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Mac OS 9

Mac OS 9 is the ninth and final major release of Apple's classic Mac OS operating system, which was succeeded by Mac OS X 10.0 in 2001, starting the Mac OS X family of operating systems. Introduced on October 23, 1999, it was promoted by Apple as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever",[5] highlighting Sherlock 2’s Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as iTools and improved Open Transport networking. While Mac OS 9 lacks protected memory and full pre-emptive multitasking,[6] lasting improvements include the introduction of an automated Software Update engine and support for multiple users.

This article is about the ninth major release of the classic Mac OS. For version 10.9 of macOS (formerly OS X), see OS X Mavericks.

Developer

Apple Computer

Macintosh

Historic, not supported

Closed source

October 23, 1999 (October 23, 1999)[1][2][3]

9.2.2 / December 5, 2001 (2001-12-05)[4]

PowerPC

Nanokernel

Apple Platinum

Proprietary

Mac OS 8

Apple - Products - Mac OS 9 at the Wayback Machine (archived November 9, 2000)

Your Internet co-pilot.

Apple discontinued development of Mac OS 9 in late 2001, transitioning all future development to Mac OS X. The final updates to Mac OS 9 addressed compatibility issues with Mac OS X while running in the Classic Environment and compatibility with Carbon applications. At the 2002 Worldwide Developers Conference, Steve Jobs began his keynote address by staging a mock funeral for OS 9.[7]

Integrated support for multiple user accounts without using .

At Ease

Support for voice login through VoicePrint passwords.

a feature allowing users to save passwords and textual data encrypted in protected keychains.

Keychain

A Software Update control panel for automatic download and installation of Apple system software updates.

A redesigned Sound control panel and support for audio.

USB

Speakable Items 2.0, also known as , featuring improved speech synthesis and recognition along with AppleScript integration.[9]

PlainTalk

Improved font management through FontSync.

Remote Access Personal Server 3.5, including support for TCP/IP clients over (PPP).

Point-to-Point Protocol

An updated version of with support for TCP/IP.

AppleScript

Personal File Sharing over TCP/IP.

USB Printer Sharing, a control panel allowing certain USB printers to be shared across a TCP/IP network.

128-bit in the Finder.

file encryption

Support for files larger than 2 .

GB

volume support.

Unix

CD Burning in the (introduced in Mac OS 9.1).

Finder

Addition of a "Window" menu to the Finder (introduced in Mac OS 9.1)

Apple billed Mac OS 9 as including "50 new features" and heavily marketed its Sherlock 2 software, which introduced a "channels" feature for searching different online resources and introduced a QuickTime-like metallic appearance. Mac OS 9 also featured integrated support for Apple's suite of Internet services known as iTools (later re-branded as .Mac, then MobileMe, which was replaced by iCloud) and included improved TCP/IP functionality with Open Transport 2.5.


Other features new to Mac OS 9 include:[8]

List of Apple operating systems

at the Wayback Machine (archived March 30, 2009) from apple.com

Technical Note TN1176 Mac OS 9

at the Wayback Machine (archived February 23, 2004) from apple.com

Technical Note TN1194: Mac OS 9.0.4

at the Wayback Machine (archived April 4, 2004) from apple.com

Technical Note TN2010: Mac OS 9.1

at the Wayback Machine (archived March 3, 2008)

Apple | iMac Firmware Update