ACSP 10.6 - Ch 6

The system keeps applications from interfering with one another by segregating their memory usage using protected memory. Macs with 64-bit-capable processors allow processes to run in 64-bit mode, which allows them to individually access more than 4 GB of memory.

The five application environments supported by Mac OS X are: Cocoa, the native application environment for Mac OS X

Code signed items include a digital signature that the system can use to verify the authenticity and integrity of the application or process and its resources.

Rosetta is translation software optionally installed with Mac OS X that allows Intel based Macs to use software originally designed for PowerPC-based Macs. Rosetta does not support applications created for any version of the Mac OS earlier than Mac OS X, the Classic compatibility environment, screen savers written for the PowerPC architecture, software that inserts PowerPC preference panes in System Preferences, applications that specifically require a PowerPC G5 processor, applications that depend on one or more PowerPC-only kernel extensions, kernel extensions or hardware drivers written for the PowerPC architecture, Java applications with JNI libraries, Java in applications that Rosetta can translate, or plug-ins written for the PowerPC architecture if the software they tie into runs as Intel native.

Mac OS X’s accessibility features are available from the Universal Access preferences. Universal Access includes options to assist users who have difficulty seeing, hearing, using the keyboard, or using the mouse and trackpad. The Universal Access preference file is com.apple.universalaccess.plist, located in ~/Library/Preferences.

You can identify an application’s type with the Get Info or Inspector window in the Finder or with System Profiler.

You can use the System Profiler application to easily scan all the appropriate application locations and return a list of installed applications.

General application troubleshooting steps include restarting the application, trying another known working document, trying another user account, checking log files, deleting cache files, replacing preference files, and replacing application resources.

The three ways to forcibly quit an application from the graphical interface are from the Force Quit Application dialog accessed from the Apple menu, from the Dock’s application shortcut menu accessed by Control-clicking or right-clicking on the application’s icon, or from the /Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor application.

The problem-reporting feature automatically springs into action any time an application crashes or hangs. This process creates a problem report log that can be viewed immediately, reported to Apple via the Internet, or viewed later in the /Applications/Utilities/Console application.

Application preferences are almost always stored in the user’s Library folder in the ~/Library/Preferences folder. Most application preferences are property lists, which are XML-formatted files that use the “.plist” filename extension.

The Dock process starts the DashboardClient processes on behalf of the currently logged-in user. All open widgets run inside one of the two DashboardClient processes.

At the time of this writing, Boot Camp allows Windows XP SP2+ or Windows Vista to run natively on Mac hardware. The Boot Camp Setup Assistant automatically repartitions the system volume in preparation for the Windows installation. Users install Windows as they would on any other PC, and then load Mac hardware drivers for Windows from the Mac OS X Install DVD.

The minimum system requirements for Boot Camp are:
- An Intel-based Mac computer
- Directly attached input devices
- Mac OS X v10.5 or later
- All firmware updates for your Mac
- A Mac OS X v10.5 installation disc
- At least 10 GB of free disk space for installing Windows
- 2 GB or more of RAM when running Windows Vista on a Mac Pro
- Boot Camp Assistant
- A single full-install Windows Installation disc

To set up Boot Camp, you must start with the Boot Camp Assistant, then install and set up Windows from the Windows installation disc, and finally install the Boot Camp drivers for Windows from the Mac OS X Install DVD.

If you have both Mac OS X and Windows installed, you can select the startup disk from the Startup Manager as soon as you turn on the Mac, from the Mac OS X Startup Disk preferences, or from the Windows Boot Camp Control Panel.