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.

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Staci Sheppard
Apple Computer, Inc.
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email: sheppard@apple.com

Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
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email: brady2@apple.com

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