We are forwarding this for you to see. This is not specifically an endorsement of the letter below nor of Microsoft's practices/policies -- it is for your information and for you to make up your own mind. If we are sent an equivalent letter to support Microsoft, we will distribute that as well. MacDev-1 Team ------------------- From: David Schargel, davids@aportis.com Dear friends, I am writing you this message to ask for action. A few short days ago, Microsoft released the final Win95/NT version of the Internet Explorer 4.0 web browser. This browser, as expected, does not contain an implementation of Java that is fully-compliant with the Java core platform. It may have a compatible JVM, but it does not contain the full class libraries of the JDK 1.1 implementations of Java. The omissions seem to be intentional. Let's be clear, IMHO Microsoft is deliberately trying to destroy the chance for Java to fulfill its "write once, run anywhere" promise. Java portability is the single...

From: Marin Saric (msaric@public.srce.hr) Subject: Announce: METAL v1.0B2, a BASIC metacompiler Galactic Dreams Software is annoucing a new version (v1.0B2) of its product METAL. This version is released only a week after a previous one due to high interest and a lot of positive feedback. METAL is a BASIC metacompiler for a PowerMac with features such as: - producing executables - full on-line help - a lot of examples - very big palette of fast graphic functions - sound playing (AIFF & AIFC files) - speech - file I/O The following things are new in METAL v1.0B2: Improved: - Added AppleEvent support (Drag&Drop file(s), Open, Quit, Shutdown, etc.) - Added "Get Pict Size" instruction for determining the PICT file width and height. - Added "Resize console" instruction for resizing the...

From: bill.m.catambay@lmco.com (Bill M. Catambay) Subject: [Ann] Pascal Source Code and Articles To all Macintosh Pascal programmers: The following is a summary of the current contents available at Pascal Central. For any of you who may not know about Pascal Central, Pascal Central provides the pascal community one place to obtain Pascal technical information, Pascal source code, and Pascal-related internet links. The home page is at http://www.catambay.com/pascal-central. Pascal Central is now broken up into the following sections: FEATURED ARTICLES: These are the latest articles contributed to Pascal Central. See the end of this note for a summary of these articles. FORUMS & LINKS: This pages provides information on Pascal forums (such as the MacPascal mailing list, and the Pascal newsgroups), and several links to Pascal related web sites (for PC and Mac). To join the MacPascal mailing list, go to http://www.stairways.com/mailinglists/macpascal.html. NOTHING BUT MACINTOSH SOURCE...

From: MWRon@metrowerks.com (MW Ron) Subject: [ANN] public beta of PowerPlant 1.8b1 CodeWarriors, This is a public beta of PowerPlant 1.8b1 (the archive also includes Constructor 2.4.3a1). This archive contains the new Appearance Classes which provide native support for MacOS 8's new Appearance Manager. It also contains many other changes and improvements since CW Pro 1. It is an (almost) complete PowerPlant folder. Althought this has been tested this is a public beta and all precautions normally associated with beta sofware should be noted. Furthermore, the contents of this archive (PowerPlant) is subject to change for CW Pro 2. You must have CW Pro 1 to install and use this public beta. http://www.metrowerks.com/tools/software/updates/ or ftp://ftp.metrowerks.com/pub/updates/ ftp://ftp2.metrowerks.com/pub/updates/ If you are connecting from europe, you may want to try the mirror at: (ftp://ftp.promo.de/pub/Metrowerks/mirror/updates/) PowerPlant Public Beta 1.8b1 Released on 09/30/...

Apple to Distribute Mac OS Tools to Apple Developer Program Members and Mac OS Tools Vendors Metrowerks First Vendor to License Tools; Select Tools Will Also be Made Available to Public for Free Download CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 30 -- Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) today announced it will begin distributing many of its Mac OS development tools to the members of Apple's Developer Programs worldwide in November of this year. Apple will distribute the tools on CD as an added benefit of program membership. Select tools will also be made available on the Internet for free to students, hobbyists and non-program members. By making its development tools broadly available, Apple is ensuring that developers get more of the resources they need to take full advantage of new development opportunities for the Mac OS. Some of the tools scheduled to be distributed on CD include the Macintosh Programmer's Workshop, MacApp, SourceBug, MacsBug, Power Macintosh Debugger, Virtual User an performance...

Apple Launches Brand Advertising Campaign Premiering this Sunday on Toy Story CUPERTINO, Calif.--Sept. 26, 1997--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced it is launching its new brand advertising campaign with two 60 second television commercials scheduled to air during the network premier of Pixar's academy award winning film "Toy Story" on ABC's "Wonderful World of Disney" this Sunday evening, September 28. The campaign is themed "Think Different" and is the first work by Apple and TBWA Chiat/Day in over a decade. Their previous collaboration produced many award winning ads, including the CLIO winner "1984" ad which has been voted the best ad of all time by advertising professionals. "Apple has one of the best brands in the world. This campaign celebrates the soul of our brand--which is the desire to change the world for the better," said Steve Jobs. "This ad is just the beginning of a major marketing campaign to let our customers know that Apple is coming back, and returning to those...

CDFINDER 1.5.1 RELEASED September 27, 1997, Johannesberg, Germany The new version of CDFinder is the very first application that uses the new contextual menus of MacOS 8! CDFinder is a very fast and powerful tool to create catalog files of your hard disks, floppies, ZIP's and anything else that spins. It has a great user interface and very useful search functions. CDFinder supports drag&drop and requires at least a 68020 or PowerPC CPU. While System 7 is required, CDFinder is also fully compatible to MacOS 8. A special feature is the trilingual user interface (German/French menus/English). This mix of features makes CDFinder very useful especially for developers with their usually large mount of important developer CDROM's. New features in CDFinder 1.5.1: - CDFinder now uses the Contextual Menus in MacOS 8 to add some interesting new ways to do your work! - All of the menus and some dialogs are translated into the French language, too. - Self extracting archives are now recognized...

AAA+ Software invites Developers to Explore OPENSTEP with Joy. Rapid Application Development Tools Joy Explorer and Joy Developer released for OPENSTEP/MachOS. VIENNA, Austria, September 25, 1997. AAA+ Software today announced the availability of Joy Explorer and Joy Developer for OPENSTEP/MachOS. A free, fully-enabled evaluation version of Joy Explorer is available from the AAA+ web site. For developers new to Rhapsody and OPENSTEP, Joy Explorer is the ideal tool to get familiar with the Yellow Box API. Experienced Rhapsody and OPENSTEP developers can use it to quickly try out new ideas, prototype solutions, tweak the functionality of existing Yellow Box classes, explore undocumented features, and for scripting and debugging. "Sitting and waiting for the compiler and linker to finish is a waste of time," said Werner Staringer, founder of AAA+ Software, "interactively experimenting with the API is much more efficient - and a lot more fun." The product name Joy is a logical consequence...

ANNOUNCING THE BLUENOTES ECASH TOOLKIT FOR DEVELOPERS The First Commercial Toolkit for Anonymous Ecash Transactions PALO ALTO, Calif. September 24, 1997 -- BlueMoney Software Corporation today announced BlueNotes(tm), the world's first commercial software toolkit for building financial applications with private electronic cash payments. The BlueNotes Ecash Toolkit contains an Applications Programming Interface ("API") to help software developers enable ecash payments within their software products. It is compatible with the ecash issued by Mark Twain Bancshares of St. Louis, Missouri, and other banks around the world that use ecash "mints" built by Digicash bv of Amsterdam. Previously, no commercially supported ecash API has been available to developers of web sites and software products. The BlueNotes Toolkit fulfills this demand, allowing the quick and easy integration of ecash payments into web sites, browsers, electronic wallets, cash registers, and other applications. "We are...

From: quinn@quinn.echidna.id.au (Quinn) Subject: Announce: Internet Config 1.4 The Internet Configuration System -- Making Macintosh Internet Activity Easier Internet Config is an application that allows you to set Internet preferences in one place and have them read my any other "IC aware" application. Internet Config is supported by many Mac OS Internet applications, including NewsWatcher, Anarchie, Fetch, and Internet Explorer. It is my pleasure to announce the release of Internet Config 1.4. This version has a few new features but, more importantly, it offers significant reliability improvements over previous versions. Specific enhancements include: o The IC application now supports "Get URL" AppleEvents, routing them to the appropriate helper application. o The extension now holds the default preferences, so you get default preferences regardless of which application first uses IC. o The extension now sanity checks preference files before opening them. It also keeps a copy of...

AIMED Conducts a series of polls for the Mac developer community! Los Angeles, CA -- September 23, 1997 -- AIMED, the Association of Independent Macintosh Engineers and Developers, is conducting a series of polls to collect data that it's developer membership can use to chart their Macintosh development efforts. The information the three polls gathers has been requested by AIMED members and is intended to gather information from the developer community on the following topics, State of Macintosh Development, Rhapsody, and Clone/CHRP issues. The poll pages are available on the AIMED web site and open today. Polling will continue until midnight October 5, 1997. The results of the polls will be made available to the developer community on the AIMED site, Apple Computer and various press organizations. AIMED is an independent, nonprofit organization of Macintosh developers. Founded in January 1996, it is dedicated to evangelizing third party hardware and software development for the Apple...

Groupe Mirande launches 'EuroPress', a new low-cost press service aimed at small US based hardware and software developers who want to raise the profile of their products in Europe. "Even small developers cannot afford to forget about Europe as a market...ignore it at your peril" Says Paul Lambert of Groupe Mirande. France - September 22nd 1997- Groupe Mirande, the French based company that works with US based Hardware and Software companies to develop a commercial presence for their products in Europe, today announce plans to expand its services to include 'EuroPress', a new low-cost press service for small US based IT companies who want to raise awareness of their products within the European marketplace. "'EuroPress' is a result of a number of requests from smaller clients who wanted just to use our press services to attract European customers to their web site, where they could buy the product from", says Paul Lambert, founder of Groupe Mirande. He continues "Normally we are...

Apple Computer Names Niehaus Ryan Group Public Relations Agency CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 22, 1997 Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), today named the Silicon Valley public relations firm Niehaus Ryan Group, Inc. (NRG) its public relations agency of record for corporate and product public relations beginning immediately. This announcement completes Apple's marketing communications makeover which has brought on TBWA Chiat/Day as its new advertising agency, CKS as its new creative services firm, and finally NRG as its new public relations firm. "We are very pleased to complete our new team with the addition of NRG," said Steve Jobs, Apple's interim CEO. "They are exactly the kind of strategic, entrepreneurial agency we need right now." "We believe that Apple's new direction will once again surprise the industry," said NRG president Ed Niehaus. "Apple is one of the top brands in the world, and the company is now poised to once again make its mark." About NRG Founded in 1991, Niehaus Ryan...

Scottsdale, AZ; September 19, 1997 - Symmetry Software Corporation today announced the release of version 1.5 of Version Master, the leading software version reporting and updating tool for the Macintosh. Version Master is the only major Macintosh software updating application that remains free of charge. This release brings a significant increase in performance to the downloading function and integrates the application with the Version Master website. Additionally, numerous interface enhancements have been added to make the application easier to use including support for MacOS 8. Free copies of Version Master may be downloaded from: (http://www.versionmaster.com/) New features in version 1.5 include: Downloading current version Information is 300% to 500% faster Improved version identification Internet Config is no longer required Search online database for software titles not on the user's computer Revised Scan command and new Refresh command updates...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MACWORLD Expo To Be Held At Jacob Javits Convention Center of New York New venue in new city to provide broader reach to core Mac market BOSTON, September 18, 1997 - IDG Expo Management Company today announced that the 1998 East Coast production of MACWORLD Expo will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York. The East Coast's premier showcase for software and hardware vendors supporting the Mac OS platform, MACWORLD Expo/New York will be held July 8-10. The exhibit floor and the MACWORLD Expo Conference Program take place July 8-10. In addition, the MACWORLD Expo Professional Conference Program will run from July 6-8. "We are excited about launching MACWORLD Expo/New York," said David B. Egan, president of IDG Expo Management Company. "New York is considered an international center for creative professionals, and for companies specializing in advertising, printing and publishing, the commercial arts, graphic design, video production and...

From: MWRon@metrowerks.com (MW Ron) Subject: [ANN] Java 1.1.3 Beta Update available CodeWarriors, There is a release of the Java 1.1.3 for CodeWarrior Pro Beta Update available now or soon for downloading from http://www.metrowerks.com/tools/software/updates/ or ftp://ftp.metrowerks.com/pub/updates/ ftp://ftp2.metrowerks.com/pub/updates/ If you are connecting from europe, you may want to try the mirror at: (ftp://ftp.promo.de/pub/Metrowerks/mirror/updates/) Java 1.1.3 for CodeWarrior Pro Public Beta Released on 09/16/1997 This patch adds Java 1.1.3 support to the Java tools supplied with CodeWarrior Pro 1 for Mac OS. This version is a PUBLIC BETA. Download Update (7065k)

JOINT RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Macworld and MacTech Team Up on Awards SAN FRANCISCO, CA and WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA -- SEPTEMBER 17, 1997 -- Joining together to recognize the industry's finest, Macworld Magazine and MacTech Magazine have agreed to jointly present a new set of awards for Macintosh developer tools. Macworld Magazine, which now incorporates MacUser Magazine, will also give out about 30 awards for best products in a variety of Mac product and technology categories. The event will take place at the annual Editors Choice Awards (Eddies) ceremony in January at the Macworld Expo. Macworld and MacTech will present four awards for best Macintosh development tools. Winners will be chosen by MacTech editors and contributors based upon such factors as innovation, design, versatility, contributions within the industry's current standards, and impact upon the developer community. Submissions for these awards should be sent via email with product name and description, contact...

For immediate release Stone Design Announces "Homecoming Sale" September 16, 1997 - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Stone Design announced today the "Homecoming" Sale on its suite of NEXTSTEP software, which runs on NEXTSTEP and OpenStep MACH. In response to the placement of Steve Jobs as interim CEO at Apple Computer, and the return of Stone Design to the Macintosh software community, we wished to honor the pioneers who were early adopters of this next millennial technology with some awesome prices. The StoneWare suite consists of DataPhile(TM), the multi-media, easy to use database manager, Create(TM), THE powerful graphics package, 3DReality(TM), a 3D modeler and renderer, and CheckSum(TM), a check writer and finance manager. A bundle of all of these Stone Design applications for NEXTSTEP is now available for only $199, a very special deal. These apps originally listed for $1,979. This bundle includes DataPhile 3.1, Create 3.1, 3D Reality 2.1 and CheckSum 2.0. All of the licenses will be...

Apple Names Steve Jobs Interim CEO Cupertino, Calif.--Sept. 16, 1997--At its first regularly scheduled meeting last week, Apple's new Board of Directors formalized the role of Steve Jobs by naming him interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company until a new CEO is named. At this meeting, the Board of Directors also met with its executive recruiter, John Thompson of Heidrick & Struggles, to review the status of its search for a CEO. The Board expects that a new CEO will be named before the end of the year. Jobs, Apple's co-founder and newly appointed member of the Board, has been serving as an advisor to Apple's Board and executive management team for several months. 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...

To all, Don Crabb has a well written article at: (http://www.abbottsys.com/dondirect.html) that gives a very different perspective on the licensing issue and Apple. Now that the industry knows what's going on with licensing, it's time to move forward with what plans that make sense for your own company. Check out his article -- so that you are making balanced decisions. MacDev-1 Staff

Apple's QuickTime 3.0 Receives Industry Awards Videography Magazine Recognizes Technology with Two Top Awards CUPERTINO, Calif.--Sept. 12, 1997--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced that QuickTime 3.0, the latest release of the Company's industry-standard digital media system software for Windows and Mac OS, has received several product and technology awards from computer industry press and user groups. Videography magazine recently granted QuickTime 3.0 two top honors--the first annual Open Studio Interoperability Award, presented at the SIGGRAPH tradeshow in August, and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) '97 Editors' Choice Award. According to Videography, the Open Studio Interoperability Award is given to a new product that "most significantly enhances the sharing of digital media in professional studio environments." The NAB Editors' Choice Award is for products "that deliver new capabilities, or substantially improve the state-of-the-art in an existing product...

PowerTools signs license agreement with BeOS PowerTools announced today that they have completed a license agreement with BeOS. PowerTools will be shipping all infiniti T2 and X-Factor PPC computers with BeOS starting on Sept. 22, 1997. "We elected to include the BeOS with our systems due to the recent increase in interest and requests from our valued customers." said Victor Wong, CEO, PowerTools. "With the current events that are being played out in the MacOS arena, many people feel that BeOS may be a viable solution and their OS of choice in the near future. We are not here to play side, we are here to give the people what they want." Existing owners of PowerTools computers can obtain the BeOS free of charge. There will be a $9.95 shipping and handling charge. Contact: Victor Wong CEO, PowerTools 4544 S. Lamar Blvd. Suite 101 Austin, Texas 78745 United States, Planet Earth Tel: 512-891-0646 ext. 360 Fax: 512-476-6399 url: www.pwrtools.com

MOTOROLA ANNOUNCES PLAN TO PHASE OUT ITS MAC OS-COMPATIBLE BUSINESS Response to Apple's Recent Decisions Limiting Licensing Tempe, Ariz. September 11, 1997 -- Motorola Computer Group (MCG), a unit of Motorola Inc., today announced its plan to discontinue its Mac OS-compatible system business in response to Apple's recent decisions to limit the introduction of its new technology and phase out future licensing. Under the new plan, Motorola StarMax systems will be available for sale until the end of 1997. Known worldwide for its commitment to quality and reliability, Motorola assured the Mac OS community that all warranty and support commitments will continue. To underscore its support to the Mac OS community through this transition, Motorola today also announced enhancements to its industry-leading StarMax five-year warranty. Motorola will now provide existing and new StarMax buyers with one full year of current telephone support up from 90 days. Motorola had been negotiating with Apple...

VIBE NOW AVAILABLE ON MAC OS Visix Software Extends Platform Support for Powerful Java Development Tool Reston, VA, September 8, 1997 -- Visix Software Inc., a leading provider of enterprise application development and deployment solutions, today announced the general availability of Vibe Enterprise for Windows 95, Windows NT x86, Windows NT Alpha, Solaris, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, IRIX, Macintosh and OS/2. Visix also announced the general availability of Vibe DE for Macintosh, OS/2, Windows NT Alpha, HP-UX and IRIX. Vibe DE is already available for development on Windows 95, Windows NT x86, Linux, AIX and Solaris. "Java developers are currently limited in their choice of development platforms," said Bob Flury, Visix Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services. "Visix recognizes that people who develop on Macintosh, OS/2 and UNIX need Java development solutions too. With the addition of these new platforms, we address the needs of this community that other vendors often...