Modern Macs look and feel great, but sometimes I really miss the look and feel of retro Macs. Skeuomorphism, where digital objects are designed to mimic their real-world counterparts, is dead, but I often find myself yearning to revisit that era of Mac software. If you’re as nostalgic as I am, this guide will walk you through the steps to creating the perfect retro look for your Mac.
Are Modern Macs Really NeXTSTEP in Disguise?
The Mac’s Music app is the go-to for anyone who uses Apple Music. For a retro controller for this app, check out QuickTune, which mimics the look of Mac OS X Tiger’s QuickTime 7 and lets you control playback for Apple Music. Notable design elements include glass buttons for window controls, a brushed metal theme, and dedicated playback controls.
The same developer, Mario Guzman, also created Music MiniPlayer for macOS, which is similar to iTunes.
For those who use command line tools, the modern macOS Terminal app can feel a little too polished. If you’re looking to harken back to the good old days of using the command line on a CRT monitor, consider using Cool Retro Term. My colleague Justin Pot has a great piece that walks you through the ins and outs of that app.
