|-------------------------- Acorn News Service --------------------------|
 |                     http://www.acornusers.org/ans/                     |
 | ISSUE 52                                                  5 March 2000 |
 |                                                                        |
 |       An independent fortnightly newsletter for the Acorn world.       |
 |        Send your news items or comments to ans@acornusers.org.         |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |         Featured site this issue: http://www.acornsearch.com/          |
 |------------------------------------------------------------------------|


Contents
--------
 1) General News
 2) Commercial News
 3) PD/Shareware News
 4) Club News
 5) ANS information



General News
------------

 1) Free RISC OS News for your website

  Drobe Launch Pad http://www.drobe.co.uk/ has created a new news only
  page, which any RISC OS webmaster can use for free.

  Either link to or frame http://www.drobe.co.uk/newsupdate/. Full
  instructions, including details of how to customise the output, are
  available from http://www.drobe.co.uk/corporate/newsupdate.phtml.


 2) Mozart 16 bit sound cards with RISC OS 4

  The version of the SharedSound module supplied in RISC OS 4 (0.58) does
  not work with the Yellowstone Mozart sound card. However, most versions
  prior to this do work (eg 0.44, 0.26), and you will most likely have such
  a version already in !System.

  If you have a Mozart card, stop applications using the new RISC OS 4 ROM
  module. To do this enter the command *Unplug SharedSound, and reset your
  machine.


 3) 4QD web site - RISC OS section

  4QD, which hosts Calligraph and PipeDream mailing lists, now has a RISC OS
  page for more information http://www.4qd.co.uk/ro/.

  The site also includes an unofficial update of the Pluto instructions,
  which is currently being developed.



Commercial News
---------------

 1) New Acorn Dealership in South East England

  Surftec Ltd, formed in August 1999, is pleased to announce its continued
  support of Acorn RISC OS computers in the South of England, covering
  Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset and Wiltshire.

  Surftec is a RISC OS 4 Registered installer, and are able to repair,
  service and upgrade all types of RISC OS computer. Surftec also supply
  and support the latest range of Epson x60 printers, as well as Acorn
  compatible scanners, digital cameras etc.

  Surftec also offers the supply and fitting (if required) of memory, hard
  disc drives (IDE and SCSI), CD writers, CD ROMs either on-site or at the
  Beacon Hill office.

  As an opening offer, Surftec will better the lowest price you can find
  by 10% on selected software products.

    Telephone: +44 (0)1428 608121
    Fax:       +44 (0)1428 608123
    E-Mail:    sales@surftec.net
    WWW:       http://www.surftec.net/


 2) ICGroup release Serialix disc copy tool

  ICGroup GbR http://www.planet-icgroup.de/ has released Serialix 1.10,
  a multi disc copy tool.

  Serialix formats and names discs, and then copies the contents of its
  image directory onto it. Serialix is useful for magazine discs and
  software distribution, and supports the new ADFS+ formats and up to 4
  floppy drives. Available as bundle with Sysiphos.

  Details: http://www.planet-icgroup.de/english/pages/software/serialx/
  Prices: http://www.planet-icgroup.de/english/pages/products.htm


 3) Free PowerZip 'lite' - Iomega Zip Drive solution

  Partis Computing have released a free cut down version of the PowerZip
  product, which allows RISC OS computers to access parallel port Zip
  drives.

  The 'lite' version will access Zip, Zip+ and Zip250 drives connected to
  the parallel port; but being a free version, it will only allow read
  access, and is supplied without formatting or configuration software.

  Download PowerZip-lite at http://www.partis.org.uk/msg9.htm.

  The full read/write version, including backup software, is available
  for GBP20.


 4) WebChange - new version, budget price option

  WebChange is a tool written to aid those who prefer to design their web
  pages by hand. It provides a number of functions that enable the user to
  make repetitive changes to the local copy of a site quickly and easily,
  ready for uploading.

  Version 1.07 has now been made available to users, and adds a useful file
  insertion facility, similar to that offered by web servers supporting SSI.

  In addition to the full price of GBP12, for which you become a 'full'
  user, Soft Rock Software can now offer a budget option for WebChange2.

  The budget price for WebChange2 is just GBP4.50. For this you receive the
  current full version, but cannot receive free upgrades.

  More details and an order form can be found on the WebChange web site
  http://www.softrock.co.uk/webchange/ros/.



PD/Shareware News
-----------------

 1) New software summary

  * Flash, Macromedia Shockwave Flash plugin
    A plugin for web browsers that enables you to view Flash files. Many
    commercial web sites use this format to make their site more attractive
    and unusable.
    http://people.a2000.nl/lsmiers/flash/flash.html

  * Hermetic font
    As well as 39 Hebrew characters, the font has 56 Greek characters and
    an assortment of triangles, crosses, polygons, stars, planetary symbols,
    musical accidentals, zodiac symbols and gaming symbols, and now has a
    new 'Stretch' style (double width) for Hebrew emphasis.
    http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/free/


 2) Updated software summary

  * CDViewer v2.01 beta
    CDViewer is a replacement for CDFSFiler. It includes its own built in CD
    player with support for AcornCD, and better support for dual format CDs.
    The new version includes bug fixes and the track editor has been updated
    to better handle CDDB information.
    http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/jeremy.poulter/Software.html

  * ChangePSI v0.15
    Converts files between Psion's EPOC32 applications and RISC OS file
    formats. New version adds Sprite to MBM and Sprite to Sketch conversion,
    and fixes a minor problem with indents. Freeware.
    http://www.mountside.nl/people/gertjan/changepsi/

  * Debbie v0.15
    MIDI XG controller, for use with the DMI50XG card.
    http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/lenny/soft/#debbie

  * DiskBase v0.80
    A disk directory database program, new version supports long filenames.
    http://home.wanadoo.nl/jan.ganzevles/

  * FTPc v1.25
    Freeware Internet File Transfer Protocol client. Changes include: site
    commands can now be applied to each uploaded file; defaults can be set
    on a site by site basis; multi-line user menu entries.
    http://www.c-granville.freeserve.co.uk/

  * Psionconv v0.04
    Psion Series 5 to RISC OS file converter. Open source, freeware.
    New version fixes bugs and adds support for sound files.
    http://home.t-online.de/home/thomas-milius/English/Computer/

  * Reporter v2.00
    A useful debugging tool, Reporter is a module which displays text
    entered as part of a command in a multi-tasking window. The new version
    allows BASIC programs to display text and values of variables and
    evaluated expressions, with just commands - NO additional BASIC code.
    http://www.avisoft.force9.co.uk/Reporter.htm

  * SysExy v0.30
    A MIDI System Exclusive data handler. This is a much improved, total
    re-write of the previous offering of the same name.
    http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/lenny/soft/#sysexy



Club News
---------

 1) Upcoming meetings

  * North Kent Amateur Computer Club, 9th March
    http://www.humperdink.demon.co.uk/nkacc/

  * Essex Acorn User Group, 14th March - Aleph 1 on PCPro
    http://www.watsnees.demon.co.uk/eaug.html

  * German Archimedes Group, 6th & 7th May
    http://www.gag.de/



ANS Information
---------------

 1) Contact ANS

  Editor         - James Sears       - james@ans.acornusers.org
  Webmaster      - Stephen Courtney  - stephen@ans.acornusers.org
  Translator     - Michael Gerbracht - michael@ans.acornusers.org
  Founder        - Eytan Abrahams    - eytan@ans.acornusers.org
  Life-Webmaster - Richard Hesketh   - richard@ans.acornusers.org
  ADL Moderator  - Paul Johnson      - paul@ans.acornusers.org


 2) How to send in news

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