08.Mar.2003
Olaf Köbnik (email)
|
Amiga Arena: Sayonara Software page online again
Games like Hollywood Manager, Flamingo Tours and
the Samba Partie series may be taken as the most successful titles by "Sayonara Software".
Jo Seitz, the founder and developer of "Sayonara Software",
gave the Amiga Arena last year the permission to offer his games there for free downloading. These games are after the redesign now online again!
(ps) (Translation: wk)
[News message: 08. Mar. 2003, 19:56] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
08.Mar.2003
Alfonso Ranieri (ANF)
|
FreeDB 7.3 and CManager 21.8 released
FreeDB 7.3
and CManager 21.8 are available for download. (ps)
[News message: 08. Mar. 2003, 19:51] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
08.Mar.2003
Christoph Gutjahr (ANF)
|
New community portal: Amigaworld.net
Though the community portal Amigaworld.net already exits for several months it became a talking-point in the last days as an alternative to Amiga.org.
In contrary to Amiga.org MorphOS and Pegasos aren't accepted as topic on Amigaworld.net, the providers want to concentrate on topics all about AmigaOS and Amiga Inc. In conjunction with very strict moderating they want to avoid the typical warfares also Amiga.org had to suffer from.
(nba) (Translation: wk)
[News message: 08. Mar. 2003, 18:32] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
08.Mar.2003
Christoph Gutjahr (ANF)
|
Amiga: We were just sleeping
The March issue of the Australian computer magazine "Australian Personal Computer" reports under the title "Amiga: We were just sleeping" about the upcoming launch of the "AmigaOne".
(nba) (Translation: wk)
[News message: 08. Mar. 2003, 18:30] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
08.Mar.2003
Christoph Gutjahr (ANF)
|
Further AmigaOne/Pegasos benchmarks
On Pekka Nissinen's benchmark site are further benchmarks available: new added are the results of a Pegasos/G3 with 100 MHz FSB as well as of an AmigaOne-SE with 100 MHz FSB.
All benchmarks had been done with the same binary.
To people who speak English and are interested in the topic may be the according thread on ANN recommended. The issue is discussed there on a mainly objective basis. Right now there's the question why the Pegasos does much worse in two tests (assignment and LU decomposition) than the AmigaOne, maybe the L2-cache isn't activated on the Pegasos. (nba)
Update:
Update for Pegasos/AmigaOne benchmarks - In the meanwhile has the site been brought up-to-date. On the Pegasos was indeed the L2-cache deactivated, this error has been fixed and the benchmark results have been updated.
(ps) (Translation: wk)
[News message: 08. Mar. 2003, 18:29] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
08.Mar.2003
Bernd Roesch (ANF)
|
Speed tests with Monzoom
The raytracing program Monzoom tested:
Amiga version 4.3.78 -Pro
PC version 4.5.55 -Pro
Scene: Caribbic (coming with Monzoom Pro)
800x 600; Ray 4; Antial. 4; shadow -An
A1200 __040/25MHz ___________computing time __59 min 11 sec __(3551 sec)
A4000 __060/50MHz ___________computing time __20 min 01 sec __(1201 sec)
A1200 __PPC603e/150Mhz ______computing time __10 min 39 sec __( 639 sec)
A4000 --PPC604e/200MHz ______computing time __02 min 30 sec __( 150 sec)
-------------------------------------
WinUAE AMD/2000+ ____________computing time __01 min 48 sec __( 108 sec)
Amithlon AMD/2000+ (1.6GHz) _computing time __01 min 09 sec __( 69 sec)
Athlon 1700+ ________________computing time __00 min 09 sec --( 09 sec)
Athlon 2000+ ________________computing time __00 min 08 sec __( 08 sec)
Tried updating with Pegasos values but (mk) hadn't got my mail (he posted) and he doesn't have time next week and I don't want to stress him. But to show speed facts this is enough to be posted now.
(ps) (Translation: wk)
[News message: 08. Mar. 2003, 11:25] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
07.Mar.2003
Thorty! (ANF)
|
Thorty-Online.de: New AMIGA sections opened
On Thorty-online.de two new Amiga sections has been opened.
- Amiga Workshops
- Handy Logos
Amiga Workshops:
You can find here some workshops about the use of WinUAE on the x86 platform. Other ones
will follow.
Handy Logos:
This fresh section will be extended in irregular distances. MorphOS fans may be delighted
because they can download a suitable logo and/or picture message for a handy of Nokia and
Siemens.
The tutorial explains you how you will get the logo and/or the picture message to your
handy.
(ps) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 07. Mar. 2003, 22:02] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
07.Mar.2003
Mikey C (ANF)
|
Total Amiga Magazine 14 with Quake-2-lottery
Total Amiga Magazine Issue 14 will be available from March 15. But that's not the end of the story, how does the chance of winning a copy of either Amiga QuakeII or Descent: Freespace sound?
To coincide with our comprehensive Amiga Quake II review and thanks to Hyperion-Entertainment, we have a copy of Amiga Quake II/Descent: Freespace* to give away to one lucky winner. To enter, subscribe to Total Amiga Magazine by 17/3/2003 (24:00hrs GMT) and your name will automatically be entered into the prize draw.
Plus! Alan Redhouse, The man who lays it straight, writes exclusively every month for Total Amiga Magazine. In this month Alan's updates include news on the AmigaOne XE and news on a new A1 SE lite...
Plus! We are pleased to announce that Issue 14 sees an increase in content, up from 48 pages to 52. Now there is even more to read and enjoy.
Plus! Fleecy Moss, Buzz Word, Hollywood review, Webdesign on an Amiga, Software Tycoon, Top Tips, Tutorials and more.
To subscribe to Total Amiga Magazine, please visit http://www.totalamiga.org/subscribe.html for more details.
(nba) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 07. Mar. 2003, 17:47] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
07.Mar.2003
Martin K. (ANF)
|
GRex-homepage updated
After a short break the inofficial GRex homepage has been updated on 2nd March 2003.
Information concerning OpenPCI have been integrated as well as a little fan shop was opened.
(ps) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 07. Mar. 2003, 16:17] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
07.Mar.2003
heise Newsticker (ANF)
|
heise: Source code contractually protect
On the current issue 4/2003 iX advices its readers
to think about taking appropriate measures in case of insolvencies of software and other
IT offerers. It may be especially important to protect the source code contractually.
Have a look at the title link for the full article (in German).
(ps) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 07. Mar. 2003, 10:11] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
07.Mar.2003
Martin Heine (ANF)
|
Genesi: Further details on STB-strategy
In two comments of Bill Buck and Raquel Velasco (Genesi)
on Amiga.org
you can find further details on their Set-Top-Box-Strategy. It follows an extract from these comments:
[After reflecting about the success of BSkyB in Great Britain:] "Now, do something
inexpensive with a 403 PPC and a DTV tuner with MorphOS (in this case)
and you could have something quite special that can handle anything as
well as everything retailing for 400-500 Euros at less that 25% of the cost.
Sounds like something another BSkyB-like company might take a risk with?
Yes, you bet!"
"Everything we learned before collectively (VisCorp, PhaseV, bplan, Thendic,
etc.) is coming to play today in Genesi for a very large company that wants
to do *exactly* that."
"Speaking of which there is a good article about Murdoch
here.
[...] BTW, This article should also be read by others who may be
underestimating this DTV STB market at the price point we are delivering
hardware to it (contrast that for example with the super STB from Pace at
350 £!)."
"Our customer [...] has a pricing strategy that tells us they understand
the market and their customers."
"As far as we can tell, the BSkyB boxes in the UK are completely non-standard.
They use WAP which may sound off the wall given it's designed for mobile phones
but being designed for low end systems with low bandwidth makes it perfect
for STBs. There's a lot of technology available now that supports WAP
development. We actually will have a WAP stack/Browser ready."
"Remember, we will not integrate the uplink initially to reduce cost (we
will have a WAP portal for people to use mobile phones as an unlink though
and a handy little connector to support that process). We have a phased modular
strategy that adds functionality akin to the base station of a radio/remote
phone designed normally for home use. The receiver chip for the radio signal
will have been already introduced in the STB (as is found in the home handset
associated with the base station that anchors the system in the home with
power and telephone line connection -- incidentally overcoming the no
telephone connection near the TV problem)."
"On the smart card side, we will use them to unscramble parts of the signal
already there. This can be done on a subscriber or pre-paid basis (for
anonymity or one game at a time). The signal itself can *also* be data
driven to individually addressable STBs. Here smart cards can be further
used as recording devices. In our case viewing data can be exchanged for
movie credits... Of course, this flexibility can be promotion/advertising
oriented too..." (ps) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 07. Mar. 2003, 10:05] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
07.Mar.2003
Martin Heine (ANF)
|
Amiga Inc.: Amiga Absence at CeBIT 2003 in Hannover
Amiga Absence at CeBIT
Mar 6, 2003 - Late last year, Amiga announced its intention to launch
AmigaOS4.0 at the CeBIT show
in Germany. Since then, the project has
advanced into its final stages but unfortunately not to the point where
we are ready to ship. We have thus decided not to attend the Cebit
Germany show. Instead we are looking at other shows and opportunities
in the near future to provide a suitable platform for the launch of
the new Amiga.
We apologize to the commmunity for waiting until the last possible
moment to make this announcement but despite heroic efforts by all
concerned, even up to the last minute, circumstances have conspired
to push completion beyond the deadline. We have regretfully decided
that making CeBIT Germany the AmigaOS 4 launch platform is not a
realistic option at present.
AmigaOS4.0 is coming. Beta-testing has been going on since last
September, the Club Amiga Magazine is previewing many of the new
features and AmigaOne integration is proceeding well. Amiga,
Hyperion
and Eyetech
are 100% committed to getting the new platform out into
the world and reintroducing the world to the pleasures of home
computing.
-- The Amiga Team
(ps)
[News message: 07. Mar. 2003, 09:56] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
Sven Scheele (ANF)
|
Mailbox: jamiga-BBS offline
The Kiel-based Amiga-Mailbox "jamiga" is closed since today. Because this is a short term issue that occured without warning, we are making this announcement in hopes of reaching the remaining users and "connected" mailboxes this way.
On account of a few queries and current personal incidents we hesitatingly decided on this step. We hereby thank all (former) users and the mailboxes supporting us for the partially year long "faith!"
Sven Scheele and Marcel Wintrich (ps)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 23:38] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
Amiga Future
|
Amiga Future: Test of 'Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis'
Under the title link you'll find a test of 'Indiana Jones and the FATE
OF ATLANTIS', by Stefan Juhas. (ps) (Translation: dm)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 20:36] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
heise Newsticker (ANF)
|
heise: German Language Web Presence of Mozilla Variant Phoenix
For the slender alternative browser Phoenix
the German language web presence of http://www.phoenix-browser.de has been opened. [I have used Phoenix, and find it to be slimmed down and modern. Netscape 4.8 is still a bit more responsive -DM]
Read the complete heise article under the title link. (ps) (Translation: dm)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 19:15] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
Samba Website
|
Networking: Samba Version 3.0alpha22
The Samba team released version 3.0alpha22 on the 5th of March, 2003. To see what exactly has been changed, have a look
here.
Samba is software that, for example, allows networking between a PC and an Amiga. Information about Samba for Amiga may be found at
amigasamba.org.
(ps) (Translation: dm)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 16:15] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
AmithlonTV Website
|
TV Card Driver: AmithlonTV Beta 304
Guido Mersmann has released beta version 304 of the TV card driver software AmithlonTV, with several little updates and improvements.
Download: AmithlonTVBeta.lha (ps) (Translation: dm)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 16:08] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
|
Warning: Nethands.de Warned About Missing Banner
As already
reported many times,
many homepage makers (it doesn't matter if they are private or commercial) are not aware that the new telecommunications service law (TDG) and/or the intermediate services state regulations (MDStV) include a provision requiring a banner. There are constantly resourceful (or better put, flighty) lawyers who want to earn their bread with warnings.
Flighty therefore, because it could be possible throughout to draw attention to a possible violation through email, and to offer to help out. If this remains unsuccessful first of all, our opinion about a warning is justified. The law is conclusively implemented to protect the surfer, and not to to enrich lawyers through warnings as well.
Read under the title link about how Nethands.de handles the warning, and help them if you have the opportunity. (ps) (Translation: dm)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 15:48] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
06.Mar.2003
heise Newsticker (ANF)
|
heise: Microsoft Has Abandoned the OpenGL Consortium
On account of the apparently insufficiently future-oriented development of the 3D interface, Microsoft has abandoned the OpenGL Consortium, and wants concentrate exclusively on their house Direct3D standard.
You'll find the heise article under the title link. (ps) (Translation: dm)
[News message: 06. Mar. 2003, 14:05] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
05.Mar.2003
Andreas Falkenhahn (E-Mail)
|
Multimedia authoring system: New plugin for Hollywood
Malibu is a plugin for Hollywood which contains an import filter
for Scala presentations. As soon as Malibu is installed, Hollywood
will suddenly be able to show Scala presentations or compile them.
Many screenshots are now available from the Airsoft Softwair
homepage. The Malibu plugin will of course also be released for
MorphOS and - as soon as available - AmigaOS4.
With Malibu it is now possible for the first time to display Scala presentations on Workbench screen or on your own public screen. Because the whole emulation runs on top of Hollywood's multimedia application layer everything will be first converted to 24-bit and then displayed. In many cases the quality of the pictures that Malibu displays is much better than the original Scala quality because Scala often had to remap many pictures with very different colors to a 8-bit display which resulted in a massive loss of color information.
Malibu emulates nearly the whole Scala command set and supports all Scala versions up to Scala InfoChannel 500 which was the last Amiga version of Scala. Emulation is done by the elCapitan microkernel which tries to achieve the best performance possible on the used system. For example, the next page is already calculated while the current page is on the display. Complex transition effects can also be pre-calculated and then displayed smoothly.
Scala is a program which helped the Amiga to become a real Multimedia wonder. There were no products for a long long time that could beat an Amiga with Scala. Therefore Scala was widely used in all different production fields, from movies and television to big shows. Everyone who has worked with Scala knows what power it has. But this power is only possible because Scala is very hard coded to the Amiga's custom chips which leads to the problem that it does not run on graphics boards and also has some other major problems with today's Amiga systems. For many years all sorts of users complained that there is no Scala that runs RTG compatible. This time is over now. Scala revives with the Malibu plugin: On the Workbench? Of course. In 24-bit? You can bet your life on that. Always RTG conform? Absolutely.
Don't miss Malibu out! Watching Scala presentations on Workbench is a complete new feeling which every Amiga user should experience.
Order Hollywood now to make your system ready for Scala!
Features:
Graphics:
- Impressive Scala transitions (e.g. Superimpose, Roll on, Flow, Push, Diagonal)
- Support for Scala text styles outline, shadow & 3D
- Scala forms: Ellipses, rectangles, lines & polygons
- Emulation of backgrounds with raster type
- Complete brush support (incl. crop & resize)
- Animations are supported
- Transition effects for all Scala objects
- Support for styles like bevel & background
- Runs completely in 24-bit mode
- Color fonts are supported
- Smooth scrolling for Scala fly-ons
- Emulation of all graphics attributes
- Brush transparency is fully supported
- Objects can be removed from screen with transition effects
- All palette settings are respected and correctly converted
Sound:
- Support for sound modules and samples
- Audio output through AHI incl. full mixing
- Sound fades are supported
- Sound implementation is retargetable for use on Pegasos, Amithlon...
Environment:
- All Scala versions up to InfoChannel 500 are supported
- Margin settings and tabulators are respected
- Scala variables can be used
- Buttons and events are emulated
- Almost complete emulation of Scala command set
- Scala presentations can be compiled
- Emulation can be configured in detail
- Complete independent from environment; does not matter if Cgfx, P96, AGA, ECS or OCS is active
- Absolutely system friendly
Requirements:
- Kickstart 3.0 or better
- 68020 processor
- Graphics board recommended
- 16 megabyte memory recommended
(ps)
[News message: 05. Mar. 2003, 23:22] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
05.Mar.2003
Carsten Siegner (ANF)
|
Update: Digital voltmeter for Amiga
Carsten Siegner currently developes a new voltmeter hardware for
the parallel port, which went through several improvements:
To the voltmeter hardware a 100 times highspeed amplifier has been added. Thus it is possible to measure voltages down to field of micro voltages. The amplifier is to chose by a toggle switch (normal resolution / high resolution area). The
voltmeter circuit includes an own power supply controller now to be not influenced by noise signals from the powernet which might distort the measurement.
Thus it becomes posile to use nearly every power supply (not stabilized ones also) which offers 6 to 12 Volt and a maximum of 1 Ampere.
There are several ARexx scripts available to control the voltmeter.
Further more Siegner works on a more complete version with a GUI currently. This will include the following features:
Single measurement (save function included), high speed measurement with an adjustable number of samples (save function included),
view as list for all measurements (high speed measurement), view as diagram (high speed measurement); therefore some similiarities with an oscilloscope.
Additional to the voltmeter program there will be, once it will be finished, the wiring diagram available to built the voltmeter yourself. To do so you should be some kind of an advanced electrician because e.g. the measurement chip is highly delicate regarding electro static charge. All parts might be purchased at Conrad Electronic.
(nba) (Translation: ub)
[News message: 05. Mar. 2003, 21:55] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
