Amiga Report Online Magazine #3.16 -- September 5, 1995
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September 5, 1995 Turn the Page Issue No.3.16
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"THE Online Source for Amiga Information!"
Copyright 1995 FS Publications
All Rights Reserved
Table of Contents
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== Main Menu ==
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Editorial and Opinion Featured Articles
Reviews News & Press Releases
FTP Announcements Reader Mail
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About AMIGA REPORT Dealer Directory
Contact Information and Copyrights Amiga Dealer Addresses and Numbers
Where to Get AR Advertisements
Mailing List & Distribution Sites Online Services, Dealers, Ordering
______________________________________________
// | | //
========//====| Amiga Report International Online Magazine |======//=====
== \\// | Issue No. 3.16 September 5, 1995 | \\// ==
==============| "THE Online Source for Amiga Information!" |=============
|______________________________________________|
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== The Amiga Report Staff ==
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Editor
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== EDITOR ==
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Jason Compton
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet Address
-------- -------
jcompton@shell.portal.com 1203 Alexander Ave
jcompton@xnet.com Streamwood, IL 60107-3003
USA
Fax Phone
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708/741-0689 708/289-7047
Senior Editor
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== SENIOR EDITOR ==
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Robert Niles
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet Address
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rniles@Wolfe.NET 506 W. Orchard
Selah, WA 98942
FidoNet Fax
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1:3407/103 509/697-5064
Assistant Editor
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== ASSISTANT EDITOR ==
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Katherine Nelson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet
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Kati@cup.portal.com
Games Editor
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== GAMES EDITOR ==
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Sean Caszatt
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet
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Sean.Caszatt@f512.n2601.z1.fidonet.org
Contributing Editor
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== CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ==
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William Near
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet
--------
wnear@epix.net
compt.sys.editor.desk
Table of Contents
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== compt.sys.editor.desk By: Jason Compton ==
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It's the Magic Month, September.
Remember, this was the month we were told Amigas would first be available.
And, in a rather non-concrete form, it looks like preparations are being
made to get them out, with a UK press/dealer conference to generate
interest and an announcement of the array of pack-in software that will
come with each machine.
Gilles Bourdin of Amiga Technologies told me today that 100,000 A1200s have
already been sold in pre-orders.
Of course, on the other hand, only the continent of Europe has any sort of
solid distribution network. In North America, we are still waiting, just
as the Australians are. God only knows what the intrepid South American
and African Amiga users are thinking now, to say nothing of AR's readers in
Kiev.
AR's getting rather old, and it's time to shake things up from time to
time. After all, it was pointed out to me last night that, with AR 3.16,
there have been 89 issues of Amiga Report. That is a lot of magazine.
Am I tired of it? Nah, not at all. But sometimes it's nice to get a new
logo (thanks again, Gareth) or switch the icon (courtesy of Philip
Vedovatti). In fact, we've been playing with all sorts of ideas for AR.
An independent reader has taken it upon himself to release a graphical HTML
version of AR with each new release to Aminet (Thanks, Josef@IRC). As for
AR proper-well, there are only so many neat things you can do with
AmigaGuide, but plans are in the works to come up with a modular system to
add little "multimedia niceties" onto the magazine. I won't do anything if
the work involved detracts from the quality and content of the magazine,
but it's something worth exploring.
For all the talk we've done about supporting the Amiga over the past
months, the fact remains that if Amigas and Amiga products don't sell, the
market collapses. Included in this issue is not only a collection of news
and reviews on recent products, but the return of paid advertising. A
group of Amiga companies decided it was worth their while to pay the AR
expense account this month in exchange for a chance to reach the Amiga
public. I can't make you, but I'd like to ask that you at least take a
couple of minutes to flip through our advertising text.
Speaking of talk, there was quite a bit of it at Amiga Convention '95. A
show report appears in this issue. It should pretty well close out my
summer of travel, but the prospects for a late autumn/early winter North
American Amiga show are good. Any European show organizers interested in
flying me out as a speaker are, of course, more than welcome to contact me.
:)
One last thing-while contact information is nearly impossible to get, it
has been confirmed that a company known as ISE has been contracted to do
all Amiga hardware and software development, on demand, from Amiga
Technologies. They have already been in contact with a number of Amiga
engineers and developers, but no hirings have been reported yet-largely due
to the apparent requirement that engineering be done in Germany, ISE's
home.
Jason
Commercial Products
Table of Contents
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== Commercial Products ==
===========================================================================
Intangible Assets Manufacturing Cool products from IAM
National Amiga Canada Mail/Net-order from Ontario
Digital Quill The new text editor
IMANDI Professional 1.0 Invoice/Inventory business package
Desktop Supply Shop Hard Drives and Amiga Hardware
Hi-Tech Components' SX-1 The CD32 expansion device
Scientific Amigan Magazine For true Amiga geeks
Editor's Choice Jason's picks
Portal Information Systems A great place for Amiga users.
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Opinion News Articles Reviews Announce
National Amiga Canada
Table of Contents
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N A T I O N A L A M I G A C A N A D A
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National Amiga is a small mailorder company based in Ontario Canada. The main
thing we want to do is help out other Amiga owners and give them a place to
find out about and purchase Amiga products.
National Amiga does most of it's business over the internet. We have a World
Wide Web site that contains our full catalog along with information on many of
the products we sell and support. Something is added almost on a daily basis.
Don't see it? Ask! We actually LOOK for things all over the world.
Not only does our web site contain prices, but it also contains links to other
Amiga related sites. Our new Technical Information page has jumper settings,
diagrams, specs, and how-to-do it sections. It's growing all the time and has
become quite popular for many FAQ's!
Hard-Drives * 3.1 Kits * Networking * RAM * CD-ROMs * Cables * Accelerators,
Chips * Mice * Graphics Cards * Software * And we ship around the world!
* Email us to be put on our weekly up-date list containing specials
* on new and used products!
* Don't have email access? Call and leave a message for our new print catalog!
NATIONAL AMIGA
1229 Marlborough Ct. #1401 Email: gscott@interlog.com IRC: NAN (_NAN)
Oakville, Ontario http://www.interlog.com/~gscott/NationalAmiga.html
L6H3B6 CANADA Phone: (905) 845-1949 Fax: (905) 845-3295
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Intangible Assets Manufacturing
Table of Contents
*** Intangible Assets Manufacturing has cool stuff you want ***
*** Now you can get it cheap with The Amiga Report September Sale ***
As an Amiga Report reader, only you'll know the secret. For a limited time,
you can take advantage of an exclusive sale with unheard of prices. Plus, the
first 50 orders under this sale will get a FREE limited edition printing of
the "Amiga Report Times," autographed by Jason Compton and Dale Larson.
"The Deathbed Vigil... and other "Connect Your Amiga! A Guide to the
tales of digital angst" Internet, LANs, BBSs and Online Services"
$25 PAL or NTSC (REGULARLY $35) $20 (REGULARLY $24.95)
"DiskSalv 3" $30 (REGULARLY $40) "Amiga Envoy 2.0b" $40 (REGULARLY $59.95)
*** Save Nearly $70 ***
Buy all four items above and get your choice of one $50 book for only $25!
"The Amiga Guru Book," or "The ARexx Cookbook, Deluxe Edition" [book and
three-disk set]. Your total savings is $79.90. (Offer valid while limited
supplies last. Bonus book may be shipped separately via book rate, surface.)
*** The Secret ***
Prices are valid through the end of September, 1995, and only when you mention
"Amiga Report" while placing your order by Web, email, fax, snail mail or
phone. A shipping and handling charge applies to all orders -- orders of up to
one of each product are shipped at a flat rate -- $5/$8 for North American
surface/priority, elsewhere, $8/$15 for surface/Air. IAM accepts Visa and MC,
as well as checks in US dollars payable on a US or Canadian bank.
http://www.iam.com info@iam.com fax +1 610 853 3733 vox +1 610 853 4406
Intangible Assets Manufacturing, 828 Ormond Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA, 19026, USA
Digital Quill from Phantom Development
Table of Contents
Digital Quill - The Next Generation In Text Editing
Digital Quill is not only brand new in the sense of it being a new product,
but it also brings a brand new attitude to text editors, and applications in
general. Quill is a user-centered design, that is to say it was designed
from the start with a high degree of usability in mind. Quill is not only
fast and friendly but full-featured as well. Here are a few of Quill's most
noteworthy features:
. Very fast text scrolling.
. Quick disk operations.
. Fast find and replace.
. Fully configurable button strip, or "SpeedBar".
. Completely font adaptive and localized user interface.
. Complies rigidly with Commodore's user interface style guidelines.
. Requires at least release 2.1 of the Amiga's OS, and takes full
advantage of release 3.x features.
. A full array of conventional text editing features:
- clipboard support
- choice of true or "fake" tabs and configurable tab size
- word wrap and auto-indent
- bookmarks
- case conversion
- bracket matching, both automatic and on-demand
. Complete context sensitive hypertext online help via AmigaGuide.
. Extensive ARexx interface.
. Macros can be recorded, played back or hand-written, and be assigned
to a key combination, a pull-down menu item, or a SpeedBar button.
Digital Quill will be available September 1995 at quality Amiga dealers
everywhere with a suggested retail price of $59.95 US. For more information
contact Phantom Development LLC, P.O. Box 572, Plantsville, CT 06479.
WWW: http://www.pcnet.com/~caldi/phantom.html
IMANDI Professional 1.0 from Egad International
Table of Contents
IMANDI Professional 1.0 ©1995 Egad International
IMANDI Professional is a versatile and powerful invoicing and
inventory management software package for the Amiga. IMANDI
Professional's impressive features make complex invoicing a
quick and simple task. IMANDI Professional is capable of
handling all sales of small to medium sized companies.
Invoicing Inventory Management
-Automated Parts, Labor, Travel -Unlimited inventory databases
Time, Mileage, Pass-Thru, and -Inventory level tracking
Babble entries -Comprehensive reports
-Unlimited pages -Easy item searches
-Multiple invoice forms -Sales tracking
-Advanced discounting functions
-Itemized taxation options Requirements
-Shiping taxation options
-Unlimited customers -Amiga OS 2.04 or greater
-Customer status levels -1.5 Megabytes of memory
-Customer list total and discounting -HD suggested
tracking -68020+ suggested
-Invoice Saving
A demo is available on Aminet:
ftp://aminet.com/pub/aminet/biz/demo/imandi_prodemo.lha (238730)
For the months of August and September, there is a special
introductory price in effect:
$69.99 + S&H ($5.00 in the U.S.) To order - Email or write to:
goodpain@cris.com OR Egad International
P.O. Box 444
Tolland, CT 06084
USA
VISA/MASTERCARD / CHECK / MONEY ORDER / C.O.D. ACCEPTED
Desktop Supply Shop
Table of Contents
-DESKTOP SUPPLY SHOP-
P.O. BOX 841
EMAIL: JENISON, MI 49429-0841 PHONE:
maciakt@river.it.gvsu.edu (616)662-4147
-- ALL PRODUCTS ARE NEW AND HAVE FULL MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES! --
-----------------------------------+------------------------------------
3.5" FS2 SCSI HARD DRIVES | 3.5" IDE HARD DRIVES
QUANTUM 540MB $185 FUJITSU 1GB $375|MAXTOR 540MB $180 SEAGATE 850MB $230
FUJITSU 530MB $205 QUANTUM 2GB $775|QUANTUM730MB $215 SEAGATE 1.1 G $260
QUANTUM 730MB $215 SEAGATE 2GB $840|MAXTOR 850MB $225 MAXTOR 1.260G $295
QUANTUM 1 GIG $325 FUJITSU 2GB $855|
------------------------------------+ 2.5" HARD DRIVES
- FAST DATA/FAX MODEMS - | IDE QUANTUM 541MB $399
USROBOTICS 28.8 SPORTSTER (ext) $249| SCSI QUANTUM 514MB $395
MAXTEC 28.8 FAX/MODEM (ext) $210+------------------------------------
------------------------------------| -- AMiGAS ARRIVING IN SEPTEMBER! --
CyberStorm 060 Accelerator $1325 TOCATTA 16bit Audio Digitizer $455
VLAB MOTION WITH TOCATTA $2200 VLAB MOTION W/O TOCATTA $1725
CyberVision 64bit Gfx (2mb)$479 CyberVision 64bit Gfx (4mb) $599
RETINA 24bit ZII 4meg $585 Retina 24bit ZIII 4meg $885
24Bit Picasso II (w2mb) $355 Octagaon-ZII ScsiII Card $155
DataFlyer XDS 1200 3.5"IDE $79 DataFlyer XDS Optional Power $79
Big Foot A500/A1200 PS $89 GVP 4MB 32bit RAM SIMM $220
A1200 Cobra 40mhz (030) $225 DKB1202 RAM CARD(2 72pin SIMM) $115
TriMedia Drawing Board III 12x12 $570 (3button pen) $455 (2button pen)
TriMedia Drawing Slate 6x9 tablet - (3button cordless pen) $360
* MI RES. ADD SALES TAX - S&H(USA $6 ITEM)(CAN $15 ITEM)(FOREIGN $20 ITEM)
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPING ERRORS!
MUST BE PAID IN US DOLLARS! CHECKS OR CERTIFIED MONEY ORDERS! NO VISA/MC!
Hi-Tech Component Distributors' SX-1
Table of Contents
Hi-Tech Component Distributors Inc-makers of the SX-1!
Hi-Tech has an all-new production run of the SX-1 Expansion Module for the
Amiga CD32 available.
The SX-1 adds a SIMM slot (expandable to 8 megabytes of RAM), internal and
external IDE hard drive controllers, a PC/AT keyboard connector, serial,
parallel, and floppy drive ports, as well as an audio mixing port to the
CD32. In addition, the new Hi-Tech models have an improved, more stable
edge connector.
The SX-1 base unit is available for US$200. In addition, a 170 megabyte
internal 2.5 inch IDE hard drive is available for a mere US$69 with
purchase of the base SX-1 unit. (Regular price is US$89)
Contact us for our other great deals on hard drives and accessories!
Hi-Tech Component Distributors
59 S. La Patera Ln.
Goleta, CA 93117
USA
805-681-9961 voice
805-681-9971 fax
Scientific Amigan Magazine
Table of Contents
Do you know what a pocket protector is? Do you work with people who
wear them, or even use one yourself? Consider subscribing to
Scientific Amigan, the newsletter for research, analysis, design, and
technical education. Typical issues contain the latest news on
technical Amiga software, Web sites. excerpts from the Annals of
Improbable Research, REXX tutorials, how to get to the Internet, and
other material shunned by non-rocket scientists. Drop a line to the
publisher at waltal@well.com, or check out the new Web page at:
http://www.well.com/user/waltal/
SA subscriptions are $39 US a year domestic and $49 a year foriegn
delivery. Samples $2. Payment accepted in cash, check, or money order
in U.S. funds.
Reader Mail
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Reader Mail ==
===========================================================================
From: packrat@cup.portal.com
Subject: Re:Question about Amiga World
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 95 17:12:08 PDT
Hello Jason....
I have been an Amiga Report reader for some time now (my archive goes back
as far as AR201, but I remember well, the pre-Amigaguide days). I have
often thought of writing you, as you seem to be an authority in most Amiga
matters these days. But, due to lack of time, vocabulary (and general
ambition), I've waited until now. Until I had a problem that seemed
important enough to warrant a request for help. Let me explain.
I originally had a one year subscription to the now defunct American Amiga
Magazine "Amiga World", published by IDG. I actually received a few issues
prior to their demise and rather enjoyed them. Then I received a postcard
in the mail indicating that "AW" was being discontinued, and that the
remainder of my subscription would be fulfilled with my choice of either
some kind of Amiga 3D graphics/Video magazine or "Amiga Format", one of
IDG's European Amiga mags.
I selected "Amiga Format", and actually received one issue--the prior
month's issue--but hey, a magazine I hadn't read already. Well that was
back in July. I have recieved nothing since then.
Have your heard of this phenomenon? Were you a subscriber to "AW"? Would
you happen to have an email address for IDG? I do have an address for IDG
in the UK, but I thought I'd check with you and your readers first. If
possible, would you be able to mention this in your next issue of AR to see
if I'm the only one getting this treatment? I'm wondering if I am in the
same boat with a lot of other people.......
Keep the hard drives spinning.....
Richard Singles
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
From: "Dureau, Thierry J" <TDureau@vnpdtmnp.telecom.com.au>
Subject: Amiga Report Reader Mail Feedback
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 95 12:29:00 EST
Jason,
I've just read the reader mail of AR315 for the second or third time and
I'm writing to comment on the concerns of Amiga users out there.
First of all, we all share in David Bias' frustration I'm sure, but I
believe we must remain optimistic that Escom wouldn't spend millions on
something just for the hell of it. They would be looking to make money out
of it someway or another. Judging on what has happened in the past years
(nothing), what they do can't be so bad. They can't be that stupid not to
listen to Amiga worshippers worldwide at least a little.
Second, I think all of us at one time or another have tried to turn someone
towards purchasing or converting to Amiga. Some Will, Some Won't, So
What............Some Will!. Then what happens to our integrity when WE
throw in the towel. We need to stick together. Even though the Amiga
never becomes 'the chosen' machine of the future, if all that comes out of
this is a little worldwide Amiga community with continued hardware support
from Escom, Who Cares. What would be the value of the Amiga platform if
everyone used it ? We all know that something's value comes from it's
scarcity.
Third, we the users need to support the platform by not using pirate
software. I believe if people had faith in the Amiga, they would fork out
money to buy software. Right now I suppose the people's faith depends on
what Escom does in the short term. Let's hope it's something good.
Last but not least. As far as marketing the Amiga goes, I guess Escom's
got a challenge on their hands. My suggestion to them is AMWAY....What?, I
hear you say, yep, good 'ol little Amway. They turned over approximately 6
billion dollars US last financial year and big companies are beginning to
take notice. Look at what they did for MCI. The good thing about them is,
first, they've already established 2 million distributors worldwide with an
average growth of 20% per annum. That's unheard of in the corporate world.
Second, they do the marketing for you and with the aid of shopping channels
in the near future (I think a CD32 set-top box might be useful here), the
Amiga could be on every television screen around the globe. Third, you pay
Amway out of the profit you make from sales.
I think Escom should seriously consider this suggestion before they miss
the boat and someone else jumps onto the AMWAY bandwagon. And if you're
all wondering, yes I'm an Amway distributor who loves the Amiga.
Faithfully,
Thierry Dureau,
Melbourne Australia.
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
From: BREWINJ@cliffy.polaroid.com (J.Brewin 617-446-4649)
Subject: Amiga future
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 1995 08:45:44 -0400 (EDT)
Jason,
In response to the letter from David Bias (AR 3.15) about the demise of the
future of AMIGA, I am generally in agreement. It is unfortunate that even
with the aquisition of AMIGA by ESCOM the AMIGA will soon be a fading light
in the expanse of a computer sky. The US should definately add this
creature to it's Endangered Species List.
I still own (2) Amigas and will continue to use them until they can no
longer serve me. It pains me greatly in saying this. Deep in my heart of
hearts, I guess I felt this coming on, but have suppressed it for as long
as I could. I will have to look to another platform to fill my future
needs. (There I've said it :( )
With the advent of Win95 (ouch - that hurt) people are being bombarded with
it's (supposedly) uniqueness - HAH! And this is what will be remembered as
the OS for their needs. Noone will know or remember Amiga OS's greatness
because it will be lost with the passing of time.
I'm afraid ESCOM's only interest is squeezing the technology for all they
can get from it and then tossing the rind in the garbage to be hauled away
to the nearest landfill.
The Amiga will live in my memories and I will recall it's service to me
with great fondness from time to time. Just as I recall many pleasures
from my childhood - they are now only memories - and in a like way so will
my Amiga.
Regards Joe Brewin
brewinj@polaroid.com
Dreams of a Low End Amiga
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
DREAMS OF A LOW END AMIGA
Nickolas Marentes STAUROS@OZEMAIL.COM.AU
===========================================================================
Primary limitations of the existing design
CPU Speed
While the Amiga has some very good custom chips supporting the CPU, several
applications do not benafit as much from these enhancements. Applications
such as ray tracing and texture mapping are primarily CPU intensive tasks.
The IBM PC's are much better at these due to their fast 486 and Pentium
CPU's.
System Presentation
To most non-amiga people, the appearance of the A1200 leads them to believe
that it is nothing more than a larger C64. They immediately develop the
impression that the system is nothing more than a toy computer specifically
designed for games. If one was to place on display the A1200 alongside an
ancient IBM PC/XT and ask a group of totally computer illiterate people
which computer they feel is the more powerful, most of them will say the
PC/XT. Unfortunately, people DO judge a book by its cover.
Concept Design No.1
Module 1:
A CD based games console much like the CD-32 with the optional expansion to
a video CD player or Set-Top box via a trapdoor expansion bay. The unit
should be narrower across the front but deeper towards the back than the
original CD-32. The inclusion of an infra-red remote pickup for an
optional remote control so that the unit can be used as part of the home
entertainment system without ugly joystick cables dangling everywhere. The
mainboard can be the same spec as in the CD-32 but with a faster CPU and
4Mb RAM for improved processing speed to better compete with the range of
new games consoles coming out from the competition. This unit would appeal
to anyone who simply wants a low cost game console and/or a video/audio CD
player with the capability for expansion to a full computer using Module 2.
Module 2:
A unit with the same width and depth as module 1 but double the height.
This unit clips onto the bottom of module 1 to give the appearance of a
small mini-tower type computer with a top load CD-ROM drive. Module 2
should include, memory expansion, parallel/serial ports, real time clock,
an internal 3.5" hard disk, a front mounted floppy drive and at least 2
internal expansion slots (basically all the extra components required to
bring it up to A1200 spec). Front mounted connectors for a detachable
keyboard and mouse (supplied with Module 2) and rear mounted connectors for
printer and serial ports.
The entire unit could be coloured the same as the original CD-32,
"techo-black". The power supply may be shared between the two modules or
possibly module 2 could come with it's own internal supply designed to
power both. This design allows people to start off at a minimal expense
and upgrade to a full A1200 later while still retaining a degree of
professionalism in the final configuration. It also means all future Amiga
users will have a CD-ROM drive as standard opening the doors for more
CD-ROM based software to be developed. It also means the Akiko chip with
it's planar-to-chunky graphics conversion will be available to all new
Amiga's allowing for all future software to take advantage of improved
texture mapping capabilities. This design should be relatively low cost to
produce while still providing a powerful complete system, all using the
tried and proven AGA chipset.
Concept Design No. 2
This design uses the existing A1200 and adds an expansion unit which sits
underneath the monitor. Anyone who remembers the original Tandy/Radio
Shack TRS-80 Model 1 design, will recognize this design.
The unit would sit directly behind the A1200 with all cables from the A1200
passing underneath the unit. An expansion board that plugs into the A1200
trapdoor adds a faster CPU, the Akiko chip and acts as a bus expansion
buffer that leads to a high density connector replacing the knock-out panel
on the back of the A1200. The expansion box would plugs into this.
Inside the expansion unit will be a power supply (which also powers the
A1200), memory expansion sockets, several Zorro expansion slots and space
for a front loaded CD-ROM drive (high enough so that it clears the A1200
when opened).
If an enhanced A1200 is released later with a faster CPU (A1300?) this same
expansion box could be used but the new machine would provide this bus
expansion connector as standard. The case styling should be made to match
the A1200 so that it looks part of the system and not a third party
"bolt-on".
The benefits of this design are the same as in Design 1.
If anyone has any questions about my ideas (Escom...you're invited!) please
feel free to leave me an E-mail message on STAUROS@OZEMAIL.COM.AU and start
your message with "Attention: Nick, re: Amiga designs".
The Unusable Amiga Emulator
Table of Contents
From: crux@informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Bernd Schmidt)
Newsgroups: comp.emulators.misc
Subject: Amiga emulator available (not a hoax!)
Date: 30 Aug 1995 11:59:20 GMT
I have uploaded uae-0.1.tar.gz to sunsite.unc.edu:pub/Linux/Incoming. The
file should move to pub/Linux/system/Emulators in a few months time.
"UAE" stands for "The Unusable Amiga Emulator". It is a partial software
emulation of the Amiga hardware. It is far from usable, since some vital
features are missing, and it is way too slow. However, it should put an
end to arguments that it can't be done. There is quite a bit of room for
improvements, I expect a full (usable) emulation can be done in about five
years time. Don't complain, C64 emulators need a P90, too, to run at full
speed, and an Amiga is somewhat more complex.
Although this is not a hoax emulator, it can't do more than that: It can
currently just display the Kickstart logo. I have not been able to get the
disk support working yet. Maybe someone would like to help me, I am rather
busy with other projects. The sources are there...
UAE runs on Unix systems with the X Window System. I am developing it
using Linux, but I have also been able to get it to run on a HP Apollo and
a Sun Sparcstation. You need a C++ compiler, or you have to make small
modifications to turn it into a C program (nothing major). You also need
to transfer a Kickstart ROM image to your PC.
The following parts are emulated:
- MC68000 CPU: Almost done, some rare instructions (ABCD, ...) are not
emulated yet.
- Blitter: If there's no bug, it ought to be complete.
- Copper: Not much to emulate here
- Timers: I think these are fully working, too.
Not done properly:
- Playfield (display) hardware: Only black & white graphics, no dual
playfield support, no HAM.
- Sprites: None.
- Sound: None.
- Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick: None.
- Timing: The CPU and blitter cycles are counted, but I have not bothered
yet to adjust the timing to match the characteristics of a real A500
- Floppy disk: Broken.
I think the hardest parts are done, except the disk support, debugging and
speed improvements.
Just as a side note: Maybe it might be easier to turn this into an Atari ST
emulation first, and debug that. I think the ST has considerably less
hardware complexity. If some ST experts would like to work on that, please
feel free to contact me.
Otherwise, mail me if you have comments, bug reports or enhacements.
Regards,
Bernd Schmidt
crux@pool.informatik.rwth-aachen.de
Amiga-Link 2.0
Table of Contents
======================================================================
Amiga-Link PRESS RELEASE August 25, 1995
======================================================================
The Amiga-Link 2.0 / Envoy 2.0 Networking Package
-------------------------------------------------
AmiTrix Development announced today that they will now be distributing the
Amiga-Link/Envoy networking package for all Amigas. Arrangements have been
made with Intangible Assets Manufacturing (IAM), and with ABF Computer GbR,
that will see "Envoy 2.0" bundled together with an updated, fully
translated version of "Amiga-Link", to be assembled and distributed by
AmiTrix.
Amiga-Link is a complete solution to your Amiga peer-to-peer networking
needs. With the included software and hardware, you can share your hard
drives and printers, as well as run other network applications. This
package is compatible with all Amiga models, using the floppy port for
maximum compatibility across models, and keeping other ports available for
their intended uses. Low cost "rendering farms" are now possible.
The Amiga-Link package comes with both the standard AmigaLink software and
also the Amiga Envoy software. The Amigalink software's advantage is that
it works with AmigaOS1.3, providing compatibility with older machines,
whereas Amiga Envoy requires 2.04 or higher, but provides superior
performance, device sharing, and an API that allows for the development of
third-party networking applications, with many already available.
Amiga-Link provides a less expensive method of peer to peer networking
using compact modules connected to the external floppy port and linked
together with BNC connectors and coaxial cables. The SANA-II device driver
allows all Amiga's (including those without Zorro-II expansion slots), to
be connected in a network of up to 20 machines, within a distance of 330
feet (100m). DMA data transfer, at 450,000 bps from network to memory,
avoids CPU contention common to the parallel/serial port networks, and
leaves these ports free for normal use. This is roughly equivalent to
ArcNet speed, and although slower than ethernet, is less than half the
cost.
The AmigaLink software has GUI tools for Workbench control of Import &
Export functions, network Statistics & Diagnostics tools for testing and
troubleshooting both hardware & software, while a Printer Spooler program
allows for network printer sharing. It's SANA-II compatibility allows
other software to be run concurrently such as AmiTCP, providing great
flexibility when networking various Amiga's together. A new revised
English manual is included.
Amiga Envoy is the standard Amiga peer-to-peer networking software that was
developed by Commodore's Amiga Networking Group. Its performance,
user-interface and API are consistent with the philosophy of the Amiga
Operating System. Amiga Envoy provides a simple messaging interface for
the easy development of reliable network applications. Included
applications enable connected Amiga computers to share their hard disks,
CD-ROMs, and printers transparently. Third-party applications can also
provide extra functionality such as electronic mail, remote computer
access, multi-user databases and multi-player games.
New features for Envoy 2.0 include support of AmigaOS 2.04 DOS packet types
(including notification and record locking), support for removable media,
enhanced reliability & robust recovery, localization, AmigaGuide
documentation, and more.
MSRP for the basic 2 unit package is $299.00 US, or $379.00 CAN.
Expansion kits, cable options and accesories are also available.
Dealer and Educational Institution inquiries welcomed.
For more information or ordering AmiTrix products, contact us at:
AmiTrix Development,
5312 - 47 Street,
Beaumont, Alberta, T4X 1H9
Canada
Phone or Fax: 1+ 403-929-8459
(Please leave your mailing address on phone messages when requesting)
(information, or contact us via email at the address shown below)
Email: sales@amitrix.worldgate.com
http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~ewaniu/amitrix.html
======================================================================
Amiga 'Pack-In's
Table of Contents
Thanks to Mat Bettinson of CU Amiga for initially reporting this
information to Usenet.
Jonathan Anderson, head of Amiga Technologies UK, was placed in charge of
putting together a pack-in bundle for new Amigas. This is what was
announced.
The new Amigas will be bundled with:
Productivity Software:
Photogenics 1.2 SE (Special Edition)
WordWorth 4 SE
PPaint 6.4 SE
DataStore 1.1
Turbo Calc 3.5
Digita's Organiser
Scala's MM300 (With HD pack only)
Games:
Pinball Mania
Whizz
AsimCDFS 3.2
Table of Contents
TITLE: AsimCDFS
VERSION: v3.2
COMPANY: Asimware Innovations Inc.
600 Upper Wellington St., Unit D
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada L9A 3P9
Phone: (905)578-4916
Fax: (905)578-3966
EMail: info@asimware.com
AsimCDFS v3.2 Maintenance Release
---------------------------------
We would like to announce the availability of AsimCDFS v3.2, which was
released on August 23rd, 1995. This is a maintenance update for the
AsimCDFS v3 package.
Particulars include support for additional CD-ROM drives, small feature
additions and minor bug fixes. Consult the AsimCDFS3_2.readme file on our
FTP site for details.
Registered users can obtain this release via our BBS or ftp site. Consult
your manual for details on obtaining the update.
Sincerely,
Paul Reeves
Asimware Innovations Inc.
August 23rd, 1995
fMSX Amiga 0.6
Table of Contents
TITLE
fMSX Amiga 0.6
AUTHOR
Hans Guijt (h.guijt@inter.nl.net)
DESCRIPTION
fMSX Amiga emulates an MSX computer on an Amiga. This version finally
includes disk support, which means that it is suitable for several jobs:
- BASIC programming using the in-built MSX-BASIC.
- Doing serious work such as accounting or wordprocessing.
- Playing games.
Software is not included with the package, but many packages (mostly games)
can be found on FTP sites:
ftp.saitama-u.ac.jp /pub/msx/
stargate.imagine.com /pub/MSX/
ftp.funet.fi /pub/msx/
riaph.irkutsk.su /pub/
Currently some 147 ROMs, 10 MegaROMs, and over 200 disk-based games have
been or will be uploaded!
Of course fMSX Amiga is fully multitasking, runs in an intuition screen,
and has a font-sensitive user interface.
NEW FEATURES
Drive support! This means that you can now use disk-based games, or write
BASIC programs *and* save them before you turn off your computer!
Drive support requires some form of PC drive support on your Amiga. The
logical choice would be CrossDos, but other solutions such as messydos are
also supported. In addition, it is not necessary that the emulated drive
is actually a physical drive; it could just as well be a hardfile or a
RAD-like device.
Another new feature is support for using MegaROMs. Although not many are
available right now these games are generally of higher quality than the
normal ROMs or the disk-based games.
The GUI was given a complete overhaul. Many more preference options and
buttons are now available and are remembered between sessions.
The highspeed mode is more robust, although it is not yet perfect.
Of course the customary speedup was also done.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Required are:
- Amiga OS 3.0
- 68020 processor
- 400 kilobytes chip ram
- 700 kilobytes other ram
Recommended:
- 68030 processor, at least 25MHz
- Those 700 kilobytes of 'other' ram had better be fast ram!
Note that fMSX Amiga does *not* require the AGA chipset. In fact, it
should run on any chipset upto and including graphics cards, although this
has not been tested.
AVAILABILITY
fMSX Amiga 0.6 is available from any aminet site, such as:
ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/pub/aminet/misc/emu/fmsx_0.6.lha (114682)
PRICE
It's absolutely free. 'Gratis en voor niets' as the Dutch say ;-)
DISTRIBUTABILITY
fMSX Amiga 0.6 is publically supported freeware. If you are interested in
the source, and you're not afraid of function pointers and huge amounts of
assembly intermixed with C, you can request it from me.
If someone wants to do a special version (and I can think of several
possibilities, such as a version that uses the MMU for optimized Z80
emulation, or a version that runs on a Cybergraphics card), contact me.
Inner-City Arts
Table of Contents
[Orginally posted to comp.sys.amiga.misc]
I am posting this for a friend (contact information below);I know this is a
long shot, but if never hurts to ask--
Wanted: 12 Commodore Amiga A1200 Computers
Any Hewlett Packard DeskJet 560C Printers
Inner-City Arts is a non-profit arts organization which offers visual and
performing arts classes to the under-served, ethnically diverse elementary
school children who reside in the area of downtown Los Angeles known as
"skid row."
The mission of Inner-City Arts is to keep the spark of creativity alive in
young children facing extremely difficulat circumstances while building
self-esteem and connections between art, school, family and community.
On September 22, 1995, Inner-City Arts will hold an arts festival to
introduce 150 new children to its facility. As part of this Festival For
Youth, we would like to offer computer design experiences. We are looking
for a donation of 12 Commodore Amiga computers and printers to be used at
the Inner-City Arts Center on September 22nd. Any permanent donation is
tax-deductible, and will go directly to our budding media center where
children whose circumstances do not include access to such experiences,
will be able to make use of them.
For more information about our organization, event or mission, please
contact: Michelle Berne, Inner-City Arts Festival for Youth via e-mail:
InnerCityA@aol.com or at Inner City Arts: 213/627-6469.
Digital Quill
Table of Contents
From: caldi@pcnet.com (Christopher Aldi)
Digital Quill is a full featured text editor capable of meeting all your
text processing needs with grace and ease. Quill puts editing functions at
your command with a user definable Keystroke, Menu, or SpeedButton. Be it
a book report for the class room, or writing C and Assembly language
programs, Quill is up to the task. Several default macros are included
that support many popular compiler environments such as SAS/C, DICE, and
BenchMark Modula 2.
Digital Quill Features
o User Definable Speed Buttons
o User Definable Speed Menu
o Style Guide Compliant GUI
o Font & Screen Adaptive GUI
o Workbench, Public and Custom Screen Support
o Drag Marking Mode
o Fence Posting Mode
o Iconification To Workbench
o AppWindow Support
o Fast and Powerful Search & Replace
o Bookmarking
o Auto-Indent for Programmers.
o Comprehensive A-Rexx Scripting Interface
o Online Amiga Guide Help
Quill is not only brand new in the sense of it being a new product, but it
also brings a brand new attitude to text editors, and applications in
general, to the Amiga. Quill is a user-centered design, that is to say it
was designed from the start with a high degree of usability in mind, to
provide a ground work that is comfortable and easy to use, while at the
same time being fast and powerful.
Digital Quill is Digital Power, Digital Ease, Digital Grace, and Digital
Speed. The time is now to ride the Digital Edge!
Digital Quill is competitively priced at $59.95 US and will be available at
quality Amiga softwarre dealers everywhere soon!
Phantom Development LLC.
P.O. Box 572
Plantsville, CT 06479
WWW: http://www.pcnet.com/~caldi/phantom.html
ShapeShifter 3.1
Table of Contents
TITLE
ShapeShifter
VERSION
3.1
AUTHOR
Christian Bauer
EMail: bauec002@goofy.zdv.uni-mainz.de
SMail: Christian Bauer, Langenaustr.65, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
DESCRIPTION
ShapeShifter is a multitasking shareware Macintosh-II emulator for the
Amiga computer. It allows to run Macintosh software concurrently to Amiga
applications without hardware add-ons or modifications.
Some of the emulation's features:
- Color display up to 256 colors on AGA Amigas (16 colors on ECS)
and up to 16,7 million colors on graphics cards
- No MMU required, even runs on A1200
- Macintosh hard disks can be simulated in Amiga files or Amiga
hard disk partitions
[unregistered version has no hard disk partition support]
- Can use Amiga floppy drives, serial, parallel and SCSI ports
from the Mac
[use of SCSI not possible in unregistered version]
- Mac HD disks can be read directly with an HD floppy drive,
Mac 720K disks can be used with any Amiga floppy drive. To use
Mac 800K disks, you have to own CrossMAC and an original Mac
drive
- Multichannel sound output and parallel-port sound digitizers
supported
- Access to Ethernet networks
- Text clipboard sharing between Mac and Amiga
- File handler to access Macintosh volumes from the Workbench
- Speed comparable to a real Mac with equivalent hardware
The most important changes in V3.1:
- The SCSI routines have been completely rewritten. If you continue
to encounter incompatibilities with certain SCSI devices, it's
most probably a hardware or driver problem.
- AppleScript runs
- EtherTalk is fully supported
- ShapeShifter can now use external video drivers. To make a start,
a "Retina Z3" driver is being supplied.
- The graphics refresh in Amiga Bitplanes modes is faster.
- "MacMem" is now integrated into "PrepareEmul".
- DeviceDisks can now be used with removable media.
- The 68060 FPU is recognized correctly
- The "ShapeShifter PRAM" file format has changed. But a file in
the old format is recognized automatically and converted on the
next shutdown.
- Those who own "CrossDOS" or "CrossMAC" and a Macintosh 800K disk
drive supported by CrossMAC can read and write Macintosh 800K DD
disks with ShapeShifter (truly spoken, this always worked with
ShapeShifter). AMAX and Emplant formatted 800K disks can also be
accessed, then.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
OS2.1, 68020 processor, 4MB of RAM, HD floppy drive recommended. A copy of
a Macintosh 512K or 1MB ROM and the Macintosh system software are not
included, but required. The ROM can be read off of a real Mac by using a
supplied program, the system software can be bought from Apple. Note,
however, that reading the ROM is only legal if you have bought the ROMs or
own a real Macintosh.
AVAILABILITY
Aminet sites: /misc/emu/ShapeShift3_1.lha
ftp://server.biologie.uni-erlangen.de/pub/shapeshifter/ShapeShifter3_1.lha
Next Generation BBS, Germany (ShapeShifter support BBS)
Port 1: +49-261-805012 (Zyx19.2)
Port 2: +49-261-84280 (V.FC)
PRICING
The requested shareware fee is DM 50,- or US$ 40.
Upon registration you will receive a keyfile that enables the
disabled features (SCSI and hard disk partition support).
DISTRIBUTABILITY
Shareware (DM 50,- or US$ 40 requested)
UK Amiga News
Table of Contents
Press kit London
Amiga Technologies will hold a press confence, a dealer meeting and a
developer meeting on the 16th and 17th of August, 1995. The Amiga press
as well as the national press will attend the first event organized by the
new Amiga Technologies GmbH. Dealers and developers will be able to hear
current status, plans and projects from Amiga executives.
The conference will take place at the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel,
The occasion will be used the introduce the virtual I-Glasses in the UK for
the first time.
Agenda Press, Dealer and Developer meeting, London, 16-17/08/95
16/08/95 Press meeting. Moderated by Jonathan Anderson
15:30 - 16:00 Registration & Demo I-Glasses
16:00 - 16.05 Greetings Petro Tyschtschenko
16:05 - 16:25 Amiga distribution UK (J. Smith)
16:25 - 16:45 Virtual I-Glasses presentation (Premiski)
16:45 - 17:05 Break I-Glasses demo to the attendance
17:05 - 17:35 Presentation Amiga Technologies (PTY)
17:35 - open end Questions & Answers.
17/08/95 AM Dealer meeting Moderated by John Smith
08:30 - 09:00 Registration & Demo I-Glasses
09:00 - 09:05 Greetings Petro Tyschtschenko
09:05 - 09:25 Amiga distribution UK (J. Smith)
09:25 - 09:45 Virtual I-Glasses presentation (Premiski)
09:45 - 10:05 Break - I-Glasses demo to the attendance
10:05 - 10:35 Presentation Amiga Technologies (PTY)
10:35 - 12:00 Questions & Answers. Demo Glasses
17/08/95 PM Developper meeting Moderated by Jonathan Anderson
14:00 - 14:30 Registration & Demo I-Glasses
14:30 - 14.35 Greetings Petro Tyschtschenko
14:35 - 14:55 Amiga distribution UK (J. Smith)
14:55 - 15:15 Virtual I-Glasses presentation (Premiski)
15:15 - 15:35 Break I-Glasses demo to the attendance
15:35 - 16:05 Presentation Amiga Technologies (PTY)
16:05 - open end Questions & Answers.
"The spoken word applies"
Speech Petro Tyschtschenko
We are pleased to be here in the UK, one of our most important markets, to
have the opportunity to talk directly to the Amiga press. We will talk to
our dealers and the developers tomorrow. We know that this press meeting
should have taken place earlier. Please understand that we were very busy.
We have set up the operations and the material for production. During this
time, we have achieved many things. Let's talk about this now.
Some of you surely know how long and difficult the takeover of Commodore
was and how much this one year of latency hurt the Amiga market. Building
up everything again was also a difficult task for us. Especially the
financial and logistic situation. Without the support from our
mothercompany ESCOM AG, nothing would have been possible. We actually
revived the Amiga in two important steps: First by acquiring the assets of
the former Commodore for more than 10 million Dollars secondly by starting
it up again, which requested again several times the initial investment.
Other main difficulties we encountered were to get specific parts and
components for production. D-RAMs are on allocation, Amiga keyboards,
floppies and SCSI harddrives have long lead times. Tailor made parts are
difficult to get and they cost more than in the old Commodore times.
Our first objective was to get Amiga products back on the market as fast as
possible. To achieve this goal in an acceptable time, we decided to build
the A1200 and A4000T without modifications. We have however included the
new version 3.1 of the Operating System for the A1200.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please be aware that the A4000T allready is a
complete new product. There have only been produced 200 units worldwide by
former Commodore. There will not be modifications on the casing for this
year. The design proposals that were presented in Frankfurt are only a
possibility for the models coming later. Please be aware : If we had
decided to make enhancements immediately, there wouldn't have been machines
on the market for the Christmas season. This decision does not mean in any
way that we are going to stop research and development. Enhancements will
be made on current machines for sure. I'll talk about this again later.
But now I would like to present you the actual status of our operations.
We are a german company located in Bensheim, 30 miles south of Frankfurt.
Our production, assembling and material providers are located in Europe but
the world is our market. Our team has grown tremendously to reach 39
people since May 31st, with the new addition of Virtual Products.
We are a flexible, agressive, motivated, transparent and dynamic team. We
can react very quickly to new situations, we take our strategic decisions
faster than the competition does.
What is our team doing on distribution ?
Distribution
John Smith already told you about the UK distribution. One piece of
information you will surely be interested in is that ESCOM shops will carry
Amiga Computers in the United Kingdom.
The employees in these shops used to sell Amigas and we want to use their
store traffic again. This will be an excellent additional sales tool to
spread Amigas in the UK.
We will also support the Amiga dealers who have the best knowledge of the
platform and who can provide excellent service to customers.
Distribution outside the UK.
The Sino market, which includes mainland China, Hong-Kong, Macao and Taiwan
is covered by our chinese joint-venture.
In North America, we already have installed a dealer network but are still
looking for a potential distributor. Somebody who is willing to support
and invest in our product. We are actually looking for a partner more than
just a distributor.
Production
GOOD NEWS : We are still on schedule to produce Amigas for availability in
September.
And even better news, we will have a real european manufactured product.
The Amiga 1200 will be produced in Bordeaux, France. Our successful
negotiations with Solectron, one of the world leader of sub-contract
manufacturing, guarantees a european high quality standard. Quality is
very important for us, we want to reduce defective returns to a minimum.
That's why we focused on Europe rather than far-east.
The Amiga 4000T motherboards will be produced in the United States, near
Philadelphia. The units for Europe will then be assembled in the ESCOM
facilities in Germany. The american units will be assembled in
Philadelphia.
We have made an agreement with a european monitor manufacturer. He will
provide a monitor especially adapted to be used with the Amiga. The
monitor is a high-quality multisync monitor that can scan horizontal
frequencies from 15 to 38 KiloHertz. The plug of that monitor is also
adapted to the video output connector of the A1200 and A4000T. I think
this is exactly what is needed for all Amiga resolutions.
As announced at our previous press conference, our plan is still to build
100 K A1200's and 20 K A4000T's until the end of this year. These figures
are based on existing orders and on customer based forecasts. I'm quite
sure that this gives us the assurance that the whole production will
actually be sold. A large percentage of our A1200 production will be sold
alone in the UK.
Servicing
The repair and spare servicing will be centralized in our service-centre in
Braunschweig, Germany, in coordination with the representation points in
each country. The technical dealer support will also be handled here, as
well as the distribution for computers and monitors in Germany.
Our service plan is very simple : we don't repair, we only make components
exchanges.
Future plans, developments
As I promised before, I will now tell you about our future plans for
research & development.
First, we plan to enhance current models. We are thinking of faster
processors and chip integration for the beginning. We are going to
integrate the 68060 chip for the A4000T this year. For the entry-level
model, we are looking at an external CD ROM addition and more RAM onboard
the bare units.
We are also planning to use the CD 32 concept for developments of
set-top-box systems. The set-top-boxes will open new markets for Amiga
products. Set-top-Boxes could be produced in variants for cable-TV,
satellite-TV and for telephone line communication and also be used for
home-shopping and home-banking. I'm convinced that this market is
tremendous and will push the Amiga technology into millions of households.
Software publishers should be interested in writing software for such a
widely spread platform. The Amiga architecture is optimaly suited for
set-top-systems because of its low demand for ressources like RAM or
processor power and because of its multitasking and realtime abilities, in
summmary, the Amiga is the most cost effective platform for set-top-boxes.
It is still under investigation which RISC platform will be used as basis
for the Amiga of the future. At this point, we cannot say more about this
issue, thank you for your understanding.
IFA Berlin
From the 26th of August to the 3rd of September, we will be present
at the IFA, one of the biggest consumer fairs in Germany for TV,
communications and multimedia. 500 000 visitors are expected this year and
we use the occasion to make our comeback with the Amiga in Europe. Virtual
Products I-Glasses and Commodore will also be presented to our visitors.
May I point out that the Amiga version of the I-Glasses will be much
cheaper than the PC version because it doesn't require the VGA-to-composite
conversion box, since the Amiga 1200 already has a composite output.
Ladies an gentleman, I hope this event was informative and I hope inspiring
for you. We are now at your disposition if there are any questions you
would like to ask us. Thank You for your attention.
Amiga Technologies
Speech by John Smith
I Would like to add my welcome to everyone here today which of course is
the first public conference in the UK.
For those of you who possibly do not know me I am John Smith and I have
been appointed the UK Sales Manager for Amiga Technologies UK.
I was previously with Commodore for 7 years, the last 2_ years of them as
National Sales Manager.
You will observe from the Agenda that I will explain briefly about the
product we will be selling and through which channels we will be selling
them..
I am obviously biased towards the Amiga - very happy to be selling it
again, and look forward to It's re-emergence and it gaining the recognition
it richly deserves.
However, I am fortunate in being able to sell other products along side the
Amiga that come from both inside and outside the Commodore branding.
The first of these, which is outside the Commodore brand, is Virtual
Reality product in the form of I-Glasses. There will be two versions
available. The first we can term the video version. This type will work
with anything that has a composite video output - so it will obviously work
with Amiga but also Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation - your VHS video player
etc.
They act as a personal display screen and display the image equivalent to
that of an 80" screen in which you can be totally immersed. In fact your
very own cinema! You can see your games in 2D or 3D with games that have
support for I Glasses . Films like Tommy from the WHO are currently being
produced especially in this 3D format.
The second version, the PC version has the additional head tracking system
with it and will therefore display not only in 3D but will allow you to
immerse yourself in your own virtual world. It also gives surround sound
and these glasses weigh from only 8oz in total. Very light and have been
ergonomically designed with members from the university of Edinburgh to
help avoid eye strain etc. They are the only glasses we know of in fact
that are designed with spectacle wearers in mind.
The pack will come complete with games and be available during September.
We have Denis Premiski of Virtual Products with us today who will explain
more about the product and prospective market for I Glasses shortly. Under
the Commodore Brand we will have available MS DOS PCs. There will be an
initial special limited offering of a Pentium 60 mini tower multimedia at a
very competitive price. It will come complete with Hard Drive, CD ROM, 8
megabytes of memory and software.
We will then launch the Commodore Golf series. "GOLF" is a name that is
understood throughout Europe so we feel is a very acceptable name. Our
minimum entry level will be the Pentium 75 and again will be a full
multimedia product including a quad CD ROM drive- sound card etc. There
will also be a Pentium 100 version. This product has been designed
exclusively for Commodore by Frog design and will be of top quality and
build.
It will be supported with 12 months on site warranty.
There will also be a full compliment of Commodore branded peripherals like
quad speed CD drives - loud speakers -mice etc. all colourfully packed and
competitively priced.
Back to Amigas
I will have available an excellent Amiga 1200 pack with software for the
end of September as the entry level machine and also a higher but very
competitively priced 170MB hard disk drive pack.
It will include productivity software like Database -Spreadsheet- Word
processing package- Paint package and games.
We will of course box it in our usual eye catching manner.
There will be the Amiga 4000/040 pack with a 1 Gigabyte hard drive and 6
megabytes of memory and later, during November a 4000/060 pack. Top
quality software again will be included.
All Amigas will have the latest version of the operating system,version
3.1, which has been optimised to improve system performance.
I will also have a new Amiga multisync monitor that vertically scans from
15 to 38 Khz which will avail itself to all Amigas from A500 upwards that
have a RGB port..
Where will I sell them?
These products have various routes to market not least being through the
independent via the distributor.
Whilst we still have to dot Is and cross the T's we will have 2
distributors this side of Christmas . Negotiations are almost complete.
Looking to 1996 I propose one or possibly even up to two more distributors
around the main Christmas period. These distributors obviously will
support the full range of our products and be cognisant of the Independents
requirements. A higher percentage of the product available this Christmas
will go through the Independent channel. As again we maintain support for
the loyalty they have shown throughout the ten years of Amiga.
It is my responsibility to sell our products here in the UK and also in
Australia, India, Malta and Israel.
High Street
The High street is of course also important to aiding our success and once
again we are very close to finalising contracts but expect to see our
product there through people like Comet and Tandy. The high street has
changed somewhat since Amigas were last freely available because we do not
have Rumbelows anymore and have seen them replaced by Escom stores who
specialise in PC's and communication products. It is envisaged that they
will sell our Amiga brand.
VAR
Value added resellers who specialise in the Audio visual arena and who give
us access to TV production companies and other niche markets are obviously
important for the Amiga 4000 product. We will look to top companies like
Premier Vision, Scala, Pentre Technologies etc. to fulfil this sector of
the market.
Corporates
The corporate sector is an area that will be looked at with regards to MS
DOS product. Personally, I only had a small contact with the PC arena
during my time at Commodore and I am of course aware of how quickly this
changes especially as Commodore has not sold PC's for over 3 years. This
market will be addressed and we will probably look towards some kind of
joint support with the VAR,S to take this sector in hand.
We have already sold the majority of our production, it is now a question
of allocation and that transfers the pressure back to Petro. Please ensure
we get all our product and importantly when we want it.
To summarise - Amiga is back, along with other new exciting products
available from the end of September. We look forward to the Xmas period
and believe that between all of us we can make it a pleasurable and
profitable market once again.
On behalf of Amiga Technologies UK, Thank you for your attention!
JOHN SMITH
AMIGA TECHNOLOGIES UK
Amiga Technologies at the IFA fair in Berlin
Bensheim, 15/08/95
From the 26th of August to the 3rd of September 1995, Amiga Technologies,
together with Virtual Products and Commodore, will be represented by a
booth (hall 26.A, booth 11) at the "Internationale Funkausstellung" (IFA)
fair in Berlin. This will be the first time since the liquidation of
Commodore that Amigas will be presented officially to the public at a fair.
The Amiga 1200 and Amiga 4000T as well as the CD32 products will be
displayed in different configurations and running several applications.
Amiga Technologies will be happy to accomodate third party developpers and
manufacturers at its booth to show the wide range of professional solutions
available for the Amiga computer.
The Amiga 1200 is the entry-level computer of the Amiga productline. It
features 2 Megabyte of RAM, within which the Amiga operating System fully
multitasks. The smart design of this computer allows animations and sound
in a perfect quality at a price never seen before. Another advantage of
the Amiga 1200 is its expandability. The user can gradually upgrade to
faster processors, more memory or larger harddrives. The software bundle
included provides standard software needed for most tasks like Multimedia,
Wordprocessing, Spreadsheet, database and even the game players haven't
been forgotten with two excellent entertainment titles.
The Amiga 4000 T is the high-end model of the Amiga Line. It features 6
megabytes of Memory with can be expanded to 18 megabytes onboard with
standard SIMMs and more using expansion cards. It is fitted with a 540 Mb
or 1 Gb SCSI harddrive and has six 32 bit Expansion slots, inlined with
four ISA and two video slots. Thanks to the wide choice of expansion cards
available on the market like 64 bit graphic boards, emulation boards,
multi-serial expansions or MPEG boards, the possibilities of the Amiga 4000
T are nearly unlimited. The onboard SCSI interface allows the use of
popular standard SCSI devices like streamers, scanners, CD-ROM drives etc.
There is also a processor slot that can hold CPU accelerator cards for more
powerful processors like the new Motorola 68060. Such a processor card
will be available for the Amiga 4000 T in November 1995. The SCALA
multimedia authoring software will be shipped with every Amiga 4000T.
Together with this software, the Amiga 4000 T enables the user to do
professional multimedia presentations out of the box.
The CD 32 console, based on the AMIGA 1200 technology, is fitted with a
double-speed CD ROM drive. The storage capacity of this media, combined to
the graphics and sound abilities of the Amiga gives an unmatched quality
for games and multimedia applications.
Contact :
Gilles Bourdin
Amiga Technologies
Berliner Ring 89
D-64625 Bensheim
Tel +49 6252 709 195
Fax +49 6252 709 520
email gbo@amiga-tech.de
Productivity, multimedia and entertainment Software to be bundled with
Amiga computers
Bensheim, 15/08/95
The Amiga 1200, fitted with a 170 Mb harddrive and two megabytes of RAM
will be bundled with the SCALA MM 300 Multimedia authoring software. With
this combination, the user will be able to do high quality multimedia
presentations out of the box at the advantageous price of 499 UKP. Some
well known Amiga productivity software packages will also be part of this
offer.
The A1200 is also available without harddrive but bundled with the
productivity software, except for SCALA at a price of 399 UKP.
The Amiga 4000T, fitted with a SCSI harddrive of 540MB or 1GB and 6 MB of
RAM will be available with SCALA MM 300. This is the perfect package for
those who want to make professional-looking presentations in a quality
unmatched on any other system at that price.
Contact :
Gilles Bourdin
Amiga Technologies
Berliner Ring 89
D-64625 Bensheim
Tel +49 6252 709 195
Fax +49 6252 709 520
email gbo@amiga-tech.de
VideoStream
Table of Contents
[Originally posted to Usenet. Not really Amiga-related, but good for
"where are they now?" value, or if you'd like to try to steal source code
from someone. -Jason]
From: carl@videostream.com (VideoStream)
A new company is in the early formation by as small group of Amiga originals:
Carl Sassenrath (Architect and designer of the Amiga Multitasking OS,
Designer of CDTV, Writer of AmigaLogo, Bay, etc.)
Jim Goodnow (Cofounder of Manx, Writer of Aztec C compilers)
Dave Morse (Cofounder Amiga, President of Amiga, Inc.)
The company is going to be doing some pretty interesting Multimedia tool
products, and we are looking for a few great software engineers. We are
located in the mountains far north of San Francisco.
Here's the posting... I apologize for abusing the net. Thanks.
(PS: Please feel free to tell friends about this. And, no, sorry we are
not bringing the Amiga back to life... but it's a good concept.)
**** VideoStream: Have Fun, Make Money, Live in the Country
We are offering a rare opportunity to skilled software engineers
who are interested in developing the next step in interactive
television, multimedia, and networked software.
VideoStream is a cutting edge multimedia startup company whose
founders are recognized pioneers in the industry. We are fortunate
to be located in scenic Mendocino County, just east of Ukiah at the
site of a historic mineral springs resort.
**** Positions: Software Engineers Extrodinare
-> Graphics and Compression Experts
-> Network System Gurus (Narrowband/Broadband)
-> User Interface & Database Specialists
You must be extremely good at software design and programming,
have a degree in a related field, a mathematical mind, and many
years experience. Only the best are invited to join our company.
Compensation is competitive and stock options are available.
Benefits include health, dental, life insurance, on-site
mineral baths, Olympic size swimming pool, hot tub, massage,
700 acres of hiking/bike trails, redwoods, lakes, rivers,
mountains, and more fresh air than you ever thought existed.
The company is still in its early formation stage. Now is a good
time to get in on the ground floor, change the world, and break
away from living your life on the freeways of congested, smog
filled cities.
**** Contacts: Via EMail, US Postal, Fedex (Please don¹t phone)
Attention: Carl Sassenrath, President
Address: VideoStream, PO Box 809, Ukiah, CA 95482
EMail: carl@videostream.com or carl@pacific.net
Web: www.videostream.com (check weekly)
Cloanto Personal Suite
Table of Contents
Product Announcement: Cloanto Personal Suite
Quality Amiga CD-ROM
This CD-ROM includes Personal Paint and Personal Write from Cloanto, SBase
4 Personal (from Oxxi), Personal Fonts Maker 1 & 2 (Cloanto), 27
professional Kara color fonts (Kara Computer Graphics), Cloanto's DirDiff
(file synchronization and replication software) and PNG Toolkit, plus 1/2
Gbyte of pictures, animations, stereograms, stereogram animations, Amiga
fonts, printer downloadable fonts and texts.
This is one of the first "different" Amiga CD-ROMs. The Personal Suite
CD-ROM contains no public domain or shareware software. Everything is
high-quality. Our goal was not to fill a CD-ROM, but to find some of the
best in different fields, with a preference for material not available on
other Amiga CD-ROMs. The commercial titles are the latest versions
available, with full AmigaGuide manuals (English and German, with some
titles also in Italian and French).
The capacity of the CD-ROM made it possible to include an enhanced version
of Personal Paint with extended documentation. Famous Amiga artists like
Jim Sachs and Karl Bihlmeier participated with a selection of their best
Amiga art. Also included, a compilation of animations by Eric Schwartz,
for the first time in IFF ANIM format. More people contributed to put
together more quality material than could be named here.
The CD-ROM is packaged in an elegant metal box.
The Personal Suite CD-ROM is scheduled for shipping on September 15, 1995.
--
.................................................................
. .
. Cloanto Italia srl Tel +39 432 545902 .
. Via G. B. Bison 24 Fax +39 432 609051 .
. 33100 Udine E-mail info@cloanto.it .
. Italy CompuServe 100145.15 .
.................................................................
Soft-Logik and Digita
Table of Contents
Sep 1, 1995 --- Soft-Logik Publishing
Digita and Soft-Logik are pleased to announce that Digita software
applications have been selected by Amiga Technologies to be bundled with
new Amiga computers. The bundle will include special new versions of
Wordworth, Datastore and Organizer.
Wordworth is the best-selling Amiga word processor in history and will help
increase excitement about Amiga computers. The version to be included is
Wordworth 4.0 SE and is exclusive to the Amiga computer bundle; it will not
be sold in stores.
Datastore is Digita's new personal database, first introduced in the autumn
of 1994. Organizer is a new personal information manager (PIM) that was
released in the spring of 1995.
The inclusion of these programs with new Amiga computers demonstrates that
Amiga Technologies is serious about productivity software. With over
100,000 people destined to receive copies of Wordworth, Datastore and
Organizer with their new Amiga computers this Christmas season, Digita's
programs will continue to be among the most popular Amiga application
titles.
---
Soft-Logik is pleased to announce a modest decrease in the price of
Organizer in North America. Organizer has been one of Soft-Logik's
top-selling programs since it's introduction in the spring of this year.
The new prices are:
$75 - the direct price for owners of other Soft-Logik programs
$75 - the direct price for owners of On The Ball
$85 - the direct price for any Amiga customer
TekMagic Takes Over GVP Products
Table of Contents
GVP's decline was no secret. Over the past couple of years, phone support
vanished, product releases became erratic and the rumors of GVP's demise
circled wildly.
Finally, GVP held a "going out of business" sale, auctioning off its
product line to the highest bidder-specifically, M-Tec of Germany.
After months of preparation, the "New GVP", TekMagic, has resurfaced in
Pennsylvania and has picked up where GVP left off.
M-Tec management at TekMagic informed AR that new product would go into
production in September and October, starting with GVP SIMMs and 1200/4000
accelerators, along with the G-Lock and DSS-8 sound sampler.
On the drawing board is a new 030 accelerator for the Amiga 2000 with
72-pin standard SIMM memory. Also planned is a refit of the A530
accelerator.
TekMagic also expects to re-manufacture the TBC+, EGS Spectrum, I/O
Expander and 4008 SCSI card.
TekMagic can be reached at (610) 522-9350 voice, (610) 522-9354 fax.
DKB Announces 2000/060 Card
Table of Contents
DKB, long-time developers in the Amiga market, have announced the upcoming
availability of the Wildfire 060 accelerator.
The first Wildfire will be for the A2000, boasting an 060/50 processor and
these features-
Interleaved Memory
32-bit SCSI-II Host bus DMA interface
10Mb/sec SCSI transfers
90% CPU available at full speed SCSI DMA
Fully Autoconfigurable
64 bit RAM expandable to 128 Megs
Uses industry standard 72-pin SIMMs
Allows mixing and matching of 4, 8, 16, and 32 meg SIMMs.
Models are planned for the 4000, 1200, and (possibly) 3000.
The list price for the Wildfire 2000/060 is $1699. Models will be
available no earlier than the first week in October, subject to processor
availability.
DKB is available at (810) 348-3821 voice, (810) 348-3531 fax, and
71333.453@compuserve.com e-mail.
DirOpus 5 Survey
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
DIRECTORY OPUS 5 - SURVEY
===========================================================================
Part One - Should I fill this in?
If you feel you have anything valid to say about Directory Opus, please
complete this survey. The survey is open to people regardless of whether
they currently own the program - we are as interested in gaining new users
as pleasing the current ones. The only requirement is that you are
_constructive_ with your ideas and critisism. Apart from that, _all_
responses will be considered and discussed.
Please send all completed replies to
E-Mail: <d5survey@hampschl.demon.co.uk>
Part Two - Purpose.
1. To gather information about what people want to be added and changed in
the next update of Directory Opus.
2. To find out if there are any particular areas where people require help.
3. To destroy any misconceptions which people have about the new versions
of Directory Opus.
Part Three - The Organizer.
The survey is being carried out by me, Leo Davidson, with the help of
various other people involved with DOpus. For what it's worth, I am
conducting the survey as an independent, but with the suppport and
authorisation of GPSoftware. My motivation for carrying out this survey is
the improvement of a program which I use and love. The results of the
survey will go back to GPSoftware as input for the next version of DOpus,
but if you want to remain anonymous, I will respect your wish.
If you have something negative to say about DOpus or GPSoftware, go ahead
and say it. I won't personally be offended, although I may turn around and
explain why I feel what you've said isn't valid, if I feel that is the
case. If what you say is valid, perhaps it will result in things changing
for the better.
We're not asking for your opinions with the expectation that they are all
good ones!
If you would like to contact me, you can do so via:
E-Mail: Leo Davidson <leo@hampschl.demon.co.uk>
IRChat: "Nudel" in "#Amiga" on Effnet and Undernet.
Please send all completed replies to
E-Mail: <d5survey@hampschl.demon.co.uk>
Part Four - The questions, already!!
Please read through all the questions first before answering. You do not
have to answer every question if you do not want to. Please expand and
reduce the amount of space for answers if you require.
1. Do you currently own DOpus5? ............................. Yes/No
Have you used a pirate copy of DOpus5? ................... Yes/No
Do you currently use an earlier version of DOpus? ........ Yes/No
Have you got the DOpus 5 -> 5.11 update? ................. Yes/No
Have you got the Magic-WorkBench ToolBar Icons Pack?
(MWB_DOpus_6.lha) ....................................... Yes/No
Do you have access to Aminet via Internet/BBS? ........... Yes/No
If you haven't already, do you plan on purchasing DOpus5? Yes/No
Do you think that DOpus5 is reasonably priced? ........... Yes/No
If not, how much do you think it should cost? .......... ________
How much time, if any, have you spent using DOpus5? .... ________
How much time have you spent using an earlier DOpus? ... ________
Which other file management programs do you use regularly?
(Please state computer and operating system for non-Amiga apps).
Mark your favourate one with a "*".
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Other comments and reasons for answering this part as you did:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Overall, do you prefer DOpus5 to the earlier versions? ... Yes/No
Do you like the way DOpus5 looks? ........................ Yes/No
Do you feel that DOpus5 looks better than DOpus4? ........ Yes/No
Do you feel that DOpus5 is powerful and versatile? ....... Yes/No
More so than DOpus4? ..................................... Yes/No
Do you feel that DOpus5 is intuitive and easy to use? .... Yes/No
More so than DOpus4? ..................................... Yes/No
Do you ever take advantage of DOpus5's multiple listers? . Yes/No
Do you ever take advantage of DOpus5's multi-threading? .. Yes/No
Other comments and reasons for answering this part as you did:
(You may refer to answers to other questions to avoid repeating
information).
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. Did you find DOpus5 easy to install? ..................... Yes/No
Did you find the v5.11 update easy to install? ........... Yes/No
Does the registration procedure bother you? .............. Yes/No
Have you changed the default setup and configured things
to how you want them? .................................... Yes/No
Have you found doing this easy and intuitive to do? ...... Yes/No
Do you like configuring things to how you want them? ..... Yes/No
Would you like to see more built-in features which come
pre-setup and require no configuration? .................. Yes/No
Would you say that the manual and online-help are good? .. Yes/No
Other comments and reasons for answering this part as you did:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. Please describe the things you like about the user-interface.
(E.g. Speed, Power, Ergonomics)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Please describe the things you dislike about the user-interface.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. Please describe the features and functions of DOpus which you like:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Please descibe the features and functions which you do not like:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Please tell us your ideas for new features and functions:
(Go into as much detail and space as you like!)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
If you have found any bugs in DOpus v5.11 (or later), please tell
us about them.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Please give us details of the Amiga(s) which you use to run
Directory Opus on. Please include details of which screenmode you
use and whether you run DOpus5 on its own screen or the Workbench.
Also, please state what size of font(s) you use for for screen
and listers.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Any other comments, questions, or suggestions?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7. Thank you for filling out this survey!
Please e-mail it back to: d5survey@hampschl.demon.co.uk
DirOpus 5 Conference
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
DIRECTORY OPUS 5 - CONFERENCE
===========================================================================
In late August, Amiga Report Magazine held an IRC conference with Jon
Potter, author of the DirOpus 5 directory utility package.
This transcript is Copyright 1995 Amiga Report Magazine and may not be
reprinted without permission.
(After introductory notes, Jon was asked to make an opening statement.)
jonp: Only that all questions have to include their 19 character serial
number :) And hey, thanks for coming, you wild and wacky bunch :) Oh
yeah, Nudel has a survey for everyone to fill out too For constructive
criticism.
[The survey is available in this AR as well. -Jason]
HammerD: two questions: 1) Did you add lister backdrop pattern ability yet?
:) and 2) is there a limit to the size of the lister icons? the stock
ones look terribly small on gfx card screens...
jonp: 1) yes :) and 2) in 5.11 there's a 64x64 pixel limit, which will be
gone or at least raised in the next version
HeadQuake: Is there any chance of InterNet FTP support in/from DirOpus ?
(FTP command with server choice, UL/DL buttons. ((a TCP/IP version of
Dopus maybe.. so I can DL gif pics and view 'em direct.. :) ))
jonp: There is an Opus FTP module available now on aminet (in /biz/diropus
or /biz/dopus or whatever it's called)
Tau: OpusFTP.lha comm/tcp 94K 1 An FTP Module for Directory Op
jonp: This is a freeware "demo" of the full-blown FTP module which will be
part of the Opus 5.2 upgrade It supports pretty much all you'd want an
FTP module to support, and doesn't even need its own buttons to run it
(the standard Copy/Delete/etc buttons work fine) As far as any further
Internet support goes, we're open to suggestions...
NAN: Maybe this question is a little early but: You have strong views on
piracy. How do you as a developer feel with the piracy still going on
and the current situation of the Amiga market? Is Opus directly affected
by this?
jonp: Opus is badly affected by piracy but I think that's true of any
software. Piracy is inevitable, but it's too easy to get complacent
about it. It's wrong and there's no other way to look at it. In the
case of the Amiga I think people who pirate are particularly stupid. The
computer is barely hanging on by its teeth as it is; if it wasn't for the
developers keeping it alive it'd be bye bye baby.
ElViSp: jonp two questions....Is the Dopus 5 survey on aminet official, asI
have lots of things to say about dopus5.11 and speaking of registration
codes...how do you feel about the registration code generator found on
several bbs's ??
jonp: The survey is officially "approved and supported" :) Talk to nudel
for more information about it, but we're interested in any comments you
have As far as the registration code generator goes, see my answer to the
previous question.
MrX: Are you planning on releasing an updated version of Mouse Bounce :) -
What other major new features will be implemented into 5.2? and are you
dedicated to the platform?
jonp: rofl :) Yeah Mouse Bounce 95 will be out soon :) 5.2 will be a fairly
substantial upgrade
Nudel: Survey answers will be put into an AMigaguide for Jon + beta testers
to look over and read, however anyone who doesn't want to be named won't
be. So call it semi-official :)
jonp: The major features are too numerous to list and also we're not sure
exactly what they'll be yet. But for example, there's the FTP module,
and there's changes to the program to make things like the FTP module,
LHADir, etc easier to write and use
MrDaniel: When will the next version be out? And whats new in it? (I'm
assuming there will be a next version... ;) ) How many copies of DOpus5
have you sold so far?
jonp: 5.2 will be released probably at the Cologne show in November. Other
changes include GUI improvements (borderless button banks with alternate
images for the Toolmanger freaks :) lister backdrop patterns arexx
changes.. basically most things people have been complaining about and
the occasional bug fix here and there :)
HammerD: Are you working on a HOT-JAVA web browser that could be launched
from dir opus? :-)
jonp: no comment :) but I will say that if I were, it could certainly be
launched from dir opus :)
HeadQuake: Have you had any contacts with Amiga-Tech? How do you like
their "plans" for the Amiga _computer_? Also, will DirOpus come on
CD-ROM anytime soon? (I'm much more intelligent than HammerD.. right?
:)
jonp: We've had some contact with AmigaTech recently, specifically the
English branch. They seem to be just like Commodore were :) I doubt
DirOpus will come on CD.. it's not big enough to warrant it, despite
what some people might say.. and not that many Amiga owners have CDs
yet. And I'm sure you're much more intelligent than HammerD :)
Nudel: BURRITO-Opus is almost finished. But don't tell anyone, it's top
secret and the launch will be bigger than Win'95.
JigSawMan: I do not have version 5, but am considering upgrading from
version 4. What is the "replacement" of workbench feature I've heard
about? What further capabilities does this add instead of just running
along with workbench?
jonp: Opus could always replace Workbench if you were so inclined.. by
that I mean it could always do everything Workbench did. However the
main thing about Opus 5 as far as Workbench replacement goes is the
ability to display icons. You can make it look almost exactly like
Workbench if you like.
jcompton: Except the About window is much more interesting.
jonp: And if you do, there's certainly no need to run Workbench as well.
Hence, it's replaced. It's a lot better than Workbench too :)
MisterX_: Just 1 question. Considering the huge user base of the PC, are u
considering a PC version of DirOpus?
jonp: We are.. and have been for ages. I actually got halfway through a
version of Opus 4 for Windows a couple of years ago, but I didn't like
the way it was going.. and Inovatronics had some problems at that stage
(and since then :) But I wouldn't be too surprised to see an Opus for
Win95 pop-up in the future. Opus96 maybe :)
MrDaniel: Will the next version support CyberGraphX? (Picture viewers,
anim players etc...) (Btw.. I also much more intelligent than HammerD.;)
jonp: Frankly I doubt it. I'm sure there are plenty of viewers and players
out there for CyberGfx already, what would the point be in reinventing
the wheel? It's impossible to support every graphics system.. although
CyberGfx does seem to be somewhat of a standard But it's ridiculously
easy to configure Opus to use external viewers if that's what you want
Opus does, at last, seem to work properly with CyberGfx btw :)
Long_Shot: Two Questions: Will the 5.2 update be distributed the same as
the 5.11? If a PC version comes out will there be cross platform
upgrades?
jonp: At this stage 5.2 will be a pay-for upgrade, but won't be too
expensive. The other question is a marketing one, and Greg's not here at
the moment. :)
Aesculape: Jon, you mentioned the ability of DirOpus5 to display icons as a
Workbench replacement. Does DirOpus 5 work with NewIcons icon images?
Also, with DirOpus4, when you display an icon image, the NewIcon image
displays, but the colors are wrong. Has this been fixed.
jonp: NewIcons is somewhat of a kludge system and I'm not at all surprised
that it doesn't work with Opus 4. As far as Opus 5 goes.. when it first
came out, everyone who used NewIcons complained that it didn't work with
Opus 5 Now the complaints seem to have stopped.. so I'm assuming that it
does work now :) But I don't use NewIcons and never have.. maybe someone
else here knows more about this? The only real problem with NewIcons is
the palette If you're running Opus5 on the Workbench screen there
shouldn't be any problem
Nudel: Apparently, NewIcons do work for the Lister ToolBar icons.
Troels: Jon, have you seen DirMaster for OS/2? :-)
jonp: No I haven't. I've heard that it's almost a direct Opus 4
conversion.. I'd like to see it. I think it's a bit rude of the author
not to send me a copy actually.
AdamH2: Thanks for your support of Amijam. Is there an upgrade policy for
people who bought the cover disk version of DirOpus 4 (as was indicated?)
jonp: AFAIK the coverdisk upgrade offer is valid indefinitely.. I can't
remember what the price was, and I think you would have to go through the
distributors in England
Nudel: It was around 35 pounds when I upgraded from the cover disk in the UK
Tau: if you "replace WB" with DirOpus, what happens to workbench.library?
aka. AppIcons and AppWindows, and WBInfo()? Does SwazInfo work together
with DO5?
jonp: workbench.library is in ROM so it doesn't go anywhere.. Opus
intercepts all the AddAppXXX() calls and emulates them, so you don't
notice any difference. SwazInfo works fine apparently though it doesn't
trap Opus' own Icon information requester.. yet.. but I did give the
info to swaz and he said he'd do something about that.
amigaman: if and when you make the jump to the pc do you plan to continue
to support the amiga.. and what kind of future do you think the amiga
has.. thanks .. also opus 5 is very good work and thanks for the
program support..
jonp: I'll probably support the amiga for as long as the platform is viable
Or until I take up gardening :)
Nudel: ...or POTTERy... :)
Tau: the question was how long you consider Amiga viable ;)
jonp: As far as a future goes, frankly I don't think it looks very good.
Escom would have to do something really radical to prolong its life much
further, and they don't seem to be. They seem like Commodore all over
again. But it might be too early to judge, I'm keeping an open mind. As
long as I can afford to run my motorbike on Opus sales I'll consider it
viable :)
Long_Shot: Comment: DOpus 5 did not start working with NewIcons, we just
gave up. Question: Will we ever be able to edit and use more than 16
colors?
jonp: re: NewIcons.. I'll look at it before 5.2 is released.. I'm just
loathe to install it since it's impossible to get rid of it again
afterwards. I would follow your question up with : Do you really need to
use more than 16 colours? :) You can have the screen with as many
colours as you like, but why would you need more than 16 for Opus itself?
well, image buttons aren't limited in colour :)
Tau: jonp, actually, it's not. it's just a program after all, you don't
have to copy the (sucky) icons over your old ones.
Nudel: LockColors etc can be used to set all the other pens, if you need it
for any reason.
MrDaniel: Do you laugh or cry when you use FileManager in Windows? Is it
possible to run Dopus5 on the Workbench screen? Is it possible to open a
24-bit CGfx DOpus screen?
jonp: I don't use FileManager in Windows :) But seriously.. FileManager is
ok for what it does.. it was never meant to be very powerful, and it
does that very well. The Win95 explorer isn't much better btw
Nudel: It does not being very powerful very well.
jonp: DOpus5 runs fine on the Workbench screen, I'm doing it at the
moment.. it's actually designed to work that way (though you don't have
to).
Tau: agreed, filemanager definitely does stand in your way in a very
effective manner
jonp: I don't think it would be possible to open a 24 bit screen for Opus
but if your Workbench screen is 24 bit there's no reason it wouldn't work
on that (that I know of)
moster: Compliments for a great piece of programming - My question: Have
you tried to include a particular feature in OPus5 but which you had to
give up ? If so - What?
jonp: There's lots of things I'd have loved to have put in Opus5 Time was
the main problem.. things like LHA support should really have been
built-in, but there just wasn't the time for it. Although I specifically
try NOT to build too much into Opus.. people complain that it's too big
already. They'd prefer to have an external 50k program instead of an
extra 10k in the main program :)
Tau: how about supporting the ObjectArchive concept?
jonp: Tau: whassat? :)
Tau: ObjectArchive.lha util/arc 48K 31 Access archives (lha, tar...)
JohnG: Can Opus be the next OS for PowerPC Amiga or other platforms (as
HRP)?
jonp: Opus isn't an OS by any means, it's just an app.. there's no reason
why it couldn't be the next Workbench though
AdamH: This is more GPSoft than DirOpus <g> but do you know if Greg is ever
going to release the long awaited GPFax update?
jonp: He'd love to.. I've seen it and it's pretty hot Unfortunately Opus
is taking too much time at the moment But look for it early next year if
not by Christmas this year
ash: Is there an DOpus5 specific FTP site in the works? There was one
mentioned awhile ago. And have you had to upgrade your number plates?
:) GA.
jonp: I've actually got a site running now, but it's on such a slow link
that I haven't told anyone about it You can check out the dopus home page
at http://birch.apana.org.au/ though if you like :) And no, I haven't
upgraded the number plates :) There's also a mailing list btw, if you
want to subscribe to it send mail to majordomo@birch.apana.org.au and put
"subscribe dopus5" in the message body.
wmaddock: I know this isn't about Dopus, but there have been some
questioons about Timm Martin, Author of SID. For those that are
interested, do you know anything official about his status?
jonp: I don't, know.. I've never had any sort of contact with him at all.
He was always sick though and I heard a rumour that he'd died, but it
might have been just a rumour. I hope he's still out there, the Amiga
needs all the developers it can get...
amac: Jon, have you considered being able to print buttons/functions with
ASCII text? This would allow people to put functions and buttons in mail
messages and the like.
jonp: I have actually.. the never-released Opus 4.5 had the ability to do
that. It might make it back into 5.2 actually.. I'll put it on my list
Nudel: The button files are small enough to UUEncode into a message without
any problems.
jonp: Yes but for publishing in magazines or something, it wouldn't hurt...
Intex: Have you been considering allowing the use of more than one user
menu (similar to 4) - and is there anyway for dopus to search for for
what toolsmenu/appicon are present - on mine it only recognises additions
to these after it has ran
jonp: Opus 5.2 will most likely have multiple configurable menus, I'm not
quite sure about this though It's impossible for Opus to find out what
AppThings were added before it is run.. Workbench doesn't make that
information publically available So the only way to get hold of it is to
patch the library functions and grab it on the way in If you don't want
to run Opus all the time you can still get it to work by doing a "loadlib
dopus5.library" in your user-startup Since it's the library that actually
handles that stuff
_Bernie: I heard that DOpus5 misses some useful features of version 4. It
acquired many new options, but it lost some other. is this true?
jonp: It lost a few, but I question how useful they were.. and one thing
it lost (SoundTracker support) is back now (against my better judgement)
There were a few useful things that have gone back in for 5.2 though..
it was more a question of me forgetting to put them in rather than
deliberately leaving them out :)
BuZz: trivial question. but how big is the source code for dopus. :)
jonp: the main program is about 1.5 megs, libray is about 500k and the
modules are mostly around the 30-40k mark
Jkay: I'm curious about your link with Inovatronics ... are you the SOLE
owner/marketter of Opus now?
jonp: I always was the sole owner of Opus.. the copyright is now held
jointly by me and GP [as in GPFax] Software. Inovatronics were only ever
the publisher, they never had any rights to it
Nudel: MWB_DOpus_7.lha will be on aminet soon, and it'll have new ARexx
scipts, some assembler semi-modules (WinCopy commands and stuff) as well
as all the icons.
Josef: Sorry if this was already asked, but do you plan on implementing any
sort of TCP/IP related utilities directly into DOpus (for DCC, FTP, etc,)
besides the arexx scripts?
jonp: There is an FTP module on aminet, ask Nudel for more information
amac: A nice question for the Amiga Report. Where should
suggestions/requests for features be sent. I've emailed you directly
before, but should it go to Greg, now?
jonp: It's best to mail Greg directly (zzgperry@mailbox.uq.oz.au).. or
subscribe to the mailing list (majordomo@birch.apana.org.au) and post
them there.. but direct to Greg is best
Nudel: Or send your ideas in with the survey.
Amiga Convention '95 Show Report
Table of Contents
In mid-August, Amiga Convention '95 was held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Hundreds of Amiga users came from all over Canada and the US to gather for
great Amiga deals and the chance to meet other Amiga users and luminaries.
The two-day event was anchored by Canadian dealer/distributor Wonder
Computers, who occupied one of the short sides of the rectangular show
floor. Along the long wall were various dealers and manufacturers,
including Oby's Amigo Computing Shop, Pre'Spect Technologies, National
Amiga, GfxBase, and AsimWare Innoventions. Phantom Development occupied a
table more centrally in the room, and IAM had their section in the Wonder
display.
The organizers put much of the focus of the show's organization into a
competition for demos, music, graphics and 3D objects. While I was unable
to attend any of the competitions, the organizers plan to release the
winning entries to Aminet shortly.
Speakers gave presentations to the crowd as well. Dale Larson gave a
lengthy keynote speech in a tuxedo and sneakers, sharing his outlook on the
Amiga market including sketchy details of his interview with ISE, the
company contracted to do Amiga development for Amiga Technologies.
I gave an even longer (nearly an hour and a half) talk on emulators,
featuring the game Giana Sisters for the Frodo C-64 emulator. Nearly
everything went smoothly, a welcome change of pace.
Al Mackey, Amiga artist, gave a stunning presentation with Brilliance.
Within 5 minutes, Al created a cartoon-quality character. After that, the
audience was stunned into silence.
The International Amiga Society project, outlined in AR 3.15's feature
M-PLAN, held a small IRC conference with a short list of invited Amiga
users including Dave Haynie, as well as an assembly of AC '95 attendees, in
an international attempt to drum up support for the Amiga marketing
paradigm outlined by Giorgio Gomelsky.
Nearly every presenter there had an eye-catching display or two. Wonder's
sheer volume as well as the V-Lab Motion display set up by Rick Sulpizio,
Canadian distributor, drew attention. In addition, Dale Larson and myself
set up shop behind the Wonder tables to sign autographs. Phantom
Development kept busy showing off the demo of Hell Pigs, a new
action-adventure game designed by Classica, roughly authored in the
Sierra/LucasArts style. In addition, "release version, non-boxed" copies
of the editor Digital Quill were available for sale. Oby's sold a number
of copies of Gloom thanks to their networked game setup where passerby
could blow blood and guts all over the floor. AsimWare's Paul Reeves
played a seemingly endless round of Super Stardust CD32 on an A4000 to
demonstrate the CD32 emulation of AsimCDFS 3.x to shoppers. National Amiga
had the distinction of being the only dealer with the foresight to have a
catalog onhand, as well as being the only dealer with an online HTML
catalog available to attendees thanks to the two A1200s on their table. In
addition, some attendees brought systems that got notice, namely John
Paden's A3000, which sported a CyberVision card.
Peter Cherna, former Commodore OS engineer and presently employed in PC
development at Scala showed up for the final hours of Amiga Convention.
After Dave Haynie's videotaped greeting to the crowd in which he outlined
his "must-do" list for a new Amiga line, Cherna, Dale Larson, myself, and
Greg Scott from National Amiga participated in a panel discussion. The
bulk of the questions were directed at Larson and Cherna as ex-Commodore
employees, asking questions about the future relevant to developments of
the past (such as OS upgrades and development). Needless to say, Greg and
I got annoyed in a good-humored sort of way.
Attendance was paid and, as such, measured exactly. The final turnout
numbers were not pleasing to the show organizers, who blamed a lethargic
marketplace. However, since the attendance almost certainly was less than
AmiJAM '95, a show in a smaller marketplace that had better promotion, the
answer is more likely to rest in the work done to bring in users.
Still, the end result was that a lot of dealers and users went home
happy-and that's what bringing the Amiga community together is all about.
Review: ImageFX 2.1
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
REVIEW: IMAGEFX 2.1
By Bohus Blahut bohuslav.bohut@mail.colum.edu
===========================================================================
Recently, registered owners of ImageFX 2 (IFX) received a free upgrade to
2.1. It introduced significant enhancements to an already superlative
image processing program. Adding to the numerous image compositors already
in the original release are "softlight" and "hardlight" compositing, also
support for Cybergraphics, Retina, Video Toaster, HPScanjet, and Primera
printers. To me the most important addition is CineMatte. This is IFX's
intelligent blue screen compositor.
For the uninitiated, image processing programs specialize in manipulating
imagery; be it drawn, scanned, rendered, or grabbed from video. For the
Amiga/DraCo, there are several such programs, but IFX stands out in several
ways.
First, ImageFX is one of the most capable paint programs on the Amiga. I
use IFX with an OpalVision 24-bit display card which has its own paint
program, OpalPaint. Though OpalPaint is a longtime favorite of mine, I
find IFX's paint abilities to be so flexible and the results so beautiful,
It's often the only thing that I use.
Another essential IFX feature is its regional processing feature. You
create a shape that acts as a stencil for processing effects. If you
wanted to tint a person in a picture blue, you'd simply freehand draw a
shape around the person in the picture, then hit the Balance key and crank
up the blue.
All image processing (IP) softwares perform certain essential functions
i.e. gamma correction, sharpening, cropping, scaling etc. They also
convert pictures from one format to another, usefull for porting your work
over to other platforms.
An important IFX ability that is unfortunately rare in other programs is
macro recording. You simply record your mouseclicks, and your actions
become a macrofile. For those uncomfortable with Arexx, this is a real
timesaver. If you perform a function twice, it's worth creating a macro.
You can apply these macros and other included scripts, onto moving images
using AutoFX. AutoFX is simpler to use than IMP, IFX's previous batch
processor. You select groups of images, create a list of scripts to
execute, and off you go. While IFX's effects are impressive on a still
picture, wait till you see them in motion!
What distinguishes one IP software over another is its special effects, and
IFX has some beauties. IFX 2 brought in dazzling effects like lens
reflections, emulation of painting styles, lightning, textures, ripples...
The list goes on. All of these effects have several configurable
parameters eliminating that "signature" look. In a program like Lightwave,
you can no longer use lens reflec- tions without giving away that you used
Lightwave. IFX allows you to build your own reflections, and other
effects. IFX even includes a simple to use morphing program at no extra
charge. All of these elements make IFX a necessary addi- tion to you video
arsenal, especially since the introduction of CineMatte.
A year ago, I was assistant director and visual effects supervisor on a
film called Hollow. We shot several blue screen scenes of a female
hologram. We wanted her to be composited (combined) over a background and
the effect called for the actress to be transparent and ripple a little
bit.
Using Vlab Motion, I recorded both the blue screen and the background
elements, and saved them onto my hard drive as Jpeg fields. I spent the
next nine months doing the compositing with varying degrees of success.
The prob- lem is that when the computer does blue screen compositing, it
wants a specific color value to key out. Since this was a real world blue
screen, a whole range of blues needed to be keyed out. While the IP
softwares allow you to specify a certain variance off of your original
color, once I got the variance up high enough to eliminate all of the blue,
parts of the actress would key out too. I thought that the answer was in
using an alpha channel, but the formation of al- phas from this particular
video just wasn't precise enough.
Enter CineMatte! Designed specifically for Blue and Green screen
compositing, CineMatte is "intelligent" enough to examine a picture and
decide what's blue or green and key it out. It's so simple! This is what
computers are supposed to do... make our lives easier. CineMatte can also
save out alpha channels to use elswhere. I will likely use this feature in
the final itineration of this effect. By outputting alpha channels and
convolve blurring them in IFX, when I composite the pictures they'll have a
cool blue fuzzy edge.
If you'd like to see what this effect ended up looking like before
tweaking, see the Vlab Motion demo video. There are several other
excellent examples of what ImageFX can do to video. With its macro
recording capability, my film and video life has gotten a little simpler
and automatic. If only I could get IFX to drive out and shoot videos for
me.
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
REVIEW: ON THE BALL
By: Katherine Nelson
===========================================================================
On the Ball is a great personal information manager from Oregon Research
that can be found for about $35US. Its many features include a calendar, an
appointment manager, a To Do list, an address book, and a notepad.
The Calendar:
------------
The calendar can be viewed either by the week, month, or year. On the week
view, all appointments are shown within their time slots. On the month
view, the text "name" of the appointments are shown on the appropriate
days, and on the year view, all dates that have appointments are
highlighted.
While not in use, On the Ball appears as a small calendar on the Workbench
screen. This calendar shows the current month, with appointment days
highlighted. The current time also shows at the top of the calendar, and
the current day is also shown. Clicking on this calendar brings up either
the appointment manager, the To Do list, the address book, or the notepad,
according to whichever was viewed last. If the appointment manager
appears, it will flip to the current date.
All the pens used in the calendar and other windows are selectable from the
current Workbench colors, allowing one to customize On the Ball to taste,
which is a nice feature.
The Appointment Manager:
-----------------------
The appointment manager allows one to add, update, delete, or search for an
entry. The entries consist of a text "name", the start and end times, the
repeat types, and the reminder.
The repeat types are quite versatile, with options such as "No Repeat",
"Daily", "Every Four Weeks", and several in between. Also, the appoinment
can repeat on forever with one of the patterns, or only a specified number
of times.
As stated above, the appoinments are shown on the calendar. They can be
printed out in any of the calendar views using the small "P" button on the
right side of the window frame on the calendar view. Using print from the
appointment window will only allow one to print the appointments that are
selected, and one can only select appointments that appear on the same day.
A nice feature that could be improved is "tagging". It allows one to
catagorize appointments, and view either all appointments, only untagged
appointments, appointments with a specific tag, or specific tagged
appointments and untagged appointments. Noticeably lacking is the ability
to view items from 2 tags or more without viewing all. The only way I've
been able to view items from 2 different tags is to create a third tag, and
copy all appointments from the first two tags, and tag them with the third
tag. This is time-consuming and inconvenient, but hopefully the problem
won't crop up often, or perhaps future versions of On the Ball will allow
multi-tag viewing, or the ability to put more than one tag per item, rather
than having two copies of the information.
Finally, a reminder is available that can be set to appear on the Workbench
at a specified number of days/minutes before the actual appointment. The
reminder has a "snooze" capability, for those who are too busy (or too
lazy) to acknowledge it the first time around.
The Address Book:
----------------
The address book has all the standard fields (with Country), plus the
ability to have up to 20 phone numbers. With fax machines and beepers
becoming more and more common, this is a nice feature. Internet addresses
can also be stored there, provided they have 24 characters or less.
Tagging is also available here, which allows one to separate business
contacts from friends and family. Again, the tag viewing problem makes it
difficult to see all people except those belonging to a specific catagory.
But again, hopefully future versions will take care of this problem.
A "note" can be attached to any entry. The window for entering the note
has all the same features as the notepad, as mentioned below.
Sorting can be done on any of the fields, so if one wants to see only the
people with addresses in Sweden, it is an easy thing to accomplish.
The print feature has many options, including the ability to create mailing
labels, or simply print a table of addresses. In either case, one can
select the fields to be printed from a list of those available.
The Notepad:
-----------
The notepad has much the same format as the To Do list, with searching and
the same method of printing.
Other than that, it's a notepad. The notepad has all the expected
functions. It even has find/replace capability, which is nice, but
probably unnecessary.
The To Do List:
--------------
The To Do list is much more simple than the appointment manager, but this
is to be expected. The window has a list of "To Do"s according to due date
to scroll through, or to search. (There is also an option for no due
date).
While a reminder and a repeat function are not available, tagging is,
allowing one again to separate personal from business. These can be viewed
in the same tag combinations as the appointments.
Printing is available, but only through the To Do window, by selecting the
items to print. A calendar option is not available. Something I would
like in future versions is the ability to print the appointments and the
"To Do"s on the same calendar. I would like to have to only look in one
place for my schedule and such.
Overall:
-------
Oregon Research states in the manual that they are in the process of "a
major upgrade to both the program and the documentation." Hopefully, the
new version will include the features I have listed above as "missing".
Unfortunately, no date was given for the expected release of the newer
version.
This is a great package for the money. It is much cheaper than its
counterparts for the Mac and PC, and while it may not look as "slick", it
is still quite attractive and certainly useful.
Review: Brilliance: Real Time Solutions Tutorial Tapes
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
REVIEW: BRILLIANCE: REAL TIME SOLUTIONS TUTORIAL TAPES
By: Jason Compton and Katherine Nelson
===========================================================================
Back in 1993, Horizon West Productions came up with a 3-hour video tape
series dedicated to Brilliance-specifically, demonstrating its ease of use
and power in specific, real-world areas such as logo creation and
animation. Each tape is roughly one hour in length, designed and presented
by Larry Shultz.
Aside from a short introductory and concluding segment where Shultz
addresses the viewer, the screen constantly displays Brilliance as it is
being used, uninterrupted except for a few instances when the film is
edited ahead to avoid such annoyances as the rendering of 150 frames of
animation.
The tapes are not beginner-level material and presume a certain familiarity
and comfort level with Brilliance. The issues being addressed are supposed
to be those of the video professional, trying to design and create projects
using Brilliance.
Tape 1
------
The first video focuses on two-dimensional static logo creation. Shultz,
in real time (hence the name of the series) designs two logos-one, a
fictional corporate logo for "Scarab", consisting of a cleverly
color-filled flying beetle and appropriately nifty font and a fictional TV
news segment, "Health Beat" intro screen. While it's clear that some
forethought has gone into each project (such as color selection for the
gradient fills), the end results clearly demonstrate that, with a steady
hand and some planning, very nice logos can be created in about 30 minutes.
Tape 2
------
The second tape revolves around animation-specifically, re-creating the
roughly 5-6 seconds of introductory animation shown at the beginning of
each tape, an effect involving a paintbrush that paints out the
"Brilliance" logo.
This tape, more than the first one, presumes some experience with computer
and Amiga animation. Terms largely go unexplained and while the method is
clear, the individual mouseclicks go unexplained (for example, if you don't
know what "tweening" is and why he clicks "reset" before doing anything
else, too bad.)
The project is an excellent walkthrough to basic animation technique and
illusion with Brilliance, as the issue of synchronization and rotation are
discussed.
Tape 3
------
The final tape focuses on logo creation using nice fonts and Brilliance
effects ranging from the ridiculously simple (such as outlining a font in
a pink scale of increasing intensity to generate a neon effect) to rather
clever and complicated (such as using an arc-animation to generate a
reflective ripple effect without the aid of an image processing package.)
Most of the generated logos picked up some animation, creating a marriage
of sorts between the techniques learned in the first and second tapes. The
explanation of the morph effect used on one logo was rather poor, but the
stencil effect and aforementioned ripple animation were well documented.
In Summary
----------
As a whole, the package definitely does the job of showing Brilliance in a
real-time problem-solving environment, with overall confident presentation
from Shultz.
Any artist confident with basic design and color techniques can probably
skip the first tape without missing much. The second tape is an excellent
presentation, but unfortunately consists of a single project and really
needs the more applied uses in tape 3 to fully cover the animation angles.
Tape 3 is the best of the bunch, getting right to the point and showing a
number of clever effects without delay. Some are quite simple, but look
excellent on video.
Obviously, more work went into the projects shown on the tape than the 30
minutes they take on average to recreate for the viewer. As an educational
tool on the package, however, the Real Time Solutions series does the job
quite well. It does not present Brilliance as a cure-all graphical design
system, but does show you how to create a number of effective images
without leaving its confines.
For US$20 per tape (NTSC only), you'll have to make your own decision.
Tape 1 is an excellent introduction to basic design techniques, but not
everyone needs that. For a complete primer on animation, 2+3 will do fine.
For a design and animation course, 1+3 will do the job.
Horizon West Productions
P.O. Box 2729
Corrales, NM 87048
(505) 891-1689
horizonw@rt66.com
Review: Final Writer 4
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
REVIEW: FINAL WRITER 4
By William Near
===========================================================================
SOFTWARE: Final Writer 4
MANUFACTURER: SoftWood Inc.
P.O. Box 50178
Phoenix, Arizona 85076
(800) 431-9151
DESCRIPTION: Word processor/desktop publishing program
PURCHASED FROM: SoftWood Inc.
PRICE: I paid US$33 direct from SoftWood Inc.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Amiga running Workbench 2.x+, a hard drive and at
least 2.5 MB of RAM
SYSTEM TESTED ON: Amiga 2000 (Rev 4.4), ECS chip set, G-Force '030
accelerator @ 50 MHz., 2 MB CHIP + 8 MB FAST memory, Quantum LPS270S hard
drive with Trumpcard Professional controller, Picasso II RTG (2 MB)
graphics board, Workbench 3.1
PACKAGING: The box contained three floppy disks and a brand new Final
Writer 4 manual
INSTALLATION: The update to Final Writer 4 uses the Commodore Installer
program to create the new version of Final Writer on your hard drive. This
makes the whole upgrade process simple and painless.
NOTE: I am only going to cover the differences between Final Writer 3 and 4
in this review. It would make the review quite lengthy if I were to cover
every feature of the Final Writer program.
CHANGES: These are the major changes made to Final Writer 4:
* Movement within a document -- Page Click Tabs have been added to
represent the page numbers of your documents at the top of the document
window. They look like those little tabs that you use in a filing cabinet
to separate folders. If you have ever seen a Magic User Interface
application that uses this feature then you know what I mean. By clicking
on any of the tabs you can move directly to any page within the current
document. When the first row of page numbers reaches the right-hand side
of the screen, a second row is formed directly behind the first. This is
an excellent addition to the program and it makes the process of jumping
between pages very quick and easy.
Section Click Tabs have also been added at the bottom of the document
window to represent various sections of your document. By clicking on any
of the various sections you can move directly to the corresponding part of
your document.
In the new Information/Status Bar there are two sets of arrows. The two
up arrows are used to move to the top of the document or up one page in the
document. The two down arrows are used to move to the bottom of the
document or down one page in the document.
Finally, you can just click on the page number display in the new
Information/Status Bar and manually enter a page number to jump to within
the requestor.
Any of these movement features can be toggled on or off at anytime.
* Most of the menus and requestors have been rearranged to eliminate the
messy sub-menus that were present on previous versions of Final Writer.
All of the Preferences requestors are now in the form of Click Tabs. This
is very intuitive and easy to use.
* Information/Status Bar -- this bar, which can be toggled on and off,
appears at the bottom of the window. It displays: line and character
position, page number, date, and time.
Clicking on the line or character position buttons will display the View
Preferences requestor. Clicking on the date or time buttons will insert
the current date or time into the document at the current cursor position.
The up/down arrows and the page number display were described earlier in
this review.
* User Button Strip -- this strip contains the usual icon representations
for the various actions that can be performed on a document. Now this
strip can be placed at the top, bottom, left, or right edges of the
document. By clicking on the Next User Button Strip icon, you can access
up to eight user-defined button strips located behind the main strip.
* Type attributes can now be set selectively instead of all at once as in
previous versions of Final Writer. There are also plain, bold, italic, and
underline buttons on the User button Strip for easy text attribute changes.
* Grammar Correction -- finally Final Writer includes a grammar checker! I
have been waiting for this feature since using Excellence! in the past.
You can set the various rules that the grammar checker will adhere to, such
as: strict, business, and casual grammar rules; reporting consecutive
nouns, prepositional phrases, and split infinitives. There are forty-six
different Rule Types that can be individually toggled on and off, such as:
spelling errors, capitalization errors, punctuation errors, double
negatives, etc.
When a grammatical error occurs, a requestor containing two windows will
give a detailed explanation of the error and some suggested corrections for
that error.
The grammar checker in Final Writer 4 is quite powerful and it most
definitely puts other such programs to shame on the Amiga platform. It is
an excellent addition to an otherwise fine product and it is also one of
the main reasons I upgraded from Final Writer 3.
* Document Readability (Statistics) -- this menu choice will analyze your
entire document and return statistics and a readability rating. The
statistics include: paragraph, word and sentence counts, and noun/verb
groups. The readability rating is provided in the following forms: Flesch
Reading Ease Score, Flesh Reading Ease Grade Level, Flesch-Kincaid Grade
Level, Coleman-Liau Grade Level, and Bormuth Grade Level.
Just for curiosity, here are the ratings for this review:
Flesch Reading Ease Score: 61.13 Standard
Flesh Reading Ease Grade Level: 8.88 8th-9th Grade
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.68
Coleman-Liau Grade Level: 11.76
Bormuth Grade Level: 10.30
DISLIKES: When loading in old Final Writer documents the settings for the
3D look and the ruler on the left side of the document window seem to
disappear. I wish there were a way to make these attributes take effect on
any imported document, instead of having to reset these attributes and then
save the document.
The printing is still slower than a slug and the whole machine drags when
loading in a document or the Final Writer 4 program itself. The pulldown
menus consistently fail when using MagicMenu (PD), so I had to disable this
program before running Final Writer 4. This could be caused by something
in the code for MagicMenu, but Final Writer 4 is the only program I own
that has this problem.
The Type Layout requestor is awkward to use. Most of the options remain
ghosted until you click on a check box at the right for that specific
attribute. I find this to be quite annoying when trying to change a
certain attribute of the text in question.
SUMMARY: I like Final Writer 4 much more than any other Amiga word
processor that I have used in the past. As in the past, all of your Final
Copy II and Final Writer documents will load into Final Writer 4 perfectly,
so there is no need to worry about loss of formatting, etc. Final Writer
is still definitely one of the top two word processors for the Amiga and
it's still improving thanks to Softwood's dedication to their products.
Review: Stylus Pro-Pak
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
REVIEW: STYLUS PRO-PAK
Maxwell Daymon mdaymon@rmii.com
===========================================================================
The Amiga has never really been a leader in desktop publishing.
Development has always been primarily focused on games, video, and lately
multimedia markets. However, Stylus has come back with a redesigned
version of their product "ProVector" in the form of a productivity package.
The Stylus Pro-Pak actually consists of four distinct programs:
· ProVector 3.0
The structured drawing program (certainly the focus of the package)
· StylusTracer
Converts IFF ILBM and TIFF bitmaps to IFF-DR2D or Adobe Illustrator
· PSImport
Imports and decomposes PostScript, EPS, and Adobe Illustrator EPS
· RexxRequest.
An ARexx command host that gives gadtools.library functions to ARexx
programmers
* Installation
The Stylus Pro-Pak uses the Standard Amiga Installer Utility and the
installation script is very well implemented. In Expert mode (my preferred
mode), not only does it allow you to choose and verify what you want
installed, it will tell you exactly how much disk space the options will
take. If you are not satisfied, you simply reselect what you want
installed. There is no need to abort and start the whole process over
again as some other scripts would require. You can keep altering your
choices until you finally decide what configuration will be acceptable.
The package comes with the manual for the 2.0/2.1 version of ProVector and
a very sharp context sensitive ProVector 3.0 on-line help system. Given
the quality and extent of the included AmigaGuide based help files, I just
don't see much point in the manual. Being able to position the pointer on
any given button/window, pressing help, and instantly getting such a
comprehensive on-line help makes the slightly dated manual a non-issue.
* StylusTracer
The included bitmap tracing utility, StylusTracer, is an extremely powerful
tracer. Gold Disk's Trace program is an embarrassment by comparison.
StylusTracer loads IFF ILBM (2-256 color, HAM, 24-bit) and TIFF bitmap
images. The program worked on my CyberGraphX screenmodes in up to 256
colors, and surprised me when it even opened on an Amiga HAM6 screen (I'm
sure HAM8 is even better) StylusTracer supports dithering to increase the
number of apparent colors, and can use color or grayscale palettes. If you
aren't doing color work, grayscale offers a very clean image, especially
with the AGA chip set.
There are a number of image processing features that help to convert any
given bitmap to a form conducive to tracing. Conversion is available to
and from black & white, indexed color, grayscale, and full-color (24-bit).
Seven different smoothing options are there to tackle various image
problems: average, median, blur, gradient, region, minimum, and maximum.
The program also offers a generous complement of image processing features:
posterize, remove isolated pixels (very nice before tracing a dirty scan),
sharpen, edge detect, thin, scale, invert, strip bits, brightness,
contrast, and gamma. Having all these tools immediately available makes
the process of tracing much less painful. Coupled with undo ;-), you can
really experiment with various options quickly. Simple painting options
are also available including pixel by pixel editing at any magnification
level. The program will save the image back out as an IFF file (so you
actually get a TIFF to IFF ILBM file format converter in the process).
The trace options allow you to specify precision, curve fitting, whether or
not you even want curves or just straight lines traced, and how you want
objects handled (with or without holes) and so on. You can export traced
data as IFF DR2D, or Adobe Illustrator with or without a preview header. I
had no problems using data exported to Adobe Illustrator format on various
Macintosh machines running the software.
If you are not satisfied with a trace, you can keep tweaking options and
retracing until you find settings suit the particular bitmap. A logo is
probably going to demand significantly different settings than an
illustration. Further, you can actually watch as it traces so you don't
have to wait out the entire process before you know whether the options
were adequate.
[Graphic card users should note that StylusTracer currently assumes that
256 color screens have an 8-bit per gun palette. Most of the graphic cards
currently available for the Amiga only support 6-bits per gun, so opening
the program in 256 color grayscale causes a problem. It won't dither the
colors (it thinks it has them all) and your granularity is high. Reducing
the screen down to 64 colors will cause the effect to disappear since the
program will then be dealing with the actual grayscale the card produces
and dither appropriately]
* PSImport
PSImport is one of the included modules that is called from the ProVector 3
"Import »" menu. ProVector scans the PV_Import directory for such external
modules and automatically adds them to the "Import »" menu upon loading.
Rather than loading EPS files and placing a bounding box or jagged bitmap
preview, Stylus has decided to provide a utility that actually attempts to
decompose the EPS (or PS) file into a usable vector drawing again.
There is a problem with this, however. Some EPS files, especially those
created by Gold Disk programs, have some problems that cause PSImport to
choke. In the case of these files, you can't even simply accept the
graphic as a bounding box to try its luck at running the file.
However, files from other sources generally ran very well. One particular
advantage to this method is that all printers can use valid EPS clip art
with ProVector. Normally, you can only use EPS clip art with PostScript
printers or with programs that interpret the PostScript to a form another
printer understands. Even with programs that do this interpretation, they
do not allow editing or correcting such clip art in the process.
* RexxRequest
While other programs have their own solutions for implementing GUIs in
ARexx macros, the Stylus Pro-Pak gives the user a stand-alone host utility
that can be used for any ARexx macro. It can even be used in place of the
customized systems that have generally been provided until this point.
An AmigaGuide database which is optimized for OS 3.x, but still runs with
AmigaGuide v37 (OS 2.x) is included. Although it is primarily a quick
reference, the entire package comes with many ARexx macros. Almost all of
the included ARexx macros provide extensive real world examples of how to
implement ARexx scripts using RexxRequest.
* ProVector 3
ProVector is a fast program. Drawing, manipulating, and using the program
is a pleasing experience. Since gradient fills can slow the process
(although no more than any other program doing gradients) they can be
turned off while still keeping full color fills and patterns available.
You aren't restricted to an "all or nothing" preview approach. There are
four levels of preview: wireframe, color, pattern, and gradient. Each one
adds to the previous level (for example, pattern does not forsake color).
At first the drawing method seemed quirky to me. It is unlike Adobe
Illustrator, ProDraw, or most other drawing programs. However, I picked up
on the process very quickly (within a few hours) and found it to be much
more natural and "organic" feeling than other programs. ProVector3 is much
more suited to a traditional illustrator than a person who thinks in terms
of tangents and mathematical velocities of lines while designing. In only
a few days I was getting better results, and in less time, using
ProVector's drawing tool compared to ProDraw's. Going back to ProDraw is
like going back to pushing instead of driving. It reminds me of the
transition to the "quirky" Amiga from the PC back in 1985. Also, in
ProVector, you can press the backspace key to delete points in order from
latest to first if you make a mistake or would like to refine the drawing
without starting over again. This is one of those "how did I ever live
without it?" features.
Along with the regular suite of drawing tools, ProVector has useful options
and constraints to the tools. Circles and ellipses can be constrained to
specific slices, the rectangle tool has become the polygon tool. You only
need to specify how many sides you want and it creates the polygon. With
simple ARexx macros, you could create professional IFF DR2D charts and
graphs directly between the programs, and even time-based charts across
separate layers.
Some of the particularly useful features include an undo/redo of up to 256
levels, object zoom (which zooms in on a specific object), select NOT
(selects all those items not currently selected), custom crop mark
placement (not just 'on' or 'off'), and the special effects that can be
applied to objects.
The object manipulation options such as warp, skew, and other DO fold,
spindle and mutilate are particularly useful since they should you the
result as you work with the object. Of course, with the undo/redo, even
this isn't "needed" but it's very nice to see the results before you
confirm the action.
Fonts can be changed after the fact (just select the text box and choose a
different font) and Adobe Type 1 fonts are directly supported. Fonts can
specifically be marked on a per item basis for downloading. This saves
memory and printing time if you do not need to download ALL your fonts
simply because you are using one that your printer doesn't have.
Gradients can have up to 65,536 colors per fill, not just two. Further,
each color pair can have as many as 256 (non user defined) intermediate
colors to define the gradient. Gradients can be filled as linear, conic,
radial, and bound to the shape of the object. Transition speeds of the
gradient are even more flexible (fast, slow, constant, fast/slow,
slow/fast, etc.)
ProVector also supports layers, up to 256. Each layer can be shown,
hidden, edited, and locked independently. For large projects this is a
wonderful feature. You can open many projects at the same time, memory
would seem to be the practical limitation here. Professional 'musts' such
as color separation, under color removal, black generation, and per color
trapping are all available with ProVector.
Output options are available (and external, so more can be added) for
PostScript, Preferences (Printer), HPGL, Adobe Illustrator EPS, IFF ILBM
(2-256 colors and anti-aliased 24-bit). The results have been excellent.
ARexx support for these programs is very strong. I can see being able to
add 'tool palettes' very easily and naturally to the programs with
utilities such as ToolManager (Stefan Becker).
This isn't to say there aren't a few snags with ProVector. There is no
'pasteboard' off the main page. If you drag an item off to the side, it
will still exist, but you can't see it. You can drag it back if you click
where you left it (or select all the objects on the page and then select
NOT and center) but I believe another solution would be easier and more
intuitive.
Tooltypes and many of the ARexx tools currently only deal in inches. The
ARexx macros can be modified, but I think an all around improvement to
measurement context sensitivity would enhance the program. If you are
someone who deals mostly with inches, you're okay. I'm a pica person. :-)
You can still use other systems, and modifying the commented ARexx macros
is certainly no difficult task, but the fact that tooltypes are inches only
is counter-intuitive.
Zoom mode leaves parts of the page undrawn that weren't specifically in the
Zoom box, even if they would fit in the window. I see no reason why parts
of the pages that technically exist are not drawn in certain zoom
situations. However, under normal circumstances, this behavior is not
often exhibited.
Finally, feeding the program corrupt or incorrectly written DR2D files
could cause some problems including crashes or strange behavior. Handling
bad DR2D files should be as graceful as possible, because there is at least
one major Amiga DTP package still being developed that still writes bad
DR2D files.
* Conclusions
It's refreshing to see a capable, functioning, supported, professional
application like ProVector for the Amiga. ProVector 3 is one of the few
Amiga programs that has been given the prefix 'Pro' that actually deserves
it. It's a powerful structured drawing system with a strong suite of
utilities and an extensive ARexx facility. Although the entire package is
close to the upgrade price for comparable packages on other platforms, it's
certainly in the same league. Unfortunately, I've only been able to touch
on ProVector 3, a single review just doesn't do the product justice.
Aminet Charts 20-Aug-95
Table of Contents
| The most downloaded files from Aminet during the week until 20-Aug-95
| Updated weekly. Most popular file on top.
|
|File Dir Size Age Description
|----------------- --- ---- --- -----------
ShapeShift3_1.lha misc/emu 207K 1+Macintosh II emulator, V3.1
mn_ansitest.lha comm/mebbs 3K 8+ANSI Test Door for MEBBSNet
IBrowsePics.lha pix/illu 66K 1+GIFs of IBrowse, the new Amiga WWW
8n1.lha comm/misc 22K 1+Replaces serial.device. V37.10
VCBrn122.lha util/virus 8K 1+Version 1.22 of Virus_Checker brain
BMPdt404.lha util/dtype 12K 0+Bmp picture datatype v40.4 for >= O
Ultimatum_1.2.lha game/shoot 724K 0+Great 3D Tank Game!
MWBDrws-474.lha pix/mwb 331K 0+MWB ImageDrawers Full Collection (4
TrainDriver.lha game/misc 401K 1+Train Driver Simulator
NetMail-11.lha comm/mail 91K 1+Email program with GUI, groups, fil
IdentD.lha comm/tcp 12K 1+RFC 1413 Authentication Daemon for
DApache1.lha game/demo 879K 0+FMV Apache Flight Sim for ANY AMIGA
OpusFTP.lha comm/tcp 94K 0+An FTP Module for Directory Opus 5.
SleepPointers.lha util/cdity 111K 0+Animated Busy Pointers in hires for
HDEnv10.lha util/boot 15K 1+Allows you to keep your ENV: dir on
BeforeDark.lha pix/icon 155K 0+41 new nice WorkBench patterns
Croak2.lha game/jump 92K 0+Version 2 of the Amiga Frogger clon
DoIcon14.lha util/cli 68K 0+The definitive icon tool!
iiNST_151.lha comm/tcp 26K 1+Easy AMITCP/PPP install w/ISP modul
GetHTTP15.lha comm/tcp 5K 1+Rip HTTP addresses, save 'm to AMos
| The highest rated programs during the week until 20-Aug-95
| Updated weekly. Best program on top. Please rate all the programs you
| download. To do so, send to aminet-server@wuarchive.wustl.edu :
| RATE <path> <num>
| where <path> is the file you want to judge and <num> is a mark from 0..10
| with 10 being the best. You can rate several programs in one mail, but
| don't rate your own programs. Example: RATE dev/gui/mui23usr.lha 8
|
|File Dir Size Age Description
|----------------- --- ---- --- -----------
mlink132.lha comm/net 123K 16+Direct internet access without SLIP
FL_144_Update.lha comm/bbs 30K 4+TA-Filelister Update for V1.44
DPacMan17.lha game/misc 277K 3+PacMan clone with lots of extra fea
DGalaga25.lha game/shoot 454K 26+Deluxe Galaga v2.5
BirdsReko.lha game/think 549K 17+HAM8 deck of animal pictures for Kl
MammalsReko.lha game/think 563K 17+HAM8 deck of animal pictures for Kl
Hexagons.lha game/wb 36K 11+The Ultimative Hexagonal Challenge.
AlgoMusic1_3.lha mus/misc 71K 13+Creates and plays great algorithmic
WB_BootPics3.lha pix/icon 351K 6+WB Boot Pictures Volume #3
GED313u.lha text/edit 158K 4+Upgrade GoldEd 3.0.1+ -> 3.1.3 (95/
ThinFonts.lha text/font 13K 185+Seven fixed width fonts in two desi
lzx120.lha util/arc 139K 11+The Ultimate Archiver V1.20 Fixes/+
lzx120r.lha util/arc 168K 11+The Ultimate Archiver V1.20R Regist
ToolManager21b.lha util/boot 490K 118+ToolManager 2.1 (Binaries and Docum
WBTitle14.lha util/boot 18K 11+Config. WB title w/ Amiga/VMM/Retin
ReqTools22c_us.lha util/libs 176K 52+ReqTools 2.2c - the requester toolk
Colors-1.0.lha util/misc 2K 72+Extras:Tools/Colors replacement
JSplit.lha util/misc 17K 35+Comfortably split and join files
ObtainGIRPort.lha util/misc 3K 28+Fix deadlocks with MagicMenu
snoopdos30.lha util/moni 128K 48+System monitor, many new features a
CpuUsage10.lha util/wb 3K 59+Small, sizeable graphical CpuUsage
DPacManAGA.lha game/misc 371K 11+PacMan clone with lots of extra fea
DPacMan17.lha game/misc 277K 3+PacMan clone with lots of extra fea
tin130gamma.lha comm/news 182K 2+TIN 1.3 PL0 Beta 950726. UUCP/NNTP
adt_amitcp11.lha comm/tcp 77K 10+ADT 2.1 Rel. 1.1 for AmiTCP 4+ (bug
fruitkitchen.lha demo/aga 566K 0+A new demo of the asm95 in helsinki
amicdfs.lha disk/cdrom 56K 45+CDROM fs, also reads Mac floppy & hd
Table of Contents
| The most downloaded files from Aminet during the week until 27-Aug-95
| Updated weekly. Most popular file on top.
|
|File Dir Size Age Description
|----------------- --- ---- --- -----------
ar315.lha docs/mags 87K 0+Amiga Report 3.15, August 17th
BMPdt404.lha util/dtype 12K 1+Bmp picture datatype v40.4 for >= OS
acuseeme2_02.lha comm/tcp 63K 0+Network video-conferencing tool
mn_ansitest.lha comm/mebbs 3K 9+ANSI Test Door for MEBBSNet
ShapeShiftPic.lha misc/emu 8K 0+Excellent Boot Picture for ShapeShif
DoIcon14.lha util/cli 68K 1+The definitive icon tool!
memstat.lha dev/misc 9K 1+Show Memory Fragmentation
mftp1_27.lha comm/tcp 57K 0+Mftp 1.27, very nice ftp client (MUI
IconDeluxe1_09.lha gfx/edit 71K 1+Full-featured icon editor (V1.09)
IdentD1_1.lha comm/tcp 12K 0+RFC 1413 Authentication Daemon for A
archie141.lha comm/net 51K 0+Archie 1.4.1 for AmiTCP 4.1
BSprite.lha util/boot 14K 0+Kickstart 3.0 only BorderSprite enab
ASpell.lha text/edit 171K 0+Fast Multilingual Spelling Checker;
magplip37.2.lha comm/net 58K 0+SANA II parallel IP device driver
TIFFView116.lha gfx/show 171K 1+V1.16, read-view-print TIFF/MacPaint
ShapeShift3_1.lha misc/emu 207K 2+Macintosh II emulator, V3.1
Ultimatum_1.2.lha game/shoot 724K 1+Great 3D Tank Game!
AmyTechLogo.jpg pix/trace 28K 0+A *NICE* render of the Amiga Technol
aminetfind.lha comm/tcp 2K 0+Fast TCP Aminet searcher Arexx scrip
| The highest rated programs during the week until 27-Aug-95
| Updated weekly. Best program on top. Please rate all the programs you
| download. To do so, send to aminet-server@wuarchive.wustl.edu :
| RATE <path> <num>
| where <path> is the file you want to judge and <num> is a mark from 0..10
| with 10 being the best. You can rate several programs in one mail, but
| don't rate your own programs. Example: RATE dev/gui/mui23usr.lha 8
|
|File Dir Size Age Description
|----------------- --- ---- --- -----------
mlink132.lha comm/net 123K 17+Direct internet access without SLIP
FL_144_Update.lha comm/bbs 30K 5+TA-Filelister Update for V1.44
DPacMan17.lha game/misc 277K 4+PacMan clone with lots of extra feat
BirdsReko.lha game/think 549K 18+HAM8 deck of animal pictures for Klo
MammalsReko.lha game/think 563K 18+HAM8 deck of animal pictures for Klo
Hexagons.lha game/wb 36K 12+The Ultimative Hexagonal Challenge.
AlgoMusic1_3.lha mus/misc 71K 14+Creates and plays great algorithmic
WB_BootPics3.lha pix/icon 351K 7+WB Boot Pictures Volume #3 - for Ami
GED313u.lha text/edit 158K 5+Upgrade GoldEd 3.0.1+ -> 3.1.3 (95/7
ThinFonts.lha text/font 13K 186+Seven fixed width fonts in two desig
lzx120.lha util/arc 139K 12+The Ultimate Archiver V1.20 Fixes/+S
lzx120r.lha util/arc 168K 12+The Ultimate Archiver V1.20R Registe
ToolManager21b.lha util/boot 490K 119+ToolManager 2.1 (Binaries and Docume
WBTitle14.lha util/boot 18K 12+Config. WB title w/ Amiga/VMM/Retina
ReqTools22c_us.lha util/libs 176K 53+ReqTools 2.2c - the requester toolki
Colors-1.0.lha util/misc 2K 73+Extras:Tools/Colors replacement
JSplit.lha util/misc 17K 36+Comfortably split and join files
ObtainGIRPort.lha util/misc 3K 29+Fix deadlocks with MagicMenu
snoopdos30.lha util/moni 128K 49+System monitor, many new features ad
CpuUsage10.lha util/wb 3K 60+Small, sizeable graphical CpuUsage p
DGalaga25.lha game/shoot 454K 27+Deluxe Galaga v2.5
DPacManAGA.lha game/misc 371K 12+PacMan clone with lots of extra feat
DPacMan17.lha game/misc 277K 4+PacMan clone with lots of extra feat
tin130gamma.lha comm/news 182K 3+TIN 1.3 PL0 Beta 950726. UUCP/NNTP N
adt_amitcp11.lha comm/tcp 77K 11+ADT 2.1 Rel. 1.1 for AmiTCP 4+ (bugs
fruitkitchen.lha demo/aga 566K 1+A new demo of the asm95 in helsinki
amicdfs.lha disk/cdrom 56K 46+CDROM fs, also reads Mac floppy & hd
Aminet Charts for 3-Sep-95
Table of Contents
| The most downloaded files from Aminet during the week until 3-Sep-95
| Updated weekly. Most popular file on top.
|
|File Dir Size Age Description
|----------------- --- ---- --- -----------
VChk715.lha util/virus 133K 0+Version 7.15 of Virus_Checker. Amiga Vir
win95.jpg pix/illu 54K 0+The Joke Of Microsoft
VList125.lha util/virus 15K 0+List of dangerous archives, fakes, progs
ADMail.lha comm/mail 56K 0+GUI EMail package, v1.5 (bugfix release)
VMM_V3_2.lha util/misc 240K 0+Virtual memory for Amigas with MMU
eliza.lha misc/sci 28K 0+A classic AI therapist
supertrail.lha game/misc 55K 0+Guide ball through tricky levels (incl.
cybershow50.lha gfx/board 90K 0+SlideShow&Viewer(incl.PCD)for CybGfx&AGA
jb-buxom.lha game/think 635K 0+Buxom cardset for Klondike AGA
AmiConnect.lha comm/tcp 187K 0+A Configuration Program For AmiTCP With
NewsedArfir.lha comm/tcp 84K 0+Gui Interface For Archie + Powerful GUI
TinyMWBCol1_3.lha pix/mwb 106K 0+MWB-Stuff and MORE! (V1.3)
Easylink.lha comm/misc 100K 0+Connect Amiga/PC via Parallel Port
SysBoot04.lha util/boot 33K 0+Booting from Amiga or Shapeshifter, SFS
cp5.lha comm/tcp 109K 0+Advanced GUI frontends for Amitcp & util
poweroids11.lha game/shoot 411K 0 Asteroids with raytracing gfx, 1-4 Playe
socklink100.lha comm/tcp 27K 0+Links stdio to socket (AmiTCP/IP and AS2
engine.lha game/demo 115K 1+DOOM that gets 30fps on 68000 hires!
LVODump.lha dev/misc 17K 0+Lists LVOs. Useful for programmers. V1.0
bs110.lha util/boot 35K 0+V1.10 select startup with mouse buttons
| The highest rated programs during the week until 3-Sep-95
| Updated weekly. Best program on top. Please rate all the programs you
| download. To do so, send to aminet-server@wuarchive.wustl.edu :
| RATE <path> <num>
| where <path> is the file you want to judge and <num> is a mark from 0..10
| with 10 being the best. You can rate several programs in one mail, but
| don't rate your own programs. Example: RATE dev/gui/mui23usr.lha 8
|
|File Dir Size Age Description
|----------------- --- ---- --- -----------
mlink132.lha comm/net 123K 18+Direct internet access without SLIP
FL_144_Update.lha comm/bbs 30K 6+TA-Filelister Update for V1.44
BirdsReko.lha game/think 549K 19+HAM8 deck of animal pictures for Klondik
MammalsReko.lha game/think 563K 19+HAM8 deck of animal pictures for Klondik
Hexagons.lha game/wb 36K 13+The Ultimative Hexagonal Challenge. V1.0
FView151.lha gfx/show 85K 13+FastView for IFF/GIF/BMP/JPG/PCX pics
DevilsMine.mpg pix/anim 491K 21+A roller coaster through a mine - COOL!
Lamp.mpg pix/anim 653K 15+A living lamp looks around - COOL!
MagicBGs5.lha pix/mwb 244K 0+New breathtaking patterns for MagicWB
lzx120r.lha util/arc 168K 13+The Ultimate Archiver V1.20R Registered
WBTitle14.lha util/boot 18K 13+Config. WB title w/ Amiga/VMM/Retina mem
JSplit.lha util/misc 17K 37+Comfortably split and join files
lzx120.lha util/arc 139K 13+The Ultimate Archiver V1.20 Fixes/+Speed
DGalaga25.lha game/shoot 454K 28+Deluxe Galaga v2.5
DPacMan17.lha game/misc 277K 5+PacMan clone with lots of extra features
tin130gamma.lha comm/news 182K 4+TIN 1.3 PL0 Beta 950726. UUCP/NNTP Newsr
adt_amitcp11.lha comm/tcp 77K 12+ADT 2.1 Rel. 1.1 for AmiTCP 4+ (bugs fix
term-030.lha comm/term 632K 7+V4.4, MC68020/030/040/060 version
fruitkitchen.lha demo/aga 566K 2+A new demo of the asm95 in helsinki (fin
control1.dms demo/mega 817K 1+Winning demo from GASP, by Oxygene, disk
control2.dms demo/mega 552K 1+Winning demo from GASP, by Oxygene, disk
amicdfs.lha disk/cdrom 56K 47+CDROM fs, also reads Mac floppy & hd
DiskSalv11_32.lha disk/salv 118K 8+Dave Haynie's DiskSalv version 11.32
DPacMan17.lha game/misc 277K 5+PacMan clone with lots of extra features
DPacManAGA.lha game/misc 371K 13+PacMan clone with lots of extra features
F1GP-Ed.lha game/misc 310K 0+Formula One Grand Prix / WC Editor V3.0
DPoker_v1.0b.lha game/wb 33K 12+GREAT WB+MUI poker (straight-bug fixed)
Iconian2_93.lha gfx/edit 171K 12+OS3.0 icon editor, NewIcon support.
SqOpal13.lha gfx/show 44K 6+The ultimate image viewer for Opal
Amiga Report Mailing List
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===========================================================================
If you have an internet mailing address, you can receive Amiga Report in
UUENCODED form each week as soon as the issue is released. To be put on
the list, send Email to listserv@itesmvf1.rzs.itesm.mx.
Your subject header will be ignored. In the body of the message, enter
subscribe areport <your real name>
ie:
subscribe areport A. R. Reader
The system will automatically pull your e-mail address from the message
header.
Your account must be able to handle mail of any size to ensure an intact
copy. For example, many systems have a 100K limit on incoming messages.
** IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE be certain your host can accept mail over **
** 100K! We have had a lot of bouncebacks recently from systems with a **
** 100K size limit for incoming mail. If we get a bounceback with your **
** address in it, it will be removed from the list. Thanks! **
*** The following is only for Australian readers! ***
To circumvent the new pay-per-megabyte system for Australian Internet
communication, Paul Reece has been kind enough to set up an AUSTRALIAN-ONLY
mailing list, to save his fellow countrymen some money.
You can join the list by sending mail to: majordomo@info.tas.gov.au
with the single line (in body of message):
subscribe ar
Amiga Report will then be bounced to you.
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== UUDecoding Amiga Report ==
===========================================================================
If you receive Amiga Report from the direct mailing list, it will arrive in
UUEncoded format. This format allows programs and archive files to be sent
through mail by converting the binary into combinations of ASCII
characters. In the message, it will basically look like a lot of trash
surrounded by begin <filename> and end, followed by the size of the file.
To UUDecode Amiga Report, you first need to get a UUDecoding program, such
as UUxT by Asher Feldman. This program is available on Aminet in
pub/aminet/arc/
Then you must download the message that it is contained in. Don't worry
about message headers, the UUDecoding program will ignore them.
There is a GUI interface for UUxT, which should be explained in the docs.
However, the quickest method for UUDecoding the magazine is to type
uuxt x ar.uu
at the command prompt. You will then have to decompress the archive with
lha, and you will then have Amiga Report in all of its AmigaGuide glory.
If you have any questions, you can write to Jason Compton
Aminet
Table of Contents
Aminet
~~~~~~
To get Amiga Report from Aminet, simply FTP to any Aminet site, CD to
docs/mags. All the back issues are located there as well.
Sites: ftp.netnet.net, ftp.wustl.edu, ftp.tas.gov.au, ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk
World Wide Web
Table of Contents
World Wide Web
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AR can also be read with Mosaic (in either AmigaGuide or html form).
Reading AmigaReport with Mosaic removes the necessity to download it. It
can also be read using programs found in UNIX sites such as LYNX.
Simply tell Mosaic to open one of the following URLs:
http://www.omnipresence.com/Amiga/News/AR/
http://sun1000.ci.pwr.wroc.pl/AMIGA/AR/
http://mm.iit.uni-miskolc.hu/Data/AR
http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/amiga/ar/
http://ramiga.cts.com/~AR
http://www.susx.ac.uk/Users/kcci1
http://www.sci.muni.cz/ar/
The following AR site also has a mailto form, allowing you to mail to Amiga
Report from the web site. <Make sure your reader has forms capability).
http://www.pwr.wroc.pl/AMIGA/AR/
Amiga information can also be accessed at this URL:
http://www.prairienet.org/community/clubs/cucug/amiga.html
Mosaic for the Amiga can be found on Aminet in directory comm/net, or
(using anonymous ftp) on max.physics.sunysb.edu
Mosaic for X, Macintosh(tm) and Microsoft Windows(tm) can be found on
ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Copyright Information
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== _ _ __ ___ _ ==
== /\\ |\\ /| || // \ /\\ ==
== / \\ | \\ /|| ||(< __ / \\ ==
== /--- \\| \/ || || \\_||/--- \\ ==
== /______________________________\\ ==
== / \\ ==
== Amiga Report International Online Magazine ==
== September 5, 1995 Issue No. 3.16 ==
== Copyright 1995 FS Publications ==
== All Rights Reserved ==
===========================================================================
Views, Opinions and Articles presented herein are not necessarily those of
the editors and staff of Amiga Report International Online Magazine or of
FS Publications. Permission to reprint articles is hereby denied, unless
otherwise noted. All reprint requests should be directed to the editor.
Amiga Report and/or portions therein may not be edited in any way without
prior written permission. However, translation into a language other than
English is acceptible, provided the editor is notified beforehand and the
original meaning is not altered. Amiga Report may be distributed on
privately owned not-for-profit bulletin board systems (fees to cover cost
of operation are acceptable), and major online services such as (but not
limited to) Delphi and Portal. Distribution on public domain disks is
acceptable provided proceeds are only to cover the cost of the disk (e.g.
no more than $5 US). CD-ROM compilers should contact the editor.
Distribution on for-profit magazine cover disks requires written permission
from the editor. Amiga Report is a not-for-profit publication. Amiga
Report, at the time of publication, is believed reasonably accurate. Amiga
Report, its staff and contributors are not and cannot be held responsible
for the use or misuse of information contained herein or the results
obtained there from. Amiga Report is not affiliated with Escom AG. All
items quoted in whole or in part are done so under the Fair Use Provision
of the Copyright Laws of the United States Penal Code. Any Electronic Mail
sent to the editors may be reprinted, in whole or in part, without any
previous permission of the author, unless said electronic mail is
specifically requested not to be reprinted.
===========================================================================
Amiga Report Writing Guidelines
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Amiga Report Writing Guidelines ==
===========================================================================
The three most important requirements for submissions to Amiga Report are:
1. Please use English.
2. Please use paragraphs. It's hard on the eyes to have solid
screens of text. If you don't know where to make a paragraph break,
guess.
3. Please put a blank line in between paragraphs. It makes
formatting the magazine much much easier.
Note: If you want to check ahead of time to make sure we'll print your
article, please write to the Editor. Please stipulate as
well if you wish to retain copyright or hand it over to the editor.
Editor's Choice
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Editor's Choice ==
===========================================================================
These are selected products, reviewed by myself, that I've liked. So, I've
landed them and decided to sell them.
All prices are in $US.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Hames' PC-Task 3.1 IBM emulator is available for the rather low price
of US$110.
PC-T 3.1 offers 286-level compatibility, video displays up to SVGA with
support for many popular graphic card systems including CyberGraphics, and
a built-in BIOS.
Orders will be drop-shipped from Wonder Computers, North American
representatives for Quasar Distribution products.
Credit card or money order/postal cheque accepted to
Jason Compton .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
John McDonough's The Music Maker, a Contemporary New Age CD composed on the
Amiga, is available through Amiga Report.
The crisp, clean sounds and calm melodies present a welcome alternative to
many pounding alternatives.
Available for US$12.00 plus $3 shipping in the US. Non-US orders, please
contact before ordering. Check or money order accepted addressed to
Jason Compton , shipments made by the artist.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | Issue | Approximate | Amiga Report |
| Product | Reviewed | Retail Price | Reader Price |
---------------------------------|----------|--------------|--------------|
| | | | |
|Swifty 3-button mouse | 2.28 | $39.95 | $22.75 |
| | | | |
|GPFax Amiga Fax Software | 2.30 | $100.00 | $60.00 |
| (Class 1 and 2) | | | |
| | | | |
|Micro R+D CD-ROM Volume 1 | 2.25 | $69.00 | $30.00 |
| (Includes early Transition | | | |
| graphics converter and loads| | | |
| of artwork) | | | |
| | | | |
|Micro R+D CD-ROM Volume 2 | 2.26 | $99.95 | $46.75 |
| (Includes entire Nature's | | | |
| Backdrop series) | | | |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orders may be placed via check, money order, or postal cheque, made out to
Jason Compton. Visa/Mastercard accepted via post or E-Mail. No CODs.
Mail all orders to Jason Compton . Orders will be processed by
Amiga Report and drop-shipped from Micro R+D.
In the US, add $5/$10/$20 for UPS shipping, ground/blue/red label,
respectively. Overseas: It is recommended that you consider $20 to be the
minimum cost for shipping. If you plan to order more than one item, E-mail
for shipping cost.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sidewinder's Future Shock II CD is now available through Amiga Report.
Featuring 15 Amiga-generated tunes totalling 71 minutes, Eric Gieseke's
work is captured on an Amiga-independent media.
Available for US$12.00. Please add $5 for shipping.
Make check or money order payable to Jason Compton . Orders will be
drop-shipped from Sidewinder Productions.
For overseas orders, please contact through E-Mail before ordering.
Portal
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Portal: A Great Place For Amiga Users ==
===========================================================================
The Portal Information Network's Amiga Zone
The AFFORDABLE alternative for online Amiga information
-------------------------------------------------------
Portal is the home of acclaimed Amiga Zone, a full-service online SIG
(Special Interest Group) for Amiga owners and users. We promise, and
WE DELIVER ongoing & aggressive Amiga support!
You can dial into Portal to access the Amiga Zone in many ways: direct
dial to our San Jose, CA high-speed modems (you pay for the phone call
if it's not local), or though any SprintNet or Compu$erve indial anywhere
(with a small hourly fee) or via the World-wide Internet "telnet"
program to portal.com (no hourly fee).
Even Delphi and BIX users can Telnet into Portal for a flat $19.95 a month,
with *unlimited* use.
Portal is NOT just another shell service! Its Online system is fully
menu-driven with on-screen commands and help, and you can easily customize
it for your favorite terminal program and screen size.
Some of Portal/Amiga Zone's amazing features include:
* 2.5 GIGabytes of Amiga-specific file space - we have so much Amiga Stuff
online, we've lost count!
* The *entire* Fred Fish collection of freely distributable software,
online. ALL 1000 disks!
* Fast, Batch Zmodem file transfer protocol. Download up to 100 files at
once, of any size, with one command.
* Amiga vendor areas with participants like AmigaWorld, Elastic
Reality (ASDG), Soft-Logik, Apex Publishing, and others.
* 40 "regular" Amiga libraries with over 10,000 files. Hot new stuff
arrives daily.
* No upload/download "ratios" EVER. Download as much as you want, as
often as you want, and never feel pressured doing it.
* Live, interactive nightly chats with Amiga folks whose names you will
recognize. Special conferences. Random chance prize contests. We
have given away thousands of bucks worth of Amiga prizes - more than
any other online service.
* Message bases where you can ask questions about *anything* Amiga
related and get quick replies from the experts.
* Amiga Internet mailing lists for Imagine, AMosaic, LightWave, EGS,
OpalVision & others feed right into the Zone message bases. Read
months worth of postings. No need to clutter your mailbox with them.
* FREE unlimited Internet Email with 5 meg of free storage.
* A FREE UNIX Shell account with another 5 meg of free storage.
You can run Amiga Mosaic through your shell and explore the
vast World Wide Web!
* Portal has the Usenet. Thousands of "newsgroups" in which you can read
and post articles about virtually any subject you can possibly
imagine.
* Other Portal SIGs (Special Interest Groups) online for Mac, IBM, Sun,
UNIX, Science Fiction, Disney, and dozens more. ALL Portal SIGs are
accessible to ALL Portal customers with NO surcharges ever. You
never worry "Ooops... Am I paying for this area?" again!
* Portal was THE FIRST online service to offer a full package of Internet
features: IRC, FTP, TELNET, MUDS, LIBS. And you get FREE unlimited
usage of all of them.
* Our exclusive PortalX by Steve Tibbett, the graphical "front end" for
Portal which will let you automatically click'n'download your waiting
email, messages, Usenet groups and binary files! Reply to mail and
messages offline using your favorite editor and your replies are sent
automatically the next time you log into Portal. (PortalX requires
Workbench 2.04 or higher)
* Portal does NOT stick it to high speed modem users. Whether you log in
at 1200 or 2400 or 9600 or 14.4K you pay the same low price.
To join Portal or for more information call:
1-800-433-6444 (voice) 9a.m.-5p.m. Mon-Fri, Pacific Time
1-408-973-9111 (voice) 9a.m.-5p.m. Mon-Fri, Pacific Time
1-408-725-0561 (modem 3/12/2400) 24 hours every day
1-408-725-0560 (modem 96/14400) 24 hours every day
or enter "C PORTAL" from any Sprintnet dial-in, or "portal" at any
CI$ network dialin, or telnet to "portal.com" from anywhere,
and then enter "online" and then "info"
Call and join today. Tell the friendly Portal Customer Service
representative, "The Amiga Zone and Amiga Report sent me!"
[Editor's Note: Be sure to tell them that you are an Amiga user, so they
can notify the AmigaZone sysops to send their Welcome Letter and other
information!]
The Portal Information Network accepts MasterCard, Visa, or you can pre-pay
any amount by personal check or money order. The Portal Online System is a
trademark of The Portal Information Network. SLIP, UUCP and custom domain
accounts are also available.
Distribution BBSes - Australia
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Distribution BBSes - Australia ==
===========================================================================
-=NEW ZEALAND=-
* BITSTREAM BBS *
FidoNET 3:771/850.0 AmigaNET 41:644/850.0
+64-(0)3-548-5321, SupraFaxModem 28k8 VFast Class
-=VICTORIA=-
* North West Amiga BBS *
EMail: mozza@nwamiga.apana.org.au Fido: 3:633/265.0
BBS Phone/Fax: +61 3 9337 3428
Distribution BBSes - Europe
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Distribution BBSes - Europe ==
===========================================================================
-=FINLAND=-
* AMIGA-NIGHT-SYSTEM *
InterNet: luumu@fenix.fipnet.fi FidoNet: 2:220/550.0
+358-0-675840 V.32bis
* LAHO BBS *
+358-64-414 1516, V.32bis/HST +358-64-414 0400, V.32bis/HST
+358-64-414 6800, V.32/HST +358-64-423 1300, V.32bis
* KINDERGARTEN *
Email: matthias.bartosik@hut.fi
+358-0-881 32 36, v.34/HST
-=FRANCE=-
* DYNAMIX BBS *
Email: erlsoft@mcom.mcom.fr
+33.1.48.89.96.66 Minitel (vv23) to Modem (v32bis/Videotex)
* RAMSES THE AMIGA FLYING *
Internet: user.name@ramses.fdn.org Fidonet: 2/320/104-105-106
+33-1-45845623 V.34 +33-1-53791200 V.32bis
-=GERMANY=-
* DOOM OF DARKNESS *
Email: marc_doerre@doom.ping.de
+49 (0)4223 8355 19200 V.42bis/Zyx
AR-Infoservice, contact Kai Szymanski kai@doom.gun.de
* IMAGINE BBS *
Email: Sysop@imagine.commo.mcnet.de
B+49-69-4304948 Yoriko 28.8ET V.Fast Class
Login: GAST (Download from area "Amiga-Report")
* LEGUANS BYTE CHANNEL *
Usenet: andreas@lbcmbx.in-berlin.de
49-30-8110060 49-30-8122442 USR DS 16.8
Login as User: "amiga", Passwd: "report"
* REDEYE BBS *
Internet: sysop@redeye.muc.de
+49-89-5460535 (V.32b, Zyxel EG + / USR V.34)
* STINGRAY DATABASE *
EMail: sysop@sting-db.zer.sub.org.dbp.de
+49 208 496807 HST-Dual
* VISION THING BBS *
Infect East German HQ, Keks ASCII Design World HQ
++49(0)345 663914 19200
System Password: Amiga
-=GREECE=-
* HELLAS ON LINE *
EMail: cocos@prometheus.hol.gr Telnet: hellas.hol.gr
82 Hunter Lines (28.8KB): ++301/ 620-6001, 620-6604, 620-9500
* ODYSSEY BBS *
email: konem@prometheus.hol.gr 2:410/128.17@fidonet
+++ 301-412-3502 (ZyXEL 16.8K) after 23:00 local time
-=IRELAND=-
* CUGI BBS *
Fidonet: 2:263/155
+353 1 837 0204 V32bis
* HIGHWAY TO HELL BBS *
Fidonet 2:263/154 Internet: iblack@dit.ie
Online from 22:00 - 08:00 GMT +353-1-847 5217
-=ITALY=-
* AMIGA PROFESSIONAL BBS *
Amy Professional Club, Italian Amos Club
+(39)-49-604488
* FRANZ BBS *
EMsil: mc3510@mclink.it
+39/6/6627667 24hrs
* SPEED OF LIFE *
FidoNet 2:335/533 AmigaNet 39:102/12
The AMIGA Alchemists' BBS +39-931-833773
-=NETHERLANDS=-D
* AMIGA ONLINE BS HEEMSTEDE *
Fidonet: 2:280/464.0, 2:280/412.0 Internet: michiel@aobh.xs4all.nl
+31-23-282002 +31-23-470739 14400 Supra
* THE HELL BBS *
Fido-Net : 2:281/418.0 e-mail : root@hell.xs4all.nl
+31-(0)70-3468783 (v32bis Supra)
* TRACE BBS GRONINGEN *
FidoNET 2:282/529.0 Internet Martin@trace.idn.nl
+31-(0)-50-410143 (14k4 Buad (28k8 V.34 soon)
* X-TREME BBS *
Internet: u055231@vm.uci.kun.nl
+31-167064414 (24h)
-=NORWAY=-
* FALLING BBS *
EMail: christon@powertech.no
+47 69 256117 28.8k
-=POLAND=-
* SILVER DREAM!'S BBS *
SysOp: Silver Dream
+48 91 540431 (24h)
-=PORTUGAL=-
* CIUA BBS *
FidoNet 2:361/9 Internet: denise.ci.ua.pt
+351-34-382080/382081 (V32bis soon V34)
-=RUSSIA=-
* NEW ORDER BBS *
E-Mail: norder@norder.spb.su FidoNet: 2:5030/221.0 AmigaNet: 39:240/1.0
+7-812-2909561 (24 hours) USR 21k6 Dual Standart
-=SPAIN=-
* GURU MEDITATION *
Running Remote Access
+34-1-383-1317 V.32bis
* MAZAGON - BBS - SYSTEMS *
E-mail: jgomez@maze.mazanet.es FTP: ftp-mail@ftp.mazanet.es
+34 59 536267 - Supra 28.8
Login: a-report
-=SWEDEN=-
* CICERON *
E-mail: peman@solace.mh.se
+46 612 22011
-=SWITZERLAND=-
* LINKSYSTEM LINK-CH1 *
contact: rleemann@link-ch1.aworld.de
+41 61 3215643 V32bis/Zyx16800 +41 61 3832007 ISDN X75/V110
Local newsgroup link-ch1.ml.amiga-report
-=UNITED KINGDOM=-
* AMIGA JUNCTION 9 *
Internet: sysadmin@junct9.demon.co.uk FidoNet: 2:440/20
+44 (0)372 271000 14400 V.32bis/HST
* CREATIONS BBS *
E-Mail: mat@darkside.demon.co.uk 2:254/524@Fidonet 39:139/5@Amiganet
+44-0181-665-9887 Hayes Optima 288 2400 - V.FC
* METNET CCS *
Email: metnet@demon.co.uk FidoNet: 2:2502/129.0 2:2502/130.0
10 Lines: +44-1482-442251 14k4 +44-1482-444910 16k8
* OCTAMED USER BBS *
EMail: rbfsoft@cix.compulink.co.uk Support board for OctaMED Users
+44 (01703) 703446
* SCRATCH BBS *
EMail: kcci1@solx1.susx.ac.uk Official Super Skidmarks site
+44-1273-389267 24 hrs 14.4k
Distribution BBSes - North America
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Distribution BBSes - North America ==
===========================================================================
-=ARIZONA=-
* MESSENGER OF THE GODS BBS *
mercury@primenet.com
602-326-1095
-=BRITISH COLUMBIA=-
* COMM-LINK BBS *
InterNet: steve_hooper@comm.tfbbs.wimsey.com
Fido: 1:153/210.0 AmigaNet 40:800/9100.0 604-945-6192 USR DS 16.8
-=CALIFORNIA=-
* TIERRA-MIGA BBS *
FidoNet: 1:202/638.0 AmigaNet: 40:406/3.0 Internet: torment.cts.com
619.292.0754 V32.bis
* VIRTUAL PALACE BBS *
Sysop Email: tibor@ecst.csuchico.edu
916-343-7420
* AMIGA AND IBM ONLY BBS *
(619)428-4887
vonmolk@crash.cts.com
AmigaNET address: 40:406/7.0
-=FLORIDA=-
* LAST! AMIGA BBS *
(305) 456-0126
USR 21600 HST D/S
-=ILLINOIS=-
* EMERALD KEEP BBS *
FidoNet: 1:2250/2 AmigaNet: 40:206/1
618-394-0065 USR 16.8k DS
* PHANTOM'S LAIR *
FidoNet: 1:115/469.0 Phantom Net Coordinator: 11:1115/0.0-11:1115/1.0
708-469-9510 708-469-9520
* STARSHIP CUCUG *
Email: khisel@prairienet.org
(217)356-8056
* THE STYGIAN ABYSS BBS *
FIDONet-1:115/384.0
312-384-0616 USR Courier HST 312-384-6250 Supra V.32 bis (FREQ line)
-=LOUISIANA=-
* The Catacomb *
E-mail: Geoff148@delphi.com
504-882-6576 Supra v.fc 28.8k
-=MAINE=-
* THE KOBAYASHI ALTERNATIVE BBS *
Usenet and FidoNet Echo Areas FidoNet: 1:326/404.0
(207)/784-2130 (207)/946-5665
ftp.tka.com for all back issues of AR
-=MEXICO=-
* AMIGA BBS *
FidoNet 4:975/7
(5) 887-3080 9600 V32,MNP
* AMIGA SERVER BBS *
Now with 17 CDs available
Number: 5158736
-=MISSISSIPPI=-
* THE GATEWAY BBS *
InterNet: stace@tecnet1.jcte.jcs.mil FidoNet: 1:3604/60.0
601-374-2697 Hayes Optina 28.8 V.FC
-=MICHIGAN=-
* DC Productions *
Email: dcpro!chetw@heifetz.msen.com
616-373-0287
V.Everything
-=MONTREAL=-
* GfxBase BBS*
E-mail: ai257@freenet.hsc.colorado.edu Fidonet: 1:167/192
514-769-0565 14.4
-=NEVADA=-
* PUP-TEK BBS *
EMail: darkwolf@accessnv.com
702-553-2403
-=NEW JERSEY=-
* T.B.P. VIDEO SLATE *
Full Skypix menus + normal and ansi menu sets.
201-586-3623 USR 14.4 HST
* DLTACOM Amiga BBS *
(201) 398-8559
Fidonet: 1:2606/216.0
Internet: dltacom.camphq.fidonet.org (email only)
-=NEW YORK=-
* THE BELFRY(!) *
stiggy@dorsai.dorsai.org
718.793.4796 718.793.4905
-=ONTARIO=-
* COMMAND LINE BBS *
Canada's Amiga Graphics & Animation Source
416-533-8321 V.32
* REALM OF TWILIGHT BBS *
Usenet: realm.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca FIDO: 1:221/302 Fish: 33:33/8
519-748-9365 (2400 baud) 519-748-9026 (v.32bis)
-=TENNESSEE=-
* AMIGA CENTRAL! *
Internet mail: root@amicent.raider.net
615-383-9679 1200-14.4Kbps V.32bis
* NOVA BBS *
AmigaNet 40:210/10.0 40:210/1.0 40:210/0.0 FidoNet 1:362/508.0
615-472-9748 USR DS 16.8
-=VIRGINIA=-
* NETWORK XXIII DATA SYSTEM *
EMail: gottfrie@acca.nmsu.edu
804-266-1763 v.42bis
Login: anon Password: nopass
-=WASHINGTON=-
* FREELAND MAINFRAME *
Internet - freemf.wa.com
(360)412-0228 five lines - USR v.32bis
New users have immediate access to Amiga Report Downloads
* PIONEERS BBS *
FidoNet: 1:343/54.0
206-775-7983 24 hrs. Supra 28.8k v34
Login: Long Distance Password: longdistance
Or File Request the MAGIC NAME: AR.lha
Distribution BBSes - South America
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Distribution BBSes - South America ==
===========================================================================
-=BRAZIL=-
* AMIGA DO PC BBS *
Fidonet: 4:801/44 Internet: fimoraes@dcc.unicamp.br
Weekdays: 19-07 (-3 GMT) Weekends: 24 hours +55-192-33-2260
Dealers - Asia
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Dealers - Asia ==
===========================================================================
-=JAPAN=-
Grey Matter Ltd.
1-22-3,Minami Magome
HillTop House 2F suite 201
Ota-ku,Tokyo 143
Tel:+81 (0)3 5709-5549 Fax:+81 (0)3 5709-1907
BBS: +81 (0)3 5709-1907 Email: nighty@gmatter.japan-online.or.jp
Dealers - Europe
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Dealers - Europe ==
===========================================================================
-=BELGIUM=-
CLICK! N.V.
Boomsesteenweg 468
B-2610 Wilrijk - Antwerpen
VOICE: +32 (0)3 828.18.15 FAX: +32 (0)3 828.67.36
INTERNET: vanhoutv@nbre.nfe.be FIDO: 2:292/603.9
-=FINLAND=-
DataService Oy
P.O. Box 50
Kuurinniityntie 30
02771 ESPOO
Voice: +358 (9) 400 438 301 Fax: +358 (9) 0505 0037
-=GERMANY=-
AMItech Systems GmbH
Ludwigstrasse 4
D-95028 Hof/Saale
VOICE: +49 9281 142812 FAX: +49 9281 142712
EMail: bsd@blacky.netz.sub.de
dcp, desing+commercial partner GmbH
Alfredstr. 1
D-22087 Hamburg
Tel.: + 49 40 251176 Fax: +49 40 2518567
EMail: info@dcp.de WWW: http://www.dcp.de
Hartmann & Riedel GdbR
Hertzstr. 33
D-76287 Rheinstetten
EMail: rh@fs.schiele-ct.de Fido: 2:2476/405.12
Voice: +49 (7242) 2021 Fax: +49 (7242) 5909
Please call first before visiting us, otherwise we may be closed.
Hirsch & Wolf OHG
Mittelstra_e 33
D-56564 Neuwied
Voice: +49 (2631) 8399-0 Fax: +49 (2631) 8399-31
Pro Video Elektronik
Roßmarkt 38
D-63739 Aschaffenburg
Tel: (49) 6021 15713 Fax: (49) 6021 15713
-=SPAIN=-
Amiga Center
Argullós, 127
08016 Barcelona
Tel: (93) 276 38 06 Fax: (93) 276 30 80
Amiga Center Alicante
Segura, 27
03004 Alicante
Tel: (96) 514 37 34
Centro Informático Boadilla
Convento, 6
28660 Boadilla del Monte (Madrid)
Tel: (91) 632 27 65 Fax: (91) 632 10 99
Centro Mail
Tel: (91) 380 28 92
C.R.E.
San Francisco, 85
48003 Bilbao (Vizcaya)
Tel: (94) 444 98 84 Fax: (94) 444 98 84
Donosti Frame
Avda. de Madrid, 15
20011 San Sebastián (Guipuzcoa)
Tel: (943) 42 07 45 Fax: (943) 42 45 88
GaliFrame
Galerías Príncipe, 22
Vigo (Pontevedra)
Tel: (986) 22 89 94 Fax: (986) 22 89 94
Invision
San Isidro, 12-18
28850 Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid)
Tel: (91) 676 20 56/59 Fax: (91) 656 10 04
Invision
Salamanca, 53
46005 Valencia
Tel: (96) 395 02 43/44 Fax: (96) 395 02 44
Norsoft
Bedoya, 4-6
32003 Orense
Tel: (988) 24 90 46 Fax: (988) 23 42 07
PiXeLSOFT
Felipe II, 3bis
34004 Palencia
Tel: (979) 71 27 00 Fax: (979) 71 28 28
Tu Amiga
Plaza Pedro IV, 3
08120 La LLagosta (Barcelona)
Tel: (93) 560 76 12 Fax: (93) 560 76 12
vb soft
Provenza, 436
08025 Barcelona
Tel: (93) 456 15 45 Fax: (93) 456 15 45
-=NORWAY=-
DataKompaniet ANS
Trondheim Innovation Centre
Prof. Brochs gt. 6
N-7030 Trondheim
Tel: +47 7354 0373 Fax: +47 7394 3861
EMail: datakompaniet@interlink.no
-=UNITED KINGDOM=-
Almathera Systems Ltd
Southerton House / Boundary Business Court
92-94 Church Road
Mitcham, Surrey / CR4 3TD
VOICE: (UK) 081 687 0040 FAX: (UK) 081 687 0490
Sales: almathera@cix.compulink.co.uk Tech: jralph@cix.compulink.co.uk
Brian Fowler Computers Ltd
11 North St / Exeter
Devon / EX4 3QS
Voice: (0392) 499 755 Fax: (0392) 423 480
Internet: brian_fowler@cix.compulink.co.uk
Visage Computers
27 Watnall Road
Hucknall / Nottingham
Tel: +44 (0)115 9642828 Tel/Fax: +44 (0)115 9642898
EMail: visage@innotts.co.uk
Dealers - North America
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Dealers - North America ==
===========================================================================
-=CANADA=-
Animax Multimedia, Inc.
196 Joseph Zatzman Drive
Dartmouth, NS / B3B 1N4
Ph: (902)468-AMAX Fax: (902)468-4341
EMail: animax@ra.isisnet.com
Atlantis Kobetek Inc.
1496 Lower Water St.
Halifax, NS / B3J 1R9
Phone: (902)-422-6556 Fax: (902)-423-9339
E-mail: atkobetek@ra.isisnet.com
Computerology Direct
Powell River, BC
V8A-4Z3
Call 24 hrs. orders/inquiries: 604/483-3679
Amiga users ask for HEAD SALES REP for quicker response!
Comspec Communications Inc
74 Wingold Ave
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6B 1P5
Computer Centre: (416) 785-8348 Sales: (416) 785-3553 Fax: 416-785-3668
Internet: bryanf@comcorp.comspec.com, bryanf@accesspt.north.net
ElectroMike Inc.
1375 Boul. Charest Ouest
Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1N2E7
Tel: (418) 681-4138, (800) 463-1501 Fax: (418) 681-5880
GfxBase Electronique, Inc
1727 Shevchenko
Montreal, Quebec
Voice: 514-367-2575 Fax: 514-367-5265
BBS: 514-769-0565
National Amiga
Oakville, Ontario
Fax: 905-845-3295 EMail: gscott@interlog.com
World Wide Web: http://www.interlog.com/~gscott/NationalAmiga.html
Oby's Amigo Computing Shop
765 Barrydowne Rd
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3A-3TG
VOICE/FAX: (705)524-5826
All Amiga Computer Store Since 1990
Software Supermart
11010 - 101 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5H-2T1
Voice: (403) 425-0691 Fax: (403) 426-1701
EMail: ssmart@planet.eon.net
Wonder Computers Inc.
1315 Richmond Rd.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2B 8J7
Voice: 613-596-2542 Fax: 613-596-9349
BBS: 613-829-0909
-=UNITED STATES=-
A&D Computer
211 South St.
Milford, NH 03055-3743
Voice/Fax: 603-672-4700 BBS: 603-673-2788
Internet: amiga@mv.mv.com
Advantage Amiga
571 Mast Road, Unit 6
Manchester, NH 03102
Voice: (603) 641-3340 Fax: (603) 641-3410
E-Mail: advantage@grove.mv.com WWW: http://grove.mv.com/advantage/
AmegaByte!
5001 Garrett Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705
VOICE: (800) 834-7153 VOICE: (301) 937-1640
FAX: (301) 937-1658 INTERNET: amega@globe.net
Amigability Computers
P.O. Box 572
Plantsville, CT 06479
VOICE: 203-276-8175
Internet: caldi@pcnet.com
Amiga-Crossing
176 Gray Road, Unit 5
Cumberland, ME 04021
VOICE: (800) 498-3959 (Maine only) VOICE: (207) 829-3959
FAX: (207) 829-3522 Internet: ewhite42@portland.caps.maine.edu
Amiga Video Solutions
1568 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Voice: 612-698-1175 Fax: 612-224-3823
BBS: 612-698-1918 Net: wohno001@maroon.tc.umn.edu
Applied Multimedia Inc.
89 Northill St.
Stamford, CT 06907
VOICE: (203) 348-0108
Apogee Technologies
1851 University Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34243
VOICE: 813-355-6121
Portal: Apogee Internet: Apogee@cup.portal.com
Armadillo Brothers
753 East 3300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah
VOICE: 801-484-2791 Internet: B.GRAY@genie.geis.com
Computer Advantage
7370 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA 50322
Voice/Fax: 515-252-6167
Internet: Number1@netins.net
Computer Concepts
18001 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Suite "0"
Bothell, WA 98012
VOICE: (206) 481-3666
Computer Link
6573 middlebelt
Garden City MI 48135
Voice: 313-522-6005 Fax: 313-522-3119
clink@m-net.arbornet.org
Computers International, Inc.
5415 Hixson Pike
Chattanooga, TN 37343
VOICE: 615-843-0630
DC Productions
218 Stockbridge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(616)373-1985 (800)9DC-PROD
Email: dcpro!chetw@heifetz.msen.com
Digital Arts
122 West 6th Street
Bloomington, IN 47404
VOICE: (812)330-0124 FAX: (812)330-0126
BIX: msears
Digital Castle
4046 Hubbell Ave. Suite 155
Des Moines, IA 50317-4434
Voice: (515) 266-5098
EMail: Sheel@netins.net
HT Electronics
275 North Mathilda Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
VOICE: 408-737-0900 FAX: 408-245-3109
Portal: HT Electr BIX: msears
Digital Castle
4046 Hubbell Ave. Suite 155
Des Moines, IA 50317-4434
Voice: (515) 266-5098
EMail: Sheel@netins.net
HT Electronics
275 North Mathilda Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
VOICE: 408-737-0900 FAX: 408-245-3109
Portal: HT Electr kipp@rasputin.umd.edu
Magic Page
3043 Luther Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27127
Voice/Fax: 910-785-3695 E-mail: Spiff@cup.portal.com
Contact: Patrick Smith
MicroSearch
9000 US 59 South, Suite 330
Houston, Texas
VOICE: 713-988-2818 FAX: 713-995-4994
Mr. Hardware Computers
P.O. Box 148 / 59 Storey Ave.
Central Islip, NY 11722
VOICE: 516-234-8110 FAX: 516-234-8110
A.M.U.G. BBS: 516-234-6046
OverByte Industries, Inc.
661 Blanding Blvd. Suite 391
Orange Park, FL 32073-5048
Voice: 904-858-3348 E-mail: overbyte@jax.gttw.com
URL: http://www.jkcg.com/Webmaster/Overbyte/index.html
PSI Animations
17924 SW Pilkington Road
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
VOICE: 503-624-8185
Internet: PSIANIM@agora.rain.com
Raymond Commodore Amiga
898 Raymond Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55114-1521
VOICE: 612.642.9890 FAX: 612.642.9891
Slipped Disk
31044 John R
Madison Heights, Michigan 48071
Voice: (810) 546-3475
BBS: (810) 399-1292 Fido: 1:120/321.0
Software Plus Chicago
2945 W Peterson Suite 209
Chicago, Illinois
VOICE: 312-878-7800
System Eyes Computer Store
730M Milford Rd Ste 345
Merrimack, NH 03054-4642
Voice: (603) 4244-1188 Fax: (603) 424-3939
EMail: j_sauter@systemeye.ultranet.com
Zipperware
76 South Main St.
Seattle, WA 98104
VOICE: 206-223-1107 FAX: 206-223-9395
E-Mail: jon@nwlink.com
Editorial and Opinion
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Editorial and Opinion ==
===========================================================================
compt.sys.editor.desk September's here...
Dreams of a Low End Amiga An opinion piece
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
News Articles Reviews Announce Adverts
News & Press Releases
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== News & Press Releases ==
===========================================================================
Unusable Amiga Emulator It's unusable, but in progress.
Amiga-Link 2.0 The floppy-port networking system
Amiga 'Pack-In's Bundled software for new machines
AsimCDFS 3.2 Asimware's new CD filesystem
fMSX 0.6 The MSX emulator
Inner-City Arts A call for donated Amigas
Digital Quill The new text editor
ShapeShifter 3.1 The Mac emulator upgraded
UK Amiga News PR from the recent UK conference
VideoStream Amiga founders move on
Cloanto Personal Suite A new CD of commercial software
Digita/Soft-Logik S-L and Digita make an announcement
TekMagic Surfaces The GVP successor company appears
DKB Wildfire 060 DKB announces a 2000 060 accelerator
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion Articles Reviews Announce Adverts
Featured Articles
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Featured Articles ==
===========================================================================
DirOpus 5 Survey A poll for future developemt
DirOpus 5 Conference Jon Potter on IRC
Amiga Convention '95 Jason Compton's show report
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion News Reviews Announce Adverts
Reviews
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Reviews ==
===========================================================================
ImageFX 2.1 The upgrade revealed
On the Ball OR's personal organizer
Brilliance Tutorial 3 tapes for real-time work
Final Writer 4 Another upgrade revealed
Stylus Pro-Pak ProVector and support tools from Stylus
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion News Articles Announce Adverts
FTP and Product Announcements
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== FTP and Product Announcements ==
===========================================================================
Aminet Charts Aminet Charts for 20-Aug-95
Aminet Charts Aminet Charts for 27-Aug-95
Aminet Charts Aminet Charts for 3-Sep-95
Really, no comp.sys.amiga.announce postings this issue. Weird.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion News Articles Reviews Adverts
About AMIGA REPORT
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== About AMIGA REPORT ==
===========================================================================
AR Staff The Editors and writers
Writing Guidelines What you need to do to write for us
Copyright Information The legal stuff
The Staff
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== The Staff ==
===========================================================================
Editor: Jason Compton
Assistant Editor: Katherine Nelson
Senior Editor: Robert Niles
Games Editor: Sean Caszatt
Contributing Editor: William Near
Where to Get AR
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Where to Get AR ==
===========================================================================
The AR Mailing List
Aminet
World Wide Web
Distribution Sites
Commercial Services
Distribution Sites
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Where to find Amiga Report ==
===========================================================================
Arranged by Continent:
Australia
Europe
North America
South America
Sysops: To have your name added, please send Email with the BBS name,
its location (Country, province/state) your name, any internet/fidonet
addresses, and the phone number of your BBS
Dealer Directory
Table of Contents
===========================================================================
== Dealer Directory ==
===========================================================================
Arranged by Continent:
Asia
Europe
North America
Dealers: To have your name added, please send Email with the name,
address, phone, and net address (if available) of your establishment.
