Microsoft Corp has been talking a little more about its planned Cairo – now called Windows Cairo – object-oriented operating system, and far from being a distant prospect, it looks as if it will come hard on the heels of Windows NT, with a professional developers’ kit available as soon as early next year according to the late Systems & Network Integration. That is expected to be followed by a beta test programme later next year and commercial release in 1994. The paper quotes Microsoft officials saying that the 130 to 140b developers working on it are trying to develop an operating system that will provide a consistent means of accessing information with seamless integration of everyday tasks. The multi-threaded operating system is to have an object-based user interface with an intuitive method for naming files, native object linking and embedding routines and simpler systems management facilities for tasks like de-installing unwanted programs and directories. It will have a communications structure based on remote procedure call specifications. The query structure is being designed to enable users to find information using near-natural language commands, and will include artificial intelligence technology to automate search routines by making as sumptions from experience on user preferences. Pointers will enable a file to be held in a single location rather than separate copies being spread around the system. It will be scalable across a range of systems. From the way Microsoft is talking, it will beat Taligent Inc’s Pink environment to market by a distance, but the company is risking confusing the market by bringing it in so soon after Windows NT.
