DaveNet: Monday, April 21, 1997; by Dave Winer.

Apple's WWDC Press Release

Developers to get First look at Rhapsody and "Hands on" With Mac OS 8 at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference

Rhapsody, Mac OS, Internet & Enterprise, Interactive Media, and Hardware Sessions Give Developers Grand Tour of What's Up at Apple

CUPERTINO, Calif.--April 21, 1997--Apple Computer, Inc. today announced that its upcoming annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will showcase a wide range of Apple technologies for software and hardware developers--from an overview of Apple's upcoming hardware to in-depth sessions on operating system and multimedia technologies. At WWDC Apple also plans to demonstrate an early version of Apple's next generation operating system, code named Rhapsody, as well as previewing Mac OS 8, a major upgrade to Mac OS planned for release in July 1997. Apple remains on schedule to deliver a developer version of Rhapsody later this year, in preparation for the introduction of customer releases of the operating system in 1998. The WWDC runs May 13-16, 1997 at San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, Calif.

Details on the conference can be found at Apple's Developer World website at: http://devworld.apple.com/

The opening keynote on May 13 will be given by Apple Chairman and CEO, Dr. Gilbert F. Amelio and include contributions from senior Apple executives, including Avie Tevanian, senior vice president Software Engineering and Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president Hardware Engineering. Further keynotes will be given by Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki and Guerrino De Luca, executive vice president of Marketing, Apple Computer Inc. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will also be hosting a special "fireside chat" at the conference.

Taking into account developer feedback from previous WWDC events, this year's conference will focus on in-depth technical briefings dedicated to a more specialist technical audience. As such, Apple anticipates that this year's conference will be attended primarily by third-party technical personnel. The four days of the conference will also be prefaced by a marketing forum on Monday May 12. Here Apple's planned software, marketing, distribution, and co-marketing programs for 1997 will be discussed. This will be hosted by Guerrino De Luca.

David Krathwohl, vice president, Developer Relations at Apple said, "Developers have defined the Macintosh platform since 1984, pioneering markets in home, education and business through innovative software and hardware. This year's WWDC will give developers the opportunity to plot the next generation of innovation by giving them the hard technical information they need to plan development strategies for Rhapsody, Mac OS, Internet, and interactive media. WWDC will also be one of our first opportunities to welcome NeXT Software developers to the Mac community and we look forward to sharing their OPENSTEP development expertise."

The WWDC itself, beginning on May 13 will include five separate tracks:

Rhapsody Track

Apple's current plans for Rhapsody remain on schedule. This means that, while the Rhapsody Developer Release, scheduled for mid year will not be available at the conference--the technical sessions and demonstrations will clearly demonstrate the significant strides that have been made in the operating system's development.

During the Conference, attendees will receive an in-depth look at the key technology components of Rhapsody. Major topic areas include core OS features, such as the Mach-based kernel; development API's and an overview of the cross-platform and enhanced OPENSTEP development environment; user experience guidelines, imaging and printing systems, and localization features. Additional topic categories include Mac OS compatibility, Rhapsody's distributed computing model, and unique Internet capabilities.

There will also be a number of sessions detailing the tools available for Rhapsody development and transition strategies to assist in effective product planning. Seminars in other tracks cover a wide range of new opportunities that Rhapsody applications will have for Internet/intranet, multimedia, and database integration use.

Mac OS Track

Apple will continue to enhance and improve the Mac OS in a complementary path with Rhapsody. The Mac OS conference track will include features and timing of future Mac OS releases, including Mac OS 8. Mac OS sessions will include: Core OS Changes, User Experience Technologies, Graphics, International Technologies, Optimization Tips, Networking, Tools, and Component Technologies.

Mac OS 8 will be a significant upgrade for Mac OS customers and developers, extending Mac OS leadership in areas such as user experience, multimedia, and Internet. Among its new features, Mac OS 8 includes a multi-tasking, PowerPC-native Finder, with folders that automatically open and windows that pop-up from the bottom of the screen, helping customers organize their work and content. Market-leading Internet services will also be integrated for connecting, browsing, and sharing information around the world.

Internet & Enterprise Track

This track will focus upon Internet platform technologies, focusing on the Mac OS, WebObjects, and Java. Mac OS topics include publishing opportunities and developing dynamic applications on the web. The WebObjects Platform represents a breakthrough Internet development environment and an overview of WebObjects technologies, tools, optimization techniques, and business opportunities will be presented.

An underlying thread to Apple's operating system strategy is the support of Java. Sessions on the Java Platform, Mac OS Runtime for Java, Java-based applications for Rhapsody, and Java for C++ Programmers will be a key part of the conference.

Interactive Media Track

Creative tools and software that enable rich media authoring and playback, both at the desktop and on the Internet, are a major reason for the Mac OS platform's strength in creative and broadcast markets. This conference track presents an integrated technical strategy for developing cross platform digital media tools and applications.

Apple recently announced QuickTime 3.0 a major advance in the industry-standard digital media system software for Mac OS and Windows. QuickTime 3.0 is the newest release of the Company's widely adopted software architecture for creating and publishing digital media. QuickTime 3.0 is significant for developers because it marks the first time the full power of QuickTime --including the ability to capture, edit, compress, and playback digital media--is available for all major personal computer platforms, including Macintosh System 7.x , Mac OS 7.6, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 and the forthcoming Mac OS 8.

Technical directions, priorities, and implementation approaches will be detailed for Apple's foundation technologies within the QuickTime Media Layer (QTML) architecture. QuickTime, QuickTime VR, and QuickDraw 3D will be discussed in depth. The integration of QTML with the Mac OS, Rhapsody, and Windows platforms, as well as the Internet, will be the foundation for these sessions.

Hardware Track

At WWDC Apple will outline what is planned for Apple's Desktop, Portable, and Server product offerings. Also covered will be PowerPC developments, I/O technologies, and a Common Hardware Reference Platform (CHRP) update. Breakout sessions will provide detailed technical information on multiprocessing, hardware I/O (Firewire, SCSI, Personal Computer Interconnect (PCI) , Universal Serial Bus (USB) and memory), and specifications for upcoming hardware product offerings.

Registration & Pricing

Registration and Pricing details can be found at the Developer World website at: http://devworld.apple.com/.

Media Attendance

Apple will be hosting a special series of presentations and sessions for members of the media on the first day of WWDC, May 13, 1997. This will include attendance at the keynote presentation. Apple will issue a full media alert on the planned events shortly.

Media wishing to attend WWDC can contact: Doug van Aman, Burson-Marsteller for Apple Computer, Inc. Telephone (415) 463-4000 or email: douglas_van_aman@bm.com.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more than 140 countries.

Press Contacts: Russell Brady
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-6877
email: brady2@apple.com

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