Press Contact: For IMMEDIATE Release
Gordon Davies
Metrowerks Inc.
(512) 873-4797
gdavies@metrowerks.com
Metrowerks To Support Apple's OS Strategy and Motorola's AltiVec(TM)
Technology
Metrowerks to Support Mac(R) OS X Hosted Development, Carbon API, and Next
Generation PowerPC(TM) Architecture
SAN JOSE, California - May 13, 1998 - Metrowerks, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTWKF,
TSE/ME:MWK) announced yesterday in a keynote session at the Apple Computer,
Inc. World Wide Developer Conference its support for, and endorsement of,
Apple's operating system strategy and next generation PowerPC architecture.
Following on Monday's announcement of Apple's operating system strategy by
Steve Jobs, interim CEO of Apple Computer, Metrowerks outlined how it plans
to support developers in their transition to Mac OS X (Ten) using the
Carbon API.
"As we did for the Power Macintosh transition, Metrowerks will provide the
tools that software developers need to make the transition to the next
generation of Macintosh. We are impressed with the moves Apple is making
and are looking forward to working with Apple," said Greg Galanos,
president, and chief technology officer, Metrowerks.
Metrowerks announced that they will host the CodeWarrior IDE and PowerPlant
application framework on Mac OS X using the Carbon API, allowing software
developers to develop for Mac OS X using Mac OS X. In addition, Metrowerks
will support cross-development for Mac OS X from Mac OS 8.x and from Mac OS
X to Mac OS 8.x.
"We are pleased to be working closely with Metrowerks to make sure our
developers have the tools that they need to take advantage of Apple's
future software and hardware products," said Avie Tevanian, senior vice
president, Software Engineering, Apple Computer, Inc.
"Having Metrowerks CodeWarrior tools that work with the Carbon API allows
Adobe to complete some very difficult development work quickly," said Greg
Gilley, vice president of engineering, Adobe Systems Inc. "Metrowerks
compilers will be an important key to the success of Mac OS X."
Metrowerks also announced that it will be providing tools to support
Motorola's new AltiVec technology, which expands the current PowerPC
architecture through the addition of a 128-bit vector execution unit. The
AltiVec technology expands the PowerPC microprocessor to new levels of
performance when using the complex data types and operations required for
multimedia.
"Metrowerks' tools support is critical for Macintosh developers who want to
take advantage of the leap in performance and multimedia capabilities
offered by next generation PowerPC microprocessors that will incorporate
Motorola's new AltiVec technology," said Bertrand Cambou, senior vice
president and general manager of Motorola's Networking and Computing
Systems Group.
"The AltiVec technology will bring the PowerPC to a new level of
performance," said Greg Galanos. "With our AltiVec enabled tools, Macintosh
developers will be able to bring their Macintosh applications to a level of
performance never seen before."
Metrowerks plans to deliver a developer release of its tools for Mac OS X
when Apple delivers the Mac OS X SDK in early 1999. Support for AltiVec
will be delivered as part of CodeWarrior Pro 5 in April, 1999. Pre-release
versions will be seeded to developers prior to the final release.
About Metrowerks
Founded in 1985, Metrowerks develops, markets and supports CodeWarrior
software development solutions for a number of operating systems targeting
the most popular microprocessors. Intended for use for embedded systems or
desktop computers, the cross-platform compilers support C, C++, Java, and
Pascal, and allow programmers to build applications from one unique
Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Metrowerks' CodeWarrior products
are used by more than 100,000 registered users in 75 countries. For more
information, please visit the Metrowerks web site at www.metrowerks.com.
