SymbOS 1.1

Source: Manuel Bilderbeek

A new version of the multi-tasking OS for MSX and Amstrad CPC, SymbOS has just been released. Changes in this version are (taken from the SymbOS website):

• "AUTOEXEC" feature: You can now specify a batch (*.BAT), an EXE or any other file (Control Panel -> System), which will be executed automatically during the booting process. The auto-start of any group of applications is possible now
• Single Side support for FAT12 discs
• Increased sector cache size: The sector cache size has been extended from 2KB to 3KB. This speeds up a lot the process of loading small fragments of files
• Clipboard API: The data transfer to/from the GUI's internal clipboard ("copy/paste") can now also be handled directly by the applications
• Bug fix - no more double redraws inside the GUI: If you freeze the desktop by opening a menu, moving a window for a while or what else, while an application is doing a lot of redraws, the system will not hang anymore because of to much double-redraws. Any redraw will only be done once, after the user finished his current activity
• Bug fix - file renaming: It was limited to 10 chars in the last version, now it's fixed again
• High resolution and 16 colour support: SymbOS supports nearly all high resolution bitmap modes of the MSX2 computers: Screen 5 (256x212, 16 colours), Screen 6 (512x212, 4 colours) and Screen 7 (512x212, 16 colours)
• Mouse and RTC support
• Mass storage driver system: As there are a lot of different floppy disc controller and mass storage devices like IDE and SCSI available for the MSX, SymbOS can load dynamic drivers for all these devices. In this way it's able to support everything in the future
• 100% compatibility: Beeing the first "non CPC" port of SymbOS, the MSX version proves, that SymbOS provides a completely platform independant environment for its applications. The goal is, that all binaries (*.EXE) can be executed DIRECTLY on ALL platforms without modifications. This goal has been reached with the MSX version!

The archive now includes the new Pac Man for SymbOS game and a new Calculator. On the SymbOS website you can find more information about this OS, SymbOS applications and their source code.

Specific details on the MSX version, feedback and development support can all be obtained and delivered in the SymbOS discussion on our forum.

Relevant link: SymbOS 1.1