---------------------------------------------------- --- --- --- A P P L E D E V E L O P E R N E W S --- --- From the staff of Apple Directions --- --- --- --- #38 Supplement 3 January 7, 1997 --- ----------------------------------------------------
Apple Announces Future Macintosh Operating System (OS) Strategy and Roadmap
Strategy Delivers Compatibility with Currently Shipping Mac Systems and Applications, Accelerates Delivery of Next-Generation Software, and Provides Smooth Migration to Next-Generation OS
Mac OS Upgrades to Continue; First 'Rhapsody' Release Scheduled to Ship Within 12 Months
MACWORLD/EXPO, SAN FRANCISCO--Jan. 7, 1997--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced its strategy for the future evolution of the Macintosh operating system software, for Macintosh and Mac OS compatible personal computers. Apple plans to implement a strategy in which the Company will continue to deliver significant and regularly scheduled upgrades to the current Mac OS while accelerating development of a new and advanced operating system. The new operating system is code-named 'Rhapsody' and will be based on the merging of technologies from Apple and NeXT Software, Inc. (Apple announced its intent to acquire NeXT Software on Dec. 20, 1996.) As well as providing pioneering next generation technology, Rhapsody aims to provide strong backward compatibility for Mac OS software offering current customers a smooth migration path to the new OS.
Through this approach, the Company expects to provide customers and developers with a platform for exceptional and cutting-edge applications, while enhancing their current investment in the Mac OS. Apple also believes that the advanced technical underpinnings and rapid development environment of Rhapsody will allow developers to create new applications that leapfrog those of other 'modern' operating systems, such as Windows NT. Additionally, the Company anticipates that the scheduled enhancements to the Mac OS will retain its industry leadership in ease of use and multimedia, while greatly strengthening the software's Internet capabilities.
The first release of Rhapsody is expected to be launched to developers in mid to late 1997 and to customers within 12 months. Rhapsody is planned to incorporate features such as preemptive multitasking and protected memory, as well as a modern kernel. It is expected to also include a new Application Programming Interface (API) based on NeXT Software's OPENSTEP environment. In parallel Mac OS continues to evolve- -with a significant upgrade, Mac OS 7.6, announced today.
"Apple has laid out an OS strategy that provides customers and software developers with a safe, clear upgrade path to breakthrough next generation computing. With this approach customers can migrate at their own speed to 21st century computing" said Dr. Gilbert F. Amelio, Chairman and CEO, Apple Computer Inc. "Today we also deliver on a commitment made at Macworld Boston in August, by announcing Mac OS 7.6, a robust and valuable update to our current operating system. Together, Mac OS and our next generation OS, Rhapsody, will allow customers and software developers to leverage existing Macintosh applications and provide a platform for a new era of software innovation from Apple and its industry allies".
OS Strategy Provides Clear Advantages For Customers and Developers
Apple believes that its OS Strategy provides clear differentiation from its system software competitors in four areas.
Smooth Transition Firstly, Apple's OS strategy allows both Mac OS and Rhapsody to share a similar look and feel and provide compatibility with existing Mac OS applications and hardware--giving customers and software developers a smooth upgrade path to next generation technology. Existing Mac OS software is expected to work within Rhapsody at PowerPC speeds. Additionally it is planned that Rhapsody will support today's currently shipping Mac OS personal computers, as well as future Mac OS hardware.
Advanced Operating System Secondly, Rhapsody is expected to provide customers and software developers with a robust, easy to use OS that delivers features such as preemptive multitasking, symmetric multiprocessing, and protected memory, based on a modern kernel. The integration of NeXT Software's OPENSTEP development environment in Rhapsody will provide software developers, in-house development teams, and new media specialists with a market-leading component software environment. This will allow new classes of software to be developed quickly and easily.
Multimedia Leadership Thirdly, Apple's OS Strategy will allow the Company to continue to lead the market in multimedia innovation. Apple intends to optimize its QuickTime Media Layer (QTML) for both Mac OS and Rhapsody moving forward, providing all Apple customers with multimedia leadership through the millennium. Apple also intends to further develop its value added hardware to improve the multimedia capabilities of Macintosh systems, with high performance PowerPC microprocessors and new classes of hardware acceleration technology.
Superior Internet Integration Apple plans to carry forward key technologies such as OpenDoc, Meta Content Format (MCF), and easy to use TCP/IP connectivity to maintain the Macintosh as a leading system for Internet access and the delivery of Internet content. The integration of Java--Sun Microsystems' platform-independent application environment for the Internet and corporate networks--will allow the company to provide market leading Internet capabilities in both Mac OS and Rhapsody. As an integral part of its OS strategy, Apple aims to incorporate Java in both Mac OS and Rhapsody, and today announced Mac OS Run Time for Java. (See separate release). Apple is committed to make both Mac OS and Rhapsody preeminent development and deployment platforms for Java technology. In addition, Apple expects that technology such as NeXT Software's Web Objects will further reinforce the Mac platform's Internet capabilities.
Roadmap Shows Complementary Approach
Apple's OS strategy offers two complementary product lines moving forward--Mac OS and Rhapsody. Customers in each of Apple's markets can migrate to Apple's next generation OS, Rhapsody, at their own speed. Apple also believes that Apple's new OS strategy will reinvigorate the Company's presence in key market segments, particularly the enterprise market. Apple anticipates many customers will remain on Mac OS for a number of years and intends to continue to upgrade this track of the OS in regular semiannual upgrades.
Mac OS Roadmap
Mac OS 7.6, announced today, is the first step in a strategy designed to deliver state-of-the-art operating system functionality on a regular, semiannual basis for both 68k and PowerPC customers. This release integrates a host of new Apple technologies to offer customers best-of- class Internet access, state-of-the-art multimedia, built-in OpenDoc support, enhanced compatibility with DOS and Windows files, and improved productivity and reliability. (See separate release).
Three future releases of Mac OS are already slated--code named Tempo, Allegro, and Sonata.
Tempo, targeted for mid 1997, will continue to improve the overall ease of use of the Mac and offer leading Internet integration. Tempo is planned to include a new PowerPC-native multi-threaded Finder. This will allow customers to execute multiple tasks, such as launching applications and copying files, at the same time. Tempo includes a new 3D appearance and other user interface enhancements. In the Internet area, Tempo integrates Cyberdog 2.0, Mac OS Runtime for Java, and personal web sharing, permitting every Mac or Mac compatible to be an Internet web server.
Apple will provide details on its Allegro and Sonata releases at a later date.
Rhapsody Roadmap
The roadmap for Apple's next generation OS, Rhapsody, is as follows:
Developer Release Apple plans a developer release of Rhapsody in mid to late 1997 to provide software developers with a robust platform for the creation of next generation applications, incorporating NeXT Software's market- leading OPENSTEP development environment. This release is expected to include key next generation operating system technologies such as preemptive multitasking, protected memory and a modern kernel. The integration of NeXT Software's object-oriented OPENSTEP API and industry-leading component software development tools, will allow software developers to quickly and easily create applications for Rhapsody's first customer release.
Premier Release The first customer release is planned for delivery within 12 months. The premier release is intended for early adopters of new technology in multiple market segments. Plans include an evolution of the Mac OS appearance, combining the best of Apple and NeXT technology to provide an industry-leading user experience that will be familiar to today's Macintosh customers and exciting to new users. This release is intended to enable new software applications to run in a fully preemptive and protected environment and will have limited compatibility with Mac OS applications.
Unified Release Intended as a general software release for Apple's customer base, this release of Rhapsody is expected to offer next generation capabilities introduced in the developer and premier releases, as well as compatibility with existing and future Mac OS applications. Rhapsody is expected to support today's software through a Mac OS compatibility environment which will be a complete native implementation of the Mac OS. This is not a software "emulation" layer; instead, Mac OS will be ported to the advanced Rhapsody base. The unified release of Rhapsody is scheduled for shipment in mid 1998.
PowerPC and Mac OS
Both Mac OS and Rhapsody will be optimized for PowerPC hardware. Rhapsody is expected to support all currently shipping PowerPC based systems sold by Apple and Apple licensees today. Rhapsody is also expected to support all upcoming products including the PowerPC Platform (also known as CHRP). Apple also intends to continue to develop, sell and support NeXT software products for other platforms such as Pentium, Sparc, and Windows NT.
Statements in this press release regarding future versions of the Mac OS and regarding Rhapsody are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including successful and timely development of future versions of the Mac OS and of Rhapsody. The success of new products is dependent on a number of factors, including technological feasibility, the ability of the company to develop and make the product at an acceptable cost, market acceptance, and the company's ability to manage the risks associated with product transitions. More information on potential factors that could affect the success of the products described in this press release and the Company's financial results are included in the respective SEC filings of Apple, including Apple's Form 10-K for the 1996 fiscal year, and in Apple's Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter, to be filed with the SEC.
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