IBM's OS/2 for the PowerPC enters beta cycle; Beta 1 released to developers this week.AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1994--IBM today announced that it will begin to distribute its beta for the OS/2 for the PowerPC operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. and software developer kit to 150 select software vendors and corporate developers, marking the start of its OS/2 for the PowerPC beta program. The first beta of OS/2 for the PowerPC includes features of OS/2 Warp The client version of the OS/2 operating system. It includes peer-to-peer networking, fax and communications programs, multimedia viewing and editing applications and IBM Works (word processing, spreadsheet, database and other office tools). Introduced in late 1994 as Version 3. plus a complete application development environment. This confidential beta is designed to give developers a head start on porting their existing 32-bit Intel applications to the PowerPC and allow them to begin to develop new applications that exploit the benefits native to the RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. architecture. "This platform's success depends on building a critical mass of exciting applications that run on it. At COMDEX The former, premier computer trade show in the U.S. Although it grew into an end user event, it was originally created for dealers and distributors (it was the COMputer Dealers EXposition). , we demonstrated how easy it is to port existing 32-bit applications," said John Schwarz —John F. Schwarz is the name of:
Several ISVs have successfully ported their applications to OS/2 for the PowerPC as demonstrated at COMDEX/Fall'94. Developers who use the 32-bit API set can easily port their source code -- often in less than one week -- from one hardware platform to another with only a recompile To compile a program again. A program is recompiled after a change has been made to it in order to test and run the revised version. Programs are recompiled many times during the course of development and maintenance. See compile. . "We have spent time doing the Mesa port and everything IBM says about OS/2 for the PowerPC being a simple recompile is true," said David Pollak, president, Athena Design. "If you develop for OS/2 Warp today, your investment will be protected when it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to move on to the the PowerPC." "We were able to port to a whole new platform within two days," said Chris Shablak, senior vice president, future development, BocaSoft. "I am extremely excited about OS/2 for the PowerPC. With little or no effort -- we have been able to open up a brand new market for the future." "Pinnacle Technology is proud to be involved in the early releases of OS/2 for the PowerPC," said Charles Dircks, president, Pinnacle Technology. "We believe IBM is truly living up to the OS/2 API commitment. Conversion from Intel was fast, easy and best of all, very inexpensive." With OS/2 for the PowerPC, developers use a single source code for Intel and RISC, allowing them to efficiently maintain, update, market and support both versions of their applications. This is especially beneficial to ISVs who want to support multiple platforms but have been hindered by the complexity and cost. OS/2 for the PowerPC, which is scheduled to be commercially available from IBM next year, combines the award-winning features of OS/2 with the leading-edge performance of PowerPC hardware. CONTACT: IBM Corp. J.P. Versace or Allison Johnson, 800/354-0978 |
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