THEOS Software (GB)

The 2000s

2005

The next release of THEOS Corona is under development now. A key feature of this is the support for dynamic passwords which allow a system administrator to set a password which includes several variables such as parts of the system date or time. This further enhances the security of THEOS systems. A "roles" system is also in development, which expands the current protection for critical system administration tasks which is based on privilege level and account type, and allows many more combinations of privileged access.

2004

THEOS Corona Release 5 (PL50165) is now available, supporting more NICs such as the Intel PRO/1000 desktop adapter, additional security features, option to embed resources such as images and sound files into command files to make distribution easier. The various Corona network server packages are now rolled into one package, THEO+Net, which includes all the optional server components. This release encompasses many changes and improvements which have been tested by THEOS developers and resellers all around the world.(23Nov04)

2003

THEOS Corona release 4 (PL50140) is now available, supporting additional network cards and with enhanced USB functionality.

THEOS Secure Web Server (HTTPS Server) is in beta testing, along with the THEOS CD-Writer for Corona.

2002

THEOS Corona release 3 (PL 50118/9) is now available with a number of improvements and fixes. A new NET SERVER command shows the status of all network servers. The TIM command is THEOS Instant Messenger, used for messaging across the Internet to other systems based on MSN protocol.(September 2002)

Digi CX driver for Corona (PL 50014) is now available. A totally new setup routine uses a form-based approach to configure CX cards and concentrators.(September 2002)

THEOS Corona release 2 (PL 50098) is now available, with a number of enhancements over the earlier release. These include the new network Plus+Paks that allow different combinations of network servers to be purchased to give customers more flexibility. More USB devices, including some ethernet adapters and storage devices, are also supported.(March 2002)

THEOS Corona is now in commercial release in Great Britain, with competitive trade-in prices for THEOS 32 users. (February 2002)

2001

THEOS 32 Version 4.2 Patch 42019 is now in beta testing, including improvements to the disk caching system. THEO+Net Version 4.2 Patch 42012 is also in beta, with support for some extra 'on-board' 3Com network chips. THEOS Workstation 2000 release 3.00.10 is in beta with improvements to Gutenberg printing and compatiblity with Microsoft Windows 2000.(June 18th)
THEOS MultiUser BASIC 2.1 Patch 21011 is now in beta testing, including an extra toolkit to handle dictionary and spell-check functions.(May 15th)
THEOS Corona Beta 4 is now in beta testing by THEOS SDK members. The latest beta release includes limited support for USB devices such as keyboards, mice and printers. It also includes improved console display with additional graphical elements and the ability to render 'old-style' THEOS windows in graphics mode. Additional Adaptec SCSI controllers are now supported, and the new release includes the THEOS Instant Messenger (TIM) and a client for the free VNC remote control protocol.(March 21st)
THEOS MultiUser BASIC Version 2.1 is available for testing by THEOS SDK members. The new language includes additional toolkits for email, network client/server and socket programming, configuration file manipulation and others. MultiUser BASIC 2.1 will co-reside with version 2.0 to allow testing as well as supporting existing users. (January 3rd)
THEOS 32 Version 4.2 enters commercial release in the USA. Along with the operating system, the companion products THEO+Net, THEOS DiskNet and THEOS Gutenberg are also released. (January 3rd)

2000

THEOS Corona is assessed by ECL, the certification labs of the EEMBC. Comments include "We were initially shocked at how fast the operating system comes alive from the time of boot-up. Compared with Windows NT or even Linux, THEOS Corona is 'open for business' far quicker than any other operating system we've tested" and "There is no better recommendation than this: ECL doesn't want to return the THEOS CD-ROM and software back to THEOS. Rather, we want to incorporate THEOS Corona into our everyday business computing needs."
THEOS Corona Beta 3 is released to developers. Beta 3 includes I-2-O support, PCI Digiboard serial card support, THEOS Database and THEOS SQL server, and a more graphical version of the main console display (Beta 2 rendered objects such as check boxes in text mode rather than as proper graphical objects). (October 2000)
THEOS Corona Beta 2 is issued to a wider selection of resellers for extended testing. Beta 2 includes network servers and the TNFS network file system. (September 2000)
THEO+Disknet is a new Plus+Pak for THEOS 32 Version 4.2 and THEO+Net Version 4.2 which allows a THEOS system to access the disk drives (floppy, hard, CD-ROM) on another THEOS server across a network link. (September 2000)
THEOS 32 Version 4.2 is announced. Designed to give developers a feel for the forthcoming Corona system, 4.2 will include a subset of New Window Manager, the PCMCIA command, and support for TWS connections over a serial link. (August 2000)
THEOS Corona enters limited alpha testing. The alpha release includes graphical user interface for the main console, large file system and long filenames, and PCI serial card support. (July 2000)
The forthcoming THEOS 32 Version 5 operating system is renamed Corona. Progress on the new software is revealed at THEOS Netcon Europe, held in Madrid on February 10-11, 2000. Many European THEOS distributors attended the conference, which was held at the headquarters of AST, THEOS' distributor for Spain and Portugal.

The 1990s

1999

New CD-ROM boot disk allows the operating system to be installed from CD-ROM instead of the more usual floppy diskette set. (December 1st)
Netcon '99 conference reveals future products to be released over the next two years. These include THEOS 32 Version 5, a new operating system with more integral network support, some bundled network clients, a new graphical interface on suitable hardware, larger disk capacity (18 million terabytes), long file name support, and more. A new THEO+Net is also announced, with DHCP, POP3, SMTP, TFTP and other servers bundled. A new object-oriented BASIC language is previewed, though this is still at the design stage at the moment. (October 15th)
THEO+Net is re-packaged to include THEO+Server HTTP and FTP server, THEO+Printnet network printer support and THEO+Mail Internet email client. Also included are two new products - THEO+TapeNet to allow network users to share a tape streamer, and THEO+ExecNet to enable THEOS Servers to execute commands on behalf of other THEOS systems. Until July 15th 1999, the package will remain at the same price. (June 22nd)
THEO+Printnet is released, bringing network printing support to THEOS users. THEOS can now print directly to Microsoft Windows printers across the network, regardless of where the print instruction originates from. A two-part product, THEO+Printnet consists of a server on the Windows PC, and a client on the THEOS server. The THEOS client assembles printer output and passes it to the Windows printer server for output.

1998

THEOS 32 Version 4.1 is released. The new OS brings support for CD-ROM drives, ATAPI tape streamers, more memory (more than 256Mb), more printers (up to 64), enhanced print spooler with 64 queues, modem users and a new backup utility.
THEO+Server is released, bringing HTTP and FTP server support to THEOS systems equipped with THEO+Net. THEO+Server can be used to power an Intranet, or as a fully-fledged Internet server. CGI programs can be written in THEOS MultiUser BASIC to integrate with existing THEOS applications and databases.
THEO+Mail Internet email client is released. Along with the new dial-up networking software included in THEO+Net, the package allows users to send and receive email across the Internet.

1997

THEOS NetServer pricing is altered so that network users can be added singly. The original price structure forced the network power step to be the same as the OS power step.
THEOS 32 is modified to enhance the performance of older 16-bit BASIC applications, particularly over the network or using intelligent serial ports.
THEO+Fax is released, bringing multiuser fax send and receive capabilities to THEOS 32. Up to sixteen modems can be allocated to THEO+Fax, and incoming faxes can be printed, or viewed on the main console or THEOS Workstation screens.
Jim Bert visits THEOS GB in October, as part of a European 'tour' taking in Italy, Spain and Germany.
THEO+Net enters beta testing in October of this year. The product is renamed from NetServer to reflect the extra features, including Telnet client and server, FTP client and segmented network support.

1996

THEOS 386/486 Version 3.2 and companion products are retired at the end of this year. All new operating system sales are now on THEOS 32 Version 4.
New THEOS web-site created, at www.theos-software.com
THEOS move corporate head office from Botelho Drive to Oakland Boulevard
THEOS 32 now supports the DPT PM3334-W and PM3334-UW SCSI RAID controllers.
THEOS NetServer is commercially released in June, bringing network terminal connectivity to THEOS via the THEOS Workstation Windows client software.
THEOS 32 Version 4.0 is commercially released in May, with special pricing designed to attract developers from THEOS version 3.2. The new OS includes support for more system printers, more open files, larger hard disk partitions and many other new features.
THEO+DOS price is reduced.
THEOS GB gains a web page and email facilities.

1995

Tim Williams injures his back in a fall while cleaning his rain gutters.
Window Manager version 2.2 released, supporting the new window frame types included with MultiUser BASIC 2.0
MultiUser BASIC 2.0 is released, bringing many new features including sub-programs, MAKE utility, access to system environment functions and a new version of WindoWriter.
THEOS Starter kits are launched, bringing specially-priced products such as Window Manager and THEO+Dos to help boost low-end sales.
THEOS 32 Version 4.0 begins beta testing.
THEO+Net begins beta testing, as a THEOS to THEOS or Windows to THEOS network solution for file transfer and terminal emulation.

1994

THEOS is featured in the March/April issue of 'Software Publisher' magazine (US) where the article described the structure of TSC's international business.

1993

THEO+DOS 32 is previewed at Comdex/Fall. This new product offers a multiuser DOS environment based on a hybrid of THEOS and THEO+DOS. A new menu-driven front end shields non-THEOS users from configuration issues, and presents a logon prompt that moves straight to a DOS prompt. The product is received with interest, but lack of DPMI support means that it won't run most of the new Windows protected mode software. The product is never commercially released.
Scanterm version 2.0 is released, bringing improved file transfer support.

1992

THEOS Multiuser BASIC Version 1.0 announced, bringing support for programs of up to 4Mb size. Line numbers are now six-digit (and optional), and the language supports the new windowing features provided by Window Manager. Up to 47 files can be open at one time.
Window Manager announced for THEOS 386/486, bringing multi-sessions and windowing capability into a single product which also supports hot-key event trapping and mice.
THEO+DOS Version 2.0 released, bringing additional features including DOS 5 support, EMS 4.0 support, CD-ROM support and demo-script facility to automate DOS tasks.
Digi C/X driver now available for the IBM PS/2 range.

1991

THEOS 286 Plus operating system released, bringing multisessioning, VGA support and extended disk support to the 286 processor. This release also supports 3.5 inch floppy disk drives. THEO+Term is offered as an option at additional cost.
WindoWriter windowing text editor announced for THEOS 386. The new editor can be used for editing any kind of stream file, including C programs or EXEC files. Up to ten files can be editing in separate windows, and features include cut-and-paste, pop-up calculator, spelling checker, drawing feature and sort program.
A new version of Scanterm is available, bringing file transfer capability to THEOS 286 Plus.
SCSI support is announced for the IBM PS/2 range.
The Digi C/X card is now supported, bringing up to 240 ports to THEOS 386. Two cards can be installed, each with up to eight concentrator boxes, to a total of fifteen concentrators each with sixteen ports. The concentrators can be 4000 feet apart using a direct connection, or further using fibre optic or synchronous modem connections.

1990

THEO+Term released, bringing multi-session capability to additional terminals as well as the PC main console. THEO+Term supports up to eight sessions on up to sixteen terminals on THEOS 386 Version 3.1
ScanTerm terminal emulator for MS-DOS PCs allows old PCs to perform like terminals. The product includes a PCTerm emulator in Scan or ASCII mode, and a file transfer utility to exchange files between DOS and THEOS.
THEOS 386 (Version 3.1) is ported to the IBM PS/2 range, including the models 55, 70 and 80.
Support for SunRiver fibre-optic graphical terminals is announced for THEOS 386.
AT&T select THEOS and Micro Innovations to provide message handling services for Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to Washington, D.C.
Device drivers released for THEOS 386 to support the Maxpeed SS-4, SS-8 and SS-16 multiport serial adapters.
Fast THEOS machines tested around this time including the Acer 1133 (33MHz 80386) and the Intel 25MHz 386 machine.
THEOS 386 is reviewed by Tom Yager in Byte Magazine, October 1990. The review is favourable overall, with notable quotes being "The fact is, however, that THEOS is probably better suited for general-purpose business use than any of these others" and ".. THEOS gets my dispensation because it's such a perfect match for business applications".

The 1980s

1989

THEOS 386 (Version 3.1) released. New features include software disk caching to enhance performance and support for VGA display adapters.
THEO+DOS for THEOS 386 announced, using the 'Virtual 86' mode of the 386 processor to allow users to execute an actual copy of DOS while the rest of the system is running THEOS applications. Because THEO+DOS is not a DOS emulator, it offers greater compatibility than some similar products. Later in the year, a new release of THEO+DOS brings support for more memory, and a virtual mouse.
THEO+Disk for THEOS 286-V brings support for RLL and ESDI hard disks, and for 3.5-inch floppy disks.
THEOS is highlighted at the Computer North exhibition in Manchester's G-Mex Centre during June.

1988

THEOS 386 (4Gb, Version 3.0) operating system now commercially available. New features include 'multi-sessioning' feature on PC main console, I/O redirection, subdirectory support, public printers and tape drives, some Unix-style commands and filters.
Support for IBM PS/2 multi-port serial cards from IBM, DigiBoard and Stargate are announced.
Support for the DPT caching disk controller is announced, giving a performance boost to large multiuser THEOS systems.
THEOS selected for use at the US Republican and Democrat conventions over summer 1988. AT&T selected AVAIL from Micro Innovations, a THEOS reseller in Florida, to handle messages for delegates and journalists attending the conference.

1987

THEOS 286-V (Version 2.2) released with following enhancements: Standard IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter support for enhanced colour display, BASIC 80287 support, international character support for 8-bit characters, printer class-code files for defining special attributes, support for PC terminals in native mode, and security device protection
THEOS 386 (4Gb) multi-user operating system and companion THEOS C compiler announced
THEOS International Distributors meet for a product conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the main product discussed is THEOS 386.

1986

THEOS 86 (Version 8.1) and THEOS 286 (Version 1.1) released with enhancements for transferring files between THEOS and DOS
THEOS 286-V (Version 2.0) multi-user operating system released for AT compatibles and super micros. THEOS 286-V breaks the 1Mb memory barrier by addressing up to 16Mb in 80286 chip's Protected Virtual address mode
THEOS 386 (16Mb) multi-user operating system released for 80386 chip

1985

OASIS Technologies changes company and product names to THEOS
THEOS 86 (Version 8.0) multi-user operating system, BASIC and C languages for XT and compatibles released
THEOS 286 (Version 1.0) multi-user operating system, BASIC and C languages for AT and compatibles released

1984

OASIS Technologies gains the marketing rights to OASIS
OASIS86 (Version 7.0) multi-user operating system released for the IBM PC/XT
OASIS VDI grapics and multitasking capabilities unveiled

1983

OASIS Definitive 'C' language released

The 1970s

1978

Multi-user OASIS for the Z80 released. OASIS is typically shipped bundled with microcomputers from manufacturers such as Onyx, Altos, IBC, Dynabyte, Systems Group and others.

1977

Single-user version of OASIS operating system for the Zilog Z80 processor and companion BASIC language (both compiler and interpreter) released.

1976

Tim Williams writes IMSAI BASIC