9-May-89 15:25:56-GMT,18703;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from apple.com by sumex-aim.stanford.edu (4.0/inc-1.0) id AA27869; Tue, 9 May 89 08:25:56 PDT Received: by apple.com (5.59/25-eef) id AA23034; Tue, 9 May 89 08:24:34 PDT for info-mac@sumex-aim.stanford.edu Date: Tue, 9 May 89 08:24:34 PDT From: Mark B. Johnson Message-Id: <8905091524.AA23034@apple.com> To: info-mac@sumex-aim.stanford.edu, macworkers@rascal.ics.utexas.edu Subject: System 7.0 disclosure System Software Directions Overview On May 9, 1989, Apple will disclose future system software plans to third-party developers attending the annual World-Wide Developer's Conference. The disclosures will cover the core technologies under development for inclusion in the next major Macintosh System Software release, System 7.0. The purpose of the disclosure is to ensure that developers have the time and information necessary to capitalize on the new features and functionality of System 7.0. By doing this, we believe that many new, more powerful applications will be available at the time System 7.0 is introduced. We will also take this opportunity to hold an informal press seminar to begin educating the media on Macintosh System Software. Below is an overview of the core feature set planned for System 7.0. While it's still too early in the development cycle to announce a customer availability plan or introduction date, we will begin seeding developers with code in the fall. As we make further progress on System 7.0, we will provide additional details. System Software Release Strategy In early 1989, Apple announced a new system software release strategy to accommodate the varying needs of current users, new customers and Macintosh developers. We now break our system software into two release categories: Product Support Releases and Feature Releases. Product Support Releases are developed to support a new CPU, peripheral or networking product. Generally, these releases are for buyers of newly introduced products and should not concern current owners. Feature releases are major enhancements to the system software foundation that we encourage all users to adopt. They significantly enhance the capabilities of the Macintosh and add substantial value to the installed base. System 7.0 will be a Feature release. System 7.0 Goals The primary goal of System 7.0 is to extend the user's reach. System 7.0 demonstrates Apple's commitment to add value to the installed base and to create new reasons to buy Macintosh. The new System 7.0 features will extend the capabilities of the Macintosh using the consistent and intuitive techniques with which users are already familiar. System 7.0 Core Technologies: Virtual Memory and 32-Bit Addressing Virtual Memory extends the user's available memory by transparently treating the hard disk as additional RAM. This allows users to run more and larger applications with less RAM. Because Virtual Memory requires a memory management unit, it will only benefit 68030 Macintosh systems (SE/30, IIcx, IIx), and 68020 systems with a PMMU (Macintosh II systems with optional 68851 PMMU). 32 Bit addressing will allow Macintosh computers to access 4 gigabytes of memory. Combined with Virtual Memory, 32 Bit Addressing will enable customers to take full advantage of more sophisticated, memory intensive applications. InterApplication Communication Architecture (IAC) The IAC architecture is an integrated application-to-application communications framework that will allow applications to exchange data and instructions on a single Macintosh or over a network. Outline Fonts Outline Fonts will provide users with sharp text at any size on any Macintosh display, printer, fax modem or other graphics peripherals. Further, leading type manufacturers have already announced that they will support Apple's technology; this means that users will be able to select from thousands of new typefaces in the future. Layout Manager The Layout Manager will provide typographic quality text layout for all applications. The layout manager will allow any application to offer advanced text positioning features including kerning, ligatures and contextual forms. New Print Architecture The New Print Architecture will result in a wider variety of high- quality printing devices for the Macintosh. In addition, the New Print Architecture will provide background printing for all types of printers, improved color and halftone printing, and better user control over printing. Database Access Database Access will provide Macintosh applications with access to remote databases so that users can integrate host data into their documents. New Finder A new version of the Finder that will make system operation easier, more intuitive and more powerful. Runs on all Macintosh Computers! System 7.0 will run on all Macintosh systems from the Plus to the IIx. It will however, require a minimum of 2 megabytes of RAM. Because System 7.0 will significantly increase the functionality and usability of all Macintosh computers, we will strongly encourage all customers to upgrade. Apple will move the entire product line to System 7.0. During the transition, Apple will continue to ship one megabyte configurations with System 6.0. Apple expects to continue to offer an attractive low-end product with System 7.0. Apple will provide technical support for both System 6.0 and System 7.0. Applications Compatibility System 7.0 is an upward compatible extension to Macintosh system software. Applications that follow Apple's Inside Macintosh guidelines will continue to run under System 7.0. By providing developers with early details concerning System 7.0, Apple expects a smooth transition to the new software. What Should Users Do Now Nothing! System 7.0 will run on any Macintosh Plus, SE, SE/30, or Macintosh II family member. In fact, because System 7.0 will offer substantially improved functionality, it will add significant value to the entire installed base.System 7.0 will be instrumental in extending the capabilities of the Macintoshand the reach of the user. Summary Concerning this announcement, the key messages are: * Apple is disclosing information about the core technologies under development for inclusion in the next major Macintosh System Software release, System 7.0. Apple is doing this to enable developers to take advantage of the System 7.0 functionality as soon as System 7.0 is released. * Later this year Apple will announce the complete System 7.0 feature set and customer availability plans. Developers will begin receiving seed software in the fall. * System 7.0 demonstrates Apple's commitment to add value to the installed base and to create new reasons to buy Macintosh. The new System 7.0 features will extend the capabilities of the Macintosh using the consistent and intuitive techniques with which users are already familiar. Part II - Feature Notes Outlined below are the core features under development for inclusion in System 7.0. The Core System 7.0 features are those which we have committed to including when System 7.0 is shipped. In addition to the Core features, there are several other technologies under development. Apple will announce the complete System 7.0 feature set later this year. Core System 7.0 Features Virtual Memory Virtual Memory allows users to extend available memory by treating their hard disk as a "virtual" extension to RAM. This will allow users to run more and larger applications under MultiFinder with less RAM than would otherwise be required. For example, running a word processor, presentation package, spreadsheet, drawing program and HyperCard might ordinarily require four megabytes, but this same set of applications could be run in two megabytes on a Macintosh with virtual memory. To take advantage of Virtual Memory, customers must have a Macintosh computer with a memory management unit. Currently, this includes the Macintosh SE/30, IIcx, IIx (the 68030 CPU has a built in memory management unit), and Macintosh II when equipped with the 68851 PMMU (currently available). 32-Bit Addressing 32-Bit Addressing allows Macintosh computers to extend their memory capacities beyond 8 megabytes to 128 MB of physical RAM and up to 4 Gigabytes of virtual address space. This will be particularly important to users of advanced graphics applications that use large color images, advanced sound applications, artificial intelligence programs and other software that is memory intensive. The combination of Virtual Memory, 32-Bit Addressing, and MultiFinder will enable Macintosh computers to support the memory necessary for users to run more applications and larger applications. InterApplication Communications Architecture (IAC) IAC Architecture will support four types of application-to- application communication: 1) program-to-program communication - a low level tool used to send data between applications, 2) Live Copy/Paste - a mechanism which supports the dynamic linking of documents, 3) AppleEvents(TM) - a standard set of messages that applications can use to request actions of one another (e.g., "open document"), and 4) Clipboard Copy/Paste - supports the copy/cut/paste tools that are currently available. Here are some examples of how these will benefit users: * A user could "live paste" a chart into a word processing document and have changes in the chart automatically passed on to the word processing document. This powerful feature allows the system to manage tedious updates for the user automatically. * Groups of users sharing an AppleShare file server could cooperatively develop a presentation. Each user would "live paste" his individual work into the master document so that the master always represents the current collaborative work. * A telecommunications program multitasking in the background could, using AppleEvents(TM), send data from a remote host computer to a foreground database program or charting program. This cooperation among applications allows users to get more out of the combination of applications than they could from the individual components. * A user programming tool could allow users to create custom application command scripts that would automatically control other applications using AppleEvents(TM) as the communications vehicle. Outline Fonts Outline fonts are mathematical descriptions of text that can be scaled to any point size or resolution. This will provide sharp type on all Macintosh displays, printers, fax modems, etc without having to install specific size bitmaps into the system. This means that Macintosh applications will be able to use any type size that the user wants (not just the few found in typical Font menus). In addition, Apple's outline fonts will be supported by all the major type manufacturers which means there will be thousands of type styles to choose from in the future. Outline fonts will provide better WYSIWYG and will dramatically improve the quality and flexibility of non-PostScript printers like the LaserWriter IISC, ImageWriter and ImageWriter LQ. Outline fonts will also make applications more flexible. For example, a typical drawing program allows users to arbitrarily scale the size of a drawing. Frequently though, imbedded type does not scale properly. With outline fonts, users will be able to scale text as easily as the graphics which will allow users to create better documents. Outline fonts will also allow applications to present more legible "print previews" and zoom-in or zoom-out functions. Layout Manager The Layout Manager will provide typographic quality text layout for all applications. The layout manager will allow any application to offer advanced text positioning features including kerning, ligatures and contextual forms. New Print Architecture The new print architecture is designed to make it much easier to support output devices like printers, fax modems, film recorders, or plotters on the Macintosh. The result will be higher quality output and a wider range of output device choices. In addition, the new print software will provide background printing for all types of printers, improved color and halftone printing, and will allow applications software to control printers in more sophisticated ways. The new software will provide applications with more flexibility such as the capability to print documents that include both landscape and portrait oriented pages. The new print architecture will require that users have new print drivers, but will allow users with System 6.0 and 7.0 to transparently share LaserWriter printers. When System 7.0 ships, Apple will provide new print drivers for all Apple printers. In addition, Apple will be working closely with third-parties to ensure that a full complement of drivers are available immediately. Database Access With the new Database Access capabilities, users will be able to integrate data from remote host computer databases into their Macintosh applications. Apple's standard interface will allow applications developers to provide access to many different types of databases from many different vendors that may be running on many different types of computers. This will give users maximum flexibility to access the data that they need. The design of the database access facility will allow users to integrate host data using the "live" copy/paste capabilities also to be available with System 7.0. Once the appropriate links are created by the database administrator, users with no knowledge of how to access the remote database will be able to use its data using the most familiar of Macintosh techniques. With Database Access, users will not be limited to stand-alone or local area network databases as found in other systems. Instead, Macintoshes will have standard access to local area and enterprise-wide databases that are central in larger computing environments. New Finder The Finder is the most visible piece of Macintosh System Software. All Macintosh users interact with the Finder to copy files, launch applications and to manage system resources. The new Finder will provide users with more intuitive system management capabilities as well as additional power. The new Finder will also be extensible so that functions like electronic mail and disk backup can be integrated into the intuitive desktop metaphor. Highlights of the New Finder * Integrated System Utilities like Font/DA Mover - Allows users to install fonts and desk accessories by dragging into the system folder. * Help on any desktop icon or menu item. * Integrated Find - Locates and retrieves any file from any folder and brings that file to the front-most window. * Aliases- Allows the creation of multiple icons for a single file. This would allow documents to be filed in different folders. For example, a budget spreadsheet for project ABC might be simultaneously filed in a "budget" folder and a project ABC folder. * Stationery - Provides for the creation of custom document templates, such as a memo template or a newsletter layout template. * Custom Views - Allows users to configure desktop windows to show standard or custom file displays. * Configurable Apple Menu - Allows users to install any application, document or desk accessory into the Apple menu. This allows users to get at documents and applications as easily as they can access desk accessories with today's Finder. * Extensible - New capabilities can be added in the future such as mail and backup. Additional Software Under Development File System Enhancements System 7.0 will provide several new file system enhancements including a feature called the File System manager which developers will use to give users desktop access to alternative file systems like MS-DOS, OS/2, Unix, ProDos, etc. By integrating these files into the desktop metaphor, users will be able to manipulate non-Macintosh files with the same intuitive techniques that they use on Macintosh files. Other file system enhancements will allow applications to find and manage files faster and more flexibly. New Sound Capabilities System 7.0 will also provide capabilities that will make it easier for developers to use sound features. These new capabilities include a standard MIDI manager to provide a standard means to communicate with electronic musical instruments. In addition a new sound compression utility will reduce the amount of disk space for sound files. A sound sequence manager will help multimedia applications to synchronize sounds with other activities like animation. Communications Toolbox (Available Q3 1989 for System 6.0.3) The Communications toolbox raises the standard capability for applications to communicate with other computers by modem, local or wide area networks. The toolbox provides a standard way for developers to support communications hardware as well as file transfer and terminal emulation capabilities. 32-Bit QuickDraw (Ships separately in Q2, 1989 for use with System 6.0.3) The new extended capabilities of QuickDraw will vastly enhance the color capabilities of the Macintosh. With 32-Bit color, users will no longer be limited to 16 or 256 colors, but with new high- performance graphics interface cards, users can see up to 16 million colors simultaneously. This capability, previously seen on only higher-end computers will provide users with photo-real image quality on their displays, color slide makers and projection devices. International Utilities At Apple, we believe that is important to have internationalized systems that can be customized to different languages and character sets. Already, the Macintosh is the most international of personal computers. The new utilities will make it easier for Macintosh to support other languages as well as it does English. One-Button Installer The One-Button Installer will make it easier for users to install new Macintosh System Software on their machines. The new installer will provide for a one-button automatic installation for most users and a custom installation facility for more advanced users. System 7.0 will provide a broad range of new capabilities. These capabilities will make users more productive and will enable the development of many new and innovative applications.