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StarShip 5 MINUTE Weekend Newscast (1993 01 22)
Welcome to the
____
/ ___) *StarShip* 5-MINUTE Weekend Newscast
/ (_ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/ ___)
/ (__ very weekend the *StarShip* on GEnie presents a new 5-MINUTE Weekend
(_____) Newscast in Communications Room 10 in the Real-Time Conference Area.
Featuring late-breaking stories from the Amiga community, these dynamic,
scrolling newscasts cycle every 5 minutes, so you can stop by between 6PM and
3AM Eastern time on Friday, or 3PM and 3AM Eastern time on Saturday or Sunday
and learn everything that happened during the preceding week. Industry news,
product announcements, upgrades, rumors, special *StarShip* activities, trade
show reports, GEnie usage tips, humor, recommended files to download...
... the works -- and it ONLY takes 5 minutes!
Each 5-MINUTE Weekend Newscast is available on *StarShip* Menu #10 during the
following week. Periodically, newscasts are combined and made available for
downloading from the *StarShip* Library.
____________________________________________________________
// \
|| -*- IMPORTANT! -*- |
|| |
|| As long as individual stories are kept intact and credit |
|| is given, this material may be reproduced in ALL or PART |
|| on a privately owned BBS or in a user group newsletter. |
|| See wording for proper credit at the end of this Newscast. |
\\____________________________________________________________/
|| |
|| |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Denny Atkin, Editor,
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource,
for his generous input.
Here we go!...
DateLine: January 22, 1993
This 5-MINUTE Newscast presents the following stories:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. GVP Develops Accelerator for the A1200
2. The Inside Scoop About Commodore
3. Technical Sales Position Available at ASDG
4. Next Week's *StarShip* Winning Conferences: INOVAtronics & Blackbelt!
5. Oxxi to Ship SBase Personal 4 in February
6. HyperCache Professional
7. Take the Next Stop into Cyberspace from Your Amiga
*StarShip* NEWS *Flash*
1st of 7 Stories
_____ GVP Develops Accelerator for the A1200
/ ____) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/ /___ King of Prussia, PA -- January 4, 1993
/ /( )
/ (__) /
(______/VP announced today that it will release an accelertor for Commodore's
new A1200 early in February.
Called the A1230Turbo, this 40Mhz 030 accelerator can be easily installed
inside the expansion bay on the bottom of the A1200 computer. Two SIMM sockets
allow for expansion of up to 32MB of 32-bit wide 60ns DRAM. The A1230Turbo
also includes a socket for an optional FPU, which dramatically increases the
performance of floating-point intensive applications.
Using the same cutting edge technology as is used in GVP's A530 Turbo and
Combo family accelerators, this system, which comes populated with 1MB of
32-bit RAM, features a modular RAM design that allow users many options for
adding memory. When 4MB SIMMS are used, the A1230 can be configured with
either 4MB or 8MB of RAM. The accelerator will also accept 16MB SIMMS which
allows for RAM expansion up to 32MB. Other options allow the user to install
various combinations of 1MB, 4MB and 16MB SIMMS.
"At a U.S. list price of just $499, the A1230Turbo is an affordable way to add
030 acceleration to the A1200 -- making it a viable computer for even the most
serious applications," commented Gary Nush, GVP's Product Manager.
GVP is a privately held company that was founded in 1988. Today it is the
world's largest third-party supplier of peripherals for the Commodore Amiga.
For more information, contact your authorized Amiga dealer or Great Valley
Products (GVP) at 600 Clark Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406, Telephone
215/337-8770.
-*-
*StarShip* NEWS *Flash*
2nd of 7 Stories
____ The Inside Scoop About Commodore
/ ___) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/ (_ Collingswood, NJ -- January 21, 1993
/ ___)
/ (_
(____)ver wondered what REALLY goes on at Commodore? Just WHO these folks are,
where they come from, what they DO? How many times have you (or someone you
know) said "What Commodore ought to do to make the Amiga a success is... (fill
in blank)"? Why is it, do you suppose, that they haven't done just that?
Now, the story will be told.
An upcoming book and video by CBM "survivors" reveals the behind-the-scenes
scoop as experienced by those actually there. Fascinating accounts of the
company, the people and the events behind the Amiga and the truth about the
hows and whys of the notorious Commodore marketing! It's an eye-opening
insiders' look at the corporate culture, the foibles and fiascos, untold tales
and a chance for YOU to grapple with the same challenges!
Sample highlights:
- Company organizational charts show who held/holds which key positions in the
company and what they're responsible for and profiles of these individuals.
Like to write to them and share your opinions? Names named and contacts
provided.
- Surprising, never-before-released information about the launch of new Amiga
models. If the press had ever known...
- What's happened to all those art/ideas/proposals that people have sent to
the company in attempts to contribute to the Amiga's promotion?
- Ever wonder why the company that has had the premiere video and multimedia
computer has produced so few videos and multimedia productions with it? How
are the materials they DO use produced? The facts will amaze you.
- Interesting details about Amiga advertising, the campaigns and those
involved.
- Come along on a visit to West Chester! See for yourself.
- Win one-of-a-kind and original collector's items from the History of Amiga!
The book and video will be available on a very limited basis, as special
editions. If you'd like to be among those on the list to receive more details
(and maybe a great, highly exclusive offer), write to the address below.
Special Invitations
1) If YOU have any direct personal experiences to recount about the company,
the people and/or associated activities then NOW is the time to submit them.
Join the others in this hall of infamy! Set the record straight!
2) Name Contest: Submit your ideas for titles. Put your stamp on this work and
become part of it! (We'll contact you.
*** Circulate this file on BBS's and among User Groups ***
Write now, sending your name, address, phone # and indicate your interest to:
Promography Productions, c/o P.O. Box 215, Collingswood, NJ 08108
-*-
*StarShip* NEWS *Flash*
3rd of 7 Stories
Technical Sales Position Available at ASDG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_ /\ _ Madison, WI -- January 21, 1993
( \/ \/ )
\ /
\_/\_/ould you like to be a part of one of the most exciting companies in
the Amiga community?
We at ASDG are looking to hire a Technical Sales Representative to our team.
Although you are not required to have a complete working knowledge of all of
our products -- both hardware and software -- the more you know the better.
Qualified applicants will need to possess excellent communication (verbal and
written) skills, know how to listen to our users' and dealers' questions and
comments, and respond with clear and helpful answers. Personal organization,
responsibility, and a sales and service-oriented mentality are major
advantages.
General knowledge of the Amiga's hardware and software and the willingness to
learn about existing and new products are also advantages.
ASDG offers full health benefits, an extremely aggressive profit sharing and
pension plan, an excellent work atmosphere, and a chance to be part of one of
(what are nearly universally regarded as) the good guys of the Amiga
marketplace. Relocation to Madison, Wisconsin is required.
To be considered for this position, send a paper or email cover letter and
resume or call (608) 273-6585. All correspondences should be made attention to
Gina Cerniglia, Sales Manager, or Jeffrey R. Almasol, Technical Support
Manager. Our mailing address is:
ASDG, Incorporated
925 Stewart Street
Madison, WI 53713
Please be sure to include your daytime phone number so that we may know where
to contact you.
-*-
*StarShip* NEWS *Flash*
4th of 7 Stories
__________________________________________________________________________
| |
| *StarShip* Amiga Conferences |
| |
| _ |
| / )____ _____ __ __ ____ ___ __ __ |
| __ / // _ ) / _ )/ / / // _ ) / __)/ / / / |
| ( (_/ // (/ / / / ) // (_/ // (/ / / / / (_/ / |
| \___/(_____)(_/ (_/(_____((_____)(_/ (___ / |
| ___/ / |
| (____/ |
| Except where noted, Conferences begin at 10PM Eastern Time in the Amiga |
| Conference Rooms at Page 555;2. Amiga Programmers meet Wednesday nights |
| at Pro/Am on Page 670. Amiga/GEnie HelpDesk EVERY Night at 9PM Eastern. |
|__________________________________________________________________________|
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Humpday |Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Help@9EST| Help@9EST|Help@9EST| Help@9EST|Help@9EST| Help@9EST| Help@9EST|
|__________|__________|_________|__________|_________|__________|__________|
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |21 | 22 | 23 |
|5-MIN News| | Blue | |vv-Video!| New |5-MIN News|
| 3PM-3AM | DeskTop | Ribbon's| AmiGames | Radient |*StarShip*|9:Hardware|
| -*- |Publishing|One-Stop | ------ | Images' | 5-MINUTE |10: Guest!|
|10PM: | Night |MusicShop|Programing| Mark | Newscast INOVAtronics
| Graphics | |& Prizes!|at Pro/Am |Thompson!| 6PM-3AM | & Prize! |
|__________|__________|_________|__________|_________|__________|__________|
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |28 | 29 | 30 |
|5-MIN News| | | |Blackbelt| New |5-MIN News|
| 3PM-3AM | DeskTop | o/~ | AmiGames | Ben |*StarShip*|9:Hardware|
| -*- |Publishing| | ------ | Williams| 5-MINUTE | Clinic |
|10PM: | Night | Music |Programing| with | Newscast |10: Amiga |
| Graphics | | Night |at Pro/Am | Prizes! | 6PM-3AM |PartyNight|
|__________|__________|_________|__________|_________|__________|__________|
-* Special WINNING Conferences Coming these Next Two Weeks! *-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INOVAtronics -- Saturday, January 23 at 10PM EST
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The gang's all here! INOVAtronics Programmers and Tech Support Staff with
news on their latest and greatest: CanDo Authoring System, Dir OPUS 4.0,
GigaMem, TURBOprint, and their entry into entertainment software, Vektor
Storm! Someone's going to win a FREE copy of Dir OPUS 4.0 - will it be YOU?
Watch the *StarShip* Software Library for new CanDo demos and other
goodies!
Blackbelt -- Thursday, January 28 at 10PM EST
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not one.. not two.. but THREE lucky conference participants will win their
own full-featured image manipulation system, Imagemaster, Blackbelt's
flagship product, including -- as soon as it's available -- a free upgrade
to Imagemaster V10, a revolutionary NEW image processing product for the
Amiga! Three others will win Blackbelt's NoteBook software, a unique
personal productivity tool. That's over $750 worth of prizes to *StarShip*
members tonight alone! Special guest Ben Williams will also talk about
Blackbelt's PackeTerm, a packet-radio handling program for HAM radio
operators.
Note: Transcripts of last week's Winning Conferences available:
Blue Ribbon's One-Stop Music Shop Conference Library File #18252.
Radient Image's LightWave Conference in Library File #18261.
HelpDesk *EVERY* NIGHT @ 9PM Eastern Time!
Got a problem? If you have questions about learning to use your
Amiga, the *StarShip* or GEnie, we have answers! Stop by Conference
Room 4 ANY EVENING from 9 to 10 EST for live, on-the-spot help.
-*-
*StarShip* NEWS *Flash*
5th of 7 Stories
_____ Oxxi to Ship SBase Personal 4 in February
/ _ ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/ / ) / Long Beach, CA -- January 15, 1993
/ (_/ /
(_____/
Oxxi is pleased to announce the availability next month of SBase Personal 4,
the latest generation of the Personal series for Superbase on the Amiga
computer. Several new features have been added including compatibility with
the 2.0 Operating System.
SBase Personal 4 includes a customized data display including external sound
files and IFF images. Customized data display allows for many creative
applications such as inventory/stock needs, photo databases, collections,
research, design, and educational.
New features include Logical fields, query across relationships and multiple
files, define up to 40 function-key commands and save and load function key
sets, and store and recall report and query formats.
Reports from multiple files and sort levels can be created. Data can be
imported from other databases or other applications and then exported in most
popular data file formats in cluding Excel, Lotus and dBase.
Data can be viewed in both record and table mode. Unlimited forms can be
created for both screen display and hard copy printouts. Fields can be
displayed in any order for ease of use.
The VCR-like interface is retained for quick and easy data access including
fast-forward and rewind.
The Filter feature screens records based on multiple criteria and the Quick
Index feature aids with fast record matching.
JoAnn Houston, Vice President of Oxxi, commented. "SBase Personal 4 has
outstanding power and features that should easily satisfy the needs of most
database needs. Nearly all of the features of SBase Professional 4 are
included in SBase Personal 4 with the exception of the DML language and an
ARexx port."
SBase Personal 4 will list for $149.95 and will be available from local Amiga
dealers next month. Upgrades from Superbase Personal are $65 and from
Superbase Personal 2 are $50. Should owners of SBase Personal 4 ever care to
upgrade to SBase Professional 4 the cost is $135.00.
Based in Long Beach, California, Oxxi, Inc. is one of the leading publishers
of productivity software for the Amiga computer. In general, business
productivity products are sold by Oxxi, while graphics entertainment and
sound-related products are sold by Oxxi's Aegis Development division.
Fact Sheet: SBase(TM) Personal 4
Personal Relational Database System for the Amiga
Managing data was never so easy -- or so powerful - before. The SBase 4
relational database system puts data at your fingertips with point-and-click
ease. Pull-down menus, multiple windows, and full access to the multitasking
environment of your Amiga computer make SBase the only real choice for data
management on the Amiga. The latest in a long line of inter-compatible
database programs, SBase Personal 4 provides you with a complete data
management system for your personal data needs. Customize data display, bring
up external files and display or play them -- SBase supports external sounds
files as well as IFF images, including HAM images.
FEATURES
Software Capabilities
o Up to 17 Gigabytes of storage per file, disk dependent
o Up to 16 Million records per file, disk dependent
o Up to 999 indexes per file, all open and maintained
o Number of files limited only by system
o Files open: unlimited, from any directory
o Number of fields per record limited only by system
Data and Graphic-Image Management
o Special picture reference facility
o Create a unique picture/data library application
o Run an automatic slide show
o Text, date, numeric and external file fields
o Logical fields <-- NEW!
o Input range checking
o Full-function formula-derived fields
o Calendar 1-9999 A.D. with multiple date styles
o 13-digit numeric precision
o Three-level password option
Definable Data Display
o Easy-to-read tables
o Page-by-page Form View
o Field number limited only by disk storage available
o Choose which fields to display, in what order -- you have full control
over the data display
o VCR-like controls make moving from record to record easy and quick --
fast-forward, rewinds, stop anywhere
Indexing Ease
o Unique Filter feature finds records that match one or several parameters -
quickly create a subset of your main database
o Quick Index Query feature rapidly locates first or next match in Index
field
o Set up multiple indexes
o Query across relationships, across multiple files <-- NEW!
o Save, load and edit file Update, Query and mail Label programs <-- NEW!
o Define up to 40 function-key commands, save and load f-key sets <-- NEW!
Reporting Power
o Report from multiple files, multiple sort levels if needed <-- NEW!
o Import data from other databases or applications
o Export data to word processor for mail merging
o Up to 255-character column-width for reports
o Title, date-stamp, page number
o Record counts, averages, subtotals and totals
o Multi-file output to screen, printer, disk or new database
o Multi-column, variable-format mailing labels
o Store and recall report and query formats <-- NEW!
o Sort in any order
Build Custom Applications
o Re-arrange data entry fields in Page View to create custom data-entry
screens
o Applications virtually endless -- picture mangement feature opens a whide
new area of data management applications
Applications
Applications are limited only by your own creativity and needs.
o Inventory/Stock
o Invoicing
o Registration
o Mailing Lists
o Records
o Designing
o Photography
o Journalism
o Collections
o Research
o Education
REQUIREMENTS
Any Commodore Amiga with one disk drive and 512 Kb of memory.
Optional: Additional RAM, additional floppy disk drive, hard disk.
To learn more contact Oxxi, Inc., P.O. Box 90309, Long Beach, CA 90809,
Telephone 310/427-1227, FAX 310/427-0971.
-*-
*StarShip* NEWS *Flash*
6th of 7 Stories
___ ___ HyperCache Professional
(_ )( _) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/ /_/ / Regina, SK, Canada -- January 1993
/ __ /
_/ / / /
(___)(__)yperCache is a media caching system for the Amiga series of personal
computers. It uses an intelligent caching system to bring the filesystem
performance up to workstation levels, and far exceeds the capabilities of the
standard system, Addbuffers. While any Amiga user can benefit, the greatest
performance gains are realized in situtations where storage devices are
important, such as compiler operation, database manipulation, manipulating
large word-processng files, etc.
Features
- Works with any AmigaDOS compatible storage device, including
but not limited to:
SCSI Hard Drives
IDE Hard Drive (AT and XT style)
ST-506 Hard Drives
Trackdisk-based floppies
CD-ROM drives (CDTV included!)
SCSI Tape Backup Units
- HyperCache employs a pre-fetch technique that intelligently
reads data BEFORE IT IS REQUESTED. In this way, even first
time reads that are not in the cache are accelerated.
- Any number of devices, and any number of units per device (up
to available memory) may be cached. Drives may be spread
across multiple devices (SCSI, IDE, and Trackdisk caches
resident in the same machine simultaneously).
- Works with any filesystem, independant of device geometry.
Alternate systems, such as MessyDOS and most CD-ROM filesystems
are supported.
- User-configurable cache parameters. The cache is maintained as
an n-way associative line cache, where the number of lines, line
size, prefetch size, and overall cache size are configurable
independantly for each device being cached. Automatic
configuration is also supplied for the novice user.
Requirements
- Kickstart 1.2 or higher (fully compatible and tested with 2.
- 1M RAM recommended (and it screams with 32 bit RAM!)
- Floppy, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, and Tape supported
Diskspeed Results
A B C D
512 Byte Transfers 18395 111879 112159 477926
4096 Byte Transfers 84644 440142 553855 1510893
32768 Byte Transfers 132297 612320 565127 2112818
A - A500, Addbuffers 1024
B - A500, HyperCache Installed, auto-configured
C - A3000, Addbuffers 1024
D - A3000, HyperCache Installed, auto-configured
Distributability
HyperCache is a commerical product. It is not now, nor has it
ever been, public domain or freely-distributable software.
Availability
HyperCache is currently available only directly from the author, Silicon
Prairie Software, for the price of $49.95 US funds. which includes all
applicable taxes, shipping, and handling in North America. Overseas orders add
$3.00 (Canadian GST included). Residents of Saskatchewan (both of you) add 7%
PST. Shipping and Handling is included in North America. Dealer and Site
Licence information available upon request. For more information or to order
HyperCache, mail your check or money order to:
Silicon Prairie Software
2326 Francis Street
Regina, SK S4N 2P7
Canada
-*-
*StarShip* Amiga *Flash*
7th of 7 Stories
Take the Next Stop into Cyberspace from Your Amiga
_ _ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
( \ / ) San Luis Obispo, CA -- January 12, 1993
\ \_/ /
\ /
\_/irtual Reality Laboratories, Inc. announces the scheduled release, in
the first week of February '93, of the latest version of its virtual reality
landscape program, Vistapro 3.0 for the Amiga. Using real-world data from the
U.S. Geological Survey and from NASA Spacecraft, Vistapro 3.0 is a
three-dimensional landscape simulation program which enables the user to
accurately recreate and explore landscapes on the earth and Mars in gorgeous
24-bit color. New in version 3.0 are three-dimensional trees with individually
shaded leaves, improved fractalized clouds and fractal texturing which creates
rock surfaces that look so real you can almost feel the scratchiness of the
granite beneath your hand. The new version also allows the addition of
waterfalls, buildings and roads to landscapes and it generates left and right
images for three-dimensional viewing.
Visit the recent past to see how Mt. St. Helens looked before erupting or take
in the view from inside the cauldera of the huge Martian volcano, Olympus
Mons. Then change the bare Martian landscape into a living, breathing entity.
Set climactic controls to assign sea level, tree line, snow line and haze. Add
rivers (which automatically follow the "path of least resistance") or flood a
basin to make a lake.
Vistapro 3.0 comes with landscape files for you to explore; the cauldera area
of Olympus Mons, Mars; Mt. St. Helens before and after the eruption; El
Capitan in Yosemite, California; Half Dome, Yosemite, California; Crater Lake,
Oregon; Matterhorn, Switzerland; Mt. Fuji, Japan; Mt. LaDole, The Alps; Mt.
Etna, Italy, and more! Also, many additional landscape sets are available
separately including: Valles Marineris, Mars; Yosemite, California; Grand
Canyon, Arizona; the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and many more.
NEW features in Vistapro 3.0:
o Three-dimensional vegetation: choose from Oak, Pine, Palm, Cactus and
Grass.
o Advanced fractalized landscape texturing.
o Improved fractialized clouds; Save and load cloud maps
o Add buildings and roads to any landscape.
o Generates and merges left and right images for 3-D viewing.
o Support for AmigaDOS 3.0, AGA 256, HAM8 and SuperHiRes modes.
o Support for NTSC, PAL, VGA, EURO36, EURO72, Super72, DBL, NTSC DBL and
PAL DBL
o Direct support for 3- and 4-bit plane DCTV.
Other Vistapro features include:
o Realistic Images in 24-bit color.
o Gourand shading, combined with high resolution and interlace, produces
painting-quality scenes of unparalleled beauty.
o Variable focal length "camera" lens, unlimited number of lighting
positions, dithering, roughness, and blend controls.
o User-defined color palette, night sky, stars, tree line, snow level, waves,
haze levels, lakes, rivers.
o Three dimensional wire frame preview saves time -- modify the camera
settings until you have the exact view you want.
o Powerful script language for animation control in four animation modes:
IFF, IFF24, RGB and Vistapro's proprietary VANIM mode.
o Export your current topo map for editing in a paint program. Then, import
the modified map back into Vistapro to render the new landscape.
o User definable screen resolutions including overscan.
o Direct support for FireCracker and HAM-E.
o Save images as IFF, IFF24, Turbo Silver objects, and in 24-bit RGB for
frame buffer output, or print directly from the program.
o ARexx support.
For more information, contact your authorized Amiga dealer or Virtual Reality
Laboratories, Inc., 2341 Ganador Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, telephone
805/545-8515.
Over a GIGABYTE of Amiga files in our Library!
Catch your limit of Fred FISH Disks from the *StarFish* Library.
If you are after a SINGLE PROGRAM on a Fish Disk, SEARCH for it
before downloading the disk. Most are available separately!
_______________________________________________________________
| |
| |
| Permission is hereby granted to quote ALL or PART of this |
| Newscast on a privately owned BBS or in a user group news- |
| letter (*) provided you include the following credit: |
| |
| Reprinted by Permission from the 5-MINUTE Weekend |
| News Network, a *StarShip*(tm) Production on GEnie(R). |
| * /\ / |
|_________________________________________________ ___/ \___ _|
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Coming Soon!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
February ViewPort -- The *StarShip* Monthly Online Magazine!
Watch the Banner on Page 555! The current issue is FREE on
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