Mac OS X Tiger

Mac OS X Tiger
	Version of Mac OS X
Version	10.4
Codename	Merlot (PPC) / Chardonay (Intel)
Preliminary name
Architecture	PPC, PPC64, i386
Latest build	8S2167
Release date	2005-04-29
Support end	2009-09
SKUs
	Desktop; Server
Replaces
	Mac OS X Panther
Replaced by
	Mac OS X Leopard

Mac OS X Tiger, or Mac OS X 10.4, is the fifth major release of Mac OS X that was released on 29 April 2005. It was first announced on 28 June 2004 at WWDC. It introduced 64-bit support for Unix binaries (excluding the Mac OS X API) and was the first version of Mac OS X to support Intel x86 processors. It was the last version to support PowerPC G3 processors and below (603/604 only via kernel patching).

Early Tiger versions, including all boxed retail releases, only supported PowerPC processors. The first available build to support Intel is build 8B1025, which was pre-installed on the original transition kit. After the introduction of the first proper Intel Macs, the client version of Tiger for Intel was only included with Mac hardware that required it and no boxed retail versions of it exist. However, the Universal Server Edition, which was compatible with both Intel and PowerPC, did have a boxed release.

New features and changes[edit | edit source]

Spotlight, a search feature included in the menu bar.
The Dashboard, a collection of widgets for the Desktop, has been introduced. It can be compared with the gadgets of Windows Sidebar and Desktop Gadget Gallery.
Automator, which can be used to create automated actions.
A feature comparable with Windows Media Center, called Front Row.^[a]
Photo Booth, an application for taking photos and videos with the iSight camera.^[b]