=============================================================================  NEWS FROM THE STATES ============================================================================= From our American Editor S.M. Oakland ------------------------------------- NEWS AND VIEWS FROM NORTH AMERICA The adjustments and readjustments to Commodore's latest development and marketing efforts have continued to reverberate throughout Amigadom...and beyond. Like a stone dropped in a still pond, the ripples created by the new AGA chipset and the models that use it -- the A1200 and A4000 -- are still expanding, jostling everything and everyone in their path. To what end? No one seems to know. Consider the evidence, and decide for yourself.... Commodore's Amiga computer line has temporarily stabilized, and now consists in the following models: A600, A1200 and A4000. They ARE still manufacturing the A2000, primarily as a vehicle for the Video Toaster (one wonders when Commodore and NewTek will agree upon a different model to house the pre-eminent TV/video board). The A500 is dead. And the A3000 is dead -- at least in its current configuration (this is why Commodore has been unloading them at less than half of their 1992 price) -- but rumor has it that Commodore will release a less-powerful version of the A4000 in an A3000 box. Current speculation suggests that this resuscitated version will not only have the AGA chipset, but use an '030 CPU rather than the 4000's '040. Should this prove to be true, this model will fill the huge gap between the A1200 and A4000. This gives Commodore time to breathe and decide how to replace the A600 with an AGA-based machine -- possibly the A1200, when the next generation of high-end Amiga is released. Admittedly, this is all speculation, and could change at any moment. But this is the way the winds are blowing.... At the same time that the Amiga and related hardware have been blooming, the Amiga software market -- especially the game market -- has been wilting. In the last issue of NewsFlash, for instance, I mentioned that my local "Software, Etc." outlet suddenly discontinued stocking any Amiga software or hardware. They don't even carry Amiga- related books any more! It turns out that this is not an isolated trend: several huge software distribution (retail) chains have discontinued or greatly reduced their stock of Amiga programs. Among these are Babbage's and Software, Etc. In response, several Amiga game developers have stopped creating or porting games for the Amiga. Names include Accolade, Broderbund, Disney, Dynamix, LucasArts, Maxis, and Sierra. The problem is neither lack of sales nor reduced interest in their Amiga programs. Rather, it is the inability of these companies to get their software on the shelves of software stores that led them to this decision. Some Amiga columnists theorize that the retail software chains have dropped Amiga products in favor of PC programs, together with Nintendo, Sega, and other game-cartridges -- because they provide quick, large-volume sales. Others have wondered whether it is mere coincidence that Amiga software was pulled off their shelves at nearly the same time that a large influx of MacIntosh software onto their shelves occurred. Regardless of the reason behind this latest trend, the fact is that it doesn't bode well for the Amiga's long-term future. On the bright side, some analysts believe that if Commodore continues to improve the Amiga hardware -- especially if they FINALLY add a chip for digital sound -- game manufacturers will be unable to stay away. The situation may be like the early days of the Amiga, when most Amiga software was bought by mail order...but games will be purchased nonetheless, and the Amiga will survive. Another positive sign: Mark Brown reports in the April issue of "Jumpdisk" that MicroMiga is beginning an Amiga-oriented magazine called "Amiga Explorer". Since the North American Amiga community has lost roughly 15 Amiga magazines in the past 5 years, it is amazing and exciting to think that someone has enough faith in the future of the Amiga to start a new Amiga magazine. The first issue is scheduled for release in May. Here in North America, the first issue is free to anyone who requests it. While it may well not be free (because of overseas mailing costs), interested European readers might nonetheless want to contact MicroMiga for a copy of the latest in Amiga journalism (Amiga Explorer, PO Box 1898, Spring Valley, CA 91979-1898, USA; Internet:ferg@cup.portal.com, Phone: 619-670-3161, Fax: 619-670-9732). How are things with the 'average' Amiga user in the States or Canada? Conflicted, judging from the letters I have read and the statements I have heard. It appears that they are frightened and angry. Frightened, because it is more difficult to obtain Amiga software, except by mail order. Angry, because a large number of Amiga owners in North American feel betrayed by Commodore's introduction of the AGA chipset -- which made their Amigas virtually obsolete overnight. Particularly angry are those who spent 'big bucks' on an A3000 in '91 or '92, only to have its value plummet. The situation is much as it was when Commodore did not keep its promise of an external expansion system to A1000 owners (the Sidecar, a weak step in this direction, was never released in the States). Instead, Commodore released the A2000, and encouraged A1000 owners to spend a few thousand more to upgrade. The A1000 community was incensed, and more than one of the best A1000 programmers sold their Amigas and went to program Macs and PC's. Others simply waited for third-party firms to create hardware that would allow them to draw even with A2000 owners. Still others got mad...very mad...and hassled Commodore so tenaciously that when the A3000 was introduced, the company made a special upgrade offer to A1000 owners. It was quite a bargain at the time, but look where the A3000 is at this point! History appears to be repeating itself (or as Yogi Berra said, "It's like deja vu all over again!"). Some A3000 owners have already sold their machines and bought PC clones. Some are waiting for a third party AGA board. Others are dunning Commodore for a new AGA- compatible A3000 motherboard. And a few others are turning their backs on the entire fray, vowing never to buy another Amiga. If you have seen the new Amigas, you were probably tempted to sell your Amiga immediately to get a new AGA model. Should you? Aside from the moral issues involved in selling a machine you know to be orphaned, you might want to consider how much you could get for it anyway. In the March issue of "AmigaWorld", USA 'street prices' for various Amiga models were quoted. Among them were: A1000 -- $100 for stock machine; $150-200 for 1.5 MB version. A500 -- $300 for new stock machine; $150-200 used. A2000 -- $790 for new stock machine; $600 used stock machine; $800-900 with 4 MB of memory and 50 MB hard drive. A3000 -- $1000-1300 for new or used stock machine. Prices will vary from area to area and country to country, but the point is this: You may lose more by selling your Amiga than you gain. What should you do? You might seriously consider linking your old Amiga to your new, AGA-Amiga by means of a PARNET cable. What is a "PARNET cable"? It is a specially modified DB-25 cable that -- together with the PARNET program found on Fish disk 400 -- enables you to network your computers by way of the parallel port. I have used it to join my A1000 to my A3000...and I couldn't be more pleased! I can use one computer for games, music and graphics; the other for word processing, spreadsheets, AI, and other 'productivity' programs. Better still, I can use the faster and more powerful 2.0 programs to operate on the A1000's files -- or use A1000 programs that work only with WorkBench 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 on my A3000's files. By linking two computers, you can gain the best of both possible worlds. And with a virtual memory utility, you could even use one machine's hard drive as virtual RAM on the other (I wish someone would figure out how to merge one Amiga's unused RAM with that of the other -- or a way to use one CPU as a 'slave' to the other). What if you have more than two Amigas? Simply save your money until you can buy a multiple-port expansion card -- one that includes several parallel ports. You can assign one port to the printer, another to Amiga #1, a third to Amiga #2, etc. A real in-house computer network at a fraction of the cost of a 'real' network. Less optimally, buy yourself a good switchbox and some extra cables. In any case, the introduction of the AGA chipset does not mean the end of the world for your Amiga. It might just be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.... (For more information on PARNET, see the documentation on FF400) HARDWARE "I LIVE FOR HARDWARE!" >>> ACCELERATORS A1230 Turbo ($499), by GVP, is a 40 MHz, '030 accelerator for the A1200. The unit is readily installed in the belly of an A1200, and is equipped not only with a socket for a math coprocessor, but also with two other sockets for up to 32 MB of 32-bit, 60 ns, SIMM-style dynamic memory. Derringer ($249.95, by CSA, is a 25 MHz '030 accelerator for any unaccelerated Amiga. The board has room for a 50 MHz 68881/2 FFU, along with 1, 2, 4 or 8 additional megabytes of 32-bit DRAM. Also included is proprietary software that allows users to move Kickstart into the 32-bit memory area, freeing the MMU for other chores -- and speeding up the system enormously. >>> DISPLAY Flicker Blaster! ($249), by Micro R&D, is a de-interlacer for A500's and A2000's. Installing in as little as ten minutes, the Flicker Blaster! works with any Multisync or VGA monitor to eliminate both interlace flicker and the black scan lines (i.e., visible scan lines) in non-interlaced screen modes. >>> HARD DRIVES FASTLANE Z3 ($?), by Phase 5 Digital, is a German-made SCSI-II hard drive controller for A3000 and A4000 users. With its full Zorro-3 access, the board provides DMA hard drive control, and data transfer rates far greater than anything currently available for the Amiga. While specific figures are not yet available for the FASTLANE, the user can expect transfer rates of no less than 10 MB per second -- the SCSI-II standard. Speed, anyone? >>> MISCELLANEOUS GOODIES 12 A'Clock, ($34.95), by MicroBotics, gives owners of A1200's the clock their computer has so desperately needs. Powered by a lithium battery, the clock installs on the clock-header connector on the motherboard, inside the A1200. Once installed, the clock can automatically set the Amiga's time and date upon booting, reducing the owner's hassle-factor considerably. And since MicroBotics has been producing add-on clocks for Amigas since the days of the A1000 (my A1000 has one), you know that the product will either work right...or they will make it right for you. BigFoot Power Supply ($129), by Micro R&D, was described in issue 25 of NewsFlash as follows: "BigFoot A500 Power Supply ($129), by Micro R&D, is an improved version of its original A500 power supply. This new version now furnishes 200 watts of power (vs. the original 150W) to operate any add-on device available for the A500, and its voltage regulator was adjusted to maximize performance of any accelerator boards it might be feeding." Now Micro R&D has modified the BigFoot for compatibility with the A600 and A1200 -- as well as the A500. The fan-cooled power unit 'lives' in a white case, and is useful for Amiga users wanting to insure plenty of clean power for their expanded computers. Kool-It ($39.95), by Better Concepts, is a micro-fan kit for Amiga owners concerned about the build-up of heat within their machines. Since excessive heat is often responsible for system failure and chip burnout, it would be wise to make sure your computer's circuitry is kept cool and clean -- especially if you have expanded your Amiga in any way. If your Amiga doesn't have a fan, get one. MemoPlug ($500 for first order; less for additional), by HarmonySoft, is an easily installed hardware plug that -- together with the included software -- insures that no one can copy your software. Among its features are: a demo mode; serial numbering; and a secret code for each software firm that uses it. With pandemic software piracy, serious developers would do well to contact HarmonySoft and see what the MemoPlug can do for them. Qwicka-Switcha ($39.95), by Better Concepts, is a small board that plugs into your Amiga's ROM socket. With sockets for AmigaDOS 1.3 and 2.x ROM's -- along with two other sockets for future OS upgrades -- the Qwicka-Switcha allows you to change from one ROM to the other. In this way, you need not abandon your favorite software to keep up with the Amiga's evolution. >>> MULTI-FUNCTION HARDWARE MBX 1200 ($?), by MicroBotics, provides owners of A1200's with both a 68881/2 math coprocessor and room for up to 8 MB of 32-bit RAM. Installation is easy: you connect to the A1200's 150-pin expansion connector inside the computer. The entire board fits inside the A1200, so worries about dust, cabling and the like are unnecessary. Turbo-Duo (under $300; Intelligent Link for about $100) by Turbo Technologies may be just the ticket to get you into the world of CD- ROM computing. Consisting of a CD-ROM game machine (it arrives with $250 in coupons for games and other discounts), the Turbo-Duo can also read or play any ISO 9660 or High Sierra CD-ROM information disc. If you purchase the optional "Intelligent Link", you can connect the Turbo-Duo to your Amiga as a SCSI peripheral. The Turbo-Duo also has a 256K RAM buffer, for speedier operation. Imagine playing a few games on the Turbo-Duo, then popping in a disc with the ENTIRE Fred Fish collection.... ART EYE CANDY AND OTHER TREATS >>> ART: SOFTWARE AnimFonts 5, $59.95, by Kara Computer Graphics, is the fifth new hi- res ColorFont released by Kara. This Animfont is a shiny, modern, light-faced chiseled font called "KaraGOTHICchisel". Like the other AnimFonts, KaraGOTHICchisel can be used with DPIII, DPIV, DP-Video and any other program able to use AnimBrush fonts. 104 points in size, the typeface includes upper and lower case, numbers, and special characters in both animated and static formats. Cinemorph and ImageFX owners will be interested to learn that FREE upgrades to these programs are available from GVP. Cinemorph now includes AGA support, together with new gadgets for the curve editor that make it much more flexible to use. ImageFX has also been made AGA-compatible, and now includes: AGA-preview and render modes, render support for OpalVision, additional keyboard shortcuts, and an enhanced file requester. Contact GVP or your GVP dealer for more details. Font Flyer ($?), by MD Grafix, is a nifty little product for users of LightWave. What does it do? The program saves you the hassle of trying to place a text-string on an arc, circle or curve. Simply enter a text string and Font Flyer will do the work. Ten optional settings include x- and y- axes, three plates, and several circles and arcs. Also supplied are three 3-D fonts. Real 3D, v2 ($845), by Activa, is an improved version of the popular European 3-D modelling program. New editing options include a 9-view editor with real-time rendered previews, a single-perspective editor, and a tri-view editor.  Also included are: greater support for quadric and free-form tools; multiple techniques for creating hierarchical objects; tree and landscape fractal generators; object morphing, animation support; new ways of mapping or morphing textures onto objects; and the addition of such factors as gravity and magnetism (in addition to multiple light sources). Real 3D Classic, ($179), by Activa, is the previous version of Real 3D, v1.4. While less powerful than version 2, the "Classic" version is no weakling. Among its features are: full ray-tracing; 24-bit rendering; Phong shading; 8-level anti-aliasing; and three different methods of dithering. Real 3D Classic supports solid modelling, free form modelling (with point editing), and Boolean operations. It can work with images as large as 32000 X 32000, can map textures in a variety of ways -- including keyframe animation -- and can accurately control object motion, aim point and observer's perspective with little difficulty. ScapeMaker 3.0, ($69.95; upgrade from 2.0 for $25; upgrade from 1.0 for $35), by MegageM, is an improved version of the popular landscape generator. Version 3 sports its own screen, 2 DEM landscape buffers in 16 shades of gray, and a new 2.0-style in its file requester and graphic interface. What is ScapeMaker? In issue 22 of NewsFlash, it was described as follows: "ScapeMaker ($29.95), by MegageM, is a program for converting any IFF image into a landscape file -- i.e., a Digital Elevation Map -- for 3-D rendering in the "Vista" or "Vista Professional", by Virtual Reality (see Issue 19 of "NewsFlash"). Moreover, the Scapemaker allows one to choose the elevation or depth to be used in the conversion, to scale it according to one's taste, or even to select only portions of the image for DEM conversion. Finally, the program works with all resolutions, the HAM mode and within both PAL and NTSC standards. No fractal freak should be without one!" Virtual Reality Studio 2.0, ($99.95), by Domark, is an improved version of the ground-breaking Virtual Reality program for the Amiga (described in issue 27 of NewsFlash). Added to the second edition are such niceties as houses, cars, boats, furniture, and trees...freeing you from the drudgery of creating such objects so you can use your time refining your virtual reality environment(s). VisionModeller 3D 1.1 & 1.2 ($100 for 1.1; upgrade to 1.2 is free), by ShaderSoft, is a 3-D modelling program for use with Haitex 3D Xspecs. Version 1.1 is fully compatible with AmigaDOS 2.04, making use of the new ECS screen resolutions. The program allows the user to extrude in any direction, skin cross-sections, use dynamic animation, fillet lines, or spin objects around any axis. Among the primitives included with VisionModeller are cones, spheres, donuts and cubes; special primitives include VanKoch snowflakes, modulated donuts, and fractal trees. The program can read/write Imagine, Sculpt3D/4D and TurboSilver data files. It requires 1.5 MB of RAM, an '020/030 CPU and '881/882 coprocessor, and WorkBench 2.04. A demo disk is available for $10. Version 1.2 adds to these features such abilities as: multiple Undo, last digitized location, basic scanline rendering, viewlists, dynamic sizing of objects during insertion, and both fine and coarse cursor control. The updated program can also export to the Persistence of Vision Ray Tracing program (a freely distributable program I am completely unfamiliar with). >>> ART: TUTORIALS The Beginner's Guide for Art Department Professional 2.+, ($39.95), by Dreamworks Video, is a 105 minute videotape designed to help beginners master ASDG's enormously powerful image processing program. Some of the topics covered are: the Broadcast Limit; Text Visual; Prefprinter Saver; peripheral drivers; Negative and Scaling operators; antialiasing; converting IBM graphics; enhanced palette control; compositing images; ARexx usage; and using FRED, the animation tool. >>> CAD DynaCADD 2D ($269), by Ditek, is a reduced-function version of Ditek's $995 2-3D CAD package. DynaCADD 2D comes in two flavors: one for 68000-based Amigas; the other for models sporting accelerators. The program features an intuitive user interface, on-line help, and context-sensitive documentation. This makes it ideal for those unfamiliar with CAD programs. >>> VIDEO: SOFTWARE Broadcast Titler 2 Font Pack 2, ($169.95), by InnoVision, is a set of ten fonts in six sizes for use with Innovision's AGA-compatible, super hi-res character generator. The typefaces include: Avante Garde, Compacta, Dom Casual, Clarendon, Exotic, Gille Sans, Handel Gothic, Lydian, Palatine, and Typewriter. Broadcast Titler 2 Pont Enhancer ($169.95), by InnoVision, is a program for adding antialiasing to -- or modifying the sizes, spacing or kerns of -- Broadcast Titler 2 fonts. CyberEdit ($395), by Cybercall, is a hardware/software combination for frame-accurate video editing. Able to control two VCR's or camcorders, CyberEdit allows you to create a decision list of edits, which you can then either perform manually or have the program do automatically. Frame-accuracy is assured by its timecode-capable controller -- though for equipment lacking a timecode output, CyberEdit furnishes an in-line VCR recalibration utility and a tape- slippage monitoring function. Editing features include cuts, frame freezes, A/V inserts, and audio-only or video-only options. For additional automation, the CyberEdit VCR controller is ARexx compatible, making it easy to control from programs such as Deluxe Paint, CanDo or The Director. Evoke 1.0, ($99), by Ron D. Richardson, is a frame-accurate video editor for owners of any Amiga, a SONY EVO-9650 VCR and the program itself. The program not only provides frame-accurate video editing, but also extensive error checking and a completely accurate edit-point display. Over 70 on-screen gadgets give control of the more than 135 separate functions contained in Evoke. Among these options are: A/FM stereo insert, PCM digital stereo insert, assemble, format and timecode insert. Star Trek Deep Space Mine ($14.95), by Allied Studios, is a font derived from the screen-credits font on the new Star Trek series spin- off, "Deep Space Nine". The disk repeats the font in a number of formats, including ColorFonts, AmigaDOS standard, PageStream PostScript, ProPage PostScript, and Video Toaster. >>> VIDEO: TOASTER A3000/Toaster, ($35), by L & N Productions, is a videotape and 15 page instructional manual illustrating two different ways for installing a Video Toaster in an A3000 (dealers will tell you that this is impossible). The kit also includes a coaxial cable for the second installation. A3000 owners wanting to add a Toaster to their computer -- but intimidated by claims that it is either impossible or requires an external chassis -- should check out this tape. First Prize Toasted Fonts ($?), by Allied Studios, is a variety of typeface styles for users of the Video Toaster. While they range from the traditional to the eclectic, all styles are formed for maximum readability, and come in interchangeable sizes. Y/C Plus ($949), by Y/C Plus, is a board that plugs into an A2000's/Video Toaster's slot to convert it to a component (Y/C) video system. The result is better video, as well as more power and versatility. What does it do? It converts the Toaster's composite 'ins' to composite 'outs'. This enables you to monitor incoming signals for A/B roll editing and live camera switching. Yet, the composite (preview) output from the Toaster remains unaffected. The Y/C Plus accepts Y/C signals -- naturally -- along with those in S- VHS, S-Video and Hi8 format. Jumper plugs enable you to control and combine the degree of composite video and Y/C signals in a video. How does this result in better video? In addition to the greater power and flexibility provided, the Y/C Plus provides a sharper image while reducing cross luminescence, dot crawl, cross color, Moire patterns and similar video disruptions. MUSIC SOUNDS 'N' TUNES >>> MUSIC One-Stop Music Shop ($649), by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a 16-bit, multi-timbral music card for the A2/3/4000. Patterned on the E-MU Proteus SoundEngine, the Music Shop is at once a sound editor, MIDI interface and 16-bit sound sampler. Though a number of 16-bit sound samples are included, the Music Shop also features controls for working with up to 32 channels (digital audio decoding and rebuilding) in real time. The Music Shop also allows you to mix or modify samples or to create your own instruments. The board is now fully compatible with current versions Blue Ribbon's Bars&Pipes Professional and SuperJAM! In fact, by combining the Music Shop with Bars&Pipes Professional, you can have a full-featured music machine for LESS than the cost of a simple MIDI music layout...an excellent combination for the musician on a budget! SuperJAM! 1.1, (149), by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is an updated version of the program described in issue 27 of NewsFlash as: "SuperJam!, $149, by Blue Ribbon Soundworks, is a renamed and improved version of the automatic music writing program described in Issue 25 of NewsFlash as "Jam". The program allows non-musicians to make music, with the automatic creation of such factors as rhythms, chord progressions, and accompaniments. With its exclusive "TurboSound Technology", which allows it to play MORE than 4 samples at once (6-7 on a 68000-machine; up to 15 on a 68030-Amiga), the program can be used as a stand-alone music maker -- or integrated into the Bars&Pipes Professional environment -- to create music in a variety of styles (rock, funk, swing, samba, etc.). Also supplied is a utility for editing other IFF sound samples for use in SuperJam!" New in the updated version is full-compatability with Bars&Pipes Professional 2.0 and the One-Stop Music Shop. The TurboSounds are now in stereo, and the program allows multiple grooves for each style, and both two-octave and split chords. SuperJAM! Extras Disks ($24.95 each; $59.95 for three; $109.95 for all), by Blue Ribbon Soundworks is a set of music tracks in SuperJAM format. Subjects include rock/pop music, dance mixes, world music, soundtracks, classical and cutting edge. Each disk features a collection of musical styles within the disk's genre, sample chord progressions and demos. PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCTIVITY AND MORE >>> BOOKS -- GENERAL AmigaDOS Reference Guide, 4th Edition, ($22.95), by COMPUTE books, is the latest version of the popular guide to the intricacies of AmigaDOS. Written by Sheldon Leemon, the fourth edition covers ALL versions of AmigaDOS -- including 2.1 and 3.0. As much a tutorial as a reference manual, the Reference Guide leads the reader step-by-step through the thickets of the Amiga's operating system, using explanations and examples. AMOS in Action, (£12.95), by Kuma Computers, sounds like the title of a pornographic movie. It isn't. Instead, it is a guide to programming with the AMOS language. It features numerous programming tips and advice; recommendations concerning AMOS add-on packages; shareware library contacts; and guidance on publishing your games. Included with the book is a coupon for a free disk containing a game and its AMOS source code. Denny Atkin's Best Amiga Tips and Secrets ($19.95), by COMPUTE books, has yet to get a bad review. Even experts and old Amiga hands claim to have found facts about the Amiga in it that they were unaware of. The help ranges from how to install a CD-ROM drive in your Amiga...to getting more RAM without cost or pain...to emulating a Mac or a PC...to eliminating screen flicker. I haven't personally seen it, but if it lives up to the glowing reviews of it floating around American Amigadom, it will prove to be a "Must Have". Insider Guide to the Amiga 600, (£?), by Bruce Smith Books, provides 55 different step-by-step procedures for various WorkBench or utility operations on the A600. Also provided is advice on configuring the computer to your personal work-style and habits. The Insider Guide includes an Appendix for easy reference. Mastering Amiga-ARexx (£?), by Bruce Smith Books, is a 336 page introductory guide to ARexx programming. The book answers such general questions as "What is ARexx?" and "What is ARexx good for?", as well as providing instruction on actual ARexx programming. Mastering Amiga-Assembler (£24.95), by Bruce Smith Books, introduces the would-be Amiga assembly programmer not only to the rudiments of assembly language, but also to such arcana as the 68000 instruction set, the 68000 addressing modes, low-level graphics and Intuition programming, system header files and working with libraries. Among the advanced topics covered are mixed-code programming and Exec calls. Mastering Amiga Workbench 2 (£19.95), by Bruce Smith Books, is an instructional guidebook for the newest Amiga GUI (graphical user interface). Mastering AmigaDOS, Volume 1 (£21.95), by Bruce Smith books provides useful tutorials on AmigaDOS commands and scripts. Its complement, Volume 2 (described issue 29 of NewsFlash), is a reference guide to the commands comprising AmigaDOS 2.04. >>> DATABASES ARexxDB 2.0, (upgrade for $25), by JMH Software, is a two-disk upgrade to the popular, surprising powerful ARexx-based database program. Also featured is an expanded manual, making the program easier to use. Issue 25 of NewsFlash described it as follows: "ARexxDB Records Manager ($125), by JMH Software of Minnesota, is a unique ARexx-based database manager that is fully customizable to the tastes of each user, by using ARexx scripts. Its features include access from other programs using ARexx, file and record locking, dynamic RAM caching for speed, multiple open files, variable length records, and unlimited indexes." >>> DESKTOP PUBLISHING Headlines 4 ($79.95), by Kara, is a set of 8-color, hi-res ColorFont fonts converted from Toaster fonts 3 and 4. The styles are: KaraGOTHICserif, KaraChiselSCRIPTroman, KaraBRUSHED, and KaraROMANextrude. Each font-set includes both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols; Kara also supplies installer programs, miscellaneous utilities, and extra palettes. HiFi Fonts ($67), by Allied Studios, is a set of 67, 100-point fonts. The six disk set is intended for owners of Pixel-3D who want a variety of typefaces at a reasonable price. Hot Foil Effects, by Allied Studios, permits users to spot-produce color printings on black-and-white laser printers or slow-to-medium copiers. Each package can color up to 400 letterheads. The selection includes 6 different packages of solid metallic colors ($12 per 8X30" sheet) and silver holographic rainbow-patterned sheets ($15 per 8X20" sheet). Migraph ColorBurst Hand Scanner ($399 until 30 April; afterwards, $549), by Migraph, is a hand scanner capable of recognizing and scanning up to 262,144 separate colors. The unit provides 6 scanning resolutions (50 - 400 dpi), 5 scanning modes (Monochrome/Line art; Monochrome Dither Halftone; Greyscale; Color and SuperColor), and greyscale scanning up to 64 levels at 400 dpi. The ColorBurst Scanner is compatible with AmigaDOS 1.3, 2.x and 3.0. It connects to the computer via the parallel port, and can save its images in a variety of graphics formats. Migraph Upgrades: Owners of Migraph's Touchup, OCR or OCR Jr. programs will be interested to learn that they are eligible for FREE upgrades to the newest versions (Touchup 3.1, OCR and OCR Jr. 1.4). The updated versions are now compatible with WorkBench 3.0 and the AGA chipset found in the A1200 and A4000. TurboPrint 2.0, ($129.95), by INOVAtronics, is a European-designed printer driver for the Amiga. Loaded with features, the program allows users to print graphics and text at their printer's best resolution, whether black-and-white or color. Best for those who own dot-matrix printers, TurboPrint improves graphics output with 14 kinds of rotatable (?) dithering (12 ordered, 2 Floyd-Steinberg), wall-size print options (up to 64 sheets large!), and posterization. Colors and brightness are directly adjustable, and the program allows the generation of color separations. Even T-shirt transfers can be printed with TurboPrint! As for text, TurboPrint includes two kinds of smoothing algorithms to remove steps and edges, along with a half- line mode to reduce horizontal banding. TurboPrint is programmed in assembly for speed, and is compatible with both WorkBench 1.3 and 2.x. >>> MULTI-MEDIA AmigaVision Professional ($399; upgrade for $99), by Commodore, is an expanded and enhanced version of the visual authoring system created by Commodore (and bundled with many of its machines). The previous version was described in issue 27 of NewsFlash in this way... "AmigaVision 1.70Z, $149.95; upgrade for $35 (with original disk), by Commodore, is an enhanced version of Commodore's already popular authoring system, this time superseding version 1.53G. This newest edition allows users to drive more peripherals from the serial port, provides 6 more functions for the Expressions editor, furnishes more video-device drivers (including the NEC PC VCR and various laser disc players) and permits the creation of 'program' in easily-managable modules. Commodore also improved the music file, with better support for chords, dynamics and tempo. And perhaps best of all, it gives users the power to chain applications together, and control them by icon!" Commodore has added to this formidable program such niceties as: AGA support, CDTV support, CD-XL motion support, better memory usage, and greater speed. Best of all, Commodore has included a freely redistributable runtime module that allows AmigaVisionaries to create and distribute "flows" (that's what programs created with AV are called) to Amiga owners who don't own AmigaVision. That is, the program isn't necessary for the execution of a 'flow'. At long last, AmigaVision creations may begin to turn up in popular PD collections. Aladdin Lighting Control System ($1800), by Phoenix MicroTechnologies, is a hardware/software package for controlling the lighting in theatre, concert and video productions. The Australian-made package consists of a control card that's installed in an A2000 or A3000 slot, and supporting software. For novices, the system includes on-line help, friendly design and simple programming -- while for the experienced user, 'power'-features abound. These include ARexx and MIDI support and protocols, up to 48 channels of control or information-flow, proportional softpatch with customizable curve assignment, and multiple manual or automatic crossfades. For larger needs, the Aladdin can be integrated with dedicated consoles as a back-up, or employed as a special effects generator. Or it can be used to control other Aladdin systems, for virtually limitless channel capacity. Last, users can control the system from afar using cordless telephones. A 96 channel model is available for $2895. Both versions require WorkBench 2.x. Helm ($189; owners of other multimedia programs can obtain it for $79), by Eagle Tree, is the result of efforts to improve their image processing package, "Butcher". Eagle Tree describes the fruit of this effort as follows: "Helm is an authoring system and a powerful graphics program. It combines draw, paint, and image processing tools with a scripting language, a hypermedia database manager, and a rich assortment of user interface objects. Helm is great for creating applications that freely mix graphics, animation, text, sound and music." What makes Helm different from the other half-dozen multimedia products in the Amiga world is its approach: whereas most authoring systems use one mode for creating objects and a second for using them, Helm allows you to create and operate objects directly on the pages of electronic books. The focus is on the application, not on the authoring system: There is no need to leave the program to create or alter artwork. Helm can import 8SVX, SMUS, IFF-ILBM, ASCII, ANIM-5, and many fonts directly into a book (what cannot be imported directly can usually be accessed through Helm's hooks to WorkBench or the CLI). The developer informs me that they are currently working on importation of standard MIDI and CMUS (the Deluxe Music II format) files as well -- with support for European 'Tracker' and MED modules to follow. If this is not enough, Helm may be worth the $79 price, based solely on the free "books" Eagle Tree bundles with the program. Among these are: World Flags (with basic information, maps and national anthems), Chinese Signs, French cards (teaches more than 3000 words and phrases), World Atlas, Conversions (between different measuring systems), Classic Cars, Periodic Table, Image Editor (in addition to that built-in Helm), and an Appointment Calender. Laser Show Designer ($595 -- $7995), by Pangolin Laser Software, is a hardware/software combination for controlling laser light shows. In fact, the Amiga is the ONLY computer capable of directly controlling such shows -- which is why such diverse corporations as Corel (a PC firm), SeaWorld and the Lawrence Livermore Labs (primary researchers for the "Star Wars" or SDI defense initiative) use both the Amiga and Pangolin's software to create laser light shows. Now, the hobbyist, musician or small businessman can, too. The package includes a QuadMod8 board, which uses a reverse-engineered Paula chip, along with three 16-bit and one 8-bit sound channels (for controlling the lasers). The process is this: Graphics are digitized into waveforms, which are then played through the customized Paula chip -- so you 'see' sound, instead of hearing it. The supplied software includes a library of assembly-language instructions, a 3-D draw program and -- believe it or not -- a laser-projected game. Prices depend on the version of the package. MediaLink ($?), by Activa, is an ARexx-compatible software program for synchronizing the components of a multimedia presentation by means of a script. MediaLink supports 3 different time codes (EBU, MIDI and SMPTE), most video display cards, VTR's, laser disc players, and sound cards. Modular customizations are possible using the "XaPP" feature, while remote control of a presentation is feasible, whether by network, satellite, cable, or modem. Also included are line-by-line and page transitions for video editing; large, antialiased fonts; virtual memory loading for LARGE presentations; a time-base counter. >>> PROGRAMMING PLAYFIELD! AMOS ($24 for a year; individual samples for $1), by PLAYFIELD!, is a monthly newsletter for AMOS programmers. Its goal is to publish the best AMOS-related information available anywhere. An issue typically includes a PD library, news, reviews, tutorials, and plenty of first-rate source code. >>> TEXT EDITORS AND WORD PROCESSORS Final Copy II, Release 2 (upgrade for $25), by Softwood, was released on 15 March 1993. Hurrah! Why the excitement? Because the popular word processor now incorporates some long awaited features. Among these are: Landscape (= wide) printing; Type-1 font support; Automatic PostScript font downloading; and CompuGraphic font support. Those who upgrade by 30 April of this year (later in Europe -- contact Softwood or your dealer for specifics) -- will also received two free disks of Type 1 outline fonts. Also to be noted: There are now 3 localized versions of Final Copy II: American English, British English and German. Softwood is now in the final stages of completing the French and French Canadian versions of the program. Rashumon, ($180) by HarmonySoft, is an updated version of the program described in issue 27 of NewsFlash in this way: "Rashumon 1.2, $150 (DTP version for $200), by HarmonySoft, is a word processor that simultaneously supports a number of languages, including Arabic, English, Hebrew, and Russian. Version 1.2 is an upgraded version of the program, available either as a pure word processor or as a word processor/desktop publishing program (this latter allows the incorporation of graphics with text). In either case, Rashumon features support for multiple fonts (of course!), including proportional spacing, an improved, intuitive GUI (graphic users interface); faster scrolling and editing; NTSC and PAL display options; up to 8 colors (from a palette of 4096) in any document; full math support; the ability to read text back (aloud); a built-in database; and a save IFF option. The program requires a minimum of 1.0 MB of RAM, though 1.5 is suggested (and more is even better!); use of a color printer is also encouraged." This newest version (number unknown), is not only a bit more expensive, it has more features. As a text editor, it provides superior scrolling and editing speed. As a word processor, it permits you to highlight different portions of your text and manipulate them all at once (I don't know about you, but I've long wondered why other word processors don't do this). It also permits color-sensitive searches, so if your text features the word "Netherlands" in both blue and standard black, you can find and replace all and only the blue occurrences with, say, "Germany", in red. If a color display is unnecessary, however, Rashumon now allows you to double your working speed by downshifting to a monochrome display. And speaking of display, Rashumon has added Greek to the languages it is able to display on the screen -- by itself, or with others. It still supports multiple fonts up to 99 points high, and proportional spacing up to 256 pixels. For a complete text-editing, word processing, and desktop publishing program -- especially if you need to work in more than one language -- Rashumon deserves your serious consideration. >>> UTILITIES GigaMem ($149.95), is a European-made virtual memory utility distributed by INOVAtronics in the USA and Pre'spect in Canada. What does it do? It fools the Amiga into 'thinking' that unused hard drive space (as designated by the user) is actually RAM. In this way, GigaMem allows you to run memory-loving programs without running out of RAM. The program requires an Amiga with an '020/030/040 processor having an MMU (it doesn't work on the economy versions) and AmigaDOS 2.x. It operates transparently within the Amiga's multi-tasking environment, can be customized for optimal usefulness, and uses special disk caching techniques for increased speed. A caveat: GigaMem, for all of its usefulness, does not operate correctly with PowerPacked files. If you PowerPack your disks, then you will have to unpack them to use GigaMem...or else play "GigaMem roulette", never knowing when it might crash or destroy a file. EDUCATION EDUCATION: STUFF FOR SMARTIES >>> CD-ROM Fred Fish Collection On-Line 1.5 ($79.95; upgrade for $29.95), by HyperMedia Concepts, is the latest edition of the Fish PD/Shareware collection on CD-ROM. Disc 1.5 includes the entire Fish collection from Disk One to Disk 750. HomeoCD ($60), by HMAC, is an interactive CD-ROM disc on homeopathy. What is homeopathy? It is a school of alternative medicine based upon the principle that "like cures like". Homeopathy uses small amounts of substances that produce certain symptoms in healthy persons to heal or cure sick persons displaying the same symptoms. The HomeoCD provides more than 500 of the most common homeopathic treatments, along with a lexicon and a section on veterinary medicine. Each disc includes all information in both French and English. >>> CHILDREN MyPaint 2.0, ($49.95), by Saddleback Graphics, is a computerized coloring book containing 28 pictures for children to color. Each drawing is accompanied by digitized speech or entertaining sounds; and tools are included so children may create their own drawings. Among the special effects provided are: a mirroring mode; 'surprise' picture mode; color cycling and multiple paintbrush sizes. Version 2.0 of the program includes an extra disk containing 26 more pictures -- each one displaying a different letter of the alphabet. The program speaks each letter and displays it next to something that begins with that letter (in English). >>> GENERAL Bible Search, KJV, by SOGWAP, is now available as a shareware product. You can easily install all four disks on your hard drive, so you can try what is arguably the best Bible search program on the Amiga platform. Issue 27 of NewsFlash described the commercial version in this way: "Bible Search, $100, by SOGWAP, is a serious, if not champion, contender for the title of "fastest search" in the competition between Bible programs -- regardless of platform! The program is available in either the King James or NIV versions, each of which is compressed onto only two disks. The search engine allows full Boolean searches ('and', 'or', 'not') for single or multiple words, while the program itself provides up to 8 different 'bookmarks' for noting specific locations within the text. A third disk contains an exhaustive English concordance (over 700K references), and a demo version may be purchased for only $5." Contact SOGWAP for your copy.... Word Construction Set ($46.75), by Lascelles Productions, is a tool developed in New Zealand for teaching English by means of the phonetic method. The program revolves around more than 1000 words, which it has the student 'build' by phonetic sounds or chunks (the Amiga speech device is put to good use). As the student improves, the Construction Set illustrates his or her progress through the graphical 'construction' of seven different "building sites" -- each standing for different ways of approaching English words (homophones, consonants, sounds, compounds and so on...). The more complete the building, the greater the progress. More traditional individual progress reports can also be printed. >>> MATH & SCIENCE AMPlot2 ($135 or £60; demo for £3), by SciTech, is a professional quality scientific and technical graphing program. Intended for the creation of publication-quality graphs, AMPlot2 can generate four primary kinds of graph -- bar, pie, line and scatter -- with a number of variations. Input can assume a number of forms, from two columns of numbers...to mathematical formulae. Using this information, the software can -- at the user's option -- calculate graph boundaries, ticks and sub-ticks...along with the graph itself! Also available are three kinds of curve fitting, log axes, and error bars. Output can assume the form of EPSF, HPGL, IFF-DR2, and PostScript files or printouts. AMPlot2 includes an extensive ARexx interface, useful for direct graph plotting and integration with other programs. MathVISION 2.4 ($223; upgrade for $49), by Seven Seas, is an upgrade of the well-received program for mathematical calculation, display, and animation. New in version 2.4 is support for 24-bit graphics, by means of libraries. This makes rendering to the Video Toaster or other display cards easy...and possible. The program is now ARexx friendlier -- with ARexx now available from within MathVISION -- and the upgrade includes many additional ARexx scripts. Last, MathVISION now possesses the ability to launch "hooks" (programs that extend its capabilities), along with mouse up-and-down support and a friendlier interface. If you are a scientist, mathematician, teacher or simply someone captivated by the magic hidden within numbers, MathVISION may be just the tool for expanding your explorations -- or sharing them with someone else. GROUND RULES THE GROUND RULES Below are the guidelines I used in compiling the "News From The States" articles: 1.) The software categories are NOT fixed divisions, but instead constitute loose, somewhat arbitrary groupings created for the sake of order. Some font packages are listed under "Desktop Publishing", for instance, while others will be found under "Video" -- it all depends upon what their chief use appears to be. 2.) All prices given are in U.S. dollars. 3.) All prices given are "list" prices -- you may be able to obtain them for up to 40% less, by ordering from an Amiga-oriented mail order companies. 4.) I have included some European Amiga products being sold in North America, in case the rate of exchange becomes such that it is less expensive for you to buy from US or Canadian vendors (during the 1970's, I could often buy American books from British booksellers for less -- including shipping, handling and currency exchange -- than I would have paid in a local bookstore). 5.) I have included the addresses of the products' vendors at the end of this article. If a product interests you, PLEASE contact them for more information. Better still, have your Amiga dealer contact them; if you do, it will increase the chances that the better North American Amiga products will become available in Europe (just as European Amiga products are finally becoming available here in North America). This cross-pollination will be good for both Amiga communities. 6.) For those seriously interested in what hardware and software are available for the Amiga in North America, I recommend you buy a recent copy of "AC's Guide to the Commodore Amiga" (PiM Publications). This is a reasonably complete compilation of Amiga products available in North America. Published 2 to 4 times each year, the Guide has become something of a 'Bible' for North American 'Amigoids'. The most recent edition (Winter '93) contains 287 pages, and costs only $9.95. Contact PiM for more details. 7.) If you see something that interests you, check Martin Jansen's column in NewsFlash to see whether there is a European-made or -distributed version. It might be more available than you think! I hope you will enjoy the news and descriptions: Please let us know what you find useful...and what you don't! S. M. Oakland The addresses of companies mentioned in these articles: ----------------------------------------------------------------- --- ADDRESSES: -------------------------------------------------- Accolade; 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd.; San Jose, CA 95129; USA Acid Software; 2151 S. Dobson Rd., Suite 17-196; Mesa, AZ 85202; USA Activa International; 644 Queen Street; Chatham, Ontario; Canada N7M 2J6 Activa International BV; P.O. Box 2360; 110 DT Amsterdam Zuidoost; The Netherlands ADDesigns; P.O. Box 8543; Warwick, RI 02888; USA Addison-Wesley; Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867; USA Adspec Programming; P.O. Box 13; Salem, OH 44460; USA Advanced Control Systems; Old Mine Rock Way; Hingham, MA 02043; USA Advanced Image; 2 Route 13 South; Brookline, NH 03033; USA Advanced Thinkware Designs; 61 E. 8th Street; Suite 324; New York City, NY 10003; USA AFGA Corporation; 90 Industrial Way; Wilmington, MA 01887; USA Aggressive Communications; P.O. Box 260883; Plano, TX 75026-0883; USA AirStream Graphics; P.O. Box 291090; San Antonio, TX 78229-1690; USA Allen Avionics, Inc.; 224 East Second Street; Mineola, NY 11501; USA Allied Studios; 482 Hayes St.; San Francisco, CA 94102; USA AltoFirma Software; 36M Ridge Road; Greenbelt, MD 20770; USA American Software Distributors; 502 E. Anthony Dr.; Urbana, IL 61801; USA Ameristar Technologies; 47 Whittier Avenue; Medford, NY 11763; USA AmiComp Software Development; 2925 East Colonial Dr.; Orlando, FL 32803; USA Amiga C Club; Tulevagen 22; 181 41 Lindingo, Sweden AmiGrafix, Inc.; P.O. Box 2063; Apopka, FL 32704-2063; USA Anjon & Associates; 6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd.; Suite 122; P.O. Box 7956; Canoga Park, CA 91303; USA Anti Gravity Workshop; 456 Lincoln Blvd.; Santa Monica, CA 90402; USA Apex Software; 405 El Camino REal; Suite 121; Menlo Park, CA 94025; USA Applied Engineering; P.O. Box 5100; Carrollton, TX 75022; USA Applied Optical Media Corporation; 18 Great Valley Parkway; Malvern, PA 19355; USA Applied Vector Technology: distributed by American Software distributors Art Instruction Software; 38 Balsam Drive; Medford, NY 11763; USA Artistic Software; 55 Selwyn Place; Kanata; Ontario K2K 1P1; Canada ASDG; 925 Stewart St.; Madison, WI 53713; USA Asimware Innovations; 101 Country Club Drive; Hamilton, Ontario L8K 5W4 Canada ATOP; 11914 Girdled Rd.; Painsesville, OH 44077; USA Axiom Software; 1221 E. Center St.; Rochester, MN 55904; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ Bantam Books, Inc. 666 Fifth Avenue; New York, NY 10103; USA Beta Unlimited; 87 Summit St.; Brooklyn, NY 11231; USA Bethesda Softworks; 15235 Shady Grove Rd; Suite 100; Rockville, MD 20850; USA Better Concepts; 22 N.Main St., Suite 393; New York City, NY 10956; USA Beverly James Products; P.O. Box 40191; Redford, MI 48240; USA Black Belt Systems; 398 Johnson Road; RR-1 Box 4272; Glasgow, MT 59230; USA Black Knight Peripherals; 255 W. Moana; #207; Reno, NV 89509; USA Blue Ribbon Soundworks, Ltd.; Venture Center; 1605 Chantilly Dr., Suite 200; Atlanta, GA 30324; USA Blue Shadow Productions; 36 Mud St.; Hamilton, ON; Canada L8J 1R5 Bluesand Video Productions; P.O. Box 93581; Cleveland, OH 44101- 5581; USA Boone Technologies; P.O. Box 15052; Richmond, VA 23227; USA Bose Corporation; The Mountain; Framingham, MA 01701; USA Brain Technologies; P.O. Box 215147; Sacramento, CA 95821; USA Broderbund Software; 17 Paul Dr.; San Rafael, CA 94903; USA Brown-Wagh Publishing; 130-D Knowles, Dr.; Los Gatos, CA 95030; USA Bruce Smith Books; P.O. Box 382; St. Albans, Herts AL2 3JD; England BullsEye Publishing Co.; Buffalo Theater Bldg.; Spring St.; Jasper, AR 72641; USA Bytes and Bullets; Route 3, Box 3532; Manchester, TN 37355; USA ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cachet Software; P.O. Box 65; Scotch Plains, NJ 07076-0065; USA Canadian Prototype Replicas; P.O. Box 8; Breslau, ON; Canada N0B 1M0 Cancor; 14 Garrard Rd.; Whitby, Ontario; Canada Cardinal Video; P.O. Box 2617; Grass Valley, CA 95945; USA Case Computer Simulations, Ltd.; 642 Lea Bridge Road; London, England E10 6AP CDTV Publishing; 1200 Wilson Drive; West Chester, PA 19380; USA CeV Design; 61 Clewley Rd.; Medford, MA 02155; USA Centaur Software; P.O. Box 4400; Redondo Beach, CA 90278; USA Central Coast Software; New Horizons Software; P.O. Box 164287; Austin, TX 78716; USA OR// Central Coast Software; New Horizons Software; 206 Wild Basin Road; Suite 109; Austin, TX 78746; USA CHS Inc.; 602 North Country Fair Drive; Champaign, IL 61821; USA Cineamaware: distrbuted by Electronic Arts Circuits and Software; 1052 Estates Ct.; Stockbridge, GA 30281; USA Classic Concepts; P.O. Box 786; Bellingham, WA 98277; USA Cochenille Computer Knit Products; P.O. Box 4276; Encinitas, CA 92023; USA Commodore Business Machines; 1200 Wilson Dr.; West Chester, PA 19389; USA Communications System Engineering; 20 Trafalgar Square; Suite 430; Nashua, NH 03063; USA Compute Books; 324 West Wendover Avenue, Suite 200; Greensboro, NC 27408-8439; USA Compute Publications International, Ltd.; 324 West Wendover Avenue, Suite 200; Greensboro, NC 27408-8439; USA Computer Imagery; 49 Walnut Avenue; Shelton, CT 06484; USA Consultron; 11280 Parkview; Plymouth, MI 48170; USA Context Systems; The Technology Center; 333 Byberry Road; Hatboro, PA 19040; USA CRC Productions; P.O. Box 9, Mantachie, MS 38855; USA Creative Focus; Box 580; Chenango Bridge, NY 13745; USA Crossway Books; 1300 Crescent St.; Wheaton, IL 60187; USA CSA (or Computer System Associates); 7564 Trade St.; San Diego, CA 92121; USA ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dale K. Myers; 9602 Hartel; Livonia, MI 48150; USA Delphi Noetic Systems, Inc.; 2700 W. Main St.; P.O. Box 7722; Rapid City, SD 57709; USA Delta Research; P.O. Box 151051; San Rafael, CA 94915-1051; USA Deltaware Products; 3148 Kingston Rd., Suite 202, Box 395; Toronto, ON; Canada M1M 1PA Designing Minds; 3006 North Main Street; Logan, UT 84321; USA Desktop Utilities; P.O. Box 3053; Manuka, ACT 2603; Australia Diemer Development; 12814 Landale St.; Studio City, CA 91604; USA Digi International, Ltd.; Black Horse House; Exmouth, EX8 1JL; England DigiScape Software, P.O. Box 113058; Carrollton, TX 75011-3058; USA Digital Creations; 2965 Sunrise Blvd.; Suite 103; Rancho Cordova, CA 95742; USA Digital Designs Group; P.O. Box 593; Whiteville, NC 28472; USA OR// Digital Designs Group; MDG Studio II; Highway US701; Whiteville, NC 28472; USA Digital Expressions; P.O. Box 33656; Cleveland, OH 44133; USA OR//?? Digital Expressions; W6400 Firelane 8; Menasha, WI 54952; USA Digital Graphics Library; 1382 Third Avenue; Suite 333; New York, NY 10021; USA Digital Processing Systems; 55 Nugget Ave.; Unit 10; Scarborough, Ont.; Canada M1S 3L1 Dineen Edwards Group; 19785 W. 12 Mile Rd.; Suite 305; Southfield, MI 48076-2553; USA Disney Computer Software; 500 S. Buena Vista St.; Burbank, CA 91521; USA Display Systems International, Inc.; 147 West Main Street; Dayton,PA 16222; USA Dissidents; 730 Dawes Ave; Utica, NY 13502; USA Ditek International; 2651 John St.; Unit #3; Markham, Ontario; Canada L3R 2W5 DKB Software; 50240 W. Pontiac Trail; Wixom, MI 48393; USA DoMark; 550 S. Winchester Blvd.; San Jose, CA 95128; USA Douglas Nakakihara; 2762 Goldfield Place; Simi Valley, CA 93063; USA DPD Tech; 139 Garden Hts Avenue; Columbus, OH 43228; USA Dr. T's Music Software, Inc.; 124 Crescent Rd.; Suite 3; Needham, MA 02194; USA DRC Sequential Graphics; 57 E. 400 North #9; Provo, UT 84606; USA Dreamworks Video Productions; 5037 East Keresan; Phoenix, AZ; USA DuBois Animation; 1012 N. Chartrand Avenue; Suite F; Edmond, OK 73034; USA Dynamix; P.O. Box 485; Coarsegold, CA 93614; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ Earthquake Productions & Publishing; 13351 Foothill Blvd.; Fontana, CA 92335; USA EasyScript!; 10006 Covington Dr.; Huntsville, AL 35803; USA Eagle Tree Software; P. O. Box 164; Hopewell, VA 23860; USA Edu-Vid Research; P.O. Box 149; Pembina, ND 58271; USA Electric Crayon Studios; 3624 North 64th St.; Milwaukee, WI 53216; USA Electric Theatre; 111 Holme Avenue #2; Elkins Park, PA 19117; USA Electronic Arts; 1820 Gateway Dr.; San Mateo, CA 94404; USA Electronic Services International; 942 Calle Negocio; San Clemente, CA 92672; USA Empire Graphics; P.O. Box 964; Union, NJ 07083; USA Empress Software; 6401 Golden Triangle Drive; Greenbelt, MD 20770; USA Eschalon Development, 110/2 Renaissance Square; New Westminster, B.C.; Canada V3M 6K3 Euphonics; 2685 Burnside Rd.; Sebastopol, CA 95472; USA Europress Software; Europa House; Adlington Park; Macclesfield; SK10 4NP; England Expansion Systems; 44862 Osgood Road; Fremont, CA 94539; USA Expert Systems; 5912 Centennial Circle; Florence, KY 41042; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ FairBrothers, Inc.; 5054 S. 22nd St.; Arlington, VA 22206; USA Free Spirit Software; P.O. Box 128; 58 Noble St.; Kutztown, PA 19530; USA FrostByte Systems; P.O. Box 481; Station D; Toronto, ON; Canada M6P 3K1 FTL Games; P.O. Box 6160 Lusk Blvd.; C-206; San Diego, CA 92121; USA Future Touch; 192 Laurel Rd; East Northport, NY 11731; USA Future Video Products; 28 Argonaut; Laguna Hills, CA 92656; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ Genisoft; Unit 3; Poyle 14; Newlands Drive; Colnbrook, Berks, SL3 0DX; England GENP; 37 Charles St.; Cheltenham; Victoria, 9192; Australia Geodesic Publications; P.O. Box 956068; Duluth, GA 30136; USA Gfxbase; 1881 Ellwell Drive; Milpitas, CA 95035; USA Gold Disk; 5155 Spectrum Way; Unit 5; Mississauga, Ont.; Canada L4W 5A1 Grafx Computing; 6680 Wiltsie Rd.; Panama, NY 14767; USA Gramma Software; 17730 15th Avenue N.E.; Suite 223; Seattle, WA 98155; USA Gulfgate Technologies; 7507 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 82; Sarasota, FL 34231; USA GVP (or Great Valley Products); 600 Clark Ave.; King of Prussia, PA 19496; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ HarmonySoft; 69 Jabotinsky Street; Givatayim, Israel 53319 Help Disk; 6671 West Indiantown Road; Suite 56360; Jupiter, FL 33458; USA HMAC; P.O. Box 262; Saint-Bruno, Qc; Canada, J3V 4P9 Holosoft Technologies; 1637 E. Valley Parkway; Suite 172; Escondido, CA 92027; USA HyperMedia Concepts; P.O. Box 85303; Racine, WI 53408; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ ICD, Inc.; 120 Rock St.; Rockford, IL 61101; USA I.Den Videotronics Corp.; 9620 Chesapeake Drive; Suite 204; San Diego, CA 92123; USA I-Koen, 5452 Southfield Center Drive; Box 220; St. Louis, MO 63123; USA Imagetects; 7200 Bollinger Road; #802; San Jose, CA 95129; USA Immunobiology Laboratory; Massachusetts General Hospital East; Building 149; 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129; USA Impulse, Inc.; 6870 Shingle Creek Parkway; Suite 112; Minneapolis, MN 55430; USA InnerPrise; 128 Cockeysville Rd.; Hunt Valley, MD 21030; USA InnoVision Technology; 1933 Davis St.; San Leandro, CA 94577; USA INOVAtronics, Inc.; 8499 Greenville Ave.; Suite 209B; Dallas, TX 75231; USA Interactive MicroSystems; 9 Red Roof Lane; Salem, NH 03079; USA Interactive Video Systems; 7245 Garden Grove Blvd.; Suite E; Garden Grove, CA 92641; USA Intercore Development Systems; P.O. Box 76; 7 Dover Hill Dr.; Nesconset, NY 11767; USA International Technologies, Inc.; 2302 d Ave.; Suite 203; National City, CA 92050; USA Interworks; 195 E. Main St.; Suite 230; Milford, MA 01757; USA ITAC Systems, 3121 Benton; Garland TX 75042; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaeger Software; 7800 White Cliff Terrace, Rockvill, MD 20855; USA James Rudy; 27 Rife Drive; Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; USA JEK Graphics; 12103 S. Brookhurst St.; E-125; Garden Grove, CA 92642-3065; USA JMH Software of Minnesota; 7200 Hemlock Lane; Maple Grove, MN 55369; USA J. Miller & Associates; P.O. Box 17; Imbler, OR 97841; USA Jumpdisk; 1493 Mt. View Ave.; Chico, CA; 95926; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Kara Computer Graphics; 2554 Lincoln Blvd.; Suite 1010; Marina Del Ray, CA 90291; USA KarmaSoft; P.O. Box 1034; Golden, CO 80402-1034; USA KFS Software; P.O. Box 897; Corning, CA 96021; USA Kludgecode Software; P.O. Box 1163; Holland, MI 49422; USA Koei Corporation; 1 Bay Plaza; Suite 540; 1350 Bayshore Plaza; Burlingame, CA 94010; USA Konami, 900 Deerfield Parkway; Buffalo Grove, IL 60089; USA Kuma Computers Ltd.; 12 Horseshoe Park; Pangbourne, Berkshire; England RG8 7JW -------------------------------------------------------------------- L & N Productions; P.O. Box 391; Brownsville, CA 95919; USA L & V Productions Reg'd; 110 Columbus Ave.; Moncton, New Brunswick; Canada E1A 5EA Legendary Design Technologies, Inc.; 25 Frontenac Ave.; Brantford, Ontario; Canada N3R 3B7 LIVE Studios; 30151 Branding Iron Rd.; San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675; USA LucasArts Entertainment Co. (or LucasFilm Games); P.O. Box 10307; San Raphael, CA 94912; USA Luna Tech, Inc.; 3667 Lalani Way; Sarasota, FL 34232; USA -------------------------------------------------------------------- M.V. Micro; P.O. Box 1237; Wheatridge, CO 80034-1237; USA Madrigal Designs, P.O. Box 2292; Santa Rosa, CA 95494; USA Magni Systems; 9500 S.W. Gemini Dr.; Beaverton, OR 97005; USA Magic Matrix; Station A, P.O. Box 2406; Champaign, Il 61825-2406; USA Mahoney Software; P.O.Box 2962; Newport News, VA 23609; USA MainStream America; 1012 South Main Street; Taylor, PA 18517; USA Mannikin Sceptre Graphics; Suite 285; 3208-C E. Colonial Drive; Orlando, FL 32803; USA Marksman Technology: distributed by Psygnosis MAST; 1395 Greg St.; Sparks, NV 89431; USA Maxis, 1042 Country Club Dr.; Suite C; Moraga, CA 94556; USA MBZ Products; 6023 Kilgore Ave,; Muncie, IN 47304; USA McGraw-Hill Publishing; 2600 Tenth St.; Berkeley, CA 94710; USA MD Grafix; P.O. Box 1991; Spring Valley, CA 91977; USA Mediacom, Inc.; P.O. Box 36173; Richmond, VA 23235; USA MegageM; 1903 Adria; Santa Maria, CA 93454; USA Meggido Enterprises; 7900 Limonite Avenue, Suite G-191; Riverside, CA 92509; USA Merlin's Software; 1441 E. Fletcher Avenue; Tampa, FL 33612; USA Merit Software; 13535 Gamma Road; Dallas, TX 75244; USA MichTron; 3201 Drummond Plaza; Newark, DE 19711; USA MicroBotics, Inc.; 1251 American Parkway; Richardson, TX 75081; USA Microdeal; P.O. Box 68; St. Austell, Cornwall, England PL25 4YB Microft Software, Ltd.; P.O. Box 1072; Exton, PA 19341; USA Microillusions; P.O. Box 3475; Granada Hills, CA 91394; USA MicroProse Software; 180 Lakefront Dr.; Hunt Valley, MD 21030; USA Micro R&D; P.O. Box 130; "O" Street; Loup City, NE; 68853; USA MicroSearch; 9896 S.W. Freeway; Houston, TX 77074; USA Micro-Systems Software; 12798 Forest Hill Blvd.; Suite 202; West Palm Beach, FL 33414; USA Migraph; 32700 Pacific Highway South; Suite 12; Federal Way, WA 98003; USA Mindware International; 110 Dunlop St. W; Box 22158; Barrie, Ont.; Canada L4M 5R3 Mirror Image Productions; 12798 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 202; West Palm Beach, FL 33414; USA Moonlighter Software Development; 3208-C East Colonial Drive; Suite 204; Orlando, FL 32803; USA MRsoftware; 348 Indian Avenue; Portsmouth, RI 02871; USA Mr. Hardware; P.O. Box 148; C.I. NY 11722; USA Motion Blur Publishing; 915A Stambaugh St.; Redwood City, CA 94063; USA MVP Software; P.O. Box 458; Aliquippa, PA 15001 USA Myers, Dale K.; 9602 Hartel; Livonia, MI 48150; USA Myriad Visual Adventures; 1219 NW 79th St.; Oklahoma City, OK 73114; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nakakihara, Douglas; 2762 Goldfield Place; Simi Valley, CA 93063; USA Natural Graphics; P.O. Box 1963; Rocklin, CA 95677; USA NerveWare; 171 E. 99th St. #20; New York, NY 10029; USA Network Technologies, Inc.; 7322 Pettibone Rd.; Chagrin Falls, OH 44022; USA Neuralink; P.O. Box 16311; Lubbock, TX 79490; USA New Horizons Software, Inc.; P.O. Box 43167; Austin, TX 78745; USA New Media Corp.; 15375 Barranca; B-101; Irvine, CA 92718; USA New Sound Music; P.O. Box 37363; Oak Park, MI 48237; USA NewTek, 215 S.E. Eighth St.; Topeka, KS; 66603; USA No Budget Productions; Myke Muller; 10100 Movine Avenue; Sunland, CA 91040; USA Norris Software, Ltd.; 3208 West Lake St.; Suite 65; Minneapolis, MN 55416; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Octree Software, 311 W. 43rd St.; Suite 904; New York, NY 10036; USA Odyssey, P.O. Box 367; North Eastham, MA 02651; USA On-Line Entertainment, Ltd.; 642a Lea Bridge Rd.; London E10 6AP; U.K. Oxxi; 1339 E. 28th St.; Long Beach, CA 90806; USA OR// Oxxi, P.O. Box 90309; Long Beach, CA 90806; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Digital; 6 Stetson Dr.; Kentfield, CA 94904; USA Pangolin Laser Software; Suite 317-A; 933 N. Kenmore St.; Arlington, VA 22202; USA Parallax Publishing; 471 Lighthouse Avenue; Pacific Grove; CA 93950; USA Pelican Software; 338 Commerce Dr.; Fairfield, CT 06430; USA Phase 5 Digital Products; Homberger Landstrasse 412; 6000 Franfurt 50; Germany Phoenix MicroTechnologies; 18 Hampton Rd; Keswick, SA; 5035 Australia PiM Publications, Inc.; P.O. Box 869; Fall River, MA 02722-0869; USA PLAYFIELD!; 1836 SW 50th Terrace; Cape Coral, FL 33914; USA Poor Person Software; 3721 Starr King Circle; Palo Alto, CA 94306; USA Practical Peripherals; 375 Conejo Ridge Avenue; Thousand Oaks, CA 91361; USA Practical Solutions, Inc.; 1135 N. Jones Blvd.; Tucson, AZ 85716; USA Preferred Technologies; 14540 E. Beltwood Parkway; Dallas, TX 75244; USA Pre'Spect Technics, Inc.; P.O. Box 670 Station H; Montreal, Quebec; Canada H3G 2M6 Progressive Peripherals and Software; 464 Kalamath St.; Denver, CO 80204; USA Prolific, Inc.; 6905 Oslo Circle; Suite B3; Buena Park, CA 90621; USA Psygnosis, Ltd.; 29 Saint Mary's Court; Brookline, MA 02146; USA Push*Button Publishing; P.O. Box 2521; West Columbia, SC 29171; USA -------------------------------------------------------------------- Quma Software; 20 Warren Manor Court; Cockeysville, MD 21030; USA -------------------------------------------------------------------- Radical Eye Software; P.O. Box 2081; Stanford, CA 94309; USA Raw Entertainment; 3027 Marina Bay Dr.; Suite 110; League City, TX 77573; USA ReadySoft; 30 Wertheim Ct.; Unit 2; Richmond Hill, Ont.; Canada L4B 1B9 RCS Management, Inc.; 120 McGill St.; Montreal, Quebec; Canada, H2Y 2E5 RGB Computer and Video Creations; 3944 Florida Blvd.; Suite 4; Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410; USA Ribeiro, George; 2550 Hilborn Rd.; #167; Fairfield, CA 94533; USA Richardson, Ron D.; P.O. Box 52013; Edmonton Trail RPO; Calgary, Alberta; Canada T2E 8K9 Ricketts, Inc.; 8611 E. 63 S.; Derby, KS 67037; USA Right Anwers Group; P.O. Box 3699; Torrance, CA 90510; USA Rimik Enterprises; 836 Osborne Street; Vista, CA 92084; USA Roctec; 170 Knowles Drive; Suite 202; Los Gatos, CA 95030; USA Rombo Limited; 2 Baird Rd.; Kirkton Campus, Livingston, EH54 7AZ; Scotland Rudy, James; 27 Rife Drive; Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; USA Russ Jones Marketing Group; 17700 Raymer St; Suite 1001; Northridge, CA 91325; USA -------------------------------------------------------------------- Saddleback Graphics; 12812 Garden Grove Blvd.; Unit P; Garden Grove, CA 92643; USA SAS Institute, Inc.; SAS Campus Drive; Cary, NC 27513; USA Saxon Industries; 14 Rockcress Gardens; Nepean, ON; Canada K2G-5A8 Scala, Inc.; 12110 Sunset Hills Rd., Suite 100; Reston, VA, 22090; USA SciTech Software; 23 Stage Leys; Ashtead, Surrey; England KT21 2TD Selectech; 30 Mountain View Drive; Colchester, VT 05446; USA Seven Seas Software; P.O. Box 1451; Port Townsend, WA 98368; USA ShaderSoft; 3631 Colby S.W.; Wyoming, MI 49509; USA Shereff Systems; 15075 SW Koll Parkway; Suite G; Beaverton, OR 97006; USA Shocking Software; 3535 N. Nevada, Chandler, AZ 85225; USA Showline Video; 120 Beacon St.; Boston, MA 02116; USA Sierra On-Line, Inc.; P.O. Box 485; Coarsegold, CA 93614; USA Siliconation; 351-B Jalan Besar, Reliance Bldg.; Singapore; 0820 Sir-Tech; P.O. Box 245; Ogdensburg, NY 13669; USA Software Publishing; P.O. Box 54983; Santa Clara, CA 95056; USA Soft-Logik; 11131 South Towne Square; Suite F; St. Louis, MO 63123; USA OR// Soft-Logik; P.O. Box 290070; St. Louis, MO 63129; USA Software Technology; P.O. Box 22066; Portland, OR 97222; USA Software Visions; 12625 La Tortola, San Diego, CA 92129; USA Softwood; P.O. Box 50178/51209; Phoenix, AZ 85076; USA SOGWAP, 115 Bellmont, Rd.; Decatur, IN 46733; USA Solid Gold Software; 118 Parkway Drive; Arlington Park, Huntington, WV 25705; USA Sony of America; Sony Drive; Park Ridge, NJ 07656; USA (check out the Sony dealer in your country, first!) Spectrum Holobyte; 2061 Challenger Dr.; Alameda, CA 94501; USA Spirit Technology; 220 West 2959 South; Salt Lake City, UT 84115; USA Spotlight Software; 4165 Thousand Oaks Blvd.; Westlake Village, CA 91362; USA Strategic Simulations; 675 Almanor Avenue; Suite 201; Sunnyvale, CA 94086-2901; USA Strategic Studies Group; 8348 Montecello Dr.; Pensacola, FL 32514; USA StudyWare, 4805 Murphy Canyon Rd.; Suite A, San Diego, CA 92123; USA Stylus, Inc.; P.O. Box 1671; Ft. Collins, CO 80522; USA Sundance Technology Group; 6221 N. O'Connor Rd.; Suite 105; Irving, TX 75039; USA SunRize Industries; 2959 S. Winchester Blvd.; Suite 204; Campbell, CA 95008; USA Supra Corporation; 1133 Commercial Way; Albany, OR 97321; USA -------------------------------------------------------------------- TAB Books, P.O. Box 850; Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850; USA Take Four Productions; 11396 Camarosa Circle; San Diego, CA 92126; USA TechMedia Video; 80 Elm Street; Peterborough, NH 03458; USA Technical Magic; 26090-62 Robertson Rd.; Nepean, ONT; Canada K2H 9R0 Technical Resource Systems Laboratory; 3950 Koval Lane, Suite 3409; Las Vegas, NV 89109; USA Technical Tools; 2 S. 461 Cherice Drive; Warrenville, IL 60555; USA TelePro Technologies; 20-1525 Rayner Avenue; Saskatoon, SK; Canada S7N 1Y1 Texture City; 3215 Overland Avenue; Suite 6167; Los Angeles, CA 90034; USA The Byte Factory; 2317 SW 31st St.; Oklahoma City, OK 73119; USA The Disc Company; 11040 Santa Monica Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90025; USA The Krueger Company; 1544 W. Mineral Rd.; Tempe, AZ 85283; USA The Memory Location; 396 Washington St.; Wellesley, MA 02181; USA The Other Guys; 55 North Main St.; Suite 301-D; P.O. Box H; Logan UT 84321; USA The Puzzle Factory; P..O. Box 986; Veneta, OR 97487; USA The Right Answers Group; Box 3699; Torrance, CA 90510; USA Three-Sixty Pacific, Inc.; 2105 South Bascom Ave.; Suite 380; Campbell, CA 95008; USA Tiger Media; 5801 E. Slauson Ave., Suite 200; Los Angeles, CA 90040; USA Titus Software; 20432 Corisco St.; Chatsworth, CA 91311; USA Toaster Crustaceans; 1730 Arcane St.; Simi Valley, CA 93065; USA Top Secret Devices; 1610 George Washington Blvd.; Wichita, KS 67211; USA Tri-Media; 60 East Hintz Rd.; Wheeling, IL 60090; USA Troika Multimedia; 3900 Fairfax Drive; Suite 404; Arlington, VA 22203; USA TTR Development; 6701 Seybold Road; Madison, WI 53719; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- UBISoft: distributed by Electronic Arts Unili Graphics; 143 Lorraine Ave.; Pittsburg, CA 94565; USA USA Media; 7810 Malcolm Rd.; Clinton, MD 20735; USA U.S. Gold; 550 S. Winchester Blvd.; San Jose, CA 95128; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Video Bookshelf; 2405 E. Mt. Hope, Lansing, MI 48910; USA Videographix; 12231 Nicollet Avenue S.; Burnsville, MN 55337; USA VideoMania, Inc.; 211 Weddell Dr.; Sunnyvale, CA 94089; USA VideoMedia; 175 Lewis Rd.; San Jose, CA 95111; USA Vidia; P.O. Box 1180; Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; USA VidTech International, Inc.; 2822 NW 79th Ave.; Miami, FL 33122; USA Virgin Games, Inc.; 18061 Fitch Ave.; Irvine, CA 92714; USA Virtual Reality Laboratories; 2341 Ganador Ct; San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; USA Vortex Computersysteme; Falterstrabe 51-53; D-7101 Flein bei Heilbronn; Germany ------------------------------------------------------------------- Walnut Creek CD-ROM; 1547 Palos Verdes Mall; Suite 260; Walnut Creek, CA 94596; USA Waterloo Maple Software; 160 Columbus Street West; Waterloo, ON; Canada N2L 3L3 Wesson International; 50 S. Capitol of Texas Hwy.; Bldg. 5, Suite 200; Austin, TX 78746; USA Whitestone; 511-A Girard Blvd. SE; Albuquerque, NM 87106; USA Willow Mixed Media, Inc.; P.O. Box 194; Lennox Avenue; Glenford, NY 12433; USA Word Perfect Corp.; 1555 N. Technology Way; Orem, UT 84057; USA Wordware Publishing, Inc.; 1506 Capital Avenue; Plano, TX 75074; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Xetec, Inc.; 2804 Arnold Rd.; Salina, KS 67401; USA Xiphias; 8578 Venice Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90034; USA XYXIS Corp.; 14631 Martin Dr.; Eden Prarie, MN 55344; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Y/C Plus, Inc.; 1410 S. Kansas Avenue; Topeka, KS 66612; USA ------------------------------------------------------------------- Zardoz; 6114 LaSalle Ave.; Suite 304; Oakland, CA 94611; USA Zen Computer Services; 2 Silver Birch Grove; Swinton; Manchester M27 1FS; England ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want more specific information about the products mentioned please look for the following magazines: ------------------------------------------------------------------- "AmigaWorld" - IDG Communications/Peterborough, Inc. "Amazing Computing for the Commodore Amiga" - PiM Publications, Inc. "Compute" (Amiga Edition) - Compute Publications International, Ltd. S. M. Oakland =============================================================================  NEWS FROM THE STATES =============================================================================