Mac OS X Public Beta facts for kids
| Version of the macOS operating system | |
 |
|
 |
|
| Developer | Apple Computer |
|---|---|
| OS family | |
| Working state | Historic, not supported |
| Released to manufacturing |
September 13, 2000 |
| Repository |
|
| Platforms | PowerPC |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| Default user interface |
Aqua |
| Preceded by | Mac OS 9 Mac OS X Server 1.0 |
| Succeeded by | Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah |
| Support status | |
| Historic, unsupported as of March 24, 2001. Expired on May 14, 2001. | |
Mac OS X Public Beta was an early test version of macOS, which is Apple's computer operating system. It was also known by its internal code name, "Kodiak". This version was special because it was the first to show off the new Aqua user interface. Aqua gave macOS its unique look with clear, watery icons and buttons.
Apple released the Public Beta on September 13, 2000. It cost about US$29.95. This release was a big deal because it proved Apple could create a new generation of Mac operating systems. It let software developers and early users try out the system. They could also start making apps for it before the final version came out. This Public Beta was the only version of macOS to have a code name not based on a big cat until 2013.
Contents
What Came Before: The Previous OS Versions
The Public Beta followed Mac OS X Server 1.0. That was Apple's first public operating system based on NeXT's OPENSTEP technology. Mac OS X Server 1.0 used a look similar to the older classic Mac OS.
Introducing the Aqua Look
The Public Beta was the first time the world saw the Aqua user interface. This new design brought many changes.
- New fonts were introduced.
- The Dock appeared, which is a bar for quick access to apps.
- The menu bar changed, with the Apple logo moving to the left side.
- System icons became much larger and more detailed.
- Many new visual effects made the interface look exciting.
Key Technical Changes in the Beta
The Public Beta also brought important technical improvements. These came from its open source Darwin 1.2.1 core. Two big features that Mac users had wanted for a long time were included:
- Preemptive multitasking: This meant the computer could handle many tasks at once more smoothly. If one app crashed, it wouldn't freeze the whole system.
- Protected memory: This feature kept different apps from interfering with each other's memory. If one app had a problem, it wouldn't crash other apps.
To show how good protected memory was, Apple's CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated a test app called Bomb.app. This app was designed to crash, but it only crashed itself, not the entire system.
Apps Included with the Public Beta
The Public Beta came with many standard programs that are still part of macOS today. These included:
- TextEdit for writing and editing text.
- Preview for viewing documents and images.
- Mail for sending and receiving emails.
- QuickTime Player for playing videos and audio.
- Terminal for advanced users to type commands.
Some other apps were also included in the Public Beta but not in later versions of Mac OS X. These were:
- A simple MP3 player (before iTunes was released).
- Sketch, a basic drawing program that showed off new graphics features.
- HTMLEdit, a program for creating web pages.
At the time, there weren't many ready-to-buy apps made specifically for the new Mac OS X. So, early users often looked for open source or shareware apps. This led to a lively community of people creating their own software for the new system. Many programs used on early Mac OS X systems came from older Apple projects like OPENSTEP.
When the Public Beta Expired
The Mac OS X Public Beta stopped working on May 14, 2001. This was about two months after the final version, Mac OS X 10.0, was released in March 2001.
Because of this expiration, the Public Beta won't run on newer Mac computers. It also won't work on today's Macs, which use different types of processors. To use the Public Beta on an old, compatible computer today, you would need to set the computer's clock to a date before May 14, 2001.
The expiration date encouraged users to buy the full version of Mac OS X. It also showed everyone that Apple was serious about releasing its new operating system. People who owned the Public Beta got a discount on the price of the first full version of Mac OS X 10.0. Only the Aqua user interface part of the Public Beta expired; the basic command-line system underneath continued to work.
See also
In Spanish: Mac OS X Beta pública para niños
