*** Developers to get First look at Rhapsody and “Hands on” With Mac OS 8
at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference ***
Rhapsody, Mac OS, Internet & Enterprise, Interactive Media, and Hardware
Sessions Give Developers Grand Tour of What’s Up at Apple
CUPERTINO, Calif.–April 21, 1997–Apple Computer, Inc. today announced
that its upcoming annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will
showcase a wide range of Apple technologies for software and hardware
developers–from an overview of Apple’s upcoming hardware to in-depth
sessions on operating system and multimedia technologies. At WWDC Apple
also plans to demonstrate an early version of Apple’s next generation
operating system, code named Rhapsody, as well as previewing Mac OS 8, a
major upgrade to Mac OS planned for release in July 1997. Apple remains on
schedule to deliver a developer version of Rhapsody later this year, in
preparation for the introduction of customer releases of the operating
system in 1998. The WWDC runs May 13-16, 1997 at San Jose Convention
Center, San Jose, Calif.
Details on the conference can be found at Apple’s Developer World website
at: http://devworld.apple.com/
The opening keynote on May 13 will be given by Apple Chairman and CEO, Dr.
Gilbert F. Amelio and include contributions from senior Apple executives,
including Avie Tevanian, senior vice president Software Engineering and Jon
Rubinstein, senior vice president Hardware Engineering. Further keynotes
will be given by Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki and Guerrino De Luca, executive
vice president of Marketing, Apple Computer Inc. Apple co-founder Steve
Jobs will also be hosting a special “fireside chat” at the conference.
Taking into account developer feedback from previous WWDC events, this
year’s conference will focus on in-depth technical briefings dedicated to a
more specialist technical audience. As such, Apple anticipates that this
year’s conference will be attended primarily by third-party technical
personnel. The four days of the conference will also be prefaced by a
marketing forum on Monday May 12. Here Apple’s planned software,
marketing, distribution, and co-marketing programs for 1997 will be
discussed. This will be hosted by Guerrino De Luca.
David Krathwohl, vice president, Developer Relations at Apple said,
“Developers have defined the Macintosh platform since 1984, pioneering
markets in home, education and business through innovative software and
hardware. This year’s WWDC will give developers the opportunity to plot
the next generation of innovation by giving them the hard technical
information they need to plan development strategies for Rhapsody, Mac OS,
Internet, and interactive media. WWDC will also be one of our first
opportunities to welcome NeXT Software developers to the Mac community and
we look forward to sharing their OPENSTEP development expertise.”
The WWDC itself, beginning on May 13 will include five separate tracks:
Rhapsody Track Apple’s current plans for Rhapsody remain on schedule. This
means that, while the Rhapsody Developer Release, scheduled for mid year
will not be available at the conference–the technical sessions and
demonstrations will clearly demonstrate the significant strides that have
been made in the operating system’s development.
During the Conference, attendees will receive an in-depth look at the key
technology components of Rhapsody. Major topic areas include core OS
features, such as the Mach-based kernel; development API’s and an overview
of the cross-platform and enhanced OPENSTEP development environment; user
experience guidelines, imaging and printing systems, and localization
features. Additional topic categories include Mac OS compatibility,
Rhapsody’s distributed computing model, and unique Internet capabilities.
There will also be a number of sessions detailing the tools available for
Rhapsody development and transition strategies to assist in effective
product planning. Seminars in other tracks cover a wide range of new
opportunities that Rhapsody applications will have for Internet/intranet,
multimedia, and database integration use.
Mac OS Track Apple will continue to enhance and improve the Mac OS in a
complementary path with Rhapsody. The Mac OS conference track will include
features and timing of future Mac OS releases, including Mac OS 8. Mac OS
sessions will include: Core OS Changes, User Experience Technologies,
Graphics, International Technologies, Optimization Tips, Networking, Tools,
and Component Technologies.
Mac OS 8 will be a significant upgrade for Mac OS customers and developers,
extending Mac OS leadership in areas such as user experience, multimedia,
and Internet. Among its new features, Mac OS 8 includes a multi-tasking,
PowerPC-native Finder, with folders that automatically open and windows
that pop-up from the bottom of the screen, helping customers organize their
work and content. Market-leading Internet services will also be integrated
for connecting, browsing, and sharing information around the world.
Internet & Enterprise Track This track will focus upon Internet platform
technologies, focusing on the Mac OS, WebObjects, and Java. Mac OS topics
include publishing opportunities and developing dynamic applications on the
web. The WebObjects Platform represents a breakthrough Internet
development environment and an overview of WebObjects technologies, tools,
optimization techniques, and business opportunities will be presented.
An underlying thread to Apple’s operating system strategy is the support of
Java. Sessions on the Java Platform, Mac OS Runtime for Java, Java-based
applications for Rhapsody, and Java for C++ Programmers will be a key part
of the conference.
Interactive Media Track Creative tools and software that enable rich media
authoring and playback, both at the desktop and on the Internet, are a
major reason for the Mac OS platform’s strength in creative and broadcast
markets. This conference track presents an integrated technical strategy
for developing cross platform digital media tools and applications.
Apple recently announced QuickTime 3.0 a major advance in the
industry-standard digital media system software for Mac OS and Windows.
QuickTime 3.0 is the newest release of the Company’s widely adopted
software architecture for creating and publishing digital media. QuickTime
3.0 is significant for developers because it marks the first time the full
power of QuickTime –including the ability to capture, edit, compress, and
playback digital media–is available for all major personal computer
platforms, including Macintosh System 7.x , Mac OS 7.6, Windows 95, Windows
NT 4.0 and the forthcoming Mac OS 8.
Technical directions, priorities, and implementation approaches will be
detailed for Apple’s foundation technologies within the QuickTime Media
Layer (QTML) architecture. QuickTime, QuickTime VR, and QuickDraw 3D will
be discussed in depth. The integration of QTML with the Mac OS, Rhapsody,
and Windows platforms, as well as the Internet, will be the foundation for
these sessions.
Hardware Track At WWDC Apple will outline what is planned for Apple’s
Desktop, Portable, and Server product offerings. Also covered will be
PowerPC developments, I/O technologies, and a Common Hardware Reference
Platform (CHRP) update. Breakout sessions will provide detailed technical
information on multiprocessing, hardware I/O (Firewire, SCSI, Personal
Computer Interconnect (PCI) , Universal Serial Bus (USB) and memory), and
specifications for upcoming hardware product offerings.
Registration & Pricing Registration and Pricing details can be found at the
Developer World website at: http://devworld.apple.com/.
Media Attendance Apple will be hosting a special series of presentations
and sessions for members of the media on the first day of WWDC, May 13,
1997. This will include attendance at the keynote presentation. Apple
will issue a full media alert on the planned events shortly.
Media wishing to attend WWDC can contact: Doug van Aman, Burson-Marsteller
for Apple Computer, Inc. Telephone (415) 463-4000 or email:
douglas_van_aman@bm.com.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal
digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions,
products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer,
entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more
than 140 countries.
Press Contacts:
Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-6877
email: brady2@apple.com
Apple’s home page on the World Wide Web is: http://www.apple.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: To access Apple press releases, background material, and
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Apple’s home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/ Seybold
Seminars web site is: http://www.seyboldseminars.com/
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