Acorn News Service Newsletter
Issue: 139 (24 August 2003)
Featured site this issue: http://www.w3.org/Provider/Style/URI
General News
RISC OS Astronomy web site launched
The new ROAST web site <http://www.roast.iconbar.com/> aims to provide a
resource for RISC OS users interested in astronomy, meteorology and
related sciences, and complements the ROAST mailing list set up in April
this year. It is run by the team responsible for the Photodesk resources
site.
The site currently offers:
- Picture galleries
- Tutorials on image processing with software such as Composition and
Photodesk
- A guide to the RISC OS software currently available for astronomers
and weather enthusiasts
- A hardware section
- A small (but soon to grow) software section
Contributions are welcome, especially to the picture galleries. All levels
of expertise are welcome, from beginners to advanced to astronomers of the
armchair variety. You do not have to own a telescope!
<http://www.roast.iconbar.com/>
Commercial News
Archive price rise
From 1st October, 2003, the price of Archive subscriptions will be
increased by GBP2. It had stayed the same for over two and a half years,
despite increases in postage costs that have occurred during that time.
Anyone renewing now, even if your subscription is not strictly due, can
take advantage of the present, lower, prices. From 1st October, 2003,
Archive subscriptions will be:
* UK GBP35
* Rest of Europe GBP41
* Rest of world GBP48
<http://www.archivemag.co.uk/>
The current issue of Archive is an extra large one - 96 pages, including
nine feature articles, two review articles and 12 regular articles. Topics
include ARM Processors for RISC OS, Castle Buys RISC OS, Anti-spam
Packages Compared, Iyonix Review - Part 2, and MicroDigital Alpha.
Debian Linux install CDs for Iyonix now available
Peter Naulls is now supplying CDs which allow you install a complete
working Debian Linux system on your Iyonix. This follows on from the
initial work of the Linux port to Iyonix.
Install CDs are sold with one month support:
* First CD only, allowing a basic system with email support - GBP28
* Full set of 6 CDs - GBP35
* Telephone support - add GBP10
For more details see: <http://www.chocky.org/linux/>
More information about the current status of the Linux port to Castle's
Iyonix is available on their web site:
<http://www.iyonix.com/linux.html>
Important: to install Linux you will need either a separate drive to
install it on, or a way of backing up your existing data to allow
repartitioning. For purchasers of new machines, for a small additional
cost, CJE Micro's will prepare your drive ready for Linux install to avoid
this step. Contact <sales@cjemicros.co.uk> for more details.
R-Comp announce DataPower Home
R-Comp is pleased to announce the release of DataPower Home - an
easy-to-use, yet powerful, DTP-like database system for RISC OS machines
running RISC OS 3.1-5.0 (compatible with both 26 and 32bit machines).
DataPower Home is derived from Iota's DataPower 1 application, which they
maintained in parallel with its sibling DataPower 2. However, DataPower
Home improves upon DP1, dealing with some major outstanding problems and
adding 32bit compatibility, as well as components from R-Comp's recent DP2
release. The DataPower documentation has also been updated with tutorials
specific to DataPower Home.
The main differences between DataPower Home and DataPower 2 are that
'Home' is a "flat file" database (ie not relational) and lacks the
scripting, SQL and data-joining found in DP2.
DataPower Home is a logical upgrade for existing DataPower 1 users who
have found no need for the relational and other features of DataPower2,
especially as some "show-stopper" faults have been fixed in the new
version. It also follows R-Comp's trend of disabling the notorious
protection system, allowing for simple, quick installation on your
machine.
During August and September, existing owners of Recordz (the database
component of Fireworks), MasterFile and MultiStore (Minerva's database)
can get a discount of over 20% (see below) by returning their program
disc(s) with a cheque.
- DataPower Home (single user) CD version - GBP49 inc
- DataPower Home upgrade from Iota DP1 - GBP25 inc
- DataPower Home upgrade from old databases - GBP39 inc
(August/Sept offer)
<http://www.rcomp.co.uk/>
DTP Principles: Better Documents by Design
Alligata Media have launched DTP Principles, a platform and software
independent guide to understanding some of the most important fundamentals
of word processing and desktop publishing.
By concentrating on the universal principles of good document design, this
guide provides valuable information for all users of DTP and word
processing packages, regardless of choice of software and computer system.
DTP Principles covers such important topics as:
* Planning the structure of a document, from page design to text layout
and attributes.
* Understanding font styles, and how to choose the right font.
* How to present text well, through the correct use of punctuation and
embellishments.
* The Golden Ratio, and how to use it to give your documents excellent
design balance.
The guide, written and designed by Richard Hallas, is just 20 pages in
size, has a full colour cover and is mono throughout. It is printed on
quality paper and was produced using Ovation Pro.
Alligata Media are making DTP Principles (the guide) available to all
RISC World subscribers free of charge. There is a supporting CD-ROM
featuring Ovation 1, clipart and fonts, which costs GBP5.
<http://www.riscworld.co.uk/>
PD/Shareware News
New software summary
- Stealth, steganography and encryption
Combines strong encryption with a form of steganography. It enables you
to store a number of encrypted directories inside a container file, each
with its own unique passphrase. The program is designed so that no one
without a knowledge of the passphrases can determine how many encrypted
directories actually exist. A particular directory can be decrypted and
extracted only by entering the correct passphrase.
<http://web.bham.ac.uk/N.M.Queen/pgp/acorn.html>
Updated software summary
- AMPlay v1.52
Front end for the AMPlayer module. Note that AMPlayCfg has changed since
the last AMPlay release, so you will need to update your copy of that as
well as the main application. Bug fixes and various extensions.
<http://www.mikejs.com/riscos/amplay.html>
- ARMalyser v0.46
An ARM code analyser that understands RISC OS executable, module, object
and library formats. The main change in this release is an improvement
to the "conditional after BL/SWI" error detection.
<http://www.armclub.org.uk/free/>
- GnuPG v1.2.3
RISC OS port of the OpenPGP compliant encryption software. This version
is mainly a general maintenance release.
<http://www.sbellon.de/gnupg.html>
- Python v2.3
RISC OS port of the Python programming language. RISC OS Python includes
the following highlights: an integrated interface to the SWI system;
Drawfile support; interfaces to the RISC OS WIMP and toolbox (with
examples); numeric extension; PeerBoard: share your clipboard contents
between multiple RISC OS and Win32 computers over TCP/IP connections;
and SSLRelay, a simple SSL proxy server.
<http://people.freenet.de/schwertberger/python.html>
<http://www.schwertberger.de/python.html>
- QuickFiler v2.09
A utility which allows you to use many standard shortcut keys in
conjunction with the RISC OS Filer windows. The Filer gains the input
focus when you click in a directory display, and then responds to the
keyboard shortcuts as shown on the Filer's menu. 32 bit compatible.
<http://www.avisoft.force9.co.uk/QFiler.htm>
- Teletext v1.53
Software for a Ground Control or Octopus Systems teletext receiver, or
other receiver with IIC connection. It uses a powerful script system
which is very flexible.
<http://www.heyrick.co.uk/software/ttx/>
- Webgen2 v2.03
Takes a directory of images and turns them into a complete web site.
HTML generated should validate to 4.01 transitional. Fixed bugs related
to image captions and e-mail addresses.
<http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/daves/software/>
Club News
Proposed Midlands user group
If anyone in the Midlands would like a local Acorn user group e-mail
<rob@micro-bits.co.uk>.
Omega: first full report
The first full report on Omega, 10 pages by a user who has had two months
to put it through its paces, is in the latest issue of Eureka, the
magazine which is sent to members of The ARM Club.
Copies of this issue will be available to new members. Membership forms
can be downloaded from the Club's web site:
<http://www.armclub.org.uk/membership/>
Upcoming meetings
- BARUG (Bristol), 27th August - Paul Richardson: The latest from Explan
<http://www.barug.co.uk/>
- WROCC (Wakefield), 3rd September
<http://www.wrocc.org.uk/>
- ICENI (Suffolk), 4th September - Mike Williams: Photodesk (tutorial)
<http://www.archipel.demon.co.uk/ICENI/>
- DARC (Derbyshire), 8th September - Open forum, Questions & Answers
<http://www.darc-comp.org.uk/>
- EAUG (Essex), 9th September - Practical networking
<http://www.wattys.fsnet.co.uk/eaug/>
- NKACC (Kent), 11th September - E-mail do and don'ts
<http://nkacc.roundel.net/>
- WAUG (Wessex), 13th September
<http://www.mfraz.freeserve.co.uk/waug/>
- ROUGOL (London), 15th September - Peter Naulls, the Unix Porting Project
<http://rougol.jellybaby.net/>
- M25EROUG (M25 East), 16th September - Joe Taylor, AppBasic
<http://m25eroug.riscos.org.uk/>
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