Apple(R) today
previewed Mac OS(R) X Snow Leopard, which builds on the incredible success
of OS X Leopard and is the next major version of the world's most advanced
operating system. Rather than focusing primarily on new features, Snow
Leopard will enhance the performance of OS X, set a new standard for
quality and lay the foundation for future OS X innovation. Snow Leopard is
optimized for multi-core processors, taps into the vast computing power of
graphic processing units (GPUs), enables breakthrough amounts of RAM and
features a new, modern media platform with QuickTime(R) X. Snow Leopard
includes out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 and is
scheduled to ship in about a year.
"We have delivered more than a thousand new features to OS X in just
seven years and Snow Leopard lays the foundation for thousands more," said
Bertrand Serlet, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "In
our continued effort to deliver the best user experience, we hit the pause
button on new features to focus on perfecting the world's most advanced
operating system."
Snow Leopard delivers unrivaled support for multi-core processors with
a new technology code-named "Grand Central," making it easy for developers
to create programs that take full advantage of the power of multi-core
Macs. Snow Leopard further extends support for modern hardware with Open
Computing Language (OpenCL), which lets any application tap into the vast
gigaflops of GPU computing power previously available only to graphics
applications. OpenCL is based on the C programming language and has been
proposed as an open standard. Furthering OS X's lead in 64-bit technology,
Snow Leopard raises the software limit on system memory up to a theoretical
16TB of RAM.
Using media technology pioneered in OS X iPhone(TM), Snow Leopard
introduces QuickTime X, which optimizes support for modern audio and video
formats resulting in extremely efficient media playback. Snow Leopard also
includes Safari(R) with the fastest implementation of JavaScript ever,
increasing performance by 53 percent, making Web 2.0 applications feel more
responsive.*
For the first time, OS X includes native support for Microsoft Exchange
2007 in OS X applications Mail, iCal(R) and Address Book, making it even
easier to integrate Macs into organizations of any size.
*Performance will vary based on system configuration, network
connection and other factors. Benchmark based on the SunSpider JavaScript
Performance test on an iMac(R) 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system running Mac
OS X Snow Leopard, with 2GB of RAM.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the
Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the
Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with
its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and
professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media
revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online
store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary
iPhone.
SOURCE Apple
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