Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) announced
plans to unify the dual printing architectures currently supported by the
Mac(R) OS and standardize on the use of "classic" Printing Manager
drivers, such as LaserWriter(R) and StyleWriter(R), for future Mac OS 7.x
releases. In a move to simplify users' printing experience, Apple plans to
remove the printing architecture component of QuickDraw GX, refocus QuickDraw
GX as a graphics solution, and continue to evolve its Printing Manager drivers.
"Today's Mac
OS users have access to two different print driver architectures, along with
two printing user interfaces," said Jim Gable, vice president of
AppleSoft(R) marketing. "We believe that standardizing on Printing Manager
drivers will provide the best printing solution going forward, while we
continue to evolve the advanced color and type features of QuickDraw GX."
Unified Printing
Architecture
Beginning with the
Mac OS scheduled to be released in July, code-named Tempo, Apple will provide a
unified operating system printing architecture standardizing on the Printing
Manager architecture's drivers. With the unified printing architecture,
QuickDraw GX printer drivers and QuickDraw GX printing extensions will not be a
user option at installation.
QuickDraw GX
Apple added
QuickDraw GX to the Mac OS in 1993, as an extension to QuickDraw, the graphics
display system built into the first Macintosh(R). QuickDraw GX was designed to
provide additional color, graphics, text, and printing capabilities. Under the
new unified printing architecture strategy, the printing architecture of
QuickDraw GX will be removed and the technology will be refocused as a graphics
solution.
Impact on
Developers
In place of the
QuickDraw GX 1.1.5 architecture currently available, a modified system will be
delivered as a separate software library. The new implementation of QuickDraw
GX will continue to offer Apple(R) developers the advantages of superior
graphic and typography features for Mac OS.
Developers of
QuickDraw GX applications will be required to modify their applications to use
the new shared library to print via standard "classic" print drivers.
Apple is currently working with these developers to aid them in updating their
applications by providing a method that lets them print their existing and
future QuickDraw GX-based documents via the current "classic" drivers
for both PostScript and raster printers. For more information, a Tech Note will
be available at Apple's developer website: http://devworld.apple.com/dev/technotes.shtml
Benefits:
* Developers do
not need to support and test multiple sets of printer drivers.
* Developers who
use QuickDraw GX features can reach a larger set of Macintosh users.
Impact on
Customers
Apple's new
unified printing architecture will help provide a simplified printing procedure
for the customer. For applications that work in both QuickDraw GX and classic
printing environments, which describes the vast majority of Macintosh software
today, no changes will be necessary. Customers wanting to print from QuickDraw
GX applications will have to obtain updated versions of the application to
print via non-QuickDraw GX Drivers.
Benefits:
* Users can
benefit from GX enabled applications without installing GX system software.
* Users no longer
need to decide between two sets of printer drivers, Classic, or QuickDraw GX.
Apple Computer,
Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in
multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use
personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, handheld computers and
Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple develops,
manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and
services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and
engineering and government customers in more than 140 countries.
Apple's home page
on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
NOTE: Apple, the
Apple logo, Macintosh and Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple Computer,
Inc. All other brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.
ADDENDUM
Developers Support
Apple's Unified Printing Architecture
"PaceWorks
was an early champion of focusing QuickDraw GX as a graphics solution only, and
we are therefore very supportive of the Unified Printing Architecture. The
ability to access the superior graphic and typography features of GX without
changing the printing system will be a benefit for both users and developers.
We appreciate the fact that Apple is so proactive in preserving and improving
the superior graphics capabilities of GX in the future version of its operating
system."
Phac Le Tuan,
President & CEO of PaceWorks, Inc. (phac@paceworks.com)
"I think this
will make life a lot easier for us!"
- Adil Allawi,
Technical Director of Diwan Software (Adil@diwan.com)
"We believe
that the graphics component of QuickDraw GX provides unparalleled capabilities
to Apple in the fast-expanding Internet publishing market, and can swiftly
establish Apple as the leader. This move simplifies the delivery of the
sophisticated QuickDraw GX graphics component to users."
- Mihail S. Lari,
president of Lari Software, Inc. (mlari@larisoftware.com)
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