Hollywood, MD (March 1, 2002) -- Easy SoftwareProducts announced today that Apple Computer, Inc. has licensedthe Common UNIX Printing System ("CUPS") for use with Appleoperating systems and software.

The CUPS software will provide enhanced printing capabilitiesto MacOS X and other Apple software as well as improvedUNIX/Linux and Windows interoperability. The standard CUPSdistribution will be provided with Apple's open source Darwinoperating system, while an enhanced version of CUPS with Apple'sAqua user interface will be provided with MacOS X.

CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX®-basedoperating systems. It has been developed by <AHREF="http://www.easysw.com/">Easy Software Products topromote a standard printing solution for all UNIX/Linux vendorsand users. CUPS provides the System V and Berkeley command-lineinterfaces.

CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basisfor managing print jobs and queues. The Line Printer Daemon("LPD") Server Message Block ("SMB"), and AppSocket (a.k.a.JetDirect) protocols are also supported with reducedfunctionality. CUPS adds network printer browsing and PostScriptPrinter Description ("PPD") based printing options to supportreal-world printing under UNIX.

CUPS also includes a customized version of GNU Ghostscript(currently based off GNU Ghostscript 5.50) and an image file RIPthat are used to support non-PostScript printers. Sample driversfor Dymo, EPSON, HP, and OKIDATA printers are included that usethese filters.

CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNULibrary General Public License. Please contactEasy Software Products forcommercial support and "binary distribution" rights.

Easy Software Products is an eight year old small businessthat produces printing, document management, Internet, andcomputer graphics solutions for UNIX and Microsoft Windows®. ESP software is sold in 120 countries worldwide. Additionalinformation on Easy Software Products can be found at "<AHREF="http://www.easysw.com/">http://www.easysw.com/". Information on the Common UNIX Printing System can be found at"http://www.cups.org/".

Apple Computer, Inc. is a pioneer in the personal computingindustry, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with theintroduction of revolutionary products such as the new iMac andiPod. Additional information on Apple Computer, Inc. can befound at "<AHREF="http://www.apple.com/">http://www.apple.com/".