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Nostalgic Dogcow 'Moofs' Back in Apple OS
15 Sep
Summary
- Apple's latest OS versions feature a hidden Clarus the dogcow Easter egg.
- The dogcow, known for its 'Moof!' sound, was an old Mac printer utility icon.
- Users can find Clarus by repeatedly scrolling in the Liquid Glass settings.
Apple has reintroduced Clarus the dogcow, a beloved character from its early operating systems, in its latest releases: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate. This Easter egg can be found hidden within the Liquid Glass interface transparency settings. To reveal Clarus, users must repeatedly scroll down in the settings until the word "Moof!" appears alongside an image of the dogcow. This distinctive sound, a blend of 'moo' and 'woof,' was characteristic of the dogcow, an animal hybrid first seen over four decades ago.
The dogcow originated as a visual aid in page-setup dialogs for Apple's LaserWriter printer, helping users understand how print settings affected text appearance. Originally a bitmapped icon, Clarus has been reimagined in smoother graphics for its modern reappearance. The character also continues to be featured in page-setup dialogs, a tradition maintained since macOS Ventura in 2022.
Graphic designer Annette Wagner created the original dogcow icon by modifying a dog symbol from Susan Kare's Cairo symbols font for the first Macintosh. The icon was designed to illustrate various print manipulations like flipping and reduction. Despite initial marketing concerns, the dogcow, a symbol of Apple's whimsical past, has now resurfaced to add a touch of fun to current software.
