From: chet@netcom.com (Eric Chet)
Subject: A4000 && More
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 92 07:35:44 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

==========================
amiga.dev/news #56, from jwiede, 4478 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:45:10 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Press Release (1 of 6)
For Release: Immediate

Contact: Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
1200 Wilson Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
Mona Astra Liss or
Amanda K. Griffies
(215) 431-9354


COMMODORE INTRODUCES THE AMIGA 4000 AT WORLD OF COMMODORE SHOW

(Pasadena, CA --- September 11, 1992) --- Commodore Business Machines,
Inc. today introduced the Amiga (R) 4000, the company's revolutionary new
premier multimedia computer. The Amiga 4000 marks the company's most
significant new technology advancement in its Amiga line since the
product's introduction in 1985. In addition to the Amiga 4000, Commodore
announced several other significant product introductions including the
Amiga 600 and 600HD, AmigaDOS TM Release 3 Operating System, A570 CD-ROM
Drive, and AmigaVision TM Professional Authoring System.


James Dionne, President and General Manager of Commodore Business
Machines, Inc., commented, "These product announcements exemplify
Commodore's continued commitment to offer computers with probably the
best price/performance ratios in the computer industry today.   We are
confident that these products, particularly the Amiga 4000, will keep
Commodore at the forefront of multimedia technology and enable us to
continue our aggressive push in the multimedia marketplace."


Amiga 4000

This powerful new machine features Commodore's Advanced Graphics
Architecture TM custom co-processor chip set that enables users to
display and animate graphics in multiple resolutions at up to 256,000
colors from a palette of 16.8 million.  The new hardware features are
driven by AmigaDOS Release 3, the newest version of Commodore's
multitasking operating system, in combination with the machine's main
processor, the Motorola (R) 68040.  While this new version of the
operating system takes advantage of the latest hardware features, it also
maintains backwards compatibility with Amiga software not written
specifically for the Amiga 4000.

The Amiga 4000 will come standard with a 120MB hard drive, 6MB of memory,

a dual speed high-density floppy drive, and CrossDOS which enables users
to read and write to MS-DOS (R) formatted floppy and hard drives.  Other
key multimedia features include: a dedicated slot for video devices;
selectable NTSC scan rate compatibility; four voice dual-channel digital
audio; up to 8 sprites, enabling high speed animations; and full hardware
video overscan.  The Manufacturer's Suggested List Price for the Amiga
4000-040/120 is $3699.00.


AmigaDOS Release 3

The newest version of the Amiga operating system adds several software
enhancements to the previous 2.04 operating system.  Among the new
features are: CrossDOS, allowing access to MS-DOS formatted floppy and
hard drives; a new Installer utility; and a Postscript printer driver.
Additionally, AmigaDOS Release 3.0 offers full support for the new
Advanced Graphics Architecture chip set featured in the Amiga 4000.


Amiga 600

The Amiga 600 is a powerful entry-level computer with a small footprint
and low profile shape, making it very attractive to the home computer
buyer.  The Amiga 600 and 600HD will come with AmigaDOS 2.XX and a

selection of software packages.


A570 CD-ROM Drive

The A570 is a high capacity read-only storage device for the Amiga 500
series. The A570 accepts standard 5" compact discs in a CD caddy and
plays all CDTV (R), audio CD, CD+G, and CD+MIDI discs. It can also read
industry-standard ISO-9660 CD-ROM discs.


AmigaVision Professional

AmigaVision Professional builds and expands on the visual programming
environment used in earlier versions of AmigaVision. The new features
include support for the CDTV player, speed and memory improvements, and
enhancements to the authoring environment. In addition, a freely
redistributable runtime module has been included, enabling flows created
in AmigaVision to be played back without loading AmigaVision.


Commodore Business Machines, Inc., based in West Chester, PA, is the U.S.
subsidiary of Commodore International. The company manufactures and
markets a complete line of Amiga computers and peripherals for the

business, consumer, education and government markets.

Commodore (R) and CDTV (R) are trademarks of Commodore Electronics
Limited. Amiga (R), AmigaDOS, AmigaVision, Bridgeboard and Advanced
Graphics Architecture are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc. MS-DOS (R)
is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Motorola (R) is a trademark of
Motorola Inc.

                            ###
==========================
amiga.dev/news #57, from jwiede, 3441 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:45:59 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Press Release (2 of 6)
Amiga 4000 Technical Specifications

CPU:
- Motorola (R) 68040 series 32-bit processor
- 25 Mhz clock speed
- Removable processor module

MEMORY:
- 2 MB 32-bit Chip RAM
- Up to 16 MB 32-bit Fast RAM
- Easily expandable via standard SIMM units
- Additional standard RAM is supported by the Amiga's proprietary
AUTOCONFIG (TM) capability

SOFTWARE:
- 512 KB 32-bit ROM
- AmigaDOS (TM) 3.0 Multitasking Operating System
- Supports programmable resolutions
- Supports outline fonts
- Localized for multiple language/countries

- CrossDOS MS-DOS (R) file transfer utility

INTERFACES:
- Keyboard
- Mouse/Joystick/Lightpen/Tablet ports (2)
- Serial (RS-232)
- Parallel (Centronics)
- Video (RGB analog or RGBI digital)
- Right and Left stereo audio
- Internal and External floppy disk drive ports
- Internal AT IDE port. Optional SCSI adapter

SYSTEM SLOTS:
- CPU slot (200-pin) supports high-speed memory and advanced processors
- Amiga system bus - Four 16/32-bit Zorro III expansion slots (100-pin)
with AUTOCONFIG
- PC bus - Three PCAT T(M) slots

VIDEO SLOT:
- Extended 24-bit Video slot
- In line with standard 100-pin Zorro slot for easy integration of Zorro
and video boards
                                   Zorro III Slots
          ____________________________________________

         |                                            |
      1  | [==========][======]  [=================]  |
      2  | [==========][======]  [=================]  |
      3  | [==========][======]  [=================]  |
      4  |  [======][=========]  [=================]  |
         |_                   ____                   _|
           |_________________|    |_________________|

1, 2, 3 = PC/AT Slots; 4 = Video Slot

How the Slots Work: If MS-DOS compatibility is desired a Bridgeboard
may be placed in slot 1, 2 or 3. When a Bridgeboard is installed, the
empty PC slots are capable of supporting a wide variety of XT or AT-
style boards. The remaining Zorro III slots support both 24 & 32-bit
Zorro boards.

KEYBOARD:
- Detachable
- 94 keys, including 10 function keys
- Separate numeric keypad
- Separate cursor keys (inverted "T" layout)

MOUSE:
- Opto-mechanical

- 2-button design

DISK DRIVES:
- Built-in 3.5-inch high density disk drive (880 KB/1.76 MB formatted)
- Hard Drive models pre-formatted and pre-loaded with system software
and utilities
- 2 rear and 2 front 3.5-inch drive bays
- 1 front 5.25-inch drive bay

GRAPHIC MODES:
- AGA custom chipset produces resolutions ranging from 320x200 to
1280x400 (more with overscan), including 800x600
- NTSC and PAL video resolutions
- Color palette of 16.8 million colors
- 2 to 256,000 user-definable colors displayable on screen

VIDEO DISPLAY OUTPUT:
- Works with RGB analog VGA or multiscan monitors (not all modes
supported with non multiscan monitors)
- Horizontal scan rats 15 kHz - 31 kHz
- Vertical scan rates 50 Hz - 72 Hz

SOUND:
- Four channel stereo sound, capable of reproducing complex waveforms

- 8-bit D/A converters
- 6-bit volume

DIMENSIONS:
- 15 1/4" deep x 15" wide x 5" high

WEIGHT:
- Approx. 20 pounds

POWER REQUIREMENTS:
- 110 volt/60Hz 150 watt power supply

A4000 CONFIGURATIONS:

A4000-040/120
- Amiga 4000 with Motorola 68040 Processor, 6 MB RAM, internal 3.5"
1.76 MB Floppy Drive and 120 MB IDE Hard Drive
- 94-key Keyboard
- 2-button Mouse
- AmigaDOS Release 3.0 System Software and Utilities
- Gold Service Warranty Package

==========================
amiga.dev/news #58, from jwiede, 3324 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:46:42 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Press Release (3 of 6)

AmigaDOS (TM) Release 2.1 System Software Upgrade Technical
Specifications

NEW FEATURES:
- Dynamic Localization of Programs to different languages and locales
- Includes CrossDOS for easy transfer of MS-DOS (R) and Amiga (R) files
- Includes Postscript (R) Printer Driver
- Supports Multiple Serial and Parallel Printer Preferences
- New Preferences Editing
- Motorola (R) 68040 compatible
- Screen mode requester added for selection of screen mode or video
mode

FONTS:
- Supports Agfa Compugraphic Intellifont scalable typefaces
- Includes CG Times, CG Triumvirate and LetterGothic typefaces
- Supports scaling of bitmap fonts
- Better control of font rendering for Desktop Publishing applications


AREXX PROGRAMMING:
- Includes ARexx, a powerful inter-process communication language
- Can be used to control applications which support ARexx
- Allows the integration of different applications that support ARexx into
a single environment
- Ability to launch applications from within other applications

USER INTERFACE:
- Professional three-dimensional look
- Improved ease of use and consistency
- Extensively configurable through Preferences Editors
- Standard file and font requesters
- Supports scrolling screens larger than the monitor
- Select Locale/Country by clicking on World Map
- Keyboard selection in Input Preferences

WORKBENCH FEATURES:
- All files are accessible from the Workbench
- Files are accessible by name or by icon
- Drag selection of multiple icons
- Includes New Drawer command
- Easier cleanups and positioning of icons
- Icons can be "left out" on the Workbench backdrop for easier access


OTHER FEATURES:
- General purpose installer added with installation activation of Keymaps,
Monitors, Printers and DOS Drivers
- Select keyboard from Preferences Editor
- Printer Drivers for popular printers added
- Spline animations on blanked screens
- Support for European monitors
- Enhanced reliability even under low memory situations
- Faster and more reliable floppy disk access
- Improved Icon Editor

SHELL ENHANCEMENTS:
- AmigaDOS commands are faster, more powerful and require fewer
keystrokes
- New commands handle environment variables and links
- Cut and Paste in shell windows
- Extended wildcard capabilities
- Backtick feature allows embedded commands within commands
- Shell windows have a close gadget
- ARexx scripts can be run directly from the Shell

ECS FEATURES:
Enhanced Chip Set Required
- 640x480 non-interlaced Productivity Mode (requires 31 kHZ-capable

monitor)
- 1280x200 and 1280x400 Super-HiRes Modes
- 800x600 requires Multisync
- New genlock features

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:
- Requires any 2.0X ROM-ready Amiga 500, 600, 2000 or 3000 series
computer
- Amiga 2500, A2620 or 2630 requires rev-06 or greater ROMs on the
accelerator card
- ECS features require optional Enhanced Chip Set
- Contact nearest Commodore reseller for details and installation

ORDER INFORMATION:
AS215   AmigaDOS Release 2.1 Software Upgrade includes:
        - 6 disks
        - 3-manual set

AS216   AmigaDOS Release 2.1 ROM and Software Upgrade includes:
        - 2.0X ROM
        - 6 disks
        - 3-manual set

Contact your Commodore reseller for details. To locate a Commodore

reseller in the U.S., call 1-800-66-AMIGA; in Canada call 1-800-661-
AMIGA.

*New mail #7815 from: rsimonsen -  Situation*
Type 'mail read' to view new mail

==========================
amiga.dev/news #59, from jwiede, 1652 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:47:30 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Press Release (4 of 6)

Amiga 600 Technical Specifications

CPU:
- Motorola (R) 68000, 16/32 bit
- 7.16 Mhz NTSC
- Multi-Chip coprocessor system for DMA, Video, Graphics and Sound

MEMORY:
- Expandable to 2MB Chip RAM
- Maximum RAM expansion 6MB with PCMCIA

SOFTWARE:
- 512KB ROM
- AmigaDOS (TM) Release 2 Multitasking Operating System in ROM
- Workbench 2.X and Utilities software

KEYBOARD:
- Integral 78 Key International


MOUSE:
- Opto-mechanical
- 2-button design

DISK DRIVES:
- Built-in 3.5-inch 880 KB floppy disk
- External 3.5-inch floppy disk
- Internal IDE hard disk drive (optional)

GRAPHIC MODES:
- Color palette of 4096 colors
- Selectable resolutions
- Supports full overscan

VIDEO DISPLAY OUTPUT:
- RGB analog 15 KHz Horizontal Scan Rate
- Color Composite
- RF Modulated

SOUND:
- Four channel stereo sound

DIMENSIONS:
- 14" deep x 9.5" wide x 3" high


WEIGHT:
- Approx. 6 lbs.

POWER REQUIREMENTS:
- Switching power supply 23 watts

INTERFACES:
External:
- Floppy Disk (DB23)
- Mouse/Joystick/Lightpen (2 DB9)
- Serial (RS-232, PC-compatible)
- Parallel (Centronics -- PC-compatible)
- Video RGB analog (DB23 15 KHz)
         Color Composite (RCA)
        RF Modulator (RCA)
- PCMCIA Card Slot

Internal:
- Internal AT IDE connector

A600 CONFIGURATIONS:

A600 P

- Amiga 600 with Motorola 68000 Processor, internal 3.5" 880K Floppy
Drive, 1 MB RAM
- Integral Keyboard
- Release 2.X Operating System and Utilities
- 2-button Mouse

A600HD
- Amiga 600 with Motorola 68000 Processor, internal 3.5" 880K Floppy
Drive, 1 MB RAM
- Internal 40MB IDE Hard Drive
- Integral Keyboard
- Release 2.X Operating System and Utilities
- 2-button Mouse

==========================
amiga.dev/news #60, from jwiede, 1833 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:48:15 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Press Release (5 of 6)

Amiga 570 External CD ROM Storage for the Amiga 500
Technical Specifications

FEATURES:
- High Capacity, Read-only CD-ROM
- CDTV Compatibility
- 2MB Fast RAM expansion (internal)
- Rear expansion slot for plug-in cartridges

OPERATING SYSTEM:
- ISO 9660 file system handler
- High-speed decompression for graphics, audio, CD+Graphics and CD
Digital Audio

CD-ROM DRIVE SPECS:
- Data Transfer - Normal        :   153 KBytes/sec (Mode 1)
                        :   171 KBytes/sec (Mode 2)
- Average access time       :   0.5s
- Maximum access time       :   0.8s

- Soft read error           :   Less than 1 in 10^9
- Hard read error           :   Less than 1 in 10^12
- Seek error                :   Less than 1 in 10^6
- Commands              :   CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD+G, CD+MIDI
- Standard supported        :   ISO-9660
- Data Capacity         :   540 MegaBytes (approx.)
- Mechanism             :   Protective Disk Caddy Type

CD AUDIO SPECS:
- 8x oversampling
- Audio output              :   External 2.0V p-p, 10K OHM
- Frequency response        :   4-20 KHz
- Signal/Noise              :   -96db
- Channel Separation        :   -85db
- Harmonic Distortion       :   0.02% at 1 KHz
- Maximum audio capacity        :   about 28 hours - AM quality
- Sample Rates              :   variable from CD Audio rate (44
                            KHz)
- Dual 16-bit D/A converter plus 64 levels of attenuation

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Rear Panel:
- Power Supply Connector
- Power Switch

- Amiga Audio In (Left and Right)
- CDTV Audio Out (Left and Right)

Front Panel:
- Stereo Headphone Jack
- Compatibility Switch
- Power-On Pilot LED
- Drive Activity LED
- Disc Loading Slot

Dimensions:
- Approx. 256 x 180 x 68 mm

Weight:
- Approx. 6 pounds

POWER REQUIREMENTS:
- 110 volt/60Hz from external supply

==========================
amiga.dev/news #61, from jwiede, 2773 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:48:57 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Press Release (6 of 6)

AmigaVision Professional specs

CDTV (R) SUPPORT FEATURES
- Playback of CD-XL Motion Video Files
- Plays CD Digital Audio tracks
- Cursor and Jumping Highlight Modes
- Reads CDTV IR Controller
- Full Support for CDTV Preferences
- Control MIDI out files to MIDI or Amiga

VIDEO CONTROL FEATURES:
- Supports full-motion video
- Supports Genlocks
- On-screen videodisc controller
- Video setup and configuration
- Supports Sony, Pioneer and Phillips laserdisc players, NEC PC-VCR,
Panasonic TQ3032F, Sony Umatic 9 Tape Players
- Supports drivers for custom players


USER INTERFACE:
- Primary Interface(s)
    Direct Manipulation of Icons
    Requester Boxes
- Presentation in flowchart format
- User input from keyboard, mouse, joystick or touchscreen
- Auto-open and reduced-size icons

GRAPHICS & ANIMATION:
- Combines Text and Graphics on screen
- Uses Amiga standard IFF ILBM files as foreground and background
- Simultaneous playback of Animation and Audio
- 34 Transitions with 4 speeds
  17 palette/resolution independent
- Visual Display Elements: Graphics, Text, Animation, Video

SOUND:
- Supports Amiga Stereo Audio
- Supports Amiga standard SMUS files with tempo, dynamics and chord
support
- Digitized sound in standard 8SVX format
- Speech synthesis and text-to-speech conversion
- Pre-loading of audio and streamed-in animation and sound for increased
display and playback speed

- Audio Display Elements: Digitized Sound, Music, Speech Synthesis

DATABASE:
- Integrated into AmigaVision
- dBase III (R) data file compatible
- up to 10 files open simultaneously
- Read and Update functions
- Variable definition and manipulation
- Define data input forms
- String, numeric, data and Boolean operations

VISUAL PROGRAMMING:
- Features:
    Flow Control          Subroutines
    Interrupts            AV Engine
    Libraries of Events   Object Editor
    Conditional Statements
- Unlimited Number of Hit Boxes/Buttons per Screen
- Unlimited Text Windows
- Hypertext Browsing
- Runs external programs via ARexx
- Chaining of programs
- Selectable memory constraints
- Create runtime modules

- Relocate applications
- Name, Position and Move objects including animation brushes
- Define Paths and Traversal Options

RUNTIME PLAYER:
- Includes freely distributable Runtime Player

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum Delivery System: Amiga computer with 2 MB RAM

- Suggested Development System: Amiga Computer with Hard Drive and 4
MB RAM

- Runtime Player Requires approx. 270KB, 1 MB RAM recommended

AMIGAVISION PROFESSIONAL (PN: AS251) INCLUDES:
- Program Disk
- Install Disk with printer and video drivers
- Demo Disk with Guided Tour booklet
- Examples Disk
- User's Guide
- Runtime Player

- Requires AmigaDOS (TM) 1.3 or higher


==========================
amiga.dev/news #62, from jwiede, 210 chars, Fri Sep 11 23:20:51 1992
--------------------------
TITLE: Note regarding above announcements.

The configurations and prices of the systems discussed in the previous
six releases are for the U.S.A. only.  Configurations and prices will
vary in other countries.
-- 
~
/**************************************************************************
 * Eric Chet       | Amiga does it better
 * chet@netcom.com | Ray Tracing and other graphics techniques 
 * BIX: chet       | "Use what is useful, simply to simplify"
 */