HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jtn@ukc.ac.uk (J.T.Noble)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Acorn Press Release (New VIDC)
Summary: Goodo. So when do we get the free upgrade :-)
Keywords: Freeby, upgrade, when. :-)
Date: 6 Nov 92 14:19:46 GMT
Reply-To: jtn@ukc.ac.uk (Jim Noble)
Organization: Computing Lab, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK.

bsalter@acorn.co.uk writes in article <20016@acorn.co.uk>
>Acorn Welcomes New Video Chip
Yeay!
>
>As well as providing a programmable display system, the chip also has
>sophisticated audio support.  The device is fully compatible with the
>previous VIDC capabilities, providing up to eight channels of stereo
>sound. For higher quality multi-media applications requiring both
>sound and vision the design provides a straightforward interface to
>dedicated sound controllers. 
>
>Acorn Computers' Technical Director, Malcolm Bird confirmed that Acorn
>was fully involved in the specification for ARM's new graphics
>controller with a view to it being used in future products. "The
>VIDC20 is one in a new series of high performance chips from ARM Ltd
>that keeps the ARM component set at the forefront of cost effective
>technology.  We are leading the test validation programme for the
>device and anticipate including it in future generations of
>computers." he said.

Will there be an upgrade path for original VIDC machines, or will we have to
rely on third party support? Will we see a change in machine architecture with
the advent of this new 'high' bandwidth VIDC? I sincerely hope so. How about
support from the desktop? RISCOS 4??

>Ends
>------

On another note; Would anyone like a nicely bound, laser printed copy of the
Rayshade manual? (Printed from the postscript file you get with the release).
I have printed a copy, and have no further need for it (not that it has been 
used at all!) I'll post it to the first person, willing to refund postage costs,
to mail me their snail mail address. I must ask for uk addresses only, unless 
the postage cost can be sent in advance.

A piece of advice to Cfs users: Don't use the 'newer' option in the filer, cfs
won't compress anything dragged from a normal filer window.

--
ttfn,
	Jim.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: alla0008@student.tc.umn.edu ()
Subject: Re: sprite to draw
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 16:10:44 GMT

In article <1davnsINN2mn@yarrow.csv.warwick.ac.uk> espgl@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr D Charalambakis) writes:
>        Is there any PD utility which takes a sprite and converts it to
>draw file? I know about !Trace but I think this is not PD.
>
>        Does this exists for a PC? (ie tiff/gif to coreldraw)?

I don't know if anything which does this in the PD, but !Trace doesn't do
a bad job for the price - the results are very dependant on the input
sprite, but at only #5.99, it's well worth trying (it produces much better
output than the atrocious Midnight Graphics !Tracer).

Graham Allan					allan@mnhep8.hep.umn.edu
						gta@st-andrews.ac.uk

Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: charles@morgan.ucs.mun.ca (Charles Loader)
Subject: Re: sprite to draw
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 11:35:30 GMT

In article <721328659.14106@minster.york.ac.uk> dcw-a@minster.york.ac.uk writes:
>In article <1992Nov5.121258.19779@infodev.cam.ac.uk> nas20@phx.cam.ac.uk (Nick Smith) writes:
>>In article <1davnsINN2mn@yarrow.csv.warwick.ac.uk> espgl@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr D Charalambakis) writes:
>>>        Is there any PD utility which takes a sprite and converts it to
>>>draw file? I know about !Trace but I think this is not PD.
>>>
>>>        Does this exists for a PC? (ie tiff/gif to coreldraw)?
>>
>>!Trace is not PD - but don't let this put you off! It is one of my favourite
>>bits of low cost software on the Arc: for L5.99 (inc VAT & PP) you get a
>>very impressive Sprite->Draw file convertor (handles colour), a Draw file->
>>
>	Too right, I have seen both this and Midnight Tracer, a similar package and I am far more impressed
>by !Trace. It is slightly slower but the results are far superior (as well as being far cheaper).

I have not seen !Trace but I did purchase !Tracer (after using the Corel 
equivalent).  I have to admit that it is the only item of software that
I have purchased and never been able to find a use for.  Corel
Trace works just fine and gives good results so I leave !Tracer alone.

>
>>Disclaimer: I have no connection with this product other than really liking
>>it!
>>--
>	Me neither!
>
>>Nick Smith, Rm.226, Churchill College, Cambridge ! Email: nas20@uk.ac.cam.phx
>>.sig quote wanted - must be under guarantee.     ! Tel: (0223) 465596
>
>	Doug.

Charles
From: cs89jmb@brunel.ac.uk (Aeon Flux)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: MultiFs & Apple Macs
Date: 12 Nov 92 10:29:30 GMT
Organization: Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Tom Hughes (thughes@dcs.warwick.ac.uk) wrote:
: In article <1992Nov11.122413.26831@lut.ac.uk> S.J.Schofield1@lut.ac.uk (Steve) writes:
: >I remember reading somewhere, along time ago, in a galaxy far, far away about
: >a version on MultiFS that would be able to read / write apple mac disks (As in
: >disks from the apple mac).
: 
: If you look in the Acorn product directory (as distributed at the BAU
: show), the entry for Arxe systems (who sell MultiFS) includes a
: product called MacFS, but gives no other info other than "phone for
: details".
: 
: >It would be a good thing if this happend as I would find it quite useful.
: 
: Me too. I don't expect anyone to try and find a way round the problems
: of low density Mac disks, but just having high density would be fine.

As I understand it, "low" density Mac discs spin at different rates according
to where the head is in relation to the disc.

Thus making it bloody difficult to read these discs on other machines without
similar hardware.


Jayce.

--
"I may be a shallow guy, but a shallow guy with a great ass!" - Cat, Red Dwarf

Jason "Archangel" Banham               Internet: cs89jmb@brunel.ac.uk       
					         aangel@sequent.co.uk

   ***** Acorn rep on StudentSoft/Archimedes owner/Computer Scientist *****
From: CDLatham@cen.ex.ac.uk (C.D.Latham)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Replay Harrier @ Newcastle
Date: 12 Nov 92 10:30:20 GMT
Organization: Computer Unit. - University of Exeter. UK

In article <1992Nov11.110703.12083@waikato.ac.nz> pdenize@waikato.ac.nz writes:
> Finally I got the last part to the replay_harrier from newcastle.
>
> Take a look its rather good.
>
> After reading some of the reviews I would like to know if anyone knows
> where we might get the space shuttle takeoff (the reviews suggested
> this was the best example) ?

Replay in general is rather good.  Impressive in fact.  I have seen
all the replay demos and the shuttle is one of the best.  Nicest of
all though is one called `Icedance' which is very pretty.  Harrier is
good but many people don't like the military flavour - they would
prefer something more peaceful.

Downloading big replay files from Newcastle is very tedious and
full-length ones would be impossible (7 - 10 Mbytes) so perhaps some
kind person at an ftp site could put some of the other replay examples
there.

For novelty, perhaps Acorn could provide a replay file of their TV ad!
Seriously though, my money goes on icedance which is pretty, musical,
entertaining and in good taste.
--
Christopher.
From: pdenize@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Replay Harrier @ Newcastle
Date: 11 Nov 92 11:07:03 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand


Finally I got the last part to the replay_harrier from newcastle.

Take a look its rather good.

After reading some of the reviews I would like to know if anyone knows where
we might get the space shuttle takeoff (the reviews suggested this was the best
example) ?

Paul Denize
From: as@comlab.ox.ac.uk (Andrew Stevens)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Turbodrivers...
Date: 11 Nov 92 11:15:24 GMT
Reply-To: m90rjw@uk.ac.ox.ecs
Organization: Oxford University Computing Laboratory, UK
Originator: as@opal.comlab


	
A couple of days ago, I posted an article saying that I was writing a module
to allow normal printing through the Computer Concepts 'Twisted' printer cable.
In fact CC have done the hard work already, but didn't tell anyone. All you
do is to load the 'TurboSupport' module (inside !BJ10e.Modules as Turbo), when
you load !Printers. This munges all the output, so you get correct printing
through the cable.

I beleive this also works for copying files to the printer: device, but I think
it does funny things if you use !Printers to print to file.

I hope this is of interest to someone... I can't be more specific as I was
only looking at the problem for a friend. i've got a Citizen Swift 24 :-)

Robin
-- 
        Andrew Stevens               INTERNET: Andrew.Stevens@uk.ac.oxford.prg
      Programmming Research Group       JANET: Andrew.Stevens@uk.ac.oxford.prg
     11 Keble Road, Oxford, England     UUCP:  ...!uunet!mcvax!ukc!ox-prg!as
     OX1 3QD   +44 0865 272563
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: tytgat@rilke.esat.kuleuven.ac.be (John Tytgat)
Subject: Re: VIDC20!!
Organization: K.U.Leuven, Belgium
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 12:53:05 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.174945.19853@maths.tcd.ie> merlin@maths.tcd.ie (Merlin Hughes) writes:
>I would say it is a display-only chip, otherwise they would
>have mentioned stuff like that. What you need to do is put
>the VIDC on a graphics card, with wads of fast VRAM, and
>then you can add your graphics processor to the card. All

Although there are only a few technical specifications in the VIDC20
announcement, I believe that the VIDC20 is capable of handling VRAM.
So finally we won't lose any speed due the video DMA.

Can someone enlighten the 'CD serial output' facility of the VIDC20 ? Are
we talking about the Philips/Sony CD standard for digital audio transmission ?
And which audio sample rates are possible (32, 44.1 or even 48 KHz) ?

>the VIDC will do is display the picture cheaply, in a wide
>variety of screen configurations. The Arc (if that is your
>desired machine) will then send commands down to the card,
>and get on with its own things at no system bandwidth loss.
>The graphics processor can be an ARM or whatever. The Vidc
>can only read from the VRAM; it will never write to it.

A graphics card with a graphic engine would be ok if we have a 32 bit
podule comminication.  Otherwise this will be the bottleneck.

But what about games Merlin ?


John.
tytgat@esat.kuleuven.ac.be (do not thrust my e-mail address in the header)
BASS
From: dbh@doc.ic.ac.uk (Denis Howe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Additions and/or replacements on the Newcastle Info Server
Date: 5 Nov 92 13:08:25
Organization: Computing Department, Imperial College, London, UK
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk
In-reply-to: smb@cs.nott.ac.uk's message of 5 Nov 92 11:16:42 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.111642.16785@cs.nott.ac.uk> smb@cs.nott.ac.uk
(Simon Burrows) wrote:

>In article <19980@acorn.co.uk> Albert.Koelmans@newcastle.ac.uk writes:
>>New software:
>>
>>poker - by Simon Burrows.

>Sorry, I keep forgetting to include the names of the people who write
>items which I send to the Info Server.  I did not write this version
>of Poker.

It's worth getting just to read the BASIC code - it's in Italian!  All
those long identifiers should make a good demonstration of the
benefits of SQUASHing.  Did someone mention spaghetti code? :-)
--
Denis Howe <dbh@doc.ic.ac.uk>
So Biggs, you're the idiot who bought all these IBM PCs.  You're fired!
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: elsas@fwi.uva.nl (Peter Alexander van Elsas (I87))
Subject: IDE Harddisk + RISCOS3.1 = error?
Summary: IDE Harddisk + RISCOS3.1 = error?
Keywords: IDE
Organization: FWI, University of Amsterdam
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 08:55:55 GMT


I just received RISCOS3.1 two days ago. After installing it I started up my
computer and everything seemed allright. However when clicking on my IDE filer
icon I got the strange error: Error from IDEFS Filer : Disk not Understood
- Has it been formatted? I tried to set one IDE drive in !Configure but that
resulted in another icon and a bad drive error when clicking on it. It seems
that the two modules IDEFS and IDEFSFiler are loaded from my interface but
this also results in having two configure options for IDEDiscs. Can someone
please explain what is happening? I have a A410/1 with an IDEA harddisk 
interface from Ian Copestake Software and SF & PS. The harddisk is a 120mb
drive from western digital. Please mail me any comment or thoughts, or if
you think others will benefit also post!
		Thanks,
			Alexander.
(No point going on without my harddisk?!&*#$@)

-------------------------------------------------------------------
in real life:   Alexander van Elsas
		Student at the University of Amsterdam
		email:elsas@fwi.uva.nl
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From: r_voisey@csd.uwe.ac.uk (R Voisey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Colour printing on a Star LC10
Date: 5 Nov 92 10:45:22 GMT
Organization: University of the West of England, Bristol

In article <720797123.13717@minster.york.ac.uk> ajm-b@minster.york.ac.uk writes:
>directory, to use an epson equivalent. This was a colour
>driver but nowhere could I see a print in colour option. The
>driver was EX-800 (I think). Anyhow, I simply want to know
>if a colour driver is supplied with the RISC OS 3.1 printer
>manager to print in colour on an LC-10

The JX driver should do the trick, BUT it only prints colour at low
resolutions (like all the Acorn drivers).  If you want a decent driver I
believe Beebug can provide one (at a cost).

Cheers

Bob


-- 
  Robert J. Voisey  :  r_voisey@csd.uwe.ac.uk
         -- Probug Software Developments --
162 Staplehill Rd, Fishponds, Bristol, Avon, England
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: okrumnow@mcshh.Hanse.DE (Olaf Krumnow)
Subject: Re: WHAT ARE THE BEST GAMES AROUND AT THE
Organization: Point of Presence & MCS Hamburg
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 10:25:42 GMT

angelo@i41fs2.ira.uka.de (Angelo Schneider Betr.Prechelt) writes:

>Sorry, do I miss the point? AS I know you allways can create
>a program with the same look and feel like an other program.
>No one can argue against this. The problem might be for *YOU*
>to prove that you did not use *material* copyrighted by the
>author of the original.

Look at all those wars Apple fighted against companies copying the
look of their GUI. And they won a lot of them.But they lost against
Microsoft. If they had won this one too, Acorn would have been the
next, for sure.

>That means if you do not use the sourcecode or the extracted
>machine code from a program you are always free to create the 
>same.

>angelo

Olaf
From: gtoal@ibmpcug.co.uk (Graham Toal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: WHAT ARE THE BEST GAMES AROUND AT THE
Date: 8 Nov 92 16:26:28 GMT
Organization: The IBM PC User Group, UK.

In article <1992Nov8.022904.3470@cam.compserv.utas.edu.au> cknight@esk.compserv.utas.edu.au (Chris Knight) writes:
>As above. How can it not look like Elite? If the rumour's true, why doesn't
>Braben just get stuck into all s/w houses that have done a vector graphics
>space-game? Unfortunately, I still can't think of a game on the Arc that has
>the polish of Zarch. Maybe it's me.

Possibly because they predate the arch *and* the beeb by many years.  Who
remembers the *real* vector-graphics space-games like Tailgunner?

Look and feel on videogames is ridiculous.  Acornsoft made most of their
money on play-alike rip-offs.  The law only gives authors protection on
1) the copyright of the code - you can't actually *steal* it.
2)  copyright for the graphics - eg the pacman icon - which is easily
    avoided (as Acornsoft did) by using other characters/space-ship designs etc.

Braben must be, as you suggest, money grubbing scum if he's trying to
pull that old dodge.

G
--
From: mhw@minster.york.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Using custom screen modes with RO3.1
Date: 13 Nov 92 10:41:49 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of York, England

In article <10959@baird.cs.strath.ac.uk> gpalmer@cs.strath.ac.uk (Gary J Palmer IE91) writes:
>
>Does anyone know if the overscan modes supplied with Impression II work
>under RiscOS3.1, as I use them by default :-)

I'm still using mode 66 with no problems whatsoever; it's a bit bigger
than Acorns wide mode 16 too. The custom screen mode that doesn't work
which I find most annoying is the interlaced multisync modes. Anyone
know why it falls over?

-Mark.
From: thughes@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Tom Hughes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Trojan Mouse
Date: 7 Nov 92 15:26:02 GMT
Distribution: eunet
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Warwick University, England

For anyone who's interested, the BBC TV programme 'The Trojan Mouse'
about the history of the BBC computer literacy project, which was of
course based on the BBC Micro, will be repeated at 9.15am tomorrow
morning (Sunday 7th November) on BBC1.

I seem to remember that a number of people complained about missing it
before, so I though I'd warn you this time. Sorry the warning's rather
late, butI only found out today.

Tom.

============================================================================
Tom Hughes, CS3

thughes@uk.ac.warwick.dcs            57 Shakleton Road
csugk@uk.ac.warwick.csv              Earlsdon
                                     Coventry
(0203) 673584                        CV5 6HT
============================================================================
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: charles@morgan.ucs.mun.ca (Charles Loader)
Subject: Re: Acorn Computers
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 15:10:46 GMT

In article <BxG8sv.6qt@newcastle.ac.uk> A.M.Wall@newcastle.ac.uk (A.M.Wall) writes:
>In article <1992Oct29.110459.1688@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> jabell@nyx.cs.du.edu (James Bell) writes:
>>
>>
>>Does Acorn have a division in the US? Canada even? I`d like to contact
>>Acorn without having to mail a letter to England.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>James.
>
>Acorn does have links with Olivetti Canada, but I don't think there is an 
>actual division of Acorn in Canada or the US.

There is and "Acorn Canada" managed by Olaf Trunzer (I think) and
Dorothy Netherwood worked with them.  They did post a bit to the
net a while back but have been very quiet of late.   I may have
their address or phone number somewhere.

Charles
From: DWallin@acorn.co.uk (Dick Wallin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: DragASprite proper use.
Date: 6 Nov 92 11:44:21 GMT
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England

In article <lfevaoINN4vd@cronkite> andyf@yama.uk.sun.com (Andrew Fox - Sun UK - Answer centre) writes:

Loads deleted.

>Whilst I agree that apps should do DragASprite checking via the CMOS
>bit, it would seem that most people definitely prefer the new style
>of sprite dragging. This is especially evident from the number of
>pleas I have had for the 'ForceADrag' module since my original
>posting.

Unfortunately, you are wrong here, I believe. Market research (yep we do
some of this!) actually showed that the majority did NOT want solid sprite
dragging, so it is not set as default.

Incidentally the reason for this was that our user base seems to find the
solid drag obscures where they wish to drop the icon.

>Andy Fox.

Dick Wallin
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: nas20@cl.cam.ac.uk (Nick Smith)
Subject: Re: DragASprite / Modified filer.
Reply-To: nas20@phx.cam.ac.uk (Nick Smith)
Organization: U of Cambridge Comp Lab, UK
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 00:44:21 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.214741.5081@dcs.warwick.ac.uk> ahersee@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Andrew Hersee) writes:

>Ok it is possible to do. All you need to do is plot the multiple files you
>are going to drag in a sprite and then drag that larger sprite. (I may work
>on this if no one else succedes).

I think multiple-drag sprites look a bit silly to be honest!

>My filer is already modified so that I can have sprites for normal directories
>not just the ones with a ! at the beginning. This allows me to draw a little
>picture in the lower half of a directory sprite depicting what the directory
>contains. (eg my games directory is a standard directory sprite with a pac-

neat! Of course don't need to modify the filer - just have your dirs
as apps which when double-clicked on open a subdir, etc.

>Unfortunately I don't think I could post my Filer2 module as the main code
>is copyright Acorn. How does the person who is going to attempt a dragasprite
>filer think they are going to distribute it?

This person who has done a dragsprite filer thinks he is going to distribute
it as a !Patch type thing ;-)
--
Nick Smith, Rm.226, Churchill College, Cambridge ! Email: nas20@uk.ac.cam.phx
.sig quote wanted - must be under guarantee.     ! Tel: (0223) 465596
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: rsxdp@unicorn.nott.ac.uk (D.Pead)
Subject: Re: Using BJ10ex with RISCOS3.1
Organization: Shell Centre for Maths Education , University of Nottingham
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 10:21:26 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.090854.23172@dcs.warwick.ac.uk> thughes@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Tom Hughes) writes:
>
>The 'enlightened upgrade policy' may, I fear, be changing slightly.
>According to the November issue of Archive which I received yesterday,
>Impression 2.18 (which supports rendering of Artworks files) will only
>be free to owners of Artworks. Others will have to pay a small (?) fee
>of around ten pounds (this price is not definate).
>
>The suggestion is that such a policy might be more the norm in future.
>

Can't say I blame them - they must have spent a fortune in sending out
Impression upgrades.  Most other firms would at least have charged for
the Impression 1 -> 2 upgrade (which was free if you could put up with a
addenum to the old manual and no new fonts).  I don't balk at #10 for an
upgrade to a 200-quid program (if ArtWorks support is the only mod then
it may just be a method of discouraging the whole world to ask for a free
disc).  "Unenlightened" upgrade policies are the "Save up all the bugs
for the next major release and offer users a 20% discount" and "we have
no plans to upgrade this package".  Did anybody SEE the upgrade system
from MS Word for DOS to Word for Windows? You had to go to your dealer,
buy an upgrade pack and then send off for the software!
From: smb@cs.nott.ac.uk (Simon Burrows)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Impression II Upgrades
Date: 12 Nov 92 12:20:54 GMT
Organization: Nottingham University

The next version of Impression II really does need to have some new
features, particularly for technical and scientific publishing. I
think this is likely to happen, because CC (rightly) fear the
competition from TechWriter, published by Icon Technology in Leicester.

Techwriter is a superb package - it only really suffers because of
the price - 250 pounds (although some discounts are available).

Computer Concepts have always been extremely fair to me when it comes to
upgrades and customer support. (Recently, when my LaserDirect went
wrong, they offered me a  replacement at trade price if the old one
could not be repaired. Unfortunately, Ian Copestake was advertising
the same printer at less than the "trade price". Fortunately, it was
cheaper to get the printer repaired (although still a ripoff)).

Simon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Burrows   smb@cs.nott.ac.uk  psyhsmb@unicorn.nott.ac.uk  +44 533 712030
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn