Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
ST-ZMagazine 049
=======================================================
///// ////// ///// /// //// //// //////
// // // //// //// // // ///
//// // // // ///////// ////// /// ///
// // // // /// // // // /// //
///// // ///// // / // // // ///////
=======================================================
Issue #49 December 1, 1989
= 1989 by Rovac Industries, Inc.
ST*ZMagazine - (ZNet Online)
Publisher/Editor: Ron Kovacs
The Z*Net BBS CompuServe:71777,2140
(201) 968-8148 GEnie: ZMAGAZINE
Xx CONTENTS
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
<*> Editors Desk..........................by Ron Kovacs
Commentary and Update
<*> Comdex Reflections.....................by John Nagy
Remarkable Third Party Products
<*> Z*Net Newswire.....................................
Lynx Shipping, Nintendo and Atari Again!, NeXT..
<*> LH ARC Comparison.....................by Ron Kovacs
ARC and LH ARC Compared
<*> VIDI-ST Update........................by Ron Kovacs
Ctsy GEnie ST*ZMagazine Topic
<*> Shareware Survey.....................by Alice Amore
New programs reviewed
<*> Revolutionary Concepts.............by Donald Thomas
Part 8 of a series..
<*> WordPerfect Offer..................................
Special sale offered from Software Spectrum
<*> Computer Show Scheduled...................John King
Reprint from the Z*Net BBS
Xx THE EDITORS DESK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
by Ron Kovacs
Along with our regular features, this week we are including a result of
tests performed with LHARC and ARC521b. This newest discussion should
not be taken seriously at the present time until it has been tested
completely. The compaction standards set by the pay services should stay
the same. Both compaction styles show be permitted until this new
utility has a chance to circulate.
The Z*Net BBS has been active this week and we will from time to time
reprint messages of interest in this publication. If there is something
you would like to circulate, give us a call at (201) 968-8148 today!
Next week we will devote a column covering 1989 in review. As we have
in previous years, this year we will not suspend regular issues for this
feature, and will have 3 or 4 installments.
ONLINE UPDATE
-------------
* Charles Johnson has released a demo version of Maxifile which is
available on CompuServe and GEnie.
* BBS Systems to call:
Wizards Attic (716) 681-1654
Traveler's Inn (814) 825-9410
Aardvark Inn (813) 425-5113
Chicago Public (312) 890-8513
Pegasus BBS (708) 623-9570
Atari Scene (502) 456-4292
Xx COMDEX REFLECTIONS: Remarkable Third Party Products!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
by John Nagy
After the rush and crush of COMDEX, I have had a chance to look over my
photographs, notes, and handouts. In doing so, several Atari related
items emerge that deserve more attention than they received in the busy
and already lengthy first reports.
IBP: This company from Germany offers products for Medicine Technics and
Industrial Electronics. They have found the Atari MEGA to offer power,
memory capacity, good graphic display, and ease of programming... but
the cabinet of the MEGA does not lend itself to industrial settings.
Enter the "190ST", not named for a small memory, but instead for its 19"
mounting rack orientation. IBP takes a MEGA 2 and disassembles it,
re-packaging the entire works into a box no larger than a hard drive!
Other configurations include a portable (looking like a smaller version
of an older COMPAQ) and a built-in 19" system resembling a TV station
monitor. A flyer last year gave insight to what they do with the
leftover MEGA parts... IBP offered them repackaged as hard drive units!
What is it about? Monitoring industrial equipment doesn't seem like it
should be something needing a computer... until you start to think about
a large-scale application with temperatures, water levels, RPMs,
voltages, and more, all needing attention... on who knows how many
workstations. Sure, you could have a wall of meters, but a graphic
representation of averages, extremes, flows, and conditions can't be
beat. The Atari system is ideal for these needs. IBP creates custom
solutions for industry. IBP Elektronic GmbH, Lilienthalstrasse 13,
D-3000 Hannover 1, or phone (049) 511/630963.
LASERPRO: Speaking of re-packaging, the LaserPro 5287 Laser Printer looks
mighty familiar... it is the same unit as the Atari SLM804, but set up
for PC users. Identical except for interface, the two units can
exchange parts and supplies. Office Automation Systems (Sometimes
called OASYS) offers the LaserPro in models from 1.5 to 4 meg of RAM...
one wonders if the interface can be bought separately to re-fit an Atari
unit for IBMland... Office Automation Systems, 9940 Barnes Canyon Road,
San Diego, CA 92121, (619) 452-9400.
WORDFLAIR: You have heard about WordFlair for about a year now... but
it is at last available, and at a special introductory price. Conceived
with the idea that most home users don't begin to use the full potential
of high-end desktop publishing, but find it desirable to have the layout
versatility that they offer, WordFlair combines the standard powers of a
word processor with the layout and graphic powers of a DTP system.
Although it lacks some features (like a built in spell checker),
WordFlair has "the critical 20 percent" of the capacities of both WP and
DTP. Designer Lauren Flanegann-Sellers says that this 20% is all most
users ever master on several separate and often more costly packages...
and it is here in a seamless and easy to use program. It is now
shipping, and although WordFlair has a suggested list price of $99.95,
orders taken before January 31, 1990 will get a special price of only
$79.95. That's less than most good word processors alone! Blue Chip
International, Dept CX1189, 501 Second Street, Suite 414, San Francisco,
CA 94107.
ABACUS Instant German Word Finder and C-A-T-S: Although these programs
run on a PC (or a PC emulating Atari!), the German Word Finder and CATS
are of particular interest to the Atari market. As more and more fine
German Atari products are imported, translation of documentation,
command lists, and whatever, is what takes the most time and effort,
delaying US releases. The Instant German Word Finder is a PC equivalent
to a desk accessory, and will pop up a display from an intelligent
dictionary anytime you need a single German word defined. It will
recognize 35,000 German words, and more can be added. If words alone
aren't enough, how about a complete automated translation program? CATS
will input any German text file and output an English text file. This
won't be a word-for-word literal translation either, CATS can
intelligently determine context and parts of speech, to result in a
truly usable English translation. Some editing will be required to make
the translation more friendly (the example includes "you need bother
with no word processor" in part of the output... stiff at best!). The
Word Finder is $195 and is available now, and CATS is a hefty $2500,
requires 4 meg of hard drive space, and will be ready in March. For the
PC, remember. Abacus, 5370 52nd Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512,
(616) 698-0330.
FLEETSTREET PUBLISHER V3: Another product we have been hearing about
for a LONG time, Michtron expects it to be out in January. George
Miller is truly bullish on this product, and his demo makes it look
quite attractive. In V3 are finally the things that can make
FleetStreet a competitor with PageStream and Calamus. The most
outstanding item may be the internal use of UltraScript fonts. V3 will
use Ultrascript definitions for both screen and printer fonts, making
the display and output just about as clean and accurate as inhumanly
possible... even to dot matrix printers. Higher resolution printers
will benefit even more. Another feature allows far more GEM METAFILE
manipulation and disassembly than I have seen elsewhere. The "smart"
dictionary (120,000 words) is ideal for those of us who can't look up
what we can't spell in the first place! A hefty $399.95, V3 will likely
be discounted to older version owners who want to upgrade. I'm looking
forward to seeing more... Michtron, 576 S. Telegraph, Pontiac, MI 48053,
(313) 334-3553.
Softaware' INFORMER II: Can a relational database with unique screen
and printer graphic presentations really sell for $50??? YES, if you
make your move before January 1. The Informer II has 4-table relation
power, can import and use Degas and other graphics, and even build up
into a custom application. The all-GEM operation is easy, if somewhat
intimidating to a novice. Still, the use of INFORMER II is childs play
next to an SQL relational database that offers similar (if more
versatile) power. Why graphics? Sometimes (often, even) you may have
pictures that relate to your data... like a digitized picture of a house
listed in a Real Estate application... or a background for a certificate
making application... or... You get the idea. A steal at $50, but
wait, there's more: The FAREWARE program allows the user to collect
commissions for copies of Informer II that are sold via word-of-mouth.
This plan may help reduce piracy as well. Demos, Technical support
plans, and more are also available. SOFT-AWARE, 334 "B" North Euclid
Ave, Upland, CA 91786, (714) 982-8409.
Multitasking ST: Perhaps the most intriguing item at Atari's COMDEX was
not even shown. Scheduled for display and demonstration at the
Wednesday evening Developer's social, a true MULTI TASK system for the
ST and TT never got on-screen. According to Charles Cherry and others
at the show, this system will give the Atari much the same power under
GEM that the Amiga has, to be able to switch between active, running
programs. Memory management is not via "partitions", and processes
continue even while the program is not "in front". Details remain
sketchy, but it appears that the system will be simple, using an AUTO
program to patch to TOS. The multitasking system may ar may not be
related to the ones already specially designed by several music/MIDI
software companies who need the multiple processing power as a daily
function (C-LAB, Dr. T's, and Thinkware...). You can be sure we will
tell you more about this breakthrough when we can get details!
Xx ZNET NEWSWIRE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
LYNX IS SHIPPING
Lynx, the portable color game system that took the home entertainment
industry by storm, is now in retail and department stores in time for
the holidays, Sam Tramiel, Atari Corp. president announced last week.
The one-pound hand-held video game system, which has been called the most
innovative consumer electronics product since the introduction of the
Sony Walkman, provides players with the full-color graphics, fast action
and sound effects that were previously available only in arcade games.
The Lynx comes with an eight-way controller and two sets of fire
buttons. Three option buttons accommodate up to five different
functions. The system also includes volume, brightness and contrast
controls, as well as jacks for headphones and a Lynx port. Users may
flip the screen 180 degrees for right and left handed play. With
linkable game cartridges and the ComLynx() cable, up to eight systems
can be connected for multi-player or team challenges.
The one-pound portable system operates on six "AA" batteries and
includes California Games (four action-packed games on a single
cartridge), a ComLynx cable for multiuser play and an AC adapter.
Four additional game cartridges are currently available for the Lynx,
including Blue Lightning, The Gates of Zendocon, Electrocop and Chip's
Challenge. Numerous software developers are licensing game titles for
the Lynx and Atari expects that new games will be available for the
system by early next year.
The Atari Lynx has a suggested retail price of $179.99. Games are sold
separately and have suggested list prices ranging from $34.99 to $39.99.
BRODIE SPEAKS
Bob Brodie, Atari's User Group Coordinator will be speaking to the PAC
User Group in Oregon early this month. Bob has also asked User Groups
to re-register by calling his office at (408) 745-2052. If your user
group is registered with Atari, please give Bob a call and check your
status!
PC-DITTO II UPDATE
Bill Teal of Avant-Gard left a message on the services this week stating
the reasons for delay of the IBM emulator PC-Ditto II. Seems most
problems with their manufacturer have been cleared up and product should
be arriving soon! Stay tuned for details!
CALAMUS UPDATE
Outline Art for Calamus from ISD is completed and a demo with the save
feature removed is available on the services. When the manual is
completed it will be made commercially available.
COMPUGRAPHIC INTERFACE
According to messages in the GEnie ST Atari Corp Online, (DeskSet
Topic), the second generation of DeskSet is aimed at the professional
typesetting market. G.O. Graphics is now shipping the typesetter driver
interface card (CG8400), which is necessary to connect your MEGA 4 to a
Compugraphic 8000 series typesetter. Suggested retail: $1995. Contact:
G.O. Graphics, 18 Ray Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, (617) 229-8900 or
(800) 237-5588.
SOFTWARE SALES UP
The SPA (Software Publishers Association) recently announced that
software sales hit $780 million in the third quarter, up 10 percent from
last year. SPA's figures are based on analysis of monthly sales
information submitted to an accounting firm by 141 member software
publishers. Some findings:
* Spreadsheets sales were up 39 percent.
* Software for the Apple Macintosh increased 19 percent.
* MSDOS sales were up 11 percent.
* MS-DOS recreation software up 9.1 percent.
SYSOPS REJECT OFFER
An organization of Texas sysops, the Coalition of Sysops and Users
Against Rate Discrimination (COSUARD), has rejected a Southwestern Bell
Telephone Company (SWBT) compromise offer that would have allowed the
company to charge business telephone rates to a targeted group of BBS
operators. With this rejected proposal by COSUARD, it appears that SWBT
will attempt to impose business rates on all telephone lines with BBS
modems attached. Customers who wish to comment on the Southwestern Bell
Telephone proposal to increase BBS telephone rates may contact the
Public Utilities Commission of Texas, Mr. Coyle C.Kelley, Exec.
Director, 7800 Shoal Creek Blvd, Suite 450N, Austin, Texas 78757.
Additional information is available from the COSUARD BBS at (713) 997-
1301.
NINTENDO FILES ADDITIONAL SUIT AGAINST ATARI
U.S. District Court Judge Fern Smith of San Francisco, allowed Nintendo
to file an additional copyright and patent infringement claims against
Atari Games Inc. this week.
The amended complaint alleges that Atari Games fraudulently and
unlawfully obtained a copyrighted Nintendo computer program from the
U.S. Copyright Office and used it in the manufacture of cartridges
compatible for play on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The computer
program is incorporated in special microprocessors which form part of a
"security system" contained in Nintendo's hardware and software. The
security system prevents unauthorized and counterfeit software from
being played on the system.
The suit claims that Atari also attempted to cover up its unlawful use
of Nintendo's computer program. Nintendo said it learned of Atari's
illegal actions during pre-trial discovery proceedings in a lawsuit
brought against Atari Games in January 1989 for infringement of
Nintendo's security system patent. (U.S. Patent No. 4,799,635)
Nintendo said it will seek injunctive relief preventing Atari Games, or
anyone acting in concert with it, from manufacturing or selling
cartridges for play on the NES that contain microprocessors which
infringe Nintendo's copyrighted computer program.
ATARI REFUTES NINTENDO'S COMPLAINT
The following is a statement issued by Dennis Wood, senior vice
president, Atari Games, regarding Nintendo's amended complaint vs. Atari
Games and Tengen:
Nintendo's expansion of its complaint against Atari Games Corp. and its
subsidiary, Tengen Inc., is a legal tactic designed to further obscure
the real issue between Nintendo and Atari Games -- whether the lock-out
system incorporated into the Nintendo Entertainment System, which
Nintendo admits is designed to preclude competition, constitutes a
violation of U.S. antitrust laws.
Atari Games and other law-abiding companies routinely evaluate
copyrights and patents in the course of developing new products in order
to ensure that their new products do not infringe the intellectual
property rights of any entity.
In the process of developing its Nintendo-compatible cartridges, Atari
Games learned that a copy of the computer code for the Nintendo lock-out
system was on file in the U.S. Copyright office, and thus was publicly
available. Now that a non-infringing competitive product exists on the
marketplace, Nintendo -- apparently embarrassed that it made its
computer code public -- is scrambling to cover up its own ineptness.
The fact that Nintendo has waited for almost a year to allege these
claims which is typical of the delay tactics Nintendo has employed in
every aspect of this action, underscores the weakness, not the strength,
of its complaint.
Atari Games is confident that Nintendo's claims will be found to be
wholly without merit.
NEXT COMPUTER UPDATE
Steve Jobs, president of NeXT computer expects to ship "tens of
thousands" of NeXT workstations in 1990. Jobs said that one-half of the
Fortune 100 top US companies have been testing the new machines. In
addition, he said a half-dozen new applications programs are expected by
next spring at $600 to $700 each. The computers are unlikely to be sold
for under $10,000. Some units without optical disk drives have been
sold for $7,995.
BRANCH ALWAYS SOFTWARE
Branch Always Software is ready for business!
=============================================
December 1, 1989
Branch Always Software is proud to announce its entry into the Atari ST
retail software market. Branch Always Software was founded by two
programmers you already know well, Ignac A. Kolenko and Darek Mihocka,
authors of several popular public domain and shareware programs.
The goal of our company is to provide all ST users with low cost quality
software that runs on all Atari ST systems, whether for 512K machines or
4 meg machines. We write software for the exact same reason you bought
an Atari ST in the first place: to provide power without a large price.
Up until now, our software was available only as shareware. But we
understand that not all users have access to bulletin boards and that
some users want the convenience of being able to buy software through a
dealer.
Our first product, Quick ST, is now shipping to Atari dealers throughout
the United States and Canada, which includes 3 programs for a price of
only $19.95 US.
The package contains Quick ST version 1.7, Quick Index, and Quick View,
as well as some of our previously released public domain software.
Quick ST increases the speed at which the ST performs screen operations,
such as printing text to the screen, scrolling the screen, drawing
windows and dialog boxes, and reducing the overhead of other graphics
operations.
The result is that your Atari ST appears to run faster and smoother.
Quick ST runs from the AUTO folder and so does not use any desk
accessory slots or require interaction with the user. It is completely
transparent to other applications, and uses only 10K to 20K of memory.
Quick Index is the de facto benchmarking software for the Atari ST/STE
/TT line of computers. Its 11 different tests show the relative speed
of your system in such categories as CPU speed, disk drive speed, and
TOS efficiency. It is already widely used to test various hardware
upgrades, such as accelerator boards, memory caches, and hard disks.
Quick View is a very useful text file reader. It quickly displays text
files, forwards and backwards, and is very handy for reading large
README files, online magazines, and even source code. It can run from
the desktop, from a command line shell, or as an installed application.
Simply double click on a text file and Quick View automatically loads.
If your dealer does not yet carry Quick ST, ask him to order it from
distributors such as Horizon Computers or Pacific Software Supply. In
Canada, or overseas, they can order directly from Branch Always
Software. We also offer discounts to user groups. Write or call for
details.
We at Branch Always Software know that the best ways to attract users to
our products are to keep prices low and have our products available when
advertised. This means that we won't waste our money on fancy packaging
or big glossy magazine ads. But it does mean that you can go to your
dealer and buy Quick ST now, not next quarter or next summer.
We will not make any vaporware announcements, so when we are actually
shipping our next product, we will announce it, and product demos will
also be uploaded to Compuserve and GEnie.
In the meantime, we'd like to wish everyone a safe an happy holiday
season, and we hope to see everybody back in 1990.
If you are a software developer and would like to market your software
through us, give us a call. We are looking for other quality low cost
software to bring to Atari users.
Branch Always Software
PO Box 2624, Station B
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 6N2
Canada
phone: (519)-570-4340
FAX: available in January
Compuserve: 73657,2714 GEnie: DAREKM
Usenet: uunet!watcgl!electro!brasoft!ignac
or uunet!watcgl!electro!brasoft!darek
Quick ST 1.7: $19.95
Xx ARC PROGRAM COMPARISON
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
by Ron Kovacs
With the recent discussions and support for LHARC on the pay services,
we decided to take a look at the actual figures of LHARC compared to the
latest version of ARC521.
I used ARC521b and LHARC 0.51b and Charles Johnson's Arc Shell Version
2.0. With ARC521b, I did two tests, one using crunch and another with
squash. With LHARC 0.51b, you are permitted the one type and the .LZH
extender.
I selected nine file types and performed the same tests on both
archivers with the same files. The chart below will list the actual
compaction size, actual file size, and the number of original bytes
before the file was compacted.
ARC Version Original Size Compacted Size File Size
=====================================================================
ST*ZMAG48.ASC (Text File)
=========================
ARC521B Crunch 58,262 30,010 30,010
ARC521B Squash 58,262 29,322 29,322
LHARC 0.51b 58,262 25,634 25,728
PICSW7.PRG (PicSwitch Version 7.0)
===================================
ARC521B Crunch 40,638 25,180 25,211
ARC521B Squash 40,638 25,782 25,813
LHARC 0.51b 40,638 18,081 18,116
5 GIF Pictures
==============
ARC521B Crunch 34,944 34,822 34,969
ARC521B Squash 34,944 34,944 35,091
* LHARC 0.51b 34,944 35,215 35,389
LHARC Details
-------------
File #1 11,776 11,884
File #2 2,304 2,359
File #3 9,472 9,567
File #4 8,832 8,822
File #5 2,560 2,583
6 Degas Pictures
================
ARC521B Crunch 132,715 112,105 117,007
ARC521B Squash 132,715 112,106 112,282
LHARC 0.51b 132,715 99,100 99,315
1 SEQ File
==========
ARC521B Crunch 284,642 243,911 243,942
ARC521B Squash 284,642 244,921 244,952
LHARC 0.51b 284,642 242,378 242,415
5 GEM Files
===========
ARC521B Crunch 63,952 41,973 42,120
ARC521B Squash 63,952 42,674 42,821
LHARC 0.51b 63,952 22,841 23,016
3 Spectrum .SPC Pictures
========================
ARC521B Crunch 90,994 79,660 79,749
ARC521B Squash 90,944 79,660 79,749
LHARC 0.51b 90,944 74,957 75,061
3 IMG Files
===========
ARC521B Crunch 147,541 115,848 115,937
ARC521B Squash 147,541 115,930 116,019
LHARC 0.51b 147,541 107,370 107,477
5 GFA Basic Files
=================
ARC521B Crunch 57,022 32,093 32,109
ARC521B Squash 57,022 31,730 31,877
LHARC 0.51b 57,022 20,927 21,094
The total before compaction byte counts were the totals of the files
together. More then one specific file was selected on purpose to bring
the byte count to over 50,000K.
COMMENTS
========
From the above list you can see that LHARC is excellent in some cases,
you can see that GIF is not worthy of a download if LHARCed. Text files
alone seem to be 5k more no matter what the size when compared to
ARC521b.
As for a NEW standard, I feel it would be a mistake at the present time.
There are many people in a regular routine and changing to another arc
format will only cause confusion until the change is permanent. An
example would be the simple downloading, how many time has it happened
to you already after a download to load ARC and get an error, then
download the file again and see that it was actually LHARCed!
More download time when it was meant to save time and money. Since LH
ARC is not a standard on all computers right now, I feel it should be
considered an alternative, allowed by the services, but not locked into
as the only version. Atari 8-bit owners cannot un-arc the version at
the present time.
As for ST*ZMAG, we are not going to be switching exclusively to one
arced format, we will provide both if acceptable. If one file will be
allowed, then it will be ARC.
We will update this test with more file types in the future, if an
updates version is released, we will take another look.
Xx VIDI-ST UPDATE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
by Ron Kovacs
The VIDI-ST Real Time Frame Grabber has been updated along with warranty
cards not included in some of the purchased units. The following
messages, captured from our VIDI Topic on GEnie contains the latest
info. You can also participate by entering the ST RT Bulletin Board and
going to Category 31, Topic 11.
WARRANTY CARD UPDATE
Message 142 Fri Nov 17, 1989 by JEFF.W [RTC Sysop] at 01:57 EST
Posted for J.GILMOREJO:
-----------------------
I was asked by Computer Games Services to request you to post a message
concerning VIDI ST digitizer. It has come to the attention of Computer
Games Services that some VIDI ST real time frame grabbers were sent
without the warranty registration card. If anyone has purchased this
product and did not receive the warranty card please contact:
Computer Games Services
1839 E. Chapman Ave.
Orange,Ca. 92667
(714) 639-8189
Since a software update is now nearing completion it would be a shame
not to be a registered user. By contacting the address or phone # above
and showing proof of purchase you will be sent the registration card
immediately.
VIDI-ST PD/SHAREWARE PROGRAMS UPDATE
Message 145 Sat Nov 18, 1989 by J.HARRIS32 at 20:30 PST
T.FAUST,
I wrote the Vidi 2 through Vidi 4 programs, but I am just a user like
you are. I needed to rewrite the software for my own use, and uploaded
the programs so others might be able to make use of them. Vidi 4
satisfied most of the important goals I had, and no new ones have arised
yet.
There were three things in progress, but each one hit its own unique
snag.
1. Full color pictures using Red, Green, and Blue camera filters. I
actually implemented this one in Vidi 4, and asked for response from
the users on whether it worked, but received no replies at all.
Since I was not able to get that process to work well with Computer
Eyes either, I suspect I do not have good filters. This is why I
needed outside help in getting the RGB mode tested. I would still
appreciate any advice on where I can get the right filters for my own
use.
2. More than 16 shading levels. The 'Dither' mode in Vidi 4 was an
attempt at more shading based on an assumption that the 'in-between'
shade values would fluctuate between the two closest shades. It
doesn't work very well due to the patterns in the fluctuations. The
better idea would be to take samples at different brightness levels,
and average the images together. I wanted to get some feedback from
ROMBO concerning that approach, and specifically how the digital
brightness control effects the picture, but I never got around to it.
My fault on this one, but it was partially due to being distracted by
#3 below.
3. I wanted to save full animation segments in a compressed form, and
have a player that could do the decompression while it was being
viewed. This would allow longer animation files that wouldn't take
up near as much memory. (Or as long to download). While researching
techniques, I unfortunately got sidetracked to a couple of unrelated
projects.
I hope to be able to get back to these problems in the future, but I
first have to finish some of those other kinds of projects. You know,
the kind that can make money. Anyway, that is the status of Vidi 5. It
appears that the real Vidi people are about to release an update to
their original Vidi software. I am looking forward to seeing what they
have added, and perhaps I will get some more ideas.
John Harris
NEW VIDI SOFTWARE RELEASED
Message 146 Sun Nov 19, 1989 by J.GILMOREJO at 18:36 PST
Terry,
If you bought your VIDI anywhere in the US you should be registered
through Computer Games Services. If you aren't call the number in my
last post and get on the US list. I'm sure being registered in Scotland
is no problem but you may get quicker service and updates being
registered through CGS.
BTW...I just got a chance to play with software version 1.28. No big
changes but you can save a whole sequence, although I don't recommend
this unless you use a hard drive (it saves all free frames to disk with
a 3 digit number in the filename and I've got a mega 4). I'm trying to
get permission to upload the new program. I'll let you know what
happens.
Computer Games Services now has software upgrade 1.28 available to all
registered owners of VIDI ST. This upgrade includes sequence saving and
Epson printer support from within the VIDI program. The upgrade will
cost $12.00 and will shipped directly from CGS. You may call and use
your credit card or send check or money order.
John
Xx SHAREWARE SURVEY
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Alice Amore's CARE enough to . . .
SHAREWARE
SURVEY S U P P O R T S H A R E W A R E
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Since most shareware is presented to the user in archived format, a new
archiving format is guaranteed to generate a great deal of interest. At
least one online service (GEnie) has officially pronounced LHARC a
viable archiving format, and is now accepting uploads in either .ARC or
.LZH format.
The jury is still out on whether or not ARC.TTP will be scrapped, so, at
least for the time being, ARC and LHARC will have to coexist side by
side. Each of the formats has its fans and its detractors, but let's
not get into an ARC-LHARC debate here. Suffice it to say that no matter
which format you prefer, there's no doubt that you'll need LHARC in the
future (if not already), so be sure to download it.
And while you're at it, you might be interested in downloading
CRSRFIX.ARC, a program which will remove any stray cursors left on the
desktop after LHARC has been exited.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Filename: CARDFILE.ARC Program Name: CardFile
Program Type: Application Version: 1.1
Programmer: Tyson Gill Registration Fee: $15.
CARDFILE will run either as a desk accessory or a program file, although
most users will find it far more useful as a desk accessory. This
program will allow you to keep a database on "index cards". Each card
contains field spaces for name, address, first phone listing, second
phone listing, job title, company name, spouse, children, plus two lines
for notes. At the top of the card is a "group title" line which allows
you to search for groups of cards quickly.
Your CARDFILE program settings, including a default data file, can be
saved to disk and will load automatically the next time the program is
used. Most functions can be accessed using keyboard equivalents.
Cards are automatically alphabetized when they enter the database.
Although CARDFILE doesn't do sorting per se, it does have an adequate
"filtering" option which is case-insensitive and will match data even if
it is within a field.
Also, CARDFILE will let you use your data to do the following:
+ Select a phone number from the database and automatically dial it via
your Hayes-compatible modem.
+ Address envelopes or print mailing labels.
+ Print out a phone list or an address book.
+ Do a mail merge by exporting your data to most mail merge utilities
(including 1st Word Mail Merge).
+ Send cards from CARDFILE into various other programs (including Laser
C, Pagestream, WordWriter, Calamus, WordUp, etc.).
CARDFILE requires under 50K of program memory and can store up to 2500
cards per file.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Filename: VERSYS.ARC Program Name: VerSys
Program Type: Utility Version: Not Specified
Programmer: Tyson Gill Registration Fee: $15.
Primarily, VERSYS will enable programmers to keep full or incremental
backups of program source (and related) files in any language. But it
is useful also to anyone who needs to maintain a sequential backup of
files. In tracking down errors/bugs/rewrites, a sequential backup will
help you determine where and when the trouble started, and allow you to
reclaim bug-free program modules saved prior to their being corrupted by
other modules. Typical backup methods simply wipe out everything.
VERSYS allows up to nine file paths to be specified. Files for backup
can be indicated by file extension, and wildcards '*' and '?' are
permitted. You can backup all files, or backup only new (changed)
files.
Crucial to VERSYS's functioning properly is an accurate clock. The date
and time (year, month, day, hour, minute) are used as a folder name when
data is backed up. The last character in the folder name is either 'A'
or 'C' indicating that the data is from either [C]hanged files or [A]ll
files.
VERSYS uses only 40K of memory. It can be installed as a tool under the
Megamax Laser C Shell, if desired. Files can be up to 300K long, and
400 files can be backed up at once.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Filename: VERSDIRC.LZH Program Name: VersaDirectory
Program Type: Utility Version: Not Specified
Programmer: David W. Binnion Registration Fee: Donation
VERSDIRC is a versatile directory dumper. It will print to the screen,
to the printer, or to a disk file. What makes VERSDIRC different from
other such programs is that it lets the user select specific directories
to dump. (With the typical directory dumper, you will get a list of all
files in all directories.)
If a printer or screen dump is selected, the file's name, size, creation
date, and time are printed, and two files are printed per line. If the
list goes to a disk file, only the name and size are listed and one file
is printed per line.
(Please note that this file is available in .LZH format.)
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Also noteworthy:
* BSTAT233.ARC - A sophisticated and powerful graphing and statistical
analysis program. GDOS support. Reads LOTUS files. Requires 1 meg
and double-sided drive. By Robert Wilson.
* TDDANCE.ARC - Another ST*ZMAGAZINE VIDI-ST animation from John Nagy.
This one is the "Touch-down Dance" from the Sports Illustrated
commercial. Requires 1 meg of memory and ANIMATE4.
Xx REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS PART 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MAKING A POINT CLEAR by Donald A. Thomas, Jr.
(c)1989 ARTISAN SOFTWARE
(This is PART 8 of a series of articles published and distributed by
Artisan Software. Please feel free to copy and distribute this article
as you please provided you include all unedited text. Also feel free to
upload to boards and communication services. These articles are
designed to entice you to take constructive action. Write to involved
parties and tell them how YOU feel about the subject.)
The most prominent reason consumers do not consider Atari computers as
an alternative computer purchase is due to wrongly acquired notions or
having no notion at all. Either Atari only makes video games OR people
perceive it is a company which disappeared just after the fever Pac-Man
bestowed upon a great number of us.
I am often approached by potential new computer buyers who know my avid
interest in computers. They want to know what's best for them. A
percentage of them listen intently, but few actually seek out an Atari
dealer by my recommendation. I might be one of 10 they ask for advice
and the only one which proposes the advantages of Atari computers. The
other nine say I am wrong. I find this interesting since the other nine
usually have never owned an Atari computer to qualify as an adviser.
As infrequent as we may wash windows or clean our bathroom mirrors, I
venture to bet that all of us have a glass cleaner in mind to accomplish
such a task. What is it to you?... Glass Plus?... Windex?... Possibly
just some house brand?... How much do these products cost?... $1.00?...
$2.00?... More?...
If you ask ten people what glass cleaner they use, what answers do you
think you would get? My bet is some brand name blue liquid formula well
known to all of us. Well, you know what, I do not recommend any of
them. Right after reading this article, get yourself a rag, your
household glass cleaner and a newspaper. Go to your bathroom vanity
mirror. Squirt your glass cleaner on it and make every attempt to wipe
it down with your rag so that you have no water spots, soapy smears,
streaks, or traces of lint from your rag. If you have 100% success,
congratulations you have purchased an exceptional product or you own a
mirror made of a superior material.
Now, take a page from your newspaper and wipe down your dry mirror. Put
a tad of elbow grease in to it, but not much. If your arm hurts, you
are putting too much into the project. I believe you will discover that
your newspaper will do a superior job. A newspaper costs substantially
less than one eighth the cost of brand name glass cleaner, but yet
people spend millions of dollars on them every year.
What does this mean? This means that just because nine out of ten
people do not know that a lower priced newspaper can do a better job
than glass cleaner, that newspapers do not work on cleaning glass.
This means that just because nine out of ten people do not know that a
lower priced Atari computer can do a better job than other brands for
the money, that Atari computers do not qualify as a good investment.
Next time someone asks you why nine of their other friends suggest other
computers, get out a newspaper and make your point clear.
For information on how you can "JOIN THE REVOLUTION" and actively
support the exposure of Atari computers, send $6.00 to ARTISAN SOFTWARE,
P.O. Box 849, Manteca, California 95336. An ST/MEGA compatible disk-
based HANDBOOK will be rushed to you by return mail. The HANDBOOK is
also available from ST INFORMER, CURRENT NOTES, MEGABYTE COMPUTERS
(Hurst, Texas) and as a download from COMPUSERVE, GENIE and DELPHI.
Xx WORDPERFECT OFFER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Ace's High BBS
Message: 149 (#13380)
Title: WordPerfect Offer! (EDITED!)
Base: Aces High General
Author: Comic-Kid
To: All
Posted: At 12:21:16 am On 11/30/89
Replies: 0
Do you want a copy of the BEST Word Processors in the WORLD?? with YEARS
of background, and unbeatable support??? NOW, by special arrangement
Software Spectrum (MATAWAN ONLY!!!!) offers FOR A LIMITED TIME!!!...
WordPerfect for the Atari ST version 4.1
7/31/89 release!
for...
Not the $249.95 list..
Not our $225.95 regular price
Now you can get WordPerfect for the Atari ST for a low..
>>>>>$149.95<<<<<
Order your copy NOW!!! this offer expires Dec. 15th in time for a
Christmas Shipment. Some restrictions apply, prices do not include
Sales Tax (NJ 6%). Orders will be taken NOW through Dec. 15th (at
exactly 4:00pm), $100.00 deposit (check, cash, or credit card) is
required (or payment in full), balance must be paid on arrival. This is
the moment you have been waiting for...WordPerfect for the Atari ST at a
LOW price...TAKE IT!!!!!
Ordering by MAIL??
Send Check or Money Order made payable to:
>Software Spectrum<
ST WordPerfect Offer
267 Main St.
Matawan, NJ 07747
NJ residents add 6% State Sales Tax, all MAIL orders MUST include $4.25
shipping (United States) $5.50 (Canada). Monies must be in Unites States
funds.
>>PLEASE POST THIS MESSAGE ON ANY ATARI ST BBS FOR ANY PARTY WHO MAY BE
INTERESTED IN THIS OFFER, ORDERS WILL BE PLACED EVERY DAY IF TWO (2) OR
MORE WordPerfect COPIES ARE ORDERED THROUGH THE STORE! WE HAVE 150
COPIES RESERVED FOR US, SO THERE IS PLENTY TO GO AROUND!!!
[A]gain [R]eply <C>ont [Q]uit:
Xx COMPUTER SHOW SCHEDULED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Z*Net BBS
Message : 252 [Open] 12-01-89 2:44pm
From : John King
To : All
Subject : Computer Show & P.C. Flea-mkt
Sig(s) : 1 (General)
Saturday, December 16, 1989: Computer Show at William Paterson College,
at their RECREATION CENTER. (Wayne, New Jersey) The directions,
according to the postcard I received: Take Rte. 46 or I-80 to Rte. 23
North - 3 miles right at Ratzer Road - 5 miles ahead on Ratzer Road.
College entrance is on Left - Park in Lot #5 for _Free Shuttle Bus_.
Admission: Adults $8, Children (5-12) $5.
----------------------
You can get good deals on MS-DOS hardware & software, floppy disks,
printers, ribbons, books, etc.
At the last show I bought two dBASE III books by QUE publishers,
regular price $20 and $23, for only $7 each!! I will be reading these
for use with dBMAN for my ST, of course....
----------------------
Next show by these people:
Saturday, January 13 at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, NJ
at their Rothman Center. 10am to 4pm. -JK
ST*ZMagazine Issue #49 December 1, 1989
======================================================
= 1989 by Rovac Industries, Inc.
The Z*Net BBS CompuServe:71777,2140
(201) 968-8148 GEnie: ZMAGAZINE
