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Home > Archive > Issue 155 Current Issue: No. 260 (28 March 2010)
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Acorn News Service Newsletter

Issue: 155 (4 April 2004)

Featured site this issue: http://netsurf.sourceforge.net/

General News

Wakefield Show prize draws

This year's Wakefield RISC OS Computer Show (15th and 16th May 2004) will once again feature a series of prize draws throughout the weekend.

The two top prizes are:

  • A6 with 17" TFT, or a refund of machine value for existing A6 owner - donated by Stuart Tyrrell Developments.
  • One GBP500 money off voucher for an Iyonix pc - donated by Castle Technology.

The top second prizes are:

  • Risc PC expansion to the value of GBP150 - donated by Stuart Tyrrell Developments.
  • 5x GBP100 money off vouchers for an Iyonix pc - donated by Castle Technology.

Other Prizes include 2 copies of VirtualRPC, GBP250 worth of vouchers from APDL, and magazine subscriptions. Full details and conditions can be found at <http://www.wakefieldshow.org.uk/prizedraw.shtml>.

Commercial News

CJE Micro's add 40 extra products to their Software Sale

CJE Micro's and The Fourth Dimension have added an extra 40 titles to their combined Software Sale, making a total of 240 items on offer, including:

  • Chopper Force: was GBP32, now GBP12
  • Cataclysm: was GBP24, now GBP10
  • StartWrite: was GBP75, now GBP5
  • Logic Mania: was GBP31, now GBP10
  • Drifter: was GBP33, now GBP12
  • A Mouse in Holland: was GBP33, now GBP8
  • Doris the Dotty Dog: was GBP12, now GBP2
  • PublishArt3: was GBP38, now GBP10
  • Nevryon: was GBP20, now GBP8
  • Naughty Stories Vol.2 (Set of 6): was GBP47, now GBP20
  • ArcVenture IV: Anglo Saxons: was GBP39, now GBP20
  • APDL ClipArt CD 3: was GBP19, now GBP10
  • Anagram Genius: was GBP19, now GBP10
  • NightSky: was GBP60, now GBP30
  • TextEase Studio: was GBP175, now GBP115

These items are only available for a limited period and while stocks last. For orders under GBP20 please add GBP3 administration charge. For a complete list of over 240 titles, see: <http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/swoffers>

Improved RISCube specifications

R-Comp have enhanced the specification of all new RISCube machines, allowing customers to benefit from changes in the component market.

The Microsoft Windows systems with integrated RISC OS emulation now have faster processors, hard discs, and CDRW/DVD drives, as well as quieter fans. High spec RISCube machines are now shipping with a combination 7-in-1 media card reader in addition to the traditional floppy drive.

<http://www.rcomp.co.uk/>

Alphapics and Numberpics

Continuing the APDL and ProAction Software relaunch of the Topologika Software range, Alphapics and Numberpics are now available from stock.

Alphapics offers two complementary activities. Children combine visual discrimination skills and early reading knowledge to match one letter/sound to one of four pictures or one picture to one of four letters/sounds. Numberpics applies the same skills to the learning of numbers through the use of colourful illustrations.

Alphapics and Numberpics are available now on CD-ROM at GBP19.90 inclusive of VAT and UK delivery. You can order a copy from APDL on 020 8778 2659 or <info@apdl.co.uk>, or write to APDL, 39 Knighton Park Road, Sydenham, London SE26 5RN.

Generic MassFS released for the STD USB card

Stuart Tyrrell Developments are pleased to announce the immediate availability of an extension of their MassFS mass-storage drivers for the Simtec/STD USB card, MassFS v1.00.

MassFS v1.00 is a full mass-storage filing system for use with the Simtec/ STD USB card. It allows devices such as pen drives, card readers, digital audio players, digital cameras and Zip drives to be accessed.

People who purchase USB devices from Stuart Tyrrell Developments will receive a fully supported version of MassFS, as before. These versions will present a "support key" for each device which may be used in order to obtain support direct from Stuart Tyrrell Developments. Users without MassFS who wish to use products sourced outside the RISC OS arena may purchase MassFS for GBP10 inc.

The first user to supply verifiable settings for new devices back to STD (which do not already exist in the "other devices" file) will receive a version of MassFS for that device free of charge (worth GBP10). These settings will be incorporated into the "other devices" file, which is freely downloadable and available to all users.

Pricing of MassFS is as follows:

  • MassFS v1.00 and later: GBP10 inc VAT.
  • Upgrade existing MassFS to v1.00: free of charge, including support keys for devices already purchased.
  • MassFS v1.00 with any suitable USB device from STD: free of charge, including support keys.
  • Download and use of "other devices" file, enabling many devices to be used (without support): free of charge.
  • Issue of support key for devices supported by STD but not purchased from STD: GBP10 inc VAT.
  • Issue of key to the first user to successfully report settings for a new device: free of charge.

For further information, please see <http://www.stdevel.com/massfs.html>.

Stuart Tyrrell Developments take over Simtec USB

Stuart Tyrrell Developments (a trading name of Advantage Six Ltd.) have signed an agreement to become the sole distributor for the Simtec/STD USB card, supplying cards to both RISC OS dealers and direct to end customers.

Drawing on their years of experience of RISC OS and USB products, Stuart Tyrrell Developments will now become the front line of support for both end customers and dealers.

The Simtec/STD USB card will be referred to as the STD USB card. The RISC OS USB web site at <http://www.riscos-usb.com/> will reflect these changes, along with current and future developments of the STD USB card.

Stuart Tyrrell of Stuart Tyrrell Developments said, "We have worked for many years with Simtec, acting as dealers and agents for their RISC OS products, and we have commissioned designs such as NET100 from them. As we continue to announce exciting developments for the USB card, such as our recent MassFS 1.00, RISC OS dealers and users have regarded us as their first choice for support. We're delighted to formalise these arrangements".

The STD USB card is a USB1.1 compatible USB expansion card for Risc PCs fitted with a backplane. It allows for connection of USB devices such as keyboards, mice, pen drives, digital audio players, scanners, cameras and USB wireless networking dongles.

<http://www.stdevel.com/USB.html>

PD/Shareware News

Updated software summary

  • ARMalyser v0.47
    An ARM code analyser that understands RISC OS executable, module, utility, object and library formats. It can output disassembler or ObjAsm assembly styles, in plain text, fully hyperlinked and syntax coloured HTML, XML, or custom formats for import into Impression, TechWriter and Ovation Pro. Enhancements and fixes in this release: last word of module service table not marked as array; object file code attribute explicitly flagged as 26bit; C flag set for OS_GBPB & OS_BGet.
    <http://www.armclub.org.uk/free/>
  • DrW2HTML (27-Mar-04)
    Converts the DrWimp text manual to HTML. Minor bug fixes.
    <http://www.denmarkwa.net.au/~kwright/softw.html>
  • EnBank v3.00
    Multi-currency accounts package. New features include: support for version 2 of the currency services; both 'Matrix' and 'Base' currency conversion models are supported; accounts can be managed in currencies other than 'base'; and other multi-currency features.
    <http://www.envsoft.co.uk/riscos/>
  • Finder v1.30
    A multi-tasking file search utility which takes a (wild-carded) file name and/or a file type specification and optionally creation dates and file sizes, and searches a user specified directory for matches. Options include recursive searches, case sensitivity and automatic directory opening. This version is fully 32 bit compatible.
    <http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/c_nelson/finder/>
  • FTPs v0.19
    A basic FTP server module/application which permits sharing of some or all of a hard disc via FTP. Includes improved help, and the ability to add and delete users 'line at a time'.
    <http://www.rosery.net/riscos/>
  • GCC v3.3.3 pre-release 1
    A free collection of compilers that provide the user with a powerful tool for translating C, C++ and Fortran source into fast ARM assembler that is suitable for execution on RISC OS. Though this is a pre-release, the compiler toolset should be considered stable.
    <http://hard-mofo.dsvr.net/gcc/>
  • Reporter v2.56
    Enables the easy display of text and variable values in a debugging window from Wimp programs (especially BASIC), Obey files and more. This versions adds a time option to *ReportTrace so that BASIC Trace records can be timestamped with microsecond accuracy, and includes ReportTA v1.00 with Time Analysis.
    <http://www.avisoft.force9.co.uk/Reporter.htm>

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