The AdvantageSix team have thrown their hat into the ring by confirming that they will be demonstrating their mysterious RISC OS 4 and ARM9 powered hardware at the Wakefield 2005 show. The secretive company claim they'll have their "A75 industrial control range" and A9 series present at the event, plus kit from from their "control and monitoring catalogue".We note that Ad6 appear to have no catalogue online nor any trace of a web presence bar their skeleton website. Sources close to AdvantageSix have recently speculated on all manner of new RISC OS powered possibilities from the tight-lipped organisation, ranging from new desktop hardware in the form of the A9home to a RISC OS laptop. Ad6 have so far declined to confirm or deny whispers that they are readying a new portable computer.
When the A9 initially appeared, we feared it was another case of pre-announced vapourware - possibly a political move in the continuing RISC OS 4 vs. 5 divide across the market. Our cynicism was later dampened when Drobe man Martin Hansen saw an A9 system with his own eyes. While some other members of the RISC OS press have enthusiastically endorsed the machine, AdvantageSix have stressed to us previously that there's still no firm commitment to produce a desktop ARM9 powered computer. For now they're concentrating on building up OEM clients, who need reliable real time embedded solutions.
In their surprise announcement today, AdvantageSix said: "We will be showing some of the products we have recently been working on, which will illustrate the directions that Advantage Six are taking with technology which will be familiar to visitors."
They go on to state that the Wakefield demonstrations will "make clear how our OEM work feeds back into the retail market place and will be interesting and relevant to show-goers". We're not sure if this is a subtle reference to the Birmingham show last December, where Castle wheeled out an old development board in an attempt to dazzle us with RISC OS 5 running (partially) on an ARM9 processor. It didn't receive an overly warm welcome from punters, so we'll therefore be interested to see how end users receive Ad6's industrial control appliances.
With AdvantageSix and its product range being such an enigma, guarded behind closed doors, the Wakefield show should prove to be a refreshing eye opener. Fingers crossed. Ad6 were unavailable for immediate comment.
Stuart Tyrrell Developments, the desktop RISC OS facing side of the Ad6 business, will also be closed from May 17th to 25th, as the team prepare for the forthcoming show, although you can call their fancy "Wakefield Show Order Line" hotline on +441706 848 741.
Links
Ad6 website