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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 22 14 December 1998 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| To send in your news items or comments, use the ANS website, |
| or e-mail them to ans@acornusers.org. |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Random site this issue: http://www.astutegrfx.demon.co.uk/cerilica/ |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| >>>> Nearing the 600 subscribers mark! <<<< |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Contents
--------
1) Editorial
2) General News
3) Commercial News
4) PD/Shareware News
5) Club News
6) ANS information
Editorial
---------
Last issue, we reported how pleased we were that we had hit the 500 member
mark. This issue we're nearly up to 600 members!
First of all, season greetings to all ANS members. Have a great holiday!
I'm not sure if we'll get another issue of ANS out on the 27th, but we'll
see. We're sure you'll understand if we don't get around to it.
James has now kindly taken on a large proportion of the putting together
of ANS. Thank you very much James. He basically edits ANS, whilst I look
after other matters.
We're sure that this issue will once again provide you with some valuable
information. Don't forget that he new classified ads section on the ANS
site. Look out for some more announcements about the new Discussion List.
Testing of this list should be complete soon.
You may have noticed that we have now started using our new sub domain.
The old addresses still work, but please try and get into the habit of
using our new sub domain. This sub domain only applies to e-mail
addresses, and not the website address.
Besides for that, keep on checking the Phoenix information site
<http://www.acornusers.org/phoenix/> for news, and have a great Holiday!
Eytan Abrahams
eytan@ans.acornusers.org
General News
------------
1) ANS Classified ads
We recently announced a new classified ads service, available on the ANS
website <http://www.acornusers.org/ans/features/classifieds/>. Some of the
current items include:
For sale:
* Acorn 586 100MHz card - GBP260.
* A540 with ARM3 and SCSI drive - GBP400.
* Aleph 1 486 podule - GBP120.
* A540 4MB RAM module - GBP70.
* StrongARM RiscPC, 486, SCSI, NIC, CD ROM, etc.
* HCCS Video Digitiser - GBP40.
* Also ScanLite256 grayscale scanner, two A4 portables, and RiscPC 700.
Wanted:
* RiscPC second slice.
* A5000+ or RiscPC 600.
* Syquest EZ flyer SCSI.
See http://www.acornusers.org/ans/features/classifieds/ for details or to
post your own for sale or wanted notice.
2) Acorn developments
The Steering Group posted an announcement saying they were again
negotiating with Acorn. Extracts appear below and the full text is at
http://www.acornusers.org/phoenix/announcements/steeringgroup3.html
"Despite the apparent lack of progress following the announcement that the
Steering Group was stepping back from negotiations with Acorn, a lot of
effort has been put in to plan for the possible alternatives to the
outcome of the negotiations between Acorn and Dutch company."
"A meeting was held between the committee and Acorn on Wednesday 25th
November at which Acorn outlined the current position with respect to the
Dutch company and other related negotiations."
"This proposal centres around the establishment of a new company to
market, license and develop RISC OS 4. It regrettably does not involve the
resurrection of Phoebe Risc PC 2."
3) Acorn Counter Updates
There is now a new version of the Acorn web hits counter, with a faster
single graphic and better statistics output. Everyone using the counter
will need to switch over to the new markup.
To generate the required HTML or to find out more about the counter have a
look at http://the.hypermart.net/acorn/counter/
4) Acorn FAQ changeover
After maintaining the Acorn FAQ for 9 years, Philip Banks has handed over
the job to Paul Vigay. Along with countless other Acorn users, ANS would
like to thank Philip Banks for much valuable work which has helped
thousands of people.
5) Acorn User RC5 Group in top 500
The Acorn User Cracking Group for the worldwide RC5 contest recently
reached the top 500, and is now at 409. There are now over 200 members and
over 18000 blocks were completed yesterday, earning the team a place in
the daily top 100.
From now onwards it will be harder to climb up the charts, so the group
are looking to recruit more members to the team. All this will involve is
you running a client on your computer in the background while you do other
tasks.
For details see http://www.alphapro.demon.co.uk/Acorn/rc5des.html or check
http://rc5stats.distributed.net/cgi/tmsummary.idc?TM=4266 to see where the
team is ranked.
6) AcornSite update
AcornSite has been updated making it easier to use and more links, PD
software links and e-mail addresses have been added. If you have not yet
added your Acorn related site then please do, as the aim of AcornSite is
to provide a list of as many Acorn Sites as possible.
This month also sees the addition of an address page and a telephone page.
If you are part of an Acorn company, developer, dealer or anything else
Acorn related and you would like to add your address or phone number, just
fill in the form on the page.
Site Of the Month has been updated so take a look at that to see if your
site has made it into the top ten. http://www.argonet.co.uk/acornsite/
Commercial News
---------------
1) New Digital Camera for RISC OS
Interconnex are pleased to announce the availability of Mustek's newest
digital camera - the VDC300 - for RISC OS users.
The VDC300 captures images at 640x480 resolution, in three different
quality levels. All images are stored with 24bpp (16 million colours). It
stores 46 images at economy quality, 20 at standard quality and 8 at high
quality. A standard CF slot is provided for Compact Flash memory cards up
to 32MB (32MB allows 736 economy images, 320 standard images).
The camera has a flash (with "red-eye reduction") and an LCD panel
(colour, 45mm) to review and manage your shots. You can also under- or
over- expose shots, and adjust the white balance for different lighting
conditions.
RISC OS connectivity is provided by Interconnex' Iris application. Iris
allows the user to browse thumbnails and further adjust the brightness,
contrast and colour balance. Images can be saved as Sprites or JPEGs. Iris
works with the standard serial port, and is compatible with serial port
podules. Iris requires a machine with 4MB RAM and RISC OS 3.1 or later.
The package includes all the software & cables that you need, along with a
carry case and mains PSU. The current price of the VDC300, including Iris
software, is just GBP199.95 (inc). For orders placed after 5th January
1999, please add GBP10.00 P&P.
Further details can be found on the Interconnex web site at
http://www.interconnex.co.uk/
2) Yellowstone RapIDE update
A small patch for RapIDE is now available to download from Yellowstone
<http://www.yellowstone.co.uk/>. This patch is provided to combat a
problem which emerged with RISC OS 3.7 and (IBM)PC Pro 3. If the icons for
the drives on your RapIDE interface are missing on power up, try this
update.
3) Relaunch of Acorn User Online
After many weeks of work, the new design of Acorn User Online has now been
unveiled at http://www.acornuser.com/
The new site at present contains details about the latest issue, as well
as the back catalogue from 1995 onwards. Online editions of all the
regular features will be coming soon, and all the details regarding back
issues, subscriptions, and distribution are now available.
The site is HTML 4.0 compliant. Very little graphics are used, to improve
download speed. The emphasis is on content, not fluff. If only more web
site designers thought like this.
Also Acorn User availability information has been collated and is online
at http://www.acornuser.com/issues/avail.html
If you find copies of Acorn User in areas of the country (or outside the
UK if possible) not included on the map, Acorn User would like you to
contact them so it can be added to the list.
4) North-East Acorn Dealer
Despite the difficulties and upheavals of the last few months Dixon and
Dixon, Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, have committed themselves to the
support and sale of Acorn products and peripherals. Also they have
recently taken on Dave Hardingham, formally of HCCS, who is now in charge
of the repair department.
Dixon & Dixon have been made one of the new Centres of Technology and
assure the Acorn users of the North-East that having been involved with
Acorn products for 18 years, they will be around for a long time yet!
5) HTMLPro: OvationPro HTML conversion software
The latest version (1.051) of HTML conversion software for OvationPro,
HTMLPro, is now available. At the moment it will handle Drawfiles,
Sprites, Eureka ImpOLE files, Tablemate files and almost all functions
that OvationPro can throw at it. It currently only allows links to be
added to graphics, but an applet for Ovation that will allow you to add
links to the text is being developed.
HTMLPro also includes TransGIF, SmallWeb, and TransHTML. A single user
license GBP40, site licences are also available. Contact: e-mail
software@levens.co.uk, telephone 0500 121242 or fax 0500 131288.
6) Computer Concepts slashes prices for Christmas 1998
Computer Concepts has slashed its prices for the festive season, so
there's no better time to buy all those products that have perhaps been
just that little bit difficult to justify... or maybe you need a present
for the person who has everything.
Just make sure you act quickly, because the following prices are only
valid until Christmas 1998, after which they will revert to normal.
Save up to 50% off the recommended price on the following hardware items,
but only if you buy before Christmas:
* ScanLight 256 GBP65 (normally GBP99)
* ScanLight Video 256 GBP65 (normally GBP129)
* GreyHawk GBP65 (normally GBP89)
* Midi Max GBP65 (normally GBP69)
* Chroma Genlock 4 or 5 GBP65 (normally GBP100)
* Lark (while stocks last) GBP99 (normally GBP135)
Also save up to 25% on Computer Concepts' most popular software titles,
but hurry, this offer ends at Christmas:
* ArtWorks (floppy version) GBP74.25 (normally GBP99)
* Impression Style GBP59.25 (normally GBP79)
* Impression Publisher GBP96.75 (normally GBP129)
* Impression Publisher Plus GBP171.75 (normally GBP229)
* AudioWorks GBP15 (normally GBP29)
* WordWorks GBP15 (normally GBP29)
* Compression GBP15 (normally GBP29)
* Graphics Loaders GBP15 (normally GBP29)
* RTF Loaders & Savers GBP15 (normally GBP29)
* Clip Art CD 1 & 2 GBP10 (normally GBP19) each
All prices exclude VAT. More information can be found on the Computer
Concepts web site at http://www.cconcepts.co.uk/
PD/Shareware News
-----------------
1) Cop, a simple statement inserter
Cop is a freeware statement inserter. Simple statements can be loaded in
the form 'He can...', gender can be changed and a name inserted. It was
originally developed to help staff with statementing etc. Cop is now
available from http://www.llamas.demon.co.uk/
Originally written in 1994 it has gone through many incarnations. For
those working in a special needs environment their is a version that works
with the Speak module.
2) Ghostscript 5 and PSUtils now available.
Ghostscript 5 and the latest version of PSUtils are now available. Full
details are at http://www.acornusers.org/ghostscript/ and the files are
available at ftp://ftp.acornusers.org/pub/utils/postscript/
Ghostscript is Aladdin version 5.10 and incorporates pretty much all of
the devices available - it can output as PDF, PS, PNG, JPEG, PCX, PBM etc.
It also works with GView.
PSUtils is improved from the copy on HENSA, and also the copy distributed
by Mike Williams after the short article about it in an issue of Acorn
Publisher. (Various annoying habits of the previous versions have been
tidied up).
3) Electronic component database software
Cbase, a new freeware database program, is now available for electronics
designers and tinkerers. It aims to provide an interface for databases of
electronic components. It has a sorted index with incremental search and
includes package diagrams with pinout information. Hyperlinks to other
components is also supported.
At present it has a reasonable transistor database (about 4500 BJTs and
FETs) and rather skimpy diode and voltage regulator databases. The
databases are easily maintainable with a text editor and anyone wishing to
expand them or, of course, add new ones is encouraged to do so!
Go to http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/rickh/software/cbase.html for details
and to download Cbase.
4) New version of DigitalCD music player and audio animations
Version 2.36 of the CD player utility DigitalCD, is now available from
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/4471/ with skin selection
from the Choices window, keyboard shortcuts and a brand new version of the
TimPlayer module (Volume ramping, Dynamic Gain Control, Balance, Stereo
Separation, restored compatibility with ARM6 16-bit mode and A5000).
Also available are sound driven animations from Michael Kubel: a new
version of AudioFire and the two new applications AudioCircles and
AudioBump. Take a look in the RISC OS section of
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/4471/
5) PhoenixOS
PhoenixOS is a desktop and application framework written in Java. Apps
written in Java run on a Java desktop which takes over the entire screen
of a computer. It will run on any machine which has a Java 2 (aka JDK 1.2)
virtual machine, which will hopefully soon include the RiscPC.
PhoenixOS is NOT a full operating system, it still needs an OS underneath,
but the OS has little to do. Applications written in Java are managed and
launched from PhoenixOS and communicate with each other via PhoenixOS.
PhoenixOS includes a file viewer and several standard applications.
PhoenixOS also provides a framework for writing applications, including
commands (with full undo/redo), standard capabilities like icon bar
loading, help, scripting, application update and configuration.
Currently the project is at about the "Arthur" level, it shows potential
but is not yet ready for serious use. The author, Mike Atkinson
<mike@ladyshot.demon.co.uk>, is looking for feedback from Acorn users
to see if the project is worth continuing with, and if so what sort of
features people want.
For more information on PhoenixOS, screen shots, and downloads, see
http://www.ladyshot.demon.co.uk/PhoenixOS.html
6) Delirium 2.20 Released
Kulture are pleased to announce that Version 2.20 of Delirium is now
available from http://www.various-artists.demon.co.uk/delirium/
Delirium is a highly configurable screen saver with Demo-style effects. It
has been designed to get the most out of high spec computers, and so a
StrongARM RiscPC with VRAM is recommended.
New in this version is a password protection system for locking your
screen. There are also quite a few other little tweaks and improvements.
Club News
---------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Brought to you 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) New AUG for Lincolnshire area
A new Acorn User Group is being established for the Lincolnshire area. The
group consists initially of mostly RiscPC users, but includes some with
A3000 and BBC models too, and has members of diverse ages from Lincoln,
Boston, Spalding, and Grantham areas.
The group anticipate joining the AAUG in the near future, which has
associated benefits, including a discount scheme. If you are interested in
joining to share your expertise, gain assistance from others, etc, then
please send an e-mail to either Dave Dunn <dedunn@argonet.co.uk> or Peter
Neal <pneal@argonet.co.uk>.
2) Southampton Acorn Users Group meeting
The last 1998 meeting of the Southampton Acorn Users Group will take place
on Monday 14th December 1998, on the first floor of Itchen College, Middle
Road, Sholing, Southampton, between 19:00 and 21:00. Admission is entirely
free. Come along, and bring friends!
For further information, and even possible transport, please contact
either Dave Higton, e-mail davehigton@arcade.demon.co.uk, on Arcade BBS as
David Higton, or 'phone 01703 222312 (evenings/weekends); or Ted Lacey,
e-mail tedell@argonet.co.uk, 01703 325560.
3) Bondar to Visit DARC
For their December meeting, on Monday 14th Dec, the Derbyshire Acorn Risc
Club have Peter Bondar, Acorn's Ex CEO coming to talk about Acorn and
hopefully the future of Phoebe and RISC OS.
DARC will also be selling raffle tickets for a Christmas hamper and there
will be an auction for a Cannon BJ30 printer.
So, if you want to find out more about the Acorn story, win a hamper or
walk away with a BJ30 come along to the DARC meeting on Monday 14th Dec.
There is ample FREE car parking and refreshments are served at the
meetings.
Single membership costs GBP15, and family membership is GBP20. This
includes a monthly newsletter, printed or electronic, a discount scheme,
and access to a large PD library.
For details see http://homepages.enterprise.net/julianp/darc/ or email
Chris Dawson <chris@seador.demon.co.uk>.
ANS Information
---------------
1) Credits
Editor - Eytan Abrahams - eytan@acornusers.org
Sub-Editor - James Sears - james@acornusers.org
Webmaster - Stephen Courtney - stephen@ans.acornusers.org
Sub-Webmaster - Peter Price - peter@ans.acornusers.org
Life-Webmaster - Richard Hesketh - richard@acornusers.org
ADL Moderator - Paul Johnson - paul@ans.acornusers.org
2) How to send in news
To send in your news items simply include the information below and send
it to ans@acornusers.org. Alternatively use the form on the ANS website at
http://www.acornusers.org/ANS/newsdesk.html
First name:
Surname:
E-mail address:
Text of news item:
3) How to subscribe to ANS
If you are reading this on the ANS web site, or have received a forwarded
copy of ANS and would like to subscribe to the mailing list, simply send
an e-mail to majordomo@lists.barnet.ac.uk with the text "subscribe ans"
(without quotes) in the body.
4) Fetching web pages via e-mail
If you do not have web access you can fetch any URL referenced in ANS by
using the KFS web by e-mail service. To use this free service send an
e-mail to www@kfs.org with the subject header "send <URL>". For example to
fetch the web by e-mail service information page send an e-mail like this:
From: youraddress@example.com
To: www@kfs.org
Subject: send http://www.kfs.org/web-by-mail.html
------------ Acorn News Service, http://www.acornusers.org/ans/ ------------