stadler@Apple.COM (Andy Stadler) (01/04/91)
Here's Apple's press release of December 7, announcing HyperCard IIGS.
APPLE INTRODUCES HYPERCARD FOR THE APPLE IIGS
Long Beach, California -- December 7, 1990 -- Apple Computer, Inc. introduced
today HyperCard IIGS, a user-focused toolkit of information management software
for the Apple IIGS personal computer. The new product will allow Apple IIGS
users to create their own custom software and personalize the way they store,
explore and present information. The announcement was made at the AppleFest
Conference and Exposition being held today and tomorrow at the Long Beach
Convention Center.
"We're very excited about HyperCard IIGS," said Ralph Russo, director of
the Apple II Business Unit at Apple. "Because our Apple II customers are
extremely important to us, we continue to look for ways to provide product
enhancements that increase the value of their investment in our technology.
We believe HyperCard IIGS does just that".
Features and Benefits
Like the original HyperCard for the Macintosh personal computer, HyperCard
IIGS functions much like set of index cards. Users store information in
documents called stacks, which are made up of individual units called cards.
Cards can contain text, graphics, scanned images, and even sound. Buttons on
the cards can be used to link cards and stacks, and much more. HyperCard IIGS
supports multiple media by letting users work with information in virtually any
form, including text, graphics, video, sound and animation. It also takes full
advantage of the advanced 16-color graphics capabilities of the Apple IIGS.
To allow customers to begin immediately using the software, the program
comes with a large collection of ready-to-use stacks -- plus templates and card
designs to help individuals create their own stacks. The program's scripting
language, HyperTalk, provides buttons, cards, stacks and utilities such as
debugging tools to facilitate creation of sophisticated programs and speed the
preparation and performance of user-designed HyperCard stacks.
With HyperCard IIGS, Apple IIGS customers have the full functionality of
Macintosh HyperCard version 1.2.5 -- plus specific enhancements to improve
performance and take advantage of the color capabilities built into the Apple
IIGS. They can also enjoy the additional benefit of accessing the many stacks
that already exist for the Macintosh once developers convert them for the Apple
IIGS.
"Now Apple IIGS users and third-party developers can enjoy the same power,
graphic tools, text editing and scripting abilities that Macintosh HyperCard
users have had -- but with the added advantage of color," said Tom Weishaar,
editor of the A2-Central and board member of the Apple II Developer
Association. "With HyperCard IIGS, Apple is delivering in a big way on its
promise to continue supporting the installed base of Apple II customers and
developers".
Configuration, Price and Availability
HyperCard IIGS will be sold only as a stand-alone kit, with six program
disks and three manuals. Included will be nine ready-made stacks (programs)
for productivity, learning/games and inspirational/creative applications.
To use HyperCard IIGS, customers will need an Apple IIGS with at least
1.5MB of RAM (2 MB are recommended), system software 5.0.4 or subsequent
version, one 800K disk drive and a hard disk drive or connection to a network
environment. The program will be widely available through authorized Apple
dealers at a suggested retail price of $99 in mid-February 1991.