Metadata is "data about data" -- stealing from babbage's excellent explanation below. On the Mac, one piece of metadata is the type and creator information that is stored with each file on the system. These are the bits that tell the Mac which application should open which file, regardless of the file's name or extension. Metadata has long provided an advantage over Windows - no need for filename extensions. The downside, however, is that Mac files are more difficult to exchange with PC users, and lose their metata in the transition. With the release of OS X, Apple has headed away from metadata as the sole means of identifying a file, and has added file extensions. While improving cross-platform compatability, this change has been the source of tremendous debate among Mac users -- do filename extensions mean the end of metadata on the Mac?
John Siracusa, who has written exensively about OS X for Ars Technica, has put together a thorough proposal for Apple to retain and improve upon metadata in OS X, while still maintaining cross-platform compatability. Take a few minutes to read what he's written, and if you agree with the sentiments, sign the online petition which will eventually make its way to Apple along with the proposal.
I realize that the issue of metadata is near and dear to many Mac users' hearts, but I would rather not see this article serve as the igniter for yet another debate on the issue. macosxhints is definitely not the right forum in which to be arguing the merits of metadata, but I felt the issue was important enough to merit a mention.
If you have comments on John's proposal, please send the feedback directly to him - siracusa@mindspring.com.
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20011206123840856