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News Archive: February, 1999
February was an important month for the Xclave.
First off, and most importantly, we launched the site officially on
February 8, 1999. We have started to bring you news, and links to
products that affect this platform, and more.
We are all ready for a full-blown release of MacOS X Server for
sometime this month. Of course, this month is running out…and even
if it doesn't ship in February, our MacOS X
Server page is as up to date as possible.
And, as always, we promise that this month's news is just the tip of
the iceberg. With more news flowing in every day, and with our need for
news greater than ever, we hope that this is just the start of
things.
OK, that's enough corny for one page…
Site
redesign
(seen by all viewers for about a week at the end of
February)
"From what had been a beautiful,
natural landscape came a thing of indescribable wonder. The sweeping
changes before us lay waste to our foolish belief that we had ever
known what beauty truly was. Not so long ago had this been the most
stunning sight to be viewed by a human, and now we dispassionately
felt that it had outlived its use. Funny how time, the great
enabler, changes the way we see the world."
In the past, we have focused on substance over style. Our pages are
filled with information, but not much color or structure. It's as if we
are being sponsored by whomever invented <BLOCKQUOTE>.
The reason is simply that we didn't want to wait to launch the site
until we found a good design which met our standards. Our goal was, and
still is, quality over gloss.
But hey, we're all about gloss, too. So, over the next week or so,
we will be slowly applying the new UI to the site. We're going fast
enough to get it done, and slow enough to take input as we go.
We have broken the page down into multiple little tables instead of
one big one, and we think it looks cleaner, and it should help all of
you who are visiting via a modem connection.
(If you don't know why, it is because tables cannot
be rendered by your browser until they are completely loaded. That is
why you some sites with lots of tables load quickly, whereas horrendous
sites like C|net which take forever to load because they are simply one
very large table.)
Please let
us know what you think of the new look, and the new color
scheme.
MacOS X in the media this month
The following articles and features were published online during the
month of February, and all have something to do with MacOS X, MacOS X
Server, WebObjects, and/or YellowBox.
February 26
MacOS X Server installation manual?
In Apple's Product Documentation Archive, there is a
MacOS
X Server Installation manual in .pdf format in. The document
notes support for more than just PowerMacintosh G3 computers, but
also notes that the OS will require 32 Megs of RAM and 500 Megs of
HD space.
However, contrary to initial interpretations, this is most likely
not the latest manual. Why you ask?
We're not ruling it out, but we don't think it's very likely. At
the very least, it would have been copyrighted 1999.
(Thanks to Andy Youngs for pointing the posting out
to us)
Reporting with a BANG
We have added a brand new special
report on the BANG meeting from Wednesday evening. Not only does
it cover MacOS X Server specifics, such as hardware support,
software functionality, positioning and more, but also a look ahead
to MacOS X, and the future of AppleShare IP.
If you should have any notes, additions, or corrections to our
report, just e-mail us.
February 24-25
OmniDictionary announced
[updated]
The Omni Group has announced OmniDictionary,
a client-side application which gives users the ability to lookup
definitions from network dictionary servers, such as the DICT
Development Group's network dictionary. OmniDictionary functions
both as a stand-alone application, and as a system-wide process
which allows you to query definitions from other programs by using a
special keystroke.
Version 1.1, which fixed some version 1.0 bugs, is now currently
available. The binary (which works with both PPC and Intel versions
of DR2) is available
for immediate download.
(Note: Similar to many other Omni projects, the
Omni Frameworks (version 1998G2) must be installed on your system
for OmniDictionary to work. If you do not have these frameworks
installed, click here to download
them.)
February 22-23
NetBoot TechNote
Apple has posted a new TechNote entitled "Creating
NetBoot Server-Friendly Applications." It describes how MacOS
applications should be designed in order to ensure maximum
ease-of-use on a computer booting off a NetBoot server.
Also of note is that the TechNote specifically says that
NetBooting will support both PowerMacs and PowerBooks, though no
specifics on which models will support this are mentioned.
'Tis Your Civic Duty…
So, was that you who said that they wanted a revolution?
WebObjects is currently nominated in the 1999 Java Developers
Journal Readers Awards for best application server. We don't
actually know why we didn't mention this before, but in the last
couple of days Apple's Enterprise solution has gone from a few
piddly votes to top of the class.
If you would like to vote for WebObjects in the JDJ Readers
Choice Awards, then just visit
their page and fill
out the form. It's long, and it asks you all that stupid
personal information that you'd rather not answer, but you'll be
doing the right thing by helping to bring national attention to the
power of and respect for WebObjects.
As of 12pm EST today, the standings
were:
- WebObjects - 657 votes
- IBM WebSphere Application Server 2.0 - 472 votes
- SilverStream Enterprise Application Server 2.0 - 451
votes
- WebLogic Tengah - 292 votes
- Inprise Application Server - 216 votes
- JRun - 213 votes
- Sybase Enterprise Application Server - 146 votes
- Apache-Jserv - 128 votes
- The rest have 100 votes or less
The contest will be running until May 15th.
Apple Seminar on MacOS X Server and more…
The AppleNW
Higher Education team will be conducting a Road
Show at Reed College in Portland, Oregon on March 2nd. The
seminar will cover MacOS X Server, iMacs, FireWire, USB, QuickTime
as a teaching tool, and more.
Other seminars and dates:
- Phoenix, AZ on February 24 (Arizona State University)
(session full)
- Salt Lake City, UT on March 8 (University of Utah)
- Stanford, CA on March 10 (Stanford University)
- Los Angeles, CA on March 12 (UCLA)
- Honolulu, HI on March 17 (University of Hawaii - Manoa)
The seminar is run by Higher Education, so only Higher Education
clients need apply. If you're interested, you can check out the
website and register for the event. And there's a free lunch
too!
If you are not involved in any way with Higher Education, and
would like to go, please check with Apple before
registering out of courtesy.
A modern look for a modern OS
If you've looked around, you'll notice that there's a lot
to read but not much in the way of color. The reason is really that
we didn't want to wait to launch until we found a good design. Our
goal was, and still is, quality over gloss.
But hey, we're all about gloss, too. So, over the next week or
so, we will be slowly applying the new UI to the site. We're going
fast enough to get it done, and slow enough to take input as we
go.
Today's top-level page is our first publicly displayed idea.
You'll notice the new logo, and our very first motto! :)
Please let
us know what you think of the new look, and the new color
scheme.
February 19
Word from Apple - An Xclave Special Report
We are proud to bring you our first special
report today, and it's through official sources! :P
In it, we bring you some official and some unofficial information
about MacOS X Server, including word on pricing, promotion, and
more.
There's also some general Mac information, including a couple of
notes on the P1, the Hal9000 commercial, and more.
(Sorry about the broken link, everyone. A stupid
mistake kept the page with the correct link on our hard drive, and
not on the server. Thanks to Mike Stephens, Kevin Kearney, and Frank
Alviani for pointing this out to us!)
Carbon dating - Another Xclave Special Report
On Friday, MacNN
reportied that an initial developer release of the Carbon library
has been released to select Apple developers. Other news sources
have also noted that the library has been released, and the
MRP specifying that it is version "1.0d6c2 for Mac OS 8.5 SDK."
We have started a special
report on what this means about the MacOS X project, what it
means to developers, and what it means for MacOS X Server…
February 12
Entreging…
According to Entrega
Tech Support, MacOS X Server drivers for their USB cards will
be available on the first of March. A very nice sign indeed that
Apple is working together with hardware vendors on not only the
MacOS!
February 10
CodeWarrior 4 - MacOS X server tools
If you've picked up a copy of MacWarehouse or any other
catalog featuring Metrowerks' wonderful CodeWarrior, you've noticed
a curious little blurb: "pre-release MacOS X support"
With all the buzz lately about development tools for MacOS X
Server, a CodeWarrior which can create YellowBox and BSD
applications could be a very valuable product should Apple ever
decide to ship a barebones version of MacOS X Server.
So, we decided to ask Customer Support at Metrowerks, and we were
told that CodeWarrior 4 includes:
- a MacOS X Server-hosted compiler which "builds C, C++,
and ObjC code into Mach-O executables suitable for MacOS X
Server. It can also be used as a plug-in compiler to
ProjectBuilder"
- a MacOS-hosted cross compiler which will generate Mach-O
files, and a linker for those Mach-O files which will produce a
fully executable MacOS X Server application
- a version of MetroNub specifically designed to run in MacOS X
Server's Blue Box under MacOS 8.1 or 8.5
Metrowerks Customer Support also said that a YellowBox
development tool is currently in development, as well as developer
documentation for YellowBox and Objective-C.
CommunigatePro on MXS CD
So, you want some more info on the copy of CommunigatePro
shipping on the MacOS X Server Third-Party CD? Well, here's some:
The bundled version is 2.8, which is the latest release of the
multi-purpose server, And just like every other version of
CommunigatePro, all features are fully enabled. The only limitation
to the software is that each message transferred via the server will
have
*This message was transferred with a trial version of
CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
appended.
Also, Stalker is currently investigating some smaller licenses
for CommuniGate Pro, including some licenses specifically aimed at
small workgroups/companies. We will let you know when Stalker makes
this announcement official.
Until then, the current rates
will be in effect. Educational institutions should contact Stalker
directly for special licensing rates.
New to the site? Well, of course you are…
So you don't know where to go first?
Well, first and foremost, with the highly anticipated release of
MacOS X Server coming sometime in February, you might enjoy our
MacOS X Server Information page, which
contains all the information fit to print on the new operating
system. The information on the page is the most up to date
information which we have been able to get out hands on.
We also have a MacOS X Information
page. It is not as rounded out as our MacOS X Server page, but
is definitely a good start for those of you who are confused by the
difference between MacOS X and MacOS X Server.
And if you don't know, there's quite a difference. :)
There is plenty of other information throughout our site,
including the Tweak List. The Tweak List
was designed with one person in mind: you. We know that sometimes
computer jargon is more confusing than representative government, so
we have started a list of definitions/explanations which will allow
you to more fully understand some of the complex computer-industry
concepts which come up regularly throughout the Xclave.
So look around and check out our information and content. And if
you would like to get in touch with the Xclave, and we'd love to
hear from you, please check out our contact
page for the appropriate link.
February 8
Yellow snow - bad. Yellow code - Great!
We have started a listing of MacOS X Server/Yellow Box
developers on the links page. If you are a
developer and would like to be included on this list, just send us
an e-mail.
Entries will be listed on a first come, first served basis. And
as always, no shoes, no shirt, no service!
Looking for a fun divot tool?
We are proud to announce a new feature at the Xclave -
XGolf.
The new feature is a long-term project. XGolf is the codename for
what will be a robust golf stat package which will be designed both
for individual users looking for feedback on their game, and for
clubhouses which are looking to upgrade their old handicap packages.
We are still hammering out the tools we would like to include in our
applications, so the new XGolf page is not up. Look for its splash
this weekend.
The XGolf project is aimed at documenting the process of taking
XGolf from being an ANSI C CLI package, and bringing it to
YellowBox. We will be providing application binaries as we progress
in our testing stages, and will keep a contantly updated page on the
status of the project.
Shameful plug
Try as we may to avoid it, we are all living in a
capitalist society. We, however, do not see soliciting advertising
in such cold terms.
The Xclave provide advertising for two reasons (in order of
importance):
- Advertising opens a very important channel between developers
and end users:
MacOS X Server developers/solution providers can target their
wares to an audience which is largely untapped by mainstream Mac
media - MacOS X Server users, and curious MacOS X
early-adopters.
End-users are presented with a plethora of options for this
brand new platform. Users can find software which they knew
nothing about, great deals on computers and computer parts, and
peripherals which can make their computer/server even better than
it is.
- We live in a capitalist society, and black is a much nicer
color than red.
If you would be interested in tapping into this "undiscovered
country," please visit out advertising
page. We are currenly offering banners on each page of the
Xclave, and will be introducing some additional advertising
opportunities and special offers in the very near future.
Greetings!
(the letter welcoming all visitors for
the first week after Feb. 8, the day we launched - displayed 2/8 thru
2/14)
Welcome to the MacOS Xclave.
If you look around at the major and minor Mac-related sites around
the Internet, you will notice that the only quality repository for
quality MacOS X (Server)-related information is the fabulous Stepwise
run by Scott Anguish.
Many Mac users do not yet understand just how vital MacOS X will be
to not only their lives, but also to Apple's continued success. With no
release of MacOS X (Server) to the public at large, there doesn't seem
right now to be a public need for a dedicate MacOS X information
site.
Yet, the truth is that in a year's time, the MacOS as we know it
will be replaced with a powerhouse enterprise-level operating system
which puts the current MacOS to shame. Having a site devoted to MacOS X
is not a misappropriation of time or resources - quite the
opposite.
Our goal is to create a quality repository of anything and
everything related to MacOS X! As such, we are an exclave among
MacOS-related sites, as West Berlin was in Berlin itself.
The Xclave was not created to be another mindless site about this
new operating system from Apple. Instead, we hope to Xclave to be a
far-reaching, hard-hitting site about MacOS X and other Apple
technologies like OPENSTEP, WebObjects, EOF, and
more.
In order to make the site both content-oriented and
consumer-oriented, we have put together a number of additions which we
hope will help you, the reader:
- The Tweak List - a list of
terms which you will encounter during MacOS X discussions. As new
terms are brought up in Xclave pieces, we will be adding entries to
the Tweak List.
- MacOS X and MacOS X pages -
pages dedicated to archiving known and likely features and
technologies which will be incorporated into the new operating
systems
- More articles - an improved
variety of articles concerning not only MacOS X, but potential
applications, WO, EOF, networking, client/server, positioning, and
many other possibilities
- More links and resources -
we have started a list of links to OPENSTEP/MacOS X Server/MacOS X
developers, information, and software
- Improved News Archives - we
will be combining Xclave news, and soon the old RhapNet news
- XGolf - a long-term project
to document the process of creating new MacOS X (Server)
applications using YellowBox
- More news - we will be
updating news frequently, including word from Apple, readers, and
the press
Do you like that? Well, that's just the start! Upcoming features
include: A Beginner Guide to MacOS X Administration, software reviews,
a monthly .pdf newsletter.
In short, we hope that we can provide you with the MacOS X news and
content you have been looking for!
Sincerely,
Mark J. Hershenson
Senior editor
February 2-4
More bundled software
According to a note on MacInTouch,
MacOS X Server will ship with a copy of OpenBase, a powerful SQL
database for OPENSTEP, MacOS X Server, and WinNT. For those of you
who might be interested in finding out more about OpenBase, OpenBase
Inc. and the Xclave will be co-ordinating an effort to get a review
on the site within the next couple of weeks.
As well, Stalker Software has told us that their Stalker Internet
Gateway software will be bundled on the MacOS X Server installation
CD. According to Stalker, their software will be the only mail
solution shipping with MacOS X Server. More on the software is
available from our MacOS X Server
page.
According the the information we have gathered, that means that
MacOS X Server will ship as a solution armed with:
A high powered SQL/JDBC database
Network OS server
Pre-press/Publishing solutions
Inter-/intranet Web server
Inter-/intranet mail server
Inter-/intranet FTP server
Inter-/intranet print server
Inter-/intranet Telnet server
Standard development tools
More…
Pretty darn impressive. And we're just getting started!
Java or Objective-C?
The latest in a long line of sprited debates is that of the
programming language of choice for the Yellow Box. In the eyes of
developers, Objective-C has been challenged lately by Apple's
committment to Java as a programming language.
On the one hand, it would be hard for Apple to justify abandoning
support for Objective-C since so much of the OPENSTEP/MacOS X Server
codebase is written in it.
On the other, Apple may very well feel that providing a Java
programming solution could help to bring new, spirited developers to
the platform. Apple's a business, and the know that bringing new
programmers into the MacOS X platform is a must. With the rising
popularity of Java and the growing speed of Apple's Java runtimes,
Apple would be well served by a Java interface to Yellow Box.
As it is, it is very unlikely that Apple could drop Objective-C
support, and even less likely that they would want to. But look for
the Java interface to be more pronounced in Apple's marketing of
Yellow Box.
We'd love to hear from developers about how they feel Apple is
handling this vital issue.
February 1
Searching for answers
We are currently looking for an explanation of something.
From what we've read about BSD, the BSD networking in MacOS X Server
should be able to do IP forwarding in much the same way as Sustainable
Network's IPNetRouter among other solutions. We would like to
utilize a single network input and share Internet and Intranet
capabilities with numerous computers in a small LAN.
Here at Xclave Central, we have a two-way cable modem for
Internet access, and a PowerMac G3/266, Power Mac 7200/90, and
Macintosh IIci on a small network. We would very much like to use a
MacOS X Server-enabled G3 to act as the basis for packet forwarding
over a 10Base-T network.
So, how would we set this up under MacOS X Server? Does this
functionality merely require some changes with the networking
configuration files, or would we have to use a third-party
solution?
If the former is true, we would sincerely appreciate it if anyone
could please tell us how this is done.
However, if the solution we are looking for is proprietary, we
would love to hear who produces this product and how it works. We
can offer a true, objective review of your software here on the
Xclave, and more. Please get in contact with Mark
about this. Thanks!
First contact is a success
We, the Xclave staff, would like to thank all the
developers who have contacted us so far. The response we have
received from the developer community has been astounding, and their
responses have been down right flattering. We hope to have some more
information on who has signed on with the Xclave in the next week. |
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