Mac OS 9

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Mac OS 9
Part of the Mac OS family
Mac OS 9 screenshot 2.png
Screenshot of Mac OS 9
Developer
Apple Computer Inc.
Websitehttp://www.apple.com/support/macos9/
Releases
Release dateOctober 23, 1999[1][2][3][citation needed]
Current version9.2.2 (December 5, 2001) (info)
Source modelClosed source
LicenseProprietary
Kernel typenanokernel
Support status
Classic Mac Internet Support
Sherlock 2 for Mac OS 9 with the new metallic appearance

Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's "Classic" Mac OS. Introduced on October 23, 1999[1][2][3], 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[4], 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.

Steve Jobs pitched OS 9 as the best "internet OS ever" but users of Mac clones were left out, OS 9 was a "Made by Apple" affair.[1]

Contents

[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, which is now known as MobileMe) and included improved TCP/IP functionality with Open Transport 2.5.

Other features new to Mac OS 9 include:[5] [6]

  • 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.[7]
  • Improved font management through FontSync.
  • Remote Access Personal Server 3.5, including support for TCP/IP clients over Point-to-Point Protocol (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 (System 9) and Classic

PowerPC versions of Mac OS X prior to 10.5 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[8] 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 10.4, however x86 versions of OS X do not officially 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.[9]

[edit] Version history

VersionRelease DateChangesCodenameComputer
9.0October 1999Initial releaseSonataN/A
9.0.2Shipped with MacsBug fixes.N/APowerBook (FireWire)
9.0.3Shipped with MacsBug fixes.N/AiMac/iMac DV/iMac DV SE
9.0.4April 2000 (download)Improved USB and FireWire support. Other bug fixes.MinuetiMac G3 (slot loading)
9.1January 2001 (download)Integrated Disc Burning within Finder. Implementation of Finder 'Window' menu. Improved stability.FortissimoiBook 14 inch panel
9.2Shipped with MacsG3 processor as minimum system requirement. Improved speed and Classic Environment support.MoonlightPower Mac G4 (QuickSilver)
9.2.1August 2001 (download)Minor bug fixes.LimelightiBook (Late 2001), PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
9.2.2December 2001 (download)Bug fixes relating to Classic Environment.LU1eMac

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] Compatibility

Macintosh Model9.0[10]9.1[10]9.2.1[10]9.2.2[10]
Power Macintosh 6100YesYes: Must install from CDNoNo
Power Macintosh 7100YesYes: Must install from CDNoNo
Power Macintosh 8100YesYes: Must install from CDNoNo
PowerBook 2300YesYesNoNo
PowerBook 5300YesYesNoNo
PowerBook 1400YesPartial: Password Security unsupportedNoNo
PowerBook 3400YesYes: Hard disk driver must not be updatedNoNo
Power Macintosh 5200YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 5300YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 5500YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 4400YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 6200YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 6300YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 6400YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 6500YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 7200YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 7300YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 7500YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 8500YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 7600YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 8600YesYesNoNo
Power Macintosh 9600YesYesNoNo
Twentieth Anniversary MacintoshYesYesNoNo
PowerBook G3YesYesNoNo
PowerBook G3 SeriesYesYesYesYes
PowerBook (FireWire)Yes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYesYes
PowerBook G4NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)NoNoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYes
PowerBook G4 (DVI)NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
PowerBook G4 (12-inch)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (17-inch)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5GHz)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
iBookYesYesYesYes
iBook (FireWire)Yes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYesYes
iBook (Dual USB)NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
iBook (Late 2001)NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
iBook (14.1 LCD)NoNoNoYes
iBook (16 VRAM)NoNoNoYes
iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM)NoNoNoYes
iBook (32 VRAM)NoNoNoYes
iBook (14.1 LCD 32 VRAM)NoNoNoYes
iBook (Early 2003)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
iBook G4NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
iBook G4 (14-inch)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
iBook G4 (Early 2004)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Macintosh G3 All-In-OneYesYesYesYes
Power Macintosh G3YesYesYesYes
Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White)YesYesYesYes
iMac G3YesYesYesYes
iMac G3 (266 MHz, 333 MHz)YesYesYesYes
iMac G3 (Slot Loading)YesYesYesYes
iMac G3 (Summer 2000)Yes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYesYes
iMac G3 (Early 2001)NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
iMac G3 (Summer 2001)NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
iMac G4NoNoNoYes
iMac G4 (February 2003)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
iMac G4 (17-inch 1 GHz)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
iMac G4 (USB 2.0)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
eMacNoNoNoYes
eMac (ATI Graphics CD-ROM drive)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
eMac (ATI Graphics Combo drive)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
eMac (ATI Graphics SuperDrive)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics)YesYesYesYes
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics)YesYesYesYes
Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)Yes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYesYes
Power Mac G4 CubeYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYesYes
Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio)NoYes: Machine-specific version onlyYesYes
Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver)NoNoYesYes
Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
Power Mac G4 (FW 800)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)NoNoNoYes: Machine-specific version only
Power Mac G5NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Mac G5 (June 2004)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Mac G5 (Late 2004)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Mac G5 (Early 2005)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Power Mac G5 (Late 2005)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only
Mac mini (G4)NoNoNoPartial: Classic Environment only

[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. Although now classified as abandonware, as development on it has ended, it is still in use by those who cannot upgrade to Mac OS X due to hardware limitations, or prefer it to Mac OS X. Mac OS 9 is also a popular choice for retrocomputing hobbyists. Mac gamers also sometimes revert to Classic in order to play some of the earlier, nonsupported games, for example, Civilization II, and the Marathon Trilogy.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "October 23, 1999: Mac OS 9 Released". http://www.applematters.com/article/october-23-1999-mac-os-9-released/. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  2. ^ a b "October 23, 1999: Mac OS 9 Released [Archive - Mac Forums]". http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-244958.html. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  3. ^ a b "October 23, 1999: Mac OS 9 Released MacBytes.com". http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=244958. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  4. ^ "Re: newbie question: What is a Blue Task". http://lists.apple.com/archives/Mt-smp/2001/May/msg00007.html. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  5. ^ "Mac OS 9 Special Report". http://www.macintouch.com/m90.html. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  6. ^ "MacHelp What's New in Mac OS 9". http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50100. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  7. ^ "Mac OS 9: What's New - Speakable Items". http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60519. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  8. ^ YouTube | Apple WWDC 2002-The Death Of Mac OS 9
  9. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". PearPC Developers. http://pearpc.sourceforge.net/faq.html. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  10. ^ a b c d "Mac OS 8 and 9 compatibility with Macintosh computers". Apple Inc.. Unknown. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1835. Retrieved 2009-02-28.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Macintosh operating systems
Classic Mac OS (history)
System 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 · System 6 · System 7 · Mac OS 7.6 · Mac OS 8 · Mac OS 9
Mac OS X (history)
Server
Other OS projects
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