Acorn User 10/AU_CD10.iso/Archived/Websites/ANS/ans.arc/archive/i15_text

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 |-------------------------- 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 15                                                 5 August 1998 |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |     Editor: E.Abrahams                 ------  [e-mail]    |
 |     Sub-editor & Webmaster: R.Hesketh  ------  [e-mail]  |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |      To send in your news items or comments, use the ANS website,      |
 |              or e-mail them to [e-mail]                      |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |       Random site pick this issue: http://acorn-gaming.org.uk/         |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |            ANS.....The fastest growing Acorn mailing list              |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Contents
--------
 1) Editorial
 2) General News
 3) Commercial News
 4) PD/Shareware News
 5) Club News
 6) How to Send in News



Editorial
---------
We made it once again!  After a few list server problems, we're back to
normal!  The grand competition entries keep on rolling in - don't forget to
enter yourself for your chance to win some of the 600ukp worth of software
on offer!  Check out the website for more information.

More and more companies are sending in news items, but there can never be too
many - send us your news for the next issue of ANS!

From this issue, we have teamed up with Acorn Arcade to provide you with a
summary of the latest news stories from the world of Acorn games.

Besides that, not much more to say, except that my mailbox is getting so
full, I don't know what to do with it all!

Have a good week!

Eytan   &   Richard
Editor      Sub Editor



General News
------------

1) VideoDesk Mailing List

The Videodesk mailing list has been up and running for a few weeks now, and
hopefully everyone has found it useful.  It will hopefully be a good place to
talk to other users, exchange ideas/tips and get help for any problems you
might have.

Melvin, the Videodesk programmer, has also subscribed and has already posted
some very useful tips and announcements.

It might also be useful to people interested in Videodesk who would like to
hear some advice/opinions from current users.

It should be noted that this list is nothing to do with Irlam Instruments.

The address is:

  [e-mail]

To subscribe, send a message to this address with the subject line:

  SIGNON vdesk-user


2) Acorn Emulation update 29/8/98

The Acorn Emulation Page has been updated once again, with news of:

  * ArcNES (renamed xNES) released
  * New versions of ColEm, fMSX and Stella released
  * David McEwen is in the process of porting loads of emulators!
  * MAME v0.33 and v0.34 beta 1.0 released, with NEO GEO support
  * MESS v0.02 beta 4.1 released and a new OS help section by MIKe
  * New version of Neditor released
  * New Memotech MTX 512 emulator released
  * Alain Brobecker's ARM coded 6502 emulator released
  * Acorn Atom emulator in development
  * New gameboy demo from Icebird, Dawn is released
  * Frontends go careware
  * Commodore 16/Plus 4 emulator in development
  * BASICXasm, 'the coolest cross assembler ever' is released
  * Or wait for it all on the November 1998 Acorn User CD!

Enjoy!

The Acorn Emulation Page:

  http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/emulation/


3) 32-bit Acorn Gaming

  http://acorn-gaming.org.uk/

32-bit Acorn Gaming now includes:

  * A screenshot of the first game developed specifically for the
    Risc PC 2, the newly-revised Iron Dignity

  * Details and a picture of the sequel to the popular platform puzzler,
    Botkiller 2

  * Lots of other news, including a full review of Eternal Destiny

Regularly updated with the latest Acorn gaming news, 32-bit Acorn Gaming is
the longest running regularly updated Acorn WWW magazine in existence, having
been online since 1994.

Regularly updated features include:

  * News about new and forthcoming releases
  * Full details of all published commercial games
  * Feature articles, such as interviews and illustrated show reports
  * Reviews of commercial and free games
  * Archive of useful information
  * Latest emulator news, and compatible games
  * Comprehensive, carefully sorted list of Acorn links
  * PC card gaming information


4) Doom section now online

Acorn Arcade has announced the completion of a new section supporting all you
Doom players out there.  It includes:

  * Complete instructions for compiling DIY Doom
  * Reviews of some of the best extra levels available on the WWW
  * A list of all the cheat codes
  * The Acorn Doom FAQ (created with the help of RCI)

The Doom section can be found in the 'features' part of Acorn Arcade, at:

  http://www.acornarcade.com/


5) ARM 10

EE Times has reported that the ARM 10 processor will be unveiled at the
Embedded Processor Forum this October 15th in San Jose, California.  Dave
Jagger, director of ARM's design centre in Texas will give a paper on the
core, which includes floating point support and is based on a new ARM
pipeline architecture.

EE Times speculate, on the basis of past development road maps, that the new
processor will be available in 1999 and offer around 500 MIPS performance
from a 0.18 micron process device.  The full article is at...

  http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?EET19980803S0011

...and also discusses rumours of 64 bit support.


6) No more ARM stake?

There has been continued speculation about how Acorn will realise for
shareholders the value of their 26% stake in ARM, which is currently worth
more than Acorn's entire market capitalisation.

Acorn again stated in the recent results filing that they were considering
how to most tax effectively return the value of Acorn's holding in ARM to
Acorn shareholders. One solution which has been rumoured is for ARM to buy
Acorn and then spin off Acorn's core businesses, possibly as a private
company, leaving Acorn shareholders with ARM shares.


7) Acorn Arcade Prize Draw

Win a copy of Ankh!

Full details can be found on the Acorn Arcade site:

  http://www.acornarcade.com/urls/ankhcompo.html

It's a free to enter, no-obligation prize draw so the only details we require
are your name and email address for us to contact you if you win!

The closing date is the 30th September to allow for a possible Acorn World 98
prize giving ceremony.


8) Acorn Arcade Summary

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Summary of news from the Acorn Arcade world .... produced by Acorn Arcade
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The recent flurry of activity in the gaming market shows no sign of letting
up, with two more major releases coming to the Acorn very soon.  The first, a
conversion from R-Comp, is Heroes of Might and Magic 2, a turn-based strategy
game from 3DO/New World Computing.  This game has been very successful on the
PC, so let's hope that R-Comp make a good job of the conversion.  The second
major release is from Artex (of Exodus and Ankh fame), who have announced
that they are teaming up with Frank Föhl to release the formerly shelved Iron
Dignity strategy/3D warfare game.  Heroes of Might and Magic 2 will be on
sale at Acorn World 98 and Iron Dignity should be gracing our screens before
the end of this millennium (well, perhaps end of 1999 sounds more positive)!

Other news from the past week or so includes the announcement of BotKiller 2,
a forthcoming budget platformer from Richard Wilson with some help from the
Artex team on the graphics and marketing side of things.

All of these stories and more are covered in detail including screenshots
on Acorn Arcade at:

  http://www.acornarcade.com/



Commercial News
---------------

1) Jaffa Software Change Address

The new address is:

  Jaffa Software
  28 Grange Farm Drive
  Stockton
  Rugby
  CV23 8FT
  UK

  Phone: [phone]

Orders and enquiries can be sent to the address above, or via email:

  [e-mail]


2) Eurisko Software update

A quick update on Eurisko Software's new programs and web site.

Infra Red Remote Control
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Price: 35ukp

This hardware and software solution adds a fully featured remote control to
your computer.  Not only does it control the CD player and volume, but also
allows the mouse to be used.  It is supplied with an easy to use
configuration program, allowing the buttons to be reconfigured to perform
normal CD player commands and emulate keypresses in WIMP programs, or launch
programs such as your web browser.  The remote control will only work on the
internal serial port.

Remote Features:

  * Mouse control from a distance
  * RISC OS compatible
  * Windows 95 driver included
  * User-programmable keys
  * Emulates keypresses
  * Single button launch of applications
  * Easily configurable


SpeakerPhone
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Price: 25ukp

Speakerphone is designed to be used with a voice modem, giving access to the
speakerphone and voicemail facilities.  It is compatible with all Acorn
computers with a serial port and RISC OS 3.1 or higher (including StrongARM
machines).

SpeakerPhone Features:

   * Full-duplex speakerphone
   * All the convenience of a speakerphone without extra hardware
   * Address book Facilities - holds telephone/fax numbers for easy access
   * Launch WWW and e-mail URLs directly from address book
   * Export of address book in CSV format
   * Uses block drivers for compatibility
   * Works with USR and Rockwell Voice Modems
   * Output through an external amplifier (not supplied)
   * Voicemail service with up to 20 greetings
   * Greetings easily re-recorded
   * Different greetings for recording or not recording
   * Easy setup
   * Integration with !CallerID from Octopus Systems to provide information
     on origin of a voice message
   * Group 3 Fax sending (text only at present)


Website
~~~~~~~

The web site contains a number of free programs including !DFax, a program
that will decode multipage faxes from the Demon dFax service.

See Demon's website for more information on the dFax service.


3) AddressIt - Address Management Software

As you will know AddressIt has been in development now for some time, most of
which has been spent negotiating an agreement with the Royal Mail in order
to use their PAF(R) within the software.

If you have already placed an order and/or sent a cheque you will receive
your copy of AddressIt soon after this date.  If you have not placed an order
then you can do so by email, phone, fax or letter.

The price including postage and packing will be 199ukp, and 99ukp per year
thereafter, in accordance with the terms and conditions of use.

Below is a list of features.  For further information please call:

  [phone]


  * Access to over 1.6 million UK postcodes
  * Generate accurate addresses down to street level
  * Save time, with up to 80% less typing
  * Paste addresses directly into applications
  * 'Hot Key' feature for maximum efficiency
  * Interrogate all 26 million UK delivery addresses
  * Save time on the phone and impress customers by just asking for their
    postcode and house number
  * Ensure a faster route through the postal system by using a full and
    accurate postal address


4) New TWAIN interface

David Pilling is working on a new user interface for TWAIN.  Look out for
more news soon.....


5) WimpWorks Update

WimpWorks v2.20 is now available.  Mainly in direct response to criticism in
an Archive review about it's graphics system, it has been overhauled and is
now even better than before!

There is also a new demo version which, for the first time, will let you run
the applications you have produced to test them WITHOUT paying for the full
version.

The full version, however, costs only:

                       Full version   35ukp
          Upgrade from WimpWorks v1   10ukp
   Upgrade from WimpBasic (1 or 2),   15ukp
     HelixBasic, WimpGen or Archway

All prices are fully inclusive (please make cheques payable to "Andrew
Flegg"), and include a printed manual.  If upgrading, please return your
original disk(s).

Upgrades from earlier versions of WimpWorks 2 can be obtained by e-mailing
Jaffa Software:

  [e-mail]



PD/Shareware News
-----------------

1) Clawk 1.01

A little utility called Clawk is now available.  It's a desktop clock and
memory display similar to FDisplay by Illusion Software - the main difference
being that Clawk was written in assembler, and only uses 4k of your precious
RAM.

Download it from:

  http://www.illusion.co.uk/alisdair/clawk.zip


2) Web Design Links

URLs for many different pieces of PD/shareware software for use in web design
have been compiled into a links page, which can be found at:

  http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/scourtney/weblinks/wdutl.html

Each program is listed with its version number, so you can use the page to
check for newer versions of programs.

If you know of any web design software that is not listed (and which has a
home on the Web), please send a message, and it will be added to the list.


3) Jazsoft Updates

A number of new RISC OS applications have been added to the Jazsoft site:

  http://www.jazsoft.home.ml.org/

!StrongCD - v1.12
-----------------
Yes, this is yet another RISC OS CD Player!  There are some problem CD Drives
that this application doesn't like, so by releasing it to a wider audience
Jazsoft hope to gather more information on the types of system setups with
which it doesn't yet work.  Don't let this put you off though, it works
perfectly on most systems!

!BootProgs - v1.04
------------------
This is an application which features:

  * Quick access to directories within your !Boot structure
    (PreDesk, Tasks etc.)

  * Quick installation of programs into these directories

  * A desktop clock

The most useful of these features (IMHO) is the quick installation.  If you
use !BootProgs, you need no longer mess about inside !Boot when you want a
program to start up when you turn on the machine.  Instead, you just have to
drop the Application onto the !BootProgs Icon on the Icon bar, and choose
where to copy it to.

Other software on the site includes:

  * !UnCover
  * !CardTrick (a mind bender)
  * A collection of animated GIFs
  * "New mail" sound samples
  * Monopoly - a DOS version of the board game
     (RISC OS version planned for the near future)


If you find that the above URL doesn't work, you can access the site through:

  http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/jamess/


4) BBC Ticker 0.20

!Ticker is a small application which provides scrolling news and weather to
the desktop.  The stories come directly from the BBC WWW server, which is
updated regularily.  Each item of news can be clicked on to open the full
story in your web browser.  It is fully configurable to allow you to view
only the headlines in which you are interested.  !Ticker requires an
internet connection.

The new release is, as always, at:

  http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/7724/


5) FreeTerm v1.36

Version 1.36 of FreeTerm has now been released.  It's a very minor upgrade
from 1.34, which sends ctrl-cs as out of band data (if you don't know what
this means you probably don't need to upgrade).  Follow the links from the
20-20 Software site to get a copy.

Lipsum, which appeared on an Acorn User disc years ago and wasn't StrongARM
compatible.  A StrongARM compatible upgrade is available on the 20-20 site.


6) !RNDpass

!RNDpass, by Tony Hopstaken, has been released for the first time on the RISC
OS encryption and security section of:

  http://web.bham.ac.uk/N.M.Queen/pgp/acorn.html

!RNDpass is a program for generating random pass phrases, using the well
known 'diceware' method.  The pass phrase is usually the weakest link in PGP
and other encryption programs.  Weak pass phrases can be cracked by programs
using dictionary attacks and grammatical rules, or even by simple human
intuition.  By choosing a pass phrase based on completely *random* words from
a sufficiently large dictionary, such attacks become infeasible.  This is
what !RNDpass does.


7) javaa (Java assembler) released

Amoung other things, if you're really pushed for memory on your machine and
can't run guavac, javaa will let you program in Java (albeit more slowly).
It's also a good way to learn about the inner workings of Java, and might
just be useful to someone.

You can get it from:

  http://chocky.home.ml.org/java/javaa.bin

There's no page for it yet, although a page will be added shortly, describing
how to use a number of Java tools under RISC OS (some written in Java, some
not), and where to get them.

This will include:

  * Mocha (a Java decompiler)
  * Jasmin (another Java assembler)
  * D-Java (another port of mine, which produces output usable in
            Jasmin)


8) MavicaFS released as freeware

MavicaFS v1.20f has been released as freeware.

There is nothing new since the last version, except that it is now free.

You can download it from:

  http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/david.glover/

You will also find a registration code here to register previous versions.

You may wish to download the new version anyway, as it contains an updated
help file.

Please note that anyone who registered in the past two weeks has not had
their cheque cashed - they're now in the bin.


9) FSI_Batch 2.1

Version 2.1 of FSI_Batch is now available.  The program is a front end to
ChangeFSI and allows you to process many images while you do something else.

This new version has a slightly altered look, allows 45 dots per inch
resolution as well as 90 and 180 (great for high resolution printouts).  It
also responds to an abort command much faster, in fact the moment ChangeFSI
is finished.  One or two minor bugs have also been fixed.

FSI_Batch is shareware, proceeds are donated to Limavady College, and are
used to buy the bits and pieces that a mean government won't fund.

  http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/tudor/


Club News
---------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Brought to you in association with The Association of Acorn User Groups *

  The AAUG website provides details of all the user groups worldwide, and
 how you can benefit from becoming a member.  For more information, visit:

                    http://www.argonet.co.uk/scs/AAUG/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Acorn World News for user group members

Acorn and The Association of Acorn User Groups (AAUG) have announced several
special deals for user group and club members who are planning to attend this
years Acorn World Show.

i. UK travel packages
=====================
Acorn are organising a combined travel and entrance fee package to assist
user group members in getting to the show, and reduce the cost of travelling
and admission.  The following is a provisional list of starting locations,
along with the prices for the travel and entrance package.

Prices in UKP.

Bristol       - 15
Ipswich       - 13
Oxford        - 13.50
Manchester    - 23
Milton Keynes - 13.50
Derby         - 18
Wakefield     - 22
Welwyn Garden - 13

Prices are based on a coach of 30 people travelling on the Saturday.  Where
there are not sufficient numbers to fill a coach, coaches may pickup from
multiple locations en route, or places may be offered out to non-user group
members.

Booking details have yet to be arranged, but will probably be coordinated
from the AAUG website.  Note: these special packages cannot be booked via the
booking hotline number.


ii. Three day pass
==================
Acorn are allowing user group members to purchase a three-day pass for the
show.  This allows you to come and go as you please over the three days -
something which overseas visitors might like to take advantage of to make
their expensive travel more worthwhile.

The cost for this special pass is 12ukp (10ukp for children), which
represents a saving of over 15ukp on the standard ticket prices.

Anyone who wishes to order this pass please send a cheque (or Sterling
equivalent) made out to "Acorn Computers Limited" for the correct amount,
stating which user group they are a member of, to:

  Miss E A Harvey
  Acorn Computers Ltd
  Acorn House
  645 Newmarket Road
  Cambridge
  CB5 8PB
  UK

Please ensure that you state which user group you are a member of, otherwise
your application will be rejected.

Deadline for purchasing the three day pass is 30th September.


iii. Free admission
===================
Acorn are looking for volunteers to help 'police' the Acorn Museum exhibit.

This will involve donating a few hours of your time at the show to 'stand
guard' on the exhibit.  In return for this, Acorn are offering FREE ADMISSION
(and will maybe throw in an Acorn t-shirt) to those who volunteer!

Again, this offer is open initially to user group members only.  Anyone
interested should e-mail me stating which day you are attending and which
user group you are a member of (ARM Club, DARC etc) to add yourself to the
list.

A rota of volunteers will be appearing on the AAUG website soon.


iv. Accomodation wanted
=======================
The AAUG is coordinating a list of 'cheap and cheerful' (ie. spare beds,
sofas and floors) accommodation that people who are travelling to the show
from abroad, or from further afield in the UK, can use if travelling home the
same day is not possible.  (People may also wish to take advantage of the
three day pass, and therefore need somewhere to stay)

So, if anyone in the London or surrounding areas (Essex, Kent, Croydon,
Surrey etc) can offer a spare room or sofa for one or more of the evenings of
the show weekend, please email AAUG directly and I will add you to the list.


v. User groups at the show
==========================
This year, for the first time, the AAUG will be coordinating a 'User Group
Village' to complement the many other special attractions already arranged
for the show.  This is an opportunity for any Acorn-related user group to
promote themselves, free of charge, at this year's show.  Any interested user
groups who have not yet registered their interest should contact AAUG ASAP(!)

Acorn World details
===================
For more details on Acorn World, see:

  http://www.argonet.co.uk/acornworld98/

For more details on all the Acorn user groups, including these admission and
transport offers, visit the AAUG website at:

  http://www.argonet.co.uk/scs/AAUG/


2) News from FrAUG

Fraug is The French Acorn User Group

Now on the Fraug website:

  * A new version of !Transact by Benoit Gilon
  * Examples which illustrate the implementation of preemptive
    multi-threading (also by Benoit)

Fraug's website contains 3MB of true RISC OS software.

E-mail:  [e-mail]
Web   :  http://www.mygale.org/~fraug/


3) LAUG meeting

The Liverpool Acorn User Group's next meeting will be on Tuesday, 8th
September, at 7.30pm.

The venue is their usual meeting place:

  Acorn Computer Lab
  Birkenhead Boys School
  Bidston Road
  Oxton
  Birkenhead
  Wirral

This month the meeting features a presentation by Andrew Rawnsley of RCi.

He will talk about their role in the reawakened Acorn games market, dealing
with the major games companies such as ID Software, and what's involved in
the conversions.  A preview of the Acorn World / Xmas releases.

Games being demo'd will be their current titles:

  * Doom Trilogy - inc. Ultimate Doom, Doom II and the Doom Master Levels
  * Syndicate
  * Abuse

He will also have their new games - Descent & Heros of Magic 2

Following the games presentation there will be a follow-up to last month's
meeting on Acorn-PC networking, which included VNCviewer.

All welcome (admission 1.50ukp for non-members).  Ample free car parking.

All LAUG meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the above
venue.  Future LAUG meetings will be on: 13th October, 10th November and
8th December.




How to Send in News
-------------------

To send in your news items, simply include the following information, and
send it to:

  [e-mail]

Or use the website form.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

First name:
Surname:
E-mail address:
Text of news item:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------




*** End of ANS - Issue 15 ***

*** Updated: Thu 17th September 1998 ***