TweetFollow Us on Twitter

WWDC '92
Volume Number:8
Issue Number:3
Column Tag:From the Field

WWDC Report

What did happen at the World Wide Developers’ Conference?

By Bruce D. Kyle, DataPak Customer Services

About the author

Bruce Kyle works for DataPak Software’s Customer Service Department. In addition, he is also doing the development work for MacTutor’s latest CD-ROM, Volumes 1-7 available in July.

Apple has recently announced a vast array of products and system enhancements. These announcements, when brought to completion, will mean new ways for writing and implementing applications. Many announcements at Apple's Worldwide Developers' Conference will specifically affect how documents and produced.

These include a second generation type and drawing (imaging) technology, a strategy to port software to both Windows and PowerPC/Mac, and documentation and program integration.

To take advantage of these new enhancements, applications will have to be rewitten to some extent. Most of the additions will require System 7 and will not be released for up to another year.

Quickdraw GX

Quickdraw GX was announced as Apple's response to Adobe Display PostScript. It coexists with the current Quickdraw. It is due sometime in 1993. GX includes new drawing capabilities, new font capabilities and an open print architecture. GX doesn't replace Quickdraw, it enhances it. It is resolution independent so it will display on non-square pixel and high resolution monitors. It is object-oriented, in that it deals with graphical objects in a heirarchy rather than pixels-based drawing of Quickdraw. These graphical objects (collectively called shapes) can be transformed: stretched, skewed, distorted and rotated. Primary shapes are points, lines, curves, rectangles, polygons, text, bitmaps and pictures. It supports seven or more color spaces, such as RGB, HSV, HSL, CIE, YIQ, LAB and LAV. To take advantage of many features new fonts will be required, although GX will continue basic support of TrueType 1 and PostScript Level 1 fonts.

Fonts are first class objects and will have the ability to be transformed just as the other shapes are. So text will be stretched, skewed, distored, and rotated. Text will be selected and edited in the transformed shape. The new text capabilities, identified under the misnomer Line Layout Manager (it really isn't a Manager in the traditional Mac Toolbox sense), will support multiple languages, like Arabic, Japanese and Roman text in the same line of text. It will automaticaly manipulate glyphs, a visual representation of characters that are different from the underlying characters. Information about the glyph is stored in the font itself. For example, when "ae" is typed, it will appear as "æ" with each half being able to be selected and edited. This is especially important in Arabic where details of the letter shape are based on context. Language, script information (about whether it is left- or right-reading) and details about how letters can be combined will be stored in the font. It will be possible for a document to do spell checking on multiple languages within the same document (using the Dictionary Manager).

New styles will support a degrees of style which can be specified by the user: weight (light to bold variations), width (condensed to expanded), posture (normal to italic), optical size, ductility (self modification of spacing for justification). And the fonts won't be taking up system memory, they'll be cached onto the disk when not used.

A new Open Print Architecture will similify the Page Setup and Print dialogs, provide drag and drop to printer icons in the finder. It will change how printer drivers are written making printer to devices such as plotters easier. The Open Print Architecture provides routines that allow the driver to convert the image to whatever it needs, PostScript, raster images (bitmaps), or vectors (for plotters). Printing extensions are allowed by dropping into the system folder, they appear in an application's Document Setup dialog box. Apple believes there will be a market for printer extensions since developers don't need to have the printer driver's source code to add functionality to a printer driver.

Quickdraw GX will probably require System 7 and come as a system extension, similar to QuickTime. There is nothing to prevent porting it to Windows, although no announcement was made at WWDC '92.

An Overview of QuickDraw GX

Portability

Portability is becoming a key issue. Apple is responding to developer desire to port applications to Windows and the need to port applications to the PowerPC/Mac.

Apple demonstrated QuickTime running under Windows. It seems to fortell Apple's strategy of taking newer "advanced" technology such as QuickTime, and possibly GX, OCE and others, and making it available for Windows. The Mac OS will not be ported, but certain system extensions will be ported.

Apple clearly positioned MacApp as the beginnings for cross-platform development. It will be extended as so applications can be recompiled to run in Windows.

(Microsoft announced a similar strategy for its object oriented environments two weeks later, this time to port from Windows to the Macintosh.)

First and foremost, Apple was clear that IBM would not be selling the MacOS. The Mac will probably take advantage of Taligent's kernel, but what developers and users would see would remain Apple for Apple products.

There was a complex method described to port existing applications to the PowerPC/Mac. Apple will support only C and C++, third parties will support Pascal on the PowerPC/Mac. [See the NewsBits section for an announcement from Language Systems - Ed.] Some toolbox calls will be ported, others will run inside a compatiblity box, just as 680x0 Mac applications will.

Apple stressed that the compatiblity box concept actually works. That is where existing Macinstosh applications retain their existing 680x0 code and be emulated on the PowerPC/Mac.

Apple has agreed to collaborate on "FlashPort" with Echo Logic, a offshoot of AT&T Bell Labs. FlashPort converts executible object code into native RISC code, which run at about the speed of existing price-comparable 680x0 machines. (Presumably much faster than if a user ran the same application in emulation mode).

Native applications can call emulator toolbox routines.

68000 applications can call native code toolbox routines.

Both applications can communicate and coexist on PowerPC.

Eventual System Configuration

Software integration

Dynamic Linked Libraries. In a small developer tools session, Apple unveiled a Shared Library Manager to be released summer 1992 through APDA. It supports both procedural and object oriented dynamic linking. Dynamic linking is said to be nearly as fast as current linking. The Shared Library Manager works best when supporting C++ libraries, where it supports dynamic inheritance, verification and class identification. This means that your software might be able to extend its functionality by dropping in new modules into a folder with your application, restart the app, new functionality (including menu items, user interface, everything).

AppleScript, scheduled for later this year, is being brought to life as an extension of AppleEvents. It allows users to customize applications, but requires that applications beable to receive AppleEvents and respond. The user would use "Hypercard-like" language to integrate several applications or to invoke new features of a single application. It could conceivably work across a network, invoking an application on another machine. Even applications that support the Core Suite, the four AppleEvents: Open Application, Open Documents, Print Documents and Quit Application, will be able be scriptable for those events. Of course, the more kinds of AppleEvents the application supports, the more the user will be able to have your application do through scripting. AppleScript will let users execute prerecorded sequences.

AppleEvent Registry Suites

OCE

OCE (Open Collaboration Environment) promises to make messaging easier than printing. It is scheduled for release in October. OCE extends the Mac to provide mail, ability to send messages, directory and digital-signatures. It will essentially allow mail to be conducted within the Finder and is said to require 8 Meg Macs.

All programs can take advantage of OCE by using open standard programming interfaces. Currently, Macs can use InterApplication Communication (IAC) to communicate between programs. Under OCE, these programs do not have to be running at the same time. The "messages" can be sent between applications, to individuals, to mail centers on other platforms.

Packages within OCE provide the necessary services. The Collaboration Package provide a standard user interface. Standard Mail Package provides how messages and attachments are sent. The mail arrives to a user's In Tray, icon/window that contains all the mail within the Finder. The Standard Directory Package provides standard dialog boxes to add browsing to OCE.

The Interprogram Messaging (IPM) Manager handles includes, the message header (addressing, priority and control information) and message body. The IPM Manager creates, sends, receives, displays and manipulates the messages. The Directory Manager is a hierarchical system that holds the list who or what can receive a message. The list itself can be stored on the Mac as a personal directory or in a database on a distant machine.

The Digital Signature Toolbox is used to identify the sender. It guarantes the authenticity of the person sending the document. It embeds a code that can check and verify that the data was signed and not changed. The signature can be applied to an entire document or to a part of one.

World-Ready

Apple is stressing "World-Ready" software. Scripts (not to be confused with scripting languages) are important to software since they dictate how text is entered and read for a given language. Scripts can be Roman (reading left to right) or can be be non-Roman (reading right to left or top to bottom). Combining these scripts has been a limitation on the Mac which now wants to be World-Ready.

System 7 Release 7.1 is the first fully featured version of System 7 for Chinese, Japanese and Korean in its support of True Type fonts. And includes a special "Font Folder" inside the System Folder. It has built-in support for double-byte languages those that require more than 256 characters. World Script I and World Script II extensions support single- and double-byte langauges.

The Text Services Manager allows you to manage, catalog and access software objects that provide various ways of entering glyphs. A glyph is a indivisible unit in a written language. It is especially important in Chinese and Japanese where text entry is complex.

There are four levels of support for handling multiple scripts (text entry styles). Mulitscript-compatible applications provide minimal support and might grey out certain options that would support that script. Multiscript-aware applications let the user switch to any available script to enter data into a field. This type of application might assume a single script in a data field, for example. Modularly upgradable application is compatible with multiple languages. Finally user-selectable-interface application would allow users to change scripts used in menus, dialog boxes and editing text.

Miscellaneous

BENTO is being proposed as an "industry standard" cross-platform standard for documents containing multiple data types, including multi-media.

Translation Manager makes format conversion among documents more transparent than the existing XTND technology.

Pen technology was shown which takes gestures on input tables and turns them into characters and mouse movements. Like some of Apple's new technology, these basic services can be accessed without changes to the existing code. The user simply writes using a tablet and characters are drawn and recognized on the screen. Developers can extend software by providing custom recognizers and do more extensive pen input.

And the list goes on and on, enhancements to QuickTime, more details on how Talignet's work will change the Mac. These will be covered more when we know more about them.

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Hazel 5.3 - Create rules for organizing...
Hazel is your personal housekeeper, organizing and cleaning folders based on rules you define. Hazel can also manage your trash and uninstall your applications. Organize your files using a familiar... Read more
Duet 3.15.0.0 - Use your iPad as an exte...
Duet is the first app that allows you to use your iDevice as an extra display for your Mac using the Lightning or 30-pin cable. Note: This app requires a iOS companion app. Release notes were... Read more
DiskCatalogMaker 9.0.3 - Catalog your di...
DiskCatalogMaker is a simple disk management tool which catalogs disks. Simple, light-weight, and fast Finder-like intuitive look and feel Super-fast search algorithm Can compress catalog data for... Read more
Maintenance 3.1.2 - System maintenance u...
Maintenance is a system maintenance and cleaning utility. It allows you to run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance: Check the the structure of the disk Repair permissions Run periodic scripts... Read more
Final Cut Pro 10.7 - Professional video...
Redesigned from the ground up, Final Cut Pro combines revolutionary video editing with a powerful media organization and incredible performance to let you create at the speed of thought.... Read more
Pro Video Formats 2.3 - Updates for prof...
The Pro Video Formats package provides support for the following codecs that are used in professional video workflows: Apple ProRes RAW and ProRes RAW HQ Apple Intermediate Codec Avid DNxHD® / Avid... Read more
Apple Safari 17.1.2 - Apple's Web b...
Apple Safari is Apple's web browser that comes bundled with the most recent macOS. Safari is faster and more energy efficient than other browsers, so sites are more responsive and your notebook... Read more
LaunchBar 6.18.5 - Powerful file/URL/ema...
LaunchBar is an award-winning productivity utility that offers an amazingly intuitive and efficient way to search and access any kind of information stored on your computer or on the Web. It provides... Read more
Affinity Designer 2.3.0 - Vector graphic...
Affinity Designer is an incredibly accurate vector illustrator that feels fast and at home in the hands of creative professionals. It intuitively combines rock solid and crisp vector art with... Read more
Affinity Photo 2.3.0 - Digital editing f...
Affinity Photo - redefines the boundaries for professional photo editing software for the Mac. With a meticulous focus on workflow it offers sophisticated tools for enhancing, editing and retouching... Read more

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

New ‘Sonic Dream Team’ Performance Analy...
Sonic Dream Team (), the brand new Apple Arcade exclusive 3D Sonic action-platformer releases tomorrow. Read my in-depth interview with SEGA HARDLight here covering the game, future plans, potential 120fps, playable characters, the narrative, and... | Read more »
New ‘Zenless Zone Zero’ Trailer Showcase...
I missed this late last week, but HoYoverse released another playable character trailer for the upcoming urban fantasy action RPG Zenless Zone Zero. We’ve had a few trailers so far for playable characters, but the newest one focuses on Nicole... | Read more »
Get your heart pounding quicker as Autom...
When it comes to mobile battle royales, it wouldn’t be disrespectful to say the first ones to pop to mind would be PUBG Mobile, but there is one that perhaps doesn’t get the worldwide recognition it should and that's Garena’s Free Fire. Now,... | Read more »
‘Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition...
Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition () launches beginning Tuesday worldwide on Apple Arcade bringing a new version of the game without any passes or microtransactions. While that itself is a huge bonus for Apple Arcade, the fact that Disney... | Read more »
Adventure Game ‘Urban Legend Hunters 2:...
Over the weekend, publisher Playism announced a localization of the Toii Games-developed adventure game Urban Legend Hunters 2: Double for iOS, Android, and Steam. Urban Legend Hunters 2: Double is available on mobile already without English and... | Read more »
‘Stardew Valley’ Creator Has Made a Ton...
Stardew Valley ($4.99) game creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) has been posting about the upcoming major Stardew Valley 1.6 update on Twitter with reveals for new features, content, and more. Over the weekend, Eric Tweeted that a ton of progress... | Read more »
Pour One Out for Black Friday – The Touc...
After taking Thanksgiving week off we’re back with another action-packed episode of The TouchArcade Show! Well, maybe not quite action-packed, but certainly discussion-packed! The topics might sound familiar to you: The new Steam Deck OLED, the... | Read more »
TouchArcade Game of the Week: ‘Hitman: B...
Nowadays, with where I’m at in my life with a family and plenty of responsibilities outside of gaming, I kind of appreciate the smaller-scale mobile games a bit more since more of my “serious" gaming is now done on a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch.... | Read more »
SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Batman: Arkham T...
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 1st, 2023. We’ve got a lot of big games hitting today, new DLC For Samba de Amigo, and this is probably going to be the last day this year with so many heavy hitters. I... | Read more »
Steam Deck Weekly: Tales of Arise Beyond...
Last week, there was a ton of Steam Deck coverage over here focused on the Steam Deck OLED. | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Apple has Certified Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro...
Apple has unlocked Certified Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro models in stock starting at $589 and ranging up to $350 off original MSRP. Apple includes a standard one-year warranty and new outer shell with... Read more
Holiday Sale: Take $50 off every 10th-generat...
Amazon has Apple’s 10th-generation iPads on sale for $50 off MSRP, starting at $399, as part of their Holiday Sale. Their discount applies to all models and all colors. With the discount, Amazon’s... Read more
The latest Mac mini Holiday sales, get one to...
Apple retailers are offering Apple’s M2 Mac minis for $100 off MSRP as part of their Holiday sales. Prices start at only $499. Here are the lowest prices available: (1): Amazon has Apple’s M2-powered... Read more
Save $300 on a 24-inch iMac with these Certif...
With the recent introduction of new M3-powered 24″ iMacs, Apple dropped prices on clearance M1 iMacs in their Certified Refurbished store. Models are available starting at $1049 and range up to $300... Read more
Apple M1-powered iPad Airs are back on Holida...
Amazon has 10.9″ M1 WiFi iPad Airs back on Holiday sale for $100 off Apple’s MSRP, with prices starting at $499. Each includes free shipping. Their prices are the lowest available among the Apple... Read more
Sunday Sale: Apple 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro on...
B&H Photo has new 14″ M3 MacBook Pros, in Space Gray, on Holiday sale for $150 off MSRP, only $1449. B&H offers free 1-2 day delivery to most US addresses: – 14″ 8-Core M3 MacBook Pro (8GB... Read more
Blue 10th-generation Apple iPad on Holiday sa...
Amazon has Apple’s 10th-generation WiFi iPad (in Blue) on Holiday sale for $349 including free shipping. Their discount applies to WiFi models only and includes a $50 instant discount + $50 clippable... Read more
All Apple Pencils are on Holiday sale for $79...
Amazon has all Apple Pencils on Holiday sale this weekend for $79, ranging up to 39% off MSRP for some models. Shipping is free: – Apple Pencil 1: $79 $20 off MSRP (20%) – Apple Pencil 2: $79 $50 off... Read more
Deal Alert! Apple Smart Folio Keyboard for iP...
Apple iPad Smart Keyboard Folio prices are on Holiday sale for only $79 at Amazon, or 50% off MSRP: – iPad Smart Folio Keyboard for iPad (7th-9th gen)/iPad Air (3rd gen): $79 $79 (50%) off MSRP This... Read more
Apple Watch Series 9 models are now on Holida...
Walmart has Apple Watch Series 9 models now on Holiday sale for $70 off MSRP on their online store. Sale prices available for online orders only, in-store prices may vary. Order online, and choose... Read more

Jobs Board

Omnichannel Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mal...
Omnichannel Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Senior Product Manager - *Apple* - DISH Net...
…Responsibilities** We are seeking an ambitious, data-driven thinker to assist the Apple Product Development team as our Wireless Product division continues to grow Read more
Senior Product Manager - *Apple* - DISH Net...
…Responsibilities** We are seeking an ambitious, data-driven thinker to assist the Apple Product Development team as our Wireless Product division continues to grow Read more
Senior Software Engineer - *Apple* Fundamen...
…center of Microsoft's efforts to empower our users to do more. The Apple Fundamentals team focused on defining and improving the end-to-end developer experience in Read more
Omnichannel Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mal...
Omnichannel Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.