Little Bits
by Sean Craig
Copyright (c) 1993 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
o Update - CV Technologies have now released ROM version 3.0k for their RamFAST SCSI cards. This new ROM enables the RamFAST to use floptical drives. Contact Two Series Software on (02) 606-9343 for the new ROM.
o More on flopticals... Richard Bennett has written a high-speed SCSI driver for floptical drives. The driver is available on the bulletin board. If you do not have a modem, then you can contact Richard on (02) 498-6548 and he'll only be too happy to bring the driver along to the next meeting.
o Update - HardPressed, the automatic and transparent disk compression utility by WestCode Software, will be released by the end of December. Jeff Schuurman from Two Series Software will be selling HardPressed for about $89.95.
o Pointless version 2.0 is now shipping! All registered owners of Pointless are able to get an upgrade for US$19.95, but only direct from WestCode Software. This version is - a lot faster than its predecessor; uses less memory; has auto configuration; has a font preview; will hilite your true-type fonts in your font list; requires 1.25 meg memory minimum, 2 meg recommended. Version 2.0 is available from Two Series Software for $89.95.
o Also shipping is Out Of This World - an action adventure game for the IIgs by 'Burger' Bill Heineman. Hailed by Computer Game Review as "The highest rated game ever", Out Of This World bridges the gap between cinema and action/adventure games with a completely new style of fluid, cinematic storytelling. Hurtled through space and time by a nuclear experiment gone wrong, you'll need to dodge, outwit, and overcome the alien monsters and deadly earthquakes that plague your new foreign landscape. It's not an easy task. Over two years in development, Out Of This World's polygonal graphics system generates real-time, rotoscoped animation in a fluid system of cinematic zooms, pans, close-ups, and scaling - the same cutting-edge technology that lies at the heart of today's best flight simulators. Out Of This World is available from Two Series Software for $89.95.
o Update - ZIP Technologies have given up trying to make their 14 MHz board work for ROM 01 IIgs's. These boards still work on a ROM 03. The fastest ZIP GSX board for a ROM 01 machine is 12 Mhz.
o Anyone who had a subscription to II Sysops, a newsletter for Apple II sysops, should be receiving the remainder of their subscription fee soon. This message off Internet from Joe Seigler (joe.siegler@satalink.com) explains why :- "I'm sorry to say that II Sysops is no longer being published. I just didn't have the time or the money to keep it going. However, I have started an internet mailing list for Apple II Sysops which serves the same main purpose as the newsletter. To subscribe to the mailing list (it's free), send email to a2-bbs-request@pro-cynosure.cts.com. This mailing list is for anyone who has an interest in running a BBS on an Apple II, regardless of what software is used. Note to ProLine users: The mailing list is also available as a newsgroup, pro.comp.apple2.bbs."
o County Line Technology announces GSTape version 2 - a fully file oriented, backup and restore utility for the Apple IIGS. Version 2 adds RamFAST support, System 6 and HFS compatibility, backup scripting, timed backups, and a new fast backup mode for ProDOS partitions and streaming tapes (4-5 megs per minute using a Teac or Archive drive and a DMA card). Requires a IIGS with 2 meg memory, GS/OS System 6, Apple SCSI card (rev C or HSDMA) or C.V. Technologies RamFAST SCSI card (Rom 3.0). GSTape can be purchased directly from County Line Technology for US$35, cheque or money order, shipping included. Rev 1 owners may upgrade for US$15 (include serial number). Demonstration disk available for $5. Add $5 for shipments outside of the USA. Contact Tim Grams on (214) 495-7675 or write to :
County Line Technology
P.O. Box 462283
Garland, TX 75046 USA.
o Rumour - A draft standard for the proposed new high speed (more than 14.4 Kbps and less than 28.8 Kbps) modem standard currently nicknamed "V.Fast" should be completed next year. However, an approved standard isn't expected before 1994. Consumers who buy modems being advertised now as "V.Fast compatible" may discover they need to buy upgrades for V.Fast compliance once the standard is finalized.
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