Apple Computer Inc has been previewing an upgrade for its Apple Media Tool. Version 1.01 is designed to enable non-programmers develop titles more quickly by permitting multiple objects to be brought into a program simultaneously, and adds the ability to build media properties and a movie controller into multimedia productions. The media properties can include transparencies, horizontal and vertical scroll bars. The Media Tool aims to enable multimedia designers to use the Macintosh to assemble media for Mac and Windows titles and add interactivity, all without scripting. Media elements can include QuickTime movies, PICT images, AIFF or WAVE sound files, and editable or non-editable text in rich text format. If Apple’s speech technology, sprite animations, conditional branching, or other interactivity is desired, the project can be saved as a text program and brought into the Apple Media Tool Programming Environment, the second component of the Apple Media Kit. Although all development is done on the Macintosh, each title created with the Media Kit can be played back on both Macintosh and Windows systems. The Media Kit is also forwards-compatible with the ScriptX object-oriented programming environment now under development by the Kaleida Labs joint venture between Apple and IBM Corp. The Media Tool currently ships on seven floppies and one CD-ROM disk, each containing Runtime Maker software. The first upgrade to the multimedia tool is expected by the end of first quarter 1994.