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Rhapsody (operating system) facts for kids

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Rhapsody was the name for a new computer operating system that Apple planned to release. Apple got this system when they bought a company called NeXT Inc. from Steve Jobs. This deal cost Apple about $425 million.

What Was Rhapsody?

Rhapsody was meant to be Apple's next big operating system. An operating system is the main software that makes a computer work. It helps you run programs and use your computer's hardware. Apple wanted Rhapsody to replace their older systems.

Why Did Apple Buy NeXT?

In 1997, Apple bought NeXT Inc. This company was started by Steve Jobs after he left Apple many years before. NeXT had developed an advanced operating system called NeXTSTEP. Apple bought NeXT mainly to get this technology. They wanted to use it as the base for their future computer systems.

Rhapsody for Developers

After buying NeXT, Apple quickly released Rhapsody to software developers. These are the people who create computer programs and apps. Apple wanted developers to start making their software work with Rhapsody. This was important because people need apps to do useful things on their computers.

A Problem with Adobe

One very important company that makes software is Adobe Systems. They create popular programs like Photoshop. Adobe did not like Apple's plans for Rhapsody. They were worried it would be too much work to change their software for the new system. Without Adobe's support, Apple faced a big problem. If major software like Photoshop didn't work on Rhapsody, fewer people would want to use it.

What Happened to Rhapsody?

Because key companies like Adobe were not on board, Apple decided not to release Rhapsody as planned. Instead, they used many of the ideas and technologies from Rhapsody to create a different operating system.

The Birth of OS X

The ideas from Rhapsody became the foundation for OS X. This new system was launched in 1999. OS X became very successful and is still the basis for Apple's macOS today. So, even though Rhapsody itself was never fully released, its technology lived on in future Apple products.

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