Summer 2003 Issue 15
£4.00 8.00Euro Contents News Exploring the Zone It’s been a while since we’ve Here are some other key seen any new fractal generation features: software. In reports from recent Issue 15 • Easy to use interface – explore EditorialAndrew and Richard have been progress) and showing the anti- Amiga shows you may have any formula with a few clicks. elcome to another issue able to give us lots of tips on aliased font display. John noticed a stand covered with • Switch between Julia, Summer 2003 of Total Amiga. I can’t enhancing the magazine and Chandler has written a round up stunning fractal images. This W Mandelbrot and “Generalised” help but start by saying that, I have cast their eyes over some of the latest news on page 10, stand belongs to Elena Novaretti Mandelbrot mapping for the think this is one of the best of the copy. We hope you’ll and you can see some of the and the fractals are produced same formula. Contents issues we have ever produced notice some changes for the screen-shots in colour on the using her own custom software. both in content and quality. You’ll better in this issue, and there are back cover. • Multitasking – open multiple find the reasons why I feel this more to come in the future. The great news is that Elena has windows and alter parameters If you bought Hollywood after our News way below. I usually wonder just released her fractal while images are being I should also mention that review in the last issue or are Editorial ...... 2 what I’m going to say in the generator to the public as Zone calculated. equally important to Total Amiga just interested in this powerful News Items ...... 3 editorial but this time I’m Explorer. If you know what you • Optional antialiasing – for even are contributions from readers. In multimedia application be sure to struggling to know where to are doing you can create your higher quality output and more Fleecy Moss Column ...... 8 this issue Jonathan Haddock has have a go at my tutorial on page begin, there’s so much good own formulae as external apparent detail. Buzz Word...... 8 submitted a review of his 46. I designed it to get you stuff in the magazine. modules in tag">C or assembler. • Independent render to create Want to help bring Mozilla, the 1998. Mozilla is an open-source Subway USB card, and I know started with a simple AmiZilla Alan Redhouse Column.....9 However for those of us without high resolution output (useful well-known open-source web effort contributed to by a large The best place to start has to be he has several more reviews up presentation (which you can AmigaOS 4 Update...... 10 the necessary mathematical for prints etc.) browser suite, to the Amiga? number of programmers. The introducing you to our three new his sleeve for issue 16. So if you customise with your own knowledge a large number of Well now you can contribute to a suite has been ported to writers (I expect all of them will too have something you would graphics and text) and as a examples are supplied and you new effort to get the browser numerous operating systems be familiar to you). First we have like to share with other readers launch pad for more complex Zone Explorer is supplied with Features can easily tweak parameters to ported. Bill Panagouleas of including Windows, MacOS X John Chandler who wrote for please get in touch with me. multimedia applications. executables for classic 68K get different effects. The quality DiscreetFX has started the and Linux. From an Amiga user’s Selling the New Amiga.... 12 Amiga Active and more recently Amigas and emulators such as If you’ve read the last few issues For this issue we have a of the rendered fractal images is AmiZilla effort which aims to point of view it has the “it’s not about the desktop!” has published a regular Amiga Amithlon and PPC native for of Total Amiga or keep up with particularly large number of fantastic because Zone Explorer collect a prize fund that will be advantage of support for more ...... 14 column on suite101.com. MorphOS. The program is the news web sites you will have supporting files on the web site. has true 24bit colour handling; donated to the first programmer modern standards such as Richard Drummond who worked freeware and can be Introduction to AROS...... 16 heard a great deal about There are additional links for the gradients are smooth, without or team to demonstrate a Cascading Style Sheets and for both CU Amiga and Amiga downloaded from: Mac: Reloaded...... 18 MorphOS and the Pegasos PPC Mac emulation feature, links for stepping. working Mozilla port. Bill started DHTML. Although Mozilla lags Format and now contributes to http://www.elena-fractals.it computer. Until now, apart from a the MorphOS review and the the fund with 2000 US Dollars behind Internet Explorer in user Quake II Competition ...... 21 Linux Format and other brief look at WoASE last year, files needed for the Hollywood and has asked users and base, it is still a popular browser Tales of Tamar Update.... 42 publications. Last but by no none of the Total Amiga team tutorial. Also for the Hollywood organisations to make donations and many sites are tested with it means least we have Andrew had actually used a Pegasos in tutorial we have a compiled as an encouragement to those to ensure correct operation. For Reviews Korn, who worked on CU Amiga anger. Now SEAL member and executable of the presentation considering a port. Some simple more information on Mozilla itself Pegasos and MorphOS .. 22 and was editor of Amiga Active. Total Amiga contributor Sam you can download and play even rules have been published which visit http://www.mozilla.org. IBrowse 2.3 ...... 28 There are many reasons why it’s Byford has taken the plunge, and if you don’t own Hollywood include that the ported browser At the time of writing (mid-June) fxPaint 2.0 ...... 32 great to have these professional you can read his detailed review yourself. All that and more is on must work on AmigaOS 3.x, the total fund had risen to over Aqua...... 35 writers on board, and it’s not just on page 22. the issue 15 page at: AmigaOS 4 and MorphOS. The 4000 USD with donations from a that each one of them has winning team just has to port the Subway USB...... 36 After a few fairly quiet months http://www.totalamiga.org number of Amiga companies, written a fine piece for this issue. browser portion of the Mozilla PD Paradise...... 38 the wraps seem to be coming off /issue15.html user groups and individual users. Firstly, with their broader suite to get the prize; the effort AmigaOS 4. While it has not You can donate to the prize fund knowledge of the computing Well that’s all I have space for. doesn’t cover the EMail program Support been released yet, we at least on the AmiZilla web site using world, both Andrew and John Enjoy the magazine, and I look or other parts of the suite. know Workbench and legacy PayPal, and there is a mailing Top Tips...... 44 have been able to comment on forward to hearing your applications are running on the Mozilla is a suite of Internet list for potential developers to Hollywood Tutorial...... 46 where Amiga fits in and what comments and suggestions. new kernel. Some new screen- tools, its main component being discuss ideas and form a team. opportunities present themselves shots have been released giving Robert Williams a fully-featured browser, which For further details go to: - a topic we’ve not really been Mailing Lists ...... 51 an idea of the look if the new [email protected] was initially based on the source http://www.discreetfx.com/ able to cover before. Another Next Issue ...... 51 GUI (although it’s still work in code released by Netscape in AmiZilla.html important benefit is that John, Colour Screeshots etc. ... 52 About Total Amiga Legalese Total Amiga is published quarterly Contact Us Only Amiga Software Final Writer 5 by Softwood Fonts The views expressed in this If you wish to contact a contributor by South Essex Amiga Link. For Ghostscript 6.50 from Aladdin magazine are those of the author please send your message to one If you have any queries Made it Possible The body text of Total Amiga is set subscription details contact us at Enterprises of each piece, they do not of the addresses in this section suggestions or want to contact us in Triumvirate Normal as supplied the address below or our website. Total Amiga is designed and laid necessarily reflect the views of and we will pass it on. for any reason please use one of There are also some essential with PageStream, the heading out using: the editor, other contributors or Editor: Robert Williams the following: utilities we couldn’t live without: typeface is Forgotten Futurist by Amiga is a registered trademark Hardware: SEAL. Design: Robert Williams Directory Opus 5, SGrab, MCP, Ray Larabie. Take a look at Ray’s and the Amiga logo, the “Boing EMail: [email protected] Home built x86 PC Contributors: Sam Byford Turbo Print 7, MakeCD. huge range of freeware fonts at Please Note: Total Amiga is Ball” device, AmigaDOS, Amiga Advertisers WWW: http://www.totalamiga.org/ AMD Athlon XP 2000+ Michael Carrillo Our thanks to the creators of this http://www.larabiefonts.com and produced by the editor and Kickstart, Amiga Workbench, Amiga Inc...... 20 nVidia gForce 2 MX400 John Chandler Post: Total Amiga, and all the other great Amiga his commercial foundry at contributors in their spare time. Autoconfig, Bridgeboard, and AmigaWorld.net...... 15 256Mb RAM, 40Gb HDD. Richard Drummond 26 Wincoat Drive, software out there. http://www.typodermic.com. While we always strive to produce Powered by Amiga are Eyetech ...... 26 and 27 Jonathan Haddock BENFLEET, Software: the magazine on time and include trademarks of AMIGA Inc. Total Amiga is entirely created Andrew Korn Essex, SS7 5AH, all the advertised contents this is Fore-matt Home Computing Amithlon by Bernie Meyer et. al. using Amiga software, no other All other trademarks mentioned Fleecy Moss UK. not always possible due to other ...... 43 Amiga OS 3.9 by Amiga platforms are used at any stage of are the property of their Mick Sutton commitments. The price you pay Kicksoft ...... 31 and 41 Telephone: +44 (0) 1268 569937 PageStream 4.1 by Softlogik the design or layout process. respective owners. Proofreading: Sean Courtney (19:00 - 22:00 TypeSmith 2.5 by Softlogik for Total Amiga covers our costs Livewire...... 37 Mick Sutton UK time only please) ImageFX 4.5 by Nova Design and nothing more, we don’t make and the contributors Photogenics 5 by Paul Nolan a profit from it. 2 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 3 News News OS4 in a Here Comes a Spider Bytes... Will Algor be a Winner? A new version of the Spider USB bringing USB support to German hardware manufacturer USB ports that are mounted on switched on. This feature PCI card has been released by Amithlon for the first time. The E3B has been hard at work two back plates; the plate enables the system to boot from Elbox for use in their Mediator PCI card can also be used under Amiga again to bring out yet another containing a single USB port also a USB mass storage device and, Flash PCI bus boards. The card is other operating systems running similar to the original Spider in on the PCI but you will have to new product. Lame jokes about has a cut out for the Ethernet with AmigaOS 3.9, USB mice With the announcement of that it has five USB ports (four locate suitable drivers yourself. is the presidential hopefuls aside, the connection of E3B’s Norway and keyboards to be used in the several Flash ROM solutions in external and one internal) and Expect a short review of the Algor Zorro USB card builds on 10BaseT Ethernet card. The early start-up menu. E3B and recent weeks, Amiga users can supports USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 Spider under Amithlon in the the success of the Highway (the Algor retains the expansion Hyperion have also announced look forward to a return to quick- Favourite first Zorro USB card, reviewed in connector of the Highway, hence that the Flash ROM on the Algor including high-speed mode. USB next issue of Total Amiga. booting Kickstarts. Since the Elbox have also announced two MicroMart is the UK’s only Total Amiga issue 13) with the Norway is compatible, but it and ROMulus will be supported 2.0 high-speed can transfer data release of OS 3.5 we have The Spider II is available direct Flash ROM products that will weekly computer trading enhanced performance and new does not have a clock port. by AmigaOS 4 to speed boot-up at a theoretical maximum of become used to one or more from Elbox enable booting from USB magazine. In recent months the features. on classic Amiga systems with 480MB/s (megabits per second) The other new feature of the reboots when starting our (http://www.elbox.com) for 49.95 devices connected to a Spider magazine has been carrying a PPC accelerators (see our with a compatible device Algor uses a new USB controller Algor is 512Kb of Flash ROM; machines, and although OS 4.0 Euro plus shipping. Power card and allow AmigaOS 4 to regular Amiga page, KickFlash OS4 news item for compared to the 12MB/s of USB chip that incorporates more of this allows the storage of system has a new Kickstart it won’t be Computing is the UK distributor boot more quickly on classic AmigaMart, written by Sven more information). Highway 1.1 full speed. The Spider II is the USB protocol in hardware modules which are then supplied on ROM as standard. for Elbox and they sell the Spider Amigas with PPC accelerators Harvey. Amiga Mart covers owners will be pleased to hear based on an updated NEC USB reducing the amount of work that available during boot up. The Elbox, E3B and Individual II for £49.95, contact Power at: (see our KickFlash OS4 news happenings in the Amiga world that they don’t have to replace chipset that is said to improve has to be done by the software main use for this ROM is to computers are all planning add- http://www.powerc.com item for more information). The and has small reviews of their card to get the ROM data transmission by up to 20 drivers. While the Algor is still a enable the Poseidon USB stack ons with a Flash ROM to hold eFlash 4000 is a Zorro III card Amiga software – letting casual functionality. The ROMulus add percent. Most interestingly +44 (0)1234 851 500 USB 1.1 host (USB 2.0 devices and class drivers to be available Kickstart 4.0 when OS 4 is and the eFlash 1200 is for the readers and ex-Amigans know on we mentioned last issue is though is the fact that Elbox are supported but not in their as soon as the computer is installed on a classic Amiga with To use the card you also need to PCMCIA slot, both contain 1Mb that a comeback is planned. now in production at E3B. If you have added support for Amithlon high-speed mode) it can a PowerPC accelerator. purchase a keyfile for the of FlashROM. The eFlash 4000 don’t require USB note that to their Spider hardware driver. In addition to AmigaMart the achieve significantly higher Poseidon USB stack (used by is expected to be available in Elbox and Individual computers The Individual Computers This means you can plug a magazine has been running a transfer rates across the USB the Elbox driver), this is available July at a price of 39.95 Euro and have also announced Flash product is a new Zorro card, Spider II into your an x86 PC competition to find reader’s bus than the Highway while the on-line from IOSpirit the A1200 version is due in ROM cards for OS 4. called the KickFlash OS4. It is and utilise the USB ports within favourite home computer. Over drivers use less CPU time. For (http://www.iospirit.com) and August priced at 29.95 Euro. fitted with a minimum of 1Mb of the Amithlon emulation – three months enthusiasts for example, in The Algor is available now and costs 19.99 Euro (£15 approx.) Flash ROM to hold the updated sixteen different home benchmarks on an costs 114.95 Euro (about £85). Kickstart for OS 4. An image of computers tried to persuade A4000 with an 060 Detailed specifications and other the new Kickstart will be loaded readers of the merits of their accelerator carried out information can be found on the from the ROM removing the particular model. Despite by E3B, a Lacie media E3B web site: Pegasos II: need for a reboot and GoldEd classic computers such as the card reader achieved http://www.e3b.de significantly reducing boot time. Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC 491Kb per second on The main distributor of E3B The KickFlash OS4 is also and BBC Micro being in the the Highway and products is KDH Datentechnik: upgradble and can handle up to running the Amiga and 926Kb/s on the Algor. The Price is Right Morphed http://www.kdh-shop24.de 1Gb of Flash ROM; potentially Spectrum emerged as the top The card has three A Highway with ROMulus (L shaped) allowing the entire operating Genesi have announced the A Pegasos II with a G3 CPU will two in the final vote. The and Norway attached. system to be located in ROM. pricing of the forthcoming cost 299 Euro (that’s about Spectrum had a late rally but in Elbox and E3B are also Pegasos II and the availability of £220, note that all prices in this the end the Amiga won through Another Hollywood producing cards with Flash the the final batch of Pegasos I item exclude VAT) and the entry with 55 percent of the vote. ROMs; we cover these in other motherboards through selected level G4 model will be 499 Euro news items this issue. retailers. The Pegasos II is (£360). Pegasos I users can buy MicroMart is available from Genesi’s next-generation a G4 CPU card for their existing most UK news agents for the Blockbuster KickFlash OS4 is expected to be princely sum of £1.60. They PowerPC motherboard and, as system or trade in their existing It’s been a while since the the program has many available in time for the OS 4 yet, few details of the final board for a G4 based Pegasos also have a lively web site at: announcement of Hollywood 1.5 more features and effects. release and will cost 34.90 Euro specification are available. II, both options cost 200 Euro In his MorphOS review on page http://www.micromart.co.uk that we reported in issue 14, Some of the key additions (about £25), for further details However we do know it is based (£145). Information on the speed 20 Sam Byford notes that the however by the time you read include: visit Individual Computers at: operating system is not currently this the new version of the on a Marvell north bridge chip of the G4 processors chosen will • Multiple graphics layers. http://www.ami.ga supplied with a text editor. multimedia application layer providing up to three gigabit be available soon and Genesi • Off-screen rendering. Fortunately it doesn’t sound as if (reviewed in issue 13) should be Ethernet ports and support for are expecting the Pegasos II • Control of layer position, on graphics cards. The Malibu this state of affairs will last for available. The reason for the DDR (double data rate) memory. boards to be available in size and transparency. A Scala demo loaded via Malibu. plug-in costs 29 Dollars alone long. Dietmar Eilert, the author delay is that many additional The Pegasos II will use the same September. • Over 50 new transition and is also available as a bundle of Gold Ed, is currently working features have been added to the from version 1.0 is available at PowerPC CPU cards as the effects (making over 100 in with Hollywood 1.5 (full version The UK Pegasos distributor is at: on a native version of his editor upgrade. Due to the amount of 22 Dollars. Pegasos I; the image Freeview or upgrade). http://www.pegasos-uk.com for MorphOS. The product is to total). accompanying this news item is Henk Jonas has released his work AirsoftSoftwair are making At the same time as the be known as MorphEd and it will • Image processing effects A plug-in (code named one of the first G4 Pegasos CPU For the latest news on MorphOS handy Metaview utility a charge for this upgrade. Hollywood 1.5 release the first be available free as part of the including rotation, scaling, axis Pasedena) to allow Hollywood to cards, that are currently being and Pegasos visit: (reviewed in issue 9) as plug-in for the program is also MorphOS software development Hollywood’s scripting language flipping, texturing, lighten, display Power Point files is also produced at DCE. http://www.morphos-news.de freeware. The program can be available. Malibu allows the kit (SDK). The editor is aimed at is now much more powerful and darken, and many more. in development. Given the used to view, convert and import of Scala presentations developers and will include a C • Retargetable via AHI for all popularity of Microsoft’s catalogue vector graphic files into Hollywood. Unless you’ve programming environment for sound effects and music. presentation program in in many formats such as IFF- joined the Amiga scene very the GCC compiler. The full Gold • Dynamic window transparency. companies and institutions this DR2D, WMF, CGM and GEM. It recently you’ll know that Scala Ed Studio will remain available • Joystick support. could be a god send for Amigans is an ideal companion to was the premier multimedia as a commercial product for the who use their Amiga for DrawStudio or any other package for many years but Amiga and Pegasos. business or academic work. structured drawing package. The program is supplied on CD- sadly does not support graphics For additional screenshots and ROM and many example scripts cards. Once loaded into All of these products can be Download the full version from: further information go to the have been added to demonstrate Hollywood, via Malibu, Scala ordered direct from Airsoft- http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/ MorphEd web site: the new features. A full copy of presentations can be displayed Softwair on their web site at: ~jonash/ http://morphed.dietmar-eilert.de/ Hollywood 1.5 supplied on CD on all devices supported by costs 55 US Dollars. An upgrade http://www.airsoftsoftwair.com A demo-style text scroller. Hollywood, including, of course, 4 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 5 News News Bytes... Get a Load of This! USB Web Bytes... Pixel Art have released a new easy access, a clock can be Audio Evolves version of their visually striking displayed as can the status of OS 4 Blizzard? More information about the graphical program launcher. the Miami Deluxe TCP/IP stack if Amiga OS 4 (take a look at forthcoming release of Audio Picload 4 is particularly noted for you use it. Pixload can also Updates our OS 4 Update feature on Evolution 4 exclusively for its beautiful look, reminiscent of display files of various types if page 10 for the latest news) is AmigaOS 4 has been made the Mac OS X dock. The fact you drag and drop them on to Poseidon An excellent new portal web currently being developed for available, including the first that Pixload looks so good is not the bar. Interestingly Pixload is Chris Hodges has released site is causing quite a stir in classic Amigas with a screenshot and a list of features. a surprise, Pixel Art have been written in AREXX using rxMUI version 2.2 of his popular USB the Amiga on-line world. CyberStorm PPC accelerator AE4 is an audio recording and behind some of the most for its Interface. driver package, Poseidon. As AmigaWorld.net has the usual and, of course, AmigaOne editing package with non-linear stunning Workbench backdrops Pixload is freeware and supports well as fixing a bug in the news reports and forums for PPC G3 and G4 systems. A and non-destructive features as and Amiga generated images of AmigaOS 3.x+ and MorphOS Subway driver and improving discussion but also has version for Amigas with found in professional tools on recent years. Apart from looking 1.3+. Download it from: compatibility with mass storage several unique services. First Blizzard PPC cards has other platforms. The program good Pixload has many handy http://www.pixel-art.fr.st/ devices, the new version up the site has a rather always been anticipated, but also boasts a wide variety of features. Program and drawer includes two command line tools stronger moderation policy never 100 percent confirmed; real-time effects which take full icons can be added to the bar for to drive previously unsupported than some other Amiga due to the complexity of advantage of the powerful PPC USB devices. DRadioTool can forums, this helps keep petty supporting the range of A1200 processors supported by control inexpensive USB radios bickering down (whether you systems and add-ons which AmigaOS 4. the time line Computer City in the from D-Link and GemTek; these appreciate this is probably a have been released. As the New features in version 4 • Metronome with freely Netherlands distributes audio devices are controlled by the matter of taste). Fleecy Moss, release of OS 4 for the initial include: adjustable time signature Evolution 4 world-wide. The full computer and output their sound Amiga Inc.’s chief technology two platforms draws closer • New plug-ins, including a new package will cost 149 Euro (£110 from a traditional jack rather than officer, regularly answers ten Hyperion need to make a • Non-linear editing on the time compressor, chorus, ducking approx.) and an upgrade from by sending it across the USB questions posted by Amiga decision about Blizzard PPC line, including cut, copy, paste, delay and sound replacer version 3 will be 70 Euro (£55). Yet Another... YAM bus. UproarTool can be used to World members. Initially this support. As a significant move, split, trim and crossfade. • Effect parameter automation For more details visit: Version 2.4 is the second major upload songs to the Valencia was a weekly event but with amount of effort will be • Unlimited undo. • ARexx interface http://www.audio-evolution.com release of Yet Another Mailer MPX portable mp3 player and over 100 questions answered needed to support A1200 • Many grid options to align • Enhanced look using a 256 since the original author, Marcel others based on the same it changed to bi-weekly systems they need to know regions. colour screen. Most imagery Beck, made YAM open source chipset. recently. New screen-shots of the demand is there before • Improved automated editing on can be changed by the user. and development was handed AmigaOS 4 from Hyperion they make the investment. over to the YAM Open Source Download the latest version have been posted at the site Therefore if you have every team. There is also a version from: too. Amiga World also has a intention of purchasing OS 4 2.4p1 upgrade that corrects http://www.platon42.de/ companion IRC channel and for your Blizzard PPC based some problems in the original a streaming radio station A1200 were it available then Spray on the Magic 2.4 release. Thylacine playing classic Amiga tunes. pledge your support in an In addition to squashing many EMail to: A new version of the USB stack All in all it’s an engaging site Georges Halvadjian updates his appear at random and in TurboPrint. bugs and generally improving supplied with the Thylacine USB worth adding to your hot-list: timdg@ excellent freeware paint different sizes – you could use • Brush preview in the “album” existing features, version 2.4 has card (reviewed in issue 13) has hyperion-entertainment.com program, Perfect Paint, so this to create an instant unique are shown with full several new features including: http://www.amigaworld.net regularly that we can ususally background for a presentation. transparency. been released. This version • Hierarchical folder list – folders adds support for the Human count on him to help us fill the • Improved multi-step undo with mailing list support settings Some other features in the new can now be arranged into Interface Device (HID) class, the Web Bytes... news pages of Total Amiga. As history list window. • Improved handling of mailto: version include: groups, and nested. most obvious benefit of this is we go to press, version 2.925 links in mails. has just been released with • New "Adjust RGB level", "Auto • Support for SMTP & POP3 the ability to use wheel mice. If you haven’t tried Perfect Paint • Write window search function. many improvements and RGB level” and "Chromatic TLS1/SSL3 using the Thylacine owners will be pleased download this version now... it • Status for individual folders in impressive new features. correction" colour correction AmiSSL.library. to see this stack developing and has many unique features and the app icon. tools • Email address cache – we understand that it will also be Of particular note is the it’s free! • Built-in mouse wheel support. • Improved text requester. remember Email addresses used as the default USB stack If our review of MorphOS this MagicSpray tool. This takes a http://gothic.fr.free.fr/ • Extended documentation. The Amiga Interactive Guide, • Improved communication with used not in the address book. for AmigaOS 4. issue (it’s on page 20) perks collection of brushes and applies an invaluable web resource • Recipient gadgets resolve your interest you might be them to the canvas as you paint. for anyone interested in aliases, real names and Download the new version of The update can be downloaded looking for more information. As they are applied the program Amiga history, has been addresses on the fly. YAM from: from: In that case MorphZone is a can randomly change the size, renamed and redesigned. • Automatically finds the suitable http://www.yam.ch http://thylacine.boing.net good place to start learning colour, contrast and brightness The site is now called the about the operating system of the brushes, within user- Amiga History Guide and and Pegasos hardware. The defined boundaries. A set of looks extremely professional. site features news, forums in MagicSpray brushes and Frogger Plays Sorensen On the site you can find such several languages and a settings can be saved as a Since mentioning it last issue programmer on the open-source fascinating artefacts as database of links to other project for later use or FroggerNG has gone from ffmpeg team). Sorensen 3 is interviews with Amiga sites with further information. distribution. A selection of strength to strength. In the latest often used to encode developers, histories of Another good feature is the projects are included with version, 2.06, many bugs have commercially produced Amiga companies, details of Ambience gallery. This is a Perfect Paint and more can be been fixed making the program Quicktime (.mov) movies such as unreleased and prototype selection of user provided downloaded from the program’s much more reliable. The film trailers – it produces Amigas and even a list of screenshots which show off web site. MagicSpray is synchronisation of video and excellent looking video at Amiga magazines (which, of the MorphOS Ambient excellent for making audio has been much improved reasonable file sizes. In our course, includes Total Amiga)! desktop environment (hence backgrounds and is also great so it stays correct during normal screen-shot you can see the registered on-line via Reg.net. To The site was useful before but Ambience) and skinable GUI. fun just to play with. A good play and after seeking to a new recent Apple advertisement download a demo version and to now it has a design to match http://www.morphzone.org example of MagicSpray is the point in the movie. The most playing in the 68K version of view a list of the audio and video the quality of its content: coins project. This contains interesting addition has to be FroggerNG running on Amithlon. codecs supported go to the brushes of several different old A effect made in a few support for the Sorensen 3 video http://amiga.emugaming.com FroggerNG is shareware, costs Frogger web site: coins; as you spray the coins seconds with the codec (thanks to an anonymous 15USD (about £10), and can be http://frogger.rules.pl Magic Spray tool. 6 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 7 Features Features
Amiga Inc’s CTO briefs us on the progress of OS 4.0 and Fleecy Speaks looks forward to its first public showings. AmigaOne Update This change is significant little public information to switch to change the compiler that can more than hold its Fresh from the IBM technology forum, Alan Redhouse (MD of Eyetech) y the time you read these because the certainty of a release. Mischief makers have from a 68k target processor to own with the industry leaders Bwords, the first public future for our platform will used this silence to their own a PPC target processor). in terms of performance. reveals the specs of the AmigaOne Lite. showings of AmigaOS4.0 mean that users can commit to ends but ironically the As I write this, we have just The first public showing of shown throughout running exclusively on a PPC continuing to support the spreading of rumours and the had our first E-Mail sent out AmigaOS4.0 is part of a rolling s I sit in a Boston hotel lobby Europe running processor should be well under Amiga, developers can see a attempt to develop a malign from YAM running MUI on a European roadshow organised A- it was the 2003 IBM PPC-native on an way. An event that the real and advancing product climate in the community has Picasso96 screen through the by about a dozen dealers (the technology forum this week - A4000 community has been waiting and get hold of the necessary done nothing but spur the team new Roadshow TCP/IP stack number keeps growing all the frantically pecking out this CyberstormPPC for since 1996, that has started tools and documentation to to greater efforts. over an ADSL modem. Each time) and at each successive update in a desperate attempt to accelerator. Hyperion and stopped on numerous create new product for it, and meet Robert’s deadline, I’ve just are now hard at work Now though the desert is one of those systems on its show there will be more and occasions, that has been dealers can begin to develop worked out that the AmigaOne completing the behind us. It started with the own still in 68K but running via more of AmigaOS4.0 shown. derided and refused by those their own strategies for has now the highest sales of any porting to the announcement that we had the emulator on the PPC This is part of a strategy that with their own hidden agendas, carrying and promoting the available ATX form factor PPC AmigaOne hardware. been able to boot into processor. Given what is will slowly push AmigaOS4.0 that has been delayed by platform within their board in the World. That is not so We are still holding Workbench on the PPC required to run within the into the public eye, all with the mistakes and resourcing geographical locations. All of much a measure of major sales the ‘Earlybird’ offer (ie processor of a CSPPC board. AmigaOS to allow each of eventual aim of a combined constraints will have this means more talk, and success, but rather underlines an AmigaOne Yes, the only PPC binaries those systems to run, you can public release and launch happened. more importantly more positive just what a new product family supplied now with were ExecSG, the 68K see how close the project is to show. We will still not talk, about the AmigaOS, and the AmigaOne is, and how Debian Linux/UAE The importance of this cannot emulator and parts of the completion. announce an actual release pioneering even the Linux port to and a free copy of this will spread throughout the be over estimated. Finally, in Hardware Abstraction Layer, date because we have the new hardware has been. OS4 when available) great communicator that is the Our first set of benchmarks the public arena, all those but the rest of the AmigaOS, in committed to not doing that Debian Linux is now the officially open until the official Internet. More communication shows that even with the claiming that AmigaOS4.0 is a 68K binary was running until the final, shippable supported distribution on the launch date of OS4 means more users and that interpretive emulator we are fabrication, a lie, a ruse will through the 68k emulator AND product is in front of us, but I AmigaOne Earlybird boards and for the AmigaOne is means we are back on our way using (it provides more either have to slink back into IT WAS WORKING!!! hope you can see from this systems and the success of this announced. This gives up again. compatibility but with the trade- the shadows or else change text and from the reports of the distribution is entirely down to you the opportunity to From that point progress has off being a slower speed), we their tune, from `it will never The excitement in the shows that will have happened those early adopters on the start using the power occurred on an almost daily are getting 68060 speed and happen’ to `it isn’t any good’. AmigaOS4.0 development that we, through the dedication A1G3dev list. In this respect I of your AmigaOne basis. The completion of a responsiveness, and that is must give special thanks to Ross under Linux/UAE now Whatever new tune will leap group has been palpable. As of a passionate community of GCC compiler. The conversion running on a 200 MHz PPC Vumbaca who did a superb job and hit the ground from their lips, this public with any project, we have had users, developers and owners of almost all 68k assembler to processor. With more of the on the Debian PPC installer for running when OS4 is showing marks a turning point to work long and hard across are very close to what we have One of the many MicroITX cases that portable C. The porting of all AmigaOS running as PPC the AmigaOne. The AmigaOne is released. in the nightmare and misery the desert where most of the all longed for over the past will suit the AmigaOne Lite. 68K C source so that it could native binaries and with the now regularly used by owners for since Commodore went work takes place with eight years, the rebirth of our • 133MHz UDMA RAID IDE compile using the GCC slowest AmigaOne computer browsing and email, productivity bankrupt. The question is not seemingly little real benefit. In platform. AmigaOne Lite controller compiler (the importance of this debuting at 600 Mhz, we are applications, TV/video capture, now `Will it ever happen?’ but this quiet time, there has been being that it requires a simple confident of having a product media playback and as a web In the last edition of Total Amiga I • USB 2.0 on board `When will it happen?’ little to talk about, and thus server in its own right. The gave a brief overview of the • IEEE 1394 (‘FireWire’) on installer disk also makes it easy AmigaOne Lite – an entry level board to set up and use UAE, and AmigaOne designed to both as a • 2x AGP graphics on board with installs Workbench 3.1 and the CD32/A1200 successor and for PAL/NTSC TV out Magic Pack software. use in embedded systems such as kiosks, STB’s etc. However • AC97 sound on board In terms of board types sold, the Buzz Word... the more observant of you will • 1 x PCI33MHz slot (horizontal, It’s been an eventful couple of Rumour has it that Jim Collas is momentum, many ex-Amiga out there offering commercial majority of ‘Earlybird’ purchasers Eyetech “Woes” have realised that in the last via supplied riser card) months for the world’s favourite very keen to turn Amiga back users are returning to the fold Amiga software for download have opted for the AmigaOne- issue I actually described the niche computer platform, and of into a hardware company as Yup Eyetech are in trouble, asking questions, getting thier do not – they are pirates. XE G4 board/systems, although • Cardbus slot for flash card AmigaOne-SE Lite - so why the course your ever-snooping well as a software company. apparently. It seems to stem Amigas out of the cupboard, loft the demand for the G3 systems support (diskless booting, Amiga have made it quite clear change of name? Buzzagent has been there to dig out Collas has a highWord... reputation in from the fact that they or basement etc., and dusting with the option of a subsequent applications, games slot etc) they are not willing to tolerate the information. computer circles and is underestimated the high them off for one more go. upgrade to a single/double G4 • Usual legacy PS/2, serial, any form of theft of their In the interim period we have re- apparently looking forward to demand for AmigaOnes. Unfortunately some of those ex- CPU has also been higher than parallel ports Intallectual Proprery, such as examined the costs and decided finishing, and I quote, “what he Demand has surged users are asking for keyfiles to we originally expected. Many Amiga’s New CEO Amiga ROMs and AmigaOS. that it is economically feasible to started”. Apparently Bill dramatically since the first programs such as amIRC, MUI users of the G3 systems have significantly increase the A1- Buzz Word has heard that McEwen and Jim Collas are AOS4 screenshots hit the web and IBrowse plus of course Buzz Word urges all his overclocked these to 933MHz Lite’s specification and flexibility Being a standard form factor it Amiga are about to get a new very good buddies and in and Eyetech are now having to asking where they may obtain readers not to give in to piracy, (thus voiding their warranties, within the same overall target will fit in a standard micro ITX CEO but it won’t be Garry Hare; regular contact, so this consider ways to meet the free downloads of OS3.1, 3.5 report any websites found but apparently without any pricing. As one of these changes case, such as the one shown in apparently the whole Genesi / comeback is no surprise. Bill increase in demand. Just wait and 3.9. These Morons are containing illegal files to adverse effects being is to use the standard A1XE photograph. Please visit Garry Hare story was a setup McEwen will remain at Amiga until OS4 finally ships – they are obviously not aware of the fact [email protected] and experienced). On the other hand CPU modules (plus a new entry- www.morex.com.tw/minicase.htm designed to produce confusion. as president. going to be under siege! Still I’m (or don’t care) that piracy discourage any potential pirate the current G4’s that we are level 750CXe module) we and www.mini-itx.com to see The new CEO is a man who will sure Eyetech and Amiga played a major part in the shipping are using 933MHz 7455 other suitable case designs. Amiga’s competitors and asking for keyfiles, ROMs and dropped the ‘SE’ from its name. bring many millions of retailers selling AmigaOnes are downfall of the Amiga last time CPU's clocked down to 800MHz detractors should beware, OSs. The Amiga market is investment dollars back into the smiling very broadly at this around. Sites like (to meet the advertised The full specifications for the We are aiming to bring the Collas is ruthless and will not poised for a second chance, company. The Man’s name? happy problem. www.back2roots.org are a rare specifications) - surely making AmigaOne Lite are as follows: AmigaOne Lite to market early tolerate petty tittle tattle. Expect don’t let the Pirates ruin it. Jim Collas. Yes, that’s right, the exception on the Internet, they this, the selling of an next year. Lawsuits of various types to be former CEO when Amiga was seek permision from the underclocked CPU, unique in the • Micro ITX form factor flying from Amiga any day soon. Pirates Ahoy! Well that’s all this issue - must owned by Gateway is the man author/copyright holder before Amiga marketplace! (170mmx170mm) dash - I’ve got a plane to catch! who will bring home the bacon The revival of Amiga as a adding the titles to their site. • Gigabit and 10/100 ethernet on As you have probably read for Amiga Inc. platform seems to be gathering However the majority of sites board elsewhere, OS4 has been widely 8 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 9 Features Features One of the recently released screenshots giving us a feel for the OS 4 default look (which is currently around 80% complete). Notice the powerful GUI preference program with AmigaOS 4 userdefineable gradients Pre-release publicity for Amiga OS 4 has started - Total Amiga sent John Chandler to search for the facts behind the hype. in the foreground. Migration presentation such as the he build up to the release Update Roadshow TCP/IP stack, the Tof AmigaOS 4 continues. With the OS 4.0 code CD/DVD support and the new I’m wary of saying that it’s successfully running, work has AmigaInput. really close now because I’ve now shifted towards the final said it before and been wrong, migration of the software to AmigaOne hardware will also but the signs are very good – native PowerPC. This might be available to view, though this time I believe I’m going to sound like a large amount of not running OS 4 as yet, along be right. OS 4 is itself ready work, but in fact the whole with a few surprises - for and running, with the development roadmap has example, the anti-aliased font outstanding work now involving been geared towards this very support made its debut on the the migration of some moment, with code now in a tour, while the Augsburger remaining components to An updated Kickstart for OS 4 can be stored in the flash ROM stage to be seamlessly Computer Forum event will feature the premier of the C- native PowerPC code. on several new Zorro cards including E3B’s ALGOR USB. recompiled and tested as native PowerPC modules. With One (a fantastic C64 clone) The development team have the source building under GCC and E3B’s Algor USB released more information into worth bringing into the public Emulation forum until they were and tested rigorously on a controller, mentioned earlier in the public domain, and you the “Kickflash OS4” Zorro card, Klingon tongue could be added absolutely sure the final stages The 68k emulation, which stable foundation, the OS4 On Tour 2003 connection with future OS 4 might also have spotted and Hyperion have also begun after all the usual Earth of the current project were in provides the all-important migration path is proving to be ROM support. AmigaOS 4 adverts running on to work in partnership with E3B languages – anticipating a As the release rolls nearer, place. bridge between old and new, swift and painless. websites and in this very to officially support their universal userbase perhaps?). point.design have taken the If you’re lucky enough to be has also been progressing magazine (page 9) as well as a Significantly, during April, the Part of the migration process, ALGOR and ROMulus Flash Unfortunately, Olaf Barthel’s opportunity to show AmigaOS near one of the tour dates, it well. Integration has now demonstration tour of the beta- new DOS and AmigaInput not to mention the legacy ROMs for ‘classic’ Amigas. updated ROM Kernel Manuals 4, as it currently stands, to goes without saying that you’d reached the stage where OS test version (see below) which components were amongst the application support, also relies be well-advised to take the 3.9 successfully boots on will be spreading the word latest modules to enter the final on the ability to easily swap opportunity and check out the PowerPC hardware under CDs and DVDs “not even the hardiest doom-monger can around parts of Europe as you beta-testing process, DOS V50 68k libraries with PowerPC real deal. Details can be found emulation, and OS 4.0 itself read this. Subscribers to having finally cast off all the ones - without the need for Ben Hermans has described deny AmigaOS 4 is looming large.” at: http://www.oase.at/ can boot into Workbench and Amiga’s club magazine will BCPL legacy of old. trickery or re-writing on the part the CD and DVD support as for developers will not be ready groups of people across amigaos4ontour.html run applications. have also been treated to Cyberstorm users will also be of the application developers. “by far the most complete” of in time for the launch, but this Europe. At the time of writing, (But if you can’t make it, you further updates and more in- pleased to hear that drivers for This has already been its kind for the Amiga. As well is hardly unexpected given the this tour hasn’t made it as far This stage of development can always take a look at the depth information on aspects the on-board SCSI controller successfully implemented and as the previously announced nature and scale of the task. as the UK but the result is an highlights the fact that the official OS4 screen-shots of the OS. In addition, and the Permedia 2 graphics ensures that the change-over support for all the common CD excellent way to give people a emulation and integration has accompanying this article and Hyperion have started to try chipset are also due to enter between 68k and PowerPC, formats (RockRidge, Joliet, chance to see OS 4 up close reached a significant level of Pegasos Support? also available from and gauge the interest for a the final stage, as is the not just for the OS itself, will be HFS) the system will cover before the official release. The maturity - a stage which many http://os.amiga.com/) BlizzardPPC version of OS4 - Radeon driver for Picasso 96. naysayers proclaimed to be a smooth one. UDF and UDF-Bridge format Hyperion and Amiga made it demonstration will feature the something that wouldn’t be either fraught with problems or DVDs. The only missing piece clear that they would be happy new version of AmigaOS with a downright impossible. Even on Kickstart 4.0? from the package is any kind of to see OS4 on other hardware native PowerPC kernel running To Sum Up bundled software for playing provided the appropriate on a Cyberstorm PPC. In a system running a native There we have it. Without While Kickstart was starting to DVD movies, due to the high licensing measures and addition, a variety of modules ExecSG (the OS4 kernel) with wishing to put a jinx on things, look like an obsolete concept, licence fees for CSS. In his support agreements have been will be included in the a base OS consisting of 68k the final stages of the project remember that OS 4 doesn’t recent Amiga.org interview, met. It’s no surprise, therefore, modules, an extreme worst are very much upon us. OS 4 require it like previous versions Ben highlighted the work of the to hear that the possibility of a case scenario if you like, the as a complete system is ready, of the OS, the concept of open source community in Pegasos version in the future is performance on a Cyberstorm with the emphasis now on ROM-based functionality is one providing the necessary still an open avenue for card has been tested as completing the migration of that isn’t going to go away. decoding technology as a third- exploration. Ultimately, the comparable to a 68060 - and modules to PowerPC as well Devices such as STBs or party option. decision is for Genesi to agree that’s standard emulation as the final finishing touches to multimedia kiosks, to list just to the licensing and provide all without the Petunia JIT (Just In an impressive package. How two examples, could require the technical details required to Time) support. Of course, with Documentation long until we see a public the 68k modules handled by such a capability and a variety complete a port fully and Not much has been said release for Cyberstorm PPC JIT emulation you gain an of third parties have accurately. Of course, there is recently about the and AmigaOne remains to be immediate and dramatic approached Hyperion also the issue of whether such documentation for OS 4. Work seen, but not even the hardiest performance boost - and when regarding the creation of a a port makes financial sense to is under way to ensure OS 4 is doom-monger can deny the modules are native Flash ROM for OS 4.0. Jen all parties, including Genesi, released with the all-important OS 4 includes anti-aliasing to AmigaOS 4 is looming large. PowerPC... well, you can Schoenfeld’s company, given the current number of MUI 3.9 is included with Amiga OS 4 for compatibility with legacy user documentation, including make fonts look smooth and guess that one for yourself. Individual Computers, and Pegasos systems available applications. The default settings are designed so MUI Hyperion began such a project extensive work from a team of until the Pegasos II hits the unpixelated. This is applications fit in with programs using Reaction, the back in 2002, culminating in translators (rumour has it the streets later this year. particularly effective on higher resolution displays. 10 standard OS 4 GUI tool kit. TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 11 Features Features Previous attempts on the STB Need Somebody? market have not been productive, but the STB market The Amiga technology is more has matured, with worldwide than capable for the task. All Selling the sales in the tens of millions Amiga really need to secure for annually and growing fast. So a triumphal comeback is high far smaller, far less functional volume distribution channels - embedded solutions have simply put, a way of getting the suited the STB market, but with Amiga platform out into the the growing interest in the market in healthy numbers. New Amiga “livingroom PC” concept, there This almost certainly means Finally it’s back - but is there room left any more? Andrew Korn discusses is surely a market for an STB linking up with other companies with full Internet access, media with the weight to push a AmigaOS4’s chances in today’s computer market. storage, good playback hardware platform. The deal facilities and a useful range of Amiga had with Nokia for their asset, the first target of any Vanished Market basic but functional apps. The Media Terminal was an good ll the frustration and decay marketing spend. People Amiga originally found more example of how this could in the Amiga market over Current enthusiasts and already know about Amiga, A space in people’s living rooms work, although equally it the past decade can be interested ex-Amigans can even if they don’t know that it’s complex than on desks, and perhaps demonstrates the inherent summarised by one simple provide a useful starting base back. This is not as useful as place in the past few years. fact: there has been no new for Amiga, but this isn’t the mid the kind of multi-million dollar With some clever positioning generation of Amiga in all that 90’s any more and the remnant marketing campaigns a Sony Amiga can sidestep the catch- “Whoever has the product that delivers that time. Amiga OS3.5 and 3.9 community is now too small to or Microsoft can afford, but it’s 22. We just have to look were largely cosmetic beyond the scope of the next paradigm shift will have the opportunity upgrades, a setpatch for “People already know about Amiga, even if AmigaOne. Removing the to break Microsoft’s dominance.” Amiga OS community morale if you like. hardware dependencies from in the palm of have With AmigaOS 4.0 imminent, is they don’t know that it’s back.” AmigaOS was not just about the STB market is finally ready vagaries of this market. We can your hand? made their first the long hard winter finally provide sufficient market the next best thing - and an finally getting it to run on to take it back there. One great hope that it at least indicates move with the coming to an end? If only it impetus - we really need to awful lot cheaper. PowerPC, it was also about advantage for Amiga of an interest on Nokia’s behalf to announcement of the “PSX”, a disappointment that common were that simple. take a look at the Amiga OS opening doors. The AmigaOne seeking this market sector is work with Amiga on future Playstation 2 with hard drive, wisdom has dismissed the as a brand new product. Amiga We shouldn’t fool ourselves hardware platform is simply not that it would bypass that projects, although there are This is not about the technical networking, PVR and DVD Amiga’s chances in the OS has a long history, but in into thinking the name alone going to change the face of the application catch-22. A many other possibilities such merits or flaws of AmigaOS 4. record/playback facilities. desktop market. The paths terms of market penetration, gets a free ride, but the Amiga Amiga market - it’s a niche platform of this type requires as Ericsson, Motorola, Pace, It suffices to observe that with legacy is a foot in the door. well-designed apps to cover its Philips, Seimens, Samsung outlined above could of course distribution channels, industry product that doesn’t really Eyetech’s relationship with this new generation, Amiga OS There are, for example, few core functionality, easily done etc. Of course as the home provide a market for software and consumer mindshare, provide a hardware advantage Taiwan-based Mai Logic has and hardware have improved games houses in the UK who in house - the only killer app media terminal concept development that would give a sector placement, and all the over x86 products for the opened one very interesting to a sufficient degree to do not remember the Amiga’s here is a well designed spreads, other companies will major boost to the niche rest of the overwrought average desktop user. Sure door - China. Missile tests and compete, while retaining the prime as a golden age of interface. appear on the scene. Sony desktop Amiga platform, but is terminology used to describe there’s a power consumption idle threats of invasion many unique advantages we games development. If Amiga that really the most we can the key factors in market advantage, but that’s really notwithstanding, China and all admire so much. The tries to evangelise the new hope for? success, AmigaOS 4.0 might only an issue to people running Taiwan share a considerable remaining price/performance platform to these developers Popular Comeback Myths as well be 1.0. racks of servers which will dose of language, culture and Microsoft gained their and applications gap will they’ll get an attentive and probably be running Linux 1. The Amiga name has been so mired with vapor and history, and the Chinese are dominance in the home by provide Amiga less of an Of course the Amiga has one even eager audience. However anyway. On the other hand it’s arguments that it has lost all value. eager to leverage this to take being in the right place at the obstacle to future success than distinct advantage - the bottom line is what really now going to be a lot easier to advantage of Taiwan’s IT right time. They will, I believe, the problems of rediscovering awareness. In the case of a counts, and a decision to go FALSE. Outside the community nobody pays attention to the develop versions of the Amiga design and manufacturing retain that dominance until a place in the market. real new product launch, ahead would be predicated on details. They’ll take a look when we’ve got something to show, operating system for other, expertise. Eyetech’s Alan there is ground-breaking shift awareness is an essential one simple calculation - is but the squabbling is instantly forgettable. non-desktop devices. Redhouse has had the in the way people use there enough of a market? 2. Amiga don’t care about AmigaOS, only Amiga DE. opportunity to demonstrate the computers. Whoever has the We’re all well aware of the Amiga OS to major Chinese IT product that delivers that next This is of course the catch-22 benefits that AmigaOS’ size FALSE. Amiga OS is necessary to the plans for DE. The world was concerns, and he believes they paradigm shift will have the not ready for the of any new platform. A platform and efficiency can bring us as 3. Games developers loved the Amiga and will quickly return are impressed by what they opportunity to break Microsoft’s needs software to sell, and desktop users, but this offers CDTV in 1992. to the platform. have seen. The Chinese have dominance. Amiga have been Will 2004 be the needs to sell before software considerable potential for an IT gap that they badly need pursuing some fascinating publishers are willing to invest extending the Amiga family FALSE. Many would no doubt find the notion of returning to year of the to bridge, and a low cost super blue-skies technologies which in development. If you’re Sony beyond the desktop. As a the Amiga appealing, but it is expected sales figures that Amiga multi- STB could well be the ideal are not due to be delivered into media machine?or Microsoft you solve this complete desktop-capable determine what platforms a game is developed for, not which solution for them. Selling Amiga OS in the very near problem by spending further multi media OS that is compact platforms the developer likes. AmigaOS as the de facto future, but have the potential to millions buying leading and efficient enough to run on 3. The split between AmigaOS4.0 and Morphos will be fatal - standard for computing in truly change the way we use software developers and low end hardware and was there is only room for one OS in this market. China would be a vast coup. computers. Of course Amiga reassuring publishers with originally designed for low aren’t the only people to be promises of massive marketing resolution displays, AmigaOS FALSE. To be honest it’s too small for just one Operating interested in developing budgets. Amiga can’t do this; would not require major re- System as well. New markets will have to be found, and The Impossible Future? Operating Systems beyond the they simply don’t have the vast engineering to work on smart there’s plenty of room out there. I’m sure you’ll all agree that the Xerox / Apple Lisa inspired cash reserves required. phones and PDAs. This is a 5. Amiga need a “killer app.” to succeed. possibilities outlined here are model, but the whole point of market where analysts have exciting; Amiga OS could just SEMI FALSE. Killer app. Software wins you market niches. the future is that it is uncertain, A Change of Focus predicted sales as high as 200 have an important future in the Most people use necessary apps, not killer apps. However and with uncertainty comes million units next year, and computing markets of the Luckily the computing market killer apps don’t necessarily mean application software - opportunity - but that’s a unlike the desktop market world. I’m equally sure that has been becoming a more Microsoft’s only killer app is ubiquity. subject for another article. Microsoft don’t already own it. you’ll also feel a sense of 12 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 13 Features Features “It’s not about the desktop!” Review More importantly, Amiga have Scoring With Microsoft entrenched divert resources in the hope of changed the marketing of a acknowledged that they can’t, ou’d have to be pretty reaching top of the desktop pile computer, bringing it into the indeed shouldn’t, do everything on the desktop Amiga must naive to think that Amiga is a waste, and those role of home appliance. What – they’re laying out the tools, otal Amiga’s review Y the technologies and the scoring policy has five look to other markets to has a chance of defeating the developing non-Windows would you prefer sitting in your T might of Windows on the operating systems are starting home: a dull, beige box or infrastructure to help others simple ratings rather than a succeed. John Chandler desktop. Sure we all believe to realise that. some funky, colourful piece of find ways to create, distribute percentage or out of ten that AmigaOS has what it tech-sculpture? Okay, so it and enjoy the content. From system. Because the wonders what lessons we Now I must make a confession. takes, but sadly the real world looked like a plastic goldfish Apple’s iTunes integrates with both the bedroom coders right up to usefulness of a product very I’ve started to dip my toes in can learn from Apple’s doesn’t work that way. bowl, but it shifted units – iPod and their on-line music store. large software and hardware much depends on you, the the world of MacOS X. Well, Besides, Windows has been people thought different, just companies, musicians, writers user, we would far rather you recent successes. actually, I’ve probably gone what people really wanted. It’s appliances hooked up to their under pressure from many as Apple said they should. and artists, there’s a diverse read the review and used the past the toes stage and I’m just the start and I predict matching iPod. Even all the rivals over the years and those Nowadays, the really hip ecosystem in the making - one information provided to see if it wading towards the deep end. Apple are going to follow that applications software is who have tried to seize control computer companies wouldn’t which should evolve into satisfies your needs. In our No, I’ve not abandoned the whole avenue far beyond increasingly developed by with a head-to-head clash have be seen dead launching a something more long-term, reviews we try to include Amiga, the A4000 is still my downloadable music. In fact, Apple themselves. more sustaining, more enough detail so you can failed – BeOS was going fine beige box. you can already obtain spoken main machine, soon to be The Amiga path is broader pervasive and multi-platform. decide if a product is for you. until it tried, MacOS has word audio (books, journals, replaced by an AmigaOne G4 Likewise, people started using than that thanks to the Amiga resigned itself to second place, newspapers) and even textual The Game Packs so beloved You might logically now ask DE. The underlying OS and even Linux hasn’t really made “The problem is, the Apple dream is limited to content for your iPod. of Microsoft and all those PDA “Why have a rating system at it to the average desktop hardware becomes an abstract and mobile phone companies all then?”. We think it is still despite massive improvements the Apple universe.” But here’s the crunch. Apple entity, with DE layers are just the tip of the iceberg - useful to have an overview of and support. XE. I needed a new laptop MP3s so the electronics might have sussed the trend, eventually existing on a potentially huge and diverse the product; for example often earlier this year and my choice companies started to mass but they’ve not realised the Windows, AmigaOS, Linux and market has been exposed, it is necessary to explain a But that’s okay, because the whole potential, in my humble heck, maybe even Mac OS X. desktop market has almost of a non-Windows platform with produce MP3 players, meaning unlocked by the enabling product’s shortcomings. In a a low profile and good battery people could take their music opinion of course. The problem ARM, PowerPC, x86. Scaling technology and ideas of review, with limited space, reached stagnation point – is, the Apple dream is limited to from phones and PDAs right up there’s little room for expansion life took me towards the new and play it away from their companies like Amiga. This is these can seem to overwhelm Powerbook G4 12”. MacOS X computer. Apple’s iPod does the Apple universe. Okay, to your laptop or home server, the real arena for innovation the good points. The rating and innovation, it’s no longer Windows iPod users are blurring the boundaries the big thing any more. To on this beast flies – nothing just that, but works seamlessly and expansion. The desktop allows authors to say that they since the Amiga has made me with their Apple Mac desktops catered for to an extent, but the between each class of device. will survive but it will no longer still think it’s a good product feel more at home. and laptops. I plug my iPod truly seamless path is that Significantly, this content isn’t be the centre of attention – the despite its flaws. into the Powerbook and it based around the Macintosh static like MP3s, it can be future lies in the unexplored Apple made an interesting automagically synchronises my user, running the MacOS X dynamic - games, applications, universe surrounding it. choice with OS X. Let’s face it, Top Notch! music, swapping all kinds of operating system on their multimedia presentations, the old MacOS was pretty naff metadata such as when I Apple-branded designer home intelligent agents. This is an excellent product considering - a friendly, lasted played a song or what which we feel is nearly perfect. consistent UI for sure, but it rating I gave it. There’s nothing A must have product if you’re was crash-prone, multitasked particularly special about this, interested in the genre. poorly and was effectively a but it’s such a smooth and sealed box that the power user trouble-free process, the iPod couldn’t easily poke around Pretty Good is a mobile extension of my with. Us Amiga users were Powerbook, my lifestyle. A good product that works well lucky in that respect, we had a but has room improvement. platform that was pretty slick So what? Well, Apple are now Definitely worth buying. and accessible on so many picking up on the content game levels – from console-like and this is where the iPod slots game playing right up to full in so seamlessly. You know, Okay blown power user geek box. the content that Amiga have A product that works but has MacOS X introduced that to been talking about? Apple areas that could be improved. the Mac, bringing all the have realised that they’re no Could be worth purchasing if friendly consistence of the longer in the business of you can accept the limitations. MacOS on an impressive selling hardware and software, BSD UNIX core for the they’re shifting technology that geek appeal. enables you, your friends, your Could do Better family, your colleagues to A product with major flaws that But all this wasn’t a vain access digital content. The has potential to be improved. attempt at bolstering the launch of their on-line music Only worth purchasing in this artillery in the desktop store, supplementing the whole state if it’s your only option. war, it was another iTunes/iPod experience, has stage at switching the been an overwhelming direction – building a Forget It! success, shifting paid-for music solid foundation for far beyond most people’s What can we say – steer clear, the future. Take the expectations. They hit the this is a product that should Apple’s iPod is more than a cool mp3 player, it is an extension Apple designs for sweet spot and tapped into never have been released. hardware – the iMac of the desktop (or laptop in this case) computer. 14 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 15 Features Features and even its own version of HDToolbox. Since Amiga users and developers have come to rely on various third-party AROS: The DIY Amiga OS libraries, many of the most Richard Drummond introduces us to a project that, until recently, has largely been of interest to developers. common of these have been re- implemented in AROS, including Could it now have an impact on the wider Amiga community? ReqTools and CyberGraphX. and is compatible with AmigaOS Re-implementing AmigaOS architectures, such as the PC, There’s even an open-source or years Amiga users have 3.1. The project was initiated by would be no easy task, though. AROS aims for compatibility at port of MUI for AROS, called been stuck with two Aaron Digulla in the dark days of In creating AROS, the the source code level. That Zune, which is used by F Wanderer and some of the problems: a lack of new Amiga the mid 90s, when the prospects developers had to start from means the same source code hardware and no real for any official development of scratch, using nothing but the can be compiled for AmigaOS AROS preferences tools. development of AmigaOS. The AmigaOS looked bleak. AmigaOS APIs and the collective 3.1 or any of the flavours of Currently, the AROS ports which dwindling Amiga community has Commodore had gone down the wisdom of the Amiga community AROS (although the resulting run stand-alone on the PC and steadfastly waited for some pan, and Escom would not be as a guide. The existing OS binaries obviously won’t work on hosted atop Linux on the PC are solution to these problems, and, long to follow. The thinking could not be of any direct help. all platforms). Binary the most advanced. For Intel- at last, the wait seems nearly behind AROS went something The complex licensing issues compatibility with AmigaOS 3.1 phobes, work has recently begun over. Ignoring any politics like this. If the Amiga community surrounding the various on all hardware would require on a port to the PowerPC for involved, two similar – albeit some kind of emulation PReP hardware and the competing – modern Amiga “The open nature of AROS means that it could technology, and while this Pegasos (Genesi have donated platforms are now near release, problem has been investigated, a machine to the project). the AmigaONE with AmigaOS be the glue that holds the divided Amiga no practical solution has been Interestingly, an experimental 4.0 and the Pegasos with found. (UAE has been ported to port for Palm Pilot also exists. MorphOS. Both are PowerPC- community together.” AROS, for those that need to run based computers driven by a couldn’t be supported by any components of AmigaOS have legacy software.) For those that wish to try out Is it Legal? PowerPC-based re- official AmigaOS development, always made any proposal to Another goal for AROS was that AROS on their PCs, regular implementation of AmigaOS. then the community would have open-source it a legal nightmare it should be able to run natively, development snapshots are Cloning an operating system But, did you know that there is a to support itself and develop its – even if the current owner at the as a stand-alone operating available from the AROS web is a project fraught with legal a third and very different way to own AmigaOS. But, if this time could be persuaded. system, on the target hardware, site in various forms, as a AROS may be short of real world applications, questions. However, run an Amiga-like operating ambitious project is to be or hosted as a layer over an bootable floppy image, as an but plenty of games have been ported to the platform implementing an operating system on fast, new hardware? The principal goal for AROS was undertaken, then make sure it’s existing operating system ISO image suitable for creating a system that clones the API of That third way is AROS. portability while remaining as Given the current divisions in the done right; make it open-source (currently Linux and *BSD are bootable CD-ROM, or as a another isn’t actually illegal compatible with AmigaOS 3.1 as Divide or conquer? Amiga community, what role will AROS, the Amiga Research to so that the community won’t supported). When hosted, AROS binary package which can be since an API is not possible. When run on existing AROS play? Will a third, binary- Operating System, is an open- ever face this problem again, creates an Amiga desktop in a installed and run hosted on Now that commercial patentable. It has been done Amiga hardware, AROS aims to incompatible (at least on non- source project whose aim is to and make it portable so that window on the host, much like Linux. If you want to build development of AmigaOS has before, and it will no doubt be be binary-compatible; that is, PPC hardware) Amiga platform create a portable operating finding new hardware to run it on you’d see when running UAE. binaries yourself, source code resumed, is AROS still relevant? done again. Nevertheless, the AmigaOS software will run on just confuse users and further system that looks like, feels like won’t ever be an issue. The difference with AROS is that snapshots are also available. Some would even argue that the AROS developers have had AROS and vice versa. On other discourage commercial only the API is emulated, not any existence of a third Amiga-like to ensure that AROS doesn’t The PC-native flavour of AROS developers? Well, it doesn’t have hardware. Binaries run in the operating system does more contain any of Amiga Inc.’s currently ships with only a basic to be that way. The open nature hosted AROS run at full, native harm than good. It fractures a intellectual property. For set of hardware drivers. This of AROS means that it could be speed. The hosted flavours of community split over the instance, AROS doesn’t includes support for PS/2 mice the glue that holds the divided AROS don’t require much driver AmigaOS versus MorphOS feature Intuition’s draggable and keyboards, standard PC Amiga community together. With support in AROS, so have been debate even further. screens and pull-down menus serial and parallel ports, ATA official endorsement from Amiga an important tool in developing (rather these pop up at the hard drives and CD-ROM drives Ignoring such questions, AROS Inc, AROS could become the AROS. It’s also handy for mouse pointer’s position), and unaccelerated support for is a positive development for the reference implementation for the application writers using Linux as which are both covered by VESA graphics cards. There’s Amiga user. In particular, with the standard APIs required to make a development host or for users Amiga patents. Similarly, also an experimental hardware- PC port of AROS, Amiga users an Amiga-like operating system. who want a simple way to try out AROS can’t use Amiga accelerated driver for NVidia can take advantage of the After all, from a developer’s point AROS. trademarks. Thus AROS’s graphics cards, and USB support unmatched price/performance of view, at the source code level, desktop is called Wanderer is in progress. ratio of modern, off-the-shelf PC AmigaOS 4.0, MorphOS and rather than Workbench. Work in Progress hardware as a basis for running AROS are all very similar. Why Clearly driver development is an an Amiga-like operating system. not leverage that similarity and Despite these and other After eight years of hard work, area that still needs a lot of work. Moreover, the huge installed codify it into an open standard precautions, AROS may still sometimes with very few Audio hardware is currently not user base of PC hardware that developers can use to be in a legally dubious external signs of progress, supported at all, although means that the potential size of ensure that their software can position, if only because AROS is at last nearing the point recently Martin Blom ported the the Amiga community has easily be built to run on any of Amiga Inc itself has not made where it is usable, if not yet AHI system to AROS. Drivers for suddenly exploded in size. the three platforms? any official statement useful. Although it is still very specific sound cards now need regarding AROS. The fact much in an alpha state, the core to follow. Other missing pieces But even if AROS never takes off If AROS can help the Amiga that Amiga has not sent its - including the AROS clones of are networking and any real as an end user platform, the community, why not help AROS? lawyers to shut down the Exec, Intuition and AmigaDOS - applications. Proposals to project has already contributed Pop along to www.aros.org, project may be seen as is largely feature-complete. Work include AmiTCP 3.0 have been much to the Amiga community. download a copy and try it out. unofficial approval. is steadily progressing on put forward, since the source Several AROS components were Give the developers your Nevertheless, a clarification of implementing higher-level code to that network stack is used in AmigaOS 3.9 and many support, your suggestions and AROS’s legal status from components such as Wanderer, available. And, while Lots of more are used in MorphOS. I your bug reports. Above all, get Amiga would help raise the AROS’s equivalent of the example software has been would hazard a bet that it has involved and have fun. profile of and confidence in Amiga’s Workbench, and all the ported to AROS - including tools, also helped AmigaOS 4.0 AROS. tools and utilities that you would utilities and games (such as development, if only indirectly, as expect to find with AmigaOS. Doom and Quake) - it’s early a template for solving the Good-looking and powerful user interfaces can make the transition to AROS AROS has datatypes, days still for useful applications. portability problems of AmigaOS. commodities, a REXX interpreter 16 now that it features a clone of MUI, called Zune. TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 17 Features Features another hardfile, and copy Booting Mac OS from CD System to it. That way, if If you have a Mac system disk anything goes wrong, it’s easy to on CD then just boot with that, get back in. Macs have auto boot up from CD-ROM built in, handy for when there isn’t a system installed on Tip: Click on a program icon the hard drive. select Get Info from Mac Edit Mac:Michael Carrillo discovers 68k Mac emulation Reloaded is still worth it. Menu. You can increase the program’s memory requirement games that never made it to the Booting Mac OS size. Useful for Netscape, all h no not another Mac Amiga such as Wolfenstien 3D, by other means versions. Oemulation article again! why Ceaser, Marathon and tons bother? Abandonware that’s more. Plus a whole world of Fusion Fusion Warning why. office software, for example I 68k MacOS has a vast catalogue of useful applications. was at a car boot sale and Finally, if you are using Fusion Classic Mac emulation has First of all you need a bootable picked up a copy of Microsoft Aaron – Nice Eyecandy. Makes and you transfer files from your become big on the PC as finally hardfile to get the Mac going. In Office 4.12 for a snip. Now I can When installing Mac OS your Mac desktop pretty. Amiga to the Mac as mentioned the raw power of the latest the Download links section you Tip: run Word, Excel and Powerpoint under Amiga Emulation,DO NOT earlier, make sure you dismount Pentiums could emulate a will find reference to a small very on my Amiga. Indeed this article choose Easy install, instead Chucks Printer Driver – Will the Mac partition off Workbench Classic Mac at decent speeds. basic Mac OS for Fusion; a 4Mb is being written on Word 6 for the select custom, and select install allow you to print via your Amiga. before returning back to the Mac We on the Amiga have always file. All this does is boot a very Mac at this very moment. for any Mac or universal Mac. emulation. Should the Mac had the advantage of having the basic OS onto the Mac, nearly all FreePPP – Replacement Mac Whilst you are ticking boxes, crash, it won`t be so painful. same processor family. i.e. the features are missing. TCP/IP, Internet Dialer. Best ensure that under “Extensions”, Always remember to shut down 68K CPU series. As a result, there is. Setting up your Amiga you remove Arose plus any the Mac properly, you cannot just very many websites catering for A sight for sore eyes: MacOS multitasking with Once you have done that, PowerPC Extensions mentioned switch your Amiga off and walk mac emulation on the PC have to Run as a Mac. download the System 7.5.3 OpenTransportPPP 1.1.1 – AmigaOS and your Amiga applications. Install file (British Install, 40Mb). there and also in Control panel. away. Select from the Apple sprung up each containing a Choose an emulator, from either Available from the Apple site, If you have a dial up Internet If the Mac crashes after boot up. menu (Click on Apple Icon on wealth of resources or Basilisk II or if you have Amiga you’ll need this to get on-line. 2: Mac Executables (100Mb) connection, ask a friend who has Re-boot, wait until Mac disk icon top menu bar) “Shut Down”. programmes some legal some Format disk 134 Try out fusion Hardfiles vs Dedicated This is where the Fusion broadband to download the file appears then immediately press Netscape – Available from the not so legal available for 3.1. full version. Which is what As always, if you have any executable and Hard Files or files for you and put it onto a shift, before Mac dialogue box Netscape Site, Use Netscape download. Of course these I’m using. In either case you are Partitions questions, please post them to reside on the Amiga side. CD. Please note that you cannot opens, this will disable the 3.01 and then experiment with resources are also open for the going to need a Mac ROM, [email protected]. boot from this file it is only for extensions on boot up. versions 4.01 to 4.08. as they Amiga user to take full similar to the Amiga ROMs, in Hardfiles 3: Mac System (110Mb) install purposes. Alternatively are prone to guru your Amiga advantage of. order to get started. Note that 4: Mac Applications (250Mb) For later Mac OS’s Shop around Alternatively if you can’t wait call you will have to download the completely. just like the Amiga ROMs, you Hardfiles are handy, you don’t the Internet or Mac Dealers. If in via IRC to #amigaworld on Mac emulation on the Amiga has 5: Mac Games (640Mb) version from the Apple are not allowed to have copies of need to partition or re-format any you have an 060 you can easily Undernet servers, or by visiting been around a long time via All in all I set aside 1Gb. Is it Download site, ensure that you the Mac ROM unless you hard disks, all you do is tell run OS8.2 on your Amiga. OS8 http://chat.amigaworld.net/chat. such programs as Shapeshifter worth it? You bet. download the correct country for When you have installed physically have a Mac ROM. If fusion or Basilisk the size of the is slower but nicer all round. Tip: (Now Basilisk II) and the Fusion you, MacOS 7.5.3 comes in your OS on the Mac, find out you do own one, but cannot get hardfile in megabytes and it Note that an ‘040 based Amiga Series etc. Of course, if you Of course when I first booted up roughly at around 16 disks or how big it is, (click system icon), to it, please see boxout for creates one. The minimum you will easily run 7.6.1 but will have an 060 based Amiga you I had to format partitions 3-5 on more. You won’t need to copy then exit emulation, create suitable link to where one can be will need is at least 50Mb of disk struggle with OS8. If you have an can emulate a Classic Mac (68K) the mac side. Why Partition? them to Mac floppies, they are downloaded from. Note if you space, that will give you enough ‘030 stick to 7.5.3 or earlier. Use far faster than the real thing as Well like your Amiga it’s easier to just virtual disks. Double clicking have an 040 or 060 Amiga you room for the System files plus a of a graphics or graffitti card Apple never released an 060 keep things tidy and of course, if on the first in the series of disks will need an 040 Mac ROM, it couple of applications and helps speed up the emulation. Links based Mac! Of course not one partition goes AWOL, you brings them all together into a won’t work otherwise. Set up games if you are lucky. Be everyone has an 060, This haven’t lost everything. 40Mb or so Install disk. your emulator of choice, insert warned that hardfiles are much Amiga Emulators review is coming courtesy of a slower in use. Screenmodes Dual PPC/040 machine, which is the ROM, and you are ready to http://www.uni-mainz.de/~bauec002/B2Main.html Naming your Mac Most classic Mac games require just about suitable, if you have go, well almost! You are going to Tip: Beware of Mac files, Basilisk II Mac Emulator Partitions Partitions. Decide from the off Tip: a 256 colour or less (even B&W) an 030 don’t worry you can still need an operating system in downloaded via another which drive you are going to use screens. Therefore ensure that http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~miles.j/shape.html get some mileage out of this order to get that mac up and operating system, as they are Partitions are much faster, but be for transferring files from the Mac you have all your screenmodes Dated, but still useful Amiga/Mac Emulation page, gives hints and article. running. Apple released all their really fussy and sometimes don’t warned that if your mac suffers a setup for 256 colours on the tips on getting the Mac working on your Amiga. operating systems up to version side to the Amiga side. For work (it’s all to do with resource fatal crash, other partitions can Amiga side. i.e. CGX or Picasso. So what’s available? Anything 7.5.5 for free download years example in Fusion pressing L- forks). Best bet is to Download Official Software Downloads be affected and you could lose and everything if you know ago. All these OS’s and updates Amiga and M switches screens, the British Install I mentioned them altogether, I would advise http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/ where to look. From classics are available to download from back to the Amiga side. Once earlier, set up your modem, you either back up everything If your Mac the screen is Apple_Software_Updates/ such as Civilisation, Colonisation Apple’s own download site back on the Amiga side there is install Netscape 3.01 and Tip: and Fury of the Furries, to you need (This happened to me a little pop up program from off centre, too small or too big Apple Downloads – Find the specific OS for your country. download your specific country etc., it means that you haven’t under Fusion - can’t comment on fusion, that amongst other things http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/ OS from the apple website, then set up your screenmodes Basilisk) , or take the third option allows you to mount one of your Apple_Software_Updates/English-British/Macintosh re-install the OS once more. properly. Exit the emulator and of using a separate hard drive. mac drives over to the Amiga British English OS download. edit screenmodes on Amiga side. This has the effect of ShapeShifter/Basilisk II OptionThree another hard drive icon popping side. Note Mac OS doesn’t have http://wp.netscape.com/download/archive/client_archive.40x.htm up on your workbench. Through Screen re-sizing setup in the OS. Netscape 4.0x Downloads If you are using Basilisk or the Use a separate hard disk, for trial and error I realised that I older Shapeshifter, Look at CU http://wp.netscape.com/download/archive/client_archive.30x.htm example, I have two Hard disks couldn’t call my Mac Applications Amiga CD 21 as it contains a Utilities and Applications Netscape 3.0x Downloads on my Amiga, a 20Gb and an old Partition “Applications” as it whole suite of Mac hardfiles There are a ton of Utilities and 4.3Gb one. Using the smaller clashes with the Amiga’s own http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/helpdesk/helpsoftware.html specific to Shapeshiter and most Applications for the mac classic. hard drive I partitioned it as Applications Partition. Changing FreePPP and other helpful Software likely Basilisk. Alternatively, the (all these are free or shareware) follows: it to “Apps” on the Mac side Try out classic files can be downloaded as well For many more links check out the resources section for this solved the problem. Disinfectant – No longer issue on the Total Amiga website: game that 1: Emergency Workbench from the same place as the updated but very useful at http://www.totalamiga.org/issue15.html never made (100Mb) Just in case. System Disks at the ready? British Fusion Hardfiles. it to the Amiga. catching those old Mac viruses. 18 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 19 Features Quake II Competition! Win a copy of Amiga Quake II courtesy of Hyperion Entertainment and Fore-matt Home Computing The Questions A. Which Amiga model has “JUNE BUG” printed on its motherboard? B. What was the name of Jay Miner’s dog during the Amiga’s development? C. How many back issues of Total Amiga can be freely downloaded from our website? Send your answers by EMail to: [email protected] Include your: name, postal address and EMail address. Alternatively post your answers to: Total Amiga, 26 Wincoat Drive, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 5AH, UK
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Competition Rules The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries received by the 18th of August. The draw will be held on the 23rd of August 2003 and the winner notified by EMail (if available). Total Amiga contributors and members of the organistations involved may not enter this competition. Only one entry is allowed per household. The prize available is one original copy of Quake II for the Amiga, no alternative is offered. Decisions on correct answers and the draw will be made by Total Amiga staff, their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Your details will be used by Total Amiga to administer this competition, they will not be passed to the companies involved or to anyone else. TOTAL AMIGA Reviews Reviews There are two ways to look at and to boot into the different that – the first is that they are OS’s that are installed on your right; you don’t need floppies so computer (there are currently no much now days. Most people OS selectors available like those who own two or more computers written for PCs). One problem to will have a network and FTP of be found in the current OF is Pegasos some sort set up so transfer of connected to mice: if you move a data is easy. The second is that plugged in PS2 mouse while in A new PPC based computer this is a basic and fundamental OF it will produce an error and that runs Amiga software part of a system (unless you own stop booting. Most of the time a Mac). While making the code hitting Enter a few times will tempts Sam Byford. for floppy access will take time rectify this but on occasion you MorphOS away from doing more important have to power the computer A war rages in the world that is straight from Genesi themselves. The board itself is well built on The Pegasos on the whole is so things once it is done no more down for a second or so then Amiga. Choosing between an Each dealer has their own the whole, with all components quiet and efficient in what it does time needs to be spent on it. restart. This problem is being AmigaOne or a Pegasos for your software packages or full solidly in place and a fairly that you can quite easily leave it Adding floppy support also stops looked into so expect an update next generation machine is a big systems available. Mine was just logical layout. There are two turned on permanently. Its basic the nagging from the users who to rectify this sometime in the decision. First impressions and the basics: the Pegasos things that I noticed with the power consumption is a mere 7 want this feature. near future. reviews of a platform and its motherboard itself including a board: the first is that the MIC Watts compared to PCs which operating system help people to blanking& plate, MorphOS on CD connector is about an inch too use at least 20 Watts (figures For those of you who are selling decide which way to go and this and a A4 Technical far away from my towers front taken from the PowerPC web off your old Amigas, keep hold of The Operating System: month we bring Genesi’s Specifications “manual”, all for panel so that the lead will not site). In my setup the only thing your hard drives as they will MorphOS (1.3) One of MUI 3.9’s new menu options demonstrated in AmIRC. Pegasos and MorphOS into the the princely sum of £378 (free reach. This will differ system to that gives off any noise is the almost certainly work straight off limelight. shipping). Now that is a lot of system and is an easy enough CD-ROM and a slight purr from when plugged into the Pegasos. Before I launch into the pros and Once you have booted into MOS readme. This is another reason money for a system, especially problem to overcome. The the PSU. Such a small power Whether the programs run is cons of MorphOS (MOS) there is using the CD you are presented for having a good printed manual This review is based on a as you also need a tower; second thing is that the IDE and consumption combined with the another matter entirely but the one vital bit of data you need to with a basic Ambient desktop to hand. Pegasos I motherboard with the memory; CD-ROM etc. For a floppy connectors have securing minimal noise and heat output know in order to actually boot (Ambient is MorphOS’s version drives themselves will be I found that with my 80Gb hard April2 fix and MorphOS version similar amount you could put clips which I feel are not required means the Pegasos is a much your Pegasos using the MOS CD of Workbench) in quite a small recognised and used. Pegasos drive MOS would only recognise 1.3. This is classified as a Beta together a decent PC system. as the cables stay in place by nicer machine to leave running for the first time: the command resolution so that it works on all and MorphOS have built in it as a 8Gb drive no matter what OS by Genesi so there are a fair But we have got used to paying themselves without any help. for long periods of time than any printed on the CD case is wrong monitors. MOS looks very nice support for both FFS and SFS I did. My solution was to plug it few bugs inherent in the system. over-the-odds for things in our They are also made of a plastic other system I have used. and may not work. The case even at its basic level, with nice and can also run PFS hard into my A4000, format the drive Version 1.4 is due out within the “alternative platform” and that breaks far too easily if you (and indeed the MOS quick-start PNG icons (though a bit on the drives so most setups should as one big 80Gb partition (quick next few weeks and this should hopefully the more machines I have two 256Mb RAM chips guide) states that in OF you large side). There are work. For those of you with SCSI format worked fine) then transfer rectify some of the problems they sell the more the price can should type “boot /ide/cd instructions in readme format drives the Symbios PCI-SCSI it back to the Pegasos. From that which I will mention in this drop. “In my setup the only noise is the CD-ROM boot.img” but this will give an that explain how to partition and cards will work with Pegasos and moment on it was seen full size. article. No doubt it will also error message of “error: no format your hard drive ready for MorphOS. Good news all round! I have heard other users say introduce some new ones. I find the A4 sheet they call a and a slight purr from the PSU! ” filesystem recognised”. Instead MOS installation. Once that is manual rather disquieting: a use too much pressure when installed into the PC133 slots The Pegasos uses an in-built done copy the boot.img to the similar things but some have had I ordered my Pegasos from the you should use the following machine like this should come inserting your cables. Within five giving me 512Mb of memory, system called OF (Open correct partition and the CD no problems so I guess it is UK reseller who has a web site command, “boot /ide/cd@0,1 with a proper manual, with full minutes of having my board one though a total of 2Gb is Firmware) which is similar to the contents to the drive then reboot down to the individual hard drive at http://www.pegasos-uk.com boot.img” this is assuming that instructions on paper, showing of those clips broke off giving me available. Unfortunately the current Amiga Kickstart (but the machine. At this point you that is used. but you can also order from any the CD drive is on the slave how to get it up and running and a mild panic attack. Pegasos currently appears to be without the menu system) and have to know what to type into of the other resellers, including connector of the first IDE all the ins and outs of its system continuing the Amiga trend of the PCs BIOS. It has a full channel. If it is on the second OF to tell the computer to boot Applications (the Amiga 4000 came with four The blanking plate that was needing to use specific types of knowledge of all the hardware in IDE cable you would use @1,0 into MOS automatically on reset, Integrated into MOS are PPC large tomes). Once you have provided with my Pegasos is memory, but as long as you stick the computer. At boot you can or @1,1. so you’ll need to have written native versions of many done the initial boot into made of aluminium and is rather to using Registered PC133 RAM access OF to set boot options down the instructions from the programs, including AHI and MorphOS using the CD these flimsy. I would have liked a you should be alright. The MUI 3.9. This has many items are available in PDF form slightly thicker and stronger Pegasos II will use a new improvements over 3.8, not least but the less able of users out blanking plate, similar to the one northbridge chip developed by Pegasos? MorphOS? of which is the facility to change there should have these in their that came with my case. It does Marvell (to replace the Articia the layout and position of the .info hands from the start. the job however and fits nicely Northbridge) which works with MorphOS is a PowerPC-native for Phase 5, and Frank Marak, German company employing system menus (for both Ambient Developer around all the sockets. many more types of memory. In operating system which is able the author of CyberGraphX. several ex-Phase 5 engineers. to run 68k Amiga applications and individual programs). In the Genesi the meantime a growing list of The Pegasos is a PowerPC Over the last couple of years The Hardware: Pegasos The Pegasos I, which has using a built-in emulator. It was Menus section of MUI you can www.genesi.lu the working and non-working motherboard based on the Mai MorphOS has been ported to When you see the size of the currently sold out, is not as originally conceived as a way to set style options similar to that RAM that has been tested can Artica S north bridge. Among run on the Pegasos hardware. motherboard you can’t help but advanced as the Pegasos II move AmigaOS to PPC at a used in MagicMenu. Right be found at the MorphZone other features it has built-in A great deal of work has gone Distributor be impressed. At 236mm by which should be available time when Amiga’s ownership mouse button menus can have website. sound, Ethernet, USB and into removing dependency on www.pegasos-uk.com 172mm it conforms nicely to the sometime later this year with was in flux and then under their location and behaviour set Firewire as well as the standard AmigaOS components to make micro-ATX specifications and as upgrade offers available to those Gateway when they were taking to one of five styles: OS Menu The Pegasos comes with a ports you would expect. It has MorphOS a stand-alone product Price such will fit into pretty much any already owning an earlier version a different direction. The (normal right click, menu at top floppy drive connector but an AGP 2X slot for a graphics while retaining compatibility Motherboard with MorphOS tower you can lay your hands on. of the motherboard or CPU. My original beta release ran on of screen); screen or window MorphOS has no drivers to use card and three PCI slots. All this with Amiga software. In 2002 and Linux...... £377 Beware of the low profile (3 inch) current system comes with a G3 Phase 5 CyberStorm and pull-down; mouse pull-down or it. Linux, however, does has is packed onto a compact Thendic France became the Discounts may be available cases though – with some of the 600MHz PowerPC (750 CXe) Blizzard PPC accelerators but mouse pop-up. You can also set drivers but will only read MicroATX-sized board. A CPU sole distributor for the Pegasos for developers. larger AGP or PCI cards (such processor which runs incredibly used only the PPC processor. these menus to sticky so that the PC/Linux disks so if you want to slot allows different PowerPC and MorphOS and at the as the Radeon 9000s) they are cool and silently. Unlike almost The operating system is mouse button does not need to use a floppy drive (be it an processors, mounted on a begining of this year they Test System too tall and you will not fit them all PC processors which require structured so that resources be held down during selection. Amiga or a PC/Generic one) with custom card, to be fitted. At the merged with bplan to form Pegasos with April 2 into the machine without an very big heatsinks and fans the such as libraries can be ported The window pull-down option your MorphOS system you will time of writing all Pegasos Genesi. Since September 2002 PPC G3 CPU @ 600Mhz angle-adaptor which usually G3 runs with only a small to PPC and used in conjunction can display the menu items at need to purchase a Catweasel machines have been supplied Pegasos machines have been 512Mb RAM costs around £25. For that heatsink and no fan. The with legacy 68k components any of the four sides of its from Individual Computers. The with a 600MHz G3 processor available with MorphOS for a ATI Radeon 7000LE AGP money you may as well just buy Radeon 7000 AGP graphics card allowing for a gradual transition. window. Quite a nice little feature reason given for this is one of card but a faster G4 is due to period of public beta testing, the ATX Tower Case a slightly larger case which lets I have installed gives off even The key developers of and just one of the “we have more important things be released soon. The Pegasos latest version (at the time of you use the cards in their normal less heat than the G3 which is MorphOS are Ralph Schmidt, improvements in MUI. to code and floppy drives are not was designed by bplan, a writing) is reviewed here. MorphOS 1.3 slots. also unusual! a priority” (note: not a quote!). who developed driver software 22 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 23 Reviews Reviews Also in native PPC format are will refuse to play any sound and work with 68k and PPC systems SimpleMail, though I found that MysticView, APDF and Voyager. may not even work at all. A basic you may notice two copies of the when this is run on a Dopus Both MysticView (picture viewer) work-around for this is being same file, one with the prefix .elf Magellan screen it loses all its and APDF (PDF viewer) run written but if the program using on the end. This is the PPC icons; AmiNetRadio; flawlessly, and extremely fast. audio.device has been written to executable and will be ran FeebleFiles; FroggerNG They load large files almost “bang the hardware” of the instead of the 68k version (includes PPC codecs so it runs instantly and can zoom and original Amiga then it is very whenever the program is called. nice and fast); FTPd and manipulate those files with little unlikely it will ever work correctly There is no need to delete the AmigaAMP. MorphZone carries a or no trouble at all. Voyager, on MOS. 68k version and rename the .elf list of programs tested and a when I tried to use it, still file as MOS is intelligent enough links section which I maintain. seemed bug-laden and crashed New Functionality and to automatically run the .elf file. me several times (sorry Vapor Going back to Dopus Magellan team!). I suggest installing Old New Problems I`ve already mentioned that MUI (5.82), this is a program that IBrowse and/or AWeb and using has integrated a few of runs almost perfectly on MOS. those instead. Also included in MorphOS runs on top of the MagicMenu’s traits. Another Its main drawback is that it can MOS are PPC datatypes and if Quark microkernel and initially program that has borrowed from not display PNG icons, which Some of the skins available to customise the window look. has two implementations of the past “hacks” is the CLI, which MOS uses as default. Any PNG you do install IBrowse ensure WordWorth and AmigaWriter. A of some sort when it arrives. And OS, the A-Box and the Q-Box. now includes most of KingCON’s icons (such as Ram: hard drives you set it to use the external PPC-native MOS Installer needs the real test will not come until Currently only the A-Box is properties including file etc.) show up as an “Ambient ones, not its internal versions or to be written, or InstallerNG the Q-Box is in development. For available to the users. The A- completion, drag-and-drop and PNG” default icon and are non- every page you load will take My Ambient desktop with Miami, AmiNetRadio, given an overhaul. now, though, MOS is usable, Box provides a re- scroll bars. It also has the ability clickable. You can still thankfully minutes rather than seconds. albeit alongside either an original implementation of the AmigaOS to “detach” and create a “new” drag-and-drop archive files to Frogger and MysticView running. Amiga or one of the better Two PPC games are included in (3.1) for PPC hardware. It shell by selecting a button in the those icons to un-archive them Conclusion There are, at the moment, some (albeit one that has been around emulators running on MOS or a the 1.3 distribution as well: includes an emulator to run top of the CLI window. Definitely but otherwise they are useless. I basic programs missing from the several years already) and you MorphOS 1.3 has a lot of faults, PC. It still remains a sad fact that MorphTris, a basic Tetris clone classic AmigaOS RTG software a good addition to the OS. have taken to showing only the MOS package, most of which are have to expect problems. A lot of there’s no denying that. But it is at this time a lot of old Amiga (and hardly worth bothering with) and the parts of the system that RAM: icon for just this reason going to be included in future the faults are fixed in 1.4 so I nice, very fast and it has one hell applications refuse to work and BirdieShoot, by Epic are not yet PPC-native. The Q- With MOS comes the ability to and have Dopus permanently set packs. Such things as a basic have been told, but there are a of a lot of potential! If the screen- properly on MOS, but a fair bit of Interactive Entertainment. This is box will be fully PPC-native and Skin your windows, drawers and to load as a separate screen TCP stack and a text editor are few issues with 1.3 that I will shot that was posted to the news the cause of that is improper a somewhat pointless, but aims to provide a more modern programs. Look in rather than as a replacement noticeable by their lack of point out: at the moment the sites recently showing off MUI’s coding on the part of those nevertheless highly entertaining OS environment, introducing MorphOS:Prefs/Presets/Skins/ Workbench. The way around the presence. Not having a TCP drivers for the Radeon graphics new features is anything to go by writers, and in any case UAE and addictive, game where you features that have been sorely and you will find a default icon problem is to rename the stack on first install makes cards are not fully complete – runs perfectly on MOS. have to shoot down birds of all setting up a network something they have 2D but not 3D lacking on the Amiga such as directory containing numerous files which MOS uses when it varieties in four different levels. of a headache, especially as capabilities. There are also proper memory protection. “The look and feel of MorphOS is distinctly Initially this is an awkward OS to has those items open. Thanks to Beautifully executed, the game current versions of AmiTCP do numerous bugs in these CGFX Programs for the Q-Box will set up, but with the integration of Targhan (the MorphZone has very smooth scrolling and not work on most people’s drivers, for example icons do not need to be written specifically for Amiga ... with one hell of a speed-boost.” network and editing software into this OS. webmaster) there is now a stunning visuals. BirdieShoot setups. The best program to use get redrawn properly after certain icon.library in then 1.4 should provide a major 1.4+ this should become less of program that will extract a skin could well keep you going back is Miami Deluxe but that is not actions are taken and two out of Morphos:morphos/libs/ and leap forward and rightly so. The a problem. Has there ever been Currently 68k programs run archive, put it in the correct to play time and time again. available to buy any more. The three of the dragging effect insert the Amiga OS3.5/3.9 MOS team now has about 800 a true Amiga user that hasn’t under emulation at roughly 060 location and change which skin good news is that a much- settings do not work right. When icon.library into the Morphos:libs/ “beta2” testers around the world, smiled at a challenge of this There are certain parts of speeds. When running ArtEffect the OS uses (this requires a improved PPC native Genesis you snapshot or refresh one directory instead. That makes most of whom are ordinary Joes sort!? The hardware is fast and AmigaOS 3.5 or 3.9 that you each operation takes practically reboot). Take a peek at the skins stack (that will work with ADSL) directory all the icons of the older icons display correctly, like myself, or developers, and on the whole is up-to-date (even have to manually copy over to the same amount of time on both screen-shot for an example of is on its way. Dietmar Eilert is other directories also refresh and however PNG icons will now not not just the select few that more so when the Pegasos II the MOS system, AREXX and my A4000 060/50 and my MOS some of the available styles. currently porting GoldEd to MOS not all icons will be snapshotted display properly in MOS. Quite a became beta1 testers. This arrives) and should not provide Installer being the main two system. Exact figures are shown which will be now be called by a “snapshot all” command. drawback and one I personally means a proper real-world test legacy problems in the future. (make sure you use Installer in the table on this page. A JIT Some of the programs which run MorphED and should become am not willing to suffer. Listers and lots of bugs crawling out of version 43.3). As yet there are There also appears to be a emulation layer is in production flawlessly under MOS include the basic text editor that MOS work properly under Dopus so the woodwork that had gone So to all those people out there no PPC-native versions of these problem with icon positioning. At which should make even 68k needs so badly. you still have full functionality in undetected. Judging by the who don’t like to think of the files. Full installation details for the moment there is only a “Sort applications fly. Also any current that respect. speed with which some of these Pegasos/MorphOS as an Amiga AREXX can be found on the An OEM (licensed) version of the by Name” option. When that is WarpUP and PowerUP programs Links bugs have been fixed after being I say think again, the look and MorphZone website. USB stack, Poseidon, has been used the text of the icons often should run (but might not) and of I have been told that games such reported on the mailing-list a lot feel of MOS is distinctly Amiga, ported to MOS, however at the overlap and the far left hand course native MOS PPC http://www.morphos.net as Quake I/II run fine under of them were quite small bugs just a nice new, clean, Amiga moment you have to download ones have their text half off the programs will all work nicely. Background information on MOS, but I have been unable to and easily solved. without the hacks and with one the archive separately. In future window’s edge. Another icon MorphOS itself. 68K Speed The basic system of MOS got prove this. Although I have a fair hell of a speed-boost. MOS releases it should come problem shows when you http://www.morphzone.org me somewhat puzzled initially. few of these sort of games I find If all of the bugs get ironed out pre-installed. manually move an icon from the MorphOS news, forums, links Watch this space for future Timings from ArtEffect 4 to When I used the CLI to do things that I am unable to install them then even more new features compare MorphOS 1.3’s far left of a window to the right. and screenshot gallery. due to a rather annoying problem can start to be added and reviews of MOS updates and The MorphZone website has a like copy it would work fine, but current 68K emulation to an The OS still thinks that the with Installer. There appears to MorphOS could really start to MOS programs/games that thread detailing what programs when I looked into MorphOS:C/ http://www.pegasosppc.com Amiga with a 68060 CPU. A original space is occupied and be a size calculation error which over-take OS3.9. Whether it will should start to appear within the users would like to have in MOS most of the usual files were not Detailed information on the large increase in emulation leaves the scroll bar showing means that when a program beat OS4.0 when it comes out is next few months. The revolution releases and the PegasosPPC present. I realised there was pegasos and OS support. performance is expected with something over to the left even checks if there is enough space any ones guess but you can be has just started. site has a list of programs that another MorphOS directory the new JIT 68K emulator. though nothing is there. http://www.morphos-news.de left on a drive it does not see sure we will have a comparison will soon be included in the inside the top level, and inside MOS news and discussion. that my hard drive has 70Gb of default package. Relating to fonts, when you use that there was another set of A4000 060/50 MOS G3 space left, it sees 230Mb and Pros a font requester it does not system directories (e.g.: http://www.openfirmware.org Load Picture (from RAM) refuses to install. This is not just + Fast! automatically highlight the Morphos:Morphos/C/ ). These Find out more about the 12 secs 16 secs MOS1.3 Bugs & Problems a MOS fault though as I had this + Runs many Amiga currently used font and size, a directories contain the PPC Pegasos firmware. native versions of files while the problem with some programs programs. Rotate 90° Clockwise To be honest, I could easily fill slight oversight. I have found a http://www.ami.ga top level ones contain any 68k (WordWorth) on my A4000 too. It + Constantly updated. Pretty this entire edition of Total Amiga program or two that refuses to 4 secs 2 secs Individual Computers with just appears that more programs with a long list of all the bugs see a font even though it is programs that have not yet been Cons Colourize: Alien their Catweasel controller. fall foul of this bug than before. and problems myself and others present in the system. written for PPC. Even InstallerNG appears to - Expensive 30 secs 15 secs have found in this version of IRC Server When you download programs have the same problem and it - Beta OS MOS. But that would be pretty Any program that currently only ch1.arcnet.vapor.com Good! Pixelate Median Colour 5x5 that have been cross-written to means I have been unable to - Hardware dependant 2min 39 secs 2min 21 secs pointless. This is a beta OS uses audio.device and not AHI Channel= #MorphOS install and test Quake, Results programs don’t work. 24 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 25
Reviews Reviews
How did we ever live Version 2.3 has taken ages to mature. Robert Willams takes the taste test - without tabbed IBrowse browsing? It really is this a fine vintage or vinegar? Read on to find out! is an essential your old preferences file if you method used by web designers JavaScript n the last few years a web upgrade an existing installation. to set the styles of their page feature. browser has become one of In use it becomes clear that most elements, including fonts and One of the main weaknesses of I earlier versions of IBrowse 2 was the most important applications of the work has happened2.3 under text colours used. This for any computer system in the skin. standardised framework can their JavaScript support. .info almost all environments. Over replace the various style-related JavaScript is a scripting Developer the same period the standards tags that have been added to language that allows a web HTML designer to control aspects of Stefan Burstroem and the used on the web and browsers HTML over the years. The lack the web page and the browser IBrowse team. on other platforms have been There have been no major of CSS support means some developing rapidly. On a minority changes to IBrowse 2.2’s HTML pages are not displayed with all itself. JavaScript is used for Distributor platform, like the Amiga, with rendering in this update. their formatting in IBrowse, but tasks such as verifying data IOSpirit small development teams it has Nevertheless, version 2.3 due to the nature of CSS, you entered into forms, creating www.iospirit.com proven difficult to keep up with incorporates a number of tweaks should still be able to see all the dynamic pages that change Thankfully 2.3 retains the rate of development. IBrowse and enhancements that fix a few information. The IBrowse team without reloading, and for more IBrowse’s excellent Price in particular hadn’t seen an bugs and improve its rendering has announced that they are frivolous features such as drag and drop Full...... 54.99E (£38) update since March 2000, of pages with common HTML working on version 3, which will graphics that change as you roll configurable interface. 1.x Upgrade.... 34.99E (£24) leaving it behind the times and errors. A noticeable improvement your pointer over them. Many incompatible with a growing is that many more character “...this means that the pages rely on JavaScript in one browser. In IBrowse 2.2 broken browsers offer a “spoofing” Requirements number of web sites. entities are now supported, as is form or another, so IBrowse’s JavaScript on many more JavaScript code could put the option in which the browser Security AmigaOS 3.0 automatic mapping of Windows weakness in this area made it After some time in limbo sites now works.” browser into a loop effectively identifies itself as one of the 68020 and Mac character sets to the unable to access some sites. IBrowse 2.2 implemented access IBrowse’s main author, Stefan locking it up. Version 2.3 has an common browsers such as 6Mb free RAM Amiga. Resizing frames by include CSS support. It is great to secure web sites using the Burstroem, resumed Note: JavaScript and Java are option to warn you after Internet Explorer or Netscape. In SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) MUI 3.8 dragging their borders, which to hear that their development development, resulting in this two different things. Java is a JavaScript has been running for IBrowse 2.3, spoofing has been had been broken in several efforts are continuing. It’s worth module for the Miami TCP/IP new version, IBrowse 2.3. stand-alone programming a user definable length of time so improved to send a more Recommended versions, now works again. A noting that CSS support is a stack. This worked well but had Registered users of IBrowse 2.0 language that can be used to you can break out of the loop. A compatible browser identification AmigaOS 3.1 bug that stops the last item in a tough nut to crack; even the big the disadvantage of only being and above can download a free produce “applets”, small new preferences option has string. Spoofing still has to be 68040 list from being indented still browsers such as Internet available to registered Miami update. A discounted upgrade is applications that run within a been added so you can prevent enabled on a site-by-site basis 10Mb free RAM exists in version 2.3 because of Explorer and Netscape only offer users. In recent years the available for 1.x users; a full browser. Currently IBrowse does the annoyance of JavaScript using the URL Prefs. The URL situation has become even Graphics card the amount of work required to partial CSS level 2 support and copy is also available for not support Java applets. embedded in a page moving and Prefs option enables you to set fix it. Altogether IBrowse 2.3 very their implementations differ. worse because it is no longer purchase. IBrowse sales are resizing your browser window. different combinations of options Test Systems nicely displays most sites that possible to register Miami. now being handled by IOSpirit In version 2.3 IBrowse’s for specific web sites. IBrowse A3000 use plain HTML. Browsing Tip: Some sites that use CSS Version 2.3 can still use Miami via their secure web ordering JavaScript support has been Some web sites are designed doen’t have the selection of CyberStorm PPC/060 seems nice and fast, and the also include some HTML styling SSL, but it also supports service. A limited demonstration extensively overhauled, only to work with certain spoofing options found in AWeb A1200 already speedy table rendering tags, which can make the sites AmiSSL 2, which has been version is available for download reworked, and tested on many browsers. These checks can and Voyager, but the new string developed from version 1 by Blizzard PPC/060 has been optimised even further. unreadable in IBrowse. For which, sensibly, includes SSL example, black text could be web sites. The JavaScript engine often be counterproductive by does work on many more web Stefan Burstroem. AmiSSL 2 is Amithlon support. You can use the demo displayed on a black is now compatible with the latest blocking access to alternative sites. Importantly IBrowse now available free and works with Athlon XP 2000+ version to purchase IBrowse CSS background. In these cases try JavaScript and ECMAScript browsers that would work also spoofs its identity through Miami, Genesis, and other online from IOSpirit. specifications. In effect this perfectly well with the site. To get JavaScript too, allowing many An important part of current choosing “Custom compatible TCP/IP stacks. It is Colors/Disable” from the means that the JavaScript on around these problems many more sites to work than before. also based on the much more On first loading the new version, HTML standards still not many more sites now works. supported in IBrowse 2.3 is “Preferences” menu and up-to-date SSL code, so it IBrowse 2.3 works with many it’s hard to spot any differences from 2.2, especially as it uses cascading style sheets. CSS is a reloading the page. should be compatible with more more sites than 2.2. “AmiSSL 2 is free and works Bank Onlinewith IBrowse secure servers. Control over AmiSSL is built into IBrowse’s Flash...Ah Ha! with Miami and Genesis” We asked members of the IBrowse mailing list to report online preferences window and IBrowse does not currently JavaScript that commonly banks which work with IBrowse 2.3. The following banks were includes facilities to load and support Macromedia Flash caused IBrowse 2.2 to fail, such reported working as of May 2003. Many others may work, these save SSL certificates and to animations, which are used to a as links that run scripts to open a happen to be used by members of the IBrowse mailing list: enable and disable different greater or lesser degree by new page and image rollovers, UK USA encryption cyphers. many sites. The plug-in interface now work on the vast majority of Abbey National First Union/Wachovia also has not yet been fully sites. The remaining Barclays The combination of improved Sweden implemented, so a Flash plug-in unsupported JavaScript features Egg JavaScript and enhanced Nordea cannot currently be written by a are largely due to IBrowse’s lack Halifax security means IBrowse can now Föreningssparbanken third party. This means that of CSS support; the authors plan HSBC access more secure sites such Voyager is still the only Amiga to address these features in LLoyds TSB Canada as those offering online shopping browser that can play Flash version 3. There are still a few MBNA RBC (Royal Bank Canada) and banking. animations embedded in a web sites whose JavaScript does not NatWest online CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank page. Version 2.4 of IBrowse is work in IBrowse. Usually these of Commerce) Interface in the works and is planned to sites either involve poorly written have Flash support. JavaScript or exploit New Zealand Thankfully, version 2.3 retains nonstandard quirks of a specific AMP Banking IBrowse’s user-friendly and 28 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 29 Reviews If you don’t see what you want, just ask! Kicksoft Our range is always growing! Players Graphics Moovid PPC Drawstudio PPC version with both WARPUP and POWERUP versions. Comes on CD This excellent Graphics package avaliable one again!! Comes on CD and £18.00 includes Texture Studio & Image Studio. Moovid efficient interface. You can £35.00 Play AVI, Mov and QT files on your Amiga©. Comes on CD. customise the position of all the Photogenics 5 £12.00 objects in the IBrowse window, This excellent Graphics package by Paul Nolan. Comes on CD. Frogger PPC including the toolbar, fastlink £70.00 PPC MPEG player. Comes on CDwith example MPEGs. buttons, and even the status bar Image Engineer £18.00 and location gadget. Drag-and- windows. Tabs can be dragged Above: AmiSSL Great Image manipulation program. Add effects to images such as Jigsaw. drop is implemented into the fastlink bar and into the preferences Frogger £25.00 68k MPEG player. Comes on CD with example MPEGs. everywhere. A handy new bookmarks hotlist too. The only built into Candy Factory Pro £12.00 feature is that when you drag a feature I would like to see added IBrowse. Create 3D Text from any standard font and use them on web pages etc. Riva link onto the fastlinks bar, a is the facility to background-load £35.00 a link so that a new tab opens Right: Easily The fastest 68k MPEG player on the Amiga! Comes on CD with MPEGs. requester pops up so you can Art Effect 4 £9.00 edit the name of the new button. but is not selected. The restart failed Billed as “Photoshop® on the Amiga”. Excellent graphic package. Comes on SoftCinema improvements to tabbed downloads CD. PPC AVI, QT and Mov player. On CD with example Movies. Tabbed browsing - which has browsing seem to have been with the £39.99 been added to many browsers £9.00 carefully thought through. Once enhanced FxPaint NEW including Netscape, Mozilla and you’re used to opening multiple download With over 70 effects this is a superb addition to any software collection. AMP 2 NEW PPC Mpeg, CD-i and DVD player. The only way to play DVDs on the AMIGA. Apple’s Safari - has been a tabs, it is hard to go back to a manager. £60.00 feature of IBrowse since 2.0. £18.00 browser that does not offer the Image FX4 NEW This allows you to open several feature. window is now displayed while complex matters like setting up THE image manipulation package !! 100s of effects. web pages in one browser £99.00 window each being displayed Some other aspects of the user IBrowse generates the PostScript printing via Internet with a tab at the top. Tabs interface have undergone minor PostScript output eliminating the Ghostscript. Inet Dial eliminate the need for a clutter of tweaks to make them more “has it hung?” feeling you got Home server on your Amiga©., includes Apache and Geek Gadgets. browser windows. As I logical and easier to use. The while printing from IBrowse 2.2. Conclusion Games NEW £40.00 preferences window has been There is still no colour support, AWeb Upgrade “The improved support for tidied up, and some options that and wider pages cannot be In version 2.3 the IBrowse team Excellent web Browser. Upgrade from OS 3.5 or OS 3.9. Comes on Floppy. JavaScript and SSL has were never implemented have scaled within IBrowse to fit on has clearly concentrated on PayBack £35.00 £30.00 made accessible many been removed. New preferences the paper. If you have TurboPrint improving the number of web options relating to the new 7 and install Ghostscript, you can pages it works with, which is sites that were previously features are now included. The send IBrowse’s PostScript to a clearly the most important aspect non-PostScript printer, albeit in of a browser. The interface has Utilities denied to IBrowse users” main program menus and some Freespace £35.00 PFS 3 black-and-white. A workaround seen only minor enhancements, of the pop-up contextual menus The fastest and safest file system avaliable, up to 300 times faster than FFS. (detailed in Clubbed issue 8’s but as it has always been an mentioned in last issue’s Top have been slightly reordered and £35.00 Tips, tabbed browsing has been Top Tips) is available to scale the IBrowse strong point, the work renamed as well. Metaview extensively improved for version PostScript output to better fit on was definitely put into the right The best Clipart viewer on the Amiga©. Comes on CD with clip art images. 2.3 and is now an essential A4 pages. With TurboPrint and places. The improved support for The Feeble Files £35.00 £18.00 feature. You can open a new tab Downloading the workaround in place, JavaScript and SSL has made Diavolo from the menu, and there is also PostScript printing does give accessible many sites that were IBrowse’s handy download The best backup program on the Amiga©. Comes on Floppy disk. an option to open a link in a new excellent results using smooth previously denied to IBrowse manager has been further £50.00 tab in the right-click contextual enhanced. It now remembers scalable fonts; however, it is a bit users. Other smaller menu. If the tab bar is showing, of a kludge. improvements, such as those to PhotoFolio V2 NEW failed or incomplete downloads The professional way to view, catolouge and manipulate your images. you can even drag a link onto an tabbed browsing and the Misc between sessions, and it allows TaskiSMS £30.00 exisiting tab to replace the page you to restart them the next time download manager, make the Send Text Messages to mobile phones from your Amiga! Comes on CD. Documentation GoldEd or onto the space at the right of you are online. The detection of new version a joy to use. From £12.00 the tab bar to open the link in a At the time of this writing, some informal testing IBrowse The best Editor, Program Editor, HTML Generator on the Amiga. incomplete downloads has also FxScan NEW £30.00 new tab. By using drag-and- been improved, making this IBrowse 2.3 is supplied with only now seems to be the most The only Scanner software that offers OCR on the Amiga today!! Turboprint 7.21 NEW drop, you can reorder the tabs in feature even more useful. the basic documentation universally compatible Amiga £30.00 Use modern printers with 24 bit output!! The quality is astounding. the browser window, open a tab IBrowse has a built-in resume prepared by HiSoft for IBrowse browser, and in my opinion it is OS 3.9 NEW as a new window, and even facility (as long as this is 2.0 several years ago. Extensive also the most comfortable to Latest operating system for the Amiga. Comes on CD. Full £40.00 Upgrade £25.00 move tabs between open supported by the remote server), new documentation is being use. Altogether IBrowse 2.3 is a £30.00 worked on that, we understand, fine browser now and seems to so it is able to download just the Aminet NEW Make CD (DAO version) NEW remainer of an incomplete file. covers not only the operation of have a bright future ahead. Latest Aminet disk or the latest series. Gigabytes of Amiga Software. CD writing software.Compatibale with most CD writers/rewriters. the program but also more Single £14.99 Series £29.99 £50.00 Printing VHI STUDIO Spitfire 2 Pros Connect digital Cameras to your Amiga and so much more If you have a 3com Palm© or compatible then you need this program! Comes Unfortunately, graphical printing + Improved page !£30.00 on CD. £25.00 to non-PostScript printers has compatibility. Amiga Forever 5 NEW still not been implemented in this + Excellent interface. Emulate a AGA based amiga on your PC. Mediapoint NEW version, and text printing is still + Built-in SSL. Pretty multimedia presentation tool on your Amiga. Full Version £40.00 Upgrade £25.00 very basic. PostScript printing Cons £40.00 has had a few minor tweaks, and Kicksoft Ltd., the problem that version 2.2 had - No CSS support. 30 Whitegate Way, IBrowse Cache Explorer lets you with printing larger images has - No plug-ins. Good! Tadworth, view pages offline and selectively been resolved. A progress - Limited docs. www.kicksoft.co.uk Surrey, KT20 5NS
Results Add £1.00 UK postage per item. Make cheques payable to Kicksoft Ltd. prune your cache. Tel/Fax (01737) 219280 30 TOTAL AMIGA We accept Solo, Switch, Mastercard & Visa [email protected] Reviews Reviews Using the “compose” effect to add a logo to an image. Notice the fxAlbum window with the thumbnails in the background.
.info fxPaintIOSpirit are one of the most active Amiga developers 2 of recent Developer & Distributor IOSpirit years. Robert Williams take a look at the new version of their http://www.iospirit.com flagship image processor. works in an interesting way. can change the effect, its some existing effects have been Price Instead of treating each object e last looked at fxPaint parameters, or the paint colour at reworked and improved. Full...... 74.99E (£52) you paint separately, filling it with way back in Clubbed any time and the results will “Antialias” subtly reduces 1.x Upgrade.... 48.99E (£34) W a gradient, fxPaint looks at issue 5, so I’ll start with a instantly be shown. When you’re “jaggies” in sharp edges. This is everything you’ve painted before reminder of what the package is happy with the results and want effective but has no options; it Requirements fixing and applies the gradient to all about before I dive into the to move onto a different effect or would have been nice to be able AmigaOS 3.0 the whole thing. This means you new features of version 2. At the colour, just click “Fix” and your to control the intensity. “Glow” or MorphOS can create complex shapes and core of fxPaint is a paint-on, changes are committed to the adds a glow of the current colour 10Mb free RAM have them filled by the gradient. paint-off image processing image. Unlike ImageFX 3+, to the bright areas of the image, 10Mb Hard disk space Adjusting the gradient colours or system similar to Photogenics ArtEffect, and Photogenics 4+, creating an interesting effect. transparency in the manager version 2. With this system you fxPaint has only one drawing “Ripple” creates even or uneven Test Systems window causes any painted paint onto an invisible “drawing layer; you cannot go back and distortions in lines across the Amithlon gradients that haven’t been fixed layer” over the image itself. You edit a fixed layer later. image, but it lacks a direction AMD Athlon XP 2000+ to change in real time. With this can paint using a variety of tools control. “Whirl” and “Pinch” 256Mb RAM feature you can get the result such as freehand, lines, boxes, distort the image at a point that AmigaOS 3.9 Brushes you want very easily. There is and ellipses. Rather than just can be selected by clicking on also a new gradient effect that being able to apply colours, you When you’re painting freehand, the image in “position mode.” tints the current image with the A1200 can also paint using a wide the selected brush controls what The size and power of the pinch selected gradient. This is a Blizzard PPC 060/603e range of different image is put down by each click. fxPaint or the angle of the whirl can be handy tool and produces an 240Mhz processing effects. For example, has a brush manager that shows adjusted. Of the improved effect that is difficult to achieve 128Mb RAM you could paint a blur effect over a thumbnail of each available effects, the ones that stand out original image with a set of you the effect on the image until be added to each gradient. in other ways. AmigaOS 3.9 a small region of the image. brush. They can also be selected are “Fish Eye,” which now sports thumbnails, each showing the it has finished processing. Now, These transitions are created by Supplied by Because the painting is from a pop-out list in the toolbar. a position mode and more result of a different operation. in most cases, the progress bar adding colour points that are happening on a separate layer, Several brushes are predefined. controls over its look; the “Pyro” These include increasing works properly and allows you to displayed below a preview of the Web IOSpirit Custom brushes can imported you have much more flexibility brightness, contrast, and see an effect’s progress. Having resulting gradient. The points Whether you’re a web designer from any open image, and the “some effects really than with a normal paint gamma, as well as an option to a progress bar that works is a can be dragged into position, or just want to throw together a brush creator can be used to program. What you have painted have too few options add or reduce the three colour great bonus, but there are a few allowing you to make gentle simple home page, fxPaint offers make brushes, emulating various is not committed until you click to be useful” channels. To preview the effects in which the progress bar fades or sharp transitions a number of special tools to real-world media (pencil, chalk, the “Fix” button in the toolbar. If operation, you just click the has to fill up several times before between colours. Gradients can make your life a bit easier. pen, etc.). The brush creator is plug-in, which gives more Use “color variations” to you make a mistake, you can rub appropriate thumbnail. The result they are complete, somewhat also have transparent sections. Earlier versions had the image fairly limited; the biggest brush realistic results as it “burns quickly adjust an image to it off by painting with the right is then used as the basis for all negating its usefulness. I’m also Unlike with other programs I map feature for making client- you can make is 30 pixels wide, through” to white; and the bump the perfect colour balance. mouse button. If you wish, you the operation thumbnails so that pleased to see that fxPaint now have used, transparency is side image maps (clickable hot- and the only other option is the mapper, which is much faster you can build up several spots in images). This feature is density. It’s a pity that the ability and produces a more attractive operations within the “Colour “fxPaint offers a number of special tools to still included, and version 2 adds to modify the size, density, and result. Variations” window. At all times a tool called “Navigation Builder.” type of brush on-the-fly over a the original image is shown in its make your life a bit easier.” Despite the overall This tool is designed to make a wider range of values wasn’t own thumbnail for comparison. improvements to the effects and series of button images that added to version 2. Clicking on the original removes displays a wait pointer while it is independent from the colour the way they are handled, a few highlight as the mouse pointer any processing you have added. busy, while processing an effect, points. For example, you could minor annoyances remain. Some moves over them. To start off When you’re happy with the for example. This simple addition have a gradient with a sharp Effects effects really have too few eliminates the uncomfortable colour change in the middle but a with you need an image with one look, the “Perform” button carries row or column of buttons. The fxPaint has a range of special options to be useful on most feeling that I often had, when gradual fade. This effect is out all the processing on the buttons can be page titles, icons, effects that can be applied to the occasions. For example, the using previous versions, of not achieved by having separate original image. Unfortunately, or whatever else you’d like, and drawing layer. This means you motion blur only blurs in one knowing whether the program is transparency control points along this procedure cannot be they can be on any sort of can either paint them onto a direction: from right to left; you working or if it there is a the top of the preview. You can undone. background. Then you make a specific area of the image using can’t change it to any other problem. Although neither of set the transparency of each duplicate of this image, using the any of the painting tools or apply angle. However, as some of the these enhancements amount to point, and fxPaint interpolates clone function, and add the them to the whole image. The effects such as “FishEye” have Progress a new feature, they do make smoothly between them. buttons in their highlighted “Effects Manager” window holds been improved with many more fxPaint 2 much more comfortable A major improvement over Once a gradient is defined, you states. The only consideration is a list of all the available effects options, hopefully the limited to use. previous versions of fxPaint is can switch to gradient drawing that the background must remain that are split into categories effects will be given more the improved progress reporting mode by clicking on the the same. Then run Navigation based on the results they create. flexibility in a future upgrade. in version 2. At the right-hand Gradients confusingly-named “Choose” Builder, select your images, and The available effects range from side of the tool bar is a progress button in the toolbar. The tell it whether the buttons are in useful tools such as blurs and In addition to the standard Colour Variations gauge that shows how much of gradient in use is then selected a column or row. Based on the colour corrections through fun the current operation has palette window, fxPaint now If you’re looking for a quick way by a pop-out list that is also in differences between the images, effects that create eye-catching completed. In earlier versions, boasts a powerful colour gradient to improve the look of a scanned the toolbar. Then, if you paint fxPaint will work out where the results such as “ExploTile” and this bar seemed to jump from 0% feature. Several examples are image of digital photograph, then with a brush or the special buttons are and cut them out of “Supernova.” to 100% without reporting supplied, and custom gradients you may find fxPaint’s new gradient tools, the selected the image and create the progress in between for most can be defined in the “Gradient For version 2 a number of new “Colour Variations” window gradient colours are used to fill required HTML and JavaScript effects. This is doubly important Manager” window. An unlimited effects have been added, and handy. This window shows the your painting. The gradient mode code. All you then need to do is because fxPaint doesn’t show number of colour transitions can 32 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 33 Reviews Reviews to paste the code into your page released. In our review of fxPaint and edit the links so that they 1.0 we were disappointed with point to the pages on your own the performance of many effects site. This is a very handy feature on 68k and PPC systems. I’m that automates an otherwise pleased to report that these tedious job. issues largely seem to have been resolved. Most of the fxAlbum effects are now faster, and the whole program feels much When you’ve got thousands of slicker on a 68k system. In our Mick Sutton dives into a this point and click adventure from Emerald Imaging. images on your hard drive or tests, adding a PowerPC Aquasupports graphics and sound the submarine and explore the submarine (claustrophobic for CD-ROMs, just finding the image accelerator didn’t make quite the you want can be a major task. difference in performance we qua is a point and click cards should mean that it is depths in search of clues as to some maybe) for long and will be Step forward, fxAlbum - a handy expected. Intensive effects were Aadventure which takes you compatible with emulations that what made the oil rig vanish discovering many different thumbnail generator that will two to three times faster on a on a journey of discovery to the don’t include the AGA chipset beneath the waves. It is at this locations as you explore the new bottom of the ocean where a such as Amithlon. Before running point (whilst guiding the world you have found (you did create a catalogue of all the Customise the HTML album to your hearts content. 603e 240Mhz compared to the images contained in a directory ‘060 50Mhz on the same board. whole world of surreal locations Aqua for the first time you need submarine) that you realise that listen to what the whales were and its subdirectories. The size around each image. The ARexx script to be run on each On Amithlon the performance and mind bending puzzles to set the screenmodes required it’s not all static scenery, singing to you... didn’t you)? of the thumbnails is defined in documentation incudes details of image. Example scripts, which was stellar – my Athlon 2000+- awaits you! The game is played by double clicking on the because as your vessel moves The scenes are 8 bit graphics the main preferences window. the skin format so you can make add various borders to the based test system performed the from a first person perspective screenmode icon. You need to underwater you see through the but I found when I selected a 16 The images can be sorted by a skin to match your website. images, are supplied. same effects about ten times (what you see on screen is what select a mode for the main game pilot’s screen the sea bed bit screenmode for both the their filenames, and the order The “Create HTML-album” faster than the PPC-based your character sees) and each screen which is 640x400 passing you by. OK now it’s time game and cinematic scenes I can be rearranged using drag window has many options, so Amiga. All that said, fxPaint screen is pre-rendered. Anyone resolution and a mode for the to engage your brain as there Interface Improvements didn’t get a glimpse of a and drop. When the thumbnails you can customise the HTML proved very usable on all our who has played Myst will be cinematic cut scenes which are are many puzzles for you to corrupted scene and delays have been created, the album output exactly to your liking. The A number of enhancements have test systems, but, in common instantly familiar with this game, 320x200. These are NTSC solve to move forward in the when switching from one to the can be saved so it doesn’t have number of thumbnails on each been made to fxPaint’s interface with most image processors, it has a very similar style, which resolutions so if you do not have game, the first being able to other. There are one or two little to be generated each time and page and their sizes can be to make the program easier to there are a few effects for which is not necessarily a bad thing an exact match use the closest understand what the whales are annoying things I found in the so you can view the album when defined, and you can have a use. A new “Painttool Settings” you will have to wait a while on a because Myst was one of the larger screenmode you have. singing about! Yes you did read game, for instance you only have the original pictures are not slightly embossed border applied window shows the options for the 68k-based system. best selling games ever. that right, it is important to note 3 saved games available to you available. The second option is automatically. Each full-size currently selected painting tool that sound is essential to the Let’s Dive In and they cannot be renamed, useful for CD-ROMs; you can picture, linked from its thumbnail, (line, box, fill, etc.) and can be Getting Seaworthy game, in this part to identify left open as you work. The “Size Conclusion On starting the game you are which songs the whales are which could help prompt you as to what stage of the game you Manager” allows you to define fxPaint is a very useful program The game can be played directly given the option to start a new singing (once you find them “The HTML album feature is well thought-out were in when you saved them. custom resolutions that can then with a wide range of features from the CD, if you want to install game or load a previously saved using other clues found on-board This is quite annoying as I found be used where an image size is many of that are very good it on your hard disk all that is game. If you start a new game the submarine) to guide you to a and comprehensive...” I had to load a game 3 times required when starting a new alone. However, when the image required is to copy the contents you are treated to a short secret entrance on the sea bed check if an image is on a is presented on a separate page before I found the “save” I was blank image or resizing an processing side is put up against of the CD into a new directory animated sequence introducing to a whole new world. particular disc without inserting it with “Next” and “Previous” links looking for (or maybe my existing one. The undo system the likes of Photogenics and and name it Aqua. In the you to the story of the game. in the drive. Double-clicking on a for easy browsing. You can The game carries on in this style, memory is just not it used to be). has been rewritten so that you ImageFX, its lack of a powerful amigaguide documentation it This starts with a oil rig that sinks thumbnail loads the picture into choose to have the originals move to a new beautifully Another minor niggle is the can now undo fixations - a big layers engine and brush states about 200 Mb of disk during a storm and as an intrepid fxPaint for editing. A new “Album automatically scaled down by a rendered scene, look and listen quality of the cinematic cut improvement over version 1. handling is definitely a space is required. Four different adventurer you decide to hire a Tools” window contains options percentage or to a set size for clues and interact with scenes which I thought were This area could still be further disadvantage. With those game icons allow you to run the research sub and go in search of to rotate the image (excellent for suitable for web viewing. FxPaint objects and beings to make your pretty poor, not essential to the improved because there are still deficiencies at its core, fxPaint game configured for your valuable salvage. digital camera shots) and to add can automatically add any brush way your way through to the game-play but give a rough edge a number of operations, such as never feels quite the sum of its system, the choices being AGA, a comment. The tools window is to each picture. A good use for As we said earlier Aqua is very next. I must say I am not the to what is otherwise quite a well colour variations and resizing, parts. That said, the interface RTG if you have a graphics card, particularly nicely implemented: this feature is to add a copyright much in the Myst mould. The biggest fan of this genre of game polished game. that cannot be undone. and usability enhancements AHI_AGA for those with a sound after entering a comment and statement to the full-size images. game presents itself as a static (no explosions, blood or make version 2 much more card (or if you prefer to use pressing Return, it moves on to It is even possible to add the scene which you have to interact mayhem) but for some reason I comfortable to use than version Paula via AHI) and AHI_RTG if Sink or Swim? the next picture so you don’t option of sending an image as an Need for Speed with, you have options to move felt compelled to carry on, I think 1. So if you’re looking for a you are lucky enough to have have to keep opening and e-mail “postcard” from your forward, backwards and turn left it is that you don’t want to be All in all I found this a rather Regardless of the platform on simple image processor that is both a graphics card and a closing the window. Albums can pages; however, this requires or right and of course pick up beaten by the puzzles, which are pleasant game that turned out to which you plan to run fxPAINT, easy to use and well sound card. The fact that Aqua be printed as a series of you to load a PHP4 script onto objects and use them either right quite well thought out and vary in be more enjoyable than I thought IOSpirit have provided optimised documented with handy extra thumbnails for a permanent your web server. Overall, the away or later on in the game. complexity (increasingly harder it would be. It’s got nicely drawn support. There are versions for features such as fxAlbum and reference, and fxAlbum can HTML album feature is well as you progress through the and interesting scenery, in-game every 68k series processor from the navigation builder, then automatically generate a gallery thought out and comprehensive. The whole story starts off with game). The scenery does vary a animations and sound to boot! 68000 to 68060 with FPU. you’re likely to be very happy of HTML pages for upload to a Anyone with a digital camera and you at the quay side looking at a fair bit, you are not stuck in a The puzzles are very well PowerPC accelerators are with fxPaint. My advice would be website. a website is sure to find it useful. moored submarine. You get into thought out and will get your supported under both PowerUP to download the demo and see brain in gear, just don’t expect to and WarpUP, and there are also how it suits you. The “HTML Export” function of .info be able to release pent-up fxAlbum has been significantly fxConv native modules for MorphOS and Developer Amithlon. IOSpirit also state that energy in the way you can with enhanced in version 2 and now fxConv is a quick way of Emerald Imaging they will support OS 4 when it is say Quake II or Slam Tilt! offers many more options. The converting a directory full of files http://www.telusplanet.net/ basic idea is that it creates an into a different file format. New Pros public/samel/ HTML page displaying your features in version 2 allow it to Demo version available. Result thumbnails, which are then perform some image processing + Improved linked to the full-size images. operations as the files are performance. Available from The overall look of the resulting converted. Options in the fxConv + Excellent extras. Fore-matt Home Computing web pages can be customised window let you specify a + Powerful gradients. Pretty www.forematt.co.uk Pretty by choosing a skin; several percentage scaling for the Cons +44 (0) 8700 112234 examples are supplied. The skin images and allow them to be - Basic image controls the layout of the pages, Price rotated a user-defined number of processing engine. Good! any background colours, or degrees. More powerful effects Good! $14.95 (from developer) - Limited brushes. pictures, and it can add a border can be applied by selecting an £10.00 (from Fore-matt) Results 34 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 35 Reviews Subway USB If you’ve been looking eviously at Zorro and PCI USB cards but have an A1200 without a slot to put one in then Jonathan Haddock might just have something to interest you. that easy to get working. I had a theory your sometimes he Subway is a USB few problems which I will explain subway should the keyboard controller card that later. Anyway, installing the be ready for use. If refuses to type and T hardware is relatively easy; your Amiga won’t so must be unplugged connects to the clockport and has an integrated four port hub having unpacked your Subway boot it is likely to be a and reconnected (this is (i.e. four USB ports are present (and preferably read the problem with the startup OK even if the Amiga is on the card). Unlike the Spider, instruction manual) you will need sequence so edit it to turned on). to take the case and any comment out all unnecessary Elbox’s PCI alternative for their busboard you have installed off operations. Sorted! (I thought I The mouse on the other hand Mediator bus boards, the your Amiga to gain access to the should mention that we have does have one problem, IBrowse Subway does not have an clock port (the set of pins about installed Poseidon on several 2.2 (IB hereafter). The mouse I internal port. This, however, central on the motherboard, by Amigas without experiencing am using does not seem to like was not a problem for me. the RAM chips). Then take the these problems, Ed.) activating hyperlinks in IB. I have checked using AWeb and the The Subway supports USB 1.1 thin grey cable supplied with the Occasionally I boot the Amiga problem only seems to lie within and 2.0 but not version 2’s Subway and connect it to the and am presented with an error IB. (this may be caused by not highspeed mode; this means clock port so that the red stripe is message that tells me that the running the new input.device USB 2.0 devices will work at pin one of the clock port (the subway device could not be supplied with Poseidon, Ed.) The (providing the drivers support left hand side). The next part loaded; this is usually sorted with mouse did, however, worked them) but only at a maximum of was tricky because I didn’t find a reboot and the USB devices quite well with Quake. 1.2 megabits per second. Like the documentation very clear; become usable. Failing this a the Spider and the Highway, the you must plug the other end of complete power off and back on USB Stack (the software that the cable into the Subway, in this Conclusion again fixes the problem. allows the USB ports to be used) case pin 1 is easiest found by Personally, I think the Subway is is Poseidon written by Chris turning the subway over and a very good card and is easily Hodges (cheers Chris!). looking for the arrow, indicating Compatibility worth the money. It avoids the Poseidon is controlled by the pin one, printed on the circuit I have tested the Subway with a ethical issues with Elbox’s Trident preferences program. board. The diagram below shows memory stick, keyboard (with drivers and would still leave Poseidon supports most Human this clearly (but please note the hub) and mouse. Firstly, the Mediator users with a spare slot Interface Devices (HIDs), card diagram is not to scale!). memory stick was mounted (which was the reason I bought readers, memory sticks, and Having connected the Subway to successfully and appeared on the Subway as I wanted a slot some printers and scanners. the Amiga you must connect the the Workbench. It was readable free for my TV card). Although There is provision for the use of USB ports to the other end (this I and writable and was unmounted there is no high speed mode I a “pencam” for which the driver found relatively easy). Two upon the removal of the stick. have no peripherals that require is provided. For more blanking plates are supplied to fit this extra speed. I would highly information on Poseidon you the back of a tower with two USB The keyboard also worked fine recommend this card. could refer to the review of the ports on each plate. Taking the but of course is only available for Highway in Total Amiga issue 12. plug on the end of the grey cable use once the Poseidon stack has (attached to the ports) plug it into loaded. Using the Poseidon HID Installation the USB port connector pins so tutorial (from Total Amiga 14 that the black wires are at the page 49) to set up some custom Result The Subway, whilst a good USB top as you look at the back of the buttons and these work fine, card in my opinion, was not all Subway (see picture). The USB even the one button that I set to connector you can see in my reboot the machine reboots it Pretty picture is likely to be different to faultlessly. The only problems I yours as mine it is a third party have with the keyboard is that connector. For the supplied you cannot hold down a key and expect it to repeat, it won’t - you Good! connectors the black wires should still be at the top, you’ll have to keep pressing the key .info just have two of them! manually. the other is that Developer E3B Software Installation www.e3b.de I then booted my Amiga and USB connectors attempted to install the software Available from but the installer helpfully decided Black wires Forematt Home Computing to unmount all of my partitions, www.forematt.co.uk hmm. This hopefully won’t +44 (0) 8700 112234 happen to you but if it does boot without startup-sequence, run Price setpatch and then the installer Clock port connector £70.00 should work. Then reboot and in 36 TOTAL AMIGA Reviews Reviews have different lists for different other concurrent Internet moods, styles, or users. URLs activities. On the processor side can be added to the playlist from of things an ‘040 is the minimum the “Song History” window or the you’ll need for reasonable search results, or they can be quality; remember that your entered into a requester. MP3 Internet connection has to run in files can be added by selecting the background. ANR uses the the files with a standard MPEGA.library, so if you have a requester. There is also the PPC card, you can install the PD ParadiseDeveloper: Matthias “UltraGelb” Böcker License: Freeware From: http://anr.amigazeux.net option to add the files recursively appropriate version (68k, AmiNetRadio Requirements: ‘040/40Mhz+, 4Mb free fast RAM, AmigaOS 3.0+ or MorphOS, MUI 3.8, Internet connection. in multiple directories, but I could PowerUP and WarpUP flavours not get this option to work. are available), and your PPC will including basic playing controls be used for decoding. With an The preferences window has o you like the idea of at the bottom and several lines of ‘060 or a JIT emulator you three tabs – “Players,” “Audio,” The built-in Shoutcast search feature sets AmiNetRadio apart from Dlistening to radio stations information at the top. Instead of should be able to multitask while and “GUI” – so you can from across the world, for free, standard gadgets, ANR has a ANR plays in the background. with the help of just your Amiga “skinned” interface. This means customise ANR to your tastes. options have appearedother on streaming perfectly.audio players. Here is a typical quote and an Internet connection? that while the functions remain in The decoding settings for AmiNetRadio is an excellent Aminet. I particularly like from the “Miscellaneous” section Well, then, you’re reading the the same place, the look of all Shoutcast streams and local product; the fact that it is “kickass-uproar” skin by of the FAQ: right review. AmiNetRadio (that’s the program windows, including MP3 files can be set freeware and the first release catohagen (Aminet, Amiga Network Radio, by the the buttons and display colours, independently. By reducing the “Q. ANR is crap! Why don’t you version makes it even more of mus/play/ANR-kickass.lha). Also way; it has nothing to do with can be changed by selecting a quality you can achieve use WinAmp or xmms? an achievement. Mathais and on the “GUI” page are settings Aminet) is a native Amiga player new skin. While the interface smoother playback on slower the guys at #AmigaZeux have for the special effects (you can A. Because WinAmp sucks, for Shoutcast streams. These looks great, many of the buttons Amigas. For the Shoutcast obviously put in a great deal of disable the zooming and blurring Windows sucks, xmms sucks, streams are MP3 encoded audio are very small, especially when player you can also set the time and effort getting it right. if you find them annoying) and data that are available from running on a high resolution default directory where streams Linux sucks and ANR and Amiga Having ready access to such a options to make window moving servers at radio stations around graphics card screen. It would be will be saved when you click the rule. I think that about covers it. range of stations is fun and a and/or dragging opaque. (The the world. Some of these are nice to see an alternative, larger disk icon and set the stream =) “ great way to find new music you windows move when you drag “real” stations that also layout in a future version with buffer size. This buffer is used to Your experience of ANR is enjoy. Even with ADSL I did find them rather than showing a broadcast over the air to their new skins. The main ANR window is highly customiseable; you can choose load some of the stream before probably largely going to depend that many stations could not bounding box, which requires a local populations, and many playing starts so that a on the speed of your Amiga and maintain a continuous stream; To start listening to a Shoutcast the look and which lines of information are shown. fast graphics card to look good.) others only broadcast over the temporary slowdown in your your Internet connection. A good however, I think that is likely to stream you don’t need to search configured.) If you wish, you can all the stations you’ve listened to Internet. The Amiga has had Internet connection won’t cause Before I finish this review, I connection with a 56K modem is be an Internet speed or ISP using a web browser or even customise the information since you started ANR. Hear several Shoutcast players in the a break in the music. ANR uses should remark on ANR’s really the bare minimum to get issue rather than any problem leave ANR. Clicking on the displayed by hiding or showing something you like? Simply past, but although they were AHI for its audio output, so on excellent AmigaGuide acceptable streaming audio, but with ANR, as other stations are lightning bolt icon brings up the information lines in the display. scroll back and find out the artist effective, they had very few the audio tab you can choose documentation. This not only it will be far from even FM fine. If you have a good Internet shout search window. Streams You can also show additional and song title. When you’ve features to manage your stations the AHI mode you wish to use. explains all the functions of the quality, and you won’t have the connection and a reasonably are grouped by genre (pop, rock, information such as details of the found a station you will want to or to make listening more This means ANR is compatible program but also has an bandwidth to do any other spec’ed Amiga, stop reading this classic, talk, etc.), and each track (stereo/mono, play time, bit listen to again, you can add it to pleasurable. The team at with most add-on sound cards as excellent FAQ section. The FAQs Internet activities at the same and download AmiNetRadio stream has a description and rate, and frequency) and your playlist by clicking the “Add” #AmigaZeux already have well as the Amiga’s built-in Paula cover what you should expect time. With a broadband now! If your Amiga or connection shows the name of the song connection information (data button next to the station name several great products under chip. On the “GUI” tab you can out of your connection and how connection things will be much is less well-endowed, still give it currently being played. You can received, data decoded, in the “Song History” window. their belts, including select the skin used to texture to get the best performance. The better; there are lots of 128K a try... if it works acceptably, search for either a specific genre compression ratio, and CPS). While a station is playing, you AmiTradeCenter (an FTP client) the ANR interface. A variety of whole documentation has a great streams that approach CD you’ll be glad you did. or a particular word or phrase in But all that stuff is pretty boring. can click the disk icon in the and dynAMIte (an online skins is supplied, and since ANR sense of humour, which matches quality. With a 512K connection the description and current song What is more interesting is the main window to start saving the By Robert Williams bomber-man game). With was released, a number of other the spirit of the program you have some headroom for title. ANR also allows you to limit look of ANR’s displays. When stream as an MP3 file. The AmiNetRadio they have taken a your search to a range of bit the text displays change, they stream is saved into the directory similar approach to those earlier Author: Maxime Doyen License: Shareware Price: 15Euro (c. £11) From: http://maxworld.free.fr rates (which indicate the quality have a zooming, blurred effect specified in ANR’s preferences, productions: start with a simple Min. Requirements: 68000 CPU, 1Mb free RAM, AmigaOS 2.1, 640x256 8 colour display. of the stream and the speed of that looks really cool. You can and you can choose an option idea and take it to the max! They HomeBank Internet connection required), opt to display a scope graphically that automatically saves each do this by including a huge range and you can set the number of displaying the song being played song into a new file. HomeBank is a program that contains all your account of useful features and some either behind the song title or on results to be returned. A list of Playing streams across the designed to help you keep details and other data. Wallet impressive eye candy. a separate line in the window. matching streams is then Internet is not ANR’s only control of your finances. It can files can be protected with a Right-clicking on the scope icon When you start AmiNetRadio retrieved from the Shoutcast function; it can also play your be used to record all your password, but the files are not allows you to choose among five (ANR), a small window appears server; then you can start collection of MP3 files stored on monetary transactions, and it encrypted. The next job is to add styles in a pop-up menu. These with a number of buttons, listening to a stream simply by a local disk. You can pick a file to gives a constant running total some accounts to your wallet. styles range from flashing in time double-clicking on it. Some play by showing the file/URL between bank statements. When You can create as many to the music (which looks great stations have several servers in string and clicking on the select a statement comes, you can accounts as you need. For behind the text) to a full wave a “cluster” to serve a larger icon to open a file requester. check it against the transactions example, you might have a form. In addition, ANR has a The main window lists all the accounts in your “wallet”. number of listeners. ANR MP3 files can also be added to a you’ve entered to validate them current account, savings separate zoom visualisation supports clusters and will try play list or dropped on the ANR and hopefully spot any errors in account, credit cards, and many The accounts you define are along the top of the window plug-in, which is highly each server in turn until it makes window. When playing MP3 files, the process. In addition to this more. For each account you can listed in the main window, and gives quick access to common configurable and opens in a a connection. ANR has the normal controls basic function HomeBank also specify the opening balance and each shows its validated balance functions. Double-clicking on an separate window. If that’s not offers reports so you can see a minimum balance so that As a stream plays, the name of such as previous and next song, (backed by a statement), current account opens a detail window enough for you, ANR also exactly when and where your HomeBank will know whether the station and a slogan that random play, and repeat. The balance – including spending that shows the list of supports visual plug-ins money is going and a function to you are overdrawn. If your station may have set is displayed “Playlist” window is quite after a statement – and future transactions for that account. developed for Amplifier and monitor the running costs of your account has a cheque book, you in the top line of the ANR straightforward. You can add a balance, which includes any Like the main window, the detail AmigaAMP. car. Let’s take a look at some of can enter the starting cheque window. Below that is the song mixture of URLs and MP3 files to future commitments you have window has a toolbar of the features in more depth. number and the program will title and the station’s genre. You When a stream is playing, the a single playlist if you wish. The entered in advance. Above the functions at the top. By default automatically number cheques can double-click on the station ANR display updates as different list can then be saved either as When you start using list are totals showing the same (which can be changed) the The Zoom visualisation plug-in as you enter them. Joint name to open its website. (This songs are played. You can open the default (which is loaded HomeBank, the first thing to do figures totalled for all your transactions in an account are supplied with ANR. You can also accounts with two books are also feature uses OpenURL, so it will the “Song History” window to when you start ANR) or under a is to set up your “wallet,” which is accounts. A button bar, with listed for the last 30 days. If you use plug-ins developed for supported. work with any browser you have display a list of all the songs and different name so that you can the program’s name for the file attractive and colourful icons, want to see a different view, then AmigaAMP and AMPlifier. 38 TOTAL AMIGA Summer 2003 39 Reviews If you don’t see what you want, just ask! HomeBank has a powerful set of results can be displayed as a Our range is always growing! filters that allow you to display report list, a bar chart, or a pie only the transactions you are chart. With a chart displayed you interested in. For example, you can click on a pie slice or bar to Kicksoft can view transactions that get a bubble with its value. It is Up to 30 times faster! happened between certain also possible to open a data dates, specific types of view below the chart. If you then transaction, those with a certain click on one of the entries in the description, or even a key, all the transactions that combination of the available make up that entry will be Amiga Forever 5 options. displayed. Therefore, if you think, “Wow, I didn’t remember Clicking on the “Add” button in spending so much on my Amiga the account window opens a Fast Amiga Emulator and this year!” you can quickly see new window for the details of a that Total Amiga subscription new transaction. Here you Connectivity Package for Windows making a dent in your savings! specify the date, amount, and type (expense or income) of Analyse your out goings and income by month or group using Most HomeBank windows have • Fast JIT emulation, up to 30 times faster than previous transaction. For each transaction a print option. While this is a versions of Amiga Forever. you can select a group to help in useful option, it isn’t too much to • Amiga runs in a window or in full screen mode. schedule. The schedulingthe is statisticsthe window. continental system, litres per later analysis of your income and get excited about. In all cases • Amiga Explorer for Amiga connectivity. expenditure. The list of groups is quite flexible: you are able to set 100 kilometres (or gallons per HomeBank prints by sending a user-defined so you can decide the starting date and then set the 100 miles if you choose that text dump of the current list to • Fully licensed Picasso96 software. what level of detail you want. For transaction to recur every “n” option) and not miles per gallon. your printer. This does not • All Amiga ROMs up to version 3.1. example, you might have groups days, months, weeks, or years. Despite those quirks it’s still a include any graphics (it’s not • Includes: Personal Paint 7.1b Directory Opus 5.5 for rent, car, house maintenance, Therefore, you could make an good way to monitor your car’s possible to print charts, for (courtesy of GPSoftware), TurboText archived transaction that running costs, and if you’re using entertainment, etc. example) or special formatting. • MPEG-1 videos: The Deathbed Vigil and Jay Miner happens every two days or HomeBank anyway, there’s little That said, it is perfectly adequate There are various transaction perhaps even every seven years! extra effort in using the “Car” for records, and the printouts Speech included on the CD. modes that are represented by The archive window always feature. include the print date and any • Plus much more. icons on the right side of the shows the date of the next due filter criteria so you know exactly window. You can choose among With a few months worth of Version 5 Upgrade from V. 4 transaction so that you can what is included when you look credit card, cheque, cash, bank transactions in HomeBank, you tweak it if you need to. back at the printout later. transfer, personal transfer, or can start to use the statistics £40.00 £25.00 none. Some of these modes To use the car running costs features to analyse your income In these days of Internet banking have special options. For feature, you must create a group and expenditures. There are two it is worth noting that HomeBank example, if you make a personal for each car and use it when you statistics windows: “Overdrawn,” is not able to import files transfer, you can specify the buy fuel. Then on each fuel which monitors your account intended for other programs or destination as one of your other transaction, you note the current balance, and “Statistics,” which bank statements in electronic HomeBank accounts. As mileage and the number of allows you to break down your format. It does have the facility to mentioned previously, a cheque gallons purchased in the “info” spending and income by group import transactions from a CSV gadget in the add transaction of time. The “Overdrawn” window transaction can automatically (comma separated values) PageStream 4.1 PageStream Extras take the next cheque number. window. This entry has to use has a line graph showing the formatted text file, but iy needs You will probably be using the the format “d=
Above: The gradient fill option makes the new GUI look possible.
Right: A slight variation in the gradient makes the title bars look as if they bulge out. Notice the control window for OS4’s built-in CD-RW recording.
fxPaint 2 (Reviewed on page 32) MorphOS (Reviewed on page 22)
Above: A colour screen-shot of Sam Byford’s MorphOS 1.3 desktop. Left: Birdie Shoot, the adictive game supplied with new Pegasos Above: Paint on custom gradients in any shape. motherboards. Bottom: An HTML album generated with fxAlbum and the supplied “Dropshadow” skin.