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Z*NET Online Magazine Volume 9 Number 02
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Z*NET: ONLINE MAGAZINE Copyright (c)1994, Syndicate Publishing
Volume 9, Number 2 March 5, 1994
Call the Z*Net News Service BBS (908) 968-8148
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Publisher/Editor..........................................Ron Kovacs
America Online Representative.........................Bruce Hansford
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|#| The Editors Desk...............................Ron Kovacs
|#| Z*Net Telecommunications News............................
|#| Z*Net Newswire...........................................
|#| Cleveland FreeNet...........................Press Release
|#| Monochrome Monitor Fix.....Randy Constan, Elfin Magic Co.
|#| DPA News - January 1994......................Ron Albright
|#| Transcendence BBS Goes Freeware..............Announcement
|#| Connect Magazine Offer......................Press Release
|#| The Music Of The Bytes.........................Jeff White
|#| Lexicor Update..............................Press Release
|#| Jaguar Games...................................CompuServe
|#| Hard Drive Tech Support.............................GEnie
|#| Lynx FAQ.........................................Internet
|#| Atari Vendors Listing...............................GEnie
###### THE EDITORS DESK
###### By Ron Kovacs
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
A little over three weeks ago, the first edition of the new year was
released. Lots of comments have been read and the email has been very
nice. I really didn't realize how much we were missed. I am looking
for a few writers to assist with specific topics. If you are interested
in assisting, please leave email on any of the areas listed in this
edition.
The 1993 Year In Review that was scheduled for a few issues has been
cancelled as a few of you have asked me to put an end to it. Consider
it done as I agree with your comments.
Happy Birthday to my son Adam who turned six this week.
###### Z*NET TELECOM NEWS
###### Latest Telecommunications Update
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
MARVEL ONLINE SERVICE RUMORS
Computer Reseller News reported last week that Microsoft would launch
an online service by the end of the year. However, a spokesman at
Microsoft had no knowledge of the "Marvel" service quoted in Computer
Reseller. The weekly magazine says Marvel will be part of Chicago, the
code name for Windows 4.0 scheduled to ship by the end of 1994.
According to Reseller, Marvel will initially provide access to technical
information such as technical notes, forums, and third-party vendor
support.
CABLE RATES FINALIZED
The Federal Communications Commission has finalized its rules for re-
regulating cable rates. Under the rules, local governments must file
with the commission to regulate basic cable rates, but the FCC itself is
regulating "expanded basic" rates, those most people pay. Charges for
pay- per-view and premium channels like HBO remain unregulated.
Technically, the action by the commission was a re-consideration of
actions it took last year. There are also exceptions for operators who
now charge abnormally-low prices, and for small systems. Local
governments which want to learn more about how to get in step with the
new regulations should call 202-416-0940.
AMERICA ONLINE EXPANDS
America Online has added more features to its already popular service.
Reuters, Scientific American and the Interactive Services Association,
and licensed new messaging software. Reuters will now offer
continuously updated top news, sports, business and entertainment
stories on AOL's "Top News" area, and soon add other forms of news as
well. Scientific American signed a deal putting editorial content
online and offering interactive discussions. The Interactive Services
Association, which has 200 members, will have its own section on the
service, with bulletin boards, e-mail, and other services -- AOL itself
is a member of the group.
PARAMOUNT GETS NEW OWNER
Viacom has won Paramount Communications for roughly $10 billion. The
company announced that 75 percent of Paramount's outstanding shares were
tendered to it, beating a rival bid from QVC Network. Under the terms
of the agreement, Viacom will pay about $104 in cash for 50.1 percent of
Paramount, then pay stock for the rest. In addition to its movie
studio, home of "Star Trek" and other films, Paramount also owns the
Simon & Shuster book publishing company, which in turn owns both
Prentice-Hall, a leading producer of computer books, and Macmillan,
acquired in an auction during the takeover battle. Other holdings
include Madison Square Garden and its tenants, the New York Knicks
basketball club and New York Rangers hockey team.
NBC ONLINE WITH GENIE
NBC has signed a deal with GEnie to go along with agreements signed
earlier with Prodigy and America OnLine.
GO REPUBLICAN ON COMPUSERVE
CompuServe has inaugurated the Republican Forum, which began February
9. The new forum is billed as a platform for the Republican National
Committee and offers the headings of Library, General, GOP news, Rising
Tide, X-ray, and Monday Morning Briefing. The new forum will have
real-time conferences with various Republican leaders and the various
forum sections will offer current GOP news, history, the latest press
releases, transcripts of the latest speeches, new political strategies,
reviews of legislative action, responses to public opinion polls and
others. CompuServe also offers a Democratic Forum.
CBS - NBC JOIN THE ONLINE COMMUNITY
If you watched CBS late night during the Olympics, you might have had
the chance to access CBS reporters online. The networks are now
entering the online community and will be using the computer air-waves
to promote their telecasts. NBC has already announced deals with both
Prodigy, America Online and GEnie. NBC will offer a comprehensive
service, including announcements, detailed information on hit shows, a
bulletin board, a contest center, and an "NBC Store."
DELPHI GETS NEWSPAPER DEAL
Delphi has signed an agreement with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and its
PostLink service. This is the first agreement for Delphi which was
purchased by Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp. last year. Under the agreement,
Pulitzer's PostLink will gain a direct link with Delphi and its
connection to the Internet. The two companies will also work together
on an upgraded graphical user interface for PostLink. In addition to
carrying the full text of the Post-Dispatch, the service also offers
local resources like calendars and listings for local sports and
educational TV. This summer, the service will add an online discussion
section so editors can communicate directly with readers.
ATM ADAPTERS AVAILABLE
Newbridge Microsystems has announced an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
adapter for personal computers. The NM 121 ATM Adapter is meant for PCs
running Novell NetWare, NetWare Lite, DOS, and Microsoft Windows.
According to Newbridge, it is the first ATM network interface card that
works with NetWare servers and PC clients. The adapter is also
compatible with ATM hubs and switches from a variety of vendors,
including Newbridge, Synoptics, and Fore Systems. The device supports
throughput as high as 100 megabits per second (Mbps) over multi-mode
fiber, as many as 4,000 permanent virtual circuits, comprehensive remote
management using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and such
industry standard protocols as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP) and Novell's Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX). The
NM 121 will be available in March.
TELECOMMUNICATION BILLS IN CONGRESS
Senators John C. Danforth (R-Mo.) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hi.)
introduced the "Telecommunications Infrastructure Act of 1993" (S. 1086)
last June. The so-called Danforth-Inouye bill contains many of the same
provisions as the pair of bills (Brooks-Dingell and Markey-Fields)
introduced in the House of Representatives during 1993.
S. 1086 provides for: preemption of local and state laws which block
cable companies' entry into local telephone service and telephone
company entry into data communications; promulgation of FCC regulations
that would enforce universal access to local communications networks;
universal consumer access to service; local telephone companies to
provide cable (video and data) services within their own service areas;
local buy-outs of rural cable operators by telcos, but blocks such buy-
outs in more populous areas (many rural cable operators provide very,
very limited service); steps to ensure that rural areas also have access
to high-quality telecommunications facilities and network connections;
and guaranteed access for disabled individuals.
The Brooks-Dingell telecom bill, designated H.R. 3626 and titled
"Antitrust Reform Act of 1993" and "Communications Reform Act of 1993,"
establishes conditions under which the regional Bell telephone companies
can begin competing in the long distance service and equipment
manufacturing areas. The second half of the bill sets up regulatory
guidelines which would prevent unfair competition by the local telephone
companies in equipment manufacturing and electronic publishing.
Provisions of H.R. 3626 include: the requirement that the RBOCs
(Regional Bell Operating Companies) apply for FCC approval and Justice
Department wavers before entering the long distance or alarm services
business; setting a timetable for RBOC entry into such services
including the provision that an RBOC may not even apply to enter the
alarm services business for more than five years; provision for judicial
review of FCC and Justice Department rulings by the D.C. Circuit Court;
and one-year delay before the local telephone companies can enter the
manufacturing arena.
Regulatory requirements imposed by the bill would include a provision
that RBOCs set up separate divisions for the delivery of information
over networks. Electronic publishing services covered by this provision
include the delivery of news, sports, and columns, but excludes Caller
ID, video programming, translation services, and electronic delivery of
white pages-type telephone number listings. The RBOCs would be
forbidden to discriminate against other information providers by
preventing them from gaining access to the telephone company's wiring
and switching infrastructure. Manufacturing must be done in the US and
this also must be done by a separate affiliate. There would be a
domestic content provision for all hardware made by the RBOCs.
5 FORUMS DEBUT ON COMPUSERVE
Five new hardware and software forums have been added to CompuServe.
The new Epson America Forum provides support directly from Epson for the
its full range of computers, scanners, modems, printers and other
products, GO EPSON to access. SunSoft, the Sun Microsystems subsidiary
responsible for Solaris SPARC, Solaris X86 and Interactive Unix, has
joined the SunSelect Forum, renamed the SunSoft & SunSelect Forum, GO
SUNSOFT or GO SUNSELECT to access. The Intuit Forum, which provides
online support for Quicken, Quick Books, and Intuit's other personal
finance and small business management software products, GO INTUIT to
access this area. The Sybase OpenLine Forum, which offers online
support for a full range of Sybase products, including the SYBASE SQL
Server, system administration tools, Sybase education, PC products,
connectivity products and more, to access the forum, type GO SYBASE.
The fifth new forum supports products from DiagSoft, maker of the QAPlus
and other PC quality assurance and diagnostic software products, type GO
DIAGSOFT to access. Forums on CompuServe are available for $4.80/hour
when accessing with a 1200 or 2400 bits per second modem and $9.60/hour
at 9.6 or 14.4 kilobits per second. In addition, CompuServe members pay
$8.95 per month for unlimited connect time access to more than 60 basic
services. For CompuServe membership information call 800-848-8199.
COMPUSERVE OFFERS VISA GOLD AND VISA CLASSIC CARDS ONLINE
CompuServe announced this week, the availability of special-benefit
CompuServe VISA Gold and VISA Classic credit cards for members of the
CompuServe Information Service. The cards, available to CompuServe
members in the U.S., are being offered in conjunction with H&R Block,
and Columbus Bank & Trust of Columbus, Ga. Benefits include no annual
fee for either card if used at least six times each year, a 12.9%
variable APR interest rate for VISA Gold, and a 14.9% variable APR
interest rate for VISA Classic. For more information or applications
for enrollment online (GO CARD), or by calling CompuServe Cardholder
Services at 1-800-487-5391.
################### Z*NET NEWSWIRE
#####(((((((((( ### --------------
############(( #### Compiled and Edited by Ron Kovacs
#########(( #######
######(( ########## Additional material supplied by Bruce Hansford
#####(((((((((( ###
###################
SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENT
Supreme Court justices heard debate last week in a case that may prove
vital to how future appeals are handled. Digital Equipment Corp. is
asking the court to overturn a ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals in Denver, which said a company could sue Digital, even after a
pre-trial settlement, when it discovered alleged fraud in the
settlement. According to court documents, Desktop Direct Inc. developed
and marketed software in computer magazines. Later, Digital allegedly
developed a new product in 1991 and marketed it under the name of
"Desktop Direct." In February, Desktop filed a complaint against
Digital in federal court in Utah, saying the computer giant was
infringing its trademark. Digital told Desktop that the confusion was
an honest mistake, and settled with the smaller company by paying an
unknown cash amount in 1992. However, Desktop later allegedly learned
through an inside source that Digital had known all along about the
smaller company's use of the trademark, but had used it anyway against
the advice of its lawyers. Desktop went back to federal court and sued.
Digital lost bids to have the suit dismissed at both the trial and
appeals court level and asked the Supreme Court to review. A decision
by the court is expected before next fall.
SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY SUPPORTS CLINTON
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), announced today that "SIA
strongly supports President Clinton's decision to reinstate the 'Super
301' provisions of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988.
SIA believes that the identification of priority practices and priority
countries under Super 301 was effective in reducing foreign barriers to
U.S. exports in 1989 and 1990 and believes that the reinstatement of
Super 301 is entirely merited given the wide array of restrictions to
U.S. exports in countries around the globe." The U.S. semiconductor
industry long has faced barriers to entry in the $24 billion Japanese
semiconductor market. Although the 1986 and 1991 U.S.-Japan
Semiconductor Agreements have led to some improvement in foreign access
in Japan, the foreign share of the Japanese semiconductor market dropped
for three consecutive quarters in 1993 and now is about two percentage
points lower than the minimum 20 percent level called for in the 1991
agreement.
APPLE MAKES SIX ANNOUNCEMENTS
Apple Computer made six announcements this week regarding new products,
computer connectivity and developer tools. The announcements include
the following: The Newton MessagePad 110 which incorporates new
improvements, features, and design modifications which are based upon
suggestions from customers and licensees. The Newton Messagepad 100
will give customers a choice between the original Newton MessagePad form
factor and that of the new MessagePad 110. Also announced was an
Upgrade Program For Original MessagePad Owners To enable Newton
customers to benefit from the rapid evolution of Newton technology,
Apple will offer existing owners of the Newton MessagePad an attractive
upgrade program. The upgrade will be available in the United States
starting April 1994 by calling 800-SOS-APPL, in the United Kingdom in
April 1994, and in some other international markets later in 1994.
Newton Connection v 2.0 enables users to exchange and share their
MessagePad information -- notes, letters, name-cards, to-do lists,
appointments, and even information created with many third party
applications -- with common desktop personal information management
(PIM), word-processing, spreadsheet and database applications, running
on the Macintosh platform. A new Version of the Newton Toolkit will
also be shipping soon. The Newton Toolkit is a powerful, sophisticated,
yet easy to learn development environment designed to reduce
significantly the time taken to develop creative Newton applications.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TO BE USED
Seventeen American and European computer software vendors told business
leaders of their plans to incorporate STEP, the international Standard
for the Exchange of Product Model Data, in their products. Details of
plans to produce STEP-compliant computer software came at a joint
meeting of the executive boards of PDES, Inc. and the National
Initiative for Product Data Exchange. As a neutral standard to which
all software can adhere, STEP will enable users to digitally represent
and exchange product information, via computer, both between corporation
departments and with manufacturing partners and suppliers. The removal
of barriers with STEP- based software is expected to facilitate multi-
enterprise, multi-vendor, multi-supplier manufacturing efforts. The
following companies presented STEP plans: CADDETC, CIMIO,
Computervision, Dassault Systemes, Digital Equipment Corporation, EDS
Unigraphics, Grumman Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intergraph,
International TechneGroup Incorporated, Mentor Graphics, PDA
Engineering, ProSTEP, SDRC, Sherpa, and STEP Tools, Inc.
NEWS SHORTS
CONNER announced this week that it plans to raise certain prices by 4-5
percent effectively immediately for its 170MB and 340MB 3.5-inch hard
disk drives.
HEWLETT-PACKARD has introduced the HP Vectra VL2 PC series with entry-
level pricing starting at under $900. The five new HP VL2 models
include accelerated local bus video, power management and plug-and-play
features unavailable on similarly priced brand-name PC models.
CEBIT'94 takes place later this month in Hanover Germany. The show
begins March 16 and runs through March 23, 1994.
SOFTWARE PUBLISHING has announced Professional Write 3.0 for DOS, a new
version of its popular managerial word processor. Professional Write
3.0 will be available this month for a suggested retail price of $249,
and a special upgrade price of $65.
###### CLEVELAND FREE-NET ATARI SIG
###### Press Release
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
Cleveland, OH--February 25, 1994-- In an effort to bring professional
support to Atari users at absolutely no cost, the Cleveland Free-Net
Atari SIG has released a new version of its SIG. The main goal of the
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is to offer the most support possible to
Atari users. The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIGOps feel that this new
version is comparable to that of Atari SIGs on pay systems.
The additions to the Atari SIG include:
o Direct access to Atari related International Usenet newsgroups.
o An enhancement of the already popular "8-Bit Computers Support Area"
which now includes ALL the issues published of Z*Magazine and a new
and improved Technical Forum for 8-bit programmers and hardware
hackers. While other online systems are decreasing support for the
8-Bit Atari, the Cleveland Free-Net is increasing its support!
o A restructured "16/32-Bit Computers Support Area" which now includes
more information text files than ever before. The support area
includes a large list of files that can be received from popular FTP
sites like atari.archives.umich.edu. Over 400 online magazines are
included online with every issue of Z*Net & ST Report from 1989. All
issues of Atari Explorer Online are also available.
o An improved "Lynx Support Area" which includes invaluable information
text files that are maintained by the readers of Usenet's
rec.games.video.atari. These text files include the Lynx FAQ, cheats,
record high scores, comlynx users list, reviews, and more! The
support area also includes a unique game card rating system where Lynx
players vote their opinion of each game.
o A new "Jaguar Support Area" which was created to be the best online
information source available for Jaguar players. The support area
includes: news, summaries, reviews, information text files, game
ratings, press releases and articles, and online publications. Many
of the Jaguar information text files are also maintained by readers of
Usenet's rec.games.video.atari.
o An "Atari Library" that is truly a library for Atari users. The Atari
Library includes: many information text files and documents, a "Time
Capsule" for old, but important information, online publications,
Usenet newsgroups, CAIN Newsletters, and Atari SIG logs. The Atari
Library also includes the Atari SIG's "Who's Who in the Atari
Community" e-mail address directory.
o An area for the construction of the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's
monthly CAIN Newsletter. "CAIN Online Newsroom" is where editors,
staff, and contributors meet to share information that goes into each
newsletter. Anyone interested in helping to put together CAIN
Newsletter should visit CAIN Online Newsroom.
The Cleveland Free-Net Community Computer System is a multi-user system
that supports hundreds of users online simultaneously. Internet users
may access the Cleveland Free-Net at the following telnet addresses:
freenet-in-a.cwru.edu, 129.22.8.32, kanga.ins.cwru.edu
freenet-in-b.cwru.edu, 129.22.8.32, kanga.ins.cwru.edu
freenet-in-c.cwru.edu, 129.22.8.51, nextsun.ins.cwru.edu
The Cleveland Free-Net is accessible via modem by the phone number:
216/368-3888.
If there is a Free-Net in your city, the Cleveland Free-Net is
accessible through the "Teleport" option.
The Cleveland Free-Net is not just a local community computer system.
Atari users from all over the world access the Atari SIG on the
Cleveland Free-Net daily to participate in bulletin board conversations
and to contribute news and information.
Atari conferences are usually held once a month on the IRC (go irc). If
interested in participating in these conferences, check the Cleveland
Free-Net Atari SIG's General Bulletin Board for time and date
information.
If you would like to be a guest speaker at one of these conferences or
have any questions or comments about the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG,
please write: xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu.
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
est: 1986
###### MONOCHROME MONITOR FIX
###### Randy Constan, Elfin Magic Co.
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
If you have an ATARI SM124 Mono monitor that has recently gone belly up,
read on. In particular, this pertains to those of you who have tweaked
the coils and trim pots in your monitor to get a full raster display,
although it's quite possible that unmodified monitors have been affected
as well. Also, if do have a modified monitor that's behaving fine, you
still may want to consider the suggestions described in this article, as
it could save you a surprise monitor failure that (you _KNOW_ ) will
definitely happen at the worst possible time.
Finally, this text describes a problem particular to the monitor
manufactured by "Gold Star Co", which has the Brightness, Contrast, and
Off/On Volume controls recessed on the right side-panel. There may have
been other manufacturers of SM-124's with completely different
electronics, so if ANY of the physical component layout descriptions
written here do not seem to jive, then all bets are off and the
information given here may or may not have any practical value. In
addition, the monitor 'fix' I'm going to describe should only be done by
a trained electronic technician, or at the very least a knowledgable
electronics hacker with good soldering AND de-soldering skills!
Disclaimer: You can easily get knocked squarely on your butt by the
voltages present in your monitor. Weather or not it kills you probably
depends on just what you fall on, your present health, and where the
resulting flying monitor lands.
In any case, your decision to implement the changes described herein is
completely your own. I disclaim all responsibility for your health,
safety, or any damage to equipment or property caused by fires,
implosions or explosions, earthquakes, global flooding, or galactic
imbalance resulting from your use of any information in this writing. I
think that about covers it ;)
So... once upon a time, we all got our nifty HI-RES mono monitors,
powered them up, and the very first thing we all said was, "Ah..
MAN!!... This monitor is screwed up". Perhaps stronger language was
used, but the fact was that we all thought something had to be wrong.
Alas though, the tiny picture on that screen was exactly what the ATARI
mystics had intended! Of course, it wasn't long before many daring
hackers boldly removed the monitor's covers, cast their warrantees
aside, and discovered a way to expand the tiny picture to full size.
The information spread quickly through the worldwide internets, spider-
nets, and fish nets, and soon all mere mortals had full screen displays
and could actually read that 6 X 6 font! And so, the all lived happily
ever after. But then one day years later, a curse fell upon the land,
and darkness fell upon the faces of many of these monitors.
Ok, enough with the story narrative. By now, you're beginning to get
the picture (no pun intended). The modification to fill the screen does
indeed place an additional stress on a portion of the monitors
circuitry, which coupled with a design error quite common to many types
of computer monitors, ultimately caused the failure. The good news is
that I've now seen quite a few monitors with this identical failure
which is 100% repairable, and should leave you with 'good as new'
results. The bad news is that you do need some technical skills, but
even if you don't, finding a techie friend to help will be abundantly
easier having a possible procedure for repair.
Brief technical summary. Right near the coil you adjusted to spread the
horizontal width of your display, there's a 2.2 uF capacitor. More
specifically, it is a non-polarized electrolytic capacitor, which is
actually 2 polarized capacitors wired 'back to back' in a single
enclosure. As the screen is widened, the peak voltage level across this
part increases, thereby causing more internal stress. This situation is
further aggravated by the type of part as well. All capacitor types
have certain advantages and disadvantages and when it comes to
electrolytic types, the advantage is smaller size. It's disadvantage
however is that at higher frequencies, it has high 'leakage' current and
acts more like a resistor. The Horizontal frequency passing through
this capacitor is in fact quite high, and the resistive qualities at
these frequencies cause the capacitors to generate significant heat.
Over time, that heat will cause the part to fail even in un-modified
monitors, but the modification certainly speeds up the process.
If your monitor has fallen victim to this failure, in a way your lucky.
There's a fair chance that the problem (as said earlier) would happen
one way or another anyway, and at least now you have a possible fix.
First, you need to disconnect the monitor and open it up. If you have
the chassis I'm describing there will be two screws on the upper sides,
visable from the back; two more screws on the bottom; and a single screw
on the back above the power plug, which is a removable 'spade' type AC
connector. After removing the screws, you can remove the back cover,
but be sure to be careful of the speaker connections. The speaker is
mounted to the inside of the cover, and connects to the monitor's main
PC board via a small removable plug. It's a bit tough to get to, but
trust me, it IS removable.
Once the cover is free, there are 2 fuses to check first. From now on,
all references to right and left will assume you are behind the monitor,
with the screen pointing away from you. There is a small PC board
mounted vertically on the right side of the chassis which contains a
0.75 amp fuse. There's also a 2 amp fuse immediately to the right of
the speaker plug you removed on the main board. Check both fuses with a
DVM or other suitable instrument. Most likely, you'll find that it's
the 2 amp on that is gone, but either one blown is possible. You can
buy these tiny fuses at Radio Shack, and while your there, you can pick
up a much more modern replacement for the capacitor we mentioned
earlier. There's also a resistor that often cooks when this failure
occurs, so you might as well get all this stuff at once. If the problem
turns out to be something else, at least you'll be prepared for the
eventuality. In any case, read on to do a 'walk through' before buying,
to make absolutely sure your chassis physically matches the one we're
discussing.
At your local Radio Shack, pick up the following items:
fuse (pkg of 4) 3/4 amp 270-1048
fuse (pkg of 4) 2.0 amp 270-1052
fuse (pkg of 4) 5.0 amp* 270-1056
capacitor buy 2! 1 uF, 200v metal 272-1055
resistor (pkg of 2) 680 ohm, 1/2 watt 271-021
* optional purchase, see text.
Since we have plenty of extra fuses now, start by just changing them,
and setting up the monitor (still uncovered) with your ST. If the
display comes up normally, leave everything powered up and wait a few
hours. If all goes well, you can either make the fix were going to
describe anyway to save future grief, or put the other parts away, along
with this text, in case the problem returns.
Assuming the problem did not go away (no display and/or fuse blown
again), there are two paths you can take from here. You _can_ just go
ahead and change the suspected components without really knowing if they
are at fault, since they'll probably need replacement eventually anyhow.
The other possibility is that you don't want to to this until you're a
bit more sure it's necessary. If that's the case, read the next few
paragraphs. Otherwise, just skip over to "Making the Repair".
If you do want to do some checking, here is a possible (but not
foolproof) procedure to see if the suspected capacitor is indeed the
culprit. If the 0.75 amp fuse on the vertical board was blown,
temporarily replace it with a 2 amp. If the 2 amp fuse on the main
board has blown, temporarily replace it with one of the 5 amp fuses.
Set up the monitor, still open, near your ATARI, and connect the monitor
cable to your machine. Boot the ATARI with the monitor still off. We
want to keep our 'powered up' time with the larger (wrong) fuses to a
minimum. Now, hook up the power cord and turn on the monitor, being
ready to instantly kill power at the first sign of any unsafe condition
such as smoke or electrical arcing.
With the higher current fuses installed, the display will probably still
be out, but the green pilot light on the front panel _should_ light. If
it doesn't, then either the new fuses have blown, or a problem exists
somewhere else in the circuit. Of course, the pilot light could just be
shot, but if the higher current fuses do actually blow, then forget
about the remainder of this discussion and just try implementing the
suggested repair. Also, if the screen display _does_ appear with the
larger fuses, don't be to happy yet! Twice now I've seen the 'crippled'
capacitor seem to work fine for awhile before the final breakdown. So
weather the screen display comes up or not, proceed to the next step as
long as the fuses are not blowing.
Locate Capacitor C714. It will be the round cylinder on the left side
of the main board (from the back), in-between the coil you adjusted when
you increased the width and the flyback transformer. The coil is the
only adjustable coil on the board, so you can't miss it, and hopefully
you know that the flyback transformer is the thing-y with the wire that
goes into the top of the picture tube! Locate the capacitor... but
don't touch it yet! The flyback puts out thousands of volts, and if
there is a flaw in it's insulation, it could arc right into you hand.
Just leave the unit powered up for a few minutes, and then turn it off.
Now, with your finger, move close to, and finally touch the capacitor
from the top. What you're looking for is a _HOT_ part, so be careful!
If in fact the part is really hot, it probably has shorted and needs to
be replaced.
Also, immediately to the right of the coil, also on the main board is a
diode (D-709) and a resistor (R-221). Take a good look at the resistor
to see if it looks stressed or burnt. If you want, you can do an in-
circuit check with a DVM to see if it has opened. You can make this
measurement from the bottom of the board if you want since it's pretty
cramped on top. Even if it has not died, you should consider
replacement if it appears stressed, or the underside of the board
appears burned and discolored at the location of the resistor.
Making the Repair
Making the repair is simply a matter of changing the parts, BUT...
there's some special considerations here. You may or may not be aware
that radio shack does have 2.2uF, 50 volt non-polarized electrolytic
capacitor in stock! But using that part would be dumb since the
conditions that caused it to die in the first place have not changed
AND, the part was a poor design choice to begin with! We're going to
use the two 1.0 uF metalized film capacitors which are NOT electrolytic,
AND have a working voltage 4 times that of the original part! We will
have to parallel both capacitors to get 2.0uF, which is reasonably close
to 2.2 and in fact works just fine. First though, you'll have to de-
solder the existing C-714, which will probably be a bit of a chore. Do
that, and also get rid of the existing R-221 if it shows the signs of
heat stress (or is open) as we discussed earlier. You can just cut it
out if you want, since we'll be soldering the new parts to the underside
of the board.
Now, take the two 1.0uF capacitors, and solder them together in a neat
parallel arrangement, that has a pair of leads bent to accommodate the
spacing of the leads on the original capacitor. Look at the underside
of the board and observe the original C-714 solder pads, as well as the
clearance to the bottom when the cover is replaced. Give it a little
thought and come up with a mechanically sound and visually sensible
combination. The capacitors again, are not polarized so direction does
not matter. And remember... parallel, NOT series!!! Solder the
parallel combination to the C-714 pads under the board. Try to push the
leads right into the holes left by the removal of the old capacitor.
R-221 should also be replaced from the bottom side of the board unless
you're really patient, and have some small tools. It's much easier to
just trim the leads and tack solder it in place under the board. If the
board looks a bit burned in this area, you may want to clean it up a bit
prior to installing the new resistor.
Finally, don't forget to put the proper fuse values back into BOTH
locations. The original fuse values are important protection and do not
normally blow unless there is a real problem. I definitely do not
recommend leaving the larger fuses values in place. Do a bench check on
the ST again, still with the cover off. You may need to re-adjust the
horizontal width, or the position tabs on the neck of the picture tube
to center and set up the display. Once this is done, you can put the
cover back on, and you're back in business. If the fix does NOT help,
just double check your soldering and connections to make sure you didn't
wire something wrong.
Hope this fix was helpful. If so, I'd like you to drop me an EMAIL,
since I'm curious as to just how many fried monitors out there had this
problem. Also, if you're not able to make the repairs yourself and live
anywhere in Islip, Long Island, NY area, send me E.Mail and maybe I can
help you out. My GE mail address is R.CONSTAN, or Internet:
rconstan@maestro.com.
###### DIGITAL PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION NEWS
###### Volume 3, Number 1, January, 1994
###### Copyright (C) 1993/1994 Ron Albright
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
If you have an IBM or compatible computer be sure to obtain the
electronic edition of this newsletter. Look for DPA-22.EXE and
DPAC-22.EXE
On to a NEW YEAR!.......
Now that the Quill Awards are behind us, it is time to start thinking
about the new year and what our activities should be for the coming
twelve months. We would like to be the first to formally declare 1994
as "The Year of the Electronic Publisher." It should be an exciting 12
months as we all concentrate on bringing the wonderful world of
electronic publishing to not just the computer world, but the reading
world at large. Certainly, enough has been done to set the stage for
the "big push" and now is the time. We ask each and every member of the
DPA to give a great deal of thought to what they can do, individually,
and the DPA can do as whole to make this public education blitz a
successful one.
We are asking for feedback from everyone. Members and non-members,
alike, all interested in the electronic publishing industry. It is time
we took the next step in putting our industry in front of the public.
We need your help. It cannot be done in a vacuum. What do we do next?
How best do we proceed? Where should we concentrate our efforts? The
public libraries? The universities? The bookstores? The computer
users? Book buyers? We really need your input.
It is also time to hold our annual meeting. How best to do this is also
open to suggestions. We hope we can do it electronically, either on
GEnie and/or the DPA BBS (205-854-1660). Over the next few weeks we are
hoping for some input from you as to (a) how best to pull it off and (b)
what the agenda should include. Clearly, it is time to elect new
officers. If you haven't gotten the point as yet, let usclarify: We
NEED YOUR HELP! Write us, call us, send us electronic mail. Anything.
Just let us know where we go from here and what we should do to make the
next year a pivotal one for the DPA and the digital publishing industry
as a whole. We await your input. We know you will come through.
CD-ROM "How To" from John Galuszka....
John Galuszka (Serendipity Systems, P.O. Box 140, San Simeon, CA 93452;
publisher of numerous on-disk books and the popular "Electronic
Publishing Forum" newsletter) has taken the time to put together a
superb resource guide on how to self-publish on CD-ROM ("compact disk -
read-only memory"). It is included in a special supplement at the end
of this newsletter issue and can also be found on the DPA BBS and
GEnie's "Digital Publishing" RoundTable. John, a "founding member" of
the DPA and long-time digital publishing advocate and practitioner, has
gone to great length and effort to produce the definitive short guide to
producing your own CD-ROM publication. If you have any interest in
expanding your computer-readable publishing efforts to CD-ROM, this is
must reading. We thank John for taking the time to research and write
this wonderful resource guide. Included in the guide is a proposal for
several digital publishers to cooperatively produce a CD-ROM disk. We
suggest all read this and see if your publishing efforts would fit into
a cooperative publishing effort as John proposes.
The Annenberg Grant . . . A boon for Digital Publishers?
On December 17, billionaire publisher Walter Annenberg announced a $500
million donation to foster school reform and inspire action and
philanthropy in public education. Annenberg's was the largest single
gift ever made to public education. The $500 million donation will be
awarded over five years, and Annenberg said he hoped it would inspire
others to take action and support public education.
Educators on the federal and state levels and at private educational
institutions plan to use the money to take advantage of the achievements
in model schools and spread those successes to districts around the
country. They also hope to use some of the money for retraining
teachers.
Annenberg, the only son of a Jewish immigrant, made his fortune selling
horse racing results to bookies and mobsters and went to prison in
disgrace. He accumulated most of his fortune from TV Guide as well as
other magazines and newspapers.
The most exciting thing about the Annenberg grant is his vision of
establishing a network of computer capabilities for all schools - rural,
inner-city, poor, etc. - to somehow be linked together by computer so
that all schools have equal access to literature and books. It seems to
imply, at least to us, that electronic publishing will play a major role
in getting education materials of all types into computer-readable
format.
We should all give some thought to what Annenberg's money should mean to
us, as digital publishers, and how we can best present our cause to
those in charge of establishing the access to publications for the
schools involved. Digital publishing is the key to getting school
systems, regardless of budget, on equal footing when it comes to access
to books and literature. Somehow, We firmly believe we can play a part
in Annenberg's vision of cheap, easy access to books for all schools.
Think long and hard, dear reader, and let us know where you think we
might fit in.
The Health Act on CD-ROM
According to Jacqueline Emigh writing for "Newsbytes," the widely-read
daily computer industry electronic newsletter, Allegro New Media has
published Bill Clinton's "Health Security Act" on a fully searchable
multimedia CD-ROM title for Windows priced at $14.95.
According to Emigh, the CD-ROM presents a multi-faceted view of the
issues involved, including White House commentary, along with
interpretations of the act by a variety of outside organizations, in
text and in over two hours of video. Also incorporated are dozens of
pictures, tables and charts, aimed at illustrating the Health Security
Act and its implications to consumers and businesses.
The textual materials include all 1342 pages of the Health Security Act,
plus the President's Report to the American People, the President's
Transmittal Letter to Congress, and analysis of the proposed legislation
by the American Bar Association, the US Chamber of Congress, the US
House of Representatives Republican Conference, Benefit Solutions, the
Health Insurance Association of America, and more.
The 60 interactive video clips range from President Clinton's Address to
Congress and Hilary Clinton's Address on Health Care to interviews with
external industry experts.
Officials noted that the White House was quite cooperative with the
CD-ROM project, providing extensive materials.
For more information, you can contact Barry Cinnamon, Allegro New
Media, at 800-424-1992.
Winding Down ...
That's it for this month. Now that the holidays are over, it's time to
get back to business of making digital publishing a household word.
Just as we are ready to proclaim 1994 "The Year of the Digital
Publication," We also ask for your help in guiding the DPA during this
coming year. We will go nowhere without your input, ideas, and support.
We really need your help now, friends. Let's make it happen. It's up
to you.
Use either of the following three electronic addresses to correspond
with us at the Digital Publishing Association. You may contact us with
questions, suggestions, or to obtain information on becoming a member.
CompuServe: 75166,2473
GEnie: RALBRIGHT
MCI Mail: 370-7474 (RALBRIGHT)
For you old fashioned types, here's a traditional "paper" mailing
address:
Digital Publishing Association
1160 Huffman Road
Birmingham, AL 35215
DPA News is sponsored by the Digital Publishing Association. It
features news, product developments, and information of interest to
authors, distributors, and readers of electronic publications. Items
presented here serve to inform the public of the electronic publishing
industry which covers authorship and publication of reading materials in
electronic format. Find back issues on DPA BBS at 205-854-1660.
+--------------+
| Keep Current |
| |
| With DPA! |
+--------------+
###### TRANSCENDENCE BBS GOES FREEWARE
###### Announcement
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
I have decided to release Transcendence BBS Version 2 as Freeware.
There are quite a few reasons as to why I made this decision.
1) My job.
2) The amount of my free time that is being taken up in porting the
BBS to a new language.
3) The amount of work I am putting into overhauling the BBS and so on.
I will no longer be adding new features to version 2 but, will be taking
suggestions for version 3. Bug fixes will still occur if it is
something major. I will still be giving support to the current owners
with answers to questions, helping out with problems, etc. on my BBS and
on GEnie in the BBS RT. Once version 3 is released, version 2 will no
longer be supported.
A KEYCODE.DAT file will no longer be required in order to have the FULL
working version.
Due to version 2 becoming Freeware and the amount of changes that will
take place in version 3, there will be no manual released for version 2.
All currently regestered owners of version 2 will be able to upgrade to
version 3 for a small fee. The upgrade fee and release date for version
3 has not been decided at this moment.
If you have purchased the BBS since Jan. 1, 1994 and you would like to
have your money back, then please send email to Sysop on my BBS. My BBS
number is located on the WaitCall screen.
Transcendence may be distributed FREELY. A small fee for materials
(shareware/PD disk) may be charged.
The new version may be downloaded from my BBS after 11:00pm on Feb. 20,
1994. This version will have the code removed that checks for the
KEYCODE.DAT file. A new version will be uploaded to GEnie in the BBS RT
Libraries soon.
###### CONNECT MAGAZINE OFFER
###### Press Release
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
OK. You've heard about CONNECT, possibly even picked up copies of the
magazine at your local newsstand, bookstore or computer dealer. Maybe
you've seen our advertising in books such as the "Whole Earth Online
Almanac," or you saw the mention of CONNECT in the December 6, 1993
issue of U.S. News & World Report. Or maybe you've just heard about the
magazine from talk on the commercial online services, or seen the
CONNECT Online BBS Edition door on a local BBS.
But, you still haven't subscribed. As a BBS sysop, perhaps you've just
been too busy keeping your system in peak shape to send in that $18.
And maybe you've also been thinking about advertising your BBS via
CONNECT's International BBS Listing (at $12/year) or Service Ads (at
$25 per ad).
Well, we're making you an offer that'll save you money *AND* give your
BBS some added international exposure.
Under this special introductory CONNECT subscription offer, you get,
absolutely FREE, a one-year listing in the International BBS Listing!
We're also throwing in a two-issue run of a Service Ad...again,
absolutely FREE. At the normal individual Service Ad and BBS Listing
rates, that's a total value of $62!
About now, you're probably thinking we're totally crazy. In a second,
you're going to be sure we are...because we're also discounting the
normal subscription rate for CONNECT! Instead of the normal $18
subscription rate for U.S. addressees, you'll pay just $15. That's a
savings of almost 20 percent off the normal rate, and a savings of over
40 percent off the newsstand price!
Each issue sent to you will contain the in-depth, unbiased coverage of
the commercial online services, Internet and bulletin board systems and
networks you've come to expect from CONNECT. Your BBS will appear in
CONNECT's International BBS Listing for a year, *AND* your system will
be highlighted in a Service Ad for two consecutive issues...all for *NO
ADDITIONAL CHARGE.*
If you're not in the U.S., don't worry. We're offering the same kind of
deal for Canadian and foreign sysop subscribers, too!
Here's all it takes to qualify for this special introductory offer:
1) You must be a sysop of a currently up-and-running BBS, with plans to
continue running the BBS for the next year.
2) You must be a new CONNECT subscriber. This offer is not available to
current subscribers and, therefore, cannot be used to "renew" a
CONNECT subscription.
That's all! Just fill out the form and e-mail, fax or snail mail it
back to us with payment. (Checks must be sent via normal mail,
obviously. Checks also must be made out in U.S. funds and must be drawn
on a U.S. bank.)
Send your orders to:
Pegasus Press
CONNECT Subscription Dept.
3487 Braeburn Circle
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2619
(313) 973-8825 Info
(313) 973-0411 Fax
(313) 973-9137 BBS (v.32bis, 14.4K bps)
If you wish to help us save some trees, please fill out the form below
in your favorite text editor and e-mail it back to us at one of these
online addresses:
America Online CONNECT
CompuServe 70007,4640
GEnie CONNECT.MAG
Delphi CONNECTNM9
Internet pegasus@cyberspace.org
CONNECT Sysop Special Subscription Form
---------------------------------------
[ ] Yes, sign me up for a year of CONNECT (6 issues) at $15. Send my
issues to the U.S. address listed below. I'm a sysop of a currently
available BBS and plan to continue running the system for the
next year.
[ ] I don't have a U.S. address, but I am a sysop of a currently up-and
running BBS and plan to keep the system running for the next year.
Sign me up for CONNECT at the rate below:
[ ] $27 Canada/Mexico (surface)
[ ] $33 Foreign (surface)
[ ] $51 Foreign (air mail)
Name: _____________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
City/State: _______________________________________
ZIP: ________ - _____ Country: ___________________
Voice Phone #: (______) ________ - ____________
[ ] Please charge my credit card
[ ] VISA [ ] MasterCard [ ] American Express
Card #: _______________________________ Exp. Date: ___________
Signature: _____________________________________________________
=======================
BBS Listing Information
=======================
Sysop Name/Handle: ____________________________________________________
BBS Name: |________________________| Phone #: 1: |___-___-____|
(24 chars) (12 chars) or
2: |____________|
System
Description: |_______________________________________________________|
(55 chars)
Max. Baud: |____________| Systems Supported: |__________________|
(12 chars) (18 chars)
Software In Use: |__________________|
(18 chars)
======================
Service Ad Information
======================
Type in up to 280 characters describing your BBS. Be sure to include
the BBS name and phone number at the start of the Ad text.
|______________________________________________________________________|
70
|______________________________________________________________________|
140
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280
###### THE MUSIC OF THE BYTES
###### By Jeff White
###### Reprint by Permission
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
The Following Article is Reprinted by Permission of ATARIUSER MAGAZINE.
It is an original article first printed in the October 1993 issue,
Copyright Jeff White and AtariUser. Further reprinting is PROHIBITED
except by specific permission of AtariUser, 249 North Brand Boulevard,
Glendale CA 91203, phone 818-249-6277. A Special Mini-Subscription to
AtariUser is available for a limited time for just $5 for 3 issues.
Contact AtariUser for Details.
--------
Atari has long touted the multimedia potential of their newest computer
- the Falcon030. Now that it's here, just how well does it live up to
the expectations created by many months of marketing hype? Let's
explore the AUDIO promise and yield of...
The Music of the Bytes
The Atari Falcon030 and the future of Audio
by Jeff White
Given that computers have been beeping and blurping in one form or
another for about as long as they have been around, one wouldn't think
that producing sound from within the computer should be that big a deal.
Indeed, in the last several years it has become chic to do quite
exceptional audio manipulation with a variety of add-on products that
fit into other popular platforms, of course at some additional expense.
However, the Atari Falcon030 is the first computer on the market to not
only incorporate all the standard "extras" we have come to expect on
Atari computers, but to also include 16-bit digital audio input and
output capability as well. But wait, that's not all. Not content with
just offering stereo input and out- put of digital audio, Atari elected
to be generous in their development process and make provision for
handling up to eight digital audio channels, (yes, all stereo at 16-bit
CD-quality resolution). Now how much would you pay? Well, don't answer
yet.... They even include a special signal processor that's dedicated
to doing, well, nothing at all! Enough dramatics - let's get on with
it.
Enter the Falcon
Atari thought it would be nice if, besides handling up to eight channels
of audio, we were able to treat that audio with some additional
processing, courtesy of that undedicated processor - the Motorola DSP
56001. A common myth that has been circulating about this system is
that this processor is the main engine behind doing digital audio on the
Falcon. This is understandable, since the majority of add-on boards on
other machines do it that way.
One factor in propagating this misunderstanding is the fact that other
platforms, by and large, employ a SCSI controller that impedes the flow
of data. That, in turn, requires the use of faster peripherals to
compensate. In other words, you pay for faster peripherals to run on a
slower computer.
Such is not the case with the Falcon030. Audio data is handled on the
SCSI/DMA bus. It's permitted to enter and leave the system in analog
form via the stereo mini-jacks conveniently located between the SCSI
port and, interestingly enough, the DSP port. Think about it; the hard
drive is where digital audio information is stored to and retrieved
from, and the DSP port does not have to be connected in any way to this
data path. This frees up many speed issues that cramp other computers.
The Falcon's internal hard drive is quite slow by most standards,
benchmarking in at 63 milliseconds access time. A removable 44 meg hard
drive tests out at around 57 milliseconds. That's way too slow for most
systems on the market, with a typical recommendation lying somewhere
under 28 milliseconds access time. But on the Falcon, it's plenty fast.
And we still haven't used the DSP...
Now if some clever developers choose to avail themselves of the DSP's
existence, they can allow us to enhance the audio signal already passing
through those mini-jacks with, what else, a digital signal. This can
take the form of an effect such as delay, chorus, flange, reverb,
harmonization, even MIXING!
Software Meets Hardware
The most practical way to discuss the characteristics and possibilities
of audio work on the Falcon is to examine one of the first serious
multitrack applications to reach the market - D2D Systems 4T/FX. While
this may read like a review for D2D (and that's OK!), consider it to
also be a primer of what one developer has done in software using just
what comes in every stock Falcon030.
As the name (cryptically) implies, D2D 4T/FX it is a four track system
with effects. You can use it to record audio into the Falcon one or two
tracks, (channels) at a time and playback up to four at one time -
without any additional hardware! And just like some of its mechanical
analog counterparts (tape decks and mix consoles), it includes a
utilitarian mixer as its main control device.
Each of the four channels is supported with:
* Stereo "effects send";
* Master output level controls;
* Channel mute and solo buttons;
* Record "arm" and playback select buttons.
* Stereo effects return, with level controls.
Use It!
So where do you send those signals to and return them from - your
(stock) Falcon hardware has only got two discreet channels in and out!
Use the built in effects processor, of course, that's why they call it
"/FX." Included are an array of useful effects like the aforementioned
delay, flange, chorus, and a bunch of reverbs. Except for the reverbs,
all of the effects have adjustable parameters to allow you to tailor the
sound to your personal taste. In the case of the reverbs, D2D gives you
a variety of preset room sizes with a variable gain control to allow you
to determine how "wet" or processed the signal(s) will be.
Where this really starts getting interesting is when you realize that
the effects are all "real-time." It's possible to record a track with
the effects processor engaged (for your monitoring pleasure or preview)
and not alter the recording audio with that effect. That's very useful
if the "take" was right, but the effect needs adjustment - just do it
afterward. Any of the parameters can be changed, and you can even
change a delay into a reverb or a flange, or back again. Using multiple
effects simultaneously is simply a matter of "bouncing" a track with the
effect set the way you like, then changing the effect on playback. This
way, you can have a chorused vocal take, a flanged acoustic guitar, a
delayed flute, and a ring-modulated saxophone all playing back through a
large room size reverb. Since the bouncing is taking place in the
digital domain, there is no signal degradation due to tape generation
loss. Like most digital audio recorder systems coming to market today,
there's a striking resemblance of the D2D 4T/FX screen to an analog
four-track tape deck for an easy learning curve.
The latest release of D2D (1.9) includes individual time code displays
for each track as well as the main display to allow for independent
track offset or delays. But wait, there's STILL more! Synchronization
to external sources can be performed several ways, making this package
extremely flexible.
Make Mine MIDI
Incoming MIDI Time Code (MTC) from an external source can be connected
to the Falcon's MIDI in port. MTC can also be recognized from a
sequencer program, running on the Falcon AT THE SAME TIME! In this
situation, one merely loads 4T/FX as a desk accessory rather than a
program, and enables MTC output from the sequencer. While this method
works very well, the best way to have the audio record and playback in
time with your MIDI music is to use a note-on event as a trigger.
Simply by placing a note-on on an unused track and MIDI channel, it's
possible to automatically punch in and out for record. Then when you
play back your sequence, the exact same note-on in the exact same place
plays back your digitally recorded audio. Need to nudge that audio
forward or back - just ed- it/move that trigger note one way or another.
Given that time code offers a maximum of 30 frames per second
resolution, it's clear that a sequencer's ability to sub-divide time
events far more precisely would make it a better choice for placing
events accurately.
Deepest Cuts
Recording, playing, mixing, effecting, bouncing, slipping, synching -
not much else left, other than...editing. This
is the part that all the
audio production fanatics with razor blades and golden ears have been
waiting for. Digital editing is cleaner, clearer, quieter, stronger,
and best of all, doesn't alter the original recording at all.
The main premise to remember in digital audio is that the vast majority
of the functions are non-destructive. Your edits are recorded as tasks
to be done in real-time to the untouched source audio when you want your
composition played back. They don't consume unnecessary hard disk
space in the process.
While our example program, 4T/FX, provides absolutely no way to edit the
recordings that you have created with it, you can perform some rather
extensive editing in another D2D Systems creation called D2D Edit. It's
a complete stereo record/playback/edit environment that provides
waveform display editing and cue sheet playback.
Files can either be recorded directly into D2D Edit via the analog
inputs on the Falcon030, or transferred from already recorded takes in
4T/FX. Once a file is loaded into D2D Edit, it's displayed in a window
as the complete waveform associated with that file. The GEM window can
be resized and you can open several files at once.
4T/FX and D2D Edit are some of the first programs to take advantage of
the Atari Falcon030's DSP audio capabilities. As such, they represent
a significant advance to the home project studio process by making
functions that were previously the domain only of high-end studios
available on an affordable platform.
D2D Edit is available for $299.00 and 4T/FX for $599.00. For a limited
time, D2D Systems are bundling D2D Edit with 4T/FX at no additional
charge as an introductory incentive. The potential here is staggering -
a complete audio studio system with the Falcon computer, software, and
peripherals costs less than either the "other" computer itself or the
soft/hardware add-ons required for that other platform.
WOW!
Again, while we've concentrated here on D2D products, they're just part
of the vanguard of audio software and hardware that make the most of the
remarkable Falcon030. And audio is just one part of the multimedia
potential of the new Atari.
It's going to get REAL INTERESTING around here.
-Jeff White
Jeff White is a manufacturer's representative of professional audio
equipment in the Southern California area. He currently consults
privately on MIDI and digital audio systems. His credentials include
store management as well as a degree in quality assurance.
###### LEXICOR UPDATE
###### Press Release
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*
* PHOENIX U.S.A. - XENOMORPH Update (Version 2.0) *
*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*
LEXICOR SOFTWARE is proud to announce the release of PHOENIX 2.0 in the
U.S.A. The following pricing structure is U.S.A. only, European Prices
and Distribution at your closest Lexicor Dealer.
*****************************************************************************
For European Sales you may contact: * For North American Sales contact:
=================================== * =================================
email: europasales@lexicor.com * email: usasales@lexicor.com
*
LEXICOR EUROPE * LEXICOR SOFTWARE CORPORATION
36 Queensberry Street, Suite 6 * 1726 Francisco Street
Boston, MA 02215 * Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel: (617) 437 0414 Fax: (617 437 9413 * Tel: (510) 848 72 -21 / Fax: -13
******************************************************************************
Pricing Structure is as follows (these Prices are valid for North
America, European prices vary from Country to Country!)
PHOENIX 1.0 Upgrade Policy, return the original disk and payment of
49.95 U$D and you will receive your PHOENIX 2.0, PHOENIX 1.0 will be
known as entry level PHOENIX and be still available for 69.95.
PHOENIX 2.0 Standard Price will be only 89.95! All Prices do not
include, tax, shipping and handling costs.
=================================================
= Now to some inside information on Phoenix 2.0 =
=================================================
NEW GEM BASED INTERFACE and MULTITOS Support
============================================
Runs Completely under MultiTOS (tm) and supports it completely i.e. you
can Render your images in the background! so now rendering your images
will not tie up your computer completely.
NEW TOOLBOX INTERFACE
=====================
Options to render in
Polygon
Gouraud
Phong
Phong/Shadows
You can now also preview in the resolution of your choice, when
Rendering Phoenix will open up a window of the rendered image and a
status bar.
New Palette options, next to best and fixed, you can now render with the
Palette of your choice in the option custom designed palette! This is a
very important new feature that is extremely useful for 8bit animations
and fast playback!
NEW ENHANCED OBJECT WINDOW
==========================
Shadows, No Shadows, Caustic Shadows
This New set of features will allow you to turn off the Shadows for
individual objects, this would decrease rendering times for objects that
may never need to cast shadows. Caustic Shadows will simulate the
caustic focusing of lights due to refraction, works best with partially
transparent objects.
As well as.....
the usual powerful functions such as specular refraction, break points,
individual glow factors for objects and object transparency and a new
Surface Texture and enhanced Color Texture Menu!
New improved Textures
=====================
Alongside the old wood grain, marble and image mapping many new texture
as well as bump mappings have been now included!
Surface Textures
================
- Ripples creates a rippled water appearance with small somewhat random
ripples
- Waves creates ocean type waves
- Bump Mapping produces a bumpy surface
- Eroded very similar to bumps, a small variation of it
- Image Mapping will allow you to use an image (SPC, GIF, TGA) to
pertubate the surface.
Additionally you can control the animation factor to every respective
Surface Texture for example in Waves or Ripple produce an animation
cycle of any frames per cycle of your choice! Create realistic moving
waves and ripples!
Color Spline Textures
=====================
This is the new texture mapping in Xenomorph that allows you to have a
lot more control over the individual texture rather than the old
textures. You can specify the texturing method, describe the color
spline, sequence of colors thus adding various texture layers over each
other. It is nearly like a user defined texture mapper with Bozo,
Gradient, Agate, Granite, Marble, Wood type layers per texture layer.
Color Spline has to many features to go in detail about them, check out
our 24bit Color Texture Images (TEXTURES.TGA) to see just some of the
power of this new option. On the disk there are over 100 new textures
and texture layers available to the user. A Texture list at the end of
this message.
NEW RENDERING OPTIONS
=====================
- Fog Create your own fog effects of your rendered images.
- Background Color, select the color to render in the background of your
choice
- Background Image, select the image of your choice to render in the
background
COLORED LIGHTS
==============
Now Xenomorph can light an image with a user-specific light so you can
produce a red-light spotlight, mix it with other lights of different
colors to produce some amazing and interesting effects.
TEXTURE MOTION CONTROL and MORPHING LOCK
========================================
Control your textures in animation so your texture will flow with your
animation as if it is a real part to a moving object! With the new
morphin lock function this can be now be done with morphing animations
done with Chronos and combined with ANM-Link the missing link to render
CHRONOS animations with the power of the Phoenix Rendering Engine!
Standard Features of Phoenix
============================
o Render Objects with smooth shading, no more polygon edges!
o Objects will render with highlights
o Objects may be textured with wood grain, marble, or wrap and image
around the object
o Each Object may have it's own color palette
o Number of Objects is limited only by memory
o 4 different light source type, up to 21 lights in a scene.
o 3 different camera types. Maneuver the camera anywhere in a scene.
o Graphical object, light and camera positioning editor.
o View and save rendered images as 512 color Spectrum SPC files, 2 to
256 color GIF files, or true color (24bit) Targa files at any
resolution.
o Simple animation capabilities, or render CTL script animations (Cyber
Control v.1.1 required for CTL animations) or use the new ANM-LINK
(relativity) to render Chronos Key-frame animations with morphs and
cycles.
o Several tutorial and sample objects included
o Runs in any 80 column color or monochrome resolution
o Full math co-processor support
o Plus much much more!
There is a lot more to the new Phoenix, especially the new powerful
Color Spline to give you close to absolute texture control. Lexicor
Software will soon come with a special disk of over hundreds of new
textures for use in Phoenix, but here a small list of the Textures
available straight away in the Phoenix 2.0 disk.
- Wood
User definable with grain color and width, Object Texture Ratio, view
- Marble
User definable with color bands, turbulence, base color, grain, view,
Object Texture Ratio and more
- Image Mapping
Load SPC, TGA or GIF to map in S map (Plane, Cube, Cylinder or Sphere),
O Map (Reflection, Obj Normal, Obj Center, S Map Norm), Tiling (single
or tiled, morph lock, view control, turbulence and Mask (no mask,
foreground or opaque mask) on the object of your choice with your own
created image.
Brand new Textures that come with Phoenix 2.0 (and only useable in
Phoenix 2.0) can be altered in the Color Spline Texture Control, also
only individual layers of that Texture can be saved, loaded and/or
manipulated.
WOOD Types: STONE Types: SKY Types: MISC Types:
=========== ============ ========== ===========
Cherry Wood Agate Blue Apocalypse Brass
Dark Wood Agate Brown Clouds Candy
Pine Wood Agate Sapphire Sky Blue1 Cork
Rose Wood Gradient Pink Sky Blue2 Fire/Flame
Sandy Wood Jade Sky Blue3 Peel
Tanned Wood Marble Blood Sky Bright Rust
Toned Wood Marble Red Sky Blood Iron Rust
White Wood Marble White
Yellow Wood Pink Lab
and 7 more and 24 more Stone
Wood types types! that have each their own indiv. characteristic!
* Texture Layers not included on the list, only complete named Textures
* All in all 125 Textures are included on the Phoenix 2.0 disk for the
User
And LEXICOR will be releasing texture disks loaded only with brand new
textures such as Popcorn that will look like real popcorn when rendered!
Absolutely amazing!
The true strength of Phoenix lies in its ease of use, and this ease of
use has been thankfully preserved in Phoenix 2.0, don't be baffled by
the wealth of new Textures and the incredible new functions, it will
only take a very short while to master it.
###### CONTACTING Z*NET
###### Responses and Inquiry!
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
You can reach us any number of ways!
GEnie
Z-NET
M475;1 CAT 15 TOPIC 3
COMPUSERVE EMAIL
75300,1642
Z*NET NEWS SERVICE BBS
(908) 968-8148
1200/2400/14.4
POSTAL MAIL
Z*Net
PO Box 59
Middlesex, NJ 08846
VOICE MAIL
(908) 968-2024
AMERICA ONLINE
ZNET1991
DELPHI
ZNET
###### JAGUAR GAMES AND MORE
###### From CompuServe ORIGINALLY POSTED 7th Feb, 1994. CIS MSG# 34370
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
This post sounded interesting so I brought it here. What I like about
this list is the fact that it puts the games in monthly slots. *EVEN*
though it lists AvP for February, which has been reported here to be in
April. (lots of circumstances could've attributed to this) At least I
can get excited again, and anticipate the forthcoming games.
Now, don't everybody jump up and down at Atari when end of Feb comes
along and the listed games are not available... There is only 24 hours
a day still <g>. Can you imagine if Atari announced the Jaguar in
Christmas '92? Everyone would then be beating down Atari's door and
critcize Atari if the deadlines are not met. What I'm trying to say is,
all these dates are *BONUS*s. Lets get excited when they are sitting
comfortably in our Jags!!!
thznx
Path:
wabbit.cc.uow.edu.au!metro!munnari.oz.au!hpg30a.csc.cuhk.hk!saimiri.
primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!
uknet!ukc!merlin.ukc.ac.uk!nj1
From: nj1@ukc.ac.uk (N.Jones-Rodway)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video.atari
Subject: Jaguar Games List.......
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 94 19:17:15 GMT
Organization: University of Kent at Canterbury, UK.
I got a copy of ST Format through the door this morning (UK Mag) and it
has a list of Jaguar games in the works.....
Quite a lot of 'em.......
Thought you all may be interested. The list is as follows:
Available Now
Cybermorph ATD
Crescent Galaxy Atari
Evolution Dino Dudes Imagitec (Atari)
Raiden Imagitec (Atari)
February '94
------------
Alien vs Predator Rebellion (Atari)
Chequered Flag 2 Rebellion (Atari)
Club Drive Atari
Tempest 2000 Jeff Minter (Atari)
Tiny Toon Adventures Atari
March '94
---------
Kasumi Ninja Handmade Software
April '94
---------
Battle Wheels Beyond Games
Casino Royale Telegames
Jukebox All Systems Go
Kick Off 2/World Cup Anco
Zozziorx Retour 2048
May '94
-------
Double Dragon Tradewest
Mechtiles Beyond Games
June '94
--------
Battle Chess Interplay
Brutal Football Millenium/Telegames
Indiana Jags Retour 2048
Mortal Kombat Iguana
July '94
--------
Doom ID Software
Flashback US Gold
August '94
----------
Another World Interplay
Soccer Kid Krisalis
September '94
-------------
Arena Football V-Real
Navy Commando Microids
Pinball Fantasies 21st Century
October '94
-----------
Horrorscope V-Real
Jimmy Connors' Pro Tennis UBI Soft
Power Slide Elite
Zool 2 Gremlin Graphics
December '94
------------
Gunship 2000 Microprose
Sometime.... (No Release Dates For These Title)
Aero The Acrobat Sunsoft
Al Michaels' Hard Ball Accolade
Alone In The Dark (CD) Infogrames
Batman (The Comic) Atari
Battlemorph (Cybermorph 2) ATD
Battlewheels
Battlezone 2000 Atari
Blue Lightning ATD
Brett Hull Hockey Accolade
Bubsy Accolade
Car Wars Midnite Software (sic)
Charles Barkley Baseball Accolade
Commando Microids
Dracula The Undead (CD)
Dungeon Rebellion
Dungeon Depths Midnite Software
European Soccer Challenge Telegames
Evidence (CD) Microids
Hosenose and Booger All Systems Go
Jack Nicklaus Golf Accolade
Return to Zork Activision
Robinson's Requiem Simarils
Space Pirates (CD) Atari
Star Trek: The Next Generation Spectrum Holobyte
Ultimate Brain Games Telegames
Ultra Vortex
There was also a list of 13 new develpors for the Jag (although these
are ONLY rumoured to have signed up).....
3D Games Epic Megagames Origin
All Systems Go Handmade Software Phalanx Software
Domark ICD Inc. Photosurrealism
DTMC Infogrames V-Real Productions
LucasArts
Although some of these appear in the Release Date List.......
Just thought you may like to know, anyhow.... and please, don't quote
me on this - I just read it in ST Format - God knows if it's correct!!!
All the Best,
Rodders.
###### HARD DRIVE TECH SUPPORT
###### Captured from GEnie ST RT
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
HARD DRIVES TECH Support
Conner 408 433-3340
800 4-CONNER
DEC 508 493-5111
Fujitsu 800 826-6112
Hewlett-Packard 800 752-0900
Hitachi 408 773-8833
Maxtor 800 262-9867
408 432-5333
Micropolis 800 709-3325
Quantum 408 894-4000
900 740-4433
Seagate 800 468-3472
408 438-8222
Toshiba 800 334-3445
Western Digital 800 832-4778
REMOVABLES
Syquest 510 226-4000
###### LYNX FAQ
###### Created by Darius Vaskelis
###### File Maintained by Robert Jung
###### From the Internet
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
This file is not maintained by, overseen by, endorsed, or otherwise
associated with Atari Corp. or any of its subsidiaries. It's just a
collection of questions and answers, with a few news tidbits thrown in.
This file is posted on a monthly basis, usually around the first of the
month. It is maintained by Robert Jung at rjung@netcom.com on the
Internet. Send corrections, news, updates, comments, questions, or
other stuff to that address. All mail is welcome!
Updates since the last publically posted FAQ have a vertical bar in the
first column.
Q. What is the Atari Lynx?
A. The world's first hand-held color video game system. Sold by Atari,
the Lynx offers true multi-player competition, built-in 3D and
distortion graphic effects, reversible controls, and fast arcade action
for under $100.
Q. What's the relationship between the Atari Lynx and Epyx?
A. The Lynx was originally conceived by Epyx in 1987. It was called the
"Handy" at that time. Two creators of the system, Dave Needle and R.J.
Mical, were also members of the Amiga design team. Atari bought the
rights, and the rest is history.
Due to a recent lawsuit settlement between Epyx and Atari, Epyx no
longer has any connection whatsoever with the Lynx. Atari was required
to pay a lump sum to offset back royalties owed, cover damages from
breach of contract, and an additional amount to buy off Epyx royalty
rights.
Q. What are the specifications of the Lynx?
A. Physical dimensions:
Size: 9.25" x 4.25" x 2" (10.75" x 4.25" x 1.5" for original Lynx)
Screen: 3.5" diagonal (3.25" x 1.88" approx.)
Speaker: 2" diameter
Buttons: Two sets of fire buttons (A and B)
Two option buttons (OPTION 1 and OPTION 2)
Pause button
(OPTION 1 + Pause = Restarts the game
OPTION 2 + Pause = Flips the screen, which allows the Lynx
controls to be reversed)
Power on light (Not on original Lynx; indicates unit is on)
Power on button
Power off button
Backlight button (Not on original Lynx; turns off the screen, but does
not turn off the game. This saves electricity use when a game is
paused)
Joypad: Eight directional
Controls: Volume
Brightness
Ports: Headphones (mini-DIN 3.5mm stereo; wired for mono on the original
Lynx)
ComLynx (multiple unit communications)
Power (9V DC, 1 A)
Game card slot
Battery holder (six AA)
For the technically minded, the Lynx has two basic chips that form a
cooperative set of co-processing subsystems that maximize the Lynx's
performance by sharing the work of executing a game program. These
chips are called Mikey and Suzy.
Mikey (16-bit custom CMOS chip running at 16MHz)
- MOS 65C02 processor running at up to 4MHz (~3.6MHz average) 8-bit CPU,
16-bit address space
- Sound engine
4 channel sound, 8-bit DAC for each channel
(4 channels x 8-bits/channel = 32 bits commonly quoted)
Atari reports the range is "100Hz to above the range of human hearing"
spectrum analysis shows the range may go as low as 32Hz.
Stereo with panning (mono for original Lynx)
- Video DMA driver for LCD display
- System timers
- Interrupt controller
- UART (for ComLynx)
- 512 bytes of bootstrap and game-card loading ROM
Suzy (16-bit custom CMOS chip running at 16MHz)
- Blitter (bit-map block transfer) unit
- Graphics engine
Hardware drawing support
Unlimited number of high-speed sprites with collision detection
Hardware high-speed sprite scaling, distortion, and tilting effects
Hardware decoding of compressed sprite data
Hardware clipping and multi-directional scrolling
Variable frame rate (up to 75 frames/second)
4096 color (12-bit) palette
16 simultaneous colors (4 bits) from palette at one time
160 x 102 "triad" standard resolution (16,320 addressable pixels)
(A triad is three LCD elements: red, green, and blue)
Capability of 480 x 102 artificially high resolution
- Math co-processor
Hardware 16-bit multiply and divide (32-bit answer)
Parallel processing of single multiply or divide instruction
The Lynx contains 64K (half a megabit) of 120ns DRAM. Game-cards
currently hold 128K (1 megabit) or 256K (2 megabits) of ROM, but there
is a capability of up to 1 megabyte (8 megabits) on one game-card. In
theory, this limit can be exceeded with extra bank-switching hardware in
the card. The first few hundred bytes of the game card is encrypted to
prevent unauthorized developers from writing Lynx software. This scheme
was introduced by Epyx as an effort to enforce game quality.
With alkaline batteries, the reasonable average battery life is 5 hours.
(4 hours with the original Lynx) The Lynx can run off rechargeable Ni-
Cad batteries, but average battery life drops drastically to 1.5 hours
per recharge (1 hour for the original Lynx). Your mileage may vary.
Q. What are the differences between the original Lynx ("Lynx Classic")
and the new Lynx ("Lynx II")?
A. The new Lynx is a bit smaller and lighter than the original Lynx. It
has a slightly longer battery life, and can also just turn the screen
off during a game pause to save batteries. (The original Lynx had a
five minute auto-power shut-off that would have prevented this from
being useful. It is gone in the new Lynx). A power LED has been added
(which also blinks when battery power is low), and cartridges are easier
to insert.
The only differences in a technical sense is that the new Lynx has a
more efficient internal design, and the headphone jack supports stereo
sound. The speaker in new Lynx is also not as loud as the original
Lynx, although it's more than adequate for all but the noisiest
situations.
Also, the new Lynx can experience what is called "blinking pixel
syndrome". With certain game cards, one pixel on the screen (usually
stationary) cycles through all the colors very quickly. It does not
affect game play, and isn't always noticed unless it's looked for. It
seems to be fixed in later Lynxes, making it even less of a factor.
The power consumption in the new Lynx is only slightly less than in the
original Lynx, and is not enough to account for an extra hour of play
time. The extra hour is claimed by assuming that the user will turn off
the backlight for some of the running time, which could be counted as
dead time, not game time.
Q. Is the Lynx an 8-bit or 16-bit system?
A. If 16-bit refers to the main CPU, (such as the Sega Genesis/
MegaDrive) then the Lynx is an 8-bit system. If 16-bit refers to the
graphics engine, (such as the NEC TurboDuo/PC-Engine) then the Lynx is a
16-bit system.
Q. Why does the Lynx use a 6502 and not a 68000?
A. "Some people believe it's less of a processor than the 68000, for
example. That series of chip was used in the Amiga, but it wouldn't
make our machine do things any better. In fact, it would only make the
unit larger and more expensive. It's also harder to write 68000 code,
so we definitely made the right decision." --R.J. Mical
"The real answer for the choice for the 6502 vs. 68000 was price.
Secondary considerations (that did not really enter into the decision
making process): 68000 code is very fat compared to 6502 code. An
application that takes 1K of 6502 code averages 2.5 to 3K of 68000 code.
The 6502 is very bus-efficient, the 68000 has lots of dead time on the
bus. As for it being harder to write 68000 code, that is probably not
true, and in any case was not part of the reason the decision was made."
--Stephen Landrum
Q. What do I get when I buy a Lynx?
A. The Lynx is available in two packages:
The Lynx "Deluxe Package" costs $129.95. It includes the Lynx unit, a
copy of the CALIFORNIA GAMES game card, a carrying case, a ComLynx cable
and six AA Alkaline batteries.
The Lynx "Base Package" costs $79.95. It comes with only the Lynx, and
includes no accessories.
Q. What accessories exist for the Lynx?
A. The following products are known to be available:
* ComLynx cable. Connects multiple Lynxes together for multiplayer
games.
* AC adaptor. Powers the Lynx from any AC wall socket.
* Cigarette lighter adaptor. Powers the Lynx from any automobile
cigarette lighter. Will support one or two Lynxes simultaneously.
* Atari Lynx Sun Shield. Folds down to protect the Lynx screen, and
pops open to shade the Lynx screen from sunlight for outdoor play.
(NOTE: There are two models; you need the one appropriate for your
Lynx)
* D-cell battery pack. Holds six D-cell batteries, and can be attached
with a belt clip. Alkaline batteries provides power for up to 20
hours of playing.
* Atari Lynx carrying pouch. Holds a Lynx, several game cards, and a
ComLynx cable. Attaches with a wrist strap/belt loop.
* Atari Lynx Kit Case. Holds a Lynx, up to 24 game cards, and assorted
accessories. Padded interior with Velcro dividers, can be customized.
Carried with a handle or a shoulder strap.
Q. Is there a TV tuner option for the Lynx?
A. No. Atari's official position is that market research shows that a
TV tuner, while a neat idea, would not be bought by most players. The
unofficial word from Stephen Landrum is that the Lynx screen display is
not capable of handling a broadcast television picture.
Q. What can I use to carry my Lynx game cards?
A. A cheap and easy solution is the plastic cases used to hold trading
cards. They're transparent, sturdy, and lock shut when closed. Most
hobby and comic book stores will sell them; a large case costs $0.50 to
$1.00, and can hold up to 14 Lynx cards.
Another solution are Lynx card wallets. Sold by Realm, a wallet costs
$5.95, holds up to 18 cards, padded for protection, and folds flat.
Write to Joey Sherman at Realm, 10504 Easum Rd., Louisville KY 40299.
On GEnie, send e-mail to REALM.
For Lynx owners who don't care about brand names, a Gameboy plastic
cartridge case holds two Lynx cards easily. The cases can be bought
from Nintendo at 800-255-3700, part number 21648.
Q. What does "ComLynx" mean, exactly?
A. Some Lynx games allow multiple players to play together
simultaneously. This works when each player has a Lynx game machine,
and all of the machines are connected to each other via cables. The
connection is the ComLynx port, and the cables are ComLynx cables.
Games that support this mutiplayer simultaneous play are usually
identified by the phrase "1 to N players Lynx up" on the box, the
instruction manual, and/or the game card.
Q. Do all players "Lynxed up" via the ComLynx need a copy of the game
being played?
A. Yes. All players need a copy of the game card.
Q. What's the ComLynx port like?
A. There is limit of 18 players via ComLynx. In practice it may be
possible to connect more units together, but to operate within
specifications, the drivers in the Lynx cannot drive over more than 17
units with pull-ups on the serial ports.
ComLynx runs from 300.5 to 62.5K baud. It works on a "listen and send"
structure. Data transmission between Lynxes is done in the background,
freeing up the CPU to run the game instead of communicating. It's
called "RedEye" in-house at Atari, named after an early idea of having
Lynxes communicate with infra-red transmissions.
It uses a three-wire cable (+5V/Ground/Data) and allows for bi-
directional serial communications. The system frames messages in terms
of 11-bit words, each consisting of a start bit, eight data bits, a
parity bit, and a stop bit. The ComLynx port is used solely for
communications; it can't be used to control other aspects of the Lynx,
though in theory it can be used to send signals to external devices.
Q. Sometimes a multiplayer ComLynx game will freeze up. Why?
A. A ComLynxed game will freeze if communication between the Lynxes is
interrupted. If communications can be restored, the game will continue.
The most common cause of this problem is a fray in one of the ComLynx
cables, or a loose seating in one of the ComLynx jacks. Communication
is broken, and the game "freezes". Jiggling the cable or reseating the
jacks may fix the solution temporarily, but the best cure is a new
cable.
Q. I hear there's a ComLynx port on the Atari Jaguar. How does that
work? Can I connect my Lynx to it? Will there be a Lynx adaptor for
the Jaguar?
A. The ComLynx port allows communication between Jaguar units and Lynx
units. In theory, it would be possible to daisy-chain multiple units of
either machine type for multiplayer games. At the current time,
however, no such plans are in the works. Instead, it is seen as
allowing Lynxes to be used as peripherals: software can be developed to
allow Lynxes to be part of a Jaguar game as controllers.
An adaptor to allow the Jaguar to play Lynx games is not currently
planned.
Q. What are the current Lynx games available?
A. The following is a list of Lynx games currently available in the
United States. The notation "(x)" means to refer to footnote number x:
Title Players Publisher Type
| ----------------- ------- ------------ -------------------------
| A.P.B. 1 Atari Arcade
| Awesome Golf 1-4 Atari Sports
| Baseball Heroes 1-2 Atari Sports
| Basketbrawl 1-2 Atari Action/Sports
| Batman Returns 1 Atari Action/Platform
| BattleWheels 1-6 Beyond Games Action/Driving
| Block Out 1 Atari Action/Strategy
| Blue Lightning 1 Atari Action
| Bill & Ted's 1-2 Atari Action/Adventure
Excellent Adventure
| California Games 1-4(1) Atari Action/Sports
| Checkered Flag 1-6 Atari Sports
| Chip's Challenge 1 Atari Puzzle
| Crystal Mines II 1 Atari Puzzle
| Desert Strike 1 Telegames Action/Strategy
| Dinolympics 1 Atari Puzzle
| Dirty Larry: 1 Atari Action
Renegade Cop
| Double Dragon 1-2 Telegames Arcade/Fighting
| Dracula the Undead 1 Atari Adventure
| Electrocop 1 Atari Action/Adventure
| European Soccer 1-2 Telegames Sports
Challenge
| Fidelity Ultimate 1-2(2) Telegames Strategy
Chess Challenge
| Gates of Zendocon 1 Atari Action/Shooter
| Gauntlet: The 1-4 Atari Action/Adventure
Third Encounter
| Gordo 106 1 Atari Platform
| Hard Drivin' 1 Atari Arcade/Driving
| Hockey 1-2 Atari Sports
| Hydra 1 Atari Arcade
| Ishido: The Way of 1-n Atari Strategy
the Stones (2,3)
| Jimmy Connors Tennis 1-4 Atari Sports
| Joust 1-2 Shadowsoft Arcade
| Klax 1 Atari Arcade/Strategy
| Kung Food 1 Atari Action/Fighting
| Lemmings 1 Atari Strategy
| Lynx Casino 1-2 Atari Strategy
| Malibu Bikini 1-2 Atari Sports
| Volleyball
| Ms. Pac-Man 1 Atari Arcade
| NFL Football 1-2 Atari Sports
| Ninja Gaiden 1 Atari Arcade
| Pac-Land 1-2(2) Atari Arcade
| Paperboy 1 Atari Arcade
| Pinball Jam 1 Atari Arcade/Action
| Pit-Fighter 1-2 Atari Arcade/Fighting
| Power Factor 1 Atari Action
| Qix 1-2(2) Telegames Arcade
| Rampage 1-4 Atari Arcade
| Rampart 1-2 Atari Arcade/Strategy
| RoadBlasters 1 Atari Arcade/Driving
| Robo-Squash 1-2 Atari Action/Sports
| Robotron:2084 1 Shadowsoft Arcade
| Rygar 1 Atari Arcade
| Scrapyard Dog 1 Atari Platform
| Shadow of the Beast 1 Atari Action/Strategy
| Shanghai 1-2 Atari Strategy
| Steel Talons 1 Atari Arcade
| S.T.U.N. Runner 1 Atari Arcade
| Super Skweek 1-2 Atari Action/Strategy
| Switchblade II 1 Atari Platform
| Todd's Adventures 1-8 Atari Action/Adventure
in Slime World
| Toki 1 Atari Platform
| Tournament 1-4 Atari Arcade/Sports
Cyberball 2072
| Turbo Sub 1-2(3) Atari Action/Shooter
| Viking Child 1 Atari Action/Adventure
| Warbirds 1-4 Atari Action/Strategy
| World Class Soccer 1-2 Atari Sports
| Xenophobe 1-4 Atari Arcade
| Xybots 1-2 Atari Arcade
| Zarlor Mercenary 1-4 Atari Shooter
Footnotes:
(1) Manual says 1-2 players, 1-4 is possible
(2) Multiple players on one Lynx, alternating turns.
(3) Players can compare scores, but not interact directly
Q. What are some of the upcoming Lynx games?
A. Upcoming Lynx Games List:
Note: This list is hardly definitive. It's based on many sources, and
in some cases, it just might be dead wrong. Games also often change
from pre-release to production.
Title Players Publisher Type
----------------- ------- ------------ ------------------------
| Aliens v. Predator 1? Atari Action
| Battlezone 2000 1-2 Atari Action/Arcade
| Blood & Guts Hockey 1-2 Atari Action/Sports
| Cabal 1-2 Atari Arcade
| Cybervirus 1 Beyond Games Action
| Daemonsgate 1? Atari Adventure
| Defender/Stargate/ 1? Atari Action/Arcade
Defender II
| Eye of the Beholder 1 Atari Adventure
| Full Court Press 1-2 Atari Sports
Basketball
| The Guardians: 1-4 Telegames Adventure
Storms Over Doria
| Heavyweight 1-2 Atari Sports
Contender
| Krazy Ace Minature 1-4 Telegames Action
Golf
| Mechtiles 1-4 Beyond Games Action/Strategy
| Ninja Gaiden III: 1-2? Atari Action/Platform
Ancient Ship of Doom
| Ninja Nerd 1 Atari Adventure
| Operation Desert 1 Atari Strategy?
Storm
| R.C. Destruction 1-4 Telegames Action
Derby
| Relief Pitcher 1-2 Atari Arcade/Sports
| Raiden 1-2 Atari Arcade/Shooter
| Road Riot 4WD 1-2 Atari Arcade/Action/Driving
| Rolling Thunder 1 Atari Arcade
| 720 1 Atari Arcade
| Spacewar 1-2? Atari? Action
| Super Asteroids & 1? Atari Arcade/Action
Missile Command
| Super Off-Road 1-4 Telegames Arcade
| Ultra Star Raiders 1? Atari Action/Strategy
| Ultra Vortex 1-2 Beyond Games Fighting
| Vindicators 1-2 Atari Arcade
Q. Where can I get a review and/or comments about <insert game name
here>? Where can I find secrets, tips, and hints for
<insert game name here>?
A. Peter Hvezda maintains the Usenet Lynx Guide. It offers the Lynx
FAQ, every Lynx game review written by Robert Jung, and the Lynx cheats
list. Send e-mail to phvezda@pnfi.forestry.ca, with one or more of the
following in the body of the message:
send faq - A copy of the Lynx FAQ (this file)
send reviews - A copy of every Lynx review ever written -- over 200K!
send cheats - Tricks and cheats for many Lynx games
send help - Detailed instructions, including how to get reviews
for individual/specific games
Also, Robert Jung has written detailed reviews for every Lynx game ever
released. If you want copies of specific reviews, or just general
Lynx-related questions, you can reach him at rjung@netcom.com on the
Internet.
Atari Corp. has established a game tip hotline, at (900) 737-ATARI
(2827). The cost is $0.95 per minute; minors should get their parent's
permission.
Q. Hey! I think I just set a new high score! How can I brag about it?
A. Jim Leonard is maintaining a running list of high scores achieved on
Lynx games. This list is posted to the Internet on a semiregular basis.
If you've got a new high score, send it to jleonard@falcon.depaul.edu
or jim@mwc.com on the Internet. Include all pertinent information,
including your name and difficulty settings used to set that record.
Q. My Lynx screen is badly scratched! How can I fix it, what can I do?
A. Get some "plastic scratch remover" or "plexiglass scratch remover".
You can find it in hardware stores, or look in your Yellow Pages under
"Plastics."
Q. Agh! My Lynx is broken! How can I fix it?
A. For $50, plus $5 shipping and handling, and your old/broken Lynx,
Atari will replace it with a new Lynx II unit.
Send your Lynx to:
Lynx repair service
Atari Computer Corporation
390 Caribbean Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94088
Q. How do I disassemble my Lynx II (assuming I want to)?
A. The original Lynxes were easy to take apart, for whatever reason you
needed. The new Lynx IIs are more puzzling, but not impossible. The
following set of (edited) instructions are provided by Ken Small
(kens@umich.edu):
"It's not hard, but there are a lot of fragile pieces and the
electronics are sensitive to all the things that electronics are usually
sensitive to, like static. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
"First, remove the rubber pads from the bottom of the Lynx. They're
glued on, but they peel off pretty easily. Beneath them are screw holes
-- remove them. Note that it's *very* easy to tell if your lynx has
been opened, since you leave holes in the glue stuff. Take off the back
of the case.
"Remove the screw located inside the battery area. Be careful when
replacing this; it can strip easily. Mine is stripped, but the rest of
the case holds the battery bay in place. Remove the battery bay piece.
"You will see a circuit board with a couple of wires and circuit ribbons
attached to it. Carefully unplug all of these. The ribbon in
particular seems flimsy. Do not puncture or otherwise damage it.
Remove the circuit board.
"Beneath the circuit board is an assembly screwed to the inside of the
case, which contains the screen, button contacts and buttons. A warning
when unscrewing this-- the are LOTS of small pieces in here, and they're
particular about how they go back in. In particular, be careful about
the A/B buttons, which are slightly different sizes, and the rubber mat
around the LCD screen, which has nothing to hold it in place.
"The last thing is the joypad contact itself. This is a small rubber
mat held in place by a snap-on piece of plastic. You can carefully
remove the plastic to get under the apron, where the contacts can be
cleaned. Clean in-between the contacts, being careful not to abrase the
contacts themselves. They look like half-circles with a small (half-
millimeter or less) space between. Grunge between them can register an
intermittent false contact, which looks to the player like the joypad is
being quickly, repeatedly pressed in one direction."
Q. How can I reach Atari Corp.?
A. Customer Service: (800) GO-ATARI
Mailing Address: Atari Corp.
1196 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1302
Company spokesman Bob Brodie can be reached by electronic mail on GEnie,
via the address "BOB-BRODIE". E-mail can be sent over the Internet
with "bob-brodie@genie.geis.com".
Also, Atari Corp. sells Lynx units, games, and accessories by mail.
Their number is (800) 221-EDGE.
Q. What are other sources for Lynx information?
A. Publications:
- A.P.E. Newsletter Dedicated Lynx newsletter ("A.P.E."
2104 N. Kostner stands for "Atari Portable
Chicago, IL 60639 Entertainment"). Write to Clinton
GEnie: C.SMITH89 Smith. Published five times per year,
cost is $6.00/year.
- Die Hard Game Fan General video-gaming magazine with
18612 Ventura Blvd. Lynx coverage.
Tarzana, CA 91356
- Electronic Gaming Monthly General video-gaming magazine with
1920 Highland Avenue some Lynx coverage. Will often get
Suite 222 screen shots and reports of new
Lombard, IL 60148 games before other publications.
- Gamemaster Dedicated specifically to the Lynx,
Gamemaster Computer including reviews, tips, and buy/
Publications Ltd. sell/trade activity. 10 issues/year
P.O. Box 2224 for $10, free sample issue available
Arvada, CO 80001-2224 on request. (303) 423-6805
- Gamepro General video-gaming magazine with
P.O. Box 3329 some Lynx coverage.
Redwood City, CA 94064
- Portable Atari Gaming System PAGS is a quarterly newsletter with
P.O. Box 37692 reviews, editorials, news & info, and
Raleigh, NC 27627-7692 gaming tips. One year costs $12.00.
GEnie: E.SCHOFIELD
- Video Games General video-gaming and computer-
9171 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300 gaming magazine. Lynx news often in
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 news articles and reviews.
Internet/USENET newsgroups:
- rec.games.video.atari Contains news of all Atari video-game systems.
- rec.games.video.misc Often contains Lynx reviews and discussions.
- alt.games.lynx Lynx-related discussions, often crossposted to
rec.games.video.atari and rec.games.video.misc.
Superceded by rec.games.video.atari
Internet FTP sites:
- atari.archive.umich.edu or terminator.cc.umich.edu (141.211.164.8):
/pub/atari/portadd has back-issues of Portable Addiction, a
newsletter about the Atari Lynx, Sega Game
Gear, and Atari Portfolio. Subscribe by
sending a note to tjerk@nikhef.nl.
/pub/atari/misc contains lynx.txt.Z, a compressed file with
some GEnie roundtable discussions on the Lynx.
Internet TELNET site:
- Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu or 129.22.8.51 or nextsun.INS.CWRU.edu
Access via modem at (216) 368-3888.
You can log on as visitor to explore the system and apply for a Free-Net
account online. At the opening menu, enter "2" to log in as a visitor.
At the next menu, enter "2" again to explore the system. You will then
read an opening disclaimer and a login bulletin, then be sent to the
main menu. Once inside, type "go lynx". Follow the menus to read
discussions, reviews, news, and information. In order to post messages
and send e-mail, you need a Free-Net account. Apply for a Free-Net
account by entering "1" at the second menu instead of "2".
BBS:
- MADNIX BBS (608) 273-2657, 300/1200/2400 bps
It's located in Madison, Wisconsin (USA) and has a Lynx section.
Login as "bbs" and create an account. Once on the BBS enter "go lynx".
MADNIX has game reviews and hints from the net as well as old message
threads from UseNet on LYNX related topics.
- Star-Linx BBS (602) 464-4817, 300/1200/2400 bps
It's located in Mesa, Arizona (USA) and has a Lynx Club. Be sure to
have your California Games game-card handy when you call to gain higher
access.
- Video Game Information Service. (201) 509-7324, 300/1200/2400/9600
Located in West Orange, New Jersy (USA). The BBS is completely
dedicated to video gaming, and maintains files of cheats and reviews for
all game systems. Carries video-game-related conferences from other
computer networks, including Fidonet, Worldnet, and Globalnet.
Online service:
- GEnie Atari ST Roundtable BBS, Category 36
- CompuServe, Lynx Data Library and Message Group, in the ATARI8 forum.
Reviews, discussions, tips, and a monthly contest. (Type "GO ATARI8",
and join the forum)
International clubs:
- Germany: Internationaler Lynx Club
Hans-Jorg Sebastian
Siegfriedstr. 3
3684 Schmitten 3
Germany
- Netherlands: International Lynx Club
Leon Stolk
Vanenburg 2
7339 DN Ugchelen
The Netherlands
- Austria: Internationaler Lynx Club
Christian Lenikus
Obertraun 27
4831 Obertraun
Austria
- Switzerland: Swiss-Lynx-Info-Club
Eugene Rodel
Sangeliweg 45
4900 Langenthal
Switzerland
Q. What's the Lynx developer's kit like?
A. Hardware:
- Commodore Amiga computer: 3M RAM and hard disk.
- "Howard" board: A parallel-interface module that has the electronics
of the Lynx, also with debugging tools. A large PC board inside of a
metal case with power supply, and connections on the back for cable to
connect to the Amiga, and to the "Howdy" unit.
- "Howdy" unit: A small PC board in a plastic case with buttons and a
Lynx display, and a cable that connects to the "Howard" board.
Software:
- Handy-Bug: A powerful symbolic debugger, also contains a disassembler.
- Handicraft: Graphics translator that takes IFF files and turns them
into coded Lynx sprite definitions.
- HSFX: Sound editor
- Macro libraries
- Example programs
- Notebook of system documentation ("about 3 1/2 inches thick... we've
stopped counting pages") plus updates
A full Lynx Developer's Kit currently costs around $5,000.
###### ATARI VENDORS LISTING
###### Capture from GEnie ST RT
###### ---------------------------------------------------------------
This list of Atari related developers and vendors was compiled by fellow
users who did so for the purpose of helping other Atarians. This list
is not an endorsement for these businesses. Some of the information may
be outdated. Rule of thumb when dealing with mail order or unknowns....
byer beware.
Accusoft ST, P.O.Box 355, Edmonds, WA 98020, (800) 676-2402
public domain/shareware software
Application & Design Software, 280 Peach Street, Merlin, OR 97532
voice: (503) 476-0071, orders: (800) 800-2563
Universal Item Selector, Universal NETwork
Apprentice Software, 22205 Swan Road, South Lyon, MI 48178
(313) 437-0526 Neural-network Construction Set
Atari Corporation, 1196 Borregas Ave., P.O.Box 61657, Sunnyvale, CA
94088 (408) 745-2000
Atari Advantage, P.O. Box 610121, Houston, TX 77208, (713) 526-6436
Atari Advantage magazine
Atari Explorer, P.O.Box 6488, Duluth, MN 55806, subscriptions: (218)
723-9202, editorial/ads: (408) 745-2000, cust. service: (800) 346-0085
Atari Explorer magazine
Atari Systems, 118 West Broadway, Suite 6 Altus, OK 73521, voice: (405)
477-3777, fax: (405) 477-3780, orders: (800) 942-6227
ATY Computer, 3727 13th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 482-3775
vendor
B & C Computervisions, 2730 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 986-9960
vendor
Barefoot Software, 19865 Covello St., Canoga Park, CA 91306, voice:(818)
727-7143, fax: (818) 727-0632
Genedit, Easy Score, SMPTE Track, SMPTE Mate,, MIDI Plexer, Ludwig, Edit
Track, Hybriswitch
Beckemeyer Development Tools, P.O.Box 21575, Oakland, CA 94620
voice: (510) 530-9637, fax: (510) 530-0451
Hard Disk Sentry, Hard Disk Toolkit, SCSI Tape Kit
Best Electronics, 2021 The Alameda, Suite 290, San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 243-6950
vendor
Brainstorm, 56, Rue Sedaine, Paris, France 75011, voice: 331 47008907
fax: 331 47003798
Adebug, Assemble (development package), Atari DSP debugger, Frac! X25
driver, Fast JPEG decoder/viewer, FLI/FLC movie viewer
Branch Always Software, 14150 NE 20th Street, Suite 302, Bellevue, WA
98007, (206) 885-5893
GEMulator
BRE Software, 352 W. Bedford Avenue #104, Fresno, CA 93711, voice: (209)
432-3072, fax: (209) 432-2599, orders: (800) 347-6760
public domain/shareware software, books
E. Arthur Brown Co., 3404 Pawnee Dr., Alexandria, MN 56308, voice: (612)
762-8847, orders: (800) 322-4405
vendor
D.A. Brumleve, P.O.Box 4195, Urbana, IL 61801-8820, voice: (217)
337-1937, fax: (217) 367-9084
Kidpublisher Pro, Kidpainter, Super Kidgrid, Telegram, Learning Games
Packet, Multiplay, Creative Discovery Packet
C-Lab Software, P.O.Box 750, Neveda City, CA 96959, voice: (916)
265-6481, fax: (916) 265-0263
Notator
Cali-Co. Superior Software, P.O. Box 9873, Madison, WI 53715, (608)
255-6523
Mah-Jong Solitaire
Canoe Computer Services, 1671 - 42 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6L 2R8
(403) 461-6903
Warp 16 accelerator
Carter Graphics & Computers, 520 North 200 East, Washington, UT 84780
(801) 628-6111
vendor
chro-MAGIC Software Innovations, 516 N. Jackson, Joplin, MO 64801, (417)
623-7393, (417) 782-2364
Clear Thinking, P.O.Box 715, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, (313) 971-8671, bbs:
(313) 971-6035
EdHak text editor, Metapsychology Primer
CodeHead Technologies, P.O.Box 74090, N. Hollywood, CA 90004, (213)
386-5735, fax: (213) 386-5789
HotWire, MultiDesk, CodeKeys, Avant Vektor, MegaPaint, Repro Studio,
Genus, LookIt/PopIt, Utilities, G+Plus, MaxiFile, MidiMAX, Midi Spy, TEC
Board, Calligrapher, Warp 9, etc.
Compo, 104 Esplanade Avenue Suite 121, Pacifica, CA 94044, (415)
355-0862, fax: (415) 355-0869
That's Write, Write On, C-Font, CompoScript, That's Address, Musicom,
PC Speed, AT Speed, AT Speed C16
Computer Safari, 606 West Cross Street, Woodland, CA 95659, (916)
666-1813
Safari Fonts
Computer Software Services, P.O.Box 17660, Rochester, NY 14617, (716)
429-5639, fax: (716) 247-7158, bbs: (716) 247-7157
8-bit Atari products
Computer Studio, 40 Westgate Parkway - Suite D, Asheville, NC 28806
(704) 251-0201, orders: (800) 253-0201
vendor
Current Notes, Inc., 122 N. Johnson Road, Sterling, VA 22170, (703)
450-4761
Current Notes magazine
Cybercube Research Ltd., 126 Grenadier Crescent, Thornhill, Ontario,
Canada L4J 7V7, (416) 882-0294, fax: (416) 886-3261
CyReL SUNRISE M16-1280 and SERENADE M16-1280, True Color High Resolution
Graphics Cards, CyReL VidiMix8 Desktop Video Module, CyReL Serial Mouse
Manager, CyRel Palette Master
D & P Computer, P.O.Box 811, Elyria, OH 44036, voice/fax: (216) 926-3842
orders: (800) 535-4290
vendor
Debonair Software, P.O.Box 521166, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-1166
cis: 70611,2552
El Cal, Min Cal, Star Base, Big Sky
Ditek International, 2800 John Street, Unit 15, Markham, Ontario, Canada
L3R 0E2, (416) 479-1990, fax: (416) 479-1882
DynaCADD 2D
DMC Publishing, 2800 John Street Unit 10, Markham, Ontario, Canada
L3R 0E2, (416) 479-1880, fax: (416) 479-1882
Calamus, Calamus SL, Calamus Font Editor, The Guide to Calamus Desktop
Publishing, Outline Art, INVISION Elite
Double Click Software, P.O.Box 741206, Houston, TX 77274, (713) 977-6520
bbs: (713) 944-0108
DC Desktop, DC Squish, DC Utilities, DC Shower, Game Workbench, etc.
DragonWare Software, Inc., P.O.Box 1719, Havre, MT 59501-1719, (406)
265-9609
GMan, Dragon Battery, SmokeArt, PowerNet, FLEXOR, FontKit Plus,
AtariTalk2, Satellite Locator, D_Graph @@elan software Elan Software 550
Boul. Charest Est P.O. Box 30232 Quebec G1K 8Y2 Canada voice: (418)
692-0565, fax: (418) 683-9189
Electronic Clinic, 4916 Del-Ray Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 656-7983
vendor, authorized service
Electronic Spinster Graphics, P.O.Box 1517, Lawrence, KS 66044
clip art packages
eSTeem, inc., 72 Shades Crest Road, Hoover, AL 35226-1014, (205)
941-4910, fax: (205) 943-8390
Pilot language
Fair Dinkum Technologies, P.O.Box 2, Los Alamos, NM 87544, (505)
662-7236
Crossword Creator, Word Search Creator, The Cryptographer, Cyberdrome
Fast Technology, 14 Lovejoy Road, Andover, MA 01810, (508) 475-3810
Turbo25, TinyTurbo030, Turbo030, TurboRAM
Fouch Software, 1823 W. 8th St., Erie, PA 16505, (814) 455-1294
Mailing Manager ST
Gadgets By Small, Inc., 40 W. Littleton Blvd., #210-211, Littleton, CO
80120, (303) 791-6098
Spectre, Spectre GCR, SST accelerator, MegaTalk
GFA Software Technologies, Inc., 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970
(508) 744-0201, fax: (508) 744-8041
computer languages
Goldleaf Publishing, Inc., 700 Larkspur Landing Circle Suite 199,
Larkspur, CA 94939, sales: (415) 257-3515, support: (415) 257-3513
WordFlair II
Gribnif Software, P.O.Box 779, Northampton, MA 01061, (413) 247-5620,
fax: (413) 247-5622, orders: (800) 284-4742
NeoDesk, Geneva, STalker, STeno, CardFile, X-Boot, Arabesque
Professional, Convector Professional CardFile, Crazy Dots
GT Software, 12114 Kirton Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135-3612, (216)
252-4272
CardFile (distrib. by Gribnif)
Global Drive Solutions, 7351 Victoria Park Ave #101, Markham, Ontario
L3R 3A5, 905-475-1964, FAX: 905-475-8102
Doug Harrison, P.O. Box 66236, Baton Rouge, LA 70806-6236
Opus (shareware), Lookit/Popit (dist. CodeHead)
HiSoft, The Old School, Greenfield, Bedford, England MK45 5DE
voice: +44 525 718181, fax: +44 525 713716
Devpac, HiSoft BASIC, Lattice C, HighSpeed Pascal, FTL Modula-2, WERCS,
Harlekin, HiSoft C, ProFlight, K-Spread, K-Comm, K-Word, K-Data (HiSoft
products dist. Oregon Research Associates)
IAAD, Indep. Assoc. of Atari Developers, D.A. Brumleve, President,
GEnie: D.A.BRUMLEVE, Delphi: DABRUMLEVE
ICD, Inc., 1220 Rock Street, Rockford, IL 61101-1437, (815) 968-2228,
fax: (815) 968-6888, orders: (800) 373-7700
hard disk systems and software
Intergalactic Development, Inc., 1427 Washington Street, Davenport, Iowa
52804, voice: (319) 323-5293, fax: (319) 323-0407
UMS: The Universal Military Simulator, UMS II: Nations at War, The UMS
II Planet Editor, Jack the Ripper
It's All Relative, 2233 Keevan Lane, Florisant, MO 63031, (314) 831-9482
It's All Relative, BookMaker, Forecaster3, AbbreviatorST, PhotoCD
Conversion
JMG Software International, 892 Upper James Street, Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada L9C 3A5, voice: (416) 575-3201, fax: (416) 575-0283
HyperLINK
Joppa Computer Products, P.O.Box 226, Joppa, MD 21085, voice: (301)
676-1948, fax: (301) 676-2989, orders: (800) 876-6040
vendor
L & Y Electronics, Inc., 13644C Jefferson Davis Highway, Woodbridge, VA
22191, voice: (703) 494-3444, metro 643-1729, fax: (703) 494-3663
vendor
Lexicor Software Corp., 1726 Francisco Street, Berkeley, CA 94703,
voice: (510) 848-7621, fax: (510) 848-7613
Phase-4 graphics programs, Phoenix 2, ANM link, Cybercolor, DA products
M.P. Graphics Systems, P.O. Box 501289, Indianapolis, IN, 46250-6289
(317) 335-3775
Noids-II
MacDonald Associates Publishers, 909 NW Starlite Place, Grants Pass, OR
97526, voice: (503) 476-0071, fax: (503) 479-1825, orders: (800)
800-2563
ST Informer magazine, G-Print GDOS shell, Tax Wizard
Machine Specific Software, 278-1 San Tomas Aquino Road, Campbell, CA
95008, (408) 370-9039
HAYAI hard disk backup software
MajikSoft, 348 Meredith Square, Columbia, SC 29223, orders: (800)
845-3070
ButtonzBasic
Maxwell CPU, 2124 West Centennial Drive, Louisville, CO 80027, (303)
666-7754
Silhouette, Expose, Fractal Fantasy
Medical Designs Software, 3235 Wright Avenue, Bremerton, WA 98310
voice: (206) 373-4840, bbs: (206) 479-2157
ECTStat, IOLCALC, MultiWriter, SERIALFX
MegaByte Computers, 907 Melbourne, Hurst, TX 76053, (817) 589-2950
vendor
MegaType Software, P.O.Box 645, South Bend, IN 46623, (219) 288-7468
PageStream and Calamus fonts
Merlin Group, Inc., 96 Hoyt Street, Kearny, NJ 07032-3311, voice: (201)
998-4441, fax: (201) 998-0932
MichTron, Inc., 3203 Drummond Plaza, Newark, DE 19711, (302) 454-7946
3D-Calc, Stereo Replay VIII, Hard Drive Toolkit
Micro Computer Depot, 224 O'Neil Court, Suite 14, Columbia, SC 29223
voice: (803) 788-5165, orders: (800) 845-3070
vendor
Micro Creations, 4609 Millbrook Way, Bakersfield, CA 93313, (805)
397-9414, (800) 333-3963
G.I.M.E. Terminal/BBS, @@mid-cities, Mid-Cities Computers, 9406 Flower
St., Bellflower, CA 90706, (310) 867-0626
vendor
Migraph, Inc., 200 South 333rd Street, Federal Way, WA 98003, (206)
838-4677
TouchUp, OCR, Scan-It, Merge-It
Missionware Software, 354 N. Winston Drive, Palatine, IL 60067-4132,
(708) 359-9565
Flash II, lottODDS, Printer Initializer
Morrison Computers, 311 West Robinson, Orlando, FL 32801, (407) 649-8733
Atari sales & service
MS Designs, 611 West Illinois St., Urbana, IL 61801, voice: (217)
384-8469, fax: (217) 351-6412
FontPaks, Wheeler Quick Art CD-ROM, Wheeler Quick Art Image Disks
Muller Automation, Number 5, Third Ave., Belton, MO 64012, (816)
322-4919
Mega Check 2, custom programming
Music Loft, 2140 Lawndale Drive, Lawndale Shopping Center, Greensboro,
NC 27408, (919) 378-1068
vendor
MusiCode, 5575 Baltimore Drive, #105-127, La Mesa, CA 91942, (619)
469-7194
Blackjack Plus 3, Voice Development System
New Dimensions Computer Center, 9026 W. National Ave., West Allis, WI
53227, (414) 327-3311
vendor
NewSTar Technology Management, P.O. Box 0122, Columbia, MD 21045-0122
voice: (410) 544-6943, fax: (410) 544-1329
STraight FAX
Nice & Software, 1295 Britannia Road, Campbellville, Ontario, Canada
L0P 1B0, voice: (416) 332-0075, fax: (416) 332-8679
Cricit Bar Code +, Lantech network
Oak Springs Software, P.O.Box 16529, Bear Creek Postal Station, Surrey,
BC, Canada V3W 2P5, (604) 597-5775
public domain/shareware software
Oregon Research Associates, 16200 S.W. Pacific Highway, Suite 162,
Tigard, OR 97224, voice: (503) 620-4919, fax: (503) 639-6182
Diamond Back II, Diamond Edge, Knife ST, True Paint, Ultimate Virus
Killer, ProFlight, HiSoft products
Paradigm Software Products, 1369 Concord Place, Suite 3-B, Dept. NC-11,
Kalamazoo, MI 49009, (616) 372-5972, ext. 313
Omni-Banker ST MIDI software
Power Thought Software, 116 Sumach Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5A 3J9, (416) 594-9355
INVISION Elite (distr. by DMC)
Purple Mountain Computers, Inc., 15600 NE 8th St. Ste. A3-412, Bellevue,
WA 98008, voice/fax: (206) 747-1519
STealth, Freedom Floptical Drive, Xtra-RAM ST, ST News newsletter,
recycleWARE, etc.
Quidnunc Software, P.O.Box
819081 Suite 175, Dallas, TX 75381-9081,
(214) 243-0663
Stalk The Market
Quill Publishing, AtariUser Magazine, 249 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 332,
Glendale, CA 91203, voice: (818) 246-6277, fax: (818) 242-2129
AtariUser magazine
Rimik Enterprises, 836 Osborne Street, Vista, CA 92084, voice:(619)
630-1217, fax: (619) 630-5869
MultiGEM, DTPaint, Menu Plus, Beetle Mouse
Rising Star Computers, P.O.Box 20038, Dayton, OH 45420, voice: (513)
254-3160, fax: (513) 254-7970, orders: (800) 252-2787
vendor
Roland Corporation, 7200 Dominton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90040,
voice: (213) 685-5141, fax: (213) 722-0911
MIDI hardware manufacturer
RUN PC, 524 West Laurel #2, Ft. Collins, CO 80521, voice: (303) 493-5565
orders: (800) 326-2344
vendor
San Jose Computer, 1278 Alma Court, San Jose, CA 95112, voice: (408)
995-5080, fax: (408) 995-5083
vendor
SKWare One, P.O.Box 277, Bunkerhill, IL 62014
Seurat, ColorScan, Auto-Art
Soft-Logik Publishing Corp., 11121F S. Towne Square, St. Louis, MO 63123
phone: (314) 894-8608, orders: (800) 829-8608
PageStream, ImageClub Clip Art, ImageClub Fonts, Business Forms
Software Development Systems, 996 Redondo Ave. #404, Long Beach, CA
90804, voice: (310) 595-9799, orders: (800) 237-4SDS
Newdesk Icon Editor CPX, Deskjet Utilities Pak, Printer Utilities Pak,
Fotoman Digital Camera, Labeleaze!
Sothan Software / IB Computers, 9395 North Wall, Portland, OR 97203,
(503) 286-8816
IB Harddisk Backup
Spar Systems, 381 Autumn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208, (718) 235-3169
PageAssistant (PageStream help)
ST Plus, P.O.Box 1197, Berkeley, CA 94701, voice: (510) 548-2119,
orders: (800) 759-1110
vendor
Step Ahead Software, 496-A Hudson Street, # F39, New York City, NY 10014
(212) 627-5830
Tracker/ST
STerling Connection, P.O.Box 4850, Berkeley, CA 94704, voice: (510)
655-2355, orders: (800) 624-2355
LogoLibrary, Qwikforms, Cliptomania, Templicity
STeve's Software Sales, 5 West Street, Woodlands, CA 95695, voice: (916)
661-1234 or (916) 661-3328, fax: (916) 661-1234, bbs: (916) 661-1538,
orders: (800) 487-7753
vendor
Sudden, Inc., 5081 South McCarren Blvd., Reno, NV 89502, (702) 827-2996
Sudden View text editor
Supra Corp., 7101 Supra Drive S.W., Albany, OR 97321, voice: (503)
967-2410, fax: (503) 926-2401, orders: (800) 727-8772
mnufacturer, modems and hard drives
Suzy B's Software, 3712 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14305, (716)
298-1986
PD/shareware software
Resources, 754 N. Bolten Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46219, voice: (317)
356-6946, fax: (317) 231-4158
GEMvelope!, SynthView DW-8000, SynthView K1
Taylor Ridge Books, P.O.Box 78, Manchester, CT 06045, (203) 643-9673
publisher
TCN - The Computer Network, 1605 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 500-3900
vendor
Team Computers, 22205 Kelly Road, East Detroit, MI 48021, (313) 445-2983
vendor
TEAM Software, P.O.Box 7332, Washington, DC 20044, voice: (703) 533-2132
fax: (703) 538-4598
vendor
Tech Specialties Co., 909 W. Crosstimbers Street, Houston, TX 77022
voice: (713) 691-4527, (713) 691-4528, fax: (713) 691-7009
hardware/software vendor
Toad Computers, 570-F Governor Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146-3818
voice: (301) 544-6943, fax: (301) 544-1329, bbs: (301) 544-6999, orders:
(800) 448-8623
full service vendor
Trace Technologies, P.O.Box 711403, Houston, TX 77271-1403, (713)
771-8332 [weekdays 1PM-5PM Central Time]
Data Diet, Data Rescue
Unicorn Publications, 3487 Braeburn Circle, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, voice:
(313) 973-8825, bbs: (313) 973-9137
Atari Interface Magazine
Weinress Consulting, 3236 Velma Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068, (213)
876-7704
D.E.K.A.
Steve Whitney, 655 South Fair Oaks Avenue I-103, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(815) 968-6888
Wintertree Software, Inc., 43 Rueter Street, Nepean, Ontario, Canada
K2J 3Z9, voice: (613) 825-6271, fax: (613) 596-1575
The GramSlam Grammar and Style Checker, Grammar Expert, Spelling Sentry
WizWorks!, P.O.Box 45, Girard, OH 44420, (216) 539-5623
scanLite, Image Cat, Mug Shot, The Tray, Coalesce, MVG (Multi Viewer
Graphica)
Wizztronics, 31 Hewes Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11776, (516) 473-2507
Cartmaster, Comp.Plus, TOScard
WordPerfect Corporation, 1555 N. technology Way, Orem, UT 84057, voice:
(801) 225-5000, fax: (801) 222-5077
WordPerfect
Wuztek/Omnimon Peripherals Inc., One Technology Drive, Building 1E,
Suite 301, Irvine, CA 92718, voice: (714) 753-9253, fax: (714) 753-9255
DEKA keyboard interfaces, Omnimon monitors
Zephyr Distribution, 514 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703, voice:
(510) 548-8999, orders: (800) 759-1110
vendor
Z*Net News Service, Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, NJ, 08846, Voice:
(908) 968-2024, bbs: (908) 968-8148, fax: (908) 820-0409
Z*Net Newswire Online Magazine, Z*Net PC Online Magazine
Interfaces, Inc., 5243-B Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712, voice:
(213) 408-6715, fax: (213) 408-6748
Z-Ram, Z-Keys, STime hardware
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contact one of the following via AtariNet or Fido: Bill Scull - Fido
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the Z*Net News Service at (908) 968-8148 for more info.
=======================================================================
Reprints from the GEnie ST Roundtable are Copyright (c)1994, Atari
Corporation and the GEnie ST RT. Reprints from CompuServe's AtariArts,
AtariPro, AtariVen, or Aportfolio Forums are Copyright (c)1994, CIS.
Reprints from Delphi are Copyright (c)1994, Delphi and the Delphi Atari
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