Apple Computer has unveiled details of its newest release of Unix, A/UX 3.0. More than just an operating system upgrade, A/UX 3.0 is a roadmap for its future Unix directions and thefoundation for high-end computers it will release in the future, Apple told Microbytes. These will include systems based on the PowerPC RISC processor that Apple and Motorola are developing with IBM, which will run the PowerOpen Unix operating system. The new version of A/UX will be compatible with System 7.0, including such features as the new Finder, TrueType fonts, the Data Access Manager, and Balloon Help. It will also support interapplication communication, using the publish/subscribe mechanism that lets one application automatically receive updated information from another application. A/UX 3.0 will be a full System V.2 version of Unix providing multitasking, multiuser, and virtual memory features. Although users will be able to take advantage of these features with a completely Mac-like GUI, Unix junkies will still have access to the command line interface, through a special window that they can open while performing other graphical operations. The ability to run current Mac applications is perceived as crucial to the new A/UX’s success – programs running on the new version of A/UX will look just like regular Mac applications. By announcing A/UX 3.0 now, Apple is trying to give customers another reason to buy Quadra-class machines, since these best use the software.
