Here a very little summary......;)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Foundation Level Services:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Features:             Details:
                    ---------------------------------------------------------

-------------
-Microkernel:       Symmetric             The BeOS is optimized
-------------       multiprocessing       for a multiprocessor
                                          environment, supporting
                                          2, 4 or 8 processors
                                          using a symmetric
                                          multiprocessing
                                          architecture. 
                     

                    Pervasive             The entire OS is heavily
                    multithreading        multithreaded and
                                          applications are expected
                                          to be heavily threaded
                                          themselves. This allows
                                          for smoother task
                                          switching, and better
                                          performance on single
                                          and multiple CPU
                                          systems. 
               
               
                    Preemptive            Supports true preemptive
                    multitasking          multitasking, resulting in
                                          faster task switching and
                                          better overall
                                          performance. 
               
               
                    Virtual memory        Extends memory by
                                          swapping less used code
                                          to disk. Integrated with
                                          the multitasking and
                                          multithreading
                                          functionality. 
               
               
                    Protected memory      Protected memory
                                          ensures that a single
                                          misbehaving applications
                                          cannot crash the overall
                                          system, providing better
                                          overall stability. 
               

                    Client-server         The client-server model
                    internal architecture increases performance
                                          and reliability and allows
                                          operations to be
                                          multithreaded -- even if
                                          an application doesn't
                                          explicitly create threads.
                                          Servers are modular and
                                          can be added and/or
                                          replaced in the OS as
                                          capabilities are expanded
                                          and improved.

                    
-------------       --------------------------------------------------------- 
-File System:       64-bit file system    64-bit based file system
-------------                             allows for extremely large
                                          files -- of terabyte size
                                          and larger -- and
                                          volumes. Native 64-bit
                                          support simplifies
                                          programming and
                                          increases performance.
               
               
                    Multithreaded         The Be File System is
                                          entirely multithreaded,
                                          spreading processing
                                          over any number of
                                          processors.
               
               
                    Journaling            Journaling keeps constant
                                          track of changes in the file
                                          system, and speeds
                                          recover from conditions
                                          such as power loss. The
                                          file system is always in a
                                          consistant state, and
                                          ensures a maximum boot
                                          time of only a few
                                          seconds.
               
               
                    Integrated Attributes The Be File System
                    & Indexing            maintains file attributes
                                          and indexes which can be
                                          used by applications as
                                          the foundation for
                                          databases.
               
               
                    MIME-type based       MIME-type identification
                    identification        provides a generalized
                                          approach to file
                                          identification and
                                          association with
                                          applications, and ensures
                                          a high degree of
                                          Internet-data
                                          identification and
                                          compatibility.
               
               
                    External file system  The Be File System can
                    support               also host external, foreign
                                          file systems such as HFS
                                          (MacOS), DOS, NFS
                                          and others. This
                                          capability is modular and
                                          can be added to by third
                                          parties.


-----------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
-Graphics System:   Multithreaded,        The BeOS graphics
-----------------   client-server         system is handled in a
                    architecture          client-server architecture,
                                          permitting a highly
                                          multithreaded approach
                                          and sharing of tasks
                                          between processors.
               
               
                    Direct access         The Game Kit provides
                                          direct access to the frame
                                          buffers in a protected
                                          manner for applications
                                          with specialized graphics
                                          algorithms and needs.
               
               
                    Extensive 2D library  An extensive,
                                          floating-point based, 2D
                                          library is provided in the
                                          Interface Kit.
               

                    Antialiased fonts     Outline fonts are standard
                                          in the system, with
                                          anti-aliasing capabilities
                                          turned on as a default,
                                          proving with smooth text
                                          appearance on screen, as
                                          well as on paper.
               
               
                    OpenGL                Industry standard
                                          high-resolution 3D
                                          graphics and rendering is
                                          provided via the OpenGL
                                          library.
               
               
                    Modular Capabilities  Graphics capabilities are
                                          modular, and can be
                                          added to and modified
                                          through an flexible driver
                                          architecture.


------------        ---------------------------------------------------------
-I/O System:        Multithreaded         I/O drivers in the BeOS
------------                              are multithreaded,
                                          allowing for the
                                          distribution of I/O tasks
                                          across multiple
                                          processors, and faster
                                          response on uniprocessor
                                          systems.
               
               
                    Modular, dynamically  I/O drivers are
                    loaded                dynamically loaded as
                                          needed, and the
                                          architecture is modular,
                                          allowing developers to
                                          add new capabilities.


--------------      ---------------------------------------------------------
-Clarity &          Object oriented       The foundation level
 Simplicity in      design                services are based on C
 Design:                                  and C++ in an
--------------                            object-oriented design,
                                          allowing for subclassing
                                          and code reuse
                                          throughout the system
               
               
                    "Simplicity" design   Overall, the design of the
                    criteria              foundation services is
                                          guided by a rule of
                                          "simplicity", maintaining a
                                          small set of powerful
                                          objects rather than a
                                          myriad of objects and
                                          complexity.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Application Level Services:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Features:             Details:
                    ---------------------------------------------------------
   
----------
-Internet           TCP/IP Native         BeOS networking
 Services:                                capabilites are based
----------                                upon TCP/IP, the native
                                          protocols of the Internet.
               
               
                    Integrated File       File serving capabilities, 
                    Server                based on the Internet
                                          FTP protocols, are built
                                          into the system, allowing
                                          you to share files with
                                          people on BeOS, Mac
                                          OS, Windows, Unix or
                                          any other system
                                          connected to the Internet.
               
               
                    Integrated Web        Basic web serving
                    Server                capabilites are integrated
                                          in the BeOS, allowing
                                          you to publish pages from
                                          the first day. These
                                          capabilities are modular
                                          and can be replaced by
                                          more powerful third party
                                          services. 
						
               
               
                    Integrated Web        NetPositive, a BeOS
                    Client                native web browser, is
                                          integrated, and makes use
                                          of the interapplication
                                          communication
                                          capabilities and
                                          Replicator technology.
               
               
                    Integrated Mail       Internet mail client
                    Capabilities          services are integrated
                                          into the system. These
                                          capabilites are modular
                                          and can be added onto or
                                          replaced by third party
                                          developers.
               

                    Remote Access         Internet standard Telnet
                    Capabilities          capabilities are integrated
                                          into the BeOS, allowing
                                          you to access your
                                          system from anywhere on
                                          the Internet.
               
               
                    AppleTalk Printing    The BeOS supports
                    Support               printing to AppleTalk
                                          based printers over
                                          standard Ethernet
                                          networks, allowing
                                          access to standard
                                          AppleTalk laser printers.
                                          The BeOS also supports
                                          TCP/IP based printers.



---------------     ---------------------------------------------------------
-Media Services     Format Translation    Integrated into the BeOS
---------------     Services              is the Translation Kit,
                                          allowing applications
                                          access to standard,
                                          system-wide translation
                                          capabilities for file
                                          formats, data formats,
                                          and even media formats
                                          such as QuickTime or
                                          MPEG movie data and
                                          audio data.
               
               
                    Audio Services        The BeOS has an
                                          extensive set of audio
                                          services, provided by an
                                          integrated audio server
                                          which is multithreaded
                                          and multiprocessor
                                          aware.
               
               
                    MIDI Services         MIDI services are
                                          integrated through the
                                          MIDI Kit, including
                                          software MIDI synthesis
                                          of instruments and other
                                          sound samples.



------------        ---------------------------------------------------------
-Interacting        Messaging and         The BeOS has an
 Application        Scripting             extensive messaging
 Services:                                architecture allowing
------------                              applications to send
                                          messages to each other --
                                          and allowing any part of
                                          an application to message
                                          any part of another
                                          application or process.
                                          This messaging provides
                                          the basis for system-wide
                                          scripting capabilities.
                                          Facilities for distributed
                                          messages over the
                                          network also exist.

                    
                    BeOS Replicator       Replicator services
                    Services              provide a way for active
                                          data and code of one
                                          application to be
                                          "replicated" and stored
                                          within another
                                          application, document, or
                                          even the BeOS desktop.
                                          These Replicants are
                                          fully active and can be
                                          manipulated just as if they
                                          were part of the original
                                          application or document.
                                          
                                          
               
                    MIME type             Application messages and
                    identification        data are passed using the
                                          Internet standard MIME
                                          typing system.
                                         
                                          

--------------      ---------------------------------------------------------
-International      Integrated Unicode    The BeOS implements
 Services:                                Unicode throughout the
--------------                            system, permiting the use
                                          of multibyte languages,
                                          and serving as the basis
                                          for new localization
                                          capabilities. The format
                                          used is UTF-8, the
                                          format also implemented
                                          by the Java language.
                     

                    Unicode Font Support  Unicode fonts are
                                          supported throughout the
                                          system.
               
               
                    Unicode-based Text    Serveral utilities, including
                    Utilities             FontDisplay and
                                          Keymap, provide useful
                                          tools for managing in a
                                          multibyte character
                                          environment. BTextView,
                                          the basic text class within
                                          the BeOS, is also
                                          Unicode aware.

                                          
              
------------        ---------------------------------------------------------
-Unix/Posix:        Posix Compatibility   The BeOS has a fully
------------                              functional Posix
                                          integration layer, allowing
                                          a wide range of Posix
                                          compatible code to be
                                          compiled and run as-is,
                                          including the GNU library
                                          of commands, many of
                                          which are included with
                                          the BeOS CD.
               
               
                    Unix Capabilities     Unix command line 
                    and bash shell        capabilities are also
                                          provided as an alternative
                                          interface and method of
                                          manipulating the system,
                                          including scripting and
                                          Bourne-Again (bash)
                                          shell support. These
                                          capabilities can also be
                                          accessed remoted via
                                          Telnet (see Internet
                                          support.)

                                          
------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------                                        
-U/I and Printing:  Tracker Interface     The desktop interface of
------------------                        the BeOS is provided by
                                          the BeOS Tracker, a
                                          powerful library of
                                          functions that provide
                                          services to the user, as
                                          well as to applications
                                          directly. This includes the
                                          DeskBar, desktop,
                                          access to HFS and other
                                          external file system
                                          volumes, and more.
               
               
                    Print Services        Print services are
                                          integrated within the
                                          BeOS Interface Kits, and
                                          provide background
                                          printing services (through
                                          the multithreaded Print
                                          Server), Postscript and
                                          direct printing, and more.
               
               
                    Extensive             The BeOS has an
                    Preferences           extensive set of
                                          preferences, allowing for
                                          the customization of
                                          virtually every aspect of
                                          the system.

                                          
----------------    ---------------------------------------------------------                 		          
-Object Oriented    Object-Oriented       The application level
 Design:            Framework             services of the BeOS are
----------------                          based on an
                                          object-oriented
                                          application framework,
                                          rather than an remedial
                                          procedural design. This
                                          simplifies the overall
                                          architecture, speeds
                                          programming, and allows
                                          for extensive reuse of
                                          code and subclassing. 
                           
                                         
                    Modular Software      Software designed for the
                    Design                BeOS generally falls into
                                          four categories:
                                          Applications (graphical or
                                          command-line), shared
                                          libraries, add-on
                                          components (plug-ins),
                                          and device drivers.

                    
                                          
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------  
 Development Services:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Features:             Details:
                    ---------------------------------------------------------

-------------      
-Development        Native CodeWarrior    The CodeWarrior IDE is
 Environment:       IDE                   native for the BeOS and
-------------                             makes use of BeOS
                                          features - such as a fully
                                          multithreaded IDE and
                                          concurrent compilation on
                                          multiple processors.
                           
                                          
                    Debugging             CodeWarrior also
                    Capabilities          provides extensive
                                          low-level and
                                          source-level debugging
                                          capabilities.
                                          
                                          
                    Bundled CodeWarrior   CodeWarrior Lite is
                    Lite                  bundled with the BeOS
                                          and is able to build
                                          executables and libraries
                                          up to 64k in size. The full
                                          version of CodeWarrior
                                          is also available from Be.
                    
                           
                                          
--------------      ---------------------------------------------------------                                    
-BeOS               The BeOS architecture The full BeOS API and
 Architecture:      is made up of three   technical documentation
--------------      layers:               is available in the Be
                                          Book. It is also available
                    -Microkernel and      for download from the Be
                     device drivers       web site in HTML,
                    -BeOS servers         Postscript and Acrobat
                    -BeOS software kits   formats.

                           
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