TITLE
    Macintosh AV Series: Software Enhancements (12/93)
Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
12698
7/26/93
12/23/93

TOPIC


    What are the software enhancements incorporated into the Macintosh
    Centris 660AV, the Quadra 660AV and the Quadra 840AV?


DISCUSSION


    System Software
    ---------------
    The Centris 660AV, Quadra 660AV and Quadra 840AV require System Software
    7.1 and System Enabler 088 in order to operate.

    QuickTime 1.6.1 is included and has been enhanced to support
    built-in video features, provide better playback performance, and
    require less memory to run.

    System software is shipped on bootable CD-ROMs with those units equipped
    with an internal CD-ROM drive.

    SCSI Manager 4.3
    ----------------
    SCSI Manager 4.3 is a new system level manager that extends the
    capabilities of Macintosh systems both in terms of functionality and
    performance.

    This new SCSI Manager is fully asynchronous, allowing each of several
    SCSI devices to have multiple requests outstanding. By queuing requests in
    this manner, overall throughput is improved. Other features such as direct
    memory access (DMA) support further enhance overall performance.
    Functionality has been improved through support for multiple buses
    and hardware configurations, and support for SCSI-2 messages and protocol
    actions.

    Real-Time Manager
    -----------------
    The Real-Time Manager is a key part of Apple's Real-Time Architecture
    (ARTA), providing a uniform API (application programmable interface) to
    DSP capabilities. These DSPs can reside on the logic board or on NuBus
    cards and are scalable in that multiple DSPs are supported.

    Sound Manager 3.0
    -----------------
    Sound Manager 3.0 represents a marked change from past sound manager
    versions and supports many new features that greatly enhance Macintosh
    system sound. In addition, the internals of the Sound Manager have been
    rewritten, resulting in a more flexible tool that can better accommodate
    new hardware capabilities.

    New features provided by the Sound Manager 3.0 include:

    * Support for a wider range of data types, including 16-bit stereo sounds,
    11 - 48 KHz sounds, MACE (Macintosh Audio Compression and Expansion)
    3:1 and 6:1 compression ratios, and MIDI

    * Support for Sound Panel components which allow developers to create
    snap-in control panels for sound devices and algorithms

    * Device independence, allowing the Macintosh to support sound chips other
    than the Apple Sound Chip, and to support output devices other than the
    Apple internal speaker.

    * A uniform API across hardware systems

    * More efficient use of the system processor

    * Smaller memory footprint

    * Improved sound performance

    * Backward compatibility with previous sound managers

    PlainTalk
    ---------
    PlainTalk is Apple's implementation of speech technology, it refers to
    two separate parts: speech recognition which responds to verbal commands
    from the user, and text-to-speech (TTS) that allows the computer to
    communicate verbally with the user.

    While computer speech recognition is still in its infancy, the Macintosh AV
    Series models introduce the most advanced system ever on a personal computer.

    The speech system is unique in that it is speaker independent, accommodates
    continuous speech, and automatically adapts itself to the environment where
    it is being used.

    Speech activated commands can be programmed through the use of AppleScript
    when the application is AppleEvent aware, or through a new version of QuicKeys
    which supports spoken commands.

    Text-to-speech refers to the ability of the Macintosh to interpret textual
    data and to "read" the data to the user in a near natural voice. Multiple
    voices at various sound quality levels are supported.

    For further information on PlainTalk, please search in the Tech Info Library
    by the string "PlainTalk."

    Article Change History:
    23 December 1993 - Revised article, incorporating new title and new models.

    Support Information Services

Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: Macintosh Quadra & Centris
Sub Category: General Topics

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