Apple’s Developer Newsletters 1985 to 2008

Last updated on February 23, 2024

Starting in 1985 Apple began publishing a Newsletter for Apple Certified Developers. The newsletter was initially called Outside Macintosh, then Outside Apple, then Apple Direct, and finally renamed Apple Directions. These newsletters were available to subscribers of Apple’s Developer Services. I’ve found these newsletters, in addition to TibBITs, and other newsletters on the internet archive to be very useful providing descriptions and timelines for Apple’s products and services.

NOTE: see my Macintosh Reference Documentation post for other information sources.

Contents

About

I learned of the existence of these newsletters when I was searching for information about when Apple launched it’s public FTP site and website. I found most of these issues for Apple Direct and Apple Directions on Apple’s Developer CDs with descriptions of their content in HyperCard decks on the CDs.

Outside Macintosh 1985 to 1986: Apple’s Newsletter for Certified Developers

I haven’t been able to find much information on this newsletter other than there are some issues available in the Online Archive of California, and some of it’s articles being reprinted in MacDeveloper’s Issue #1 (1985/05/03), Issue #2 (1985/06/07), Issue #3 (1985/07/05), Issue #5 (1985/11/1).

Outside Apple 1986 to 1988

Outside Apple was a 16-page monthly newsletter that was sent to all Apple Certified Developers (approximately 5,000) and some apple employees in the Product Development and Marketing groups. The purpose of the newsletter was to act as a communication vehicle between Apple Computer and the developer community. Most of the articles in the newsletter were written by Apple employees, with regular columns from the Software Product Management, Market Intelligence, and International groups. (information from Apple’s February 1st, 1987 Information Exchange binder).

I’m assuming that the name Outside Apple was chosen because of the series of technical resource documents called Inside Apple published by Apple for use by Apple Certified Developers.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find any copies of Outside Apple, but did find out that the Online Archive of California has copies.

Apple Direct 1988 to 1993 : An Information Resource from Apple Developer Services

The Appledirect Newsletter replaced the Outside Apple Newsletter starting October 1st, 1988. Appledirect was a 24-page monthly newsletter that was sent to all Apple Certified Developers and several hundred Apple employees in the Product Development and Marketing groups. The newsletter acted as a communications vehicle between Apple Computer and the developer community, covering both technical and marketing trends and issues. Most of the articles and columns were written by Apple staff, but Appledirect also accepted certain types of outside contributions. (information from Apple’s October 1st, 1988 Information Exchange binder)

Unfortunately I have not been able to find any issues earlier than 1990.

1990 Distributing Software, Apple II installed base

I was able to find scan of the 1990 June and July editions of Apple Direct on the internet, and electronic versions of some of the articles from other issues on early releases of Apple’s Developer CDs

1990-04: Reaching the Apple II installed base, Cautions Site License Ahead (Part 1)
1990-05: Building a Site Licensing (Part 2), the Gray Market Blues
1990-06: June 1990 Vol.2 No.9
1990-07: July 1990 Vol.2 No.10
1990-08: How to pick a PR agency, Managing the Customer’s Expectations
1990-09: do not have any articles.
1990-10: Hiring Professional Management, Mac Beats Windows
1990-11: How to choose an Ad Agency, Distributing your software in Japan
1990-12: The Age of Discovery: The K-12 Market

1991 PowerBooks, Quadra systems, Classic II, A/UX Evolving to PowerOpen

1991-01: Planning Products for the Classic
1991-02: Creating Info Products
1991-03: Wanted: Low Cost Software
1991-04: Negotiating Distribution Agreements, Global Product Launch, International Business Basics
1991-05: How to Discourage Piracy, Pacific Market Opportunities
1991-06: do not have any articles
1991-07: Mac or Windows, Market Research Primer, Setting up a Subsidiary
1991-08: Writing a Questionnaire
1991-09: do not have any articles
1991-10: October 1991
- Main Articles: New product coverage (PowerBooks, Quadra systems, Classic II, OneScanner, new LaserWriters, AppleTalk Remote Access, AppleShare 3.0. 21″ monitor.
- News: Apple/IBM update; New DU debugging course; Apple’s antipiracy campaign; QuickTime apps AppleLink address and discussion board; New APDA products
- TOG: His personal tale of facing rationalization, assumption and denial
- Marketing: How to Get Product Reviews, by John Pearce, MediaMap; Serving High-end Users, by Peter Warren of Quark; Pacific Market Forum 1992; event calendar through December; It Shipped
1991-11: November 1991
- Main Articles: Notebooks: Now What? (How to take advantage of opportunities in the notebook market)
- News: New Data on Piracy; QuickTime Goes Final; Apple/IBM Deal’s First New Product; Apple Announces O.C.E.; Developers Involved in New-product Intros; Tell Evangelism about Your System 7 App; BSA Piracy Hotline; Dev. U. Training Available from 3rd Parties; New APDA products
- TOG: Empowering the User, Not the Program
- Data Points: Macintosh Quadras Fastest in Ingram Tests; AppleLink Usage in the DTS Folder
- Marketing: Comparison Advertising, by Dee Kiamy; The Anatomy of Good Customer Support, by Marsha Terry of WordPerfect; SPA Releases New Channel Guide; event calendar through December
1991-12: December 1991
- Main Articles: What’s in Store for ’92, by Kirk Loevner, Director of the Apple Developer Group
- News: New & Improved Inside Mac; Feedback Wanted on New Mailing; A/UX Evolving to PowerOpen; Developer Events at Macworld; MacHack Call for Papers; DSBB Gets New Folder Layout; New Macintosh Services Directory; Speakers’ Bureau Up and Running; CD Highlights; Update on Apple’s Antipiracy Campaign; New APDA products
- TOG: High-Altitude Computing
- Data Points: PowerBook’s Rated Most Useful in Independent Tests; Apple’s Total Developer Base Worlwide = 28,000
- Marketing: The Upgrade Black Hole: Why some upgrade campaigns get stalled, by Jordan Levy; Compatibility Testing: The right way, the right time, by Mike Taber and Karyn Taylor of Bröderbund.

1992 AppleShare 3.0, AppleTalk Remote Access, QuickTime 1.5

1993 Color Classic, 68040 Macs, America Online

1993-01: January 1993
- Features: The New Frontier: Personal Computing in Eastern Europe; Newton Update: An Interview With the Manager of Add-In Software for Newton
- News: Apple Increases Support for European Developers; Search Tools on the Developer CD; AppleScript Beta CD Ships; CD Highlights; It Shipped!; New Books (and a CD); Editor’s Note
- APDA Info: Now Available From ADPA; Hot Product of the Month
- Business & Marketing: Understanding the Competition; Lessons Learned About the PowerBook Market; Macintosh Marketing Seminar; GETNEXTEVENT; Market Research Quarterly: The Importance of Business Users
- Human Interface: “Bad Dialog Box” Contest Winners
1993-02: February 1993
- Features: Strategy: New Imagine Products; Technology: GrayShare; Technology: ColorSync
- News: Macintosh Easy Open, CD Highlights, Editor’s Note, develop Magazine Ordering Info., Apple Licenses American Online Technology, Cool.App AppleLink Address Closes, Global Developer Resources Quarterly Listing, Events Calendar, It Shipped, Multimedia Conference, European Training Facility
- APDA Info: Now Available From ADPA; Spotlight On…
- Business & Marketing: Using AppleLink for Support and Sales; GETNEXTEVENT
- Human Interface: Rules For Breaking the Rules
1993-03: March 1993
- Features: Strategy: New Macintosh Computers; Strategy: New Color Products; Strategy: New LaserWriters; AOCE
- News: Nagel Named VP; CD Highlights; Editor’s Note; Apple Direct Wins STC Awards; develop Issue 13; Macintosh Performa European Release; PowerPC Update; It Shipped!
- APDA Info: Now Available From ADPA; Spotlight On…; Hot Product of the Month
- Business & Marketing: European Distribution; GETNEXTEVENT
- Human Interface: Error Messages
1993-04: April 1993
- Features: Technology: Color Classic; Technology: New 68040 Macs; Technology: New LaserWriters; Technology: LC III; Technology PowerBook 165c
- News: CD Highlights; DSC Closed 4/16-19; Editor’s Note; HyperCard Moves; New Tools Available
- APDA Info: Now Available From ADPA; Spotlight On…
- Business & Marketing: Marketing Feature: Selling Off the Page; Developer Outlook: Making of a Bundle; GETNEXTEVENT; It Shipped
- Human Interface: Preferences
1993-05: May 1993
- Features: Strategy: EnterPrise Systems; Strategy: Apple Workgroup Servers
- News: CD Highlights; Editor’s Note; Apple Prepares for WWDC; AppleSearch; Apple Beats the Competition; Debugging Lab at WWDC; DU Gets Great Marks; ItShipped; PowerOpen;Shop Talk–Localization; Update From Taligent
- APDA INFO: Now Available From ADPA
- Business & Marketing: Marketing Feature: Making Sense of the Glitz; Market Research Quarterly: The Graphics Market; GETNEXTEVENT
- Human Interface: Toolbars

Apple Directions: The Developer Business Report

Starting in June 1993 Apple renamed Apple Direct to Apple Directions.

1993 660AV, 840AV, Newton MessagePad

1993-06: June 1993
- Features: Front page: Apple News (Developers Commit to Macintosh on PowerPC; Newton is Open for Development; Apple/Symantec Joint Venture; Apple Ships QuickDraw GX Beta; Future Macintoshes to Employ MFM-Only Disk Drives; MPW 3.3; New Performas); Strategy Mosaic; Editor’s Note; Table of Contents; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; develop Issue 14; Human Interface; Macintosh on PowerPC: Q & As; LaserWriter 8.0 Driver; SCSI Manager; ShopTalk
- Business & Mktg: Market Research Monthly; Developer Outlook; APDA Info; ItShipped; Calendar
1993-07: July 1993
- Features: Front page: Apple News (PowerPC Compatibility, Amber Announced, Mac on UNIX, WWDC Tapes, QuickTime for Windows 1.1, New PowerBooks); Strategy Mosaic; Editor’s Note; IndustryWatch: News & Persective; Don Norman; Table of Contents; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; Tech Notes Changes; Human Interface; Mac on UNIX Compatibility Guidelines; AppleScript
- Business & Marketing: Developer Outlook; APDA Info; ItShipped; Calendar
1993-08: August 1993
- Front page: Apple News (OpenDoc for Windows, OS/2; MacApp 3.1; MacinTalk; Award for PowerPC 601; Macintosh LC 520; Apple Products Meet EPA Standards); Strategy Mosaic (OpenDoc); Editor’s Note; IndustryWatch: News & Persective; Table of Contents; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; Third-Party Compatibility Labs; Human Interface; Making the Transition to PowerPC; Japanese. Chinese, Korean, Arabic Language Kits; ShopTalk: AppleLink Resources
- Business & Marketing: Market Research Monthly: PowerPC To Flood Market; Marketing Feature: Venture Capital; APDA Info; ItShipped; Calendar
1993-09: September 1993
- Front page: Apple News (Newton MessagePad Ships; Newton Titles From Apple; AV Macintosh Computers; Development Products Group; AOCE Beta-Test Version; Power To Be Open; Developer University; OpenDoc AppleLink Address Correction); Strategy Mosaic (Newton); Editor’s Note; Industry Watch: News & Perspective; Table of Contents; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; develop Issue 15; Human Interface; Macintosh Centris 660AV and Macintosh Quadra 840AV; Client-Server Development Tools
- Business & Marketing: Market Research Monthly: System 7 U.S. Installed Base; Thirty-five Macintosh Advantages Booklet; Marketing Feature: How Come We’re So Dumb?; Marketing Feature: Choosing Product Names; APDA Ordering Info; Calendar
1993-10: October 1993
- Front page: Apple News (System 7 Product Line Expanded; Multimedia Tools; PowerPC Development Tools Announced; Apple Licenses DocViewer); Strategy Mosaic (Newton, pt. 2); Editor’s Note; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; develop Issue 15; Human Interface; QuickDraw GX; Ask Don Norman
- Business & Marketing: Market Research Monthly: System 7 Global Installed Base; Marketing Feature: Corporate Partnering; Now Available from APDA; APDA Ordering Info; Calendar
1993-11: November 1993
- Front page: Apple News (Software Dispatch CD; Newton Development; Component Integration Laboratories; Apple in China; DocViewer Update); Strategy Mosaic (System 7 Pro); Editor’s Note; IndustryWatch; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; Human Interface; A Talk With Gursharan Sidhu; PowerTalk
- Business & Marketing: Market Research Monthly: Networked Macintosh Computers; Marketing Feature: Direct Mail; Developer Outlook: Licensing Characters; APDA Ordering Info; Calendar
1993-12: December 1993
- News: Apple News (Fall Products; PowerPC News; Chinese Language Kit; Apple Recommits to Publishing Mkt; Newton Conference; New LaserWriters); Strategy Mosaic (Your 1994 New Year’s Resolutions); Editor’s Note; Masthead
- Technology: CD Highlights; Human Interface; The State of the Macintosh User Experience, Part One
- Business & Marketing: Market Research Monthly: To CD or Not To CD; Marketing Feature: Preparing for the Unexpected; Developer Outlook: PowerPC Perspectives; APDA Ordering Info

1994 Quadra runs DOS, eWorld, PowerPC Processor

I was hoping that one of the 1994 issues would mention the launch of Apple’s new website, but other than a few mentions of Apple’s FTP site, Apple’s focus appeared to be on their newly launched eWorld service that would be replacing AppleLink and not on their website.

1995 Pippin, QuickTime 2.1, PCI Bus, Windows 95

1996 QuickTime Conferencing, MessagePad 130 With Newton 2.0

1996-01: January 1996
- News: Strategy Mosaic (International Development From Here To Copland); News (COMDEX; Apple #1 in U.S. PC Sales; New Technotes; Chinese Dictation Kit); Editor’s Note (The Year That Was); Apple Watch (Working With Apple).
- Technology: CD Highlights (System Software and SDK Editions); OpenDoc HI FAQs; Human Interface (Holiday Magic); Demystifying DSOM.
- Business: Ideas for Maximizing Installed Base Sales; Producing Bugless Software, pt. 1; Developer University Schedule; Internet Page.
1996-02: February 1996
- NEWS SECTION: Strategy Mosaic (Putting OpenDoc To Work in 1996); Editor’s Note (SPA Report); IndustryWatch (Open For Business); News (Apple Solidifies Marketshare Gains; Getting Ready for Copland Developer Release; QuickTime VR Royalty Eliminated; Macintosh Tools Guide Available Online; New ETO and MPW Pro; Symantec, Microsoft Release New Tools; Apple Ships QuickTime Conferencing; Apple Products Win Recent Awards; Apple Announces Support For JavaScript; Pippin).
- Technology Section: CD Highlights (Toolchest Edition); Human Interface (If You Build It, Will They Come?).
- Business Section: The Business Case for Component Hardware; Producing Bug-less Software, pt. 2; DU Schedule; Internet Page.
1996-03: March 1996
- News: Strategy Mosaic (The Future of Mac OS Graphics); Editor’s Note (A Game of Telephone); IndustryWatch (Plenty of Business Opportunities); Copland Communications and Collaboration to Rely on Internet Protocols, OpenDoc; Developers Show OpenDoc Support at Macworld; OpenDoc Wins “Landmark Technology” Award; It Shipped! Program Restarts; Apple Media Tool 2.0 Is Power Macintosh Native, Supports QuickTime VR, QuickTime 2.1; Apple Positions Cross-Platform 3D File Format as Internet Standard.
- Technology: CD Highlights (Reference Library Edition, March 1996); develop Issue 25: VR, 3D, GX, and More; Human Interface (Progressive Disclosure and Tabs); New Developer Tools Announced at Macworld; OpenDoc Human Interface FAQs.
- Business: Special Market Report (European Software Market Opportunities; Developer Outlook (Creating Shareware for Fun–and Profit?)
1996-04: April 1996
- News: Strategy Mosaic (Looking Forward to the Copland User Experience); Editor’s Note (Dr. Amelio Speaks); IndustryWatch (Profiting From Gil Amelio’s Experiences at National Semiconductor); Apple Debuts New Server Hardware, MessagePad 130 With Newton 2.0 and Newton Press, OpenDoc Round-up.
- Technology: CD Highlights (System Software/SDK Edition, April 1996); Human Interface (Use Your Illusion); Client/Server Computing: An Overview for Information Systems Developers.
- Business: Business Report (Six Assumptions That Can Kill Your Multimedia Title); Business Report (The Changing Landscape of Software Distribution).
1996-05: May 1996
- News Section: Strategy Mosaic (Mac OS Licensing Takes Off); Editor’s Note (Copland Blitz); AppleWatch (WWDC Sessions); News (Apple Preliminary Q2 Results; Apple Sprockets Games SDK; Apple Ad Based On Developer Quotations; Apple Moving on Internet Front; Mac Dominates Publishing; QuickDraw 3D RAVE; Apple and Motorola in China).
- Technology Section: CD Highlights (Tool Chest Edition); OpenDoc Human Interface FAQs; Human Interface (Doin’ Time at Macworld…); Multitasking Under Copland.
- Business Section: Feature (Interactive Music and the Apple Media Tool).
- Listings: DU Schedule; It Shipped!; Apple Internet Page.
1996-06: June 1996.
- News: Strategy Mosaic (Why Mac OS 8 Is Important); IndustryWatch (Putting SPA 1996 Software Sales Data Into Perspective); New Apple Developer Relations Charter, Organization; Apple Multimedia Program Becomes Apple Media Program; New Release Schedule for Mac OS 8; New QuickTime VR 1.0 Tools Made Available as Apple Plans Next QuickTime VR Release; Apple Licenses Sun’s Java; Technical Support Now Available to All Developer Program Members; Increased Power PC Compatibility, All-in-one Design Featured in New Apple Hardware.
- Technology: develop Issue 26; CD Highlights (Reference Library Edition, June 1996); Human Interface (Addictive Interfaces); Multitasking Under Mac OS 8.
- Business: Microsoft Under the Microscope: Learning From the Market Leader.
1996-07: July 1996
- News Section: Strategy Mosaic (Why Mac OS 8 Is Important); Editor’s Note (Why I Prefer Macintosh); IndustryWatch (PowerPC Hits 300 MHz); News (Amelio Announces Strategy at WWDC; Apple’s New Organization; Apple Commits $20 Million to Developer Marketing; Macintosh #1 In Ease of Use; WWDC Wrap-Up).
- Technology Section: CD Highlights (System Software/SDK Edition); OpenDoc Human Interface FAQs; Human Interface (Now It Can Be Told); Inside Apple Game Sprockets.
- Business Section: Feature (Finding and Hiring Macintosh Programmers).
- Listings: DU Schedule; It Shipped!; Apple Internet Page.
1996-08: August 1996 (html)
- NEWS SECTION: Strategy Mosaic (Making the Transition to OpenDoc); Editor’s Note (The Business of Dreams); IndustryWatch (Apple #1 in Multimedia); News (Apple’s New Developer Web Site; System 7.5.3; Free Cyberdog, Mac OS 8 On-Line courses; Newton Internet Enabler; Apple Licenses Roaster; Pippin in the U.S.; SmartShelf Software Distribution); Why I Prefer Macintosh.
- Technology Section: CD Highlights (Tool Chest Edition); Apple’s New Image Capture Platform; OpenDoc Human Interface FAQs; Human Interface (Designing For a Complex World: Intelligence).
- Business Section: Special Market Report: The 1996 Macintosh User Profile.
- Listings: DU Schedule; It Shipped!; Apple Internet Page.
1996-09: September 1996 (html)
1996-10: October 1996 (html)
1996-11: November 1996 (html)
1996-12: December 1996 (html)

1997 The end of the newsletters

Apple stopped providing descriptions of the contents of the newsletters on their CDs starting in late 1996. I plan to add descriptions as I have time.

1997-01: January 1997 (html)
1997-02: February 1997 (html)
1997-03: March 1997 (html)
1997-04: April 1997 (html)
1997-05: May 1997 (html)
1997-06: June 1997 (html)
1997-07: July 1997 (html)
1997-08: August 1997 (html)
1997-09: September 1997 (html)
1997-10: October 1997 (html)
1997-11: November 1997 (html)
1997-12: December 1997 (html)

1998 to 2008 Apple Developer News

In the December 1997 issue of Apple Directions, the Editor, Patty Bing-You, announced that there would be no more printed issues of Apple Directions, and instead Apple would communicate through Apple Developer News (1997-06-15) e-mails, the Developer Central Website (1996-11-02), Developer World Website (1997-01-02), and the Developer CD series.

On the internet archive’s way back machine I was able to find Apple Developer News, later renamed ADC Member News / Developer Connection News:

1996 August 8th to 1997 May 30th
1997 May 2nd to 2004 September 24th
2004 September 24th to 2008 February 4th although this page also includes links for news earlier than September, most of those links are broken, please use the previous link instead for those dates.

In 2008 Apple updated their website, and I could no longer find a link to the Apple Developer Connect News, but I suspect that it was moved in the the ADC Member area.