Amiga Inc, thought to be dead after stopping all communication with the Amiga community, have reappeared. The long spell of silence was broken when they answered 25 questions from the readers at Amiga.org. In the answers, the CEO of Amiga Inc, Bill McEwen revealed some information that once again brought back some hope in the Amiga community. Hyperion Entertainment and their partners have been busy working on Amiga OS4, which has been in available in pre-release form since April 2004. The final release is held back by the lack of suitable PPC motherboards to run OS4 on, but this seems to be finally resolved, and a final release is expected this year. The Amiga.org interview left a lot of questions unanswered, especially with regards to Amiga Inc's plans for OS5. So to get a clearer picture of where they are headed, I asked Bill McEwen to answer some questions."
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2006-04-21
I'm still in love with the Amiga, but time has moved on. That short interview did nothing to boost my confidence that Amiga are going to come up with anything soon.
At this rate there'll be a version of Windows that lives up to the hype before a new version of the Amiga OS comes out.
Member since:2005-07-29
At this rate there'll be a version of Windows that lives up to the hype before a new version of the Amiga OS comes out
Microsoft have hundreds more developers and billions $$$ more than AmigaInc and after four years of development what they have? and OS that is not much more than Windows XP with a skin and a few bug fixing.
Ahh!!! NO, Wait!!!! they have no even released the final version of Vista jet!!!
Edited 2006-10-07 19:56
Member since:2006-04-21
Member since:2005-07-12
Microsoft is probably not a good example of an efficient development organization.
Other companies have developed sophisticated operating systems in the past with just a fraction of Microsoft's resources. Who says organizations today can't do the same?
Edited 2006-10-09 15:25
Member since:
2005-09-28
"[...]how do you support different CPU families without the Tao technology? Fat binaries?
BM>> You support them in the method and way that we are going to support them. "
"18.) The Ruksun acquisition also signals that the new Amiga Inc has a lot more resources than the old Amiga Inc. Care to comment?
BM>> No, but thanks for asking. "
How dare that guy answer the questions in such a glib and evasive manner after having produced so little? Why doesn't he just say "Well, we're planning to keep running the platform in the ground and producing absolutely nothing. In 18 months we'll throw all the work down the toilet again and start again. Business as usual here at Amiga!"
Member since:2006-04-21
Member since:2006-04-11
Yes, a master of double-speak:
"The first SDK will be out and available when it is ready."
"I would prefer not answering this at this time. As we are ready to release more information it will become a much clearer picture."
"Wait and see. We have some pretty interesting plans with regard to Java."
"I would prefer not answering this at this time. As we are ready to release more information it will become a much clearer picture." (again)
"You support them in the method and way that we are going to support them."
Member since:
2005-07-06
Is it just me getting the "Brillant" feeling?
http://thedailywtf.com/forums/permalink/40043/40043/ShowThread.aspx...
Member since:2005-09-28
This was my thought as well - how did the guy even get the job? How does he hang on to it? How can I obtain such a position?
"So while I can only say that I am sorry for what has transpired in the past, the most important item is what we are going to deliver today and tomorrow. "
Oh, well that's OK then. As long as you're sorry :-)
Member since:
2006-01-24
I just think it's sad that they came back. Now some kids who just started exploring the Amiga will believe their crazy hyping again and blow a lot of money on some t-shirts or sdk's or whatever... Speaking of SDK's, if they're not basind OS5 on Tao's Intent, what about all the people that bought SDK's from them earlier? Will their apps run on this? And if not, why come back now and not mentioning them? Have they waited two years and just decided that people have probably forgot all about it?
Member since:
2005-07-06
...vaporware. Surely after readin this Q&A it must be perfectly clear to everyone that McEwen & Co is just trying to keep the brand name alive in order to attract and lure investors?
He's doing a pretty poor job at it, too.
"So while I can only say that I am sorry for what has transpired in the past, the most important item is what we are going to deliver today and tomorrow."
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 2567891234 times, shame on me.
Member since:
2006-02-22
I loved the Amiga Operating System in 1986. For me it was the best.
I did hope about Amiga rebirth between 1995 and 2000.
Since many years it is evident that Amiga OS is too old. Even an old lover like me does not want it now.
I'm happy with my Mac even if I think the internals of the system are old too. Its strength is all applications and connectivity.
A system must come with a consistent set of applications, and Amiga OS5 seems to not even have a kernel.
A good multi-anything kernel cannot be made in some monthes.
I'm looking to DragonFlyBSD since 2 years. Its creator is well known by Amiga fans: he is Matt Dillon.
But I don't want either KDE or GNOME nor Thunderbird at all.
I understand that these desktops and applications are good for linux poeple who had nothing during years and does not understant "consistent".
But someone who used a consistent Amiga system, or use a consistent Mac system, cannot be happy with linux-derived patchwork.
For me the best thing for the future is when the kernel of DragonFlyBSD will meet the next generation desktop, when Dillon & DF workers will meet their counterparts for user interface.
Member since:
2005-08-26
...and please bury the Amiga with dignity.
There was a time when I believed the Amiga could make a comeback of some sorts (getting at least 0.1% marketshare), but over the years it has become increasingly obvious that it's never gonna happen, so I stopped believing.
This interview should make it obvious even to the most rabid fanatics that nothing is happening and nothing's gonna happen.
If it wouldn't benefit the scammers that are now running Amiga Inc., I'd suggest to the fanatics that they gather together and buy out everything related to the past and current hardware and software and release at least the classic stuff to the public domain.
Member since:
2006-02-06
I know one thing for sure. I don't love any of the major OS's at the moment for desktop, be it OS X, Windows or Linux. I haven't loved using a computer since I owned my Amiga 1200.
Despite all the negativity I'm actually happy with Bill's comments and I hope that this time Amiga Inc will deliver something special. I don't want Vista, I want Amiga 0S 4 then 5.
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2006-09-16
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They all have PPC ISA compatible processors. They are very different otherwise. Cell has one PPC core with upto 8 DSP like SPU's. Xenon in the Xbox 360 is a tri core PPC chip, each core similar to the Cell's PPC core. The Broadway CPU is related to the Gekko which was related to the G3.
Member since:
2005-07-11
And it NEVER fails to see people come out of the woodwork and be negative in ANY Apple or Amiga thread.
I don't own one yet (A modern Amiga, though I proudly own an Amiga 1000), but I'd love to have one to play with.
There are many people out there with AmigaONE's enjoying them as we speak.
It's not "vaporware". It's just "rareware", as only a few AmigaONE Logic boards were ever made. Probably only a thousand or two.
Hopefully, AmigaDOS will be ported to the Efika platform or one of the other PPC Logic Boards out there .
I wish it would be ported to Macintosh Hardware, as a G4 Mac Mini is cheap and would run AmigaOS nicely.
But, this is an OS for people who like to play. Like the concept of the Amiga, and not for all you naysayers out there.
If the Amiga succeeds, how do you all get hurt?
If it fails, how do you get hurt?
Why not just move along and be nasty about something else. Your negativity isn't welcome amongst those of us who wish Amiga, Inc. well, and hope they get their act together and bring a product out that we can buy and enjoy...
Sheesh!
"Get a life willya!"
-- William Shatner
Member since:2006-05-29
It is not about beeing hurt by an theoretical successfull rebirth of amiga os. Honestly, i would be happy about it. I used amiga till 98.
It is all about beeing sceptical if there is a strange man at your door, trying to sell you magic beans.
We got lied too for over ten years now. All they made was huge amounts of lukewarm air and i don't think that is going to change.
Member since:2006-04-21
If the Amiga is viably resurrected, I for one will be "happier than a Frenchman who's just invented a pair of self-removing trousers."
I just don't dare to hope that it will happen, after all these years of companies who use the Amiga name for recognition and do seemingly little else.
Member since:2006-02-22
Nothing negative. The points are:
- nobody can beleive to a 50th rebirth, or this is more like beleiving to any gods.
- anyway this OS is too outdated and a rebirth would not be a good thing.
Just see reality. I loved Amiga, now I don't want it. Too late. Point.
Nothing negative.
OK ?
Member since:
2005-12-31
going into an interview and being evasive and ambiguous about the topic of the interview really makes it look like a) you haven't got a clue or b) your trying to deceive the people.
of course it could be a+b
either way: is there really any point left?
Edited 2006-10-08 19:15