).
26 November 2008 at 02:23
Hi Peter,
I love iTunesque. But there’s one little bug that’s getting more and more annoying over the time. The smallest scrollbars aren’t displayed properly as you can see here: http://www.excomax.de/grafix/scrollbar_problem.png
I don’t know if it’s easily fixable, but if, then I would love to see it the way it’s expected.
Thanks anyway for all your work on it. iTunesque make Leopard look so much more complete.
Greetings from Germany, Martin.
26 November 2008 at 11:51
Martin, thank you for pointing that out. I must admit I never noticed that, despite using small scrollbars. I’ll check the resource files and post here again later today (West European time
).
29 November 2008 at 17:28
iTunesque has been updated to fix the issue pointed out by Martin.
24 December 2008 at 01:25
I deleted the uninstaller for Aquaffic , can you email it to me?
24 December 2008 at 09:19
E-mail sent.
6 January 2009 at 00:20
thanks
18 January 2009 at 08:49
I’m sorry, but sadly I have lost the uninstaller as well, could you please send me an email with the uninstaller to Aquaffic
Thanks
18 January 2009 at 09:13
Hi, iMac G3. I’ve sent you an e-mail, though I should restate that the uninstaller can be re-downloaded with the whole package.
28 February 2009 at 13:38
Peter, did you try Safari 4 beta with SPL ?
28 February 2009 at 13:55
I have Safari 4 beta, and SPL and Aquaffic are installed. No problems so far
16 March 2009 at 18:11
There we go, Aquaffic updater for iTunes 8.1 uploaded.
19 March 2009 at 03:31
Not working on 10.6
And doesn’t uninstall properly. Now some items are not drawn (traffic lights, buttons and some other). I should’t have been that bold to try that!
19 March 2009 at 09:43
Unfortunately, Pablo, I can’t help you there, as I don’t have 10.6. To my knowledge, it uses a very different structure. I would therefore suggest either reinstalling 10.6, or digging through the installer’s resources to find the relevant files.
Best of luck.
I’ll also add a warning for 10.6 users
27 March 2009 at 07:01
Hi Peter is is possible to create a Magnifique theme that includes:
SPL + Aquaffic+RecPill. I tried a lot of themes lately but I keep coming back to this one…The Best
27 March 2009 at 08:25
Brian, I’ve added a Magnifique package of SPLAR. See the last bit of this page.
27 March 2009 at 09:30
Peter thank you. Now it validated why this is the best…support
Many thanks
28 March 2009 at 14:10
hello peter,
there is a problem I have in “preview” ,when I drag the “Tool Select” on the toolbar,there’s no option show up, I’ve been launch the “Uninstall iTunesque” .pkg file,and I try to brounght the backup files to system,but it still can’t work,what can I do to solves the problem?
my english is not very well, hope you’ll understand what I’m trying to say. thanks.
28 March 2009 at 14:14
hi peter,
the same problem is happen to the “text select”on the toolbar of the “preview”.
28 March 2009 at 14:54
Hi Twiggy,
Do you mean that the buttons don’t appear at all in your toolbar? If so, this is because of the file used: if you open an image in Preview (JPEG, PSD, …), the “Text Select” option doesn’t appear; if you open a PDF file, the “Select” tool will only be the rectangular selection tool, and the other options (“elliptical selection”, “lasso”, …) won’t be present.
Basically, the toolbar changes with the context.
If this is not the problem you encounter, could you please describe each step you take (what kind of file you’re opening, what you see, …)?
Thanks,
Peter
28 March 2009 at 15:45
Hi Peter,
I open a PNG file,and I wanna use “Instant Alpha”,so I push down the “select” button,but there’s no other option appear only rectangular selection tool,so I try to open a ICNS file,and still happen the same situation.
what kind of files is courrent format that I can use in Preview to edit ?
many thanks.
28 March 2009 at 16:12
Weird.
I’ve have the Preview glyphs installed, and SPL-A-C. I’ve just tried Instant Alpha with PNGs, ICNSes, JPEGs and even PSDs, and all of them work for me.
I would suggest reinstalling Preview, because I can’t understand why that wouldn’t work for you.
Sorry I can’t be of any real help…
30 March 2009 at 06:30
Hello Peter,
I’ve installed the MAC OS “basically install” from the disc 1, the Preview still can’t appear any option after I’m finish install,maybe something wrong in my computer.
may I ask:what is the process to command the Pop Window of Preview? (like Artfile.bin to command the Mail & Preview capsules)
thanks.
30 March 2009 at 07:21
If you’re referring to the way the window appears, that’s based on ArtFile and SArtFile, as are all other application windows. However, the toolbar is generated by Preview itself…
Because I cannot emulate the problem, it’s hard for me to come up with a solution, unfortunately.
Try with this image, tell me if you can apply Instant Alpha (who knows, it may be linked to the images you’re using).
30 March 2009 at 10:31
I’ve tried with that image,and still can’t apply other option.
I’ve have the Preview glyphs installed, and SPL-A-C.so I have the ArtFile of the package.
would you mind to send me your SArtFile,let me try again.
thanks.
1 April 2009 at 08:17
So, I’ve sent you an e-mail with my SArtFile. Any luck?
1 April 2009 at 14:15
thank you Peter.
I’m just check the mail today,
I guess that file is put in
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreUI.framework/Resources/
I can find the ArtFile is in that folder too.
is’t right?
4 April 2009 at 07:15
Twiggy, any luck since the last e-mail? Have you managed to fix the blue screen?
6 April 2009 at 21:51
Update for those who would have the same problem as Twiggy: this link contains suggestions on how to fix the problem, i.e. mainly an “Archive & Install” installation of Mac OS X.
6 April 2009 at 22:37
Added Aquaffic updater for iTunes 8.1.1.
28 April 2009 at 14:03
Hi Peter, Just wandering if its possible to have a version of Aqua+RECFILL with Grow boxes like that of the KISS Me or the Canum themes. Preferably it includes Mail, Preview etc. I have customised a theme called Mobilt which has just been released. But I keep coming back to Aqua+RECFILL.
Very simple yet JUST so dam effective…BG
28 April 2009 at 15:36
Brian, what do you mean by “Grow boxes”? Do you have a screenshot?
28 April 2009 at 15:54
Peter yes go to http://www.itlive.com.au/download/Picture1.png basically the little things that sit in the bottom right corner.
28 April 2009 at 17:08
Ah, I see what you mean.
It’s based on SArtFile.bin for most apps, on the Extras/Extras2.rsrc for the Finder and on iTunes.rsrc for iTunes. I’ll try to make a little something this evening.
Edit: well, this evening wasn’t free for that. Tomorrow, hopefully.
28 April 2009 at 23:45
Thank you very much…The KISS Me version of this is very simple, very fitting for Aquaffic + RecPill.
29 April 2009 at 00:06
Hi Peter, on the files you mentioned it interesting when playing around with Magnifique some themes apply the grow box across nearly all the apps and some don’t. For me I like to uniformity across the entire set.
29 April 2009 at 08:39
Something like this?
That’s in Finder, TextEdit and Safari, so it should cover all applications (except iTunes, will work on that later), though it doesn’t apply to text boxes within Safari 4, nor does it apply to the Safari 4 tabs.
29 April 2009 at 12:21
Yep that’s exactly it. Does it work for mail and preview?
brian
30 April 2009 at 02:00
Hi Peter are you able to send me a revised version to test?
Edit: received! Thanks!
5 September 2009 at 14:41
iTunesque updated (in part) for Snow Leopard, but without Aquaffic for iTunes (see below), without automated installer & without automated uninstaller.
Aquaffic update for iTunes 8.2.1 coming soon.
6 September 2009 at 01:20
Hi any chance of adjusting the column spacer to fit in with the rest of the column?
6 September 2009 at 01:21
wooops:
http://www.foto-ricardo.com/Screen%20shot%202009-09-06%20at%2001.16.11.jpg
6 September 2009 at 11:08
Thanks for picking that up, Richard. I’m looking into that.
9 September 2009 at 15:23
There we go, all packages updated (now with automated installer/uninstaller, CurPill, …).
Richard, I’m afraid I haven’t yet been able to find the resources dictating that behaviour… still searching.
12 September 2009 at 00:43
Sorry, I don’t undestand why TenFiveBlue traffic lights aren’t in this awesome release for Leopard.
There is a chance?
12 September 2009 at 09:53
For Leopard, for Snow Leopard, or both?
13 September 2009 at 04:41
For Leopard and SL (but I don’t know, I’m a PPC user..).
iMetal/TenFiveBlue seems designed for iTunesque/iLeopard themes..
13 September 2009 at 19:36
Good point. I’ll try to work on “iMetal” SPL variants for both Leopard & Snow Leopard. First, however, I’ve agreed to work on an iTunes 9-ish version of SPL.
15 September 2009 at 15:50
There we go, iTunes 9-like SPL variants have been made.
I must say that “SPL9C” has replaced my previous configuration
Now, hopefully I’ll be able to work on iMetal-like traffic lights soon.
15 September 2009 at 16:25
Awesome I love SPL 9. The best “theme”. Thanks!
15 September 2009 at 23:32
Hey Peter SPL9 is FANTASTIC !
I guess there is no need to adjust the brightness of the column resizer! Thanks for this excellent theme.
18 September 2009 at 06:22
Well Peter you’ve done it again. Many thanks
18 September 2009 at 22:37
SLP 9 Leopard: simply gorgeous!
White scrollbars are so relaxing instead of iLeopard’s default.
Thanks for Leopard support!!
18 September 2009 at 22:38
Ooops, SPL9, sorry!
19 September 2009 at 01:01
Really appreciate your work with these. It’s amazing the difference scroll bars can make.
21 September 2009 at 18:17
hi! i find a little bug – there is no vertical lines in speed download http://www.picamatic.com/show/2009/09/21/08/14/5153109_610×165.png
22 September 2009 at 19:04
Strange – this means that Speed Download doesn’t use the standard resources. As I don’t yet have any FTP access here in London & am busy getting used to this new university, I won’t be able to do anything for at least a few weeks.
24 September 2009 at 19:13
I don’t get it. Which version should I download if I only want to change the look of iTunes 9.0.1 but not the rest of the system?
24 September 2009 at 19:19
In the download section, go to “Other iTunes mods” and download Josh Janusch’s mod.
Josh also compiled full instructions here.
24 September 2009 at 19:53
Thank you Peter.
27 September 2009 at 12:03
omg omg omg that’s COOL
30 October 2009 at 06:36
Wow this is quite possibly better than iLeopard. i used iLeopard for Leopard OS X 10.5, updated to snow leopard and realized iLeopard wasn’t supported. So after Google”ing” for a little bit i came onto this site. Thanks again!
just a quick q though,
what exactly is the difference between SPL9 and SPL. I downloaded SPL (closer to iLeopard) and now am wishing i could install the SPL9 version to see the differences.
if anyone knows the exact differences or could post pictures, i’d really appreciate it!
once again, great job on the theme and support for SL!
30 October 2009 at 20:23
Hi, sunchipssam. SPL9 looks slightly different than SPL, as it is lighter. See this image for an SPL9 illustration.
The difference is that the “old” SPL has much greyer scrollbars & list headers. The “CurPill” & “RecPill” haven’t changed, so the Mail capsules are the same.
9 November 2009 at 20:43
Hi there,
I’ve loved these glyphs for ages now. I’m trying to combine the Mail/Preview glyphs with Caesar theme, and they appear to override one another. The simple Glyphs package gives me grayed out Mail glyphs, not the snazzy ones here. Any tips?
I’m on SL.
Cheers,
Geoff
9 November 2009 at 20:57
Hi Geoff,
Could you provide me with a screenshot?
9 November 2009 at 21:26
Let me reinstall it. Flick them to your email address?
9 November 2009 at 21:48
Here’s what I have: http://www.biglittleg.com/Glyphs.tiff
9 November 2009 at 21:54
You would actually have to combine the resources of the two themes. If you e-mail me your ArtFile.bin for Caesar, I’ll combine them myself.
9 November 2009 at 22:04
Okay, that’s a bit more involved as I’m using Caesar’s installer, but I’ll see what I can do.
10 December 2009 at 18:52
Is there a version of iTunesque that also changes other UI elements like buttons, checkboxes, comboboxes (like iLeopard did) ?
10 December 2009 at 18:55
I’m afraid not. Your best bet is to download the iLeopard 3 alpha, even though support has been discontinued.
27 December 2009 at 10:54
Hi Peter, was wandering if you can make the mods for me like you did dated 29 April 2009 at 08:39. See your post above with screen shot.
I’m using Aquaffic + Recfill and would love those changes again.
Thanks Brian
28 December 2009 at 16:08
Hi Brian,
I have uploaded the modification: AR Grow.
Let me know if it works (haven’t tested it).
28 December 2009 at 17:59
This is brilliant and you deserve the Nobel peace prize! But any chance you can give us replacement buttons as well? The candybar/aqua “Save”, “Cancel”, etc buttons are now the only vestiges of the ugly Aqua interface on my computer, and I would like them to disappear as well. Thank you.
29 December 2009 at 04:08
Work wonderfully, now I just need Itunes with the same and its complete.
Many thanks
29 December 2009 at 17:27
@ravi: I’m afraid I was leaving that to iLeopard. However, with the fact that iLeopard has been discontinued, I may look into creating iTunesque variants in a similar vein. It may take some time though…
29 December 2009 at 19:46
@peter, we are a patient bunch. Actually we are not
, but given that Apple has stuck around with the horrible candy bars for 3+ releases, you are our last hope — so we will keep the life support system charged and pray hard and hit the Donate button when it appears on your site. But please, please don’t make us go back to Aqua. We can’t. We won’t!!
BTW, any thoughts on SnowTunes?
2 January 2010 at 20:49
All right, finally opened up my iTunesque files again, but I realise that iLeopard changes a whole lot of things that not all may wish to see go…
Ravi, in your case, which iTunesque variant do you use, and what changes would you want me to bring to an “iTunesque + iLeopard” variant of it?
3 January 2010 at 03:53
Peter, I am using the vanilla — SPL9 for Snow Leopard. What I would like is some suitable styling of buttons (such as the “Submit Comment” button on this comment form). iLeopard has some nice buttons over at Magnifique: http://magnifique.pcwizcomputer.com/forum/filebase.php?d=1&id=19&c_old=2&what=c&page=2. Personally, I love the Metal Muku buttons, but I’d happily settle for the iLeopard versions.
Thank you much for your responses.
1 February 2010 at 18:43
Ravi, sorry about not responding earlier – January has been busy, and I’ve been unable to work on the iTunesque + iLeopard variant. I’ll do my best to get something ready for you soon.
22 February 2010 at 23:03
Peter, no worries. Anything you can do, when you can do it, would be great.