Apple Computer Inc has finally given up on its Macintosh Application Environment for Unix, the software it created for running a virtual Mac OS environment on Sun Microsystems Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co workstations within an X Window. MAE was developed around the same time Apple launched its own ill-fated A/UX Unix machines, which enjoyed a far shorter lifespan. The latest version of MAE, version 3.04 for Mac OS 7.5.3, was discontinued at the beginning of this month. It ran only 68000 compatible Mac applications, not the newer generation PowerPC software. The MAE Project Team issued an emailed statement earlier this month saying that Apple made the decision as part of our continuing efforts to focus all our software development resources on extending the Macintosh OS. Apple said it would provide support for the installed base for a limited time but was referring all enquiries for replacement systems to Elston, Chicago-based SciTech International Inc and Herndon, Virginia- based FGM Inc, who are jointly marketing the G3 Unix Workstation, a Macintosh G3 system which comes bundled with Tenon Intersystems Inc’s PowerMach Ten Unix-like operating system and X Windows software, OpenGL graphics support from Conix Enterprises Inc, and Connectix Corp’s Virtual PC application for running Windows software under MacOS. Delaware-based Abacus Research and Development Inc, better known as ARDI, has also re-written much of the Mac OS and toolbox from scratch to run under Windows and Linux.
