New ROS powered kit hinted | Drobe.co.uk archives

New ROS powered kit hinted

By Chris Williams. Published: 8th May 2005, 23:35:08 | Permalink | Printable

Eyes on Wakefield [Updated]

Speculation that the Wakefield 2005 show will play host to new RISC OS hardware intensified today after further hints were dropped by RISCOS Ltd. In an email sent out this evening, the developers of RISC OS 4 revealed that they hoped "that there will be at least two surprise new items featuring RISC OS 4 at the show".

It's unclear what the mysterious items could be, although we understand at least one involves emulation and VirtualRiscPC. ROL have also been working closely with Advantage Six, who produce both native and emulated systems.

RISCOS Ltd. say they will be closed from May 13th to June 6th for holiday, although sales orders can be placed with APDL.

Update at 19:53 11/5/2005
Sources have pointed to the unveiling of a new RISC OS 4 compatible device at the Wakefield show. Contacts close to AdvantageSix have claimed that a compact, "cute", attractively priced gadget has been in the works for a while now, although it's alleged that production was delayed due a problem sourcing parts. An announcement is expected to be released tomorrow, although Ad6 have so far declined to comment.

Links

RISCOS Ltd. website

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Discussion

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Virtual RPC for Linux and Pocket ROS4!

mavhc on 9/5/05 7:22AM
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Pocket RO4, why not. With all those ARM powered PDA's and handhelds its not outwith the realms of possibility.

mripley on 9/5/05 8:13AM
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I think mavhc is referring to an upgraded version of: [link] (half way down the page)!

adamr on 9/5/05 9:02AM
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Oh VA for Linux would make me a happy bunny :-)

To the point where I'd probably buy it on the spot.

And while I'd probably not be able to buy a PocketRO device - I fear the excitement alone would cause some kind of embarrassing display.

And to think I was going to skip Wakefield this year, pehaps ROL's marketting department ain't that daft after all :-)

Regards, Ryan

PS. Hang a moment, just noticed the foot paragraph - the whole company's closed for over 3 weeks!! What kind of cowboy company is running this platform?

drjones69 on 9/5/05 10:11AM
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drjones69 Someone who needs a holiday! As purchases can still be made from dealers including ourselves does it matter. I suspect the software engineers will still be beavering away :-)

CJE on 9/5/05 11:23AM
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CJE. Well come on..... this is the same as apple not being at the major Apple meeting. OK it is only Wakefield UK, however, it is the premier show for the platform. ROL are allowed a holiday but to have it at this time is silly IMHO. Mind you they are a business and they stand and fall by their decisions.

Cheers Bob

nijinsky on 9/5/05 11:29AM
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nijinsky> ROL's sales and marketing is one guy. I happen to know that the Wakefield show happens to most years fall on an important personal date for him. IIRC this is only the second time ROL havent had there own stand. Some of us do have a life outside of work! The one thing they should have done IMHO is have the stand called APDL/ROL.

CJE on 9/5/05 12:16PM
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Last year I could not go to Wakefield because I was getting married. This year it falls on our anniversary holiday so I miss it again. Boooo.

dansguardian on 9/5/05 1:21PM
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CJE. Ahh I did not realise that RISC OS sales and marketing was one one person. That is fair enough... I also have a life outside of work and I fully understand the situation now.

All the best Bob; not at work

nijinsky on 9/5/05 7:50PM
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drjones69 It's romantic to think of all the company directors, secretaries, engineers and office cleaners all going away for 3-weeks. One wonders, where the ultimate RISC OS Ltd destination may be? Perhaps they'll all be there in disguise at Wakefield!

TTX9 on 9/5/05 9:20PM
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TTX9: "One wonders, where the ultimate RISCOS Ltd destination may be?"

Holiday destination? Well that's obvious - Cambridge!

-- Spriteman

Spriteman on 10/5/05 8:58AM
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I think we all know what this is.

The Acorn Cybervillage mentioned it early last year.

quatermass on 12/5/05 2:05PM
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quatermass: doesn't seem to be anything obviously mentioned in the Cybervillage's archive of the whole of last year:

[link]

Jaffa on 12/5/05 2:13PM
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Ahh, in the 16th October article on ROS 4/5 merging there's:

"No doubt this will also please third party hardware developers like Microdigital and Advantage Six who may be planning their new portable for release next year. Oh, have I said too much?"

Not /exactly/ "early" last year though ;-)

Jaffa on 12/5/05 3:44PM
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So this announcement today.... where be it?

Waldorf on 12/5/05 4:37PM
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Hey Jaffa, if I had a memory that could remember silly trivial facts that accurately I'd be the amazing memory man and doing the London circuit.

I also hinted on the 8th Oct. 2004 that one of their motherboards could be made into a Portable.

ie So, what are these computers like? Good question, we've not been told. All I know is that two models are being made. A half-width industry standard 1U rack case and a wall mountable unit with integral 8.4" LCD touchscreen with GPS and GSM/GPRS mobile phone. This second model sounds like it's designed to be used as a presentation or 'guide' device playing back multi-media information to the vistor of a museum or art centre. The GPS in it will enable the device to 'know' where it is and so give information based on where it is to the viewer. The GSM/GPRS function allows it to be updated remotely. This sounds similar in concept to the new Xscale driven Node Explorer devices doesn't it (see link below)?

No doubt if a retail version is sold, it may be a A9 motherboard in a traditional PC case. Looks like this could be very interesting!

Yeah, Stuart T hinted to me that a new range of RISC OS machines were getting developed. He hinted heavily that one was going to be a portable.

It's about time isn't it? :-)

)

quatermass on 20/5/05 4:41PM
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