SymbOS 2.1 Final released

[Prodatron]

The final version of SymbOS 2.1 has been released this weekend.



You can download it here:
http://www.symbos.de/download.htm
While some of the new features are MSX related there are still several new things for the Amstrad CPC and PCW port as well.

Here is a summary of the most important non-MSX based changes compared to the last version 2.0:

• New multiline textinput control: The most complex control of the desktop manager has the functionality of a small text editor and is an exact copy of modern textedit-boxes. It supports features like auto-word-wrapping, support of any proportional fonts and colours, unlimited line length, text marking, copy & paste etc.
• Improved singleline textinput control: This control has been optimized a lot and is now based on the new code of the multiline control. Editing is faster and doesn't flicker anymore.
• Interbank calls: The same application can now place code in multiple 64K banks and use the new interbank calls of the kernel to switch between the code areas in an easy and transparent way.
• 64K cluster support: While the official specification of the FAT filesystem doesn't allow clusters with sizes larger 32KB, SymbOS is now also able to handle FAT16 and FAT32 partitions with 64K clusters.
• Settings autosave: Changes of the system settings will now be autosaved on shut down or when closing the control panel. This is optional.
• Preselected system path: The file dialogue will preselect the system path, if no drive and path is specified
• Direct low level sector access: The file manager now provides direct access to its low level sector read and write functions for the applications.
• Optimized memory allocation: When an application is loaded the system now tries different ways of memory allocation. This minimizes the wasting of fragmented memory areas and makes it possible still to load programs even if the memory is nearly full.
• Improved SymShell: The textoutput in fullscreen mode is again 20% faster. The TYPE command has been debugged.
• and last but not least: a new nice looking system font

These new applications have now been added to the download section:

• Notepad: With the availability of the new multiline textinput control a Notepad clone is now reality in SymbOS as well. It provides nearly the whole functionality of its Windows counterpart including search and replace, different formatting options and multiple font selection.
• Conways Game Of Life: This application was mainly developed to demonstrate the multi threading ability in the multitasking environment of SymbOS. It also contains a library with hundrets of objects and supports all combinations of alternative cell rules.
• 4-In-A-Row: The first official released SymStudio application has been developed by Edoz. It is the well known game "4-in-a-row", which is developed 100% in SymBasic and is now available for SymbOS.
• Tetris 2014: Tetris is another example that developing SymBasic-based applications and games with SymStudio is truly possible and easy to do. This second more advanced game by Edoz brings this classic to SymbOS.

Feedback and bug reports are always welcome!

[Edoz(MSX)]

So cool that SymbOS works on multiple z80 machines.. However i have no experience with the CPC I watch eBay now to buy one Lot of new features ! I hope those objects, like the multiline textbox comes to Unify as well..

[Edoz(MSX)]

I forgot to say that with help of symstudio i was able to make something.. A big thanks to trebmint for this amazing tool!!

[Prodatron]

Just want to send a big thank you to EdoZ and Trebmint for your help, support and motivation! Now the show must go on...

[radu14m]

great work !!! 

[Trebmint]

This as always is great stuff. Love the new font... who did that? haha

[Joseman]

Hi

I've been following all the news on the msx forum, I'll test all of this in my cpc-AT when i have time.

I'm thinking on take a cpc464, buy all the new hardware for it (x-mem, floppy controller, already ordered mother-x and playcity, have symbiface) and put again all on a new mini-atx tower. If it not burns then it'll be great to see

Thinking in test unify too, i've something in mind...

Thanks prodatron, trebmint, Edoz for all the great work!!

[CraigsBar]

Oh wow! The notepad is awesome. It opens the read me file perfectly, even does a reasonable effort of the ascii art logo. This is what an os for the next generation of cpcfans should be like. Thanks prodatron. Next challenge tho..... Incorporate minibooster and playcity support?

[Prodatron]

Thanks Joseman and CraigsBar!
Playcity support will be added in SymAmp very soon.
I am planning to add network support for the 3.0. First for an MSX expansion card called "DenYoNet", which is an ethernet card with integrated TCP/IP stack. Don't know how difficult it would be to do Minibooster-based network support, too...

CU,
Prodatron

[CraigsBar]

Thanks Joseman and CraigsBar!
Playcity support will be added in SymAmp very soon.
I am planning to add network support for the 3.0. First for an MSX expansion card called "DenYoNet", which is an ethernet card with integrated TCP/IP stack. Don't know how difficult it would be to do Minibooster-based network support, too...

CU,
Prodatron

Oh and any chance of the plus extended pallette coming back? or (and I guess I am pushing it here) Hardware sprites for the icons and "start" button to increase the colour count