X versions of iMovie 2, iTunes, AppleWorks 6.1 coming

When Mac OS X goes on sale this Saturday, Apple will also make available X versions of iMovie 2, iTunes, and a preview of AppleWorks 6.1 from Apple’s Web site.

Apple says that over 350 applications for Mac OS X are shipping today, “hundreds more” coming this summer, and that over 10,000 developer organizations around the world are working on over 20,000 Mac OS X applications.

“Mac OS X is the most important software from Apple since the original Macintosh operating system in 1984 that revolutionized the entire industry,” said Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, in a statement. “We can’t wait for Mac users around the globe to experience its stability, power and elegance.”

Besides the features of Mac OS X that have been mentioned dozens of times on MacCentral (Aqua, Quartz, OpenGL, Unix underpinnings, protected memory, etc.), the next generation operating system comes with QuickTime 5, shipping for the first time as an integrated feature of Mac OS X. Apple also said that X includes other new features such as:

Advanced power management, so that PowerBook and iBook systems wake from sleep instantly;

Automatic networking, allowing users to get on the Internet using any available network connection, without adjusting settings;

A single interface to easily manage all network and Internet connections, including direct support for DSL systems that require PPPoE connectivity;

Full PDF support and PDF integration into the operating system, so that Mac OS X applications can generate standard PDF documents to be shared with any platform;

Direct support for TrueType, Type 1 and OpenType fonts, and over US$1,000 of the “best fonts available today,” including Baskerville, Herman Zapf’s Zapfino, Futura, and Optima; as well as the highest-quality Japanese fonts available, in the “largest character set ever on a personal computer”;

Support for symmetric multi-processing, so that on dual-processor Power Mac G4 systems, both processors are used automatically to deliver up to twice the productivity;

File system and network security including support for Kerberos;

Support for Java 2 Standard Edition built directly into Mac OS X, giving customers access to cross platform applications.

What’s more, Apple’s set of Internet tools, iTools, has been integrated directly into Mac OS X, for direct access to iDisk free Internet storage in the Finder and Open/Save dialog boxes, and free IMAP mail for Mac.com e-mail accounts. X also has built-in support for popular HP, Canon, and Epson printers (although we don’t have a list of which ones).

To help customers migrate to Mac OS X, Apple says its iServices will offer several new services, including a comprehensive set of Mac OS X training and certification offerings for Mac OS X system administrators.

Mac OS X will ship with seven languages — English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch — included on a single CD. In addition, the Mac OS X box will include a full copy of Mac OS 9.1, for running Classic applications, and the Mac OS X Developer Tools CD. The operating system will be available through The Apple Store and through Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $129 beginning March 24.

Mac OS X requires a minimum of 128MB of memory and is designed to run on the following Apple products: iMac iBook, Power Mac G3, Power Mac G4, Power Mac G4 Cube and any PowerBook introduced after May 1998.