Paul's Notes Aug. 1997
News from Apple:
Well, it looks like its time to kiss and make up with Microsoft. If this is a good think or not, only time will tell. But here is what Apple feels it will gain:
- The companies agreed to a broad patent cross-licensing agreement. It paves the way for the two companies to work more closely on leading-edge technologies for the Mac platform.
- Microsoft will develop and ship future versions of its popular Microsoft Office productivity suite, Internet Explorer and other Microsoft tools for the Mac platform.
- Apple will bundle the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser with the MacOS, making it the default browser in future operating system software releases.
- Apple and Microsoft plan to collaborate on technology to ensure compatibility between their respective Virtual Machines for Java and other programming languages.
- To further support its relationship with Apple, Microsoft will invest $150 million in non-voting Apple stock.
Apple also announced that it appointed four new members to its Board of Directors: Bill Campbell, president and CEO of Intuit Corp.; Larry Ellison, chairman and CEO of Oracle; Steve Jobs, chairman and CEO of Pixar Animation Studios; and Jerry York, former CFO of IBM and Chrysler Corporation, and vice chairman of Tracinda. They join directors Gareth Chang and Edgar Woolard.
Which should make things interesting to say the least since Ellison and Gates have difference views of what the future will bring. No matter what people can't complain anymore about software not be developed for the Mac Platfrom with Microsoft and Oracle joining the fold.
All of this comes from The MacWorld Expo. Apple has set up a page where you can read Jobs' Keynote Address at http://www.apple.com/home/news/macworld97/jobsspeech.html. You can also listen to it using RealAudio at http://www.audionet.com/events/macworld/expo97/stevejobs.ram.
Also from Apple: The Fastest Personal Computer Apple has unveiled the fastest personal computer available: the 350-MHz Apple. Power Macintosh 9600/350, nearly twice as fast as Apple's highest performance offering of one year ago.
News from Be:
The BeOS is Now Shipping! It's new, it's real and it's here. If you've got a PowerPC, you can take advantage of the first public release of the BeOS today! Designed to meet the high-performance needs of digital content design and Internet communications and to unlock the door to more powerful personal computers. Power up your PowerPC with the BeOS. Features and product information. BeOS compatible PowerPC systems.
Be is demonstrating BeOS for Intel for the first time, at the BeDC and Macworld Expo in Boston. Expected to ship with the next full release of the BeOS, and supporting Pentium, Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors - the high-performance BeOS meets the most popular microprocessor on the planet. Check out the BeOS for Intel press release at http://www.be.com/aboutbe/pressreleases/97-08-04_intel.html
Programs
This has to be a toss up between the BeOS release and the MacOS 8 Release. Since I have yet to play around with both. I can't pass on any notes till later, so here are some sites to help you out:
Want to share some comments? Let me know.
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