Acorn News Service Newsletter
Issue: 153 (7 March 2004)
Featured site this issue: http://www.iconbar.com/news/sw2004/
General News
News from RISCOS SOUTHWEST
Commercial News
New RISC OS 4.39 ROM sets from RISCOS Ltd
The Select scheme has enabled RISCOS Ltd. to take RISC OS development
forward and they have worked hard to fit the features of the 6MB RISC OS
Select softload ROM into a standard 4MB physical ROM.
Select adds many new features to RISC OS and RISCOS Ltd. are now making
the latest features from the Select scheme available in the new batch of
ROMs. The ROMs will be available as an upgrade for Risc PC, Kinetic and
A7000/+ computers.
If you want the features of the RISC OS Select scheme without the need to
softload the new ROM image, or you want the advantage of inbuilt support
of DHCP networking, or the ability to boot directly from CD-ROM then the
new ROMs are ideal for you.
Pricing for RISC OS 4.39 ROM sets:
- for upgrade of a Risc PC / A7000 running 3.x: GBP140 inc VAT
- for upgrade of a Risc PC / A7000 running 4.x: GBP125 inc VAT
- for subscribers of the Select scheme: GBP105 inc VAT
An order form for the RISC OS 4.39 ROMs is available for download from the
RISCOS Ltd web site <http://www.riscos.com/adjust/>.
Subscribers to the Select scheme may deduct a further GBP10 for each
additional year they have been members of the scheme. For example a Select
subscriber for 3 years pays GBP105 - (2 additional years x GBP10) = GBP85
inc VAT. Subscribers to the Select scheme who joined within the last 9
months will be eligible for special discounts. Please contact RISCOS Ltd.
for further details.
Optionally you may also part-exchange your existing RISC OS 4.02 ROM set
for a further discount of GBP10 off the above prices. Users who wish to
upgrade from RISC OS 4.02 to 4.39 will not be required to return their old
ROM sets until they have installed the new 4.39 ROM.
This batch of ROMs is strictly limited to a production run of 150 ROM
sets. Orders will be taken on a first come, first served basis. The
production of further ROMs will be dependent on the take-up of the main
batch.
<http://www.riscos.com/news/news_items/PR230204>
Castle launch the IYONIX X100 Desktop PC
Castle is pleased to announce the launch of the IYONIX X100. This new
compact desktop computer features the same powerful 600MHz Intel XScale
processor as the IYONIX pc. The X100 will be available alongside the
IYONIX pc which remains in production.
IYONIX systems features an nVidia GeForce video card, a choice of CD
reader/writer, hard drives with capacities up to 120GB, and a range of
memory options using 200MHz DDR memory. The IYONIX X100 also features a
3.5" FDD and built in 7 in 1 memory card reader (option), together with
two front mounted USB ports, headphone and microphone sockets.
Performance of the X100 is the same as the IYONIX pc and runs the same
version of RISC OS, but the X100 does not feature the legacy Podule bus.
However future expansion is catered for by two low-profile PCI expansion
slots accessed from the rear of the computer.
The size of the X100 is ideal for installation on desktops and is strong
enough to allow a wide range of monitors to be placed on the X100. The
X100 dimensions are just 105mm high, 325mm wide and 430mm deep. Prices for
the IYONIX X100 start at GBP1249 including VAT.
For more details on the X100 see <http://www.iyonix.com/> or contact
<sales@iyonix.com>.
Castle LCD offer
You can now save up to 50% on the price of selected LCD monitors, when
bought with an IYONIX or X100 pc.
This special offer means that if you buy an IYONIX or an X100 pc before
the end of May 2004 Castle will slash GBP165 off the retail cost of any
special offer LCD monitor purchased with an IYONIX or X100 pc. Castle also
announces that the top end IYONIX and X100 pcs will feature a built-in
floppy disc drive and a 7-in-1 single card reader at no extra charge. In
addition the memory installed in the mid range IYONIX and X100 pc models
has been doubled to 256MB of 200MHz DDR RAM.
Flat panel LCD monitors have been created to maximise computing space.
Using less than half the space and power requirements of a CRT, they
dramatically reduce energy costs and contribute towards a cooler working
environment. The flicker free nature of LCD technology promotes increased
productivity by reducing eye strain and increasing user comfort.
The following LCD monitors are included in the offer:
- 17" LCD (1280 x 1024) was GBP329 now GBP164
- 18" LCD Dual Input was GBP535 now GBP369
- 20" LCD (1600 x 1200) was GBP779 now GBP614
- 21" LCD Dual Input was GBP1149 now GBP984
<http://www.iyonix.com/>
RCI announce MusicMan digital audio software
R-Comp Interactive is pleased to announce the release of MusicMan for
RISC OS computers, including the latest Iyonix PC. The software is
designed to allow users to play audio CDs complete with track listings and
album information (both of which can be downloaded from the Internet) and,
at the click of a button, convert these into MPEG audio (commonly known as
'MP3' after the DOS file name extension) and other digital audio formats.
Music files are then saved, catalogued by artist and album, with track
names, music genre and other information preserved.
MPEG audio creation is provided by the Shine encoder, which gives speedy
encoding (the Iyonix can convert a 7 minute CD track in close to 1 minute)
and testing on StrongARM Risc PC machines proved pleasing too. Whilst the
software should work on older RISC OS machines, the audio conversion
component may take some time. Shine is used with kind permission of Pete
Everett who ported it to RISC OS.
MusicMan costs GBP19 inclusive of VAT and UK delivery.
Please note that some older CD drives/drivers may have problems with audio
extraction (from any such application) - if you are concerned, you may
wish to check your drive before purchase.
<http://www.rcomp.co.uk/>
Thermal dye photo printing from Stuart Tyrrell Developments
Stuart Tyrrell Developments are pleased to announce the availability of a
6"x4" format photo printer for use with RISC OS machines.
The Kodak Printer Dock 6000 employs a continuous tone thermal dye transfer
technique to produce extremely high quality edge-to-edge prints on
specialised card, beyond those available from traditional inkjet
technology. It may be used with any Kodak 6000 series camera, or directly
attached to the USB port of a RISC OS machine.
The printer costs GBP199 inc VAT and carriage, and is supplied complete
with a starter pack of media (card and dye), mains adaptor, and drivers
for RISC OS and Microsoft computers. The RISC OS drivers are suitable for
both the Castle Iyonix USB and Simtec USB interfaces.
Further details may be found at <http://www.stdevel.com/easydock.html>.
ProArtisan24 for Iyonix
APDL and ProAction Software are pleased to announce that ProArtisan24 is
now available for the Iyonix.
ProArtisan24 is a fully features bitmap creation and editing program and
is ideal for both original artwork or photo manipulation and re-touching.
For more details see <http://www.apdl.co.uk/progs/proart.htm>.
The price of ProArtisan24, supplied on CD with example files and printed
manual is GBP39 including VAT and UK post. Please add GBP2 airmail and do
not deduct VAT outside the UK.
Upgrades from the 26 bit APDL-ProAction version cost GBP12 inclusive. To
qualify for this upgrade price you need to have previously returned you
Registration Card and you must return your original CD with your order.
Upgrades from the Clares version cost GBP29 and you must return your
original discs. For upgrades there is no additional postage outside the UK
but do not deduct VAT outside the EC.
PD/Shareware News
New software summary
- LPRSpool, access network printers
Print to any network printer that supports the standard Unix printing
system, lpr.
<http://www.jaffasoft.co.uk/download/files/lprspool.zip>
- QMstat, statistics teaching software
Application for processing datasets, statistical calculations (from the
basic sample stats right through to chi squared contingency tables,
least squares with regression, hypothesis testing and more).
<http://www.wiseman3.demon.co.uk/andy/andy.html>
- RDesktop, access remote sessions
A port of the RDP client, RDesktop, which allows access to remote
sessions on machines supporting Windows NT Terminal services. This port
is completely unmodified from the original, and it derives its RISC OS
windowing functionality from the ChoX11 library, which replaces the
X Window System libraries for RISC OS.
<http://www.chocky.org/unix/downloads.html#rdesktop>
<http://www.rdesktop.org/>
- Wiseprogs, statistics teaching software
A front end giving access via a menu to lots of maths stats programs
(such as newton raphson, graphs of functions...). These all date back
to the good old BBC days but all still run on the latest systems. The
theme is the graphical presentation of various maths/stats topics to
promote understanding, not just calculations.
<http://www.wiseman3.demon.co.uk/andy/andy.html>
Updated software summary
- FTPcEdit v0.22
A menu-editing tool for Colin Granville's excellent FTPc application. It
will work with the latest version of FTPc, but it can not create nested
submenus at the moment. This version is able to deal with the list_flags
setting of FTPc.
<http://www.mortara.org/comp/acorn.php>
- HID v0.16
X-Ample Technology's shareware USB HID drivers for advanced USB keyboard
and mouse support on the Iyonix.
<http://www.xat.nl/en/riscos/sw/usb/hid/>
- Pic_Index v1.21
Shareware application takes a gallery of JPEG images and produces an
album with a thumbnail index suitable for web and/or local use.
Pic_Index is now Iyonix compatible, and its latest version has other
significant improvements over earlier versions.
<http://www.picindex.info/>
- Powerbase v9.20DA and v9.20SH
Shareware database program. There are several improvements over previous
versions, the most important of which are: a much more intuitive system
for altering the record format of an existing database; extended use of
indexes to speed up report-generation; search formulae can now, by using
a simple extension of the normal syntax, query any column.
<http://www.pendle.ukgateway.net/pbase/>
- SibToDraw v2.08e
A comprehensive vector package which can be used along with all
'flavours' of Sibelius to build music scores of any complexity. New
features include: complete symbol creator/editor; symbols libraries drag
& drop manager; new align, justify, and grid options; new path style
dialog; auto reformatting when changing page/rastral size. Demo version:
<http://www.wln.it/progs/S2Ddemo.zip>
- TextSeek v1.43
A fast file search program which displays its results in context via the
throwback mechanism. All versions 1.4x of Textseek contain a nasty bug
which can cause entries on the menu of previous directories searched to
disappear between sessions (the bottom entry is not being saved
correctly). All users should upgrade to version 1.43, which corrects the
problem.
<http://www.bigfoot.com/~chrisbazley/utilities.htm#textseek>
- ViewXLS v0.08
Viewer for MS Excel files. It should work with all file formats from
Excel 4.0 to Excel XP. ViewXLS shows only the result of cell contents,
no formulas, no objects (graphs etc.), no outlines, no macros, no
pivot-tables. New in this version: save as CSV file; row height and
column width editable; supports different formats for negative and zero
numbers; better handling of XLS files not created by MSExcel; bug fixes.
<http://home.allgaeu.org/areiser/riscos/software/viewxls/>
Club News
Upcoming meetings
- DARC (Derbyshire), 8th March
<http://www.darc-comp.org.uk/>
- SAUG (Southampton), 8th March
<davehigton@dsl.pipex.com>
- EAUG (Essex), 9th March
<http://www.wattys.fsnet.co.uk/eaug/>
- LAUG (Liverpool), 9th March
<http://www.italia.co.uk/laug/>
- NKACC (Kent), 11th March - Practical domestic photo-correction
<http://nkacc.roundel.net/>
- WAUG (Wessex), 13th March
<http://www.mfraz.freeserve.co.uk/waug/>
- ROUGOL (London), 15th March - Neil Spellings, Aemulor Pro and/or CinoDVD
<http://rougol.jellybaby.net/>
- RONWUG (North West), 17th March
<http://www.ronwug.org/>
- ICENI (Suffolk), 7th April -AGM
<http://www.btinternet.com/~icenicomputerclub/>
- WROCC (Wakefield), 7th April
<http://www.wrocc.org.uk/>
- Wakefield 2004, 15th & 16th May
<http://www.wakefieldshow.org.uk/>
- RISC OS Expo 2004 (Netherlands), 19th June
<http://www.bigbenclub.nl/>
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