Harmony is the next reference release of the Mac OS, slated for release in January 1997. It will support all Mac OS computers which are 32-bit clean and have a 68030 processor or better — as originally shipped. Harmony does not support machines which meet these criteria as a result of hardware or software upgrades. (Harmony will also not install over System 6.) Harmony will eventually become known as System 7.6.
Since this is a seed of an early build of Harmony, significant functionality is not present or will not function correctly. IMPORTANT: It is likely there are significant bugs in this build of Harmony. DO NOT risk critical data by exposing it to this build of Harmony. DO NOT install this build of Harmony on a machine which is critical to your business. ***Make sure you do a clean install. "Dirty" installs will render your machine unbootable.***
Harmony is part of Apple's new system software strategy of bi-annual reference releases. Harmony is the first of these releases; Tempo, scheduled for June release, is the second. Since it is not possible to produce a system software reference release in six months, we will be developing subsequent releases in parallel, and you will eventually receive seeds of Harmony and Tempo in alternating weeks. This will be the normal procedure in the future, though obviously the January 1998 release will have a different code name, etc.
Missing Components
We plan to include such things as previously released versions of QuickDraw GX, QuickDraw 3D, Apple Remote Access Client, Apple Telecom, and other major technologies in the next build of Harmony. However, the installer for these components was not ready in time for this seed, and we chose to make the seed available now rather than delay it to revise the installer.
Also: the installer appears to want to install the Apple Internet Connection Kit. This component is being re-evaluated for inclusion with Harmony and has not been included in this seed.
Version Numbers
In addition, many component version numbers are incorrect, and some components are confused about version number terminology. Extensions Manager, for example, has a popup menu item "System 7.5.5", whereas other components believe they are a part of System 7.6. Please ignore these kinds of discrepancies.
Bonjour
Bonjour is the code-name for a new installer technology which we plan to evolve over the next year or so into a safer, saner, "one button" system software installation engine. We would like you to use Bonjour and provide us with feedback on it. Bonjour is still in a relatively early stage of development and we value your input on it. Please do not bypass Bonjour without having tried it.
There are a couple of known issues with Bonjour. The Apple Internet Connection Kit and Apple Remote Access Client appear in Bonjour's list of potential components to install. However, if you check the items for these boxes, Bonjour will simply issue an error message when it tries to install them. This is a known problem and will be corrected in the next release of Harmony.
Distribution
Harmony is being seeded in roughly megabyte-sized segments via two new dedicated FTP servers in Cupertino, CA, USA. These servers will be used to seed core system software releases only. Connectivity is now provided by Apple's primary corporate internet feed. We plan to make mirrors of these servers available in Europe and Asia in the not-too-distant future.
We hope the steps we have taken will improve your ability to obtain these system software seeds in a timely fashion, but we still value your input on how to improve our delivery mechanisms.
Contact Information
Bug reports and technical questions should be sent to <devsupport@apple.com>.
Improvements
— universal System file for both 68K and PPC Macs (no enabler)
— CFM 68K functionality built into the System file
— file mapping for CFM-68K code fragments
— PPP for Open Transport
— CatSearch is up to roughly 4 times faster "in the lab"
— volume mounting is faster on Power Macs and 660/840av
— a "fat" version of PrintingLib
— totally new Extensions Manager (4.0)
— Memory control panel has smarter algorithm to size disk/cache/VM
— new versions of OpenDoc, CyberDog, Map, AppleScript, ColorSync, PC Setup, PC Exchange, QuickTime, Control Strip, Open Transport, Installer, Apple CD, Desktop Patterns, Monitors & Sound, AppleGuide, AppleShare, LaserWriter 8, Serial (Built-in), WorldScript I & II
— new versions of SystemAV, Desktop PrintMonitor, Desktop Printer Spooler, Desktop Printer Extension, Caps Lock, PowerBook Setup, Password Security, Date & Time, PowerBook, Trackpad, AutoRemounter, and IRTalk (to support unreleased PowerBook models)
— new versions of Control Strip modules Monitor BitDepth, Monitor Resolution, Printer Selector
— new version of Macintosh Guide, AV Monitors Guide, Monitor & Sound Guide
— new Control Strip module CD Strip (to support unreleased PowerBook models)
— new version of Startup Disk (for 660/840av)
— classic networking no longer supported (OT only)
— does not allow machines to boot in 24 bit mode. (If a machine was set to 24 bit mode (either before Harmony was installed or by zapping PRAM on older models) then the machine will switch to 32 bit mode and perform a warm restart.
— "Welcome to Macintosh" screen has been replaced by the Mac OS screen.
— Apple System Profiler 1.1 is now part of the base install.
— name of "Macintosh Easy Open" changed to "Mac OS Easy Open"
— Memory control panel has no option for 24-bit addressing
— various bug fixes to be detailed in an upcoming Technote
Known Problems
— only a 68K version of Cyberdog
— The Bonjour version of the ARA Client does not work. To install ARA, run the Installer from the ARA folder.
— Bonjour allows each component to perform a clean install. Please DO NOT do this, you will no longer have a system, and your machine will no longer work.
— When installing several items and one installation fails, Bonjour doesn’t progress to the next install gracefully.
— There is no floppy-based installation.
— Doing a Net-Install over a 6100/60av to update a running 7.5.3, installation is cancelled due to errors “deleting old files”. The disk is untouched and boots fine upon restart.
— Networking is disabled on 5200 and 6200 desktop Macs. This has been fixed for the next build.
— The Network Software Selector still "works" and classic networking can be selected, leaving network services in an undefined state. This has been fixed for the next build. Please don’t use NSS on this build.
— PowerTalk still loads
— System File vers 2 resource is System Software 7.5
— other vers 2 resources say Harmony 7.6d5c1 (instead of c2 - we chose to not rebuild the entire disk set to fix a problem in c1)
— Monitors & Sound 1.2 snuck into the build. It should be 1.1.2 or some such.
— Control Strip 1.4d2 snuck in, it will be reverted to 1.3.1 in the next build.
— Custom Install quasi-reliable
— StdCLib 3.4.3 (needed one change in order to roll into the System file).
