** 3 pages news / 1932 words ** Networking for all? ** NETWORK.GIF here ** Smartnet98, produced by Adyton Systems in Germany, offers a new way to network computers without requiring a network card. Smartnet98 works via the parallel port. Adyton claim a maximum transfer rate of 2Mb per second which is faster than many network cards can achieve and many times faster than other serial/parallel direct connections. Smartnet98 was designed for PC laptop users wanting to exchange files with a workstation and includes a five metre cable, user manual, NDIS driver for Windows 95/98/NT but as a spin off there are TUW TCP/IP drivers available for the Atari platform! Because Smartnet98 is a complete network solution it offers much more than simple data transfer. Using Smartnet98 Atari users can access the resources of PC - use its hard disk, printers, modems and other networks. The price for Smartnet98, 5m cable, NDIS driver for Windows, driver for Atari and AMIGA, manual and cover costs 174 DM (around œ63), additional cables cost 144 DM (around œ52). ** BC ** Adyton Systems GbR Reichenbachstrasse 35, 01069 Dresden, Germany Tel: +49 351 4722616 Fax: +49 351 4722617 http://www.adyton.com ** /BC ** --- BiT BOPPER 1.6 Video Synthesiser for Falcon ** BITBOPER.GIF here ** From the web page: "Today's audiences expect live graphics for music and dance and BiT BOPPER delivers high energy graphics and text that turn any video display into a kaleidoscope of music synchronised living colour - the most eye-catching interactive advertising medium ever devised." There's plenty more hype where that came from including a l-o-n-g feature list and quotes from customers. ** BC ** O WONDER University Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94301, USA Email: bitbop@artwalker.com http://www.artwalker.com/o/14/63/ ** /BC ** --- Pagestream 2.2 SoftLogik have released a repackaged version (2.2SE) with a completely new 100 page manual. It is the complete version of the package at the new price of $20 (around œ12) plus $10 (around œ6) delivery to Europe. ** BC ** SoftLogik 289 Timber Ridge Drive, Marthasville MO 63357, USA Tel: 314 828 5121 Fax: 614 828 5122 Email: sales@softlogik.com http://www.softlogik.com ** BC ** --- Diamond bounces Back! Michael White has acquired the rights to Diamond Back and recently announced there will be a new version after he's familiarised himself with the source code. No dates were announced but the featured planned include: ** UL ** * Support of Minix and VFAT file systems * Restructuring the tape backup to make it more robust (I've lost too many log files to v3.5) * Support of Tar format tapes * (Maybe) CD-ROM support ** /UL ** The look and feel will remain the same, except as needed to expand functionality or fix bugs and Michael has asked for feedback from current Diamond Back owners reporting: ** UL ** * Any bugs you've seen (please include your system info) * Any new features you'd like - be realistic! ** /UL ** And yes, I do plan on keeping it a commercial product. Michael is also the new owner of Diamond Edge but decided it would be prudent to have a way to restore a file system before starting experimenting with optimising and repairing it so don't expect a new release for a while yet! If there's sufficient interest Michael may consider re-releasing the current version but cannot offer proper support. ** BC ** Email: michael@fastlane.net ** /BC ** --- One door closes... La Terre du Milieu, publisher of the ST magazin, the last remaining French Atari newstand magazine closed late last year. Another door opens ACC magazine produced by the Association Promethee in France has just published its first issue. It's a 40 page A4 black and white magazine. A copy of the launch issue costs 50 FF (around œ5) with a six issue subscription costing 150 FF. Association members get a discount. Issue 1 covers: ** UL ** * News * Motorola's Blackbird * ST emulators on PCs * Data compression * DIY: Falcon Video Booster, VGA monitor for ST * Programming: 8 timers of the TT, 3D in GFA, ergonomics under GEM, Drag&Drop, Hades triple cartridge port * Console game news (Lynx/Jaguar) ** /UL ** For more details contact: ** BC ** Email: acc.mag@worldnet.fr http://home.worldnet.fr/aspromet ** /BC ** --- Floppyshop bows out ** GNOMES.GIF here ** Sadly, we have to report Floppyshop, one of the longest established UK PD/Shareware libraries and Atari supporting dealers have now closed. Here's a few snippets from their press release: "It is with deep regret we announce the closure of Floppyshop on 30th January 1999. Despite tremendous support from a small section of our customer base, it became apparent that we simply lacked enough active customers for us to continue providing a service as we head towards the millennium. It was not our intention to vanish without trace and we would like to thank both our customers and friends (many of you fall into both categories), for their support over the years. We have posted messages paying tribute to those who continue to fly the flag and we set out our thoughts for the long term future (and there is a definite future) of the Atari community along with messages to our customers on our web pages. Goodbye and good luck for the future. Steve Delaney and Irene Lamb ** BC ** Floppyshop Tel: 01224 312756 Email: floppyshop@cyberstrider.org http://www.floppyshop.cyberstrider.org ** BC ** --- Falcon's Nest bows in Floppyshop have sold their Public Domain Library (but not their commercial products or CDs) to Andrew Plumridge who commenced trading on 1st February 1999. Customers can order using the original Floppyshop catalogue numbers and Andrew intends continuing sending out regular printed updates. Despite the trading name Falcon's Nest caters for all Atari users. ** BC ** Falcon's Nest Mill Road, Watpole Highway, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 7QP, England Tel: 01945 780203 ** /BC ** --- Internet Guide 2nd Edition Roy Golding's USERS GUIDE TO THE INTERNET FOR ATARI publication which was favourably reviewed in AC#9 has now been revised and expanded and released as Edition 2. The guide features set-up details on most of the currently available internet applications and utilities used by Atari users along with much background detail on the world of 'comms'. There's a large glossary and also sections on most of the things you can do using a modem and an Atari such as FTP, IRC, Telnet and straightforward emailing and websurfing. One important improvement is that the guide is now laser printed, but it retains the comb binding method ideal for this type of publication. The guide costs œ9.99 including UK postage. You can also buy the guide with a set of disks which will allow you to get a basic internet suite up and running for œ12.99 including UK postage. More details can obtained from: ** BC ** Roy Golding, 95 Washford Farm Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5YA, England Tel/Fax: 01233 633177 Email: rgolding@zetnet.co.uk ** /BC ** --- ** AWARD981.GIF here ** Following on from last years inaugural awards here are the winners of the 1998 Atari Times Awards. Congratulations to ST+Fanzine who pipped Atari Computing for the best paper based magazine by a single vote. Best Programmer of 1998 Alexander Clauss Other Nominations: Anthony Jacques, Danny McAleer, Deano, Douglas Little, Olaf Piesche, Christian Eyrich, Oliver Behne, Rainer Mannigel, Tat of Avena, Thomas Much, Tim Moss, Tony Greenwood, Uwe Seimet Best Commercial release of 1998 CAB Other Nominations: HD Driver, Homepage Penguin Pro, Imagecopy 4, Jinnee, MagiC, MiNT'98, NVDI, Obsession, Papyrus, Smurf, Substation Best Shareware release of 1998 Thing Other Nominations: Aniplayer, Currency Converter, Everest, Freedom, Infitra, Joe HTML editor, LaceScan, Llamatron, Lottery Companion 5, M_Player, Protracker, The Running, ST Bridge Best PD/Freeware release of 1998 Aniplayer Other Nominations: Appline, Diamond Ice, Disk Mag Construction Kit, Freedom, FreeMiNT 1.15.0, Llamatron, Logbuch, Mountain, Mummies Playtime, POPGem, QED, Rufftrade, TTF-GDOS Best game of 1998 Crown of Creation Other Nominations: Bombaman, Bubble Bobble, Crackman, K, Mummies Playtime, Pothole 2, The Running, Substation, Swap 97, Treasure Island Dizzy, Vroom Best hardware add-on of 1998 Nemesis Other Nominations: Afterburner, Centurbo II, EZ-Flyer 135, Falcon RAM Board, Milan, Nemesis, StarTrak DSP Card, Veloce +, Zip Drive Best Atari supporting company of 1998 Milan Computer GmbH Other Nominations: 16/32, ASH, Floppyshop, Homa Systems, STOSSER, Terre de Milieu, Titan, TUS Best non-profit making Atari organisation of 1998 InterActive Other Nominations: Atari Web Ring, DHS, French Falcon Club, Hallvards Atari Launchpad, Silly Software, ST+, STOSSER, TransAction, UTSI Best Disk Magazine of 1998 Atari Times Other Nominations: ATOS, Maggie, Mega, ST News, Toxic, Undercover Best paper based magazine of 1998 ST+ Fanzine Other Nominations: Atari Computing, Atari Times Special Edition, ST Computer, ST Format, STraTOS Best Atari supporting web pages: Dead Hackers Society http://dhs.atari.org Other Nominations: Atari Hyperlink Launchpad, Chromagic, Elysium, f030.atari.org, Little Green Desktop, MagiC Support Page, Milan, Monkey House, Natural Born Programmers, Old Reservoir Gods pages, Silly Software, ST+, ST News, The Zone Best Internet Service Provider for the Atari range Zetnet Other Nominations: CIX, Club Internet, Compuserve, Demon, Primus Online, X-Tream Network Special award for services to the Atari community Mike Goodman --- Retro Computing A new shop of interest to Atari enthusiasts has recently opened in London. The shop is dedicated to retro computing and is a new venture sponsored by one of London's popular Computer Exchange shops. With Atari machines seen increasingly as cult machines the shop is intending to stock ST's, Falcons, classic Atari consoles alongside other consoles and computers along with a range of software. All machines will be available for viewing and purchasing, together with their games. The new store is located at 153 Whitfield Street, close to Warren Street tube station and the opening hours are from 10am till 6pm Mon-Sat, with Wednesday closing at 1pm in the afternoon. Hopefully once the store establishes itself they'll extend the opening hours to match the opening hours at other Computer Exchange premises. The shop is light and airy and a pleasure to visit so next time you're in London why not drop in and take a look for yourself? --- ** STOS.GIF here ** STOS and AMOS (STOS for Amiga) sold an amazing 450,000 copies over six years. The publisher, Clickteam, has recently released the ASM source code for all STOS and AMOS products as a contribution to the remaining Atari and Amiga community. Clickteam are also willing to answer questions and queries through their discussion forums. We'd like to see other former Atari developers follow their example. ** BC ** http://www.clickteam.com/web/amos/amos.htm ** /BC ** --- ST News International Christmas Coding Convention 2000 Richard Karsmakers of ST News and UVK fame is organising this millennium event to be held somewhere in The Netherlands, probably in a hotel from Friday afternoon December 15th 2000 to Sunday afternoon December 17th 2000. For more details contact: PO Box 67, NL-3500 AB, Utrecht, The Netherlands http://www.scriba.org/stniccc2000 Email: karies@wxs.nl --- Sighting! British dance/big beat artist Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim (previously of The Housemartins, Beats International and others) recently had a number one in the UK singles chart. The inside of the CD sleeve shows a photograph of his studio and lurking in the corner there's an Atari ST! Sighted reported by Jim: jim@studio9.demon.co.uk --- Tavern BBS closes Following catastrophic equipment failure, the sysop of one of London's longest serving BBS systems has been forced to close. Any ex point systems who would like to rejoin the BBS scene will be made cordially welcome at the Fortress BBS at 0181 244 9825 from your terminal and leave an email for Steve Sweet 90:102/105 who will work with the sysop Kevin Osborne to get you up and running again as quickly as possible. ** STOP PRESS ** STOP PRESS ** CENTurbo II faster! Revision B boards are now in production and test results with the new fast RAM controller show a significant improvement: ** np ** NemBench fast RAM accesses: READ WRITE Rev A 31.5 Mb/s 24 Mb/s Rev B 32.5 Mb/s 38 Mb/s ** /np **