The growth history of Mac OS

Mac OS is the operating system that runs on Apple's Macintosh family of computers, and has been used by the industry to compare with Microsoft's Windows. Mac OS is the first commercially successful graphical user interface, when Mac OS launched a graphical interface, Microsoft remained in the DOS era, Windows is still in swaddling. As Mac OS X Lion is about to launch, let's review the Mac OS's "Past and Present life".

Mac OS can be divided into two series of operating systems, one old and unsupported classic Mac OS, called "System x.xx" before OS 8. The other is the new Mac OS.

System 1.0 (1984-1985)

System 1.0, Apple's first operating system, was released in January 1984, and was born with a graphical operating interface that included items such as desktops, windows, icons, cursors, menus, and scrolling columns.

System 1.0

System 1.0 is relatively simple, and it was not possible to create a new folder from the menu. Apple later released an OS 1.1 pair of 1.0 problems to fix and updated some software.

System 2.x (1985-1987)

2.0 was released in April in 1985, and 2 was only a 1.0 update, and nothing much changed.

System 2.0

System 3.x (1986-1988)

System 3.0

System 4.x (1987)

System 4.0

System 5.x (1987-1988)

System 5.0

System 6 (1988-1991)

The System 6 interface has not changed much as compared to previous versions.

System 6.0

System 7 (1991)

System 7 can be said to have undergone a lot of updates than the previous generation, is also the first to support the color display of the Apple system, the icon finally has 256 color, but also support the multimedia quick time, the Internet function has also begun to introduce.

System 7.0

System 7.1-7.5

After System 7.0 was released, there were still some errors in the systems, which were resolved by 7.0.1 and some minor updates, but were still error-continued. So Apple launched system 7.1来 repair, but it is also Apple's first operating system, the previous operating system is free of charge, for the old users are "free upgrades." That led to discontent among many users, who were forced to drop the price to 30 dollars.

System 7.5.3

Mac OS 8.0

July 26, 1997, Mac OS 8.0 is officially released, that is, from this version, the name of Mac OS is formally adopted. Mac OS 8.0 brings users to the Multi-thread Finder, the three-dimensional platinum interface, and a new computer help (auxiliary description) system.

Mac OS 8.0

Since then, Apple released its Mac OS 8.1 in January 1998, adding a HFS Plus (Mac OS extension) Information management system, the last operating system for a PowerPC Apple, and the PowerPC Mac must be available to use Mac OS from 8.5. Then, from October 1998 to May 1999, Apple released the Mac OS 8.5/8.5.1/8.6, with little change in functionality.

Mac OS 9

Mac OS 9 is an improved version of Mac OS 8.6, released on October 23, 1999. 2002, Mac OS 9.2 released. In May 2002, Apple held a world-wide developer conference in Yasan Jose, California, where jobs also made a spoof of his black suit and a funeral for OS 9. is to announce that Apple will stop all development of OS 9. Mac OS 9 is Apple's most classic operating system, and 9.2.2 is its final version.

Mac OS 9

Mac OS X

Finally speaking of Mac OS X, talking about it, the twists and turns. Before we go into the details, let's talk about next. In September 1985, Jobs was forced to resign from Apple because of Apple's internal management struggles. After leaving Apple, he co-founded next with many former Apple employees, including Bud Tribble, George Crow, Rich Page, Susan Barnes, Susan Kare, Dan ' L Lewin. By assembling these talented engineers and programmers, the team attempts to create the ultimate academic research workstation. When they were looking for an operating system that could work with NeXT revolutionary hardware, they found a core of experimental operating systems based on Unix, called Mach. Mach (ListBox asynchronously Communication Hosts) was launched in 1985 because of DARPA's proposal to the Pentagon for an experimental multiprocessor computer operating system. Originally called supercomputer Workbench Project, a system developed with 100 or so processors and huge memory space.

The Mach core was very unique at the time. It is far more resilient and more advanced than the UNIX-compatible core at the time. These traits have attracted jobs ' attention, and he collaborated with the central character Tevanian at Mach, and soon developed NeXTSTEP, a new graphics operating system for next computer, which was released in 1988. In November 1996, when Apple was looking outside for the next-generation OS, Jobs went back to Apple to negotiate with management, and then, on December 20, Apple issued a statement to buy next for 430 million dollars, using nextstep as the underlying technology for the next-generation OS, Mr Jobs will also serve as an adviser to Apple. In this shift, jobs returned to Apple, and a new generation of Mac OS basics.

NeXTSTEP System

MAC OS X launched in 2001, it contains two main parts: Darwin, which is based on the BSD source code and Mach micro-core, a Unix-like open source environment, used by Apple computers and developed in collaboration with independent developers; the other part is developed by Apple computers. , named Aqua's copyrighted GUI interface. In the same year that Mac OS X was released, Mac OS X server was sold at the same time, with an architecture that was identical in two versions, and provided simplified access to critical network services, such as a mail transport server, Samba software, only if there were differences in the management and management software tools included. LDAP directory servers and DNS servers, and so on.

Because Mac OS x uses the BSD Unix based kernel, it brings in Unix-style memory management and preemptive multitasking (pre-emptive multitasking). Dramatically improves memory management, allows more software to be run at the same time, and essentially eliminates the possibility that a program crash can cause other programs to crash. This is also the first Mac OS to include "command line" mode, but you may never see it unless you execute a separate terminal utility program. When Mac OS X was launched, it was officially said to support more than G3 processors, but the machines that had upgraded to the minimum system requirements, and the original PowerBook G3, could not run Mac OS X.

As the first official version of OS X, Mac OS X 10.0 improves on stability over the old Mac OS, but still lacks basic functionality such as DVD playback and a limited number of machines. But the most frustrating part of the problem is poor performance, and there is very limited software available for OS X at the time, so most end users don't regard OS X as a major working environment.

Mac OS X 10.0

Mac OS X 10.1 (Puma)

Only seven months after the debut of Mac OS X 10.0, Apple officially launched Mac OS X v10.1, code-named "Puma" on September 25, 2001, and the original Mac OS X 10.0 users could update it for free. That is, starting with this version, every Mac OS x suffix is named after a large cat. Puma has improved 10.0 of the most reviled performance issues, and the basic functions of DVD playback have been complete. In terms of the number of software, major software developers such as Adobe and Microsoft are beginning to release Mac OS X software, making Puma finally the OS x that can actually be used at work.

Mac OS X 10.1 (Puma)

Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)

August 24, 2002, the "Jaguar" Mac OS X 10.2 Released, this year's WWDC, Jobs helped Mac OS 9 to hold a funeral, announcing the end of the Mac OS 9 era. That is, from this point on, the new Mac machine can not use the Mac OS 9 boot, naturally attracted a lot of old objections. Jaguar restores the automatic opening and closing folders on the old Mac O X, and the Finder has been improved to make the system more efficient. In addition, Apple also added the GPU to the CPU to offload the "Quartz Extreme", the network connection function "Rendezvous" (now renamed Bonjour), the handwriting recognition function "Inkwell" and the log-type file system ( Journaling file system). 2003, the Safari browser was officially released on June 24, and Microsoft publicly expressed its suspension of Internet Explorer for Mac development.

Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)

Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)

October 24, 2003, code-named "Pather" Mac OS X 10.3 Released, this version corresponds to a USB interface with the Mac computer. In addition to the stability and performance of continuous improvement, but also built a zip compression, fax functions and account fast switching functions. The Finder also has new Instant Search and custom toolbars, and the color label feature is back on the Mac OS. Starting with this version, the system's default browser becomes safari because there is no Mac OS version of IE.

Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

On April 29, 2005, 18 months after the previous release, the Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, code-named Tiger, was officially released, the first Mac OS to be installed on a single DVD, only for Mac with FireWire. Tiger's new features include the search feature "Spotlight", the tool "Automator" that customizes the automated workflow, and the system optimizes PowerPC G4 processors. Software has also added "core Image", "Core video", "Core Audio" and "core Data" and other functions. Later, in order to adapt to the imac with the isight camera and the Apple remote control, the "Front Row" feature was appended, allowing the user to use the Mac as a multimedia center, using a simple Apple remote controller to control music, Photo and video playback. Later in 2006, the Mac used Intel Cpu,tiger and released the corresponding Intel Mac version, but it was not sold separately.

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Mac OS X 10.5, code-named "Leopard", was originally released in the first quarter of 2007, but it was postponed until October 26, 2007 due to an apple shortage (because people were running for the iphone!). Leopard using a single D9 packaging, added virtual desktop "Space", automatic backup tool "Time Machin", let the Mac start Windows "boot Camp" functions. In addition to the original spotlight and dashboard functions have also been enhanced, the finder added quick look function, the dock also designed a new appearance, and appended the "Stacks" stacking function. Starting with this release, Mac OS X has been certified as a single UNIX specification, becoming a full-fledged UNIX.

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

August 28, 2009, Apple's first Intel Mac-specific OS, code-named "Snow Leopard" Mac OS X 10.6 officially released, from the use of the PowerPC processor Mac machine can not use the new system. Snow Leopard focuses on enhancing system stability and execution efficiency, which greatly reduces the volume of the system. In addition Finder and QuickTime are rewritten with cocoa, most of the system software is 64-bit, native support for Microsoft Exchange 2007.

Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)

The first public of Mac OS 10.7, code-named "Lion", in October 2010, integrates expose, dashboard and MSN functions into "burritos control", a common "app Store" on the ipad and the iphone. Added in, and the software can finally run full screen. Starting with the lion system, Apple gradually started the interface "Launchpad" with mature experience software on iOS and new software management. In addition, Lion is the first attempt to transfer the experience of IOS back to the MAC platform since Apple released the IPhone.

Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) Preview