Archive Magazine 1995/ARCHIVE95.iso/text/products/volume_07/issue_02

Text File | 1995-02-16 | 16KB | 284 lines

Products Available
Å    A4000S upgrade pack Ö Following the Cumana/SEMERC collaboration in
producing the A4000S package which enables overlay keyboards, switch
boxes, control equipment and turtles to be connected to the computer as
well as offering further expansion for SLCD, MIDI, SCSI and IDE, they
have released a hardware and software pack. This pack will upgrade a
standard A4000 to the A4000S. The upgrade comprises the EMU base board
and seven 1.6Mb floppies of software, ready for transfer to the hard
disc. The total cost is ú119 +VAT. A number of Acorn dealers have been
on SEMERCæs special needs training courses so if you want expert advice,
ring Acornæs special needs department and ask them who your nearest
trained dealer is.
7.2
Å    Acorn PC cards Ö The Acorn PC386 and PC486 cards for the A3020 and
A4000 have been dropped in price by ú50 and the combined prices of
A4000/PC card systems has dropped by more than ú100. The new RRP for the
1Mb 386 board is ú225 +VAT, ú425 +VAT for the 4Mb 486. (Archive prices
are ú255 and ú480 respectively.) The software has also been updated to
improve interaction between RISC OS and DOS/Windows when they are run
simultaneously.
7.2
Å Acorn PC cards 2 Ö The enhanced software is available to existing
owners free of charge by returning the original Acorn PC Card software
and Windows driver where supplied, along with your name and address in
an envelope clearly marked öPC Card Upgradeò to Customer Services, Acorn
Computers Limited, Acorn House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridge, CB4 4AE.
7.2
Å    AI CD-ROM Ö The Network Cybernetics Corporation has announced the
release of this CD through Lambda Publications. A large assortment of
software related to Artificial Intelligence and other topics is included
along with the text of research papers and tutorials, in a variety of
formats. Specific topics include Expert Systems, Neural Networks,
Genetic Algorithms, Fuzzy Logic, Linguistics/Natural Language, Robotics,
Virtual Reality, Artificial Life/Evolution Simulations, Machine Vision,
Prolog, Lisp/XLisp. Executables for some machines are included, as is
the source code so that programs can be recompiled on new platforms. The
cost is ú80 per disc + p&p from Lambda Publications.
7.2
Å    AppFS Ö The network application from Angelsoft has been increased in
price from ú100 + VAT to ú130 + VAT. A full site licence is still
included in the price.
7.2
Å    ART20 is a sprite-based art package which brings öfine art facilities
to the Archimedes at a fraction of the price of other recent art
packagesò. Painting is done outside the desktop but with easy return to
an unaltered desktop. ART20 costs ú60 inclusive from Tekoa Graphics. An
education site licence costs ú120 inclusive.
7.2
Å    Aztecs Ö This educational adventure from Sherston Software includes
resource materials such as posters, help cards and challenge cards. The
aim is to survive in Aztec times, learning as much as possible about the
Aztec people. It can be used as the centre piece to a class topic, or
simply on its own. The price is ú39.95 + VAT from Sherston or ú37
through Archive.
7.2
Å    Cars Ö Maths in Motion Ö This is a very interesting educational Grand
Prix simulation program. It is aimed at both young children and adults
and has ömany educational opportunitiesò covering percentages,
multiplication, division, simple geometry, scale drawing, modelling,
probability, ratios, strategy and logical thinking. This is available
from Cambridgeshire Software House (note the new address in the
Factfile) for ú49.95 +VAT and carriage.
7.2
Å    Computer Holidays Ö PGL Adventure, the well-known activity holiday
company, are offering IT Advantage holidays for 8 to 13 year olds in
1994. These holidays, to be held at PGLæs Marchant Hill centre in
Surrey, will combine computing (using all Acorn equipment!) and various
adventure activities. Contact PGL for more details Ö and tell them you
read about it in Archive magazine!
7.2
Å    Explorer Ö A new National Curriculum teaching aid designed to enhance
project work on the Solar System. It is a game where the player (or
players, as group involvement is recommended) must explore all planets
in the solar system with the aid of probes. During exploration, the
children will have to discover a variety of facts about the planets and
their moons. It is produced by Alpine Software at ú30 +VAT.
7.2
Å    First Steps in Programming Acorn RISC OS Computers Ö A companion book
for öA Beginners Guide to WIMP Programmingò, and also by Martyn Fox, it
is aimed at people who have only just purchased an Acorn machine and
have no experience of programming, or are finding it difficult. Basic is
used and a full reference section is included for VDU and PLOT codes and
for keywords. The price is ú14.95 + p&p from Sigma Press or ú15 through
Archive.
7.2
Å    Formula Fun Ö A four player top view driving game over several
different courses from Mystery Software. All four players are shown on
screen simultaneously and is compatible with the new Four joystick
interface. The price is ú14.99 inclusive from Mystery Software.
7.2
Å    IBM Keyboard and Mouse Interface Ö Supplied by the Serial Port for ú89
+VAT, it allows you to connect a PC keyboard and mouse to your
Archimedes. Any standard PC/AT keyboard can be used as well as a variety
of PC keyboard devices including barcode scanners, magnetic card readers
and PC 3-button serial or bus mice. The Acorn mouse can also be
connected. The interface also allows up to 4 Atari-style joysticks to be
connected. Each can be programmed to emulate any key or combination,
making it compatible with all games. There is no Joystick control
software needed. Software supplied allows key mappings for PC keyboard
scan codes to Archimedes keys, with different mappings for modifier keys
(e.g. shift).
7.2
Å    James Pond 2 Ö RoboCod Ö This conversion is the sequel to James Pond
but is said to have many improvements and new features to make it
enjoyable even for those who played the original. It is available from
GamesWare (the conversion was done by Eclipse) for ú25.99 inc VAT or ú24
through Archive.
7.2
Å    Keyboard Trainer Ö No, itæs not a typing tutor but Minerva Softwareæs
new music program. It is öan exciting new way of learning how to play
the electronic keyboard and to read musicò. The program requires a 1Mb
RISCáOS computer with Midi interface and will work with the Yamaha PSS
and PSR keyboards with Midi, plus most of the popular Midi keyboards and
synths. This costs ú69.95 +VAT from Minerva or ú87 through Archive.
7.2
Å    KlienFS Ö This is another compression utility, for any Acorn machine
with RISC OS 3 (since it uses the Squash module). It offers a full
filing system, and creates files like those produced by the squash
application. This means that compressed files are readable even if you
do not have the KlienFS. The fact that it is a filing system, however,
means that it offers a far more user-friendly interface than using
Squash. The price is ú17.95 inclusive from PTW Software.
7.2
Å    Laser Direct prices slashed!!! Ö Over ú350 off the price of the Laser
Direct Hires 8, plus a free copy of Impression 2 is what I call öprices
slashedò! Computer Concepts are really trying to attack the Mac market
in a big way. This is shown by the range of new DTP products mentioned
in the Acorn World 93 preview on page 9 but they are also doing this
special offer on Laser Directs. The Hires 8 is now selling for ú1099 +
ú15 carriage +VAT or ú1280 through Archive including carriage. The Hires
4 is ú799 + ú10 carriage +VAT or ú925 through Archive including
carriage. The free Impression offer is also available through Archive
but only up to 31st December 1993.
7.2
Å    Ludwig van Beethoven Overture, Egmont Ö Angelsoft Educational have
produced an electronic book concerned mainly with the Egmont overture.
It also contains background information on Beethovenæs life and works.
It was created using the ÉGenesisæ application, so pages can be printed
out as permanent records, and if you have a CD-ROM drive and the correct
CD, the musical pieces can be played. The pupils can be tested by using
the enclosed !BeetQuiz which asks questions based on the information.
The cost is ú25 +VAT from Angelsoft.
7.2
Å    More Naughty Stories Ö The second volume of Sherston Softwareæs
Talking Books entitled öMore Naughty Storiesò is now available for ú9.95
+VAT for individual stories or ú47.75 +VAT for the set of six. The
titles are Bobby the Boastful Bird, Clarence the Clumsy Cat, Derekæs
Dopey Dinosaur, Gordonæs Groovy Granny, Lucy the Little Liar and
Tasminæs Terrible Tantrums. The set of six is ú55 through Archive.
7.2
Å    Morpheus Ö As indicated by the name this is a morphing package,
costing ú34.95 inc VAT from Oregan Software Developments or ú33 through
Archive. Morphing first leapt into public consciousness in the Michael
Jackson video öBlack and Whiteò (although that was certainly not the
first time it was seen). It is a method of changing one image into
another but, unlike a simple fade, more account is made of the contents
of the image through the definition of a grid. The package will work on
256 colour sprites (including 256 shades of grey) or 24-bit clear files
(as produced by Translator), multitasking on the desktop, and supports
Acorn Replay. This will be reviewed next month.
7.2
Å    Nexus Junior Ö An important networking solution for schools, or any
other small installation of Acorn machines has been released by SJ
Research. The package includes four Nexus Junior expansion cards, a
Nexus Junior router, cables and software. It is aimed at locations
where, currently, software is loaded from local hard drives or floppies
but a more centralised system is wanted. Up to four machines, one of
which must have a hard drive can be connected through one router box.
The machine with the hard drive acts as a server, and the hard drive
appears to all machines as if it were resident locally as a read-only
drive. This means that files are protected from accidental deletion, and
only one machine needs to be updated with new software. Any files
produced locally can be saved to floppy to allow pupils to keep their
own work. Currently, there is a special introductory price of ú399 +VAT
for the four-computer pack, or ú599 including a visit to have the system
installed and an on-site training course. (Nexus Junior is also
available through Archive. Please ring for details.)
7.2
Å    Notes Ö Those of you who use sticky notes to keep track of your life
will be pleased to know that, thanks to the Really Good Software
Company, they are now available for your Archimedes. They can be stored
within the Notes application or put on discs as free-standing
applications. As well as being used as a notepad, there is a facility to
attach notes to specific files, causing them to be displayed when the
file is loaded or run. The cost is ú9.95 inclusive from RGSC.
7.2
Å    Observess Ö The first Expert System shell for the Acorn RISC OS
machine. It is fully desktop compatible and incorporates an IF ... THEN
... rule structure with up to three conditions. Support for percentage-
based certainty factors on facts and rules, and single or multiple
recommendations based on the certainty factors. The price is ú20 (no
VAT), or ú2 (refundable on purchase of the full version) for a
demonstration run-time system, from Rebecca Shalfield.
7.2
Å    Pocket Book special SPECIAL offer Ö Having extended the Pocket Book
special offer of ú199.99 up until 31st December, Acorn are now doing a
very special Acorn World 93 price of ú149.95. If you want one at this
price, you have to come to the show Ö we will have them available on the
Norwich Computer Services stand. (It would be worth ringing us to
reserve one as soon as possible. Ed.)
7.2
Å    PowerPad Ö This is a hardware modification which plugs into the
printer port of any Acorn 32-bit machine to give one or two joy-pads.
There are 6 fire buttons and a four-way thumb control pad, and software
is included to enable it to support the Acorn Joystick standard or
emulate keys for those games which do not know about joysticks. The
price is ú29.99 inc VAT for the single pad. The two pad price has not
yet been fixed and can be purchased from GamesWare.
7.2
Å    ProArtisan 2 Ö Clares have now released version 2 of ProArtisan at
ú135 inc VAT. It has a range of new features including texture brushes
(rattan, basket, dimple, slate, stone, canvas, etc) and special effects
such as smudge, dopple (Pointilist technique), smear and diffuse. There
is a special upgrade price from Clares of ú67.50 if you return your copy
of an earlier Artisan program or ú87.50 if you return to them any other
art package costing ú35 or more. The Archive price is ú120.
7.2
Å    Quark Ö A new shoot-em-up game from Oregan Software Developments,
priced at ú24.95 or ú23 through Archive. Features include one or two
players, 16 zones, 8 stereo soundtracks and öslippery smooth scrollingò.
7.2
Å    Revolution Ö Two new CD-ROM drives from Morley Electronics. Both are
compatible with all CD discs for RISC OS and DOS format (the latter
through emulation) as well as Kodak Photo CD. They are also fully
multisession and the cheaper of the two, Revolution, costs ú299 +VAT +
carriage from Morley or ú355 through Archive. If you want data transfer
rates of over 300Kb/s then Revolution Pro is ú439 +VAT + carriage from
Morley or ú510 through Archive.
7.2
Å    Rephorm Ö Another morphing package, this time from Oak Solutions. It
can create Ace film files as used by Projector (which is also supplied)
and Splice which can be used to edit films produced. Other features are
non-linear motion and colour control, options for fades and wipes and
support for 16 and 24-bit images. The price is ú49.95 + ú2 p&p and VAT
or ú56 through Archive.
7.2
Å    Schedule for the Pocket Book Ö Err, yes... it is now actually
available and the special price of ú19 through Archive has been extended
up to the end of December 1993. Sorry for the delay but öthe first ones
produced failed quality controlò.
7.2
Å    Sound Advice Ö The new 24-track sequencer for the Archimedes produced
by The Really Small Software Company was reviewed last month in the
Music Column (7.1 p50). Stewart Watson was obviously quite impressed, so
we have decided to sell it through Archive for ú38.
7.2
Å    Tales of Lore Ö This game, recently released by UK Soft, has already
had a price change, the current RRP is ú24.95 inc VAT.
7.2
Å    The Missing Dinosaur Bone Ö An educational adventure game in which the
children aim to find the stolen exhibit of the title. Language and
mathematical puzzles offer challenges to be overcome, all of which are
based around the Éliving thingsæ theme. Digitised images and sprites are
used to enhance the software. Also included in the package is an
ÉAnimals & Habitatsæ resource disc with sprites of 80 animals and 10
habitats created with !Paint, a teachers guide, a curriculum activity
booklet, user guides and two activity sheets. The cost is ú25 +VAT from
Angelsoft Educational.
7.2
Å    The Tudors Ö This set of two clipart discs contains 50 draw format
files. It covers several aspects of Tudor Life, including monarchs and
people, buildings, furniture, ships, punishment, weapons, musical
instruments. It costs ú15 +VAT from Angelsoft Educational.
7.2
Å    Twilight Ö Recently upgraded by the Really Good Software Company, this
package is designed as an enhanced version of the RISC OS 3 screen
protector. Instead of a blank screen, any of 17 different effects can be
displayed to prevent damage to the monitor screen. As well as activating
after a certain time, blanking can be manually induced, and to restrict
access to your machine while you are away, a password can be entered,
without which the blanker cannot be disengaged. Two versions are
available, a demo for ú5 or the full program for ú14.95 inclusive (the
demo cost is deductible if you decide to upgrade to the full version).
7.2
Å    Xenon 2 Ö Another product released by GamesWare/Eclipse, this shoot-
em-up has had great success on other formats and features a soundtrack
from öBomb the Bassò. The retail price is ú25.99 of ú24 through Archive.
7.2
Å    X-Stitch Designer Ö Version 3 of this package has now been released in
Archimedes format. It has many features including move and copy,
reflection, rotation, half stitch and backstitch. The cost is ú36 inc
VAT from IL-Soft.
7.2