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Mac OS 9

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Mac OS 9
File:Mac OS 9 screenshot 2.png
Mac OS 9 desktop
DeveloperApple Computer
OS familyClassic Mac OS
Working stateStill in use
Source modelClosed source
Latest release9.2.2 / December 6 2001
Kernel typeNanokernel
LicenseProprietary
Official websiteN/A
File:Sherlock2 OS9.png
Sherlock 2 for Mac OS 9 with the new metallic appearance

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, an 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, prompting a third-party patch to be released, stripping 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 [1]) 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

File:Macos9retailbox.jpg
Mac OS 9 retail box.

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.
  • USB Printer Sharing, a control panel that allowed certain models of USB printers to be shared across a TCP/IP network.

Version history

Version Release Date Changes Codename
9.0 October 1999 Initial release Sonata
9.0.2 Shipped with Macs Bug fixes. N/A
9.0.3 Shipped with Macs Bug fixes. N/A
9.0.4 December 2000 Improved USB and FireWire support. Other bug fixes. Minuet
9.1 January 2001 (download) Integrated Disc Burning within Finder. Implementation of Finder 'Window' menu. Improved stability. Fortissimo
9.2 July 2001 G3 processor as minimum system requirement. Improved speed and Classic Environment support. Moonlight
9.2.1 August 2001 (download) Minor bug fixes. Limelight
9.2.2 December 2001 (download) Bug fixes relating to Classic Environment. LU1
Version Release Date Changes Codename

Updates to Mac OS 9 include 9.0.4, 9.1, and 9.2.1. 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 within the Finder, and a new Finder menu, Window, which allowed users to switch between open windows. Mac OS 9.2.1 introduced minimum system requirements of a G3 processor, which brought about noticeable speed improvements both within Mac OS 9 and through the Classic environment of Mac OS X.

Miscellaneous information

Due to the perceived naming similarity with Microware's OS-9, Microware sued Apple for trademark infringement. Later, a judge rejected the claim, saying there was little chance of confusion.

For some time after the discontinuation of Mac OS 9, Apple sold retail copies of OS 9 for $19.95 to qualified OS X purchasers through the Mac OS 9.2 Fulfillment Program. This was designed to assist those who needed to run Classic applications yet did not own a copy of OS 9. This program has since been abandoned.

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 an MMU. The PearPC emulator does not boot into Mac OS 9. [1]

Also, the famous Happy Mac that served Mac users for almost 15 years has been changed to a full-color (32-bit) Happy Mac.

Available versions

Retail copies of Mac OS 9 are still available from several Internet businesses at varying prices. Mac OS 9 is still distributed with all new PowerPC Macs on the System Restore DVDs, however it is not installed by default, and is included solely to enable use of the Classic Environment. Mac OS 9 is not yet classified as abandonware, as it is still in wide use by those who cannot upgrade to Mac OS X due to hardware limitations, or prefer it to Mac OS X.

Trivia

One small easter egg, when in the "About This Computer" window, which shows the amount of memory being used, control-clicking on the Mac OS 9 picture sends you to Apple's page about their operating system www.apple.com/macos, which, after the introduction of Mac OS X, is redirected to www.apple.com/macosx.

There was another easter egg in earlier versions of OS 9, where if the user held ctrl + option + cmd, and selected the Apple menu, an "About The Mac OS 9 Team" menu would replace the "About This Computer". This was also present in OS 8.5, but was removed in later versions of OS 9, from both the resource template and the data fork of the System file.

See also

References

  1. ^ "FAQ." PearPC - PowerPC Architecture Emulator. Accessed on November 24, 2005.
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