No, we didn't forget to put "System Software" in our title. And, yes, you're right. July is usually the month we deliver the combined System Software and Software Development Kit (SDK) editions of the Developer CD Series. But we had so much worldwide system software to get out last month, we shipped a special System Software Edition in the June Developer Mailing. So, without further to-do, here are this month's new and revised packages.
Apple Guide 2.1.1
Apple Guide is a revolutionary new help system that makes it easier for you to perform new or complex tasks. It goes far beyond what traditional help systems are able to accomplish. Apple Guide interactively walks you through accomplishing a task step-by-step, so you actually learn the task while you are performing it.
Apple Guide 2.1.1 features include:
• Support for help access from OpenDoc processes
• Support for accessing multiple guide files combining the topic areas, index, and look content across all open guide files
• A single and faster search for guide file information
• A Guide Directory resource [type = 'gdir'; id = -16384] that lets you specify a directory for AG to search for guide files other than the application's directory
• A 68k CFM glue code for 68k apps that want to link with the 'AppleGuideGlueLib.68K' shared library code
• The ability to properly check multiple-type guide files for qualifer routines ('QLfy').
You can find more information on Apple Guide 2.1.1 in the developer area of the Apple Guide web site at http://www.macos.apple.com/Apple_Guide/dev/dev.html. For Apple Guide 2.1.1 Release Notes, see http://www.macos.apple.com/Apple_Guide/dev/ag2.1.1notes.html.
Apple Location Manager 1.0.1
Apple Location Manager (ALM) is a free software utility for PowerBooks that makes it easy for PowerBook users to move from one location to another without having to spend a lot of time manually reconfiguring their computer with every move.
This version of ALM contains a more recent build of ALM 1.0.1—the version bundled with Mac OS 8—and some added guidelines about the upcoming ALM 2.0 release. The ALM SDK contains everything you need to write a Location Manager Module, including a working sample, CodeWarrior and Symantec projects, and an MPW Makefile (your choice). Also included is ALM 1.0.1f6, both debug and nondebug builds. The nondebug version of ALM will only install on PowerBooks running System 7.6. The debug build is not restricted (but use at own risk!).
Apple plans to approve ALM for desktop use as part of a general system or hardware release in late-1997; until that time, it only ships supporting PowerBooks.
You can get more information on the ALM SDK 1.0.1 at http://17.126.23.20/dev/alm/ALM_SDK_Doc.html or check out the ALM Developers Page at http://devworld.apple.com/dev/alm/index.html.
AsyncDriverSample1.0b4
This sample shows how you can write a fully asynchronous block device driver for the traditional Mac OS. The sample tries to implement the simplest possible device driver. Instead of talking to any real hardware, it mounts disk images over the network.
QuickTime IC SDK 1.01
QuickTime IC is an extension to the QuickTime system extension that abstracts applications from image capture devices such as the QuickTake 200. With this modular architecture, everyone benefits: application developers, camera vendors, and ultimately, end users. If you're an application developer, you'll be able to easily integrate your applications with camera devices. This, in turn, will make it easier for users to integrate images with their documents, presentations, web sites, and other communications. The image and camera savvy applications you create will also help users improve their productivity. Camera vendors benefit because they no longer need to spend large amounts of time creating image capture applications. They will simply be able to provide components that transparently interoperate with the other parts of the system.
Here is an example of how the QuickTime IC works in relation to the other components in the QuickTake 200. The QuickTake 200 comes with three components:
• Camera Access application
• QuickTime IC system extension
• QuickTake 200 camera component
Camera Access is an application that leverages the QuickTime IC system extension, as well as QuickTime and other system services. With Camera Access, you can communicate with the QuickTake 200, view images, and transfer them to the desktop. You can also take advantage of several image enhancement functions such as cropping, image lightening, darkening, rotating, and so on. You can extend this layer to provide additional functionality.
The QuickTime IC system extension provides all the necessary system level functions for applications to communicate, view, and even manipulate images from image capture devices. For example, when you want to see the images stored in the camera, a small component of code resident in the QuickTime IC extension is called upon to display the images in a contact sheet view. Again, you can extend this layer to provide additional functionality.
The final item is the device component. This is the piece of software that allows the camera and the QuickTime IC system extenion to communicate with each other. This component is unique to the QuickTake 200. When you launch the Camera Access application, a panel appears that shows you if the camera is connected, the number of images in the camera, and two buttons (one to view images in the camera and the other to transfer images between the computer and the camera). This camera panel is an example of a camera component. Camera vendors can create components unique to their digital cameras.
As always, this architecture, like Apple's QuickTime, provides complete system level interoperability ensuring ease-of-use and true plug-and-play operation.
The sample code shows how to create a QuickTime IC-savvy application, as well as how to create a panel component. Complete API documentation is included as well.
QuickTime IC is only available for the Mac OS at this time. The SDK includes components which allow QTIC-savvy applications to work with QuickTake 150 and 200 digital cameras. Applications will work with other cameras, if the vendor provides a QuickTime IC camera component. QTIC does not work with the original Apple QuickTake 100 digital camera.
For more information, visit the QuickTime home page at http://quicktime.apple.com/.
QuickTime VR 2.0
QuickTime VR is a multiplatform software technology that allows you to create a new class of multimedia imagery. With QuickTime VR, you can develop interactive content for CD-ROMs and web sites of just about anything—from the inside of a new condominium complex to the outside of an automobile.
QuickTime VR 2.0 offers a programmer’s API, so you can now control how QuickTime VR movies play back in your application or game. Other features include complete control of QTVR movie playback; control of user interface; audio control including localized sound and volume control; and video, PICT, and 3D object insertion into panoramas.
This version of QuickTime VR requires a PowerMac with 16MB.
You can read the QuickTime VR online fact sheet at http://product.info.apple.com/productinfo/factsheets/quicktimevr.html. For more information and to see exciting samples and applications of this technology, visit the QuickTime VR home page at http://qtvr.quicktime.apple.com/.
