"Hyperion Entertainment VOF is pleased to announce the immediate availability for download for registered customers of another service update of Amiga OS 4.0 which addresses some outstanding issues and introduces substantial new functionality." There's a new kernel, better POSIX support, a new Python port, newer USB stack, and more. By the way, the promised hardware still has not arrived.
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Member since:2007-02-22
It seems to me like Amiga Incorporated is trying to go the Apple route -- hardware lockin. However, hardware lockin almost killed Apple in the 90s once Microsoft made it obsolete, and unlike those days, Microsoft is now well-entrenched, and even Apple is coming back (iTunes + advertising as creative as their old 1984 ad).
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2006-02-16
That used to be the problem, but unfortunately the hold up now is the question of the legal ownership of OS4 + Amiga trademarks. There's plently of (potentially) compatible OS4 hardware available right now.
The secret legal wranglings seem to be what's really held up the system for the last few years, but it's mostly out in the open now. The only thing we can do is wait for the current court case to blow over, and then see who really owns and/or has rights to what.
My personal opinion is that once it's all sorted out, if Hyperion win, I expect we'll see a release of OS4 for the SAM440EP almost immediately. If Amiga Inc. wins, then who knows. My guess is that they'll either sell everything wholesale to the highest bidder, or it'll sit in a filing cabinet for the next 20 years.
Member since:2005-07-06
Wasn't it the other way round with Apple? They had trouble after they opened their platform to other hardware vendors, clones on the PPC platform cost Apple sales. They got back on track pretty much after killing the clones and locking their OS to their own and only their own hardware.
Member since:2005-11-11
It seems to me like Amiga Incorporated is trying to go the Apple route -- hardware lockin. However, hardware lockin almost killed Apple in the 90s
Whether or not lockin is what almost killed Apple, you go on to mention Apple's comeback. The comeback they pulled off while still utilizing hardware lockin.
That's hardly going to do a good job convincing me hardware lockin is unfeasible. It has its distinct advantages: ensuring you have drivers for your OS and that they are of good quality being foremost in my mind.
Granted, running on generic x86 opens up a larger potential audience, but "running on generic x86" is a huge undertaking, and for a small company with an alternative OS (especially one that can't take advantage of GPL code) is certainly less feasible than targetting a limited set of hardware.
Whether or not it is possible for a small company with an alternative OS to establish itself by either method is not something I can say, but if Hyperion fails it will be from causes other than hardware lockin (there seem to be enough).
Member since:2005-06-29
No no no. The hardware lock-in never almost killed Apple. It only limits their marketshare (don't like the config? Tough luck).
Apple's obscene markups on their PCs in the 80ies were what almost killed Apple. At that time, Apple was pretty uncompetitive in the marketplace. This is something Jobs fixed when he came back. That and the numerous projects that weren't bringing in new revenues were hurting the company of funds. By 1999, Apple was running in the red. Gates had MS invest into Apple to help Jobs get Apple back into gears. Anyway, this isn't new stuff.
Member since:
2006-01-10
Couldn't help but remember the little old woman in the 'Where's the beef?' advertisements. Where's the hardware? I'd love to get an AmigaOS 4.0 based system, but if there isn't any hardware, it's making it a bit hard.