Apple Delivers Developer Release of Rhapsody
More than 10,000 Developers Seeded with Early Release of Apple’s
Next-generation Operating System for Server and High-end Desktop
Applications
Software Developers Contribute Sample Programs Seeded Worldwide to Developers
CUPERTINO, California–Oct. 13, 1997–Apple Computer, Inc. today shipped an
early version of its next-generation operating system–code named
Rhapsody–to more than 10,000 software developers worldwide. The Rhapsody
Developer Release is intended to allow software developers to begin
creating the applications that will run on the new operating system.
Apple expects Rhapsody to complement Mac OS in the Company’s overall
operating system strategy. While Mac OS will move forward as Apple’s volume
operating system, delivering market leading ease-of- use, multimedia and
Internet integration, Rhapsody will be initially targeted at server and
high-end desktop applications. Rhapsody aims to integrate Mac OS
ease-of-use and functionality with the market leading technologies
pioneered by NeXT Software Inc. in OPENSTEP.
Avie Tevanian, senior vice president, Software Engineering said, “Apple has
made tremendous progress in shipping a developer version of Rhapsody only
seven months after the Apple and NeXT software teams were first integrated.
With the Rhapsody Developer Release, this team has delivered a powerful
software development environment to the entrepreneurial companies and
individuals who will create new classes of application software for Apple
customers in business and education.”
Apple is delivering Rhapsody first on PowerPC, its strategic hardware
platform. Select models including, Power Macintosh 8500, 8600, 9500 and
9600, are able to run the developer version of the new operating system. As
Rhapsody matures, Apple expects Macintosh systems shipped from early 1997
to be able to run the new operating system. Apple will shortly introduce
developer releases of Rhapsody for PC Compatibles and “Yellow Box” for
Windows.
The Developer Releases of Rhapsody are the first stage in Apple’s delivery
schedule for the new operating system, with customer releases planned in
1998.
For full details on Apple’s operating system strategy visit Apple’s
operating system web page at: http://www.macos.apple.com/.
Software Developers Contribute Sample Programs
As part of the developer release Apple is shipping 14 example programs from
software developers who were seeded with an earlier version of the
operating system. These include desktop and server-based solutions covering
general productivity, Internet, publishing, and database management.
Seeded Worldwide to Developers
The developer release of Rhapsody is available worldwide to enrolled
members of Apple’s Developer Program. Details on enrollment can be found on
the Apple Developer Relations website at www.devworld.apple.com. The
developer release will also be supplied to Apple Enterprise Software
customers and members of the Apple Enterprise Alliance Program.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s
with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with
the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission – to bring
the best personal computing products and support to students, educators,
designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140
countries around the world.
Staci Sheppard
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-8404
email: sheppard@apple.com
Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-6877
email: brady2@apple.com