=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Amy Today A text-file magazine for all Amiga lovers Volume #3, Issue #2, September 20th =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Editor : John Rydell Writers: Josh Devan and Paul Trauth Address all correspondence to: "Amy Today" C/O John Rydell GEnie address: J.Rydell1 640 Willowglen Rd. (#54790) Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Plink address: J*Rydell GEnie discussion in category #2, topic #29 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents: 1. A Message From the Editor John Rydell 2. Distributing "Amy Today" John Rydell 3. The Great Picture Trade John Rydell 4. Amiga Happenings John Rydell 5. CubeMaster Review Paul Trauth 6. TimeSaver Review Josh Devan 7. LaserXpress Overview C Ltd & John Rydell 8. Puzzle Page - Special Update! John Rydell 9. Trading Galore!! John Rydell 10. Newsletter Trading John Rydell 11. Advertising John Rydell 12. In the Future John Rydell =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A Message From The Editor: Here is issue 3-2 of Amy Today. I would like to thank all of the people that have sent in disks for the picture trade. I hope to have Amy Today picture disk #2 ready to be mailed out very soon now. I would also like to thank Josh Devan, Paul Trauth, and C Ltd. for their contributions to this issue. (Thanks Everyone!) This issue contains a lot of Amiga Happenings. I hope that some of them will be useful to you. Also, this issue contains the first announcement of a new "Trading Galore" trade that I have set up. Look for information later in the issue. The Los Angeles AmiExpo is coming up soon--maybe I'll run into a reader or two there! Let's hope that they have some good new products on display! I am looking for reader-support in the way of articles or short programs you would like to share with the Amiga community. If you would like to contribute please contact me at one of the locations printed in the magazine's cover/title section. All good PD/shareware software will also be mentioned or reviewed if it is sent to Amy Today. John Rydell (Editor) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Distributing "Amy Today": Amy Today is what I call a public domain file-based magazine. This means that I would like to be given credit to anything taken from the magazine and I request that the magazine remains "AS IS". Please do not modify it in any way if you are going to distribute it. About Distributing: Please upload Amy Today EVERYWHERE! This magazine simply will not flourish if it is not uploaded whenever possible. Every issue is kept under 15,000 bytes ARCed so that upload/download time should never be a problem. So, please, if you have the chance spread the magazine around the country! Give a copy to your friend! Keep Amy Today alive and going strong! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Great Picture Trade: The Great Picture Trade is still taking place! Anyone who sends me a disk with at least one of their favorite pictures on it will have their disk mailed back to them filled with pictures that others have sent and that I have collected. Disks must be accompanied by a SASE (Please enclose enough postage to get the disk back to you--I'm running low on stamps!) and sent to: Amy Today Amiga Picture Trade 640 Willowglen Rd. Santa Barbara, CA. 93105 I would also appreciate more than one picture be sent to make a better collection to choose from. A final request that I have is that you specify if you would like nudes included on your disk. I have been receiving quite a few of these and have not sent any out because I do not want to offend anyone. If you want nudes included, please specify this. Otherwise none will be sent. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Amiga Happenings: (John Rydell) Dungeon Master- Finally a release date for Dungeon Master has been set for September 30, 1988. DiskSalv1.2- A new version of DiskSalv has been released into the public domain. The new version takes FFS and other new things into account. The program looks very nice and is available on both GEnie as file #5001 and Plink as #13630. AmiExpo- A list of the companies attending AmiExpo in Los Angeles as of September 16th has been released and is file #13664 on Plink. Commodore is among the companies that will have a display. (Thank Goodness!) Maybe I'll even be so brave as to hope that they will have 1.3 ready to go by the show. Universal Action-Adventure in "Global Commander" from DataSoft- On September 12 Electronic Arts announced the release of Global Commander which was created by DataSoft who is an affiliated label for Electronic Arts. Global Commander is "a fascinating global adventure which challenges players to negotiate peace between the world's paranoid superpowers. In Global Commander, players are forwarded to the year 2032, where all 16 of the world's powers are members of the United Nuclear Nation (UNN). Each Nation has its own government, personality, and needs. They are all nuclear armed, aggressive, and untrustworthy." The game is available at local retail outlets of from Electronic Arts: Electronic Arts 1820 Gateway Drive (800)245-4525 Monday - Friday San Mateo, CA 94404 GOMF: Hypertek/Silicon Springs recently released G.O.M.F. 3.0. They can be reached at: Hypertek/Silicon Springs 205-2571 Shaugnessy St. Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada V3C 3G3 Infocom: Infocom has finally broken their tradition of purely text adventures with the promised release later this year of four graphic/text adventures. M.O.D.E.M- Modem now stands for Modem-Users Organization Dedicated to the Enhancement of Modeming. A new user group has been started in Southern California dedicated to making modeming safer and more fun. More information can be found in file #5011 available from GEnie. Or contact: M.O.D.E.M P.O. Box 3613 Van Nuys, CA 91407-3613 Virus Book- Compute Books has just released a book titled "Compute's Computer Viruses" to go on sale in November of 1988. The book is written by Ralph Roberts and sells for $14.95. The book covers the serious topic of computer viruses and how some people are merely overlooking their great significance. Additional information can be received from: Ralph Roberts P.O. Box 8549 Asheville, NC 28814 News from Commodore- The following are quotations and information that was picked up recently from Commodore: XWindows11 - Not Available yet Sculpt 4d Animation/Raytracing - Available end of month CSA 68020 w/ 68882 math coproc - Available now "1.3 out before Christmas" "1.4 out late in '89" "Readpixel line-at-a-time in 1.4" "Writepixel line-at-a-time in 1.4" "Color dot also possible" New Disk Collection- Joe Larson has just released his first ART disk in a new collection that he has started. His disk(s) will focus on music, hacks, pictures, and animations. I will try to obtain a copy of the first disk so that I may pass on some more information but for now you can receive the first disk for $5 plus postage (probably a SASE would be greatly appreciated) by sending to: Joe Larson 6121 St. Croix Ave. N. Golden Valley, Minn 55422 Amiga Happenings is a column dedicated to giving you information on what is happening in the Amiga community. Some of the information could possibly be wrong due to the fact that I am trying to get early information. I do not in any way guarantee that the information will be accurate although I will try my hardest to protect the innocent. >>If you have some new information you would like to share please submit it to Amy Today. ################################################################ # ---------------------------------------------------------- # # WILD WARES'S COMMODORE PRICES & SPECIALS FOR SEPTEMBER '88 # # ---------------------------------------------------------- # # Commodore Amiga: WW PRICE RETAIL # # ---------------------------------------------------------- # # Rocket Ranger--Just released!...........$ 32.97 $ 49.95 # # Photon Video Cell Controller............$ 179.00 $ 229.95 # # Supra 2400..............................$ 139.95 $ 179.95 # # X-Specs 3-D.............................$ 92.47 $ 124.95 # # Ca/880 3 & 1/2 external.................$ 159.95 $ 229.95 # # WV-1410 Panasonic Camera................$ 214.97 $ 329.95 # # Lights, Camera, Action..................$ 49.95 $ 79.95 # # Modeler 3-D.............................$ 59.97 $ 99.95 # # Excellence..............................$ 179.95 $ 229.95 # # Phantavision............................$ 39.97 $ 59.95 # # ---------------------------------------------------------- # # Call 805-682-8330 12pm-6pm for information on new products # # or for a free catalog! Or write to WILD WARES, 1401 La Cima # # Lane, SB, CA 93101. Orders Only line: 800-777-WILD # # ---------------------------------------------------------- # ################################################################ CubeMaster Review: (Paul Trauth of New Orleans Commodore Klub) ASDG, the company that brought us VD0: and FACC, has come out with their first game. CubeMaster is, at first glance, just another child of Asteroids. Once you've played it a few times, you realize that Perry Kivolowitz has created a game that is much more complex and involved. CubeMaster puts you in a MMU (Manned Mobility Unit) and then throws you into a large, zero-gee arena with rubber walls. Then, it puts in a few large rotating cubes of different colors. Once you shoot the cubes, they break up into little cubes. (Sound familiar?) When you shoot the little cubes, they're gone. This is just the tip of the iceberg, since the differently colored cubes have varying effects on you when shot or touched. For instance, touching the blue cubes will decrease the number of shots on-screen at once, and shooting one will increase your shot count. Even with the effects of vari-colored cubes, it's still not complicated enough. Every so often, the cubes will change color - usually when you're just about to shoot the cube you need. The are Bad Guys in this game, too. They include malevolent spheres or collections of spheres that shoot at you. Ouch! Finally, each screen is different. The rules of the game vary slightly from screen to screen. Luckily, Perry included an introduction screen for each level, telling you what rules are in force. These include whether or not small cubes will turn back into large cubes after a while, a "Sequential" mode which is a real pain to complete, and several other important bits. CubeMaster is a very well-mannered game. It doesn't cheat, for one thing - your death is your fault, not because of a glitch in the programming. Also, it multi-tasks nicely, although it takes up most of a 512k machine. In fact, CubeMaster isn't even copy- protected. Because of this, you can easily install it on a hard drive. I do have a few gripes, though. For one thing, it gets hard to tell which way your astronaut is pointing sometimes, because there's no obvious direction. Usually, a quick use of the brakes will slow it down enough to see. Another minor quibble is the flatness of the cubes. They're just rotating silouettes. Again, not much, but it doesn't help the effect. In fact, the graphics overall are rather uninspiring - functional about covers it. CubeMaster has some very solid gameplay, though, so I'm willing to overlook the less-than-amazing visuals. And the sounds are wildly appropriate. Bouncing off a cube gets you an "oof" or "ouch", sometimes even a "cuckoo". Overall, CubeMaster is an absorbing fast-action game. Despite the merely functional graphics, CubeMaster offers hours of joystick-wringing fun. A lot of work obviously went into this game, and it shows. This isn't one for the kiddies - though they'll have some fun with it too. It's for people who like to think a little before they shoot--Definitely worth your time. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TimeSaver Review: (Josh Devan) TimeSaver From: C Ltd List price: $79.95 Before I begin this review, I must warn you that the TimeSaver is for the Amiga 1000 ONLY. All you 500 and 2000 owners can skip this one. From the descriptions and articles (well, article) I had read, I had fallen in love with it before I received my test TimeSaver from John (your favorite editor and mine). However, now that I have been using it for several weeks, I find our relationship slightly faltering... TimeSaver - The TimeSaver comes in an Amiga beige box with two modular keyboard jacks on one end. One jack connects to the keyboard via the existing cord, the other passes the keyboard and TimeSaver output through a supplied cord to the jack on the back of the Amiga. This placement between the keyboard and the Amiga puts it in the perfect place for functions such as macros, command line editing/history, and password protection. Installation is simple (according to the manual), but I attempted to install it as ineptly as I could. Truthfully it didn't take much work to reach the computer idiot level because I instantly installed it upside down. To install it correctly, you push it (hopefully gently) into a slot on the bottom of your Amiga which really does appear to be made for it. It SHOULD fit snugly, however the package that TimeSaver comes in includes some double sided tape in case of loose fit (the package I received from John, of course, did not contain this tape and I made do with taping it in with normal scotch tape). Sounds simple right? Well I was able to pound the thing in backwards (the manual does not say which side is up and I happened to guess incorrectly), this was corrected with the aid of a screwdriver and only minor dents in the plastic of my Amiga. Other Stuff - The TimeSaver also comes with: a registration card, a 70 page manual of fairly good quality, a handy 1 page Quick Reference Sheet, and the indispensible (which I was left without) double sided tape. Features of the TimeSaver: Real-Time Clock/Calender - This is the basic purpose of the TimeSaver, it is a battery backed clock/calender. Now, before you scream and yell about having to read this far just to find it to be a review of yet ANOTHER battery backed clock/calender, this one is different! It is able to preform several other functions because of its location on the keyboard line, this allows it to intercept and interpret all of your key strokes (think of it as a small Big Brother). As a clock/calender I have only one gripe with it, that being the lack of a method for automatically updating the date in the start-up routine. (**See Editor's note at the end of the article**) What that means is that it appears that the only way to correct the time when you first turn on your computer is to manually press Help-F5 (help key and function #5 key...) However it does have an AutoDate function after a warm boot. After you do a warm boot (by CTRL - Left Amiga - Right Amiga), it waits a certain amount of time (factory default is about 11 seconds but you can set it anywhere from 0 to 31.5 seconds) and then executes a date dd-mmm-yy hh:mm (where d=day, m=month etc...) This is nice BUT there is a catch (of course)! If for some reason you wait to long after being given the "hand holding the Workbench disk" prompt, this command will still be sent but there will be nothing there to interpret it. However, under normal circumstances you will have a disk in df0: before you get the workbench disk prompt and all will be well. Fully Programmable Battery Backed-up Macros - A macro is defined by the TimeSaver manual as "a simple keystroke (or set of keystrokes) that define (or represent) a more complex set of keystrokes". An example is typing ALT-l and having 'Hello Lisa.' or 'dir df1:' printed on your screen. The TimeSaver has 17 such macros in ROM (meaning permanent macros installed at the factory) and 7 k worth of low-powered RAM for user definable macros. This means you can create and delete your own macros up to a total of 3,500 characters for all your macros (3,500 because each macro takes two bytes, one to record the depression of a key and the other the release). These macros are defined or deleted in a somewhat awkward CLI environment but can be used with any program. Also, they can be turned off to be compatible with the many programs that use they same keystroke sequences as your macros (there is a better way to get around that problem though). Password Protection - This is the one function that I hate most. At first it seems "neat" if somewhat frivolous (frivolous because the owner of a personal computer like an Amiga will not often need password protection except to keep their little brother from playing games) to have a four character password. However the method of entry for this password leaves much to be desired. When you wish to change the password it first asks for the old one and then asks you to enter a new one. This seems simple but since you can not see what you are typing and there is no way to edit your entry you can wind up in big trouble. For instance, if you are typing your password and accidentally hit a character without knowing which one, you are really stuck. At that point you must take the TimeSaver back out and remove and then replace the battery. It is simpler to mistype the password than you might think (I had to replace the battery TWICE because of this). The macro function has a similar problem in that you can't (actually you can, but it wastes memory and looks strange) edit what your entering because a backspace is saved as one of the characters. This is representative of TimeSaver's major problem in my opinion, it is not very user friendly, especially for Workbench users who are afraid of CLI. AutoStart Macro - This an interesting function which simply allows you to use one of the macros as another start-up routine in effect. Any RAM macro can be used and since a macro can be up to 7k and can contain returns, this second start-up routine can be as complex as the normal one (s/startup-sequence). Command Line History & Editing - Command line history is normally for CLI users and allows you (normally by using the arrow keys) to go back up through your list of commands (ie. if you've typed cd df1: and then dir, you could hit a HELP - up-arrow key sequence and cd df1: would appear on that line). Command line editing simply allows you to edit (again, normally by using the arrow keys) the current line your typing with much greater versatility than hitting backspace again and again... This feature would become obsolete with the release of Kickstart/Workbench 1.3 which includes these functions if it wasn't for the fact that the TimeSaver's command line history/editing can be used with any text-oriented program. However because it was designed to work unobtrusively with CLI it adds a ';' to your input so if you typed "Hello " and then HELP - Up-arrow it would come back ";Hello". This makes it too cumbersome for my tastes. This may very well change though when 1.3 comes into widespread use. Not Too Technical Overview - The main meat of the TimeSaver is an 8k (only 4k is currently used so plenty of room for expansion) replaceable EPROM (Erasable, Programmable, Read Only Memory) so you can get the latest version of TimeSaver by replacing the old chip with the latest version (this should not be very hard but I have not had a chance to test it). It also has 8k worth of low-power RAM for macros, CLI history, and TimeSaver's flags as well as a low-power clock chip to continue functioning when the computer is off (when on, the power normally supplied to the keyboard by the Amiga is used instead). It is powered when the computer is off by a 3 Volt Lithium battery made by Ray-O-Vac and several other companies which should last at least a year and is easily replaceable. Comparison to other battery backed clock/calenders - I believe that even with its several flaws, this is still the best clock/calender available to the 1000 owner. Not only does it have none of the physical incompatibilities of some of the others, it is also much more than just another clock/calender. I'm hoping to one day see an updated version of the TimeSaver from CLTD. EDITOR'S NOTE: Included on my C Ltd. 33 megabyte hard drive was a program that allowed you to automatically set the date from your startup sequence. Obviously C Ltd. realized that this should have been included and have made a software fix for it. Although it is too bad that this program does not come with TimeSaver it is good to know that it is available. (Probably for no cost from any major downloading service.) ############################################################### # Participate in the new 'Trading Galore' sponsored by John # # Rydell and Amy Today. Check the article for more info on # # this new Trade! # ############################################################### LaserXPress--An Overview (Portions reprinted with permission from C Ltd) Since early in 1987, C Ltd. has been working on adapting the newest technology in desk-top publishing/small office automation hardware (including small local area networks, laster printers, page scanners and facsimile transmission devices) for use with the various models of Commodore Amiga Computers. In addition to excellent print quality, the LaserXPress is able to print a complete page of 300 DPI text and/or graphics information 8 to 72 times faster than any other laser printer available for the Amiga. While I.B.M and Apple were adding band-aids to outdated designs, trying to circumvent some of their limitations, Commodore started selling a new computer system, the Commodore Amiga, which was designed from the very beginning to take advantage of the technological advancements that had been made. Though not specifically designed to directly drive a laster engine, the Amiga computer is ideally suited to do so with the ability to directly address over 9 megabytes of memory for storage of information. The Amiga also came with several very fast methods of sending the information to external devices such as this laser engine. The Amiga computer, because of its outstanding video graphics display, is also ideally suited to host desk top publishing software, which is currently the fastest growing use for laster printers in the business market. Building on the basic strengths of the Amiga, C Ltd. developed the LaserXPress as a laser printer that truly works in concert with, rather than in spite of, the computer to which it is attached. In summary, the LaserXpress printer uses new technologies in both hardware and software design that allow it to out perform ANY laser printer connected to ANY small business or personal computer. No other system allows full 300 DPI editing of the exact bit-map image used by the printer while providing printing of a full 300 DPI (letter or legal size) page in any combination of text and/or graphics in less than 15 seconds! Priced at under $2500.00 the LaserXpress combined with "Publishing Partner Professional", "Express Paint", and the huge volume of fonts (all of which are provided at no cost) provides a complete, fast, powerful yet economical solution for even the most demanding high-productivity desk-top publishing environments. C Ltd. 732 East Skinner Wichita, Kansas 67211 (316)267-6322 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Puzzle Page -Special Update!: (John Rydell) I have recently found out that it is taking longer for Amy Today to be distributed than I once thought. For instance, people are right now only receiving issue 2-1 and 2-2 of the magazine in some places. Because of this, I have decided to extend the deadline for the puzzle answers until November 15th. This gives everyone a little longer to turn in their answers. The winner of the contest will receive a box of 10 3.5 inch disks. If you wish to participate please send your NAME, ADDRESS, where you received your copies of Amy Today and your answers to the first 10 questions to: Amy Today ATTN Puzzle Contest 640 Willowglen Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Or send the information to Plink: J*Rydell - GEnie: J.Rydell1 I will hopefully be starting a new contest in the near future. If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know. ############################################################### # WILD WARES RAFFLE! # # --Here's how YOU can win a Supra 2400 baud modem # # # # Send your full name, address, computer type, and telephone # # number before September 31, 1988 and you will be eligible # # to win this MODEM. Other surprise packages will be given # # away for the Amiga and C-64. Contributions such as $1 # # would be gladly accepted for additional prizes to be given # # away to contest participants. All winners will be notified # # October 1, 1988. Currently there are five prizes avail- # # able. (Mailing address printed in above advertisement) # # **Note that the deadline has been extended for one month. # ############################################################### Trading Galore: First we had a picture trade. Users were urged to send in a disk full of pictures and, in return, were given a disk full of the best pictures that had been collected so far. The picture trade was, and will hopefully continue to be, a GREAT success! Because of this, I have decided to open up a new trade which allows everyone to participate--not just those of us with pictures. Send me a disk full of anything you want. (Music, Art, Animations, Sound files, and Public Domain/Shareware software...anything!) Include a SASE (please remember the stamps!), and I will send your disk back to you filled with whatever you want. Just tell me whether you want music, art, software (you can even specify a specific pd/shareware program but I can't guarantee that I have it), and I'll send it back. On request, I'll even send disk copies of all issues of Amy Today. Send your disk and a SASE to: Amy Today's Trading Galore 640 Willowglen Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 <> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Newsletter Trading: (From Issue 1-1) I am looking for Amiga user groups who would like to trade newsletters with me. Every month I will send you three issues of Amy Today and, in return, I would like a copy of your newsletter. I know a lot of this trading takes place and would love to get involved. The more articles and information that I have about the Amiga, the better I can make Amy Today. If you are interested please drop me a line on GEnie, Plink, or by mail. I would really appreciate a sample newsletter and will mail you Amy Today in return. A special thanx goes out this week to the Amiga Mutual Interest Group and the Amiga Round Table for sending me their nice newsletters to read, enjoy, and use in Amy Today! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Advertising: Amy Today is open to advertising at VERY affordable prices. Large and small companies both have a great opportunity for quality advertising while supporting a public domain Amiga magazine. If you are interested please write to: Amy Today ATTN Advertising 640 Willowglen Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= In the Future: A review of Bard's Tale II A review of Professional Page 1.1 A review of Modula-2 A review of a CLtd 33 meg hard drive A review of a Supra 2400 baud modem Yes, another review of F/A-18 Interceptor An interview with a shareware programmer (Guess who?) Maybe even more interviews, also And hopefully numerous articles from you--the readers. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Amy Today" is copyright 1988 by John Rydell. Portions of the magazine may be reprinted but the content of this magazine may NOT be changed without the expressed consent of John Rydell. Yet everyone is encouraged to distribute it AS IS. Please give credit to "Amy Today" as well as to the individual author when reprinting material. "Amy Today" as well as any of its authors are not responsible for any damages that occur because of errors or omissions. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=