By: Tina Hackett
VIScorp seeks national representatives
In an effort to better organise the input from Amiga developers worldwide, VIScorp CEO Bill Buck has proposed that developer input be channelled through a single national representative chosen from the existing developer base of a country. So far, only a French national contact has been announced. His name is Eric Laffont and he is presently handling the entire workload of user and developer input. However, to better distribute responsibility, VIScorp has asked interested parties to come forward and take up the position.
To enquire as to how to contact your national representative, or to offer your services in this respect, contact VIScorp by phone on (001) +312-655-0903 voice or by fax on (001) +312-655-0910 fax
Following in the much-overdue but quite welcome trend of increasing on-line awareness, PageStream publisher SoftLogik has expanded its on-line presence to include a Web site. The page, at http://www.softlogik.com, offers instant access to upgrade patches for PageStream, as well as ordering information for the entire line of SoftLogik and Digita products, for which it is the exclusive North American distributor. The ordering page includes special 'Powerup' and competitive upgrade options.
SoftLogik continues to offer free on-line and mail technical support. Other support options are explained on its Web site. For more information, check out SoftLogik at the aforementioned Web address or contact its automated mailer at info@softlogik.com. More conventional individuals may phone (001) +314-256-9595 or fax (001) +314-256-7773.
Miami enters networking field
Choosing a networking package on the Amiga isn't quite as straightforward a decision as it used to be, either for local networks or for getting connected to your local Internet service provider. With the commercial release of AmiTCP 4, the revitalisation of the AS225/I-Net 225 package (as found in the Amiga Surfer), and the forthcoming networking tools from companies such as Oregon Research and HiSoft, one might think the field was already too crowded.
Holger Kruse has found cause to disagree. His new TCP/IP networking system called Miami promises an easy-to-use and attractive application for getting an Amiga quickly connected via SLIP or PPP (the two popular methods of directly dialling your Amiga to an Internet provider), with the most up-to-date networking code for increased compatibility with new server software. Miami will not support SANA-II, the well-established Amiga network driver standard but will rely instead on custom SLIP and PPP drivers to better handle the dialup signals neglected by the SANA standard. As such, it will not be aimed at Amiga users looking to construct a local, Ethernet-style network.
Miami promises to be mostly compatible with both AmiTCP and AS225/I-Net 225 applications which use the proper library calls, meaning many popular networking clients for e-mail, newsgroups, Web browsing and IRC should work with a minimum of hassle. Miami is slated for release as shareware in the summer of this year. Mr Kruse has previously distinguished himself through the authorship of other Amiga networking tools, including ppp.device, a SANA-II device for PPP connections and AmiWin, a popular implementation of the X windowing system for network connections.
More information on Miami and other programs of interest can be found on Mr Kruse's Web site, http://www.america.com/~kruse/home.html. Alternatively, you can reach him by e-mail at kruse@cs.ucf.edu.
The Amiga's premier high-end image processing package gets better!
Close on the heels of its acquisition of the Aladdin 4D rendering and animation package, Virginia-based Nova Design has announced that the latest upgrade to the popular ImageFX effects and image processing package will be available immediately. The 2.6 upgrade includes enhanced Video Toaster/Flyer support, a direct driver for the new Fargo FotoFun colour photographic printer, a wire-removal routine for altering wire-suspended images (such as a spaceship model in a video clip), and a set of updated and entirely new effects.
The upgrade is priced at US$35 for all registered ImageFX 2.0 (or higher) users. Users may order directly from Nova Design at 1-800-IMAGE-69 ((001) +804-282-1157), or can be faxed to the company at (001) +804-282-3768. Nova Design also has a Web site for user support and information at http://www.novadesign.com.
On the grapevine
Following current rumours of redundancies made at Amiga Technologies in Germany, Amiga Computing talked to company spokesman Gilles Bourdin about the latest events. Bourdin remarked that restructuring of the company had been necessary but he couldn't say exactly how many had been made redundant. He did comment that it was close to the rumoured figure of 10 to 13.
Bourdin went on to say: "The fact that VIScorp is going to take over the company makes development redundant in Germany because they have engineers in America, many former Commodore engineers. In Germany we will be doing most of the marketing and sales. We have a big market in Europe so that makes sense, and most of the relevant engineers are in America anyway."
He continued: "It's not been decided exactly how the organisation is going to be. We're having a transition time now which, of course, has made it necessary to shrink the company - make it more reduced to its core. The fact is that the new strategy and organisation can only be made possible at the time when the deal between Escom and VIScorp is concluded."
Amiga Computing asked him whether this meant that development is in the hands of the Americans now. He told us: "Not really, because the development in Germany has been made by external companies so actually much of the development work, both software and hardware, has been made by external people who have been recruited by us to do this. We didn't have here what you'd call a research and development department."
Peter Kittel is still in the same role however, contrary to current rumours. Bourdin finished: "He will be staying until the end of June and then maybe we can find a solution."
Epic proportions
A new Amiga multimedia CD-ROM has been launched to turn you all into budding boffins. The Epic Interactive Encyclopaedia contains tonnes of information with a variety of subjects from Aachen to Zurich, accompanied by film clips, sound samples and images. The encyclopaedia has been produced in the UK and also allows you to add new subjects from the Internet or from floppy disk. A hotlist editor allows you to create lists of particular subjects.
To infinity and beyond
Fans of the brilliant Disney animation, Toy Story, will be pleased to hear of the new mouse mat from Office Data. Choose from the two styles available, either Woody and Buzz or Buzz with his Pulsating Laserlight High pressure Space Vehicle. They cost £5.99 and are available from Office Data who can be contacted on 01925 820997.
Join ICPUG
The Independent Computer Products Users Group is offering UK and BFPO members joining for the eight months from 1 May to 31 December 1996 a reduced price subscription of £17 (including 1 share). The rate for Europe (including Eire) and overseas surface mail is £20 and the overseas airmail rate for this offer is £27.50. As a member you will get four issues of the ICPUG Journal, a free PD software library for the Amiga, and all other Commodore computers, plus a free PD library (DOS and Windows) for the PC. You will also be able to use the technical help hot-lines which are available for members only.
ICPUG is a non-profit-making organisation which has been around for 18 years. It was previously known as the Independent Commodore Products Users Group and now supports most home computers, but in particular PCs, Amiga, and Apple Mac plus the older machines made by the former Commodore company. Details from the Membership Secretary, Tim Arnot, 17 Colne Drive, Oakfields, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7RZ.
Lazarus acquires
Ontario-based company, Lazarus Engineering Corporation, has announced that it has bought all the Intellectual Property from Wonder Computers. This means that Lazarus now controls DesignWorks, PowerManager and QuickWrite, plus hardware such as the KB-10 IBM-Amiga keyboard protocol converter. Steve Cockwell, President and CEO of Lazarus commented: "Our strength is in the people around us. From our talented engineers, technical writers, graphic artists and support staff to the customers around the world that have shown their support through e-mails, faxes and letters that we have received in the past few months. It takes an entire community to make a company like this possible and we are proud to say that we are part of the one called Amiga."
Easy surfin'
If you're wondering what all this Internet hype is about and want to get yourself connected but don't know how, then help is at hand. Bookmark Publishing has a new book called First Steps Amiga Surfin' which will help you transform even the most basic Amiga into an Internet surfer's workstation. It shows you what hardware and software to buy, how to configure them and how to Install and use the best Internet applications. It is written by Karl Jeacle and the concept and design is by Jeff Walker.
Also from Bookmark Publishing is First Steps Amiga. Written by Paul Overaa, it guides absolute beginners through all the basics of the Amiga using clear terms without all the jargon. It shows how to operate the Amiga and how to use the Workbench programs. Both books are priced at £6.99 and you can contact Bookmark on 01525 713671 for more info.
Buy-out for Leisuresoft?
Following the news that distributor, Leisuresoft, has gone into Administration, it has now emerged that around 50 firms have expressed an interest in buying the company. The administrators are known to have put Leisuresoft up for sale and will sell if it will benefit the company. One company rumoured to be interested is Anglo Corporation, the same people who saved SDL last year when it also fell into financial troubles.
Show of support
The World of Amiga Show which took place at the Hammersmith Novotel last month was hailed as a huge success attracting a crowd well over the number expected. According to those trading, their turnover during the two days was around £500,000 and on the first day a record number turned up in just three-quarters of an hour, meaning people could only get in when others left. A Christmas show will now be considered. See our full report in this issue.
I saw a mouse
Is your mouse passing on into the twilight of its years? Fear not because Golden Image has an attractive offer to take your old mouse off your hands and exchange it for a brand new one. Even if yours is completely done for they will offer you their Megamouse-Plus for £9.95 (including Post and Packing) instead of the usual price of £15.95. The mouse features an eight foot cable and three active buttons. However, the offer is only available for orders placed in June and July 1996. Phone the enquiry line for more details on 0181-900 9291 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm).
More from Blittersoft
Blittersoft has an assortment of new products this month. First off is its DblScan 4000 which allows the use of regular VGA/SVGA/Multisync monitors with your Amiga 4000. It upgrades the Amiga 4000's PAL/NTSC screenmodes in a way that any regular VGA/SVGA/Multisync monitor is able to show them. Priced at just £149.95 (inc VAT) it will only fit into a computer with a similar video slot. A standard VGA connector is used for the RGB port and if a graphics card for a pass-through option for Amiga output is being used, you can connect this to the DblScan 4000 output.
Blittersoft has also announced this month the release of the improved version of its Graphics Card, Picasso II. Called the Picasso II +, it has a newly designed bus-interface which offers improved performance in all resolutions and the on-board monitor switch eliminates the need for a second monitor. You can switch easily between the standard Amiga resolutions and the new Picasso Resolutions.
New features include a Vertical Blank Interrupt for smooth double buffered animation's, faster Zorro-II Bus speed and Pablo Video Encoder brightness control. The Picasso II + uses the Cirrus Logic CL 5428 graphics chip which has an integrated 32-bit blitter and allows a maximum data transfer of 30Mb. The new version also means that with 2Mb of graphics memory you can display up to 800 x 600 with 16.8 million colours. You can also display the Workbench in 8-bit with 1152 x 900 at 65Hz (maximum non-interlaced resolution), or up to 1600 x 1200 with 60Hz interlace. Picasso II + also supports DPMS Power Save monitors.
Blittersoft also has another offer this month. If you're thinking about upgrading to a more powerful Amiga, then it is offering a trade-in scheme whereby it will offer either £200 for an A1200 or £100 for an A500 against the purchase of a new A4000T. All it requires is that the machines are complete and working. The A4000T is priced at £1999.95 and is the full 040 version and comes complete with a 1Gb drive, 2Mb Chip, 4Mb Fast RAM plus full software packages
The company is also offering its A4000 TE for £1299.95. The machine is based on the full height Tower and has the basic motherboard, 2Mb Chip and 4Mb fast RAM but you also can decide on the processor, Hard Drive, RAM, CD-ROM (4x to 10x), Flicker Fixer and Graphics Card. This method allows the user to buy a full A4000TE system with CyberStorm 060 and 1Gb IDE Hard drive for £2120 inc VAT. Contact Blittersoft on 01908 261466.
Drive in an instant
Eyetech has a new package which is designed to make fitting a hard drive quick and easy. Their InstantDrive 1.1/1.3Gb AV hard drive/installation package for the Amiga 600 and 1200 needs no modifications to the case or shielding and requires no drilling of holes to mount the drive. The kit also comes with anti-static protection for the installer and a 36-page booklet of pictorial instructions.
The InstantDrive package with 1.084Gb AV hard drive is £219.95 inc VAT whilst the package with a 1.283Gb AV hard drive is £249.95. Both come with Workbench 3, utilities, MMe pre-installed, cables, anti-static kit and insulation. Eyetech reckons it has fitted the drive to an A1200 in less than three minutes and regarding warranty implications, it says that as the InstantDrive package does not involve any modifications to the Amiga it will not result in any unexpired warranty being void if fitted according to the supplied instructions.
Going spare
Hawkes Technology Limited has been appointed by Amiga Technologies as spare parts distributor for the UK. HTL is stocking the full range of parts for the Amiga and its strategy is to work through Dealers and encourage end users to make contact with their local independent retailer. It wants Dealers to register with the company so that it can refer leads for parts sales to them.
Managing Director Terry Maguire has a long connection with the Amiga, going back to his time at Commodore UK as Head of Customer Services. John Smith, UK General Sales Manager for Amiga Technologies commented: "We are very pleased to introduce this new support arrangement particularly as it is structured to provide the independents with the opportunity of maintaining contact with the user community."
Tenuous link
Virtuality Group, developers of Virtual Reality systems, has licensed the technology of its Head Mounted Displays to Takara and Media Robotics. Takara has set the release date for September 1996 for the Japanese market and has priced the system at only Yen 38,800 which is roughly £230. Dennis Ohryn, Chairman of Virtuality, commented: "The agreement with Takara and Media Robotics is a major step forward. In addition to endorsing our low-cost consumer VR technologies, it significantly strengthens our position in the important Japanese market and provides us with our first exposure to the consumer." Incidentally, Virtuality once used Amiga 3000s.
If you have any news of interest and want the publicity, then contact
our newsdesk:
Newsdesk, Amiga Computing, Media House, Adlington Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire
UK SK10 4NP or mail us at:acnews@idg.co.uk
© 1996 IDG Media