CONTENTS CONTENTS Contents The Chairman News Speaks

Editorial UPDATE SEAL Update...... 3 irstly I have an apology to make, id you know that brainwashing is News Items...... 4 as Im sure youve noticed this totally legal?... Let me tell you a Members Amiga Update...... 7 Fissue is very late, due to several Dstory. Since the last magazine we’ve helped other commitments (SEAL, WoA and several more SEAL members get on the work related) Ive been unable to find the I have been into photography for some it out yourself. I haven’t got a computer Internet and we hope this issue will en- time I usually do to work on the maga- time now, and had decided it was time to myself, so I don’t know which ones it will courage even more people to get con- Features zine. However now its here I hope youll enter into the world of digital photog- work on (Dixons well-trained staff, know- nected. Members will find the latest find this is our best issue yet. We have raphy, as the cameras are now more ledgeable and as sharp as ever). members list complete with EMail ad- Interview with Petro ...... 8 more pages (up from 36 to 40) and affordable and have better specifications dresses printed on the back of the Get Netted! ...... 10 much better quality printing thanks to than earlier models. Once I had So I bought the camera and was chuffed covering letter accompanying their mag- Choosing An ISP ...... 14 our new printers who print from researched into which drivers were with myself (I’ve been after one for a azine. PostScript files rather than the printed available, I decided to purchase the long time). I decided that after the Hot Websites ...... 38 artwork we used to supply. Because the Olympus Camedia tag">C-1000L. On further weekend of using the camera (success- We’ve had a bit of a committee shuffle print is better quality weve been able to investigation, I discovered that in this fully), I would buy a nice case to keep it with Mick Sutton officially taking on the reduce the type size of the body text a country only the Dixons Group sell this in and protect it. So I returned to PC treasurer role as Spencer currently has Reviews little while retaining readability so all in particular camera (oh oh!). So off I go to World to see if they stocked this item other commitments. Gary Storm be- all theres much more content in this my nearest PC World (owned by (they don’t), and when I walked into the comes the secretary and Robert issue than the first two. Dixons), I spotted the item of my affec- store I came face to face with Assistant Williams takes on the technical support Miami ...... 15 tions on the shelf, priced at £299. The 1 again. NetConnect 2...... 16 role. Two new committee members have One of the reasons this issue is late is the Epson Stylus Photo printer to go following dialogue took place: also been appointed: Martin Miller and AmFTP ...... 20 because SEAL is heavily involved in or- with it. Another perfect combination is Assistant 1: (Assuming I had come to Jeff Martin. WebVision...... 21 ganising this years World of Amiga show the BVision PPC (reviewed on page 32) Assistant 1: Yes sir, how can I help? return the camera), I told you it wouldn’t which is taking place at the Kensington and Candy Factory Pro (review/tutorial Me: I would like to purchase the work on your Amiga! IBrowse...... 22 Town Hall Conference Centre, London on page 36) which takes full advantage Camedia C-1000L. Me: Yes it does, I’ve come here to buy a WebPages Emailer Roundup...... 24 on the 24th and 25th of July. I have of PPC and graphics cards. Assistant 1: Good choice sir, blah, blah, case (and showed him some photos I The new frames design of the SEAL AWeb ...... 26 been designing a brochure for the ex- blah... (handing me the camera to look had printed). web pages has been well received and StrICQ...... 27 hibitors and the show programme which In future issues of Clubbed wed really at) which PC will you be using it with? Assistant 1: Wow the quality of these will be given to all visitors. As youll read like to expand our tutorial content, but Me: An Amiga actually (this is going to look really good just as good as any Continued... TurboPrint 7 ...... 28 in the news item this years WoA is shap- unfortunately many people who are be fun!) we’ve seen from the Pc’s. Blurb Epson Stylus Photo ...... 30 ing up to be a really great event, with a quite happy to write a review of a pro- Assistant 1: (With a look of horror on combination of exciting announcements gram dont feel they have the depth of his face) You cannot connect it to an Assistant 1 had been brainwashed into Clubbed is published quarterly by South Essex Amiga BVision PPC ...... 32 Link. For subscription details see the back page. from Amiga, seminars, games, how-to knowledge required to write a good Amiga (reaching out to remove the thinking only Wintel existed in the com- Editor: Robert Williams Design: Robert Williams sessions and loads of bargains can you tutorial. So if you feel you could write a camera from my grubby mitts). puter world and thought he knew every- Contributors: afford to miss it? tutorial please get in touch and discuss it Me: Yes I can, I have checked the soft- thing there was to know about com- Gary Storm Mick Sutton Support with me, it doesnt have to be a huge ware that I will need blah, blah, blah... puters (Wanker!). As for assistant 2, for- Thomas Hurst The main focus of this issue is getting series stretching over several issues. In Assistant 1: (Reading from the box) It tunately for me, had not been brain- John Chandler Cover Art: Original Image by James McEwen, Back to Basics ...... 33 on the Internet, over the last few months fact for a quarterly magazine a shorter says here minimum spec IBM PC/AT washed YET. additional text by Gary Storm. several SEAL members have got con- self-contained tutorial on one aspect of a with Windows or EVEN a Mac! If you have any queries suggestions or want to contact Internet Quake...... 35 us for any reason please use one of the following: nected and with the current state of the program is much better. We also want to Me: Yes I know what it says on the box, There are lots of peripherals you can EMail: [email protected] Candy Factory Pro...... 36 Amiga market and the fast moving hear from you if you have an idea tutor- I can read too! I know it will work on the use on the Amiga despite what shop WWW: http://seal.amiga.tm/ Post: Clubbed, Next Issue, Helpline etc...... 39 events at Amiga and Internet connection ial (or any other type of feature) youd Amiga as drivers are available off the assistants, and in some case’s manufac- 26 Wincoat Drive, BENFLEET, Gallery ...... 40 is a great way of keeping up-to-date. In like to see, write in and well see what we Aminet or commercially (thinking to turers advise. However, you have to Essex, our main Get Netted feature we explain can come up with. myself - what a wanker!). make certain that you can use the par- SS7 5AH, ENGLAND. what the Internet is, what you need to Assistant 1: (Disgruntled) I will hand ticular product you are interested in. It is Telephone: +44 (0) 1268 569937 get connected and the main services Finally I’d like to thank James McEwen you over to my colleague. advisable to research which drivers are (19:00 - 22:00 GMT only please). The views expressed in this magazine are those of the that are available when you get there. who let us use his brilliant image (which available for the type of hardware you author of each piece, they do not necessarily reflect Theres a page on ISPs complete with a you may remember from the Amiga Assistant 2: Yes mate. want before you make your decision and the views of the editor, other contributors or SEAL. Have you got a Please Note: Clubbed is produced by SEAL members short hint or tip step-by-step guide to get you connected Format gallery) for our cover this month, Me: I want to buy the Camedia C-1000L check for their availability and costs. If in their spare time, while we will always strive to pro- duce the mag on time and include all the advertised you’d like to to Freeserve. We also have reviews of see the back page for another example to use on my Amiga. you need advice about compatibility or contents this is not always possible if other commit- many of the major Amiga Internet pro- of his outstanding work. Assistant 2: They (Amiga) still going help finding drivers then feel free to con- ments get in the way. The price you pay for Clubbed share with other covers our costs and nothing more, we don’t make a ? profit from it. grams and a guide to some of the best are they? (He then showed me the tact SEAL. (Address info here) The Clubbed readers? If you If you wish to contact a contributor please send your sites on the Web. See you at WoA, features of the camera). If you are sure moral of this story is don’t be dissuaded message to one of the addresses above and we will have don’t be shy, send it in to it works on the Amiga then fine, if you by the hype, make sure you have got pass it on. use and you could have a lovely Amiga is a registered trademark and the Amiga logo, For those of you already on the net and Robert. have any problems just bring it back. your facts right and show them it is pos- AmigaDOS, Amiga Kickstart, Amiga Workbench, grey box all of your own! Autoconfig, Bridgeboard, and Powered by Amiga are happy with their software we have sible on the Amiga. trademarks of AMIGA International, Inc. / Gateway, Inc. reviews of the brilliant Turbo Print 7 and Me: Okay thanks. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of Assistant 2: I’m sure you have checked Mick their respective owners. 2 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 3 NEWS NEWS

SEAL Update continued... The Amiga Workshop evenings have also proved a great success with many has made maintaining the pages much problems being solved at all levels of Phase 5 68k easier. Gary Storm has taken over Amiga use. Within SEAL we have regularly updating the pages with par- members at all levels from those just Products AmigaOS 3.5 ticular emphasis on reporting important starting out with the Amiga to people ince the introduction of its Amiga news on the News page. Gary with years of experience and high end s part of Amiga’s renewed GUI with features like font sensitivity and PowerUP line of PowerPC ac- has also been busy interviewing various systems, all this knowledge is put to commitment to the Classic resizable windows as part of the OS. All celerator boards Phase 5 has Amiga celebrities, his recent victims in- good use! S A Amiga market the Amiga OS the preferences editors and other OS clude Andrew Korn (formerly of CU stopped production of their range of 3.5 update has been confirmed, the pro- programs will be re-written to use the Amiga) and Petro Tyschtschenko of 68000 only accelerators, SCSI modules ject has been contracted to Haage and new GUI system. The new GUI toolkit is Amiga International (you can also read Jim Collas Meeting and the CyberVision 64/3D Zorro Partner who are co-ordinating many based on the ClassAct system currently Improved Printing graphics cards. This has left a sig- that interview on page 9 of this issue). At the end of April Jim Collas (CEO of programmers including well known PD available. Programs using other GUI An all new printing system with support nificant gap in the market for high per- Amiga) came to Europe to meet and Shareware authors to produce the systems like MUI, GT Layout and BGUI for 24bit printing to the latest printers will formance 68k based accelerators. In Another recent addition to the site is a representatives of the Amiga commu- upgrade. OS 3.5 will be released at will continue to work. be included along with a brand new in- general these products had a good new look Clubbed page which always nity. He visited the UK and Germany Amiga Downunder 99 in Australia on the tegrated printer preferences program. reputation for not only their high perfor- has the latest information on the maga- which have the largest base of Amiga 21st and 22nd of August. Enhanced Workbench and Icons mance but also reliability and quality of zine, subscription prices and progress users in Europe. SEAL members Gary PowerPC on the next issue. Storm and Robert Williams were lucky manufacture. DCE, another German OS 3.5 will require AmigaOS 3.1 ROMs Built-in Internet Support PowerPC support using Haage and Amiga hardware manufacturer who pro- enough to be asked to attend the UK which are currently available from most A TCP/IP stack (based on Miami), Web Partner’s WarpUP system, this will duce, amongst other things, the Visit the SEAL web site at: meeting that took place in London. We Amiga dealers, Power Computing have browser (based on AWeb) and EMail provide support for the current Phase 5 Typhoon A1200 accelerator have now http://seal.amiga.tm met Jim informally in a hotel bar after announced that they will offer the ROMs client will be provided with the OS to get PowerUP accelerators and for the signed a deal with Phase 5 to produce the main presentation to the media and at reduced prices (A500/2000 £14.95, users up and running on the Internet recently announced G3 and G4 based many of their 68k only products. Boards Please make sure you use the address developers had been made and came A1200/3000/4000 £19.95) if they are quickly. The web browser will also be cards as they come to market. Also in- going back into production include: above to access the SEAL web site as it away with a great feeling about the fu- purchased with OS3.5. used to view the new documentation cluded will be a PPC preferences editor is possible the real address will change ture of the Amiga, both Classic and NG. that will be in HTML format. Users will which will make setting up PPC ac- soon as I may be moving ISP. You can read more about what we heard • Blizzard 1230, 1240 and 1260 A1200 Key features of the new version include: be able to use their existing Internet celerators much more user friendly. accelerators in Gary’s Amiga Inc. update section. software if they wish. The EMail client Meetings • Blizzard SCSI Module DMA SCSI for New Standard GUI Toolkit will be based on a new EMail library Further details are on the Amiga website the above accelerators A new GUI toolkit and interface builder allowing direct EMail facilities to be built at: Starting in May we decided to make the WoA Involvement • Blizzard 2040/60 Accelerators for the application will be provided with the OS into other applications while still sharing programme of our bi-weekly meetings a SEAL is heavily involved in this years A2000 with built in DMA SCSI giving programmers a powerful standard the same mail boxes etc. http://www.amiga.com/ bit more organised by allocating every World of Amiga show which is being • CyberStorm MkIII 68060 for the other meeting to a general Amiga jointly organised by PBA events (who A3000 and 4000 with DMA UW SCSI Workshop evening where members can have organised the show in previous • CyberVision 64/3D Zorro 2/3 gfx card Three G3 Accelerators Announced bring along their machines to get help or years) and AmigaSoc (the UK usergroup • CyberVision 64/3D Scan Doubler show others their set-up. The other representatives). Robert Williams has n March several surprise hardware PowerPC G3 based Amiga accelerators on an industry standard module which meetings will have an organised event designed the WoA brochure for potential These products will be available from announcements shocked the on-line to be called Amijoe. The A1200 ver- will allow them to offer both G3 and G4 of some kind, for example a tutorial or exhibitors and as soon as this issue of Power Computing: IAmiga community, injecting some sion will have local RAM and an ex- versions when the PPC G4 is released, question and answer session. Clubbed is finished will be working on (01234) 851500 much needed life into discussions pansion slot for either a USB or it will also allow G3 owners to upgrade. the programme that all visitors will http://www.powerc.com/ and debates. Some time ago SCSI II module, the board and Initially Phase 5 said they would require The first meeting in this new plan took receive. At the show itself SEAL the previously little known module will fit in a desktop 1000 pre-orders to justify developing place in May when David gave us an members will be helping out by manning German company Escena A1200 or tower. The second these cards. However although they introduction to shell scripting, including areas like the Games arcade and the announced they were producing board will be for the A2/3/4000 have not announced if this number has how to launch shell scripts from icons to cybercafe as well as some less a PowerPC G3 based accelerator series Amigas and we assume it been reached work does seem to be run shell only programs from the glamorous jobs. which would plug into a Zorro III must be a Zorro card to fit in this range happening on the boards. Workbench. In June Mick Sutton and slot. This card is different to the cur- of machines. This board will have the Robert Williams gave a demonstration of Members of the SEAL committee have rent Phase 5 PPC cards because it does processor and memory plus a PCI 2.1 Titan Computer various image capture methods includ- been to several WoA organisers not have a 68000 series CPU and will compatible bus slot for a third card Titan along with Haage and Partner and ing digital cameras, scanners and meetings in London and everyone in- run 68k based Amiga programs (includ- called the Multijoe. The Multijoe will ACT (Apollo) have announced the PhotoCD. volved is working hard to make this the ing the OS) via a 68k emulation that is have SCSI and a graphics card on board Twister PPC which is an A1200 (Tower best WoA ever. Amiga Helpline being written by Haage and Partner. All plus PCI slots for standard PCI cards required) only G3 accelerator. This card The next event meeting is going to be had been quiet save for a few updates (assuming drivers are written). can also carry two modules, one is a Would you like you help other Amiga an image processing demonstration SEAL will have a stand at the show that on this front for a number of months Ultra-Wide SCSI interface and the other users or do you sometimes need a help- where several different packages will be we will be using to advertise the club, when OS 3.5 with PPC support was Phase 5 a graphics card based on the RIVA TNT ing hand with your system? If so the shown including the latest version of hopefully getting some new members announced. This was the springboard Phase 5 have announced they aim to chip. The Riva TNT is well respected in Amiga helpline could be for you. This Photogenics. Due to work on SEAL’s and of course sell copies of Clubbed. for three more companies to announce produce PowerPC G3 and G4 based the PC world and give fast 2D and 3D presence at the WoA this presentation free service consists of volunteer plans for new PowerPC only ac- accelerators for the A1200 and A3/4000, acceleration. will take place after the show. helpers who specialise in a particular celerators: both the Phase 5 cards will have SCSI aspect of the Amiga. Users who need and firewire ports on board and a PCI All three G3 cards have planned release help can ring a central number and be Met@box slot for a PCI backplane. P5 have not dates of fourth quarter 1999. If you’re looking for the latest Amiga news on the Internet try the put in touch with a specialist in the field Formerly known as PIOS, Met@box cur- confirmed they will be producing the excellent Czech Amiga News web site: they need help with. If you’d like to be a rently produces Apple Mac accelerators backplane and of course any cards fitted Met@box - http://www.joecard.com/ http://www.realdreams.cz/amiga helper or need help yourself give Terry a under the brand name “joecard” and will to it would require Amiga drivers. The Phase 5 - http://www.phase5.de/ ? ring on (01709) 814296. be extending this range with two CPU on the Phase 5 cards is mounted Titan - http://www.titancomputer.de/ 4 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 5 NEWS NEWS

that it would definitely include a com- World of Amiga 1999 Fusion & PPC puter. When Phase 5 released its PowerUP Breaking News PPC accelerators everyone hoped that fter months of speculation we most will bring along an Amiga to dem- The absolute latest is the excellent news are pleased to be able to onstrate different products. Several a Power Mac emulator running directly of Jim wanting to tell us much more, as A report the World of Amiga usergroups have already committed to on the PPC would be released. Gary Storm reports the latest happenings at Amiga he said in his June/July update... show will be held again this year and running a games arcarde and an that SEAL along with other usergroups Internet cafe to keep visitors enter- Well it’s been a long wait but it now and speculates on what the future might hold. “We are putting together a five to seven are involved in making this years show tained. On both days of the show looks like we will see a PPC version of page product strategy and technology Amiga have been fairly active over the fantastic design concepts for computing, much more of an “event” than in previ- various Amiga usergroups will be run- Fusion in the next few months. brief that will be released to the Amiga Microcode Solutions, Fusion’s last few months, mainly in part due to which include a space-saving design of ous years. The driving forces behind this ning how-to sessions which will take the community within the next week. This the direction eventually being cemented having the main unit (with things you year’s show are PBA Events who have form of building an A1200 tower system developers asked for 500 pre-orders of by Jim Collas. Since he’s been on board don’t need to access much like the brief will help you better understand our organised it in the past and AmigaSoc over the day. Sessions will include put- the program which costs about £90 by overall plans by giving you more details the end of June. This target was the Amiga love-boat it’s been steering modem, hard-drive, cabling, power etc.) the UK User Group Network represen- ting an A1200 in a tower, fitting hard out of the Gateway icebergs, and head- in an elongated, wall-hugging frame, on our new Amiga Operating reached with time to spare and they will tatives. After many complaints that the drives and CD-ROMs and installing a ing towards clear water. Let’s just hope it and the bits you do need to use often Environment (OE) and Multimedia be collecting payments during the next Novatel was a far from ideal venue you’ll graphics card. hits a rich and verdant land. (CD-ROM, floppy drive, etc.), housed in Convergence Computer (MCC). The be pleased to hear that the show will be month. Once the money has been col- an arch which your keyboard can sit technology brief will also talk about new moving to much more professional sur- World of Amiga 1999 will take place on lected they promise to deliver Fusion There’s been so much stuff happening: under when not in use. Nice. You may and exciting Amiga technology. This PPC in no more than 60 days. If all goes roundings in the form of the Kensington Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th have seen the designs in August’s brief will also disclose some of our 3rd to plan we should have Fusion PPC by Town Hall Conference Centre. of July. Opening times are 9:30 to 17:00 Amiga International. & Inc. Are no Amiga Format... doesn’t that ‘Starck’ party technology choices. We have on Saturday and 9:30 to 16:00 Sunday. the end of September. more... simply AMIGA now. design look so cool, and so much like spent the last four months evaluating the Star Trek logo? This venue while being a similar size to technology and defining the next We met Jim in London at the end of the Novatel offers four areas for a wide Ticket prices are £7.50 for Adults, £5 for Microcode were also taking Pre-orders generation hardware architecture and April, and it was very interesting. He’s a Amiga have been recruiting a fair range of events. The great hall will hold under 14s, £6 for OAPs. for a PPC version of their PCx PC emu- down-to-earth guy, who doesn’t seem to amount of talented staff recently, espe- software structure. We have now the exhibitors and the foyer on the same lator but this didn’t manage to attract finalized the architecture and structure. 500 pledges in the time. sprout crap. cially C++, Java, and os environment floor will be allocated to Amiga and ex- Full details including travel options and experts. Foremost amongst the en- We have also finalized all of our major hibitors such as magazines. Upstairs is secure ticket ordering are available on The Amiga range will consist of ‘informa- gineers would have to be the former IBM technology and partner choices. A sig- Fusion is sold in the UK by Blittersoft: a large conference room that will be the World of Amiga web site at tion appliances’, controlled by a central and Apple (amongst others) head of nificant amount of effort and resources used for presentations and seminars http://www.worldofamiga.com. (01908) 261466 computer, all connected via wireless hardware design and development Rick went into the evaluation of 3rd party throughout the event. Also upstairs is http://www.blittersoft.com/ radio technology and controlled via a LaFaivre. They’ve just recruited Dave technology you may be surprised at a another foyer area, this will be set aside Alternatively you can call the ticket ‘tablet’ hand-held PDA-like device. Curtis (CORBAL expert) as ‘director of few of the decisions but I am confident for usergroup events. Each usergroup hotline on (01369) 708004. Apparently wireless technology is being object technology and transaction ser- you will agree that they are the correct WipeOut 2097 pursued by many technology com- vices’ and Jim Miller (also ex-Apple) as will have their own table and it is hoped choices”. [If possible, we’ll try and in- panies, as it offers data transfer rates of director of user experience (the way we clude a supplement if this brief appears 4mb per second for the home network, and the computer interface). With Photogenics 4 ImageFX 4 and is seen as the future of computing people like Rick, Jim Van Holle, Dr. before we send out the mag]. Paul Nolan has released the long and communication (just think of all the Havemose and (of course) Jim Collas, In a surprise statement Nova Design wonderful things you can use a mobile there would have to be some pretty bril- Jim then went on to give a few hints... awaited new version of Photogenics. Inc. announced that version 4 of phone for now: Internet, TV, sending liant stuff being done in the Amiga build- This version is a complete re-write and ImageFX will soon be available. The key pictures and e-mail). The business ver- ing, as these guys have just about every “Our strategy for implementing the new has very little in common with version 2 new feature is animation support allow- sion of Amiga technology will run via huge company head-hunting them. Jim Amiga is to integrate the best technol- except some basic concepts. Exciting ing brushes and effects to be animated cable and offer much larger rates of especially must have oceans of faith in ogy in the industry into a new, efficient, additions are a full layers implementa- This well-known 3D racing game from directly from the main user interface in- transfer, for the office networks. the new Amiga technology... why else exciting, and revolutionary computer tion and some brilliant paint-on fire the PlayStation and PC is coming to an would he risk his glowing reputation and cluding a real-time preview. You will be platform focused on the future... On the effects. The initial release version was Amiga near you as long as it is During our chat, Jim also let it be known career by stepping down as VP of able to directly load and save CPU side we have selected a CPU that rather buggy and Paul has been working equipped with PPC and a 3D graphics that Amiga are trying to find out if it’s Gateway to be CEO of a little, oft animations in a variety of formats suit- will bring exciting new capabilities to the hard to iron out the problems (although card supported by Warp3D. Digital possible to have a version of ‘AmigaSoft ignored, credibility lacking Amiga? able for both video and Internet web Amiga. I can’t disclose what instruction he has found the time to get married, Images have acquired the rights from 1.0' (the next-gen os) running on PPC sites. set it uses at this time because of con- congratulations Paul!). A fixed version Psygnosis to port the game to the Amiga Amiga’s, to give the current Amiga mar- Jim’s focus during May was to break ket a lot more life, and an easier away from Gateway, to become a semi- fidentiality agreements. I can tell you 4.1 is due very soon, some SEAL and recently published the first screen- Three new effects are also supplied with upgrade path. It may not be possible to independent company free of the parent that it’s very exciting and NOT an x86 members have used a beta version of shots of the Amiga version on their web version 4, fireworks, distorter and blob. do this, but at least they’re going to try, company’s sloth and politics. Ted Waitt architecture processor. Our plan is to the 4.1 upgrade and it seems much site, including shots of the game running Many other features have been updated which is good. Even more reason to go also very interested in seeing Amiga be disclose the CPU in several weeks at faster and more stable than the original in a Window! to work with the new animation PPC, apart from getting the best out of a success, and realised it needed to be the World of Amiga and AmiWest shows. release. functions. OS3.5 (which will be previewed at WoA a separate entity to increase the speed At this time I hope to disclose all of our T-zer0 Is Ready ‘99, and released 21st of August, in of development. Ted Waitt had an inter- technology choices and partners... In If 4.1 is released in time we hope to Australia). view with ‘The Guardian On-line’ IFX 4 will be distributed on CDROM order to pull this great technology ClickBoom are set to release their latest recently, where he stated that the Amiga have a review in the next issue of together and develop our next- along with a variety of example images game on July the 23rd. T-zer0 is a great Pentagram have been assigned the task developments were interesting, but that Clubbed. For more information and to generation platform, we are also devel- and animations.Upgrades are available looking shoot-em-up which requires of making the next Amiga range look it won’t be computer related. This of download the 4.1 upgrade when it is oping our own technology in key directly from Nova Design and I’m sure AGA, 8Mb and an ‘030. The game nice and (hopefully) funky. They’re an course, freaked out a fair few Amigans, available visit: strategic areas. This technology will they will soon be available from features beautiful hand pixeled graphics, international, award winning design who aren’t used to the tactic of dis- allow us to make the product unique, Compute! the UK distributor. 1 or 2 player modes and huge between company, who have been responsible information, so Jim had to issue a state- http://www.photogenics.co.uk integrate 3rd party technology and level animations. for excellent efforts like the Toshiba ment re-iterating Amiga’s resolve to Compute: (0181) 3031800 range of PC’s, and B&W speaker (which bring out the revolutionary software and create the final revolutionary product. are ultra-cool). Pentagram also have hardware by the end of the year, and For example: Nova: http://www.novadesign.com/ http://clickboom.com/ 6 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 7 NEWS FEATURES

A TEASER: So what’s looking hot at the moment? And what if AmigaSoft 1.0 wasn’t the This could of course change in the near Any idea what advertising budget the Could it be mobile phones, the Internet, only Chameleon with red-and-white future but my philosophy is to use every next-gen Amiga range will have, and The technology brief will also include the and digital TV? Yep, and collectively checked eyes? There have been mur- tool, even a PC, to make my beloved where youre likely to use it? The description of new Amiga technology these information appliances, and other murings of SOC (system on a chip) AMIGA stronger... Commodore marketing team used to advertise Amigas in Amiga maga- that I think is particularly exciting. It is an products like PDA’s (personal digital as- processors under development, such as OS3.5 was great news for the Amiga Petro zines, and... well that’s it really. object-oriented technology developed by sistants - Psions, PalmPilots etc.) are, Java on a chip. I’m not a techie (as you community. How is it coming along, Amiga called the AmigaObjectTM. The according to a major report by 4th Wave, know), but this sounds like Java will be Tyschtschenko and when do you think it will be It is a little to early for exact dates..but AmigaObjectTM is a powerful software going to be the focus of the computer much faster if it was already resident in released? you can be sure there will be a budget, we have to launch the new generation structure that enables easy integration industry during the next ten years. The hardware on a dedicated chip. And if We are quite in time. The official launch Gary Storm talks to the very professionally and we would of technology, distributed computing, report also suggests that hardware im- that chip was flash-ROM’able, then it will be in Australia in Canberra, 21st and mobilise also AMIGA freaks, which are high-speed network transactions, and portance will be equalled, then out- need never be out of date (exit lot’s of man who’s been 22nd of August. Beta version will be dis- using today unfortunately the PC plat- communication between applications. weighed, by service and support con- needless hardware upgrades). Taking tributed to developers which applied, form. They are also powerful software building tracts. this further, what’s there to stop other keeping the Amiga alive this week and next week. When will the Amiga plans start being blocks that will allow people to build im- operating systems from being since the death of We’ll be getting a preview at WoA ‘99 above the radar. When can we expect pressive applications quickly. We know Amiga are going to release embedded in flash-ROM chips? Then all though, won’t we? AmigaObjectsTM are portable and various ‘information appliances’, con- you’d need is the software within Commodore. to know concrete details about Yes of course. Haage & Partner will things, and start promoting them to transferable across platforms allowing trolled via AmigaSoft in each and a cen- AmigaSoft (also possibly on a chip) that Age: 56 years show the preview at WOA on our video the rest of the world? AmigaObjectsTM to proliferate through- tral computer, connected via wireless has different ‘departments’ assigned the wall. out the network, the Internet and the radio technology. But the computer won’t task of communicating and interpreting Occupation: Managing Director Amiga Jim Collas will telling some more details International, Inc. Langen Germany world. Do I have your attention yet? This be much good if there isn’t software to the commands from the relevant os What other stuff will be shown at on the WOA. WoA ‘99? is just one piece of the new Amiga run on it. I believe (contrary to what they chip. At the end of the day, you’d have a Petro, thanks for connecting with Realistically. how much of an impact operating environment. It is this type of would have us think) that Amiga have computer that would be able to utilise Clubbed. What have you been up to As I mentioned already... Jim Collas, on the world computing market do technology that will allow us to build a this covered too, in the unique and nearly every bit of software from all the today? Rick LeFaivre and Tom Schmidt will you think the next-gen Amigas will revolutionary computer platform. We can simple way that they have possibly major platforms (PC-DOS; Windows; Up to day: The WOA is the current pro- come to London... and for sure they will make? bring some news with them... I can not discuss this technology because we structured the hardware and software Linux; MacOS etc.). Changing over to ject to organise... We will have a video It will as I mentioned already, be a real tell you too much today... should be a have now filed patent disclosures giving design, integrating the two into a seam- this new computer platform would be as wall 4x4 Animation and video films... revolution. us some protection against competitors. less yet near-infinitely malleable whole. painless as possible (all the benefits Jim, Tom and Rick will come from the great surprise. Will user groups be able to get OS3.5 More on this in the technology brief”. with no loss of current data). In fact, I’ll USA. Nicole, Axel and myself from Have you seen the next-gen designs and the 3.1 ROM chips at a special It would be a practically impossible task lay bets that Amiga has been courting Germany. and plans yet? discount? NOTE: The following is purely conjec- to infiltrate from afresh the PC market, current PC software developers (through The last few years have been hell for Of course. We are working as a team... Unfortunately we are not doing any ture, and not gospel. without having as much software com- Jim and Rick’s contacts) to prime them Amiga developers, retailers and a great team by the way. I am regularly money on our OS 3.5... the price is very patibility with PC’s, and as many PC for the Amiga rebirth. Expect some of users. What have you been doing to in the US and I am informed in detail. Hmmm. Surely these modern legends of standards embedded within the new those ‘strategic partners’ to be try and stem the tide of Amiga defec- attractive... end user price is scheduled If so, what do you think? in Germany for 99.50 DM (about £35 Silicon Valley would have learnt by the Amiga as possible. But how? At last announced at WoA ‘99 (hopefully one tors? Ed.) mistakes of other, more hyped-to-the-hilt year’s WoA, when the ‘Mystery Chip’ will be Sony, using AmigaSoft on the The last two years were very hard for It is great... as Jim Collas always states: machines (3dO, CD32, CDTV, Jaguar, that would drive the new Amiga was PSX2). me... no support from the US mother, no A REVOLUTION. What role can user-groups play in the resurrection of Amiga credibility? etc.) that were released with bugger-all announced, many were speculating that sight for new products. So I tried to keep What could be improved in the next- software to show off their fancy chips. I it’s origins could have something to do The new Amiga range will be a true the spirit alive with user support, mer- gen Amiga range? They should keep on doing what they believe they have (even if they’re trying with research into ‘multiple gate array’ Chameleon on it’s own hardware and chandise products and looking after new have done always... making propaganda I really do not know, what I should to avoid the subject). Read on... chips, which are processor designs current configurations able to utilise markets like embedded systems, to for our AMIGA... answer here at this stage, the next-gen which have the ability to emulate in most software. I’m sure it’s more than survive until the next miracle happens... is perfect so far. If you were stranded on a desert The Amiga people aren’t stupid. If they hardware (via the gate’s changing) other possible that we’ll be seeing a version of and the miracle came with Jim Collas... who is the right man to drive AMIGA in island, and could only have three were stupid, they wouldn’t be seen (indi- processors, just like a Chameleon. Since AmigaSoft on PPC Amiga’s, but the How do you think the next-gen Amiga the right directions, with a lot of US in- things with you... what would they vidually) with such respect. As they Dr. Havemose had shifted the focus off reason I think that Jim Collas isn’t will be marketed? fluence. Thank God we have another be? have the respect of a hugely critical and that possibility by saying that they guaranteeing it isn’t to do with technical Through our existing distributor net- chance. I am quite sure that we will What a question... I need only two accomplishment-driven industry, we can haven’t decide on a final processor yet, reasons, but rather whether they have work... of course the high-street market, have a bright future. things... An AMIGA and an internet mail-order houses and computer shops assume that they are, in fact, pretty speculation (and confirmation from Jim) the spare time to implement that support line... bloody clever. Given that obvious intel- has suggested that the short-list must be in the time they have left. AmigaSoft Why do you think there are so many will also be interested in our product if Amiga users who still stick with the ligence and respect, it can’t possibly be between Transmeta, Power G3, Alpha PPC will come, but it may not be until the margin is right and the product is What do you like to use your com- classic Amiga? Why does this par- a bad move to work for Amiga, and and MIPS. This, in my opinion, has after the Amiga has taken us into the 5th interesting for them. We will not let down puter for, Petro? ticular collection of PCB and solder our loyal dealers and distributors of there must be a pretty good reason to shifted the focus off the true source of generation of computing. Amiga for relaxing... PC for working engender such patriotism? course. put your faith (and that hard-won Amiga power - the object orientated os. I Would Amiga Chameleon be a good The current AMIGA technology is so Which markets are the next-gen respect) in a small company like that, think the AmigaOE (AmigaSoft and At the end of the day, if Amiga don’t name-brand for the next-gen Amiga what could have attracted them? AmigaObjects) will be the key that un- overshoot their deadline by too much, great and simple, it is fun to use an Amiga products going to target? AMIGA. It is not fun to have to work with range? :) locks the worlds computer market, by the end of this year (or early next) will a PC, especially a Wintel... We will come out with details in London.. First, let’s look at what the marketplace being able (in different strengths) to be see the revival of not only Amiga, but Chameleon? Should be more dynamic... What is the Amiga competition? SPRITER or REVOLUZZER. is now, over 80% Wintel PC domination. installed on all platforms in a similar way also of computing as a whole, as every- You don’t use an Amiga at the office. Not a good thing, it is generally agreed. that Java is now. It will breathe new life one who knows anything about comput- Why not? It’s more capable than a PC Amiga never had competition... Amiga is Thanks Petro. NOTE: Read the Amiga Mac’s are better, but are still too insular into the PC industry, and be at it’s most ing knows, Windows and the current un- for e-mail. unique. Update and meandering for the reason behind ‘Chameleon’ question. and expensive. The computer industry is powerful on it’s native Amiga architec- derlying PC architecture is a thorn in the Unfortunately I not only have to do my The boing ball... going to stay as the in decline as people become jaded with ture which everyone (hopefully) will foot of true progress. I’ve said it before, e-mail, I have electronic banking and I Amiga logo? having to put up with dodgy software gravitate to. Java and all the current but would you really trust the lives of you have to report to my PC-Gateway Of course. I am proud that I have reborn and upgrading every 6 months (and re- (and some future) PC standards will be and your children to a Wintel space-ship mother, where nobody can read and un- this logo. installing their system every year). embedded in the Amiga. when we colonise the stars? derstand AMIGA, so I am forced to use a PC... a Gateway one of course. 8 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 9 FEATURES FEATURES

information in the world at your finger- your modem you need to make sure it WWW (World Wide Web) tips, and build up a huge collection of comes with a 25pin connector (some EMail AWeb - http://www.amitrix.com (pg 26) whatever you want (music, graphics, come with a 9pin one which needs an MicroDot - http://www.vapor.com (pg 24) IBrowse - http://www.hisoft.co.uk (pg 22) software, video’s etc etc). What are you adaptor). Thor - http://www.thule.no (pg 25) Get Netted! waiting for? Read on and find out about Voyager - http://www.vapor.com (pg 18) YAM - http://www.yam.ch (pg 24) Robert Williams helps you get On-Line the most popular internet services, how Modems are rated by the maximum The World Wide Web (WWW or simply to get on-line and the best software to speed they can transfer data at, in bits With EMail you can send text messages ontrary to popular (PC-user) shareware archive, in Aminet. the web) is probably the friendliest face use to get you there! per second. The most common stan- to anyone as long as they have an EMail opinion, the Amiga is not stuck in Downloading heaven! of the Internet. If presents you with dards you’ll see today are 33600bps address and you know what it is! One of the late 80's and they’re not all pages of text and graphical information C What You Need to get On-Line To con- (33.6k) and 56000 (56k), however the the services your ISP provides is to hold Amiga 500's. Also contrary to popular One of the best things about the internet which are linked together via clickable nect to the Internet you need four things: actual speed you achieve depends on your EMail on their servers while you opinion, the Amiga is a more Internet is that’s it’s an immediate resource. As hot spots on the screen. Pages are the quality of your phone line and how are off-line for you to collect the next efficient computer than a PC, thanks to soon as any news happens, the net grouped together in to a website, most far you are from the exchange. 56k time you connect to the Internet. Almost it’s multi-tasking architecture and less hears about it first. As soon as a pro- 1. A Suitable Amiga companies, organisations, in fact nearl modems in particular are very sensitive all ISPs use a protocol called POP3 crash-prone OS and software.You can grammer has finished the latest version All Amigas can be connected to the every one has a web site now, and you to line quality and very few people get (Post Office Protocol version 3) for even get your A500 on the net. Thanks of his software, the internet is where Internet via a standard Internet Service see web addresses almost everywhere. much over 50k with between 40 and 50 collection of messages. With this system to free software and free internet service you’ll get it first. Provider, but there are a few minimum The web is acessed using software being quite common. you download mail using EMail soft- providers, there has never been a better spec’s you’ll need to have to use called a browser. The Amiga is blessed ware. When you write EMail you send it time to get your Amiga connected. Internet services sucessfully. The with three fine web browsers all of which Communication You can expect to pay about £70 to £90 to your ISP whose mail servers then processor you have is not that important do a good job letting you acess most for a brand name 56k modem, if you send it on to its destination across the E-mail is a fantastic thing. Keep in touch (even a 68000 can get connected), but web sites. But what is the internet? shop around you can find unbranded Internet. Mail is usually sent to the ISP with your relatives, friends, work or any- for browsing the web a 68030 would be ones for much less but in general these using SMTP (the Simple Mail Transfer What’s the point? thing from all over the world as long as the minimum I’d recommend. Also for Originally the web was designed to be seem to be less tolerant of poor lines. Protocol). they’re connected too. You save a web browsers and many other Internet as open as possible and acessible from The Internet, and World Wide Web fortune on postage and non-local applications you’ll need at least a wide variety of computers, and so that (WWW), is a gargantuan network of 3. An Internet Service As well as plain text you can send files telephone calls. You can even chat real- AmigaOS version 3.0. 4Mb of Fast the way pages are displayed could be computers, all connected to each other of all types by Email, and these are time to them by using Amirc and STRicq Memory is about the minimum required controlled by the user. As the web devel- in the same way a spider-web is, except Provider called attachments. Attachments are (more about them elsewhere). An in- for reasonable use of most Internet pro- oped page designers wanted to have this web transfers Information, which To access the Internet from a home encoded into blocks of text which look valuable resource is being able to get grams, although the more you have the more control over what the page viewer can be pictures, sounds, text, and pro- computer you need an Internet Service just like garbage letters if your mailer help and advice from users all over the better. Pre-AGA machines aren’t too saw and also to incorporate more grams. Think of the net as the biggest Provider (commonly abreviated to ISP), doesn’t understand them. Most modern world, and even the authors themselves good for webbrowsing as they only have sophisticated interactive content. The library in the world, where you can make these organisations have a network per- EMail programs automatically decode of the programs you use (who better to 16 colours on higher resoloution result of this demand means that some as much noise as you want. Whatever minantly connected to the internet and attachments and allow them to be ask how to do something?). screens... a graphics card makes the websites are now designed to look good you’re interested in, you’ll find it, and allow you to connect to their network saved, some even allow images to be world of difference of course. on the most popular web browsers (in- other people who are interested in the and thus the Internet via a dial-up viewed with the message. evitably on the PC platform) and use same things. Money (modem) connection. Before you can proprietary technologies which again are Invest a hundred or so on getting con- 2. A Modem connect to an ISP you need to set up an One of the main differences bettween only available on the most popular plat- Owning an alternative, ‘cult’ computer account on their system, during this pro- ISPs is the way they allocate EMail ad- nected, and you can save money by get- A modem is a piece of hardware which forms. All that said, most websites can like the Amiga, is even more incentive to dresses. Some ISPs give you your own ting the best prices for stuff you want to is used to connect computers together cess you choose a username and be viewed with no problems using get connected. Converse with other node name, for example mine is wil- buy (from all over the world), saving over the phone lines. In the case of an password so only you can access your Amiga browsers, though ocassionally Amigan’s all over the world, keep up to liams.demon.co.uk, this means you can petrol (you don’t have to go to the Internet connection your modem con- account and thus EMails and other per- you’ll find a website that simply cannot date and even influence the direction of have any number of EMail addresses library), postage (shareware and letters), nects you to your Internet Provider and sonal services. Different ISPs handle be viewed which in almost all cases is the platform and software. We even simply by changing the user name and information (there are plenty of thus the Internet. Fortunately for us setting up accounts in different ways. simply shortsightedness on the part of have the world’s single largest online before the @ sign. The other option is to people to ask for advice on what you Amiga users almost all modems use a its author. have a pre-defined EMail address, for should and shouldn’t buy). You save common set of basic commands called About This Feature example [email protected], this timeand (as you know) ‘time is money’. Hayes commands. This The most amazing thing about the web means you only have one address. Most The main text of this feature (on the means most modems you is its freedom... anyone with an Internet ISPs which use this scheme allow you to white background) explains whay you can buy will work with your connection can create a webpage. The Time setup some additional EMail addresses might want to get connected to the Amiga. As usual though HTML format is simply a text file, so you but you have to arrange that with the Internet and what you need to do so. The internet saves you time, because you have to be a little bit don’t need any particular computer to do ISP before the address can be used. instead of waiting for (eg) a shareware careful – many modems it. Most ISPs, even the free ones, offer The grey side columns explain the program or update to appear on a cover- are designed to fit inter- space on their servers to carry your Mailing lists are a useful application of most popular Internet services and cd or being posted to you, or trawling nally to a PC and these pages so that doesn’t cost any money EMail, a mailing list server is setup on a how you can access them with your through your local library in the hope can’t be used. Another type either. This means you will find websites machine connected (usually permanent- Amiga. At the top of each section is a they’ve got a picture or information you are the so called “Win” on any and every subject under the sun. ly) to the Internet, then anyone who selection of the available programs want in one of their out-dated books, or modems which require par- Some are great some aren’t but the wants to join the list sends an EMail to allong with the address of their hoping the news has the details of that ticular Windows software wealth of information is unbeleiveable. the server containing a command which website and the page where they are win by Gillingham (etcetc), just hop on (hence the name) and can’t For some ideas on where to start look- subscribes them to the list. Once sub- reviewed in this issue (if we have). the net and search for that pro- be used on the Amiga. ing and how to search for information on scribed you can send EMails to a Please note that the lists are not gram/picture/music/video/information What we need is a stan- the web mosey along to our Hot special address and the server will send definitive there are more Amiga that you want. dard external modem. All Websites feature on page 38. your mail to all the people subscribed to Internet programs than we could external modems plug into the list, and you will of course receive all possibly list but hopefully this will give the serial port of your Get Connected the mails sent by other list members. you a good starting point. Amiga, and when you buy So, for a small fee, you can have all the Webbrowsers: the graphical face of the Internet. 10 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 11 FEATURES FEATURES

Apart from the traditional from only a few simple pieces of in- Usenet Continued... New Groups (Usenet) ISPs with a monthly fee which formation. FTP (File Transfer usually provide free or local On Usenet there are various conven- MicroDot - http://www.vapor.com (pg 24) tions which you should follow to make Protocol) NewsRog (Not Reviewed) rate technical support some Further information the main TCP/IP other options are begining to stacks is available on their respecitive everyone’s life more pleasant. An excel- AmFTP - http://www.vapor.com/ (pg 20) http://www.frii.com/~srk/ShadowWorks/Preview/NR.html lent place to find out more about these is Directory Opus FTP Module - Thor - http://www.thule.no (pg 25) appear where you get more websites: for your monthly fee. BT the news.announce.newusers news http://www.gpsoft.com.au/ (No Review) group where several introductory texts Usenet is a text based discussion Internet have recenlty intro- Genesis - http://www.active-net.co.uk are posted regularly. The main piece of FTP is a method of transferring files of system which is split into a large number duced a service where you Miami - http://www.nordicglobal.com advice I would give is to read a all types between computers on a net- (tens of thousands) of news groups pay £11.75 a month but all your Internet calls at the A demo version of Miami limited to a newgroup for a few days before you work. On the Internet it is a common each dedicated to a different topic. The Easy setup programs like the Genesis Wizard start posting to it, that way you’ll see way of making files available for down- available newsgroups are arranged in a weekend are free. Depending one hour connection is available on make connecting to the Internet childs play. what the group’s really about (which isn’t load. FTP requires a server program to hierarchy to make it a little easier to find on your level of Internet use most cover CDs. always clear from the name) and also be running on the computer holding the a group which discusses a particular When less people were on the ‘net you and if you are willing to restrict your what the regular posters are like. files, and a client program on the com- topic. A typical newsgroup name would had to phone most ISPs to setup your usage to the weekends this could Once You’re Connected puter that wants to receive them.Most be: comp.sys.amiga.hardware. comp account, they would take your payment actually work out cheaper than a free Once you’ve got your connection to an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) modern FTP programs make using FTP groups are about computers, other top details and give you the required in- ISP! ISP sorted out you’ll then want to start as simple as a file manager. There are level groups include: formation to set up your software. More AmIRC - http://www.vapor.com/ (pg 16) recently, “get on the net” CDs and disks As most Internet services can be used actually using some Internet services. even clients which mount FTP sites as Take a look at the grey side columns in devices so you can browse them from alt - alternative, can be about anything! have been provided which setup soft- on the Amiga it’s well worth keeping Imagine a room full of people, all hand- this feature to learn about the major ser- the Workbench. rec - recreational discussions ware and create the account, however in your eyes open for the service that best ing notes into someone in the centre, vices you can use and the software sci - scientific subjects most cases these are only for PC and suits your usage pattern. Over the next who gives each note either to the whole you’ll need to acess them. I would sug- All FTP sites require you to log on with a uk - discussions specific to the UK. perhaps Mac users. Most ISPs that few months I expect we’ll see far more group to read at once, or to a specific supply a setup disk can create an ac- different options for getting on-line as gest you start by setting up a web brow- person to read privately, and you have a usename and pass word, however many ser (working demo’s of all the common support anonymous FTP which means You access new groups using a client count manually for you if you phone the multitue of ISPs try to differentiate basic understanding of IRC. It’s not im- ones can be found on cover CDs) so anyone can log on to them and down- called a News Reader on your Amiga, them, or you could always set up your from their competitors and the traditional mediate (like ICQ), but it is fun and you can visit the websites of the other load files. On an anonymous FTP site this software will allow you to “sub- account on a PC then transfer the ISPs attempt to win customers back easily addictive. On each IRC server programs and download them. simply use anonymous as the username scribe” to the newsgroups you are inter- details to your Amiga (beware that in- from the new free ones. Remember that their are many channels each of which and your EMail address as the ested in and then download the mes- stalling Internet software on a PC can you can always sign up for a free ac- is dedicated to a particular topic, you’ll There is one other factor ypu might be password. Many FTP clients allow you sages posted to them. To make finding often stop an existing installation from count, see how you use the Internet often find a #amiga channel for ex- concerned about once you’re connected to set these up in their preferences and groups on subjects you are interested in working). then move to another ISP that better ample. You not only can chat to many however... use them for every anonymous FTP site. easier, news readers can download a list suits you later. The only problem with people in many channels (all at the Private sites will supply you with a user- of groups on your ISP’s newserver and Most Internet Providers can be used this approach is that you will lose your same time... limited only by the size of name and password so you can log in. usually offer a search facility to find with the Amiga even if they don’t directly EMail and web space addresses. Phone charges your monitor and how quickly you go groups containing a particular key word. support it (although you’ll be on your crazy), but can also send (and receive) Almost all ISPs provide you with a local Using a client on your Amiga there are own if you need technical support). The For more information on ISPs and a set- files as well. ICQ (I Seek You) call number (usually starting with 0845) two ways of reading news: on-line and ones to watch out for are those that by-step guide to getting connected via which means wherever you call them StrICQ - http://owlnet.net/amiga/stricq/ off-line. Some clients support both types need special software for access which Freeserve see our tutorial on page 14. IRC Tips from in the UK, the phone call is (pg 27) and others only one. Online reading may only run on the PC or Mac charged as a local rate call. The call is means that the client will download only (Compuserve and AOL fall into this “Netiquette” is basically manners on the 4. A TCP/IP Stack charged from when your modem con- ICQ is a tool that lets you communicate the headers of all the new posts in a catagory). There’s now such a wide Internet, so here are a few rules... The TCP/IP stack is the hub of all the nects to the ISP until you disconnect (it easily with friends on the Internet. It particular group and when you spot a choice of ISPs that work on the Amiga Internet software on your Amiga (or in- doesn’t matter whether data is being works by connecting to a central server subject that looks interesting it will and even quite a few that directly sup- 1. Don’t type whole words or sentences fact any computer). TCP/IP stands for transferred or not). Remember that in- on which you register your name, EMail download that post from the server. port it that you shouldn’t have any in capital letters unless you really need Transmittion Control Protocol/Internet ternet programs can multitask so you address and other details. If a friend Obviously you need to be on-line all the problems finding one that suits you with- to, as it’s SHOUTING. Protocol and is the protocol which all the can, for example, collect you EMail and runs ICQ they also register with the time during this process. An off-line out venturing into the unknown with an 2. Don’t “flood” the channel, which computers on the ‘net use to communi- browse the web at the same time, or server. You can then search for their news reader will download all the new ISP no one else has tried. means don’t keep sending messages cate with each other. All the Internet pro- download files while chatting on IRC. To name or EMail address and add them to posts in the newsgroups you’re sub- thick and fast like a tidal wave, as it grams you run on your Amiga access minimise your costs it’s a good idea to your ICQ contact list. When you’re con- scribed to so you can read them off-line. There are now many Internet Providers means no-one else can get a word in. the TCP/IP stack to send and receive do several things at once, making maxi- nected to the Internet the ICQ client will If you choose to reply or post a new who have no fees, but rather get their 3. Try not to swear. data from the Internet. Fortunately all mum use of your time online and your highlight any person in your contact list message an off-line reader will store the income from the telephone company 4. Just treat people like you would like to the TCP/IP stacks available follow the Amiga’s superior capabilities. Another who is currently online. You can then post and send it to the server next time who provides the local rate lines you be treated yourself. same standard so you can use almost cost-cutter is to use the ‘off-line’ facilities contact them and communicate using a you’re on-line. ring when you connect. The only snag 5. Apart from that if you use Genesis text chat window. It is also possible to with most of these services is that they all Internet programs with all the stacks of programs like EMailers and make sure it has your name selected, (there are a few exceptions of software newsreaders. This allows you to read send files and URLs and leave mes- On Usenet you’ll often find that discus- provide telephone technical support only and not the default ‘root’ before you go supplied with one TCP/IP stack only and write messages while you’re not sages for users who are offline. ICQ sions start by people replying to others’ on a premium rate number which can on a channel, as many won’t let you on. working with that one). The two most connected, then download new ones isn’t limited to only your Amiga friends posts, forming what is called a thread. cost upto £1 per minute. As most ISPs popular stacks (Genesis and Miami) and upload your replies in one hit when and family... anyone with a PC or Mac Because people read newsgroups at don’t support the Amiga directly and Be careful about the phone bill... it’s very both contain all the functions you need you next go on-line. Most web browsers can communicate with you as well, different times threads are often not have free EMail support many people easy to not notice the hours go by, until to access and ISP including a dialer have a cache feature which allows you when you see each other online. linear and break off into branches, a find they hardly ever have to use the BT send you a birhday card ‘cos they (which dials into the ISP’s modems) and to download complex pages with lots to good newsreader will control this for you tech lines, so this may not be an issue. love you so much. You’ll get to know PPP (the protocol used to connect to the read to your harddisk and then read ICQ is fantastic for friends and families allowing you to see how messages On the other hand if your connection many commands and other things once ISP) support. They also have set-up pro- them later when you’re offline and not that are worlds apart (and alot cheaper follow each other. stops working for no apparent reason a you’ve hung out on IRC for a while... call to the ISP may be your only option. grams which configure your connection racking up the ‘phone bill. than international phone calls too). Continued on page 13... have fun! 12 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 13 FEATURES REVIEWS

(this is the part of your EMail address UKOnline after the @ sign). Now change the Robert Williams reviews Tel: 0800 0534500 password to the one you picked. WWW: http://www.ukonline.co.uk 20. Choose Save from the Settings menu. this easy to use TCP/IP Monthly Fee: Free Reviews are very subjective, what one 21. Now you’re all done, clicking Online will Call Charges: Local reviewer may love, another hates. Such stack. now connect you to the Internet for real! Miami Amiga Support: Yes (25p/min) is life. So we decided to have a general Amiga Software: No score, which the reader can take into nstallation of Miami is slightly more and when it goes on and off-line, this ISPs Configuring Netconnect 2 for Freeserve EMail addresses: 1 mail box account along with the text. FreeServe Web Space: Unlimited complicated than most shareware means loading Miami can start your 1. Click Next to start the configuration. packages because it is distributed in entire Internet system. For example I At SEAL we probably wouldn’t recommend I 2. Choose “Use Mmodem (analog/ISDN)...” Freeserve as a long-term ISP for an Amiga UKOnline have recently dropped their fees So we invented the fish...it’s easy to several archives so you only have to have Miami set-up so it tries to dialup then click Next. user as they don’t provide Amiga support and and become a free ISP, they are one of the work out which we feel is a better download the parts you need. To suc- my ISP as soon as I load it, then when it 3. Pick your modem from the popup list, tend to be a bit slow. However they do have few free ISPs to offer Amiga support albeit on product... the more bones that show, the cessfully install you need the correct connects and goes on-line my EMail is leave the serial device settings at the a premium rate phone number. Several SEAL a facility which allows you to setup your defaults unless you have a fast serial members belong to UKOnline and have been smellier the fish :). We also feel that in program archive for your processor and automatically collected and StrICQ is account online on your Amiga without expansion, click next. impressed their quality of service. The the % system too many products get one of the GUI archives, both MUI and run. Finally Miami iconifies itself onto the needing an internet connection already. Once 4. Click Next to accept the defaults on the unlimited webspace is also a bonus. “Gold” or similar awards, even if they Gadtools (using the GTLayout.library) Workbench out of my way. you have a Freeserve account you can visit this page. the websites of various other ISPs (some are have a fair bit of room for improvement. GUIs are available. If you choose the 5. Now enter the following details: login Free4All described in the right hand column) and find Thus we are only awarding Caviar to MUI GUI you’ll need to have MUI in- In this review I’ve mainly concentrated name = “freeservesignup”, password = Tel: 01303 775500 one that really suits your needs. Then use products that are practically perfect. stalled too of course. Once you’ve as- on Miami’s Internet features however it “signup”, phone number = “0845 079 WWW: http://www.free4all.co.uk their online signup pages. So here is the 6699” (all without quotes), click Next. Monthly Fee: Free sembled everything you need installa- works equally well connecting to a local procedure for setting up the two main TCP/IP 6. Click Next to accept this page. Call Charges: Local tion is simply a case of running the in- network using any hardware with stacks to connect to Freeserve: 7. Click dial and if all goes well the Wizard Amiga Support: Yes (local rate) staller. SANA2 (Standard Amiga Networking Amiga Software: No will dial your ISP and get the rest of the Configuring Miami for Freeserve EMail addresses: Unlimited mail boxes Architecture) drivers and even has its information it needs. Web Space: 10Mb A separate program called MiamiInit is own faster native MNI drivers for many 8. On this final page click Finish. Caviar 1. Start MiamiInit in the Miami drawer. provided to set-up the connection to Ethernet boards. 9. Now start Genesis itself (it’s the Plug icon 2. Click Continue to start the configuration. Free4All are another free ISP with Amiga The best so far ! Can hardly pick any- on the Netconnect dock or in the AmiTCP your ISP. MiamiInit has a number of 3. On the second page click Continue. support and have excellent instructions for thing out of it, not even boogers. drawer inside the NetConnect2 drawer). screens that ask you for details of your Compared to Genesis, Miami is con- 4. You can also accept the defaults on the setting up both Miami and Genesis to use 10. Click on the Connect button. Rarer than Nessie. next page unless you have a faster serial their service on their website. Their tech ISP and your modem. Each screen has siderably less powerful, it can only run port expansion, click Continue. support is on a local rate number too. extensive explanatory text in a scroll box one interface at a time so you can’t con- Setup your account as detailed below. 5. Click Continue. at the top and a ‘Back’ button to allow nect to a local network and the Internet 6. Now select your modem from the list (if WireNet 11. Click Disconnect in the Genesis window. you to go back and alter entries. Once simultaneously and it also lacks it’s not listed choose ‘other’ and follow Tel: 01925 791716 12. Choose Genesis from the Settings menu. you’ve entered all your data MiamiInit Genesis’ user security and usage the instructions) and change the bottom WWW: http://www.wirenet.u-net.com 13. Go to the Interfaces page and edit the Monthly Fee: £14.25 or £115/year then dials your ISP and interrogates monitoring features. However Miami is gadget from ATDP to ATDT, click only Interface defined (assuming you’ve Call Charges: Local Continue. their servers for the rest of the informa- explicitly designed to get people con- only just installed Netconnect). Amiga Support: Yes (standard rate) 7. Enter the phone number 0845 0796699, This product is definitely worth buying tion it needs. The configuration data is nected to the Internet in the simplest 14. In the Edit Interface window go to the Amiga Software: Yes (shareware) click Continue. but, like most things, still has room for then saved and the most important in- way possible and it does this extremely Modem tab and change the Login to your EMail addresses: Unlimited, 1 mail box 8. On this page set Login name to Freeserve node name (this is the part of Web Space: 25Mb improvement. formation can be saved and/or printed in well. Costing features are very useful to “freeservesignup” and the Password to your EMail address after the @ sign). a human readable format in case you the average surfer and fortunately an “signup” (both without quotes). Then change the password to the one Wirenet is the Amiga only Internet service ever need to set-up the account again. external package is available on Aminet 9. Leave all the other options at the defaults you picked. run by Neil Bothwick, former compiler of the and click Continue. which reads Miami’s log files and tells 15. Click on OK in the Edit window then Save CU Amiga CDROMs and contributor to both 10. Click on dial and if all goes well MiamiInit When you load the main Miami program you how much time and money you’ve in Genesis prefs. CU and AF. Wirenet provides an account with should get the information it needs and u-net one of the biggest ISPs in the country after setting up your first ISP it asks you spent online. For those who need more 16. Now you’re all done, clicking on Connect move to the next page. and a package of shareware software pre- in the small connection window will now if you want to import the settings features Miami Deluxe which has every- 11. On this page enter your real name in the configured to get you on-line. In our connect you to the Internet for real! Average, neither too good nor too gathered by MiamiInit. With the settings thing you need to run your own local Real name box and a user name (this experience Wirenet provides a good quality loaded you can then connect to your ISP network with Internet access is in- can be anything you like but should be of service and excellent technical support. bad — it works but there are areas Setting up a Freeserve Account short, I use robert) in the Username box. which need major improvement or are by clicking on the Connect button, most development and is now in final public If you don’t have a printer connedted and The following ISPs do not provide Amiga way behind competing products. ISPs need no further configuration. One beta testing. 1. Load a web browser (we suggest the online uncheck the Print box. Now click support but you can use them with your area of this process that is slightly con- demo of Voyager). Continue for the final time. Amiga. They are included because they give 2. In the Location gadget type fusing is that the file generated by Miami will get you connected to the 12. Load the main Miami program. you some free calls. Ironically depending on “https://signup.freeserve.net”, Return. MiamiInit is not a Miami configuration Internet with minimum fuss, in the two 13. When it asks you if you want to import your Internet use they may even work out 3. When the page loads click the Go button settings from MiamiInit click Import. cheaper than a free ISP! file, so when you have imported it you years I’ve been using it Miami has been next to “Register for a new account”. 14. Choose MiamiInit.config in the requester. SMELLY need to save it as the default settings in 100% reliable and has never caused me 4. Read through ( :) ) the Acceptable Usage Cable and Wireless Connect 12, 35 and 70 15. Now change the following in Miami: Miami to make the configuration perma- any problems, highly recommended. Policy then click accept at the bottom. Tel: 0800 0923001 On the PPP page switch off “Get DNS Crap, but hopefully getting better in nent. Although Miami doesn’t support 5. Enter your personal information, WWW: http://www.cwcom.co.uk from IPCP”. On the TCP/IP page switch future versions (if there are any). remember not to press Return untill Monthly Fee: £5.99, £14.99 or £29.99 multiple ISPs you can save as many off Verify DNS servers”. On the Databse you’ve filled everything you want to in. Call Charges: 12, 35 or 70 hours/month free configuration files as you like and load page select “DNS servers” from the cycle TIP: Most of the fields can be left blank then discounted local rates Results gadget at the top and add two entries: them at will. You can also make icons for as long as you fill in your name and EMail addresses: 1 mail box 194.152.64.68 the configuration files with Miami as the address information. Web Space: 20Mb 194.152.64.35 default tool to easily launch Miami for 6. Choose an EMail address and a 16. Choose Save from the Settings menu. password then click continue. BT Internet different ISPs. 17. Now Click Online 7. You may have to try a few times to find a Tel: 0800 800001 WWW: http://www.btinternet.com unique one as Freeserve has many Miami offers a wide range of configura- Setup your account as detailed below. Yearly Fee: £129.25 subscribers, remember that only the part Disgusting, multicolour yawn inducing Call Charges: Local (freecall at weekends) tion options allowing you to tailor it to after the @ sign has be be unique. 18. Click Offline in Miami. EMail addresses: Unlimited abomination that insults the Amiga. your needs and set-up your Internet 8. When the confimattion page comes up 19. Go to the Dialer page and change the Web Space: Unlimited system around it. You can configure pro- just quit your browser, the options there login ID to your Freeserve node name aren’t needed on the Amiga. grams to run when Miami loads, quits 14 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 15 REVIEWS REVIEWS

What Next this is for pages with a dark background Pack Contents and light coloured text, if you switch the So now we’re on-line with Genesis (easy background off to avoid wasting ink Here are all the full programs you get wasn’t it) what can we do? Well Voyager will still print the text in the with NetConnect, for more informa- Netconnect comes supplied with so original colour which is often too light to tion on what each type of program many programs that almost every read. NetConnect does see our main Get Netted! fea- Internet service is catered for, lets ex- Robert Williams reviews this comprehensive Internet package ture. plore the programs one by one and see Other useful features include: A ‘find’ what we can get up to: button which searches four of the most with the help of Michael Hunt, Jeff Martin and Gary Storm. Genesis popular search engines for the keyword The TCP/IP stack that connects you Voyager you enter. Help bubbles that tell you how f you want to access the wide range formation needed should be given to you the programs or read2 the documenta- to your Internet Service Provider. recently you visited a link. A cache in- I’ll start with Voyager which is the web of services the Internet can offer by your Provider when you open your tion. Although this seems to be a simple dicator icon that tells you when you’re browser supplied with the Netconnect then you need a wide selection of account or in the case of many button bar dedicated to Voyager looking at a cached page. Also built in I package. Voyager does a good job of software. Netconnect is a package of free ISPs is easily available. Netconnect if you open its World Wide Web Browser spoofing allowing you to access pages displaying web pages and supports Amiga Internet software, bundled with The Wizard includes a long list preferences window from the that are setup for Netscape only. frames allowing access to most sites, an installation routine and various of pre-configured modem set- menu you find it’s actually Microdot II however it doesn’t currently support utilities to make it all work together as a tings from which you can quite a powerful little utility. EMail and News reader. Voyager does have a couple of features JavaScript which is becoming a require- combined package. choose, if your modem isn’t You can add your own buttons that seem rather poorly implemented... it ment on more and more sites. Table lay- listed then you can enter the to the Netconnect dock (the AmFTP has a Network Status window that out seems rather slower than IBrowse correct initialisation string (a term used for the button File Transfer Protocol client with allows you to see what files are down- Installation with some (admittedly quite large) pages generic string is provided windows) and remove or re- Aminet mode (full review on pg 20) loading but you cannot stop individual taking a long time Installation, which uses the standard which should get you on-line). assign the existing ones if you files as AWeb and even on an ‘060, Amiga Installer, is mostly completely Once you’ve filled in the basic wish. You can create as many AmIRC IBrowse allow you and subjectively automatic and asks you only a couple of information it needs the Wizard new dock windows as you like Internet Relay Chat client to do. There is a image decoding questions. If you already have any of the then connects and gathers the so you could use it as a cache browser and also seems slow. Netconnect programs installed individu- rest of the configuration data launcher for all your pro- AmTelnet a cache list so you ally it allows you to copy over your old from the ISP’s network. All grams. Each dock can have a Allows you to connect to remote com- can see what SSL support is data so you don’t loose any information ISPs are different but here at hotkey to pop it up or hide it. puters, somewhat similar to bulettin pages and images provided for secure such as EMail messages, addresses, SEAL we’ve set Netconnect up on The window border can be turned off so board systems but over the Internet are held on your on-line transactions bookmarks and ISP settings. All the pro- several different ones and the Wizard you just see the buttons which can be hard disk but and I believe grams in the Netconnect suite require has worked every time (make sure you displayed as text, icons or both together. AmTalk neither allow you Voyager is the only the MUI GUI system, which the installer are using the latest version of There is also the option to add items to Chat (text) directly with other AmTalk load the cached Amiga browser to will install for you if you don’t already Netconnect though as we did have the Workbench Tools menu. Each button users across the Internet page while you are support SSL have it. MUI is shareware and the copy problems with the original 2.0 version). or menu item can run Workbench pro- off-line and view it Certificates which on the Netconnect CD is unregistered When that is done the Wizard will save grams, CLI (shell) commands, Shell NetInfo without increasing confirm that the but you can use it for as long as you like the configuration and if you wish print a scripts and AREXX scripts. One utility which combines several the phone bill. server you a send- without registering as long as you don’t copy of the settings it found for future Internet fault finding tools ing your details to mind missing some of the configuration reference. Now you are ready to go on- Most of the time Connecting is genuine. It also features. Once the installer has copied line for the first time! AmTerm Voyager does a over all the files it then gives you the Clicking on the Genesis button in the Connect to real Bulletin Boards and has a wide range of Voyager displaying Amisite which good job on-line option to register yourself by entering dock opens the connection window other services directly over phone other security uses complex tables for layout. and has a few nice your details, you can then choose to Netconnect Dock ready to put you on-line, if you have lines (not Internet) options so you can unique features transmit this information to Active The Netconnect program itself is a small several ISPs you can set them all up in browse sending the minimum amount of however it does seem slower than the electronically or send in the registration program launching utility which allows Genesis and quickly choose between XArc information about yourself to the sites opposition and miss some very useful card. From your details and the serial you to control all the programs in the them in the connection window, if you Explore, extract and create lha, lzx you visit. functions... Roll on version 3! number provided a unique keyfile is package from a central point and gives have several users you can choose who and zip archives created which unlocks the Netconnect you access to some of the configuration you want to be here too, you’ll be Printing in Voyager is pretty comprehen- Microdot II programs. options. It comes setup with a twelve prompted for a password if security is Contact Manager sive, you can choose between full button window which you can place any- setup (more on that later). When you Keep all your EMail, Web, FTP and graphics, graphics without backgrounds Both EMail and Usenet News are hand- (useful for those black backgrounds) led by MicroDot II which is discussed by Wiz Bang! where on the Workbench screen allow- click connect Genesis will dial up your IRC addresses in one place ing you to quickly go on-line, run any of ISP and establish a connection, the con- and plain text. It definitely has the Thomas Hurst in His EMailer roundup The final step of the installation is to nection window has a status list which About This Review advantage over IBrowse here which can on page 24. only print text at the moment. In text actually setup your Internet connection, Product Information shows when you go on and off line and As this issue of Clubbed concentrates on for this the installer runs the Genesis why, and there is also a useful on-line the Internet it was obvious we had to have mode Voyager makes an effort to mimic When used as part of the Netconnect Wizard which configures the Genesis Distributor: Active Technologies timer. Even better than this is the built in a review of NetConnect. Unfortunately the page by passing style (bold, italic package Microdot is very well integrated none of the NetConnect users in SEAL felt TCP/IP stack to connect to your Internet Te l: +44 (0) 1325 460116 cost calculator which calculates the cost and underline) and size information to having direct links to Contact Manager able to write it. Even though I don’t use Service Provider. The Wizard consists of WWW: www.active-net.co.uk of your on-line time based on the phone the printer, unfortunately it doesn’t seem and Voyager. If a mail item has a URL in NetConnect myself I have installed it for to re-wrap the text very well for printing it you can click in the link and this will a number of pages where you enter all Address: Oval House rates you set in Genesis preferences. other SEAL members and own some of the the required information. You can move 113 Victoria Road This will even draw a graph of how included applications. I researched the so if the page has long lines in the open up Voyager and take you to the through the pages with Next and Back Darlington much you’ve spent on calls over the review by using NC at Mike’s place and source you get a ragged printout. page. As mentioned elsewhere you can buttons so it’s easy to correct something DL1 5JH year and shows each user as a separate once it was finished I got opinions from Graphics printing is very good even also use Contact Manager to store all Mike, Gary and Jeff who all use the if you make a mistake. Each page has ENGLAND line! though it is at screen resolution so it your EMail addresses and URLs for use, package. I hope this means this review is looks a bit blocky. The only exception to at a later date, by other programs such plenty of explanatory text and all the in- Price: £49.95 fair and balanced. 16 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 17 REVIEWS REVIEWS as the afore mentioned Voyager. Netconnect Bundle and I have noticed viewer programs) or have a requester several now have direct support for it. If pop-up to ask you what you want to do Genesis Report shows As a stand alone program Microdot is yours doesn’t then there is the option to with the file. MIME prefs allows you to you how long you’ve comparable to other Amiga use AREXX to achieve integration. use your choice of viewers that best been on-line and how mailers/newsreaders but when used as suits your system and way of working. part of the Netconnect package it really XArc As most Internet applications tend to much it cost! comes in to its own. Each family have these options it’s a really good member can have their own account set This utility is supplied to help you deal idea to centralise them like this. up so that only one copy of Microdot is with the various types of archive (an archive is a file containing many files needed but each member has their ac- Contact Manager Genesis count protected by a password. This usually compressed to save download also extends to Contact Manager which Each channel window has a button bank time) you will find on the Internet. XArc Genesis is an evolution of AmiTCP is also password protected. which you can customise so your most can handle lha (most common on the which was a Unix style package full of used IRC commands are just a click Amiga), lzx and zip (favoured on the PC) scary text configuration files and cryptic Docs archives and has a modular system so documentation. Thankfully all that’s AmFTP This FTP client is generally away, you can also attach commands to Excellent documenta- regarded as one of the best on the the function keys. AmIRC allows you to more types could be easily added. If you been replaced with a comprehensive tion is provided in the Amiga and will let you access the many assign sounds and or AREXX scripts to have an archive (one you’ve down- MUI preferences program which is quite form of HTML pages loaded, found on a CD, made yourself, easy to use although there are lots of FTP sites across the world including the various events too. which can be viewed whatever) XArc can show you the con- options. I’m not going to go into detail famous Aminet sites of Amiga share- in Voyager. Each program is described tents without de-crunching it. You can here as we’re mainly reviewing ware, it even has an excellent Aminet A powerful plug-in interface and AREXX in depth with plenty of screen shots. less you decided you really didn’t like all view individual files and setup viewers Netconnect as a way to get on to the Download Tool built in for even easier port all this already comprehensive pro- Although there are no tutorials as such the major programs NC offers such for different filetypes in the preferences. Internet however Genesis has powerful use of these great resources. See my gram to be extended further and many everything is sufficiently well described good value for money it would still be Programs that have an Installer script features like multiple interfaces which full review on page 20 for more details. plug-in modules and scripts can be for even new users, and there are sec- worth getting. For example just buying found on the ‘net. As with other can even be installed from within XArc will allow you to run your Amiga on a IBrowse or AWeb and Miami comes to tions on the basic Internet concepts Netconnect modules integration with without de-crunching the archive! You network (ethernet for example) and con- more than the cost of the Netconnect 2 AmIRC relating to the different programs. I did can also use XArc to build your own ar- nect to your ISP at the same time. other parts of the package is good, you find that some of the documents were package. AmIRC is another very highly rated chives (for upload to Aminet perhaps) However all most users will need to do can grab URLs from the chat window slightly out of date, relating to older ver- client and you can easily find people and it makes arranging your archive is run the Wizard and click Connect! and send them to voyager, also chan- sions with some new features not men- who will call it the best IRC client on any much easier than using the separate Conclusion nels can be stored in Contact Manager. tioned, but nothing too major. The only platform, you can even find PC users archiver programs which are all shell I would rate all the programs in Family Values printed documentation is a short booklet who say it’s the best there is. based. One hidden gem in the user in- NetConnect as at least good with many Contact Manager in the CD cover which explains the in- terface is the mysteriously named One big benefit of using Genesis over of them being arguably the very best stallation so you can get access to the When you load AmIRC the first window Contact Manager allows you to organise Palette window which allows you to drag Miami is that it offers a multi-user en- available on the Amiga. The flexibility of disk based documentation. you see allows you to pick an IRC serv- your browser hot lists, EMail address files from the archive to your hard disk vironment (as much as is possible on Genesis itself is great and the multi- er to log-in to and a channel to join. book, favourite FTP sites and IRC and vice versa. the Amiga) and you can control and user, multi-ISP and costing features Several servers and channels are setup servers all in one utility which you can monitor the access of different users. Bad Points surpass Miami (which I love and use This can be useful for individuals as it for you and it’s easy to add additional then access from each application . For The way XArc comes setup with Contact Manager and the MIME myself), I was really impressed. allows you to keep an eye on the ones, you can also split the list into each type of entry you can organise the Netconnect by default can be rather Preferences program help integrate the Although there are areas which new amount of time (and therefore money) groups. items into sections and sub sections so annoying if you like to download several Netconnect package to a large degree users will find tricky mostly this is the you’re spending on the ‘net. If you’ve got for example you could have a group for archives and look at them later. It’s set and I’m glad they have kept the in- nature of Internet software. At this price a family who all want ‘net access if must AmIRC’s user interface is very flexible Amiga websites and a sub group for the so every time you download an archive dividual programs rather than opting for Netconnect is very hard to beat, I’d be a real boon. You can create an iden- and allows you to open as many chan- software related ones. In Contact it is saved as a temporary file and a PC style behemoth combining many recommend it to anyone who wants to nel windows as you like (and your brain Manager you can right click on an item loaded into XArc for de-crunching. From tity for each user and set a password so get on the Internet. different functions. However there are can cope with!). There are also many to get a context menu allowing you to this point there’s no way to save the they have to access the ‘net using their still many configuration options common settings. The password system gives other windows you can open so along send data from that item to one of your archive with its original name so you between the programs which you have users privacy by allowing only them to with the channels you could have Internet programs this allows you to not have to spend on-line time de-crunching to enter separately in each one. To get Results access their EMail in Microdot and hot- several private chats going on along only send someone’s EMail address it to somewhere useful. See our tips box set up you have to go into the preferen- lists in Contact Manager. You can set with file transfers too! from their entry to an EMailer but also out for how to disable this action if you ces of each application and configure Pros times when each user may access the send the URL of their website to the don’t like it. That said for working with them individually which involves typing Most packages included outstanding ‘net and the maximum duration of each browser and so on. archives XArc does a fine job. in things like your EMail address and Excellent Value If you already have session. To prevent fiddling with the server details several times. This also Good integration an EMail program, clock to overcome time limits Genesis MIME Preferences means that these details don’t change can get the time from an Internet time web browser etc. when you select a different users. I think Cons This program provides a central point server of your choice. Now obviously Software may not be your 1st choice there are import it would be a good idea to have a separ- where you can configure how most of this isn’t going to stop the little darlings Some setup integration could be im- functions for most ate preferences program for this that all the Netconnect programs deal with the downloading and installing Miami :) but proved types of browser the applications use, this could then files they download. Many filetypes it’ll be useful for the less Amiga aware. hotlist and EMail have a Wizard to help new users out by come setup as standard and you can Once the users are configured you can address book so explaining technical details like mail and you don’t have to easily setup your own. Filetype recogni- use the Genesis report tool to see how SMTP servers too. type them all in tion is based on the file extension, for much time each user has been on-line each filetype you can choose to have it and if you configure the telephone again. Contact As with any package containing a large Manager can also saved directly to disk, viewed with any charges in Genesis preferences it can Caviar number of separate programs it’s un- application that can have the filename tell you how much their calls have cost. be used with pro- likely that every aspect of Netconnect is passed as a shell argument (most grams not in the going to be ideal for you, however un- AmIRC comes with lots of IRC channels setup for you to try. 18 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 19 REVIEWS REVIEWS

Aminet and other FTP sites are Gary Storm finds the essential for Amiga users. Robert ideal tool to view Williams reviews AmFTP which WebVision webcams in comfort. makes using them much easier. AmFTP Product Information Product Information viewer. This op- tion means you Developer: Troels Walsted Hansen Developer: Mathias Mischler can read readme Distributor: Ultima Thule Software Distributor: Vaporware files on the serv- WWW: www.thule.no WWW: www.vapor.com er within AmFTP Price: $25 (£16), shareware Price: £18, shareware before down- loading a file. ebvision ...does what it says on mFTP does the none too the tin. glamourous job of transfering If you’re using W files from one computer to AmFTP to man- A Programmed by Troels Wanstead, and another using FTP (File Transfer age your website previously known as WebTV (until the Protocol) however it does it so excep- there are a PC WebTV people objected), this allows tionally well that you may soon find it an couple of you to view web-cams from anywhere in essential part of your Internet tool kit. limitations which the world (as long as they’re connected Before you can connect to an FTP site could be im- to the ’net, of course). Web-sites that you must set up a server profile which proved, firstly have web-camera’s are diverse, but they contains the address of the site, any you cannot all have either (most commonly) a digital login information required and the transfer direc- camera taking a picture every 30 default directory both on the server and tories so you seconds or so, or a video camera send- on your harddisk for uploads and have to manually You can setup a profile for all your favourite servers. ing streaming video. You could already downloads. Once you’ve entered this make the direc- view these sites with (most) normal web- information AmFTP will remember it so tory on the server then copy the files ADT mode there is also a find function browsers, but not as conveniently, you don’t have to enter it every time you across into it. Also there is no feature to which you can use to find files on quickly, or with as many cams on-screen Vision Overload! want to go to a site. You can also set it date check files so you can’t choose a Aminet. at a time. to remember the last directory you whole load of files and ask that only the everywhere, it seems (even in a toilet I can’t really fault WebVision at all. visited on the server and the last direc- updated (and therefore more recent) AmFTP is a great, easy to use FTP pro- There are multitudes of web-cameras to (?!?)). Troels has done an excellent job of tory you used on your hard disk and go files be copied. If both these features gram especially if you’re an Aminet fan look at, with many diverse subjects, in- making web-cams even more of a straight back there next time. were added updating a website would and what Internetted Amigan isn’t! cluding wildlife, sex (another form of One of the best things about WebVision, pleasure to view, and there are plenty of just involove uploading the root direc- wildlife I suppose), landmarks, tourist is that it’s the registered users who intersting sites out there, and a few web- When you connect to an FTP site tory, any required directories would be icons, shows, and just normal people make the site-list what it is. You can cam directory websites too. AmFTP can show you the files on the created and only the newer files trans- Results reaching out to touch you (in a download the current site-list at any time remote server in two ways, Directory fered. metaphorical sense, of course). through WebVision (it will save your old A Voyeur’s legal paradise. Tool mode is similar to a filemanager like Pros site-list for you), and upload any new Opus 4 with one file list for the download The jewel in AmFTP’s crown is the bril- Easy to use On starting the program (you have the web-cam sites that you discover. For directory on your hard disk and one for liant ADT feature, ADT stands for Brilliant ADT mode choice of having it appear on it’s own instance, I uploaded a few sites I had the current directory on the server. You Aminet Download Tool and is unique to screen, or the workbench I prefer a discovered (A couple of Perth cams, and can then choose files on either side and Aminet servers. If you set a server for Cons dedicated screen), you’re invited to a few African wildlife cams), and two Results copy them to the other (upload from you ADT mode AmFTP retreives a list of the Not ideal for complex websites choose from the plethora of categories days later, when I downloaded the hard disk to the FTP server or download files uploaded in the last seven days or and the sites listed in the sub- updated list, my discoveries were in- from the server to disk). You can also since you last looked. If you use Aminet Pros directories. There are cameras cluded. You can also download the latest delete and rename files and even view regularly this just shows you what’s new. Webvision updates them directly using a user configurable You can sort the list by date, name or via the menu. Automatically updated sites list includ- directory so you ing other user’s discoveries. can home in on just WebVision is very the new files you’re configurable. You Non-blocking windowed interface. interested in. Next can change the set- to the filename tings on each par- Save frames to file option. AmFTP displays ticular web-cam, the size, directory though the main and description of thing you’ll experi- the file and you can Both Vaporware ment with is the rate use the Readme and Ultima Thule at which each pic- button to view the Software have ture from the site is .readme file within secure on-line downloaded from AmFTP. While you ? ordering from their Caviar the site to your are logged on to an websites so you can screen. ADT Mode allows you to see new uploads to AmiNet Aminet server in register their software quickly and In the edit site window you can set up cam sites. safely using your credit card. The Autosave tab allows you to save images to disk. 20 complete with descriptions. CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 21 REVIEWS REVIEWS

quickly retrieve the page and images or drag hotlinks from a browser window been visited in a user definable time. from disk rather than having to load straight into the hotlist. You can then them over the slower Internet link. You arrange the hotlist using drag and drop. When you download files in IBrowse a can choose how big the cache should Once an item is in the hotlist double window opens a list showing the prog- be and configure the program to check if clicking on it will start IBrowse loading ress of the download and the rate in the site has been updated before using the page, you can drag and drop links characters per second. Rather than the cached version. A useful indicator in from the hotlist into browser windows opening a window for each file you IBrowse 1.22 the status bar tells you if you’re viewing too. If you use IBrowse with NetConnect download the program simply adds recently announced version 2 is a re- the pointer over a particular item on the a cached page so you can immediately it also has support for Vaporware’s downloads to this list as you start them. Robert Williams written table parser which will be up to page. If you click with the pointer over a tell if you’ve seen it before. Probably the Contact Manager. You can choose to abort an individual ten times faster so there are obviously blank area of page the Page context explores the web with best aspect of the cache is that it allows download at any time or abort them all. large improvements to be made. menu allows actions such as saving the you to view sites you’ve visited off-line, if SSL support for secure Internet trans- If you accidentally shut all the browser IBrowse, one of the Big background image or viewing and you’re interested in a site with a lot of actions (such as sending your credit windows while downloading the down- Support for all the common web image saving the page source. If the page is in 3 Amiga browsers. content you can visit all the pages card details to an Internet based sup- load window stays open preventing you formats is provided by built in decoders, a frame the page menu allows you to you’re interested in then go off line and plier) is implemented in two ways, users accidentally cancelling a large down- this includes GIF, JPEG and PNG, you view the frame in the full window (useful few years ago when I first got read them later, the links to pages still in with Miami as their TCP/IP stack can load. can choose to use datatypes for any of if a site traps you in its frames even if connected to the Internet the the cache continue to work. The cache use its built in SSL support which is the formats if you prefer or even disable you link to a new site) and reload the Amiga only had one graphical browser window allows you to look available for both European and US One feature of IBrowse that HTML A images altogether for faster browsing. individual frame too. The Image context web browser, AMosaic which was a port through all the pages in the cache, when based users, IBrowse also has its own authors will love is the View Source Progressive JPEGs and GIF animations menu allows you to save images on the from Unix. The port was buggy, difficult you find what you want double clicking built in SSL support but this can only be window (what’s so good about that, are fully supported, in the case of GIF page to disk or reload them. The link to set up and very limited in the HTML it on the item loads it into the browser used outside the US. every browser has one I hear you cry :) ) anims you can choose to let them run all context menu allows you to open the link supported. However the coder of that window. this not only lets you take a look at the the time, only if their window is active or in the current or a new window, down- port didn’t give up and started work on a code of the page you’re viewing but also switch them off completely. If you have a load the linked file directly to disk, or brand new browser, IBrowse. Seven IBrowse provides several ways of lets you edit the page on the fly (told you graphics card IBrowse supports add the link directly to your hotlist. public releases later here we are with quickly accessing your favourite web- you’d like it) so if you come across a site CyberGraphX so images can be shown Another useful option in this menu is to version 1.22. sites. Quickest is probably the bank of with a silly mistake which means you in all their 24bit glory on a suitable copy the link’s URL to the clipboard so Fastlink buttons which can be shown in can’t view it you can simply edit the you can paste it straight into each browser window, clicking on a HTML and go on your way. an EMail, or even another web The download window shows you all the Main Features button takes you straight to the website browser. files you’re currently downloading and Browsing most websites with you configure in the General Conclusion IBrowse is a very painless Preferences window. Once you’ve been allows you to Abort them individually. IBrowse’s user interface is experience as the program on the Internet for a while you’re sure to While IBrowse does have a few probably to most configurable supports the most important have a wide range of websites which Nice Touches limitations in its HTML display abilities it of any browser on the Amiga HTML tags, the only real you want to keep handy but a button for copes with the vast majority of sites very and possibly any platform, not Drag and Drop of URLs is implemented problems I have found are every one would soon take up too much well. Currently the lack of JavaScript is only does it use MUI which all over IBrowse, basically anywhere you with tables on some sites. screen space and become disorganised. becoming more and more of a limitation allows you to customise most see a URL you can drag it to anywhere Even on sites with these As with most browsers IBrowse provides but hopefully this will soon be solved. aspects of the UI it also has that needs a URL. A couple of examples problems the content is still a hotlist to help you organise your Where IBrowse excels is its ease of use many configuration options of include dragging a URL straight off a viewable but the layout is favourite sites. The hotlist manager can combined with wide ranging configura- its own. You can choose which page into the Fastlinks preferences sec- slightly incorrect. In the soon be accessed from a button in each tion options and fast operation which for items you want displayed in tion and dragging a URL from one page to be released version 2 the browser window or a menu item. The me makes it my browser of choice. the browser window, if you so into another browser window to view it table parser has been re- hotlist is a hierarchical list so you can desire you can have just the there. written hopefully overcoming sort your links into sections and subsec- HTML display and choose all these flaws. IBrowse sup- tions, for example I have an Amiga sec- options from the menus. When Although very similar to a feature first Results ports frames but currently not tion in my hotlist and inside this I have you’ve decided what you want seen on AWeb the Network Status JavaScript (or Java). separate sections for software, hard- displayed you can move inter- window is an extremely useful addition ware and magazine related links. Pros face items using drag and drop to IBrowse, this window lists all the files Fast, good quality rendering of most The speed of HTML display is that are being downloaded at any one to any of the four edges of the websites. generally very good the main Adding a site to the hotlist is as simple time with a display showing the number window. So if you like your Very flexible interface and config. limitations being large tables IBrowse displaying the Amiga website, as clicking on the Add button in the fastlink buttons at the bottom of bytes downloaded and the size of the which take a long time to note the customised gadget positions and images. browser window while you’re viewing the Many useful extra features. and the control buttons on the file. If you see a file downloading you render and graphics decoding site, you can also enter links manually right you can have it that way. don’t really need you can select it and if you have a slower processor (Almost Cons screenmode. On screens with less You can choose which of the windows stop it downloading while the rest of the all images decode instantly on my 060, Minor problems with some tables. colours it can use dithering to get the you want open on start-up and snapshot information carries on, it’s a selective but there is noticeable lag on 030 Product Information No JavaScript yet. most out of the number of colours avail- them using MUI functions. Take a look at stop button. machines). I think the graphics speed is Developer: Omnipresence Intl. able and generally does an acceptable the screen shots scattered around this pretty much par for the course however job. There are a number of options you issue to see some different IBrowse Distributor: HiSoft Right clicking on the back button brings table handling does seem slower than it can set which trade off image quality setups. Te l: (0500) 223660 up a context menu which allows you to could be. Even on the 060 very large with decoding speed which can be a WWW: www.hisoft.co.uk instantly jump back through the links you tables like those on Eyetech’s product bottleneck on slower processors. As you browse different websites www.omipresence.com followed to get to the current page, there pages can take a very noticeable time IBrowse keeps copies of all the pages Address: The Old School is also a History window which shows (about 10 seconds) to appear and When you’re viewing a page IBrowse and images in a user definable on disk Greenfield you all the pages you’ve visited in this during this time the browser is ap- has context menus which pop-up when cache, this means if you return to a site Bedford, MK45 5DE session. Finally the Global History parently hung. One of the features of the Price: £29.95 you press the right mouse button with you’ve recently visited IBrowse can window shows all the sites that have 22 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 23 REVIEWS REVIEWS

Thomas Hurst takes a look at three of the most EMailer Roundup popular Amiga EMail programs and finds MicroDot-II there’s something to suit everyone. Current Version: 1.16 Available from: http://www.vapor.com/ Price: £20, shareware Similar to Thor, MicroDot-II (MD-II) can Thor do both email and news transparently. Current Version: 2.6 Unlike Thor, however, MD-II does not Available from: http://www.thule.no/ attempt to take this any further, so if Price: £21, shareware you’re after a complete messaging system for use with FidoNet, BBS’s, and Thor differs from Yam and MD-II in that it the Internet, it might not be the best is not just an emailer, but a complete choice. messaging system, for use with news Microdot’s threading makes reading news much more pleasant. and numerous BBS systems. However, MD-II is a very simple to set up client - for most people, its TCP (email and Being a messaging system, Thor has similar to Yam, only with fewer im- tree, using the ListTree.mcc MUI custom each mail in its own file, somewhat simi- designed to cope with large amounts of news) abilities will be all that matters. different ways of doing things to MD-II mediate options. This makes MD-II a class. This makes it wonderfully easy to lar to Yam, which can cause bad drive messages. It uses a powerful database and Yam. Instead of the “Deleted” folder very good choice for an inexperienced follow conversations. Thor gets close to fragmentation over time. engine, which ensures even with tens of The thing that hits you most when you in Yam and the “Trash” folder in MD-II, user, because they aren’t flooded with this in it’s “Grouped” mode, but doesn’t thousands of messages things are still first install Thor is the GUI. Some people Thor simply flags a message as deleted, options, and yet more experienced provide the same sort of graphical over- Overall, MD-II is an excellent emailer flying. Each folder, or Conferences, as would describe it as “ugly”, but I prefer and hides it from you. Instead of storing users benefit from having quick access view of a thread. The less said about and newsreader - very stable, respon- Thor calls them, can have a custom ex- the name “functional”. In it’s current in- messages to be sent in an “Outgoing” to things such as it’s powerful filtering Yam in this respect the better... sive and easy to use, but it does seem piration range (i.e. a set number of days carnation (2.6) it uses a mixture of Class folder, Thor uses Events, which as well system without having to fight their way to be limited in a number of areas, and old, or a set number of messages in Act and it’s own GUI system, neither as being used to send mails and post through millions of other options as with MD-II has a decent message database includes certain mis-features which can each conference, beyond which mes- renowned for their looks, but are news articles, can also upload and the likes of Yam. format, which makes it excellent for “I cripple it in certain situations (such as sages are deleted), it has excellent renowned for their memory efficiency download files, join and retire never delete mail” types, as this lets it the ability to show who each mail is from threading abilities, and an extremely ex- and speed. After a user poll, future ver- newsgroups, and cancel messages. One of MD-II’s most distinguishing keep the speed up even when you have as it is downloading, which increases tensive ARexx port for automation. sions will now use MUI, unfortunately features is it’s excellent threading - you thousands of mails in a folder. download times by 1/3rd...). the timeline for this actually happening is In keeping with most messaging see replies to messages linked to it in a Unfortunately this is based on storing Overall, Thor is a very industrial strength likely to be rather long... systems, Thor has lots of facilities mailer - probably the best if you expect to deal with a lot of mail, or you want to The first thing you see when you start excellent choice for the average user automate important tasks. However, it is Yam is a nice splash window, with a who wants to filter mail from several often overly complex, and it can be a progress bar telling you how far though mailing lists, or certain important people. pain to perform otherwise simple tasks loading Yam is. On a heavily loaded Yam also has a relatively powerful such as use multiple email accounts. YAM Probably not the best mailer in the world copy of Yam you’ll be seeing a lot of this ARexx interface, however, it has yet to for someone new to email. Current Version: 2.0 preview 7 window, because Yam has a tendency to compare with Thor’s in either flexibility, Available from: http://www.yam.ch/ slow down the more mails and folders or in the number of scripts which Price: Free you have set up. actually make use of it.

Yam (short for Yet Another Mailer) is After a few seconds loading you’re Yam is not without its downfalls. It stores In most EMail probably the most well known and most presented with a large window with an emails as individual files, causing a lot of programs you popular email package in use on the attractive row of big, friendly buttons on disk fragmentation and restricting perfor- can send a the top, and two lists - one of your mance - this is especially obvious on Amiga today. It’s the only one of the message to three reviewed here that is free, and this folders, and another showing the emails searches, which can take over 10 times ? is likely to attract many of you to it in whatever folder you’ve selected. as long as Thor. several recipients straight away. Double clicking on an email brings it up by typing thier EMail in a new window, again with nice friendly Also, being only a preview, Yam has a addresses into the To: box There are two major versions of Yam buttons to reply, forward etc. With this tendency to crash rather a lot on many available - 1.3.5 and various flavours of sort of design, almost anybody can set systems, and although it’s often rock separated by commas. In 2.0. 2.0 is still in development, with pre- up a working system quite easily. solid, affected systems can expect to be YAM has a very attractive MUI interface with big friendly icons. YAM, Thor and Microdot view versions periodically being rebooting and revalidating a lot... you can add multiple As with all good emailers, Yam has released to keep it’s users happy. 2.0 is probably the best choice for the average client, and/or deal with a lot of mail may by far the most popular. powerful filtering abilities, making it an Overall Yam is a nice emailer, and is addresses straight from user, but users who need a rock solid find other mailers are better for them... your address book too.

24 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 25 REVIEWS REVIEWS

The optional network status window is another handy Gary Storm feature I tend to use a lot looks at this AWeb when browsing, keeping me informed about popular cross- John Chandler reviews downloads, transfer rates and so on - and it gives me platform his pick of the Browsers a quick route towards ter- communication minating everything in one quick click, or selectively tool ome people gripe that the Amiga stopping things such as a lacks a decent web browser, but StrICQ rather time-consuming in actual fact the Amiga is cur- S download. A further sign of TRicq is the Amiga version of ICQ users from all rently blessed with three that are all AWeb’s powerful environ- Mirabilis` ICQ, on the PC. Those platforms. Then (if worthy in their own right. Yvon Rozijn’s ment and support for the Sof you who have ever seen or people know your AWeb-II is one such browser, and I’ll power user. used a chat room or AmIRC will become name, nickname, or confess straight away that I’ve been a been so heavily dependant on proprie- familiar with STRicq very quickly, as it`s e-mail address, they big fan of it since the very early days. Being a web developer, the ability to tary code that I doubt any browser but fundamentally the same type of thing, can search for you AWeb is unique amongst current Amiga change things such as HTML compati- the specific one it was designed for but on a more personal (and in some and add your details browser offerings in that it uses bility, rendering of particular tags, and would cope. You can always opt to spoof ways, more powerful) level. (so they can contact ClassAct in preference to the more even break or debug errant JavaScript as Mozilla (Netscape) or IE4, you) to their ICQ widespread MUI - a pro or a con applications is a real boon that puts downgrade the HTML standards Whereas IRC (Internet Relay Chat), is a address book. The depending on who you are. AWeb feels, Netscape and Internet Explorer to tolerance or disable JavaScript in the virtual chat held on internet channels huge advantage of to me, like the fastest browser out of all shame. Speaking of JavaScript, this is worst case, but I’ve not yet needed to between many people, or private chats this over IRC pro- three, renders everyday pages correctly currently the only Amiga browser to sup- take any such action. A context- between two, STRicq is a private chat grams, is that when- (not that there is much ‘correctness’ on port the popular client-side scripting lan- sensitive pop-up menu activated by the and message service between two ever you go online the WWW), and is very stable. guage. Compatibility is for the 1.1 ver- right mouse button provides quick people over the Internet. with STRicq, it will sion of the language, though a few access to useful options when browsing, check with the ICQ Minimum requirements are suitably slim: niggles do crop up with some scripts and you can customise this fully so So, what`s the difference, I hear you network to see who OS 3.0, 2 MB of RAM and a TCP/IP from time-to-time. Considering the fact you’re guaranteed that your favourite cry? else you have listed Using the list in the main window you can see when stack if you want to access the Internet that JavaScript compatibility between commands are always available exactly in your address (obviously). In reality, more Fast RAM, a even the various versions of Netscape where you need them - quickly and pain- ICQ is a strange abbreviation, isn`t it? It book is online, and graphics card and a faster processor all your friends are on-line. (who created the language) is surpris- lessly. stands for exactly what the program tell you about it (you can assign sounds in real time, as they type it), with all the enhance your software in leaps and ingly poor in places, AWeb makes an does. I Seek You. When you register for to practically anything, so you needn`t power of IRC as well (you can still send bounds, and AWeb is no exception. excellent effort and you’d be hard- Speed is the real reason I use AWeb your ICQ number, your details are be glued to the STRicq screen,go pictures etc to each other through Certainly Fast RAM is a serious must if pressed to discover these niggles in though, it tears through most pages with added to Mirabilis` huge database of browsing or whatever and STRicq will Stricq). you want to get the most out of web practice. blistering ease, though large tables and ‘beep’ you when a browsing. particularly massive pages (over 100 or friend is online). STRicq is not without it`s bug`s though,it AWeb also provides good support for a 200k) don’t go so swiftly on my 030. Even if no friends get`s a little flaky sometimes, and as it`s Despite criticism about the user inter- variety of facilities many now expect as IBrowse and Voyager seem slightly slug- are online for a so popular (there are hundreds of face from various people, I find AWeb to standard on contemporary browsers: the gish in comparison. chat at the same thousands of pc`ers using the same be very well arranged in contrast to ubiquitous FTP and mailto: support, as time as you are, servers) it`s sometimes hard to get con- IBrowse and Voyager, with plenty of well as a more-than-adequate online In conclusion, AWeb is unjustifiably you can still read nected (tip: close it and start it up again options, a sizable amount of customisa- newsgroup reader, and SSL capability regarded as the little brother of the ‘big any messages until you get through). It`s bloody good tion capability and a clean, uncluttered through MiamiSSL. Full colour printing three’ browsers - Voyager, IBrowse and they`ve left for you, though (especially for a free program), environment. The hotlist manager for of pages is also provided, for which a AWeb. It’s a fast, customisable, highly and you can send and well worth getting if you`re on the example is a joy to use, far better than printer driver such as TurboPrint is capable browser with good support for messages to them net. that found on heavyweights like highly recommended, but you might find various Internet services - equally suit- (which are saved Netscape, but perhaps let down by that each page of a multi-page hard able for the World Wide Web newbie as on the Mirabilis No doubt you`ve been wondering what presenting the whole bookmark list as a copy often has a tiny (about a line of it is for the Internet power user. If you’re network for them, STRicq stands for? Try `Star-Trek page - for someone with a lot of hotlinks text) section missing at the end for some looking for the best Amiga web browser, until they come Robotech` icq.the author`s two favourite this can get a little awkward. The cache reason - it may just be me, though. look no further than AWeb. online). sci-fi programmes :) manager is unsurpassed, and I use it a ARexx and a good plugin API follow up lot to read material offline (saving on the rear, allowing AWeb to be extended This is a fantastic phone bills), save out interesting pages beyond the designs of its creator - a Results communication or make efficient use of my cache good supply of plugins and scripts are device with a much space. I’m fussy like that. available from sources like Aminet or more personal Amitrix’s AWeb support page. touch than IRC (when you initialise Product Information In general use AWeb holds up well in the a chat, a new Developer: Douglas F. McLaughlin face of a Web dominated by Netscape window opens up Version: 0.1371 and Internet Explorer running on the where you can see WWW: Wintel platform, and the only pages I’ve every letter and http://owlnet.net/amiga/stricq/ The useful Network status window ever encountered problems with have Once you’ve found someone currently on-line mistake they type Price: Freeware allows you to cancel individual files. you can chat to them and even send URLs and files. 26 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 27 REVIEWS REVIEWS

Product Information support TurboPrint. The reason behind this is that Developer: Irsee Soft programs designed with the Distributor: Compute! original AmigaOS printer Te l: +44 (0) 181 303 1800 system in mind do not pass WWW: 24bit data to the printer www.irseesoft.com device (because it does not www.wizard-d.demon.co.uk support 24bit printing). Address: 5 Blackfen Parade Turboprint is very good at TurboPrint Sidcup making the most of the Kent, DA15 9LU data that is sent and Mick Sutton and Robert Williams find out if the latest release of Price: £39.99 achieves far better results Turbo Print can help them get more from their printers. than the standard drivers PhotoOptimize function that can be but it still can’t make a silk f you want to use a modern printer applied to an image, which is designed purse out of a sow’s ear. Turboprint-The Driver 7 to get the absolute best quality from on your Amiga, the supplied work- Ibench printer drivers just cannot cut Even with the latest 3.1 release of photographic images, in particular skin There are a few programs, the mustard. You can find PD drivers for Amiga OS the printer driver system has tones. Besides doing a great job simply including Graphics most printers that will do an adequate remained unchanged from when the printing pictures and photos, Graphics Publisher, Photogenics and job of printing text, however if you wish Amiga was released in 1985. This Publisher also has some limited DTP DrawStudio that can use to output high quality graphics then you means that the drivers only support facilities that make it ideal for many print TurboPrint directly and thus will have to part with some cash and antique printers and worse still, can only jobs where images are the main content. output at full quality, but the purchase a commercial printing print the palette of the original chipset, You can add multi-line text boxes to the vast majority of applications package. Turboprint is one such that is 4096 colours or 16 greyscales. page that can use any Compugraphic do not. In version 7 font installed in your Fonts: drawer. Irseesoft have come up package and version 7, that we are TurboPrint’s comprehensive looking at here, has just recently been Turboprint on the other hand supports preferences program allows you to have Although all the text in the box must be with a very cunning solution most up to date printers and can print in in the same font and size you can have to this problem which uses released. several printers setup at once. 24 bit (16 million colours) or 256 greys- as many boxes as you like. You can the postscript output which You can make quite complex layouts just using then give the text, the box background, most professional ap- So what do you get for your money? cales. This is achieved by replacing the the default settings supplied are excel- GraphicsPublisher, as shown here. First and foremost the whole Workbench printer device (in memory not on disk), lent. In most cases you simply need to and outline different colours (or leave plications have. TP7 comes Note the Picture Settings pallette with the them transparent). One useful feature is bundled with Ghostscript printer system is effectively replaced by so Turboprint receives the data when pick the type and size of paper and res- various colour adjustments available. one that supports modern printers. applications print. Unfortunately, ap- olution you want, then TurboPrint does that you can change the dimensions of which is a freeware Graphics Publisher is an application that plications not designed with Turboprint in the rest. Unless you have a very par- the box independently of the text (I`ve postscript interpreter that has the data to postscript (presumably assuming allows you to print all your graphics in mind only send the 4096 colour data for ticular application in mind you will found this useful for making cassette capability of rendering postscript files to a Postscript printer will be a black and simple layouts. Turbospool is a utility the normal Workbench drivers, however probably find you will not have to and CD covers). 24bit bitmap data. Turboprint then takes white laser), so all images come out in that queues print jobs whilst the printer Turboprint still manages to get far better change most of the other settings, how- this 24bit data and prints it at the highest shades of grey. However, the postscript is busy. And finally Ghostscript, which results than the Workbench system. ever if there is something out of the ordi- Once you have got a layout set-up as quality. Instructions on setting up several method does work well with many pro- allows 24 bit printing from many ap- nary you need then there are loads of you want it Graphics Publisher allows popular applications (PageStream, Final grams. plications that support postscript. Turboprefs replaces the Workbench prin- options such as different dither patterns, you to save it, yet this does not save the Writer, Wordworth etc.) to print using this ter preferences programs while colour correction, and smoothing. Other images into a huge file, just the layout method are supplied but it is very simple Conclusion information and a pointer to each image to use. Ghostscript uses a device called Installation TurboPrint is active, and provides far features include built in poster printing, more control over the print than the stan- and screen dumping. so they can be re-loaded. You can use PS: and is set-up to print, via TurboPrint, Turboprint brings the Amiga into the 90’s Installation is very straightforward using dard prefs. This includes an option to the saved file as a template by simply any postscript file sent to that device. regarding printing, in fact in some ways the standard Amiga installer, you only choose the type of media you are going selecting the image you want to replace it surpasses the drivers developed for have to answer a few questions such as to print on, ranging from standard copier Graphics Publisher and choosing Load... from the Picture Anyone who has tried to install other platforms. So to sum up, if you in- where to install to, what printer you paper through to inkjet paper, glossy Graphic Publisher is a printing applica- menu, GP will then place the new image Ghostscript manually will know it’s quite tend to attach a modern printer to your have, do you wish Turboprint or paper to speciality media like OHP film. tion that uses Turboprint in 24 bit in the same position as the old one a job but the TP implementation is Amiga Turboprint really is the way to go. Turbospool to be activated on start-up You can also choose the resolution you resolutions and is optimised to give the (after asking you if you want to replace simplicity itself. Being all part of the main etc. Turboprint installs all its files into its will print at, as TurboPrint supports the best colour output. Pictures of various it). installer all you have to do is choose own directory except icons in the WB full range available on any particular formats (iff, jpeg, gif, PCD, and many where you want to put it. Configuration is start-up drawer if you chose it to be ac- printer. One very useful feature is that others) can be loaded directly without Although it doesn’t have an AREXX port, then carried out on a new PS page in Results tive on start-up. Because it replaces the you can set up several different drivers memory limitations, because Graphics Graphics Publisher accepts some the TurboPrefs program and any prints printer device on the fly you can return at once, so if you have several printers Publisher has its own virtual memory options when run from a shell that sent to PS: use the paper size, quality, Pros enables you to automate printing a and other settings from TurboPrefs too. to the Workbench printer system simply or several sets of options you commonly system - this means that you can print Fantastic output quality single image. You can specify the size of Because most applications send 24bit by not running Turboprint, or using the use, you can define and name each one huge images at full quality even on an Support for a wide range of printers the print and if it is centred. data to Postscript printers the quality of supplied NoTurbo program. and then simply pick it from a list when Amiga with little memory. Pictures are Powerful Graphics Publisher it’s needed. Although there are lots of previewed in colour, and Graphics Unfortunately, you cannot choose an the printouts is much improved. In my options you can set within TurboPrefs, Publisher supports CyberGraphX for 24 exact position. case I can now print brilliantly from bit display if you have a graphics card. PageStream 3 to my new HP Deskjet. Several images can be placed on the Ghostscript As with the standard printing the Buyer Beware: Even with Turbo Print you still need to have Ghostscript method can only print what your wits about you when shopping for a printer for your same page and each one can be sized and cropped independently. Even with TurboPrint installed the best is sent by the application, and Caviar Amiga. Many manufacturers now sell “Win Printers” which quality prints can only be obtained when cannot work without their Windows driver. Wordworth causes a problem because it ? Another great feature is the printing from programs that specifically only seems to send greyscale image 28 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 29 REVIEWS REVIEWS

This quality is achieved by a quality output I have seen anywhere and combination of high resolution I must add, also produces sharp clear and five colour inks compared text output from such programs as Final to the normal three found in Writer or Pagestream. most inkjets. The extra colours reduce the amount of dithering The price of the Photo 700 is com- Epson Stylus Photo required, particularly in light parable to many 3 colour inkjets, but shaded areas such as skin there is no comparison with photo Mick Sutton finds the perfect companion for his digital camera tones and skies. The final print quality this printer is streets ahead. has no sign of banding what- he quality and speed of modern 700small footprint which I measured to be soever and this is due to the Hardware day inkjet printers is improving 43cm x 25cm with the paper tray folded microweave system employed. Tall the time. While the prices are When I got the printer home, on inspec- away. Installation of the printer entails Results still falling, I decided it was time to tion I noticed that there were no DIP finding a space to locate it, a power Good results are obtainable upgrade from my existing Canon BJC switches to “fiddle” with and there were socket nearby, and a centronics parallel from all good quality paper, but 600 that had served me well for four two inkjet cartridges supplied with the cable to connect it to your Amiga. for better results I found Epson Pros Excellent Photo quality years, but could not match the latest machine, one a large pure black and 720 dpi paper gave good Easy to use generation of injets available. the other a 5 colour job. sharp images showing vibrant Installation of the Usage colours and because it is Great value In the past, Amiga owners were very cartridges is very Now the printer is ready to use, A simple control panel and plenty of coated absorbs less ink, but limited to which printers they could use straight forward just a put some paper in and instructions inside make the for ultimate quality you can use with their machines due to the lack of matter of slotting switch on, at this point the Stylus Photo 700 very easy to use. Photo Glossy paper which available drivers, and the limited work- them in the right printer goes through its produces astounding output bench printer driver system (only way round and own test procedure which tion is 1440 x 720) printing to photo very close to a real photo. capable of outputting up to 4,096 closing the seems to last forever but in glossy paper, you have to look very hard colours or 16 shades of grey). But that reality is probably only a to see the difference between a print Caviar Conclusion changed with the introduction of 3rd minute or two. and an original photograph. party printing packages such as Studio So in conclusion this printer is absolutely (current version 2.20) and Turboprint Epson have made this printer brilliant, it produces the best photo (current version 7). I have very user friendly, it indicates Turboprint which not only when ink levels in the cartridges Call or send SAE for provides drivers for a wide are getting low (about 5 full A4 free catalogue disk pages to go) with a flashing FORE-MATT Home Computing packed with details on range of modern printers Pay by credit card and Commercial Software, but also replaces the prin- LED. In fact there are only get a free CD-ROM. Dept. C, PO Box 835, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, SN4 8RX CD-ROM, Peripherals, (call for details) and Shareware/Public ter device with one that three buttons on the prin- State Amiga model Domain from only supports 24 bit printing. ter, power, page feed when ordering. (01793) 853802 [email protected] 50p a disk! Several of my friends at and head cleaning CD32 GAMES CDROM GAMES CDROM DISK AGA A1200 ONLY DISK GAMES DISK GAMES DISK GAMES EDUCATION/UTILITIES work own Epson Stylus (held down for 3 Akira...... 9 99 CDS Collection...... 14.99 Emulators Unlimited...... 19.99 Acid Attack...... 14.99 1st Division Manager...... 4.99 Impossible Mission ...... 4.99 Thomas Tank Colln...... 9.99 10/10 Spelling & Punc...... 9.99 Bubble & Squeak...... 2.99 Civilization oem...... 9.99 Encounters UFO ...... 14.99 Banshee...... 4.99 A320 Airbus v2 ...... 14.99 International Golf ...... 4.99 Thunder Blade...... 4.99 10/10 Spelling Structured 9.99 Photo 700 printers and the seconds to replace Cannon Fodder...... 4.99 Doom Trilogy ...... 14.99 EuroCD vol 1 ...... 9.99 Bograts...... 9.99 Arcade Action ...... 14.99 Jet Pilot...... 9.99 Thnderhawk AH-73M ...... 4.99 10/10 Tables ...... 9.99 Chaos Engine ...... 9.99 Eat The Whistle...... 14.99 Fonts CD ...... 9.99 Breathless...... 9.99 A-Train...... 9.99 Kick Off 2...... 4.99 Timekeepers...... 9.99 10/10 Words ...... 9.99 print quality I have seen cartridge). Clockwiser ...... 2.99 Final Odyssey ...... 9.99 Gateway vol 1...... 9.99 Burnout ...... 9.99 Beambender ...... 14.99 Kids Rule OK 1 or 2...... 9.99 Timekeepers Exp. Dsk.....4.99 ADI English {13/14}...... 9.99 Fears...... 9.99 Foundation ...... 27.99 Global Amiga Exp...... 9.99 Capital Punishment ...... 14.99 Blade ...... 9.99 Lemmings...... 9.99 Tiny Troops...... 9.99 ADI English GCSE ...... 9.99 Gloom ...... 4.99 Genetic Species...... 27.99 Graphic Sensations 1 ...... 9.99 Colossus Chess X aga.....4.99 Blitzkrieg ...... 4.99 Lost on Parrot Island ...... 9.99 Treasure Island Dizzy...... 4.99 ADI French {13/14}...... 9.99 is outstanding, par- Grandslam Gamer Gld.... 9.99 Islona Collection ...... 24.99 Guinness Records v2...... 9.99 Eat The Whistle ...... 14.99 Blitz Tennis...... 4.99 Magicland Dizzy...... 4.99 Troddlers...... 9.99 ADI French {14/15}...... 9.99 Guardian ...... 2.99 Moonbases...... 19.99 Illusions in 3D...... 9.99 Fears...... 7.99 Blockhead 2 {1.5mb} ...... 7.99 Max Rally {2Mb}...... 19.99 Turbo Trax...... 4.99 ADI French GCSE ...... 9.99 ticularly photographic As I said earlier, I have Gulp...... 4.99 Myst ...... 29.99 Insight Dinosaurs ...... 9.99 Gloom Deluxe...... 4.99 Body Blows Galactic...... 14.99 Megablast...... 7.99 UFO Enemy Unknown ...14.99 ADI Maths {12/13} ...... 9.99 International Karate + ..... 2.99 Napalm ...... 32.99 In-To-The-Net ...... 14.99 Guardian ...... 4.99 Bravo Romeo Delta ...... 2.99 Micro Machines...... 9.99 Valhalla 1, 2 or 3 ea ...... 9.99 Alpha Office ...... 9.99 images. After deciding that Turboprint so it was time J Barnes Euro Footy ...... 2.99 OnEscapee...... 27.99 LSD 1 or 2 ea...... 14.99 Gunbee F-99 {4mb}...... 7.99 Bubble & Squeak...... 4.99 Minskies ...... 9.99 Valhalla Trilogy ...... 20.00 BBC Playdays...... 9.99 Kang Fu ...... 9.99 Pinball Brain Damage....14.99 Moovid ...... 14.99 Heimdall 2...... 4.99 Bumper Quad Pack ...... 9.99 Ninja Warriors ...... 4.99 War Zone oem...... 2.99 BBC Playdays Paint ...... 9.99 this was the printer I wanted, and to pick the appropriate Last Ninja 3...... 2.99 Quake ...... 29.99 Multimedia Backdrop .....19.99 Legends ...... 7.99 Cannon Fodder 1 or 2 ..... 9.99 Operation Combat 2 ...... 9.99 Wembley Rugby Leag...... 4.99 Better Maths {12/16} ...... 9.99 Legends ...... 7.99 Quake Mission Pack 2...14.99 Multimedia Toolkit...... 9.99 Manyk Mayhem ...... 14.99 Captain Dynamo...... 4.99 Overlord...... 14.99 White Death...... 4.99 Blitz Basic 2.1...... 19.99 checking on the Isreesoft website that driver from within the Marvins Adventure ...... 2.99 Red Mars...... 19.99 Network CD ...... 9.99 Marvins Adventure ...... 2.99 Centrefold Squares 18 .... 4.99 Pinball Dreams...... 7.99 Wing Commander ...... 9.99 Deluxe Paint 5 {WB2+} . 19.99 Naughty Ones...... 9.99 Shadow of 3rd Moon ....19.99 Network CD 2 ...... 14.99 OloFight {HD/4mb} ...... 14.99 Championship Chall...... 14.99 Pixie & Dixie...... 4.99 Wiz n Liz...... 9.99 Design Works ...... 19.99 Now Games ...... 4.99 Sixth Sense Investns .....19.99 Nothing But Tetris...... 9.99 Pinball Illusions...... 4.99 Civilization...... 14.99 Power Drive...... 9.99 WCup All time Greats ...... 4.99 DMCS...... 24.99 Turboprint supported it, I shopped Turboprefs program, this Oscar/Diggers...... 2.99 Street Racer CD...... 9.99 Octamed Soundstudio .....9.99 Pinball Mania...... 4.99 CJ in the USA ...... 4.99 Railroad Tycoon ...... 14.99 World Golf...... 9.99 Fun School 2 {over 8s}.....7.99 Roadkill ...... 9.99 Theme Park CD ...... 9.99 Oh Yes More Worms ...... 4.99 Player Manager 2 aga...... 9.99 Classic Arcadia...... 4.99 Rise of the Robots ecs .... 4.99 Worlds at War oem...... 4.99 Fun School 4 {under 5} . 12.99 around for a good price. provides a good set of defaults Simon the Sorcerer ...... 9.99 The Prophet ...... 19.99 OS 3.5 (avail. August)....34.99 Rise of the Robots aga ....4.99 Club Football Mgr...... 4.99 Road Rash ...... 9.99 WWF Euro Rampage.....14.99 GFA Basic 3.5 Interpr...... 4.99 Sleepwalker/Pinball...... 9.99 The Strangers AGA ...... 14.99 PFS2...... 29.99 Roadkill ...... 4.99 Colonization oem...... 14.99 Robocod James Pond ...24.99 XP-8...... 4.99 Info Nexus/2 File Mgr...... 2.99 for high quality printing, so good in Superfrog ...... 14.99 Ultimate Gloom ...... 9.99 Power Movie...... 34.99 Sim City 2000 oem...... 9.99 Colossus ChessX A500... 4.99 Ruffian ...... 4.99 Yolk Folk Dizzy ...... 4.99 Hisoft Extend ...... 14.99 Superleague Manager..... 2.99 Ult. Super Skidmarks...... 9.99 Pure Doom (data CD) ...... 4.99 Sim City 2000 data...... 4.99 Daily Dbl Horseracing...... 4.99 Rugby League Coach...... 4.99 Zeewolf 1 or 2 ...... 4.99 Home Office Kit ...... 14.99 I saw the printer advertised on the fact that I have not changed many Total Carnage ...... 2.99 Uropa 2...... 9.99 Scene Storm...... 2.99 Simon Sorcerer aga ...... 14.99 Damage {18} {2Mb} ...... 9.99 Sci-Fi Collection...... 4.99 Image Link ...... 19.99 Vital Light...... 9.99 Virtual Karting 2 oem...... 4.99 Screen Savers 2...... 9.99 Sixth Sense Investns..... 19.99 Death Mask...... 4.99 Simon the Sorcerer...... 14.99 EDUCATION/UTILITIES Inter Base 2 ...... 4.99 Simply Computers website for £156 and clamp. The cartridges are quite well settings. Wembley Int. Soccer ...... 9.99 Vulcanology...... 19.99 S/W Explosion 1 or 2 ...... 4.99 Skeleton Krew ...... 4.99 Dino Detective Agency.... 4.99 Skidmarks...... 4.99 10/10 Dinosaurs...... 9.99 Inter Office 2...... 19.99 Zombie Massacre{18}....14.99 System Booster...... 9.99 Slamtilt ...... 4.99 Enemy ...... 14.99 Soccer Team Manager..... 4.99 10/10 Early Essential ...... 9.99 Inter Spread 2...... 4.99 CD32 S/H GAMES The Colour Library ...... 14.99 Street Racer ...... 9.99 European Superleague ... 7.99 Special Forces ...... 9.99 10/10 English...... 9.99 Inter Talk 2 ...... 2.99 as they were just around the corner from priced compared to other makes, be- (Telephone orders only!) CDROM The Learning Curve ...... 19.99 Strip Pot {18} ...... 4.99 F19 Stealth Fighter...... 14.99 Speedball ...... 4.99 10/10 Essential IT ...... 9.99 Junior Typist...... 9.99 Sensible Soccer Euro...... 4.99 3D Images...... 4.99 The Office Gold ...... 9.99 Testament ...... 9.99 F117A Nighthawk...... 9.99 Sporting Spectacular .....14.99 10/10 Essential Maths .....9.99 Mediashow...... 19.99 where I work, the deal was done. cause the head itself is mounted within With the right driver chosen it was time Zool ...... 4.99 Aminet Set 3...... 14.99 Time of Reckoning ...... 9.99 Theme Park aga...... 14.99 Fantastic Dizzy ...... 4.99 Street Fighter 2 ...... 14.99 10/10 Essential Science ..9.99 Mini Office...... 19.99 Aminet Set 4,5,6,7 ea....24.99 UPD Gold ...... 14.99 The Speris Legacy ...... 14.99 Fast Food Dizzy...... 4.99 Suburban Commando...... 4.99 10/10 French ...... 9.99 MultiMedia Experience.. 14.99 the printer and not part of each car- to try printing something, I selected a CDROM GAMES Amos PD CD...... 19.99 Utilities Experience ...... 4.99 Thomas Tank Pinball...... 7.99 Fields of Glory ...... 14.99 Subversion ...... 4.99 10/10 Geography ...... 9.99 Organize! ...... 4.99 Amiga Classix...... 14.99 Animations CD ...... 14.99 Zoom 2...... 19.99 Total Carnage ...... 2.99 Firehawk...... 4.99 Superleague Manager ..... 9.99 10/10 German ...... 9.99 Photon Paint 2.0...... 9.99 tridge. scanned photo of my daughter and Arcade Classix Mk 2 ..... 14.99 Artworx ...... 9.99 Virtual Karting...... 4.99 Forest Dumb Forever ...... 7.99 Super Tennis Champs ..... 9.99 10/10 Junior Essentials ...9.99 Prowrite 2.5 ...... 14.99 Assassins Games 3...... 14.99 Atari 2600 Classix...... 14.99 VIDEO / BOOK / MUSIC Virtual Karting 2...... 9.99 Gunship 2000 ...... 14.99 Sword ...... 14.99 10/10 Maths (Algebra) .....9.99 Showmaker...... 14.99 loaded it into Graphics Publisher. I then Assassins Games 4...... 14.99 CPC Classix ...... 12.99 A500 Made Easy VHS .....2.99 Worms Directors Cut ..... 12.99 Hillsea Lido ...... 9.99 Tactical Manager 2...... 4.99 10/10 Maths (Geometry)..9.99 The Works! Platinum ..... 19.99 Product Information Big Red Adventure ...... 9.99 D-1000 doom data ...... 9.99 Amiga Basic Manual ...... 2.99 Xtreme Racing...... 9.99 Huckleberry Hound...... 4.99 Tennis Cup 2 ...... 4.99 10/10 Maths (Number).....9.99 Transwrite ...... 14.99 The printer has a built in sheet feeder chose the 720 x 720 DPI resolution with Blade...... 9.99 Deluxe Paint 5...... 9.99 Amiga Theme CD...... 4.99 Zool AGA ...... 14.99 Imperator {1.5Mb/hd}..... 14.99 Theme Park...... 14.99 10/10 Maths (Statistics) ...9.99 Workbench 3.0 Set...... 9.99 Developer: Epson which can take a stack of A4 paper. The the Photo enhance option selected. Distributor: Most Retailers paper is fed through the printer from the WWW: www.epson.com sheet feeder at the back onto a tray at Printing speed is quite impressive, I Price: £150 approx. the front at an angle of about 135 printed the picture on 720 DPI Inkjet Driver: Reviewed using degrees, ie quite flat and therefore tends paper (A4) in about 6 minutes and the FREE GAMES 3.5” DRIVE CLEANING KIT £3.99 Worms Bundle TurboPrint 7 not to curl the paper and allows feeding quality was astounding with hardly any Spend £25 and choose one of JOYPAD £9.99, JOYSTICK £7.99, MOUSE/MAT £9.99 £15 + £2 P&P (UK) the following free (add P&P): Contains Worms Directors (see page 28) of heavier paper/card. Due to the mech- sign of dithering whatsoever, in fact War Zone, Bravo Romeo Delta, any DD DISKS: £3.00 (10 pack) 100 CAP DISK BOX: £5.99 Dizzy game, Timekeepers Expansion, Cut & Oh Yes More Worms anical layout of the printer it has quite a even at this resolution (maximum resolu- Thunderhawk. P&P per item: UK = £1, EU = £2.50, R.O.W = £5 first then £2 each CD.

30 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 31 REVIEWS SUPPORT

Mick Sutton looks at the ultimate A1200 graphics Back to Basics BVision PPC card. have looked on in great envy in the motherboard and this requires discon- exist 040, and 060). Boot your machine 1: The Startup-Sequence past, when I saw just how good a necting the LED connector and floppy in the normal manner and install the Icomputer display is with a graphics drive cable from the motherboard. Now CyberGraphX software that using stan- and User-Startup card. When I bought my A1200 in 1993, for the difficult bit, manoeuvering the dard installer program. During the in- I was impressed with the AGA chipset’s whole assembly into position so that the stallation you have to specify the maxi- graphics output, after all - 256 colours accelerator aligns with the A1200 edge mum horizontal frequency of your moni- In the first of this regular series Robert Williams on screen all at once was a big improve- connector and the graphics card sits tor (check the monitor handbook) and a ment over my previous machine the over the motherboard. The LED’s can few CyberGraphX options which are ex- explains the Amiga’s startup scripts and some A500+. However, times have moved on then be reconnected through the hole in plained in the installer help. common software installation problems. and we want more colours, the BVision card and the floppy cable speed, and higher resolutions can be connected to its header. I then Usage hen your Amiga boots up (the next page for what number relates to which to feed our appetite for more had to find a place to The BVision and PPC card installed. process of starting the machine section: powerful applications and You now have to reboot your Amiga to Wand loading the operating system) games. As I have said in an make the BVision monitor driver active. Conclusion a file in the ‘S’ directory on the disk you boot 1. Env: Set-up from is automatically executed, this file is The ENV: assignment (see the “Problems earlier review of the PPC At this point the workbench is still in The quality of the hardware is faultless, called the startup-sequence. Rather than a With Assigns” section for more card, one of the main reason the AGA screenmode, so the first but I was a little disappointed with the normal program this file is an AmigaDOS information) points to a directory which for buying the PPC card was thing to do is to choose a new one in supplied manual (if you can call it that) - script which is a text file listing commands to holds configuration files for the system be executed in turn (see the shell box out for and most programs. The configuration that a graphics card was soon the screenmode preferences pro- one sheet of paper, as seems to be the gram that you will notice has more on scripts and commands). As it is files are stored in the directory to be available for it with much standard these days. The manual is just simply a text file the startup-sequence can be sys:Prefs/env-archive/ and then copied to higher specifications than any many new screenmodes, about adequate in explaining the in- edited allowing new commands to be the ENV: directory by the startup- other graphics cards available for ranging from 8 bit (256 colours) stallation but only has two short para- automatically executed every time you boot. sequence. By default ENV: points to However because a correct startup-sequence Ram:ENV/. This means that temporary the A1200. to 24 bit (16 million colours). Due graphs on usage which in my opinion is to the fact that there is no pass- is essential for the reliable operation of your program settings are kept in ENV: only just not enough, particularly with new- Amiga Commodore added a second file, also where as permanent settings are also through for AGA screenmodes (the Fitting comers to graphics cards. Fortunately I in the ‘S’ directory, called user-startup to saved to env-archive and are thus monitor has to be plugged into either the belong to a user group and had lots of which users and applications can add their available when you re-boot. The The card comes in two parts, one graphics card or the Amiga monitor con- help and advice. Many users invest in a commands without risking making errors in Workbench preferences programs and the startup-sequence. many others use this to implement Save part the graphics card itself, the nector) I had to save my setting and faster processor of one type or another, other the interface board that has a switch of the computer to enable me to (settings saved into env-archive and env:) but few seem as keen to upgrade their Because the user-startup is executed after and Use (settings saveed in ENV:) socket to connect to the monitor. The mount connect my monitor to the graphics Amiga`s graphical capabilities. I tell you most of the startup-sequence is complete options. two boards are connected by way of the interface card. When I switched on my beloved now that once you have taken the step some programs and utilities have to be 2. System Assigns Set-up started in the startup-sequence itself, if this is The Amiga OS uses several assigns to shielded ribbon cable, which allows card within my Amiga again I could not believe the dif- to get a graphics card and have used it, you to mount the interface board in any tower, and as I did ference the card had made... I was in required it will be explained in the program’s identify system directories, which are set- you will be thinking to yourself how did I documentation. up here. A few assigns are made by type of tower, as long as you have a not have a cut out I had 1024 x 768 16 bit and I could not help ever manage before. default and don’t need to be set-up by the suitable cut-out. to use a blanking plate (not supplied) in noticing how much better it looked than Here are some of the most important things startup-sequence these include sys: which one of my tower’s slots. Then I con- Double PAL Hi Res no flicker 32 colours! that happen in the startup-sequence (see the points to the disk that was booted from, C: The PPC card has to be removed from nected the two boards with the shielded ‘Example startup-sequence’ box out on the for the commands directory (sys:c/) on the your A1200 to enable you to connect the Basically all the applications on my com- boot disk and S: for the scripts directory ribbon. (sys:s/) on the boot disk. graphics card to it. The board mounts on puter were able to use all the offered Results WARNING! 3. DOSDrivers a connector that is at right angles to the Software Installation screenmodes, and some games notably Making changes to your Amiga’s startup Mounts all the DOSDrivers in the accelerator edge connector. Then the Quake, and more recently Napalm. All Pros files, in particular the startup-sequence, devs:dosdrivers/ directory (More on two boards are firmly held together by Once the board is all in place the next applications benefit from higher resolu- can prevent the machine from booting or DOSDrivers in the next issue). Huge range of screenmodes. 4. Monitors two supplied screws, which eliminate step is to install the supplied software tion and speed increases even though cause problems with other software. Take Fast in all resoloutions and depths. care when changing these files and Binds the monitor drivers which adds the any problems with the boards parting that includes CyberGraphX 3, and an they were never written with High build quality. always have a backup handy. For screen modes from all the monitor files in company, especially when mounted upgrade for the PPC flash ROM. Phase CyberGraphX in mind. Applications that example if you made a backup called the devs:monitors/ drawer to the display list (which can be seen in the screenmode vertically in a tower. Next the whole 5 recommends that you upgrade the have specific CyberGraphX support Cons startup-sequence.bak and left it in the ‘S’ assembly has to be fitted to the A1200 flash ROM before you install such as Photogenics, IBrowse, directory to restore it you would: preferences program. No pass-through for AGA. 5. IPrefs CyberGraphX. To install the flash ROM Pagestream and most current programs Minimal documentation. • Switch on or reset your Amiga while This command reads the preferences files Product Information upgrade you have boot your machine get a huge boost because they can holding down both mouse buttons to get saved by the various Workbench whilst holding down the “S” key and both show images in Truecolour (16 Million) preferences programs and makes the Developer: Phase 5 Digital Prod. the Early Startup menu. mouse buttons, then when the early and with the BVision there is no notice- • Click the ‘Boot with no Startup’ option. changes set in them. This includes Distributor: White Knight Tech. settings like the screenmode and the start-up menu appears choose the Boot able difference in speed between 8 bit • Then when the prompt appears type Te l: +44 (0) 1920 822321 “copy s:startup-sequence.bak s:startup- background patterns etc. Options button and disable all hard drive and 24 bit - wow! What people do not WWW: www.phase5.de sequence” (without quotes) and press 6. Path partitions. Next boot with no start-up realise is that when a graphics card is The system path is a list of the directories www.welcome.to/white-knight Return. sequence holding the “S” key once fitted you also get a speed benefit, par- • Finally reset the Amiga and it should in which the operating system looks when Address: PO Box 38 again (but not the mouse buttons this ticularly with serial devices such as boot as normal. you try and execute a command without Ware specifying where it is. For example if you time), and the shell window appears. modems etc... Herts, SG11 1TX To restore a backup of you user-startup type a command name in a shell the Now insert the supplied floppy and run Price: £139 called user-startup.bak use the command system will find it in the C directory the flash update program (two versions “copy s:user-startup.bak s:user-startup”. because it is on the path.

32 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 33 SUPPORT SUPPORT

7. User-Startup directory so they can find the files they need Ex. startup-sequence Executes all the commands in the user- on your hard disk. They place the assign Thomas Hurst joins the startup file. command in the user-startup so the assign is ; $VER: startup-sequence 39.9 (9.8.92) 8. LoadWb made every time you boot. When you try to on-line gaming Loads the Workbench. delete a drawer (On the Workbench Quake C:SetPatch QUIET directories are shown as drawers) which has C:Version >NIL: revoloution. an assign pointing to it Workbench will give C:AddBuffers >NIL: DF0: 15 On-line Comments uake has caused a revolution the “Object is in use” error. So before you FailAt 21 Setting Up Your Own You’ll notice that some of the lines in the can delete the drawer you need to remove in gaming, not only for it’s the assign command from your user-startup, startup-sequence are prefixed with a C:MakeDir RAM:T RAM:Clipboards excellent graphics and sound, Server here’s how: Q semicolon (;). In AmigaDOS scripts any text RAM:ENV RAM:ENV/Sys but for it’s ability to have many players on a line after a semicolon is not executed, 1 If you just want a game against one or C:Copy >NIL: ENVARC: RAM:ENV ALL fight it out at the same time, either over the idea behind this is that you can add • Open a shell (see the Shell box out for how two mates (or more, if you have a fast to do this). Make a backup of your user- NOREQ a Local Area Network (LAN), or over the comment to your script to remind yourself connection), you can set up something and others what it does without causing startup file by typing “copy s:user-startup Resident >NIL: C:Assign PURE Internet. errors or writing a separate document. The s:user-startup.bak” and press Return (see called a “listen server”. This turns your Resident >NIL: C:Execute PURE semicolon can also be used to temporarily the WARNING section for more details). copy of Quake into a simple Quake Online Quake is massive, and the stop a line from executing without actually • Type “ed s:user-startup” and press Return. server others can connect to as they This loads the user-startup script into an Assign >NIL: ENV: RAM:ENV chances are that your ISP has it’s own deleting the line from the script, this is often would any other server. To start a listen called ‘commenting out’ a line. editor. Assign >NIL: T: RAM:T Quake server you can log on to and play server, load Quake with the argument • Using the cursor keys move down the file Assign >NIL: CLIPS: RAM:Clipboards with very low response times. until you find the portion related to the Assign >NIL: REXX: S: “+listen ”. Problems With Assigns program that you want to delete. Usually Assign >NIL: PRINTERS: So if you wanted a game with up to 5 The basics of joining a net game are in Malice, Air Quake, Quake Rally and There are two problems many people come this is marked by BEGIN and END lines, for DEVS:Printers players in it, you type: across which are usually related to the example: Assign >NIL: KEYMAPS: fact very simple - ensure you are online, hundreds of others are available. Assign commands that most programs add to ;BEGIN MyProgram DEVS:Keymaps fire up Quake, bring up the console (by Instructions on how to play them online Assign MyProgram: 2 Quake +listen 5 your user-startup when they are installed. If Assign >NIL: LOCALE: SYS:Locale pressing tilde (~)), and type “connect should come with the packages. Work:applications/utilities/myprogram/ Assign >NIL: LIBS: SYS:Classes ADD you want to delete a program’s directory name.of.server”. If you want to To connect to you, others will need your Workbench will often give you an “Object is in ;END MyProgram Assign >NIL: HELP: LOCALE:Help use” error and if you move a program’s • The safest way to remove this to put a DEFER automate this, just run quake with the My favourite is easily Team Fortress - a IP address or hostname. You can get directory on your hard disk sometimes it will semicolon (;) in front of it which stops the argument “+connect team play game where up to 16 players this by typing “echo $host” into a no longer run. The Assign command assigns line being executed, then if you need to put IF NOT EXISTS SYS:Fonts name.of.server”, e.g, to connect to fight it to to capture the flag from the shell. Others can then connect to the the line back you simply edit the user- a logical device name to a particular directory Assign FONTS: startup again and remove the semicolon. the server quake.clara.net, just cd to enemies fortress and take it back to their address that yields as they would any on your hard disk. What this means is that EndIF your Quake directory and type: own. With many different “skins” for other server, you can load up your you can refer to that directory by the Our Assign line would now look like: ;Assign MyProgram: players, ranging from Engineers who favourite map, and you can fight it out. assigned name in the same way you refer to BindDrivers Work:applications/utilities/myprogram/ a device by its name. For example your C:Mount >NIL: Quake +connect quake.clara.net build gun emplacements and repair floppy disk drive has the device name DF0:, • Now choose ‘Save’ from the ed ‘Project’ 3 armour to spies who disguise them- menu and then quit the program. DEVS:DOSDrivers/~(#?.info) After a short period of time, you should Now the Bad News... in a file requester you choose the disk in that selves to infiltrate the enemy base. Take drive by picking DF0: in the volumes list. If • Now you need to reboot your Amiga as find yourself in a deathmatch map, and changes to the startup files only take effect IF EXISTS DEVS:Monitors a look at the Clan Risen home page and Sadly, online Quake is a dieing game. the logical device name Pictures: is assigned IF EXISTS DEVS:Monitors/VGAOnly this is where the fun begins... to the directory Work:files/graphics/pictures/ when you boot the Amiga. see how you can join in the fun... While we play normal Quake, the rest of DEVS:Monitors/VGAOnly then choosing Pictures in the volumes list • After a reboot you should be able to delete the world is playing the Internet op- the drawer which was assigned. EndIF For your first couple of games you’ll would take you straight to that directory. timised version, Quake World. probably find yourself getting thrashed, Clans

4 C:List >NIL: Unfortunately, despite promises from Many programs use the assign command to Once it’s deleted and you’re confident but don’t get disheartened - this is quite everything is still working properly you can DEVS:Monitors/~(#?.info|VGAOnly) TO If you’re good at Online Quake, you ClickBOOM, there is no Amiga version. assign a logical device name to their program normal. The best thing you can do to get delete the lines from your user-startup T:M LFORMAT “DEVS:Monitors/%s” might want to consider joining a Clan - a Quake World is incompatible with around it is to practice loads, and con- The Shell completely. Simply edit the file again as we Execute T:M team of Quake lovers who hold battles normal Quake, and so, we are left play- did above, move the cursor to all the lines C:Delete >NIL: T:M sidering how fun net Quake can be this against other Clans. There are plenty ing against other Amiga users, or PC Several times in this feature I’ve talked relating to the program you’ve deleted and EndIF shouldn’t be a problem... at least until about the shell and entering commands. choose ‘Delete Line’ from the ‘Edit’ menu for around, including a number of Amiga users with fast connections out to get the phone bill arrives. The shell is another method of giving each one. Then save the file. If rather than SetEnv Workbench $Workbench ones (two are to be found in the boxout). easy kills by pouncing before the enemy instructions to your Amiga. You are deleting a program with an assign you simply SetEnv Kickstart $Kickstart sees them. probably used to running programs and want to move it to a different place on your UnSet Workbench But all is not lost if you can only afford a dealing with files using Workbench but it’s Although you don’t need to be in a clan hard drive then all you need to do is change UnSet Kickstart few hours a week - you can get special also possible to do all these things (and to have fun, the really big fragfests tend But all is not lost. The source code to the assign command in the user-startup file add ons to Quake called “Bots” that act some things you can’t do with Workbench) to point to the new position. to be when two clans arrange a time to Quake and Quake World are scheduled 5 C:IPrefs as other players in deathmatches, but by entering text commands into a shell meet. It’s no fun with just two or three for public release at the end of the year, window. The instructions you enter into • So as before open a shell, backup your work when you are offline. By far the C:ConClip people running around a huge level, so around January we can expect to see the shell window are called AmigaDOS user-startup file then edit the original. best Quake bot is the popular Reaper especially with the likes of Team Amiga 68k, PPC and Warp3D versions commands and each one is a separate • Find the portion relating to the program that Bot. They change their behaviour program, usually stored in the ‘C’ directory you want to move. Path >NIL: RAM: C: SYS:Utilities Fortress and CTF, but when the big of Quake and Quake World! of you Workbench disk. Once you’ve SYS:Rexxc SYS:System S: SYS:Prefs according to how well you play, and they • Using our previous example if you wanted 6 matches with up to 16 players on at SYS:WBStartup SYS:Tools learn levels as they go along. Just do a learnt some AmigaDOS commands you to move MyProgram from the once, you really begin to see what online Happy fragging... can string them together in a text file to Work:applications/utilities/ drawer to SYS:Tools/Commodities web search and you’re sure to find the Quake is about. make a script. Scripts can then be another partition (I’ll use Files: in this latest version. Don’t worry if it all seems executed at any time carrying out all the IF EXISTS S:User-Startup example) you would change the line to: very PC specific - Amiga Quake is commands in turn, this is exactly what the Assign MyProgram: Files:myprogram/ 7 Execute S:User-Startup startup-sequence and user-startup are, • You would of course specify any EndIF practically identical to PC Quake. AmigaDOS script files. subdirectories it is in. Deadly URLs • Then save the file and quit ed. Resident Execute REMOVE Normal Quake is only the tip of the To open a shell window: • After a reboot the program should run from Resident Assign REMOVE iceberg - many Quake add-on packs • From the Workbench menu choose its new home. http://crisen.home.pages.de/ - Clan Risen, home of Amiga Team Fortress Execute Command then type “newshell”. and Total Conversions (TC’s) are http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-46939/AQM/ - Amiga Quake Mercenaries, Amiga clan

8 C:LoadWB • Open the ‘System’ drawer on your EndCLI >NIL: capable of net play as well, and these http://www.goigoi.com/ - Goigoi, the definitive Amiga Quake site. Workbench disk or partition and double bring new dimensions to Quake, and http://www.planetquake.com/ - Planet Quake click on the Shell icon. many surpass it easily. The likes of http://www.planetfortress.com/ - Home of Team Fortress

34 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 35 REVIEW l TUTORIAL REVIEW l TUTORIAL

Lightsource Miscellaneous background in your favourite paint pro- gram. Save it as an 8-bit IFF at the size One shortcoming of Candy Factory, is you want , and load it into Candy that it’s not as easy as it could be, to Factory by selecting ‘Project’ - ‘Load combine different effects (via projects) to Mask’. Sometimes you may get a blank different text. The way around this is to space down one side, but that’s due to a save the picture at the final stage of your strict sizing regime in Candy Factory... Gary Storm puts this easy to use effects package through its paces. See the Distance is exactly what it means... the first bit of text using the ‘Save Image’ just carry on and crop the final picture. final result in glorious Technicolour on the back cover! closer the light is to the object - the item in the ‘Project’ menu. Make sure brighter it is. Use the mouse to drag the you save the image in a ‘Truecolor’ It’s always a good idea to load your text ’m no artist. I have a lot of good on ‘OK’ yet. You can drag the text light around the circle on the right to get format such as IFF24. or object in, and then to save it at that idea’s, but when I draw, my ducks around with the mouse, and change the the best lighting angle. Especially useful stage, by ‘Project’ - ‘Save Mask’, just in Iturn out like sheep. Which is why I size of it with the ‘X Size’ and ‘Y Size’ for bevelled objects. case anything crashes. rushed to buy Candy Factory Pro, as it gadgets. Once it’s in the position you lets me make even the simplest text and like, press ‘OK’. Inner Bevel ‘Inverse’ is useful as it swaps the fore- pictures look like works of art (well, ground with the background, to give a nearly). Don’t think that Candy Factory Effects Play around with the width and height, different effect. Pro is just good for web-site logos and smoothing, and bottom/top slope (the fancy headings, as it’s also a great way In ‘Project’, ‘New Project’ clears the cur- most important - normally one is high You can use characters from different to put posters and cards together. rent project (beware), and ‘Open Project’ and the other low), to get your 3D effect. fonts as graphic objects... the boing actually loads in a particular variation of When you save an image the Render balls and rings on the back cover are Candy Factory Pro is best used with a effects. Load one of the projects Dropshadow Settings window allows you to choose actually a ‘.’ and ‘o’. PPC accelerator and graphics card, but (“BlueMetallic” in this case). the format and quality you save in. Another tool for the 3D effect, where you is also great for 68k (just slower). Shown here are the settings to save ‘Realtime’ - turn most of this off if you’re The Materials window sets the colour When the projects loader appears, there can fiddle to your hearts content to get working on 68k, but leave it all on for that perfect shadow. The lightsource a lossless IFF24 image. PPC. If you’re going to want to use The best way to illustrate Candy though, and lighting applied to the objects are a lot of options to have, or not to is to eat it, let’s start munching. have, depending on your purpose, back- positioning and brightness plays a part Then select ‘Image’ - ‘Clear Image’. Candy Factory a lot, then you really here, as it will determine where your Load in the picture you just saved onto The settingsand shown background. here allow you to ground, mood etc..., and you can only should upgrade to a PPC and graphics shadow falls and it’s strength. the background again, add your next line card, as it makes everything so much Loading a Background see a background image undistorted. find out what is best for each thing you do by trial and error. Never keep of text and chuck a different set of quicker and easier, and real to the eye. Picture colour of the highlights, and ‘Ambient’ is ‘Maskpath’ on, as it will also load any Glow effects its way. Keep saving the image, kind of like low mood lighting. The text associated with the project settings re-loading as a background then texting On starting Candy, the default ‘canvas’ In Conclusion ‘Shading’ gadget is handy for different (i.e. You’ll lose your new text). As a After playing with this, the main decision and effecting to your hearts desire (or of 320x256 appears. To do a poster or effects - try them (I like ‘normal’ and general rule, ‘Glow’ and ‘Shadow’ don’t will be whether to ‘diffuse’ (makes the until the room on the page runs out). At the end of the day, Candy Factory is card, you’ll need to know the size of the ‘metal’ the best), but we’ll leave the normally go together as it’s unnatural, glow smoother and not so strong) or not The best way to make sure that the text a brilliant program for the artistically picture you’ve decided to use (write it background as ‘none’. ‘Glossiness’ is but remember... rules are made to be ‘diffuse’ (rougher and stronger) depend- is in the right place, is to load up your challenged. It’s quick and ridiculously down). another sort of brightness, and is useful broken (and we have). If you’re going to ing on the final feel you want. ‘Central image on the workbench screen via easy to get great graphics, logo’s and for the lighting mode on shiny text, and be putting text onto a picture you’ve al- color’ and ‘Edge color’ make a big dif- CyberShow or something, and swap post-cards etc. together. It could Select ‘New Project’, and type in the ‘Environment Map’ is if you want to load ready selected, then make sure you un- ference to the feel too. between the two screens for reference, definitely be improved upon (drawing size of your picture (800x600 in this up another texture on top of the pic- check anything to do with background and ‘Clear Image’ if the text isn’t quite tools/adding masks to an existing pic- case). ture/texture you already have loaded, (’Background material’, ‘Bumpmap back’ Bumpmap right, as ‘Add Text’ will have saved your ture), but it’a still a triumph. Buy it yes- and mix them together for even more and ‘Background texture’) or you’ll lose previous text and settings so that you terday. Select ‘Windows’ - ‘Color Texture’. This weird and wonderful effects. the background picture. The other stuff Oooh, the fake 3D’ers best friend :), can adjust the text minutely until you’re let’s you load pictures and textures on can generally stay as you can play gives your background and/or object the satisfied. the foreground and background. Click Results around with it, or kill it, as you wish. In texture it deserves. Fantastic, except for the ‘Edit’ gadget so that it reads Text this case, uncheck plastic :) Save your final piece of art by ‘Project’ - Pros ‘Background’, and then click the ‘?’ gad- Select ‘Project’ - ‘Add Text’. A lister of all ‘Maskpath’ and all ‘Save Image’. Click on ‘Format’ so that Ultra easy to use. get. Choose your picture to load, via the your fonts will appear. When you buy the three background ‘Truecolor’ is selected, and select the Outstanding results very quickly. lister. You won’t see anything but black Colour Texture CD, it has LOADS of Compugraphic effects (as shown format you wish. If it’s JPEG, you can Brings out the hidden artist in all of us. at first... don’t panic :) Close the ‘Color fonts ready to install with Intellifont left). Press ‘OK’. We’ve already used this, but it can also also select the quality to save out as. It’s Texture’ window to save screen-space. (which is in your System drawer), so in- There, doesn’t that load pictures and textures onto the a pity that GIF isn’t supported yet, but Cons stall the ones you like (or all of them if make the text look object (text) as well... try it, it really not the end of the world. No GIF support for web graphics. Select ‘Windows’ - ‘Materials’ to bring you want to slow down your project). damn funky? :) makes a huge difference if you can find Hassle to use different effects on the that window up. Click the ‘Edit’ gadget to the right material. Many are already on Once you’ve found a combination of set- same image. read ‘Background’. Then click on the Click the ‘?’ next to the ‘Fontname’ field If you want to change any of the effects, the CD, but you can use a picture of tings you like, you can save them as a No drawing tools. three lighting controllers, adynd drag the to load and choose a nice font. (as I did with BlueMetallic’s Glow, bump yourself if you wanted (we did, and project of your own with whichever sliders all the way to the right (255 = and lightsource) load up their particular damn it was funny) :) effects, pictures and text you wish to white). Voila! - your picture is then seen, “Candy” appears in the canvas as windows. Remember to select and leave include, by selecting ‘Project’ - ‘Write as you just turned the lights on. default, so type in the word(s) you want, the ‘materials’ window open, as you With many of these affects, you can Project’. and press ‘Return’ (don’t click on ‘OK’ need to select between ‘background’ move the backgrounds, textures and The lighting controls are also handy for yet). and ‘object’ for whichever you’re bumpmaps around via dragging the making a picture moodier, as you can Useful Hints manipulating via effects. Leave the mouse, to get them in the best position tint it any colour(s) you want (experi- You may find that the text is too bit or too ‘object’ (text) activated in this case. possible for your composition. To do a bit more than just text, you can ment). ‘Color’ is the main light, and small, and that’s why you haven’t clicked draw your own white object on a black affects everything, ‘Specular’ is the 36 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 37 SUPPORT SUPPORT

Lost on the World Wide Note that with all these services you will SEAL have to pay for any costs incurred (for Help Line Web with no where to example paper for printing, disks etc.). go? Gary Storm finds Membership Several SEAL members have very Joining kindly volunteered to help other some pages to call members and readers of Clubbed in Benefits If you would like to join SEAL the mem- their areas of expertise. Websites home. EAL members benefit from many bership fee is £30 per year (payable as Sservices: £2.50/month if you prefer), this covers General Amiga, Shell, AREXX, Visit the SEAL links page for all your he Internet is so vast that it can be hard to know bi-weekly meetings including refresh- Directory Opus 5, DTP Amiga Amiga Links: http://seal.amiga.tm where to start surfing. So on this page we’ve listed Help and Advice ments and 4 copies of Clubbed per year. (PageStream) Tthe URLs of some of our favourite websites. For further details please contact us at: Robert Williams SEAL members are always giving each Yahoo! http://www.yahoo.com/ (01268) 569937 after 6pm If you can’t find what you want then the search engines on other help and advice on all aspects of Yahoo! UK http://www.yahoo.co.uk/ Telephone Mick Sutton on [email protected] the left are a good place to start looking. However be warned Amiga hardware and software, when AltaVista http://www.altavista.digital.com/ (01268) 761429 (7 to 9pm) that a ‘Search Engine’ only looks for the text you type on the you join you’ll get a listing of all the Lycos http://www.lycos.com/ Write To Mick Sutton 3D Graphics (Lightwave, Imagine), web pages it knows about. This means that using search members with their phone numbers so Excite http://www.excite.com/ 20 Roding Way Image Processing (Photogenics, engines can be pretty much hit and miss, and instead of find- there’s always someone to turn to in Webcrawler http://www.webcrawler.com/ Wickford Art Effect) ing sites about apple pies, you’ll find everything you ever your hour of need. Ask Jeeves http://www.askjeeves.com/ Essex Spencer Jarvis wanted to know about the I-Mac and pythagoras’ theorem. SS12 9BB (01375) 644614 SearchUK http://www.searchuk.com/ Varying the words you input and trying different search Search HotBot http://www.hotbot.com/ Hardware Fitting and Visit http://seal.amiga.tm engines often helps get better results. EMail [email protected] General Amiga, SEAL Information Software Installation Mick Sutton While we were compil- (01268) 761429 The Onion http://www.theonion.com/ The news behind the news. Within SEAL there are many years of The FKey program in PA News http://www.pa.press.net/ The site the UK press look at. ing this item we found [email protected] Amiga experience, including the fitting the Commodities (in Media Village http://mediavillage.mediatel.co.uk/ Insiders news. loads of great sites and and configuration of countless pieces of sys:tools) drawer CNN http://www.cnn.com/ TV News on the web. we haven’t got room for Contact us if you’d be willing to use hardware and the installation and use of allows you to start pro- them all. If you visit the ? your skills to help other Amiga users Electronic Newsstand http://www.enews.com/ Links to 1,000s of online mags. numerous software packages. So if you SEAL website you’ll find grams and scripts at the Megastories http://www.megastories.com/ All the top news. need a helping hand there’s almost and we’ll add you to this list. a page with all these touch of function key. News Now http://www.newsnow.co.uk/ The pick of the hot headlines. bound to be someone with experience News links and many more for The Smoking Gun http://www.thesmokinggun.com/ Dirt-diggers ‘r’ us. willing to help. In particular we’ve be- your browsing pleasure! come expert at installing hard drives, CD-ROMs and other common upgrades. Download Next Issue Ad Graveyard http://www.zeldman.com/ad.html Ads that never made it to release. Here are some of the things we’re plan- The Al Phlipp Gallery http://www.ransomgroup.com/al_phlipp/gallery/ Scanning and Printing ning for Issue 4, as you can see many of Psychedelic man. Some nice digitally enhanced photos. Service these rely on releases that are promised Chapapeela http://rmb.ne.mediaone.net:80/baham/ Very good photography, including tasteful nudes. Several SEAL members have scanners If you’re not on the Internet Clubbed can in the next month or so, if these don’t Jim’s Fine Art http://www.spectrumvoice.com/art/index.html Huge collection of scanned paintings. and many have colour printers, if at any help you get the freely distributable pro- happen then we won’t include them! Art Marc Deneyer http://users.skynet.be/deneyer/ Great photo`s of Greenland. time you need some pictures scanned or grams and upgrades mentioned in this documents printed someone is always issue. Features available to help. • Reaction to any WoA Announcements Wired http://www.wired.com/ Techie news. Simply send us one floppy disk per item • First look at AmigaOS 3.5 Newslinx http://www.newslinx.com/ Links to many techie news stories. CD-R Hard Drive Backup along with a stamped addressed padded Rocketry Online http://www.rocketryonline.com/ envelope. On each disk write the name Reviews What Hi-Fi? http://www.whathifi.com/ 3 SEAL members have clubbed (groan!) of the software along with your name • Photogenics 4.1 Robert’s Hi-Fi Links http://www.unik.no/robert/hifi/hifi.html Hundreds of links. together to buy a CD writer and they and address. Send the package to the • ImageFX 4 Sigma http://www.sigmaphoto.com/ Into photography? Here you go. offer a hard disk backup service to other following address: • STFax DVD World http://www.dvdworld.co.uk/ members at a £5 fee plus the cost of the Pace Solo 56k Review Finder http://www.reviewfinder.com/ Links to thousands of reviewed products. CD-R (about £1). Simply contact Mick, Clubbed, • Modem Olympus C1000L Digital Tech Hotwired http://www.hotwired.com/ Brilliant technology site. Robert or Gary to arrange a backup ses- 26 Wincoat, camera and CamControl Free Themes http://www.mersinet.freethemes.com/ Themes for Windows, or DOpus Magellan! sion. Benfleet, Web Design Resource http://www.pageresource.com/ Essex, SS7 5AH, Support Discounts ENGLAND. • Back to Basics: DosDrivers • Installing a CD-ROM Bert is Evil http://www.fractalcow.com/bert/bert.htm Yep, the Burt from Sesame Street is actually a homicidal maniac. As mentioned in the SEAL Update sec- We will then copy the files onto your ? Funny http://www.funny.co.uk/ Links to humour all over. tion we now have arrangements with disks and post them back to you. SEAL Plus much more including all the usual Underground PD and Forematt Home members can get a copy of any program news, interviews and support. Internet Movie Database http://www.uk.imdb.com/ The dog’s doodahs. Computing to give SEAL members a or upgrade at a SEAL meeting, please Toaster http://www.toaster.co.uk/ Burn your ‘TV Quick’ and use this instead. discount on their products. Underground phone Robert Williams in advance and Our target date for this issue is mid Cult Film Site http://sepnet.com/recaramer/index PD will give you a 10% discount on any- let him know what you want before the October 1999, look at the web site for Celebrities Screwed http://www.celebscrew.hypermart.net/ Sleazy gossip. thing you order and Forematt will give a meeting. our current status. Wired http://www.musicnewswire.com/ The best start for music news. variable discount depending on your Fun MysteryNet http://www.MysteryNet.com/ Everything for budding Poirot`s. order. We hope to announce more dis- NOTE: this service applies to freely dis- http://seal.amiga.tm Salon http://www.salonmagazine.com/ Fantastic and varied online magazine. count deals soon. tributable software only, NO PIRACY! 38 CLUBBED - Issue 3 Summer 1999 39 Cover Artist: James McEwen Gallery

Vagabonds Eventually I might create an animated- Space Warp multimedia version of Red Skies in Cinema By Michael Hunt James has let us use his brilliant Redskies 4d using animated textures & material image on our cover this issue, above is opacities, although this would take a long Mike used Newtek’s recently freely another example of his work, below are his time to produce & might approach another released TV Paint to create this comments on the images: subject. image. This really shows off TVPaint’s subtle gradient handling and the tor- These images were created using just an I am currently producing a completely new nado special effect. The background A1200-030 AGA 34M, using Photogenics scene, but using Cinema 4d as the base tool. and foreground were composited 1.2, Real 3d & Draw Studio Lite. They both I’ll upgrade Photogenics soon to allow for using the layers facility. took several days to produce from my initial multiple layers, which should make spon- sketches, although Photogenics allowed me taneous creation & composition easier. You can download TVPaint (which to experiment using its painting system. requires a graphics card) from My profession is that of a Graphic Designer, http://www.newtek.com. In Red Skies, Summer 1998, I was trying to working on a wide variety of work on various comment on the uncertain rebirth, either a systems, although, it’s on my Amiga that I red sky at dawn or dusk. OS 4 & 5 had just get to produce pieces purely for fun. I’m been proposed, & I expressed my own ex- never completely satisfied with what I pro- pectations of what type of the future there duce, if I ever do I’ll know that it is time to might be for the new Amiga. retire. Jim - 01509-211052 - jim@red.prestel.co.uk Candy Factory Pro

Hubcap By Tony Kinnear

Tony Rendered this fun image in Cinema 4D

Visit The SEAL Web site In this image Gary Storm used some of the techniques he describes in his Candy Factory Pro Review/Tutorial on page 36. Notice the different texture and flow settings used on the text and http://seal.amiga.tm the Boing Ball texture inside the word Amiga. Gary also used Candy Factory to add the text to the image on this issues cover.