Acorn News Service Newsletter
Issue: 133 (1 June 2003)
Featured site this issue: http://roprinters.sourceforge.net/
General News
RISC OS Printers+ source code available
The source code of the RISCOS Ltd. Printers+ front end is now available
for download from SourceForge. The project may be viewed at:
<http://roprinters.sourceforge.net/>
Printers+ provides a number of enhanced features over the standard RISC OS
Printers application, including support for remote network printers and
advanced printer configuration applications.
Also the Pop-up version of Printers developed by Castle Technology for use
on Iyonix computers is now available for free download by existing RISC OS
3 and RISC OS 4 users from the RISCOS Ltd. web site:
<http://acorn.riscos.com/acornftp.htm>
The Pop-up printer manager can replace existing versions of Printers, but
does not have the additional capabilities of Printers+ to connect to a
wide range of networked printers.
Commercial News
32bit Power-tec
32bit versions of Power-tec products will be released in the first 2 weeks
of June 2003. These include: SCSI (and PowerROMs), PowerIDE (EADFS), and
PowerATAPI.
PowerUSB - a USB Mass Storage solution for Castle USB cards and the Iyonix
will be available shortly after this.
To use the 32bit features customers will need a Maintenance Contract with
an expiry later than the end of May 2003.
<http://www.partis.co.uk/>
RCI announce broadband/network price cuts
As a result of a healthy Wakefield show, RCI has been able to work with
its suppliers to bring down prices on ADSL and cable broadband gear. The
new "all inclusive" prices are as follows:
- 4 port ADSL router - GBP119
Includes ADSL modem functionality and has four high speed network ports
for connecting your computers. The unit offers hardware firewall
protection, and comes with RISC OS software, special manuals covering
RISC OS and Microsoft installation, full technical support etc.
- 4 port Cable router - GBP119
Similar feature set to the ADSL unit above, but designed for use with
cable modems (eg NTL and Telewest). Again, includes hardware firewall
protection, software, manuals, support etc.
- 4 port modem/cable router with printer port - GBP169
Similar feature set to above, but with added serial port for modem or
ISDN. The printer port allows printer sharing. Includes R-Comp's Network
Printer Driver software.
- ADSL-in-a-box kit - GBP230
Including the router, cables, Risc PC Net100 network card, a high speed
PC network card, cables, manuals covering both RISC OS and Microsoft,
file sharing, internet sharing etc., technical support and so on.
- Network-in-a-box kit - GBP260
This kit uses the 4 port modem/cable router with printer port as its
heart, so includes the printer port and extra software. Suitable for
cable broadband or modem/ISDN.
Please note that all prices *include* VAT and UK postage/packing. RCI
provide comprehensive documentation and support at no extra charge, as
well as RISC OS software with all units, so that they can be used on both
RISC OS and other systems.
<http://www.rcomp.co.uk/>
Multi-platform Messenger Pro now available
Gemini, the multi-platform version of the popular Messenger Pro mail and
news client, is not available. Gemini is currently available for Linux and
Microsoft Windows, and offers all the benefits and features of the RISC OS
version and more.
Details may be found at: <http://www.intellegit.com/software/gemini/>
Gemini is fully compatible with the Messenger Pro server edition allowing
you to share access to your mail and news across a mixed RISC OS and PC
network. Gemini is available on a 30-day free trial by visiting:
<http://www.intellegit.com/trial.php> or may alternatively be purchased
now (GBP30), online by credit/debit card:
<http://www.intellegit.com/purchase.php>
PD/Shareware News
New software summary
- AMPlayCMD, control AMPlay
Allows you to use your favourite shortcut or launcher program to control
AMPlay. AMPlay itself has keyboard shortcut support, but this only works
when AMPlay has the input focus. Many launcher apps can assign actions
to keyboard events even when they don't have input focus, and these can
run AMPlayCMD commands. You could also use AMPlayCMD commands from task
alarms (via Alarm or Organizer), and have AMPlay wake you up in the
morning, or automatically stop when it gets late.
<http://www.mikejs.com/riscos/amplay.html#download>
- Calendar module, calculations on dates
Module providing SWIs to do conversions of dates between different types
of calendar (eg Gregorian and Julian), and perform calculations on dates
(eg how many days are there between 1961-Apr-06 and 1988-Aug-22). It
should be very useful for application programmers who want to handle
dates that lie before the year 1900 or after the year 2248 (which is the
limit to the values in the 5-byte RISC OS centisecond timer). This
applies to historical databases, genealogy programs, etc.
<http://www.xs4all.nl/~erikgrnh/riscos/calendar.html>
Updated software summary
- Creator v3.41
Shareware image format converter. Minor bugs fixed.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/creator/>
- DiscInfo v1.30
Provides extensive information on discs. Rebuilt and updated, and now
understands RISC OS 4 maps.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/discinfo/>
- EarthMap v1.10
An electronic globe, draws 'maps' of Earth using a public domain
database. Rebuilt and updated.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/earthmap/>
- FileAct v2.30
Provides easy multi-file operations. Rebuilt and updated.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/fileact/>
- GreyEdit v1.40
Greyscale image editor. GreyEdit has had a major facelift and is no
longer restricted to pre Risc PC machines, and is now Freeware.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/greyedit/>
- ModeInfo v1.20
Provides extensive information on screen modes. Major overhaul; it is no
longer restricted to RISC OS 2 machines, and even supports ViewFinder.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/modeinfo/>
- PackDir v2.10
Very fast file archiver. Rebuilt and updated.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/packdir/>
- ScreenGrabber v2.08
Module that allows you to take pictures of the screen display just by
pressing a hotkey. This version fixes a serious bug (insufficient memory
was being allocated for the screenshot file path, leading to a several
of bytes of RMA being overwritten every time a screenshot was taken).
<http://www.bigfoot.com/~chrisbazley/games.htm#screengrabber>
- SideDiff v2.01
Displays the differences between two text or BASIC files in a parallel
scrolling display, making it easy to compare two versions of a file at a
glance. It is a front-end to the GNU 'diff' and 'patch' utilities.
Most notable changes: line number display; the ability to select and
copy changes from one file into the other; changes to the main window;
extensive configuration window; true multiple-copy support; better
support for softwrapped input; many bugfixes; diff files generated
within SideDiff can now be saved; two command-line interfaces.
<http://www.bigfoot.com/~chrisbazley/utilities.htm#sidediff>
- Teletext v1.40
Free software for standard IIC teletext receivers. Enhancements include:
better use of keyboard controls; time adjustment routines now use the
TSDP which is more accurate; 'presets' are now listed in a separate
window; many updates to the script interpreter.
<http://www.heyrick.co.uk/software/ttx/>
- Translator v8.21
Powerful shareware image viewer, processor and converter. Minor bugs
fixed.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/translator/>
- Variations v0.20
Image processing program. New in this version: Thumbnails may be scaled
(useful for judging the change an effect will have on fine detail),
faster EXIF JPEG loading, lots of work on a new pointillist effect,
basic image transformations (rotate, crop etc.) and a variety of other
little enhancements.
<http://www.compo.iconbar.com/variation.htm>
- ZeriLink v2.44
Fast file transfer via the parallel port (PC compatible). Maintenance
release, minor internal changes.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/zerilink/>
- ZIDEFS v1.02
Replacement filing system for the Ian Copestake IDE interface.
Maintenance release, minor internal changes.
<http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/software/zidefs/>
Club News
Upcoming meetings
- GAG (Germany) 31st May & 1st June
<http://www.gag.de/gag/treffen.html>
- ICENI (Suffolk), 4th June - Printing with RISC OS
<http://www.archipel.demon.co.uk/ICENI/>
- WROCC (Wakefield), 4th June - Paul Middleton, RISCOS Ltd.
<http://www.wrocc.org.uk/>
- DARC (Derbyshire), 9th June - David Atkins and Omega. Not to be missed!
<http://www.darc-comp.org.uk/>
- SAUG (Southampton), 9th June
<davehigton@dsl.pipex.com>
- EAUG (Essex), 10th June - Neil Spellings, Aemulor
<http://www.wattys.fsnet.co.uk/eaug/>
- LAUG (Liverpool), 10th June
<http://www.italia.co.uk/laug/>
- NKACC (Kent), 12th June - Linux install-fest
<http://nkacc.roundel.net/>
- ROUGOL (London), 16th June - RISC OS networking
<http://rougol.jellybaby.net/>
- HHRUG (Hemel Hempstead), 18th June
<http://www.hhrug.org.uk/>
- RISC OS Expo 2003 (Netherlands), 21st June
<http://www.bigbenclub.nl/>
- BARUG (Bristol), 25th June
<http://www.barug.co.uk/>
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