SymbOS 3.0 beta release

Hands on! Prodatron released the last beta release for SymbOS 3.0 today! A lot of work has been done over the past months and now finally all new bits are tested and packed together in a new installation package. This beta release contains all the new features, fixes and improvements that were done so far. That means that this version now needs testing by the public. Prodatron can put all the last bug fixes inside the final release. Some new features will be also added to 3.0 some others will be planned in 3.1 or later.

This new beta release comes with the following new improvements and features:

A complete and detailed PDF manual for SymbOS which is documenting and answering most things you might need to know!
SymbOS Advanced Desktop. The advanced desktop contains 32bit GUI features like a wizard for creating new icons, 16 color icon support, flexible desktop widget support, new start menu editor, flexible start menu which supports nested submenus and more icons on the desktop, right mouse click menu, possibility to choose custom icons and much more
SymbOS Network Daemon with TCP and UDP functionality supporting the DenYoNet and GR8NET Ethernet cards. DNS and DHCP are supported now as well as localhost networking for systems without Ethernet hardware.
SymShell network tools like telnet.com, wget.com (for downloading files), nslookup.com, netstat.com and symbus.exe (manage your machine remotely)
New SymShell (2.0) with new features, like advanced console commands, 16 color support and other improvements.
HTML based help browser inside SymbOS with search function.
16 color support in SymbOS in general. It’s now possible to define own skins for your forms.
Command-line based unzipper (Based on ideas & code by Grauw and Wouter) which can run on different CPU priorities and supports ZIP and GZ files.
Improved unify applications, like network improvements in battleship and Tetris which is now scalable. SymbOS chat client for PC and SymbOS and a server which is hosted on the internet 24x7
Lot of improvements: on the core, general bug fixes, gfx9000 bug fixes.
New installation package (SYMSETUP.COM) which allows you to install SymbOS in a more easy way. Filenames are changed to names that makes more sense.

The best way to install this new release is to remove your current installation and do a fresh new install. (Remove also symbos.ini from your root partition.) Then start symsetup.com and follow the instructions and read the new manual!
If you like to see a live demo we suggest to visit the fair in Nijmegen were we will build up multiple SymbOS computers together on 1 network.

SymbOS 3.0 final will be released after some testing period by the public and the needed bug fixing.
In the meantime there are already plans for the 3.1 release.

Relevant link: Installation package (Symsetup.com, manuel, additional application- and media-files)
Relevant link: PDF installation manual with instructions how to use SymbOS

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Comments (27)

By fernando.collazo.5682

Champion (257)

22-01-2016, 19:26

Wow! Fantastic piece of software.

By Retrofan

Paragon (1339)

22-01-2016, 19:50

Very well done both Prodatron and Edoz! Very impressive! Maybe I have to give it a try after all Any chance to support OPL4 as well as sound device for playback MIDI, MOD and maybe more fileformats? Don't know if MP3 is possible with combination of R800 and OPL4.

By snout

Ascended (15187)

22-01-2016, 20:52

The PDF manual alone is a joy to read. Words cannot describe the genius that is SymbOS. Particularly the experience on GFX9000 is mesmerizing. Adding ethernet to the mix only increases the general awesomeness. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making all this happen lads.

By karloch

Prophet (2159)

23-01-2016, 00:49

What an amazing release! Just the PDF deserves to be printed in full color and converted into a book (so nice to see references to the HispaMSX BBS there ). I still remember the old days when most people at the MSX community sated how difficult or near impossible was to code a fast GUI for the MSX; it is not only possible, but it can be even faster than our regular MSX-DOS.

Thank you so much to bring this power to our beloved machines. I can't say with words how grateful am I for the work done.

By konamiman

Paragon (1215)

23-01-2016, 10:03

The funny thing is that according to the manual, Screen 9 is supported!

Seriously, this is an amazing piece of obsolete software. Good work!

By meits

Scribe (6580)

23-01-2016, 15:40

Is this the "Symbos for Testgroups", soon to be followed by the imfamous number 3.11?

By -Neo-

Champion (434)

23-01-2016, 20:08

Just bought a GFX9000. HOw can I activate it in SymbOS?

By SuchAGoonie

Expert (108)

23-01-2016, 20:48

You have to start it with a different COM-file than SYMBOS.COM. I thought I saw it in the manual somewhere, but I can't find it now. Maybe it was in the manual of the previous version.

The 3.0 beta is AMAZING, by the way! So impressive what my turboR can do!

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

23-01-2016, 21:24

Did see it today on the MSX fair, it's really looking good !

By -Neo-

Champion (434)

23-01-2016, 22:32

It did, yours sounded good WORP3

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

24-01-2016, 01:37

Great software!! Congratulations!!!

About tests, the automatic install (option 1 of the setup tool) didn´t recognize my IDE Interface from TECNOBYTES, this already happened with the older version (2.x).

Using the manual process (option 2 of the setup tool), it works. The interface appears on the list and i can select it.

I´m running Nextor Kernel version 2.0.3 and Nextor.sys version 2.0 (i don´t know if this can cause some problem to SYMBOS).

By karloch

Prophet (2159)

24-01-2016, 18:07

I think SymbOS has his own screen mode numbering that is common to all the platforms it runs. IIRC, it runs on SCREEN 5, 6 and 7 in V9938 and other modes I don't remember in the V9990.

By Prodatron

Paragon (1870)

24-01-2016, 20:12

Thanks a lot for your feedback!
@-Neo-: Please run SYMG9K.COM for booting the Graphics9000 version. Btw congratulation for getting this powerful hardware and thanks a lot for the big GR8NET update party!
@jrasantos: Autodetecting hardware unfortunately is not an easy thing, as there are no definitions for unique IDs etc. Glad, that you could solve it anyway. I will have a look at the Sunrise IDE detection!
@Konamiman: As Karloch mentioned the screen mode numbers in SymbOS are "global" ones, 1,2 are Amstrad CPC and Enterprise screen modes (320x200, 640x200), 5-7 are MSX2 modes, 8-11 are G9K modes and 0 is the only available Amstrad PCW mode (768x256).

By edoz

Prophet (2509)

25-01-2016, 13:08

It is indeed true that if you are using a Nextor on a Sunrise IDE or compatible you have to load the driver manually for the sub/slot. Which can be done with option 2 after the install.

By W76NearDark

Paladin (684)

25-01-2016, 13:52

It's been a long time ago I gazed at Symbos, but this version 3 is a true example of the sheer power it provides on our beloved MSX system

Still, I hope a MEGA-SCSI driver will become available... someday

By edoz

Prophet (2509)

25-01-2016, 14:21

It would be cool if some ML programmers can build drivers for SymbOS. I'm sure Prodatron would support them if needed.

By -Neo-

Champion (434)

25-01-2016, 17:34

@Prodatron: Yesssss, that worked. Thanks. I didn't have the chance to ask at the fair but did the SD card also function ok?

By Prodatron

Paragon (1870)

25-01-2016, 22:35

Not yet, but I am working on this right now! It is necessary that the boot loader is accepting the driver even if the device is unknown to MSX-DOS (which is currently required).
@W76NearDark: I am now working on an ATAPI driver for the Sunrise. As it's similiar to SCSI maybe it could be used somehow for a SCSI driver as well, but let's see

By W76NearDark

Paladin (684)

26-01-2016, 09:53

Thanks Prodatron that would be very nice

By edoz

Prophet (2509)

26-01-2016, 10:33

Are there currently source codes available for the current SCSI roms for MSXDOS? or are these all private?

By raymond

Hero (656)

26-01-2016, 18:27

Ah, will download it and test it with my GR8NET adapter

By Prodatron

Paragon (1870)

26-01-2016, 18:39

The SD card driver for SymbOS is now working fine with the updated GR8NET cards, but I have to add something to the boot loader now to get it load. The GR8NET version of the SymbOS network daemon is already included and running fine, so you can try this.

By Manuel

Ascended (19803)

27-01-2016, 13:36

edoz: depends on which you mean... There is some source code on the Novaxis SCSI stuff (probably also on Hans Otten's site). MegaSCSI should also be doable. Don't know about the others... Novaxis and MegaSCSI are emulated, that may also help.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10155)

28-01-2016, 01:04

Say uhm.. shouldn't the MSX-logo on the manual's cover actually be an MSX2 logo?

Remarkable job nonetheless!

By Prodatron

Paragon (1870)

28-01-2016, 01:23

@Wolf, it's always great to hear from you! You are right, the final version will be modified. But according to NYYRIKKI an MSX1 version with 256x192x2 would be possible as well, so I was already thinking about it sometimes.

By edoz

Prophet (2509)

28-01-2016, 10:50

It's funny. My MSX2 boots with this logo But good idea to change the logo or to support MSX1

By makinavaja

Master (222)

29-01-2016, 17:30

Need to test it now!
Thank you very much!!!!!!

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