IBM SOFTWARE Click on current products if you're looking for information about OS/2 Warp Version 3 and OS/2 Warp Connect. Cast your ballot for OS/2 Warp and OS/2 Warp Server. Vote now! The next version of OS/2 Warp (code-named Merlin) The best keeps getting better The next version of the OS/2 Warp client, code-named Merlin, is currently under development and is expected to be generally available in the second half of 1996. Integrating IBM's latest VoiceType* technology in speech navigation and dictation, OS/2 Warp will be the first major Intel-based operating system with built-in speech recognition, taking the concept of ease-of-use to an entirely new level. It also will be the first desktop operating system to integrate Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s Java programming language. In addition to its broad industry compatibility, it will provide customers with unmatched connectivity features, improved systems management, easier-than-ever Internet access and an improved user interface that shows off an enhanced version of the Lotus SmartCenter. A device driver CD-ROM, OpenGL APIs and TrueType font support are among the additions that will make the next version of OS/2 Warp compatible with emerging and established technology standards, thereby broadening the solutions available to customers and protecting their current technology investments. "We will be making great strides across software and hardware development fronts with this version of OS/2 Warp in order to expand OS/2's reach," said Wally Casey, vice president of client product management in IBM's Software Group. "Combined with speech recognition, integrated Java capability and a multitude of network improvements, we believe this version of OS/2 Warp will represent a significant advancement for OS/2." "Corporations must be able to exchange information efficiently among heterogeneous systems," said Alina Pozark, analyst at the Yankee Group. "IBM's next version of OS/2 will facilitate this process with support for cross-platform applications and industry standards, like OpenGL." The next version of OS/2 Warp is planned to be generally available in the second half of this year. Click on one of these topics to find out more about the next version of OS/2 Warp. * Are you talking to your computer? - Speech navigation and dictation * Lotus Notes Mail * Outstanding connectivity + To the Internet + In the Office + From the home * Java support Improved ease-of-use * New user interface * OS/2 WarpCenter Software compatibility Hardware compatibility Did I hear you say "Where's the beta?" Give us a click and we'll tell you about the OS/2 Warp Beta Program. Due to the phenomenal response to our requests for beta participants, we have exhausted the number of slots available in our beta program. Therefore, we are closing the submission of any additional requests to participate in this beta. _________________________________________________________________ Are you talking to your computer, yet? Integrating IBM's latest VoiceType* technology in speech navigation and dictation, an improved user interface which includes an enhanced version of the Lotus SmartCenter, and easier-than-ever Internet access, OS/2 Warp will be the first major Intel-based operating system with built-in speech recognition and will take the concept of ease-of-use to an entirely new level. "IBM has just raised the bar on operating system ease of use," said Kathryn Dzubeck, executive vice president of Communications Network Architects, Inc., a computer consultancy in Washington, D.C. "Human-centric versus machine-centric input will provide a major productivity increase for corporate and consumer PC users." Talk, don't type Built-in speech navigation and dictation capabilities will allow OS/2 users simply to tell their computers what they normally would have to type or execute with a mouse. The navigation portion will allow people to vocally navigate through menu bars and objects on the desktop in order to do things such as open files and launch applications, or pop onto the Internet hands-free with a simple phrase like 'Jump to CNN Home Page.' Working with a computer has never been so easy, and using a computer has never been so much fun. [LINK] Under OS/2 Warp, users will be able to open multiple Web pages with a click on the mouse or a single voice command. (Click on image - 157kb) The dictation component will allow users to dictate memos and other documents and then paste them into word processing or e-mail applications. With this technology, doctors will be able to review X-rays or examine patients and dictate their findings directly into a computer. Insurance agents can vocally process claims. Attorneys can create legal briefs while flipping through research materials. And business professionals can dictate electronic memos while simultaneously reading through hard-copy documents. [LINK] With OS/2 Warp's built-in speech capabilities, users will be able to dictate memos and documents into a dictation window on the screen. They also will be able to customize their screens with selected backgrounds and font colors. (Click on image - 169kb) "We believe that speech recognition in computers will be the next major industry breakthrough when it comes to ease-of-use," said Wally Casey, vice president of client product management in IBM's Software Group. "Just as the Macintosh changed the industry when it introduced a graphical user interface, OS/2 Warp will alter the way people interact with computers -- from new computer users to business professionals to anyone who wants quick and easy Internet access." The technology behind the talk Based on IBM's latest VoiceType technology, speech recognition in Merlin will run with any common OS/2-supported sound card, like Sound Blaster, which comes as a standard feature in most audio-enabled PCs. By integrating industry-leading VoiceType technology into the OS/2 base, IBM is offering customers an incredible value. With years of IBM research behind it, the speech technology in Merlin has advanced to a point where it is very easy to use. Merlin will be speaker-independent, meaning the computer will understand what most users say, without any training. And it even will know the difference between words with the same pronunciation yet different spellings, like to, too and two. Merlin also will come with a continuous navigator, allowing users to speak as they normally do, without inserting pauses between words, in order to navigate through the desktop and menus. The navigation vocabulary in Merlin will include common desktop navigation words. Dictation will come with a base vocabulary of 22,000 words and will allow the addition of up to 42,000 more unique terms. Customers also may purchase separate vocabularies for professions like healthcare and law. And speech will be supported in six languages: U.S. and U.K. English, French, Spanish, German and Italian. IBM is meeting with application developers to rally support for speech-enabled OS/2 applications. Currently, any OS/2 Presentation Manager (PM) object will automatically work with the VoiceType navigator. PM objects include menu-bar headings, drop-down menus and buttons on the screen. IBM will be delivering a developer toolkit later this year, which will allow solution developers to add a richer set of speech functions to their applications. "I'm excited about the new opportunities that will be created by integrating VoiceType into the OS/2 base," said Jim Karn, operations director for Pittsburgh-based Alien Robotics, a solution developer that voice enables software using IBM's VoiceType Dictation on a number of operating system platforms. "This will open up an entirely new level of solutions that we will be able to create for our customers and a whole new set of business opportunities for our company." As with previous versions of OS/2, IBM will provide premier technical support for application developers through its Solution Developer Program. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ Notes Mail complements other exciting features in OS/2 Warp The next version of OS/2* Warp, code-named Merlin, will include Lotus Notes Mail**, the Notes Release 4 client/server messaging client, to provide OS/2 customers a state-of-the-art e-mail solution. With Notes Mail and OS/2 Warp's new speech recognition software, sending and managing e-mail will be as easy as saying "send," "delete," and "reply." "Along with the WarpCenter, an enhanced version of the Lotus SmartCenter, this is another example of how IBM will incorporate Lotus technology to give users a superior operating system solution," said Wally Casey, vice president of client product management, IBM Software Group. "With speech recognition, Java*** technology and a wealth of other features, we think the next OS/2 Warp will be the standard by which all operating system solutions are judged." "OS/2 and Lotus Notes Mail makes a powerful combination that raises the bar in electronic messaging wherever users are -- in the office, on the road or at home," said Steve Sayre, vice president, Lotus Development Corp. "Notes Mail provides OS/2 Warp with a world-class and proven client/server messaging system that complements OS/2 with its ease-of-use, Internet access and strong mobile support." Vocally send and manage e-mail With IBM's latest VoiceType technology in speech navigation and dictation, OS/2 Warp will be the first major Intel-based operating system solution to come with speech recognition. And, with Lotus Notes Mail, users will be able to give vocal e-mail commands. A user will be able to open a message quickly, dictate a reply and send it off without ever touching the keyboard. Powerful message management tools Notes Mail brings a new level of functionality to users, wherever they use e-mail. Users can customize their mail boxes to suit personal preferences, resizing the message panels and expanding or collapsing folders for a better view. With one click on the appropriate column header, they can sort messages by date, sender, topic, and can arrange folders in hierarchical order. Through Notes Mail, the next version of OS/2 Warp also features type-ahead e-mail addressing, which will help eliminate misdirected e-mails by automatically filling in a recipient's name based on the first few characters typed. Providing a significant enhancement to current e-mail, Notes Mail will provide OS/2 Warp with a full-featured word processing editor, providing multiple fonts, colors, a wide variety of formatting options, and one-click creation of tables. The next version of OS/2 Warp will extend Notes Mail with the inclusion of Post Office Protocol3 (POP3) and Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME). POP3 support will provide users with one program for all of their e-mail activities, including Internet mail and office messages. This will allow users to receive all of their e-mail in one place, reducing the hassle of checking multiple locations for messages. With MIME, the standard Internet mail format, OS/2 Warp users will be able to send e-mails containing graphics, charts, scanned images, even video clips and sound bites. They will also be able to edit spreadsheets and word processing documents while still in Notes Mail. The next version of OS/2 Warp also enables users to keep messages private. Users can click the "For Your Eyes Only" icon to restrict the ability of the recipient to forward a message; it turns off cut, copy, paste, printing and forwarding commands while allowing the recipient to reply only to the sender. Since Notes Mail is a Notes Release 4 client, users can leverage the extensive facilities of the Notes Release 4 server to support scalable, reliable and secure client/server e-mail on the LAN or in a mobile environment. You can take it with you An increasingly important need for computer users is to access e-mail on the road or from home. Notes Mail provides the user with superior mobile e-mail support, in addition to its other strong connectivity features. With one click, users can specify their locations, communication methods and access codes, as well as different levels of access: full messages with embedded attachments, message headers only or the message header and the first few pages of a message. A challenge for mobile users, who constantly switch from laptops to desktops, is to remember which computer holds which e-mail. Lotus Notes Mail and the new version of OS/2 Warp will solve that problem by providing a mailbox replication tool that automatically synchronizes between messages stored on the user's laptop and those on the local area network server. "The ability to properly manage remote e-mail access coupled with a fully functional e-mail word processor is critical in today's business environment," said Jess Hurwitz, vice president at Parallel Storage Solutions, Inc. "Lotus Notes Mail permits me to control the way I access my e-mail, allowing me to download entire messages or simply the message header depending how much time I have between flights or meetings. Best of all, I can easily access and manage messages stored on my company network -- even if I'm traveling or working from home." Improve personal productivity Helping users to be more productive, Notes Mail provides a task management application that allows them to develop and manage "To Do" lists. Employees on the road, for instance, can assign tasks remotely to other colleagues and track their progress. Integrated form filler and workflow capabilities let users route forms and documents to others for action. Because Notes Mail is a Release 4 client, it leverages the powerful enhancements that have been made to Lotus Notes, the leading solution that integrates messaging, groupware, and the Internet for developing and deploying custom client/server and Web-based applications. More than 7,000 companies and 3.3 million people already use Notes to improve key business processes such as customer service, sales and account management, and product development. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ Outstanding connectivity "With today's tough business conditions, easy-to-use and industrial strength connectivity is what organizations of all sizes must have in order to excel, or even compete," said Shaku Atre, president of Atre Group, a research and consulting company based in Port Chester, New York. "OS/2 Warp promises to set a new standard for desktop productivity and performance with its multitude of powerful, pre-integrated connectivity features." Connect to the Internet OS/2 Warp will take advantage of a built-in Web browser and object-oriented technology to make getting onto the Internet easier than before. Users will be able to conveniently place icons representing their most frequently visited World Wide Web sites onto the computer desktop and then click on them to instantly launch an Internet home page. The URLs (Universal Resource Locators) represented by the icons can be loaded onto and off of diskettes and grouped into folders. This will give business users easy, fast access to information on the Web and home users hassle-free 'Net surfing. OS/2 Warp also will allow simple and seamless interaction with a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server through a new FTP folder that resides on the computer desktop. All users have to do to access an FTP server on the Internet is open the folder. They can then drag and drop files from their desktop to the server, and vice-versa. This eliminates the need to work from a command line or Web browser to connect to files on an FTP location. "We clearly recognize the continued importance of network access for a broad set of customers, and we want to establish OS/2 Warp as the premier desktop offering in an increasingly connected world," said Wally Casey, vice president of client product management for IBM Personal Software Products. "In addition to sharing information over local and wide area networks, more and more workers are going to the Internet to help them get the job done, and we want information retrieval to be smooth and painless." OS/2 Warp users also should have access to a lot of applications once they are on the Internet. Under OS/2 Warp it will be easy for developers to port Windows Internet programs to the OS/2 platform. This is because the Winsock APIs used to build those applications will be supported under the IBM Developer API Extensions built into OS/2 Warp. The Developer API Extensions are a subset of more than 700 APIs and 300 messages that are consistent with the most common Win32 APIs and messages. Connect in the office With OS/2 Warp, IBM also will continue its commitment to provide open, multi-platform business solutions by establishing OS/2 Warp as a universal client that will connect to any server operating system in the same way that OS/2 Warp Server is a universal server that will connect to any client operating system. From PC server operating systems to mainframes, OS/2 Warp will be the connecting solution. In addition, OS/2 Warp will provide desktop access to all of the world's most popular PC server platforms, including OS/2 Warp Server, LAN Server, Microsoft Windows NT, Banyan Vines and Novell NetWare. Not only will OS/2 Warp connect to NetWare servers, it also supports Novell's NetWare Directory Services (NDS) environment. This feature further establishes OS/2 Warp as an open solution, as it will allow OS/2 Warp users to globally and easily access all the resources found across an organization without having to know exactly which NetWare server contains the information. OS/2 Warp also will integrate IBM Personal Communications/ 3270 over TCP/IP, allowing communication between desktop users and mainframes. This emulation capability increases productivity for the user by allowing access to information stored on a host computer. "The connectivity features in OS/2 Warp Connect make it easier to communicate seamlessly across multiple hardware and software platforms," said Ray Pratts, senior technical analyst at Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company. "Every operating system should come network-ready out of the box, and I'm glad to see IBM setting that standard with OS/2 Warp" OS/2 Warp users will be able to quickly view and access all network resources available to them in a network window, where the resources will be represented by icons. This function makes accessing and sharing as simple as drag-and-drop. For instance, a user could drag a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet from a NetWare server and drop it onto a Warp Server machine. In addition to being the universal network client, OS/2 Warp also can act as a peer server with built-in peer capability that gives home users, departmental workgroups and small businesses an inexpensive, easy way to share resources like files, printers and modems. OS/2 Warp will interoperate in a peer network with OS/2 LAN Server version 3.0 or higher, Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x, PC LAN Program 1.3 and Artisoft LANtastic 6.0. OS/2 Warp will come with a single requester to OS/2 Warp Server and other compatible networks, combining the previously separate LAN Requester and Peer Requester. With one requester, a user will be able to share peer resources and administer the server. Connect from the home With OS/2 Warp, workers won't need to stay at the office in order to stay in touch with it. OS/2 Warp's built-in remote access capabilities and Mobile File Synchronization will allow users to take their work on the road or to their homes without skipping a beat. These features are important for the travelling executive, parent, or anyone else who has to be away from the office, yet on the LAN, in order to get his or her work done. The remote access capabilities allow OS/2 Warp users to have real-time access to network resources over a telephone line from home, a hotel room or a car as though they were still sitting in the office. In addition, with Mobile File Synch, they can disconnect from the network and know that their shared files will be updated when they log back on. Mobile File Synch will detect any conflict between the client and server files and automatically duplicate to the server any tasks performed at the client and vice versa, if the user so chooses. This ensures that users will be working with the most current version of their data. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ Java support OS/2 Warp will integrate Sun Microsystem's Java programming language when the next version ships in the second half of this year. In addition to incorporating a Java-enabled Web browser into OS/2 Warp, IBM will integrate Java into the operating system, allowing it to natively run Java applications and Internet applets independent of a Web browser. "Java levels the playing field between operating systems," said Wally Casey, vice president of client product management in IBM's Software Group. "Because a Java application will run on all operating systems without modification, developers no longer will have to write to a proprietary API set and customers will be able to make buying decisions based on which operating system best runs their applications. This development also broadens the base of applications that OS/2 will natively support." Java benefits developers and end users alike Java integration in OS/2 Warp will benefit both software application developers and end users. Merlin will come with a built-in Java Developers Kit, as well as the run-time code necessary for a Java application to run. Developers will not have to ship their own run-time with each application and end users will not have to make room for multiple run-times on their computers. Java integration into OS/2 means that Java applications will run with the integrity, reliability and security of the operating system. Java integration also means that customers will be able to download Java applets, like stock tickers, from the Internet and place them onto their computer desktops or embed them into a program, such as a spreadsheet or word processor. Furthermore, with Merlin's new Internet-aware user interface and built-in speech recognition, users will be able to drag Java applets from a Web page onto the desktop and then launch them with a double click on the mouse or voice command. OS/2 is the only operating system that makes working with Java applets this easy. OS/2 Warp...The operating system for the networked world Full, integrated Java capability is further proof that OS/2 Warp will be the best operating system for today's networked world. Java enhancements, combined with Merlin's Internet-aware user interface and its ability to connect to any server anywhere as a universal client operating system, establish OS/2 Warp as the operating system that will connect users from wherever they are to whatever information they need. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ New user interface and Internet enhancements contribute to ease-of-use Merlin will boast more than just speech recognition. It also will sport a cleaner and more logical user interface with visual enhancements like three-dimensional shadowed icons, 256 colors, an array of customizable bitmaps and backgrounds, an attractive system font that reads well on laptop computers and customizable colored tabs in a newly-designed settings folder. The WarpCenter... IBM has taken the best of the SmartCenter technology from Lotus and the LaunchPad from OS/2 Warp to create the new OS/2 WarpCenter. The WarpCenter is an object-oriented icon ribbon on the desktop in Merlin that will allow users to quickly and easily launch and group programs and check on the status of their systems. It includes a "Warp button" that dynamically creates a view of everything on the computer desktop, a task list that indicates which programs are currently running, status indicators for disk space and battery power, a calendar, clock and timer. [LINK] Merlin's user interface features the new OS/2 WarpCenter at the top of thescreen, 3-D desktop objects and a new settings control notebook with customizable colored tabs. (Click on image - 176kb) Users will be able to customize their WarpCenter simply by dragging and dropping icons onto it and then grouping those icons into trays. A tray could group any combination of objects: folders, applications, even icons representing World Wide Web pages. With the WarpCenter visible at all times in any application, users could launch a new application, check the contents of a drive or even jump onto the World Wide Web without minimizing the space within which they currently are working. The WarpCenter also can be deactivated if the user so prefers. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ Software compatibility IBM has added several features to Merlin that will allow it to run leading-edge software designed for multiple operating system platforms. For instance, Merlin will support the widely-used OpenGL API. OpenGL is a high-quality, portable graphics API from Silicon Graphics Computer Systems that allows for development of complex three-dimensional applications in technical and commercial areas like industrial design, computer-aided design, manufacturing, petroleum and chemical engineering, scientific visualization and entertainment. OpenGL support in Merlin will allow applications built with this API to be developed on OS/2. Licensed by such vendors as AT&T, Cirrus Logic, Digital Equipment, Hitachi, Microsoft and Sony, OpenGL has become the industry standard for building high-quality applications in the fields of engineering, architecture and entertainment. Merlin also will come with support for fonts that were built using the TrueType font specification. This means that when Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 users exchange documents with OS/2 users, the font used in the original Windows document will appear the same on the screen of the OS/2 user. The forthcoming release of Lotus Word Pro for OS/2 will support TrueType fonts, as well. "Our company is in the process of migrating all of our applications from Windows to OS/2 because we believe that OS/2 is the most stable operating system," said William Teags, systems analyst with Advanced Package Engineering in Phoenix, Ariz. "The ability to use TrueType fonts will help our migration because several of our employees have been using forms created with TrueType fonts, which have been hard to replicate in OS/2." TrueType support in Merlin also will allow OS/2 users to print to any printer without font substitution occurring at the printer. The printed document will retain the same typeface, style and color that the user sees on the screen. In addition to OpenGL and TrueType support, Merlin will come with OpenDoc** runtime support, giving end users the ability to run next-generation, object-oriented, component applications based on industry standards. OpenDoc is a robust architecture for creating component software that can be shared and customized across heterogeneous environments. More than 3,000 software developers have downloaded the OpenDoc developers toolkit for OS/2 since its release in February. Merlin also will integrate IBM's Developer API Extensions for OS/2 Warp, now known as Open32. Open32, introduced in May of 1995, consists of more than 800 of the most commonly-used Win32 APIs and the 300 most common Win32 messages. They enable software developers to write applications using common source code for OS/2 Warp and Win32 platforms, simplifying the port of existing Windows, Windows 95 and Windows NT applications to the OS/2 Warp environment. This way, developers can develop for both the OS/2 and Windows environment at once, rather than conduct a separate development effort for each environment. With OpenDoc runtime support and Open32 built into OS/2 Warp, software developers that build applications using these techniques will gain a ready installed base and open new business opportunities for their companies. To date, IBM has sold more than 13 million copies of OS/2. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ Hardware compatibility Merlin users will have easy access to device drivers that support thousands of OS/2 devices through a CD-ROM that will come bundled with the product. Once installed, the CD-ROM immediately will take the user to a directory of OS/2 device drivers using a World Wide Web browser, which will provide the most current information about each one, including how to install it. The directory also will tell users where to find the device drivers and then will provide a vehicle to obtain them. In some cases, users will be able to hot link to a vendors' Internet home page to download the device driver. In other cases, they will be able to download the driver directly from the CD-ROM. This gives OS/2 users a single location to obtain virtually any driver they need and eliminates the need to search for drivers on electronic bulletin boards and home pages. "When I set up an OS/2 machine, the last thing I want to worry about is whether or not I will find a particular device driver, much less whether or not the driver will install," said Josh Airall, systems analyst at Cincinnati Bell Information Systems. "With the device driver CD-ROM that comes with Merlin and the ability to distribute drivers over a network using OS/2 Warp Server, I will be able to find the drivers I need and then install them on multiple machines at once." An enhanced resource manager in Merlin will ease the installation process for users and ensure that their hardware devices, like printers and sound cards, have the resources they need in order to operate. For new Plug-N-Play devices, the resource manager will detect the device, determine how much memory and other resources it needs, and then allocate the proper resources to it. In keeping with IBM's commitment to protect customers' investments, the resource manager also will detect older devices supported in Merlin and reserve the appropriate resources for them. In addition, the number of graphics device drivers available for OS/2 will increase after the release of Merlin because the operating system will support a new graphics device driver architecture, known as Graphics Adapter Device Driver (GRADD). With GRADD built into Merlin, hardware developers will have the basic foundation they need to create graphics device drivers, which significantly reduces the amount of code they need to write and eases their development efforts. Back to the beginning _________________________________________________________________ Headlines Headlines IBM's OS/2 increases marketshare in banking sector Lotus announces special back-to-school pricing for Lotus SmartSuite IBM begins beta testing for next version of OS/2 Warp Lotus announces Word Pro 96 Edition for OS/2 Warp "The Promise of Technology", a presentation by John W. Thompson _________________________________________________________________ See Also: PC systems and devices compatible with OS/2 Warp and OS/2 Warp Server OS/2 Warp beta (code-named Merlin) reviewer's guide OS/2 Warp Version 3 and OS/2 Warp Connect Version 3 home page OS/2 Warp Server home page Personal Software Beta Programs home page IBM OS/2 Warp TeleSeminar 3 - rescheduled IBM PC User Groups home page Team OS/2 home page _________________________________________________________________ Feedback Software home page Short cuts _________________________________________________________________ [ IBM home page | Order | Search | Contact IBM | Help | (C) | (TM) ]