I think Scott's point re: properties is dead on: Javascript, Python, Ruby and Java have all changed the developer landscape, subtly in some ways, boldly in others, and this is definitely one of them (GC being another major one). I think Apple is quite wise in picking their attack vector for ObjC 2.0.
Sure wish they'd also tackle blocks, though. There's a parallel case with low-level C stuff like pointers/structs vs higher-level properties. Having both the low-level C control structures (which are inevitable) and higher-level blocks would be killer, and would essentially give us Smalltalk (30 years later ;-) in a viable commercial package.
by Chris Ryland — Jan 01
Sure wish they'd also tackle blocks, though. There's a parallel case with low-level C stuff like pointers/structs vs higher-level properties. Having both the low-level C control structures (which are inevitable) and higher-level blocks would be killer, and would essentially give us Smalltalk (30 years later ;-) in a viable commercial package.