Amiga Inc. Announces Next Generation Amiga Architecture

November 15, 1998

Amiga, Inc. has announced a partnership with QNX Software Systems Ltd. to utilize the QNX realtime operating system (RTOS) as the foundation for the Next Generation Amiga architecture.

'The Amiga shook the industry in the 80's with world leading multimedia architecture', said Jeff Schindler, General Manager of Amiga, Inc.
'QNX's RTOS resembles many of Amiga's unique qualities. It provides the foundation in reaching our vision for the rebirth of Amiga in the new millenium.'

'We see this partnership as a powerful combination of superior OS technologies, common corporate cultures and shared business vision', said Dan Dodge, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of QNX Software Systems Ltd.

Building upon the QNX OS foundation, Amiga, Inc. will work with QNX to add features and functions needed to create the Next Generation in Computing, as Amiga did in 1985.

Next Generation Targeted Features

Operating System core features
- Scalable and modular design
- Fully Protected Preemtive Multitasking with processes and threads
- Efficient and compact OS (under 4MB)
- Full 32bit
- True Real Time Operating System (RTOS)
- Virtual Memory Support
- ROM-able
- Multi Processor support
- Distributed processing support
- Open standards architecture
- Support for industry standard API's

Mulitmedia
- High performance 3D (OpenGL)
- Full 24bit true color
- Support standard TV, SVGA and resolutions up to HDTV
- Multimedia Gaming centric
- Realtime animation (audio/video/graphics)

Internet/Networking
- Network centric architecture
- High performance Internet solutions
- Full Java support
- Consumer networking

Convergence
- Support new digital interface standards
- Amiga convergence API's where no standards exist
- Support leading convergence processing hardware

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should Amiga developers start programming for QNX now?
A: No. While QNX is the foundation OS, Amiga in partnership with QNX will add user interface enhancements, more multimedia support and a host of other convergence features. This will be released through Amiga, Inc's developers program.

Q: Will I have to re-write my application to run on Next Generation Amigas?
A: Yes. The new OS has a programming model that is similar to the Classic Amiga's, but also sufficiently different. In particular, the new OS features processes and threads (a 'thread' is like an Amiga Process/Task), virtual memory and a very clean microkernel architecture. All access to hardware is through drivers, so if your application 'hits the hardware' it will not work. Most well written applications should be able to be ported, but to take full advantage of the new architecture you will want to take advantage of the new APIs. We also intend to offer significantly better development tools than are currently available for the classic, which should case the transition.

Q: How about my Classic applications? Will they run?
A: For the Development System, we are investigating an "Amiga Classic on PCI card", resembling an A1200. Well behaved 3.1 / 3.5 Amiga Classic applications should work.

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