?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?››Transferred from Z*MAGAZINE, Atari›On-Line newsletter, by Mike Blenkiron.›Reprinted by OL' HACKERS AUG NY, with›thanks!›             ****** ››      RUMBLES...RAMBLES...RUMORS...›      =============================›                     by Stan Lowell››› Ever hear "There's nothing new for›eight bits?"  Maybe not mountains, but›new hardware and software are still›kicking!  Refinements are being made to›what is out already too!  Not on as›grandiose a scale as in the heydays of›course, but they are out there!› The biggest problem as I see it:›communications.  Spreading the word›around.  I have seen messages from›people who know NOTHING of ICD,›SpartaDos, the Black Box, and on and›on.  These were not posted by new›comers to the Atari arena, these were›from people who have been using their›machines for a few years!  We just›lost the Antic "insert" in STart›Magazine, but that is the not the last›commercial stateside resource left.›We have CURRENT NOTES, and ATARI›EXPLORER, and ATARI INTERFACE MAGAZINE›This on-line magazine, ZM/A\gazine, is›a good source.  Where does ZMag get its›material?  From user groups and readers›who submit articles, reviews, letters,›or just information to it.  In short,›YOU the readers, help to support it.› There are other resources around. ›User Groups are a VERY GOOD resource›for both problems you may be having and›for information about new things which›may be "out and around" someplace.› Bulletin Board Systems(BBS) are›another good resource for information›and help.  Many ST Bulletin Boards›feature message networking to some›degree.  Even 8-bit Bulletin Boards›have message networking.  My BBS,›FoReM-XE Professional, has had it for›well over a year.  Express Pro!, Carina›][, and I believe Puff BBS have message›networking.› Networked messages are a fantastic way›to find out about new things, get help›with problems, answers to questions, or›just have a good conversation.  Most of›you probably know about a BBS. ›Otherwise, you wouldn't be reading›this! <Grin>  If you don't, then you›are missing one heck of a good time! ›Get a modem, get a terminal program,›and jump on-line! › Most new commercial software for the›eight bit Ataris comes from overseas. ›I have heard of a place or two in the›UK which will mail order to the U.S. ›Don't know of any stateside places›which carry any kind of inventory for›us 'old timers.'  If you know of some,›let me know!› Public Domain and Shareware programs›are still alive and well.  New›revisions are out for TextPro and›DaisyDot3.  John McGowan in Saint›Louis, Mo. has written several programs›which will let you print icons in your›text using DD3.  New Versions of›Snapshot are out.  Snapshot allows you›to have 2 different programs in an›expanded XL or XE and switch between›them.  There is a version for hard disk›owners which allows for up to ten›programs on your hard disk.  SUPPORT›SHAREWARE!› On the hardware side, TransKey has›been out for some time.  TransKey›allows you to hook up a standard PC›type keyboard to your XL/XE, and›includes keyboard macros!  From all›reports I have seen, it is an excellent›product.  The prolific support given by›CSS' Bob Puff continues.  Rumored to be›in the works is a chip for an XF551›which will allow both the 5-1/4 and›3-1/2 drives to be on-line at the same›time! Also coming is a controller for›the Black Box which will allow reading,›writing, and formating of PC, ST, and›8-bit formats!›› WEll, that's about it for now.  As I›find out about, or remember new›"things," I will pass them on in a›future article.  If you know of, or use›a product or program, let me know about›it.  I can be reached on the Z*Net BBS,›GEnie(S.Lowell), or on my BBS(Blank›Page BBS - 908-805-3967, 3/12/2400). ›'Til next time... Editors Note:  Stan›Lowell is a long time friend and›supporter of  Z*Magazine.  His guidance›in the early days helped Z*Mag stay on›course during rough times.  Stan has›also been a support sysop for›Z*Magazine BBS systems during the past›5 years and his assistance with the new›Z*Mag is greatly appreciated.  Please›leave Stan a message and encourage him›to continue writing!!››   [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]›