Editorial

You know something is changing in the world of consumer electronics when the PR guru for Marantz, a manufacturer of consumer audio equipment spends half of a major press conference talking about Microsoft and the march they are starting to make into their markets.

Indeed, Microsoft seem to popping up all over the place these days, computer wristwatches, smartphones, WebTVs, PDAs, tablets, automobiles and of course games consoles. What is clear is that they are slowly unveiling a strategy based around supporting any device that can deliver content, all wrapped up in XML and their .net framework.

As Amigans, we grew up on computers, whether home or desktop, with the computer being the single but fixed device for doing everything, a world strictly delineated into applications and data. This was the world ten years ago. Since that point though technology has moved forwards to the point where we see the power of our biggest classic machines in a package the size of a cigarette packet.

What does this mean for Amigans though? Is there still a place for a company and a platform that just provides a desktop experience? Do we have to move forwards, not just embracing the very obvious changes in the digital world but actually leading it?

As we move forwards we are now firmly developing the AmigaDE and the AmigaOS in parallel, addressing their own separate markets. More importantly, work is underway on the world beyond AmigaOS4.0. It will see the replacement of many of the existing services (Amiga Generation 1) by brand new Amiga Generation 2 (AG2) development whilst the AmigaDE and AmigaOS product lines come together in order to provide a total content solution.

This may seem a long way off when AmigaOS4.0 is still not on sale but all journeys must begin with a single step. Even though still in closed beta for the CSPPC version, more and more of the product is being completed, with new additions everyday, like VBCC from Frank Wille and the GDB interactive debugger recently implemented by the Frieden brothers and developers like Davy Wentzler of Audio Evolution well into developing their own new applications for AmigaOS4.0. Indeed, I hope to have some very good news for you by the time of the next CAM editorial.

Finally, just a quick word. CAM is about Amigans. We want to hear about your experiences, your hopes, your fears. CAM will become a better eMag, a better read if you, the readers actively participate in it. Please feel free to put finger to keyboard and write about whatever you want so that we can see CAM grow and develop into something to be proud of - remember, it's your magazine.