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March 2004

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January 30

Early Support Program for Serenity's new virtual machine product family, Serenity Virtual Station(tm)
New Virtual Machine Application Launched Friday January 30, 12:47 pm ET

LEWISVILLE, Texas, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Serenity Systems International (SSI), Lewisville, TX, has announced an Early Support Program for its new virtual machine product family, Serenity Virtual Station(tm) (SVISTA). http://www.serenityvirtual.com [Moderator note: From that web site: "Right now the Linux and Windows host version can be tested by signing up for the ¯ Early Support Program. Since this is currently available to registered eComStation customers only, please use ¯ this form http://www.ecomstation.com/s vista_esp.phtml at the eComStation website!]

The SVISTA(tm) products will provide the broadest support for operating systems in the industry. "Our support for Microsoft Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and IBM OS/2 as hosting platforms demonstrates that accomplishing this objective is in sight," according to Bob St.John, Director of Business Development for SSI. He continued, "We expect to conclude our Early Support Program and release the retail product in early 2Q04. We are prepared to support the product in service engagements right now."

The IBM OS/2, Linux, and FreeBSD support is unique in the industry. It offers OS/2 users a new tool to support the implementation new software strategies and activities. SSI is a software OEM and ISV which publishes eComStation http://www.ecomstation.com , based on IBM's OS/2 operating system.

"We believe there are significant opportunities for the shrink wrap product, but these same products make a great deal of sense in support of services engagements. Our focus in the services area will be on providing server based products. These offerings and technologies could be a significant business solution to service providers with the appropriate skills sets," according to St.John.

In preparation for this support, IBM Global Services http://www.ibm.com will be among the first organizations to provide service, support, training, and certification on the new products. Other organizations with plans to provide services later this year include NorthLAN Solutions, St. Paul, MN http://www.2northlan.com, 6PAC Consulting, Hamburg, Germany http://www.6pac-ag.com/en/index.html, and Starfire, Lawrence, KS http://www.starfire.net . Plans for retail distribution and developing the reseller channel would be executed by Mensys http://www.mensys.nl.

"We've been working with these people on this project for over a year. They bring remarkable skills, software tools, and account knowledge to our initial engagements. And they will help us develop a channel for fee service providers which will deliver value and savings to the end user organization," according to St.John.


January 29

NewsFlash EWWS - issue 1/2004

Dear all,
this is your latest EWWS NewsFlash.

This issue covers:
- a) IBM OS/2 Strategy for 2004
- b) Latest OS/2 FixPaks: Warp 4 XR_M017 and Convenience Pak XR_C004
- c) OpenOffice 1.1 for OS/2 Beta Program
- d) Warp Community Update Workshop
- e) Service Pak CD-ROM
- f) IBM Web Browser Refresh and latest Mozilla build
- g) OS/2 Support for Gigabit Ethernet
- h) Latest OS/2 Display Adapter Support: SciTech SNAP Graphics/se
- i) XWorkPlace and WarpIn 1.02 have been released
- j) Papyrus Version X is now available in English

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
a) IBM OS/2 Strategy for 2004

Excerpt from the official IBM OS/2
http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/strategy/

IBM plans to provide OS/2 support in 2004 in the following areas: * Hardware and Device Driver Enhancements: IBM plans to provide OS/2 device driver enhancements. IBM plans to provide reserved device drivers to customers with then current software subscriptions. IBM also plans to offer fee-based services to OEMs for hardware compatibility testing. We anticipate that over time some hardware device driver support will trend toward USB attachment, while some hardware and device driver support will continue in legacy mode. IBM posts hardware and device driver support information to the http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf Web site.

* Transition and product enhancement services: IBM offers fee-based transition services such as assessment, deployment assistance, and implementation. IBM will also consider requests for product enhancement services such as hardware compatibility test or device driver development.

* OS/2 Support: IBM plans to provide Program support (technical support and code-related defect questions) for OS/2 Warp 4 Convenience Packages and for Warp Server for e-business Convenience Packages through 31 December 2006 for Passport Advantage customers with active Software Maintenance. Customers should install the latest Fix Pack or service refresh to stay current for Program Support. Customers must maintain active Program Support to obtain Fix Packs or service refreshes. No Fix Packs or service refreshes are planned to support Java 1.1.8 or Netscape 4.61. On 31 December 2004, IBM intends to withdraw Program support for Java 1.1.8 and Netscape 4.61 for other than install by IBM components. Java 1.1.8 has been superceded by Java 1.3.1, and Netscape 4.61 has been superseded by the IBM Web Browser for OS/2.

For customers entitled to technical support, IBM plans to work with third party ISVs to resolve customer reported problems with OS/2. IBM posts the ISV names and products to the http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/swchoice/isv.html/ Web site.

For customers who choose not to acquire software maintenance, IBM plans to offer a special-bid Service Extension (SE) for IBM designated components. Access to Level 1 and Level 2 support is a prerequisite and the software must be at the current service level. For customers with or without software maintenance, IBM plans to offer a special-bid Total Content Ownership (TCO) for IBM designated components. Access to Level 1 and Level 2 support is a prerequisite, and a private code line based on the customer's service level is created. TCO fixes are usually placed in the service code line to facilitate TCO customer update to a later service level. IBM plans to offer special-bid, IBM designated device drivers as a component of SEs and TCOs. Refer to http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/ for further details.

You can also download the whole paper as a PDF document:
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/os/warp/strategy/OS2Strategy200401PDF.pdf

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
b) Latest OS/2 FixPaks: Warp 4 XR_M017 and Convenience Pak XR_C004

The latest FixPak for OS/2 Warp 4.0 is XR_M017:
http://www3.software.ibm.com/cgi-bin/asd/priv/rsudl/images/xr_m017 So far, no NLV is available. If you have a business need for a national language version, please let us know.

The latest FixPak for the Convenience Packages is XR_C004:
http://www3.software.ibm.com/cgi-bin/asd/priv/rsudl/images/xr_c004

An overview of the latest available fixpaks can be found at
http://www7.software.ibm.com/pspfixpk.nsf/e81ae41b5683323d8625662800691e9f?OpenView

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
c) OpenOffice 1.1 for OS/2 Beta Program

Innotek has started the public beta program of OpenOffice for OS/2:

http://www.innotek.de/products/openofficeos2/beta/

Excerpt from the web page:

A joint effort between Serenity Systems and InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH

OpenOffice for OS/2 is a port of the well known product to the eComStation and OS/2 Warp platforms with special support for InnoTek's font engine for OS/2.

To try out the beta, you have to download and install three products:

- InnoTek Font Engine for OS/2 Version 2.10 Preview 2
- InnoTek Runtime for OS/2 Preview 1
- OpenOffice 1.1 for OS/2 Beta 1

Please download and install the order given above. Refer to the documentation of each component for installation instructions and additional information. OpenOffice 1.1 for OS/2 Readme.

For support and more information, please refer to the InnoTek Online Support Forums. New builds will be announced there.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
d) Warp Community Update Workshop

The current plans are to have the next workshop in late August, 2004. Location might be Munich or the Frankfurt Area. We are looking forward to your feedback regarding your preferred location and regarding the topics you like to be presented. As of now, we plan to have a 2.5 days workshop that will cover OS/2 updates (0.5 days), Migration to Linux (1 day) and Migration to Windows (1 day).

We will keep you posted as soon as the plans get more concrete.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
e) Service Pak CD-ROM

The Service Pak CD-ROM subscription is still available and can be ordered online at http://www.deckarm.de (top left corner). It contains all the latest fixes, drivers and BIOS updates for various IBM products like DB2, ThinkPad, eServer xSeries and such. The Service Pak CD-ROM is updated monthly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
f) IBM Web Browser Refresh and latest Mozilla build

Available on Software Choice is a Refresh of the IBM Web Browser. It contains Support for the IBM OS/2 Warp Developer Kit, Java(TM) 2 Technology Edition Version 1.3.1, Strong (128-bit) encryption and a SpellChecker .

Note: AOL Instant Messenger is not included in Web Browser.

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/cgi-bin/swchoice/priv/rdoc/en_us/ns50/f-feat.htm

The latest build of the Open Source counterpart Mozilla is 1.6, available at
ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/mozilla/releases/mozilla1.6/contrib/mozilla-os2-1.6.zip

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
g) OS/2 Support for Gigabit Ethernet

Various Gigabit Ethernet Adapters can be used on the OS/2 platform:

Intel PRO/1000
--------------
The following Intel PRO/1000 Copper or Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Adapters are

supported by IBMGU.OS2: 82540EM, 82540EP, 82541EI, 82544EI, 82544GC, 82540, 82544EI, 82543GC
http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/48d88e3b32711d7f86256ddc006a2568?OpenDocument

The driver diskette image for Intel Pro 10/100 and Gigabit adapters built into IBM NetFinity and eServer xSeries servers can be downloaded from http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-41782 This diskette image also contains OS/2 drivers (E1000B.OS2). This driver is different from the one available on DDPakOnline (see above).

Broadcom NetXtreme
------------------
Broadcom NetXtreme BCM570x-based Gigabit Ethernet adapters: The OS/2 drivers are part of the Broadcom NetXtreme driver CD-ROM available at http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-43815

Realtek RTL8169
---------------
There is an Open Source driver available that supports all Gigabit Ethernet Adapters that base on the very common Realtek RTL8169 chipset. Get the OS/2 driver with source code at
http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/rtgnda06.zip

If you have a business need to run any other Gigabit Ethernet Adapter on the OS/2 platform, please let us know.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
h) Latest OS/2 Display Adapter Support: SciTech SNAP Graphics/se

SciTech SNAP Graphics/se Release GM16 (based on SciTech Version 2.1.6 Build 411) is available on DDPak Online since Oct 28, 2003:

http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/c1673d5ade9043a587256cfe00535715?OpenDocument

The SciTech System Neutral Access Protocol (SNAP) Graphics for OS/2 IBM Special Edition (a.k.a. SNAP Graphics/se) is a set of graphic adapter device drivers (GRADD) supporting a variety of chip sets from the leading chip set manufacturers. SNAP Graphics/se is the new compatible replacement for previous versions of SciTech Display Doctor for OS/2 IBM Special Edition (SDD/se). SNAP Graphics/se supports many video features, including:

- CRT Resolutions of 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200, 2048x1536, plus user-specified custom modes
- All LCD (Flat Panel) Resolutions supported by the hardware
- 16:9 HDTV-like Resolutions, including 848x480, 1072x600, 1280x720, 1360x768, 1600x900, 1800x1012, 1920x1080, 2048x1152
- Support for all color depths
- Unlimited Refresh Rates
- DDC Plug and Play monitor detection
- Full hardware 2D acceleration
- Hardware cursor
- Limited Feature support, including Zooming, TV Out, and Multi-Head (on selected graphic chip sets)

The full version of SciTech SNAP Graphics with acceleration for all supported chipsets and improved multihead support is available at
http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/snap/os2/beta/snap-os2-2.3.0.exe

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
i) XWorkPlace and WarpIn 1.02 have been released

Both the well-known WorkPlace Shell enhancement XWorkplace and the installer WarpIn have been updated recently:

XWorkplace 1.0.2 has been released and is available at http://www.xworkplace.org This is a 100% bugfix release without any new features. A changelog is available at the website (to be precise, at http://www.xworkplace.org/vers_2history76_1_0_2.html)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
j) Papyrus Version X is now available in English

From http://www.rom-logicware.de/e_start.htm

* Windows (95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP)
* Macintosh (Mac OS X, Version 10.2 or higher)
* OS/2 Warp (Version 3, 4) or ECS
* TOS / MagiC

The English version of Papyrus X is identical (in features) to the German version, and the translation has been newly reviewed and updated (by native language speakers).

Papyrus OFFICE is a powerful, but compact and efficient program: the entire package (word-processor/DTP plus database/spreadsheet) occupies less than 5 MB. Nevertheless, Papyrus OFFICE is a top-quality application, and offers many features not found in other (much larger) application packages.


January 29

TCPIPConfig 2004-01-29

A new version of the TCP/IP configuration program (v0.81) was uploaded to hobbes.

Url: http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?sh=1&button=Search&key=tcpconfig


January 29

WarpIN 1.0.2

Website: http://www.xworkplace.org/proj_warpin.html

"WarpIN is intended to become the new general-purpose installer for OS/2 to overcome the current lack of a both flexible and user-friendly installer. This thing is available to any programmer, commercial, shareware, freeware or GPL, for free use."

WarpIN is used to install WPI packages (Those with .WPI extensions and those which are self executing) like that used for XWorkplace and many other packages.

Download page: http://www.xworkplace.org/proj_warpin_download.html
Download: ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/warpin/warpin-1-0-2.exe

Changelog: http://www.xworkplace.org/history.txt


January 29

Major Major goes multilingual

The Major Major mailing list manager now supports multiple languages. You can download the latest version from

http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Major.html
or
ftp://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/Major/major157.zip

Major Major is a listserver for multiple mailing lists. (It is not suitable for sending junk mail.) The multilingual support doesn't only mean that you can configure it in your own language; it also means that users can get responses in their own languages. You can associate different languages with different mailing lists. (The screen shots on the above web page haven't yet been updated to show the latest version. Sorry.) It is optional shareware: non-registered copies are not crippled.

So far only a few languages are supported, but it's easy to add support for a new language by translating a few text files that are included in the package. (Just take a look at the existing examples.)

LIST OF CHANGES since version 1.56

Version 1.57 (29 Jan 2004)
New feature: multilingual support.
Added option to require a confirmation for a subscribe/unsubscribe.
Added option to save refused mail for later analysis.
Reply to commands now uses a genuine MAIL FROM: address
rather than an empty address.
Changed the default notebook font to 8.Helv (but this will not affect existing users, unless they delete the fonts stored in Admin.INI)
Fixed: some changes were being ignored when editing a list with Admin.exe.
Added some information in the log about delivery failures.
Fixed: memory leak while refreshing list data.
The notebooks now remember the fonts dropped on them.
Greater tolerance of multipart mail.
Ignore command lines that start with '>', and ignore the 'Re:' in Subject lines that contain a command.
Archiving change: an archive is now made half an hour after midnight, rather than exactly at midnight, to avoid an ambiguity about which day it is. As a side-effect, the archive file names are now shorter.
Fixed: name of Leader file was not being saved by DumpINI.
Fixed: quotes not removed when LoadINI loaded one item.



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