Apple - Mac OS X - Architecture

New Features

Overview

Mac OS X is a super-modern operating system that delivers the power of UNIX with the simplicity and elegance of the Macintosh.

Engineered to take the Macintosh platform through the next decade, Mac OS X combines new and open standard technologies that make it not only the most stable, compatible and interoperable desktop operating system available, but also the most exciting and innovative.

The modular architecture of Mac OS is comprised of six major components: System applications, the Aqua user interface, a diverse suite of application frameworks, standards-based graphics systems, wide-ranging system management services and the Darwin foundation. This forward-thinking architecture allows for innovation today and growth for tomorrow.

System Applications

Programs on the Mac are designed to work well together, simplifying your computing experience while taking on ever more complex tasks. Mac OS X includes all the applications you need to take advantage of your computer immediately, with style. Use award-winning digital lifestyle applications, iMovie, iPhoto and iTunes to manage your cameras, iPod and downloaded music. iChat AV, Safari, Mail, QuickTime and Sherlock offer you the best Internet experience. iSync, iCal and Address Book help you stay in contact and are even more powerful with a .Mac membership. Panther includes applications for managing fonts, viewing PDFs and DVDs, editing text, performing calculations, managing printers, connecting to the Internet, changing system preferences and many more utilities for setting up your Mac.

User Interface

Mac OS X features a stunning user interface that’s as functional as it is beautiful. The Aqua user interface makes working and playing on the Mac even more intuitive for new users, while providing powerful, customizable tools for professionals. The entire interface — including icons, menus, windows and controls — represents an innovative continuation of legendary Mac ease of use. Color, transparency and animation enhance the usability and consistency of your system and applications. Apple leads the industry with exciting advances such as Exposé, which makes it a snap to navigate between dozens of open windows. In addition, Mac OS X delivers section 508 accessibility compliance, and offers handwriting recognition, fast user switching and unparalleled features for international appeal.

Application Frameworks

Mac OS X includes a variety of rich application frameworks, built on top of the traditional UNIX APIs, to support developers in many different communities. Developers can create Aqua user interfaces for Cocoa, Carbon, AppleScript and Java applications with the included XCode development environment. Cocoa is a set of object-oriented frameworks designed for rapid application development, making it easy to add rich Aqua interfaces to existing UNIX software or to create entirely new applications. Carbon provides a gentle migration path for developers who have moved their applications from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X. AppleScript lets you create your own applications that automate application commands, information retrieval and repetitive tasks. Java 2 Standard Edition v.1.4.1 on Mac OS X is fully-compliant, highly-optimized, and tightly integrated with the native look-and-feel, making it easy to run standards-based Java applications right out of the box.

Graphics and Media

The Mac OS X graphics system combines 2D, 3D, and time-based media standards using an industry-leading compositing window system for a rich yet seamless user experience. The Quartz 2D high-performance graphics rendering library is the primary imaging model for Mac OS X. Based on the cross-platform Portable Document Format (PDF) standard, Quartz 2D displays and prints high-quality, anti-aliased text and graphics and provides industry-leading support for OpenType, PostScript, and TrueType fonts. For users with a supported video card, Quartz Extreme greatly enhances the speed and responsiveness of Mac OS X. OpenGL is the industry standard for visualizing 3D shapes and textures. OpenGL enables high-end 3D graphics on Mac OS X, making it the ideal platform for 3D animations and special effects. QuickTime provides a fully standards-based environment for creating, playing and delivering video, audio and images. Mac OS X Core Audio integrates audio functions directly into the operating system in ways never before possible, enabling unprecedented performance and ease of use in your virtual studio.

System Management

Built using many of the same technologies that power the Internet itself, Mac OS X includes modern networking and support for standard protocols. This makes Mac OS X easy to integrate into any standards-based network, including existing Macintosh networks, Windows networks, and of course the Internet. Security isn’t an afterthought in Mac OS X, either, with many touches that let both individual and institutional users breathe a little easier. And since Apple designs both the operating system and laptops, Mac OS X includes exclusive technology that gives you the best mobile platform on the planet.

OS Foundation

Beneath the easy-to-use interface and rich graphics of Mac OS X is Darwin, an open source UNIX-based foundation built on technologies such as FreeBSD, Mach, Apache, and GCC. Darwin provides a complete UNIX environment, with X11 and POSIX services comparable to Linux or FreeBSD, including familiar kernel, libraries, networking and command-line utilities.

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