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Author Mac OS 7.7 pre-release version surfaced (Read 32675 times)
MTT
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View Profile 		Reply #15 on: October 21, 2022, 02:41
Not entirely sure what the System Extension TSMTE is for either, only that its icon has a pencil with notepad graphic on it, and it was developed by Apple Operations and Technologies, Japan. So at a guess it's text related and possibly used in conjunction with World Script or Kanji.

@Bolkonskij: The only item of real interest for me is the alpha version Finder 8. It perhaps could be used as a Finder replacement in System 7.5 or 7.6 maybe? It has a feature or two which are not included in earlier Mac OSs that didn't make it into Mac OS 8.0 and beyond.

Don't discount the possibility outright ;)

System 7.1.1 - I wanted to update my LaserWriter 8 software to version 8.5.1, a final version to run on this version of the Mac OS. Well, this version of the LaserWriter software also auto updated the 7.1.1 Finder to 7.5.3 and all of a sudden I got those extra hidden Finder Options that come with later versions of the 7.5.x OS, and just as well, System 7.1.1 runs beautifully with the 7.5.3 Finder. So maybe...? - Though the version 8 Finder alpha... likely its not very stable. [Edit] Nope, no good on Basilisk II 7.6.1 - but it's no good on B2 period, will try with Sheep shortly.

The two nice alpha Finder 8 features?
The System font "Truth", not seen before or since as a default system font.
And drag to create items, i.e.; With System 8.0 and later we got "Option + Command + drag an icon" to create an alias shortcut. With this alpha, "Option + Command + drag an icon" gives a pop-up menu with choices: Copy, Create an alias, or Move. It's the latter that intrigues me, as Moving (as opposed to copying) a file from one drive to another has never existed in the classic Mac world AFAIK, and it is pretty cool (something the Win/Lin users have had for eons).

As to why this alpha is called Tempo a2c5 when Get Info boxes state Tempo a2c4, is explained in the release notes:

Quote from: excerpts included in the dev seed notes:
A Note on Component Versions

Some of the components in Tempo may be earlier versions than those shipping at the time of Tempo's release. This is because of the extensive, time-consuming integration quality assurance that is required to achieve the quality goals for such a large project. Integrating later versions of components after alpha would impact testing and compromise the quality of the Tempo release. In Apple's OS release strategy, the latest version possible of any given component will integrate into the next OS release, but those components will continue to improve and be distributed as appropriate in parallel to the OS releases.

Tempo a2 is the second alpha build. There are two future build stages: beta and final candidate. Apple will provide details of the build plans for these stages with later seeds.

Tempo Fundamentals

Tempo, scheduled for July 1997, is next in a series of regular Mac OS releases. Tempo will support all 68040 and PowerPC based Mac OS compatible computers.

IMPORTANT: It is still possible there are significant bugs in this build of Tempo. DO NOT risk critical data by exposing it to this build of Tempo. DO NOT install this build of Tempo on a machine which is critical to your business.

Known Problems
==============
DO NOT boot with extensions off. DO NOT boot with the shift key held down. Tempo still cannot be booted with extensions off.

Important Information dialog still refers to "Installing Mac OS 7.6".

If the Finder is run entirely out of memory (not necessarily the same as a largest unused block of zero K), it will attempt to close windows to gain back memory. If this fails to help, the Macintosh will be restarted WITHOUT QUITING APPLICATIONS. Note this is just a temporary measure until the real low memory handling is finished (hopefully the next build).

Finder's Print Window: disclosure triangles in list view do not print yet.

Switching the font or font size in the Finder Preferences window to very large sizes causes some visual anomalies in the header region of windows

Due to the changes in the Mac OS graphics and printing strategy, the version of QuickDraw GX that is included with this Tempo seed is not the same version that will be included in the final product. Please do not focus testing efforts on this component at this time.

If you really want a good look at what's going to be "new" with this alpha release, do take a look at the HTML documentation "Welcome to Finder 8.0" included in with the official seed release, inside of the documentation folder '::Tempo a2c5:Documentation/Interfaces/Libs:Finder/Appearance:Finder 8 Web Pages:Finder8.html' This html doc is worth the download alone. It has detailed descriptions of what to expect plus great screenshots of those items.
Last Edit: October 21, 2022, 04:00 by MTT
cballero
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View Profile 		Reply #16 on: October 21, 2022, 05:37
So in this closer examination of this OS, how crazy might it be to see if the code that is different, specifically the nice Finder additions including things like spring-loaded folders and popup windows, could conceivably be retrofitted to Mac OS 7.6 somehow.. now that would be utterly genius and totally cool!! 8) (from a solely GUI standpoint of course, lol)
MTT
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View Profile 		Reply #17 on: October 21, 2022, 07:53
No luck so far, Basilisk II or SheepShaver. Wishful thinking on my part ;)
MTT
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View Profile 		Reply #18 on: October 23, 2022, 01:02
My attempts at back porting (to 7.6.1) the alpha Finder 8 from the 7.7 Tempo a2c5 build hasn't produced anything worthwhile. In SheepShaver, the Mac boots up to the desktop and crashes at that point. It's not too surprising, this Finder is alpha quality. So I'm giving up on this one. ;)

I've looked into the other OS 8.0 beta builds of the 1997 Tech Seed CD's from the Mac Garden. And found them quite interesting.

The feeling I get from them is the Apple developers were really working hard at getting the next Mac OS to work, out to the seeders, and out the door. In the five months from the 7.7 alpha to the Gold Master is pretty impressive.

If anyone cares to explore these betas further here's what to look for.
From that Mac Garden page, the downloads to get are as follows:

DL #19: ATS Mar 1997 - Tempo a2c5 - System 7.7 alpha with Finder 8, the "Truth" default font and the "Speedy" Special menu. This one is very rough, it doesn't appear to run in Basilisk II, but it kind of works OK, in SheepShaver (Old World ROM).

DL #20: ATS Apr 1997 - Mac OS 8a5c6 - It's official, the new OS will be called Mac OS 8.0. Still in alpha, the Special menu is now labelled "Spooky". This build is starting to look like what we came to get in version 8.0. The windows are a bit "jittery" and feel a little unresponsive, but aren't too bad. Desktop Pictures (tiles) didn't seem to work very well. This build (and subsequent builds) runs OK in both Basilisk II and SheepShaver.

DL #21: ATS May 1997 - Mac OS 8b5 - The first beta delivered to the seeders. This one is very stable and looks just like the final 8.0. The Special menu is now plain old "Special". Everything seems to work well.

DL #22: ATS June 1997 - Mac OS 8f4c1 - The Final Candidate is delivered. This build is basically what you would get with the final product. This download includes 2 CD's in the zipped archive. 8f4c1 is located in the 1st CD.

DL #23: ATS July 1997 - Mac OS 8.0 - Gold Master. This is the final shipping product (US English). Also on the CD is Tempo J-b4/fc - Mac OS 8.0 Japanese beta/final candidate. Also, and perhaps of real interest here, is "Sequoia 1.0b9" the beta version of HFS+. Sequoia can be installed in Mac OS 8.0 (along with all of the usual use at your own risk warnings attached) and give this version access to HFS+ volumes.

My biggest disappointment is the option to move files (not simply copy or create aliases) from one drive to another, appears only the once, in DL #19's 7.7 alpha and not beyond.

I'm currently running the 8.0 beta (DL #21) on Basilisk II. I quite like it. So far, nothing broken... ;)

------------
Edit: I installed the "Sequoia" HFS+ beta on Mac OS 8.0

It works, but I had to install it on 8.0 - I first tried installing it on the 8.0 beta. It appeared to install OK, but simply failed to work.

On 8.0 it runs fine. Nice, but redundant for that OS really, as an easy official 8.1 update over 8.0 will give you a non-beta working HFS+

The installer has a cool splash screen: Sequoia's HFS+ installer window.

Edit 2: Sequoia's HFS+ is (because it's not "frozen" until GM status) only usable for that build. i.e.; later HFS+ volumes are not compatible, nor are this build's HFS+ drives compatible for use in later versions of Mac OS.
 
Last Edit: October 24, 2022, 06:25 by MTT
MTT
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View Profile 		Reply #19 on: October 24, 2022, 07:22
Continuing on with my (lack of) knowledge regarding the development of HFS+ I began seeking for the point in Mac OS where HFS+ "Sequoia" became "frozen" into Gold Master status... For starters, I should always read the fine manual ;)

It was in DL #23: ATS July 1997 from the Apple Developers 1997 downloads from the MG, where I first noticed the installer for the Sequoia HFS+ tests.
Quote from: Sequoia's accompanying 'ReadMe' doc:
" The disk format is not final and will not be frozen until Sequoia is GM. We reserve the right to repair any flaws until the last minute. We do not plan to provide conversion utilities as the format changes. You should expect to erase your test disk with each software update.   We understand and apologize for the inconvenience this entails. "
Well, that is exactly what happens if you install the "unfrozen" Sequoia onto Mac OS 8.0 - Creating HFS+ volumes has them compatible with that version of Sequoia, but they can't be used in later versions of 8.1+ and HFS+ volumes created in later Mac OSs are not recognized as HFS+ drives in this system.

So I then embarked via the Tech Seed releases until I struck gold. And yes, as the ReadMe doc states, I needed to erase my test disk with each trial.

DL #24: ATS Aug-Sep 1997 - An alpha Mac OS 8.1a4 is on board, which I install. Code name: "Bride of Buster". The OS "Special" menu reverts to unique "S" names, this Special menu is "Sumptuous". HFS+ is as above, not usable on any other version of the Mac OS.

DL #25: ATS Oct 1997 - Mac OS 8.1 is now beta version 8.1b2c2, the Special menu is called "Steve". HFS+ is still as above, only usable on this version of the OS. Of note a special system file named "Bride" is no longer present, likely now incorporated into the Finder or OS.

DL #26: ATS Nov 1997 - Another 8.1 beta version 8.1b4 with the Special menu named "Salute". HFS+ has gone gold. There is no fan-fare but I now can mount HFS+ volumes in later versions of Mac OS and vice versa.

By January '98, Mac OS 8.1 had gone gold, too.
Last Edit: October 24, 2022, 08:48 by MTT
Pages: 1 [2]

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