BeOS adding USB, Pentium III support
Published: 12 Apr 1999 07:52 BST
Version 4.5 BeOS, which is code-named Genki, is scheduled to debut in June. Version 4.1, which was due shortly, will not hit the market. During the Be Developer Conference in California last week, new Be marketing chief Roy Graham told developers he wanted to hold off on releasing the new OS until the company could add more enticing features. "What you're going to get is not only a richer product, in terms of features and functions, but a quality product," he said.
The new release also will have a smaller footprint and more support for drivers and the company's media kit, Graham said. In addition, a Be version of Quake 2 will ship shortly after its release.
Be has been in the news frequently lately -- thanks in part to Microsoft Corp., which has pointed to the company as a competitor during its ongoing antitrust trial. Be CEO and President Jean-Louis Gassee has refuted that claim in the past, describing BeOS as a niche product. Taking on Microsoft, he told developers Friday, would be "suicidal." However, Gassee was optimistic about capturing video and audio enthusiasts -- and urged developers to keep consumers in mind. "Right now our money is in everyone's pockets," Gassee said, referring to consumers' pockets. "We are in the business of transferring some of that, in a very regular basis, to our pockets."
At the conference, Be partners also showed off new software designed to run on the platform, and musician Thomas Dolby made an appearance. Be will be helping Dolby's company improve its Beatnik sound engine. In one consumer focus demonstration, Adamation showed off its new personalStudio software, which enables real-time video editing. Users can play video and audio files, and add effects such as wipes or 3D cubes, by simply dragging and dropping icons.
The presentation also featured multimedia software from Gobe Productive, Beatware, and MGI Software Corp, a Windows company that's adding Be software to its product line.
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