Apple Previews Mac OS X Snow Leopard to Developers
SAN FRANCISCO–June 9, 2008–Apple today previewed Mac OS X Snow Leopard,
which builds on the incredible success of OS X Leopard and is the next
major version of the world’s most advanced operating system. Rather than
focusing primarily on new features, Snow Leopard will enhance the
performance of OS X, set a new standard for quality and lay the foundation
for future OS X innovation. Snow Leopard is optimized for multi-core
processors, taps into the vast computing power of graphic processing units
(GPUs), enables breakthrough amounts of RAM and features a new, modern
media platform with QuickTime X. Snow Leopard includes out-of-the-box
support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 and is scheduled to ship in about a
year.
“We have delivered more than a thousand new features to OS X in just seven
years and Snow Leopard lays the foundation for thousands more,” said
Bertrand Serlet, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “In
our continued effort to deliver the best user experience, we hit the pause
button on new features to focus on perfecting the world’s most advanced
operating system.”
Snow Leopard delivers unrivaled support for multi-core processors with a
new technology code-named “Grand Central,” making it easy for developers to
create programs that take full advantage of the power of multi-core Macs.
Snow Leopard further extends support for modern hardware with Open
Computing Language (OpenCL), which lets any application tap into the vast
gigaflops of GPU computing power previously available only to graphics
applications. OpenCL is based on the C programming language and has been
proposed as an open standard. Furthering OS X’s lead in 64-bit technology,
Snow Leopard raises the software limit on system memory up to a theoretical
16TB of RAM.
Using media technology pioneered in OS X iPhone, Snow Leopard introduces
QuickTime X, which optimizes support for modern audio and video formats
resulting in extremely efficient media playback. Snow Leopard also includes
Safari with the fastest implementation of JavaScript ever, increasing
performance by 53 percent, making Web 2.0 applications feel more
responsive.*
For the first time, OS X includes native support for Microsoft Exchange
2007 in OS X applications Mail, iCal and Address Book, making it even
easier to integrate Macs into organizations of any size.
*Performance will vary based on system configuration, network connection
and other factors. Benchmark based on the SunSpider JavaScript Performance
test on an iMac 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system running Mac OS X Snow
Leopard, with 2GB of RAM.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple
II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its
award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional
applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with
its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has
entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.