Celebrating the Disruptors:

Steve Jobs starts the presentation by celebrating “the crazy ones,” or those who defy norms and challenge the status quo. According to him, these individuals are essential for pushing humanity forward. They may not be popular or conventional, but they possess the potential to change the world.

Logistical Update:

Jobs shifts the focus to logistics, mentioning a water main break at an exhibit hall that has been resolved. He uses humor to make light of the situation, saying that the water leak is “fitting” as they’re introducing “aqua” during the presentation.

Product Revamp:

Steve Jobs addresses the recent revamp of Mac’s peripherals. A new mouse with optical technology has been introduced, featuring a unique design where the entire surface acts as a button. Additionally, a new keyboard with 108 keys, including function and volume control keys, has been introduced. Both are now standard with every desktop Macintosh.

The New Mac Lineup:

Jobs gives an overview of the updated Mac lineup, emphasizing the features that make an iMac unique: award-winning design, ease of use, fast processing power, versatile interfaces, and exceptional sound system. He also highlights how the engineering team’s efforts have resulted in a quiet system that doesn’t require a fan.

Colors and Pricing:

New colors for iMacs are introduced: Indigo, Ruby, Sage, and Snow. Jobs also discusses the new lower price point of $799 in the US, with corresponding prices in various currencies, as part of Apple’s efforts to make technology more accessible.

Marketing Strategy:

Jobs wraps up by indicating that they have produced commercials to showcase the new colors and the mouse, generating excitement and curiosity among the audience for these new reveals.

Throughout the presentation, Steve Jobs weaves in elements of surprise, utility, and elegance to capture his audience’s attention, continuing to build on Apple’s reputation as a disruptive and innovative company.

Multi-User Functionality:

Steve Jobs demonstrates a notable feature of Mac OS X: its multi-user capabilities. He logs out of his account and logs back in as his colleague, Pascal. The system then adjusts to Pascal’s preferences, even switching to a French interface. This highlights the OS’s capability to remember and cater to individual user settings.

Mail App:

Jobs provides a sneak peek into the new mail application on Mac OS X. He notes the anti-alias text, simplicity, and easy user interface. The app includes features like iCards, showing that it’s well-integrated with other Apple services.

Availability and Feedback:

Jobs announces that Mac OS X is available for public beta, inviting the audience to purchase or order a copy. He emphasizes that the company is eager to gather customer feedback to make ongoing improvements. He reiterates that this is the “future of the Macintosh,” underlining the importance of user opinions.

Compatibility and Product Lineup:

Jobs confirms that the new OS will be compatible with all existing Apple products. He mentions that most of the product lineup has been updated in the last eight weeks, claiming it as the “strongest product lineup” in Apple’s history.

Next Steps:

To close, Jobs invites the audience to visit the expo where they can see the new products and software. He thanks everyone and suggests that buses will take them to the expo for a firsthand experience.

Steve Jobs uses the segment to demonstrate Mac OS X’s features and to express the company’s commitment to innovation and customer feedback. He also takes the opportunity to reaffirm Apple’s strong product lineup, reinforcing the idea that Mac OS X is crucial to the company’s future.

Processor Performance:

Steve Jobs begins by detailing a comparison between the processing speeds of a Power Mac G4 with a 500 MHz G4 chip and a 1 GHz Pentium 3. Using Photoshop to manipulate an intricate image file, the Power Mac finishes the task in 108 seconds, while the Pentium 3 takes 124 seconds. Jobs calculates that a 500 MHz G4 is equivalent in performance to a 1.1 GHz Pentium.

Dual Processors:

The conversation then shifts to the notion that “two brains are better than one.” Steve Jobs unveils a Power Mac G4 with dual 500 MHz G4 chips. This dual-processor setup completes the same Photoshop task in 61 seconds. Jobs claims that two 500 MHz G4s are the equivalent of a 2 GHz Pentium, a product not available at the time.

New Hardware Upgrades:

Jobs announces that the new Power Mac G4 models will now feature dual processors as a standard, built-in feature for the 450 and 500 MHz models. The computers will also have gigabit ethernet on the motherboard, increased mass storage, and will come with a new optical mouse and pro keyboard. These new features are introduced without changing the retail price.

Graphics Capabilities:

The segment closes with an introduction of the ATI Radeon graphics chip, which is said to be over twice as fast as the previous standard, the Rage 128 Pro. A real-time demonstration is set up using the popular game Quake 3 Arena to show the significant performance improvement with the new Radeon chip.

This segment reveals Apple’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance and features, without increasing consumer costs. Jobs’ presentation showcases Apple’s efforts in not only improving processing speed but also in significantly enhancing graphical performance.

Introduction to Demo:

Steve Jobs and a colleague initiate a live demonstration to showcase the speed of the new Radeon graphics chip on the Power Mac G4. The demo involves running a script as fast as possible on two machines to determine which one completes the task first. A playful note is made that no humans were harmed in the testing process.

Running the Test:

The demo is activated simultaneously on both machines. Each machine attempts to run through every frame as quickly as possible, using the same hard drive. One machine features the new Radeon graphics chip, while the other does not.

Results and Availability:

It is noted that the machine with the Radeon chip finishes the task ahead of the other, leading to the claim that the Radeon is currently the fastest graphics chip available. The chip is announced to be available starting that day, for an additional $100, on any Power Mac G4 ordered through the Apple Store.

The segment focuses on the enhanced performance brought by the Radeon graphics chip when used in a Power Mac G4, solidifying the product’s place as a high-end computing solution.

Introduction of Power Mac G4 Cube:

Steve Jobs unveiled the Power Mac G4 Cube, an eight-inch cube that encapsulates the full power of a G4 Power Mac. Referred to as the G4 Cube, this product showcases remarkable miniaturization of technology while maintaining high performance. It comes standard with a DVD drive and uses air convection cooling, eliminating the need for a fan, making it virtually silent.

Technical Specifications:

The G4 Cube houses a G4 chip and can be configured with up to 1.5 GB of memory and a 40 GB disk drive. It supports a range of I/O options, including USB, FireWire, and built-in modem and Ethernet. The system also offers an option for wireless networking via Apple’s Airport technology. It comes bundled with an optical mouse, keyboard, and Harman Kardon speakers.

New Displays:

Alongside the G4 Cube, Jobs introduced new display options that are universally compatible with both the Cube and tower models. These displays use a single cable that carries video, USB, and power, thus reducing cable clutter. Offerings include a 17-inch CRT with USB ports, a 15-inch flat LCD, and a refreshed version of the cinema display.

Design and Aesthetics:

The product was highly praised for its aesthetic design, compactness, and innovative cooling solution. Speakers at the event expressed amazement at the miniaturization and marvelled at the design simplicity and visual elegance, indicating its appeal to creative professionals.

Additional Features:

The machine was pitched as the ultimate desktop movie-making machine, compatible with both iMovie and Final Cut Pro software. The speakers highlighted its convenience for tasks such as video editing, web design, and publishing, suggesting it is designed for professional use.

Complementary Products:

The launch also mentioned the new iBook Special Edition, featuring a DVD-ROM drive, and a new ‘Key Lime’ color option, priced similarly to the G4 Cube. Jobs claimed that these products made Apple’s current lineup the strongest it has ever had.

Introduction:

The primary speaker, Steve Jobs, introduced the topic by discussing the new Microsoft Office 2001, specifically designed for Mac. He highlighted the effort of a dedicated Microsoft team working to develop a Mac version that outperforms its Windows counterpart.

Mac-Centric Features:

Kevin Brown, the general manager of the Mac business unit, took the stage to share details. He spoke about three main goals for Office 2001 for Mac: making it more Mac-like yet compatible with Windows, focusing on communication, and simplicity. The suite introduces a new application called Entourage, combining email, calendar, address book, tasks, and notes into a unified tool.

Exclusive Functionalities:

Many features are exclusive to the Mac version, including color-coded categorization in Entourage and a project gallery in Microsoft Word that simplifies document creation. Another exclusive is a Formatting Palette that makes editing simpler by removing the need for dialogue boxes.

Enhanced Communication Tools:

Brown emphasized the Mac version’s advanced capabilities in PowerPoint. Not only can presentations be created, but they can also be saved as QuickTime movies, making it easier to share and view across different platforms.

Product Availability:

Office 2001 for Mac was said to be available broadly in Europe starting November. Unique packaging was designed specifically for this Mac version.

Closing Remarks:

Steve Jobs returned to the stage to affirm the strong partnership between Microsoft and Apple. He stressed that Office 2001 was expected to release in a few months and praised the efforts of Kevin and his team for creating a Mac-centric product.

The overall theme was about building strong bridges between Microsoft and Apple by tailoring Office 2001 to the Mac environment while maintaining compatibility with Windows.

Mac OS X’s Importance and Rollout:

Steve Jobs discusses Mac OS X as the future of the Macintosh platform. Although not yet finalized, he reveals a phased rollout, including developer previews and a public beta, aiming for a final release in early 2001.

Localization and Accessibility:

The public beta will be available in English, French, and German. These languages will all be on a single CD-ROM, sold for a nominal fee of $29.99 in the U.S. The product can be purchased online or at specific exhibit halls.

Architectural Foundation: Darwin:

Jobs dives into the architecture of Mac OS X, beginning with Darwin as its foundation kernel. Darwin encompasses modern features such as multi-threading and protected memory. It’s based on the Mach3 microkernel and free BSD Unix, making it open source.

Graphics Technology:

Quartz, OpenGL, and QuickTime are built-in technologies for 2D, 3D, and media graphics, respectively. Quartz is particularly highlighted for its PDF-based 2D graphics, making it highly relevant for web and publishing industries.

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):

Three APIs are layered on top of these technologies: Classic, Carbon, and Cocoa. Classic allows existing Mac apps to run but without new features. Carbon requires a few months of developer tweaking to make existing apps compatible with all of Mac OS X’s new features. Cocoa is promoted as the most advanced object-oriented API, allowing rapid development of new applications.

Overall, Jobs presents Mac OS X as a revolutionary upgrade for the Macintosh, with a strong emphasis on modernization, versatility, and developer involvement.

New User Interface: Aqua:

Steve Jobs introduces Aqua as the new user interface across all APIs in Mac OS X. It aims to provide a visually appealing and functional experience.

OpenGL and Java 2 Support:

Mac OS X’s public beta comes with OpenGL for advanced graphics. It also boasts a high-speed Java 2 implementation, developed in close collaboration with Sun Microsystems. This Java version integrates seamlessly with Aqua’s UI elements.

Performance Features:

The system supports symmetric multiprocessing, fully utilizing the capabilities of dual processor G4 systems. Jobs notes impressive power management, particularly in PowerBooks.

PowerBook Wake-Up Time:

Mac OS X significantly reduces the PowerBook wake-up time to roughly one second, regardless of networking status, thus enhancing the user experience.

User-Friendly Finder and Dock:

The new Finder includes customizable toolbars. The Dock separates applications and documents with a line for easier navigation and organization.

Professional Mode:

Responding to professional users’ feedback, a “Professional Mode” has been added, which converts the interface to a graphite color scheme for precise color calibration tasks.

Media and Internet:

A new QuickTime player and a built-in MP3 player are part of Mac OS X Beta. It also includes a carbonized version of Internet Explorer, along with new mail and system administration applications.

Steve Jobs showcases a multitude of features designed to combine performance, user-friendliness, and versatility in Mac OS X’s public beta.

Real-Time Window Operations: Steve Jobs introduces Mac OS X’s unique interface features, particularly how moving and resizing windows work in real time, making the user experience smoother and more intuitive.

Dialog Panels: Jobs explains the enhancement in multitasking where dialog panels are attached to their respective windows, solving issues related to system freeze and confusion in traditional Mac systems.

Save Panel Philosophy: The presentation highlights the “simplicity and power” design philosophy of Mac OS X. This is exemplified through the redesigned “Save Panel,” which is minimal but can expand into a full browser interface for more complex tasks.

Text Anti-Aliasing: Jobs mentions that Mac OS X allows developers to anti-alias text, contributing to a more visually appealing interface.

Enhanced Finder: He goes on to describe the new Finder, which integrates the network into its interface. The Finder also contains multiple views and shortcuts, including a “back” button and a history list for easier navigation.

The Dock: The Dock is introduced as a key feature, allowing easy organization of applications, documents, and minimized windows. It is customizable in size and offers a “magnification” feature for easier access to items.

Window Miniaturization: Jobs presents a novel way to handle multiple open windows through the Dock. Windows can be minimized into thumbnails on the Dock and can be easily restored, simplifying task management.

Overall, the focus of this segment is on the streamlined user experience, flexibility, and enhanced multitasking capabilities that Mac OS X offers compared to its predecessors.

QuickTime Presentation:

Steve Jobs demonstrates the functionality of QuickTime by playing a movie trailer. The QuickTime player offers channel buttons and the ability to stream content.

The Bomb Application:

He introduces an application named “The Bomb,” designed to test the system’s resilience by attempting to crash the Mac OS. He emphasizes that their new kernel underpinning makes Mac OS extremely robust, even in its public beta form.

Music Player and Document Access:

Jobs moves on to a music player application, showing how apps bounce at the bottom of the screen during launch. The player supports MP3s and audio CDs, allowing users to skip songs and work simultaneously.

Internet Explorer and Multimedia:

He launches Internet Explorer (IE), revealing that the browser has built-in support for Flash and Shockwave. He navigates to multiple websites to demonstrate the browser’s capabilities.

PDF Compositor:

Jobs displays the power of Mac OS X’s underlying graphics through a PDF compositor application. He showcases the ease with which users can manipulate PDF elements, like resizing and layering, using a Toy Story logo.

OpenGL and Graphics:

Finally, Jobs talks about OpenGL, a graphics rendering feature built into Mac OS X. He shows a bottle image that can be rotated and have its transparency changed in real-time, emphasizing the system’s advanced graphical capabilities.

Overall, Jobs aims to showcase the robustness, multimedia, and graphics capabilities of Mac OS X through a range of applications and features.