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- =======================================================================
- ////// // // ////// ////// Z*Net Atari Online Magazine
- // / /// // // // ---------------------------
- // /// // // // ////// // MARCH 30, 1990
- // / // /// // // ---------------------------
- ////// // // /////// // Issue #513
- =======================================================================
- (©) 1990 by Rovac Industries, Inc.
- Post Office Box 59
- Middlesex, New Jersey 08846
- Z*Net Online BBS: (201) 968-8148
-
- Publisher-Editor: Ron Kovacs Associate Editor: John Nagy
- Contributing Editor: Alice Amore Distribution: Bruce Hansford
- Writer: Mark Quinn Writer: Jon Clarke
- Writer: Elliott John Coerper Contributor: Keith Whitton
- =======================================================================
- CompuServe 71777,2140 GEnie Z-NET
- =======================================================================
-
- ------------- -------------
- ============= CONTENTS =============
- ------------- -------------
-
- ~ THIS WEEK
- .....................................................Ron Kovacs
- ~ ATARI EXPLORER
- .......................................Ron Kovacs and John Nagy
- ~ HANNOVER REPORT
- Atari at CeBit '90...................................Ron Kovacs
- ~ Z*NET NEWSWIRE
- News update....................................................
- ~ FAR-EAST ATARI POSSIBILITY
- New Atari products coming from Korea!...........Elliott Coerper
- ~ ATARI USERS ASSOCIATION DOWN-UNDER
- AUA Report...........................................Jon Clarke
- ~ ST STACK
- PD Reviews..........................................Alice Amore
- ~ PD/SHAREWARE STOP
- PD Reviews...........................................Mark Quinn
- ~ REVOLUTIONARY CHIP
- New chip coming!..................................Keith Whitton
- ~ PKZIP
- Internet messages................................Bruce Hansford
- ~ MICHTRON UPDATE
- Fast Fax..........................................Press Release
- ~ CANADIAN USERS CONVENTION
- Update............................................Press Release
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- THIS WEEK - by Ron Kovacs
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
- Direct from Korea, Elliott John Coerper writes about new Atari
- developments and products forthcoming from Atari Korea. Please read
- every last word of this article!
-
- Atari Explorer and CeBit are covered this week along with the Z*Net
- Newswire.
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- ATARI EXPLORER
- ***********************************************************************
- by Ron Kovacs and John Nagy
-
-
- Rumors erupted into headlines this week when it was reported that 100%
- of the staff of Atari Explorer Magazine were fired. Insiders say that
- at least one and perhaps more then one editorial highly critical of
- Atari Corporation appeared in what was to be the April issue. Atari
- Explorer is owned by Atari Corporation and was edited by contractors
- Dave Ahal and Betsy Staples in New Jersey.
-
- The few people who have actually read the items call the decision to
- print the extremely hot editorials a "death wish". The issues were
- printed and bound but all copies were snatched up by Atari before
- distribution. Early reports said that the editors had been fired, but
- on Tuesday a recording on the telephone at the Atari Explorer offices
- said that the entire staff had been fired and gave Atari phone numbers
- for more information. The recording alluded to a completed by
- undistributed issue and finished with an ominous request that callers
- not leave a message because the office would be a black hole.
-
- By Thursday March 29 the recording was gone and the following
- announcement appeared from Atari Corporation.
-
-
- "ATARI EXPLORER MAGAZINE TO EXPAND COVERAGE"
-
- "SUNNYVALE, CA - Atari Corporation announced today plans to enhance the
- ATARI EXPLORER magazine. This announcement is made formal following
- necessary actions taken to relocate the operation closer to headquarters
- in Sunnyvale, California."
-
- "We want to make notable changes in the production of Atari Explorer
- magazine to include expanded editorial coverage of additional products
- and enhance the environment for potential advertisers", stated Mr. James
- Fisher, V. P. Marketing and advertising. "The effort to present this
- news effectively and more timely requires the magazine staff to have
- 'instant access' to the technology and information available here."
-
- "Atari plans to complete the current issue which is still in the hands
- of the printer and rush them to subscribers as soon as possible. At the
- time of this release, no changes to publication frequencies and
- subscriber fulfillment were considered and Mr. Fisher stated that
- subscribers and advertisers will always be the biggest priority. If
- necessary, extensions will be made to accommodate subscription
- commitments."
- ~~~~~~
-
- It has been known for quite sometime that Atari intended to pull
- Explorer back to California. It may be that the explorer editors knew
- their time was at an end and chose to go out with a bang.
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- HANNOVER REPORT
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
- ATARI AT CEBIT
-
- The following was written from articles appearing in Newsbytes on both
- CompuServe and GEnie. While verifying the facts presented, we were told
- that some of these things were not true. We have edited some of the
- obvious errors and left the other questionable ones. Please keep in
- mind that references to the TT machines is false along with the May 1990
- release date. We will follow this story and report more when available.
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~
- ~~~~~~~~~ > Atari in Hannover
- ~~~~~~~~~
-
- Atari was not showing new products at this year's CEBIT '90 Show, but
- there were a number of things going on of interest.
-
- According to Newsbytes reports, Atari held a series of press conferences
- at the show announcing a new version Lynx game console and the Stacy
- laptop. Other Atari announcements included the promise of a new range
- of portable machines later this year and three TT 68030 workstations.
- Atari also displayed 5 ROM based cartridges for the Portfolio.
-
- Newsbytes reported that the five packages included: extended DOS
- utilities; financial calculator; scientific calculator; and two games
- packages - Mindgames (including backgammon, draughts and reversi) and
- Portfolio chess. These cartridges will cost $48.00 and should be
- available soon.
-
- Sam Tramiel stated, "Unlike most leading-edge products that
- manufacturers introduce, the Portfolio does not have limited features
- and an outrageous price, users don't have to wait for two years for the
- price to come down before they can justify the cost benefits. The
- technology, capabilities and convenience are here now, at a price they
- can afford." Newsbytes noted that Tramiel stressed that the Portfolio's
- power needs were more convenient than a laptop's, Tramiel noted,
- "There's no comparison between the convenience of carrying three AA
- batteries, as opposed to the cumbersome battery pack used by many
- laptops."
-
- Atari's three 68030 workstations were announced and were said to be
- ready for shipping in May 1990 in the USA. The TT030/2, TT030/X and the
- TTX prices were not discussed. Newsbytes also notes that Atari's new
- TT series will have a choice of user configurations. An entry-level
- configuration of 2MB of RAM plus VME data bus is planned, with optional
- extras such as Ethernet and Unix v5.31 available.
-
- Atari will consolidate its range of portable machines later this year
- but Tramiel did not provide details. Many at the show took this to mean
- that new versions of Portfolio pocket PC, and laptop PCs from the
- company are in the pipeline.
-
- The hand-held Lynx games console will be available in the UK and Europe
- by the end of this March. The machines are in-route from Japan, noted
- the Newsbytes article, and will arrive very shortly. Unlike the early
- versions of the Lynx currently on sale in the US, the 'Lynx Mark II'
- will have a slightly smaller screen and does not feature the left-handed
- control option.
-
- COMMODORE AT CEBIT
-
- Commodore had no new products at the show, Commodore reps were showing
- existing products, including the PC-40, 50 and 60 'III' series, and the
- Amiga 2500/30 system, first shown at Comdex last November.
-
- The rumored appearance of the Amiga A3000 never happened and said to be
- appear at the April 24th Which Computer Show in England. Newsbytes
- reported that Commodore's delay in introducing the A3000 Amiga, due,
- company sources say to software problems, is in marked contrast to the
- introduction of the STe series from Atari last Autumn. The STe series
- had compatibility problems with the original ST series, resulting in
- Atari having to issue a software patch to allow many ST programs to load
- on the STe machine. One Commodore software developer told Newsbytes
- "When the Amiga A3000 does appear, its software will be 100 percent
- stable. They're not going to repeat Atari's experience with the STe
- machine."
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- Z*NET NEWSWIRE
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
- GLENDALE GEARS UP
- Planning for the fourth Southern California Atari Computer Faire V4.0B,
- known nationally as the Glendale Show, is well underway. Organizer John
- King Tarpinian has completed his first dealer information package
- mailing. The show will be held Saturday and Sunday September 15th and
- 16th 1990. The show, held at the Glendale Civic Auditorium in Glendale
- California, will be fully supported by Atari advertising and equipment.
- Glendale is a User Group Show, sponsored by HACKS, Hooked On Atari
- Computer Keyboards Society, a long standing Glendale club. Last year's
- show was cancelled due to schedule conflicts from commercial shows, but
- at this time the road looks clear for September's show. Vendors can
- save $100 a booth by reserving before July 15th. Speakers and seminars
- are being arranged already. If you would like to be part of a seminar
- call John Nagy at 818-989-2559. For more information on the Glendale
- Computer Show contact John King Tarpinian 818-246-7286 or write to
- HACKS, 249 North Brand Blvd #321, Glendale, California, 91203.
-
-
- XEROX SUIT REJECTED
- Five of the six claims in Xerox's $150 million suit against Apple
- Computer have been thrown out by a federal judge this week. Xerox
- alleged in December 1989 that screens in the Mac and in Apple's Lisa
- system were derived Xerox's Star software system of the late 1970s.
- Xerox will appeal Judge Walker's decision.
-
-
- RADIO SHACK SCHOOL SYSTEM
- Radio Shack and school supply maker Jostens Learning have joined forces
- to develop a new "home learning system" for the education market. The
- configuration of this new system will include a Tandy 1000 SL/2 computer
- configured with an internal CD-ROM drive and one 3.5-inch 720K disk
- drive and Jostens Learning's reading and mathematics curriculum for
- grades K-8.
-
-
- TOP 10 SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS
- The following is a listing of the Top 10 software publishers ranked by
- total sales volume, reprinted from Soft*Letter.
- 1. Microsoft Corp., $952 million.
- 2. Lotus Development Corp., $556 million.
- 3. WordPerfect, $281 million.
- 4. Ashton-Tate, $265 million.
- 5. Autodesk, $177 million.
- 6. Adobe Systems, $121 million.
- 7. Logitech, $111 million.
- 8. Software Publishing Corp., $110 million.
- 9. Borland International, $104 million.
- 10. Aldus Corp., $87 million.
-
-
- HAYES RELEASES NEW PRODUCTS
- Hayes announced this week that is has developed communications hardware
- and software for the Apple Macintosh. The new family of Mac products
- will debut during the MacWorld show April 11 to 13 in San Francisco.
- Hayes released the following list of estimated retail prices:
-
- Personal Modem 2400plus and Smartcom software ----- $199.00
- Smartmodem 2400 with Smartcom --------------------- $499.00
- Smartmodem 2400M (hardware only)------------------- $499.00
- Smartmodem 2400M with Smartcom II software -------- $549.00
- V-series Smartmodem 2400M with HayesConnect ------- $699.00
- V-Series Smartmodem 2400M with Smartcom II and
- HayesConnect software $749.00
- V-series Smartmodem 2400 (hardware only) ---------- $649.00
- V-Series Smartmodem 2400 with Smartcom II,
- HayesConnect and Hayes V-series to the Mac cable- $699.00
- V-series Smartmodem 9600 (hardware only) ---------- $999.00
- V-Series Smartmodem 9600 with Smartcom II,
- HayesConnect and Hayes V-series to the Mac cable- $1049.00
- V-series Ultra Smartmodem 9600 (hardware only) ---- $1199.00
- V-Series Ultra Smartmodem 9600 with Smartcom II,
- HayesConnect and Hayes V-series to the Mac cable- $1249.00
- HayesConnect only --------------------------------- $79.00
- InterBridge --------------------------------------- $799.00
-
-
- XEROX LINKS COPIER AND COMPUTER
- Xerox announced a new high-end $30,650 copier with a "remote interactive
- communications" system built in that continuously checks the machine's
- performance against set standards and alerts a central diagnostic
- computer when it notices a potential problem. The Xerox 5065 copier
- produces 62 copies a minute and includes RIC technology as a standard
- feature.
-
-
- SPA HONORS
- The Software Publishers Association announced winners of its annual
- Excellence in Software awards. Winners included SkiSoft Publishing of
- Lexington, Mass., and its Eye Relief Large Type Word Processor won top
- honors in the Best Business Application category, topping WordPerfect
- 5.1 and Microsoft Word for Windows. Sim City, a game published by Maxis
- that allows users to play city manager and build cities, won four
- awards. Lotus Development Corp. won two awards. Lotus Notes took top
- honors for Best New Business Software Product and Magellan won in the
- Best Utility category. Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia, published by
- Britannica Software, took Best School Productivity and Best New Use of a
- Computer. Allan Kay and Steve Jobs received Lifetime Achievement
- awards. Journalism awards went to Keith Ferrel of Compute and Michael
- Miller for best reviewers, Larry Magid of Computer Currents for best
- news reporting and Stewart Alsop of PC Letter for best analyst.
-
- Other winners:
-
- * Best Technical Achievement - Real Sound by Access Software.
- * Best Education Program - The Children's Writing and Publishing Center
- by The Learning Co.
- * Best Business Graphic Application - HP New Wave by Hewlett-Packard.
- * Best Fantasy Role Playing/Adventure Program - Space Quest III: The
- Pirates of Pestulon by Sierra On-Line.
- * Best Strategy Program - Populous by Electronic Arts.
- * Best Early Education Program - The Playroom by Broderbund Software.
- * Best Elementary Education Program - Math Shop Jr. by Scholastic
- Software.
- * Best Numeric or Data Business Application - Quattro Pro, Borland
- International.
- * Best Personal Productivity/Creativity Program - Quicken 3.0 by Intuit.
- * Best Action/Arcade Program - Welltris by Spectrum Holobyte.
- * Best Home Learning Program - Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego by
- Broderbund Software.
- * Best Secondary Education Program - Math Blaster Mystery by Davidson &
- Associates.
- * Best Programming Language or Tool - Think C by Symantec Corp.
- * Best Sports Program - Harball II by Accolade.
- * Best Vertical Market Application - Personnel Policy Expert by
- Knowledgepoint.
- * Best Design Achievement - HP NewWave by Hewlett-Packard.
-
-
- CAHNERS AND ZIFF:
- Cahners Publications and Ziff-Davis Publishing have announced a joint
- venture involving four of the companies' computer publications. The
- four publications include Government Computer News and Digital Review
- from Ziff and Datamation and Systems Integration from Cahners.
-
-
- CENIT '90:
- CENIT ASIA '90 is set for September 25 thru 28 in Hong Kong. CENIT will
- have 10 national/regional pavilions set up to accommodate international
- exhibitors and a number of international conferences and meetings have
- been scheduled to be held. There will be a number of computer
- competition events such as "Computer Go," "Computer Chess," "Electrical
- Mouse Competitions and "Chinese Character Input Olympiad." There will
- also be a Unix pavilion to promote better understanding and wider
- awareness of Unix and special Education Corners on Unix and Networking
- presented by professional organizations like the IEEE (Institute of
- Electrical and Electronic Engineers).
-
-
- AUSTRALIA PUBLISHER MAY BE SUED:
- Telecom an Australian carrier may sue Read Only Memory (ROM), the
- publisher of the "Australia on Disk" CD ROM database, for breach of
- copyright. Australia on Disk is a database that incorporates the Yellow
- and White pages telephone directories in Australia. Telecom is claiming
- ROM infringed copyright in the collection of the information used in the
- first release of the database.
-
-
- VIRUS ON MAGAZINE DISKS:
- Computer viruses have been the topic of discussion by two incidents
- involving many readers of Australian PC magazines. They all received
- computer disks which contained a version of the Stoned or Marijuana
- virus. In unrelated incidents, software disks were sent to Australian
- PC Manager subscribers of specialist journal PC Support Advisor, and new
- subscribers of PC monthly Your Computer. Some of the disks contained
- the virus, or at least its signature. The virus is found in a number of
- forms, and is only dangerous if a machine is booted from the infected
- disk, which is unlikely in these cases. It is readily detected with
- most virus-scanning software, and can be removed with public domain
- programs.
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- THE FAR-EAST ATARI POSSIBILITY
- ***********************************************************************
- by Elliott John Coerper, Osan AFB, Korea
-
-
- One of the advantages while serving overseas is the different places you
- can visit. John Martin (co-owner of Phoenix Computers, Okinawa Japan)
- and I decided to tour Korea together. Instead of going on a tour bus we
- used his car.
-
- While visiting a Rod and Reel factory in Teashion (located 120 miles
- south of Seoul) we noticed a small sign on the side of a very large
- building. It was in Korean, but it ended with "Atari Research".
-
- It was Sunday, so we decided to stay the night and visit them the next
- day. Wearing our best suits we introduced ourselves to the
- receptionist. Either she thought she knew who we were or something was
- lost in the interpretations, because she was impressed with meeting us!
- We received the Royal Treatment Tour that even included a seven course
- meal at the best Hotel in Teashion.
-
- We were told "Honguk Illbong Computer" was the leading Atari research
- and development company in Korea. Furthermore, they were proud to say
- they also were the LARGEST research and development plant in Korea.
- With the devaluation of the dollar against the yen, most American
- companies have been turning to Korea for a hedge against inflation.
-
- Honguk Illbong Computers is based out of a five story, seven acre
- building in the heart of Teashion. It appeared to be no more then two
- years old and is the nicest building in Teashion, next to City Hall,
- that is. Unfortunately, they took my camcorder and John's Nikon as soon
- as we started the tour. Thus, we were off on the tour of our life, with
- nothing to record our historic event. Oh well.....
-
- Most of the building is designed for the manufacture of DRAM and other
- similar chips (I guess this is why I can purchase 1 meg chips for only
- $3.00 on the open market). Although Korea is a dirty country (by
- American standards), the inside was spotless. It's pure white walls,
- ceiling and floors with tons of fluorescent lights really impressed us.
- Everyone, including ourselves had to wear white robes and hair nets.
- They were very "Clean" oriented. They said "Tamala Orders"! Koreans
- always have a hard time saying names like "Tramiel" or "Coerper".
-
- We finally made it into the heart of their research center. They had
- five Mega Fours, five STEs, five TTs and five lap tops (five is a lucky
- number in Korea) running 24 hours a day. Also, they had something that
- might be a replacement for the TT called the TT Plus.
-
- The TT Plus is packaged in a "IBM" box. The Koreans are infatuated with
- this packaging. "We need to have easier upgrades. We need to compete
- with the Amiga and IBM series. We are the better computer!"
-
- Here's what it had inside: TOS 2.0, two 3 1/2 inch drives, one 5 1/4
- inch drive, 26 megs of RAM with the opportunity to upgrade to one
- Gigabyte (just by plugging in the chips!), a 300 meg hard drive and the
- heart of the system is a 68050 chip!
-
- I was awestruck and John was speechless. Could this be an Atari
- Research Center? Wow, they really had their act together. Jack has
- some fantastic plans for Atari!
-
- We figured this was the last of the tour. The only thing left was the
- promised seven course dinner. However, Ms Yi, our tour guide, liked me
- (Korean women, unlike American women, LOVE bald men) and offered to show
- us the Atari JT. Usually you would never have a chance to see this, but
- Dr Kwon isn't working today, she said.
-
- We entered into a clean "vault" two levels below the ground! Ms Yi said
- this room was guaranteed to withstand a nuclear attack! It was the most
- secure room in Korea and cost over three million dollars to build.
-
- The Atari JT is their pride and joy. It is the State of the Art in
- Computer Technology. Ms Yi explained that the Atari JT was the most
- innovated and unique computer in the World. It was designed by Dr. Kwon
- Ki Hwon who is a recent Honor Graduate of MIT (Dr. Kwon is the Korean
- version of Steven Jobs and Bill Gates all rolled into one.)
-
- Most computers are designed utilizing electricity and wires whereas the
- JT is designed with fiber optics and light impulses. Instead of the
- standard 680XX chip the JT is designed around Mr Kwon's "Meguk Cugee
- Mal" chip technology. This chip is not 8, 16 or even 32 bits, but a
- whopping 128 bits with a 128 bit matrix bus!
-
- The Atari JT gives you 12,500 X 8,500 resolution from a 24" Sing Song
- Sue Multisync 12D color monitor. By pressing an added F-13 key you can
- display 136 characters on screen. Have you heard of a tailless mouse?
- The JT not only had a tailless mouse but also a cordless printer!
- That's correct, you could place your printer anywhere within 20' and it
- would work, perfectly!
-
- By utilizing the 128 bit Meguk Cugee Mal chip and the 128 bit Matrix
- Bus, combined with fiber optics, the Atari JT actually works in Reverse
- Time. This is due to the "Cugee" part of Dr. Kwon's chip. (You know
- what the Cugee is, it's the blue particles you see during Nuclear
- fusion, or that's what they told us.) Anyway, Reverse Time enables your
- Atari to out speed any computer on the market, including the NExt
- Computer.
-
- However, there were a few problems.... First, you must have at least 30
- megs of RAM combined with at a Gigabyte of storage capabilities (they
- had 55 megs of RAM and 20 Gigabyte of storage). I know what your
- saying, Atari JT uses UNIX, but this isn't true. UNIX uses pipes and
- carries and is far to slow. TOS 2.0 is Multitasking and will be the
- Environment of the 90s.
-
- Because Korea is a metric country, they're having problems with the
- Gigabyte conversions. Plus, since Korea uses the Lunar Calendar there
- are problems with the built in calendar, they set it up by the Lunar
- Calendar. And finally, Dr Kwon designed this computer to work with only
- Master software. If you try to use a Pirated Copy, the computer
- automatically formats your hard drive. The problem is that it doesn't
- always know the difference between a Master and a Pirate. (We rubbed a
- little Kimchi on ours and everything was recognized as a Master.)
- However, Dr. Kwon guaranteed that these small problems will be rectified
- within a month....or so.
-
- But more about Reverse Time....
-
- Reverse Time is exclusively an Atari Original. The best way to describe
- it is prior to double clicking on your icon the computer is already
- loading the program! Even better, prior to asking the program to do a
- sort, it's done! Nothing can compares to this, anywhere! The unique
- thing with Reverse Time, is if someone tried to steal the concept and
- slow down the assembly lines, the JT would be delivered two to three
- months early!
-
- The only problem with our visit, it was in a dream. April Fools >from
- Korea!
-
-
-
-
- *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
- ATARI USERS ASSOCIATION DOWN-UNDER
- *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
- by Jon Clarke
-
-
- This week I would like to take a few minutes to explain what the AUA is
- doing outside the USA. As most of you will by now know, there is a
- world wide user group called "The Atari Users' Association" based in the
- USA. As the name says it is a world-wide user group with members from
- Europe, Canada, Australia, America to all the way down-under in New
- Zealand and points in-between. We all have the one aim to unite the
- Atari community from Dealers to Users to Developers to User groups.
-
- Over the last four months we have been sending information to User
- Groups here in New Zealand, Australia and Europe and we have had a
- tremendous response from them and their users. What does this mean to
- readers of Z*Net? Well, as alot of you are aware, there is a big lack
- of global information about Atari products and news apart from what you
- read here in Z*Net and some of the scarce magazines you read. For those
- of us down here, we are 'in-between-two-worlds' so to speak. On one
- hand we hear all the news and views from America and on the other, we
- have direct access into Europe, mostly via the United Kingdom (England)
- with all their magazines and software on the shelves of most Atari
- related shops. With this in mind we are spreading the word of the AUA
- to all points of the globe and via the AUA newsletter, are starting to
- spread some of these tit-bits world wide.
-
- With the help of on-line systems we have been able to spread the news on
- a regular basis. Derek Signorini, the 'Director' of the AUA based in
- the USA has started 'AUA' threads on Fido-net and F-Net, which are now
- modeming their way around the world. We have started Fido-mail threads
- going on the 'Fido-mail' "UK,AUS,NZ and Communication" threads which
- have already been around the world and from the last message I received
- back, even been to Africa. Did you know the Atari ST and 8 bit were
- alive and well in Israel, South Africa, and even Zimbabwe. In fact,
- there is a Forem BBS in Israel on Fido-net, so look for the messages
- from that zone if you have not already seen them. These systems have
- been of great help and we have started a weekly RTC on GEnie. The first
- one was last Saturday at 9:00pm EST, and we had three countries
- represented. For those of you who would like to know more about the
- 'Atari Users Association' feel free to pop into this weeks RTC on GEnie
- and have a look at what is going on.
-
- =======================================================================
- (C)1990 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May be
- reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie
- are official information services of Atari Corporation Inc.
- =======================================================================
-
- =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
- This is an edited re-print of The Atari Users Association RTC held each
- Saturday evening at 9:00 pm EST, on the Atari RTC on the GEnie Network.
- =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- Ok can we get under way Please ..........
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- Go ahead jon...
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- Ok news from the Atari Users Association Down-Under first then news from
- the Atari Users Association in the USA from Derek
-
- 1/ Australian User groups join..
- ACE in New South Wales..
- AACE in South Australia
- WAUG in Hamilton New Zealand
- WAUG in Wanganui NZ
- WACE in Wellington NZ
- MAUG in Palmerston North NZ.
-
- Also Atari-NZ are now open to all user groups for monthly meetings and
- discussion groups..
-
- 2/ FIDO-MAIL : an international thread from NZ has started.
- responses from Australia, UK and South Africa
- have come to light.
-
- That is it for a mo... Dereks turn then I will continue.. GO DC.
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- FNET conference has been established for the AUA and I have also begun
- petitioning for a designated FIDO base...
-
- Overall, response has been heavy in the last 2 weeks. More and more
- people are beginning to comprehend what the AUA is about... While I have
- not approached the user groups as strongly as Jon , I have established
- a link with several bbs's throughout the country and have distributed
- the AUA material to those BBS's...
-
- We are going to begin work on a Video for the AUA that will be
- distributed free of charge to user groups to show at their meetings...
- the more we can help the user groups, the more they will help us.
-
- I will also be sending complimentary issues to all user groups that we
- have listings for, and will also include Developers...
-
- Our press release is almost complete, and that too will be distributed.
-
- The AUA BBS list is 500 numbers long and growing...
-
- I am maintaining that on SuperBase Professional as well as the Club
- database!!! I am glad Precision Software published that database for
- the ST!!!
-
- That is all for now...anyone have any questions??
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- Do groups join _as_groups_, or should the individuals join?
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- Groups as a whole...right now, we have made provisions for individual
- membership, however.....
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- Would a group voting to join need to fill out 40 forms, one for each
- member then?
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- A strong plan for membership of entire user groups is being developed
- now... What we would like to see, Dot, is have the user group join
- first... Then...
-
- <[Scott] S.FITZGERAL2>
- You will please send information to our group at the address I gave
- before?
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- We are probably going to offer the user group members individual
- benefits, i.e. User groups can prosper from the AUA as well as
- individual members and also those not in a user group...
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- Also, does your newsletter accept ads?
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- Right now, Dot, we are offering FREE advertising but you have to supply
- the material ie...a stuffer. We will cover the postage.
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- I see, not space in the newsletter itself. That could really run up
- your postage costs if people took advantage of it.
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- Dot here in NZ and outside the USA we supply a monthly disk you can
- advertise in here for FREE if you like..
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- Oh, I do like that!
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- it goes to AUA Member USER groups only ..
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- Also, Dot, the Electronic Chronicles Disk Magazine offers advertising
- as well...it too is a disk based news-letter.
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- I assume they duplicate it for members...How come we don't do that in
- the US monthly?
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- ** For many reasons if I may explain.. **
-
- 1/ Here in the Pacific we do not have access to On-line services, as
- most of you are aware, so the DISK has Z-Net and PDQ on-line mags on
- them, along with any news of the AUA. This is sent to all the member
- User groups of the Atari Users Association, so they can use it in their
- newsletters and on their BBS. They pay for postage and send me a blank
- disk.
-
- 2/ In the USA you have open access to GEnie and can get them from you
- local user group so it is of no purpose. Does this cover it for you?
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- Dot...if I may clarify those members who contribute $15.00 to the AUA
- receive the Electronic Chronicles Disk Magazine 6 times a year. It is
- similar to what Jon is speaking of, however...it has original work and
- has been published for 5 years now and has a circulation of 300 now...
- (mostly original work...) It also contains PD software etc...
- advertising, etc...and is very........
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- I'm going to post the info on our group bbs and bring it up at the next
- meeting.
-
- <[Derek @ AUA] DC.SIGNORINI>
- informative as well. Ok, by all means please do that....I will make
- sure that you get all updated material here on Genie...in EMAIL.
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- Any more questions about the Atari Users Association?
-
- <D.A.BRUMLEVE>
- Are you working on EVERYTHING outside North America, Jon?
-
- <[Jon @ A.U.A] J.CLARKE6>
- Yes I am, I look after the real world <grin>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- For more information on the Atari Users Association Please contact:-
-
- Jon Clarke,
- Atari Users Association, <outside USA, world-wide>
- International Public Relations (chap) Director.
- GEnie Email : J.Clarke6
- Fido-mail : any node in sector /220, Jon Clarke
-
- Derek Signorini
- Atari Users Association, <USA,world-wide>
- Executive (chap) Director.
- GEnie Mail : DC.Signorini
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- ST STack - by Alice Amore
- ***********************************************************************
- (Editors Note: The following files are currently available from GEnie
- in the Atari ST RT. Some are also available on the Z*Net Online BBS.)
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- DCD_DEMO.ARC From: Double Click Software *DEMO*
- DCD_INF.ARC
- DCSHW11.ARC
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The three files listed above come to us via Double Click Software. The
- first, DCD_DEMO, is a demo of DC DESKTOP, which is Double Click's new
- baby. The second, DCD_INF, is a DESKTOP.INF file mistakenly omitted
- from the first file. Although you can use any DESKTOP.INF file, it is
- suggested that you use this one. The third file, DCSHW11, can be run as
- a module within DC DESKTOP. But it can also be used all by itself, and
- can run nicely from your AUTO folder. DCSHW11 is freeware.
-
- DC DESKTOP, which will make its formal debut at the World of Atari Show
- in Anaheim on April 7/8, is a desktop enhancement program with many
- features. This file is the demo version of DC DESKTOP. Use a floppy
- for the quickest and easiest set-up.
-
- Remember that DC DESKTOP is not a desktop replacement. It is a desktop
- enhancement program. If you are already familiar with the standard GEM
- desktop, you will adapt easily to DC DESKTOP.
-
- Among DC DESKTOP's many features are the following:
-
- * Unique icons for all files and drives (NeoDesk icons are importable).
- * Installs programs and files for execution directly from the desktop.
- * Executes desktop icons (programs) with a keystroke.
- * A unique 'CABINET' allows you to store all your programs in one
- location so you don't have to wade through disks and folders. Acts
- just like a disk drive. Also, load/save cabinets with a keypress.
- * A printer queue that acts like a RAMdisk. Drag files to it, SHOW
- INFO, etc. Also buffers screen dumps and normal printing.
- * A trashcan lets you 'undelete' files.
- * Can replace the GEM desktop with a picture or a pattern.
- * Keystroke equivalents for all GEM desktop menu commands.
- * Change the desktop layout (load a DESKTOP.IN? file) with the press
- of a key.
- * Replaces the GEM desktop 'SHOW' text file routine. No need to
- 'Install Application'. Just click on 'SHOW.'
- * View pictures from the desktop 'SHOW' routine.
- * Extract and list ARC files from the desktop 'SHOW' routine.
- * Modular design allows you to conserve precious system memory. Save
- memory by installing only those features you need.
- * Completely configurable.
- * Everything remains RAM-resident for FAST execution.
- * Much, much more.
-
- While in the DC DESKTOP environment, function keys can be used.
- Summoning up the file selector, calling the Icon Installer, or emptying
- the trash is as easy as hitting one function key.
-
- DC ICE is a complete icon designer and editor, incorporating many "paint
- program"-type features.
-
- DC DESK DROP allows using a pattern or a picture file as a backdrop on
- the desktop.
-
- DC SHOW ARC makes easy work of handling ARChives. Defaults can be
- saved.
-
- DCSPOOLER assumes the characteristics of a disk drive. Files can be
- dragged to it and spooled for printout.
-
- The CABINET is a special "disk drive" which houses your most-used
- programs. Simply drag the .PRG files from your favorite programs (only
- the program files themselves are needed) into the CABINET. You no
- longer need to slosh through folder after folder to find what you're
- looking for. Your CABINETs can be saved and reloaded on bootup.
-
- DCSHW11.ARC (DC SHOWIT) is a freeware replacement for the 'SHOW' feature
- on the GEM desktop. It works with DC DESKTOP, but will run equally well
- by itself on the standard GEM desktop. It does not require you to use
- the 'Install Application' feature, and it can be run from your AUTO
- folder.
-
- DC SHOWIT mimics the 'SHOW' feature, but gives you much more. It can
- not only handle ASCII, but can also show .NEO and .PI? pictures (just
- click on the picture file name). Hitting the HELP key will give you
- access to many additional functions including paging through the file
- (by page, half-page, or line, either forwards or backwards), sending a
- page to the printer, searching for strings, and more.
-
- My favorite feature of DC SHOWIT is that it lets me retain all but one
- line of my screen display.
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- DCOPY34.ARC Programmer: Ralph Walden Fixes/Upgrades: L. Novak
- (The above file includes DCOPY SHELL,
- which is *shareware* from Keith Gerdes.)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- DCOPY 3.4 now supports extracting ARC files created with ARC 6.02.
- (ARC 6.02 will deARC files into their original folders.)
-
- DCOPY SHELL is a menu shell for DCOPY. Using less than 10K of code,
- SHELL provides a GEM interface supporting all of DCOPY's features, while
- allowing access to desk accessories, mouse use, etc.
-
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- LB_FONT1.ARC LB_FONT2.ARC LB_FONT3.ARC
- From: Gregg Anderson
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Gregg Anderson has taken the time to amass a trio of files containing
- over 20 PD/shareware fonts for the LaserBrain Epson emulator for Atari's
- SLM804 printer. Most, but not all, of these fonts are from Sol Guber.
- Some of the included fonts are: 42nd St., Apple, Boise, Candy, Celtic,
- Dahli, Eire, Gavarilli, Oblique, Old English, Pioneer, Pittsburg, San
- Francisco, Silic, Stencil, Stilleto, Swansong, Camelot, Calligraphy,
- Bahaus, and several day-to-day fonts. All fonts are "mono-spaced"
- rather than proportional.
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- GEMVELOP.ARC Programmer: Roger Richards *SHAREWARE*
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- "GEMvelope" will print envelopes "the long way". You can feed your
- envelope into your dot matrix, SLM804, or other printer with the short
- end at the top. "GEMvelope" rotates the font 90 degrees. Printing
- looks really good. To use this program, you must have GDOS or G+PLUS,
- the necessary fonts (Swiss, Dutch, and Typewriter fonts in 12 point
- size), and a printer driver.
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- GRW_QUIZ.ARC From: Greg R. Whalen Software *SHAREWARE*
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- To generate standard multiple-choice quizzes in the blink of an eye,
- you'll want to look into GRW_QUIZ. A very easy interface lets you enter
- a question, then an answer. At least 10 questions and answers must be
- entered. When the time comes to take the quiz, the choice of answers
- are culled from ALL answers in that specific quiz. Without a doubt, the
- answers to the questions must be of the nit-picking sort or they'd be
- annoyingly obvious. So don't use this program for a trivia quiz. But
- if you are looking for an easy way to whip up a math drill, spelling
- test, or the like, this program is the right choice.
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- HOTSWICH.ARC From: CodeHead Software
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Here is a tool for use with HotWire. "Hot Switch" will let you boot
- with a different DESKTOP.INF file and a different HOTWIRE0.HOT file with
- a simple keypress. Also, "Hot Switch" will ease problems caused by
- accessories which intercept vectors.
-
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- PATCH205.ARC From: GRIBNIF
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- This patch program will fix up a few small problems in NeoDesk 2.05.
- (If your version doesn't need these fixes, there is still no harm in
- running the patch program.) Once the patch has been run, you will be
- able to run NeoDesk accessories within MultiDesk.
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- PD/SHAREWARE STop - by Mark Quinn
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- File name: SMARTDAT Author: David Becker
- Program name: SmartDate File type: Utility
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- This program is for those of us without hardware system clocks.
- SmartDate, when run from the AUTO folder, will set the date, or date and
- time. These two modes can be accessed by hitting the ALTERNATE or the
- CONTROL key at boot-up. After an entry is made, the settings are saved
- to the root directory. Date and time are entered in DDMMYY and HHMMSS
- format, respectively. Hit ESCAPE to abort an entry.
-
- I tried to enter ten hundred hours as "10" when entering the time, and
- the program didn't accept it as a valid input. Am I crazy? (Probably,
- but that is another story.) Other than this bugaboo, I had no trouble
- with the program.
-
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- File name: BLOBBRUN.ARC Author: Mark and Ryan Slemko
- Program name: BLOBB RUN File type: Game
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Darn. It seems that astronauts working at a "radioactive furnace" have
- fallen into it and mutated into "Blobbs". These guys are unfriendly
- cusses. Armed only with a device to transport attacking Blobbs (Where
- is Steve McQueen when you need him? In that great editing room in the
- sky?) to remote areas of "moon number six", one must gather enough
- "Uranium crystals" to destroy the furnace and save the universe.
-
- What else could this be but another clone of Lode Runner (hmmm...)? But
- Blobb Run isn't just another garden variety LR clone, it adds some
- twists and has a nice look to it.
-
- The game can be played via mouse or keyboard, and I spent a frustrating
- hour or so trying to get my mouse to cooperate. I then switched to the
- keyboard and quickly became addicted.
-
- There are eighty buttons on the "Teleport Menu" on the game's main
- screen. Depressing one of these buttons 'teleports' the player to a
- specific screen. The button remains depressed when the screen is
- completed. Thus, eighty screens must be completed before the Blobbs can
- be Blown to smithereens.
-
- Blobb Run must be Run from a floppy, and apparently does not get along
- with TOS 1.4 (it worked pretty well with my old version of TOS).
-
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- "Quinn's Quickies"
-
- ADDLABL2.ARC
- Address label program. Written in compiled GFA BASIC 3.07. Allows you
- to "Print single labels from the keyboard, print a series of labels
- from a file, create a file of labels and save the file for future
- printing, append a label to a previously created file, edit one or more
- labels within a file of labels, delete a label from a file, review the
- labels in a file without changing the contents of any of the labels."
- It's not exactly an award winner, but it works.
-
- CO_PILOT.ARC
- Resides in the AUTO folder, displays messages and rings bell at
- boot-up. Reminds you to do all those things you always forget to do.
-
- BKUPMSG.ARC
- To be used with CO_PILOT.ARC. Tells you when your last hard drive
- backup was done.
-
- BOOTMKER.LZH
- Allows any GEM program to be auto-booted.
-
- DISKLAB2.ARC
- By the same author as ADDLABL2.ARC. Prints 3.5" disk labels.
-
- MINIGOLF.ARC
- Monochrome ONLY. Simple 2-D GFA BASIC golf game from Germany. This
- one plays a little like pool.
-
- REORGHD2.ARC
- Demo. Reorganize your hard disk partition. Use with caution.
-
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- REVOLUTIONARY CHIP
- ***********************************************************************
- by Keith Whitton
-
-
- Revolutionary Chip Will Put a Laser Printer On Every Desk!
-
-
- Texas Instruments has been quietly working on a chip that would make it
- economically feasible to have a laser printer on every desk (by
- immediately reducing the cost of the required optics from the current
- price of $300 down $40!), make possible low cost HDTV displays (work on
- a six foot model is currently underway), and even provide vision
- capabilities to computer controlled docking spacecraft.
-
- These chips are light-reflecting ICs, and their formal name is
- "deformable mirror devices" or, "DMD" for short. These mirrored chips
- are constructed with conventional semiconductor construction techniques
- which produce aluminum plates accurately suspended over electrodes. To
- move the mirror, a small voltage is applied to the appropriate
- electrode.
-
- The currently available 256k DMDs don't store data like dynamic rams,
- but rather positions its 12 micron wide aluminum mirrors to represent
- values of data. This chips ability to reposition light in this manner
- will allow it to flash pixels, adjust lightwave phases or switch optical
- fiber data links. With the research AT&T is doing towards the
- production of "a microprocessor run on light rather than electrons",
- which was shown earlier this week, the DMD is assured of a "bright"
- future.
-
- Three types of 256k DMDs have been produced, all different in the way
- they move their mirrors internally (twist, tilt, or move straight up and
- down). Each will have their own area that they will be most appropriate
- for application. Texas Instruments is currently shipping it's first
- shipment to potential customers for use in electrostatic printers. A
- DMD "Laser printer" would be one in name only, as the laser diode would
- be replaced by an ordinary light bulb, two plastic collimators would
- take the place of the currently used and very complex laser collimator
- assembly, and a 3k DMD could easily take the place of a polygon scanner
- with its 8 inch mirror.
-
- In addition a printer based on DMDs could produce gray scale pictures of
- such quality that lasers couldn't possibly compete. Imagine the
- immediate impact on the DTP community!
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- PKZIP 1.10 AND DATA ENCRYPTION
- ***********************************************************************
- Compiled by Bruce Hansford
- Edited by Ron Kovacs
-
-
- The following messages forward through Internet discuss PKZIP.
-
- -------------------------- (original message follows)
-
- Well folks, we have a new development - it seems the latest PKWare
- ZIP/UNZIP version 1.10 cannot be distributed on the international
- networks (Internet, Usenet, BITNET, EARN, etc), because it contains
- data encryption technology. Federal law prohibits the export of such
- technology from the USA and Canada.
-
- PKWare does have an export version without the data encryption but that
- disables one of the features that we badly need in software distribution
- - data file validation. See the docs in PKZ110.EXE for details. You'll
- have to get the file from your favorite BBS.
-
- By the way, you might tell your BBS Sysop that he or she may be in
- trouble if the BBS has callers from countries other than the USA and
- Canada and they download PKZ110.EXE. The same goes for CompuServe and
- GEnie.
-
- It's interesting to note that if the Japanese add DES encrytion to their
- LHarc program we could IMPORT it from Japan but we could not EXPORT it
- from the USA or Canada. --Keith
-
- > From: bkirby@cs.umr.edu (Bill Kirby)
- > To: w8sdz@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil
- > Re: PKZIP version 1.10
- >
- > I just finished reading your post to comp.sys.ibm.pc and I am a bit
- > confused. Doesn't v1.02 (as well as PKPAK v3.61) contain data
- > encryption technology? These programs are readily available on the
- > net. Has there been some major revision to the encryption technology
- > between v1.02 and v1.10? I have been trying to download v1.10 from
- > PKWARE BBS and had planned on making it available via anonymous FTP.
- > However, the BBS has been EXTREMELY busy these past few days and I
- > have yet to obtain it.
-
- Bill, it is true that PKWare's PKPAK, SEA's ARC, and NoGate's PAK all
- contain encryption technology. It may become necessary for SIMTEL20
- and other Internet hosts in USA and Canada to delete these programs
- from public download areas. Taken to the extreme, all BBS operators in
- USA and Canada may be inviting legal trouble by offering ANY program
- which encrypts or decrypts data if there is any chance that someone from
- another country might call and download the file.
-
- This is a real can of worms which I intend to let others resolve. It
- may take some federal legislation to resolve this.
-
- I will do whatever I am instructed to do by the management of SIMTEL20.
- For the present time this means that PKZ110.EXE will not be available
- here and the other archivers may suddenly disappear from our
- directories. Drastic changes may be required in the PC-Blue directories
- as well.
-
- We may be forced to go to LHarc because it does not have file
- encryption/decryption.
-
- Keith Petersen
- Maintainer of SIMTEL20's MSDOS, MISC & CP/M archives
- [IP address 26.2.0.74] Internet: w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil,
- w8sdz@brl.mil BITNET: w8sdz@NDSUVM1 Uucp: {ames,decwrl,harvard,rutgers,
- ucbvax,uunet}!wsmr-simtel20.army.mil!w8sdz
-
-
- > From: Rich Wales <wales@CS.UCLA.EDU>
- > Has anyone brought this issue to Phil Katz's attention yet? If so,
- what was his reaction?
-
- I have forwarded our discussions on this issue to Phil but I have not
- received any reaction from him.
-
- Sounds to me like if Phil knew SIMTEL20 management might ban PKZIP over
- the encryption issue, he just might be convinced to come out with a new
- version with the encryption removed.
-
- There is an "export" version of PKZIP/UNZIP v1.10, but I believe it only
- has the file security wrap feature removed.
-
- It seems to me that the answer to this problem is for PKWare, SEA, and
- NoGate to offer their public releases without any sort of encryption. By
- registering for the program, the users could then receive the version
- with the encryption features, but only if they were located in the USA
- or Canada.
-
- Slightly off the subject comment: Consider the problems that FidoNet is
- now facing with their "SDN" distribution, all of which is encrypted by
- NoGate's PAK. --Keith
-
- > From: Larry Jones <sdrc!scjones@uunet.UU.NET>
- > To: w8sdz@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil
-
- Is the export restriction on ANY kind of encryption? As far as I know,
- the restriction is only on DES technology. ARC up to v5.21 (the last
- version I have source for) does it's encryption by simply XORing the key
- with the data -- hardly sophisticated enough for anyone to worry about.
- I presume PKPAK does the same thing.
-
- Several years ago this same type of discussion was all over the
- Internet. It is a specific export control law which does not
- distinguish between a specific cryptographic algorithm. Thus it appears
- to apply to *any* program that encrypts data.
-
- This discussion is not meant to single out PKZIP/PKUNZIP. As I
- mentioned in my previous posting, SEA's ARC and NoGate's PAK archivers
- also encrypt data.
- --
- Keith Petersen
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- MICHTRON UPDATE - PRESS RELEASE
- ***********************************************************************
-
- Fast FAX
-
- For the Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, and IBM PC's and compatibles.
-
- There are many things to consider when purchasing a fax machine or a fax
- modem. You can purchase a fax machine for $600 that will take one page
- of paper at a time and send it to one location while you stand beside it
- and dial the phone.
-
- You can purchase a more expensive fax machine for around $1000 that can
- handle more then one page and even send a fax after you have left for
- the day. (But it will probably take you about 10 minutes to program it
- to send that fax).
-
- You can buy a really nice fax machine for $2000 that will send more then
- one fax. However these machines are even more difficult to program.
- Even worse, if you get an error while sending the first fax in the
- series, that's all for the night.
-
- Fast FAX is more efficient at scheduling and transmitting fax's then
- any self-contained fax machine at any price!
-
- The software is exceptional!
-
- With just a few clicks of the mouse you can send one fax to hundreds of
- people!
-
- With another click or two you can schedule transmissions to occur
- around the globe during non-peak hours and enjoy reduced telephone
- rates. (Normally, you'll be able to save about 50% on these calls.)
-
- These features save you time and money. Fast FAX will actually pay for
- itself in only a few short months.
-
- Quality is another prime consideration when purchasing a Fax machine.
-
- The normal process for sending a fax is to prepare your document, print
- it out using your printer, then take it to a fax machine which scans the
- page and sends it. The receiving machine then prints it out.
-
- However, problems arise if the original document was not perfectly
- straight when it was scanned.
-
- The receiving machine is going to print it out just a tiny bit crooked.
- This may not seem important, but the page is scanned in a series of
- dots. These dots will not line up in a straight line and this will
- cause the letters printed by the receiving fax to be jagged and hard to
- read.
-
- Fast FAX simultaneously converts and transmits Graphics, Letterheads and
- signatures along with text directly from your disk using its own 8 MHz
- 68000 microprocessor and 32K of built in memory giving you outstanding
- transmissions every time!
-
- Advantages in receiving with Fast FAX.
-
- When Fast FAX receives a fax it is saved as a disk file. This file can
- be displayed and read on your screen, or printed on most popular
- printers. You can also save the fax in graphics format and load it into
- the more popular graphics programs.
-
- If someone faxes you a graphic you can save many steps and improve
- quality greatly. A normal graphic is scanned in, printed at the
- receiving end, scanned into the computer and by then needs extensive
- touchup.
-
- Fast FAX lets you load the original scanned image directly into a
- graphics program.
-
- Fast FAX:
-
- o Saves your money by scheduling non-peak hour transmissions.
- o Saves more money by using ordinary paper.
- o Saves your valuable time by sending multiple faxes to multiple
- locations.
- o Has better quality than normal fax machines due to its onboard 68000
- processor and built-in RAM and ROM.
- o Has outstanding software making it easy to use.
- o Communicates with G3 fax devices at 9600 baud.
- o Provides document storage and forwarding capability.
- o Allows automatic scheduling of operations.
- o Automatically provides a transcript of each operation.
- o Has User-definable fax headers.
- o Works with most widely used dot matrix and laser printers.
- o Permits you to view fax documents on your computers screen.
- o Saves Graphic images as .IMG files on the Atari and IBM PC.
- o Saves Amiga graphics as .IFF files.
-
- For more information and to place your order, call MichTron at (313)
- 377-8898.
-
-
-
-
- ***********************************************************************
- 1990 CANADIAN ATARI USERS CONVENTION - UPDATE
- ***********************************************************************
-
-
- The Toronto Atari Federation presents:
-
- THE 1990 CANADIAN ATARI USERS CONVENTION
- SUNDAY APRIL 1st, 1990
- 10AM - 6PM
-
- The AIRPORT HILTON INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
- 5875 AIRPORT ROAD
- TORONTO, ONTARIO
-
- * * * Check us Out * * *
-
-
- Over 30 Atari Dealers AND Developers including a major display by Atari
- (Canada) Corp.
-
- User Groups from Across North America
-
- Hourly Draws for GREAT Door prizes: including hardware, software, 8 XEGS
- computers, TAF Memberships
-
- GRAND PRIZE at the end of the day of Atari Mega 2 computer, SM124
- Monochrome Monitor, SLM804 LASER printer, Calamus Desktop Publishing
- Software from ISD, Calamus Vector Font Editor, and Calamus Outline.
- Valued at over $5000.00
-
- ST and 8 bit Experts on hand to answer your every question
-
- Products and Software for Everyone...from the Expert to the Novice,
- Musicians to Gamers
-
- Displays on everything from Desktop Publishing to Children's Educational
- products.
-
- Seminar Schedule: (Print and Take to Show With You!)
- =================
-
- Time Room Description
- ==============================================
- 12:00 AB Meet Atari Canada
- 1:00 A STOS - game creation on the ST
- B Hyperlink. A hypertext product by JMG
- 1:30 A Quick ST II by Branch Always Software
- B Stalker, the new look in terminal programs
- 2:00 A Pushing the Atari 8bit to the limit
- B Water Fountain Software: Videotext/Desktop Video
- 2:30 A NeoDesk - the desktop alternative
- B Atari ST Basics, Tips & Tricks
- 3:00 A NeoDesk (continued)
- B ST Basics, Tips & Tricks
- 3:30 A Intrinsic Software - Dave Lewis
- B The XEGS vs Nintendo !!!
- 4:00 A ST MIDI demonstration by Saved by Technology
- B Turbo 816 for the Atari 8bit computer
- 4:30 A PC emulation on the ST
-
- For More information, call:
- TAF InfoLine - (416) 425-5357
- TAF Online BBS - (416) 235-0318
-
- To Book your Hotel room, call the Aiport Hilton
- directly at (416) 677-9900.
-
- * * * * * The Atari Event of the Year * * * * *
-
-
- =======================================================================
- =======================================================================
- Z*Net Online Magazine is a weekly released publication covering the
- Atari community. Opinions and commentary presented are those of the
- individual authors and do not reflect those of Rovac Industries. Z*NET
- and Z*NET ONLINE are copyright 1990 by Rovac Industries. Reprint
- permission is granted as long as Z*NET ONLINE, Issue Number and author
- is included at the top of the article. Reprinted articles are not to be
- edited without permission.
- =======================================================================
- =======================================================================
- ZNET ONLINE Atari News and Reviews FIRST!
- Copyright (c)1990 Rovac Industries, Inc..
- =======================================================================
-
-
-