Apple Introduces Mac OS 8-Most Significant Macintosh Operating System
Release Since 1984
Milestone Operating System Upgrade Features Improved User Experience,
Best-of-Class Internet Integration, Industry Leading Multimedia, and
Enhanced Performance and Stability
CUPERTINO, Calif.-July 22, 1997-Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced Mac
OS 8, the latest operating system software release for the Macintosh-and
the most significant Mac OS upgrade since 1984. Mac OS 8 also represents
the latest milestone in the Company’s dual operating system strategy which
includes the delivery of ongoing Mac OS releases and system updates, as
well as Rhapsody, the code name for Apple’s next-generation operating
system. Mac OS 8 includes a multitude of new features and technologies to
offer customers an improved user experience with increased productivity and
efficiency, greatly simplified Internet access and leading-edge tools,
state-of-the-art multimedia capabilities, and enhanced performance and
stability.
Avie Tevanian, senior vice president, Software Engineering at Apple said,
“The depth of Internet capabilities in Mac OS 8, along with a dramatically
improved user experience, a faster, multi-threaded PowerPC-native Finder,
and industry leading multimedia technologies will delight Macintosh
customers. Mac OS 8 exemplifies Apple’s continued commitment to advancing
the Mac OS and providing customers with the industry’s most compelling
technologies-all with classic Macintosh ease-of-use.”
Improved User Experience; Greater Productivity and Efficiency
Mac OS 8 delivers a more advanced user experience, empowering customers
with increased productivity and efficiency through improved system
responsiveness, access and control, as well as scalable functionality for
all user levels and a new, platinum appearance.
For optimized system responsiveness, Mac OS 8 features a multi-threaded,
PowerPC-native Finder, enabling faster operations and multi-tasking such as
copying files while simultaneously performing other operations. To give
users more direct system access and control, Mac OS 8 offers unique
spring-loaded folders which open when a file is dragged on top of them;
pop-up windows that allow folders, hard drives or network volumes to be
moved to the bottom of the screen in the form of a tab which can then be
opened with a single click; and contextual menus which give a list of
actions that apply to a selected icon, window or text when it is clicked
while holding down the control key.
To meet the needs of all users, features in Mac OS 8 are scalable. Novice
users may select the “View as Button” and/or “Short Menus” options for
simplified access to applications and their documents.
Augmenting Mac OS 8’s improved user experience is supplementary help
available from the hyper-text information source, Mac OS Info Center.
Through HTML-based content on the user’s hard drive, the Mac OS Info Center
uses the preferred browser to provide detailed information and answers to
questions such as “What’s new in Mac OS 8?” and “What can I do with this
particular feature/technology?”. The Mac OS Info Center also provides live
links to late-breaking Mac OS news and more detailed information on the web
about Apple technologies.
Harness the Power of the Internet
Mac OS 8 enables users to access the Internet more quickly and easily than
ever before and includes a rich set of browsing, communications, and
information services, as well as the ability to author and share
information over the Internet. With Mac OS 8, customers can access the
Internet via a single configuration process which covers all Internet
elements including TCP/IP, PPP, and mail and web services. An Internet Set
Up Assistant helps users configure their systems through simple questions
and answers and helps first-time Internet users to select an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) by giving them an up-to-date list of ISPs for their
area, then automatically configures their system (U.S., Canada and Japan
only) based on their selection. Single-click Internet access is provided
via web browser and e-mail desktop icons as well from all applications with
the “Connect to…” menu item.
Best Browsing and Communications Tools
Additionally, Mac OS 8 offers some of the industry’s best browsing and
communications tools, providing a full range of services for all needs.
Included with Mac OS 8 are Netscape Navigator 3.01 and Microsoft Internet
Explorer 3.01 for browsing the World Wide Web. Mac OS 8 also includes
Claris Emailer Lite for mail services, and America Online 3.0. Mac OS
Runtime for Java, integrated with Mac OS 8, enables users to run Java
cross-platform programs just like any other desktop application.
Easy Web Publishing Across Platforms
Mac OS 8 provides users with easy access to Internet authoring and sharing
of content within intranets and over the Internet via two key
features-Personal Web Sharing and Personal Net Finder. Personal Web
Sharing instantly turns any Mac OS computer into a web server by enabling
HTML and other web formatted content to be accessed by web browsers on any
platform. Personal Net Finder provides a Finder-like listing of shared
files and folders on a Mac OS computer to anyone connecting to it. This
extends the capabilities of Mac OS file sharing over Internet-standard
protocols to anyone, on any platform, with a browser.
Leading-Edge Information Services and “Push” Technologies
Complementing Mac OS 8’s outstanding Internet integration are leading-edge
information services to bring customized news, information and support to
the desktop. The latest “push” technologies are provided including The
PointCast Network and Marimba’s Castanet Tuner. The PointCast Network is
the first news and information service to broadcast up to-the-minute
content directly to a viewer’s computer screen. The PointCast Network in
Mac OS 8 will also include an Apple channel which notifies Mac users about
breaking Apple-related news stories, software updates, new product
announcements, customer support news, and other special information that
enhances their ownership experience.
Marimba’s Castanet technology automatically distributes and maintains Java
software and content within a company or across the Internet. By bundling
Castanet with Mac OS 8, customers can view any type of “channel”: internal
corporate applications, multimedia consumer channels, and more.
Collaboration with Excite for Easy Internet Navigation
As a starting point for Internet exploration, Apple has collaborated with
Excite to provide information delivery and Internet navigation services in
Mac OS 8. As part of this collaboration, Excite has created special
versions of its leading navigation services-Excite My Channel, Excite
Search, and Excite Guide-for Apple to feature as part of the dynamic home
page services in Mac OS 8. Excite My Channel (http://livepage.apple.com)
delivers timely news and information based on an individual’s personalized
interests. Excite Search (http://livepage.apple.com/search) is a
comprehensive search service that provides users with a way to locate and
sort relevant online information quickly and efficiently. Excite Guide
(http://livepage.apple.com/guide) provides reviews of leading websites by
category. These services will be easily accessible as the defaults with
the web browsers included with Mac OS 8.
Premier Cross-Platform Multimedia Authoring & Playback
Apple’s multi-platform QuickTime Media Layer (QTML) technologies are
showcased in Mac OS 8 to provide customers with premier multimedia
authoring and playback capabilities. Integrated with Mac OS 8 is QuickTime
2.5, the widely adopted software architecture used by software tools
vendors and content creators to develop and deliver synchronized graphics,
sound, video, text, and music. QuickTime in Mac OS 8 also supports MPEG
software decompression for full screen, full motion video playback without
additional hardware on PowerPC-based Mac OS computers. With QuickTime VR
2.0, Apple’s award-winning cross-platform software for creating and viewing
photo-realistic environments (panoramas) and real-world objects, virtual
reality is brought to the Mac OS 8 desktop without any additional hardware.
Also included in Mac OS 8 are QuickDraw 3D 1.5, a system software
technology and application program interface (API) which enables the
creation and rendering of real-time, workstation-class 3D graphics, and
QuickDraw GX, the industry-leading architecture for 2D graphics, animation
and type.
Enhanced Performance & Stability
Mac OS 8 brings a new level of performance and stability to the Mac OS.
With more PowerPC processor optimized components, such as the Finder,
overall system performance and stability are increased. As with Mac OS
7.6.1, Type 11 errors are greatly reduced-and most application errors do
not effect the system or other applications. To prevent problems before
they start, system diagnosis is performed during installation including
checks for disk problems and driver updating.
Pricing & Availability
Mac OS 8 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Canada beginning July
26, 1997. The estimated retail price for Mac OS 8 in the U.S. is $99 for
the CD-ROM version. Current Mac OS 7.6. or Mac OS 7.6.1 owners will be
eligible for a $30 rebate, bringing the upgrade for those customers to U.S.
$69. Customers qualify for the upgrade rebate if they purchased the retail
version of Mac OS 7.6, purchased a system that came with Mac OS 7.6 or
7.6.1, or received Mac OS 7.6 or 7.6.1 through the Mac OS Up-To-Date
Program. Customers who purchase the retail version of Mac OS 7.6 in the
U.S. between June 1 and July 31, 1997 are eligible to receive Mac OS 8 for
the shipping and handling charge of U.S. $9.95 by calling the Apple
Software Order Center at (800) 293-6617.
Mac OS 8 will be made available for purchase on CD-ROM only, however
customers may request a floppy diskette version of Mac OS 8 after
purchasing the CD-ROM version by returning the coupon included inside the
box. The floppy version is available for $25 plus $6.95 shipping and
handling and applicable sales tax.
Customers who purchase a qualifying Macintosh or Mac OS-compatible computer
on or after June 22, 1997 that does not have Mac OS 8 installed or included
can upgrade for the shipping and handling fee of U.S. $9.95 through the Mac
OS Up-To-Date Program. For more information, visit
http://www.macos.apple.com/macos/releases/fulfillment.html or call (800)
335-9258.
Localized versions of Mac OS 8 are expected to be available to customers in
many countries outside the U.S. in approximately 90 days. To ensure the
compatibility of Mac OS 8 with all Apple Language Kits, an updater is
expected to be available by July 26, 1997 on the Apple website at:
http://www.info.apple.com.
For additional information on Mac OS 8, please visit the Mac OS 8 website
at: http://www.macos.apple.com/macos8/.
System Requirements Mac OS 8 works with most existing applications,
extensions and drivers, and provides excellent backward compatibility. Mac
OS 8 supports all 68040- and PowerPC processor-based Mac OS compatible
systems. 68030-based systems, including those with PowerPC upgrade cards,
are not supported. Mac OS 8 supports Common Hardware Reference Platform
(CHRP)-based systems. At least 12 MB of physical RAM is required. With
less than 20 MB of physical RAM, virtual memory must be turned on and set
to at least 20 MB.