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Games - Mac OS 9

Mac OS 9 was the last version of what has since become known as the classic Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS
), introduced by Apple Computer
on October 23, 1999. Upon introduction, Mac OS 9 was advertised as having "50 new features," including Sherlock 2, a definite improvement over the original Sherlock, which had resembled FindFile. Sherlock 2, among other things, boasted a new 'channels' feature and a QuickTime-like metallic appearance (which some people detested, and a third-party patch was released to strip it of its metallic interface). Apple also was quick to point out OS 9's 128-bit encryption capabilities.

Codenamed Sonata, and originally intended to debut as Mac OS 8.7
, Mac OS 9 is, by some, considered the most functional and stable version of the original Mac OS. Still, Mac OS 9 did not include features common to modern operating systems, such as protected memory (which, reportedly was implemented in beta versions of Mac OS 9.1, but pulled at Apple CEO Steve Jobs
' command ) and pre-emptive multitasking (except through the nanokernel that was added in Mac OS 8.6). Mac OS 9’s lasting improvements include the addition of an automated Software Update
engine, and support for multiple users. Mac OS 9 retained the Platinum theme of Mac OS 8, though it was open to different themes created by third parties, no hacks required.

Apple billed Mac OS 9 as "best Internet operating system ever," and heavily marketed its Sherlock 2
software, which extended Apple’s search tool to many online resources. In addition, Mac OS 9 featured integrated support for Apple’s suite of Internet tools known as iTools (now .Mac
), and included improved Open Transport networking.

In May 2002, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference
in San Jose, California, Jobs delivered a mock funeral for Mac OS 9 during his keynote address, dressed in black and accompanied by a coffin. The purpose of the theatrics was to announce that Apple had stopped all development of OS 9. Mac OS 9.2.2, introduced in late 2001, was the final version of Mac OS 9, and indeed, the end of the classic Mac OS.

PowerPC
versions of Mac OS X
include a compatibility layer called Classic
that runs a complete Mac OS 9 installation within OS X for applications and hardware that require OS 9. Most Mac OS 9 applications did run well in Classic, although many apps had screen redraw problems, and scanner drivers and many other utilities no longer worked.

In June 2005, Jobs announced that the Macintosh platform would be transitioning to Intel x86 microprocessors. One consequence of this change was revealed in the developer documentation for the Rosetta
PowerPC emulation layer, which is designed to allow PowerPC Macintosh applications to run on the Intel processor. The documentation explicitly states that applications written for Mac OS 8 or 9 will not run on x86-based Macs. It is possible that a third-party software developer may create a workaround for this, but so far none have been announced.

Features

Compared to Mac OS 8
, Mac OS 9 offered:
  • Network Browser
    , a new application for browsing networks and connecting to other computers on a network. These tasks were previously handled through the Chooser
    application.
  • Several improvements to the Appearance control panel.
  • Sherlock 2
    , an updated searching utility for searching Internet and hard disk content.
  • PlainTalk
    2 improved speech synthesis and recognition.
  • Added File Encryption into the Finder.
  • Added Unix volume support.
  • Remote Access Personal Server 3.5, included in the package, supports TCP/IP clients over PPP.
  • CD Burning in the Finder
    , in a later update.
  • A completely new Sound control panel.
  • iTools Internet tools (later renamed .Mac
    ).
  • Support for multiple user accounts, without using At Ease
    .
  • Keychain Access
    added, a new feature allowing users to save passwords in protected keychains.
  • New version of AppleScript
  • New "Software Update" system allowing for system software updates through a control panel which automatically downloads and installs new updates safely.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Mac OS 9 ]


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