02.Sep.2001
AmigArt / Frank Gutschow (ANF)
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Game: Earth 2140 Update
"Some people reported problems running the game from CDROMs connected to
their BlizzardPPC/CyberStormPPC SCSI controllers, getting "phase mismatch"
errors. This version fixes the CDDA code to support those controllers too.
In addition to that we have fixed some problems regarding the speed
setting within the game. So if the game is too slow now, just move the
speed gadget up again - it's better than the other way around, as before."
Download: E2140_English_020401.lha
(sd)
[News message: 02. Sep. 2001, 14:36] [Comments: 0]
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02.Sep.2001
(ANF)
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Swiss local store AMIGALAND closing down
Marianne E. Vokinger wrote:
For health reasons I, Marianne E. Vokinger, holder of AMIGALAND in Switzerland,
unfortunately have to finally close down the local store AMIGALAND after 9½ years
of business.
I will appeal to keep existing contacts and to go on working for the dispatch. But until
the entire liquidation was done and I'm of somehow stable health again it quite sure will
be October 2001 for me to able to be active again. I'm very sorry to not having another
option and I'm often remembering the 'GOOD OLD TIMES', these days.
I would like to thank all of my customers both at home and abroad for they have been faithful
for many years, as well as my distributors! Also a special thank to you, Petra, for you
already let me off the hook on the Neuss show :))
Who knows, maybe we will meet again on some show :-)
I wish you much success further on.
Marianne E. Vokinger / AMIGALAND
(sd) (Translation: mj)
[News message: 02. Sep. 2001, 14:22] [Comments: 0]
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01.Sep.2001
Andreas Kleinert (e-mail)
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Image processor SViewIV: New ImageFX loader/saver modules
Andreas Kleinert writes:
There's a new version of the SViewIV ImageFX loader/saver
available for download on my WWW site.
It now allows to save images as well (previously only worked
as loader), the loading process is much more efficient and
less memory consuming and support for saving of paletted
(imagefx-rendered) images has been added.
This module requires a SViewIV keyfile to work.
(ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 01. Sep. 2001, 20:14] [Comments: 0]
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31.Aug.2001
Amiga Active
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Print magazine: Amiga Active issue 24 available today
Since today the September issue of the English print magazine 'Amiga Active'
is at the newsstands.
This issue contains the following topics:
- Loading Nextgen...
The Amiga's future is deserving of more attention. Here's why.
- Repulse
New Amiga soundcard from Alien Designs reviewed and rated.
- Customise Your Amiga
It's not just Apple who can make attractive desktop computers. You can too! We show you how.
- MathEngineering
Making games come to life is a tricky task, but one that Oxford-based MathEngine have risen to.
(ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 23:33] [Comments: 2 - 01. Sep. 2001, 18:50]
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31.Aug.2001
amiga.org
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Errorwear plans Guru Meditation (Amiga) t-shirt
'Errorwear' manufactures t-shirts with computer error messages. Now there are plans to
offer a t-shirt with the guru meditation.
(ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 23:08] [Comments: 0]
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31.Aug.2001
Jürgen Lange (ANF)
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Oliver Wagner reconsiders support of Amiga OS 4.0 and Amithlon
Oliver informs in his "plan" of 30th August 2001 that a new version of
V (Voyager) is to be expected in the next few days. He also says that he
won't develop V not exclusively for MorphOS, but considers AmigaOS 4.0
and Amithlon (the latter with x86-native code) for future versions.
More at the title link.
(ps)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 22:32] [Comments: 3 - 03. Sep. 2001, 00:13]
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31.Aug.2001
Jürgen Lange (ANF)
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Haage & Partner announces another Amiga emulator
The German Amiga print magazine AMIGAplus reports in their current
issue (09/2001) that Haage & Partner GmbH will release an Amiga emulator
based on QNX. (ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 12:28] [Comments: 0]
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31.Aug.2001
Ralph Torchia (ANF)
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Palm Desktop for Amiga: Spitfire² version 1.8
Version 1.8 of Spitfire² is now available and corrects problems with the HotSync
Manager and the installation script. Please see the
history
file for more details.
Spitfire² is a Palm desktop for AmigaOS. The software allows connection
to a Palm computer by 3Com or compatibles. The program among other things
offers HotSync functions between the Amiga and Palm.
More information on the program's features can be located at the
homepage.
Download: Spitfire2.lha (844 KB)
(ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 12:25] [Comments: 0]
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31.Aug.2001
Anu Seilonen (ANF)
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Webcam and IRC channel at Saku 2001
Finnish Amiga Users Group's Saku 2001 Web Site at
http://saku.amigafin.org/saku2001
will host two webcams from the happening, and you can also chat with the
people attending the show on our IRC channel #saku2001 (IRCnet).
(ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 12:03] [Comments: 0]
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31.Aug.2001
The Register
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The Register: Amiga flogs Win, Linux Amiga DE player for $20
Tony Smith has written a critial, partly unobjective, article for ´The Register´
on the AmigaDE Player which is offered in the AmigaDE Shop
for $20.
Here an excerpt:
»If Sun couldn't make it happen with Java on the basis of allowing
anyone to write JVMs and give them away for free, we can't help but think
Amiga's plan to make people pay for this stuff has even less chance of
success.
Doubly so when this allegedly advanced technology can only be used to
knock up half a dozen puzzle games of the kind we haven't seen since we
won an Atari Lynx in 1989.«
Full article at the title link. (ps) (Translation: rh)
[News message: 31. Aug. 2001, 00:14] [Comments: 2 - 01. Sep. 2001, 15:39]
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30.Aug.2001
Jan Andersen (E-Mail)
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Virus Help Denmark: xvs.library v33.31
A new update of the "xvs.library" has been released today. In this new
update the xvs.library should detect 99.9% of all 'Hitch-Hiker 5.00 virus".
The programmer Jan Erik Olausen, has been working very hard for the last
10 days to get the recog. right for this very tricky virus.
Info about the new update of xvs.library:
Name: xvs.library v33.31
Archive name: xvslibrary.lha
Archive size: 58.874 bytes
Release date: 30 August 2001
Programmer: Jan Erik Olausen
News is v33.31:
- Improved the Hitch-Hiker 5.00 Link virus.
Should be able to detect 99.9% of this virus now...
Thanks to Jan Andersen and Treveur BRETAUDIERE for the files
- Fixed bug in recog for Bastard Installer 1 File virus
- Added recog for 'EICAR STANDARD AV-TEST FILE'.
This is not a virus, but a testfile that can be found on
http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm.
The purpose of this test file is to check that your favourite
anti virus program really finds it! Deep inside arhcives etc...
PS! This is a data file, so you might turn on the
'data file checking' in your virus killer.
Thanks to Sami Rautiainen for telling me about this file.
Download shortcut: http://home4.inet.tele.dk/vht-dk/amiga/xvs/xvs.htm
Remember if you use VirusZ, VirusChecker, Safe and VirusExecutor you
must update the xvs.library to have recog for the latest viruses.....
(ps)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 23:33] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
WHDLoad
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Installer: WHDLoad - new packets (until 28.8.01)
Thanks to WHDLoad floppy disk only games can be installed to harddisk. The following
packets have been added or updated:
- 28.08.01 new: Advantage Tennis (Infogrames) done by Jeff (ReadMe)
- 28.08.01 improved: Obliterator (Psygnosis) various changes (ReadMe)
- 28.08.01 updated: Deuteros (Ian Bird) uses kickemu now (ReadMe)
- 27.08.01 new: Biplane Duel (Peter Mason) done by Codetapper (ReadMe)
- 26.08.01 improved: Project X (Team 17) supports another version (ReadMe)
- 26.08.01 new: Phobia (Mirrorsoft/Imageworks) done by Codetapper (ReadMe)
- 23.08.01 improved: Uridium 2 (Graftgold) misc improvements (ReadMe)
- 23.08.01 improved: Star Wars (Lucasfilm/Domark) better installation process (ReadMe)
- 23.08.01 improved: Rockstar Ate My Hamster! (Colin Jones/Codemasters) supports another version (ReadMe)
- 23.08.01 new: No Excuses (Arcana) done by John Girvin (ReadMe)
- 23.08.01 new: International 3D Tennis (Sensible Software/Palace) done by Codetapper (ReadMe)
(ps) (Translation: mj)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 18:17] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
Jan Andersen (E-Mail)
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Virus Help Denmark: Safe Version 16.5
A new update of "Safe" has been released today. Also the programmer
of Safe has very big problem with the new 'Hitch-Hiker 5.00' virus. But
we are working to make recog. for the virus in xvs.library. I have included
the test of 'Hitch-Hiker 5.00' at the button.
Info about the new update of Safe:
Name: Safe v16.5
Archive name: Safe.lha
Archive size: 35.456 bytes
Release date: 30 August 2001
Programmer: Zbigniew Trzcionkowski
News is v16.5:
- added possibility to change name of safe on installation.
It was necessary - new viruses like HH50 and SMEG2b
refuse to infect Safe file. This trend will surely remain,
so now Safe gives the user the easy way avoid that.
Big thanks for Antonio Noguera, who did this improvement!
This is piece of good work - even better I expected!
- removed some outdated info from html documentation
Note that the most useful information is here and in NewShit.guide.
Thanks to Michael Hendren for paying attention.
- removed SMEG2/PENETRATOR removals as xvs.library recognizes them now
- added analyze of HitchHiker5.00 the most advanced polymorphic bastard
in the Amiga universe
Download shortcut: http://home4.inet.tele.dk/vht-dk/amiga/safe/safe.htm
=== Start of HitchHiker 5.00 Virus ===
Entry: HitchHiker 5.00
Alias(es): -
Virus Strain: Smeg2
Virus detected when: August 2001
where: Aminet
Classification: Linkvirus,memory-resident, not reset-resident
Length of Virus: 1. Length on storage medium: c.a. 3720 Bytes
Has most advanced metamorphic decoders seen
for Amiga and uses slow polymorphism!
2. Length in RAM: 8588 Bytes
--- Preconditions ---
Operating System(s): AMIGA-DOS Version/Release.....: 2.04+
Computer model(s): all models/processors (MC68000-MC68060)
--- Attributes ---
Easy Identification: -
Type of infection:
- Self-identification method in files:
- via unused bits visible in dos flags
- Self-identification method in memory:
- checks for 'HH5' process
- System infection:
- A new process entitled 'HH5' will be created
and this is the only visible change in the system.
That process infects files using the known
Smeg code, but the way of getting targets is new.
- The virus patches return address from Wait()
call of device's tasks. This is very clever idea which lets
the virus patch devices which's code is placed even in ROM.
The LOCATE_OBJECT and EXAMINE_NEXT packets will be stolen.
- Infection preconditions:
- HUNK_CODE is found
- device is validated
- at least 6 free blocks
- filename does not start with "vir" and "saf"
(case independant check)
- file is bigger than 4190 bytes
- file is smaller than 100377 bytes
Infection Trigger:
- The infection is based on the packet handling
of AMIGA OS. Every started or listed file can be
infected.
Storage media affected:
Interrupts hooked:
Damage:
- Permanent damage: - none
- Transient damage: - none
Damage Trigger:
- Permanent damage: - none
- Transient damage:
- none
Particularities:
- Uses slow polymorphism! Only this little fact
mislooked by Jan Erik Olausen (and Jan Andersen)
made filedetection in xvs.library the biggest AV
joke seen for Amiga computers ever!
At the moment xvs.library detects 3 variants
of virus from several millions possible!
- The stack patches are done very clever and the
code is flexible enough to handle differences
between OS versions (including newer than 3.1).
Most of code is equal to first SMEG virus.
If the accessed file starts with the string "VIR"
or "SAF" (case independant), the file will
be not infected.
Similarities:
- It could be seen as third kind of SMEG2, but the
polyengine made it one of the most advanced viruses
for Amiga.
Stealth:
- None. The virus does not put infected file
length like BOBEK viruses to ExNext's FIB,
so it is likely that under controll of virus
user will cut files. Salvage will be never
possible as it was for HH4.11 which's files
several times appeared in truncated form
due to it's stealth... :-)
Armouring:
- Uses so called HAVOC polyengine. This is the
best such engine in Amiga virus at the moment.
The decoders are placed after the decoder block,
and the loop could contain very much logical stuff.
The decoders are made metamorphically and are built
of various jumps backward and forward.
Such decoders can be detected only in alghorythmic
way. Detection of this virus is impossible with
technics like breaking the cryptings (lot of stuff)
and tracing (entry point!).
The decoder is generated on virus startup,
so after reboot files are infected always
with new decoders.
Comments:
- The virus contains text: HAVOC
I have been working with one copy of HH5.0.
Even there really exist clones of HH5.0 I think that if the polyengine
detection will be working for one, will be good for others.
--- Acknowledgement ---
Location: Pawlowice, Poland
Classification by: Zbigniew Trzcionkowski
Documentation by: Zbigniew Trzcionkowski
Date: August 2001
Information Source: virus disassembly, SMEG1 source code
Copyright: This document is public domain.
=== End of HitchHiker 5.00 Virus ===
(ps)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 17:09] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
bplan / Thomas Knäbel (E-Mail)
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bplan: Pegasos meets MorphOS
«In observance of the development schedule, the Pegasos system officially
offers as of today a second operating system platform. In addition to Linux
( since this years` second quarter ), MorphOS now also supports the development
systems in its full functional range.»
Read the complete press release under the title link.
(ps) (Translation: mj)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 14:37] [Comments: 1 - 01. Sep. 2001, 15:39]
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30.Aug.2001
Alexander Fritsch (ANF)
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Tool: ScreamerII Version 0.84 for Amiga-Lightwave
Alexander Fritsch wrote:
Ray Darrah III released a new version of his ScreamerNet controller
"ScreamerII". ScreamerII allows shared computing of Lightwave scenes
on several machines.
ScreamerII but is essentially more flexible than the built-in ScreamerNet controller
of Lightwave. For example one computer can render a picture while simultaneously another project
gets edited in layout .
Furthermore other computers dynamic can be added to or removed from ScreamerNet.
All machines can be reseted, computing will then be continued from the proper point ( no
new starting picture must be defined in the project).
Additionally the single RenderNodes can have their own names, instead of CPU1, CPU2 like
usual. The new version 0.84 fixes a small bug with the computer names display. A. Fritsch:
"I've tested the program for several days and I'm excited!"
Download: ScreamerII.lha
(ps)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 14:30] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
kdh news (ANF)
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Sound card Repulse available from KDH
A remake of the Repulse sound card (for Zorro slots) is available from KDH, from
now on. This new Repulse version fixes the initial quality problems. All newly
delivered cards now have gold-plated Zorro contacts. Moreover the CD, manual, and
drivers were reworked. There will be a new Toccata emulation, which will be the only
one on the market working with MovieShop for the VLab-Motion. This will make the
Repulse sound card the only full Toccata replacement.
(ps) (Translation: mj)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 13:23] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
Spitfire²
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Palm Desktop for Amiga: Spitfire² Version 1.7
Spitfire² by Ralph Torchia is a Palm desktop for AmigaOS, which was released
in version 1.7, yesterday. This shareware software allows connection to a Palm computer
by 3Com or compatibles. The program among other things offers HotSync functions between the Amiga and Palm.
All of the program's features are listed on the homepage. Beside of
the main archive additionally are the ClockSync plugin (v1.2), and
the YAMSync plugin (beta 2) are available for registered users there.
Download: Spitfire2.lha (844 KB) (ps)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 13:19] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
Oliver Wagner (E-Mail)
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Net information tool: NetInfo II Version 2.9
NetInfo II was released in version 2.9. This program is to get net information
and offers functions like TRACEROUTE, PING, WHOIS, and FINGER.
Features
- "quick traceroute": Sends a series of packet in quick
succession to get a route overview very fast, then
does accurate timings for the individual hops
- "ping": Sends a sequence of ICMP ECHO packets to a host
to measure network latency and stability.
- graphical display of hop min/last/max timings
- integrated smart WHOIS function: double-click on
a IP, Host or Network column to automatically receive
WHOIS information for the given object. NetInfo
determines the WHOIS host to query.
- automatically retrieves WHOIS network information
for hosts
- automatically scans destination host for Web (HTTP) and FTP
server versions
- history for all queried hosts
- integrated FINGER client
- integrated "classical" WHOIS client with on-disk cache
- ARexx port
(ps) (Translation: mj)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 11:58] [Comments: 0]
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30.Aug.2001
Richard Kapp (E-Mail)
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GFX-BASE: New section, enhanced search engine, and survey
Richard Kapp wrote:
Again there are a lot of innovations to our online magazine GFX-Base:
A new section 'Customize' was created where you can find patches, hacks,
and tools to make your WB look better. We also enhanced our search engine to
make it even more easy to find e.g. all PPC scene demos or games supporting
graphics boards. Now our news archive can be searched in a comfortable way, too.
Furthermore we have started a new survey to learn which GFX-BASE area is most
important to you. As usual there are new entries with graphics board supporting
games and scene demos.
(ps)
[News message: 30. Aug. 2001, 11:42] [Comments: 0]
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29.Aug.2001
Andreas Falkenhahn (E-Mail)
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Installer: Version 4.5 of CD32 Games Install Kit
Version 4.5 of CD32 Games Install Kit has been just published. For the
first time with this version it is now possible to play Simon the
Sorcerer with a perfect voice output which has seemed to be impossible
with an emulator until now. The current version can be downloaded by all
owners of 'The Best
Of Airsoft Softwair Gold Edition CD-ROM' in the protected download
section.
(ps) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 29. Aug. 2001, 22:08] [Comments: 0]
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29.Aug.2001
Anu Seilonen (ANF)
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New Exhibitor and Vaporware Registration Service at Saku 2001
Finnish Amiga Users Group offers a Vaporware product registration
service for visitors at Saku 2001. The group collects payments and
registration forms at the venue and forwards them to Vaporware,
who delivers registration keys directly to registrants via email
or regular post. Service is open for everyone, membership of the
user group is not required. More information about Vaporware
programs can be found on their web site at
http://www.vapor.com.
Also, Broadline Oy, a long time supporter of Saku and a well-known
Finnish Amiga retailer has decided to join the fun. Broadline Oy
will be selling their stock at Saku 2001.
Saku 2001 will be held on Saturday September 1st 2001 at the Science
Centre Heureka in Vantaa, near Helsinki. The event will open at 12:00
and end at 18:00. Admission will be free of charge. For further
information, visit Finnish Amiga Users Group's Web Site at
http://saku.amigafin.org or
http://tzimmola.tky.hut.fi/saku/.
E-mail inquiries may be sent to Terho Henriksson
(terho.henriksson@kopteri.net).
(ps) (Translation: dr)
[News message: 29. Aug. 2001, 21:47] [Comments: 0]
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