<b>Apple's WWDC 98: Apple Announces Mac OS Software Strategy: Mac OS X

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 98 starts today. Expect important announcements about Apple's future OS strategy. Stay tuned. Or check it out yourself at the WWDC Theater.

Update: Apple Announces Mac OS Software Strategy

At the Company's annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple Computer, Inc. today outlined its operating system software strategy. The strategy includes continuing to enhance Apple's popular Mac OS 8 in releases scheduled for the Fall of 1998 and 1999.

In addition, Apple announced Mac OS X (ten), a new advanced version of the Mac OS which will be available to developers in early 1999 and ship in the Fall of 1999. Mac OS X will feature preemptive multitasking, memory protection and advanced virtual memory, and will be fully optimized for Apple's PowerPC G3 based computers. Mac OS X will be based on a subset of the Macintosh application programming interfaces (APIs) that developers have been using for years to create Macintosh applications. With just a few weeks of work, developers can "tune-up" their applications to deliver new versions using the advanced features of Mac OS X, including protected memory, advanced virtual memory and preemptive multitasking. Apple also expects almost all current Macintosh applications to run unaltered on Mac OS X without a "tune-up" (and without the advanced features), ensuring a smooth transition to the operating system for both developers and customers.

Apple is paving the path to Mac OS X with two important operating system software releases scheduled for 1998--Mac OS 8.5 and Rhapsody. [See the full press release for more details.]

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