2004 Predictions

Looking into our crystal ball [Updated]

• Select on ROM. No surprises here - RISCOS Ltd have discussed this since their 2003 AGM and showed early ROMs at the South East Show. This will be a welcome upgrade for many users.
  
  
• Iyonix NetBSD. We've not been in touch with the NetBSD people for a while, so we're not entirely sure when in 2004 this might be, however NetBSD has long since been ported to the IOP321 processor in the Iyonix, and the problems which were resolved in the Iyonix Linux port will be very easy for a NetBSD/ARM32 developer to integrate into its kernel.
  
  
• Iyonix Laptop - we predict that there will not be an Iyonix laptop in 2004, for reasons of being able to justify the small (and diminishing with the takeup of VirtualRPC) potential market against the difficulties in obtaining a suitable case.
  
  
• Shared Libraries - we predict that there will be deployment of a proper shared library system in 2004, perhaps around the middle of the year. Much has already been done in this area such as Steven Simpson's work, and my own demonstration that a RISC OS ELF toolchain was very much possible.
  
  
• Package Management - as a result of Graham's sterling work, 2004 will see the widespread take up of a RISC OS package manager, at least for management of a small number of applications. This will also be important for the use of shared libraries.
  
  
• Drobe's 1000th article - ok, another easy one. This is article 917, so we're on course for the 1000th article at the beginning of April.
  
  
• ARMTwister - we had to throw a controversial one in here. We predict that we will not see the long promised, XScale upgrade for the Omega, the ARMTwister, until around Xmas 2004.
  
  
• Web Browsers - 2004 may be the year in which the browser situation begins to properly mature for RISC OS. Firstly, we have the ongoing NetSurf developments, which may yield a sensible browser (although sans JavaScript) around the middle of the year. There are the promised Oregano2 updates, which it will be interesting to see pan out, and finally, the Unix Porting Project has some surprises up its sleeve.
  
  
• Cino - we've previously mentioned that Cino, the Iyonix DVD player, is expected for Q2 of 2004, so that belongs on this list. We're very interested to see what final performance is achieved out of it.
  
  
• Iyonix PCI cards - 2004 is supposed to be the year that all manufactured PCI cards are either 3.3V or universal, meaning they physically fit into an Iyonix. Two things we expect to see are a surround sound card to complement Cino, and the release of Simon Wilson's TV Card software. We also think it likely we'll see some kind of dual head solution for Iyonix to rival the functionality on ViewFinder cards.
  
  
• GCC 3.3 - currently in testing is 3.3.3 of GCC for RISC OS, which will bring us inline with other platforms. This release also includes substantial improvements to Unixlib, and should be available in late January.
  
  
• GemPrint - Martin Wuerthener's all singing printing system for RISC OS is expected to also be available in January.
  

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Discussion

Obession, what obsession? 1st post! monkeyson on 30/12/03 6:20PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

My most-wanted is MW's GemPrint which, given Martin's track record, I confidently expect to see in the first quarter. What I'd also like, but couldn't confidently predict, is that RO Ltd and Castle drop their competition on RO and start to generate complementary upgrades. I hate to see them competing to produce the *same* features in two divergent versions of the OS. As Homer might say: "Doh!". Happy New Year, Tony TonyStill on 30/12/03 7:05PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Optimistic about the ARMTwister then mavhc on 30/12/03 7:07PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

TS: yes, quite right. We forgot to add GemPrint, another no-brainer. mrchocky on 30/12/03 7:14PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Ooh, can't wait *ponders what the suprises that the Unix Porting Project has are :o * andypoole on 30/12/03 7:28PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Printing and browsing are two of the major things that people get all excited about when discussing RISC OS failures. The fact that both are now in the hands of people with impeccable reputations is very reassuring. Also, GemPrint and the Unix Porting Project are easy for all users to support, whether financially or otherwise. All in all I'm quite a happy chappy on this day, my birthday. fylfot on 30/12/03 7:52PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

The Unix Porting Project Browser look hopful. OK then which browser will be ported first, winner gets a thumbs up. Chocky barred as he is doing it. Revin Kevin on 30/12/03 8:15PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Winner gets thumbs up where? moss on 30/12/03 8:39PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

fylfot: Ooh! Happy Birthday moss: Tsk. Just tsk. Andy. andypoole on 30/12/03 9:55PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

NetSurf is indeed looking wonderful, great to see the guys stuck at the project, despite some people's doubts. Certainly becoming a worthy (and free!) competitor for Oregano 2. SparkY on 30/12/03 9:55PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Ooh, whilst I remember.. I *might* have something interesting to release during 2004 Andy. andypoole on 30/12/03 9:59PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I really would like someone to do a driver for a PCI SCSI card for the Iyonix. If that does not materialise during 2004 I shall have to ditch my expensive SCSI scanner (currently only useable on the Risc PC) and get a new USB one. bengershon on 30/12/03 10:08PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I don't understand how the 'bad language' filter works, but I cannot see what's wrong with P. C. I. (when spelled as one word, and without spaces or full stops ... bengershon on 30/12/03 10:10PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Oh, and I meant to say, Chocky, you forgot to mention the likelihood of IconBar having even more downtime in 2004 than they did in 2003 - in fact, at the time of writing, they seem to be practicing being down right now! SparkY on 30/12/03 10:11PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

benger: I assure you that "PCI" being censored is not some drobe conspiracy, but rather a failing of Ian's filter. (un)fortunately, he's on holiday right now, but we'll get him to look at it ASAP. mrchocky on 30/12/03 10:39PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Presumably the new version of Impression should be on this list aswell, assuming it will happen of course. gengulphus on 31/12/03 12:35AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I hope to see the long waited Cineroma appear sometime in 2004. Pompone on 31/12/03 7:52AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

One *major* thing that I would like to see in 2004 that is *still* stopping me move from my nearly 10 year old Risc PC to my over 1 year old Iyonix is the lack of ability to either use 28 bit filing systems or an updated LanMan98. I see nothing on either the aemulor or wss web sites to suggest otherwise dansguardian on 31/12/03 10:17AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Maybe Drobe shares will start to be traded on the Stock Exchange and Chris will now update the site from the new offices in the Cayman islands... markee174 on 31/12/03 10:37AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

dans: 28 bit? As discused on the Iyonix list, an updated LanManFS was recently released, although it still has a few issues. mrchocky on 31/12/03 10:56AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Oops, yes I meant 26 bit Ah, Yes I see LanManFS 2.27 was released. Thanks for pointing that out. If it can work identically to LanMan98 with the #notypes option I will be a happy man indeed! It is a slight pitty WSS won't update LM98 as I prefer the interface. I did even offer to lend them my Iyonix so they could fix it. dansguardian on 31/12/03 11:22AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

dansguardian: IIRC aemulor pro (when it's finished and released) is able to support 26-bit filing systems as well. Sorted! tamias on 31/12/03 1:02PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I notice that no gaming predictions have been made AW on 1/1/04 1:33PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I predict that three new commercial games will be released on RISC OS. SparkY on 1/1/04 2:08PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

AW: Whilst we're certain there will be plenty of games this year, but as we have no idea what, and few clues to on, we're not going to make any predictions. Besides, just because we didn't say it doesn't mean it won't happen mrchocky on 1/1/04 2:56PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Tantalising What are your 3 SparkY? AW on 1/1/04 4:28PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Wait and see I further predict that they will be developed and released on RISC OS before being ported to Windows and Mac OS X... SparkY on 1/1/04 5:54PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I predict that somebody will release a game which makes use of the DVD and 5.1 surround technology that Cino will provide (or at least I hope that happens...) timephoenix on 2/1/04 1:43AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

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