Redwood, California-based NeXT Computer Inc has announced NeXTstep Release 3.3. The company says this version is enhanced to offer more support for iAPX-86-based personal computers, ease system administration efforts, improve network scalability, provide enhanced mail features and through SoftPC, support enhanced-mode MS-DOS and Windows applications. NeXTstep 3.3 includes an updated version of Insignia Solution Ltd’s SoftPC for NeXTstep/Intel, which is bundled with NeXTstep 3.3 and priced at $250 with upgrades for $70. Meanwhile, NeXTstep Developer Release 3.3 is currently in beta test and is optimised to enable developers to build applications for iAPX-86, 68000, Precision Architecture and Sparc architectures. Developer allows for the creation of multi-architecture executables that run on all the four architectures. The Developer also includes an improved C++ compiler which enables developers to create C++ objects, as well as Objective C objects, and includes multi-inheritance and templates. A new Foundation kit is said to provide building blocks upon which OpenStep and NeXT’s Enterprise Objects Framework is built. It can create unicode-capable string objects, collection objects such as arrays and dictionaries, notification and archiving objects as well as objects for interacting with the file system and other operating system features such as threads and processes. NeXTstep Release 3.3 for iAPC-86 and 68000 chips is shipping for $800 with upgrades priced at $200. Precision Architecture and Sparc versions are tagged for mid-1995 for the same price. NeXTstep Developer Release ships in mid-1995 for all the four chips.
