From the staff of Apple Directions
[1] Mac OS 8.1 Upgrade Information
Mac OS 8.1 includes Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 as the default browser and features the new Mac OS extended file format (known as HFS+), better Java support (complying with the Java Development Kit 1.13 standard), Open Transport 1.3, and built-in DVD support. Mac OS 8.1 will be out in February as a commercial product, as the standard OS on all new Macintosh computers in mid-February, and as a *free download* to all Mac OS 8.0 customers. Mac OS 8 customers can also purchase a full-install CD of Mac OS 8.1 for US$ 19.95. Localized versions of Mac OS 8.1 are scheduled for availibility in April.
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1998/q2/980106.pr.rel.macos8.1.html
[2] Mac OS Runtime for Java 2.0 Now Available
Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ) 2.0 is now available for downloading from the Apple web site. Apple recommends that everyone install this version immediately in order to benefit from the latest Java features. MRJ 2.0 currently supports Mac OS 8.0 and Mac OS 8.1. Apple plans to add Mac OS 7.6.1 support in early 1998.
http://applejava.apple.com/text/download.html
[3] Internet Access 1.0.3 Update Available
Internet Access 1.0.3 is an update to the utility within Mac OS 8 that helps you connect to the Internet. This update adds support for Apple Remote Access (ARA) 3.0. You need to be running Mac OS 8.0 and Disk Copy version 6.1 or later to use the update.
[4] Technote 1118: Unlocking GDHandles Considered Harmful
If your product makes use of QuickDraw's GDHandle data structure, you'll want to check out this technote on unlocking GDHandles. The GDHandle problem occurs when a program inadvertently unlocks one or more QuickDraw data structures. The crash typically occurs elsewhere, when the system accesses one of these data structures under the assumption that it is locked.
http://devworld.apple.com/dev/technotes/tn/tn1118.html
[5] Technote 1119: Serial Port Advice
This technote describes a number of problems that you might encounter when dealing with serial ports under Mac OS, including the correct techniques for finding, opening, closing, and yielding serial ports under the classic serial API and the Open Transport serial API. It also looks at the behavior of the original Mac OS and Open Transport serial port arbitrators.
http://devworld.apple.com/dev/technotes/tn/tn1119.html
[6] Technote 1020 Revised: Color Cursor Quirks
If you're building an application that uses color cursors, you may encounter some quirks present in Color QuickDraw. This technote provides solutions to a few of the most common cursor problems.
http://devworld.apple.com/dev/technotes/tn/tn1020.html
[7] Technote 1102 Revised: Mac OS 8 Enhancements
This document includes minor revisions to the original Mac OS 8 technote.
http://devworld.apple.com/dev/technotes/tn/tn1102.html
[8] MACWORLD Expo Mac OS Tool News
Here is an overview of some of the interesting new Mac OS development tools that are being demonstrated at MACWORLD Expo this week:
* AppMaker CD #9 Provides Appearance Manager Support--Bowers Development's AppMaker (an interface builder and source code generator) now generates source code and resources for Apple's Appearance Manager.
http://members.aol.com/bowersdev/
* LightWorks Rendering and Utility Plug-ins for QuickDraw 3D--LightWork Design just announced a new family of rendering and utility plug-ins for QuickDraw 3D.
http://www.lightwork.com
* New Pantone Design Tool Enhances Internet Color Control--Pantone is now shipping PANTONE ColorWeb Pro, an upgrade to PANTONE ColorWeb, which provides you with an easy way to select the 216 "Internet-safe" colors for your web page designs.
http://www.jointsolutions.com/color_publishing/products/1013.html
[9] MACWORLD Expo Rhapsody Tool News
Here are a couple cool Rhapsody-compatible development tools being shown at MACWORLD Expo this week:
* MiscKit for Rhapsody Available for Free Download--Ensuing Technologies recently posted the complete MiscKit archives to its web site. MiscKit includes a framework of classes and example code for the Rhapsody operating system. Originally released in 1993 by Don Yacktman, MiscKit now includes contributions from more than a hundred Rhapsody developers.
http://www.ensuing.com/freebies/misckit/
* sLab Introduces a Rhapsody Version of dtF/SQL--sLab announced that it has finalized the acquisition of the dtF/SQL for Macintosh product from the Theta Group. dtF/SQL gives both Mac OS and Rhapsody developers a high performance relational database system for embedded and Internet applications.
http://www.slab.de
Apple has licensed Roland Corporation's Sound Canvas sound set and GS Format extensions for inclusion in QuickTime 3.0. This addition gives content publishers more creative control and improves the consumers' musical experience. The Developer Preview Release of QuickTime 3.0 and the new music instrument sound set are available for immediate download.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/preview/
[11] A Beta Version of HyperCard 2.4 is Now Available
Apple has just posted a public beta version of HyperCard 2.4, the company's premiere tool for creating custom software solutions. HyperCard 2.4 now leverages the power of QuickTime 3.0 with the ability to directly open any QuickTime-readable file or media type, including QuickTime VR, MPEG, AVI, DV, JPEG, and Wave. HyperCard 2.4 is scheduled for commercial availability in early 1998.
Apple recently improved the interface and organization of its Technical Information Library (TIL). Many Power Computing technical documents have also been incorporated into the library.
http://www.info.apple.com/til/
[13] Mac OS 8 Wins BYTE Magazine's Editors' Choice Award
BYTE Magazine just awarded Apple its 1997 Editors' Choice Award of Distinction for Mac OS 8. BYTE also honored the PowerBook 3400/240 with an Editors' Choice Award and the Apple PowerBook 2400 with an Award of Merit.
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1998/q1/971219.pr.rel.byte.html
[14] MAC OS 8 Makes CNET's "Best of 1997" Product List
CNET, a web-based news organization, recently selected Mac OS 8 one of the top ten products of 1997.
http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Special/Best97/index.html
The January event schedule for the Center for Software Development (CSD), located in San Jose, California, includes:
* January 12: Venture Capitalist Funding and Finance Seminar
* January 13: Business Planning One-on-One with Coopers & Lybrand
* January 14: Strategic Marketing Seminar
* January 15: Finding the Right Equity Partner Seminar
* January 16: Strategic Marketing One-on-One with Christine Crandell
* January 17: Formation of a Technology Business Series (1 of 4)
* January 27: Breaking into the Japanese Market Seminar
The Center for Software Development -- a nonprofit organization providing key resources for software developers -- offers self-service, multivendor test labs as well as business and technical seminars. Fees for CSD's facilities and events are waived or reduced for Mac OS developers.
[16] Free Apple Guide-to-WinHelp Translator and FAQ
StepUp Software is now selling the guideWorks Translator, a free utility that converts Apple Guide source code files to WinHelp files. Also available at the StepUp Software web site is the Apple Guide FAQ. Combined with StepUp Software's US$ 99 Guide Composer 1.2.1 (all former assets of guideWorks), this utility provides an inexpensive cross-platform active assistance solution for Mac OS software developers.
http://www.stepupsoftware.com/
The Apple Guide FAQ can be found at: http://rampages.onramp.net/~stepup/ag_faq/agfaq.html
[17] The Macintosh Online Technical Journal
The Macintosh Online Technical Journal provides you with hard facts on low end Macintosh issues, such as how LocalTalk can slow serial throughput down and SCSI limitations on older Macs. It also features an overview of the CPUs in different Macs, a look at Rhapsody's "boxes," and more.
http://www.mactimes.com/lowend/tech/
Copyright © 1997 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
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