If you develop Mac OS tools or utilities, consider the PR value of hosting a session at MacHack '97, which will be held June 26 to 28 in Dearborn, Michigan. The MacHack event staff is seeking speakers for all areas of Macintosh software development, including OPENSTEP, Java, QuickTime Media Layer, networking, game development, software design, and software entrepreneurship. Session speakers receive U.S.$ 100 off the normal U.S.$ 525 conference registration fee, plus they garner positive publicity for their companies. If you have an idea for a session that you want to present, e-mail a brief description to machack-sessions@machack.com.
If you register before May 1, you'll receive an additional U.S.$ 100 discount. More information about MacHack '97 is available at this web site:
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The Law Office Software List for the Macintosh Computer is a comprehensive web page listing more than 100 software products designed for law office use, and it is frequently noted as one of the American Bar Association's top 25 most accessed pages. This web site includes a large list of law firms that use Macintosh computers. Software developers who would like to have their product listed and included in the hard-copy version of the list should send e-mail to randy@mother.com. Apple also periodically sends this list to attorneys, bar associations, user groups, and trade show attendees. To obtain a printed version of the Apple law product guide, send e-mail to fritzo@apple.com. The Law Office Software List is posted at this site:
http://www.mother.com/~randy/index.html
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QuickTime 3.0, the latest release of Apple's industry-standard digital media software, just received Television Broadcast Magazine's "Editors Pick of Show" award for the advancement of the art and science of television broadcast at the recent National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show.
"QuickTime 3.0 solves the problems our readers are most concerned with," says Michael Silverglide, editor of Television Broadcast Magazine. "A flexible, functional, and high-quality environment is crucial to broadcast professionals working with many types of media simultaneously. QuickTime 3.0 delivers on these requirements with its multiplatform support, uncompromising interoperability, and performance. Television Broadcast Magazine applauds industry successes such as this, and this Pick of Show award from NAB recognizes Apple's efforts and innovation with QuickTime 3.0."
QuickTime 3.0 is expected to be available toward the end of the second quarter of 1997. Developers may license QuickTime 3.0 for redistribution with applications, titles, and media clip libraries that support QuickTime. For additional licensing information, contact Apple Software Licensing by phone at 512-919-2645 or by e-mail at sw. license@apple.com. For more details on this technology, see these web sites:
http://www.quicktime.apple.com
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970418.pr.rel.quicktime.html
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Less than a month after its March 24 ship date, Apple reports that the newest member of its Newton family of mobile business appliances is selling briskly at both the corporate and retail levels.
"The sales we have achieved in our first 30 days and customer response validate our claim that the MessagePad 2000 is a compelling business machine," says Sandy Bennett, vice president of the Newton Systems Group. "Our bookings rates are running five times as high as they were a year ago."
Announced last October, the MessagePad 2000 offers features that are important for mobile professionals, including e-mail, fax, and Internet access capability. Built around the 160-MHz StrongARM processor, the MessagePad 2000 performs up to ten times faster than current handheld computers in the market today and works easily to exchange data with both Windows-based and Mac OS-based computers.
"The MessagePad 2000 is a hot ticket item," says Steve Elms, president of Newton Source, a chain of specialty stores with outlets in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. "We can't keep them on our shelves." Elms estimates that 60 percent of his MessagePad 2000 customers use Microsoft Windows on their desktop computers, while the other 40 percent use Apple Macintosh computers.
To read the full MessagePad press release, see this web site:
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970418.pr.rel.msgpd.html
For an industry analyst's perspective on this product line, see the new Gartner Group report at this web site:
http://www.gartner.com/hotc/mbs0397.html
(NOTE: As of Dec. 2, 1997, the web page originally referred to is no longer available. --ADN staff)
In addition, a report from the industry-analysis Gartner Group says, "While much has been written about the future and success of the Macintosh, there remains another operating system at Apple Computer that has the potential to be a contender in the emerging battleground for information appliances. Newton OS has been around since 1993, and despite its checkered past and the limited functionality of prior releases, it has hit its stride with the current release of the MessagePad 2000, and the new StrongARM processor from Digital/ARM that powers it."
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Apple just announced two new servers--the Apple Workgroup Server 9650/233 and the Workgroup Server 7350/180. Based on the PowerPC 604e processor, both servers build on Apple's successful server line and bring new functionality to workgroups in the education, business, and publishing markets. Additionally, with each server, customers can choose from one of three software configurations to meet specific server needs, such as file and print services, Internet/intranet capabilities, and applications server capabilities.
The Workgroup Server 9650/233 is built for speed, power, and versatility, and it is ideal for workgroups that use both Mac OS and Windows. The Workgroup Server 9650/233 is also designed for customers interested in setting up an intranet that is exceptionally easy to use, support, and maintain. The product offers enhanced performance through its 233-MHz PowerPC 604e processor, located on a removable card; 512K level 2 cache; 64 MB of RAM (expandable to 768 MB); three SCSI channels, including one Ultra/Wide channel (40 MB/sec); either a single or dual 4 GB (7200 rpm) Ultra/Wide hard drive; 12x-speed CD-ROM drive; and, on some configurations, a DDS-2 digital audio tape (DAT) drive for backup.
The 9650/233 also provides powerful built-in networking capabilities, with both 10BASE-T and AAUI Ethernet connections. In addition, the Workgroup Server 9650/233 features an innovative tower design that provides easy access for adding cards and servicing. This design includes six PCI slots (four of which are open) that allow the user to add capabilities by installing a wide variety of cards, and six internal drive bays (three or four open depending on configuration) to maximize storage capacity.
Featuring a 180-MHz PowerPC 604e processor on a removable card, 256K level 2 cache, 48 MB of RAM (expandable to 512 MB), a 4 GB hard disk drive, and a 12x-speed CD-ROM drive, the Workgroup Server 7350/180 offers features and performance at an affordable price. It also offers powerful built-in networking with both 10BASE-T and AAUI Ethernet connections. The Workgroup Server 7350/180 features three PCI slots that allow users to add capabilities by installing a wide variety of cards, as well as an open expansion bay for an additional hard drive or other removable media.
For availability and U.S. pricing, see the complete press release:
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970421.pr.rel.wkgrpsvrs.html
This week Apple reduced prices to resellers on its Macintosh Performa products and PowerBook 1400 series. This aggressive move, effective April 19, 1997, cuts prices on Performa products by up to U.S.$ 200 and on the PowerBook 1400 series by up to 30 percent.
For configuration details and pricing, see the Apple press release:
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970418.pr.rel.price.html
At Seybold Expo, Apple announced pricing and availability of its next-generation server software, AppleShare IP 5.0. The software will be included in the AppleShare Server Solution, one of three software configurations included with Apple's newly announced Workgroup Servers 7350/180 and 9650/233. A shrink-wrapped version of AppleShare IP 5.0 is also scheduled for distribution in May 1997 by Claris Corporation. For configuration and pricing, see this press release:
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970421.pr.rel.appleshare.html
MacWEEK magazine just published an article on a new Dataquest report, "The Macintosh Market in 1997," which predicts that Apple and its Mac OS licensees will see big sales in the second half of 1997.
Dataquest says that the force behind this sales increase will be upgrades for existing users. According to Dataquest, Macintosh sales were solid in 1991 and 1992, and these computers are due for replacement because of the "unprecedented price/performance on the Macintosh this year."
Dataquest estimates that 2.14 million Macintosh computers will be bought in the United States during 1997. That number is slightly more than were sold last year, but less than 1995's height of 2.5 million machines. U.S. sales account for half of Apple's total units and the majority of sales by Mac OS-compatible manufacturers.
To read the MacWEEK article on this report, see this web site:
http://www.zdnet.com/macweek/mw_1116/nw_dataquest.html
The complete Dataquest report, "The Macintosh Market in 1997" by Scott Miller, is available for U.S.$ 795 through this web site:
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Dr. Joseph Webb, a graphics market researcher at TrendWatch, recently conducted a survey at the VuePoint Conference that shows that printers and graphic artists are still stalwart supporters of the Mac OS platform. In his report, he writes:
"...the [graphics and printing] industry is still intensely loyal to the Macintosh. One can ask if they are loyal or trapped, but all of our research indicates loyalty. Even when Apple was enduring bad press last year, we only saw a slight decline in the surveys TrendWatch conducted in the creative and printing communities. Those surveys show that over 40 percent of printers and 60 percent of the creative firms plan to invest in Macintosh computers."
In the report, Dr. Webb asked participants to respond to the statement "We are increasing our investment in PC Windows-based technologies and starting to abandon Macintosh systems." He received the following responses:
Strongly Agree | 2% |
Agree | 9% |
Disagree | 42% |
Strongly Disagree | 45% |
Don't Know | 1% |
Not Applicable | 1% |
If you have any questions on this VuePoint survey, contact Dr. Webb at
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Apple announced the appointment of Diego Piacentini to the post of vice president, sales and general manager of Apple Computer Europe, Middle East, and Africa. In this position, he succeeds Jan Gesmar-Larsen who is leaving Apple to pursue other opportunities. In his new role, Piacentini is now responsible for all of Apple's business operations throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He most recently reported to Gesmar-Larsen as sales director for Apple Europe. In September 1996, Piacentini was appointed managing director of Apple Computer Italy.
Apple also announced the promotion of Nigel Turner to the newly created vice president of marketing position in Apple Computer Europe. Nigel Turner will now report to Diego Piacentini. Turner was previously director of Imaging Products and Education Markets at Apple Computer Europe, and is a member of Apple's European management team. Prior to this, he was director of marketing for Apple Computer UK. He has been with Apple for more than nine years and has more than fifteen years experience in sales and marketing within the computer industry.
Additionally, Apple announced the promotion of Georges Guyon de Chemilly to vice president of finance in Apple Computer Europe. Guyon de Chemilly will report to Peter Oppenheimer, vice president of worldwide finance and sales operations at Apple Computer.
For more information on these changes, see the press release:
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970417.pr.rel.piacentini.html
With only a few days left before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference begins, we thought we'd offer developers more reasons to visit the San Jose Convention Center between May 13 and 16. Here's a sample of what attendees can look forward to:
The latest Mac OS release schedules
The Mac OS conference track will include features and timing of future Mac OS
releases, including Mac OS 8. You'll hear about core OS changes, new user
experience technologies, internationalization tools, optimization tips,
component technologies, and more.
Plenty of Java
When it comes to Java at this year's WWDC, the cup runneth over. Apple will
feature sessions on the Java Platform, Mac OS Runtime for Java, Java-based
applications for Rhapsody, and Java for C++ Programmers. One of the more
interesting sessions should be the Sun and Microsoft discussion of Foundation
Classes for Java. Hear how their Foundation Classes can help you with your Java
development.
Lights, cameras, action
At WWDC, you typically see the best collection of software demos of the year.
Look for some fantastic demos at the QuickTime 3.0, QuickTime Media Layer
(QTML) architecture, QuickTime VR, and QuickDraw 3D sessions.
A hardware road map
At WWDC, Apple will outline its plans for Apple's desktop, portable, and server
product offerings. PowerPC developments, I/O technologies, and a Common
Hardware Reference Platform update will also be covered.
Real-time business networking
Whether you're learning to juggle or vaporizing Marathon aliens, there are
plenty of opportunities at WWDC to forge some valuable Apple relationships and
share programming ideas with other developers.
A chat with Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs will host a WWDC "fireside chat" on Friday, May 16, providing
developers with a rare opportunity to speak with the founder of both Apple and
NeXT.
An overview of industry-best tools
A great way to get an overview of the industry's best development tools is to
visit the WWDC Tools Expo, which is host to more than 40 development product
vendors.
To register for the conference, visit the CGDC web site:
http://www.macscitech.org/eseam97/
This online-only conference features contributions from researchers from Purdue, NASA, Japan, Germany, and Austria. Topics range from molecular, modeling, automation and control, and data acquisition to digital holography, modeling and simulation, and polyphonic music transcription. Attendance at eSEAM 97 is free to all, requiring only registration of the participants. Space in the Vendor's Kiosk is still available (contact Shari Worthington at scitechmac@aol.com for information on prices). The Kiosk will remain online for a month after the conference ends.
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http://www.npr.org/news/national/970411.apple.html
(ADDED Nov 19, 1997: The current version of BBEdit is 4.5.1. Freeware versions of BBEdit are available at the above location.)
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If you have any suggestions or comments regarding Apple Developer News, we'd like to hear from you. You can send an e-mail to
FireWire: firewire@apple.com
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