Mac OS 9
From AudioLexic
Mac OS 9 was the final major release of Apple's "Classic" Mac OS. Introduced on October 23 1999, Apple positioned it as, "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as iTools, and improved Open Transport networking.
While Mac OS 9 lacks the functionality of a modern operating system, such as protected memory and full pre-emptive multitasking, lasting improvements include the introduction of an automated Software Update engine and support for multiple users.
Apple discontinued development of Mac OS 9 in 2002, transitioning all future development to Mac OS X. Since that time, no updates have been released. The final updates to Mac OS 9 addressed compatibility issues with OS X while running in the Classic Environment and compatibility with Carbon applications.
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[edit] Features
Apple billed Mac OS 9 as including "50 New Features" and heavily marketed its Sherlock 2 software, which introduced a 'channels' feature for searching different online resources and introduced a QuickTime-like metallic appearance. Mac OS 9 also featured integrated support for Apple’s suite of Internet services known as iTools (later re-branded as .Mac) and included improved TCP/IP functionality with Open Transport 2.5.
Other features new to Mac OS 9 include:
- Integrated support for multiple user accounts without using At Ease.
- Support for voice login through VoicePrint passwords.
- Keychain, a feature allowing users to save passwords in protected keychains.
- A Software Update control panel for automatic download and installation of Apple system software updates.
- A redesigned Sound control panel and support for USB audio.
- Speakable Items 2.0, also known as PlainTalk, featuring improved speech synthesis and recognition along with AppleScript integration.
- Improved font management through FontSync.
- Remote Access Personal Server 3.5, including support for TCP/IP clients over PPP.
- An updated version of AppleScript with support for TCP/IP.
- Personal File Sharing over TCP/IP.
- USB Printer Sharing, a control panel allowing certain USB printers to be shared across a TCP/IP network.
- 128-bit file encryption in the Finder.
- Support for files larger than 2 GB.
- Unix volume support.
- CD Burning in the Finder (introduced in Mac OS 9.1).
- Addition of a 'Window' menu to the Finder (introduced in Mac OS 9.1)
[edit] Mac OS 9 and Classic
PowerPC versions of Mac OS X include a compatibility layer called Classic, enabling users to run applications and hardware requiring Mac OS 9 from within Mac OS X. This is achieved through booting a full Mac OS 9 system. As a result, Mac OS 9 must be installed on the computer for Classic to function. Most Mac OS 9 applications run well in Classic, although some applications demonstrate screen redraw problems. In addition, scanner drivers and many other utilities no longer work.
In May 2002, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, Steve Jobs, accompanied by a coffin, held a mock funeral to announce that Apple had stopped development of Mac OS 9. Mac OS 9.2.2, introduced in December 2001, was the final version of Mac OS 9, and the end of the classic Mac OS.
In June 2005, Jobs announced that the Macintosh platform would be transitioning to Intel x86 microprocessors. Developer documentation of the Rosetta PowerPC emulation layer revealed that applications written for Mac OS 8 or 9 would not run on x86-based Macs. The Classic Environment remains in the PowerPC version of Mac OS X, however x86 versions of OS X do not support Classic.
As a workaround for Intel-based Macs, Mac OS 9 can be emulated up to version 9.0.4 by using SheepShaver, a PowerPC emulator. It cannot emulate above 9.0.4 because SheepShaver does not emulate a memory management unit. The PearPC PowerPC emulator does not support Mac OS 9.
Updates to Mac OS 9 include 9.0.4, 9.1, 9.2.1, and 9.2.2. Mac OS 9.0.4 was a collection of bug fixes primarily relating to USB and FireWire support. OS 9.1 included integrated CD burning support in the Macintosh Finder and added a new Window menu in the Finder for switching between open windows. Mac OS 9.2, which required at least a G3 processor, increased performance noticeably.
[edit] Availability
Retail copies of Mac OS 9 are still available from several Internet businesses at varying prices. Mac OS 9 is no longer available from Apple. Mac OS 9 is not yet classified as abandonware, as it is still in wide use by those who cannot upgrade to Mac OS X due to hardware limitations, or prefer it to Mac OS X.
[edit] Trivia
- Microware sued Apple for trademark infringement, claiming that the name Mac OS 9 was too similar to Microware's OS-9. A judge rejected the claim, saying that there was little chance of confusion.
- Mac OS 9 was originally planned for release as Mac OS 8.7.
- Protected memory was considered as an addition to Mac OS 9, but was not implemented due to the great technical difficulty and lack of developmental resources.
- Option-clicking the Apple menu reveals an "About the Finder" menu item in place of "About This Computer." Clicking it reveals a photograph of the Apple Campus and, based on a long-standing tradition, displayed a scrolling list of developers who contributed to the current and previous versions of the Finder. This was changed by Mac OS 9.2 to simply read, "Created by all the folks here at Apple."
- In earlier versions of Mac OS 9, holding down the Control, Option, and Command keys and selecting the Apple menu would reveal an "About The Mac OS 9 Team" item in place of "About This Computer". This was also present in OS 8.5 and was removed completely from the System file in later versions of Mac OS 9.
- The famous Happy Mac boot icon that served Mac users for almost 15 years was updated to a full-color (32-bit) Happy Mac for Mac OS 9.
- For some time after the discontinuation of Mac OS 9, Apple sold retail copies of Mac OS 9 for $19.95 to qualified OS X purchasers through the Mac OS 9.2 Fulfillment Program. This was designed to assist those who needed to run Classic applications yet did not own a copy of Mac OS 9. This program has since been discontinued.
[edit] External links
- Technote TN1176 Mac OS 9 from apple.com
- Mac OS 9 "Special Report" from MacInTouch
- Apple | iMac Firmware Update
- Run Mac OS 9 on an Intel Mac
| This article was started using a Wikipedia OS 9 article |