"Though I'm not for sure if the source can build the executable for OS/2 platform, it should be a great contribution to open source community. See the following page for detail."

"Ich habe die Entwicklung von SecureDesktop aufgegeben! Die Gründe hierfür sind:

• Unlösbare Probleme beim Erstellen und Beenden der WPS (ich habe allein in den letzten zwei Wochen 40 Stunden nach Feierabend damit verbracht, X verschiedene Möglichkeiten "auszuprobieren" - ich habe keine andere Möglichkeit. Jedesmal sind andere Probleme aufgetreten -
  obwohl ich nach der offiziellen SES-Dokumentation vorgehe...)


• Die Informationspolitik von IBM; Ich warte seit neun Monaten auf eine Dokumentation zum Thema SES und File-Access-Control - nichts!

Danke an alle, die SecureDesktop auf ihrem Rechner benutzt und auch getestet haben - Entschuldigung an alle, die große Erwartungen in das System hatten."

Just an update regarding the project: Last week the team got WinZip running on OS/2, including standart installation! Opera/2 is doing very well, still some bugs in it but we hope to fix them within the next two month. So thinks are getting bether and bether and a binary release will be ready in the next few weeks!

During a trip to IBM in Austin, I had a chance to speak to Steven King (well known to all OS/2-guys) and fresh from the source, here's his announcement:
There IS a service offering from IBM for installation and support of an official Aurora Client to be officially announced within the next couple of days.
This includes fee-based onsite installation based on a modified version of the Server to install Warp 4.5 Client including MPTS, TCPIP, LAN Requester, Syst. Mgmt. comp., Netscape, Java and so on; as well as a supportline contract for reporting problems to IBM. Once again, this is a fee-based service-offering, it's NOT a shrinkwrap CD for endusers. If you are a IBM-Business-customer, contact either Steven King (for North and South Amerika) or me (for Europe) for more
information.

"Ihre Anfrage bezüglich Oracle8 Verfügbarkeiten haben wir von der
amerikanischen Webseite bekommen. Leider gibt es keine Oracle8 Versionen für
die OS/2 WARP Plattform und die aktuellste Version wäre 7.3.2.2."

Wir haben erst einmal nicht die finanziellen Mittel für eine OS2 Version. Es waren auch nicht so viele Anfragen danach wie nach einer Mac und Linux Version. Falls sich diese Anfragen häufen (bitte jetzt nicht tausend Mails schicken:-) und die finanziellen Mittel zur Verfügung stehen, wäre es aber nicht unmöglich, daß eines schönen Tages einmal eine OS2 Version erscheint:-)

I may have the possibility to make an OS/2 port of the very extraordinarily good MP3 decoder known as AMP 1.0. Unfortunately, Brian Litman, president of PlayMedia needs to know if "there are serious, "industrial" applications for an OS/2 MP3 port [of AMP 1.0]".

AMP 0.76 was used in many MP3 players before it became commercial. AMP 1.0 is even better than XAudio. It sounds great and uses little CPU time.

If anyone knows anybody interested in using OS/2 AMP in a profitable product, please let me know.

BLUEPRINT SOFTWARE WORKS, INC. ACQUIRES PMMAIL SOFTWARE FROM SOUTHSOFT, INC. RELEASES NEW VERSIONS FOR ALL PLATFORMS.

New Version of Product Line Available October 15, 1999

Wilmington, NC - October 15, 1999, - Blueprint Software Works, Inc., a newly formed software development and publishing firm, recently acquired the PMMail software package from Southsoft, Inc. Both companies made the
announcement today. An updated version of PMMail, one of the most powerful email clients available, will be released on October 15th, 1999 immediately following this press release distribution. The latest OS/2 version (2.10) is available on Hobbes or at http://www.blueprintsoftwareworks.com

The PMMail product line is one of the most versatile email software packages available. This powerful and flexible email application provides extensive support for emerging Internet standards along with a user-friendly interface.
PMMail is a multi-platform application supporting OS/2 as well as Windows NT/95/98/2000..PMMail offers users a way to manage unlimited email accounts, providing a cost-effective, timesaving communication tool.

'We are excited about the acquisition of the PMMail product line. Southsoft has developed an email application that is in a class by itself,' said Thomas Bradford, President, Blueprint Software Works. 'The PMMail feature set is packed with everything a customer needs to manage email and the interface is displayed in a logical and intuitive manner. The program is designed for easy navigation, setting PMMail apart from other email programs.'

'We created PMMail over four years ago,' said Robert Novitskey, lead developer and President of Southsoft, Inc. 'Yet even today, no product has come close to PMMail's power and feature set.'

'In the past six months it became apparent that Southsoft could no longer provide the level of quality in service, support, breadth of features and timeliness of upgrades that our customers deserve,' said Novitskey. 'As such, we searched far and wide to fine someone to take over the reins and continue in the tradition that we have set forth. We are pleased to have found a partner (in Blueprint Software Works) who shares the same desire to see PMMail continue to grow and astonish customers.'

Blueprint Software Works is a privately held firm located in Wilmington, NC specializing in software development, as well as publishing and marketing services for independent developers. The aquisition and launch of PMMail announces Blueprint Software Works' official entrance into the software development and publishing market. Negotiations with leading developers in the Internet and multimedia market are currently under way as well and Blueprint Software Works will be announcing these agreements as they are finalized."

"The big news for Warpstock 99? We will be releasing TWO new solutions for OS/2 users!

Our newest application should be of interest to personal and business users alike. It is tentatively called 'Data Shield' and provides secure deletion of all sensitive data. It is important to know that merely deleting data does not actually remove the information from your hard drive. It can still be recovered and your sensitive information may be compromised.

Data Shield offers to overwrite selected data before deletion so prying eyes will not see what you don't want
them to see. It offers a choice of overwriting X number of times before deletion or delete to DOD specification. Data Shield will handle all freespace on a drive, a complete drive, TMP & TEMP directories, \DELETE directories, individual files, individual directories, directory trees, as well as cleanup of the Netscape cache and its history trails. Screenshots of Data Shield and some of its skins are available.

As is the norm for most PillarSoft applications, much of
Data Shield's work is point and click, saving you the
drudgery of locating your "TMP" directory or Netscape.hst", for example, manually. As much work as possible is ferreted out by Data Shield automatically when the user asks for it.

Data Shield will be available for $25 for personal use and will be discounted at Warpstock ($20). Site licenses will also be available.

PillarSoft Status Center (PSC) was originally an 'in-house' tool to track dll's loaded for each running process. As needs arose, the application gelled to provide most info pstat gives in an easily browsed format as well as adding a switch list, process killer, swapfile size, free RAM, total available virtual memory, machine uptime, zombie processes, the list goes on... Because of the important utility it has shown here, we are making it available to you. A "squished" screenshot is viewable.

PSC will be priced at a moderate $15 for personal use and we will be offering a discounted $10 price at Warpstock. Site licenses will also be available."

"I talked to some people from StarOffice at Warpstock Europe and they told me, that they have a serious problem with the OS/2 port of it. Until now they used to compile the code with VAcpp 3.65 on OS/2 but now
they use "namespaces" in the code and because VAcpp 4.0 does not support commandline compiling, they can't compile it on OS/2 anymore (the project is simply too big for the VAcpp 4.0 workframe). On Linux they use the Pentium optimized version of the GNU compiler and they
tried the same on OS/2. But unfortunately there is a problem in the OS/2 port:

(Taken from)

'Known bugs:

emxomf now traps (sometimes?) when compiling with -g (debug) switch. This is due to new format of debugging info (DWARF2). I do not know how to fix this. Use A.OUT format (no -Zomf) for debugging and pmgdb.

Solution: This happens because pgcc uses new stabs format (-gstabs+) while emxomf understands only the standard stabs debugging info. I've partialy fixed this by adding a tiny command-line preprocessor to gcc.
It scans argv[] and looks for both -Zomf and -g# where # is a number. If it finds one, it replaces -g# by -gstabs#. This doesn't always help, however.
---'

As you can see this is a limitation in EMX, we now have to find people who are able to fix this (which will not be an easy task I think). We are already in contact with Eberhard Mattes but we need more support. If you think you are able to fix this, please get in contact with
Oliver Braun.

Please JUST reply if you really think you can help StarOffice.

A StarOffice without debug informations can not be tested and if noone can fix this limitation, Sun can not provide a new version for OS/2 ! So you see this is important for the future of StarOffice on OS/2."

Atlanta, GA has been the site of many spectacular events: the '96 Summer Olympics, the Super Bowl, political and business conventions, and occasions with world leaders. Now, however, the city seems to be holding its breath, waiting for the event that will once again set the city on fire: Warpstock '99.

This is the event that we have all be waiting for. No other event will attract more OS/2 users to this city. No other event will celebrate a full weekend of Peace, Love, and OS/2. Yes, this is the event of a lifetime, and Atlanta is proud to be hosting it.

Fall brings a stillness to this town, a quietness to the metropolis whose roots are southern, but whose reach is international. And in that quietness, we wait with great anticipation for our chance to say "Welcome to the city of Atlanta". So come, be a part of this place, this time, this show. Warpstock '99 and Atlanta welcomes you.

Don't miss the premier OS/2 event of the century, Warpstock '99 Atlanta.

OS/2 users from around the world will meet October 16-17 in Atlanta.

"In this month's issue you will find:
The Editor of VOICE speaks out:
Through the Looking Glass Yet Again
The Revised Young Person's Guide to Hacking the Stardock Object Desktop 2.0 Windows 95 LNF, 2nd Edition, By: The Rev. Andrew Graham
'Back side of the Moon', By: Timur Kazimirov
One Man And One Step At A Time: Worldwide Communication At Warp Expo West, By: Peter Skye
Warpstock Europe 99 - A Review, By: Christian Hennecke
Installing Warp on a Toshiba 2545XCDT Laptop, By: Mark Dodel
And of course letters, addendums, Tips and the compiled monthly OS/2 news!"

"Actiontec Electronics is offering internal (PCI) and external 56k modems that support call waiting. These models support DOS, Win 3.1, 95, 98, NT, OS/2 and Linux. Call Waiting Modems let you answer incoming calls while maintaining internet connection to your PC. Th same company also offers an internal PC Card reader with OS/2 drivers."

SciTech's Universal Display Driver to Be Bundled with IBM's E-Business Solutions

Chico, California - October 11, 1999 -- SciTech Software, Inc. today announced that IBM has licensed a special version of SciTech Display Doctor, which will be distributed by IBM as the primary display driver for all of IBM's OS/2 Warp based operating systems, including the Warp Client, Workspace On Demand and Warp Server for e-business.

This marks the first time that any common PC operating system, either desktop or server, will include a hardware accelerated, universal display driver as part of the base operating system. Until now, operating system vendors have had to rely on overtaxed graphics hardware vendors to provide software driver support, resulting in inconsistent driver quality and infrequent or non-existent updates for the installed base of graphics hardware.

"We're proud to partner with SciTech Software, because they are a leader in graphics device drivers," said Cheng-Fong Shih, IBM Business Line Manager for OS/2. "OS/2, with SciTech's universal display driver technology, will provide our customers with a timely and stable platform for their mission critical applications, regardless of the display hardware they choose to use."

SciTech Display Doctor provides true plug and play capability by detecting the graphics hardware installed and configuring itself automatically. It is not necessary for a user to determine what type of graphics hardware they have, locate the correct driver, fumble with install disks or use configuration utilities - it is all handled automatically by SciTech Display Doctor. The user can even swap out a graphics card or monitor and SciTech Display Doctor will dynamically configure itself for the newly installed hardware. These features make supporting IBM systems in the field much easier for IBM customers.

"As an IBM customer we are pleased that they are working with SciTech to provide a universal plug and play solution for graphics hardware.", said Andy Finkel, VP of Software at German computer manufacturer Met@box AG, "It shows that IBM is really supporting their customers."

As part of this agreement, SciTech and IBM are working together to improve the OS/2 Warp platform's core "GRADD" display driver architecture to increase graphics performance and compatibility. The IBM PC Company, which manufactures IBM's personal computer hardware, is also closely involved in this effort to ensure maximum compatibility with IBM branded hardware.

"The SciTech driver technology licensed by IBM is the culmination of years of work by SciTech. We used all of our experience with driver development to create an architecture that is fast, scalable, and extremely compatible," said Kendall Bennett, SciTech's Director of Engineering.

IBM will offer SciTech Display Doctor/se for OS/2 Warp free of charge, directly to its customers. It will be available for downloaded from the IBM's web site and will be bundled with future operating system updates. SciTech also markets SciTech Display Doctor Professional for OS/2 Warp as an upgrade for users who need more advanced display features. Fully functional trial versions of SciTech Display Doctor Professional for OS/2 Warp and other SciTech products are available for download at http://www.scitechsoft.com. SciTech products are available directly from SciTech Software by calling (800) 486-4823 (in the U.S. and Canada) or (530) 894-8400.

Warpstock is THE place to find the latest OS/2 Software. You'll find both new and updated software from a large assortment of vendors, and be ready to buy because you won't believe the "show specials" that will be available for Warpstock attendees!

For example, Hethmon Brothers will be offering their first class Inet.Mail Pro 1.5 for $399, a full $100 off the normal retail price! Version 1.3 will be also available at discounted prices. Inet.Mail Pro for OS/2 is a full featured SMTP and POP3 server for OS/2.

Sundial Systems, the Warped Jeopardy! sponsor and major OS/2 software house ("Sundial has the Answers"), will show their full product line. Look for outstanding savings on their Mesa 2 spreadsheet; DBExpert relational database and application builder; Relish, RelishNet, and RelishWeb, all for time management; the Clearlook word processor; and Rover Pack desktop enhancements. Plus, get a sneak preview of a new anti-spam product, code-named Kiwi.

Perfect Niche Software will offer an incredible discount on SMACK!, the easy to use label printing program. The retail price of SMACK! is $69.95, but Warpstock attendees can license SMACK! for only $44.95, a $25.00 savings!

Serenity Systems will be supporting a pavilion where more than a dozen ISVs will demonstrate their applications on Managed Clients supported by Serenity's amazing WiseManager system. Serenity will also demonstrate their new WiseTalker Database Server, and will preview their Building Automation and Security Software, including the "security camera" application. User and prospective channel partners can look for some "show specials" as well.

And Theta Band software, with Julienne Pierre at the helm, has planned special discounts on their WarpCharge and MMPack software for Warpstock attendees. WarpCharge lets your web site take credit card orders online, and MMPack is a top-of-the-line multimedia package.

You'll also see IBM's latest products including OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, and Workspace On-Demand. IBM is giving over a dozen presentations, and it's a perfect opportunity for you to see the future through IBM's eyes.

JPC Software Development will offer a fantastic 30% discount on their HomePage Publisher and GpfRexx products. HomePage Publisher is the most powerful OS/2 web page editor on the market. GpfRexx is a visual application generator that combines the ease of a WYSIWYG visual programming environment with the power of Rexx.

Also, Armin Schwarz of the Warped Code Cellar has announced discounted pricing for his powerful House/2, House/290, and UPS Monitor products. Get all three programs at Warpstock for only $34.00, and Warp your whole house! HOUSE/2 is designed for easy operation of X10 home control devices, and UPS Monitor is a utility program to monitor most American Power Conversion (APC) Uninterruptible Power Sources (UPS) for power line status.

Aviar will showcase several unique OS/2 products including KidStuff for OS/2, KidStuff for OS/2 Plus Pack, Oz of Prevention System, and "Object Rexx by Example". The KidStuff titles are edutainment packages for little children, while "Object Rexx by Example" is a book which teaches Object Rexx. The Oz of Prevention System is the world's only OS/2 native speech-aware Computerized Maintenance Management System for Plant Engineers, Maintenance Managers, and Operations Personnel.

Uwe Schlenter has made special arrangements to provide drastically reduced prices on his WarpNote, BioGraph/2, and PM Checksum programs. Plus you can see Phoenix Software's Think Tool Pro desktop database alternative and CrossTec's NetOp Remote Control for OS/2 remote control software.

With Software and Specials like these, you know you don't want to miss the premier OS/2 event of the century, Warpstock '99 Atlanta!

OS/2 users from around the world will meet October 16-17
in Atlanta. Visit http://www.warpstock.org for the complete information about this very special OS/2 event.

OS/2

Current status: Progress +2
Latest Update: 05 October

We got the Windows sourcecode from version 4.0 (which is not yet released) and one of the developers, was able to compile it without SSL and mailsupport under OS/2 with Odin32-APIs. The executable is not yet working and there are still bugs in Odin32; this is what we must fix now.

A third developer has been added to the team and we think that the OS/2 version is not that far away! Of course, we cannot say how long it will take until it is working but progress is better than ever before.

Opera/2 is part of Project Magic from Opera Software, who are porting their (10 Mb) web browser from Windows to OS/2, MacOS and other operating systems. For more information about Project Magic, Opera/2 and Opera Software, go to:



Odin32, now under the administration of The OS/2 Netlabs, is a project that aims to convert Win32-apps to native OS/2 code. For more information on Odin32 and The OS/2 Netlabs, go to:

• TeamOS/2 Köln/Bonn, http://www.teamos2kb.de/
  OS/2 Computer Museum; es wurde von v1.3 (auf einem PS/2-565X!), über v2.0, v3.0 connect, v4.0 bis zum v4.5 (WSeB) alles auf jeweils eigener Hardware vorgestellt. Ausserdem gab es Informationen über Y2K (Millenium Bug) und zum Scannen unter OS/2.
• OS2.org / Netlabs
  Nun, alles vorgestellte des Webservers selbst, kann man auch "hier" sehen, außerdem haben wir unser Script zur Administration gezeigt. Näheres über die Zukunft von OS2.org und Netlabs kommt in einen eigenen Bericht.
• Information/Registration (TeamOS/2 Deutschland) http://www.teamos2.de/
  Hier gab es entsprechend Informationen über die Messe selbst, man konnte die Handout-CD kaufen (die meisten Vorträge sind darauf gespeichert). T-Shirts, Buttons, etc. Bei der Registration konnten sich die Besucher zum einen natürlich registrieren :-) und nahmen dabei an den Verlosungen am Sa und So teil.
• Kaffeetheke
  no comment :-)
• EPSON Deutschland http://www.epson.de/
  Vorstellung der aktuellen Tintenstrahl-Drucker Palette, eines Scanners, der DigiCam und eines Beamers. Alle Geräte natürlich unter OS/2 betrieben, allerdings mit zum Teil noch inoffiziellen Treibern. EPSON Deutschland arbeitet aber angestrengt an einer Unterstützung aller (auch aktuellen) Produkte. Hierzu nach Abstimmung mit EPSON noch mehr.
• HelpDesk (TeamOS/2 Deutschland)
  An mehreren Rechner wurde Leuten bei Fragen zu Problemen direkt weitergeholfen oder auch einfach nur mal Möglichkeiten unter OS/2 aufgezeigt, wie Brennen oder XFree86OS/2. Leider kam ich kaum zu den Leuten durch, wenn hier noch was detailliertes zu sagen ist, bitte eine Mail an mich :-).
• TeamOS/2 Trier http://www.teamos2.ipcon.de/
  Team Trier bekam gerade noch rechtzeitig die Team Trier Collection Vol.5 fertig. Allerdings auch wirklich BRANDaktuell :-). FixPak12 für v4, FixPak 42 für v3, Netscape 4.61, XFree86/OS2 3.3.5 und VIEL mehr. Bemerkenswert ist, dass die FP und XFree direkt von der CD aus installierbar sind. Dickes Lob!
• Computer & Literatur http://www.cul.de/
  Vor allem das Buch 'Warp Server for e-business' fand zum Messepreis einen reissenden Absatz, zeitenweise dachte ich schon, das wird verschenkt :). Hrsg. Oliver Mark hat auch einen sehr interessanten Vortrag zum WSeB gehalten - über die Vorträge kommt wie gesagt ein Extrateil.
• Mensys http://www.mensys.nl/
  hat VIEL Software angeboten und auch wohl viel verkauft, die Gesichter waren sehr zufrieden. Nicht zuletzt konnte die Vorbestellungen für einen evtl. OS/2 Aurora Client auf 9390 gesteigert werden. Mensys war wie alle von dem Event sehr begeistert und deren Erwartungen wurden weit übertroffen
• Norman Data Defense http://www.norman.de/
  Norman stellte den Viren online Scanner für OS/2 vor. Es gab freie Testversionen, viel Diskussion und wohl auch guten Absatz.
• S&T Systemtechnik http://www.s-t.de/
  stellte eine netzwerkfähige Funkuhr mit (natürlich) OS/2 Unterstützung vor und konnte auch nicht über mangelnden Zuspruch klagen.
• Deckarm & Co. http://www.dco.net/
  DCO bot neben dem aktuellen Katalogangebot MASSEN von älterer Software an, die zum Teil schon zu wahnwitzigen Preisen verkauft wurden (LAN Server für v1.3 und später für EINE Mark) und verschenkte am Schluss noch einige Sachen - ging alles sehr lustig ab :-)
• R.O.M. logicware http://www.rom-logicware.com/
  R.O.M., nun Papyrus kennt hoffentlich jeder :-) Das Office Paket und auch die Einzelversionen wurden zu Messepreisen (Office 222,-) angeboten. Leider konnte ich R.O.M. nicht mehr befragen, aber rein dem Andrang am Stand nach nehme ich mal an, daß auch hier nicht geklagt werden kann.
• C.-E.-Fischer http://www.cefischer.de/
  war leider doch nicht vertreten (daher auch vorerst keine Xelia-News) hatte aber an der Registrierung einiges an Infomaterial und ein paar Versionen der OS/2 Only! hinterlassen.
• WSoD
  Kurzfristig waren noch Leute von IBM USA da und haben Workspace on Demand vorgstellt, hierzu aber auch ein eigener Bericht.

• Auflösungen von 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200
• Unterstützung aller Farbtiefen
• Bildschirmwiederholratenvon 60Hz bis 85Hz
• DDC Plug and Play Monitorerkennung
• Volle 2D Hardwarebeschleunigung
• Hardware Cursor