Apple Introduces New Version of HyperCard with Multimedia Enhancements and
Power Macintosh Support

CUPERTINO, California--May 1, 1995 -- Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced
HyperCard 2.3, a new version of the company's popular software development
tool that enables people to easily organize text, graphics, sound and
video into "stacks" of electronic cards for custom software solutions.
HyperCard 2.3's performance improvements, ease-of-use enhancements, and
new color and multimedia capabilities further extend the product's value
to a wide array of users, including commercial and in-house developers,
software consultants, educators and multimedia authors.

Significance

With the release of HyperCard 2.3, Apple is strengthening HyperCard as a
powerful, easy-to-use, versatile development tool. "Apple is committed to
HyperCard as a strategic development platform," said Ike Nassi, vice
president, Apple System Software Technology. "Version 2.3 provides our
customers with the capabilities they require to further reduce development
time and enrich the user experience."

When developing and deploying stacks, HyperCard 2.3 users can choose the
new version accelerated for Power Macintosh computers, or the same version
optimized for Apple's traditional Motorola 680x0-based machines. Both
versions are included in every HyperCard product sold through retail
channels. Additionally, users may save their stacks as stand-alone
applications for Power Macintosh systems, 680x0 systems, or both.

Important new HyperCard features include automated Button Tasks, 24-bit
color paint tools, text-to-speech capabilities and special multimedia
software and utilities:

Button Tasks

Automated button tasks enable those with little or no scripting experience
to easily integrate all elements of a HyperCard stack. By simply clicking
on buttons, developers can quickly create stacks that help users navigate
through cards, view QuickTime movies, listen to audio information, launch
other applications and share data with those applications while working
with a HyperCard stack. Apple provides six primary button tasks with
HyperCard 2.3, however, many third parties may find it beneficial to
create additional button tasks for specific vertical-market needs. To
encourage third-party development, Apple is providing button task
application program interface instructions at the 1995 Apple Worldwide
Developers Conference (May 8-12, in San Jose).

Color Paint Tools

Users can rely on HyperCard 2.3's 24-bit color painting tools to add a new
level of visual interest to their stacks. With these new painting tools,
users can create their own color graphics or import PICT graphical image
files into HyperCard, edit them, and apply a variety of special effects.

Text-to-Speech Capabilities

HyperCard 2.3 also includes text-to-speech capabilities that support Apple
PlainTalk software. The text-to-speech feature allows any Apple Macintosh
computer to read aloud specific text from a HyperCard stack. This
capability adds a new dimension to HyperCard's usefulness as a learning
tool in education and home learning environments. For example, foreign
language students can immediately reinforce the proper pronunciation of
words as they are displayed in a digital document.

Multimedia Software

Bundled with an array of multimedia products from Motion Works Inc.,
HyperCard 2.3 delivers a total software value of U.S. $500. The bundle
includes AddMotion II, a path-based animation program and MultiMedia
Utilities, a collection of six utilities for QuickTime editing and
morphing.

Background

Since its introduction in 1987, HyperCard has grown in popularity among
Macintosh users because no programming experience is required to create
custom software. HyperCard's unique card-and- stack metaphor makes it
ideal for a wide range of custom applications, not just multimedia.
Commercial developers, consultants, in-house programmers, and educators
alike use HyperCard to organize and display all types of information
(text, graphics, and sound). HyperCard provides the flexibility to create
such diverse applications as courseware and computer-based training
materials, training simulations, game titles, graphical interfaces for
database search and retrieval, interactive multimedia presentations and
information kiosks.

Although HyperCard is widely recognized among programming novices for its
ease of use, it also provides professional developers with a robust
prototyping and development environment. HyperCard adds a suite of
powerful scripting, editing and debugging tools, the most notable of which
is AppleScript. This system-level scripting language enables developers to
use HyperCard as an engine from which to launch, run and share data with
other scriptable applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel,
FileMaker Pro and WordPerfect.

Pricing and Availability

Expected to be available this month from Apple authorized resellers in the
U.S., and through the Apple Developer Tools Catalog, HyperCard 2.3 has a
suggested retail price of U.S. $129.00. HyperCard 2.2 customers may
upgrade to HyperCard 2.3 for $39.00 by ordering through the Apple
Developer Tools Catalog. The Apple Developer Tools Catalog is available by
telephone in the U.S. at (800) 282-2732; in Canada at (800) 637-0039; or
internationally at (716) 871-6555. To locate a nearby Apple reseller,
customers may call the Apple Reseller Referral Line at (800) 538-9696.

System Requirements

The minimum system configuration for HyperCard 2.3 is an Apple Macintosh or
Mac compatible computer with a 68020 processor, Version 6.0.5 of the Mac
OS, and 2 MB of memory. Some new features of HyperCard 2.3 require more
recent processors, additional memory and/or more recent system software.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information
industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal
computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal
digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple
(NASDAQ:AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products,
technologies and services for the business, education, consumer,
scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.

Apple Computer Inc
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010

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