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Archive Magazine 1996
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1995-02-21
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Å 32M Archimedes for just ú7? Ö Well, no, donæt get too excited Ö weære
talking about a library of routines suitable for linking into programs
developed in C which provide up to 32M of virtual memory (assuming you
have that much disc space to play with). It is said to be ideal for uses
where large quantities of data have to be processed, e.g. image
processing. However, moving data to and from virtual memory has to be
performed by the routines provided. The cost is ú7 from DT Software.
3.5
Å A3000 Interface for 5.25ö drives Ö Dudley Micro Services have designed
an interface (price ú39.95) specifically for the A3000, for connecting
one or more 5.25ò (or 3.5ö) drives to an A3000. They sent us one to look
at and it consists of connectors to the p.c.b. and the internal drive
linked by a ribbon cable out through the back of the computer to a
freestanding plastic box containing the interface. External drives have
to be linkselected internally as drives 1 and 2 since the internal drive
remains drive 0. A link on the interface allows for older disc drives
that do not provide a Éreadyæ signal.
3.5
Å ARM 3 upgrade from Gnome Computers Ö These are now available though in
rather short supply as they are having difficulty with supply of the
ARM3 chips. They cost ú495 + VAT direct from Gnome, but they cannot give
us any discount until supply improves so they will not be available
through Archive just yet. They are cheaper than the Aleph One upgrade,
even at Archive discount prices, but we have not had a look at one yet
to be able to compare them.
3.5
Å BBC software upgraded Ö RESOURCE have upgraded many of their BBC
titles so that they run on the Archimedes without having to use the BBC
emulator and, in some cases, the graphics have been improved: Castle
Pack (ú21.95), Cateby Manor (ú27.50), DIYbase (ú27.50), Forge (ú38.50),
Leisure Unlimited (ú29.95), NEA Case Study (ú16.50) and Software Tools
(ú16.50).
3.5
Å Caverns is a new arcade adventure game that has been recently released
by Minerva Software. It not only requires flying skill and shooting
accuracy but various puzzles must also be solved if the game is to be
completed. The game consists of 15 levels, each with a playing area of
approximately 16 times the size of the screen. It costs ú17.95 inc VAT
or ú17 through Archive.
3.5
Å CraftShop 1 and 2 (ú29 + VAT each) are two very impressive new
educational packages from 4mation each of which contains two programs.
As they say in their blurb, describing them is not easy, so they provide
a free demo disc Ö just send them a blank disc and an S.A.E.
3.5
CraftShop 1: ÉPatternsæ allows you to use repeated, rotated, reflected,
scaled and translated simple shapes to create interesting patterns and
pictures. ÉStitchingæ Ö imagine the traditional curve stitching (nail &
thread pictures), convert it onto the screen in full colour and extend
the idea into 3D with rotation.
3.5
CraftShop 2: ÉTilingæ is used with Acornæs !Paint application to create
repeated patterns across the screen (sounds a bit dull, but it certainly
is not!). ÉEmbroideræ allows you to create embroiderylike patterns in
various colours with ready made Éstitchesæ or DIY Éstitchesæ to produce
quite fascinating patterns.
3.5
All CraftShop designs can be used with JigSaw and also Snippet and
Poster when available (see below).
3.5
Å DTP Images 1 & 2 are two discs of !Draw line drawings, pixel based
!Paint items and video digitised images for ú8.99 per disc or ú14.99 for
the two. Send to G.A.Herdman Educational Software for more details.
3.5
Å Educational Software from Northern Micromedia Ö Firstly, they have a
primary word processor called Stylus. The Mk 1 version of this, which is
a conversion of the BBC Micro program, is available now for ú15 and Mk
2, which will add dictionary, choice of fonts, etc should be available
in summer 1990.
3.5
They also do a range of educational programs for various levels: ÉAll
About Meæ, ú11 (age 4+), ÉCampingæ, ú15.20 (913), ÉCrossword Callupæ,
ú12.80 (all ages), ÉFunfairæ for basic numeracy, ú18.80 (7+), ÉPip Goes
to the Moonæ, ú12.80 (5+), ÉWhatæs It To Youæ Ö decision making, ú14
(11+) and ÉYellow Brick Roadæ, ú16.50 (79). (Add VAT to all prices.) We
hope to have review copies of some or all of these titles, so if anyone
is interested in doing any of the reviews, please write to the Archive
Editor and indicate your area of interest and your expertise.
3.5
Å Fortran User Interface Development System Ö called ÉInteracteræ from
Interactive Software Services is a subroutine library which enables
software developers to combine ease of use with portability. There are
versions for VAX/VMS, Unix, Prime, IBM PC and Archimedes. Full details
from I.S.S.
3.5
Å Genesis Ö Software Solutionsæ new educational database is now
available in full release form. The prices are ú99.99 for noneducational
and ú69.95 + VAT for education when purchased direct from Software
Solutions. The Archive price is ú85.
3.5
Å Integrex have inks for their 132 printer that can be printed onto
paper and the result transferred to fabric. The final pattern is
waterproof. TAP Consortium had some nice pieces of textile printed in
this way on show at BETT.
3.5
Å Mindwarp Ö ú14.95 from Future Software is a new shootemup game written
by Richard Millican. It consists of over 40 levels, increasing in
difficulty. If you are lucky, you may catch a piece of a dying alien
craft which can help you in various ways such as extra fire power,
speed, lives and so on.
3.5
Å Outline Fonts Ö Acorn have made their outline fonts available
separately as font packs. (They are included in DTP packages but if you
canæt aford the DTP prices, you may still need the outline fonts.) There
is a Font Starter Pack which contains Trinity, Homerton and Corpus for
ú45 + VAT (ú47 through Archive) and a separate New Hall pack, also ú45 +
VAT (ú47). (Acorn DTP at ú145 through Archive supplies all these fonts
plus Selwyn.)
3.5
Å Ram for A410/1 is down in price yet again! This time it has dropped to
ú80 per Mbyte. Also, we are now also selling individual chips at ú12
just in case one gets mangled as you are trying to insert it! It is not
an easy task to insert the chips without bending the legs as they are
the socalled zigzag chips, not the more common, and sturdier, dualinline
packages.
3.5
Å Spare parts for 310æs Ö Some of you with the older 310æs and 305æs are
beginning to have worn out mice (call the R.S.P.C.A.!) and worn out disc
drives. If you know that they are now defunct and you simply want to
replace them, we can supply replacements. The mouse at ú55 is just a
straight plugin replacement, but the disc drive obviously needs a bit of
technical knowledge to fit it. The old drive has to be removed, the
front fascia of the new drive has to be taken off as it is not needed
and the drive then has to be mounted into the metal cradle that the old
one occupied. You may need to adjust the position of the drive to line
it up with the slot in the front fascia, but this should not prove too
difficult. At ú70 for the drive, it is certainly cheaper than buying
Acornæs own replacement drive.
3.5
Another alternative is to find someone to repair the existing drive.
Bedford Technical Engineering (see Factfile), who are part of Granada
Rental and Retail Ltd, will repair the 3.5ö drives for ú20 plus parts.
If the heads are duff, since it would cost more to replace them than
buying a new drive, they offer a öservice changeoverò i.e. a refurbished
but guaranteed drive for ú45 + VAT.
3.5
Å Studio 24 Plus version 2 is available now Ö ú169 inclusive. (Not ú149
as originally stated by EMR.) The new version is multitasking and adds
extra features including DM printouts, midi keyboard remote control and
onscreen notation during record and playback. If you have version 1, you
can update it by sending the disc back to EMR with a cheque for ú71.50
(ú69 + ú2.50 p&p). The bad news is that EMR say that they will not sell
Studio 24 Plus Version 2 to dealers öat the momentò so if you want it
straight away, you will have to pay full price direct to EMR.
3.5
Å Video overlays on A3000 Ö Wild Vision have extended their range of
genlock and video overlay cards to include the A3000. Chroma 220, 235
and 250 boards at ú155, ú199 and ú355 respectively (+ VAT + carriage)
provide a range of hardware options, all in minipodule format. (Archive
prices are ú165, ú210 and ú375.) The three boards are equivalent to the
well established Chroma 320, 335 and 345 for the 310 and 400 series
machines at ú155, ú295 and ú395 respectively. (ú165, ú315 and ú420
through Archive)
3.5
Chromatext software (ú39.95 + VAT or ú42 through Archive) provides video
titling and XAT video utilities package (ú79 + VAT or ú84 through
Archive) provides a wide range of software for the video producer
including test card, leader clock, realtime clock, horizontal title
scroll, etc. Also includes overscan modes for full screen use.
3.5