home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
Text File | 1995-02-18 | 138.7 KB | 3,199 lines |
- SILICON TIMES REPORT
- ====================
- INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
- =============================
-
- from
- STR Electronic Publishing Inc.
- A subsidiary of
- STR Worldwide CompNews Inc.
-
-
- February 17, 1995 No. 1107
- ======================================================================
-
- Silicon Times Report
- International OnLine Magazine
- Post Office Box 6672
- Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155
-
- R.F. Mariano, Editor
-
- -----------------------------------------
- Voice: 1-904-783-3319 10am-4pm EST
-
- STR Publishing Support BBS
- * THE BOUNTY INTERNATIONAL BBS *
- Featuring: * 45GB * of Download Files
- Operating with * Mustang Software's WILDCAT! BBS v4.01 *
- Fully Networked within the following Nets:
- ITCNet 85:881/253 JAX HUB ~ FIDO Net 1:112/35
- Prowl ~ USPOLNet ~ FNET 350 ~ Nest 90:301/3
- Delivered via Subscriber List through Internet
- 904-786-4176 MULTI-NODE 24hrs-7 days
- 2400-115.2 bps V.32-34 v.42 bis 28.8
- Hayes Optima 28.8 V.FC Data/Fax
- USRobotics D/S Data/Fax 28.8 V.34 Everything
- FAX: 904-783-3319 12am-6am EST
- -----------------------------------------
- The Bounty STReport Support Central .... 1-904-786-4176
- FNET. 620 : Leif's World ................1-904-573-0734
- FNET. 690 : PASTE BBS....................1-206-284-8493
- FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981
- MNET - Toad Hall BBS.....................1-617-567-8642
- ______________________________________________________________________
-
- > 02/17/95 STR 1107 "The Original * Independent * OnLine Magazine!"
- """""""""""""""""
- - STR INDUSTRY REPORT - QCOPY 1.1 WINDOWS - ProWIN Plus 2.1
- - TCP/IP NOW! - Internet Connect V2 - MITNICK NAILED!
- - Sony GIANT Monitor - Winter CES REPORT - Sanctuary Woods
- - People Talking - Jaguar News - STR Confidential
-
- -* PIONEER TO BUILD MAC CLONES *-
- -* USROBOTICS BUYS NEW FACILITY *-
- -* NEC: 1 GIGABIT DRAM CHIP *-
-
- ==========================================================================
- STReport International OnLine Magazine
- The Original * Independent * OnLine Magazine
- -* FEATURING WEEKLY *-
- "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
- Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information
- Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
- ==========================================================================
- STReport's BBS - The Bounty BBS, invites all BBS systems, worldwide, to
- participate in the ITC/Fido/Internet/PROWL/USENET/USPOLNet/NEST/F-Net Mail
- Networks. You may also call The Bounty BBS direct @ 1-904-786-4176.
- Enjoy the wonder and excitement of exchanging all types of useful
- information relative to all computer types, worldwide, through the use of
- excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps and users alike
- worldwide, are welcome to join STReport's International Conferences. ITC
- Node is 85:881/250, The Fido Node is 1:112/35, Crossnet Code is #34813,
- and the "Lead Node" is #620. All computer enthusiasts, hobbyist or
- commercial on all platforms and BBS systems are invited to participate.
- ==========================================================================
- CIS ~ DELPHI ~ GENIE ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET ~ CIX
- USENET ~ USPOLNET ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ PROWL ~ FNET ~ AOL
- ==========================================================================
-
- SOFTWARE CREATIONS BBS is proud to distribute Silicon Times Report
- STReport International OnLine Magazine
- --------------------------------
- With more than 130 Lines of PCBOARD access, Internet, Telnet and
- X.25 local access in every major city world-wide through SprintNet
- Software Creations delivers the files!
- --------------------------------------------------
- Silicon Times Report joins names like Apogee Software, Borland,
- id Software, TriSoft, Interactive Gaming, PC Techniques, Coriolis,
- Fastgraph, PC Information Group, and many more.
- --------------------------------
- Real-Time Credit Card Approval and Membership Upgrades
- The Software Download Store - for on the spot
- purchase/approval and download ability!
- --------------------------------
- Call 1-800-4SWCBBS (479-2227); Fax 1-508-365-7214 for more information!
- -----------------------------------------------------
- So, Get the latest releases from SOFTWARE CREATIONS BBS
- "Home of the Authors"
- * Software Creations, Voted #1 BBS for 1993 & 1994 *
-
- 1200/2400 V.42/MNP Lines : (508) 365-2359
- 2400-14.4k HST US Robotics Lines : (508) 368-7036
- 2400-16.8k V.32/V.42bis US Robotics lines : (508) 368-7139
- 14.4-28.8k V.32/V.42bis/V.fc Hayes Optima lines: (508) 365-9352
- 14.4-28.8k V.32/V.42bis/V.32terbo/V.fc US Robotics lines: (508) 368-3424
-
- ========================================================================
-
- COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME
- to the Readers of;
-
- STREPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- "The Original 16/32bit OnLine Magazine"
-
- NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY!
-
- CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198
-
- You will receive your complimentary time
- and
- be OnLine in no time at all!
-
- "Enjoy CompuServe's forums; where information is at its very best!
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- > From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
- """"""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- On another platform quite some time ago, where I enjoyed my humble
- beginnings in learning my way around computers, there was a large number
- of issues, editorials and essays that were critical of the company that
- made the computers I learned on and was so fond and proud of. Oh, it was
- all very much deserved.. of this there can be no doubt.
-
- Atari was buffeted repeatedly for what seemed like forever in
- breaking their promises of delivery of its ill-fated "Falcon" 68030
- computer. Why do I mention this? Easy! This past week, one of the
- "still going".. Atari enthusiasts came forward with this argument. "Why
- don't you harangue Microsoft about their continued non-delivery of
- Windows'95 the way you did Atari over the Falcon?"
-
- I felt it was a good question that at least was deserving of a civil,
- honest to goodness, answer. So here goes. One major focal point is that
- for Atari, the Falcon was the "do or die" breakpoint in the computer
- business. If they blew it for the Falcon, they will have blown it period.
- And blow it they did. Big Time! Now they are into "game machines" once
- again. It appears they are giving the Jaguar the same "treatment" they
- are so famous for. But that's another story for another time. As for
- Microsoft and Windows'95, this is a entirely different situation. The
- following factors must each be taken into consideration;
-
- A - Microsoft does not have one foot on a banana peel and the
- other in the corporate grave much as Atari did during the heydays of the
- incessant Falcon delays. Microsoft will be around for many decades to
- come regardless of the success or failure of any particular product they
- introduce.
-
- B - Windows95 is a far cry from a new computer being put in an
- old computer's case and hawked as something rather new , distinct and
- wonderful. On the other hand, Windows'95, even in its current beta
- incarnation, is already more widely distributed. In fact, there are more
- copies of Win'95 out there in the hands of Microsoft's various levels of
- beta teams than was ever dreamt of Falcons being sold.
-
- C - By the end of 1996, Microsoft's Windows95 will have earned
- itself the distinct reputation of being the most widely acclaimed and
- widespread in use operating system thus far in annals of the computing
- world. Some say it will surpass NT by an easy country mile and could when
- fully released possibly remove the need for NT altogether.
-
- D - Last and most importantly, one must really consider the
- "green with envy reactions" of many over the millions of dollars Windows
- itself earned for Microsoft and W. Gates. Can you possibly imagine the
- fits of apoplexy and outright throes of chartreuse envy some will have
- over the billions of dollars that Windows'95 will earn Microsoft and Mr.
- Gates?
-
- In closing, there can be no comparison between a failing computer
- company attempting to offer its last ditch hope (the Falcon) for survival
- while suffering from repeated crippling, debilitating delays and a fully
- fledged, highly successful computer software giant such as Microsoft. To
- engage in such folly is just that.
-
- One can simply not offer enough praise for the new Novell
- PerfectOffice package. Its "simply wonderful". If ever a combined
- package deserved praise this is it. Like the Popiel commercials say; "it
- does it all and does it better than any others". Take a moment or two out
- of your busy schedules and take a good look at PerfectOffice. It really
- is perfect. Perfect not only for a few.. but for everyone. Especially
- the SOHO business person. From letter writing, document processing and
- glittering graphics to easy desktop publishing, this package is hard to
- beat. It really is tops in both performance and value.
-
- Ralph...
-
-
-
-
-
- Of Special Note:
- ----------------
- STReport will be branching out further to Internet's userbase in the
- very near future. We've received numerous requests to receive STReport
- from a wide variety of Internet addresses. As a result, we're putting
- together an Internet distribution/mailing list for those who wish to
- receive STReport on a regular basis, and we'll UUENCODE each issue and
- mail it to you.
-
- If you're interested in being added to our mailing list, please, send
- your requests to either "dpj@delphi.com" or, RMARIANO@DELPHI.COM. Look
- for mailings to begin by October first. We are also considering a number
- of Internet ftp sites in which to post our issues for as well. Whatever
- we can do to make STReport available to you. we'll try it!
-
-
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU!
- """"""""""""""""
-
- Publisher -Editor
- """"""""""""""""""
- Ralph F. Mariano
-
- Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor, Current Affairs
-
-
- Section Editors
- """""""""""""""
- PC SECTION AMIGA SECTION MAC SECTION ATARI SECTION
- ---------- ------------- ----------- -------------
- R.D. Stevens R. Niles J. Deegan D. P. Jacobson
-
-
- STReport Staff Editors:
- """""""""""""""""""""""
-
- Michael Arthur John Deegan Brad Martin
- John Szczepanik Paul Guillot Joseph Mirando
- Doyle Helms Frank Sereno John Duckworth
- Jeff Coe Steve Keipe Guillaume Brasseur
- Melanie Bell Jay Levy Jeff Kovach
- Marty Mankins Carl Prehn Paul Charchian
-
- Contributing Correspondents:
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
- Dominick J. Fontana Norman Boucher Clemens Chin
- Eric Jerue Ron Deal Mike Barnwell
- Ed Westhusing Glenwood Drake Vernon W.Smith
- Bruno Puglia Paul Haris Kevin Miller
- Craig Harris Allen Chang Tim Holt
- Patrick Hudlow Tom Sherwin
-
- Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
- via E-Mail to:
-
- CompuServe................... 70007,4454
- Delphi......................... RMARIANO
- GEnie......................... ST.REPORT
- BIX............................ RMARIANO
- FIDONET........................ 1:112/35
- FNET........................... NODE 620
- ITC NET...................... 85:881/253
- NEST........................ 90:21/350.0
- America OnLine..................STReport
- Internet.............RMARIANO@DELPHI.COM
-
- IMPORTANT NOTICE
- ----------------
- STReport, with its policy of not accepting any paid advertising, has over
- the years developed the reputation of "saying it like it really is". When
- it comes to our editorials, product evaluations, reviews and over-views,
- we shall always keep our readers interests first and foremost. With the
- user in mind, STReport further pledges to maintain the reader confidence
- that has been developed over the years and to continue "living up to
- such". All we ask is that our readers make certain the manufacturers,
- publishers etc., know exactly where the information about their products
- appeared. In closing, we shall arduously endeavor to meet and further
- develop the high standards of straight forwardness our readers have come
- to expect in each and every issue.
-
- The Staff & Editors
-
-
-
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- > STR INDUSTRY REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
- """""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- IBM/POWER-PC/PC SECTION (I)
- ===========================
-
-
-
- Computer Products Update - CPU Report
- ------------------------ ----------
- Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
-
- Issue #07
-
- Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.
-
-
-
- ******* General Computer News *******
-
-
-
- >> NEC Develops 1 Gigabit DRAM Chip <<
-
- DRAM chips with a capacity of one gigabit, or a billion bits of
- information -- bigger than any now on the market -- have been developed
- by Japan's NEC Corp.
-
- In Tokyo this week, NEC Vice President Hajime Sasaki told a news con-
- ference his employer will start sample shipments in 1998 and to start
- mass production as early as 1999. He estimates capital investment of
- about 150 billion yen is needed to start mass production.
-
- Said Sasaki, "The DRAMs will be suitable for use in future multimedia
- terminals such as video-on-demand terminals and next-generation mobile
- notebook computers."
-
- It's noted that a one-gigabit DRAM chip has enough capacity to hold
- the information contained in about 4,000 newspapers, four hours of
- compact disk quality sound or 15 minutes of video images.
-
-
- >> Bidding for Commodore Nears End <<
-
- Two new bidders have entered the contest for the remaining liquidated
- assets of Commodore International Ltd.
-
- Reports say that one is German PC maker/distributor Escom AG, and the
- other is "a major American technology company" represented by Louis
- Ulysses of Seattle, who declined to reveal its name.
-
- Reports quotes Escom's attorney as saying the German company had been
- willing in September to pay $12 million for the remains of Commodore,
- and is still interested, but probably will no longer be willing to pay
- that amount, because the sale has been delayed so long.
-
-
- >> Sony, Oracle to Collaborate <<
-
- Sony Corp. and Oracle Corp. say they have signed a letter of intent
- to work together to develop video, audio and text news database
- products.
-
- The companies initially plan to combine Oracle's expertise in multi-
- media database management with Sony's strength in television broadcast
- and production to create a new digital electronic newsgathering (ENG)
- video system.
-
- The companies' first goal is to increase broadcast newsroom produc-
- tivity by combining video and audio clips with wire service text on a
- single edit workstation.
-
-
- >> IBM Cuts ThinkPad Prices <<
-
- Prices have been cut 6% to 11% on six models of IBM's ThinkPad notebook
- computer line.
-
-
- >> Pioneer to Build Mac Clones <<
-
- Pioneer Electronics Corp. says it has reached an agreement with Apple
- Computer, Inc. to license the Macintosh operating system for use in a
- new line of audio/video (A/V) personal computers.
-
- The deal's terms weren't disclosed.
-
- Pioneer says it plans to create a new market with a computer that
- will integrate A/V peripherals and desktop computers. It notes that the
- integration will take advantage of the company's experience in the A/V
- and optical disc fields.
-
- Pioneer intends to sell the systems under its own brand name. The
- company plans to release products this summer. Pricing and availability
- details will be announced later by Pioneer.
-
-
- >> USRobotics Buys New Facility <<
-
- Modem maker USRobotics, Inc. says it has entered into an agreement to
- purchase a 302,000 square foot facility on a 23 acre parcel in Morton
- Grove, Illinois, from Northern Telecom.
-
- USRobotics expects the new facility to create more than 500 new jobs
- during the next three years. The firm expects to invest more than $15
- million in the facility.
-
-
- >> Virus Closes Australian Tax Office <<
-
- The Australian Taxation Office was struck this week by a virus named
- "no frills" that brought 15,000 personal computers across the country to
- a complete halt.
-
- Reports say that the virus, which may have caused some data loss, was
- discovered in the Box Hill ATO office in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
-
- The virus not only rendered the PCs in that office useless, but it
- also led to a total shut-down of the Australian Taxation Office's
- national PC network until the virus could be eliminated.
-
-
- >> Motorola Offers New PowerPC Chip <<
-
- A new version of the PowerPC microprocessor aimed at makers of
- consumer-electronics gear has been unveiled by chipmaker Motorola Inc.
-
- Called the PowerPC 602, the chip is the latest in a family of micro-
- processors jointly created by Motorola, IBM and Apple Computer Inc.
-
- Motorola officials said that 3DO Co., a designer of video-game
- machines, will be using the 602 chip, and that Japan's Matsushita
- Electric Industrial Co. will use the 602 in its next generation of 3DO
- systems.
-
- The firm also said the 602 chip will be aimed at makers of such
- things as small computers and wireless-communication equipment.
-
-
- >> Sony Unveils Giant Monitor <<
-
- Sony Electronics Inc. has introduced a high-resolution computer dis-
- play with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
-
- Designed for graphic arts, satellite imaging/remote sensing, CAD and
- other applications benefiting from a unique horizontal view and larger
- image area, Sony says the new GWM-3000 monitor is the first model in a
- new series of specialized wide-screen displays.
-
- Incorporating a 30-inch Trinitron tube with a 28-inch diagonal viewing
- area, Sony notes that the GWM-3000 offers a usable screen area of 23.6
- inches wide by 13.3-inches high, providing more work area for graphics,
- spreadsheets and simulations than any commercially available color
- computer display. The GWM- 3000's super-high, non- interlaced resolution
- of 1,920 dots by 1,080 lines, or more than two million pixels, displays
- characters as small as 0.1-inch high from corner to corner, anywhere on
- the screen.
-
- Sony notes that the unit's Digital Alignment technology allows for
- precise display adjustments, eliminating the need to call in technicians
- or use specialized alignment equipment. The company also says the
- display's Auto Calibration optimizes user- selected color balance by
- detecting and controlling the CRT beam currents to stabilize white
- balance automatically and continuously while the monitor is in use.
-
- The monitor accepts both RGB and composite signals via five BNC input
- connectors on the back panel. The unit complies with Swedish MPR II and
- TCO safety standards for very low frequency (VLF) and extremely low
- frequency (ELF) magnetic and electrical emissions. The GWM-3000 also
- incorporates an EPA Energy Star-compliant power management system.
-
- The GWM-3000 will be available in April. The unit will sell for
- $21,900.
-
-
- >> Borland Introduces Delphi <<
-
- Borland International Inc. has formally unveiled Delphi, its long-
- awaited visual application development software.
-
- The product is scheduled to become available in single-user and
- client-sever versions by the end of February.
-
- The software publisher notes that Delphi combines the power of a
- native- code compiler, a visual development environment, an object-
- oriented architecture and scaleable database technology. It says the
- product can create applications that run 10 to 20 times faster than
- those created with first generation visual development tools.
-
- Delphi Client/Server sells for $1,999. The single-user version costs
- $495 and has a 90-day promotional price of $199.95.
-
-
- >> Group Challenges Microsoft Network <<
-
- ASCII Group Inc., a buying group for 1,075 independent computer
- dealers, will ask the U.S. Justice Department to take action against
- Microsoft Corp.'s planned online network.
-
- Representatives of the group have said they believe Microsoft will
- illegally bypass them by allowing computer and software makers to sell
- their products directly to consumers.
-
- Microsoft has said it will provide services for hardware and software
- companies on its planned online network. The ASCII membership says it
- fears this will disrupt traditional retail relationships with customers.
-
- The members says that for retailers to stay competitive, they will
- have to sell PCs with Windows 95, which will feature the online service.
-
-
- >> Apple Cuts PowerBook 500 Prices <<
-
- Apple Computer Inc. has cut prices on its flagship Apple PowerBook
- 500 series notebook computer.
-
- All configurations of the top-of-the-line PowerBook are being offered
- at price reductions of up to 17% per system in the United States.
-
- Apple says it will back up its price reductions with strong adver-
- tising, direct mail, and promotional efforts. A radio campaign kicks-off
- today in key markets around the United States. In addition, Apple will
- provide dealers with in-store merchandising and "dealer taggable" radio
- and ad slicks for use in local markets. Apple will also initiate a
- targeted direct-mail campaign.
-
- Finally, Apple will give away a free carrying case from Austin Case-
- works of Austin, Texas, with the purchase of any PowerBook from Feb. 15
- through March 31.
-
-
- >> Compaq Offers New Services <<
-
- The new ProSignia 300, a server intended for small businesses that
- might be considering moving from stand-alone computers to a networked
- system, has been unveiled by Compaq Computer Corp., which also
- introduced ProLiant 1500 for corporations.
-
- Reports say the ProSignia 300 will sell for under $3,400 while the
- ProLiant will sell for under $5,700. Both use Intel Corp.'s Pentium
- processors.
-
- The computer maker also introduced four new storage options that
- provide customers with increased performance, greater storage capacity
- from the same number of drives and enhanced data security.
-
- Disaster recovery services also are available to Compaq customers
- through an agreement with Comdisco. For $495, Compaq and Comdisco offer
- Recovery Planning Software.
-
-
- >> Sierra to Design Nintendo Games <<
-
- Sierra On-Line Inc. has been signed by Nintendo to design video games
- for its Ultra 64 three-dimensional home video game. Sierra says it will
- develop and publish its "Red Baron" flight simulation game exclusively
- for Nintendo.
-
- Reports from Nintendo's headquarters say the game will be played on
- the new 64-bit home video game system now being developed by Nintendo
- and Silicon Graphics Inc.
-
- Nintendo says its 64-bit system, which should be available for home
- use in fall 1995, will carry a suggested retail price in the United
- States of under $250.
-
-
- >> Mitnick Nabbed in North Carolina <<
-
- Fugitive computerist Kevin D. Mitnick, described by one official as
- "the most wanted hacker in the world," has been arrested at an apartment
- in Raleigh, North Carolina.
-
- The 31-year-old Mitnick, wanted for violating federal probation, was
- arrested by FBI agents and state and local law enforcement authorities
- after what the has been described as "an intensive two-week 'electronic'
- manhunt."
-
- Mitnick was convicted in Los Angeles in 1988 on charges of stealing
- software and breaking into corporate computer networks. He received a
- one-year prison sentence. In 1992, he vanished from Southern California
- and a federal arrest warrant was issued on charges that he violated the
- terms of his probation.
-
- While on the run, Mitnick is alleged to have broken into corporate
- and communications networks in California, Colorado and North Carolina,
- causing damage and stealing secret information, authorities contend. The
- U.S. Justice Department says Mitnick also faces investigation by various
- state authorities. Most recently he has become a suspect in a rash of
- break-ins on the Internet, the authorities allege.
-
- Reports say that one of Mitnick's latest victims, computer security
- expert Tsutomu Shimomura of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, was so
- angered that he made it his crusade to track Mitnick down and that it
- was with his help that the FBI traced the computerist to the Raleigh
- apartment.
-
- Mitnick faces charges of computer fraud, punishable by 20 years in
- prison, and illegal use of a phone access device, which carries a
- maximum 15-year sentence. Both crimes also are punishable by $250,000
- fines.
-
- "He was clearly the most wanted computer hacker in the world,"
- assistant U.S. attorney Kent Walker said. "He allegedly had access to
- corporate trade secrets worth billions of dollars. He was a very big
- threat."
-
-
- >> Man Arrested for Internet Messages <<
-
- A University of Michigan student has been arrested on charges he
- threatened another student by writing about her in at least one rape-
- murder fantasy story he posted on the Internet.
-
- Jake Baker, a 20-year-old Ohio man, was charged in federal court with
- transmitting a threat to the unidentified woman student across state and
- national borders.
-
- Baker was arraigned in Detroit before U.S. Magistrate Thomas Carlson
- and ordered held without bond pending a hearing. If convicted, he could
- get five years in prison.
-
- The arrested student contends he did nothing wrong, arguing the tran-
- smissions were protected by his right to free speech.
-
- An affidavit filed by FBI agent Greg Stejskal is quoted as saying
- Baker admitted to writing and posting stories about raping, torturing
- and murdering the woman and using her name.
-
- Said Stejskal, "The transmissions distributed by Baker through
- Internet described Baker's desire to commit acts of abduction, bondage,
- torture, mutilation, sodomy, rape and murder of young women. The
- depictions of the criminal acts are extremely graphic and detailed."
-
- The agent said the woman knew Baker because they attended a class
- together last fall and that she was "frightened and intimidated" when
- she learned of the transmissions.
-
-
- _____________________________________________
-
-
-
- > PROWIN Plus 2.1 STR FOCUS!
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- PROCOMM PLUS for Windows version 2.1
- ====================================
-
- Release Notes
- -------------
- February 13, 1995
-
- The following changes have been made for the PROCOMM PLUS for Windows
- 2.1 maintenance release:
-
- What's New in Version 2.1?
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- A new utility named PWFTP provides ftp file transfers, file viewing and
- simple disk management over TCP/IP connections. PWFTP features an
- intuitive split screen interface with its own Action Bar and Setup
- options.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS 2.1 now includes support for TCP/IP Telnet connections.
- Dialing Directory entries can contain IP addresses or alphanumeric site
- names instead of telephone numbers, and the Telnet emulation also features
- a basic connection dialog of its own.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS 2.1 now runs under IBM's OS/2 versions 2.11 and 3.0.
- However, we recommend that OS/2 users experiencing problems either install
- a 16550 UART chip, switch to replacement OS/2 communications drivers, or
- both.
-
- CISMGR includes a number of new features: the ability to track a personal
- high message number, an option to skip to the next agent while online, the
- ability to rebuild corrupted message links, and an option to compact
- message files to save disk space. The CISMGR logon script has also been
- externalized, making it easy to modify for those who need a custom logon
- script.
-
- A new Toolbar was added to the FAXVIEW utility.
-
- A number of new PW2.INI entries have been added.
-
- What's Changed in Version 2.1?
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- ASPECT
- ------
- The FAXSEND command now supports the MULTIPLE parameter as described in
- the manual. When a file consisting of fax filenames was specified with
- the MULTIPLE command, only the first file was faxed.
-
- The ASPECT TERMRESET command now resets the terminal and exits scrollback
- mode.
-
- FETCH DIALENTRY ACCESS now sets FAILURE correctly and sets the string
- variable to null when access is set off.
-
- The STRCHR command no longer generates an error 107 while referencing
- global array elements.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS no longer runs in a maximized state when launched from an
- ASPECT script with the RUN command and the MINIMIZED option.
-
- The ASPECT SET QUICKOPTION command now works as documented in the ASPECT
- Reference Guide.
-
- The ASPECT UWINPAINT command no longer results in a divide by zero error.
-
- The ASPECT command GETCUR no longer results in an error 107 for an invalid
- data type.
-
- CISMGR
- ------
- Fixed a number of CISMGR processing problems, including some that caused
- General Protection Fault errors during message threading and aging.
-
- CISMGR now encloses a search string in brackets instead of quotation marks
- when searching Catalog Agents by User ID.
-
- CISMGR now allows you to delete highlighted folders while using the Browse
- function.
-
- The CISMGR Browse message tree now saves the entire thread when you select
- the Save button.
-
- When adding a new message agent within CISMGR, the "Select" button is now
- disabled; however, the Section field remains enabled for users that know
- perhaps one or two sections within the Agent's forum that contain the
- desired files or messages.
-
- CISMGR now records the last size and position of the Message Read window.
-
- Current Setup
- -------------
- In Current Setup, under Options, PROCOMM PLUS no longer returns a General
- Protection Fault after 16 sets of Current Options are saved.
-
- When installing a generic INT14 port connection in the Data/Modem
- Connection setup, the Default Baud Rate was being set to 19200 rather than
- 9600 baud.
-
- Display problems that appeared when saving customized options within Setup
- have been corrected.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS no longer returns a General Protection Fault if you remove a
- user defined Terminal from the Terminal Options setup after the new
- terminal is saved to disk.
-
- Dialing Directory
- -----------------
- Phone cards are no longer used if the Call Type for a Dialing Directory
- entry is set to "Local" or "Internal".
-
- Under certain circumstances, the Dialing Queue window couldn't be closed
- until you exited PROCOMM PLUS.
-
- The Dialing Directory now dials the area code only when necessary if a
- phone card is being used.
-
- A converted PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 1.0x Dialing Directory with a blank
- Meta Key field no longer locks PROCOMM PLUS 2.1 when dialing a queue.
-
- When selecting a directory entry with custom fax options, the
- corresponding settings are now loaded correctly from disk.
-
- Fax
- ---
- Multiple names can be removed from the Send Fax Recipient(s) list. The
- Remove button for the Recipient(s) List in the Send Fax dialog box was
- disabled after removing one name from a list with multiple names
- remaining.
-
- Certain modems displayed only a portion of the fax header on each page of
- a faxed document. PROCOMM PLUS would send cover pages with the correct
- headers, but documents had partial headers. Faxes with multiple pages and
- a coversheet also displayed partial headers.
-
- Owners of some modems were experiencing problems when PROCOMM PLUS issued
- the AT+FCLASS? command. If the modem didn't respond appropriately, the
- modem wouldn't initialize and PROCOMM PLUS couldn't send or receive faxes.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS no longer locks up with Intel 14.4 modems during Class 2
- transfers.
-
- Scripts using the FAXSEND command with the COVERSHEET option no longer
- result in a "stretched" font within the received fax.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS no longer requires a Windows association to prepare a
- document for faxing.
-
- Broadcast faxing no longer results in FAXSTAT locking up or faxes
- disappearing from the Scheduled Faxes log. If the transmission runs into
- problems (such as a busy number or a transmission abort), FAXSTAT now
- handles the Scheduled Faxes log correctly.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS no longer "drops" columns on the left or right of the page
- when sending a Memofax with the default font settings.
-
- FAXSTAT now checks to see if phone cards have been disabled before
- dialing.
-
- FAXSTAT no longer returns a General Protection Fault whenever a Dialing
- Directory entry is configured to "Phone Card: Current" rather than a
- specific card.
-
- The ASPECT FAXSEND command now reports the correct number of pages when
- sending faxes. FAXSEND also passes the "Company" field and the contents
- of the "Notes" field to the Cover Sheet Creator.
-
- The Fax menu Initialize Fax Modem option now performs a simple
- initialization of the modem instead of resetting the maximum send and
- receive rates and the fax class.
-
- File Transfers
- --------------
- ZMODEM now correctly calculates the available download free space for
- large network drives of several gigabytes. Formerly, PROCOMM PLUS would
- display the message "Not enough disk space" on these large drives.
-
- Font Support
- ------------
- The PCPlus 437 font mistakenly mapped 0xFF as an apostrophe. It is now
- blank.
-
- The MemoFax font has been improved to enhance readability.
-
- Host Mode
- ---------
- Host users with level 2 access were limited to 12 characters when
- specifying the path for uploading and downloading. The field now accepts
- 20 characters.
-
- Host users logged on as SYSOP that request a faxback document no longer
- receive a message stating that they're not authorized for faxback.
-
- The Host User Editor now allows the sysop to add new users after the 51st
- entry.
-
- Installation
- ------------
- The PROCOMM PLUS install program now informs you that Windows will be
- restarted so the user may close any applications currently running in the
- background.
-
- Editors
- -------
- The Keyboard Editor now correctly handles editing of the Delete key or the
- Tab key in all emulations.
-
- Saving and re-opening a keymap now displays the 84 key dialog where
- required instead of displaying the 101/102 key dialog by default.
-
- The Shift-Ctrl-Tab and Backspace combinations are now correct; they're no
- longer cross mapped.
-
- The User Window Editor now correctly clears the Filename Variable Name
- when a new directory is selected in the Bitmap Object Open File window.
-
- Fixed a number of Action Bar editor problems, including some that caused
- the wrong button to be removed while using the Delete function.
-
- MCIMGR
- ------
- MCIMGR no longer gets stuck in a loop if an address is incorrect and the
- user attempts to enter the address manually.
-
- Terminal Window
- ---------------
- In PROCOMM PLUS 2.1, you can determine whether reverse video sequences
- displayed in the Terminal window will be sent to the printer with a
- PW2.INI setting.
-
- By default, the Edit menu ScreenTo option sends the current screen in the
- Terminal window; however, a new PW2.INI setting allows you to send the
- current logical screen to the destination (as in version 1.x of the
- program).
-
- Terminal Emulation
- ------------------
- The IBM3101 emulation now sends function key escape sequences properly in
- Block mode.
-
- The dedicated print option now works correctly, acting as a true
- passthrough device to the system printer.
-
- Miscellaneous
- -------------
- The Quick Select Line now properly clears the baud rate and line settings
- field if you select a NCSI connection and the port is in use.
-
- PWVIEWER is now added to the registration database.
-
- Owners of Ambra 486-66DX2's were experiencing problems with NETBIOS2.DLC.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS now automatically uses DSTASK.DLL when DSTASK.386 isn't
- present.
-
- Certain custom PROCOMM PLUS dialog controls were causing conflicts with
- other programs using the file MUSCROLL.DLL.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS was causing a General Protection Fault under certain
- conditions when switching the current port from a COM setting to an INT14h
- setting.
-
- The Scheduler now reports the time and date properly when a new event is
- added and a change made.
-
- When placing an Action Bar on the left or right of the Terminal screen and
- selecting a script file by clicking on the icon, the scripts are now
- displayed sorted in alphabetical order.
-
- Military time without a separator is now displayed correctly throughout
- PROCOMM PLUS.
-
-
- ______________________________________
-
-
-
- > TCP/IP NOW! STR FOCUS!
- """"""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- DATASTORM adds TCP/IP to PROCOMM PLUS for Windows!
- ==================================================
-
-
- Columbia, Missouri - (February 13, 1995) - DATASTORM, publisher of the
- world's best-selling PROCOMM PLUS for Windows, today released a new update
- to the product that adds integrated support for Telnet and FTP
- communications.
-
- Following the June 1994 release of PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.0
-
- - recently ranked the single fastest-selling software program by PC
- Magazine
-
- - version 2.1 adds impressive TCP/IP features.
-
- A new utility named PWFTP allows FTP file transfers in binary, ASCII and
- L8 mode, file viewing and simple disk management over TCP/IP connections.
- PWFTP features an intuitive split-screen interface with its own Action Bar
- and Setup options, including anonymous logons, support for a range of
- popular host operating systems and a "passive" mode for Internet sites
- using firewall protection.
-
- PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.1 also includes support for TCP/IP Telnet
- connections with the addition of Telnet to its extensive list of
- connection types. Dialing Directory entries can contain IP addresses or
- alphanumeric site names instead of telephone numbers, so users can begin
- Telnet sessions from the Dialing Directory just like data and fax calls.
- The Telnet emulation also features a basic connection dialog of its own.
-
- "PROCOMM PLUS has long been the worldwide leader in point-to-point PC
- communications. With version 2.1, we have extended our technology to
- support the rapidly growing family of TCP/IP networks," said Ron Bower,
- Director of Research and Development. "This enhancement will be very
- attractive to corporate customers with in-house TCP/IP networks as well as
- individuals accessing the Internet through SLIP or PPP accounts."
-
- The addition of a new tool bar to the fax viewer adds ease of use to what
- was already the best integrated fax and data communications software
- package available. DATASTORM has also added over 200 new modems to the
- automatic modem detection feature which can now recognize and initialize
- over 900 modems without user intervention.
-
- The new version 2.1 also runs under IBM's OS/2 versions 2.11 and 3.0 in
- Windows emulation.
-
- "Of course, everything we have added follows the PROCOMM PLUS tradition of
- being very easy to install and use. Our customer base will find our new
- FTP and Telnet interfaces to be immediately familiar; this new
- functionality will blend seamlessly with their existing PROCOMM PLUS for
- Windows applications," Bower said.
-
- DATASTORM recently announced the release of the International English
- version of PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.1 which supports international
- character sets and terminal emulation systems such as Prestel, Minitel and
- BTX, bringing the benefits of the world's best-selling communications
- software to English-speaking users across the world.
-
- Registered users of PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.0 can update free to
- version 2.1. Choose the update option that is easiest for you:
-
- 1. Download from the DATASTORM BBS at 314.875.0503 (ANSI, N, 8, 1)
- 2. Download from the CompuServe DATASTORM Forum "GO DATASTORM"
- 3. Download by connecting into several Internet FTP sites such as:
- ftp.cica.indiana.edu in directory /pub/pc/win3/patches
- wuarchive.wustl.edu in directory /vendor/datastorm
- 4. Order a disk and printed supplement guide direct from DATASTORM at
- 800.315.3282 (there is a $7.50 charge for shipping & handling)
-
- World headquarters are located in Columbia, Missouri USA, with a European
- office outside of London, England UK. DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. And
- DATASTORM, LTD. are privately held corporations. DATASTORM markets their
- PROCOMM brand of communications software products worldwide.
-
- ______________________________________________
-
-
- > Internet-Connect STR FOCUS! A POWERHOUSE PARTNER for ProWin Plus 2.1
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- Internet-Connect (TM), Version 2.1 Announcement
- -----------------------------------------------
-
-
- Core Systems is proud to announce Internet-Connect (TM) Version 2.1, a
- comprehensive TCP/IP Networking package for Windows users to get access to
- the Internet. Internet-Connect Version 2.1 adds significant number of new
- features and utilities to our current Version 1.1 Release, improves
- configurability and ease-of-use features, while maintaining robustness and
- speed associated with Version 1.1.
-
- Focus for our Version 2.1 has been on serial connection to the net and
- ease of use. Internet-Connect Version 2.1 provides full-featured support
- for PPP and SLIP/CSLIP. Multiple interfaces with IP forwarding and routing
- are supported. Hook is provided for user-written packet filter and
- monitoring capability in gateway configuration. BOOTP and DHCP are
- supported to make network configuring and installing as automatic as
- possible. Also included are Windows-based dialer (with scripting) and
- terminal emulation utility.
-
- A list of new features included with Version 2.1 follows. For those who
- missed our Version 1.1 announcement, a summary of complete
- Internet-Connect features set is also included.
-
- - PPP Support. Internet-Connect includes a full-featured implementation of
- PPP which includes: dynamic address assignment, demand dial-up, redial,
- client and server mode, scripting, filtering, header compression,
- userid/password authetication protocol (PAP), callback.
-
- - SLIP/CSLIP.
-
- - BOTP and DHCP support.
-
- - Multiple interfaces (Ethernet and Serial connection active concurrently)
- with IP routing, forwarding and filtering.
-
- - Custom-installed packet filter library.
-
- - Dialer with scripting and dialing directory maintenance features.
-
- - Terminal emulation.
-
- - Windows-based network configuration utility.
-
- - Windows-based installation program.
-
-
- For developers, Version 2.1 includes:
- ------------------------------------
- - Winsock API trace.
- - Winsock developer's kit
- - SLIP and PPP data trace.
- - Raw, TCP and UDP packet trace capture and logging capability.
- - Comprehensive protocol, interface and session statistics.
- - Telnet Library, FTP Library and VBX Controls. (available separately).
-
- An evaluation copy of Internet-Connect Version can be downloaded from
- Simtel, CICA, and other archives, following directories:
-
- cais.com:/pub/lvuong/inetv21.zip
- oak.oakland.edu:/pub/pc/win3/winsock/inetv21.zip
- ftp.cica.indiana.edu:/pub/win3/winsock/inetv21.zip
-
-
- Internet-Connect Summary of Features
- ------------------------------------
-
- - Complete Winsock conformant: the product fully supports Winsock
- 1.1 Specification. All base and optional functions are supported:
- - Synchronous and Asynchronous function calls.
- - TCP, UDP and Raw socket types.
- - Up to 128 concurrently open sockets.
- - 4KB UDP datagram size.
-
- - TCP/IP stack , 100% implemented as Windows DLL, hence takes up
- zero below-640K DOS memory.
-
- - 32-bit VxD driver, provides super fast data transfer and interrupt
- responses.
-
- - Full featured PPP support, including: dynamic address assignment,
- redial, demand dial-up, VJ compression, client and server mode,
- userid/password authentication (UPAP), scripting, filtering, callback.
-
- - SLIP/CSLIP support.
-
- - Multiple interfaces (Ethernet and SLIP/PPP active concurrently) with
- IP forwarding and routing.
-
- - Custom-installed packet filter library.
-
- - BOOTP and DHCP support.
-
- - DHCP Client.
-
- - Dialer with scripting and directory maintenance.
-
- - Terminal emulation.
-
- - Local loopback for testing purpose.
-
- - Built-in DNS (Domain Name Server) support.
-
- - Built-in networking databases (such as services, protocols files)
- to ease TCP/IP setup complexities.
-
- - Windows-based configuration utility: enables first-time users to
- setup and configure a working system in minutes.
-
- - Winsock monitor utility: provides:
- - Packet data trace.
- - SLIP/PPP trace.
- - TCP/UDP trace.
- - Buffer usage statistics.
-
- - Comprehensive protocol, interface and session statistics.
-
- - Winsock Spy utility: provides:
- - Winsock call trace: captures and logs Winsock
- calls and results.
- - Selective enabling and disabling tracing of particular
- Winsock function calls.
- - Hooks for future addition to trace other calls, such as
- Windows API.
- - Unobstrusive trace, requiring no modification to
- application code.
- - Works with all Winsock-compliant TCP/IP stacks.
-
- - Windows Ping application.
-
- - Windows Finger application.
-
- - Windows FTP and Telnet applications.
-
- - Online Help, Winsock API and Release notes.
-
- - Professional Windows-based installation program.
-
- - FTP, Telnet Developer's Libraries and VBX Custom Controls (available
- separately).
-
- - Internet-Connect can run with the following network drivers:
- - NDIS.
- - ODI.
- - Packet Drivers.
-
- - Internet-Connect is compatible with the following LAN networks:
- - Novell Netware.
- - Novell Personal Netware.
- - Microsoft Lan Manager, Windows for Workgroup (3.1 and above).
-
- Core Systems can be reached at:
-
- Via E-mail:
- lvuong@cais.com on Internet, or
- 71552,3666 on compuserve, or
- 71552.3666@compuserve.com on Internet
-
- Via telephone voice & FAX:
- 1-510-943-5765
-
- _________________________________________________
-
-
- > Frankie's Corner STR Feature
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- The Kids' Computing Corner
- --------------------------
-
-
-
- SANCTUARY WOODS
- ===============
-
- by Frank Sereno
-
- Sanctuary Woods has developed and released a new interactive adventure
- game designed for children ages five to nine. The game is entitled "Once
- Upon a Forest" and it is based on the animated movie of the same name.
-
- The movie and game center on the adventures of three young furlings.
- Abigail is an adventurous and bossy mouse, Russell is a fun-loving and
- hungry hedgehog and Edgar is a brainy mole. To successfully complete the
- game, players must lead this trio on a quest to find a cure for an ill
- friend.
-
- Children will be introduced to many animals and learn about different
- ecosystems such as marshes and forests. They will solve puzzles to gather
- herbs for the cure and to avoid danger from predators such as a weasel,
- snake, fox and owl.
-
- The game's interface features Russell's backpack which contains food and
- the items gathered during the journey. Also available to the player is
- Edgar's journal which contains clues, plans to useful inventions and an
- automatic map.
-
- "Once Upon a Forest" contains no written text and is entirely voiced so
- that prereaders may enjoy the adventure. The game also includes a "solve-
- me" button to bypass more difficult problems and puzzles so that all
- players may win the game.
-
- The game is available for IBM compatibles on floppy or CD-ROM. The game
- requires DOS 5.0, a 386DX-33 CPU, 4 megs of RAM and a sound card. "Once
- Upon a Forest" has an estimated retail price of $39.95 and is currently
- being offered with a $5 off coupon toward the purchase of the movie. The
- movie now includes a $5 off coupon for the computer game.
-
- My family has the video and we enjoy it very much. The movie contains
- valuable lessons on family love, teamwork, respecting others and
- conserving the environment. It gives these lessons without being preachy
- or overt. Younger children will love it.
-
- ###
-
- Sanctuary Woods wins two Innovisions '95 Showcase awards at CES. Programs
- are judged by experts for distinctiveness and creativity. The first of
- these winners is "Real World Math: Adventures in Flight." This program
- was reviewed in STR a few months ago and received an excellent rating of
- 9.0 on my 10-point scale.
-
- "Adventures in Flight" is a CD-ROM title for both the Macintosh and
- Windows which teaches children math lessons and demonstrates how math is
- applied to real world situations and careers.
-
- The second award-winning program is "Wolf." This program is a simulation
- of the life of a predator. The game follows the cycle of the wolf from a
- young cub to leader of the pack. Players experience the challenges of
- finding prey, mating, avoiding humans and to survive. Players will learn
- about the habits, instincts and environment of the wolf and perhaps
- develop some empathy for this misunderstood relative of dogs.
-
- ###
-
- Sanctuary Woods also has two upcoming titles which are aimed toward the
- more mature computer user.
-
- "The Riddle of Master Lu" is an adventure game based on the life of Robert
- Ripley, the author of "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" The game is a
- historically accurate recreation of the 1930's.
-
- The player's task is to guide Mr. Ripley and his feminine companion,
- martial arts expert Mei Chen, to obtain the jade Emperor's Seal and
- prevent its capture by the enemy.
-
- Players will visit many Far East locales while solving puzzles. The
- program features an original score and video-based animation. Available
- first for Windows computers, "The Riddle of Master Lu" requires a 386DX/33
- CPU, a double-speed CD-ROM drive and a VESA-compliant SVGA video card.
- Suggested retail pricing is $59.95.
-
- The second title has such a rich gaming experience that it spans two CD-
- ROMs. "Buried in Time" is an adventure game involving time travel and
- suspense. A sequel to "The Journeyman Project," this game is a
- continuation of the adventures of Temporal Security Agent #5. The game is
- played in the first person, so you will have to discover who has framed
- you for altering history.
-
- "Buried in Time" features over 25,000 rendered frames of animation and
- images. Players visit five environments, including a Mayan temple in 1050
- A.D. and a space station in the future. The program uses professional
- actors wearing full costumes and 3-D environments to suspend disbelief and
- make the player believe that he is really Agent #5.
-
- The player needs no prior experience with "The Journeyman Project" to
- succeed at "Buried in Time." The game has a beginner mode and has an
- artificial being who will assist the player in solving difficult puzzles.
-
- "Buried in Time" will be available for both Windows and Macintosh
- computers for $59.95. It can be ordered directly from Sanctuary Woods by
- calling 415-286-6110.
-
- Thanks for reading!
-
- ___________________________________________
-
-
- > QCOPY WINDOWS STR Spotlight "A MUST HAVE program!"
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- QCOPY for WINDOWS v1.1
- ======================
-
-
-
- Program Description
- -------------------
- QCOPY for WINDOWS v1.1 is a Windows floppy disk copying & format
- utility written by Ulrich Feldmueller, Bremen, Germany and made available
- with support by BayDee Inc.. It is powerful and fast for floppy disk
- duplication and formatting. Read once and make one or multiple copies.
- Program features include:
-
- * Support for formats of 180K, 360K, 720K, 1.2M, 1.4M and 2.8M.
- * True format conversion, e.g. copy a 1.2M 5.25" disk onto a 1.44M 3.5".
- * Optimizes copying process ie. defragments files in one contiguous block
- onto the target disk.
- * Support for 2.8M ED disk drives
- * Support for external and simulated drives
- * Support for drives A: through Z:
- * Only that portion of the disk containing data is copied to the target.
- Can speed up the copying process significantly.
- * Copies can be made between disk drives and/or the hard drive. Diskettes
- are stored to a *.DSK file (image file) or alternatively, can be
- "unpacked" to the hard drive.
- * Read the source only once and make X copies.
- * Disk labels are copied to the target, or can be assigned a new name.
-
-
- About BayDee Inc.
- -----------------
-
- BayDee was formed three years ago and is active primarily in the
- shareware industry. We are located in Beaconsfield, a small town just
- outside Montreal, Canada. BayDee has translated both QCOPY v4.0 (the DOS
- version) and QCOPY for WINDOWS from German into English. BayDee handles
- the registrations, distribution and technical support for the English
- versions.
-
- The DOS versions of QCOPY have been around in Germany since 1990, so
- the software has been well tried and tested. The English DOS version,
- QCOPY V4.0 has been around since 1992 and is still current and actively
- being downloaded. The shareware version of QCOPY for WINDOWS is exactly
- the same as the registered version, barring two exceptions. In the
- shareware version, there are two registration reminder screens on loading
- and exiting the program, and a countdown timer which becomes active while
- copying to the target disk. Of course, the registered versions have none
- of the annoyances and they have some "added features" like great support
- and notice of updates.
-
-
-
-
- Program Specifications
- ------------------------
- Name: QCOPY for WINDOWS
- Version: 1.1
- Operating Env: MS-WINDOWS
- Program type: Shareware
- Category: Utility / Floppy Disk Utility
- Program size: 600 Kbytes unpacked, 370 Kbytes packed
- Registration: US $28 (plus $3.00 shipping)
- CDN $ 35 (plus $3.00 shipping)
- Requirements: WINDOWS 3.1, Hard Drive, 512 Kbytes RAM,
- Graphics card: Any graphics card.
- Soundcard: None required
- Author: Ulrich Feldmueller, Bremen, Germany
- Translation: BayDee Inc.
- Publisher: BayDee Inc.
- Address: BayDee Inc.
- P.O. Box 25
- Beaconsfield
- P.Q. H9W 5T6
- Canada
- Telephone: (514) 457-1631
- CompuServe: 70302,557
-
-
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N
-
- FARGO PRIMERA PRO COLOR PRINTERS - 600DPI
-
- For a limited time only; If you wish to have a FREE sample printout sent
- to you that demonstrates FARGO Primera & Primera Pro SUPERIOR QUALITY
- 600dpi 24 bit Photo Realistic Color Output, please send a Self Addressed
- Stamped Envelope [SASE] (business sized envelope please) to:
-
- STReport's Fargo Printout Offer
- P.O. Box 6672
- Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155
-
- Folks, the FARGO Primera Pro has GOT to be the best yet. Its far superior
- to the newest of Color Laser Printers selling for more than three times as
- much. Its said that ONE Picture is worth a thousand words. Send for this
- sample now. Guaranteed you will be amazed at the superb quality. (please,
- allow at least a one week turn-around)
-
- A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N -- A T T E N T I O N
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
- _________________________________
-
- Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo)
- Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369.
- Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
- Wait for the U#= prompt.
-
- Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.
-
-
-
- GENIE Information Services copyright 1995 by General Electric
- Information Services/GENIE, reprinted by permission
-
-
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- ___ ___ _____ _______
- /___| /___| /_____| /_______/ The Macintosh RoundTable
- /____|/____| /__/|__| /__/ ________________________
- /_____|_____|/__/_|__|/__/
- /__/|____/|__|________|__/
- /__/ |___/ |__|_/ |__|_/____ Managed by SyndiComm
- /__/ |__/ |__|/ |__|______/
-
- An Official Forum of the International Computer Users Group
-
- *** STReport available in MAC RT ***
- ASCII TEXT
- for ALL GENIE users!
-
-
-
- MAC/APPLE SECTION (II)
- ======================
- John Deegan, Editor (Temp)
-
-
-
- > Wildcat! 4.1 STR InfoFile
- """""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- MUSTANG SOFTWARE, INC. ANNOUNCES UPGRADE
- TO "WORLD'S MOST POPULAR BBS SOFTWARE"
-
-
- Wildcat! 4.1 Offers Enhanced OS/2 Support
-
- BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Feb. 15, 1995 -- Mustang Software, Inc.
- (MSI) is introducing Wildcat! 4.1, the latest update to the world's
- most widely used bulletin board system (BBS) software. The new
- version features enhanced OS/2 support, a new multi-database file
- system and a full-screen ANSI-based file listing mode that makes
- browsing file lists easier for the caller.
-
- With Version 4.1, Wildcat! has been upgraded to support direct
- communications with OS/2's serial drivers, improving performance for
- system operators (sysops) running Wildcat! as a DOS process under the
- OS/2 operating system. Wildcat! sysops can also now use intelligent
- multi-port serial cards from Digiboard, Inc. and other enhanced serial
- devices that have OS/2 drivers in an OS/2 environment, an option not
- possible in previous versions of Wildcat!
-
- Another key Version 4.1 feature is Wildcat!'s improved support for
- CD-ROMs via the ability to define "groups" of file areas on a Wildcat!
- BBS. A file group consists of any collection of file areas defined by
- the sysop and each group has a separate database. This makes adding a
- new CD-ROM of downloadable files to Wildcat! as simple as "dropping in"
- a pre-made database.
-
- "With the new file system, Wildcat!'s file databases are much more
- portable and managing multiple CD-ROM disks is simplified," said Jim
- Harrer, president/CEO of MSI. "We have created a system that gives the
- sysop many of the features of popular CD-ROM doors without sacrificing
- the speed and ease-of-use built into Wildcat!"
-
- Groups can be selected by the caller for listing, searching and
- transferring files. The sysop's job of processing requests for off-
- line files, such as those contained on a CD-ROM not normally kept on-
- line, can be automated with the upgraded version of the wcFILE database
- utility included with Wildcat! 4.1.
-
- Full-Screen File Listing Mode Also Added To Wildcat!
-
- Wildcat! 4.1 also offers a new full-screen file listing mode,
- making it easier for callers to scan through the list of downloadable
- files. In "ANSI Lister" mode, users can browse through the file
- databases using their arrow keys and mark files for download by just
- hitting the spacebar. Single-line, two-line and extended file listing
- modes are also available and each user can select the file listing
- method they prefer.
-
- Importantly, Wildcat!'s "Internet-compatibility" has been improved
- as the software now allows blank "subject" headings on Internet e-mail
- conferences. Some e-mail systems require a blank subject heading for
- routing purposes.
-
- Wildcat! BBS is offered in five separate versions, starting with
- the $129 Single Line package popular with the hobbyist sysop. The
- product line extends to the Wildcat! BBS Suite for $999, the most
- complete BBS solution in the industry.
-
- The new Wildcat! 4.1 will be available in March '95 and may be
- ordered directly from MSI by calling toll-free (800) 999-9619. For
- Wildcat! 4.0 sysops, the Wildcat! 4.1 update is offered for only $20
- plus shipping. Sysops running Version 3.X or older can upgrade for
- $50 plus shipping.
-
- Wildcat! 4.1 is also available nationwide on the retail level
- through such outlets as CompUSA and Software, Etc., and through major
- distributors including Ingram Micro of Santa Ana, Calif. and
- DistribuPro of Santa Clara, Calif.
-
-
- Jim Harrer William L. Prichard, V.P./P.R.
- President/CEO Robert J. Fisher, President
- Mustang Software, Inc. Fisher Business Communications, Inc.
- Tel: (805) 873-2500 Tel: (714) 556-1313
- Fax: (805) 873-2599 Fax: (714) 556-1216
- BBS: (805) 873-2400 BBS: (714) 556-1034
-
-
- Availability: Immediate
- Price: $129 (Single-Line Version)
-
- Mustang Software, Inc.
-
- Mustang Software, Inc. (MSI) is a single-source supplier of
- bulletin board system (BBS) and related communications software.
-
- Unveiled in March 1987, MSI's Wildcat! BBS now has an active
- installed base of more than 35,000 system operators (sysops), making
- it the most popular BBS software program in the world.
-
- MSI also offers the widely-used QmodemPro communications software
- program, with more than 50,000 registered users. With QmodemPro, ac-
- quired in November 1991, MSI is the only supplier of both a BBS program
- and the communications software by which a caller may access a BBS.
-
- Formed in September 1986, MSI is headquartered at 6200 Lake Ming
- Road, Bakersfield, Calif. 93306. The company can be reached by
- telephone at (805) 873-2500; the toll-free telephone number is (800)
- 999-9619; FAX (805) 873-2599 and BBS (805) 873-2400.
-
- -end-
-
-
- +=========================+================+=========================+
- | Mustang Software, Inc. | Connecting | Office: 805-873-2500 |
- | 6200 Lake Ming Road | the | Orders: 800-999-9619 |
- | Bakersfield, CA 93306 | World | Fax: 805-873-2599 |
- | USA | | BBS: 805-873-2400 |
- +=========================+================+=========================+
-
-
-
-
- **********************************************************************
-
- IMPORTANT NOTICE!
- =================
-
- STReport International OnLine Magazine is available every week for your
- reading pleasure on DELPHI. STReport's readers are invited to join DELPHI
- and become a part of an extremely friendly community of enthusiastic
- computer users there.
-
- SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI
- ======================
-
- Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access
- DELPHI services via a local phone call
-
- JOIN --DELPHI
- --------------
-
- Via modem, dial up DELPHI at 1-800-695-4002
- then...
- When connected, press RETURN once or twice
- and...
- At Password: type STREPORT and press RETURN.
-
- DELPHI's 20/20 Advantage Plan
- 20 Hours for Only $20!
- -----------------------------
-
- Advantage Members have always enjoyed the lowest DELPHI access rates
- available. On the new 20/20 Advantage Plan, members receive their first 20
- hours of access each month for only $20. If you happen to meet someone
- OnLine or find some other diversion, don't worry because additional usage
- is only $1.80 per hour.
-
- 20/20 Advantage rates apply for access via SprintNet or Tymnet from within
- the continental United States during home time or via direct dial around
- the clock. Home Time is from 6pm to 6am weekdays. Access during business
- time carries a surcharge of $9 per hour. These rates apply for most
- services, but note that there are some surcharged areas on DELPHI which
- are clearly marked with a "$" sign.
-
- Who is eligible to take advantage of the plan? Any DELPHI member in good
- standing. Applications are reviewed and subject to approval by Delphi
- Internet Services Corporation.
-
- It's easy to join. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply
- OnLine -- at any time -- for membership in the DELPHI 20/20 Advantage
- Plan. Your membership becomes active at 4 a.m. Eastern Time on the first
- billing day of the following month.
-
- The $20 charge will be billed to you at the beginning of the month to
- which it applies. Any portion of the 20 hours not used in any month does
- not carry forward into the next month.
-
- Advantage rates may be changed with 30 days notice given OnLine.
-
- TRY DELPHI FOR $1 AN HOUR!
-
- For a limited time, you can become a trial member of DELPHI, and receive 5
- hours of evening and weekend access during this month for only $5. If
- you're not satisfied, simply cancel your account before the end of the
- calendar month with no further obligation. If you keep your account
- active, you will automatically be enrolled in DELPHI's 10/4 Basic Plan,
- where you can use up to 4 weekend and evening hours a month for a minimum
- $10 monthly charge, with additional hours available at $3.96. But hurry,
- this special trial offer will expire soon! To take advantage of this
- limited offer, use your modem to dial 1-800-365-4636. Press <RET> once or
- twice. When you get the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press <RET> again.
- Then, just answer the questions and within a day or two, you'll officially
- be a member of DELPHI!
-
- DELPHI-It's the BEST Value and getting BETTER all the time!
-
-
-
- ************************************************************
-
-
- ATARI/JAG SECTION (III)
- =======================
- Dana Jacobson, Editor
-
-
-
- > From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- It's been one helluva week for me personally, so please bear with
- me while I go through a brief grieving period. The hospital in which I
- work (almost 20 years) had its first ever layoff this week. A few
- friends whom I've known for many years were gone in a matter of a couple
- of hours, with no advance warning at all that it was coming.
-
- Today's health care industry is rapidly changing and it's affecting
- all of us. Fortunately, my department came through this unscathed, other
- than a few emotional scars. It's difficult to fathom this happening to
- others; but when it hits this close to home, it's like losing a close
- relative or friend.
-
- The Houston show is this weekend, so if you're in the neighborhood,
- drop by!! The TAF show is the first of April, so you'll have another
- opportunity to make a show if you can't make the HACE one! Details for
- the upcoming TAF show are included in this issue. If you can make at
- least one show, I'd highly recommend doing so - they're a lot of fun!
- Let's hope the "AtariFest" season is a long one!
-
- It's amazing to see the "Information Highway" grow so rapidly
- these days. A few months ago, we started an Internet subscription
- service for receiving STReport through the Internet mail. The response
- was terrific, and it's still growing by the day. We literally have
- hundreds of subscribers that receive STReport each week, all over the
- globe. If you're interested, please drop us a line!
-
- Until next time...
-
- ___ ___
- / \----/ \ Dana P. Jacobson - Atari Editor - STReport
- |-----| |-----| STReport International Online Magazine
- /\_0_/ \_0_/\ The Original * Independent * Online Magazine
- -| o o |- -* FEATURING WEEKLY *-
- / \______________/ \ "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
- \ \ | | | | / / Mail subscription: dpj@delphi.com
- ww ooooo----ooooo ww
-
-
- _______________________________________
-
-
- TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (2/15/95)
-
-
- (1) ONLY! VALENCY & WORLD (6) 2 COLUMNS, VERSION 6
- *(2) CAIN 1/95 *(7) MGIF VERSION 4.2B
- (3) ERROR CODES AND BOMBS (8) TRON-LIKE LIGHT-CYCLES GAME
- (4) ATARI E-MAIL LIST (9) ATARIWORKS PAGE PREVIEW
- *(5) ST-GUIDE V.1.20 IN ENGLISH (10) BMP FILE VIEWER
-
-
- * = New on list
- HONORARY TOP 10
-
- The following on-line magazines are always top downloads, frequently
- out-performing every other file in the databases.
-
- STREPORT (Current issue: STREPORT 11.06)
- ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE (Current issue: AEO: VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2)
-
- Look for the above files in the RECENT ARRIVALS database.
-
-
- __________________________________
-
-
-
- > ASTEROIDIA STR InfoFile
- """""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- -=-=-=-=ASTEROIDIA=-=-=-=-
-
- Now available!
- --------------
- From: Munsie
- 5601 Ammons
- Haltom City, TX 76117
- (817) 485-9293
-
-
- Program name: Asteroidia
- ------------------------
-
- System Requirements: ST/STe/TT/Falcon with 1 meg of free memory.
- Color monitor/VGA monitor/TV.
- Double sided disk drive or (hard drive recommended.)
-
- Note for ST owners: This game was originally coded with STe/Falcon users
- in mind. But we decided to allow ST users to run it
- by simulating a scrolling background by using a
- starfield instead! The effect comes out great. So
- even though you won't get the bitmapped scrolling
- backgrounds you still get a fun game to play.
-
- Enhancements: Blitter scrolling on STe/Mega STe/Falcon/ (TT?)
- 50khz in game mod music on Falcon.
- Smoother play on Mega STe/TT/Falcon
- Game runs MUCH smoother in 60hz video mode.
-
- Description: Asteroidia is an arcade style game that involves
- little strategy but provides hours of fun. You are
- flying around in space trying to destroy all the
- asteroids that are heading toward your home planet.
- You'll also have to contend with little alien
- thingys that want to destroy your ship!
- 3D rotating asteroids on a multi-directional
- scrolling background. (Falcon/STe/TT)
- (Starfield scrolling on non-blitter machines.)
-
- OPTIONS.... ST users: Optional music or sound fx.
- Normal speed with no slowdown.
- Faster speed with slowdown.<<<<<
-
- STe users: All ST features plus:
- POWERPAD ready!!!! (Or joystick..)
- Optional Blitter scroll or starfield display.
- Optional ASTRODIA.DMA file in the same directory
- will provide a repeating background music sample
- file. Very nice music. (Hey..I made it!!)
- (Requires a 2MEG system to run with ASTRODIA.DMA!)
-
- Mega STe/TT users: All STe features plus:
- Optional normal fast speed or slower speed.
- MINUS - No powerpad for Mega STe/TT users...
-
- Falcon users: All Mega STe/TT features plus:
- Optional ASTRODIA.MUS file that will provide
- EXCEPTIONAL 50khz background music courtesy of
- several explosive mod tracks. This file GREATLY
- enhances the game experience!!
- Powerpad ready!!!! (Or joystick..)
- The ability to select your own mod tracks that will
- play in the background during the game. Run the
- MAKE_MOD.PRG to point to the mod files on your
- hard drive. Play them back in sequential or
- random order during the game!
-
- ASTRODIA.PRG: You can run Asteroidia from any desktop mode except
- True Color mode. Also, some screen enhancements may
- cause problems when Asterodia exits. If that is the
- case please de-activate them before running.
- Some desk accessories and TSR programs have been
- known to cause some problems with our software.
-
- While we have tried to make this program as
- compatible as possible we cannot guarantee that it
- will work 100% of the time on YOUR system. Whenever
- possible run Asteroidia from a clean desktop. If you
- can, boot your system without accessories or TSR's
- loaded if there is a problem. If you cannot get this
- program to run on your system, PLEASE call or email
- us as soon as possible letting us know what your
- problem is. Thank you...
-
- Asteroidia has been tested on ST/STe/Mega STe/Falcon.
-
- Shareware: This game is being distributed as shareware. If
- you enjoy this game a modest fee of $10.00 gets you
- 100% access to all of it's features.
-
- Un Registered!!: When you run Asteroidia in the UN-REGISTERED mode
- you will only get 1 life per game. If you enjoy
- this game and would like to register the program
- please read the ORDER.DOC file that comes with
- the archive.
-
- Extras: There may be a few goodies here and there, sadly
- you won't find any mention of those here...:)
-
- Other releases to look for:
- ---------------------------
- Racers - A fast action 2 player car racing game.
- G_Shell - The ultimate GFA BASIC programmer's shell.
- MultiRun - A powerful file launcher with configurable hardware calls.
- Sea Wolf 95 - Aim your torpedoes and fire away!
- Frantick - Slightly updated since our last version. Fast action shooter!
- Choplyfter - The long awaited conversion...looking pretty hot!
- Blazion - A fast action shooter for Falcon owners!
- Megaspace - A arcade action vertical scrolling shooter.
- (Megaspace could end up being our flagship product!!)
- Quadrys - Multi player Tetrys type game.
-
-
-
- ASTR_FAL.ZIP has been uploaded to the following file transfer areas:
- ASTR_ST.ZIP
-
- GEnie
-
- Delphi
-
- Internet FTP sites:
-
- Germany : FTP.UNI-KL.DE
-
- United Kingdom : MICROS.HENSA.AC.UK
-
- United States : MSDOS.ARCHIVE.UMICH.EDU
-
- Now you can order/register any of our products directly from some of
- the leading Atari vendors through out the world. These vendors are set
- up to allow you to call them and give them your KEY code and they will
- tell you your registration code over the phone! Or you may take the time
- to mail them your order if you like. Please take the time to consider
- registering any of our currently available products through ANY of the
- following list of Atari vendors.
-
-
- In the USA:
-
- Steve's Atari Sales
- 5 West Street
- Woodland, CA 95695
-
- Toll free order line: (VOICE) 1-800-487-7753
- (FAX) 1-800-800-FAXS
-
-
-
- Suzy B's Software
- 3712 Military Road
- Niagra Falls, NY 14305
-
- 716-298-1986
- In the U.K.:
-
- Warpzone PDL
- 53 Ropewalk, River ST
- ST. Judes, Bristol BS2 9EG
- Telephone/Fax 0272 553758
-
- L.A.P.D.
- P.O. Box 2
- Heanor, Derbys DE75 7YP
- Telephone/Fax 0773 605010/761944
-
- _______________________________________
-
-
-
- > G_SHELL STR InfoFile
- """"""""""""""""""""
-
-
- -=-=-=-=G_SHELL=-=-=-=-
-
-
- The ULTIMATE development shell for use with GFA BASIC!
- Now shipping!
- -------------
- From: Munsie
- 5601 Ammons
- Haltom City, TX 76117
- (817) 485-9293
-
- We are pleased to announce that our latest product, G_SHELL is now
- available. G_SHELL truly gives the GFA BASIC 3.5/3.6 programmer a
- professionally written environment to work in. G_SHELL totally replaces
- the MENU.PRG that came with your original GFA BASIC with a serious
- tool that greatly enhances your overall programming productivity.
- G_SHELL includes all of these great features and more!
-
- * Install up to 30 different GFA BASIC programs.
-
- * Each program has their own individual compiler options.
-
- * User definable .PRG and .O file path for each program.
-
- (Compiled programs can have ANY extension.)
-
- * Each program can have their own linkable .Object files.
-
- * Up to 18 TOOLS can be installed and effortlessly launched.
-
- * Compact, quick, easy to grasp, SINGLE SCREEN, user interface.
-
- No pretty 3D boxes here, just a serious programming tool that works.
-
- * Does NOT modify your existing GEM colors.
- * Completely 100% Falcon ready and compatible.
- * Runs in ANY resolution with at least a 640x200 display.
- * You can choose to run the interpreter in ST LOW-MEDIUM-HIGH resolutions!
- * Built in disk tools: Copy, Move, Delete, Name, View, Print
- * Special GFA BASIC programmer tools built in:
-
- PRG->INL - Strips header off .PRG files for easy loading into INLINEs.
- VIEW INL - Allows you to view the decimal contents of an INLINE file.
- COMPARE - Compares two files. You'll find a use for this soon enough.
- GFA PAL - Allows you to alter the default colors of the INTERPRETER.
- GFA MANUAL - A special hook that allows you to view the contents of the
- 2nd GFA Manual 3rd Edition using an interactive viewer.
- (All files included...it's like a built in GFA MANUAL!!)
- * Switch between 50-60 hertz video. (ST's AND Falcon's)
- * Switch processor speed. (Mega STe's and Falcon's)
- * Auto delete .O file after compiling. (Optional)
- * Compile all. Update all of your .PRG files at one time!
- * Wait on/off, Debug symbols on/off, Move memory on/off.
- * A useful LOG (optional off/on) that keeps track of what you did during
- your G_SHELL session. On going log, appends the file!
-
- G_SHELL is being distributed as shareware. Even though all features are
- 100% intact, some features will be disabled until the program is
- registered. It should be noted that when you register the program you
- will be given a key code that allows you to gain access to all of
- G_SHELL's features WITHOUT having to be sent any other files.
- Registration fee for G_SHELL is $10.00.
-
- Now you can order/register any of our products directly from some of
- the leading Atari vendors through out the world. These vendors are set
- up to allow you to call them and give them your KEY code and they will
- tell you your registration code over the phone! Or you may take the time
- to mail them your order if you like. Please take the time to consider
- registering any of our currently available products through ANY of the
- following list of Atari vendors [as listed above].
-
-
- _________________________________________
-
-
-
- > TAF ACE'95 STR SHOW NEWS Man 'O man .... it's just getting better!!
- """"""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- *******************************************************
- NEWS RELEASE 11: THE TORONTO ATARI FEDERATION PRESENTS....ACE '95!!
- *******************************************************
-
- _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
- _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
- _/_/
- _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/
- _/_/ _/_/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/_/ Software Demos!
- _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ Hardware Demos!
- _/_/ _/_/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ Membership!
- _/_/ _/_/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ Phoenix Newsletter!
- _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ 16/32 Bit Library!
- _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ Monthly Meetings!
- _/_/ _/ _/_/ _/ Flea Market!
- _/ Seminars!
- Raffles! BBS!
- #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# Support! GRAPHICS!
- Official Sponsor of ACE'95! SPREADSHEETS! DATABASES!
- #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# DESKTOP PUBLISHING!
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS! MIDI!
- WORDPROCESSING! MUCH MORE!
-
- ~~~ THE TORONTO ATARI FEDERATION ~~~
- Largest Atari User Group in North America!
- ~~~ (416) CALL-TAF (225-5823) For Recorded Information ~~~
- ~~~ TAF Online BBS (416) 421-8999 ~~~
- ~~~ CALL 416-752-2744 For ACE'95 Information ~~~
-
- The *GREATEST* Atari Exhibition in *YEARS* is happening on April
- 1st & 2nd, 1995, in TORONTO!! Look at this incredible *GROWING*
- ACE '95 Exhibitors List!
- ===================================================================
- ACE '95 ACE '95 ACE '95 ACE '95 ACE '95 ACE '95 ACE '95
- ===================================================================
- EXHIBITORS EXHIBITORS EXHIBITORS EXHIBITORS EXHIBITORS
- CONTESTS CONTESTS CONTESTS CONTESTS CONTESTS
- VISITORS VISITORS VISITORS VISITORS VISITORS
- ATARI ATARI ATARI ATARI ATARI
- USER GROUPS USER GROUPS USER GROUPS USER GROUPS USER GROUPS
-
- LLLL Gribnif Software!
- LLLLL TOAD Computers!
- LLLLLL Branch Always Software!
- LLLLLLL Cybercube Research (Cyrel)!
- LLLLLLLL DMC Publishing!
- LLLLLLLLL Scarborough Computers!
- LLLLLLLLLL Missionware Software!
- LLLLLLLLLLL ICD INC/4Play/Black Cat Designs!
- LLLLLLLLLLLL It's All Relative!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLL ABC Solutions!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLL Esquimalt Digital Logic (OMEN)!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLL GEnie Information Services!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Suzy B's Software (& CDs)!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL chro_Magic!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Clear Thinking!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Schauzmoll Software (The first GUI BBS)!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Anodyne Software (ExtenDOS)!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Oregon Research Associates!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Lexicor/Computer Direct! (Medusa?)
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Binary Sounds!
- LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Fine Tooned Engineering (MIO2, Sweet 16)
-
- ... shhh! don't tell anybody, but the c-lab falcon mkII
- is going to be at ace'95, too!!
-
- *****
- ***** What a GREAT lineup!!!
- ***** and there's still MORE TO COME!!
- *****
-
- We're looking forward to CGS Computerbild's presence too, as well
- as COMPO, Migraph, Wizztronics, Best Electronics and *many*
- more!!
-
- =-=-=-=-=-=-
- This will be the premier Atari show of the '90s featuring the
- BEST dealers and developers, Atari users, MIDI users & Jaguar
- users, User Groups and the finest software & hardware from all
- over North America & Europe!
-
- =-=-=-=-=-=-
- ACE'95 will feature continuous, hour-on-the-hour Seminars and
- Lectures. The ACE'95 Creativity Contest is also gathering speed
- with 20 entries already!!! There are an a-m-a-z-i-n-g number of
- creative Atari users out there!!! SEND IN *YOUR* ENTRY AS SOON AS
- POSSIBLE!!!
-
- =-=-=-=-=-=-
- NEED SOMETHING? It will be on SALE at ACE'95!
-
- =-=-=-=-=-=-
- DMC Publishing, Beamscope, Lexicor, ABC Solutions, Atari &
- several other TERRIFIC contributors, are providing an
- unbelievable lineup of door prizes, creativity contest prizes
- .... and the ACE'95 Grand Prize!
-
- =-=-=-=-=-=-
- MIDI, DTP, Wordprocessing, Graphics, Power Computing, Software
- Libraries, Utilities, Accessories, Databases, Spreadsheets,
- Custom Solutions, Games, Educational, Internet, BBS, Networks,
- Accelerators, Emulators, JAGUAR Stations, User Group Center,
- INCREDIBLE SALE PRICES, Software, Hardware, and everything you
- need to use your Atari!
-
- =-=-=-=-=-=-
- More Atari users in one place than is EVER safe =;^)
-
- ================================================
- Getting to ACE'95 is *easy*. Toronto is directly
- accessed by Highway 401 or the Queen Elizabeth Way,
- or Highway 400/69. Crossing the US/Canada border
- at Detroit, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Ft. Erie,
- Ogdensburg, Kingston, etc., will lead you directly
- to Highway 401 or the Queen Elizabeth Way. Take the
- Yonge St. Ramp north off the 401 and drive to 5110
- Yonge St. If you take the Queen Elizabeth Way,
- follow the signs to get to highway 401. *ANY* AAA
- or CAA or other Motor League can provide you with
- a map of Toronto, Ontario & Canada. Please call us
- if you have any trouble! Pearson International
- Airport is only 15 minutes away! Toronto Transit
- subway access is direct, too - there's a subway
- stop at the Civic Center!
- ================================================
- Book your tickets in advance! Book your hotel
- in advance! Call or e-mail for a Show Kit: for
- your User Group or organization or group! The Show
- Site (North York Civic Center, Memorial Hall
- Exhibition Facility) has hotel, shopping,
- restaurants and more! NOVOTEL: $89 Cdn PER NIGHT
- (single OR double occupancy)
- ACE'95 TICKETS: $6 PER DAY
- $10 WEEKEND PASS
- CALL 416-752-2744 FOR HOTEL & TICKET RESERVATIONS
- ================================================
- Meet Dan Wilga, Darek Mihocka, Bob Luneski, Peter
- Zalesak, John Trautschold, Craig Harvey, Nathan
- Potechin, Mario Georgiou, Greg Kopchak, Al Fasoldt,
- Rick Ladage, Jim Fouch, David & Jennifer Troy,
- Michael Burkley, Roger Burrows, DARLAH, Craig
- Carmichael, Tom Harker, Chris Krowchuck, Jim
- Collins, Ralf Dowich, Shawn Tedder, Mike Wilhelm,
- Mike Hohman, Christian Ernst, Michael Snape,
- and plenty more of the greatest dealers, developers
- & supporters Atari users have ever seen!
- ================================================
-
- *CALL US* 416-752-2744 or 416-225-5823 *CALL US*
-
- ACE'95 is being held at:
- North York Civic Center
- Memorial Hall Exhibition Facility
- 5110 Yonge St. (at Parkhome Ave.)
- Toronto
- April 1-2, 1995
- Saturday 9AM - 6PM
- Sunday 9AM - 5PM
-
- ~~ Howard Carson, ACE'95 Chief Organizer ~~~
-
- ________________________________
-
-
-
- > STR NewsPlus
- """"""""""""
-
-
-
- -/- Bidding for Commodore Nears End -/-
-
- Two new bidders have entered the contest for the remaining
- liquidated assets of Commodore International Ltd.
-
- Computergram International reports this morning one is German PC
- maker/distributor Escom AG, and the other is "a major American
- technology company" represented by Louis Ulysses of Seattle, who
- declined to reveal its name.
-
- The newsletter quotes Escom's attorney as saying the German company
- had been willing in September to pay $12 million for the remains of
- Commodore, and is still interested, but probably will no longer be
- willing to pay that amount, because the sale has been delayed so long.
-
- "Only Creative Equipment International Inc. of Miami and a
- management team from Commodore's UK subsidiary had hitherto publicly
- expressed interest in the assets," the newsletter added, "and the
- original bids from each were thought to be higher than Escom's bid."
-
-
-
- -/- Mitnick Nabbed in North Carolina -/-
-
-
- Fugitive computerist Kevin D. Mitnick, described by one official as
- "the most wanted hacker in the world," has been arrested at an apartment
- in Raleigh, North Carolina.
-
- The 31-year-old Mitnick, wanted for violating federal probation, was
- arrested shortly after midnight by FBI agents and state and local law
- enforcement authorities after what the Reuter News Service describes as
- "an intensive two-week 'electronic' manhunt."
-
- Mitnick was convicted in Los Angeles in 1988 on charges of stealing
- software and breaking into corporate computer networks. He received a
- one-year prison sentence. In 1992, he vanished from Southern California
- and a federal arrest warrant was issued on charges that he violated the
- terms of his probation.
-
- While on the run, Mitnick is alleged to have broken into corporate
- and communications networks in California, Colorado and North Carolina,
- causing damage and stealing secret information, authorities contend. The
- U.S. Justice Department says Mitnick also faces investigation by various
- state authorities. Most recently he has become a suspect in a rash of
- break-ins on the Internet, the authorities allege.
-
- The Associated Press says one of Mitnick's latest victims, computer
- security expert Tsutomu Shimomura of the San Diego Supercomputer Center,
- was so angered that he made it his crusade to track Mitnick down and that
- it was with his help that the FBI traced the computerist to the Raleigh
- apartment.
-
- Mitnick faces charges of computer fraud, punishable by 20 years in
- prison, and illegal use of a phone access device, which carries a
- maximum 15-year sentence. Both crimes also are punishable by $250,000
- fines.
-
- "He was clearly the most wanted computer hacker in the world,"
- assistant U.S. attorney Kent Walker told The New York Times. "He
- allegedly had access to corporate trade secrets worth billions of
- dollars. He was a very big threat."
-
- Justice Department spokesman John Russell called Mitnick "a computer
- terrorist."
-
- Mitnick's downfall began Christmas Day, when he broke into
- Shimomura's home computer and stole security programs he had written.
-
- "Incensed," says AP, "Shimomura canceled a ski vacation and assembled
- a team of computer experts to hunt down the intruder." Then:
-
- -:- They traced Mitnick to Netcom, a nationwide Internet access
- provider.
- -:- With the help of federally subpoenaed phone records, they
- determined that he was placing calls from a cellular phone near
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
- -:- Early Monday morning, Shimomura drove around Raleigh with a
- phone company technician, using "a cellular frequency
- direction-finding antenna hooked to a laptop to narrow the search
- to an apartment complex," AP adds.
- -:- After a 24-hour stakeout, the FBI moved in for the arrest.
-
- Adding a movie-like conclusion to the arrest, 30-year-old Shimomura
- attended Mitnick's pre-arraignment hearing at the federal courthouse in
- Raleigh.
-
- "At the end of the hearing," says AP, "a handcuffed Mitnick turned to
- Shimomura, whom he had never met... 'Hello, Tsutomu,' Mitnick said. 'I
- respect your skills.' Shimomura nodded solemnly."
-
- __________________________________________
-
-
- JAGUAR SECTION
- ==============
-
- Electronic Arts Signed?!
- Cannon Fodder Released!
- More I.S. Tips!
- Winter CES Report!
- And Much More!
-
-
- > From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- The '95 game releases have finally started. It's been a long
- period between game releases, but the third-party games that have been
- long-awaited are coming. Cannon Fodder is the first, with more on the
- way.
-
- Up to now, it's been really quiet on the Jaguar front. Most
- activity has been speculation and rumor - usually directed at Atari
- with questions about the CD-ROM or new games. During my last talk with
- folks at Atari, the CD-ROM is still slated for mid to late March.
-
- We've got a lot of interesting projects slated for future issues,
- including a number of game reviews, interviews with Atari personnel,
- and other articles. We hope you'll enjoy them!
-
- Until next time...
-
- __________________________________
-
-
- > Jaguar Catalog STR InfoFile - What's currently available, what's
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""" coming out.
-
- Current Available Titles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- CAT # TITLE MSRP DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER
-
- J9000 Cybermorph $59.99 Atari Corp.
- J9006 Evolution:Dino Dudes $49.99 Atari Corp.
- J9005 Raiden $49.99 FABTEK, Inc/Atari Corp.
- J9001 Trevor McFur/
- Crescent Galaxy $49.99 Atari Corp.
- J9010 Tempest 2000 $59.95 Llamasoft/Atari Corp.
- J9028 Wolfenstein 3D $69.95 id/Atari Corp.
- JA100 Brutal Sports FtBall $69.95 Telegames
- J9008 Alien vs. Predator $69.99 Rebellion/Atari Corp.
- J9029 Doom $69.99 id/Atari Corp.
- J9036 Dragon: Bruce Lee $59.99 Atari Corp.
- J9003 Club Drive $59.99 Atari Corp.
- J9007 Checkered Flag $69.99 Atari Corp.
- J9012 Kasumi Ninja $69.99 Atari Corp.
- J9042 Zool 2 $59.99 Atari Corp
- J9020 Bubsy $49.99 Atari Corp
- J9026 Iron Soldier $59.99 Atari Corp
- J9060 Val D'Isere Skiing $59.99 Atari Corp.
- Cannon Fodder Virgin
-
- Available Soon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- CAT # TITLE MSRP DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER
-
- CatBox $69.95 ICD
- Hover Strike $59.99 Atari
-
- Hardware and Peripherals ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
- CAT # TITLE MSRP MANUFACTURER
-
- J8001 Jaguar (complete) $249.99 Atari Corp.
- J8904 Composite Cable $19.95
- J8901 Controller/Joypad $24.95 Atari Corp.
- J8905 S-Video Cable $19.95
- Jaguar CD-ROM $149.99 Atari Corp.
-
-
-
- > Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News!
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- -/- Sierra to Design Nintendo Games -/-
-
- Sierra On-Line Inc. has been signed by Nintendo to design video
- games for its Ultra 64 three-dimensional home video game. Sierra says
- it will develop and publish its "Red Baron" flight simulation game
- exclusively for Nintendo.
-
- United Press International reports from Nintendo's Redmond,
- Washington, headquarters the game will be played on the new 64-bit home
- video game system now being developed by Nintendo and Silicon Graphics
- Inc.
-
- Nintendo says its 64-bit system, which should be available for home
- use in fall 1995, will carry a suggested retail price in the United
- States of under $250.
-
-
-
- -/- 16-bit Games Remain Dominant -/-
-
- A comprehensive study of the U.S. video game business has found that
- the market for 16-bit games is slowing but remains dominant since no
- platform has emerged as a viable replacement to the 16-bit systems from
- Sega and Nintendo, reports PRNewswire.
-
- "This is bad news for developers that are betting on the rapid
- growth of CD-ROM platforms," said David Cole, president of DFC
- Intelligence, the market research firm that conducted the study titled
- "The U.S. Market for Video Games and Interactive Electronic
- Entertainment."
-
- Since CD-ROM systems are expensive and will take some time to
- develop consumer support, the cartridge game systems are likely to
- remain dominant in the market throughout 1996. "It appears that both
- Sega and Nintendo will rely on cartridge systems for the next two
- years," explained Cole.
-
- Of all the new CD-ROM platforms, DFC Intelligence believes 3DO has
- the best chance to challenge Nintendo and Sega for market share. "3DO
- has a head start, strong corporate backing from Matsushita, and is
- establishing a foothold in the marketplace with a growing library of
- software," said Cole. "3DO, not Sony, is the company to beat when it
- comes to CD-ROM platforms."
-
- Meanwhile, Nintendo and Sega should remain significant forces in
- the industry. With increased competition, both companies will have to
- make due with a smaller share of the pie; however, with the expected
- growth of the market, it will be a larger pie.
-
- DFC Intelligence predicts that Nintendo and Sega should each
- maintain a minimum 25 percent of the market for the next five years.
- Said Cole, "Both companies have strong brand names, loyal customers,
- and the required technological and marketing expertise."
-
- As for the growing installed base of personal computers with CD-ROM
- drives, Cole explained, "It is highly unlikely that the personal
- computer will become a significant platform for entertainment software
- anytime soon." According to Cole, the problem with the PC as a game
- platform is consumer acceptance. "It is the consumer that has the final
- say, and right now they are rejecting the PC. The PC game market is
- plagued by installation difficulties and hardware incompatibilities.
- The PC is just not suited to be a mass market entertainment appliance."
-
- DFC Intelligence predicts that PC CD-ROM games will grow at a
- modest pace; however, total revenues will pale in comparison to the
- dedicated systems. Said Cole, "It will be hard for any title to make
- money if it is only released on PCs."
-
- The findings in the report are based on historical trends, combined
- with an analysis of present events.
-
-
- _____________________________________
-
-
- > WCES! STR SHOW NEWS
- """""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- Atari WCES Report!
- The Jaguar Comes to Winter CES!
-
-
-
- - A look at what Jaguar items were at the recent Winter Consumer
- Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV
-
-
- by Marty Mankins, Jaguar Editor
-
- It's been just over 6 weeks since the Winter Consumer Electronics Show
- (WCES) was held in Las Vegas, NV. There were many Jaguar items on
- display at the show. And since this time, no other Jaguar games have
- been released. There has been talk of some new games that are ready to
- roll off the production line, but nothing so far.
-
- We are all anxious to see these titles and the much talked about Jaguar
- CD drive. So, lets talk about what was at the show and the anticipated
- dates they should be on store shelves.
-
- THE NOW FAMOUS CD-ROM DRIVE
-
- Since the initial double-city release of the Jaguar, there has been
- talk of the CD-ROM drive and how it will work and possible games that
- will make their way when the peripheral ships in late 1994. Well, it's
- a bit past 1994, but the CD drive was in full view at the show. Many
- "Oooohhed" and "Aaaahhhed" at the sight of the drive, it's integration
- into the Jaguar console and the number of pre-release games that were
- shown with the system. I know I was blown away, but for the amount of
- time that has been spent on the CD drive, the "blown away" factor was
- expected. Not just an answer to Sega's CD add-on or it's portable CDX
- unit, the Jaguar CD drive is very nice, easy to use and has a wide range
- of compatibility. The drive works with not only Jaguar games, but Photo
- CDs, audio CDs and CD+Graphics compact discs. It's obvious they want
- this drive to be used by more that just the Jaguar players in the house.
-
- The price is good, coming in at $149.99 retail. Expect this to be the
- selling price from most places for sometime (6-8 months). Software
- titles will be out faster since they are on CD and easier to press and
- create. Some of the future titles are Battlemorph, Blue Lightning and
- Dragon's Lair. These and other exiting titles should help sell many CD
- drives for the Jaguar. I've seen some other CD titles for both the PC
- and the Sega CD system that need help and the titles I saw for the
- Jaguar CD drive were incredible, with details galore and all sorts of
- little things that make the game playable over and over.
-
- The overall reaction to the CD drive was "finally", although Atari says
- it won't be shipping until at least March. This gives some of us who
- long for more Jaguar stuff to save some money and get at least Dragon's
- Lair and Battlemorph.
-
- NEW JAGUAR GAMES
-
- Atari had Jaguar stations/kiosks all over their large booth (located next
- to the Nintendo behemoth) playing all sorts of games, some shipping,
- some soon-to-ship and some in pre-release form. The pre-release games
- were limited in how complete the overall game was, but you got the idea.
-
- One of the shipping games that received less-than wonderful comments was
- Checkered Flag. This game could have been much better if they would have
- refined the control of the car. I am amazed that the main aspect of play
- in this game got past testers, beta sites and developers. It does take
- a long time to master the control of the car, but it never feels like it
- should.
-
- Kasumi Ninja was thankfully better, but not as good as the hype it
- generated early on. The version I played was the final shipping copy. I
- had seen some demos earlier in the year (found on issue #5 of IE, a CD-ROM
- magazine) and it looked really good. So, in my gore enticement, I tried
- my favorite move - blowing off your enemies head clean off. After my fifth
- try, it worked and the graphics blew me away. The game play is
- hard - very hard - but this could be good for those who tire of a game
- early on. I think this game will have moderate success, judging from the
- feedback of other players.
-
- Rayman was a big hit. Almost everyone that came to the booth waited
- behind one of the Rayman kiosks to play the game. I found the game play
- to be very close to excellent, with just a few refinements (such as when
- the character interacts with other things on the screen) before it ships.
- I rate this game as one that will sell a ton of copies. Let Atari and
- UBI market this and people will flock to it.
-
- Ultra Vortex from Beyond Games was another that looked like one of those
- "Sega Killer" games that the Jaguar needs. It looked close to being
- done and should ship before the end of March. Yet another fighter game
- for the Jaguar (joining Fight for Life, Kasumi Ninja and Dragon), Ultra
- Vortex looks clean. The action is fast and hot. The players are
- detailed and you get hours of play time that will satisfy most players.
-
- One game that already has its own FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) file
- on CompuServe is Fight for Life. This fighting game is different than
- most. You fight for the ultimate championship, taking your opponents out
- one by one until you reach your goal: gaining redemption and another
- chance at life. Many of the on-lookers found this one to be good, but
- there seemed like some things needed to be touched up like the
- characters' details and some of the many other background scenes.
-
- Space War 2000, Hover Strike and Troy Aikman Football were all well
- received, but weren't quite done yet, so game play was hard to judge.
- The second sports game for the Jaguar (Brutal Sports Football counts as
- first), Troy Aikman Football looks complete. It has all the NFL teams
- and game play is easy to learn and a challenge to master, making this
- game a good pick. Space War 2000 and Hover Strike were not quite done
- yet, but the screens that were available looked promising.
-
- OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
-
- Two other items that Jaguar owners may want to have in their gaming
- plethora are the Jaguar Link and the Voice/Data Communicator. The
- Jaguar Link allows two consoles to be linked together by standard RJ-11
- phone cord at up to 100 feet away from each other. This would make it
- possible to have more than two players (depending on the software). The
- price is only $29.99 and should be available in the 2nd Qtr of 95.
-
- The Voice/Data Communicator allows multiple players to connect via a
- phone line, being able to play a two player game and talk to each other
- via a headset at the same time. No ship date was announced, but it
- should be available during 1995 for under $160.
-
- FINAL NOTES
-
- Well, that's about it for now. So during the short lapse waiting for
- new games to ship, players can read how others reacted to games in my
- next report, when I surveyed 10 people and had them see the current
- top 10 games available for the Jaguar.
-
- ____________________________________
-
-
- > Jaguar Easter Eggs/Cheats/Hints STR InfoFile - Solving Those Riddles!
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- Sb: Secret Kasumi Ninja Code
- Fm: SYSOP*Jeff Kovach 70761,3015
- To: All
-
- From the Internet's Jaguar mailing list, Travis Guy brings us word of
- the first secret cheat code in Kasumi Ninja:
-
- -----------
-
- It took more than a little prying to get, but here's the FIRST released
- Kasumi Ninja code!
-
- // Kasumi Ninja "Character vs. Character" Mode
-
- Note: This requires two controllers plugged in to your Jaguar.
-
- Note: You should already have entered a Gore Code; if not, pick a very
- easy one to remember, like "111111".
-
- [] Go to the "options" screen.
- [] Access the "change code" option.
- [] You will see the dialog box asking you to enter a code.
- [] While holding the "A" & "C" buttons on Player #2's controller,
- enter "6" "2" "1" "5" "4" "4" on Player #1's controller.
- [] You will hear an audible "Ha", and the words "Wrong code" will
- appear as confirmation. (The "Wrong code" may proceed the "Ha".)
- [] Exit from the "options" screen.
-
- Go ahead and start a game, and play characters against themselves.
- (i.e., Angus versus Angus....) The character representing Player #2
- will appear onscreen a shade darker than the character representing
- Player #1.
-
- Enjoy!
-
- ____________________________________
-
-
-
- > Jaguar Online STR InfoFile Online Users Growl & Purr!
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- Sb: #More EA Rumors
- Fm: SYSOP*Jeff Kovach 70761,3015
- To: All
-
- Today on the Internet, on the Jaguar mailing list the following message
- appeared containing some information from a British video games magazine,
- 'Games Master', about some very popular Electronic Arts titles possibly
- being in the works for the Jag CD!
-
- -----------
-
- From: pboyle@maths.tcd.ie
-
- I know I'm new round here, and that I've only had my Jaguar 1 week, but
- I think I have some info you lot will die for. It comes from the
- March 1995 issue of a UK magazine called Games Master(#27), which is
- quite reputable and has a high (for UK) circulation of over 65,000.
- This is from page 8:
-
- "3DO GAMES FOR THE JAGUAR" - "ATARI and ELECTRONIC ARTS (stalwart
- supporters of, and main driving force behind, 3DO software) are set to
- bring some absolute classics to the Jaguar when the new CD add on is
- launched.
-
- The incredible PC/3DO smash WING COMMANDER 3 is the pick of the pile and
- other titles include some of the best games on 3DO. THE NEED FOR SPEED
- (the racing game which has taken the office by storm) will be one of the
- first to appear alongside FIFA SOCCER and JOHN MADDEN FOOTBALL.
-
- This is a real coup for ATARI as ELECTRONIC ARTS have been long time
- supporters of the 3DO and nothing else in the super-console stakes."
-
- There now. That was worth taking a little bandwidth for, I think you'll
- agree. And for the record, their e-mail is gmmag@mail.on-line.co.uk . I
- wouldn't expect replies from them though, as this is for their letters
- page. Try browsing www.futurenet.co.uk for someone's personal address on
- their staff if you really can't believe me.
-
- PS They also say MKII is coming to the Jaguar. I guess as a stop-gap
- until MKIII appears?
-
-
- Sb: #71768-More EA Rumors
- Fm: SYSOP*Jeff Kovach 70761,3015
- To: Chris Miller 72733,334
-
- > I don't think I understand your message. EA is purely a software
- > company, they don't push any one platform. They develop for Sega,
- > Nintendo, 3DO and others. I don't see how the competition between
- > Atari and 3DO fits in?
-
- Supposedly, EA still has very strong ties to Trip Hawkins. They
- have made it very well known that they are giving strong support to
- 3DO, even before the system was selling. I think EA may also own a
- significant portion of 3DO - I'm sure someone here who knows can tell
- us for certain. And, EA has a long history of NOT supporting Atari
- products.
-
- BTW, there has been a follow-up post to the message that started all
- of this on the Internet. Nobody believed the guy there either, so he
- sent email to someone at Games Master magazine to ask if they'd stand
- behind their story:
-
- -------------
-
- From: pboyle@maths.tcd.ie (Philip Boyle)
- Subject: Now maybe you'll believe me . . . . . . .
- Date: 15 Feb 1995 15:34:45 -0000
-
- Hi again.
-
- Fair enough, if you lot are too paranoid to believe little ol' me, here
- is confirmation *DIRECT* from the EDITOR of GAMESMASTER magazine. I sent
- him the following mail, and received the attached reply:
- --------------------------------------
- Date: 15/2/95 11:46 am
- To: Simon Kirrane
- From: pboyle@maths.tcd.ie
- Subject: Could you please send me a short message?
- Hi,
- I recently posted to a newsgroup about the eXclusive you revealed
- concerning Atari and Electronic Arts. The problem is no-one will believe
- me, so could you just send me a 2 line message saying you back the story
- 100% ? Thanks.
-
- PS Some think it is a very early April Fools. Please don't say it is.
- ---------------------------------------
- Reply to: RE>Could you please send me a short message?
-
- The story, that EA will be developing games for the Jag CD came direct
- from Atari themselves. So yes I back it 100%. Thanks for showing an
- interest.
-
- Now maybe you'll believe me. If not, why not go ask Travis?
-
- Sb: #71738-#More EA Rumors
- Fm: John Gibb 100410,3556
- To: SYSOP*Jeff Kovach 70761,3015 (X)
-
- I spoke (email) to an EA representative just after they bought Bullfrog
- (the company that EA say is independent, but have monthly meetings to
- say which product they'll can next !). And asked him whether Bullfrog
- will release the Bullfrog games already destined for the Jag and will
- they be releasing any new games for the Jag.
-
- Quite simply, EA will fulfill all Bullfrog obligations but will not be
- releasing any games for the Jaguar in the foreseeable future as they're
- not looking into that platform.
-
- I wouldn't hold your breath for EA to release anything for the Jag
- they've obviously decided (from what I've been told) that the 3DO is
- the platform of the future (or is it the 3DO-2 or 3DO-3 or 3DO-4) and
- that they'll go out of their way to crush the competition.
-
- Someone on usenet came up with a nice name "3DOpes".
-
- Regards,
- John
- (Jag less and waiting for the possibility of the PC Jag-on-a-card)
-
-
- __________________________________________________
-
-
-
- > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
-
- PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
- =====================
-
-
- On CompuServe
- -------------
- compiled by
- Joe Mirando
- CIS ID: 73637,2262
-
-
-
- Well folks, here we are again. Before we get into this week's news and
- info, I'd like to tell you a little story. This actually happened to me
- a little over a year ago and, every once in a while, I think about it
- and get a little case of the chuckles. Maybe you will too...
-
- CompuServe had just become the first online service of offer a
- previously un-released song as a MicroSoft WAV file for folks with DOS
- machines and Windows (which I normally refer to as "WinDOZE"). Being
- the type to be interested in every new offering that CompuServe has, I
- decided to download it and check it out.
-
- It was an Aerosmith tune called Head First and wasn't available anywhere
- but CompuServe... not even in the record stores. So I went to the Music
- area on CIS and chose the option to download the file. There were two
- choices: The stereo version, which was about four and a half megabytes
- long, and the mono version which was about 2.2 meg long.
-
- I chose the mono version and got set to put my 14.4 modem to work. But
- before the download commenced, CompuServe's software asked me several
- questions to make sure that I wasn't just wasting my time (and theirs).
- First, they wanted to know if I had an MSDOS computer. I answered yes.
- Then they wanted to know if I had WinDOZE 3.1 or higher. Again I
- answered in the affirmative. Then they asked if I had a sound card.
- "Of course I do" I told them. Once all the criterion had been
- satisfied, my modem began chugging away, transferring Head Tune from
- CompuServe Central to my lowly little Atari STe. You see, I don't have
- a DOS computer, Windows, or even a sound card. But I knew something
- that CIS didn't... the ST series of computers is smart!
-
- Well, I got the file, loaded it up and played it a few times. It
- certainly wasn't CD-Quality, it wasn't a particularly good song either. I
- think Aerosmith sounded better when they were younger... and when I was
- <grin>.
-
- Several weeks later, I was talking to a programmer friend of mine who
- had also downloaded the file. He has the latest DOS technology,
- WinDOZE, and even a shiny, new 16 bit sound card.
-
- "Have you heard about that new Aerosmith tune", he asked?
-
- "Yeah," I replied, " I wasn't real impressed, though".
-
- "Hey," he said, "when did you get a DOS machine"?
-
- "I didn't," I told him, "I used my Atari".
-
- "But you have to play it on a DOS computer... it says so on CompuServe".
-
- "Oops," I chuckled, "I guess I goofed, then".
-
- "But the Atari doesn't use DOS, does it", he asked?
-
- "No," I told him, "It uses GEM by DRI, and TOS... Atari's operating
- system".
-
- "Well, he asked, "Can you run Windows on it"?
-
- "Nope," I said, "And I wouldn't even if I could".
-
- "Well you had to go out and buy a sound card, though, right"?
-
- "Uh-uh" I said, "sound capability is built in".
-
- He was now getting upset. He was used to thinking of DOS as the epitome
- of operating systems. "Well," he asked, "what did you have to do to
- play it"?
-
- "I just downloaded it and played it through a sound program" I told him.
-
- To prove my point, I pulled out my trusty STacy which is a portable ST
- and played the song for him.
-
- After he picked his jaw up off of the floor, he said "Yeah, but I'll bet
- that program cost you quite a few bucks".
-
- "It sure did," I told him, "A whole fifteen dollars".
-
- His MicroSoft-riveted world was looking a bit odd to him at that moment.
- So he decided to find out about this wondrous new operating system.
- "How much memory do you have in that computer" he asked?
-
- "Four megs," I told him, "and I've almost never needed any more than
- that".
-
- "Four megs"? He asked incredulously, "That's not possible! It must take
- at least a meg for the operating system alone... Windows does!"
-
- "Ah, yes," I said, "but this isn't WinDOZE. You see, WinDOZE has to jump
- through hoops to get that Intel chip and all of those "optional" add-ons
- like monitors and sound cards to do what they do. The Atari was
- designed from the start to do those things, so it's not a big deal".
-
- "Well," he asked, "how much memory DOES the operating system take up"?
-
- "Just a few kilobytes for pointers and things like that" I told him.
- "You see, the operating system is in ROM, so it doesn't have to be
- loaded up every damned time you turn the machine on. And there's no
- chance of munging the system files that way".
-
- "I just paid two thousand dollars for my computer, several hundred for a
- sound card, and about eighty for a WAV sound player... How much did your
- Atari cost you" he asked?
-
- "Well, let's see," I began, "I paid five hundred for my STe, and... oh,
- that's it. I don't need any of the other stuff". I wish I had a camera
- to capture the look on his face for posterity.
-
- We went on talking about TOS vs. WinDOZE for quite a while, and he came
- away with a new respect for Atari computers... and for me.
-
- Several people have asked me to relay this story... one of them even
- saying that he'd pin it up on his dashboard for moments when he needed a
- chuckle, so here it is. I hope you enjoyed hearing about another DOS
- weenie eating crow... I know I did.
-
- Now let's get on with the info that's available every week right here on
- CompuServe...
-
-
- From the Atari Computing Forums
- ===============================
-
- Lars-Hakan Sundman asks a question that many of us are asking:
-
- "I've been a atari programer from the time I put my fingers on the
- atari 400 and before it the atari game console. Now i wonder as a
- professional programmer, is there a future??? The PC has such a large
- backing, everything i do is for the PC and every crown iv'e earn is
- from the PC so why shuld i care about which architecture is the best,
- My next market is the Windows NT with Open GL... may the mighty P6 Be
- with you...."
-
- Sysop Ron Luks tells Lars:
-
- "There is no future for Atari Computers (TOS based) at this point in
- time. Even the company itself has put all its resources behind the game
- machine."
-
- Our own dear, sweet, teddy bear of a Publisher, Ralph, tells Ron:
-
- " Too true, and the newest "clone" has an incredibly high msrp of
- $3000.00 on it. The C-Lab Falcon "resurrection".
-
- It's unbelievable. Like watching people at a wake.. hoping the
- deceased will rise and walk again. Bless them all."
-
- I'd just like to point out that Ralph has ALWAYS pointed out that the
- Atari hardware was fantastic, it was the marketing and lack of serious
- development that "done it in".
-
- Meanwhile, Jon Sanford adds his own thoughts:
-
- "I believe there is a Future for Atari Computers. As a Amature & Hobby
- activity. Similar to Restoring old radios & classic cars.
-
- It is very stressfull to try to keep up with the Microsoft/Intel or
- Apple/IBM/Motorola... computer scene. There is the lure of lotsa
- money, there is also lotsa competition (cutthroat).
-
- We see in this forum & the Portfolio section a steady supply of people
- who have recently aquired Atari computers. The inital cost of "getting
- into computers" with used Atari stuff is minimal."
-
- Brad Cross tells Jon:
-
- "At almost every supermarket I go to there are two monthy magazines on
- VW bugs.Why? Good hardware,lots of parts available, lots of mods to do.
- This is the future for Atari Computers, but only if people stop whining
- and make it so."
-
- Good point, Brad.
- John Amsler tells us:
-
- "Without having made ANY changes ANYWHERE, I suddenly can no longer use
- Associated Press Online, or U.S. New & World Report, or any other of
- the services of Basic News. For example, here's what I get when I try
- to GO APO:
-
- KAPlie
-
- AocitePrelie AocitePreVieotexNewSerice
-
- orit995AocitePre Alliteere
-
-
- eifortiocoti
- eiteAPlieewreortotelie roctoroterwiereitritewitotteriorwrittetoritof
- teAocitePre.
-
- Pre<forore!
-
-
-
- What's going on????? (I even tried reloading STalker [3.02] from the
- original disk, and I get the same thing.) I've sent two separate
- messages to CIS Customer Service via Feedback since Friday, but have
- not even received so much as a "We received your message and are trying
- to solve the problem" type of response."
-
- Carl Barron tells John:
-
- "Looks like you are receiving only newlines at end of a line and your
- terminal program does not add the missing returns. Check your terminal
- setup on CIS and your term. prog."
-
- Ken Goodwin adds his lament:
-
- "I, too am having the same problem with AP Newswire (Go AP). It just
- started a few days ago. I have made no changes in my terminal
- settings."
-
- Evidently CompuServe or AP has changed something... we'll keep you
- posted. Dazzz Smith, a long-time Atari user tells us:
-
- "I went for a [Mac] Performa 475 with 8 meg ram (4 isnt practical)
- 250meg HD and a 15 inch Multiscan monitor (better than the 14" and not
- much more) also get Ram Doubler which does double the Ram if your going
- the Mac route."
-
- John Amsler asks Dazzz:
-
- "Do you know if it's possible to put a GEMulator card in one of those
- new Mac models that were introduced last year -- the kind that are a
- PowerPC-based Mac but also have a 486 onboard?
-
- (Wouldn't that be the best of a bad situation in today's Tower of Babel
- home computer environment: a PowerPC Mac, MS-DOS/Windoze, *and* TOS
- all in the same box? I "suspect" you'd be able to run Linux as well.)"
-
- Dan Parrish tells John:
-
- "Excuse me for jumping in here but I just today read a review of the
- MagiCMac. The review was in one of the European mag's, and right now
- I don't remember which one. Anyway, what I read sounded GREAT!!!!!!
- This emulator comes on one disk, and it has only two files, one is the
- install program. It ran the Atari software they tried, Papyrus,
- Calamus SL amongst others. Apparently, it is all software with no
- hardware involved. What I thought of as the real beauty, you can
- create TOS partitions on the existing MAC hard drive without
- reformatting, you can hook up an Atari formatted external SCSI
- hard drive and go with it. Again. there is nothing special to do. They
- ran GEMBench and found the MagiCMac emulator ran 3 times faster than a
- TT on a Mac Quadra 800. I don't remember what the price was, but the
- emulator was picked up at one of the European Shows, so I guess it is
- in production????
-
- Just thought I would share that bit of news."
-
- We'll keep you posted on anything more on this little jewel... it shows
- promise!
-
- Jim Wellington asks for help:
-
- "I have a Stacy 4 and in attempting to install Warp 9, inadvertantly
- copied the Falcon version of the program into the AUTO folder. Now the
- HD boots as far as the header for the falcon program and then bombs.
-
- The only problem is that the Stacy does not recognize and partitions
- on the HD when booted from a floppy. Normal procedure for booting from
- the HD is to not have a floppy disk in its drive and then it will
- autoboot from the HD.
-
- Has anyone else found a solution short of removing the HD and fixing
- it on a 1040) ?
-
- I have the Atari Stacy HD disk and can't come up with anything from
- that. My local dealer is also stumped. Is there a key combination
- sequence that will cause a boot from the HD even with a floppy in
- place?
-
- Any hints will certainly be appreciated!"
-
- Carl Barron tells Jim that he has...
-
- "NO EXPERIENCE WITH stacy particulars. But normally if you hold the alt
- key during the boot up it will boot from floppy. On the floppy I do
- emergency boots from there is an auto folder containing only ahdi.prg.
- Booting from the floppy leaves you in st low if color but no problem
- yet. delete the bad files from C:\AUTO and replace with the good ones.
- Reboot from the HD. [get deskmanager or superboot and you can then
- avoid these problems easily, as it allows you to stop and edit the auto
- folder/da's etc. before completing the boot.] if there is no auto
- folder, you can run ahdi.prg immediately after it boots to the 'AB'
- desktop. and intall drive C, then it does not attempt to load DA's
- from drive C. But Drive C should be accessable. Delete the bad files,
- and replace with the correct ones."
-
- Bob Caroles tells us that he's had...
-
- "...a look around the forum trying to find information on a reliable
- tape backup system for the ST, and I must admit that I'm still a bit
- uninformed. Can anyone out there tell me in straightforward terms where
- I can buy a tape backup system for the Atari in the UK? I'm a simple
- soul and talk of QIC, etc, etc makes my head spin..."
-
- Boris Molodyi tells Bob:
-
- "The easiest solution I know of is to purchase Diamond Back III
- program (I believe HiSoft distributes it in the UK) and use it with
- just about any SCSI tape backup unit. You need to have a SCSI tape
- drive, though."
-
-
-
- From the Graphics Support Forum
- ===============================
-
- On the current hot topic, the decision by Unisys to enforce their
- patents on LZW compression which is used in the popular GIF picture
- format, John Parker posts:
-
- "There is a widely known law, "The Law of Unintended Consquences",
- that may well come into play and end up biting Unisys on the butt!
- GIF/LZW has rocked along for lo these many years with hardly anyone
- giving it a second thought. Now, suddenly, Unisys brings it to the
- forefront. Hundreds and hundreds of really sharp small business type
- people are confronted with the kind of problem small business types
- excel at solving. The companies Unisys has dealt with in the past on
- the LZW patent are the really big guys who have the megabucks to "go
- along to get along". They just saw the $20,000, or whatever the
- amount is, as a cost of doing business. Now, all of a sudden, they are
- forcing people who don't have the bucks to go along to examine the
- patent (probably more carefully than ever before) to find weaknesses in
- it, and/or look for better ways to get done what it is they do. That's
- a bad combination for Unisys! Face it, if someone finds a better way
- it might also work in modems and at that point Unisys has lost on both
- counts! I don't say this will happen, but it certainly is not a good
- idea to infuriate hosts of small business types all over the world.
- Necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention!"
-
- George Ganoe adds:
-
- "And after all of that maneuvering they did in front of the ANSI
- standards board to get their patent approved for the v.42bis standard
- too. I wholeheartedly hope some one is able to find a better
- replacement and get the standard amended to permit the new and free
- compression to be used in lieu of the LZW version in the modems. <G> It
- would serve them right in my view. I don't think that standards should
- promote patented techniques or devices in any case. If a company wants
- their patent incorporated in a standard they should be required to
- release the patent to the standards organization for free use. The
- fact that the patent gets incorporated into the standard should be
- enough of a reward, since they would be able to utilize the technology
- that presumably they are most proficient in anyway in their version of
- the standard product. They shouldn't also be able to collect royalties
- from others as well."
-
- Steve Rimmer talks about making the process of patenting something
- patented:
-
- "Could we make it retroactive? Or no, wait... make it recursive. We
- patent it, and then patent the process of violating it. Anyone who
- violates it owes us for the violation, and for the violation of the
- violation, and for the violation of the violation of the violation, and
- so on...
-
- Perhaps we could patent specific hexadecimal numbers... or specific
- machine instructions. This would make it prohibitively expensiev for
- other developers to use critical instructions in their software.
- Imagine not being able to add two integers any more. I wonder if the
- royalty would be based on the number of times such an instruction
- appeared in an application, or the number of times it was actually
- executed."
-
- Russ Wood tells Steve:
-
- "You can only patent positive numbers as the government already has all
- the negative numbers sewn up! ...(g)...I think...."
-
- Dan Richardson asks:
-
- "How does a publicly accessible online service differ from a shareware
- CD, or a book including a bundled disk of freeware? Unisys has decided
- those are liable."
-
- David Holm tells Dan:
-
- "A CD or a book is a product, whereas an online service is a service
- provider."
-
- Dan counters with:
-
- "Both are systems in which you pay for the _delivery_ of information,
- not for the information itself. Unisys has taken the position that the
- fee charged for a CD means the freeware programs on it are not free.
- They are certainly capable of deciding that the fee charged for an
- online service means the freeware programs on it are not free, either."
-
- Terry Wilkinson posts:
-
- "Not to nitpick, but .GIF images on most CD *titles* (as opposed to
- simple image archive and library CD's) are used and viewed by the user.
- This requires an engine to uncompress the images, and hence, a royalty
- to Unisys. It seems to me that is your CD ROM title displayed .GIF
- images you would have to pay a royalty on each and every CD. Am I
- mistaken?"
-
- Glen Chapman tells Terry:
-
- "Not from what I've read based on the Unisys claims. It also seems
- that they want a % of SRP, without any regard to what GIF/LZW
- contributes. In the worst case, if I did a EBOOK and had a single GIF
- image as a splash screen I would be liable for the royality on SRP.
-
- Lot's of groups feel that LZW decoders should be legal without
- royalties, but no legal precedent has been set yet."
-
- Frank Slinkman adds:
-
- "The royalty would not be payable on the "single GIF image as a splash
- screen" but on the program which decodes and displays the GIF file. If
- no such program was on the CD, no royalty would be due."
-
- Larry Wood tells Terry:
-
- "In the senerio you discribe, a CD-publisher should be paying someone
- for the use of a drive-engine type decoder, thus that sum would be
- subject to the royalty, at least, according to my understanding of the
- agreement. For instance, if CSHOW is being used as a drive-engine for
- a CD, the CD-publisher would have (should have) negiotated with Bob
- Berry for the rights to use CSHOW as the drive-engine, making Bob
- liable for 0.8% royalty on any sum he received from the publisher.
- Since Unisys has said to me that royalty is only due once during a
- particular chain of use, I would take that to mean that the 0.8% is the
- only money due Unisys. Note here carefully that this senerio is only
- for shareware authors; I don't know how this would apply to a
- commercial producer who is using a licensed toolbox."
-
- Well folks, it is indeed an interesting subject, and will no doubt get
- more interesting since CompuServe has just announced that they will be
- adding another type of picture format. Stay tuned for more info...
- things are sure to keep on simmering.
-
- Be sure to tune in again next week, same time, same station, and be
- ready to listen to what they are saying when...
-
- PEOPLE ARE TALKING
-
-
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
-
- STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON"
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-
- > A "Quotable Quote" A true "Sign of the Times"
- """"""""""""""""" Of Human Tragedy
-
-
- Mr. NEWT or Ms. Reno, did you know that...
-
- Jacksonville, Florida is STILL TRYING to
- complete DESEGREGATION in its
- SCHOOL SYSTEM!!
-
- Quite an example to set for the children in those schools! They must
- really wonder about the validity of politics and politicians.
- Jacksonville's obvious tardiness is an indelible blemish on the Nation's
- Civil & Equal Rights track record!
-
- Hey PEOPLE!! THIS IS 1995!! YOU'RE LATE!!
- LET'S GET WITH THE PROGRAM!
-
-
-
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- STReport International OnLine Magazine
- -* [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport *-
- AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON OVER 70,000 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- STR OnLine! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" February 17, 1995
- Since 1987 copyright 1995 All Rights Reserved No.1107
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- All Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the provisions of
- The Fair Use Law of The Copyright Laws of the U.S.A. Views, Opinions and
- Editorial Articles presented herein are not necessarily those of the
- editors/staff of STReport International OnLine Magazine. Permission to
- reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints
- must, without exception, include the name of the publication, date, issue
- number and the author's name. STR, CPU, STReport and/or portions therein
- may not be edited, used, duplicated or transmitted in any way without
- prior written permission. STR, CPU, STReport, at the time of publication,
- is believed reasonably accurate. STR, CPU, STReport, are trademarks of
- STReport and STR Publishing Inc. STR, CPU, STReport, its staff and
- contributors are not and cannot be held responsible in any way for the use
- or misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained
- therefrom.
- """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
-