Hyperion announces OS 3.1 update

[Tenacious]

Thomas and Olaf, I'm very excited about what you are doing.  I very much look forward to trying it out.   Thank you!  

I'm guessing that your improved 3.14 will be compatible with all Amigas, even the most basic configurations?  Asked differently, your improvements and bug-fixes will not crash an otherwise stock A500 that is equipped with an updated rom?

Years ago, I was happy to upgrade to 3.5 and then 3.9 as they came out.  At the time I was also pushing my A3000D with a 68060, PicassoIV and Delfina, believing then there would always be an evolving path to keep the Amiga near cutting edge or at least relevant.  After a few years, my system could not keep up with the then new YouTube, changing net code, and security protocols. There were also little annoying compatibility issues among the HW and SW.  About 8 years ago, a HD failure blew it all away.  In retrospect, 3.5 and 3.9 were paths for advancing hardware with some great system improvements but especially lots of eye candy for advanced Amigas.

Today, I happily run more modest A2000s. The most advanced has a 68030, Indivision, and MASplayer and is closer to a 'pure' Amiga experience than the ubber A3000 was.  Also, the net is far too hostile and evolving for me to ever venture there with an Amiga again.  OTOH, I have always enjoyed the Amiga's OS and HW for their own sake.  I still do.  OS3.1 suites these systems very well.  Hopefully, 3.14 will too.

Simply my humble 2 cents...

[Tenacious]

18 years ago, the Y2K bug created a lot of buzz about the way various platforms track the date and time.  It came to light, that there is a date in the Amiga's future (is it 2032?) when the original system for tracking seconds fills to the last digit.  It is an interesting problem.

Can this be fixed?

If not, can another system or workaround run along-side the original code to keep our Amigas tracking the date indefinitely?

Some might snap back that the hardware will be dead by 2032.  Maybe.  Who in 1985 imagined that there would be a fanatical Amiga following in distant 2017?

[Tenacious]

Gulliver

It is great to see you taking an interest in this.

[Tenacious]

I need to dig out an A500 without critical files on it and set the date to beyond its limit and see what happens to system time, file stamps, the RTC, etc.  What happens when rebooted?

[Tenacious]

Mmmm.  Then what's the point in developing a new version at all?  As the saying goes, you've gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet. :lol:

I don't see much new software appearing anymore.  If 3.1.4 is not mindful of backward compatibility, who's going to patch the existing applications for this release?  

I'd rather have a bug-fixed and compatible OS instead of one that adds features that breaks software.  All of the other Amiga flavors are still in existence.  If I want a really different tasting omelet, I can always turn on the Mac, Windows or a Rasberry Pi, etc.  The alternatives are almost endless.

My 2 cents...

[Tenacious]

I think the worry that some people will have is that they will be downgrading some components if they install 3.1.4 over 3.9. I'm sure that when the release date nears the proper way to install the upgrade will be made clear.

For me, this update will be going on my modest Amigas (A500, A600, A2000), at least until I'm comfortable with it.  The A3000 (with 68060, Picasso graphics, Ethernet, etc.) will continue with OS3.9.  It does this OS well.  Now that I no longer surf on-line with Amigas, I seem to appreciate the original, less patched and hacked rigs.

At this point, the remaining faithful have acquired (rescued) all the Amigas varieties that they want, right?  Are there still people screaming the H word?  


Thank you Thomas and Olsen for your hard work.  While I still enjoy my A3000, I very much appreciate the direction you are taking this.  Your effort feels more official and sober than a "feature only" update.