OS Revolution

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AmigaOS

AmigaOS 4.1

This is a new version and not only a simple update as it features, among others:
JXFS filesystem with the support for drives and partitions of multiple terabyte size
New and improved DOS functionality (full 64 bit support, universal notification support, automatic expunge and reload of updated disk resources)
Improved 3D hardware-accelerated screen dragging
Intelligent memory paging
Hardware compositing engine (Radeon R1xx and R2xx family)
Implementation of the Cairo device-independent 2D rendering library
Improved Workbench functionality
Reworked Warp3D Radeon drivers with new functionality
Reworked AmiDock with true transparency

Release Date: 
Fri, 2008-07-11

AmigaOS 4.0

The new version is PowerPC native, finally abandoning the Motorola 68k processor. Since there is no more 68000-based Amiga hardware being produced, AmigaOS 4.0 will run on some PowerPC hardware, which currently only includes A1200, A3000 and A4000 with PowerPC accelerator boards and AmigaOne motherboards. Amiga, Inc.'s distribution policies for AmigaOS 4.0 and any later versions require that for third-party hardware the OS must be bundled with it, with the sole exception of Amigas with Phase 5 PowerPC accelerator boards, for which the OS will be sold separately.

AmigaOS 4.0 Final introduced a new memory system based on the slab allocator that supports "on the fly" defragmentation of the memory space, memory allocation on mass storage devices (paging memory, implemented since AmigaOS 4.1) and Symmetric multiprocessing (not implemented yet).

Features, among others:
Fully skinnable GUI
Virtual memory
Integrated viewer for PDF and other document formats
Support for PowerPC (native) and 68k (emulated JIT) applications
Support for modern hardware devices
Faster memory allocation system, similar to what's used on Solaris
2 GB file size limit removed
Integrated Picasso 96 2D Graphics API
Integrated Warp3D 3D Graphics API

Release Date: 
Sun, 2006-12-24

AmigaOS 3.9

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Release Date: 
Wed, 2009-04-01

AmigaOS 3.5

After the demise of Commodore, the later owners of the Amiga trademark granted a license to a German company called Haage & Partner to update the Amiga's operating system. Along with this update came a change in the way people referred to the Amiga's operating system. Rather than specifying "Kickstart" or "Workbench", the updates were most often referred to as simply "AmigaOS". Whereas all previous OS releases were Motorola 68000 compatible, some OS components from release 3.5 onwards required a 68020 or better.

Updates included:
CD filesystem support as standard
Distribution on CD instead of floppy disk
Supplied with TCP/IP stack (unregistered time limited freely MiamiDX demo in 3.5, unlicenced, unrestricted AmiTCP/IP in 3.9), web browser (AWeb), and e-mail client
Improved GUI, called "ReAction"
AVI/MPEG movie player (OS3.9)
Support for hard disks larger than 4GB (a limitation from 1.x)
HTML documentation (English and German)
MP3 and CD audio player (OS3.9)
Dock program (OS3.9)
Improved Workbench
Find utility (OS3.9)
ASync workbench (no more waiting for files to be copied)
Unarchiving system called XAD (OS3.9)
Support for PowerPC CPUs through Haage & Partner's multi-tasking kernel "WarpOS" which operated alongside AmigaOS
Limited OS support for PowerPC CPUs, for example in picture.datatype (OS3.9)

Release Date: 
Thu, 2000-10-05

AmigaOS 3.1

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Release Date: 
Tue, 2009-04-07

AmigaOS 3.0

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Release Date: 
Tue, 2009-04-07

AmigaOS 2.04

Workbench 2.04 introduced ARexx, a system-wide scripting language. Programmers could add so-called "ARexx ports" to their programs, which allowed them to be controlled from ARexx scripts. Using ARexx, you could make two completely different programs from different vendors work together seamlessly. For example, you could batch-convert a directory of files to thumbnail images with an ARexx capable image manipulation program, create and index HTML table of the thumbnails linking to the original images, and display it in a web browser, all from one script. ARexx became very popular, and was widely adopted by programmers.

Release Date: 
Tue, 1991-10-01

AmigaOS 2.0

Workbench 2.0 improvements introduced a lot of major advances to the GUI of Amiga operating system. The harsh blue and orange colour scheme, replaced with a much easier on the eye grey and light blue with 3D aspect in the border of the windows. The Workbench was no longer tied to the 640×256 (PAL) or 640×200 (NTSC) display modes, and much of the system was improved with an eye to making future expansion easier. For the first time, a standardised "look and feel" was added. This was done by creating the Amiga Style Guide, and including libraries and software which assisted developers in making conformant software. Technologies included the GUI element creation library gadtools, the software installation scripting language Installer, and the AmigaGuide hypertext help system.

Release Date: 
Fri, 1990-06-01

AmigaOS 1.2

Workbench Version 1.2 was the first to support Kickstart stored in a ROM. Kickstart disk was still necessary for Amiga1000 models, but it was no longer necessary for Amiga500 or 2000, but the users of these systems must change the ROMs (which were socketed) to change the kickstart version.

AmigaOS now spanned two floppy disks, and supported installing and booting from hard drive (assuming the Amiga was equipped with one), the name of the main disk was still named "Workbench" (the user interface portion of the operation system). The second disk was the Extras disk. AmigaOS set of disks was still three disks, due to abolition of Kickstart disk. Users of A1000 could ask a Commodore dealer to obtain one. The third disk was now AmigaBasic by Microsoft.

Kickstart Version 1.2 corrected various flaws and added AutoConfig support. AutoConfig is a protocol similar to and is the predecessor of Plug and Play, in that it can configure expansion boards without user intervention.

Release Date: 
Tue, 1986-04-01

AmigaOS 1.1

Release Date: 
Sun, 1985-12-01
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