Bounty to get the Sputnik web browser ported to OS4

[Troels_E]

Everything has it's price and a good web browser for AmigaOS4 is EUR 3100 (approx. $4000).
After many emails with Marcin the developer of Sputnik yet another web browser bounty has been setup.

"But we already have the Amizilla effort".. Yes we do, I even contributed a bit myself but have come to the conclusion that nothing will come of this in the near future as it is a giant project.

The Sputnik Bounty is different because it is an active project developed for and is already showed working on MorphOS. It's simpler to port Sputnik from MorphOS to AmigaOS4, than porting Firefox from Linux to AmigaOS4.

+We have hardware ready for Marcin now.
+Porting starts when bounty is reached.
+Fewer dependences.
+Also available for Morphos = broader Amiga userbase.
+We already have a man to do the port (namely the author of Sputnik, Marcin).
+The browser (early version) have already been showed working on MorphOS, an Amiga inspired OS.
+We have got hardware ready for Marcin as soon as the bounty reaches the needed amount.
+Lighter web browser, well suited for the Amiga.
+Freeware, when the bounty has been paid.
+Same updates as the MOS version.

-Less known browser, but whats in a name?
-Price (although it IS cheap)

Lets face it, Sputnik is not a browser that will get much name recognition outside Amiga circles. It is based on the widely known KHTML engine (also used by Nokia and Apple) and keeping the Amiga traditions, being a very light web browser compared to Firefox. It will feature mos,t if not all the modern stuff we miss in Aweb or Ibrowse, read more on www.amigabounty.net.


Financial.
The price of EUR 3100 seems high but you are not alone paying it!
This is a COMMUNITY EFFORT and I would expect EVERY OS4 USER who wants a modern web browser to contribute. Despite the current lack of hardware, I would even encourage those wanting to use OS4 at some point to contribute to this bounty. Take the time, register with Paypal and donate. If you cant use Paypal, please email me and we will work something out.

Theory.
There's been talks about 1500 AmigaOne's sold and even if some is not working or just not used anymore, there should still be at least 700-1000 active OS4 users.

Fact.
If people wants the Amiga to stay alive, we all need to start put our money where our mouth is. I expect in a worst case scenario max. 50% wants to contribute, but that is a minimum of 350 donations. Am I too optimistic, I hope not.

Donations.
I know not everybody can donate the same but I ask ALL of you to please donate min. EUR 10($13) if you can. The more the better.

If your financial situation (or your gf/wife) doesn't allow you to donate that much every other donation is also very welcome.

Please go straight to www.amigabounty.net read more about the bounty and make your donation now.
Thanks for reading this post, I will answer questions in this thread when I have the time.

[Oli_hd]

I would much rather have a bounty system for Ibrowse or Aweb, or even track down the developers of Voyager and offer them £2,000 to opensource it.
But then again Im using Workbench 3.9 so I wouldnt benifit from this even if I donated. :-)

[quenthal]

Have to partially agree - OS3.9 support would be excellent, and maybe even "base"-version for all compatible systems - basic OS3.9 version for classics/amithlon/uae and mos/os4-version with more up-to-date GUI (better MUI-support). I don't have OS4 and the future for me getting one ain't that realistic either, OS3.9 however is here to stay with large number of classics and emulators, and in the worst case os3.9 version could be run under os4 too.

[0amigan0]

I agree!
I would prefer donating to AWeb development, as I use it every day
( I find it very comfortable to use).

Maybe we should talk to AWeb authors if  we can set up a bounty system.

[Gav]

Yeah i would rather something for 3.9,i got a bit tired of all the Os4.0 stuff...

[MarkTime]

Why not work on your os 3.9 idea in a separate thread.  

The comments seems to detract from the momentum around the os 4.0 donation effort...

I hope this does get ported to 4.0, although I don't use 4.0 and don't know how I would...but again, I think as far as 4.0 users go, this is a good thing to support.

I cannot take anyone serious who is using 3.9, or thinks that Aweb is a good browser.

Sorry...but there is a limit.  When you say things like that, you are just saying you have a personality quirk.  It can be funny, interesting, neat....but ultimately I have to conclude your opinions on browswers are also irrelevant.

[Troels_E]

Wanting something for OS3.9 is ok with me, it's just not interesting to me, which is why I didn't include that in the bounty.

If people want a modern browser for the Amiga IMHO they should consider to donate and to upgrade to OS4 whenever possible.

I know some Classic users donated already, thank you for that!!

[Warface]

If people want a modern browser for the Amiga IMHO they should consider to donate and to upgrade to OS4 whenever possible.

That's not the only upgrade path available - but any support is welcome, which makes Sputnik a reality. I have already donated a small sum for the MorphOS version.

[Troels_E]

Guess no upgrade path is available this very moment? :-(
Both bounty's will encourage Marcik to keep developing, so although separate bounties they still  encourage further/faster development, so a donation to the MOS version is also a good thing IMHO.

[Piru]

Guess no upgrade path is available this very moment?

MorphOS PowerUP is available.

[Troels_E]

Ok, forgot that one, was thinking hardware upgrade. Guess it's only a matter of time before the Efika gets a version of MOS released.

[mikrucio]

baaah. I want firefox.

and even still OS4 is still non existant.
even if we get a browser. no OS and hardware.

I think it's like buying wheels for your sports car.
except you dont have the sports car yet.
and dont really have any idea on when your going to get it.

A new browser for OS3.9 is the most logical approach.

[Jose]

Ok, and I'd prefer IBrowse3.0 with CSS support.

[Minuous]

>I cannot take anyone serious who is using 3.9

Why not? I can't take anyone "serious" who is fixated on a platform with an active user base of less than 1000. Sure, get people to waste time and money porting to a platform with virtually no users and no possibility of having more users. Ignore the many thousands of OS3.9 users. Whatever. Don't expect us all to want to be giving you money with your attitude problem. I have to conclude that your opinions are irrelevant.

[Troels_E]

There's certainly some negativity here..

If you want a CSS capable browser do something to get one, that is not my project as I don't use a classic anymore, sorry.

If you want Ibrowse 3.0 buy V2.4 to show your support (I did) and then ask the Ibrowse team when 3.0 is out.

It's not that I don't respect OS3.9 users I certainly do, it's just not my choice of OS anymore (will be if my A1 dies and no other HW is available).

Even if Sputnik only would be usefull for a 1000 OS4 users now it will become available to everyone when OS4 HW appear again and a reason to upgrade.