AmigaOS 3.1 source code leak - official statement

[Iggy]

@thread

since there was such an interest in the commodore planning document we have been discussing, i contacted hyperion entertainment directly via email and requested permission to publish this document for those interested and am pleased to report back that permission has been granted. you can have a read-through here:

http://intuitionbase.com/misc/FutureProductOptions_dist.pdf

a big thank you to the hyperion directors for taking the time to review the document and allow its publication for historical purposes.

-- eliyahu

Neat.
A quick snapshot from the edge of doom.
For once I am in Hyperion's debt.

[Terminills]

@thread

since there was such an interest in the commodore planning document we have been discussing, i contacted hyperion entertainment directly via email and requested permission to publish this document for those interested and am pleased to report back that permission has been granted. you can have a read-through here:

http://intuitionbase.com/misc/FutureProductOptions_dist.pdf

a big thank you to the hyperion directors for taking the time to review the document and allow its publication for historical purposes.

-- eliyahu

I would prefer an official statement about that being allowed.   Given the history of certain Hyperion members for making claims about leaks/stolen items.

[eliyahu]

@Terminills

i can't post private emails without permission, but the document copy provided by hyperion includes the following:

This material is distributed with the explicit permission of Hyperion Entertainment CVBA which retains copyright to this material. You may distribute this material free of charge only.

The reference to "Amiga OS Release 4.0" in this material is a reference to the v42 version of AmigaOS planned by Commodore. It is not related to the v50 version of AmigaOS developed by Hyperion Entertainment CVBA which is the existing AmigaOS 4.0 for PowerPC.

i wouldn't have posted this without express permission from hyperion, i assure you. anyway -- enjoy the read. it's a nice insight into where CBM thought the market was heading right before the rug was pulled out from underneath it.

-- eliyahu

[billt]

http://intuitionbase.com/misc/FutureProductOptions_dist.pdf

a big thank you to the hyperion directors for taking the time to review the document and allow its publication for historical purposes.

Thank you Hyperion!

[Djole]

So even if Commodore survived, Amiga would evolve into a gaming console and/or low end computers. Workbench might not even be available for these devices....

[Terminills]

@Terminills

i can't post private emails without permission, but the document copy provided by hyperion includes the following:


i wouldn't have posted this without express permission from hyperion, i assure you. anyway -- enjoy the read. it's a nice insight into where CBM thought the market was heading right before the rug was pulled out from underneath it.

-- eliyahu

I've had long conversations with Dr Hepler about his time at CBM I'll personally stick with that.

[TheMagicM]

Thank you to eliyahu for making it happen and also to Hyperion for giving their blessing.   Time to take a lunch  break and read up on this.

[NorthWay]

http://intuitionbase.com/misc/FutureProductOptions_dist.pdf

Were they smoking something really good, or did they believe the ghost of Jack was walking the halls at C=? By that time I would have hoped they had realized you can't just do like in old times and scrap what you had and bung out something new and incompatible. Why would a loyal Amiga owner want a totally incompatible PA-RISC thing? Starting from scratch with 0 installed userbase is next to nuts.
That washing-off-hands at AAA also makes me scratch my head.

But now I see where the CIX leak about "CR" systems came from. A $100 cut would have been a gamechanger...

[UberFreak]

What amazed me was the constant reference to the CD32 as Commodore's most strategically important product.
And the idea of a modular CD32 (main cartridge based unit with CD addon) just shows they had no idea what they were doing at that point in time...

[TheMagicM]

Why would a loyal Amiga owner want a totally incompatible PA-RISC thing? Starting from scratch with 0 installed userbase is next to nuts.
That washing-off-hands at AAA also makes me scratch my head.

Even though I was young when I bought my A500, moved to the A3k eventually (loaded, with Cybergraphics card, PP 040), I noticed most of all games were basically "Amiga 500" games and never took advantage of us who had loaded systems.  It was like having a ferrari but its top speed was 5mph.

Taking the leap from a 64c to an Amiga, nothing was compatible with the "old 64", but alot of us took the jump anyway.   If they went PA-RISC and had software, the masses would have followed, I know I would have.

[Terminills]

This material is distributed with the explicit permission of Hyperion Entertainment CVBA which retains copyright to this material. You may distribute this material free of charge only.

The reference to "Amiga OS Release 4.0" in this material is a reference to the v42 version of AmigaOS planned by Commodore. It is not related to the v50 version of AmigaOS developed by Hyperion Entertainment CVBA which is the existing AmigaOS 4.0 for PowerPC.

May I ask how Hyperion can claim copyright to something they may or may not even have a license to?

[WolfToTheMoon]

What amazed me was the constant reference to the CD32 as Commodore's most strategically important product.
And the idea of a modular CD32 (main cartridge based unit with CD addon) just shows they had no idea what they were doing at that point in time...

You have to remember, CD32(and A1200, basically same systems) were selling like crazy on most important Amiga markets in Europe at the time - and with a further 100$ price cut would continue to sell even with next gen consoles coming.

PA-RISC, especially 2.0 version(64 bit, MAX-2 SIMD extensions, 32 bit options also had earlier MAX-1 SIMD in 7100LC and 7300LC CPUs ) was a helleuva CPU, compared even with fastest PPC, Pentium Pro, Alpha and MIPS CPUs - too bad it was not meant to be.

[TheMagicM]

I wonder how far along they got with the PA-RISC stuff?  Like version 1.0 of the OS or some schematics on the board etc...

[cgutjahr]

a big thank you to the hyperion directors for taking the time to review the document

I'm confused - AFAIK, hyperion has a license to the 3.1 sourcecode - not to internal strategy papers made by commodore employees?

[wawrzon]

oh, thanks, good thing i have not even started to read this illegal material. ihas everybody else been caught in act?

[WolfToTheMoon]

I wonder how far along they got with the PA-RISC stuff?  Like version 1.0 of the OS or some schematics on the board etc...

AFAIK, Ed Helper was working on a custom version of PA-RISC 7150 for Hombre.

According to Haynie, no code was ever written, they considered licensing OpenGL for successor of CD32 and even considered Windows NT.

Haynie worked on Acutiator architecture which would be basis for future desktop Amigas and was flexible for both 680x0 and PA-RISC chips. No more Zorro, it would have PCI