PATHADC Home > Documentation > Hardware > iBook Developer Note

Up Previous Next 

Other New Features

The system software for the iBook supports several other new features.

Sound Software Components

Keyboard and Key Caps

Onscreen Display

Wireless LAN Module

Sound Software Components

The I2 S-based sound system in the iBook is the first such implementation on any Macintosh computer. To support this new hardware, a Sound HAL (hardware abstraction layer) has been written. In addition to the HAL, a port handler has been written to describe the hardware capabilities.

Note

The Sound Manager API has not been changed.

Keyboard and Key Caps

The built-in keyboard has several new features. Several of the keys on the keyboard have more than one mode of operation. The function keys can also control the display and speakers; the keys on the right side of the keyboard can also be used as a numeric keypad; and certain control keys can also be used as page-control keys. The Keyboard Control Panel has been changed to support these new features, as described in the section Keyboard.

External keyboards connected using USB will work. The image displayed by Key Caps toggles when input from a new keyboard is detected.

Onscreen Display

The iBook uses on-screen display meters for its sound and display control buttons. There are separate on-screen display meters for display brightness, sound volume, and mute.

Wireless LAN Module

A software driver for the AirPort Card wireless LAN module is included in the Extensions folder. For more information, please see Software Components.


© 1999-2000 Apple Computer, Inc. – (Last Updated 15 Feb 00)

Up Previous Next