MEGABITES   NEWS, VIEWS, RUMOURS, LIES, RELEASES, COMMODORE STUFF, STYLE MANUAL, QUOTES  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>   World of Commodore   The new 1940/42 monitors Both are bi-sync monitors, meaning they do the lower 15 kHz and 31.5 kHz, ie all the possible video modes for the Amiga, except the 2024 modes. AGA do those two frequences as well as an intermediate one (VGA freq, ie so you can plug in an IBM monitor, but not get low-res at all, ie no non-interlace, such as a 256 line screen). The dot pitches of the monitors are: 42 .28 dot pitch 40 .31 dot pitch (ie lower dot pitch). Only the 1942 monitor has been released here in Australia, and it has built-in stereo. Price is $699 RRP.  New AGA/Rom Games console This new product was to released with fanfare at the WoC but unfortunately will not be released now until August. This unit is rumoured to be major competition for the MegaDrive and Sega console, and seems to have attracted the attention of a major Japanese corporate player in the market. The bad news about this new product is that it entrenches the Amiga more firmly in the public perception as a games machine. Watch this space for more news on this unit, which may however put a bit of zip back into Commodore's performance.  AAA chipset  (Downloaded from the nets) Commodore has already publicly stated the specs for the next chipset, currently called "AAA" (AGA is really "AA", and ECS is really "A"). This is what's almost definitely coming: o Four VLSI integrated circuits. o DRAM or VRAM support o Up to 40 DMA channels with dynamic allocation o 32 Blitter, 640x200 4 color screens scroll 6 time faster or 640x400 16 color screens scroll 9 times faster than ECS. It also supports "chunky pixel" modes of 2,4,8 or 16 bits as well as hybrid combinations,such as 3 "8 bit chunky" (R,G,B) planes. o 32 bit Copper o Single system with DRAM can support 800x560 w/9 bitplanes, or with 24 bit hybrid chunky with VRAM. A dual system (like having two denise chips) will support 1280x1024 x 5 planes, or 1280x1024 x 8 planes and 1280x1024 24 bit (thats 16.8 million colors on screen) with VRAM. (1280x1024 VRAM systems running 24 bit screens are as fast as the current ECS is with 640x200 16 color screens as far as the blitter is concerned!) There is host of other modes available such as 640x400 w/16 planes. o Supports video pixel bus reversal for a cheap frame grabber. o 16 bit sound, with 8 voices. Sampling rates over 50 KHz and 8 bit sampling. o Standard 1,2 or 4 meg floppy support (such as IBM 720K,1.44M or 2.88M) o Two hi-speed FIFO UARTS. (Two buffered serial ports)  Photo-CD support?  Commodore is also developing new CD-ROM technology that will work with existing 4000 and 1200 and future Amiga models, externally at first and but ultimately built into these systems. Eggebrecht from CBM said this new CD-ROM technology will be similar yet different from that in CDTV, encompassing double scan modes, improved algoriths for increased speed, and such. He also said that Commodore is now negotiating with Kodak for Photo-CD support.  DSP Sound + chips  Eggebrecht spoke at length on the coming DSP for AGA machines, saying Commodore has working prototypes (although none were on the show exhibit floor) based on AT&T's 3210 DSP chip. They're in their second version of development now, working on a Zorro processor card running at 66 MHz with heders for modem, video and other devices.  New AA Display Enhancer  Commodore also announced a new display adaptor board aimed at Amiga 4000 models which will address direct memory on the motherboard and simultaneously talk to hardware and software. Called the AA Display Enhancer, this is an inline Zorro/video slot board, which will de-interlace and promote any video mode, so not only can you take a flickering mode and make it not flicker but you can, for example, promote 15 kHz video mode to a rock-solid 72 Hz. You can also take advantage of its promotion by creating a screen that wouldn't normally be viewable (like a 1024x1024 10 Hz screen which would flicker like crazy) and promote it to 72 Hz for higher resolutions. Designed for the A4000, this board will work in the A3000 but you obviously won't get AGA graphics. The Display Enhancer addresses 24-bit video memory, which it can access directly so you could use it as a 24-bit frame buffer. It will reportedly come with 2.5 to 3 megs of DRAM and is expandable, so you can use it as a 24-bit paint box, too. It's also equipped with a hardware expansion port (along with Zorro and video slot) so if someone ever makes a video accelator (how about 3D Rendering on the fly?) you could add that to it! Release is projected for 3rd Quarter 1993.  Lies, damn lies and statistics...  I found this somewhere on the nets, but don't guarantee the accuracy: There are roughly 5 million Amigas world-wide: U.K.: 1.5 million Germany: 1.4 million Italy: 700,000 France: 275,000 Scandinavia: 90,000 Benelux: 45,000 Rest of Europe: 35,000 North America: 600,000 Rest of World: 400,000 There are only around 4.3 million Amiga users (many own multiple Amigas).  MPEG Card  One of the most interesting exhibits at the CBM booth at the recent Expo was the MPEG card, playing back a Bon Jovi video from Young Guns II at 30 FPS. Compressed at 45:1, the MPEG sequence was displayed in a resizeable window as a separate task. Incredibly enough, the underlying system was an A4000/EC030 with an IDE hard drive. The MPEG card also offers an on-board DSP for synchronized audio. Sound support will be forthcoming. No word was given on pricing or availability, but the card seems destined to evolve from the experimental stage to a full-fledged product.  A4091 SCSI-II controller  This should be available after the WoC show, and should be in the vicinity of $360, I'm told. The speeds you can get from such a card with a SCSI-2 hard drive are pretty amazing.  CBM video pack  This is one of Commodore's latest marketing efforts. It's an A1200 with: Scala MM211 Video Director Electronic design YC genlock  Press Release:  Title: Commodore and NewTek Join Forces From: Sue West - CATS Source: Usenet COMMODORE AND NEWTEK JOIN TO MARKET AMIGA 4000 AND NEW VIDEO TOASTER 4000 (West Chester, PA --- April 18, 1993) Commodore Business Machines, Inc. is pleased to announce it is participating in a joint marketing effort with NewTek, Inc. built on bringing powerful, cost effective technology to the video marketplace. The vast acceptance of Commodore's Amiga (R) computer and NewTek's Video Toaster TM as quality video products is unprecedented. The newly formed alliance coupled with NewTek's announcement of the Video Toaster 4000 will encourage further widespread acceptance of the Amiga and Toaster within the rapidly growing personal video production industry. Since its introduction in 1985 the Amiga has been recognized as the most video oriented microcomputer. Every Amiga is equipped with an array of video features such as NTSC horizontal scan rate compatibility, interlaced and non-interlaced video modes, RGB analog signal and overscan capabilities. A dedicated video slot provides easy access to the Amiga's video bus for integrating performance enhancing devices like NewTek's Video Toaster. In September of 1992 Commodore introduced the Amiga 4000 featuring the Advanced Graphics Architecture TM (AGA) chip set. AGA greatly enhances the computer's videographics capabilities by enabling users to display and animate graphics in selectable resolutions at up to 256,000 colors from a palette of 16.8 million. The Video Toaster 4000 hardware includes a real-time effects engine and two 16.8 million color broadcast-quality frame buffers. Also included is an advanced character generator, four input switcher, a broadcast-quality paint program, color effects, a 3D modeling and animation program, and a luminance keyer. Amiga and Advanced Graphics Architecture are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc. Video Toaster is a trademark of NewTek, Inc. Commodore Business Machines 1200 Wilson Drive West Chester, PA 19380 (215) 431-9100  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>   Miscellaneous   Scala problem  Scala MM210 has problems with the dongle not letting signals through with the G-Lock with the AGA machines - a new one is being designed.  Kudos  Word has it that John Rowe, a 3D animator from Toowoomba, submitted an animation to the International Festival of Computer art in Italy recently. There was a series of prizes given, and John won the "Popular vote" prize, meaning that all the delegates at the show voted his animation to be the best of all! And there were probably some of the big names represented - Richter, Schwartz, et al. Congratulations John. His animation will be visible at the WoC show, on Don Quixote's stand and others (perhaps Megadisc too).  DKB Board  This AGA board for the A500/2000 will be about US$1000 so very expensive here - not worth it. I'd suggest you go for an A1200.  Fishware  A new form of "-ware" to go with freeware, shareware, charityware, etc. This has been devised by a programmer who asks that users of his programs, instead of sending him money, should send it to Fred Fish instead, to help support his efforts. Good idea.  Amiga Video Graphics  This is a new magazine in an interesting field. I've not seen a copy, but you can get more info from: Tel: 408 7589386 / fax 1744 Pacific Media Publishing  Slow Wordsworth  A subscriber tells us about printing a 2-page document on his dot-matrix printer - it took him 1 hr 10 min to do it... Has anyone got any improvement on this figure??  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>  INTERESTING SOFTWARE  Pro Draw 4  Gold Disk should be releasing Pro Draw 4.0 in the next few weeks, incorporating some of the features found in its popular Windows package...  Movie Maker  Costing US4895 from IVS, this lets you create, edit and play animations right off the hard disk - no reliance on tapes for storage. Allows you to cut and paste frames, frames being identified with SMPTE time codes so they can sync with the 16-bit stereo sound provided by Perisound audio card which is included. IVS Tel: 714 8907040  Quarterback Tools Deluxe  The original wasn't particularly good, an example of a program not fully thought out or implemented. Let's hope this is better - they promise undelete, disk recovery, disk optimisation, a disk sector editor, etc. There will be a bunch of other stuff too, such as disk eraser, encryptor, etc.  Pro-Board 3 PCB design  This is currently the best such program on the Amiga, I'm reliably told, although there are a few bugs around. However it is being solidly supported and should be upgraded again soon. Made by Prolific for US$399. 6905 Oslo Circle, Ste 3, Buena Park, CA 90621. Tel: 714 9946435.  Rexx Rainbow series  [See Bugs_&_Upgrades for info on the upgrade to the ARexx compiler.] This is a complete line of support libraries for use with ARexx, each one containing functions dedicated to a specific subject. They are implemented as a support library, which is callable from both interpreted and compiled ARexx programs. RRP US$48 & P&P from Dineen Edwards Group, Inc Tel: 3313 3524288 USA.  Real 3D 2  This is a hot program. New developments: Frame buffer support via a Retina board library can allow direct rendering to the card. Opalvision support is imminent, and many boards are already compatible or about to be, including DCTV, Picasso, Impact Vision, the VD2001 and Harlequin. RRP of Real 3D 2 is $899, and you can get the Classic version 1.41 for $199.  Multimedia for plants  Information on over 1000 plants on 10 floppy disks, set up with images, sound and video. "Plants for all SEasons" comes with a help facility has a glossary. Cost is 99.95 pounds from Applied Research Kernel in the UK. TEL: 0983 551 496.  GFX-CAD 3000  This is the update/join of both XCAD2D & 3D from Grafx Computing. The new 3D software can read files drafted in XCAD 2D, and save those images in Imagine/Turbo format for rendering in that software. There are various upgrade paths for registered users, and price is around US$650.  Fractuality  This is a program that supports 24bit fractals, for those who are both fractal-crazy and endowed with 24-bit boards. More info from: HiQ Ltd 176 Kenton Lane, Harrow, Middx HA2 8SU  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>  Software Press Releases   New PC-Task Version 2  Press Release: TITLE PC-TaskDemo (you can get this disk from our PD library - check the listing this issue) AUTHOR Chris Hames bytey@werple.apana.org.au DESCRIPTION PC-Task is software IBM-PC emulator, it uses your Amiga hardware so the faster you make you Amiga the faster emulation gets. You can get your Amiga running a screen as an IBM-PC with just a few clicks of the mouse button. The only thing not supplied is MSDOS. Features:- MDA and CGA graphic adapter emulation. Up to two floppy drives emulated. Two emulated hard drives either File or Partition types. Serial and parallel port emulation. Mouse emulation. New Features!!:- EGA and VGA graphic adapter emulation. Some CDROM support. Better mouse emulation. Better CGA emulation. Better Hard Disk Partition Support. Some speed ups in MDA and CGA emulation. Support for serial and parallel ports besides the defaults. Many other little improvements.  ANNOUNCING PAGESTREAM 3.0   The way you think about publishing has just changed again. We're proud to announce PageStream 3.0. This is not just an upgrade, but a completely new program. PageStream 3: it will change the way you think about publishing. First, we've redesigned the interface: Before you could view more than one document at one time. Now you may have unlimited views of the same document open at once--no more having to page forward and backward between two areas being worked on at the same time. Add to this Edit Toolbox, unlimited Un-do levels and context-sensitive hypertext help. Next, the documents themselves are more sophisticated with Multiple master pages and support for the range from simple documents to ones divided in pages, sections and chapters--each with their own master pages. PageStream continues to support page sizes up to 2330" x 2330". A major enhancement is page spreads - objects that can span two pages. There's also the ability to visually rearrange pages and to view lists of graphic and text elements in a document. Word Processing has not been left out. We are adding support for decimal, left, right and centered tabs with user defined leaders (e.g., Publishing ............. 5). Tabs can not be set numerically and the number of tabs is unlimited. The spell checker's been improved. There will be new text import modules for WordPerfect 5.1 and MicroSoft WORD. Import modules include automatic conversion of quites, commas and dashes. PageStream continues to support advanced typographic controls including fongs up to 50,000 points in size. New features include converting shapes to text columns, automatic Drop Caps, Small Caps and Bulleted paragraphs. PageStream now supports the AGA graphic modes including the display of 24-bit color images on the PageStream screen. New for version 3 is Automatic and user-definable trapping, chokes and spreads. You can set trapping for each plate. New drawing facilities add to the current shape, freehand and bezier curve tools. You can now combine step and rotate object duplication, distribute objects within a space, nudge objects, and extend objects across page spreads. Gradient Fills are now supported. Printing features include tiling, thumbnails and crop/registration plus new plate controls. Save the best for last? AREXX, AREXX, AREXX. PageStream can even record your keyboard actions into ARexx macros. Price and features subject to change before release.  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>  INTERESTING HARDWARE   CPA's Stop Frame Controller  This is a locally produced product which is already being used by numerous TV stations around the country. Some of the features: * stop frame animation * time lapse animation * manual editing control * Amiga animations * striping tapes timecodes * supports VTR decks using the Sony remote 9-pin connector protocol * 24-bit colour support for OpalVision, etc. * Amiga graphic support including Ham and EHB Soon there will be support for ARexx & SMPTE codes for control of DAT and audio decks. More info: call Gary on (02) 3376255 P O Box 187 Vaucluse NSW 2030 A3000 Toaster now shipping (AC March), not to mention the A4000 Toaster - see above.  Fastlane Z3 SCSI-2  Phase 5 Digital Products has released the FastLane Z3: SCSI-II with up to 64MB RAM for the A3000/A4000.  Emplant update  The makers of Emplant say there will most definately be an A1200 emplant which would plug into the PCMCIA slot. The PCMCIA version would be faster than the ZorroII version. This A1200 emplant is due for release soon, and we should expect its availability in Australia in the next few months, most likely sooner. Differences between Emplant and Amax: - emplant multitasks with your Amiga, Amax dosen't - emplant can have a SCSI interface, Amax doesn't - emplant has Serial ports with appletalk - emplant is NOW complatible with SYSTEM 7.1  DKB's 1202 Card  A1200 Co-proc/Ram card which takes 2 SIMMS modules so you can put in 2 4-meg SIMMS. Will also recognise 2 meg on a PCMCIA & up to 5 meg of 32-bit ram. RRP is $379, available from Megadisc and other dealers.  VIDEO BACKUP SYSTEM  (Ask us about availability of this system here in Australia - they should be arriving soon.) Hardware Press Releases ____ ICD Announces A1200 Accelerator & SCSI-2 Controller (_ _) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / / Rockford, Illinois -- March 29, 1993 / / _/ / (____)CD, Incorporated, a leading designer and manufacturer of Amiga hardware enhancements, today announced a new standard for the Amiga 1200 computer. ICD's new Viper 1230(TM) was designed to give the popular Amiga 1200 the performance of a workstation. Viper 1230 offers the Amiga 1200 owner a 68030 accelerator supporting high speed memory expansion, an FPU coprocessor socket, a battery backed-up real-time clock, and a unique 16-bit Direct Memory Access (DMA) port for further expansion capabilities. Viper 1230 uses the power of the Motorola 68030 and supports both EC and MMU versions from 40 to 50 MHz. When compared to the A1200's stock 68EC020 running at 14 MHz, the larger cache and higher speed of the Viper 1230 processor will make applications fly. Up to 32 MB of fast RAM can easily be added to Viper 1230 using industry standard 32-bit wide 72-pin SIMM modules. Two high quality SIMM sockets are on board for memory expansion. Burst mode, for top speed, is fully supported using low cost, page mode DRAM. With the addition of a high speed Motorola 68882 math coprocessor (FPU), all floating point math routines will run at near warp speed. Applications which rely heavily on floating point routines such as animation, ray tracing, image processing, DTP, and CAD will show an amazing improvement. The battery backed-up clock that is missing from the A1200 can be found on Viper 1230. This simple, accurate, and reliable design is already supported by the Amiga OS. Viper's DMA Port (VDP(TM)) allows many opportunities for high speed add-ons of the future. Products like a SCSI-2 controller, DSP board, modem, or networking card could be developed to accommodate this port. VDP specifications are published in the Viper 1230 hardware installation manual. Viper 1230 was clearly designed with the customer in mind. The RAM, CPU, FPU, and the clock battery are all socketed and changeable using industry standard parts. The low-cost 40 MHz 68EC030 is supported as well as the 50 MHz 68030 for those who want the ultimate in performance with an MMU. Both 40 and 50 MHz FPUs are supported. Low-cost industry standard SIMMs are used for memory expansion. Viper 1230 and VDP boards are easily installed without removing the top of the computer. This ensures that Commodore's warranty remains intact. Viper 1230 is competitively priced and available with a number of options. USA suggested retail prices for the basic packages are: Viper 1230/40 40 MHz 68EC030, no FPU, no RAM $499.00 Viper 1230/50 50 MHz 68030, no FPU, no RAM $699.00 Viper 1230 comes with a full one year manufacturer's warranty. Extended warranties are also available within 90 days of purchase.  Viper S2: DMA SCSI-2  ICD also announced the first VDP(TM) plug in card for an Amiga 1200 computer equipped with the Viper 1230(TM). Viper S2(TM), the first VDP peripheral designed for the Viper 1230, is a full DMA SCSI-2 controller offering truly sustainable transfers of 5 MB/sec asynchronous and 10 MB/sec synchronous. Viper 1230's DMA Port (VDP) allows the design of high speed add-ons that take full advantage of Direct Memory Access (DMA) and the speed of a Viper 1230 equipped Amiga 1200 computer. Viper S2 plugs directly into the DMA expansion connector of the Viper 1230 board. A plastic knockout in the back of the computer is removed, Viper S2 is plugged in, and one securing screw is installed in the bottom of the computer. Nothing other than a screw driver is required for installation. Viper S2 provides a standard high density SCSI-2 connector on the back of the Amiga 1200 computer. For those who desire only the best, an internal high density SCSI-2 connector is included to directly support a 2.5 inch SCSI hard drive inside the Amiga 1200. A three foot SCSI-2 cable is included to connect with an external SCSI peripheral using the standard Centronics 50P connector. Viper S2 is competitively priced and unsurpassed in speed. The USA suggested retail price is $199.00. Viper S2 comes with a full one year manufacturer's warranty. Extended warranties are also available within 90 days of purchase. For further information, contact ICD Press Relations in the United States by phone at (815) 968-2228 extension 222 or by fax at (815) 968-6888. Viper S2, Viper 1230, and VDP, are trademarks of ICD, Incorporated. Other trademarks are those of their respective holders.  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>   Whimsical section  Fron GEnie's Amiga Roundtable: ----------------------------- A post from D.BIEBER comparing computers and fast food... Personally, the Mac is NOT user-friendly. It is minimalist/common- denominator. Or, to put it in hamburger terms Amiga => Burger King ("have it your way" > CLI/Windows/expansion slots) Macintosh => McDonalds [don't look so surprised] (take it as we make it...) MS-DOS systems => "here's a cow, tomatoes, charcoal... bring your own knife..." -------------------- Denny Atkin's (DENNYA) version... Well, I'd go for it this way: Amiga == Aston Martin. Fast, smoooth ride, but much harder to get parts and accessories for. Wonderful for the autobahn, but sometimes problematic on Main Street. Far more popular in Britain. 486 == '85 Chevy Camaro. Good performance, nowhere near as tight and smooth as the Porsche. Parts and add-ons can be found at any auto store, and even Sears. Great for in-town driving, but can't keep up with or take corners with the Porsche on windy country roads. Annoying grinding sound in rear axle. Your friends have heard of it. Mac == VW Microbus. All your hippie artists friends drive them. :)  <> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <%> 34 <>