OS/2 Applications

These are Commercial products, shareware, and freeware programs that I use and recommend. Pleaser register all shareware and only use commercial programs you have purchased.

Procuctivity and Utilities
 		Internet Applications
Graphics and Multimedia
 		Games and Entertainment
GNU and Unix Stuff
 		Development
  • Simplicity for Java
  • Visaulage For C++

*PMFax/Faxworks for OS/2 version 3

What?
This is the retail version of the Fax program that comes with OS/2 3 and 4. It has extended edit functions for creating faxes and cover sheets from scratch. It also supports output from OS/2, DOS, and 16 bit Windows programs.
Where?
Obviously, you can install the Lite version from the Bonus Pack. The retail version can be purchased from the developers Keller Group Inc. It can also be ordered from Indelilable Blue and J3 Computer Technologies.
More Info.
Another feature is the ability, with a voice modem, to use PM Fax as a voice mail system. It supports multiple voicemail boxes, and can be set up to page out when there is a message.
I've been checking out the great features of this program and will try to post a revue of it here. Until then you can check out the Keller Group Inc.'s Web Site for more details.

*PMMail 2.1

What?
This is the new e-mail program that I use. This was recently purchased by Blueprint Software Works. Over the last weeks I've been evaluating the various e-mail programs available and this is what I decided on. The programs I looked at were PMMail, MR/2 ICE and Polarbar Mailer (was J Street Mailer). Each of these are excellent e-mail programs. I decided on PMMail mostly because I liked the interface.
Where?
You can register PMMail from BMT Micro.
More Info.
PMMail has just about every feature you would need. It's fast and sleek. When I used Netscape Messenger for e-mail, it would take forever to retrieve messages into folders that contained a lot of messages. With PMMail it's incredibly faster, no matter how many messages are already in the folder.

*Post Road Mailer Green Edition Version 3.0

What?
This is the e-mail program that I use. This is an excellent e-mail package that has addvanced features such as filters, muliple address books, user exits, and much more. Version 3.0 has been recently release with many updates, including some really nice interface redesigns. This supports multiple MIME and UUENCODED attachments, sub-folders, Netscape Navigator and WebExplorer integration, and much more.
More Info.
PRM 2.6 has been released for free. It can be downloaded from the Innoval web site.
More Info.
You can read a review I wrote for PRM 3.0 in the April 16, 1998 edition of OS/2 e-Zine.
UPDATE!
Innoval has withdrawn support for this and some of their other products and released them for free. You can download them at their online store. You can get the full press release from Warpcast.

*Object Desktop 1.5.2

What?
Next Generation Desktop environment! Object Desktop has numerous desktop and productivity enhancements such as a control panel with multiple virtual desktops, a tabbed lauch pad, Object Explorer, an object oriented file manager, archive folders (really cool), ect. I was finally able to Install Version 1.5. It has even more features including updated Object Archives, new features for the Object Navigator, and more.
Where?
Object Desktop can be found at various computer stores such as CompUSA and Micro Center. It can also be ordered from Indelilable Blue or Kiyo Design Inc..
More Info.
To find out more about Object Desktop as well as many other OS/2 apps and games, check out Stardock's web site.
Stardock has released OD 2.0. It has a number of new features.

*Partition Magic

What?
Magic! Pure magic! This application lets you non-destructively resize partitions. You can also convert FAT partitions to HPFS. (Something everyone should do.) Version 3.0 can create and delete partitions as well, and comes with the IBM Boot Manager. A must have for users who like to mess around with different OS's.
Where?
Partitions Magic is a comercial software product created by Power Quest and can be purchased directly from them. It can also be found at computer stores as well as Indelible Blue or Kiyo Design Inc..
More Info.
Powerquest has released version 5.0. This version, like ver. 4.0, does not have an OS/2 executable, but you can still create, modify and resize HPFS partitions by booting with the DOS disk. It now has support for Linux partitions.
If you want to work with Drives larger then 8Gig you will need to upgrade. Version 3.0x cannot handle drives of this size.
More information can be found at the Power Quest web site.

*PMView 2.0/2000

What?
Graphics viewing and editing application. Shareware.
Where?
PMView can be downloaded from a number of places. A couple of them are the OS/2 Must have utilities and FTP links site or from Hobbes ftp site. You can register PMView from BMT Micro.
More Info.
PMView is a great program for viewing and editing graphics. It can view and convert multiple types such as GIF, JPEG, BMP, PCX, PIC, TIFF, and many more. It's also great for screen captures. The ability to save GIF's in the 89a format with transparent backgrounds is a plus for web designers. You can also view the individual Images in and animated Gif.
PMView has been steadily recieving updates with new functionality. The 2.0 version has been release, and I believe is now called PMView 2000.You can find more information at the PMView Web Site.

*MD+F WEB Animation Kit and SXPaint II

What?
Animated GIF Writer and Graphics Program.
Where?
Check out the Modular Dreams Web site. It can be purchased from Indelible Blue, J3 Computer Technologies
More Info.
There is a good review of these products in the August 97 issue of OS/2 e-Zine. Modular Dreams has recently released SXPaint II, with updates and more features.
SX Paint III is in development. It looks like this will be a cross platform Java application. Although nothing much has been heard from Modular Dreams in a while, I believe that something is still being done with this. We'll just have to wait and see.

*QuickMotion and ANPOCODEC

What?
It's not a trick, it's OS/2. These are CODEC's for playing Quicktime and AVI files. Basically it gives the OS/2 Multimedia programs the ability to play these formats. The purchase of Quickmotion includes a license for ANPOCODEC from Andreas Portele.
Quickmotion also includes QuickFlick 1.4, a Netscape Navigator plugin for playing Quicktime Video's.
Where?
Check out the Practice Corporations Web site. It can be purchased from Indelible Blue
More Info.
There is a good review of these products in the September 97 issue of OS/2 e-Zine.
Quickmotion 2.0 now supports Quicktime VR's

*VxFTP

What?
Cardware Presentation Manager FTP program. Very nice. Some of the reasons I like it are that it is multi-threaded, you can view text files on the server, you can unzip files and execute programs within VxFTP.
Where?
This is a free program that can be downloaded from most OS/2 ftp sites as well as the OS/2 Must have utilities and FTP links.
More Info.
The authors just ask you to send them a Postcard letting them know what you think of the program. I haven't done this yet, but since I'm including the application on this page, I hope they forgive me.

*WebWriter/2

What?
Freeware HTML editor. This used to be a shareware program, but the author decided to release it for free due to time restraints on updates.
Where?
I believe this is available from most OS/2 ftp sites such as hobbes and the OS/2 Super Site. You can also get it from the WebWriter home page.
More Info.
This programs supports much of the now defunct HTML 3.0 specification. Consequently, it has many HTML 3.2 and Netscape extensions as well. It supports drag and drop for Images and Links. Another feature I like about this program is that many of the menu commands can bring up dialog boxes for easier creation of tables, links, styles, and images. It can also be set up to use two different browsers for previewing documents.

Version 1.2 has been released and includes even more support HTML 3.2 plus Netscape Extensions, support for the ORB HTML Preprocessor, and other enhancements.

*Galactic Civilazations 2.5

What?
Top selling OS/2 game developed and produced by Stardock. If you haven't heard of this game...
Where?
It can be ordered directly from Stardock, as well as from Indelilable Blue, J3 Computer Technologies
More Info
Galactic Civilazations was one of the first commercial games for OS/2 and is still one of the best. There have also been some add on packs developed by Stardock, such as Shipyards and the Galactic Civilazation Expansion Pack.
Stardock has released Galactic Civilization Gold. I haven't tried it, but I have heard nice things.

*Trials of Battle

What?
OS/2's FIRST truly native first person action game. Trials of Battle is best described as a multiplayer, multivehicle simulator, that is designed to facilitate fast paced, close quarters combat. - Stardock Web Site. Developed by ShadowSoft.
Where?
It can be ordered directly from Stardock, as well as from Indelilable Blue.
More Info
Trials of Battle is truly an oustanding game. I've heard it described as a cross between Doom II and Mechwarrior II. I personally like it better than either of those games. ShadowSoft is currently working on an updated version for Windows 95, but I believe that if more people would purchase the OS/2 version, they would update that as well. We have to support the OS/2 developer, even those that are cross-platform, if we expect to have top quality applications and games..

*Vigilance on Talos V

What?
A terrific 2D scrolling action game. The Graphics and Sound on this game really stand out. It was developed by PolyEx Software.
Where?
Can be purchased directly from PolyEx.
More Info
When I get a chance, I'll add more information and maybe some screen shots here, until then look at theVigilance On Talos information page.

*Hopkins FBI

What?
Another game developed by PolyEx Software.
Where?
Can be purchased directly from PolyEx.
More Info
This is a fun game. The drawings are outstanding. At one time I found a hint Web Site for this game, but I've lost track of the URL. If I find it, I'll post it here.
I've been delayed on playing this game because my Sound card got fried. My sound card on my Main system is still fried, but I installed this game on my Thinkpad and it's a lot of fun.

*EMX Runtime Libraries dna GCC development tools

What?
The EMX Runtime libraries are a set of DLL's that make it easy to port applications from Linux. Available for Free.
GCC is a C/C++ complier to runs under EMX.
Where?
These are freely available and can be downloaded from the Hobbes archive.
More Info
The only file required to run programs developed with the EMX Libraries is emxrt.zip.
The files needed for developing programs with EMX are:
I Would Recomend at least getting the emxview and gnuview files

*XFree86 for OS/2

What?
This is a port of the Free X Windows server for the Intel x86 architecture.
XFree86/OS2 is an X Server that will allow you to run X Client programs under OS/2.
You can run programs that have been ported to XFree86/2, such as the Gimp, or you can run X programs from a Linux/Unix system over a TCP/IP network.
Where?
You need to Download the necessary files from the XFree86.org FTP site.
You also need the EMX runtime libraries.
More Info
There are two great articles on setting up XFree86 under OS/2. First there is one in OS/2 e-Zine. And there is one in the OS/2 VOICE Newsletter.
You can find more information at the official XFree86/OS2 Web Site.
You should also visit the official XFree86 Web Site.

*GNU File utilities

What?
These are a set of utilities that allow you to run some standard Unix commands in OS/2. Available for Free.
These were ported using EMX and require the EMX Runtime Libraries.
Where?
The Hobbes archive, of course. Get the file gnufutil.zip.
More Info
The following utilities are included: