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Amiga Update (1998-05-03)
From: Brad Webb <bandr@globaldialog.com>
Date: Sun, 03 May 1998 21:33:44 +0500
Subject: Newsletter
iReal name: Brad Webb
iDate of birth: 28-Oct-1946
iDescription: Husband
iHomepage: http://www.globaldialog.com/~bandr/
======================================================================
_ __ _ <>_ __ _ ||
/\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || A M I G A U P D A T E
/__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ || -News and Rumors-
/ \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_|| (An Occasional Newsletter)
BACK FOR THE FUTURE ||
======================================================================
AMIGA and the Amiga logo are trademarks of Gateway 2000, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
980503
I R C C O N F E R E N C E M A Y R E V E A L F U T U R E
C L O S E D D O O R D E V E L O P E R M E E T I N G - W O A
W O A S E M I N A R S
N O M O R E G A T E W A Y 2 0 0 0 !
M U S H R O O M S A N D 5 T H D I M E N S I O N
A N I N V I T A T I O N F R O M J D W
T O A S T E R / F L Y E R A T A M I G A 9 8
A M I G A S E C U R I T Y P A C K A G E
B I T Z ! I N B E L F A S T
W A R P U P R E L E A S E 3
N E W S H A P E S H I F T E R
B A T T L E D U E L A V A I L A B L E
W I N G N U T S - T H E G A M E
Editor's Thoughts and Introduction:
First, don't panic over the no more Gateway 2000 story - it's only a
name change. We just couldn't resist the headline.
We suspect the upcoming World of Amiga in London could be the biggest
thing that's happened to the Amiga community in years. It has the
potential to be one of the biggest milestones in the Amiga's life.
Read the first few stories in this issue, and you may just agree with
us. Let's hope we're not disappointed this time.
While WOA is getting a lot of attention, and justifiably so, don't
overlook the upcoming Amiga '98 show in Canada. This promises to be a
super event and a lot of fun for those who can get there.
We have a few other interesting things to keep you reading happily
for a while also. Enjoy!
Brad Webb
Editor
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I R C C O N F E R E N C E M A Y R E V E A L F U T U R E
3 May 98
Posted by Per Jonsson
I have taken the best part from the news conference which was on 2
may 98. It was rather long so I figured more ppl would read it if I
took out the most interesting parts {and presented just them}.
Some Participants {and their real names:}
onebit = Joe Torre {of Amiga, Inc.}
fleecy = Fleecy Moss {of ICOA}
thoughts = Derreck Lisle {of Amiga, Inc.}
(I think the above is right)
...
[TA] We are here today to help people understand what each of of our
groups do and how they relate to the future of the Amiga
There are some BIG plans in the works!!!
...
[Bitb] Are newer versions of Amiga OS going to support retargettable
graphics as standard eventually, in the long term? Obviously
we won't be using AGA chipsets on many more future Amiga's
will we?
[onebit] We wont be calling it RTG anymore, for one. AGA will, for
those
who need it (Titlers, Toasters) exist, perhaps for years more,
but we are indeed moving on to graphics that will be better
than "standard" once again. You will be very surprised at how
this is logically being done.
...
[frotz2] ok, first i have to say i'm disgusted by that response from
fleecy, i've heard "we'll know the answer at the next big
amiga show" for a few years now. here's my question...
Why is AI so silent in terms of announcements and plans when
this silence has caused many people to leave the platform
entirely?
[TA] Frotz, we are dealing with a different industry now. Any leaks
could seriously jeapordize a plan in motion.
[thought] To clarify what TA said, there are bahemn certain large
companies who would really like to see us fail.
[fleecy] Frotz2 - actually, the only place you have heard that is
from
Petro - AInc have not said anything because they have had
nothing to say. They have taken their time because they have
looked at the whole industry, the whole Amiga history and the
future of the global computing and digital revolution - in a
depth that would blow your mind - they want a solution that
will LAST - at WoA they will announce it.
[onebit] I wish I had been bmoren silent about my FAQ! but that was
then, this is now.
...
[NightSpd] All to often in the modern OS we see operating system
services
bridge over into so called "integrated applications"... where
does AT plan to draw the line on such integration? Will a
TCP/IP stack become standard? A text editor gadget? A spell
check? Will AmigOS always fit in a 2 Meg ROM and a 5 Meg
partition? GA ...
[TA] Guys, you are asking some pretty technical questions that may
not get answered today.
[fleecy] I just want to clarify here that I am here as an ICOA rep -
whilst Olsen, Alain and me have done contract work for AInc,
we cannot talk about it here.
[onebit] Listen to Fleecy here. Our solution will indeed last a long
time! Future permant accesss to our(my) Amiga programs and
data is one of my prioritys. I will NOT stop using Amiga
software.
...
[fleecy] I know it has been VERY frustrating for the whole community
but
GW2K is a huge company and as such, they do things very
slowly, infuriatingly slowly but when they decide to move,
they move - that will be at WoA ...
[onebit] When GW2K moves there is a big momentum, and wake. Be
prepared!
...
[Merko] Will there be a clear plan regarding the future of Amiga
presented at the WoA? Type of platform, method of backwards
compatibility, who will make what etc? Not details but the big
picture? GA (ps, drop that "2k" onebit! ;)
[fleecy] Merko - yes - everything will be answered - direction for
OS,
developer support, new HW and schedules
[TA] ALL technical questions will be answered at WOA May 16-17th!
...
[Bitb] Do you think we'll see a low-end A1200 replacement with
updated
technology, as well as the Power-user Amiga at the top end?
The market needs both, right? GA
[fleecy] bitb - I think we'll see a range of computing and digital
services products for all areas of the market. AInc wants
partners - it knows it can't do it all on its own and it knows
there are many out there who don't want to use a MS technology
as the basis for their product. GA
...
[fleecy] Morden - AInc runs Amiga Development - but they are a
wholely
owned subsidiary - the plan has existed for ages but the
funding had to be released by the parent company - convincing
the GW2K board of directors has been a major task - that has
now been done (as of last week)
...
[fleecy] PAmiga - I can' tell you anything about the announcement
except
that it will answer all the questions being asked (and
generate a hell of a lot more) - the Press Conference is open
to Press, there will be an announcement and demos/info at the
AInc stand - the Developers conference will be closed but
details will go up on the ICOA website. GA ...
[thought] Unlike past management, AInc doesn't want to say anything
until
they can guarantee it. GA
[fleecy] NightSpd: as I just said privately to Frotz, AInc recognises
that the most important thing it got when it bought Amiga
wasn't the technology, it was the community. That's why it is
working with the ICOA, that's why the developer support
program announced at the WoA will fully enable the ICOA and
AInc will take its place - the developers ARE the future
farmers growing new apps jsut as the users are the future
consumers who'll buy them
...
[fleecy] The wait and see tactic is one we have privately been
advocating for a few months. Now the plan has been okayed,
AInc are talking to the big players (or will be over the next
2 weeks) - the developer support program will be announced at
the ICOA meeting and sign ups will start - the hope is to get
developers coding within 3 months
...
[Jkay] Please tell us that you know why Motorola has withheld 68060s
from the market, and that it will be re-appearing soon. I dont
want info on secret talks or contacts with Moto .. just tell
me someone asked and got a positive response. GA
[TA] JKay, I know that 060's have been in short supply. The reason
is that Moto is working on some 060's with more mhz. All I can
say.
...
[TB] 1: I heard sometime ago about the chance of AI getting a new
building in the states. Any news on this?
[TB] 2: Whats AIs 'non-official' stance on using already existing
Amiga talent?
[TB] 3: Whats The present groups position on communication and
co-operation between each other, e.g. JMS to ICOA, ICOA
to TeamAmiga etc.
[TB] 4: Keep up the good work guys :)
[onebit] TB1: Yes, and in a GREAT location. TB2: You cant stop Amiga
Talent! GA
[onebit] TB4: is the answer to TB3: Keep up the good work! GA
[onebit] ...damn got to tin my soldering iron again....
[Womble] TB3: We've been co-operating with ICOA and keeping in close
touch over the past year.
[fleecy] TB : 1 - very good, 2 - they hired Joe and Darrick,
contracted
Olsen, Alain and Me, talked to Carl and RJ, 3 - ICOA has Gary
as Press Officer (TA), Ben (JMS) is on ICOA, I am in JMS GA
...
***** (This is nice /per) *****
[seal] 1. Most amiga users are very disillusioned atm. No news is bad
news. On a scale of 1 to 10, how bhonestlyn mind-blowing is
the news at woa expected to be (1=new stickers for our windoze
k/boards) (9=new pc beating base architecture & incorporate
pc 3rd party h/ware eg 3Dfx 2). '98 is make or break.
thanks. GA
[onebit] I'd say a 7 then in a year a 10! GA
...
*** (nice too but.../per)****
[Zanity] Whats happening about bringing industry standards to the
Amiga.
Alot of people who've left the Amiga who'd like to return say
they CANT till they can do Industry standard work at home on
their Amiga. What is ICOA/AI doing about bringing these
standards to the Amiga which even macs ;) have? ie.
ICQ,Shockwave,a working/released JAVA VM, RealPlayer, even
Photoshop.
bACTIONn Mitchman gets a warm, fuzzy, feeling
bACTIONn fleecy gives Zanity the gold medal for seeing the future....
...
[Jkay] "is this an announcement of your plans in full glory, or an
intermediate announcement to keep users happy"
[TA] JoJon, I think this will be 'good' news, not scraps or
handouts.
[fleecy] Jojon - the plan is ready, GW has ok'd it, it is the time to
announce it - believe me, if it wasn't ready, AInc wouldn't be
announcing it
...
[fleecy] They are big companies working on MS, PC, Unix and Consumer
Electronics - you would recognise them pretty quickly if I
mentioned them - it is not that they have Amiga specific apps,
they want a change, they want a new standard, a more
responsive, easier to code for platform that doesn't put them
under the MS heel - they came looking plus behind the scenes,
such disgruntlement is well known - lots of informal contacts
...
[Jkay] For those people not here from the beginning, there bwilln be
a
series of earth-shattering announcements made by Amiga Inc,
and the support groups in attendance here in 14 days at WOA in
the UK.
...
[KarlosI] Personally I feel that it is AI that should set the
standards
and resolve the differences between P5 and H&G!! It is not the
customers resposnsibility, because the longer it persists the
more damage it does! Any comments? And I think many here are
growing tired of AI's wait and see let them resolve it
attitude...the time has come for AI to take some action, will
AI consider this?
[onebit] We are going to set some standards allright. We arent
waiting
and seeing, we were researching and developing, partnering &
planning. GA
----------------------------------------------------------------------
C L O S E D D O O R D E V E L O P E R M E E T I N G - W O A
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND DISTRIBUTION
30 April 1998
The Transitional Steering Committee of the ICOA wishes to announce
that there will be a closed door Developer meeting on Saturday 16th
May from 10:00am - Noon at the WoA show.
The first quarter of an hour or so of the meeting will be taken up
with the ICOA alert report, and then the floor will be given over to
Amiga Incorporated representatives for a set of presentations and a
Question and Answer session, fully revealing the roadmap for the next
2 years or so, including information on the Operating System, new
Hardware, support through the ICOA and new market opportunities for a
revived Amiga.
Amiga Inc have indicated that any developer, commercial, share, hobby
or academic who cares about the future of the Amiga, and who will be
at the show, should plan on attending.
For those unable to attend, a full transcript will be prepared as
quickly as possible and posted to the ICOA website.
As the meeting will be closed, the TSC asks that any developer or
ICOA member wishing to attend should email
fleecy@netreach.net
OR register at the Amiga Inc stand at the WoA on the friday or early
saturday of the show.
There will be security on the door so please register as soon as is
possible to avoid disappointment.
The wait is over!!!
Gary Peake
Press Officer
Industry Council Open Amiga
ICOA
----------------------------------------------------------------------
W O A S E M I N A R S
AmigaSoc Announces Tentative Schedule For WOA Seminars In Hammersmith
We have recently published a tentative schedule for the seminars that
we are organising on our web site (p[7]http://uk.amigasoc.org/p[0] in the WOA
'98 section). We've had our fair share of problems getting this thing
off the ground, but rest assured that we're doing our very best to
make sure it all goes smoothly!
We will have presentations from:
Kermit Woodall (of Nova Design)
Paul Nolan (author of Siamese/Photogenics)
Mick Tinker (of Access Innovation Ltd)
Joe Torre (of Amiga Inc)
Marc Albrecht (of Albrecht Computer Technik)
Don Cox
Markus Nerding (of Haage & Partner)
Jeroen T. Vermeulen (author of Merapi, the Amiga Java VM)
Steve Jones (of HiQ)
Make sure you keep an eye on our web site as changes may still occur
to the schedule.
Many thanks,
Andrew Elia
----------------------------------------------------------------------
N O M O R E G A T E W A Y 2 0 0 0 !
24 April, 1998
PC-maker Gateway 2000 has taken steps to address its own peculiar
version of the millennium bug by dropping the '2000' from the end of
its name.
The company is due to announce today a change in branding strategy
that will also include a redesigned logo with less emphasis on the
iconic cow imagery currently associated with the company (see right).
It has already begun making the change across its company Web site,
although references to the old branding are still in place throughout
the site.
Observers had suggested such a change was likely in the lead-up to
the year 2000. A press briefing on the change is scheduled for today.
One problem for the name change may be in registering local Web
sites. While the main domain p[7]http://www.gateway.comp[0] is controlled by
the company, the Australian domain name p[7]http://www.gateway.com.aup[0] is
owned by Gateway Online, a Web site development company which has
designed sites for Tradegate Australia and TNT International.
Gateway's Australian Web site is currently at p[7]http://www.gw2k.com.au.p[0]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
M U S H R O O M S A N D 5 T H D I M E N S I O N
24 April, 1998
Mushroom PD has now signed up to start distributing 5th Dimension
titles in the USA, as well as F1. This makes Mushroom PD one of the
largest Licenseware distributors in America. All titles in both
software ranges are sold at quality prices that everyone can afford,
and we cater for all kinds of software, such as games, utilities,
childrens programs & more!
While I await my master disks, I have set up a webpage with some
information, and a selection of demo programs to download and try
immediately. The URL for the page is:
p[7]http://www.mushy-pd.demon.co.uk/5d/index.htmlp[0]
Feel free to download and spread all of the demo's to whoever you
want. Some of the demo's have screenshots readily available. You can
choose to download via HTTP or FTP to suit your own needs. I have an
FTP server of my own in which you can log into to download. Simply log
into mushy-pd.dyn.ml.org as anonymous, and go into ipubnware5d/ and
download to your heart's content! As soon as my master disks arrive, I
shall send another mail out. In the meantime, if you have any
questions, you can email me at mushypd@redrose.net or call me at home
on (717) 367 6210. All demo's will also be made available on the Tusk
BBS in the next day or so.
Thank-you
Andy "Mushroom" Kellett
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A N I N V I T A T I O N F R O M J D W
April 24, 1998
JDW Developments would like to issue an invitation to shareware and
commercial authors.
We are now accepting submissions for Amiga Shareware and Commercial
software.
JDW Developments was established in 1987 as a software development
firm. We have always used Amigas in our efforts to provide local
business people with inexpensive, yet powerful software options.
In 1995 we began to handle mail-order for smaller clients. On April
19, 1998 it was decided that we would help budding Amiga developers
get their shareware products to market, and have access to various
payment options. We can accept credit cards for mail orders.
We are extending our services to you with only very small fees. And
we provide other promotional services as well.
Please contact us for more information:
Jeffrey D. Webster
jweb@primenet.com
JDW Developments
----------------------------------------------------------------------
T O A S T E R / F L Y E R A T A M I G A 9 8
April 27, 1998
International Amiga 98 is pleased to announce that many Toaster/Flyer
specific events and exhibitors have been added to the show! Not only
will you get a chance to meet Newtek, the creators of the
Toaster/Flyer, but a large turn-out of Toaster/Flyer third party
companies and instructors!
Bill Evans of Prowave will be exhibiting and showing the Prowave
range of Toaster/Flyer products and Bill will be hosting training
classes as well as a free seminar on third party products for the
Toaster/Flyer!
Newtek and instructor Paul Lara will be holding classes on
ToasterPaint Secrets and how to Master ToasterCG showing you many tips
and ways to get your work done quickly.
Newtek will also be sponsoring a Toaster/Flyer tips class and a class
on integrating Lightwave with the Toaster/Flyer as well.
Jeff White of Visual Inspirations will be exhibiting the all-new
volume 4 of his award-winning VisualFX series for ImageFX and
Lightwave and will have many other products such as Decision Maker,
Control Tower and more!
Bill Panagouleas will be demonstrating the all-new release of VCE's
Pyromania, the fire and explosion effects CDROM, for the Amiga with
it's high resolution effects and special Toaster features.
Andrew Powell, renowned Amiga cartoonist and animator will be holding
classes on creating cartoon art and animation on the Amiga!
Nova Design, Inc. will be there exhibiting the brand new release of
ImageFX, version 3.0, with full support for the Toaster/Flyer and
providing training classes on ImageFX as well.
All this is in addition to all the other classes and the exhibitors
showing all of the other new developments in software and hardware
from all over the world! Resellers will also be carrying the
Toaster/Flyer at their new, and much lower, prices!
The excitement is growing! There are many other special events and
other plans to come! For more information, visit the International
Amiga 98 web site at p[7]http://www.randomize.com/ia98.html.p[0]
INTERNATIONAL AMIGA 98 in Toronto Pre-registration for admission
cut-off is MAY 10th!!!
$ 10 with pre-registration
$ 8 with pre-registration if a member of Amiga Related User Group
(must state user group name in company name prompt in order to get
this deal) AND at cashier at show, to provide a membership card, email
or something that states they are a member of that particular user
group. (To support user group membership)
At Door, not Pre-registered - still a deal at $15
All prices in Canadian currency
2 day passport.
IA98 Training Classes are additional
IA98 Training Seminars are included
See "Events and Sessions" on the website for more info.
If you are a member of CUCUG (AWD), you get a simply unbeatable deal
of $5 -MUST Pre-register Using CUCUG or AWD in "Company Name" section
when pre-registering. ALSO show your membership card to the cashier
when at the show. And this is a 2 DAY PASSPORT!!
INTERNATIONAL PLAZA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE IS BRIMMING TO THE TOP!
The International Plaza Hotel is almost completely booked! We have
arranged for additional accomodations at:
Radisson Suites, across the road (1-800-333-3333)
* Continental breakfast included; hairdryer & iron in room.
* Morning Paper included >/ul>
and
Delta Hotel-just down the street. (1-800-268-1133) (A more direct
line for the Delta is 1-800-668-1444 (right to the hotel, the other #
is for their head office)
Book now!
(MUST) Ask for "INTERNATIONAL AMIGA 98 RATES" at all hotels, to get
IA98 special rates.
Prices only guaranteed til May 4. Filling up fast. (after that you
take your chances) : )
Enjoy!
P.S. (hotels have shuttle services to/from Pearson International
Airport, you may want to ask them about this. More info on website
including maps etc.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A M I G A S E C U R I T Y P A C K A G E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1 1998 - Amiga Solutions wishes to annouce the impending arrival
of a security package for the Amiga. It's working name is MULog, and
we believe that it has a lot of potential. It well be offered in two
versions:
MULog Full Retailing For NZD $25
MULog Lite Retailing For NZD $15
Dependant on the success of this first release will decide on whether
we continue development to include more features such as:
TCP/IP support for networks
Built-in E-Mail
OS replacement features
For more information visit Amiga Solutions at
p[7]http://www.enternet.co.nz/client/personal/bensalt/p[0] and follow the link
to the software development page. A Demo version will be available for
download about mid-May.
The competition is for deciding a name for MULog as it is only the
working name. Visit
p[7]http://www.enternet.co.nz/client/personal/bensalt/name.htmlp[0] to read
what it is about and enter the competition.
Many thanks
Amiga Solutions
NEW ZEALAND
----------------------------------------------------------------------
B I T Z ! I N B E L F A S T
3 May 1998
Bitz! is a new hardware company just opened in Belfast, Northern
Ireland that deals exclusively in hardware and software for PC and
Amiga users. We offer our customers value for money with a high level
of customer care and after sales support.
We are presently looking for people who are interested in joining our
mailing lists. Every week we send out an email newsletter listing
current offers on Amiga related products and Amiga related books. You
are under no obligation to buy and your email address is strictly
confidential.
To join our list, send an email to amiga.offers@bitz.clara.net. All
we need is your email address (although your full name is helpful !)
Roderick Thompson
Technical Director
The Bits & PC's Store Ltd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
W A R P U P R E L E A S E 3
WarpUP Release 3 - The Challenge
Dynamic Multitasking
For the version 14 of the WarpOS the multitasking-kernel (the
scheduler) was completely written new. WarpOS V14 now supports dynamic
multitasking, which is well-known from UNIX workstations and also from
the AMIGA-software
"executive". With this feature now also the AMIGA-User comes to
first-class multitasking!
The most important features of the new WarpOS scheduler are:
* There are no more static priorities supported, instead the
distribution of the CPU time is made dynamically. Every task, may it
be ever so unimportant, gets his time to run. This means, there is no
more the situation where a task with a high priority blocks all the
other tasks from being processed!
* Tasks, which have a low activity, will get for a short amount of
time a high priority and more CPU time, if they come to action again.
With this feature, interactions of the user are processed more
quickly, even if the PowerPC is heavy stressed. The starting of a new
task with a stressed PPC processor consumes only minimal time. Now
also the times are over, where the user had to wait a long time for
starting programmes when the system was stressed!
* The importance of a task now can be changed from outside (like the
priorities). With this feature you can set the CPU time a task should
get. When running multitasking jobs you can regulate the speed of a
task! This is easy to demonstrate with the STORM-MESA-demos
* The scheduler now makes extensive statistics over the various tasks
and over the whole system. These values can be printed with the "stat"
tool. For each task the CPU usage, the activity and some other
parameters are printed out.
* Some new tools were written, which make the handling of the WarpOS
tasks easier, eg. a tool called "killppc", with which you can kill
crashed WarpOS programmes.
The hardware-driver-system
The new WarpUP has got a new structure. Now WarpUP supports a
hardware driver system with driver-libraries ("warpHW.library"). For
each PowerPC hardware there is needed a special driver to use WarpOS
with this hardware. Every driver is different and can be used only
with the associated hardware. In the actual WarpUP package are
driver-libraries for the following hardware:
* CyberStormPPC
* BlizzardPPC
* Phase5 Developer Board
This driver system allows every manufacturer of PowerPC hardware to
write his own driver, through which WarpOS automatically works with
the new hardware. In the WarpUP package there are all instructions and
a sample project
included, that are needed to write such a driver.
This hardware driver system leads to an even greater independence of
the hardware and of course we hope, that the above list will grow
soon!
Support of the BlizzardPPC hardware
WarpUP now also supports the BlizzardPPC hardware. But the usage of
WarpUP for BlizzardPPC hardware users is a little different than it
was with the CyberStormPPC.
A great difference between the BlizzardPPC and older PPC hardware is
that the "ppc.library" from Phase5 is in the ROM of the hardware and
is opened immediately at boot time. The problem is, that the WarpOS
can´t run parallel to the "ppc.library", therefore you had to reboot,
if the "ppc.library" was active and WarpOS was intended to be used.
This can´t be done anymore, because there is no way to stop the
"ppc.library" from being activated.
The only possibility to run the WarpOS is to try to remove the
"ppc.library" and all the associated resources from the system. But
this isn´t done automatically. The first requirement for the
activation of the "Terminator" feature is to set the environment
variable
'powerpc/Terminator',
which can be done with the added installer script. If now WarpOS is
started there appears a requester, which asks the user, if the
"ppc.library" and all it´s associated resources should be removed from
the system. The user can accept this or cancel the boot sequence. In
this case the "ppc.library" still remains active.
The "Terminator" feature can of course also be used with the existing
PPC hardware, which has the advantage that you haven´t to reboot your
system, when changing from ELF-software to WarpUP-software.
If the requester are annoying you, you can remove them. To do that,
you have to set the environment variable "powerpc/HideWarning" to 1.
It has to be said, that if now the "Terminator" feature is enabled,
the "ppc.library" is removed without warning and under some
circumstances you don´t even notice that. So be warned to use this
feature.
If there are still problems with WarpOS and newer PPC hardware
(especially with newer Flash-ROM versions!) please contact us, so that
we can work out a solution.
Error-correction and detail improvements
The release 2 caused problems on some systems, which are due to the
extreme little stack of the RAMLIB. This problem is fixed now,
therefore WarpOS now also runs on systems, which had this problem.
It has to be mentioned, that the "powerpc.library" V7 has also
profited from these changes and should run now even better. The V7.2
is included in the actual WarpUP package.
Besides an error was corrected, which was responsible for the
problems which appeared when WarpOS functions tried to allocate huge
memory blocks. This was obvious in the bSTORM-MESAn demos if you
enlarged the window.
When creating PPC-mirror-tasks, in the case that the 68k-task is a
CLI-background-task, the name of the started program is taken for the
name of the PPC-task, instead of the process name. This leads to the
situation, that the
WarpOS-tasks are easier locateable in the task-statistics, because
the name of the started program is contained. This only works, if the
programmes are started with "run".
Developer-specific
The documentation of the WarpUP-API is now available in the
Autodoc-format and also in the AmigaGuide format.
The prototype-file was extremly restructured for a better support of
alternative compilers. The StormC specific parts was excluded into a
separate file.
Now there is also an FD-file for the "powerpc.library" available.
The new tool "throw" allows it to interrupt WarpOS-tasks from
outside, if they are trapped in an endless loop. Therefore an
instruction-breakpoint-exception is called when the task is activated
by the scheduler. With this the developer can find the reason for the
problem, because in the crash-requester there are many informations
regarding the crash.
With the new function called "GetHALInfo" you can get informations
over the WarpUP-HAL. At this time you can find out, how many emulated
alignment-exceptions are caused, since the starting of WarpOS. These
exceptions
appear, if the PowerPC tries to address floating-point values, which
aren´t located at an address which can be devided by 4. The WarpUP-HAL
(the "warp.library") catches these exceptions and runs an emulation,
this happens completely transparent for the WarpOS (this is
implemented since the first version). So no application, which
supports WarpUP, has to bother about this, because for them these
problems simply don´t exist. But the occurrence of these exceptions
should be minimized to keep performance high.
The new function "FindTaskByID" allows it to find tasks by their ID
number. With the new scheduler there were also introduced ID numbers
for tasks, which can simplify the usability.
The functions "SetScheduling" and "SetNICEValue" can help to modify
the multitasking with the new scheduler. With "SetNICEValue" you can
change the so-called NICE value, which defines the importance of a
task (something like the old priorities).
Now it makes no difference on which side inter-CPU-messages are set
free. In the case, that it is done by the CPU, which hasn´t allocated
the message, there is made a context-switch, so that the release is
made on the right
side. With that a better transparency for the programmer can be
reached.
An important step in the direction of "resource tracking" was made:
now every memory, which has been allocated but has not been set free
by a WarpOS-task will be set free automatically when the task ends.
Many thanks to Mario Klier for the translation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
N E W S H A P E S H I F T E R
29 Apr 1998
TITLE
ShapeShifter
VERSION
3.9
AUTHOR
Christian Bauer <cbauer@iphcip1.physik.uni-mainz.de>
DESCRIPTION
ShapeShifter is a multitasking shareware Macintosh-II emulator for
the Amiga and DraCo computers. It allows to run Macintosh software
concurrently to Amiga applications without hardware add-ons or
modifications.
Some of the emulation's features:
- Supports MacOS 7.1 thru 7.6 (8.x will come later, sorry)
- Color display up to 256 colors on AGA Amigas (16 colors on ECS)
and up to 16.7 million colors on graphics cards
- Accelerated graphics with CyberGraphX/Picasso96
- Support for one or two monitors
- No MMU required, even runs on A1200
- Macintosh hard disks can be simulated in Amiga files or Amiga
hard disk partitions
[unregistered version has no hard disk partition support]
- Can use Amiga floppy drives, serial, parallel and SCSI ports
from the Mac
[use of SCSI not possible in unregistered version]
- Mac HD disks can be read directly with an HD floppy drive,
Mac 720K disks can be used with any Amiga floppy drive. To use
Mac 800K disks, you have to own CrossMAC and an original Mac
drive. ShapeShifter also supports the Catweasel controller.
- 8 bit stereo sound output (sound cards supported via AHI)
- Sound input with parallel-port sound digitizers
- Access to Ethernet networks
- Simple networking between two Amigas with PLIP
- Text clipboard sharing between Mac and Amiga
- File handler to access Macintosh volumes from the Workbench
- Speed comparable to a real Mac with equivalent hardware
The most important changes in V3.9:
- Can boot from CD-ROM
- FileDisks are faster
- Some fixes in the serial and CD-ROM drivers
- Ethernet packets are always padded to 60 bytes
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
OS2.1, 68020 processor, 4MB of RAM, HD floppy drive recommended.
A copy of a Macintosh 512K or 1MB ROM and the Macintosh system
software are not included, but required. The ROM can be read off
of a real Mac by using a supplied program, the system software
can be bought from Apple. Note, however, that reading the ROM is
only legal if you have bought the ROMs or own a real Macintosh.
AVAILABILITY
p[7]http://www.uni-mainz.de/~bauec002/ShapeShifter3_9.lhap[0]
Aminet sites: imiscnemu/ShapeShifter39.lha
Next Generation BBS, Germany (ShapeShifter support BBS)
Port 1: +49-261-805012 (Zyx19.2/ISDN)
Port 2: +49-261-84280 (V.FC)
PRICING
The requested shareware fee is DM 50,- or US$ 40.
Upon registration you will receive a keyfile that enables the
disabled features (SCSI and hard disk partition support).
DISTRIBUTABILITY
Shareware (DM 50,- or US$ 40 requested)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
B A T T L E D U E L A V A I L A B L E
24 Apr 1998
TITLE
BattleDuel V1.7.85
AUTHOR
Jochen Terstiege <j.terstiege@cww.de>
Michael David <m.david@cww.de>
Marco Seine <m.seine@cww.de>
DESCRIPTION
BattleDuel is a game like 'Artillery Duel' on the C-64:
Two players fight against each other with cannons placed in a
windy mountainous landscape. To hit the other they change the
power and angle of the cannons. A duel is finished if one of
the cannons is totally damaged.
Some features:
- up to 8 players
- computer opponents
- normal duel mode, 2 tournament modes, practice mode
- team mode
- ECS/AGA/Graphicboard support (only one program)
- network support: nullmodem, modem, parnet and TCP/IP
- nice graphics and sound effects
- full multitasking
- OS friendly
- support for public screens
NEW FEATURES
- CyberGFX and Picasso96 support
- new graphics with 128 colours for graphic boards
- complete localization
- team mode with four cannons
- tournaments with 8 players
- program restarts automatically after changes in the
preferences
- information requester ("i"-key)
- synchronisation test (network mode)
- fade effects when program is started/quit
- sound-channels can be swapped
- volume is adjustable
- initial cannon angle for each player
- opponents settings can be hidden (network mode)
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Kickstart 2.0
- Flicker-fixer or graphic board recommended
- 1 MB chip memory
AVAILABILITY
Aminet and mirrors
p[7]ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/pub/aminet/game/2play/BattleDuel.lhap[0]
(1839418)
PRICE
Shareware fee of $15 US / 20 DM
DISTRIBUTABILITY
BattleDuel is Shareware!
Copyright (C) 1998 Jochen Terstiege, Michael David, Marco Seine
----------------------------------------------------------------------
W I N G N U T S - T H E G A M E
24 Apr 1998
TITLE
Wingnuts
VERSION
1.0
RELEASE DATE
20 April 1998
AUTHOR
The Skunkworks (p[7]mailto:skunkworks@anakin1.demon.co.ukp[0])
(p[7]http://www.anakin1.demon.co.uk/skunkworks/p[0])
DESCRIPTION
So what is Wingnuts? Well, bluntly stated, Wingnuts is the most
popular combative sport watched and played on the planet of Holy
Doobie. Each week millions of fanatical fans tune in to watch as
the six pilots are strapped into their heavily armed
contraptions, cheering thunderously as they take off into the
arena and fly their dance of homicidal death. Their objective is
brutally straight-forward - destroy the opposition and remain the
last pilot in the air.
REQUIREMENTS
* AGA Amiga.
* 68020 processor.
* Hard drive.
AVAILABILITY
Wingnuts can be downloaded from:
* p[7]http://www.anakin1.demon.co.uk/skunkworks/Wingnuts.lzxp[0]
* p[7]ftp://ftp.uk.aminet.org/pub/aminet/game/actio/Wingnuts.lzxp[0] (1M)
Or any other Aminet site.
PRICE
Recommended shareware fee 5 UK pounds.
DISTRIBUTION
Permission is hereby granted to re-distribute the archive as long
as the archive and all the files within it are not modified in
any way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amiga Update on the net: some issues available at:
p[7]http://www.sharbor.com/amiga/news/p[0] (in html format)
Australian Mirror Site: p[7]http://www.comcen.com.au/~paulm/index.htmlp[0]
All back issues available (in ASCII text) at:
p[7]http://www.globaldialog.com/AdventureCentral/AU/index.htmlp[0]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 1998 by Brad Webb. Freely distributable, if not modified.
======================================================================
_ __ _ <>_ __ _ ||
/\\ |\ /|| || / ` i\\ || Brad WebbnAmigaUpdate
/__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ || bandr@globaldialog.com
/ \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ ||
======================================================================
