Archive Magazine 1995/ARCHIVE95.iso/text/products/volume_08/issue_03

Text File | 1995-02-16 | 26KB | 467 lines

Å  10 out of 10 Driving TestáÖáLearn, revise or test your knowledge of
the essential facts of driving with this program from 4th Dimension.
There are six categories of trivia questions about road signs and
driving knowledge or you can try the thousands of questions in the suite
without using the games. 10 out of 10 Driving Test costs ú25.95
inclusive from 4th Dimension or ú24 through Archive.
8.3
Å  24-Bit Digitiser Ö Irlam instruments have produced a very high
quality multimedia capture tool Ö the 24i16 offers 24-bit image capture
and 16-bit sound sampling. The board is available for ú359 +VAT with a
512Kb framestore or ú399 +VAT with a full 1Mb framestore.
8.3
Å  105Mb SCSI SyQuest removable drivesáÖáOne of our suppliers is
currently over-stocked on these drives and the cartridges and is selling
them off until his stock levels are somewhat reduced. We can sell the
105Mb SCSI internals for ú290 (normally ú370), the external 105Mb drives
for ú350 (normally ú450) and the spare cartridges are currently ú55 each
(normally ú70). This applies while his stocks last, so please ring if
you are interested in one. All prices are inclusive of VAT, carriage and
fitting kit (where necessary) and each drive includes one cartridge.
8.3
Å  270Mb SCSI SyQuest removable drivesáÖáWe have just found a new
supplier of 270Mb SyQuest drives who is giving us better prices. We can
now sell the 270Mb SCSI internals for ú420 (was ú490) including one
cartridge, the external 270Mb drives for ú490 (was ú550) and the spare
cartridges are currently ú70 each (was ú90). All prices are inclusive of
VAT, carriage and fitting kit (where necessary) and each drive includes
one cartridge.
8.3
Å  ABC of Art is a set of clipart drawn using Artworks and available in
Artworks or Draw format. The series has reached H, i.e. there are eight
so far and there will be new discs released roughly every two months.
The price of each disc is ú6 inclusive from ABC Art.
8.3
Å  ACB15/25 second slicesáÖáOwners of single slice RiscáPCs will be
pleased to hear that we have second case slices available from stock at
ú116 each. As well as the actual case slice, you get the extra length
fitting pins, a four-way backplane and a brand new power supply to
increase the loading capacity of your computer. This means that you will
then be able to fit up to four expansion cards, an extra 5╝ö storage
unit Ö such as a CD-ROM drive Ö and an extra 3╜ò storage unit such as a
105 Mb or 270 Mb removable drive unit. (The 105Mb SCSI internals are on
special offer at the moment at ú290 including one cartridge, and the
spare cartridges are currently ú55 each Ö see above.)
8.3
Å  Apple FS from Oregan allows Apple Macintosh floppy discs to be read
from and written to on an Acorn computer. Both high and low density
floppy formats are supported although not the original variable-speed
floppy format and not, as yet, SCSI hard drives. AppleFS costs ú59.95
inc VAT from Oregan Developments.
8.3
Å  Aries ù a new games compendium from Gamesware, including Hamsters
(arcade adventure), Quizmaster (quiz!), Blowpipe (arcade/shoot æem up)
and Square Route (puzzle), giving a range of game types. The price is
ú29.95 from Gamesware or ú28 through Archive.
8.3
Å  Archive mousematáÖáThe new mousemats are here! I hope that some of
you will have been able to pick one up at Acorn World 94 but, if not,
they are available from NCS for ú5 each. They have antistatic plastic
tops with non-slip rubber base. The actual design of the mat is shown
overleaf.
8.3
Reports from the thousands of Archive subscribers who got a new one are
generally good. Some say it makes their mouse go faster although I canæt
quite see how that can be. Some, however, say that their mouse slips on
these mats so, be warned, if your mouse is one of those with a
plasticised (cream-coloured) ball, these mats are not for you!
(Alternatively, you could buy one and use it with one of the new Acorn
mice that we still have in stock at ú18 each!)
8.3
Å  Artworks Clip-Art CD 2 Computer concepts have released the second
clipart collection containing the best entries from their Artworks
competition. In addition to Artworks files, there are some 24-bit
sprites and TIFF images. The Clip-Art CD 2 costs ú19 +VAT from CC.
8.3
Å  Back trouble? Ö Anyone who has back trouble and is doing a reasonable
amount of computer work should consider buying a decent chair. For over
six years now, I have been using a Stokke Wing chair (see below) Ö two,
in fact Ö one in the office and one at home. Iæm always singing their
praises to people who visit me. If I ever have to use a conventional
office chair for any length of time, I get back-ache whereas I can (and
do) sit on my Wings (so to speak!) for hours on end without tiring.
8.3
öIf they are so good, why donæt you sell them?ò someone said to me a
year or so ago. Why indeed?! I have made an arrangement with an importer
(they are Scandinavian chairs as you might guess!) and I can sell them
for ú320 inclusive. They have a five-caster base so you can move around
easily and a gas-lift mechanism so that you can adjust the height for
the best position relative to your monitor and keyboard. The chairs are
extremely robust and the material with which they are covered is very
good quality. The one I use in the office is just beginning to wear a
bit thin on one side of the knee-pad after over four years of constant
use.
8.3
Iæm so confident that you will be pleased with them that I will give you
a full refund if you buy one and find you donæt like it. You may feel
that ú320 is a lot of money for a chair but, as far as I am concerned,
it is a kind of insurance policy Ö keeping my back in good condition Ö
and Iæm prepared to pay for that. From personal experience, I can say
that they are very long-lasting but in any case, they come with a five-
year guarantee (although this does not apply to the covering material).
8.3
The chairs have been improved since the pictures opposite were taken.
They now have an adjustment of the knee-pad to allow for different leg
lengths!
8.3
The Wing chairs come in natural beech, rosewood or black and the covers
are available in black, navy blue, red, beige, wine, brown, charcoal or
dark grey.
8.3
(The money-back guarantee is a genuine offer. In fact, I have one that
has come back! Itæs rosewood with beige covers and, if anyone is
interested, I can offer it at ú290 as I cannot now say that it is brand
new. Ring the NCS office if you are interested.)
8.3
Å  BlindsáÖáQuantum Software have released their pinboard-type
application, Blinds, which allows users to group applications, files,
directories etc in a convenient way on blinds of any size, which can be
brought up at the click of a mouse button. The blinds can also be set to
appear whenever an application is run, and the icons on the blinds can
be given long names rather than just file names. Blinds costs ú19.95 (no
VAT) from Quantum or ú20 inclusive through Archive.
8.3
Å  Bubble HelpáÖáDavid Pilling has an alternative to Acornæs interactive
help application, !Help. Bubble Help 2 provides help actually at the
mouse pointer rather than in a window somewhere on the screen (if you
can remember where you put it!) and uses outline fonts to make it easier
to read. What is more, it only costs ú5 inclusive, direct from David
Pilling.
8.3
Å  Caxton Press from Newman College is a newspaper simulation for
primary children. It is designed to be bright, colourful and enjoyable
to use and yet simple enough for young children to understand quickly.
It allows them to lay out and edit single A4 pages of material in
newspaper format. Caxton Press is a RISCáOS compatible application
costing ú30 +VAT from Newman Software Ltd and this includes full site
and network licence, i.e. it can be used anywhere on a single school
site.
8.3
Å  CD-ROM Drives from Cumana Ö In a single stroke, Cumana have extended,
renamed and simplified the choice of their CD-ROM drive products. The
comprehensive range now consists of the following (all prices are ex
VAT):
8.3
OscaráÖáParallel port driven dual-speed, drawer-loading drive for
computers with a bi-directional parallel port. Cumana supply these for
ú229.
8.3
BravoáÖáDual-speed, drawer-loading available with either parallel port
or SLCD (podule or mini-podule) interface and providing audio mixing
with the computeræs sound. ú299.
8.3
VictoráÖáHigh performance SCSI drives, with a choice of drives from
dual-speed drawer-loading (ú299) through caddie-loading (ú399) up to
magazine-loading, quad-speed autochangers (ú499 to ú1995) and 6 drive
units (ú1499 to ú1999).
8.3
IndigoáÖáThe 300iA drive which is driven by the Risc PCs built-in IDE
interface and offers audio mixing with the Risc PCæs sound. (ú249 or
ú199 without audio mixing)
8.3
NCS stock the Indigo audio drive for ú290 inclusive and a selection of
the other drives. See the price list for details.
8.3
Å  EasyFont 3 is Fabis Computingæs improved font management system. New
features include a new user interface, a font filing system and font
compression (up to 40%). Easy Font 3 costs ú35 inc VAT (ú34 through
Archive) or ú10 inc VAT to owners of Easy Font 2 from Fabis.
8.3
Å  Educational CD-ROM softwareáÖáAcademy Television have produced
öScience II: Materialsò, öEnvironment II: Land & Airò and öWorld War II:
Global Conflictò on CD-ROM. Each is ú130 +VAT from Academy Television.
8.3
Å  Education CD-ROM titlesáÖáNelson Multimedia, a new division of school
book publishers Thomas Nelson, have launched a range of CD-ROM learning
and resource titles covering a wide cross-section of the curriculum. The
Science titles include Elements, Materials, The Environment, Inventors
and British Birds. Humanities CDs include Aspects of Religion, The
Physical World, World War II. French and Spanish language packs are
available and there are primary resources including a reading scheme and
an introduction to history. Packs vary in price from ú99 +VAT to ú150
+VAT with some resource CDs at ú35 +VAT. Full details and prices from
Nelson Multimedia.
8.3
Å  E-Type2 ù For the racers among you, Fourth Dimension have released a
sequel to the original E-Type, which now features better graphics and a
two-player option. You now have to contend with police speed traps and
bad weather to complete your race. For those of you who get bored with
driving all day, you can at least switch to the pursuit track, arming
your car(s) with lasers and oil spills. When you get bored with the six
tracks provided, you can use the included track generator to add your
own courses. The game costs ú34.95 from Fourth Dimension or ú33 through
Archive.
8.3
Å  Formula Two Thousand (FTT) is a high speed 3D futuristic racing game
new from TBA software. The speed is quite terrifying and this is their
first game to show off their TAG 3D game engine. FTT costs ú24.99 inc
VAT from TBA or ú24 through Archive.
8.3
Å  Formulix is Computer Conceptsæ successor to Equasor. It allows simple
construction and editing of complex formulae for use within documents in
Impression or other word processing/DTP programs. Formulix supports OLE,
so an embedded formula can be edited within Style, Publisher or other
OLE compliant software. Formulix costs ú49 +VAT from CC or ú55 through
Archive.
8.3
Å  Grasshopper is a RISCáOS compliant öintroductoryò spreadsheet from
Newman College. Although it is described as introductory, it never-the-
less looks quite sophisticated Ö for instance, it has 20 mathematical
functions and allows multiple selections of areas. Grasshopper costs ú30
+VAT from Newman Software Ltd and this includes full site and network
licence, i.e. it can be used anywhere on a single school site.
8.3
Å  IGLib Fortran graphics libraries for Intelligent Interfacesæ Fortran
77 users. The libraries provide access to the extra graphics
capabilities of the Risc PC. IGLib is available from Intelligent
Interfaces and costs ú30 inc VAT +ú4 p&p.
8.3
Å  Impression Publisher PlusáÖáComputer Concepts have released an
extended version of Publisher providing extra features which may be
needed by people involved in professional use of the Acorn computers for
publishing. These features include support for named colours (which can
be imported from Artworks) and the OPI standard, allowing documents
containing graphics to be kept to more practical sizes whilst retaining
the quality at the image setting stage. Publisher Plus also supports
Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) and Desktop Colour Separation (DCS) file
formats. It costs ú299 +VAT (ú330 through Archive) or ú130 +VAT for
registered Publisher users from CC.
8.3
Å  Language programsáÖáPrimrose Publishing have a clever system for use
with foreign languages. The idea is that you have a database of
sentences provided for you that are written correctly in whatever
language or languages the pack uses (over 30 languages are covered to
varying degrees). You select your sentence, it is typed automatically
into your WP or DTP application and you can then edit it in whatever way
you wish. The Tick-Tack range includes programs for beginners (Junior
Pen-Friend), for general use (Pen-Friend), for business use and for
travel and tourism. There is even one for job-hunting called öTick-Tack
CVò! Prices start at ú75 +VAT for Junior Pen-Friend in a single language
plus English to ú401 +VAT for Travel/Tourism Tick-Tack in a combined
pack with English/French/German/Spanish & Italian. Site licences are
double the single-user prices.
8.3
(I would like to get a couple of reviews done as these sound very
interesting. I therefore need a language teacher to assess them from an
educational standpoint and a ökeen beginnerò who has perhaps done a bit
of language learning and wants to take it further. The review could then
include the views of the two people. Any offers, anyone? Ed.)
8.3
Å  Lemmings/Oh No! More Lemmings ù Not really a new game, but the Risc
PC version is now available for ú29.95 direct from Krisalis, or ú29
through Archive. It contains both games in one pack, and allows you to
play them on the RISC OS desktop, both at the same time if you find them
too easy individually!
8.3
Å  Look! Hear! Talking Topics for Infants,áVolume One is fromáSherston
Software who have built upon their Talking Stories series with this
collection of non-fiction titles. The topics include The Body,
Dinosaurs, Homes, Land Transport, Pets and The Seashore. Each topic has
animated illustrations with sound effects and talking text that responds
to the childrenæs actions. Activity cards are provided for each topic.
The complete Volume One of the Look! Hear! Talking Topics is available
from Sherston for ú59.75 +VAT (ú67 through Archive) or ú11.95 +VAT for
individual topics from Sherston.
8.3
Å  Map Importer ù This allows the conversion of Ordnance Survey Digital
Map Data into Drawfiles ready for use in a large number of RISC OS
applications. During conversion, alterations can be made, to remove
railways, for example. The program is only available to educational
establishments, and is priced at ú29.95 for a single user copy, ú45 for
a primary site licence, or ú120 for a secondary site licence. Prices
exclude VAT and p&p.
8.3
A copyright licence is required for schools who are not covered by the
Local Authority Service Level Agreement. Ordinance Survey Digital Map
Data can be obtained under licence from their Digital Sales Department
(01703-792773).
8.3
Å  Movie MagicáÖáThis MPEG decompression card has been developed by Wild
Vision as part of the Online Media Set-Top Box project. The card gives
the facility for decompression very high quality video images (much
better than VHS cassette technology) from CD-ROM in real time. The
number of film titles currently available on CD-ROM format is currently
small and is limited to the obvious money-makers, but this should
increase. Movie Magic costs ú249 +VAT from Computer Concepts or ú285
through Archive.
8.3
Å  Network Solutions is a new company that has been established to take
over Oak Solutionsæ networking products and services. Network Solutions
will develop Oakæs ClassNet software and provide a support service for
Oakæs existing network customers. Network Solutions are at 2 The
Borough, Aldreth, Haddenham, Ely, Cambs CB6 3PJ. Phone or fax 01954-
212083.
8.3
Å  News Bulletin from Newman College is a RISCáOS compatible application
which allows you to produce electronic Émagazinesæ consisting of sets of
pages of text which can be displayed in sequence or called up as
required. News Bulletin costs ú25 +VAT from Newman Software Ltd and this
includes full site and network licence i.e. it can be used anywhere on a
single school site.
8.3
Å  Oxford Reading TreeáÖáStage 3 Talking StoriesáÖáSherston Software
have extended their Oxford Reading Tree Stories to Stage 3. The pack
contains six new stories using the Talking Stories format successfully
used by Sherston in their Naughty Stories and Stage 2 Oxford Reading
Tree products. Stage 3 Talking Stories costs ú39.95 +VAT for a single
user version or ú45 through Archive.
8.3
Å  PaperSoft is a new software house providing a range of templates for
pre-printed stationary. Each template has a predefined page with frames
set up for common business forms and documents. Templates are also
available for fun/personal documents. Each pack includes a set of pre-
printed papers and the templates in Impression or Artworks format.
Ovation and First Page/Pendown formats will follow. The business papers
pack costs ú29.95 inc VAT. Fun and label packs are available at between
ú5.95 and ú14.95 from PaperSoft.
8.3
Å  Playdays ù Based on the popular BBC TV series, it includes 13
educational games, involving counting, spelling, reading, logic, memory,
coordination, and reasoning. It features the favourite characters from
the series and comes with a teachers/parents pack. The cost is ú25.99
from Skillsware/Gamesware or ú25 through Archive.
8.3
Å  Picture Builder from Newman College is an art package for primary
children Ö from reception upwards. It allows them to create pictures
using shapes that can be coloured, stretched, rotated, reflected, etc.
The program is not RISCáOS compatible, i.e. there is no exit to the
desktop. Picture Builder costs ú20 +VAT from Newman Software Ltd and
this includes full site and network licence i.e. it can be used anywhere
on a single school site.
8.3
Å  PIMS ù Longman Logotronæs popular Primary Information Management
System is now available as a stand-alone package Ö previously it has
only been possible to purchase it with the required hardware. It is an
integrated package, running on a single Acorn Computer, to handle pupil
and staff records, budgeting and accounts, maintenance, insurance and
inventory. An Evaluation Pack is available, directly from Longman
Logotron, for ú20 +VAT, which is redeemable against the full version.
The full version costs ú399 +VAT and, if purchased before BETT æ95, will
include free maintenance until January 1996. Minimum requirements are
RISC OS 3, 4Mb, and a hard drive.
8.3
Å  RiscBasic, the Basic compiler from Silicon Vision has been upgraded
to version 3.15. New features include the FPA instruction set, on-line
hints & tips and better optimisation all round. RiscBasic costs ú79.95
+ú3 p&p +VAT or ú92 through Archive. Upgrades for existing users are
available from Silicon Vision.
8.3
Å  RISCáOS PRM Volume 5áÖáFor RiscáPC owners or others interested in the
inner workings of RISCáOS 3.5, Acorn have now released the extra
information as a fifth volume of the PRMs. Volume 5 costs ú29.95 or ú30
through Archive including p&p.
8.3
Å  SimCity 2000 ù The follow up game to SimCity offers many more
features, and improved graphics. You now get a isometric 3D view rather
than a plan view and there are far more building types. As well as
electricity you have to keep water supplies connected and maintain
underground connections. In stead of just counting your votes, you also
receive reports from your officials and can even read the local papers.
Unlike the earlier game, you can no longer build a nuclear power plant
in 1930, but have to wait until 1957 and its Éinventionæ, adding more to
the game. The Risc PC version is available now at ú39.95 from Krisalis,
or ú38 through Archive. The version for earlier machines costs ú33
through Archive.
8.3
Å  Simon the Sorcerer ù This is a new (8Mb!) graphical adventure game
from Gamesware, (released last year on the PC platform), and it is
something that has been missing from the Acorn games market. Rather than
being an arcade adventure, this game uses a simple point and click
interface to explore rooms, pick up items and so on. There is a distinct
humour throughout the game Ö various nursery rhymes crop up in
unexpected, and subtly different ways, and talking with the other
characters is always entertaining. The price is ú39.95 from Gamesware,
or ú38 through Archive.
8.3
Å  SmartCD+ ù The SmartCD package has now been released by the ARM Club.
It interfaces with CDFS to offer full control over your Audio CDs. It
will remember the title and tracks on each CD, automatically detecting
which one is in the drive, and your preferred playlist. It can also
split tracks across a cassette for use in the car or personal stereo,
and will even generate the cassette inlays. The price is ú10, fully
inclusive, from the ARM Club.
8.3
Å  StarFighter 3000 from FedNet Software is an up-to-date öChocks Awayò
type program providing you with 108 missions to fly, weapons to buy and
credits to win. Starfighter 3000 costs ú29.95 from Fednet Software or
ú29 through Archive. (See the review on page 25.)
8.3
Å  TalkWriteáÖáThis is described by its supplier, Resource, as öthe
friendly wordprocessorò. It has been designed for ease of use and is
usable from reception class up to year 9 as well as for special needs
use. It is fully RISCáOS compliant, has a toolbar, a 50,000 word
dictionary and a wordlist from which users can select words to put into
their text. As the name implies, it also has the ability to speak as you
type or speak letters, words or sentences. TalkWrite costs ú59.95 +VAT
from Resource for a single user (ú67 through Archive), ú149.95 +VAT for
a primary licence and ú240 +VAT for a secondary licence.
8.3
Å  TV Tuner is a podule from Wild Vision/Computer Concepts allowing TV
signals to be received. With the use of a digitiser card, TV pictures
can be received and displayed on the desktop. The TV Tuner is available
with Teletext software which provides the ability to capture and store
the data displayed across several pages. The TV Tuner is ú89 +VAT or
ú159 +VAT with the Teletext software from Computer Concepts.
8.3
Å  TypeTutor ù This is a new typing tutor from the ARM Club, which
includes support for the Risc PC keyboard as well as the standard
Archimedes layout. Windows showing the keyboard, next key to press,
which fingers to use, and a scoreboard can each be optionally displayed
on screen. The manual includes elementary exercises, and exercise files
are also included. The price is ú10, fully inclusive from the ARM Club.
8.3
Å  Utility Discs ù The ARM Clubæs utility discs have been updated to
make them fully compatible with the Risc PC. Each disc costs ú5, or if
you need an upgrade send back your original disc, without packaging or
manual together with 50p for postage. Desktop Utilities 1: Command
control for desktop use of command line utilities, and workspace for
four independent desktop areas, each with its own mode and palette.
Desktop Utilities 2: GraphTask for task windows with graphical support,
FreeMap for analysing the free space on a disc, WindOpen for
demonstrating desktop applications, and PrintCtrl for flexible printer
control. Graphical Utilities: Broadcast display images at Broadcast
resolution for a TV or CGA monitor, and interlaces on multiscan
monitors. CTEnhance provides better dithering and Mirror is an aid for
drawing symmetrical drawing. Finally, Programmersæ Utilities: CPU load
monitor, SWI statistics application, along with a collection of useful
modules and utilities.
8.3
Å  Versatile is a 2D pattern generator allowing the construction of a
wide variety of patterns and tessellations based on mathematical
principles. Versatile costs ú45 +VAT or ú180 +VAT for a site licence
from Oak Solutions.
8.3
Å  Voyage of DiscoveryáÖáSherston Software have produced a science
adventure program for 9 to 13 year-olds. The year is 2055 and the
mission is to deliver a package from earth to the captain of the
Spaceship Discovery within three days somewhere out in deep space. (Next
day delivery is only guaranteed this side of Jupiter apparently, so
three days is quite normal!) Children taking on the challenge will meet
various problems and puzzles in which they will have to deal with many
aspects of electricity and magnetism including magnets, compasses,
simple circuits, fuses, circuit diagrams, electromagnets and motors.
Voyage of Discovery is by Mark Vanstone, of ArcVenture fame and costs
ú31.95 +VAT from Sherston Software or ú36 through Archive.
8.3
Å  VTX2000 Sound CardáÖáVTI (previously known as Vertical Twist) have
launched a high quality sound card containing the Kurtzweil chip set as
used in Kurtzweilæs keyboard instruments. These chips provide 700 voices
providing a versatile sound module inside your Acorn. The card also
provides an Acorn compliant Midi interface and is General Midi
compatible. The Kurzweil chips are 32 voice polyphonic and include DSP
for effects and post-processing. The sound is 16-bit, 44.1kHz, and
output in high quality stereo. The card costs ú399 +VAT from VTI.
8.3
Å  WimpGENáÖáSilicon Visionæs application-authoring package has reached
version 2.06. The new version has a range of new features but the price
remains at ú79.95 + ú3 p&p +VAT from Silicon Vision or ú93 through
Archive.
8.3
Å  Wolfenstein 3D ù This new game from Powerslave Software was the
forerunner of Doom/Doom II which have taken the PC games world by storm.
Fast texture-mapped graphics and lots of atmosphere as you explore a
Nazi castle, collecting enough firepower to start your own GunsáæræáUs
by the end ù be warned it is not a game for the squeamish! The price is
ú29.95 from Powerslave or ú29 through Archive.
8.3