Talking Moose facts for kids

The Talking Moose is a fun computer program for Apple Macintosh computers. It was created in 1986 by a Canadian programmer named Steven Halls. This program was special because it was the first animated talking character on a personal computer. A cartoon moose would pop up on your screen from time to time. It would tell jokes, make funny comments, or even talk about what you were doing on your computer. You could also type something, and the moose would say it out loud!

How the Talking Moose Was Made

According to Steven Halls, he wanted to use the Mac's Macintalk feature in a new and exciting way. Macintalk was a special program that could make the computer speak words. Halls got the idea from a cartoon strip called Doonesbury, where characters talked to a computer. He realized that a moose head with antlers would look good even on older computer screens.

The Talking Moose was the first computer character that could move its face and match its mouth to the words it was speaking. This idea later inspired other famous talking computer helpers. These included Clippy the paperclip from Microsoft Windows, Bonzi Buddy, and Prody Parrot from Creative SoundBlaster.

The Talking Moose used Apple's Macintalk software. An early version of Macintalk famously said, "Never trust a computer you can't lift," when the first Macintosh was shown in 1984. Apple allowed Halls to use and improve Macintalk for free. Halls made the speech sound smoother and more reliable. He also gave the moose many funny jokes and wise sayings, which made it a unique character.

Around 1990, a company called Baseline Publishing sold a version of the Talking Moose. This version had color graphics and let users create their own phrases for the moose to say. A simpler version was also given away with the book Stupid Mac Tricks in 1989.

Later, in the 1990s, a programmer named Uli Kusterer rewrote the program. He called his version "Uli's Moose." Steven Halls gave his approval for this new version. Uli's Moose was even included in another book by Bob LeVitus about the iMac and iBook.

Different Versions of the Talking Moose

The Talking Moose has changed and grown over the years. Here's a look at some of its different versions:

Early Moose Versions

• Version 1.0: This was the very first version, released in 1986 by Steve Halls.
• Version 2.0: Released in 1987, this version worked on older Macintosh systems. The moose's voice was called 'Fred.'
• Baseline Publishing Version: Around 1990, Baseline Publishing released version 4. This version added new characters from a "Cartoon Carnival" that the moose supposedly ran.

Uli's Moose and Beyond

• Uli's Moose (Version 2.1): Uli Kusterer removed the "Cartoon Carnival" and went back to the original moose's style. This version worked on System 7 through Mac OS 9. It was first shared online through CompuServe.
• Uli's Moose (Version 3.0.5): Uli also made the first version for Mac OS X. This worked on PowerPC Macs from OS X 10.3 to 10.7.
• Uli's Moose (Version 3.5.7): This was the last Macintosh version. It worked on macOS 10.9 through 10.14 (Mojave).

Newer Talking Moose Programs

• Mack the Moose: As older Mac programs stopped working, a new Moose was needed for Apple's newer M1 Macs. A Canadian developer, John Penner, created "Mack the Moose." It works on macOS Ventura and newer Apple Silicon Macs.
• Talking Moose for Windows: In 2019, the original creator, Steve Halls, made a new 3D Talking Moose for Microsoft Windows. This new moose focuses on helpful and positive messages. It gives advice on things like weight loss, reducing stress, and quitting smoking.

The Talking Moose has also been active on Twitter since 2009, posting comments regularly.