MacOS
Mac OS X is an operating system for Macintosh computers that combines popular features of the traditional Macintosh user interface on top of a stable Unix operating environment. There is a long and involved history on this OS that can be traced back at least 15 years.
The pronunciation "OS 10" is favored by Apple, to stress continuity with previous Macintosh operating systems. Others pronounce it "OS ex" to underscore the relationship with Unix.
OS X was created by combining Darwin, an open source UNIX kernel based on the BSD source tree and the Mach microkernel, with a GUI, called Aqua, made by Apple Computer. It was first released in 2001.
The Darwin kernel provides an extremely stable and flexible operating system which rivals many other Unix implementations. Many of OS X's users consider its Aqua GUI to be the most beautiful and functional in existence, which has been imitated by others, There are Aqua lookalikes for other operating systems, (eg mosfet liquid). Interface skins imitating the Aqua look exist for many Windows programs, such as Winamp.
It is a powerful combination, and has very recently become the most popular-selling Unix environment to date by sheer numbers. (Although it is not officially a UNIX OS, as Apple has not sought The Open Group branding, as the cost of certification would make the OS prohibitively expensive.)
OS X is compatible with older Mac OS applications by using Classic, an application that emulates Mac OS 9.x within OS X, so that most older applications, such as the ubiquitous SimpleText or the like run mostly as they would under Mac OS 9.x.
OS X can run many BSD or Linux software packages, once they've been compiled for the platform. Compiled binaries are normally distributed as OS X Packages; but may still require command-line configuration or compilation. Companies such as Fink provide precompiled or preformatted packages for many standard packages.
Notable Interface Features
- OpenGL driven screen drawing (basically the entire screen is treated like a 3d scene)
- Full color, scalable icons (Up to 128x128 pixels)
- Drop shadow around window and isolated text elements to provide a sense of depth
- Global spell checking and other powerful tools thanks to NeXT style application services
- Anti-aliasing of widgets, text, and window elements.
- Interweaving windows (ie an application's windows are not necessarily adjacent in the visible stacking order)
- Industrial strength color matching built in to the core drawing engine (for print and multimedia professionals)
Press Release
Here, courtesy Apple Computer's press relations, is information on OS X (wikified):
...combines the power and stability of UNIX with the simplicity and elegance of the Macintosh. ...innovative time-saving features—including a new Finder and the Dock—designed to help you navigate and organize your system, and give you instant access to your most frequently used applications, folders... ...built on three cutting-edge graphics technologies—Quartz, OpenGL, and QuickTime... ...foundation of Mac OS X [is] an industrial-strength, UNIX-based core operating system—called Darwin—that delivers unprecedented stability and performance...powerful, advanced features such as protected memory, preemptive multitasking, advanced memory management, and symmetric multiprocessing—...
...applications such as Mail, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1, QuickTime Player and iTools. ...Seamless device connectivity and industry-leading applications... ...includes powerful, easy-to-use tools for making your own movies, managing your music, and capturing photos from your digital camera. And with built-in support for burning music and data CDs, playing DVD movies, and even authoring your own DVDs...
...lets you run thousands of existing Mac OS 9-compatible applications, while... Mac OS X provide[s] a foundation for great new applications.
Additional Resources
- Apple's page about OS X
- Apple's page about Darwin
- Mac OS X Hints
- Dive Into OS X, a wiki on Mac OS X: http://diveintoosx.org/DiveIntoOSX.html