Apple has announced the availability of the OpenDoc for Mac OS
Software Development Kit (SDK), which contains the completed
OpenDoc software as well as sample code and tools for development
of OpenDoc-based solutions. Over 300 software developers who have
been working with early versions of the SDK made commitments to deliver OpenDoc-based components to their customers in 1996.
“By shipping OpenDoc, we've taken he first big step toward the next generation of personal computer software,” said David Nagel, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide research and development.
Apple plans to deliver the OpenDoc technology to its customers as part of the Mac OS, through hardware bundling and in component-based products throughout 1996. Apple also is actively incorporating OpenDoc technology into its system software.
The OpenDoc for Mac OS SDK includes OpenDoc system software for Power Macintosh and 680x0-based systems, sample code, full documentation and a set of development tools. Apple also plans to deliver versions of OpenDoc in 16 additional languages in early 1996. Developers can download the entire SDK through the World Wide Web at
http://www.opendoc.apple.com or send email to opendoc@apple.com to receive a free developer CD by mail. Developers can also download additional development tools from Apple, Metrowerks and Symantec, including a pre-release version of Apple's OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF) for Mac OS.
The availability of the OpenDoc for Mac OS marks the first of four platform implementations planned to ship over the next year. In addition to Apple's plan to deliver OpenDoc for the Mac OS, IBM Corporation has announced plans to deliver OpenDoc for AIX, OS/2, Windows NT and Windows '95.
  
Apple has released a new version of QuickDraw 3D, the system
extension that enables your Mac to display three-dimensional
graphics. The updated version provides support for Apple's new
QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card (as reported in the November
issue of MacSense). It also provides a common cross-platform file format, called 3DMF (for ‘3D metafile’), for exchanging 3D documents and acceleration services which support plug-and-play accelerator cards. The new version is a two disk set available from Apple's forums on eWorld, CompuServe and AOL and at the Apple ftp site on the Internet: www.support.apple.com.
To make use of QuickDraw 3D you need the following:
  a PowerPC-based Macintosh or Macintosh compatible
  16MB of RAM
  System 7.1.2 or later
  A QuickDraw 3D application or viewer (such as SimpleText 1.3)
You can find out more about this exciting technology and download programs and demos from Apple's QuickDraw 3D Home Page at http://www.info.apple.com/qd3d/QD3D. HTML.
  
Apple Canada has announced the availability of two
powerful new Macintosh Performa models. The 5300CD
and 6300CD (encased in the same chassis as their pre-
decessors, the award winning all-in-one 5200CD and
the modular 6200CD) enjoy an impressive feature
set which make them Apple's most powerful home-
oriented computers to date.
Both new models are equipped with a 100MHz PowerPC 603e processor, a 256k level 2 cache, 16MB of RAM, a 1.2 GB hard drive, a quadruple speed CD-ROM drive, an internal 28.8k data/fax/voice modem, a 15” display, and the Apple TV/Video System.
The Apple TV/Video System, with its built-in cable tuner and remote control, allows owners to watch television via their Performa systems and capture video from either a television, a VCR cassette or directly from a camcorder.
The new Performa models also features built-in telephony. With Apple's new 28.8k internal data/fax/voice modem, users can set-up their Performas as an answering machine, full-duplex speaker phone and personal fax machine.
The Macintosh Performa 5300CD and 6300CD are available immediately in Canada, with an estimated street price of $4,000 Cdn. For more information, Canadian customers can contact Apple Canada at (800) 263-3394, or visit the Apple Canada web site at http://www.apple.ca.
  
Apple has announced that it will deliver three new language kits,
to be distributed by Claris Corporation, by the end of November.
The new Arabic Language Kit also supports Persian; the new
Hebrew Language Kit also supports Yiddish; and the new Cyrillic
Language Kit supports Bulgarian, Russian, and Ukrainian.
The three new language kits enable users to enter, edit and print text in the languages supported by each kit. Users can also create multilingual documents by mixing the computer's main language with one or more of those supported by the respective language kits. And, since language kits are compatible with each other, the user can install a variety of language kits on the same computer.
Each kit includes several high-quality fonts, the language software required to manage the respective languages, and a selection of keyboard layouts, including layouts based on intuitive phonetic transcriptions (for example, the Arabic letter 'Miim' can be accessed by typing the 'M' key on a standard Roman keyboard). Transparent keyboard labels have also been included, enabling users to customize their keyboard.
The Arabic and Hebrew Language Kits are based on Apple WorldScript technology (an Apple core technology built into the Mac OS) which enables base system support for complex writing systems. The language kits can be used with many Mac OS-compatible applications that support right-to-left text entry or that have been localized in the selected language. The Arabic Language Kit includes five Arabic TrueType fonts and five Persian TrueType fonts. The Hebrew Language Kit includes four Hebrew TrueType fonts, which also include additional characters to support Yiddish.
The Cyrillic Language Kit can be used with almost any Mac OS-compatible application. This product contains three Cyrillic fonts, available in both TrueType and PostScript formats, that support Bulgarian, Russian, and Ukrainian. These fonts also contain additional characters required to support other Cyrillic-based languages, including Belorussian, Macedonian and Serbian.
  
Apple has released some new Photoshop Plug-ins for its Color
Management software, ColorSync 2.0. The ColorSync 2.0 Plug-In
Modules provide an easy way for users to obtain high quality repro-
duction of color images. Three Modules (Acquire, Export, and Filter)
are available to fit into any type of work-flow, and to provide color matching capabilities to the novice color user as well as to the most demanding color user. With the Plug-Ins you will be able to:
  Accurately print the image viewed on your monitor.
  Accurately print or view the image you have scanned.
  Embed a profile in your image to be specified as the image's source.
  Make color separations for any press printing condition.
  Use your in-house device to preview what your image will look like on
the printing press.
  Execute any custom color matching needed.
The ColorSync 2.0 Plug-ins are available from Apple's online forums on Compu- Serve, AOL, and eWorld as well as its Internet ftp sites, (try http://www.support. apple.com/pub/apple_sw_updates/US/Macintosh/Utilities/ColorSync_2.0_Plug-ins.hqx).
  
Apple has released 7.5.2 Printing Update version 1.1. The software
updates fix printing problems that may occur on Power Macintosh
7200, 7500, 8500, and 9500 computers using System 7.5.2.
Without these fixes, the computer may freeze or never complete
printing, and it may be necessary to restart the computer or cancel
the printing job.
  SerialDMA. Update fixes problems while printing on serial printers and to
improve overall performance of the serial port.
  7.5.2 Printing Fix 1.1. Update fixes problems while printing on network
printers.
  LaserWriter 8.3.2. This update fixes problems that occur while printing on
network printers. All versions of the LaserWriter driver prior to LaserWriter
8.3.2 contain problems preventing PCI-based computers from printing on a busy
printer and printing large documents. All System 7.5.2 users should install the
LaserWriter 8.3.2 driver included in this folder.
The 7.5.2 Printing Update is available from Apple's online forums on CompuServe, eWorld and AOL and from their web site: http://www.support.apple.com/pub/ apple_sw_updates/US/Macintosh/. According to Apple, for the 7.5.2 Printing Fix and LaserWriter 8.3.2 to work properly, you must have Open Transport 1.0.7 or later installed on your system. (The latest version of Open Transport is 1.0.8—see our story in the AppleBits section of MacSense November 1995.)
  
Apple has released a new disk of AppleShare Workstation software.
Version 3.6.1 carries the ZM prefix, which indicates it is multi-
country usable. AppleShare provides the functionality to mount
Apple File Protocol Servers like Personal File Sharing or Apple-
Share using the Chooser. The new version improves file transfer performance when installed on systems with System 7.5.1 or later and Network Software Installer 1.5 or later. It also returns the proper error codes and now works with virtual memory.
The new AppleShare supercedes version 3.5 (which ships as part of System 7.5.1) and version 3.6 (which shipped with the AppleShare 4.1 Workgoup Server line). Look for the new software at Apple's usual electronic forums.
