Apple Announces Mac OS Software Strategy
Mac OS X Billed as “Evolution to Revolution”
WWDC, SAN JOSE, California–May 11, 1998–At the Company’s annual Worldwide
Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple Computer, Inc. today outlined its
operating system software strategy. The strategy includes continuing to
enhance Apple’s popular Mac OS 8 in releases scheduled for the Fall of 1998
and 1999. In addition, Apple announced Mac OS X (ten), a new advanced
version of the Mac OS which will be available to developers in early 1999
and ship in the Fall of 1999. Mac OS X will feature preemptive
multitasking, memory protection and advanced virtual memory, and will be
fully optimized for Apple’s PowerPC G3 based computers.
“Mac developers have created over 12,000 software applications for the 25
million Macintosh customers worldwide,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s Interim
CEO. “Our software strategy builds on this incredible foundation, and adds
advanced features that will give us the foundation to continue to stay
ahead in the coming decade.”
Mac OS Software Strategy
Mac OS X will be based on a subset of the Macintosh application programming
interfaces (APIs) that developers have been using for years to create
Macintosh applications. With just a few weeks of work, developers can
“tune-up” their applications to deliver new versions using the advanced
features of Mac OS X, including protected memory, advanced virtual memory
and preemptive multitasking. Apple also expects almost all current
Macintosh applications to run unaltered on Mac OS X without a “tune-up”
(and without the advanced features), ensuring a smooth transition to the
operating system for both developers and customers.
Apple is paving the path to Mac OS X with two important operating system
software releases scheduled for 1998–Mac OS 8.5 and Rhapsody.
Mac OS 8.5–code named Allegro–advances Internet integration on the Mac
with new find and browsing capabilities and even easier Internet set up.
Mac OS 8.5 will also include new features for power users, such as fast
file transfer optimized for 100 MBps Ethernet and a full PowerPC
implementation of AppleScript. As well as enhancing existing Apple
technologies, Mac OS 8.5 introduces new services for developers that will
allow them to begin development for Mac OS X.
Later this year Apple will ship the first customer release of Rhapsody, a
new operating system that Apple is providing as a server platform for
publishing and Internet solutions. Rhapsody contains technologies key to
Mac OS X, including a microkernel-based core OS and an advanced software
development environment.
Developers already familiar with Apple’s plans are excited by an operating
system strategy that preserves their investment in Mac OS development while
delivering advanced capabilities:
“We’ve been hoping and waiting for this strategy for over three years,”
said Norm Meyrowitz, President, Macromedia Products. “This is absolutely
the right way to move Mac OS forward. It will be a pleasure to quickly move
Macromedia’s products to Mac OS X.”
“Apple has responded to customer concerns with an OS strategy that
preserves the industry’s investment in Mac OS while at the same time
providing increased stability and performance,” said Ben Waldman, general
manager of the Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft. “Microsoft is looking
forward to continued collaboration with Apple on products that meet the
needs of our mutual customers.”
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 140
countries around the world.
Press Contacts:
Staci Sheppard
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-8404
email: sheppard@apple.com
Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-6877
email: brady2@apple.com