Steve Capps
Encyclopedia
Steve Capps is a computer
programmer
and engineer
who is best known for his work on the Apple Inc. Macintosh
computer and Newton OS
during the 1980s and 1990s. He started working at the Xerox Corporation while still a computer science
student at the Rochester Institute of Technology
. In 1981, Capps started working for Apple on the Lisa
project and he continued his work on the Macintosh, principally writing the Finder
(along with Bruce Horn
) and Macintosh system utilities—such as ResEdit
.
During a break in 1986, he wrote three music programs including Jam Session
, SoundEdit
, and Super Studio Session; SoundEdit was eventually sold to Macromedia
. From 1987 to 1996, he was the chief architect and Apple Fellow for the Newton, where he led the specification and development of the user interface of Newton, shepherded the team of software developers, and wrote many portions of the built-in application software. From 1996 until 2001, he was a user interface architect at Microsoft
. His early work at Microsoft resulted in the Internet Explorer
Search, History, and Favorites panes. He was also a co-founder of the MSN Explorer
project. He is now working at Silicon Valley start-up Kwedit
, focusing on online payment systems.
He is married to lawyer Marie D'Amico and has one child, Emma T Capps, who was born in 1997.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
who is best known for his work on the Apple Inc. Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computer and Newton OS
Newton OS
Newton OS was the operating system for the Apple Newton PDAs produced by Apple from 1993-1997. Newton OS was written entirely in C++ and trimmed to be low power consuming and use the available memory efficiently...
during the 1980s and 1990s. He started working at the Xerox Corporation while still a computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
student at the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
. In 1981, Capps started working for Apple on the Lisa
Apple Lisa
The Apple Lisa—also known as the Lisa—is a :personal computer designed by Apple Computer, Inc. during the early 1980s....
project and he continued his work on the Macintosh, principally writing the Finder
Macintosh Finder
The Finder is the default file manager used on Mac OS and Mac OS X operating systems; it is responsible for the overall user-management of files, disks, network volumes and the launching of other applications...
(along with Bruce Horn
Bruce Horn
Bruce Lawrence Horn was a programmer with Apple Computer and the creator of the Macintosh Finder and the Macintosh Resource Manager. His signature is amongst those molded to the case of the Macintosh 128K....
) and Macintosh system utilities—such as ResEdit
ResEdit
ResEdit was a developer tool application for the Apple Macintosh, used to create and edit resources directly in the Mac's resource fork architecture. It was an alternative to tools such as REdit, and the resource compiler Rez. For the average user, ResEdit was generally easier to use, because it...
.
During a break in 1986, he wrote three music programs including Jam Session
Jam session (Software)
Studio Session is a 1986 software program for Macintosh computers, for music creation and playback. It was created by Macintosh and Newton pioneer Steve Capps and musician Ed Bogas...
, SoundEdit
SoundEdit
SoundEdit was the first popular GUI-based audio editor for digitized audio. It was not only one of the first important audio applications for Macintosh, but one of the first significant audio applications for personal computers in general....
, and Super Studio Session; SoundEdit was eventually sold to Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
. From 1987 to 1996, he was the chief architect and Apple Fellow for the Newton, where he led the specification and development of the user interface of Newton, shepherded the team of software developers, and wrote many portions of the built-in application software. From 1996 until 2001, he was a user interface architect at Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. His early work at Microsoft resulted in the Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
Search, History, and Favorites panes. He was also a co-founder of the MSN Explorer
MSN Explorer
MSN Explorer is a web browser, developed by Microsoft, that integrates MSN and Windows Live features such as Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger with a web browser. To make use of these services requires a Windows Live ID...
project. He is now working at Silicon Valley start-up Kwedit
Kwedit
Kwedit was a website that helps people without credit or debit cards to purchase virtual goods online. People could purchase items online and promise to pay for the items later, through mail-in payments, payments at a 7-Eleven store, or through a credit card online...
, focusing on online payment systems.
He is married to lawyer Marie D'Amico and has one child, Emma T Capps, who was born in 1997.