Acorn News Service Newsletter
Issue: 170 (31 October 2004)
Featured site this issue: http://www.iconbar.com/news/SE2004/
General News
RISC OS South East Show reports
Commercial News
ArtWorks 2.3 available
Slightly ahead of the announced schedule, ArtWorks 2.3 was released a few
days before the South East Show in Guildford. Key improvements include:
- Graduated transparency (linear and radial) with graduation profiles and profile offset control.
- CMYK ink simulation for vastly improved on-screen preview of CMYK colours as printed using CMYK colour separated output.
- Magnetic objects (Arranger functionality).
You can find more details including screenshots at:
<http://www.mw-software.com/software/artworks/aw2features6.html>
Despite all the new features, a full version of ArtWorks 2.30 is still
available for the same price as ArtWorks 2.0: GBP169 + GBP4 p&p
(EUR235 + EUR6 p&p).
Upgrade prices:
- From 2.2: GBP30 / EUR40
- From 2.0/2.1: GBP60 / EUR80
- From plain 1.7: GBP129 + 4 p&p / EUR175 + 6 p&p
- From 1.7 with all modules (including SVGExport and Polygon2): GBP90 + 4 p&p / EUR120 + 6 p&p
- From 1.7 with all modules (except SVGExport and Polygon2): GBP105 + 4 p&p / EUR140 + 6 p&p
All prices include VAT. To order online, please go to
<http://www.mw-software.com/paying2.html>
Schema2 Upgrade
Users of the 32 bit version of Schema2 can now download a free upgrade to
version 1.14 from the APDL web site. Full details are on the Schema2 page
<http://www.apdl.co.uk/progs/schema.htm>.
Note that this upgrade can be used ONLY with the 32 bit version of
Schema2, v1.10 or better.
GBP999 RISCBooks and new 64 bit RISCube
- New RISCBook
A new GBP999 (inc VAT) Centrino-based RISCBook, with a 1.5GHz CPU, 256MB
RAM, 40GB hard disc, 15" screen, Microsoft Windows XP and VA RISC OS 4.
A Combo CD writer and DVD player is also present.
- RISCBook+ SE
GBP1199 inc VAT. Features a 15.4" widescreen display (1280x800), 1.5GHz
CPU, 512MB RAM, a media card reader, parallel, Microsoft Windows XP and
RISC OS 4.
- RISCBook+
GBP1325 inc VAT. A revamped specification - 15" display driven by ATI's
Radeon Mobility 9700 graphics chip, 512MB RAM, 60GB hard drive,
Microsoft Windows XP Pro, RISC OS Adjust, and a DVD +-R/RW drive.
All of these represent significant savings (as much as GBP200+ off) and
enhanced specifications compared to previous models. Battery life on all
models is around 4 hours.
- New RISCube64
GBP999 inc VAT. An Athlon64 3200+ 64bit processor, 512MB RAM, 120GB
ultra high speed hard drive, CDRW/DVD drive, Microsoft Windows XP, and
VA RISC OS 4.
- RISCube64 Ultra
GBP1299. Athlon64 3500+, 1GB of dual-channel memory, 120GB ultra high
speed hard drive, new chassis with stealthed drive bays, DVD writer,
Microsoft Windows XP and RISC OS Adjust.
For more information see <http://www.rcomp.co.uk/>.
R-Comp upgrades
- DialUp 3 and NetFetch 2
These products for Internet access are developed in parallel - DialUp
for modem users, NetFetch for broadband/network/VRPC users. Among a
number of smaller enhancements, the big new feature of DU3 and NF2 is
the presence of Hermes, new e-mail transfer software. Hermes has been
designed to support the latest security requirements of e-mail.
Users of either product can upgrade for GBP15 inc VAT. If you own both
DialUp2 and NetFetch and wish to update both, you can do so for GBP20.
- MusicMan v1.40
A major update of the software, allowing users to create compressed
audio (eg MP3 or OGG music files) from sources other than CD. This has
been driven by the arrival of the AudioIn application on the Iyonix, but
is relevant to any method of capturing audio on to your computer.
Additionally, MusicMan allows you to save raw CD tracks to disc, which
can then be edited and dropped back in for conversion.
<http://www.rcomp.co.uk/>
4D news: ImageFS2 upgrade and 21" monitors
- ImageFS2 32bit upgrade now available
A 32bit version of the popular image conversion software ImageFS2 is
now available. ImageFS2 provides seamless image conversion to and from
many popular bitmap image formats as well as converting Microsoft
Windows MetaFile (WMF) images into Drawfiles. Upgrades from the latest
version (v2.36) cost GBP10. For licensing reasons CJE are unable to
offer upgrades for version 2.37/8 (RISC OS 4 bundled versions), but do
have the full version available on special offer at half price, GBP24.
<http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/4d/>
- 21" refurbished Iiyama Monitors for GBP170
FST tube 0.27mm mask, maximum resolution 1800x1440 @ 75Hz, dual input:
15 pin D-sub and 5 x BNC. Delivery GBP45.
<http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/4d/>
CJE news: USB flash reader, laptops, and PCI TV cards
- 16 in 1 USB Card Reader now available
A new 4-slot 16-in-1 USB card reader! This small, rugged (rubberised
case) card reader will read a wide range of available media in use
today: Type I & II CompactFlash, IBM Microdrive, SmartMedia, Secure
Digital (SD) and Mini-Secure Digital, Multimedia (MMC) and RS-MMC,
xD Picture Card, and Memory Stick Pro/Select/MagicGate/Duo/Duo
MagicGate/Pro Duo. The card reader is fully supported on the Iyonix and
both the Castle & STD USB podules, and costs GBP42 inc VAT & postage.
<http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/>
- Laptops with VA-RPC: Prices down, specs up
All models will now come with a hard disc of 40GB, twice the previous
capacity. Prices are also lower with the M350C 1.6GHz down over GBP300.
The entry level 2700D, in addition to the larger hard disc, now has a
2.4GHz CPU and drops in price to GBP885 inc VAT. All CJE Clevo laptops
come with VirtualAcorn Risc PC installed as standard. For more details
please see: <http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/laptops>
- PCTV cards for Iyonix now in stock
Desktop TV viewing cards suitable for use with an Iyonix and PCITV
software are now available from CJE.
<http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/>
PD/Shareware News
Updated software summary
- Direction v2.00
A utility which prints the Current Working Directory at the command
prompt, in a similar way to *nix and DOS. This version is 32 bit clean,
and unlike the original it does not bring the machine down if the Filing
System that contains the CWD is quit.
<http://www.richardspencer.freeuk.com/direction2/>
- JetDirectFS v1.00
With this module you can print to a Jet Direct printer over your
network via the RISC OS Printers application. Now 32 bit compatible.
<http://www.sbellon.de/sw-modules.html>
- Memphis v3.02
A replacement for the built in RAM disc. It has the advantages of
dynamically resizing while in use and having no upper limit to its size.
Previous versions of Memphis used the System Sprite area, Memphis 3 uses
a Dynamic Area for its storage. It is fully 32 bit neutral and works
with all Shared C Libraries on RISC OS 3.5+.
<http://www.richardspencer.freeuk.com/memphis3/>
- Showjpeg v1-06d
JPEG viewer and carousel. This version has a print preview window and
also shows the printable dpi at the scale shown. Other features are
removable black background, looping carousel, and a toggleable pointer.
<http://users.argonet.co.uk/users/jdp/downs.htm>
- SpamStamp v1.01
Uses Bayesian filtering techniques to detect spam and adds headers to
suspect e-mail, allowing a mail client to treat it accordingly. New in
this version: installation instructions for Hermes and AntiSpam/Pluto,
French resources, option to start caching the hashfile, experimental
support for rnews files, and bug fixes.
<http://home.c2i.net/jjvdgeer/riscos/spamstamp.html>
- Thumbcat v4.1
Image catalogue application. The main changes to this version are the
addition of index/contact sheet printouts and the inclusion of an HTML
manual.
<http://web.ukonline.co.uk/mripley/software.html#thumbcat>
- WebGet v0.19
A web-fetcher that works recursively to download all pages referenced
from the first, and then pages they reference and so on, up to a given
'depth'. In effect it can be used to download a whole web site/web book
etc. It multitasks with the desktop and has a desktop front-end. This
version is identical to the most recent 26 bit version (0.18) in terms
of features, the difference being it works on Iyonix and requires the
32 bit Shared C Library to be loaded on other machines.
<http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/druck/>
Club News
Upcoming meetings
- WROCC (Wakefield), 3rd November - Martin Hansen, MathMagical
<http://www.wrocc.org.uk/>
- IRUG (Kent), 6th November - Laptop VRPC SE
<http://hosting.mixcat.com/irug/>
- DARC (Derbyshire), 8th November - Hardware roadmap
<http://www.darc-comp.org.uk/>
- SAUG (Southampton), 8th November
<davehigton@dsl.pipex.com>
- BAUG (Bottisham), 9th November
<http://come.to/baug>
- EAUG (Essex), 9th November - Joe Taylor and AppBasic
<http://www.wattys.fsnet.co.uk/eaug/>
- LAUG (Liverpool), 9th November
<http://www.italia.co.uk/laug/>
- ICENI (Ipswich), 10th November - Windows tips and tricks
<http://www.btinternet.com/~icenicomputerclub/>
- NKACC (Kent), 11th November - Open meeting & AGM
<http://nkacc.roundel.net/>
- WAUG (Wessex), 13th November
<http://www.mfraz.freeserve.co.uk/waug/>
- ROUGOL (London), 15th November - Paul Beverley
<http://rougol.jellybaby.net/>
- Acorn Midlands Show (Birmingham), 4th December
<http://www.armclub.org.uk/shows/midlands/>
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