Apple Underscores Commitment to Multimedia Developers by Making QuickTime
VR and Apple Media Kit More Accessible

QuickTime VR Licenses, Royalties Significantly Reduced;

Apple Media Kit Run-Time Licenses Now Available at No Charge

CUPERTINO, California--May 15, 1995--Reinforcing its commitment to
multimedia developers, Apple Computer, Inc. today announced two
developments that will make the distribution of multimedia products even
easier. First, the company announced that it has significantly reduced
both the licensing fee and royalties for Apple's QuickTime VR software.
Second, Apple announced that the runtime version of its Apple Media Kit
multimedia authoring software can now be distributed free of charge.

"Apple has established its leadership in multimedia by making compelling
technologies such as QuickTime VR and the Apple Media Kit readily
available to developers," said Tom Ryan, director of Media Products at
Apple. "Enabling developers to more easily distribute the run-time
software will help drive the acceptance of these products as authoring
standards for multimedia and encourage the creation of breakthrough
interactive experiences for consumers."

QuickTime VR--short for virtual reality--is Apple's award- winning software
that lets a user view a photographic or rendered representation of a 360
degree scene and feel as if he or she were actually at the scene. In
addition, users can pick up and interact with objects at the scene. The
QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite is composed of the QuickTime VR
run-time software, which allows consumers using ordinary personal
computers to interact with a sequence of scenes and objects that have been
created by a multimedia author; and QuickTime VR Authoring Tools, which
developers can use to build interactive 360 degree views, link them
together, add hot spots and create interactive objects.

The Apple Media Kit--comprised of the Apple Media Tool for authors,
designers and educators, and the Apple Media Tool Programming Environment
for programmers--is Apple's award- winning, cross-platform multimedia
authoring tool. Developers are using the Apple Media Kit to create
innovative multimedia projects, including interactive multimedia catalogs,
rock music titles, on-line advertising and sophisticated networked
kiosks.

QuickTime VR Licensing/Royalties

The QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite will now be offered in two
configurations:

-- A bundle that includes: the QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite, MPW Pro
and one seat at a  QuickTime VR training course offered by Apple's
Developer University. The bundle is priced at US$1995.

-- The QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite can be purchased as a standalone
product for US$495.

QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite version 1.0 will initially ship with
final versions of the authoring tools and the run-time software for
Macintosh, and a beta version of the run-time for Windows. The final
version of the run-time for Windows will follow as a free upgrade.

As of today, the QuickTime VR run-time software can be distributed by
developers along with their QuickTime VR titles as follows:

    CD-ROM Titles
    Less than 25,000 units         No charge
    Over 25,000 units              $400/5,000 units

    Enhanced Audio CDs
    Less than 50,000 units         No charge
    Over 50,000 units              $750/25,000

This QuickTime VR royalty structure represents a significant reduction from
the original per unit cost which ranged from US.40 to US.80. There are no
royalties charged for non- commercial use of QuickTime VR.

Developers using QuickTime VR can author on the Macintosh platform and
deliver this content to run on both Macintosh and Windows-based PCs,
enabling access to the vast market of personal computer users.

QuickTime VR Training and Support

The sophisticated QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite is designed for use by
seasoned multi-disciplinary teams including professional photographers and
experienced multimedia developers. In the future, Apple expects to develop
a simplified version of the QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite suited for
a broad range of users interested in developing multimedia and virtual
reality titles.

In response to developer demand for QuickTime VR training, Apple also
announced today that Apple Developer University will be regularly offering
a 3-day "Multimedia Development with QuickTime VR" class, beginning in
May. The course, suitable for multimedia designers and title developers,
will cover all the steps involved in planning, creating and developing a
QuickTime VR scene. The class will cost $1,500. Apple will also provide
QuickTime VR technical support for developers registered as Partners in
the Apple Developer Programs. For more information about the QuickTime VR
class dates and training, or for information about Apple Developer
Programs, call the Apple Developer Hotline at (408) 974-4897.

QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite technical support is available to
members of the Macintosh Partners or the Macintosh Associates Plus
developer programs. For more information on the developer programs, call
(408) 974-4897.

QuickTime VR Availability

Beginning immediately, Apple will accept orders for the QuickTime VR
Authoring Tools Suite 1.0, which includes the run-time software for
Macintosh computers version 1.0, and a beta version of the run-time
software for Microsoft Windows 3.1. Version 1.0 of the Windows 3.1
run-time software is expected to be available in June 1995. To order, call
APDA, Apple's source for developer tools, at 1- 800-282-2732 (U.S.),
1-800-637-0029 (Canada), or 716-871-6555 (international).

QuickTime VR System Requirements

The QuickTime VR Authoring Tools Suite 1.0 requires a minimum of a 68040
33MHz-based Apple Macintosh computer with 40 MB RAM, System 7.1, MPW 3.2
or greater, and HyperCard 2.2. The run-time software requires HyperCard
2.0 (or later) or Macromedia Director 3.1.3 (or later).

The minimum Macintosh system required for the run-time software is a
QuickTime-capable Macintosh with a 68030 25 MHz processor, QuickTime 2.0,
System 7.1 or later, 8-bit video, 8 MB RAM. A double-speed CD- ROM is
recommended for CD-based software titles.

The minimum Windows system required for the run-time software is QuickTime
2.0 for Windows, Windows 3.1, MPC 2 configuration (80386, 33 MHz
processor, 8-bit video, 8 MB RAM). A double- speed CD-ROM is recommended
for CD-based software titles.

Apple Media Kit Licensing/Royalty

With today's announcement, the Apple Media Kit run-time software, QuickTime
and QuickTime for Windows can be distributed at no charge. Run-time
software is the software that allows a title created with the Apple Media
Kit to be played back without the authoring tool.

The Apple Media Tool is available in all Apple software distribution
channels, including dealers and retail software outlets. The price for the
Apple Media Tool is US$599 SRP, the Apple Media Tool Programming
Environment is US$995 and the Apple Media Kit, which includes both the
Tool and the Programming Environment, is US$1,195 SRP. Special higher
education pricing is available. Qualified customers should contact their
local Apple educational representative for more information. An advanced
support option is also available.

Apple Media Kit Availability

The Apple Media Tool and Programming Environment, version 1.2, are both
available now. To order, call APDA, the Developers Resource, at
1-800-282-2732 (U.S.), 1-800-637-0029 (Canada), or 716-871-6555
(international).

Apple Media Tool System Requirements

- Authoring Environment:

    -  Macintosh IIci or higher, with at least 4MB of RAM
       (8MB recommended)
    -  QuickTime 1.6.1 or higher
    -  System software version 7.1 or later
    -  Hard disk drive
    -  An AppleCD 150, 300 or 600 CD-ROM drive, Apple SuperDrive
       floppy disk drive

- Player Environment:

    -  For Macintosh:  QuickTime 1.5 or later, a minimum of 2MB of
       RAM (not including operating system), system
       software version 6.0.7 or later
    -  For Windows:  Windows 3.1 (or Windows 3.0 with MME),
       QuickTime for Windows 1.1, a 386 or higher processor, graphics
       and sound support, and a minimum of 3MB of RAM (not including
       operating system)

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.
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Addendum:

What Developers Are Saying About QuickTime VR

"QuickTime VR is a very exciting application of QuickTime, and Inscape
strongly supports any effort by Apple to make QuickTime VR affordable to
more developers," said Brock LaPorte, Vice President of Software
Engineering at Inscape. "Such efforts, we believe, will have the long-term
effect of proliferating QuickTime as the digital video standard of choice
for both Macintosh and Windows."

"QuickTime VR is the cornerstone of our move into creating virtual worlds
for language learning," said William Fisher, from the EF Multimedia Group
in Sweden. "The visual effects we're getting with QuickTime VR help us
draw users into the language learning process. We will revolutionize
language learning."

"We at Seismic Entertainment are enthusiastic users of QuickTime VR
technology," said Mike Morgan, Technical Director of Media at Seismic
Entertainment. "We feel it represents a real breakthrough in the delivery
of our digitally created virtual environments." Morgan added, "In
conjunction with other QuickTime technology, QuickTime VR allows us to
present virtual reality on the CD-ROM platform, enabling us to fully
integrate an immersive navigable interface into our reality-based game
titles."

"Virtual reality panoramas are an essential requirement of our multimedia
products," said Denis Stanton, Technical Director at Maris Multimedia
Limited. "Apple's QuickTime VR tools make it possible for content
developers to move up to this technology without additional programming."

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

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