After so much hoopla and fanfare from the Midwest Amiga Expo and Computer'98, most Amigans were expecting greatthings to occur concerning Classic Amiga support and the next generation machine. While QNX and Amiga Inc have finally gotten down to developing the future Amiga, Classic Amiga support and in particular OS 3.5 seem stuck or further delayed by politics, positioining, and incompetence.
Things quickly headed south soon after Computer'98 with the bombshell revelation that both Fleecy Moss and Marilyn Flint were let go from Amiga Inc. Amiga Inc's Allan Havemose merely claimed that Fleecy, who was only a contractor, did not get his contract renewed. No big deal, except that many in the developer community viewed Fleecy as a Classic Amiga evangelist who would have defended their needs and represent their interests within Amiga Inc. Some vieled hints from Fleecy indicate that this may have been his undoing at Amiga Inc in that Jeff Schindler instead wanted a person who would defend the company line.
Much dissent and anger quickly enveloped the Amiga developer community. Members of the Industry Council Open Amiga were entertaining several notions including the groups reorganization, and the support of Fleecy's new Kommunity Operating System/Hardware (KOSH) organization (more on this later). The ICOA's Steering Committee leader Kermit Woodall has managed to delay such drastic action for now. The ICOA, as well as the User Group Network, are planning to contact Amiga Inc to see how and if their status has changed in leiu of the staffing changes at Amiga Inc.
One of Fleecy's many responsibilities at Amiga Inc. was the coordination and managing of the OS 3.5 project. As I stated last month, Petro of Amiga International indicated that Haage & Partner of Germany was now in charge. Haage & Partner have taken the step to contact some of the developers Fleecy had line up with an e-mail asking for a statement concerning their past participation with the OS 3.5 effort. In this e-mail, a VP with Haage & Partner indicated that negotiations with Amiga Inc were still ongoing. Why would OS 3.5 still be in the contract negoiation phase.
The reason may be that Petro may have been premature in asserting Haage & Partner was taking over the project. In fact, sources have revealed to me that there is another company (a well known US developer) who has submitted their own proposal for taking over the OS 3.5 effort. If you consider which US developer still actively developes their program at this point, then you should quickly determine who it is. Although most Amigans would welcome to have the OS 3.5 effort headed by this respected Virginian, this has only caused further delay. Many Amiga related companies fear that this delay coupled with soft Christmas sales will finally spell their doom.
As mentioned earlier, Fleecy Moss has started a new effort called KOSH. Already several Amiga related personalities are backing this effort like Dave Haynie, Dean Brown, Mick Tinker, and Paul Nolan. Fleecy has also informed me that KOSH is attracting support from former Amigans now in the Mac and Linux communities. Unlike some other community based initiatives, part of what KOSH produces will not be Open Source. This is to attract much needed investment capital to the movement.
In Fleecy's words, "The two elements of KOSH, the OS and the hardware templates (open designs for KOSH friendly devices) will be sold just as any normal software or hardware product is sold. The money raised will be used to provide support, research, investment, buy licences and pay for third party contract work. In time, a full company will form. Always though, ownership of the company will be in the hands of the community. This will NEVER change."
For more information on a KOSH, go to their web site at "http://www.kosh.net".
Hopefully in the early part of 1999, the OS 3.5 effort will get back on tract. Rest assured the next generation Amiga will proceed as anticipated. With no viable consumer product based on this new technology due until next year, many Amigans may be forced to deal with tough times, or move on to other platforms. The answer may lie in KOSH, or similar open efforts. Only time will tell. If only OS 3.5 would have progressed as expected from last year's World of Amiga show in London, then things might have been better. We Amigans should be used to mediocre management by now, but its effects may have finally killed off the Classic Amiga market.