Archive

A Closer Look at the i-Mode

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-04-21 Hardware 10 Comments

Recently i-mode was unleashed onto the Dutch and German markets. This internet service is hugely popular in Japan, where it connects over 30 million people to the internet through mobile phones. Read more to get to know its features and see two screenshots of the devices.

The Future of Computing

Guest post by Jon Bach 2002-04-20 Editorial 12 Comments

I just should begin by saying that this article is different from the others. While my other articles can be quite useful to aid you in the design or purchase of your next computer system, this article is simply a fun look at things to come.

Metrowerks Ships CodeWarrior Development Tools for intent

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-04-18 Amiga & AROS 4 Comments

Metrowerks is shipping a new set of tools which enables application and content development for Tao Group's intent, a high performance, portable media platform. These tools don't come cheap. However an intent/AmigaDE Software Development Kit costs only 100 dollars is already enough to get you started. And if you want to use powerful dynamic graphic scaling capabilities, you need to sign a SDA with Amiga. Then your software will be able to scale properly from handheld to STB/Desktop resolutions. On TechTV Amiga already demonstrated the technologies' flexibility and performance.

AmigaOne Pictures

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-04-12 Amiga & AROS 36 Comments

The reporters of a French Amiga magazine called AmigaPower have been so kind to post some pictures of an AmigaOne computer running TurboLinux. Initial AmigaOne ATX motherboards come with a soldered 600 MHz G3 PowerPC CPU, built-in 10/100 ethernet, USB, AGP (2xSpeed), AC97 Soundchip, MC97 modem, UDMA100 IDE controller and costs 600 Euros (ex. VAT). A more expensive version is expected to be released later this year, having a socketed CPU and a 4xSpeed AGP bus, which will allow the installation of one or two G4 processors. Boards can be pre-ordered from Computer City, KDH Datentechnik and Vesalia.

Dear Amiga Inc., Could I Make a Few Suggestions?

Guest post by Roger M 2002-04-08 Amiga & AROS 35 Comments

I have watched the progress of the "new Amiga" (OS and hardware) over the past couple of years. Given the past history of Amiga, I am happy to see that the company has been taken over by true fans of the Amiga OS, who have a workable vision. In general, I think you came up with a good overall strategy:

More AmigaOS4 Details Emerge

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-31 Amiga & AROS 18 Comments

In a live interactive streaming audio/ICQ interview, by UGN at the AmigaExpo in Baltimore, Hyperion released even more interesting details regarding the development of AmigaOS4. Some highlights:

AmigaDE – Am I Missing Something?

Guest post by Vandre Pind 2002-03-28 Amiga & AROS 30 Comments

A few months back, I started to read about the new AmigaDE environment, AmigaOne, and the new technology Amiga is using. After Tao released their Intent/AmigaDE ADK on a cover CD bundled with Digital Magazine (and being an old Amigaen), I wanted to dig a little deeper and find out what all the fuss is about. During my search on the web, I couldn't help being a little disappointed.

Amiga Status Announcement

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-27 Amiga & AROS 32 Comments

In Amiga's latest executive update, Amiga Inc's CEO concentrates on the development of the AmigaOS4 desktop operating system. Initially the new PPC based AmigaOS is being targeted at Eyetech's new AmigaOne ATX motherboard (an A1200/PCI bridge will become available later on, which will allow AGA chipset compatibility, but this is not needed if you don`t want it), bplan's new multi-processor supporting PEGASOS microATX motherboard, Elbox' new G3/G4 Accelerator cards and even old Cyberstorm/Blizzard PPC accelerators for classic Amigas. Merlancia Industries, with legend Amiga hardware designer Dave Haynie as their CTO are even developing new PPC laptops. New PPC native versions of popular Amiga software including MUI and IBrowse are under development, as announced in this executive update.

Some Things I’d Like to See From Apple

Guest post by Steve Klingsporn 2002-03-26 Editorial 67 Comments

Just some days ago Apple requested input from PC users or from Mac users coming from the PC world. They asked for some input regarding what a PC user would like to see on Apple's products. While I am already a Mac user, I would like to see the following. If it doesn't happen (as it hasn't), I intend to do it myself with some smart friends.

Ex-Gateway Executive Says Microsoft Bullies PC Makers

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-23 Legal 32 Comments

A former Gateway executive recently testified (NY Times login required) that Microsoft punishes PC clone manufacturers like Gateway for developing rival products. This was i.e. done by reducing discounts Gateway received for the Windows operating system. Gateway at a time was developing a new Amiga computer, but all of the sudden this ambitious project was cancelled, reliable sources (read the comments section of this article I recently wrote for OSNews) have stated Microsoft to be the reason behind this sudden move. My opinion: A good example of how Microsoft stifled technological progress within the computer industry these last 10 years. Hopefully people will start to understand why it has taken the Amiga community this long to get a new Amiga computer onto the market and why PC manufacturers left Amiga technology in the cold when the classic still was clearly superior technology compared to Microsoft's offerings.

Understanding CVSup, Mounting, Ports and Init on FreeBSD

Guest post by Nathan Mace 2002-03-19 FreeBSD 25 Comments

Most tech savvy geeks can work their way through a FreeBSD install, even if they have no prior UNIX experience. However installing an OS and configuring an OS are two totally different things. This article is targeted towards anyone who might be wondering about FreeBSD, but doesn't know what to do with it after they install it. This isn't then end-all be-all of FreeBSD howto's. Just some of the simple stuff. Update: Some of the readers of OSNews have emailed me concerning corrections that need to be made in this article. Dig in (third page) for more.

SmallEiffel Ported to Intent/AmigaDE

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-16 Amiga & AROS 18 Comments

The GNU SmallEiffel compiler has been ported to the Intent/AmigaDE operating environment. Also worth checking out is this transcript of Bill McEwen's AmigaDE demonstration for TechTV. You will get a good idea of what this technology is capable of, regardless of it being only a tip of the iceberg of what the AmigaDE developer community is working on.

Sun Releases New Workstation and Graphics Accelerator

Guest post by Ken Crandall 2002-03-15 Oracle and SUN 21 Comments

Sun has released the new Sun Blade 2000 Workstation, featuring either 2x 1GHz or 2x 900MHz UltraSparc III CPU's. They have also launched the XVR-1000 Graphics Accelerator which puts Sgi square in their sites, when it comes to the 3D vizualization market. What's interesting to note, is not only the first more than 1GHz uSparc III processor, but that the XVR-1000 board is based off Sun's new MAJC processor, with 2 VLIW cores, on-board. Let the VLIW/CISC/RISC discussion begin!

Microsoft: AmigaDE for WindowsCE .NET devices

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-14 Amiga & AROS 15 Comments

Microsoft has been promoting AmigaDE software for use with WindowsCE .NET based devices at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco. The AmigaDE is a binary identical layer/OS which supports almost any embedded operating system currently available, including embedded Linux, PalmOS, Epoc, VxWorks, iTRON and QNX RtP. The promotion of WindowsCE .NET AmigaDE usage confirms the widespread support and adoption of the AmigaDE/ Intent platform. Thousands of developers are working with Amiga Inc on content for new AmigaOS based desktops, laptops or other AmigaDE enabled devices including PDAs, STBs, Internet Appliances, Mobile Phones and Digital TVs.

Public AmigaDE demonstrations

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-12 Amiga & AROS 6 Comments

Earlier this month some Australian Amiga User groups represented Amiga at Comdex, the biggest Australian IT show. They demonstrated AmigaDE software running binary identical at full speed across various devices, as well as introducing people to the new AmigaOS XL package. Many developers and users were amazed of what the AmigaDE can do, read the full show report here. Tomorrow Amiga Inc's CEO Bill McEwen will demonstrate Amiga products on TechTV's 'Screen Savers'. Also there will be many interesting demonstrations and seminars at the upcoming AmigaExpo, to be held later this month.

Will computers Kill the Geeks?

Guest post by Nicholas Blachford 2002-03-03 Editorial 31 Comments

A while ago I was reading a comment on Slashdot that indicated that evolution in the human population no longer happens. This isn't actually true as humans have continued to evolve albeit in subtle ways - BBC2 had a very good program about this a while back.

Tao Releases Free Intent ADK with Digital Magazine

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-03-03 Amiga & AROS 42 Comments

A special release of the intent Application Development Kit for Windows and Linux is included on the cover CD of the current issue of digital magazine. Intent is the core technology used in the AmigaDE and is also the standard programming and the platform independent content environment chosen by the Open Contents Platform Association (OCPA) for digital consumer devices. Consumer Electronic Giants including Hitachi, Sony, Kyocera, PSION, Nokia, NEC, Motorola, Grundig, JVC, Fujitsu, Sharp, Epson, Intel, Pioneer, Metrowerks, Sega, Bandai and Capcom are supporting the platform. A full new release of the AmigaDE Software Development Kit will become available for general developers later this year. Software developed for intent works with the AmigaDE platform as well.

Amiga Works with Nokia on New STB

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-02-23 Amiga & AROS 8 Comments

Amiga Inc has announced that it is working with Nokia to integrate AmigaDE technology into Nokia`s new Mediaterminal. The AmigaDE will offer users the ability to download and use AmigaDE applications, MP3, MPEG4, Universal Chat and streaming video, turning the family TV into a multifunctional infotainment center. AmigaDE technology will also be used in a whole scala of upcoming handheld devices and will become fully integrated in a future releases of the Amiga operating system. To get an idea of what future cellphones will look like, take a look these concept pictures of future Nokia phones. Also should be noted that PDA/cellphone targetted AmigaDE 3D games are under development. For instance an AmigaDE version of Hyperion Entertainment`s Warp3D technology was recently demonstrated to me at the Amiga 2001 fair in Cologne. Here`s a Status Report with screenshots of Payback for the AmigaDE, a GTA-clone and this year`s most popular classic 68k AmigaOS game title. If you want to speak to AmigaDE or AmigaOS designers and developers for yourself then be sure to attend the upcoming AmigaExpo show to be held in the US.

The Roots of MacOSX

Guest post by Gary Rogers 2002-02-22 macOS 32 Comments

Steve was drawing things out, as he is wont to do. We'd seen demonstrations by Adobe, we got to see the iBook's new larger look, he'd prattled on and on about the virtues of iPhoto, we were getting restless. We wanted to see IT. Whatever Steve Jobs had up the sleeve of that black mock-neck we wanted to see it. In all fairness those of us that are rabid weblog addicts had already seen it. Slashdot had broken the news the night before when 'Time Canada' plastered it all over their website. It was the new iMac, and inside the 'reality distortion field' that Steve Jobs projects at every MacWorld keynote, it was insanely great.

Realtime Chat with AmigaOS4 Developers

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-02-17 Amiga & AROS 10 Comments

Hans-Joerg Frieden, Thomas Frieden and Steffen Haeuser will be attending an #AmigaFun meeting today at 6PM (GMT) and will be answering questions regarding AmigaOS4.x. Also this Saturday at the Alt.WoA Show in the UK, Fleecy Moss (CTO, Amiga Inc) and Alan Redhouse (CEO, Eyetech Group) will hold a presentation regarding Amiga's future plans.