Well, finally some news from Amiga International... and what great news! I you haven't already heard about future developments for the Amiga, read on...
The first item of interest is about the next two OS releases. The first official release of AmigaOS will be version 3.5, which is likely to be both a software and ROM upgrade. Actually, there seems to be some confusion on the ROM point - some sources have said that the 3.1 ROM would be used and 3.5 was merely a software update. Release is due in about six months, which places it about March 1998. It would appear to be for the 680X0 line of Amigas, hardly surprisingly really. After that, the first major upgrade in years (OS 4.0), will be shipped around October 1998, in time for the first batch of next generation Amigas.
Next generation Amigas? Yes, by the end of 1998 we should have the first new official Amiga hardware systems available. No mention of any specific processors, not even the PowerPC, because the Amiga will be shifting to a multi-platform environment. As well as traditional computer systems, this will also see the AmigaOS running on everything from palmtops, to network computers and set top boxes, to consumer electronics... including houses! Don't laugh about the house part, computer systems have a lot to offer the general public in that area, and wouldn't you rather have a house run by a secure, robust system like AmigaOS than certain other operating systems named after a part of a house?
A while back, I had a gripe about the poor support for developers since Commodore's demise. Well, I can't moan any more, which is a shame because I'm making up for all the years I've put up with things I didn't like! *grin* Anyway, Amiga International have promised to assemble and release a substantial library of books and documents, including RKMs and technical manuals. In addition, the developer program is to be resurrected at the same time as the 3.5 release. I believe the ICOA may well be responsible for coordinating support. Great news! My thanks and good wishes to Amiga International and Gateway 2000.
So what else can I say? Well, to be honest not much more, because AI have not given an official press statement yet, so I don't have a complete summary of the situation. All I can say is, it looks like a great future... I'm already saving my pennies for the OS 3.5 package, and a PIOS transAM with OS 4.0 is already on my wish list.
Another surprise discovery I made a few weeks back is about Haage & Partner's PowerPC native Exec and API. It is in direct competition with Phase 5's own PowerPC development plan. Now, not having access to either Phase 5 or H&P's products, I'm not going to discuss who's is best or what they both offer. Other sources of information can do that job far better than I can. Instead I'm going to voice some concerns...
The move to the PowerPC is going to be greatly eased by Phase 5's hardware program, no question. The PowerUP boards are a great idea, even though I am worried about the monopoly Phase 5 has in this market. Dividing the software aspects into two rival camps seems a dangerous state of affairs - both have the same aims but, unlike the advantages of hardware rivalry, the difference between the two APIs is not going to be helpful in the long run. In the end, both APIs will have to bow down to whatever set of guidelines Amiga International establish and having a broad range of conflicting ideas is not going to make it easy for developers and users to switch over to whatever official system is brought into play.
Amiga International have made it clear they have no wish to choose any third party system over another. In terms of multi-platform OS developments, they are the ONLY party to look towards if compatibility is to be sought. They are unlikely to choose either Phase 5 or Haage & Partner to the exclusion of the other. The proponents of PowerPC systems are going to have to work together in the end, so it is best to do it right from the start. I'm worried that we are back to the situation I was complaining about a few months ago, with several rival groups all heading in different directions with scarce regard for others. Okay, that's a bit drastic for the moment, but it could all become a mess...
As someone who is likely to upgrade his A4000/030 to a nice CyberPPC 604 150MHz / 68040 40MHz in the not-too-distant future, with aims for a PIOS transAM (for AmigaOS, BeOS, p.OS and Linux development) at a later date, I want to know that PowerPC software is going to run happily on either of those systems. Not in the future, but NOW! (well... in a few months time, at least *grin*). This doesn't involve me having to reboot my A4000 into WarpOS, Phase 5 OS (jeez, I wish P5 would give it a name!) or AmigaOS for PPC depending on the program I wish to run. Maybe it's just me being fussy, but I'm sure that with Amiga International around and doing well, PowerPC Amiga development seems to be far more complex than it should be...