Apple Extends Rhapsody Developer Release with Mac OS Compatibility
Environment, Code-Named "Blue Box"
Blue Box Enhances Investments in Mac OS by Enabling Rhapsody Support for
Current Mac OS Applications
CUPERTINO, California--Nov. 19, 1997--At its European Developer Forum
(EDF), Apple Computer, Inc. today announced it is extending the
capabilities of its recently introduced Rhapsody Developer Release for
Power Macintosh by providing developers with the Mac OS compatibility
environment, code-named "Blue Box". Rhapsody is the code-name for Apple's
next-generation operating system. The Blue Box is a version of the Mac OS
running under Rhapsody in native mode, providing excellent speed and
responsiveness. The availability of the Blue Box enhances software
developer investments in the Mac OS by allowing existing Mac OS
applications to work with Rhapsody for Power Macintosh.
In October, as planned, Apple shipped the Rhapsody Developer Release for
Power Macintosh to more than 10,000 software developers worldwide. The
developer release is intended to allow software developers to begin
creating applications that will run on the new operating system. Developer
release versions of Rhapsody for PC Compatibles and the advanced
cross-platform development environment, "Yellow Box" for Windows, have also
been delivered to Apple developers.
Blue Box Provides Access to Mac OS Functionality The availability of the
Blue Box gives Rhapsody access to a wide range of Mac OS technologies,
including the ability to run most current Mac OS applications. The Blue Box
allows the Mac OS to run in full screen on Rhapsody and users can quickly
switch between the Blue Box and Yellow Box environments. The Blue Box
component will be distributed via CD-ROM to all developers that received
the original Rhapsody Developer Release seed and can be installed on the
existing Rhapsody Developer Release for Power Macintosh.
"Since the introduction of the Rhapsody Developer Release just last month,
Apple has made great progress with the Blue Box and we wanted to make it
immediately available to developers," said Avie Tevanian, Apple's senior
vice president of Software Engineering. "The Blue Box leverages current
investments in the Mac OS by allowing existing applications to run on
Rhapsody without modification. Developers who tested current Mac OS
applications on an early version of Blue Box at Apple's World Wide
Developers Conference (WWDC) this year responded positively to both its
compatibility and performance. We think the added functionality of the Blue
Box will impress them even more."
Rhapsody Strategy
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.
The developer version of Rhapsody for Power Macintosh currently runs on
select Power Macintosh models including 8500, 8600, 9500 and 9600 systems.
As Rhapsody matures, Apple expects Macintosh systems shipped from early
1997 to be able to run the new operating system. The early release of
Rhapsody for PC Compatibles is now supported by a variety of Pentium-class
configurations. The Developer Release of Yellow Box for Windows allows
developers to create applications for the Windows 95 and Windows NT
operating systems with the Microsoft Windows interface.
For full details on Apple's operating system strategy, visit Apple's
operating system website at: http://www.macos.apple.com/.
Developer Releases Seeded Worldwide to Developers The Developer Releases of
Rhapsody are available worldwide to enrolled members of Apple's Developer
Program. Details on enrollment can be found on the Apple Developer
Relations website at http://www.devworld.apple.com/. Developer releases
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.
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
