Apple Announces Plans to Package Technologies as OpenDoc Components

"KickStart" Will Make Technology Adoption Easier

WWDC, SAN JOSE, California--May 13, 1996--In an effort to facilitate the
adoption of Mac OS technologies, Apple announced the availability of the
alpha version suite of OpenDoc components, code-named KickStart, that will
provide easy access to Apple's superior technologies.

Included with KickStart will be viewers for QuickTime, QuickTime VR,
QuickDraw 3D and Image Viewing for PICT, GIF, JPEG, and TIFF files. Two
standard editor components will provide basic text processing and drawing
functionality. Other components will provide sound and text annotation, as
well as a button that can embed sounds, aliases, speech and URLs.
KickStart components in alpha form are currently available on the OpenDoc
Software Developer Kit (SDK), version 5. Developers will be able to
license any or all of the KickStart components at no cost for
redistribution with their software.

Developers who write to OpenDoc, the multiplatform standard, get access to
Apple's advanced technologies with no additional design effort. "We
understand the trials of adopting a new technology, and we designed
KickStart so developers could spend more time working on their software
while Apple takes over the work of implementing its own technologies,"
said Greg Maletic, OpenDoc product manager. "By making it easier to
incorporate Apple technology, end-users can enjoy the benefits of the Mac
OS more quickly and developers can save effort and cost." Because the
KickStart components are built on top of OpenDoc, end-users will have
access to new Mac OS technology faster than ever before. Apple can provide
updated technology viewers that make the new features accessible
immediately without users having to upgrade their software. By providing a
standard set of OpenDoc functionality, Mac OS users get the richest
possible environment in which to employ OpenDoc-based software from both
Apple and third-party developers.

A variety of developers are planning on bundling KickStart functionality
with their OpenDoc-based software, including Claris with ClarisWorks,
WorldSoft's WorldWrite multi-lingual word processor and Digital Harbor's
new word processor code-named "Opal." "KickStart will allow us to offer
our customers easy access to powerful Apple technologies and will extend
the functionality of ClarisWorks," said Tom D'Arezzo, ClarisWorks product
manager.

The pre-release copy of KickStart is part of the OpenDoc Software Developer
Kit available from the OpenDoc web site at http://opendoc.apple.com/.

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, personal
digital assistants 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.

If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to
have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the
U.S. or 1-800-263- 3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or
would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call
1-800- 538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local
Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
 
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