So, will it be OS4 comapatible?

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From www.u3.com:

Quote:

Traditional computing has its limitations. With software and settings tied to a single machine, being productive on the go requires lugging around a laptop. Set yourself free with U3. By turning a USB flash drive into a USB smart drive, U3 lets you carry programs and personal preferences, launch software, and access all of your own data on any Windows XP or Windows 2000 PC from a device the size of a pack of gum. Now you can move between multiple locations with ease. We call it smart drive computing. You’ll call it incredibly convenient.

Looks like a Windows-only technology; the only reason why you'd need U3 is because most programs need stuff in the registry (that's the biggest reason why you need installers and just unzipping doesn't work), and U3 somehow interacts with Windows to virtualize it.
So, hooray for Amiga, Inc. I fail to see any amiga-related news here.

At least they aren't folding ... any lifesigns whatsoever from AmigaInc are good signs in my book, even if the link to the Amiga computer and operating system seems nearly non-existant at this point.
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SlimJIm

Some how I'm reminded of the Amiga Joyboard....


Amiga JoyBoard


Plaz

@tomazkid

Quote:

So, will it be OS4 comapatible?

No it is more Wintel LOCK-IN junk. Both H/W & S/W





http://www.u3.com/content.aspx?PS=technology&PN=overview
Quote:

The U3 Device Services is the low-level software infrastructure that serves as the bridge between the hardware and the applications and data stored on it. The U3 Launchpad is the friendly graphical user interface to the U3 smart drive and its content. It comes installed on all U3 smart drives and provides the user an easy-to-use entry point to the personal workspace.

Take note of the above quote, can only be for one platform.

Edit:- Insert link.

Cheers,
Tim

Last edited by T_Power on 14-Jun-2005 at 12:17 AM.

Not too say anything bad about AmigaAnywhere,

how ever currently UAE is more of content enabling technology, unless they start porting it too other systems, like AmigaOS4 and MacOSX.

AmigaAnywhere 2en problem is the number of software titles,

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Quote:

Poster: SlimJim Date: 13-Jun-2005 19:04:15 At least they aren't folding ... any lifesigns whatsoever from AmigaInc are good signs in my book, even if the link to the Amiga computer and operating system seems nearly non-existant at this point. . SlimJIm

I agree. What people fail to see is that it doesn't matter what Amiga is producing for the current time being. As long as they are staying alive and producing something that is remotely modern, they are also re-establishing the name "Amiga" in the current market (which has been all but non-existent).

The more their name gets associated with current market trends, even if they are currently only for the PC world, the more likely it is for some of those companies to begin to support the AmigaOS in it's future roadmap, as a cross techology "spill over" starts to happen. If you repeat it often enough, the name will start to become more common place, as it use to be. And these same guys who use the AmigaAnywhere technology on their U3 device and like it, will likely look at a future release of AmigaOS for Cell (used as an example only) as something that they can relate to, even if it doesn't have anything to do with that U3 device they had. It's all part of building a market brand. Remember the old addage about catching more flys with honey?

I would not underestimate the importance of this technology (U3). It is a small shift in what we have, but making a USB stick secure has a lot of benefits.

1) It should put pay to the idea that AA technology is just for small games for PDA and smartphones. U3 would be pointless for such things -- this is about productivity-ware.

2) While I do not have any idea on how this works, I suggest that there is either a locking or encrypting chip on the stick, and all the MS interface does is allow the user to unlock/decrypt -- IE just an interface for a password -- it is not anything that could not be put on other OSes or if possible on the stick itself.

3) Once you have a physical device that is reasonably secure yoiu also have a place for all your passwords -- it becomes a key to not just the apps on the stick but anything else you need access to.

4) The fact that you have such a thing with your essential apps puts you in a difgferent position via any network, in this the one-size-fits-all application needs to be much more customerizable and task based -- your app base now becomes a permanent thing that you use all over the place, it is no longer the WP setup one way oin one place and anoher way in another place -- this is an important shift in usuage between the user and the app.

5) Virtual Code based apps are just made for such a shift. The apps become more of a permanent fixture because they are with you, on AA hey function the same on other OSes as well. They become, over time, permanent and consistant tools modeled to your use and tasks. This is the begining of a new world in terms of computing practice.

6) This is a begining, obviously the size of the U3 is restrictive - but the restrictions will progressively decrease, the sticks will get more and more capacity. In the future then while such things will never have the capacity to hold all the data you want, they may well hold all the apps you need plus enough data to be practical - your other data can sit on the the network (home computer/server linked to the internet etc.).

This is actually very exciting stuff and AA is well suited to exploiting this potential. I know people will read this and think -- well it is just a USB stick, the extra of inbuilt security is no big deal, but it is a big deal, especially if they get a few things right in doing it (decent security and perhaps a little room to lauch the security interface from the stick rather than from the OS).

Such a stick becomes in a sense your identity, identity in terms of the content but also in terms of the wider network as a means of accessing through passwords what you want accessed. This is stuff you want on you and locked, not sitting on a machine -- it is a device which gives the beginings of device independnce, it is essntial dumb and trnaferrable and theoretically could run on any HW. This is a case of a little thing actually being big news.

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Greg Schofield, Perth Australia

It will likey be a big thing.I wonder how long it takes before personal identity(i.e. drivers license) becomes encoded on these things.One step forward for convenience, one step forward for big brother one step in an unknown direction for mankind.

After that, its just one more step to having a barcode on your hand and having everything you want on a server somewhere......pure freedom, or is it?

BTW who is Gideon Shaanan?

Last edited by IonMane on 14-Jun-2005 at 01:48 AM.

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@ionMane

Governements are moving towards "Internal Passports" (identity papers) which in electronic form will be Big Brother fascism.

This form of identity is more like the clothes you wear and the keys to your house, you could just as easily create two or more identities by having two sticks or more.

If you control you inofrmation security, then you can also make yourself anonymous.

That is one of the reasons I like this technology it is a way of making you anynomous and not revealing yourself to anyone and everyone who wants to track you. The price is just the cost of the sticks.

PS.
I just thought of difference. The U3 type identity is "self-identity" who I want to be and how I want to appear electronic. The Goivernmental fascist desire to track everyone everywhere is "Identity-for-others" it in that I appear as they want to see me (ie with a number tattooed on my forehead and wearing a badge to indicate whether I am a susopicious political type or some other social undersirable).

There is a big difference between the two and both confusingly are about security and identity.

Last edited by GregS on 14-Jun-2005 at 01:58 AM.
Last edited by GregS on 14-Jun-2005 at 01:55 AM.

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Greg Schofield, Perth Australia

Will it generate into an actual product beyond a press release on some website?

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- Ronald

All beer tastes bad.

Of course not just because it says Amiga doesn't mean it has to work on an Amiga.

@ronaldst
Quote:

Will it generate into an actual product beyond a press release on some website?

Well I for one am already working with a company to produce some productivity software for just such devices.

Please note we began this initiavtive without any knowledge of U3, and have just been working out the security design for plain USB sticks when I read this. This is an important point, the need for such a technology was already there (hence my little project) this moves things along for us, it did not offer a solution per se, it improved what we alrady intended to do.

The role of Amiga Inc in this is merely as a SDK supplier and a marketing outlet (handling royalities to Tao for one thing and supplying support via the SDK). Wihout Amiga Inc our chances of getting a contract with Tao directly and organising royality payments (so Tao would know that it was not being ripped off) would be beyond our small resources.

Amiga Inc in this is is a vital link for small developers who (as in our case) already have products that can be ported) as well as start-up developers. Moreover, even big developers (those with capital) need to have products that fit in with those of other developers the existence of Amiga Inc (or something like it) is essential for this level of compatibility that Tao has other things it is concentrating on).

I do not expect Amiga Inc will have a lot of product up its sleeve (it may have I have no idea). However, some of us have been predicting these types of technology for some time now (well before Amiga Inc in otherwords). Amiga Inc's vision just happens to be consistant with my own on the major issues -- so while people can knock what they have done and the slowness involved -- I for one can vouch for the fact that I couldn't have achieved what they have at the moment.

IF Amiga Inc had mountains of cash, well we might not be having this conversation as everything would be clear and out-there in the form of product -- however, slow and steady does sometimes win races, Amiga Inc has kept on track despite so many saying that they should follow another approach -- this is something very much in their favour.

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Greg Schofield, Perth Australia

I was expecting something like this to happen, it's quite logical move when you think about what they are trying to do. It's good to see progress from them.

Last edited by miksuh on 14-Jun-2005 at 05:48 AM.
Last edited by miksuh on 14-Jun-2005 at 05:47 AM.

First of all people talk more about the U3 device then Amiga. Sure it sounds like a catchy device but how's Amiga going to fit in this all? I don't expect much from this at all. Concerning AA that is. It's more wishfull thinking then Amiga Inc. actually going to pull something off. Sorry guys, reality is cold and hard.

Coder

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Hi,

I read www.u3.com but didn't understand what such USB drive would do. Maybe it's because it's too early in the morning for me but I fail to see what this offer compared to my USB key.

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@Coder

Well I think it fits in nicely, especially considering that's all you need to boot the Amiga One.

This has allways been talk of using USB sticks as multi-user devices.
If there are also security (encryption keys?) built in the key itself, then I could se an Amiga with a basic OS4x setup in the box, when you boot up with the key, you get all your personal settings and you can access everything on the harddrive (including the encrypted parts).
If you don't want a multiuser platform you just keep your Amiga as it is.

Just a thought.

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Amigaone G4 XE / AOs4 beta update4
Post+1

@Ralf

If I am correct it only works with Windows. So booting with that thing with OS4 on it is not an option. What you are talking about is a nice thing but is not what they are talking about.

Coder

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I does not look like a Windows only technology in my eyes...

Quote:

Amiga AmigaAnywhere - Access rich-media content and eliminate reliance on low-quality titles. AACE removes the complicated download process by transmitting titles directly to the device or removable memory. The same application can be seamlessly used across devices simply by sharing a U3 smart drive from one device to another (e.g. PC to Linux Set Top Box).

Source: http://www.u3.com/content.aspx?PS=software&PN=overview

I think the e.g. PC to Linux Set Top Box part sounds cool... but it would be nice if Amiga Inc. would port it to AmigaOS4

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@Coder

My thoughts - germinated from something that GregS said - is that the AA platform will be a layer within a U3 device; i.e. you will have the AA core available on it, along with all of the applications, games, etc. written for the AA.

When you plug it into a U3 *and* AA compatible machine (presumably this technology will quickly spread to platforms other than Win2k/XP), then you'll be able to access the AA core, and run _any_ of your AA applications.
As a user, you won't really care what computer you're running on (apart from the processing power available, I suppose) - it should all be entirely transparent...

Or are we just dreaming?

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