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03.Dec.2000
Anton Rolls on REBOL-ML


Hosts with REBOL Support
On the basis of reports on the REBOL mailing list Anton Rolls has listed hosts supporting REBOL. There the language REBOL can be used for example for the generating of websites via CGI. For the time being the list contains 8 entries.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 12:32] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
TFA


ASM-One v1.45 on December, 5th
The release of the version 1.45 of the assembler ASM-One was originally planned for the 30. November 2000. This date postpones on the 5. December 2000. The reason for this is that Boussh has begun implementing pasting to the clipboard. As the clipboard support is a feature that is requested since long by many he has decided to take some extra days to complete the clipboard support (copy to clipboard). This time will additionally be used to improve the RTG version of the package and to update the documentation. For the 5. December is the release of the standard and the RTG version of ASM-One 1.45 planned.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 12:32] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
IrseeSoft


Exhibition prices for IrseeSoft's Products
At the fair 'World of Amiga', happening on the 9. and 10. December 2000 at the Mediapark Cologne, products and updates of IrseeSoft will be available for favorable exhibition prices at the booth of CoolBits.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 12:32] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
David Gerber via eMail


Genesis Rights Controversial
On 28. September 2000 Haage&Partner released a note in which the company announced to have obtained distribution and copyrights for the TCP/IP-Stack 'Genesis' from Active Technologies (Chris Wiles). Through this acquisition H&P received the possibility to integrate an own TCP/IP stack into the new AmigaOS Version 3.9 without any complications.

Note: The Genesis package is continued development of the AmiTCP/IP package by Network Solutions Development, Inc. (NSDi).

On 2. Dezember 2000 David Gerber, who is working by order of NSDi on AmiTCP, released a press note by NSDi. According to this Active Technologies didn't possess the rights for the AmiTCP part of Genesis and hence couldn't sell these rights to H&P.

In this message NSDi among other things were written that they regard a distribution of AmiTCP/IP without a direct contract with NSDi as an act of piracy.

To avoid misunderstandings with actual valid license contracts NSDi further withdraws all for the time being valid licence contracts. Due to NSDi' own representation this is possible as Chris Wiles (Active Technologies) didn't observe his part of the license by not paying any licensing fees since early 1999.

H&P is anxious to solving this problem friendly.

The exact wording of the press release of NSDi is available under the title link.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 10:13] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Juergen A. Theiner on ANF


playamiga.de: Review of 'Codename: Hellsquad' online
On 3. Dezember 2000 Juergen A. Theiner has released a comprehensive test of the action aventures 'Codename:Hellsquad' by Digital Dream Entertainment on www.playamiga.de.

A work in progress report about "Payback" will follow soon. A first update of the P"Payback" review has been already released.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 09:38] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Amiga.org


Amiga.org: Tools for Headlines and AmigaDE Update
Since 27. November 2000 Amiga.org offers the possibility to show the headlines of this website automatically on the own homepage or directly on the AmigaDE-Desktop. For this programs for JavaScript, PHP and AmigaDE(ETick V0.8) are available. Besides the amiga.org headlines ETick can additionally show the actual date and time, weather forecasts and the statistics of an own zAMilo webserver.

On the website itself the actual uploads and top downloads of the AmigaDE archive of www.amigadev.net are now also shown.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 08:46] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Ricco Clemens on ANF


Amiga--------easy-PRINT Release (with a small delay)
On the 04. Dezember 2000 appears the new issue of Amiga--------easy-PRINT which may be delayed by 2-3 days because of illness.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 07:16] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
ANN


Amiga has Installed their own Online Shop
Amiga has installed their own online shop under the above title link. As for software AmigaOS V3.9 and AmigaSDK V1.0 are available.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 05:53] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Czech Amiga News


SecondSpin v2.12 beta
On 02. December 2000 Lauri Ahonen has released the beta version 2.12 of "SecondSpin". This is a tool to convert normal audio CD tracks into MPEG audio files (layers 1, 2 or 3). Additionally more formats like AIFF and WAV are supported. A modified version of LAME v3.87+ is needed for MPEG encoding.

With this update several bugs were removed and the error handling has been improved. This update is a very early beta version.

Download:


[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 05:53] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Czech Amiga News


Sound card "Martina"
Michal Kluczewski has released some information about the upcoming sound card "Martina" with the permission of the developer. This card shall be released within already this year, at first for the clock port of the A1200 and later in addition for ZorroII (Amiga 3000/4000). It offers two 16bit channels each for in- and output with maximum 96 kHz and an expansion port which can be used for a MPEG decoder. The website for the card shall go online soon.

Specifications:
  • Input: 2 channels with 16 bit, maximum 96 kHz.
  • Output: 2 channels with 16 bit, maximum 96 kHz.
  • Full duplex.
  • FIFO 512 bytes.
  • Soundmixer, for example of Paula and CD-ROM output.
  • Expansion port. This enables a MPEG decoder enhancement (MP3, MPEG-1 in der Uhrenport-Version) that is in the testing phase.
  • Card in clock port version block of this port.
  • The card will be delivered with AHI drivers. These take over the function of the audio.device.
  • The MPEG decoder will be library compatible to the mpega.library.
  • Version under ROM stand (it doesn't dash with BVision and FastATA) will be 24 bits (making possible trouble-free decoding MPEG) and full compatible with A4000 (and probably with A3000).

Contact:


[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 05:53] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
UAE-JIT


New UAE-JIT Version
Bernd Bernie Meyer has released a new version of UAE-JIT. This version with the name "Ipswich Town" contains a pci.library emulation and several improvements inclusive optimisations and bugfixes.

the PCI emulation enables the usage of the CGX3 Virge drivers of the Mediator board under UAE. Besides that UAE-JIT may be compiled with some luck with other compilers than the, this wasn't tested yet tested.

Compared to the previous version the following has been changed:
  • Bugfix: the saving of the settings should work now.
  • Bugfix: Many more bugfixes. Quark runs now perfectly.
  • New: pci.library emulation. This allows the usage of the free CGX3 Virge drivers (for the Mediator board) with UAE-JIT. As bonus up to four 4 PCI cards may be used (Mediator offers one slot).
  • New: Further FPU support and aliasing support for the FPU registers.
  • Lazy cache flushing.
  • Lazy FPU-flag-evaluation.
  • Lazy Register Updates for adding of offsets.
  • Change: Many optimisations and therefor speed increasements. The performance is now clearly better then that of the Executor 68k-JIT-Compiler.

In the sourcecode the following has been changed:
  • Complete overhaul of block book keeping code.
  • Bugfix: decisive bugfixes in the noflags-code of cpuemu.c.
  • New: support for the saving of registers goes beyond the calling of JIT-compiled code.
  • Change: removing of gcc specific code. The sour cecode should get compiled with other C-compilers.
  • New: The JIT-compiler supports now many more 68k-commands.
  • Largely eliminated updates of regs.pc_p; Instead, there are now direct block-to-block jumps.
  • New: Optimisation of the cycle-handling in events.h.
  • Much more.

This version is available as Linux/x86-binary for glibc V2.1 respectively glibc V2.0, as complete source code and as source code patch against the UAE V0.8.15 source code.

Download:


[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 05:53] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Olaf Koebnik via eMail


Amiga Arena News
The Amiga Arena releases for the first time 'Bubble Stones2' in an own Design
Bubble Stones2 is a 'Bust a Move'-clone and is now available in the 256-color version. This version has been exclusively developed for the Amiga Arena. The field was created by the Amiga Arena and is probably the first own development the Amiga Arena is involved in.

Amiga Arena - Schlachtfeld v2.16 world premiere
The Amiga Arena presents exclusively in cooperation with Peter Weigoldt Schlachtfeld v2.16.

The version 2.16 is a registered Amiga Arena edition with map editor. The map editor is exclusively contained in this archive and will not be available on Aminet or on the homepage of Schlachtfeld for the time being. Schlachtfeld 2 is a strategy game for 1 to 4 players. It is a mixture between "BattleIsle" and "Battleforce" . Here some "highlights":
  • Max. 4 Teams can fight against or together
  • Teams can be controlled by the computer
  • Round and action based
  • Many different fighting units
  • More than 50 different weapon systems
  • Victorious teams can continue fighting in the next battle
  • Save game option
  • From Schlachtfeld2 v2.1 on voice output
  • From Schlachtfeld2 v2.1 on nullmodem game

Schlachtfeld is shareware (20 DM) and Olaf Koebnik appeals to all users who play Schlachtfeld intensively to get registered by Peter Weigoldt and/or give feedback.

Amiga Arena interview action
An interview with Peter Weigoldt (Schlachfeld) is in the section 'Actions' online.

Amiga Arena lottery
The deadline for the lottery is the 06.12.2000.

Amiga Arena special discount offerings
The Amiga Arena has the following limited special discount offers still online: FLM, GeoWorld, VisualPrefs, AmiATLAS, Siteway, Apano Sin, SHARKS AGA und Multi.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 04:49] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Nikolaos Damilakis on ANF


Greek RC5 Team
The Hellenic Amiga User Group has set up a webpage for the greek members of the Amiga-RC5-team. This contains information about the greek competitors such as the ranking and the numberof the blocks. The usergroup suggests to other Amiga-groups to set up similar pages.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 04:49] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Fun Time World


Payback Status Report
On the 3. Dezember 2000 James Daniels from Apex Designs has released the 16th status report about the game 'Payback' inclusive new screenshots.

The game similar to GTA nears completion, so there were added many new levels during the last month, besides that, the following has been done:
  • Resolutions up to 1280x1024 are now supported.
  • Graphic cards are now supported. On a 68060 a smooth animation is reached using a resolution of 640x480.
  • There is now support for different languages. The Amiga Translation Organisation(ATO) is at translating the game into the following languages: German, French, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Czech, Slovenian and Serbian. Besides that English and Swedish are supported.
  • PSX controllers are now supported. All buttons are used so that the navigation can be done completely over the game pad. The keyboard will then only be needed to enter the filename for saving the game and similar things.
  • Various bugs were fixed, among others a long standing bug which allowed the it to the player walking on the water.
  • New screenshots of the night level were released. The textures will be improved until the completion of the game.


[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 04:49] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Fun Time World


Tales of Tamar v0.32r6
For alpha testers the version 0.32 r6 of the "Tales of Tamar"-client for Amiga computers has been released on the 30. November 2000. This update contains many bugfixes regarding the map.

Tales of Tamar is an internet-based round based game for Amiga and IBM compatibles by Eternity Entertainment Software.

Download: (1,4M)

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 04:49] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Fun Time World


Short review of fxScan3.0
On Fun Time World appeared on the 29. November 2000 a short review of 'fxScan3.0' by Innovative. The program offers among other things text recognition (OCR).

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 04:49] [Comments: 0]
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03.Dec.2000
Czech Amiga News


Server Problem at Amiga Resource
Because of a server problem the website "Amiga Resource" can't be accessed for now. On request you can be informed via email (by using the title link) about the time the site will be online again.

[News message: 03. Dec. 2000, 04:49] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Danny Ramsey in REBOL-ML


REBOL/Core User Guide V2.3 released as book
Until now, the user guide was only available as PDF-file at the size of 4,5 MB. You can now buy the guide as book at REBOLpress. The book has got 574 pages which are divided into 14 chapters and 3 appendixes which describe the elements of this programming language.

There is an index and a sample chapter of the book on the site. The PDF-version of the guide can be downloaded at REBOL .

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 12:15] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Frank Fenn on ANF


Palm Pilot - TealInfo Developer Kit
At the homepage of Frank Fenn the TealInfo Developer Kit for the Palm Pilot Program 'TealInfo' by Tealpoint Software is available for download from now on.

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 12:15] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Michael Ufer on ANF


Amiga-Christmas Calendar
Michael Ufer coded a Christmas calendar some time ago and now adapted it for the year 2000. Each day a virtual door can be opened and there is a little surprise behind it. Have fun and no cheating :-)

Download: AVK.lha - 2 MB

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 12:15] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Stefan Instinske on ANF


Alternative-Games.de now online
Today a new games site for Amiga and other alternative computer systems, "Alternative-Games.de", went online. In the Amiga section current test reports are awaiting you ("Bubble Heroes", "Virtual Ball Fighters", "Wipeout"), a preview of the GTA clone "Payback", an interview with the leader, coordinator and art director of the SOMS-Team "Secret of my Soul") and much more.

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 12:15] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Alfred Sturm


New Aminet Uploads
F1GP-Theme.lha       biz/dopus  1.7M+F1GP theme for Magellan II
Toolbar4YAM.lha      comm/mail  201K+YAM replacement toolbar
YAMGenesis.lha       comm/mail   17K+Start & stop Genesis from YAM2. V1.01
facts.lha            comm/tcp    89K+V4.3 NTP clock synchroniser AutoDST/GUI
streamer.lha         comm/www    24K+Internet radio - Shoutcast player
dcs-tb31.lha         demo/aga    39K+DCS: Tourbus 31 (1st at TRSAC'00.5)
SPO3-4KbIntro.lha    demo/aga    17K+Spoletium3 Amiga 4Kb Intro compo entries
SPO3-64KbIntro.lha   demo/aga    69K+Spoletium3 Amiga 64Kb Intro compo entrie
SPO3-Demo.lha        demo/aga   2.2M+Spoletium3 Amiga Demo compo entries!
SPO3-Graphics.lha    demo/aga   2.2M+Spoletium3 Graphics compo entries!
SPO3-Module.lha      demo/aga   3.4M+Spoletium3 4Channels Module compo entrie
SPO3-Results.lha     demo/aga     1K+Spoletium3 Results!
DKG-Shine.lha        demo/intro   4K+Shine! 4Kb Intro by DARKAGE
BlitzLstOct00.lha    dev/basic   64K+Blitz mailing list archives for October 
libmpeg_src.lha      dev/c      178K+Source for mpeg (video) link library 
bonk.lha             dev/lang    13K+New programming language
MCC_NListt_SP.lha    dev/mui      6K+NListtree.mcp 18.2 spanish catalogs v1.0
HDWrenchTester.lha   disk/salv   59K+Tester program for hdwrench.library
NotizieAmiga.lha     docs/hyper 527K+ITALIAN ONLY comunicati NotizieAmiga 11/
AaktInt1100.lha      docs/mags  268K+International infotainment magazine
AaktInt1100GFX.lha   docs/mags  473K+International infotainment magazine (gra
AIOV41.lha           docs/mags  378K+Amiga Information Online, Issue 41 (Nove
Magazineindex.lha    docs/mags   63K+TEXT indices of magazine articles
ALEM_0024.lha        docs/rview 259K+ALEM's SilverSurfer Serial Card Doc (FR)
DC-EMBond15Lvl.lha   game/data  376K+81 levels for Diamond Caves 1
GermanUnits.lha      game/data    4K+German names of units for NAPALM 
GoalBrasil2000.lha   game/data   14K+Brazilian league update for GOAL
FormAldiHyd.lha      hard/drivr  22K+Tablet driver for Aldi/Tevion/Aiptek/...
1571to1541.lha       misc/emu     2K+1571 to 1541 v1.0
imdbDiff001117.lha   misc/imdb  2.0M+Diffs for the Internet MovieDatabase
3DHome.lha           misc/misc  333K+3D interface for X10 modules and EZHome.
aa2001.lha           misc/misc  1.2M+Astrologic texts, german and HTML (DEMO)
Lotto_Upd.lha        misc/misc  220K+Play Lotto! (V2.03, supports german Sa.-
AMP-Info.lha         mus/misc   1.1M+(A)miga (M)usic (P)reservation infofile
Amoralplay1.5.lha    mus/play   120K+-amorel- No fuss multiformat audio playe
EP_ImagesMusic.lha   mus/play     5K+EaglePlayer "Images Music System" extern
EP_SpeedyA1Sys.lha   mus/play     6K+EaglePlayer "Speedy A1 System" external 
Viereck.mpg          pix/anim    15M+Animation made with Cinema 4D by MadMan/
NOW_1.lha            pix/art    317K+"Now that's what I call Schming #1",  Ne
fomb519.jpg          pix/henz   244K+Heavy Narn Cruiser (Babylon 5)
fommisc01.jpg        pix/henz    99K+Bridge
fommisc02.jpg        pix/henz   444K+Mars Attacks!
fommisc03.jpg        pix/henz   433K+Mars Attacks!
fomsw30.jpg          pix/henz   258K+Sith Infiltrator (Star Wars - Eposode 1)
fomsw31.jpg          pix/henz    88K+Skybus (Star Wars - The Return of the Je
fomsw32.jpg          pix/henz    22K+Corellian YT-1300 (Star Wars)
fomsw33.jpg          pix/henz   101K+Corellian YT-1300 (Star Wars)
veinepower.jpg       pix/misc   156K+Amiga PoWeR Therapy. Keep the Fresh PoWe
Hyperion1.jpg        pix/trace   62K+Hyperion (Babylon 5)
myvoodoo.jpg         pix/wb     203K+Voodoo3 Grab -- Not OS3.9
warpvers07.lha       util/misc    2K+Reports WarpOS/3D/Mesa libvers+env setti
AmiGOD.lha           util/moni  156K+V1.41 - Graphics benchmark program
cdmp.lha             util/rexx   22K+Encode CD to MP3 with Arexx (german)
VEPatchBrain.lha     util/virus  19K+PatchBrain v1.24 for VirusExecutor v2.xx
VirusExecutor.lha    util/virus 252K+VirusExecutor v2.08


[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 12:15] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
AmigActive


AmigActive issue #15 Released
The december issue of the English print-magazine 'AmigActive' is available. Under the title link you will find a complete index of issue #15. Highlights of the current issue are, among others, an article about the future of the Amiga, an article about Nightlong, and AmigActive takes a close look at the games list for the AmigaOne.

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 06:25] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
MorphOS


MagicMenuPPC 2.30beta for MorphOS/PPC
MagicMenu has been ported to MorphOS. Version 2.30beta of MagicMenuPPC is available for download.

MagicMenuPPC230.lha - (147 KB)

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 04:41] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Scalos


Scalos News
The website of Scalos, a Workbench replacement, can be reached at own domain scalos.com from now on.

Mick Carter is currently busy creating a Online-Help for Scalos.

SnapDesktop BETA has been released. The program memorizes the status of Workbench windows at shutdown and reopens them again after a reboot.

Scalos Developer Kit Version 3 has been released. The archive contains updated includes and supports Amiga E.

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 04:41] [Comments: 0]
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02.Dec.2000
Matthias Henze on ANF


New Alpha Version (V.45.00 alpha 4) of stormamiga.lib for SAS/C
There is once more an alpha version (V.45.00 alpha 4) of stormamiga.lib V.45.00 for SAS/C. In this version some functions have been added, some functions have been reworked, and some bugs removed. This version is for beta testers only.

[News message: 02. Dec. 2000, 04:41] [Comments: 0]
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01.Dec.2000
Elbox via eMail


Elbox PR: Total Graphic Mania
Elbox announces in their new press release that the developers of the Elbox development department have implemented a new version of Voodoo3 drivers for the Mediator PCI bus board.

[News message: 01. Dec. 2000, 12:26] [Comments: 0]
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01.Dec.2000
Alex Kazik via eMail


Version 2.0 of cmp (ALeXcompare) Released
cmp is a program which compares files in two directories (or trees). That can be very useful, e.g. to examine in a backup, which files have been changed / are new. AmigaOS 2.1 is required.

Download: ALeXcompare.lha - ALeXcompare.readme

[News message: 01. Dec. 2000, 04:36] [Comments: 0]
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01.Dec.2000
Gary Peake on Team Amiga-ML


AmigaOne Discussion Board Remains Open
On November 24th, amiga-news.de reported that Amiga Inc.'s AmigaOne discussion board will be closed on December 1st. The reason was a huge number of insults which were published there.

On November 28th, Gary Peake of Amiga Inc. has announced in the Team Amiga mailing list that the AmigaOne discussions won't be closed. He doesn't know where the remark originated from, at least it didn't come from Amiga.

So the discussion board can still be accessed, but now only for registered users, which wasn't explicitly mentioned by Gary Peake.

If anyone asks, we are NOT closing the AmigaOne forums on www.amiga.com
Somebody must have been playing on their Momma's computer and got loose and posted that remark.
It did NOT come from us. [...] (Gary Peake)


[News message: 01. Dec. 2000, 04:08] [Comments: 0]
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01.Dec.2000



AmigaOS 3.9 - a well done surprise?
In fact we would have liked to write an article about the new AmigaOS 3.9 on our own, but found the article by Martin Steigerwald in the AMIGA Magazin 01/2001 so much perfect that we asked Joern-Erik Burkert, member of the editorial staff at Amiga Magazin, to allow us publising it on amiga-news.de in both, German and English. Thank you very much for consent.

AmigaOS 3.9 - A well done surprise?
© AMIGA Magazin - Author: Martin Steigerwald
Translation by Martina Jacobs
This article in German

The announcement of the AmigaOS 3.9 came by accident for many people. Only a few dared to think of having a new version of the AmigaOS in their hands within this year, already. Nevertheless Haage&Partner together with many partners developed the new OS. Read in this initial overview which new features it offers, and come to your own conclusion whether or not this surprise was well done.

AmigeOS 3.9 is shipped on CD-ROM. Who is not satisfied by the operating system's online help might order a printed version (German) from Haage&Partner, which is a tips&tricks book describing what's new in AmigaOS 3.9 in a comprehensive way.

AmigaOS 3.9 contains big and completely new implemented features, e.g. the dock program »AmiDock«, as well as many enhancements in detail and bugfixes, too. Additionally proved third party tools are integrated: features formerly only available as patches, such as like the FontCache or the configuration of asl file requesters, now are firmly integrated into the OS, tools like »RAWBInfo«, and »ViNCEd« simplify the daily work. The description of new features in this article does not claim to be complete and bases on a pre-version of AmigaOS 3.9. But the features described here are already implemented and supposed to be for sure.

Simplified Installation

Compared to AmigaOS 3.5 installation has been simplified distinctly. It is no longer necessary to install AmigaOS 3.1, at first. Also there is no need to restart the system, any more. There are two kinds of installation: the update installation updates an existing AmigaOS 3.5, and only copies icons which are new since OS 3.5. The full installation installs AmigaOS 3.9 - including all of the necessary files of AmigaOS 3.5, and AmigaOS 3.1 - including all of the GlowIcons.

Full installation also allows a fast new installation of the system, if booted from a before created emergency disk. This way AmigaOS 3.9 can be re-installed easy and fast even in case of a complete harddisk failture. As with AmigaOS 3.5 the emergency disk also supports RTG systems and AGA 31KHz screenmodes. Due to this also in case of emergency no 15KHz monitor is needed, any more.

Well Docked?

»AmiDock« simplifies working with the Workbench in a enormous way. To start programs usually one has to click down to the related directory and then double click the program's icon. But with »AmiDock« you are able to easily create button strips, which allow to open programs and directories by one single mouse click.

Contrary to most of the other tools like this AmiDock fully supports the new coloured icons. And - maybe the most important feature - it is extremely easy and fast to use. If you would have to open a configuration window for other programs, with »AmiDock« you just drag the icon of the desired directories and programs into a dock. If you drop the icon, it will automatically be included.

This way docks can be created as fast as the wind, cause you don't have to configure each single switch. Moreover this, there are default configurations for certain directories: e.g. AmiDock just reads the »Prefs« and displays all of the preferences in one dock.
Also the adjustment of the dock's size is conceivable intuitive. Instead of being forced to declare the number of lines and columns inside a configuration window, you just drag the dock to the desired size. Then the dock will be fixed at the related width and height. AmiDock shows this by a small handle bar. By clicking on this the size will be released, again. Or you just drag the dock to a new size.

Beside of calling programs AmiDock also supports opening directories on the Workbench, as well as calling programs using arguments: so e.g. you may drag'n drop a text on the switch which for example will start the editor »EditPad«, and just lets EditPad insert this text.

More comfortable Workbench

Also in other parts working with the Workbench became more comfortable: many new assistants are supporting the daily work. »RAWBInfo« offers a Workbench information window with a nice ReAction GUI which really has got many features. E.g. you even can give an icon a different picture which is loaded via datatypes.

To make the Workbench deal with files which don't have an icon in a reasonable way there is »DefIcons«. This program gives files without an own icon a default icon according to the file type. This way pictures and texts without an icon can easily be started via double click. DefIcons can be configured via it's own preferences program.

Who - a bit envious of Apple or Windows - always was wishing a trashcan directly on the Workbench, will get this feature in OS 3.9. With »BenchTrash« this is no problem. This program either just will delete files dropped on the trash or will move them to a certain directory. But that's not all of it: who always wanted to eject a CD-Rom like it is done on the Mac can do that now. Just drag'n drop the CD's icon on the trash, and there you go! Also handy is the feature to clean up the trash regularly and to delete every file older than a certain amount of days.

It has also been cared for a new clock. »WBClock« displays itself as an animated AppIcon on the Workbench. It even is optionally transparent, which looks very good sometimes.

Also very handy is the search function of the Workbench. This is done by a external program called »Find« which can be started via the Workbench menu »Window/Search« or as a single task. According to how it was started and configured it allows to search in the current Workbench directory or in one or more harddisk partitions. It cannot only be searched for file names, but also for contents (e.g. keywords). Double clicking on a file found tries to start a reasonable action on it: this way e.g. a seldom used file can be searched and started directly from Find.

LhA, LZX, but also archive files of other formats (see »Features«) can be unpacked by a simple double click, thanks to the implementation of »xad« in AmigaOS 3.9. »xad« supports many formats. This way the user only seldom will happen to meet an archive which cannot be unpacked, if any. Related programming knowledge assumed one can write an own unpacking routine. »xad« can also be addressed via shell commands.

More Multimedia

But also some has happened in the case of multimedia. PlayCD, the somehow bare appearing CD player from AmigaOS 3.5 has been started up thoroughly: the program now supports skins. Another advancement: PlayCD as a rule doesn't need to be configured any more, but itself looks for a suitable CD-Rom drive, if necessary.

»ACTION« plays Quicktime and AVI movies optionally on an own screen or inside a window on the Workbench.In doing this it's very fast. Even on not that good equipped Amigas acceptable results are to accomplish. Control buttons allow to start and stop the movie, to adjust volume, as well as to well directed »skim through« the movie using a scroll bar.

»Amplifier« beside MPEG-3 music files also plays AIFF and WAV files. It has got play lists which can be both, loaded and saved. The program as well supports skins and is capable of playing music either via the Amiga sound chip Paula or via a sound card. With this the standards AHI and X-Audio are supported. A X-Audio driver for the Paula sound chip is included. On the Workbench music files can easily be drag'n dropped into the play list to add them to this.

»AWeb SE 3.3« which came with AmigaOS 3.5 has been updated to the new version of »AWeb«. This version now also supports »FONT FACES«. So you can let it display websites nicer and more true to original with suitable fonts. Support of JavaScript has been enhanced, too, and much more. And to be able to start surfing immediate AmigaOS 3.9 contains the full version of »Genesis« with ReAction GUI. Only the Genesis preferences program could not be transposed to ReAction in time, because of it's scope. Who has MUI installed can use it however - otherwise MUI must get installed. But the enhanced Genesis Wizard compensates for that, which makes it very easy to configure an internet account on the basis of the provider database.

Powerful Console

Beside of the extensions to the Workbench and the players also shell enthusiasts will not miss out with the new update: as console handler for shell windows now the powerful »ViNCEd« is used.

From now on all of the console windows are having scrollbars to re-display text which scrolled out of the window. But it also has been thought of the shell users which don't like typing in: using the TAB key incomplete file or directory names can be completed now. With this »ViNCEd«, according to it's settings, not only searches for suitable entries inside the current directory, but e.g. also inside the assign list or inside the command search path. If »ViNCEd« finds only one entry the string immediately gets completed, otherwise an asl requester will open to choose from the suitable entries found. Handily the completion also works multileveled: if needed the given string gets completed up to the first char from which multiple entries are possible. By entering a character or pressing the TAB key and selecting an entry the procedure can be continued. »ViNCEd« is very versatile configurable and offers many other features.
  • complete ANSI emulation
  • supports graphics boards
  • Macros - with these e.g. it is possible to use the F keys for often used commands and functions.
  • configurable keyboard control
  • Job control, as known form Unix shells

And what else?

Moreover there is a nice set of interesting and useful features: so the new »diskfont.library« with integrated FontCache cares for faster display of font requesters. This features has been implemented completely transparent for applications, but also can be disabled for single directories. New installed or deleted fonts are automatically recognized and the cache file gets updated accordingly.

Also »asl« has been extended. Using the preferences program position, size, and sorting order of asl requesters can be set. Also this is not a patch any more, but is »officially« controlled by the new »asl.library«, and the new »IPrefs«. The »text.datatype« now supports searching inside of the text, as well as marking parts of the text. Marked parts handily are automatically copied to the clipboard. Also the »string.gadget« has been extended: so now you can mark char by char or undo the last change inside of every text input field.

The new »test« function of the screenmode preferences program is a nice detail, too. You no longer have to tapper in the dark and maybe reboot, if the newly chosen mode accidently cannot be displayed contrary to what you've expected.

New Features
  • AmiDock: completely new written and extremely easy to use dock program. The fast way to easy start programs or to open certain directories.
  • Integration of Workbench extensions: »RAWBInfo« offers a nice done and rich of functions Workbench information window, »DefIcons« a default icon system
  • More compatibility: »newiconemu« allows to edit the new coloured icons (»V44-GlowIcons«) with NewIcon capable programs, too.
  • New Tools: »BenchTrash«, the free configurable trashcan on the Workbench; »WBClock« , the clock being an icon; as well as »IoMegaTools«, the tool for ZIP and JAZ drives.
  • Extended PowerPC support: WarpOS V5 is included, new »picture.datatype« supports PPC
  • More multimedia: new versions of »PlayCD« with skin support and many bugfixes; QuickTime and AVI movie player »ACTION«; player for MPEG3, AIFF, and WAV »Amplifier«
  • Genesis: the TCP/IP stack for local area networks and internet connection - already widely with ReAction GUI.
  • xad: the archive unpacking system. unpack archives from the Workbench by just double clicking it. Supports LhA, LZX, ZIP, RAR, ARJ, DMS, and many other formats.
  • ViNCEd: new console handler with scrollbar, file name completer, ANSI emulation, and many other handy features.
  • AWeb 3.4 SE: the in AmigaOS 3.5 included browser has been updated. »FONT FACE« support, enhanced Javascript support, and much more.
  • Find: allows searching for file names or file content on multiple partitions. Can be called directly from the Workbench menu.
  • Asl requester: there is also a preferences program for setting the size of, and the sorting order inside of requesters.
  • text.datatype: now allows searching inside of the text, and copying of marked text parts into the clipboard.
  • New gadgets: the colour wheel (»colorwheel.gadget«), and the gradient slider (»gradientslider.gadget«) now support screens with 65000 or 16 millions of colours; the new »string.gadget« offers marking char by char, undo, and much more.
  • New FontCache: faster display of font requesters.
  • rexxmathlib.library: new math functions for ARexx.
  • Many bugfixes: new mathe libraries with important bugfixes, bugfixes in ReAction, Workbench, and many other.


[News message: 01. Dec. 2000, 03:02] [Comments: 0]
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