[138] in DCNS Development
Apple Direction Statement on Unix/Open Systems
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (roden@Athena.MIT.EDU)
Tue Nov 5 07:51:29 1991
From: roden@Athena.MIT.EDU
To: developers@Athena.MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 05 Nov 91 07:50:17 EST
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Apple Direction Statement on Unix/Open Systems------------------------
MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:16 AM, EST, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1991.
Contact:
Jackie Promes
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-3609
Apple Announces Roadmap for UNIX/Open Systems; A/UX 3.0 Paves the Way
UNIX Expo, New York--October 30, 1991--Apple Computer, Inc. today
defined a roadmap for its future UNIX directions, enabling customers
and developers to easily migrate to the future, industry-standard
UNIX environment--PowerOpen. A/UX 3.0, Apple's new version of its
industry-standard UNIX for the Macintosh computer, was also announced
today as the next step in providing smooth migration to this
environment.
PowerOpen, a new open-systems environment created by Apple and IBM's
recent alliance, will offer customers and developers an easy-to-use,
standards-based, high-performance system. Through the integration of
A/UX and IBM's AIX, customers will have access to the thousands of
Macintosh productivity applications and the thousands of AIX
technical applications. PowerOpen will be a highly-scalable, open-
systems architecture available on a wide range of computers from
high-volume desktop computers to large enterprise servers. Customers
will have access to the Macintosh interface, provided by the easy-to-
use, integrated Macintosh--UNIX solution, A/UX. PowerOpen will be
based on the Open Software Foundation's industry-standard OSF/1
kernel. Both Apple's and IBM's RISC hardware lines will support the
PowerOpen environment, with PowerOpen technologies to be made
available to other vendors.
Apple and IBM will cooperate to create the PowerOpen core, with each
company implementing that core for its own system--Apple's
implementation of PowerOpen will be A/UX. In addition to migrating
to the future PowerOpen platform, Apple will continue to incorporate
innovative and powerful Macintosh technologies into future A/UX
products.
While PowerOpen products are expected to reach the marketplace in
two
to three years, A/UX today offers customers and developers many of
its benefits: a Macintosh graphics-based desktop, simultaneous
access to Macintosh, UNIX, POSIX, X Window System, OSF/Motif (from
Integrated Computer Solutions) and MS-DOS applications (using SoftPC
from Insignia Solutions) and UNIX functionality in an easy-to-use
manner.
"A/UX is and will continue to be the most usable UNIX in the
industry," said Michael Spindler, Apple's chief operating officer.
"A/UX 3.0 offers the best combination of power and flexibility for
use in an open-systems environment without compromise, providing
customers with all the benefits of System 7 and complete conformance
with the POSIX standard."
A/UX 3.0
A/UX 3.0 integrates the Macintosh interface with the power and
functionality of industry-standard UNIX--and adds new features. A/UX
3.0 provides customers and developers the best of Macintosh on UNIX.
System 7 Functionality
A/UX users will have access to complete Macintosh System 7
functionality, providing them with dynamic new capabilities and
greater ease of operation. The new Finder offers easier and faster
access to folders and documents, the Data Access Manager provides
built-in access to remote databases and the innovative Balloon Help
feature allow users to easily learn while they work with A/UX.
TrueType outline font technology allows users to obtain high
quality fonts for any point size in Macintosh documents and in the
A/UX UNIX command shell windows. System 7 also provides A/UX users
easier network access with Macintosh built-in File Sharing,
eliminating the need for a dedicated file server and allowing users
to share both Macintosh and UNIX files with others on the network.
As new versions of applications arise, users can take advantage of
another System 7 feature called Interapplications Communication
(IAC). For example, this will allow users to keep information up-
to-date by providing an automatic link between a spreadsheet and a
report. Changes made in one document are automatically reflected
in another, even over a network.
Macintosh Quadra computer support
The 68040-based Macintosh Quadra 700 and 900 computers offer
customers two powerful platforms with fast processing, high storage
capacity, on-board Ethernet, and on-board video. These high-
performance, flexible and well-integrated computers extend the
power of A/UX further to address the needs of enterprise-wide
computing customers.
Multimedia Capabilities
A/UX 3.0 is one of the first UNIX-based systems in the industry
that incorporates advanced multimedia capabilities. QuickTime, the
revolutionary software extension to Macintosh and A/UX, enables
dynamic media--such as sound, video and animation--to be
incorporated into documents in a consistent, mainstream fashion.
A/UX 3.0 also supports the Macintosh Sound Manager, which allows
asynchronous playback and sound input. Integration of QuickTime
and sound input capabilities in A/UX 3.0 is a clear example of
Apple's ability to enhance standards-based environments with powerful
features available with the Macintosh.
Simplified Installation
Users can now install the complete A/UX 3.0 system by simply
clicking a button. In addition, users can use the Custom Install
option to select only portions they need from this full-featured
UNIX system. The customize option allows users to conserve disk
space on their local computer that can be part of a networked
environment, which contain the remainder portions of the system.
The A/UX 3.0 installer can also format and install software on a
large number of third-party drives.
Networking and Peripheral Support
A/UX 3.0 provides built-in networking and communications to include
both Macintosh and UNIX-based connectivity solutions. The new and
revised features include: MacX 1.1.7, the Macintosh X display
server, X11 for A/UX with libraries and toolkit for X Windows
application development, AppleTalk Phase 2, MacTCP 1.1, CSL/IP for
TCP/IP connection over a serial line, NFS 4.1 for UNIX file serving
and HoneyDanber uucp. A/UX 3.0 now supports a large number of
third-party drives, as well as all Apple drives. Other new
peripherals supported by A/UX 3.0 include the new Apple OneScanner
and CD-ROM drives with foreign file formats such as ISO 9660 and
High Sierra.
A/UX Roadmap
Apple will continue to develop its UNIX offering, A/UX, by further
integrating innovative Macintosh technologies within an industry-
standard environment.
-- With A/UX 3.0 available in the first calendar quarter of
1992, users will gain System 7 functionality and can take advantage
of the new, high-performance Macintosh Quadra computers, as well as
the easier installation and networking capabilities.
--In late 1992--early 1993, updated versions of A/UX 3.0 will come to
market with additional Macintosh system software enhancements, new
hardware support, and increased AIX compatibility.
--In late 1993--early 1994, Apple will offer A/UX 4.0, its PowerOpen
system. A/UX 4.0 will run on the PowerPC RISC-based hardware platform,
as well as the 68XXX hardware platforms. The same Macintosh
applications
and AIX applications available today will run atop the OSF/1-based
PowerOpen platform.
Configurations
A/UX 3.0 will be available as a standalone CD-ROM product, which
will
include 30 days of A/UX Technical Answerline support and an A/UX
Installation and Essential Manual set. Customers will also have the
option to purchase A/UX 3.0 preinstalled on Macintosh computers,
with their choice of memory and hard disk configurations, available
from Apple authorized A/UX resellers. A minimum of 5MB is required and
8MB is recommended.
Pricing/Availability
A/UX 3.0 will be available in the first calendar quarter of 1992.
Pricing will be announced at a later date.
- -30-
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, A/UX, AppleTalk and MacTCP are
registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Macintosh Quadra, OneScanner, Sound Manager, TrueType, BalloonHelp,
QuickTime, Finder and MacX are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
X Window System is a trademark of Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
AIX is a registered trademark of IBM; PowerPC and PowerOpen are
trademarks of IBM.
OSF/1 and OSF/Motif are trademarks of the Open Software Foundation.
UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories.
NFS is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
SoftPC is a registered trademark of Insignia Solutions, Inc.
END
Apple Press Releases
PR Express
10/30/91
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