The bounty has now reached 2,441.80 EUR and we're only around 600 EUR away from completing the bounty!

We have received donations from almost 100 different people and many have made multiple donations (thanks)! That said I hope there's still people willing to make a donation in the hope we could get a better browser in the future.

If you haven't donated yet or just want to read more about the project before deciding if you want to make a donation click here: www.amigabounty.net

@Mikey_C

1. OS4 available for SAM, PS3, ClassicPPC (incl. ACK products) and especially a laptop/portable.

2. Lots of users!

3. A modern webbrowser, preferably Firefox or Opera (as thats what people use and know outside Amiga) but any full featured browser would do.

4. Java - It is needed for homebanking here in Denmark and I cant ditch my PC before I can do homebanking with the Amiga!

5. OpenOffice

6. Lots of creativity software, music and paint programs.

7. A guaranteed steady flow of Tunenet updates (love this application)!

8. More positivity in the Amiga community, we're few left but why not try and have some fun. Ohh and surprise those that left the community when we actually get our browser, OpenOffice, Java etc...

May all your wishes come true

@spotUP

I am also VERY interested in this application. It would be cool to see some gfx software still in development be available for OS4.

I really hope someone has got the time to port this.

@COBRA

Has anyone used it, is it any good?
What known software does it compare best to?

@nbache

I have seen the IBM terrain demo on the net, here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV_95-rmYNo Is that the same demonstration?

IBM must have had Linux on the PS3 without the Hypervisor or could the PS3 do a demo like that with all the Sony limitations? If the latter is the case I think the PS3 would be more than good enough for OS4.

@Helge

That doesn't sound to encouraging, so basically it will only be usefull for lighter 2D applications unless a you get access directly to the hardware or a hack magically arrives at some point.

I think Terrasoft have some CELL hardware but my thought with the PS3 was that it was reasonably priced and available everywhere with fixed hardware that was easy to support. Guess there is no CELL/PPC hardware that will really fulfill that now.

@Shadowolf

I have only seen Yellowdog Linux in action on the PS3 and using some common apps like browser, gimp etc it runs just fine.

I haven't seen any 3D stuff running but shouldn't the PS3 have enough CPU power to run whatever we have available now, even without hardware acceleration?

@mausle

I seriously doubt Hyperion will get full access to the PS3 hardware. Perhaps Sony will change their stance on the limitation at some point or we might see a hack, but probably not for the foreseeable future.

Still with the power that lays in the CELL I'm sure Hyperion could do something interesting with it. Atm. I think it's all about Amiga and Hyperion getting their dispute settled, preferably out of court. After that we might see some progress.

@MikeB

Interesting, now if you could just finalize a deal with Amiga, Hyperion or whoever owns OS4 atm. I would find it VERY interesting.

I hope ownership is settled soon, we need to move on no matter who ends up as the rightful owner.

@tonyw

I don't think anyone should buy the PS3 ONLY for OS4. If you don't plan to use the game console or Blu-ray capability a SAM motherboard would be a better choice.

Smaller, more expandable and using only a fraction of the electricity

It's just that since Sony will sell millions of PS3's regardless of the price it will make sense to port OS4 for it. BTW here in Denmark it is 760 EUR if you pre-order now.

@MikeB

I would buy it instantly because I want another OS4 machine and a PS3.

For more mainstream appeal it would have to offer more than just a plain OS4 installation. And everything needs to be ready for the PS3, incl. a good browser.

A retro package could be one way to market it.
Sell it with a classic bundle (say 10 great AGA games + UAE, licensing could be a problem?) and sell it below the typical PS3 game price and we are on to a winner.

If Amiga had been clever they would have used the time from 2000 to buy the rights to old classic games. It would have been cheap back then and the retro scene/market is BIG right now.

I believe OS4 on PS3 could be the biggest commercial success the Amiga have seen for many many years.

Finally it would be priceless to have easily available hardware that will be quite cheaper and cheaper over the coming years. We won't loose Amigans ever again because of lack of hardware availability.

Best regards
Troels

@Ferry

I changed the conditions to suit your needs and money will be returned upon request if we don't reach the needed amount.

We're almost 1/2 way there, keep the donations coming.

@aldur
Recieved and added to www.amigabounty.net.

Thanks for the donation, you're the new nr. one amongst the donators

Everyone who has not donated yet, payday is close, please support Sputnik for OS4.

@Jack

Flash will probably be a problem just like it is to Ibrowse , plugin api I think is there already via webcore.

@Severin
I agree.
Mos version 1.0 will probably be out before Marcik begins to port anything for OS4.
At least it will have to reach a state where it is usable for everyday browsing before there's a reason for porting to OS4. Shouldn't stop us preparing for it via the bounty though.

@Severin

It IS a work in progress but already displays many sites that neither IBrowse or Aweb can display correctly.

New beta for MOS should be out in a couple of weeks. Still doubt it's usable for everyday use but SSL, cache and cookies should have been added and a lot of underlaying stuff been improved AFAIK.


@bobson
Sorry for the OT rant.

@mattkille

I'm really looking forward to CF2 aswell. Hope it's still being developed, will buy it as soon as it's released.

Btw. Thanks for the Sputnik donation

Everything has it's price and a good web browser for AmigaOS4 is EUR 3100 (approx. $4000).
After many emails with Marcin the developer of Sputnik yet another web browser bounty has been setup.

"But we already have the Amizilla effort".. Yes we do, I even contributed a bit myself but have come to the conclusion that nothing will come of this in the near future as it is a giant project.

The Sputnik Bounty is diffrent because it is an active project developed for and is already showed working on MorphOS. It's simpler to port Sputnik from MorphOS to AmigaOS4, than porting Firefox from Linux to AmigaOS4.

+We have hardware ready for Marcin now.
+Porting starts when bounty is reached.
+Fewer dependences.
+Also available for Morphos = broader Amiga userbase.
+We already have a man to do the port (namely the author of Sputnik, Marcin).
+The browser (early version) have already been showed working on MorphOS, an Amiga inspired OS.
+We have got hardware ready for Marcin as soon as the bounty reaches the needed amount.
+Lighter web browser, well suited for the Amiga.
+Freeware when the bounty has been paid.
+Same updates as the MOS version.

-Less known browser, but whats in a name?
-Price (although it IS cheap)

Lets face it, Sputnik is not a browser that will get much name recognition outside Amiga circles. It is based on the widely known KHTML engine (also used by Nokia and Apple) and keeping the Amiga traditions, being a very light web browser compared to Firefox. It will feature mos,t if not all the modern stuff we miss in Aweb or Ibrowse, read more on www.amigabounty.net.


Financial.
The price of EUR 3100 seems high but you are not alone paying it!
This is a COMMUNITY EFFORT and I would expect EVERY OS4 USER who wants a modern web browser to contribute. Despite the current lack of hardware, I would even encourage those wanting to use OS4 at some point to contribute to this bounty. Take the time, register with Paypal and donate. If you cant use Paypal, please email me and we will work something out.

Theory.
There's been talks about 1500 AmigaOne's sold and even if some is not working or just not used anymore, there should still be at least 700-1000 active OS4 users.

Fact.
If people wants the Amiga to stay alive, we all need to start put our money where our mouth is. I expect in a worst case scenario max. 50% wants to contribute, but that is a minimum of 350 donations. Am I too optimistic, I hope not.

Donations.
I know not everybody can donate the same but I ask ALL of you to please donate min. EUR 10($13) if you can. The more the better.

If your financial situation (or your gf/wife) doesn't allow you to donate that much every other donation is also very welcome.

Please go straight to www.amigabounty.net read more about the bounty and make your donation now.
Thanks for reading this post, I will answer questions in this thread when I have the time.

ssolie: Locked for now. Please discuss in the news item.

@spotUP

Sounds interesting, wonder if that will be an official part of OS4 at some point..?

I already have an A1-XE G4 and I wont buy into something with lower specs unless it's something portable!
I want an Amiga laptop so badly..

Personally I would prefer OS4 on the PS3, cheap and more available hardware (in March).

But for Amiga classic users, developers and embedded use the SAM seems to be a great board.

I hope this new board will get more developers on board but whether it will be enough to experience a boost in available applications is to be seen.

If the situation between Amiga inc and Hyperion betters and ownership becomes clear I hope to see companies pick up both SAM and OS4 for embedded use.
If OS4 will be used for embedded stuff it will give some money for further development and might even help 3rd party developers and developments might even be useful for desktop users.