The June 20th meeting will be one of CUCUG's split SIG meetings. The Macintosh SIG will be somewhat free-form. Richard has a demo CD of the new System 8 for perusal. He and Mark will demo a few of the utilities they both use frequently. And, members running System 7.5.x who haven't upgraded yet to 7.5.3 can bring in their machines and have them upgraded free. The Amiga SIG will be taken through the process of how to make a video, by John Lynn. The C64 SIG's agenda is To Be Announced.
A three-judge federal panel ruled yesterday that the Communications Decency Act is unconstitutional.
In its decision to reject the federal law, the judges unanimously agreed to protect the First Amendment right to free speech in the landmark case of ACLU vs. Janet Reno, declaring the Internet the most participatory form of mass speech the world has yet seen. The CDA banned any online material deemed indecent or patently offensive that is accessible to minors.
"The Internet may fairly be regarded as a never-ending worldwide conversation. The government may not, through the CDA, interrupt that conversation," U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell wrote in an individual opinion submitted as part of the court ruling. "As the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed, the Internet deserves the highest protection from governmental intrusion."
The Philadelphia court also granted the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction against the law in a 71-page decision delivered by Dolores Sloviter, chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The injunction prevents any prosecution under the law pending an appeal, which both sides predict will be filed within the requisite 20-day period.
"While we were hopeful, this decision quite frankly is a rave review. This is more than we could have asked for," said an ecstatic Todd Lappin, an editor at Wired magazine, which was among the ACLU supporters listed in the suit. "What this means for the Internet community is that the chill is off. We don't have to worry so much about whether you're going to have a government prosecutor walking through your door because you used a four-letter word on the Net."
Supporters of the CDA said they were not surprised by the decision but vowed to continue their fight. "The reaction is not unexpected, given the liberal leaning of many of the federal judges at this level, and we fully anticipate this to bump to the next level, which is the U.S. Supreme Court," said Mike Russell, spokesman for the Christian Coalition.
Nevertheless, today's ruling was an unequivocal victory for the ACLU and the more than 40 civil liberties groups, software companies, regional Internet service providers, and commercial producers of online entertainment and information. Among those joining the ACLU's challenge were the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Human Rights Watch.
"The government's asserted 'failure' of the Internet rests on the implicit premise that too much speech occurs in that medium, and that speech there is too available to the participants. This is exactly the benefit of Internet communication, however," Dalzell wrote in his opinion. "The government, therefore, implicitly asks this court to limit both the amount of speech on the Internet and the availability of that speech. This argument is profoundly repugnant to First Amendment principles."
Genie, one of the original proprietary online services that all but disappeared in the wake of America Online (http://www.aol.com), Compuserve (http://www.compuserve.com), and Prodigy (http://www.prodigy.com), has resurfaced on the Web as Genie Interactive (http://genie.village.com).
Prodigy, the Microsoft Network (http://www.msn.com), and CompuServe are all shifting content to the Web, leaving AOL as the only major online service remaining with its own proprietary environment.
Genie Interactive is a joint effort between Internet service provider IDT (http://www.idt.net/) and Genie. The companies are hoping to recoup some of Genie's popularity and get a leg up on other Web-based services by focusing on interactive multiplayer games, custom news feeds, and access to extensive content databases. Genie also plans to compete on price; the service will be free for the first three months and $10 a month thereafter, with no hourly charge. None of the other three have announced their pricing.
Genie Interactive will also feature chat groups, bulletin boards, software libraries, and virtual communities (http://genie.village.com/page4.html). The service is scheduled for beta testing in June and full release in July.
The original text-based Genie service still has about 30,000 subscribers using the service on Amiga, Commodore, and Apple II machines.
Genie Interactive bears no relation to the GE Business Pro online service.
In its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Apple Computer said it expects to post operating losses for the rest of this year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The computer maker also said it expects net sales to stay below prior year levels through the first quarter of 1997.
After warning investors this week not to expect profitability for the rest of the year, Apple Computer announced a major shakeup of its corporate tree today.
A key part of the restructuring included the resignation of James Buckley, senior vice president and president of Apple Americas and an 11-year Apple veteran.
Effective June 1, the reorganization, outlined at Apple's developer conference earlier this month, directs all lines of authority toward chairman and CEO Gil Amelio, with six senior executives reporting directly to the top.
Playing a significant role in the new lineup will be Marco Landi, executive vice president and chief operating officer, the former president of Apple Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Landi will now be in charge of the overall implementation of Apple's business plans and will oversee the company's four product divisions - Power Macintosh, Imaging, Information Appliances, Servers, and Alternate Platforms - as well as Claris and the newly formed AppleAssist customer support division.
Four divisions will report directly to Amelio in his temporary position as chief technical officer: AppleSoft, AppleNet, Advanced Technology Laboratories, and the Reliability and Quality Assurance Group.
Apple Computer today announced the latest in its Performa line of Macintosh computers, which it says is the most powerful Performa to date.
Aimed at home multimedia and games users, the $2,599 Performa 6320CD runs on a 120-MHz 603e PowerPC microprocessor and comes with 16MB of RAM and a 1.2GB hard drive. The multimedia system is also the first of the Performa line to ship with a 15-hour free-trial version of America Online.
The new system also comes bundled with 16 pre-installed software titles and 15 CD-ROM titles, including Descent from MacPlay, Buried in Time from Sanctuary Woods, and Allied General from Strategic Simulations.
The product will display the quality brand "AMIGA Based", whereby the customer is insured the quality standard of a genuine Amiga OEM product.
The product will be marketed by Eagle Computers Products in the very popular XENON design Tower casing. The interesting part of the agreement is that the customer can determine the equipment within the Tower itself.
The agreement is solely for the Tower casing (with 230 W power supply), Mouse, Keyboard, System Disks, Manuals, Motherboard, Floppy Drive, 2MB ChipRAM and 4 MB FastRAM. The announced price totals 2720 DM.
Other accessories like Hard Disk, additional FastRAM, choice of CPU Board, Graphic cards etc. can be integrated for the customer of Eagle Computers if desired.
In addition Eagle Computer Products offer customers the possibility, to part exchange an A1200 against the purchase a new Eagle 4000 TE.
UK customers can obtain any of the products produced by Eagle Computer Products from their exclusive UK distributor, Blittersoft - details below:
Blittersoft Tel: +44 (0)1908 261466/77 6 Drakes Mews Fax: + 44(0)1908 261488 Crownhill Industry Milton Keynes MK8 0ER U.K. Info: Gilles Bourdin, Public Relations Tel: +49 6252 709 195 AMIGA Technologies GmbH Fax: +49 6252 709 520 Berliner Ring 89 Email: gbo@amiga.de D-64625 BENSHEIM, Germany URL: http://www.amiga.de/ToC
Using new super-charged versions of its Alpha processor, Digital Equipment (http://www.digital.com/) today rolled out some of the fastest Windows NT workstations in the world.
Digital's new Alpha XL personal workstations are built around two new Alpha processors that run at 300 and 366 MHz. These models may be shown up, however, by systems built around a 400-MHz Alpha processor that Digital is already working on, company representatives said.
The current high-performance system architecture includes: 2MB of level-2 cache, a 128-bit memory bus, a 32-bit PCI input-output bus, Fast and Wide SCSI-2 for high-speed disk access, and integrated Ethernet. The workstations support up to 512MB of memory and come with a quad-speed speed CD-ROM drive, up to 12GB of internal storage, and five drive bays.
Available now for $8,495, an Alpha XL 300 Personal Workstation includes 32MB of memory, a 1GB hard disk drive, a Matrox Millenium 2D/3D graphics adapter, CD-ROM, and a floppy disk drive.
The Alpha XL 366 Personal Workstation will ship in May and will cost $9,995 for the same configuration.
Digital also announced the PowerStorm family of 2D and 3D graphics adapters for both X86-based Celebris and Alpha XL personal workstations. PowerStorm adapters are based on the PCI bus and were designed to accelerate the OpenGL 3D graphics library.
IBM (http://www.ibm.com) and Motorola (http://www.motorola.com) have completed the development of enhanced versions of the PowerPC 603e and 604e microprocessors running at speeds of up to 200 MHz, the companies announced today at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Jose, California.
The PowerPC 604e is the desktop and entry-level server microprocessor and is capable of running in uni- or multi-processor environments. The new microprocessors will be manufactured by both companies initially at speeds of 166 MHz, 180 MHz, and 200 MHz.
The chips will not appear in systems until the end of the year, but the companies wanted to underscore their commitment to keeping PowerPC performance competitive.
"This will ensure that Apple's Power Macintosh PowerBook and desktop product lines deliver leading-edge performance," said Howard Lee, Apple's senior vice president of the Macintosh Systems Division.
Apple Computer intends to use the 200-MHz PowerPC microprocessors in systems available before the end of 1996. The high-performance and low-power consumption of the 603e will allow manufacturers to build systems ranging from subnotebooks and laptops to high-performance notebooks and entry desktop systems, the companies said.
Detailed pricing and availability will be announced by the manufacturers separately.
A 200-MHz PowerPC chip now shipping in volume from Motorola (http://www.motorola.com) will start showing up in desktop and notebook systems from Apple (http://www.apple.com), Motorola, and Macintosh clone makers Umax (http://www.umax.com) and Power Computing (http://www.powercc.com) by the end of the year.
Originally announced at the Apple World Wide Developer Conference in May, the PowerPC 603e chip is 11 percent faster than Power Computing's 180-MHz PowerTower system and 33 percent speedier than the fastest current Power Macintosh, which runs on the 150-MHz PowerPC 604 chip.
Hardware manufacturers are paying $360 for the new chips when purchased in quantites of 1,000 or more.
A host of major memory chip manufacturers are scaling back production plans for Dynamic RAM chips, the main memory used in all personal computers, in the hopes of stopping a precipitous drop in prices that has halved the cost of upgrading PC memory.
NEC (http://www.nec.com/) will scale back production of 16-megabit chips from 11 million units a month to 9 million, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan's largest economic daily. This sharp reversal of fortune essentially dashes the company's earlier plans to crank up production to 18 million chips a month by December of this year.
NEC is Japan's largest chip maker and one of the world's largest memory chip manufacturers.
What NEC hopes to do is to halt the drop in memory prices by decreasing production. The stratagem - which Samsung (http://www.samsung.com/) and Hitachi (http://www.hitachi.com/) are also adopting - may work, but the consumer is the winner in the meantime.
"[Prices have] hit rock bottom. They really can't go any lower," said a spokesman at L.A. Trade, a memory reseller in Torrance, California. Prices for 16MB of DRAM four months ago hovered between $300 and $400, but this amount of memory now sells for as little as $145, said the spokesman.
Other resellers believe that these low prices are here for good. "Prices might fluctuate a bit, but they'll never go back [up] to where they were," said an executive at an Anaheim, California-based memory reseller.
"[Customers] are delighted at the prices and are telling their friends, who are then calling in to buy more memory," said a salesman at the same company.
And in more good news for the PC-buying public, some PC vendors are also passing on memory price reductions. A Hewlett-Packard (http://www.hp.com/) spokesman said that memory prices have "contributed" to its decision to reduce prices on its desktop PCs.
Currently, the 16-megabit DRAM chips themselves, which are sold to distributors and PC manufacturers, trade at just over $15, down from $45 early this year. And supply is still outstripping demand by about 15 percent, according to estimates.
In the past, NEC, Hitachi, and the other Japanese manufacturers were used to coordinating their production plans to largely control pricing. But with large Korean manufacturers now in the game, such monopoly has become more difficult.
And now fledgling Taiwanese memory manufacturing operations are hoping ramp up to large-scale production and intensify price competition even more. Some observers believe that this is pushing the Japanese and Korean manufacturers to cooperate to drive down prices in an effort to stop the Taiwanese from gaining a foothold in their market.
Toshiba (http://www.toshiba.com/) announced that it will ship the fastest high-capacity DRAM memory chip on the market in June.
The new Toshiba chip can hold 64 megabits of data, four times the capacity of today's mainstream 16-megabit chips, and has an access time of 40 nanoseconds. Typical RAM today has an access time of 60 nanoseconds.
DRAM (Dynamic RAM) chips comprise the main memory of personal computers. Toshiba's chip also supports extended data-out (EDO) technology, which speeds access to memory.
The company will ship the new line in limited volume in June and then boost production to about 100,000 chips per month in October.
Mr. Greenberg, Chairman, said: "We are proud to add these individuals, all highly experienced in their respective fields, to VIScorp's board. Their career accomplishments, and their past and current experience in management and corporate guidance, will be a valuable resource to help VIScorp stay a leader in the rapidly evolving field of interactive television.
"Bob Wussler brings decades of experience creating innovative programming, managing the distribution of entertainment and information to millions of households, and a deep understanding of technologies such as satellite communications, cable television, and interactive media, communications and interactive media.
"King R. Lee, who has an extensive background in communications, software and consumer products markets, has proven his leadership at the highest corporate levels. We anticipate rapid growth at VIScorp, and his experience managing fast-growing companies will be a tremendous asset."
He continued: "Bob Reid's 40 years at Engis includes overseeing worldwide operations and manufacturing, and this experience gives him valuable insights as VIScorp pursues its vision to be a global player in the ITV market."
Mr. Greenberg concluded: "In their careers, all three directors have shown decisiveness, keen management skills and a constant awareness of the bottom line, combined with a strong sense of vision for the future. This is exactly the combination that we believe will help VIScorp become a leader in the emerging ITV field."
Robert Wussler
Since 1992, Mr. Wussler, of Potomac, Md., has been involved with a range of start-up, entrepreneurial, and mature business relationships with cable channels and programming companies as President of The Wussler Group. He has also been active in the worldwide interactive TV industry, as well as in program syndication. His accomplishments during two decades with CBS include: responsibility for expanding satellite usage in news coverage; helping turn around CBS Chicago owned and operated affiliate WBBM-TV; creating "NFL Today" for CBS; and, negotiating the network's second contract with the NFL. Under his leadership, CBS became the number one network in the late 1970s.
As President of COMSAT Video Enterprises, he restructured the organization and re-focused its strategies as the largest supplier of satellite-delivered entertainment to the U.S. lodging industry. In nine years with Turner Broadcasting System and SuperStation WTBS, he provided leadership in building Cable News Network, Headline News, TNT, the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, TBS Sports, and more. Under his leadership, WTBS achieved exposure in more than 200 major U.S. markets, reaching 33 million homes.
King R. Lee
Mr. Lee is CEO of Wynd Communications, a two-way wireless messaging service provider he helped begin in 1994. Mr. Lee was previously CEO of Quarterdeck Corporation, a leading developer of Internet, utility and remote computing software. He oversaw restructuring of the company's worldwide operations, and under his guidance, the company grew from $50 million to $500 million in value.
Previously, as President and CEO of XTree Company, a utility software producer, he led the company to a 1,700 percent increase in revenues before the company was acquired. Mr. Lee held marketing management positions with General Mills and Lever Brothers where he marketed products both domestic and international.
Robert E. Reid
Mr. Reid, of Chicago, has overseen all facets of business, finance and operations during his 42 year tenure with Engis Corporation, an international manufacturer of precision industrial diamond products and diamond grinding machinery, headquartered in Wheeling, Ill. Mr. Reid's background includes establishing foreign subsidiaries and licensees, establishing and upgrading manufacturing processes, and new product strategies.
VIScorp has announced that it intends to begin marketing its first set-top box with full Internet and Web capabilities, called the Universal Internet Television Interface(R), (UITI(R)) in the fourth quarter of 1996. The company says an enhanced set-top device, the Electronic Device(R) (ED(R)) is scheduled for roll out in 1997, and will feature capabilities such as telephone reception and dial-up, facsimile, pay-per-view options, electronic mail, access to on-line services, including the Internet, and more.
Visit the company's Web page at http://www.vistv.com/, and direct e-mail to flo@vistv.com.
Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT: Florine Radulovic of VIScorp, 312-655-0903; Tad Gage, General Information, 312-640-6745, or Bess Gallanis, Media, 312-640-6537, both of The Financial Relations Board (VICP)
10. I Got Yahoo, Babe (Sonny and Cher)
9. I'm So Excite, Inc. (The Pointer Sisters)
8. Spies Lycos (Paul McCartney)
7. I Can Seek Queries Now (Johnny Nash)
6. Boolean Rhapsody (Queen)
5. Go (Perl Jam)
4. I Can CGI for Miles and Miles (The Who)
3. Do Inktomi One More Time (The Captain and Tenille)
2. Inagaddaltavista (Iron Butterfly)
1. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2)
When the music's over, be sure to tune into search.com next week for a cooler interface and more comprehensive set of tools: http://www.search.com/
[Source: c|net Digital Dispatch Vol. 2 No. 24.]
Q... Several months ago, I used geoMakeBoot from CMD to make a bootable disk for my 1581 drive. The disk worked fine. In fact, I made several copies of the disk just to be safe. Now I have a recently purchased CMD hard drive and cannot get GEOS to boot from it. I used MCOPY to copy one of my 1581 boot disks to a 1581 partition on the hard drive. I would no boot, but the 1581 will. What is wrong?
A... The problem is that the same boo file that was created on your 1581 won' work on your hard drive. The two devices do not use the same disk driver (software) hat GEOS uses for communication between the computer and the drive. To make your hard drive bootable, you will need to use geoMakeBoot again. This time, you will run it from the hard drive. Just get the HD configured into the system using the CONFIGURE file that was included on the GEOS utilities disk that came with your HD. Then also put a copy of the file on the partition of your HD.
Now, with the HD configured in, you can run geoMakeBoot on it. Then, after you shut down, you will be able to reboot from the HD.
A couple of issues back, we reported on Nick Rossi's new version of Novaterm. This would be a version that was planned to have been released in cartridge form. The cartridge would have been produced by Performance Peripherals, Inc. (PPI), the same company that makes the BBGRam. A new device, called COMMPORT would be released along with the release of Novaterm.
The fact that Novaterm was going to come out on a cartridge was felt by inside sources here to be a bad move. The same feelings were heard elsewhere among the Commodore Community. So, it appears as though Nick has had second thoughts. The cartridge deal appears to be history. Novaterm, the commercial version, will be made available in disk form, instead. This is a far better deal and this means that the power users will be able to install the program on their CMD hard drives and RamLinks.
It is rumored that CMD will be marketing Novaterm instead of PPI. We hope this doesn't mean trouble for PPI. The products produced by PPI have been excellent products and are much needed by Commodore users. It just appears that PPI has not been able to respond to market requests for it's products like it should. But this mostly a one-man operation and that helps explain the problems that have occurred lately. Hopefully, PPI will continue to function and, by staying small, it's products will continue to be produced and be made available.
The fact that Novaterm will not be produced on cartridge, but rather on disk, is a very welcome bit of news. Supposedly, we will see many new things in Novaterm. Nick Rossi should have gone commercial with his popular terminal program a long time ago. Whether anybody wants to believe it or not, it takes money to keep these programmers going. Hopefully, Nick will make some money when he releases the new version. We will keep you posted here on how the new version looks when more info is available.
The SuperCPU for the 64 is getting ever so close to production. Maurice Randall has been working on the GEOS portion of the software that will allow the SuperCPU to be used with GEOS. You simply have got to see it to believe it. GEOS running at 20 MHz is an absolute blast!
The SuperCPU was first demonstrated at the LACC's meeting in May and will be shown again during the June meeting. But this time, the unit that Maurice will bring has been further optimized to run even faster while in GEOS mode. CMD has made some special configurations that prevent unnecessary slowdowns when the VIC chip need to work with the memory that is used for the screen display. In simple terms, CMD has put together a configuration specially for GEOS use. This has caused the SuperCPU to perform almost twice as fast as what we saw it do during the May meeting. And that was overly impressive, to say the least.
Maurice now has the problem with the mouse driver cured. There was a certain amount of jumpiness showing in the mouse pointer that is now gone. CMD has also cured the keyboard problems that we experienced in May. Maurice was careful not to use the keyboard in ways that would show the problems. Now, he can. That explains why he avoided using geoSHELL at the meeting. geoSHELL relies on using the keyboard for typing commands. The spacebar was not functional and you can imagine what problems that would have created. It works fine now.
[Source: Lansing Area Commodore Club's "Double Click", June, 1996. LACC's address is P.O. Box 1065, East Lansing, MI 48826.]
This article is the second installment of one containing questions about Copland, which is next major release of the Mac OS. This article was originally posted on the Copland web site: (http://www.macos.apple.com/copland/)
DISCUSSION:
Question: How will Copland's advanced graphics capabilities benefit customers?
Answer: Copland will help customers more easily prepare, view, and print documents that look as good on paper as they do onscreen, and will deliver the capability for them to manipulate three-dimensional data as easily as they work with text and graphics today. Copland delivers these capabilities through the integration of optimized versions of QuickDraw GX and QuickDraw 3D. For more detailed information about these technologies, consult the QuickDraw GX (http://www.info.apple.com/gx/gx.html) and QuickDraw 3D (http://www.info.apple.com/qd3d/QD3D.HTML) web sites.
Question: How will Copland integrate QuickDraw GX?
Answer: QuickDraw GX will be the standard printing and imaging technology for Copland. This means that all Copland users will be able to take advantage of QuickDraw GX printing enhancements, including its desktop printer interface, portable digital document technology, plus Apple's ColorSync color matching technology. In addition, new applications will be able to build on GX to provide next-generation type, graphics, and color capabilities.
Question: What improvements will be made to QuickDraw GX and QuickDraw 3D for Copland?
Answer: Copland will include improvements to both technologies-each will be revised to improve their overall performance and reliability, reduce their RAM footprint, and address requests from both customers and developers for enhancements.
Question: What electronic collaboration capabilities will Copland include?
Answer: Apple was the first to include collaboration services as a part of system software. Copland will provide an upgrade to the collaboration services currently found in System 7.5 of the Mac OS. The new capabilities include:
Answer: Copland will be Internet-ready, whether you dial into a commercial Internet provider or you have access to the Internet via your corporate network over TCP/IP. Copland will provide Internet access via Open Transport networking and Cyberdog technology.
Question: What is Cyberdog?
Answer: Cyberdog is the code name for a set of OpenDoc components that provides one-click access to Internet services. It provides a consistent interface, and brings Macintosh ease-of-use to the Internet. In Cyberdog, an Internet address is an object that can be dropped into mail, an electronic notebook, OpenDoc documents, or into the Finder. If you double-click on an Internet address, it opens the object, whether it's a web page, a picture (Cyberdog will do any necessary translation or decompression), or a file. And Cyberdog provides you with powerful mail that's integrated with the other Internet components. For the most current information about Cyberdog, visit (http://www.cyberdog.apple.com/).
Question: What are Apple's goals for the advanced networking architecture in Copland?
Answer: Apple believes that communications and collaboration technologies are integral and fundamental to personal and workgroup computing. Open Transport provides the Mac OS with a cross-platform standards basis for collaboration applications. With Copland, Apple will continue to enhance Open Transport to make the Mac OS the best desktop OS for multiprotocol networking anywhere.
Question: What is Open Transport?
Answer: Open Transport is the modern networking and communications subsystem for the Mac OS. Open Transport is based on industry standards and brings a new level of performance, networking connectivity, control, and compatibility to Mac OS systems, while preserving and enhancing the hallmark of the Macintosh and Mac OS built-in support for easy-to-use networking.
Question: How can Open Transport benefit users?
Answer: Open Transport provides individual computer users with many benefits. Two of the most immediately visible and important benefits relate to making networking more accessible.
First, Open Transport makes it easy to switch from one network configuration to another. A computer user "on the go" might want to hook up to the Internet in various locations, each requiring a different network configuration. With Open Transport, settings for each network location can be stored for easy access and use. Changed settings are available immediately - no reboot of the computer is required to use the new configuration.
Second, Open Transport integrates on-line help, based on Apple Guide technology, to make it easier for an individual to hook up to an network, with fewer demands on network manager and support resources.
Question: How can Open Transport benefit network managers and organizations?
Answer: Open Transport provides significant new flexibility in setting up network configurations; with Open Transport, the network manager can recommend or require configuration settings for users on the network, or allow users to determine their own settings.
Open Transport also improves support for centralized configuration management. For example, Open Transport/TCP supports the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), allowing network managers to administer addressing and other TCP/IP configuration information from a central server.
Question: Will Open Transport for Copland offer any new capabilities?
Answer: Yes. Open Transport v2.0 is being designed to take full advantage of the new microkernel services available in the Copland OS. As a result, Open Transport networking on Copland is planned as a set of multi-threaded, pre-emptively scheduled tasks running in protected memory.
To a user, this will mean that networking will be even more robust. To a developer, this will mean that an errant application running in another memory space will not be able to corrupt system level networking tasks.
Open Transport 2.0 is also planned to include integrated support for NetWare/IPX, X.25, ATM, and ISDN, in addition to AppleTalk and TCP/IP.
Question: Will Copland be interoperable with installed AppleTalk and TCP/IP networks?
Answer: Yes. Open Transport is compatible with existing AppleTalk and TCP/IP LocalTalk and ethernet network at the "packets on the wire" level. Organizations can introduce one, a few, or hundreds of new Macintosh and Mac compatible systems running Open Transport into their environment without worrying about interoperability with existing networking services.
Question: How will Copland support international languages and standards?
Answer: Apple's goal with Copland is that any user, anywhere, will be able to run software using their preferred language, input methods and fonts. Correspondingly, we want any developer to be able to easily write software that meets this goal. In this way, more applications will be available for Macintosh worldwide, with built-in support for many languages. Today, with WorldScript (Apple's integrated technology which supports all modern non-Roman writing systems, including Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, and many others) and QuickDraw GX, we provide the most world-ready software support of any computing platform. With Copland's new capabilities, we will extend our lead by adding support for Unicode, the international standard for character sets; by improving date, time, calendar and sorting functions; and by expanding support for an open font architecture which will provide new flexibility for future font development.
Question: What is WorldScript?
Answer: WorldScript is Apple's integrated technology which supports all modern non-Roman writing systems, including Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, and many others. WorldScript has been a part of the Mac OS since System 7.1.
Question: What is Unicode?
Answer: Unicode is an international character encoding standard which includes characters for all modern languages. Unicode is especially easy to process because every character is 16-bits. Unicode defines semantics for many characters, for example right-to-left characters used in writing systems such as Arabic and Hebrew. Apple has been an active member in the Unicode Consortium since its founding several years ago.
Question: What are Apple's plans to support Unicode?
Answer: We will be integrating Unicode support into Copland. This means that we will include the Unicode libraries which handle things like display, input, and sorting. Also, the Mac OS will provide a comprehensive co-existence strategy with Unicode vs. non-Unicode data. It will enable Unicode text to be converted to Macintosh encodings, and visa versa.
Question: What is OpenDoc?
Answer: OpenDoc is based on the concept of component software: self-contained, reusable software modules. Since all components use a single open standard-the OpenDoc standard, users can add or remove a component by just dragging and dropping.
You can think of component software in the same way you think of components for a home stereo. When you assemble a home stereo system, you can buy different companies' stereo parts-cassette deck, receiver, CD player, or speakers-because you know that they all have a standard interface and will work together. Components in an OpenDoc software application-for example, database, on-line access, text editors, or multimedia service components-all have a standard interface, and will work together, too. For more information about OpenDoc, go to Apple Computer's OpenDoc Web Site (http://www.opendoc.apple.com/) or the CILabs Web Site.
Question: What will be the minimum system requirements for Macintosh and Mac OS-based systems using Copland?
Answer: One of the key design goals for Copland is to run on 8 MB systems. Copland also is expected to require 50 MB of available hard disk space.
Question: What will the performance be like on an 8 MB system?
Answer: Our goal is to match the performance of an equivalent 8 MB system running System 7.5. We expect that performance will improve when additional RAM is installed.
Question: Will Copland work on all types of Macintosh systems?
Answer: Copland is being designed to be an uncompromised PowerPC operating system, that will fully exploit the advanced capabilities of this acclaimed RISC architecture. Apple is currently targeting current and future PowerPC-based Macintosh and Mac compatible computers. Also, Copland will run on computers based on the PowerPC Platform standard, which are expected to be available in 1996.
Question: Will Copland run on older 680x0-based Macintosh systems that have been upgraded with PowerPC processors?
Answer: Copland is being developed to run on PowerPC-based Macintosh computers, Mac compatibles using a PowerPC processor, and new computers based on the PowerPC Platform (PPCP) design standard.
PowerPC-based Macintosh computers are architecturally different from Macintosh systems with a Motorola 680x0 processor. Apple has made PowerPC upgrades available for several Mac models, like the PowerBook 500 series, Quadra 700, and certain Performa configurations. The addition of these upgrades does not change the system's inherent design.
For these customers (as well as the installed base of 680x0-based Macintosh computers), we intend to continue to maintain and enhance System 7.x releases of the Mac OS.
Question: When will Copland be available for purchase?
Answer: Our goal is to deliver Copland in the second half of 1996. We will release the product only when it meets Apple's objectives for improved performance, overall compatibility and high quality. The actual date will depend on the feedback we receive from our hardware and software partners as they use and test prerelease versions of Copland.
Question: When will developers receive prerelease versions of Copland?
Answer: The "Copland Developer Release:Tools Edition" was delivered to select tools developers in November 1995. We will seed a wider audience of developers in the Spring of 1996.
Question: What will be the compatibility of Copland with existing applications?
Answer: Apple's goal is to ensure a high degree of compatibility with existing applications, so that customers' investment in software and hardware is preserved. We are working closely with developers to ensure that the transition to Copland will occur with a minimum of disruption, and will make more detailed information available so organizations can prepare for Copland.
Question: Will existing applications run faster with Copland?
Answer: We expect that existing applications will run as fast as they do today with Macintosh System 7.5-and given the improvements in I/O and memory management, our goal is that many applications will run faster. Specific details will be made available as further testing and development takes place.
Question: What will be the compatibility of Copland with existing drivers and extensions?
Answer: Two of the primary goals of Copland are to increase the Mac's performance, and to improve the stability of the Macintosh. One way Copland will offer increased performance is through an improved I/O model. This high performance I/O model will require that some device drivers be rewritten.
In terms of stability, Apple recognizes that today's extensions model for patching and extending the OS could be improved, so Copland will provide developers with a robust and clearly defined API [applications programming interface]. We expect that this will result in fewer system conflicts, and make programming easier and more predictable on a wider range of Macintosh and Mac compatible computers. An outcome of this approach is that system extensions will have to be rewritten to work with Copland.
We are working closely with developers to ensure that the necessary drivers and extensions will be updated in a timely fashion.
Question: When will developers receive prerelease versions of Copland?
Answer: The "Copland Developer Release:Tools Edition" was delivered to select tools developers in November 1995. We will seed a wider audience of developers in the Spring of 1996 with the "Copland Developer Release:Compatibility Edition."
Question: How can interested customers receive prerelease copies of Copland for implementation testing?
Answer: Copland is currently under development, and is not being seeded to customers at this time. Customers can obtain information on Apple's customer seeding programs on the Customer Quality Feedback site (http://support.info.apple.com/cqf/cqfdatasheet.html).
Question: How can interested developers apply to receive pre-release copies of Copland for development and testing?
Answer: Interested developers can obtain information on Copland through the developer programs available through Apple's Developer Relations group. Apple Developer Support services have engineering specialists trained on Copland development and debugging. Access to these engineers is one of many benefits of the Apple Development Partners programs. Apple Developer Services has detailed information about developer services and products, including details on how to register as an Apple Developer Partner.
The discussion of Copland herein does not represent a commitment on the part of Apple Computer, Inc. for providing or shipping the features and functionality discussed. Information is subject to change without notice.
[Source: Information Alley, 01 May 1996, Apple Computer, Inc.]
Mark Bellon: You don't want to know! %^)
A B-tree is a way of organizing data into a tree-like heirarchy which is highly optimal for search and retrieval. I won't go into the details but let me say that depending on how they are implemented it's close to the theoretically impossible to go faster using a tree structure.
One way to organize a file system uses a tree structure. The user doesn't see this and I don't mean the directory structure. I'm talking about the internal organization of the file system - how everything is placed on the disk, hidden from the user, such that you can find your way back again. It's perfectly OK for this to use this or several other wacky ways to deal with this even though what the user sees may appear flat, heirarchical or something else.
Apple chose to use B-trees for a number of reasons I won't go into at this point. Performance and resiliance (crash protection) were certainly issues. Unfortunately nothing is perfect and a side effect of this scheme (and using a buffer cache) is that the structure can be damaged (as can all file systems). It is possible to make file systems that are much more resistant or faster but there are always trade-offs.
When the machine crashs at the right moment, the tree structure may become damaged. For some bizare reason computer sience people draw their trees upsize down with the root at the top and leaves at the bottom. The leaves are the lowest leavel pointers to information while the root (top) is the "whole disk". If the leaves were "addled" they could have been pointing to the wrong place and when the system went to do something they lead it astray and caused a crash. By scanning the whole disk, it is frequently possible to use all of the information available outside of the damged part to figure out what had to have been there and to restore it. Norton does just this.
If people want I can go into painful detail about this...
Richard Rollins: Mark has answered your question about B-trees but let me add: Every time I ran Netscape, it corrupted my B-trees and I had to repair them. They fixed this problem in Netscape Navigator 2.0b6a. I have been running this for some time and have had no trouble. I just got a copy of the release version of Netscape Navigator 2.0 and you guessed it.... my B-trees are corrupted every time I use it. I have left a message for Netscape and will let you know their answer.
(1) VIScorp made a move towards Escom only hours after they bought the technology (during the bankruptcy). They wanted everything EXCEPT the C= logo/name.
(2) VIScorp has continually asked Escom/Amiga Technologies about a purchase deal.
(3) Carl Sassenrath (the original creator of the Amiga 'Exec') and several other Amiga gurus are directly involved in management at VIScorp, so they KNOW what the Amiga is and what it can do.
(4) I have been assured by parties from both camps that VIScorp is going to continue production and R&D of the 'set top box' idea using the AmigaOS and custom chips as its basis (or some more advanced spin-off from the OS and custom chip set). Amiga Technologies will continue to handle the Walker and the Power Amiga and all aspects of the 'big box' Amiga, including planning, R&D, production, sales, engineering, marketing, etc.
(5) VIScorp knows the North American market better than Amiga Technologies and has (without an outright commitment being made) made gestures toward the dealers and the distributors, telling them that everything will continue on with ONLY changes being made for the good ... to increase awareness, production, sales, etc.
It's a GOOD thing!
[Source: New Orleans Commodore Klub's "N.O.C.K. Notes", June, 1996. NOCK's address is P.O. Box 8307, Metairie, LA 70011-8307.]
Wednesday, May 15, 1996 - After the failure of ESCOM to revitalize the AMIGA, under the lead of former AMIGA-President Stefan Domeyer a brand new company was founded: PIOS Computer AG
The shareholders explained their commitment to enter that risky market and to create a successor for the AMIGA community. Dr. Klaus F. Broker, an international well respected business lawyer, was elected as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. After the first meeting of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Broker stated:
"This was the start of a new company, but if you add the experience and background of all founders, PIOS will show its will to succeed very soon. We decided to enter the North American Market already in the initial phase. Together with our partners, Mr. Dave Haynie and Mr. Andy Finkel, we will found PIOS U.S. Incorporated within the next four weeks."
The President and CEO, Mr. Stefan Domeyer, explained the goals of PIOS:
I know exactly the reasons we failed with AMIGA. The only chance to keep it alive is a new start, without some burdens due to the history. I think, the key to success is simply to exceed our customers expectations on performance, quality and price. We must do it as fast, but as good as possible. So, we will form some strategic alliances with companies who have shown their capabilites in design." One of the initial shareholders is Mr. John Smith, who will leave AMIGA Technologies to build the UK operation of PIOS for Great Britain and all affiliated markets. John Smith said:" I want a new generation of Power PCs, and I want to make it successful in UK!"
The mission of PIOS is to become a reasonable player in the market for consumer computer products.
The goal is to reach an overall market share in all countries PIOS goes into of 10 percent until the year 2000. PIOS, as a company, follows the strategy of developing and marketing PowerPC- based architectures, in strong competition to the Windows/Intel monopoly.
This includes the development and distribution of a native operating system, which will be recognized by the market as the next generation of the former AMIGA OS 3.1. To provide a preemptive multitasking OS with quasi-real-time-behavior will be the biggest advantage of PIOS.
PIOS recognizes its position as a start-up-company: small staff, small costs, small overhead. PIOS is heavily dependent on a good working relationship to its customers, vendors, design-partners, employees and shareholders. PIOS wants to become big in competence, sales, market-share and shareholder-value.
Our general hardware philosophy at PIOS is simple: we will work to bring back Amiga compatible hardware that restores the price/performance factors and user confidence that will allow the Amiga's successful reintroduction.
Along with that, we want to bring back the excitement Amiga systems once generated. In keeping with tradition, a powerful low-end system is one initial target. We believe that a careful hardware design coupled with the economies of the AmigaOS, and its superior handling of multimedia related issues, can deliver a new class of home computer at a price that Wintel systems can't match.
While price is critical here, we expect to deliver powerful, modern systems that play great games, network easily, and offer productivity and multimedia performance hereto for only available in high-end systems.
Above a certain price point, we expect to build systems that follow the existing industry standards for PowerPC system compatibility. Integrating Power PC Platform conventions (PPCP) offers the user a choice of operating systems, making PIOS systems a sound investment even when the AmigaOS is the primary OS of choice. Use of standard hardware components such as JDEC memory modules, IDE and SCSI peripherals, PCI bus expansion cards, and very probably a number of new emerging standards helps keep hardware costs down, thanks to industry-wide economies of scale. This lets us provide a better initial system value and it makes such systems easier and cheaper to upgrade or customize once in user's hands.
President & CEO
Stefan Domeyer, born 1961, has studied Managerial Economics with focus on Marketing. After the examination he took various jobs in the businesses of Advertising, Software-Development, Charted Accountants and Telecommunications. Before founding PIOS he was the president of AMIGA Technologies GmbH, in charge for Finance, R&D and Market Communication. He is married and has two children.
Chief Operating Officer
Geerd-Ulrich Ebeling, born 1963, was educated as an industrial businessman. A couple of years he worked for FUBA, a big german telecom company. The last 4 years he was the manager of finance & control of Ericsson Eurolab in Hildesheim. His last job was the same at Amiga Technologies.
Chief Financial Officer
Ernst-Dieter Schlapp, born 1950, is a german MBA and experienced in working as a chartered accountant. With deep knowledge in managerial economics, finance and taxes, he was actually working as a consultant.
General Manager UK & Affiliated Countries
John Smith was for about 7 years the National Sales Manager of Commodore UK. He will be in charge for all selling and marketing activities in UK, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In all these countries he will represent the company in every respect, including press and software contacts.
Project Manager Software
Andy Finkel is President and CEO at an independent software company in Pennsylvania. In the previous years, he had a leading position in the Operating System Development of former Commodore Amiga, Westchester. In addition to the project of porting the OS to a native PPC OS, he will be acting as the president of PIOS US Inc.
Project Manager Hardware
David Haynie has studied electrical engineering at the Carnegie Mellon University. He is one of the "godfathers" of the Amiga architecture. At the time being, he is working as a Senior Hardware Engineer at SCALA. Dave Haynie will be in charge for all hardware design activities, in which he will play an active design part as well.
Vice President Technology
Ronald Coates is electrical engineer with about twenty years of experience in the computer industry: Tandem, PRIME, Honeywell, Compaq, Ericsson and AMIGA have been his working places. Ronald Coates will be in charge for the management of Technology, including the project management for joint R&D-projects. He will take care for production issues as well as Total Quality Management.
Manager Support
Dr. Peter Kittel is well known in the AMIGA market. Already at Commodore he was in charge for Documentation and Support. He will do the same within PIOS, additionally he will maintain the Internet communication. He will participate in the design activities as well as to act as a communication bridge between PIOS R&D and third party developers.
[Source: http://www.pios.de/]
The following is an informal email interview conducted with Dave Haynie, Amiga Hardware Guru-Daddy, formerly of Commodore. The interview was conducted by Brian Sorli (sorli@clas.ufl.edu) of the Gainesville Amiga Networking Group. Brian was nice enough to share the interview with The Amiga Web Directory and its users.
Brian: Heh.... Can you clear up a few things about what is going on and what you are involved with?
Dave: Sure.
Brian: 1. Pios - a new company born from the ashes of the old and new Amiga groups. Does Pios exist and how are you involved?
Dave: I guess pios officially became a company on the 15th. I'm working under contract as their hardware guru, much in the same capacity as when I contracting for Amiga Technologies.
Brian: 2. Viscorp - a lot of speculation about this company. Supposedly held a conference in France on 5/19 - not sure myself - we have heard nothing.
Dave: I gather there was a conference on the 19th, but it was under NDA. I've only heard rumors of what went on. Last I heard, VIScorp is supposed to be making major announcements tomorrow (May 23, my birthday).
Brian: Are you in communication with Viscorp and will Pios and Viscorp work together?
Dave: Yes, and I hope so. I have e-talked with a few of the folks I know at VIScorp, but they couldn't really say much. The pios strategy is really counting on the AmigaOS, since that's the enabling OS for low end multimedia systems (pios may offer other OSs on their standard PPCP machine, just because that's easy to do and may let us have product before the PowerAmiga OS is done). I'm hoping VIScorp is open to collaboration on this. The one thing we definitely don't want is a fragmented AmigaOS -- there has to be one API, one binary standard, etc.
Brian: 3. Phase 5 - I guess they just got sick of waiting for Amiga Technologies to make the right moves.
Dave: Perhaps, AT did take too long to start on the Power Amiga stuff (it didn't even start happening until late last November). I suspect everyone at AT was a victim of ESCOM's money problems, even back then (though we didn't know about them). I also think there's a little animosity on the part of phase 5 -- I think they were expecting more an embrace of their stuff from AT than they got. They do, apparently, have a simple way of running an AmigaOS emulator on a PPC with native graphics support, though they didn't have anything ready to show last February. Since Andy and I were advising AT, we insisted in doing things right. Their approach on the software front is kind of a hack, and on the hardware front it's just too much like the old Commodore; at best, they'll wind up with interesting, non-standard, and overpriced machines that can't keep up with the rapid changes in the industry. Computing in the 90s is radically different than it was in the 80s or 70s. Things have just gotten more complicated. Chips are far more complex to design, so you need larger volumes to make them practical at all, and they might last only 1/2-1/4 as long in the market as their equivalents of 10 years ago. IC processes have gotten exponentially more expensive, to the point that only the top IC makers in the world have state-of-the-art fabs, and even these guys are having to get together on the next generation fabs.
Brian: It is obvious Phase5 has big plans for the future Power Amiga and a lot to do with bringing the Power Amiga into existence.
Dave: The real question I have about phase 5's plan, all practical bits aside, is this: will they sell you a Power Amiga, or a PhasePower system that, oh-by-the-way runs Amiga 68K binaries. They're talking about writing their own "advanced" OS as the native PPC part, and they're letting the 68K emulator hook into some bits, like their graphics subsystem. That's not the same thing as a real AmigaOS port, and I don't think the Amiga community can support multiple OSs - an Amiga runs the AmigaOS, and only the owner of that (presumable VIScorp) gets to say just what that is and isn't.
Not to mention the fact that it takes a long time to write a good OS. I know of three new OSs written by experienced OS people (rare, in these days of Microsoft dominance): Scala's MMOS, the 3DO OS, and the BeOS. Scala and 3DO took each took over three years for their OSs, and neither was intended as a general purpose personal computer OS. Be's OS work started five years ago, and they're still clearly in the beta testing phase (with some modules not out of alpha yet). Either phase 5 is adopting some other, unnamed OS, stealing the AmigaOS, offering up an ugly hack, or they're not shipping any new OS in 1997.
Brian: The Pios homepage mentioned that Pios was planning on working with anyone and everyone to achieve the ultimate goal - bringing the ultimate Power Amiga to life.
Dave: Absolutely.
Brian: Are there any plans for Pios, Viscorp, Amiga Technologies, and Phase5 working together on this effort?
Dave: Folks from pios and VIScorp are meeting to talk this week. Amiga Technologies, far as I can tell, is no longer a factor - there are no technical folks left there. It's either a sales arm of VIScorp, a sales arm of ESCOM, or cancelled. It would be nice to get phase 5 to cooperate on the PowerAmigaOS, rather than going their own way, but I don't know if they will or not.
Brian: We meet at the Amiga Atlantic Banquet back in February...
Dave: You mean the Amiga Atlanta Banquet in January?
Brian: and I remember how knowledgeable and up front you were with me and everyone you spoke with.
Dave: Well, with all we've been through, the last thing the Amiga community needs is more bullshit. So I try to tell it like I see it, at least as far as any NDAs permit.
Brian: P.S. If Pios plans on working with the other groups mentioned above - everyone would benefit from this knowledge. Get the word out as soon as possible.
Dave: All of pios supports this kind of cooperation. Not that we have all that many people yet :-).
[Source: http://www.cucug.org/at/at960523.html. You can find phase 5's delineation of their plans for a custom PowerPC Amiga by 1997 at http://www.cucug.org/aminews/960515.html. You can also read the exception taken by Wolf Dietrich, General Manager of phase 5 digital product, to the above views of Dave Haynie at http://www.cucug.org/at/at960525a.html.]
The Conference took place on Friday 30th May. vog = VIScorp OS Guy, Carl Sassenrath, Directory of Software, from Northern California. Email: carl@vistv.com or carl@sassenrath.com
MidSummer: What is VIScorp's position on the sudden multiple OS problem, if there are other wanting to make OS's compatible to whatever the official one is?
vog: Actually, we are close to a solution on that. But cannot say anymore right now.
shado: Will VIScorp define a decent standard (OS, CPU, bus) for the clone makers (Phase5, PIOS, etc.) since VIScorp itself seems not to be interested in building a PPC Amiga? And how long will this take approximately (we are waiting too long already)?
vog: Yes. We will coordinate the standard, but not define it. In other words, much of this will be up to you. Yes, you have been waiting much too long. I've found that there are a lot of very qualified developers out there that are willing to help.
The idea behind new OS developments is NOT TO FRAGMENT the Amiga world any more than it already is.
vog: Time perhaps to back up and bring everyone up to date. Let me see if I can get this across. 1. VIScorp wants to see the Amiga survive as a computer system, not just as a set-top box. 2. Our focus and goal as a company is to make as many boxes as that big old factory overseas can crank them out. 3. Many companies want to make Amiga based systems. VIScorp does not want to shoot these guys in the knees as has been done in the past. 4. VIScorp needs to manage the development of future OS systems so as not to fragment the market. What would happen if PIOS, P5, VT, and others did their own private versions of the OS? Problem right now is one of timing.... And that is up to the corporate powers. Be they as they are.
dALAMAR: I feel somehow the future of Amiga will be decided by the success (or failure) of ED. What processor has been decided for ED, and will all ED software be compatible to Amiga computers, either existing or coming models?
vog: YES! Thank you.... that is what it is all about. ED is an Amiga. Most like an A1200, but with fast memory. I'd also like to add a faster processor (040 speed), but I'm beating on the powers to be about that one, because AT bought x00,000 68020s before we entered the scene and now we are stuck with them. The only compatibility problems that might exist have to do with DF0:. Since some ED boxes may not have DF0:, we'll need to virtualize it. That might break a small number of apps. But the machine should be able to download and run anything via FTP off the net (within reason that is).
Junix: Do you intend to develop the Amiga in its own right as a desktop workstation, or just as a settop box? We all fear, I think, the latter. Is VIScorp financially big enough to develop & support for the *massive* user base the Amiga has? (sorry I know some of this has already been answered) and - what is VISCorps choice of CPU? I heard that you may drop PPC and go for the DEC Alpha for example?
vog: Ok, no... I think the Alpha idea was sort of a joke... started because someone wanted to stress what it means for the OS to be ported. The rest of this question was answered earlier....
Ok, well that should do it. Thanks all of you! Please don't give up. If the Amiga truly decides to die some day, you will know it. This is not it. Hang with us.
The May 16th meeting began with the now traditional introduction of club officers. President Rollins then asked for and received a rousing round of applause for Mr. Kevin Hisel who's hard work and initiative has been key to bringing about the event of CUCUG's year.
The floor was then opened for our Question and Answer Session:
The Chip Merchant Phone: 800-808-2447 4870 Viewridge Avenue 619-654-2700 Ext. 7 San Diego, CA 92123-1642 619-268-4774 Ext. 3 92123-1642 Fax: 619-268-0874 URL: http://dreamweaver.com/sd/500/000599.htm
The floor was then yielded to Mac Librarian, Mark Bellon, who demoed the two newest disks to be released from the Mac Library.
CUCUGMAC #28:
Stuffit Expander (The decompression/dearchiving tool for the Mac), SuperMemory 3.0.sit (Very nice concentration style game), Symbionts 2.6.1 sit (Very nice extension manager), TimeTracker 2.7.5 (Fat) f.sit (Excellent time management utility), and Ultra Recorder 2.2.sit (Excellent sound recorder).
CUCUGMAC #29:
Stuffit Expander (The decompression/dearchiving tool for the Mac), Galactic Frontiers.sit (Nice empire style galactic exploration game), Poker 3.0.sit (Very good poker game), and Maelstrom 1.4.1 Installer.sit (Excellent takeoff on the classic Asteroids game).
View a more complete listing at (http://www.cucug.org/disksmac.txt).
After the break, the Computer Fair began in earnest.
The May meeting of the CUCUG executive board was held May 21, 1996 at 7PM, at Kevin Hisel's house (address and phone number, both in the book). In attendance were Richard Rollins, Mark Bellon, Jim Huls, Anderson Yau, Kevin Hopkins, Dave Witt, Jim Lewis, and Kevin Hisel.
Richard Rollins: The Macintosh SIG will be looking at a "Black Mystery Hole". Later, Richard filled that void by saying he had received a demo CD of the new System 8 that the SIG might look at, and he and Mark would probably demo a few of the utilities they both use a lot. He also suggested members running System 7.5.x who haven't upgraded yet to 7.5.3 could bring in their machines and he or Mark would upgrade them. The Amiga SIG will be taken through a video process demo, a how to make a video, by John Lynn. The C64 SIG will be meeting but since Emil Cobb wasn't at the Board meeting the topic is unannounced as yet.
Greg Tillman donated his A500 system in exchange for a membership.
Jim Lewis told Richard that he still needed two program volunteers for future Amiga SIG meetings for this year.
President Rollins asked that all references to Commodore be removed from the Web version of the newsletter, in club logos and club descriptions. Given that Commodore, as company, no longer exists and all machines being marketed under that brand name are PC clones, it was felt that it is time to move on. Kevin Hisel agreed to take care of such references in our other Web pages. Richard stated that he will be applying for MUG (Mac User Group) status very soon. We will continue to be a Commodore machine supporting organization, we just won't carry that name in our banner on the Net. We will remain CUCUG, Inc.
Mark Bellon: Mark reported that the club library purchased 10 blank ZIP disks. He stated that there are 70 disks in the Mac collection now, having released up through disk 30 publicly. He has descriptions through disk 59. Mark also said he had material for a few disks more. He stated that the first Mac ZIP disk will split at disk 80.
Mark concluded by saying he is looking for input from the members on what they would like to see in the Library. If you have suggestions, please convey those ideas to Mark.
Jim Huls: Jim reported that he has actually been working on The Macintosh Web Directory and he said it can now be allowed to go officially public.
Speaking of the May meeting, he said the meeting was fun: he won several things. He won CyberFinder. He is not fond of it or any one of it's category of program.
Jim said Robert Kidd is trying to get AmiTCP running. He suggested the club might want to buy the commercial version of the program and demonstrate how to configure it for those in need.
Finally, Jim said he is going to be taking a C programming course in summer school which meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights, so we probably won't be seeing much of him for a while.
Anderson Yau: Anderson said he had a good time at the meeting and thought it went well.
Kevin Hopkins: Kevin presented the exchange newsletters as usual and delivered the mail to the appropriate officers.
Kevin asked Mark Bellon if he had heard anything back from the woman who teaches the adult education computer courses at Urbana High School. He hadn't. We are hoping to spread the word about our Mac SIG through this contact.
Kevin asked if CUCUG wanted to take part in any way in the celebration of HAL's birthday being planned at the U of I for next year. Approval to explore the possibility was given.
Kevin asked our netwatchers if there had been any report of the VIScorp meeting in France as of yet. None had.
Kevin reported that there were seven new members (3 of which came from the web site) this month.
Finally, Kevin reported that the cost for this month's newsletter was staggeringly low thanks to our business being moved to Staples. With reduced per page cost and a discount on top of that, newsletter costs were a third of our normal bill.
Dave Witt: "The meeting was great," Dave said. "The C64 emulator I won works great. It works under Windows 95 on my DX4/120 '486. It hooks up through the parallel port."
Jim Lewis: "The raffle was fine."
Jim asked that the appeal for members to give Amiga demonstrations at the meetings be printed again.
Jim said he'd fire an email message to Mark Landman to see what's happening with the IRS status. (Due to a severe health scare in Mark's family, he was unable to attend this Board meeting.)
Jim asked for a head count at the May meeting, but Emil Cobb missed this Board meeting and he is our tally master, so none was available.
Jim brought up the idea of a Windows SIG. After some discussion, it was left on the table as "food for thought."
Kevin Hisel: Kevin reported that BBS usage is pretty slow. It is his opinion that the net is killing the neighborhood BBS.
Kevin reported that our web site is now mirrored in the UK (http://www.iprom.com/amigaweb/amiga.html). He also reported that we set a record for hits on our site on Monday, May 20, 1996 with 56,904 hits on what was humorously referred to as the "CUCUG World Headquarters Page." As background, Kevin explained why he took up the challenge of creating the Amiga Web Directory. Ask him to tell it to you sometime. It's a testament to treating people with kindness and respect or living to face the consequences.
Putting on his librarian's hat, Kevin reported that the Library did really well at the last meeting.
The Computer Fair was quite a success, almost exactly matching last year's returns. A special note should be made of the contribution our own Jon Sago made to the raffle items. Thanks, Jon. There was a Tuesday evening quarterbacking review of how the raffle operated. It was concluded that things went fairly well, but there is a need to have a person to spell those working the raffle, particularly Richard as the caller and Kevin as the recorder, when they win items.
Richard Rollins: Richard reported on discussions he and Mark had with representatives of CU-Online at the Parkland Internet Fair. There is an opportunity to acquire their old Sportster modems. Richard asked for members thoughts on this and permissions to pursue this. He received both.
He also laid out an opportunity for CUCUG to provide assistance in getting CU-Online's Macintosh clients up and running with their service in exchange for those people becoming members of our group. There was some discussion on this and tentative approval was given to proceed on a trail basis. Mark and Richard are looking for other club members who would like to help in this endeavor. See either one for details of what is involved.
Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the IBEW Local 601 Union Hall (352-1741), located at 2901 Research Road in the Interstate Research Park in northwest Champaign. To get there, go north on Mattis over I-74 and turn right at the second stop light, onto Interstate Drive. Then take the first "real" left at Research Road. The Electrician's Hall is the third building on your left. There's a big flag pole right out front and it's directly across the street from one of Hobbico's signs. You should park and enter the building in the back.
ASCII text files of all recent Status Register newsletters are available for downloading on our BBS or our WWW site. Other user group newsletter editors may leave a comment to the BBS Sysop to request free access. To initiate a newsletter exchange, just send us your newsletter. As a matter of CUCUG policy, a newsletter exchange partner will be dropped after three months of no contact.
This newsletter was prepared with PageStream 2.22 on an Amiga 3000 25/100 and output to an HP Laserjet IIP plus. Pagestream was donated to CUCUG by Soft-Logik Publishing Corporation.
For further information, please attend the next meeting as our guest, or contact one of our officers (all at area code 217):
President: Richard Rollins 469-2616 rrollins@cucug.org Vice-President: Emil Cobb 398-0149 e-cobb@uiuc.edu Secretary/Editor: Kevin Hopkins 356-5026 kh2@uiuc.edu Treasurer: Mark Landman 398-2910 mlandman@prairienet.org Corporate Agent: Jim Lewis 359-1342 jlewis@cucug.org Board Advisor: Jim Huls 892-8730 jhuls@cucug.org Librarian/Sysop: Kevin Hisel 352-1002 khisel@cucug.org Mac Librarian: Mark Bellon 337-5804 mbellon@urbana.mcd.mot.com
Call our Starship CUCUG BBS at (217) 356-8056, always online, up to 28,800 baud, supporting all CBM and Macintosh computers. Email us at
or surf our home page at
To get on the net free, call Prairienet at (217) 255-9000. Login as "visitor". Once you're on, just type "go cucug" for a good place to start.