home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Acorn User 10
/
AU_CD10.iso
/
Archived
/
Websites
/
ANS
/
ans.arc
/
archive
/
i05_text
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
2000-06-01
|
26KB
|
806 lines
|-------------------------- Acorn News Service --------------------------|
| |
| http://www.acornusers.org/ans/ |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| The Acorn News Service is an independent service. |
| It is in no way connected with, or supported by the Acorn Group Plc. |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ISSUE 5 19 APRIL 1998 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Editor: E.Abrahams ------ eytan@acornusers.org |
| Webmaster: R.Hesketh ------ richard@acornusers.org |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| To send in your news items please use the ANS website, or e-mail. |
| Send comments directly to ans@acornusers.org |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| GOT AN ACORN-RELATED WEBSITE? THEN JOIN US ON THE ACORN WEBRING! |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Contents
--------
1) Editorial
2) General News
3) Commercial News
4) PD/Shareware News
5) Club News
6) How to Send in News
7) Free Ads
Editorial
---------
Hi, and welcome to another issue of ANS.
Many people did not receive issue 4 of ANS. My ISP has recently changed mail
server, and when I send out ANS in bulk, it rejects nearly every one. So when
I sent out issue 4, I had a very, very full mail box of rejects half an hour
later. This problem is being looked into, with the possibility of ANS being
allowed to use my ISPs list server. Thanks to Richard for sending out this
issue. The next issue should be coming to you through a list server.
Richard is working hard on the website after a short break. Thanks to Richard
for making a great team.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the Wakefield show. I have decided
that I must go!
Some exciting news this month... mergers, competitions etc... Our site is
really getting good isn't it! ;-)
Anyway, enjoy this issue, and remember to keep sending in those news items!
Eytan Abrahams,
Editor.
General News
------------
1) TURTLESoFT BBS
TURTLESoFT BBS is now online 24 hours a day. Just dial (01666) 822104 with
your terminal program, with data format set to 8N1, let it ring twice, and
call back within 60 seconds for a carrier.
2) The Acorn Emulation Page
The page has once again been updated (9/4/1998), with:
* Preview information about xNES and the forthcoming PC Engine emulator
* Online manuals for 6502em and Z80em
* Down in the dumps :o(
* New BBC technical documents page
* An attempt at a new NES homebrew ROM
* Lazarus the massive Amiga software archive is back
* Latest news about the Megadrive emulator
* A Java implementation of a TRS80 BASIC interpreter
* April 1998 Acorn User mention the Emulation Page
* Two new versions of the Babe emulator released
* News about the forthcoming free 100% ARM code 6502 core
* In development: How to write an emulator for your Acorn
* SNES9x on the way
* News of the next version of Miracle, the Sega Master System emulator
* New version and web page for V2600 the Atari 2600 emulator
* New location for the PC card compatibility page
* Proof of the true identity of Sonic the Hedgehog (!)
All that and more at:
http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/emulation/
3) Convergence International
Convergence International, the leading user group for users of non-Wintel
computers, are compiling a complete database of third-party products for
Acorn computers as part of their CIhoo non-Wintel search engine and their
Acorn platform support area.
They intend to make the online database the most up-to-date and complete
reference for Acorn users looking for hardware and software solutions. Driven
by the fast and powerful CIhoo scripts (which you can try out at
http://www.convergence.eu.org/cihoo/), and organised by category, it will
make it easy for Acorn users to find the product they want.
In order to produce this database, they need the help of Acorn companies and
individuals to add their products to the database. To have *your* Acorn
product included, e-mail the product name, a brief description of its
function, its price if appropriate, (and if you wish you may include
reviewers' comments as well) to:
nick@greenbeak.demon.co.uk
4) DO Games Scene
DO Games Scene is now on-line!
Check it out at the new URL:
http://surf.to/gamesscene
(^\ /^)
\ V /
(o o)
( (~) )
/\"/\
() * ()
(~)_(~)
(I loved the sig. so I thought I'd keep it on! ;-) Eytan.)
5) Wakefield Acorn Spring Show - Website Competition
The Wakefield Acorn Computer User Group in association with Acorn User, is
running a website competition to find the best website(s).
There are two categories;
1) Best Acorn Commercial Website - to be awarded by Acorn User
2) Best Acorn Enthusiast Website - to be awarded by the User Group
All you have to do is vote for a maximum of one of each of the above
categories via the website competition page at:
http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/wakefield/comp.html
or via the main show pages at:
http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/wakefield/show97.html
I know I'm not meant to do this, but I think the Astute Graphics website is
brill! ;-)
6) Eye Catchers
Eye Catchers come in Draw format so you can use them in your documents to
draw peoples attention.
There are thirteen in all, for you to look at or to use freely in your
own publications.
The URL for Eye Catchers is at:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/mmartin/
7) Wakefield
The following companies will be at Wakefield:
4th Dimension Software Graham Crow Software
Acorn Group plc Grasshopper Software
Acorn User Icon Technology Ltd
Akalat Publishing Innovative Media Solutions Ltd
Alternative Publishing Iota Software Irlam Instruments Ltd
ANT Ltd iSV Products
APDL Jaffa Software
Applied Technologies Manufacturing Jonathan Duddington
Apricote Studios Logotron
Archimedes World M W Software
Archive Magazine Pineapple Software
Argo Interactive R-Comp Interactive
Artex Software GbR Raspsoft Business Software
Association of Acorn User Groups SEMERC
Astute Graphics Sherston Software Ltd
Beebug Ltd Sibelius Software
Cambridgeshire Software House Simtec Electronics
Cannon Computing Smart DTP
Carlton Software Softease Ltd
Castle Technology Sound Venture
Causality Ltd Spacetech Ltd
Cd Computing Stuart Tyrrell Developments
Circle Software TBA Software
CJE Micros The ARM Club
Clares Micro Supplies The Data Store
Computer Concepts Ltd The Datafile
CTA Direct The Really Good Software Co
Cumana The Resource Centre Uniqueway
Dalriada Data Technology Wakefield Acorn Computer Group
Davyn Computer Services Warm Silence Software Ltd
Desktop Projects Ltd Xavier Educational Software Ltd
Destiny Software Xemplar Education Ltd
Eesox Yellowstone Electronic Solutions
Electronic Font Foundry Zenta Multimedia
ESP (Expressive Software Projects)
ExpLAN Computers Ltd
Fabis Computing
Commercial News
---------------
1) InetSuite & Fresco
ANT have released a beta version of the Inetsuite (1.29f) and Fresco (1.71)
2) LayerFS
Feldner & Braun Software GdbR have developed an extension to the RISC OS
filing system. Based on the unique "image filing systems" of RISC OS,
LayerFS provides you with directories that are constructed by overlaying the
contents of a number of different source directories. So what you see in a
single LayerFS directory may sit on totally different sources, e.g. a
harddisc, a CD or even on a different machine in a network.
There's one writing path to be defined for each LayerFS directory.
When files are changed or created anew, they appear in the writing
path, covering any older versions in the readable paths as this path
forms the top layer.
To the user, and any application program, a LayerFS directory structure
appears to be a perfectly normal writable directory, even when the majority
of data, and the original versions of the files lie, for example, on a CD.
Write access is at full speed even if the source data is in an archive with
slow write access. A user can have individual configuration files, with
certain defaults, where the system defaults are not overwritten by the new
settings.
Possible applications include:
- softlinks: make the applications stored in $.Graphics.Tools appear
also in $.Tools.Graphic
- update applications and resources on CD ROM without copying to
harddisc, run applications out of archives or CD ROMs even when
they are not written for this environment,
- fast write access to ZIP or Spark archives
- perform incremental backups, using the RISC OS filer
- apply modifications to data while keeping the original version,
with minimal storage overhead.
Many more features will soon be developed into this program. Attractive
upgrade pricing is guaranteed for users ordering now.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Introductory offer for LayerFS, valid until 1st May 1998:
Single User licence - ukp 24.50
---------------------------------------------------------------
If you publish resources and applications on CD ROM, or want to make use of
overlaid configuration data in your programs without having to worry about
the paths yourself, ask for the professional edition of LayerFS. This
includes a special version of the LayerFS module that can be *freely*
distributed with your product!
LayerFS works with RISC OS 3.1 or later. It is StrongARM compatible, and is
already conformant with the module specification for the next generation of
Acorn machines.
3) Free BHP
Free copy of BHP with every RiscPC sold until the Wakefield show.
BHP is the EXCELLENT driving game from TBA Software, offering high quality,
high speed driving action.
For more information and products, have a look at the ESM website:
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/esm/
The website is still under construction, and will be changing constantly
over the coming weeks, so if there are products missing, please feel free to
make any product suggestions.
4) CATS
We are pleased to announce availability of the ChalTech "CATS" ATX form
factor motherboard designed around the StrongARM CPU. It features a fast
SDRAM (66MHz) main bus, UltraDMA IDE, USB, PCI, ISA, etc. Product details
together with pricing information are now available at:
http://www.chaltech.com/
Orders by phone or fax. Discounts for bulk purchasing, OEMs and distributors.
Presently, the system is available in two configurations - as a board, or as
a built-up desktop machine. An example port of the NetBSD operating system
(http://www.netbsd.org/) operating system is provided, in order to ease code
development.
5) CD-Net
PEP Associates Support are working towards releasing a new version of CD-Net
later this year and, although they have some ideas of their own as to what
they can and should do to improve it, they would like to hear from current
users of the product as well.
Registered users will be invited to participate in beta testing of the
product, and will be offered an upgrade at a discounted price.
You can register by visiting their web site:
http://www.pep-assoc.co.uk/Products/CD-NetII/Register.htm
If you don't have Web access, either write or email PEP and they will be
happy to send you a form to fill in.
6) Techwriter Tips
The 'TechWriter Tips' website has been updated and expanded.
The site now includes detailed info on each member of the TechWriter and
EasiWriter family. In particular, it provides details of their abilities to
import and export a wide variety of 'foreign' filetypes (e.g. Word 6/7
including 'fast saved' Word files).
The new releases of TW/EW Pro (from version 4.08) now provide the ability to
save documents as HTML, and automatically convert all illustrations as linked
GIFs. (TWPro also does this for equations!) The updated 'Tips' site now has a
page which explains how the default settings of the Pro versions can be
adjusted to 'tweak' the HTML output to suit the user's preferences.
If you want to get the best out of this family of applications - or if you're
just wondering what they can do - have a look at:
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/TechWrite/Tips1.html
7) CJE/NCS Merger
CJE Micros of Worthing, and Norwich Computer Services have joined forces
to try to provide a better service to their customers.
As of 9th April, Chris Evans of CJE Micros will be dealing with the Acorn
sales side of things, whilst Paul Beverley will be concentrating on
publishing Archive magazine.
Paul says, "For many years now, I have been split two ways, between running
the dealership, and publishing Archive. This collaboration will allow me to
concentrate on the magazine, leaving Chris to continue the high standard of
service which NCS has tried to maintain over the last eight years."
Chris adds, "There is already a degree of overlap between the customers of
CJE Micros and those of NCS, and so this seems a natural way for us to
develop. Our intention is to widen the range of products - hardware,
software and consumables - and make CJE Micros the one-stop shop for the
Acorn market."
For Acorn hardware and software, contact:
CJE Micros, 78 Brighton Road, Worthing, W. Sussex, BN11 2EN
Tel: (01903) 523666 Fax: (01903) 523679
E-mail: info@cje.co.uk
Web: http://www.cje.co.uk/
(Cheques to "CJE Micros" or "NCS")
For Archive magazine, contact:
Archive Publications, 18 Mile End Road, Norwich, NR4 7QY
Tel: (01603) 765073 Fax: (01603) 764011
E-mail: paul.NCS@paston.co.uk
Web: http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/archive/
(Cheques to "Archive")
8) Pineapple Software
Pineapple now have parallel port scanners available for Acorn machines at
just ukp149 inc. VAT, and including Acorn and PC Software. (Wow! Anyone want
to get me one! ;-)
These are Plustek OpticPro 4831 scanners - 30-bit, with 300 x 600 dpi optical
resolution, which is more than enough for home or office use.
The scanners also have a 'through' parallel port connection so no switch box
is required to add a printer to the system.
9) TriLink
Bajorasoft are pleased to announce that TriLink has been re-released with
new facilities and enhancements.
TriLink is the ultimate budget ANSI and VT100 terminal package for Acorn RISC
OS computers, offering:
- Quick and easy access to bulletin boards
- Support for internal and additional serial ports, including the Atomwide
dual serial card and the Intelligent Interfaces dual serial card, using
SerialDev.
- Zmodem, Ymodem, Xmodem 1k and Xmodem protocols support
- ASCII upload
- Fast ANSI terminal supporting flashing, bold, inverted, italic and
underlined text
- Eleven button control panel for ease of use
- Online timer
- Macros facility
- Easy to set-up configuration options
- Bold and clear 24-page manual
TriLink retails at just ukp15 (plus ukp1.50 P&P).
For further information, please visit our recently updated web site at:
http://www.bajorasoft.demon.co.uk/
10) Aleph One 32-bit CD-ROM driver for Win95 released
Aleph One have released a protected mode (or '32 bit') CD-ROM driver for
Windows95.
This deals with a number of problems evident on recently-produced CDs, often
using Microsoft's 'Joliet' Extensions to ISO 9660 to support long filenames.
Because of the way Win95 treats DOS CD-ROM drivers, these disks would often
not work properly on the PC Card.
The new driver fixes these problems, as well as supporting other Windows 95
features such as auto-insert notification and AutoRun. Audio control is not
supported in this first release.
The driver requires !PC v2.00 or later (i.e. !PCPro) and Windows95.
This update is being provided free of charge, and is available for download
(it's only 11k!) from their Website:
http://www.aleph1.co.uk/32bitCDROM.html
or by FTP from...
ftp://ftp.aleph1.co.uk/aleph1/CDv102.zip
It can also be obtained by sending an SAE to Aleph One (with UK stamp or
International Reply Coupon), requesting the '32bit CD-ROM driver'.
11) NetMail AUN mail suite
The much-hyped AUN mail suite from Squirrel Solutions has finally been
released! If you're a network administrator, and have been longing for a
decent mail program without having to worry about hostnames, proxy servers
and the like, check out our NetMail suite.
NetMail uses standard AUN protocols for client/server communication, and
needs very little setting up. You only need to tell the server the maximum
number of allowed users, enter a few user names, then just leave it running.
More advanced features are available, but it is not essential to set them up
- you can just as easily run the client program manually, and everything will
still work fine!
To find out more about NetMail, check out:
http://www.squirrel-net.demon.co.uk/
...and follow the link to the NetMail page.
NetMail costs 30ukp, and upgrades will be available for free from the web
page as they become available.
PD/Shareware News
-----------------
1) FSI_Batch
The latest version of FSI_Batch is now out.
FSI_Batch is a front end to ChangeFSI which allows you to convert many images
at once.
This new version can convert Acorn sprite files which contain more than one
image. This allows you, for instance, to get at the individual images of a
multi sprite file very easily. You can freely mix various multi-sprite files
with other sprites and the program looks after the rest. FSI_Batch is
shareware.
2) !DrawGen
The '!DrawGen' application is now freely available on the web.
!DrawGen provides a relatively simple way to create DrawFiles from your
favourite programming language. The application and supporting documentation
are available as freeware/PD from:
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/DrawGen/dgen.html
In addition to the application, this site also provides examples in Acorn
'C', BBC Basic, and FORTRAN. It also (by kind permission of Paul Beverley of
'Archive' magazine) provides HTML versions of the original articles in
Archive which explain how !DrawGen can be used from 'C' and Basic.
3) QServer
QServer version 1.12b and QTalk 1.01 has now been released.
QServer allows you to query the numerous Quake servers on the Internet,
giving you useful information on who is on the servers, and what rules are
currently in place. It also gives you easy control over configuration of
Quake and Internet play.
QTalk is a regular Quake protocol bot that integrates with QServer and allows
you to talk IRC-style on on a quake server from the RISC OS desktop.
* !QServer v1.12b
- Can query both Quake and Quake World servers
- Sorts players in order of score
- Is fully multitasking and operations can be stopped
- Incorporates more reliable network code
- Includes interface to QTalk allowing IRC chat on Quake servers
- Can maintain 'profiles' for different players, allowing
separate configurations of Quake, depending on the player
(No Quake namer yet, so you're stuck with the default names!)
- Has completely rewritten underlying code
- Application structure tidied totally
* !QTalk v1.01
- Joins a Quake (not QuakeWorld) server as a separate player
- Allows IRC style chat on Quake servers using QServer's interface
- Supports commands such as '/ping', '/status', '/name', '/color'
- Fully integrated into QServer
(QTalk cannot join CTF servers yet)
Download both from:
http://wkweb5.cableinet.co.uk/a.j.eagle/soft.html
4) v2600
The latest beta of v2600 is now downloadable from:
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hawk/
Follow the 'software' link and look for !V2600.
It now multitasks quite well, but doesn't accept keyboard or mouse input
under the desktop (yet!). Singletasking mode is perfect, but doesn't (yet)
return to the desktop correctly. Sound has only one minor flaw.
Support is now present for c26 format games and cartinfo data.
5) Acorn Office '98
Version 0.36 of Acorn Office '98 is now avalible from:
http://www.everymans.com/acornoffice/downloads/
It is shareware, so if you find it useful then please register it (more info
in the help file). Registering the software will unlock several extra
features, and enable you to get free technical support. Please send any
comments or ideas for future versions to:
pete@everymans.com
6) New Artex website
The website of Artex Software has moved to:
http://www.artex.oaktree.co.uk/
Almost every area has been updated. You will find news about:
- Ankh: the graphical adventure game
- TEK: the realtime strategy game
- Exodus: our famous space colonization game
There's also a download area where you'll find BotKiller, the Ankh demo and
the Exodus demo. The pages are still under construction, and (hopefully)
many more things will change soon.
7) IbarPatch
IbarPatch is a replacement iconbar for RISC OS.
Although currently IbarPatch's only use is superficial (to make the iconbar
look different), it could be extended to allow iconbar icons to be moved to
the Pinboard, for example. Source code is included, so you can modify
IbarPatch to look different if you so desire.
IbarPatch can be downloaded from:
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/mseaborn/comp/programs.html
8) Second alpha release of TimPlayer & version 0.90 of AudioFire
TimPlayer is a soundtrack player which currently supports the following
formats:
- standard MODs
- PC MODs (with more than 4 channels, already found a 28 channels one!)
- S3M (ADPCM samples and adlib samples not supported)
- XM (New in this version)
- ITs support extended (V2.14 and above), but still missing support for
packed samples, virtual channels, pitch envelopes and a few minor
instrument effects.
The first release TimPlayer is delivered as a part of DigitalCD, and can be
found at the RISC OS section at:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/4471/
Also available on the site is AudioFire from Michael Kübel. AudioFire is an
audio-driven fire simulation. It calculates flames in real time for up to 4
voices on the RiscPC's sound system. Start any Tracker tune, and watch it
set your RiscPC on fire!
Club News
---------
1) SAUG
The next meeting of the Southampton Acorn Users Group will take place at
Itchen College, Middle Road, Sholing, Southampton, between 19:00 and 21:00 on
Monday 20th April 1998. All are welcome, beginner, experienced or undecided.
Note that this is the third Monday in the month, not our usual second Monday,
due to the Easter holiday. We'll be back to the habitual second Monday again
as from May.
For further information, directions, even possible transport, please
contact:
Dave Higton: davehigton@arcade.demon.co.uk (01703) 222312
Ted Lacey: tedell@argonet.co.uk (01703) 325560
2) Surrey and Sussex Acorn Users' Group
This month's meeting is on Monday 20th April, when we will be continuing our
exploration of the world of Acorn-based desktop publishing.
Our guide for the evening will be Mike Williams of Akalat Publishing.
Akalat publish Acorn Publisher, THE magazine for Acorn DTP'ers.
Mike also worked for Beebug for many years, editing their Risc User magazine.
His in-depth knowledge of DTP should make for an excellent evening for anyone
with even the slightest bit of interest in DTP.
So, if you want to meet other Acorn enthusiasts, see the latest products and
talk to the people who've produced them, why don't you tear yourself away
from your keyboard for an evening and come to visit us.
On the night, visitors are only charged 1.50ukp and we also have a new annual
membership scheme which costs just 12ukp. In addition to the membership
scheme we are now providing tea, coffee or squash from 19:45 on each meeting
night. This facility is FREE to all members!
All our meetings are held at:
Horsham Methodist Church Hall
London Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1AN
The hall is alongside a large FREE car park in the centre of Horsham, just a
few minutes' walk from the main railway station. Doors open at 19:30, and the
meeting starts at 20:00.
For more information and a map please visit our website at...
http://www.poppyfields.net/sasaug/
...or contact Stuart Bell at sasaug@argonet.co.uk
3) IRC chat sessions - SARC "on-line" get-together
Live-on-Line IRC Chats - Inter-club Trials
------------------------------------------
SARC will be holding another trial IRC chat session on Tuesday 21 April 1998
from 8pm until approx. 9pm. The session will be on:
Server: irc.demon.co.uk
Channel: #SARC
Port: 6668
Members of other Acorn clubs, and other individual Acorn users, are cordially
invited to log on and join in what we hope will be another enjoyable chat
session on Acorn and RiscPC topics.
How to Send in News
-------------------
To send in your news items, simply include the following information, and
send it to:
ans@acornusers.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
First name:
Surname:
E-mail address:
Subject of item (Person, company, and/or product):
Subject's contact details (E-mail and/or WWW addresses):
Source of information (Include relevant e-mail and/or WWW addresses):
Text of news item (Please be as brief as possible!):
Your Free Ad (If required):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Ads
--------
Humm... well, none this issue!
*** End of ANS - Issue 5 ***
*** Updated: Tue 21st April 1998 ***