We are now using the listserver at "barnet.ac.uk". I have a small
suspicion that issue 6 may have not arrived at peoples e-mail boxes. I
don't know why, but I only found out today, and I am posting this issue out
today...so I hope it gets to people. If not, it will be on the web, and I
hope to have things sorted out for next issue. ;-)
Anyway, it looks like many people are looking forward to Wakefield.
Unfortunately my plans changed at the last minute and I will not be able to
make it. If anyone wants to do a report on the show, it will be posted out
as soon as I receive it to all ANS members. Make sure you are a Clan
member if you do it!
Subscriptions are still coming in, the website is being updated, and I hope
the list server is working. Looks like we are well on the way!
Keep sending in those news items, and enjoy!
Eytan Abrahams,
Editor
General News
------------
1) Wakefield Show
The Wakefield show now has over 70 exhibitors attending, with more sharing
stands. They also have two late additions - ARM Linux will be showing on
the Wakefield User Group stand (no. 9), and Matthew Bloch will be
representing Aleph One (stand 81).
Don't forget the Clan and WACG-only preview launch of the new RiscPC 2 -
the new name, final specs and prices will be announced at Wakefield.
Advance orders can be placed with Acorn dealers attending the show.
Other things to look out for:
* Simtec/Causality with be showing their CATS board.
* Eesox will have celebrity Johnny Ball, on their stand between 11am and
3pm on Saturday. Why not go along to the Eesox stand (stand 50) to get
your digital photo taken with him, and put on Gold CD.
* Apricote Studios will launch Personal Accounts 4 at the show.
* Astute Graphics will be showing the new Vector based super-app to
replace/rival Artworks.
A number of other pieces of new software and hardware will appear for
the first time at the show.
There is a regular and varied Theatre program, with Chris Cox doing a
longer session!
The FREE prize draw has a top prize of an Acorn NC with 12 months
subscription to ArgoNet - other prizes include Photodesk Lite. (Wow! Ed.)
The charity stall will be there again, so do pay it a visit (stand 71).
All money raised goes to charities in Norwich and Wakefield.
(A nice idea - I've always liked it. Ed.)
The Games Arcade will have a range of new and familar games on trial for
everyone (young at heart!) to try.
A website competition is also being run for the best Acorn-oriented
commercial and hobbyist websites. Competition pages are on the show
website. The winners will be announced at the show.
(yep, our site is good ;-)
A full list of exhibitors and other details are on the show website:
http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/wakefield/
Cost: 3 ukp (Adults) on the door
2 ukp (Juniors) on the door
2) Acorn Arcade
Acorn Arcade has another new section!
The FX Demos section - dedicated to the Acorn demo scene. Latest news,
reviews of lots of demos, links to all the major demo groups. All demos
reviewed are, of course, downloadable from the site. The FX Demos pages
also include critical ratings for all demos reviewed, and a Top Five list
of the best demos on the scene.
Visit it now at:
http://www.acornarcade.com/demos/
Please send any info or comments to:
demos@acornarcade.com
3) Acorn Emulation Page updated 11/5/98
The Acorn Emulation page has been updated (11/5/98) with news of...
* New Archimedes emulator for the PC
* New version of STem, the Atari ST emulator
* New version of xNES, the Nintendo Entertainment System emulator
* More versions of MAME imminent(!)
* Updated archive
* New game of the update section - this time Wonderboy III gets a look over
* News of the next version of Miracle, the Sega Master System emulator
* New FAQ and good emulator features sections
* Year 2000 problems (and solutions) for BBC emulators
...and lots more!
The Acorn Emulation Page:
http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/emulation/
Commercial News
---------------
1) LayerFS
Feldner and Braun are extending their LayerFS offer until the end of
May. It's available for 24.50 ukp + 3 ukp P&P. Details at:
http://www.spektracom.de/flying-snail/
2) NInterface update
Version 1.50 of the drivers for NInterface and NInterface pads are now
available. It includes the plug-and-play PC card facility which has
been present on STDs other products for some time.
Upgrades to registered users are available by email or post -
alternatively you may upgrade at the Wakefield show.
3) NEW release from Bajorasoft
Acorn Internet is a front-end application designed to bring together the
newly released !Browse, !Mail, and !Connect programs from Acorn. It is
configurable for use on all systems with these new Internet applications
installed.
Available from The Data Store (stand 23) at the Wakefield Show this
weekend for just 35 ukp!
More information and snapshots will at:
http://www.bajorasoft.demon.co.uk/
4) New Spreadsheet
New spreadsheet package at Wakefield:
ExpLAN has announced the first showing of a brand-new spreadsheet package
called FuzzySheet.
Unlike existing spreadsheets, the cells may contain graphics (vector or
bitmap) and adjusters(?!). Standard statistical information is provided
within FuzzySheet, whilst more advanced calculations can be performed by
exporting to a statistics package. The package is particularly suited to
collection of indistinct data.
FuzzySheet will be available in several different formats, released in Q3
and Q4 this year. It has two main markets:
* Education - both for teaching the concepts of spreadsheets in Primary,
and data-collection across the Secondary curriculum subjects
* Commercial - professional market surveys and other analysis
FuzzySheet runs within the Nested WIMP, as supplied with !Browse. It will
operate on both the new RiscPC II and the forthcoming "Peanut" portable.
Interested parties should visit ExpLAN (stand 52) at the Wakefield Show.
Those who cannot attend should write or email to request further information
when FuzzySheet is released. Please specify whether your interest is in
"Education" or "Commercial" applications.
5) PCSound Pro 2 available at Wakefield
R-Comp Interactive's long awaited PCSound Professional 2 will be available
at the Wakefield show.
PCSound Pro 2 features much improved SoundBlaster 16 compliance, to the
extent that the official Creative Labs SoundBlaster(R) 16 drivers for
Windows95 actually detect and use PCSoundPro as if the SB16 was there
instead.
This makes compatibility with Win95 a reality, and allows the use of DOS
software from within the Win95 desktop - a real boon for anyone wanting to
run games or educational software on their PC card but lacking understanding
of the arcane configuration settings required by DOS.
Standard Windows95 volume controls are also available, allowing adjustment of
Wave and MIDI volumes, and MIDI input is supported with any MIDI Support
compliant MIDI interface.
Of particular interest for the future is that the Creative Labs SB16 drivers
are DirectX/DirectSound compliant, ready for the time when DirectDraw
graphics finally become available for the PC card.
6) New web authoring tools from R-Comp at Wakefield
R-Comp have announced new versions of almost all of their award-winning web
authoring tools for RISC OS. These will be available for purchase at
Wakefield.
The key release for R-Comp at the show will be HTMLEdit Studio. This
is a complete set of their core web authoring tools, in much enhanced
versions, wrapped up in a presentation box, with a completely revised
and updated manual covering the whole suite.
In the box are:
HTMLEdit v4+ The very latest version of the main HTML editor
with many, many additions and improvements. Most
obvious is the sophisticated syntax-colouring engine,
designed to make editing pages a breeze, but many
more features have been added to further enhance
productivity.
Enhanced Web OK, so it should probably be called WDT 2, with many
Designer's enhancements to all tools. Integration with HTMLEdit
Toolkit has been improved significantly, and most tools have
been extended in one way or another.
WebSpell Our web page spelling-checker, which comes with English,
Dutch and German dictionaries, and allows the use of
Ovation Pro user dictionaries.
WebsterXL The latest version of our sophisticated web browser,
v1.5 with frames, tables, JavaScript, animation, sound and
music, as well as Acorn plug-in compliance for Java.
They also hope (finally) to have disc copies of the SiteMaster product
which has been sent out to users via email for the last few months. If
you've ever needed to re-organise, restructure or simply rename sections
of web sites and have wasted time updating links and images, then you'll
love SiteMaster. The product also allows for tree views of sites,
cross-site search and replace, as well as link and image validation, and
other error checking options. Download times can be displayed, chunks of
sites can be extracted, and much more.
The full HTMLEdit Studio pack costs 105ukp including carriage to the UK
and Europe. Elsewhere in the world, please add 5ukp delivery.
HTMLEdit v4 will be available on its own with the new manual and packaging,
with the option of adding components at a later date if you wish.
Full prices should be available in time for the Wakefield show, and
existing users wishing to upgrade should bring along appropriate discs.
This includes updates to Web Designer's Toolkit and WebsterXL.
7) 3 New Games from RCI at Wakefield
R-Comp Interactive have announced that 3 brand new big-name leisure software titles will be shown for the first time at the show. They will be accepting
orders for all three, although time constraints have prevented them from
having final product ready in time for the show. The titles are:
* Acorn QUAKE
* Acorn SYNDICATE+
* Acorn ABUSE
8) ARM3 Doom debut at Wakefield
R-Comp Interactive have announced that, as of the Wakefield show, they will
have an ARM3-compliant version of the Acorn Doom Trilogy available. This
will require 4Mb, and the levels are still supplied on CD-ROM. Please note
that if you require ARM3 Doom, you should make this clear when ordering.
The price of Doom Trilogy at the show will drop to 30ukp, making this a great
opportunity to get hold of one of the greatest games of all time!
Finally, for existing Acorn Doom owners, R-Comp hope to have some more Doom
add-ons available from their web site shortly after the show.
9) Personal Accounts
Apricote Studios have just released version 4 of Personal Accounts for the Acorn range of computers. Version 3 has over 2000 active users, so this will
be of interest to many people.
There are over 40 new features in version 4, including full millennium
compliance. Full details can be found on their website:
http://homepages.enterprise.net/apricote/
10) HolyBible 1.81
This new release of HolyBible is available as an upgrade pack, or as a free
download for existing users, from the EXPlan website:
http://www.explan.demon.co.uk/
Those upgrading from a much earlier version are advised to purchase the
upgrade pack direct from ExpLAN at a cost of 10 ukp (plus VAT), which
includes the manual and release notes.
New features include:
* Facility to save the window positions for start-up
* Extended support for export to Ovation Pro (v1.78 onwards)
* Adjust-click on a hotlink will close the previous resource item,
whilst opening the new one.
This last feature will be of importance for those using Resources that are
extensively inter-linked, such as the new Visual Liturgy material from the
Church of England, and Easton's Bible Dictionary (XAUG PD Library).
11) Cheaper Olympus Cameras from Spacetech
Spacetech Ltd. have announced a further drastic price reduction in their range of Olympus Digital Cameras.
C420L now only 299 ukp
C820L now only 499 ukp
C1400L now only 999 ukp
All three cameras have advanced facilities for linking with the host
computer, and take the same type of removable smart card memory,
either 2, 4 or 8MB. All come bundled with free PhotoLink software.
12) Trax Software
The postal address of Trax Software has changed to:
Trax Software
9 Roland Close
Cambridge
CB4 2DJ
The Trax software web site is located at:
http://www.trax.arachsys.com/
E-mail enquiries can be sent to:
info@trax.arachsys.com
13) 2nd beta release of CDFSFiler
Pep-Associates have announced that the 2nd beta release of their drop-in
replacement for Acorn's CDFS filer is now available from their web site:
http://www.pep-assoc.co.uk/
CDFSFiler does everything that Acorn's CDFS does, "and then some"! Note,
though, that it does NOT fix any problems inherent in CDFS itself.
In addition to the original functionality, CDFSFiler offers easy control
over audio CDs (in all drives) with the usual playback widgets and database
functionality, along with play list creation and auto-detection of drive
contents. It also integrates with VirtuaCD (Pep's virtual CD-ROM
technology).
This beta release also offers support for ShareFS. The next beta release
will incorporate support for CD-Net.
14) Acorn Java
Octopus Systems now have Acorn Java and !Browse CDs in stock, and they have
created a new web page to help people get started with Acorn Java:
http://www.octosys.co.uk/java.html
This page also explains:
* How to get Acorn Java
* Why Java is significant
* The difference between Java applications, applets and Javascript
* How to run Java applications outside of a Web browser
* The limitations of Acorn Java
* How to compile your own Java programs
* Where to find Java applets and applications
Java and !Browse are 44 ukp each or 84 ukp for both (including VAT and P&P).
Both are supplied with OmniClient and the Acorn Proxy Server, which enables
all computers (running RISC OS or Windows) on an Ethernet network to access
the Web via a single modem.
The Acorn beta tester offer has been extended until the end of May, so if
you were a beta tester you can still claim a 25% discount.
15) Spring Sale - 50% off!
Oregan Developments sincerely regret that we will not be able to attend the
Wakefield show this year due to prior exhibition commitments.
However, for those users who demand a bargain at this time of year, they have
decided to launch a two week spring sale of all their current products.
*** Reductions of over 50% available on many product lines ***
*** PLUS - BUY ANY 4 PRODUCTS AND GET THE CHEAPEST ABSOLUTELY FREE ***
*** All prices are fully inclusive ***
To qualify for these prices all orders should be received before 15th May
1998, at the following address:
Oregan Developments Ltd
36 Grosvenor Avenue
Streetly
Sutton Coldfield
B74 3PE
Tel: +44 (0)121 353 6044
Fax: +44 (0)121 353 6472
http://www.oregan.com/
16) iSV Products - new releases
iSV Products have announced that they will be releasing no less than four
new products at the Wakefield show.
DeskLock
This is designed to add password protection to named directories and
applications. Directories cannot be opened or copied without the password.
Applications cannot be run without the correct password. DeskLock also
disables the F12 escape route from the desktop. Task windows cannot be run
by the user, nor can DeskLock be removed by an Alt-Break. If a user tries
to turn on a machine (A7000/RiscPC) with the shift key held down to
prevent booting (and hence not load DeskLock), they will find the machine
disabled. DeskLock comes with an easy-to-configure drag & drop front end,
and a free site licence. The price will be 31.50 ukp inclusive of UK
carriage.
Dr Fonty
An enthusiasts version of FontFiend, iSV's font editing/designing package.
Dr Fonty includes many of the features of FontFiend, but without some of
the automatic operations. Archive described a beta version of Dr Fonty as
"...highly recommended, and well worth the money". Dr Fonty will retail
at 31.50 ukp inclusive of UK carriage. A demo version is available from
the iSV website.
FairIsle
A knitting punch card generator. FairIsle allows the user to design
knitting patterns on screen, with a photo-realistic on-screen knitting
sample. Colours can be easily selected from a dialogue box. Designs can
be saved in a wide variety of file formats, including FairIsle, Draw and
Sprite. FairIsle will retail at 31.50 ukp inclusive of UK carriage. A
demo version is available from the website.
Penulator
A low cost graphics pen with RISC OS and Windows drivers. Penulator can
completely replace the mouse, or you can flip between mouse and pen with a
single click. Penulator also allows freehand drawing directly into the
Draw application. Penulator will retail at 36.50 ukp including the pen
and the driver disks. (A7000/RiscPC only)
All products require Risc OS 3.1 or later and a hard disk.
iSV Products website is at:
http://members.aol.com/isvproduct/
PD/Shareware News
-----------------
1) RiscPCB
Version 0.29 of RiscPCB is now available for download from:
http://www.idealist.demon.co.uk/
* Layers can now be made visible/selectable
* Two definable zoom levels on toolbar
* Cords are now in main window and can be turned off
* When in track mode a list of selectable widths are shown
* When in pad mode a list of selectable pads are shown
* There is now a thermal or ground pad for use when creating ground planes
* Ground planes can be created automatically for the solder side or component side of the board. This can then be printed or exported as
a draw file for further editing
2) ls
If you're used to unix, and the gear shift needed to use cat on RiscOS is
driving you to the brink of insanity, try pointing your browser at:
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/mikeyd/ls.html
...wherein lies an ls command!
3) !MoveSite
MoveSite changes filenames while copying them to a target directory. This is
intended for people with websites who want to try them out on different PC
browsers.
e.g. MoveSite will change:
index/html to INDEX/HTM
or
picture/jpeg to PICTUR/JPG
At the moment, the program does not edit HTML files. MoveSite is shareware.
Download it from:
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/tudor/
4) EasyAnim
Veraion 1.05 of EasyAnim is now available at:
http://www.alphapro.demon.co.uk/
This version replaces the version which was previously on an Acorn User
cover disc - it fixes a bug which used to crash the computer. An upgrade
from version 1.04 to 1.05 is available.
EasyAnim is a simple animation creator. It provides an easy-to-use window,
in which you can edit your animation of up to 768 frames. It is suitable
for any age from primary school to adult. The frames can be edited using
built-in editing tools which are suitable for simple artwork, but not really
for complex pieces.
EasyAnim requires RISC OS 3.1 or later to run. ARM3 and 2Mb of memory are
strongly recommended, but the ARM3 is not essential. A hard disc is also
useful to store animations on.
5) !FileFind v1.11
FileFind is a utility for finding files and contents of files. It searches
recursively into the specified directory (and archives) for the given
filename. You can also specify a filetype you are looking for. Searching
for contents can be case-sensitive or case-insensitive.
With the latest version you can ignore all application directories, or only
the !Scrap directory. You can now search for access rights.
This program is most useful when used with an editor which supports
throwback. The search results will be shown inside the editor from where
you can open the files directly.
FileFind is shareware, with a registration fee of 10 ukp.
The latest version is be available from:
http://www.id-software.co.at/
6) New version of DigitalCD and the TimPlayer module
