Welcome to the ____ / ___) *StarShip* 5-MINUTE Weekend Newscast / (_ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / ___) / (__ very weekend the *StarShip* on GEnie presents a new 5-MINUTE Weekend (_____) Newscast in Communications Room 10 in the Real-Time Conference Area. Featuring late-breaking stories from the Amiga community, these dynamic, scrolling newscasts cycle every 5 minutes, so you can stop by between 6PM and 3AM Eastern time on Friday, or 3PM and 3AM Eastern time on Saturday or Sunday and learn everything that happened during the preceding week. Industry news, product announcements, upgrades, rumors, special *StarShip* activities, trade show reports, GEnie usage tips, humor, recommended files to download... ... the works -- and it ONLY takes 5 minutes! Each 5-MINUTE Weekend Newscast is available on *StarShip* Menu #10 during the following week. Periodically, newscasts are combined and made available for downloading from the *StarShip* Library. ____________________________________________________________ // \ || -*- IMPORTANT! -*- | || | || As long as individual stories are kept intact and credit | || is given, this material may be reproduced in ALL or PART | || on a privately owned BBS or in a user group newsletter. | || See wording for proper credit at the end of this Newscast. | \\____________________________________________________________/ || | || | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks to Denny Atkin, Editor, COMPUTE's Amiga Resource, for his generous input. Here we go!... DateLine: January 22, 1993 This 5-MINUTE Newscast presents the following stories: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. GVP Develops Accelerator for the A1200 2. The Inside Scoop About Commodore 3. Technical Sales Position Available at ASDG 4. Next Week's *StarShip* Winning Conferences: INOVAtronics & Blackbelt! 5. Oxxi to Ship SBase Personal 4 in February 6. HyperCache Professional 7. Take the Next Stop into Cyberspace from Your Amiga *StarShip* NEWS *Flash* 1st of 7 Stories _____ GVP Develops Accelerator for the A1200 / ____) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / /___ King of Prussia, PA -- January 4, 1993 / /( ) / (__) / (______/VP announced today that it will release an accelertor for Commodore's new A1200 early in February. Called the A1230Turbo, this 40Mhz 030 accelerator can be easily installed inside the expansion bay on the bottom of the A1200 computer. Two SIMM sockets allow for expansion of up to 32MB of 32-bit wide 60ns DRAM. The A1230Turbo also includes a socket for an optional FPU, which dramatically increases the performance of floating-point intensive applications. Using the same cutting edge technology as is used in GVP's A530 Turbo and Combo family accelerators, this system, which comes populated with 1MB of 32-bit RAM, features a modular RAM design that allow users many options for adding memory. When 4MB SIMMS are used, the A1230 can be configured with either 4MB or 8MB of RAM. The accelerator will also accept 16MB SIMMS which allows for RAM expansion up to 32MB. Other options allow the user to install various combinations of 1MB, 4MB and 16MB SIMMS. "At a U.S. list price of just $499, the A1230Turbo is an affordable way to add 030 acceleration to the A1200 -- making it a viable computer for even the most serious applications," commented Gary Nush, GVP's Product Manager. GVP is a privately held company that was founded in 1988. Today it is the world's largest third-party supplier of peripherals for the Commodore Amiga. For more information, contact your authorized Amiga dealer or Great Valley Products (GVP) at 600 Clark Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406, Telephone 215/337-8770. -*- *StarShip* NEWS *Flash* 2nd of 7 Stories ____ The Inside Scoop About Commodore / ___) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / (_ Collingswood, NJ -- January 21, 1993 / ___) / (_ (____)ver wondered what REALLY goes on at Commodore? Just WHO these folks are, where they come from, what they DO? How many times have you (or someone you know) said "What Commodore ought to do to make the Amiga a success is... (fill in blank)"? Why is it, do you suppose, that they haven't done just that? Now, the story will be told. An upcoming book and video by CBM "survivors" reveals the behind-the-scenes scoop as experienced by those actually there. Fascinating accounts of the company, the people and the events behind the Amiga and the truth about the hows and whys of the notorious Commodore marketing! It's an eye-opening insiders' look at the corporate culture, the foibles and fiascos, untold tales and a chance for YOU to grapple with the same challenges! Sample highlights: - Company organizational charts show who held/holds which key positions in the company and what they're responsible for and profiles of these individuals. Like to write to them and share your opinions? Names named and contacts provided. - Surprising, never-before-released information about the launch of new Amiga models. If the press had ever known... - What's happened to all those art/ideas/proposals that people have sent to the company in attempts to contribute to the Amiga's promotion? - Ever wonder why the company that has had the premiere video and multimedia computer has produced so few videos and multimedia productions with it? How are the materials they DO use produced? The facts will amaze you. - Interesting details about Amiga advertising, the campaigns and those involved. - Come along on a visit to West Chester! See for yourself. - Win one-of-a-kind and original collector's items from the History of Amiga! The book and video will be available on a very limited basis, as special editions. If you'd like to be among those on the list to receive more details (and maybe a great, highly exclusive offer), write to the address below. Special Invitations 1) If YOU have any direct personal experiences to recount about the company, the people and/or associated activities then NOW is the time to submit them. Join the others in this hall of infamy! Set the record straight! 2) Name Contest: Submit your ideas for titles. Put your stamp on this work and become part of it! (We'll contact you. *** Circulate this file on BBS's and among User Groups *** Write now, sending your name, address, phone # and indicate your interest to: Promography Productions, c/o P.O. Box 215, Collingswood, NJ 08108 -*- *StarShip* NEWS *Flash* 3rd of 7 Stories Technical Sales Position Available at ASDG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _ /\ _ Madison, WI -- January 21, 1993 ( \/ \/ ) \ / \_/\_/ould you like to be a part of one of the most exciting companies in the Amiga community? We at ASDG are looking to hire a Technical Sales Representative to our team. Although you are not required to have a complete working knowledge of all of our products -- both hardware and software -- the more you know the better. Qualified applicants will need to possess excellent communication (verbal and written) skills, know how to listen to our users' and dealers' questions and comments, and respond with clear and helpful answers. Personal organization, responsibility, and a sales and service-oriented mentality are major advantages. General knowledge of the Amiga's hardware and software and the willingness to learn about existing and new products are also advantages. ASDG offers full health benefits, an extremely aggressive profit sharing and pension plan, an excellent work atmosphere, and a chance to be part of one of (what are nearly universally regarded as) the good guys of the Amiga marketplace. Relocation to Madison, Wisconsin is required. To be considered for this position, send a paper or email cover letter and resume or call (608) 273-6585. All correspondences should be made attention to Gina Cerniglia, Sales Manager, or Jeffrey R. Almasol, Technical Support Manager. Our mailing address is: ASDG, Incorporated 925 Stewart Street Madison, WI 53713 Please be sure to include your daytime phone number so that we may know where to contact you. -*- *StarShip* NEWS *Flash* 4th of 7 Stories __________________________________________________________________________ | | | *StarShip* Amiga Conferences | | | | _ | | / )____ _____ __ __ ____ ___ __ __ | | __ / // _ ) / _ )/ / / // _ ) / __)/ / / / | | ( (_/ // (/ / / / ) // (_/ // (/ / / / / (_/ / | | \___/(_____)(_/ (_/(_____((_____)(_/ (___ / | | ___/ / | | (____/ | | Except where noted, Conferences begin at 10PM Eastern Time in the Amiga | | Conference Rooms at Page 555;2. Amiga Programmers meet Wednesday nights | | at Pro/Am on Page 670. Amiga/GEnie HelpDesk EVERY Night at 9PM Eastern. | |__________________________________________________________________________| | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Humpday |Thursday | Friday | Saturday | | Help@9EST| Help@9EST|Help@9EST| Help@9EST|Help@9EST| Help@9EST| Help@9EST| |__________|__________|_________|__________|_________|__________|__________| | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |21 | 22 | 23 | |5-MIN News| | Blue | |vv-Video!| New |5-MIN News| | 3PM-3AM | DeskTop | Ribbon's| AmiGames | Radient |*StarShip*|9:Hardware| | -*- |Publishing|One-Stop | ------ | Images' | 5-MINUTE |10: Guest!| |10PM: | Night |MusicShop|Programing| Mark | Newscast INOVAtronics | Graphics | |& Prizes!|at Pro/Am |Thompson!| 6PM-3AM | & Prize! | |__________|__________|_________|__________|_________|__________|__________| | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |28 | 29 | 30 | |5-MIN News| | | |Blackbelt| New |5-MIN News| | 3PM-3AM | DeskTop | o/~ | AmiGames | Ben |*StarShip*|9:Hardware| | -*- |Publishing| | ------ | Williams| 5-MINUTE | Clinic | |10PM: | Night | Music |Programing| with | Newscast |10: Amiga | | Graphics | | Night |at Pro/Am | Prizes! | 6PM-3AM |PartyNight| |__________|__________|_________|__________|_________|__________|__________| -* Special WINNING Conferences Coming these Next Two Weeks! *- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INOVAtronics -- Saturday, January 23 at 10PM EST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The gang's all here! INOVAtronics Programmers and Tech Support Staff with news on their latest and greatest: CanDo Authoring System, Dir OPUS 4.0, GigaMem, TURBOprint, and their entry into entertainment software, Vektor Storm! Someone's going to win a FREE copy of Dir OPUS 4.0 - will it be YOU? Watch the *StarShip* Software Library for new CanDo demos and other goodies! Blackbelt -- Thursday, January 28 at 10PM EST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not one.. not two.. but THREE lucky conference participants will win their own full-featured image manipulation system, Imagemaster, Blackbelt's flagship product, including -- as soon as it's available -- a free upgrade to Imagemaster V10, a revolutionary NEW image processing product for the Amiga! Three others will win Blackbelt's NoteBook software, a unique personal productivity tool. That's over $750 worth of prizes to *StarShip* members tonight alone! Special guest Ben Williams will also talk about Blackbelt's PackeTerm, a packet-radio handling program for HAM radio operators. Note: Transcripts of last week's Winning Conferences available: Blue Ribbon's One-Stop Music Shop Conference Library File #18252. Radient Image's LightWave Conference in Library File #18261. HelpDesk *EVERY* NIGHT @ 9PM Eastern Time! Got a problem? If you have questions about learning to use your Amiga, the *StarShip* or GEnie, we have answers! Stop by Conference Room 4 ANY EVENING from 9 to 10 EST for live, on-the-spot help. -*- *StarShip* NEWS *Flash* 5th of 7 Stories _____ Oxxi to Ship SBase Personal 4 in February / _ ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / / ) / Long Beach, CA -- January 15, 1993 / (_/ / (_____/ Oxxi is pleased to announce the availability next month of SBase Personal 4, the latest generation of the Personal series for Superbase on the Amiga computer. Several new features have been added including compatibility with the 2.0 Operating System. SBase Personal 4 includes a customized data display including external sound files and IFF images. Customized data display allows for many creative applications such as inventory/stock needs, photo databases, collections, research, design, and educational. New features include Logical fields, query across relationships and multiple files, define up to 40 function-key commands and save and load function key sets, and store and recall report and query formats. Reports from multiple files and sort levels can be created. Data can be imported from other databases or other applications and then exported in most popular data file formats in cluding Excel, Lotus and dBase. Data can be viewed in both record and table mode. Unlimited forms can be created for both screen display and hard copy printouts. Fields can be displayed in any order for ease of use. The VCR-like interface is retained for quick and easy data access including fast-forward and rewind. The Filter feature screens records based on multiple criteria and the Quick Index feature aids with fast record matching. JoAnn Houston, Vice President of Oxxi, commented. "SBase Personal 4 has outstanding power and features that should easily satisfy the needs of most database needs. Nearly all of the features of SBase Professional 4 are included in SBase Personal 4 with the exception of the DML language and an ARexx port." SBase Personal 4 will list for $149.95 and will be available from local Amiga dealers next month. Upgrades from Superbase Personal are $65 and from Superbase Personal 2 are $50. Should owners of SBase Personal 4 ever care to upgrade to SBase Professional 4 the cost is $135.00. Based in Long Beach, California, Oxxi, Inc. is one of the leading publishers of productivity software for the Amiga computer. In general, business productivity products are sold by Oxxi, while graphics entertainment and sound-related products are sold by Oxxi's Aegis Development division. Fact Sheet: SBase(TM) Personal 4 Personal Relational Database System for the Amiga Managing data was never so easy -- or so powerful - before. The SBase 4 relational database system puts data at your fingertips with point-and-click ease. Pull-down menus, multiple windows, and full access to the multitasking environment of your Amiga computer make SBase the only real choice for data management on the Amiga. The latest in a long line of inter-compatible database programs, SBase Personal 4 provides you with a complete data management system for your personal data needs. Customize data display, bring up external files and display or play them -- SBase supports external sounds files as well as IFF images, including HAM images. FEATURES Software Capabilities o Up to 17 Gigabytes of storage per file, disk dependent o Up to 16 Million records per file, disk dependent o Up to 999 indexes per file, all open and maintained o Number of files limited only by system o Files open: unlimited, from any directory o Number of fields per record limited only by system Data and Graphic-Image Management o Special picture reference facility o Create a unique picture/data library application o Run an automatic slide show o Text, date, numeric and external file fields o Logical fields <-- NEW! o Input range checking o Full-function formula-derived fields o Calendar 1-9999 A.D. with multiple date styles o 13-digit numeric precision o Three-level password option Definable Data Display o Easy-to-read tables o Page-by-page Form View o Field number limited only by disk storage available o Choose which fields to display, in what order -- you have full control over the data display o VCR-like controls make moving from record to record easy and quick -- fast-forward, rewinds, stop anywhere Indexing Ease o Unique Filter feature finds records that match one or several parameters - quickly create a subset of your main database o Quick Index Query feature rapidly locates first or next match in Index field o Set up multiple indexes o Query across relationships, across multiple files <-- NEW! o Save, load and edit file Update, Query and mail Label programs <-- NEW! o Define up to 40 function-key commands, save and load f-key sets <-- NEW! Reporting Power o Report from multiple files, multiple sort levels if needed <-- NEW! o Import data from other databases or applications o Export data to word processor for mail merging o Up to 255-character column-width for reports o Title, date-stamp, page number o Record counts, averages, subtotals and totals o Multi-file output to screen, printer, disk or new database o Multi-column, variable-format mailing labels o Store and recall report and query formats <-- NEW! o Sort in any order Build Custom Applications o Re-arrange data entry fields in Page View to create custom data-entry screens o Applications virtually endless -- picture mangement feature opens a whide new area of data management applications Applications Applications are limited only by your own creativity and needs. o Inventory/Stock o Invoicing o Registration o Mailing Lists o Records o Designing o Photography o Journalism o Collections o Research o Education REQUIREMENTS Any Commodore Amiga with one disk drive and 512 Kb of memory. Optional: Additional RAM, additional floppy disk drive, hard disk. To learn more contact Oxxi, Inc., P.O. Box 90309, Long Beach, CA 90809, Telephone 310/427-1227, FAX 310/427-0971. -*- *StarShip* NEWS *Flash* 6th of 7 Stories ___ ___ HyperCache Professional (_ )( _) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / /_/ / Regina, SK, Canada -- January 1993 / __ / _/ / / / (___)(__)yperCache is a media caching system for the Amiga series of personal computers. It uses an intelligent caching system to bring the filesystem performance up to workstation levels, and far exceeds the capabilities of the standard system, Addbuffers. While any Amiga user can benefit, the greatest performance gains are realized in situtations where storage devices are important, such as compiler operation, database manipulation, manipulating large word-processng files, etc. Features - Works with any AmigaDOS compatible storage device, including but not limited to: SCSI Hard Drives IDE Hard Drive (AT and XT style) ST-506 Hard Drives Trackdisk-based floppies CD-ROM drives (CDTV included!) SCSI Tape Backup Units - HyperCache employs a pre-fetch technique that intelligently reads data BEFORE IT IS REQUESTED. In this way, even first time reads that are not in the cache are accelerated. - Any number of devices, and any number of units per device (up to available memory) may be cached. Drives may be spread across multiple devices (SCSI, IDE, and Trackdisk caches resident in the same machine simultaneously). - Works with any filesystem, independant of device geometry. Alternate systems, such as MessyDOS and most CD-ROM filesystems are supported. - User-configurable cache parameters. The cache is maintained as an n-way associative line cache, where the number of lines, line size, prefetch size, and overall cache size are configurable independantly for each device being cached. Automatic configuration is also supplied for the novice user. Requirements - Kickstart 1.2 or higher (fully compatible and tested with 2. - 1M RAM recommended (and it screams with 32 bit RAM!) - Floppy, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, and Tape supported Diskspeed Results A B C D 512 Byte Transfers 18395 111879 112159 477926 4096 Byte Transfers 84644 440142 553855 1510893 32768 Byte Transfers 132297 612320 565127 2112818 A - A500, Addbuffers 1024 B - A500, HyperCache Installed, auto-configured C - A3000, Addbuffers 1024 D - A3000, HyperCache Installed, auto-configured Distributability HyperCache is a commerical product. It is not now, nor has it ever been, public domain or freely-distributable software. Availability HyperCache is currently available only directly from the author, Silicon Prairie Software, for the price of $49.95 US funds. which includes all applicable taxes, shipping, and handling in North America. Overseas orders add $3.00 (Canadian GST included). Residents of Saskatchewan (both of you) add 7% PST. Shipping and Handling is included in North America. Dealer and Site Licence information available upon request. For more information or to order HyperCache, mail your check or money order to: Silicon Prairie Software 2326 Francis Street Regina, SK S4N 2P7 Canada -*- *StarShip* Amiga *Flash* 7th of 7 Stories Take the Next Stop into Cyberspace from Your Amiga _ _ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ( \ / ) San Luis Obispo, CA -- January 12, 1993 \ \_/ / \ / \_/irtual Reality Laboratories, Inc. announces the scheduled release, in the first week of February '93, of the latest version of its virtual reality landscape program, Vistapro 3.0 for the Amiga. Using real-world data from the U.S. Geological Survey and from NASA Spacecraft, Vistapro 3.0 is a three-dimensional landscape simulation program which enables the user to accurately recreate and explore landscapes on the earth and Mars in gorgeous 24-bit color. New in version 3.0 are three-dimensional trees with individually shaded leaves, improved fractalized clouds and fractal texturing which creates rock surfaces that look so real you can almost feel the scratchiness of the granite beneath your hand. The new version also allows the addition of waterfalls, buildings and roads to landscapes and it generates left and right images for three-dimensional viewing. Visit the recent past to see how Mt. St. Helens looked before erupting or take in the view from inside the cauldera of the huge Martian volcano, Olympus Mons. Then change the bare Martian landscape into a living, breathing entity. Set climactic controls to assign sea level, tree line, snow line and haze. Add rivers (which automatically follow the "path of least resistance") or flood a basin to make a lake. Vistapro 3.0 comes with landscape files for you to explore; the cauldera area of Olympus Mons, Mars; Mt. St. Helens before and after the eruption; El Capitan in Yosemite, California; Half Dome, Yosemite, California; Crater Lake, Oregon; Matterhorn, Switzerland; Mt. Fuji, Japan; Mt. LaDole, The Alps; Mt. Etna, Italy, and more! Also, many additional landscape sets are available separately including: Valles Marineris, Mars; Yosemite, California; Grand Canyon, Arizona; the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and many more. NEW features in Vistapro 3.0: o Three-dimensional vegetation: choose from Oak, Pine, Palm, Cactus and Grass. o Advanced fractalized landscape texturing. o Improved fractialized clouds; Save and load cloud maps o Add buildings and roads to any landscape. o Generates and merges left and right images for 3-D viewing. o Support for AmigaDOS 3.0, AGA 256, HAM8 and SuperHiRes modes. o Support for NTSC, PAL, VGA, EURO36, EURO72, Super72, DBL, NTSC DBL and PAL DBL o Direct support for 3- and 4-bit plane DCTV. Other Vistapro features include: o Realistic Images in 24-bit color. o Gourand shading, combined with high resolution and interlace, produces painting-quality scenes of unparalleled beauty. o Variable focal length "camera" lens, unlimited number of lighting positions, dithering, roughness, and blend controls. o User-defined color palette, night sky, stars, tree line, snow level, waves, haze levels, lakes, rivers. o Three dimensional wire frame preview saves time -- modify the camera settings until you have the exact view you want. o Powerful script language for animation control in four animation modes: IFF, IFF24, RGB and Vistapro's proprietary VANIM mode. o Export your current topo map for editing in a paint program. Then, import the modified map back into Vistapro to render the new landscape. o User definable screen resolutions including overscan. o Direct support for FireCracker and HAM-E. o Save images as IFF, IFF24, Turbo Silver objects, and in 24-bit RGB for frame buffer output, or print directly from the program. o ARexx support. For more information, contact your authorized Amiga dealer or Virtual Reality Laboratories, Inc., 2341 Ganador Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, telephone 805/545-8515. Over a GIGABYTE of Amiga files in our Library! Catch your limit of Fred FISH Disks from the *StarFish* Library. If you are after a SINGLE PROGRAM on a Fish Disk, SEARCH for it before downloading the disk. Most are available separately! _______________________________________________________________ | | | | | Permission is hereby granted to quote ALL or PART of this | | Newscast on a privately owned BBS or in a user group news- | | letter (*) provided you include the following credit: | | | | Reprinted by Permission from the 5-MINUTE Weekend | | News Network, a *StarShip*(tm) Production on GEnie(R). | | * /\ / | |_________________________________________________ ___/ \___ _| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \ oo / ~ . \ \__/ / _ (*) We would like to know about it / \ if you do, and you can tell us \ /\ / *FREE* by leaving Feedback to / \/ \/ \ the SysOps on GEnie Page 555. *StarFish* Librarian Coming Soon! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ February ViewPort -- The *StarShip* Monthly Online Magazine! Watch the Banner on Page 555! The current issue is FREE on GEnie*Basic! Amiga Product Reviews! Tutorials! News! Opinions!