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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 02 Issue 33
Volume 2, Issue 33 Atari Online News, Etc. August 18, 2000
Published and Copyright (c) 2000
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- CC: Classic Chips
With Contributions by:
Carl Forhan
To subscribe to A-ONE, send a message to: dpj@delphi.com
and your address will be added to the distribution list.
To unsubscribe from A-ONE, send the following: Unsubscribe A-ONE
Please make sure that you include the same address that you used to
subscribe from.
To download A-ONE, set your browser bookmarks to one of the
following sites:
http://people.delphi.com/dpj/a-one.htm
http://www.icwhen.com/aone/
http://a1mag.atari.org
Coming Soon:
http://a1mag.b-squared.net
Visit the Atari Advantage Forum on Delphi!
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=atari
=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0233 08/18/00
~ NTP Client Ported! ~ People Are Talking! ~ New MyMail Released!
~ JUGS Comes to Jaguar! ~ New Cartridge Ethernet ~ MyAtari.net Coming!
~ Tiny Computers Closer! ~ Olympus Digital Zoom! ~ New AOL 6.0 Soon!
~ GNOME Defies Windows! ~ AMD Ships 1.1 GHz Chip ~ Songbird Update!
-* Olympus 10X Digital Zoom Cam *-
-* Compaq Unveils New Internet Gadgets *-
-* Delphi's Legacy Forums - Beginning of End? *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
My typical monologue starts off with the latest weather report for here in
New England. In keeping with "tradition", it's been cool. I finally
discovered this past week a new celestial body in the sky. I believe it was
once called, the SUN! I'd almost forgot what it looked like! <g> It was
short-lived, however, so let's not jump the gun with rejoicing.
I heard from quite a number of Delphi members within the last 24 hours!
Fortunately, I was forewarned because I had also received "the letter" from
Delphi management notifying all Premium Plan members that Delphi's Legacy
forums would no longer be supported, come November. Not dropped, but not
supported. No technical support, nor customer service support.
Essentially, Delphi is letting the Legacy Forums and other services continue
to run until they break down and die - something that is inevitable sooner
rather than later.
Because the letter went out to affected members yesterday, I don't have a
lot of time to react and get it on paper into this week's issue. And boy do
I have a lot to say about this decision! Perhaps I'll cool down over the
next few days and I won't mention anything in next week's issue. Then
again, I just may continue to fume and really go after this topic. We'll
all know next week! Other than that, I don't have any other thought-
provoking comments for this week. <g>
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
MyMail Version 1.10 Released
Erik Hall released Version 1.10 of MyMail, the e-mail client for
Stik/Sting. Improvements include:
- More mailboxes
- Scroll bar for mail selection and mailbox selection
- More filters
- Multi check of mail accounts
- Lots of bug fixes and improvements
http://www2.tripnet.se/~erikhall/programs/mymail.html
NTP Client Ported
From: Martin-Iric Racine <q-funk@pp.fishpool.fi>
Just uploaded to Funet and lip6: my port of K9, a very simple NTP
client. This allows for easy synchronization with any server that
sends NTP broadcasts.
Because NTP works in UTC and alters the RTC time, one must also
run their MiNT setup in UTC mode (see tzinit manual).
Sadly, this puts MiNT behind Linux, in terms of flexibility:
Linux can run in RTC=localtime and still use NTP, while MiNT does
not currently know how to offset from UTC back to localtime, at
the application level.
Still, if you don't mind running everything in UTC, this little
time client works very well. Enjoy!
Cartridge Ethernet Adapter
A new ethernet adapter for all ST, STe, TT and Falcon computer
is now on sale. The adapter consists of two modules: First a
cartridge-based bridge to which you connect the second module,
a pocket ethernet adapter.
Read more (in German) and see pictures at
http://www.asamnet.de/~hilgarte/ether.htm
Generic Sound XBIOS Patch
From: Odd Skancke <oskancke@online.no>
I've uploaded some info about GSXB (a "Generic Sound XBIOS" patch, that
together with a driver, adds sound XBIOS compatibility to any Atari
or Atari clone computers) to my page (see sig). At the moment
this is only useful to Hades owners. As soon as I get the ES1371 driver to
work on Milan, I'll upload a Milan version of it. GSXB itself will run on
any machine, but that is pointless without any drivers.
Regards,
Odd Skancke - ozk@atari.org - http://assemsoft.atari.org
MyAtari.net: New Atari Magazine & Community Planned
Matthew Bacon has announced MyAtari.net, a Web magazine for Atari
ST/TT/Falcon users that will launch in the fall. The magazine will
include news, product reviews, feature articles, tutorials,
competitions, software downloads, a Q&A section, and Classified Ads.
http://www.myatari.net
=~=~=~=
Delphi's Legacy Forums, A Dying Breed?!?
To: All users of legacy services on Delphi
From: Rusty Williams, President of Delphi.com, Incorporated
As of November 1, 2000, the "legacy services" including premium homepage
services, text-based online service, and Delphi e-mail will be provided
on an unsupported basis.
We're making these changes in order to focus our development and
marketing efforts on Delphi's free web-based forum services. With over
2.5 million members, Delphi.com is now one of the top 150 sites on the
web and growing rapidly.
The legacy services may remain accessible, however, there will be no
technical support. You should make arrangements as soon as possible get
an alternative provider -- some options are described at the end of this
message.
Q & A -
(Q) Why is Delphi making these changes?
(A) For the past three years, Delphi has focused on building the best
forum services for people with a standard web browser and internet
connection. The site has grown to more than 2.5 million members and 80,000
active forums. In order to maintain our leadership in this market, we must
focus our efforts on our strengths. The text-based services, e-mail
services and premium homepage services are all based on a technical
platform that cannot be maintained on a cost-effective basis.
(Q) What exactly are "Text Online Services", "Premium Homepages" and
"Delphi E-mail"?
(A) Depending on what type of account you opened and when, you may not
even be familiar with all of these terms. The Text Online Service was
offered as Delphi's primary service through the late 80s and early 90s.
Prior to now we've chosen to maintain this service and construct a
"bridge" between the old text interface and the newer web-based forums.
This has become impractical and too costly to support. The Premium
Homepages were initially offered in 1997 and 1998 and included special
authoring tools and additional storage for building homepages for a fee.
Delphi E-mail is any account that uses xyz@delphi.com as an e-mail
address (e-mail was originally provided in conjunction with Homepages
and text online services).
(Q) What does "unsupported" mean?
(A) We hope that it means that these services will continue to be
accessible for many months without any fees. If there aren't technical
problems, then you will be able to use them for free. You won't be able
to get technical support either by e-mail or phone so everything will be
entirely on an "as available" basis. If something breaks, we may commit
the resources to fix it or we may not. It will depend on the time, cost,
and level of use.
(Q) I use the text-based games such as TQ and Scramble on the web. Will
these be discontinued?
(A) Since these games are based on the old platform they are prone to
technical problems. Our hope is to continue providing the games, but it
will depend on the technical support costs.
Recommendation for alternative services:
E-Mail services: If you use Delphi.com for e-mail (your address is
something@delphi.com), you should immediately set up an e-mail account
with any Internet Service Provider or one of the free web-based
providers such as Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com), Yahoo mail
(http://mail.yahoo.com). There is a list of over 5000 Internet Service
Providers at http://www.isps.com. Once you have a new account set up,
notify all of your existing contacts of your new address. You can arrange
for your Delphi.com e-mail to be forwarded to your new account by sending a
request to service@delphi.com.
Homepage services: you can set up free personal homepages at hundreds of
sites on the web. Some of the most popular include
http://www.tripod.com, http://www.homestead.com, http://www.geocities.com,
http://www.fortunecity.com, and http://www.xoom.com. We're looking into
contracting with a company to provide homepage services integrated with
Delphi.com, but it will be several months before this could launch.
We appreciate your support of Delphi over the years and look forward to
your continued participation in Delphi's free forum services at
http://www.delphi.com.
Best regards,
Rusty Williams
President
Delphi.com Incorporated
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@portone.com
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Well, it's back to work for me after a
week-long vacation. Why is it that vacation weeks always seem to go by
so fast and all the other weeks go by sooooo sloooow?
As expected, I returned to a mountain of things that others couldn't or
wouldn't do, and it's going to take me a while to dig out from under all
of it.... probably until the next vacation.
If any of you have been following my rants about Linux, you might be
interested in knowing that the latest, greatest release of Debian Linux
for m68k (Motorola 68000) computers is now out. It sports installations
for the Atari TT, some Falcons and Atari clones, and best of all... It's
FREE!
Check it out if you're in the market for a new OS.
http://m68k.debian.org
For any of you who don't use Delphi (and why not??), there's a letter
from them elsewhere in this issue that was sent to all "premium service"
subscribers. It's another sad chapter in the continuing saga of Atari
users' struggles to do what they want to do. Give it a quick perusal.
Now let's get to the news, hints, tips, and info available on the
UseNet.
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================================
Callum Lerwick asks for help with accessing the 'net from an Atari
linked to a Linux PC (got all that?):
"Okay, I quietly slipped off to the PC about 5 years ago and became a
Linuxhead and such. But I still have a Mega4 ST laying about. Just for
kicks I'd like to get it on the net. What options do I have? I'm a unix
geek so I'm thinking MiNT. I've just leeched KGMD, I messed with it when
it was new but the 2mb RAM I had at that point wasn't enough. Is there
anything I should know? Any newer KGMD's than 1.0 circa 1995? Thought
there was an english translation of KGMD somewhere... Anything I should
update? Any Y2K bugs? ;)
I figure I'll run a null modem PPP connect to a Linux box. I have
various Linux boxes connected on a LAN NATted on a cable modem... But is
there by any chance anything to do PLIP from an Atari to a Linux PC over
a Parcp cable? Apparently the linux kernel supports an eight bit
bi-direction mode now, but doesn't seem to be quite the same cable
wiring... Should be much faster. ;)
My goal is to have it be a web server. Is there any up already?"
Jo Even Skarstein tells Callum:
"Try SpareMiNT, although I'm not sure if 4Mb is enough for rpm."
Martin-Eric Racine adds:
"It's worse than that. There is no SpareMiNT installation kit
that someone could use from scratch.
Currently, one still needs to install KGMD or some other kit,
then alter the file system hierarchy for FHS, then install the RPM
package manager and cpio.
In other words, SpareMiNT is still not a proper distribution kit."
Jo Even replies:
"Really? I scratched an ext2-partition, unpacked the rpm bootstrap archive
to it, symlinked the folders to u:\, rebooted and started installing rpm
packages. Apart from tar.ttp and gzip.ttp I didn't need anything.
OK, so it's not plug and play but if he's a unix-man he won't have any
problems with it. It's just a matter of reading the docs in the rpm
bootstrap archive.
The init-package doesn't work too well yet, fortunately I
don't need it on my TT so I really don't care <grin>"
James Aubrey posts:
"I was wondering if there is a way to use Winston (the latest ver) and the
ST internet client packages together to browse the web without using a
modem? I have a cable modem and wanted to try and get an ST browser up and
running to check it out. Also to telnet into some sites via the ST
emulator."
Bob Wilson tells James:
"Go to emulators.com and download version 7.2 of gemulator. Set up can be
tricky. It does not like certain programs. I turn off real player when I
run it. It is not perfect and can crash at inopportune times but it is
very very fast. I get about 8.5 times an STE on a P166 laptop. It will
support screen sizes that the Atari never would but many programs will
not work in these modes."
Andy Blakely asks:
"Is there a place in the US to buy MagicPC or MagicMac? I'd like to see
a website that markets this OS so I can see the specs, screenshots, etc.
I'm thinking it would be fun to mess around with, although probably
expensive."
Simon Osborne tells Andy:
"Systems for Tomorrow should sell it, www.systemsfortomorrow.com
Email: sales@SystemsForTomorrow.com
Mail: 4226 Hawthorne Ave - Kansas City MO 64133 - United States
Order by Phone: 816-358-2196
Order by Fax: 816-358-0079
Retail Store- 11010 East Winner Road - Independence MO 64052 Open Saturdays,
10AM to 5PM"
Andrew Owen adds his thoughts:
"I used to use the 680x0 version with a Powerbook 165 a number of years back.
I was very impressed with it then and it's moved on quite a bit since then.
Any GEM based application will run at a phenomenal speed on today's systems,
faster in many cases than native Mac or PC software."
Andy comes back and posts:
"Ok, now that I know where to buy it.... can somebody tell me where I
can get info about it? I'd like to see some details, like what it
offers and maybe some screenshots. Shouldn't there be a homepage which
markets it?"
Andrew tells Andy:
"It's made by Application Systems Heidelburg. The UK distributor is System
Solutions. They both have websites which I can't remember the addresses of.
I think Toad is the US distributor. It does not emulate an ST, it is a GEM
compatible operating system that will run GEM programs written for the ST,
TT, and Falcon 030. Using NVDI it can support Calamus, TrueType, Bitstream
and PostScript fonts. It doesn't use Atari ROMs. It has true pre-emptive
multi-tasking. It is incredibly fast. It can use the full graphic
capabilities of the host machine. On the Mac it is possible to use MIDI
software via serial MIDI ports. I don't know if this is supported on the
iMac. It can read Atari formatted disks. It is possible to share files
between the host computer and Magic. It will not run most games files. It is
very stable and reliable."
Ken MacDonald tells Andy:
"try: http://magicos.de "
Andy 'C' posts:
"Having always been a little bit behind the pack in the evolution game I
have just acquired a copy of Cubase compact for the PC. Up to now I have
been using Cubase on an Atari ST 1040. My question is how can I transfer
all the Atari .all files to my PC. Any pointers would be much
appreciated."
Andrew Owen tells Andy:
"Providing the file format is the same, just format a DD disk on the PC.
Bung it in the Atari and copy the files across. The Atari can read and
write PC disks without extra software. If you have a HD disk drive then you
can use PC formatted HD disks instead."
Well folks, I know it's short, but that's it for this week. Tune in again
next week, same time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they
are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
=~=~=~=
->In This Week's Gaming Section - JUGS For Jaguar! WWF Royal Rumble!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" NFL Gameday 2001! Cool Pool!
Duck Dodgers!! Chrono Cross!
And much more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
The Most Electrifying Brand in Sports
Entertainment Has Arrived on the Sega Dreamcast
"WWF Royal Rumble" Slams Into Retail
THQ Inc. and JAKKS Pacific announced the release of the highly anticipated
``WWF Royal Rumble" for the Sega Dreamcast.
Developed by critically acclaimed Yuke's Co. Ltd, creators of the
top-selling Sony PlayStation game, ``WWF SmackDown!," ``WWF Royal Rumble"
is the first wrestling game on any platform that gives players the
opportunity to square off with up to nine wrestlers in the ring at once.
Game Informer magazine recently proclaimed ``WWF Royal Rumble" as ``...the
fastest moving and best looking WWF title any home console has ever seen."
``With `WWF WrestleMania 2000' for the Nintendo 64 and `WWF SmackDown!' for
the PlayStation continuing to top the charts in the U.S. and abroad, we're
excited to now bring gamers the next generation of WWF gameplay with `WWF
Royal Rumble' for the Sega Dreamcast," said Peter Dille, vice president of
marketing for THQ.
```WWF Royal Rumble' is going to blow away both WWF and Dreamcast
enthusiasts," stated Jennifer Richmond, vice president of marketing for
JAKKS Pacific. ``The hottest license in interactive entertainment just got
hotter."
``WWF Royal Rumble" is a direct translation of Sega's upcoming ``WWF Royal
Rumble" arcade game, boasting ultra-fast gameplay and highly detailed
graphics. Both the arcade and home versions were developed by Yuke's Co.
Ltd., of which THQ holds a minority interest. Authentic WWF theme music
introduces each of the more than 20 WWF Superstars, including The Rock,
Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H and Rikishi.
For the first time ever, gamers can experience the true chaos of a ``Royal
Rumble" match with up to nine WWF Superstars in the ring at one time. And
numerous interactive backstage areas give players the chance to take the
action out of the ring.
NFL GameDay 2001 for the PlayStation
Hits the Line At Full Speed on August 15
Continuing to deliver breakthrough football action through revolutionary
gameplay and impressive graphics, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
announced that NFL GameDay 2001 from 989 Sports will be available at retail
on August 15 for the PlayStation game console. Complete with running back
Marshall Faulk of the World Champion St. Louis Rams providing strategic
input and appearing on the title's box cover, NFL GameDay 2001 features all
31 NFL teams and players, amazingly realistic 3D player and stadium models
and tons of new motion-captured moves from 13 NFL players. Announcers Dick
Enberg and Phil Simms return to call all the NFL excitement.
``NFL GameDay 2001 builds on the winning formula of the original pro
football franchise for the PlayStation game console and successfully
captures the essence of the game," said Ami Blaire, director of product
marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. ``We're very pleased to
team up with Marshall Faulk, a gamer himself and the winner of our 'Game
Before the Game' competition at this year's Super Bowl, to bring his world
championship expertise to the game as the NFL GameDay 2001 cover athlete
and as one of our NFL player consultants."
The GameDay series' award winning gameplay has been enhanced with the new
``Play As Any Skill Receiver" feature that lets gamers become the
quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end with the press of a
button. With ``on-the-fly" flexibility, gamers can throw cut blocks as a
tight end for a running back, or as a receiver, signal the quarterback to
throw the ball. Relentlessly savvy Artificial Intelligence (AI) has
computer-controlled opponents learning player's tendencies on both the
offense and defense to shut down the attack. New Total Control Passing?
allows players to lead or under throw receivers in any direction by simply
pressing the directional buttons.
NFL GameDay 2001 sports the most realistic graphics to date with each NFL
player depicted in amazing detail as they are scaled to their actual size,
weight and body style. Stadium interiors are richly detailed and enhanced
by animated backgrounds and historic landmarks and players will actually
experience wear and tear on the playing field as the game progresses.
For the first time, animations including drag downs, shoves, gang tackles,
low and high-wrap tackles, upending tackles, across-the-body ``shoestring"
catches and sideline ``tip-toe" catches capture the intensity of real NFL
action. Players can break ankle tackles and drag would-be tacklers on
second and third efforts.
NFL GameDay 2001 reflects the latest NFL trends through actual NFL player
input -- from motion-capture animations to plays designed with the help of
real NFL players. Players motion captured for the NFL GameDay 2001 series
are among the game's top names, including Buccaneers FB Mike Alstott,
Steelers RB Jerome Bettis, Bengals QB Akili Smith, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith
and LB Hardy Nickerson, Vikings DT John Randle, Raiders WR Tim Brown, CB
Charles Woodson, and Giants CB Jason Sehorn. Joining Faulk among the more
than 55 NFL stars creating the authentic playbooks for NFL GameDay 2001,
were Buccaneers DL Warren Sapp, Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper, Bengals RB
Corey Dillon and Dolphins LB Zach Thomas.
An improved ``GM Mode" lets the videogamer play in multiple seasons as a
coach, player or general manager. A new ``Draft War Room" feature provides
the gamer with a report of team weaknesses allowing players to determine
needs on draft day. Gamers can control the everyday activities of a team
over several seasons while drafting, trading and signing free agent
players. State-of-the-art ``Training Camp Mode" lets the gamer sharpen
skills and increase knowledge of various offensive and defensive playbooks.
The revolutionary ``Play Editor" lets the gamer design custom plays and
save them to a playbook.
Players can also direct how and where each player will move by assigning
individual routes, blocking schemes and defensive alignments and
assignments. NFL GameDay 2001 has also refined the ``Create Player"
feature, allowing gamers to customize a player's physical appearance,
salary and mental makeup. Graduating seniors from NCAA GameBreaker 2001 can
even be imported to the draft.
First Wave of Madden Invasion Hits as EA Ships
Madden NFL 2001 for the PlayStation
Football fans are going to have a hard time missing the new Madden NFL 2001
game this fall as Electronic Arts unleashed the first of five different
versions of the game to a hungry and waiting public. Madden NFL 2001 for
the PlayStation will be followed by versions for the PC, Nintendo 64, Game
Boy® Color, and finally the heavyweight PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system.
``My game is always number one because we make it so that anybody from a
rookie video game player to the expert gamers who have been playing it
faithfully since 1989 can enjoy it," said Super Bowl winning coach and
Emmy award-winning broadcaster John Madden. ``Part of making the game
accessible to a lot of people is not just in how you make the game, but in
how many platforms it's available on to play."
New in this year's game are player models that show a whole new level of
detail. Wristbands, visors, facemasks, turf tape and elbow pads all exist
in the game, and are player specific so that each player has the same
equipment in the game that they use in the real NFL.
Always a leader in the area of realistic gameplay, the weight and height of
each player is now factored into collisions to help determine how much
ground a ball carrier gains as the tackle is made. A small defensive back
will have a tough time knocking down a big, bruising fullback. On the flip
side, the lighter and quicker wide receivers will be able to shake a
linebacker during a pass route if the linebacker is forced to cover the
receiver. If the offense floods a zone and sends more receivers into an
area on the field than the defense has defensive backs to cover them, big
gains can occur.
``This is our fifth year of creating Madden for the PlayStation and we feel
this by far the best one ever," said Steven Chiang, executive producer for
the Madden franchise. ``Everything we've learned from the previous versions
has been incorporated into this game to produce the best looking, best
playing, most realistic and fun football game on the market."
As opposed to having to search for secret codes that will unlock parts of
the game, Madden players will now be able to enjoy the satisfaction of
actually working to gain these special perks. In Madden NFL 2001, EA brings
the concept of interactive trading cards to a video game. It is now
possible to collect ``Madden Cards" in the game by performing certain
tasks, and to trade or risk Madden Cards with friends via memory card.
Cards unlock legendary teams, players, stadiums, and create special
abilities in certain players and teams.
In the past, Madden games have only included players currently active in
the league, but now Madden NFL 2001 includes hundreds of the greatest NFL
players from the past. Also included are all the All-Madden teams that John
has picked since 1984, including the All-Super Bowl and Millennium teams.
Other new features in the game include a two-minute drill that lets up to
ten gamers compete against each other for the high score. Create-a-team
allows Madden fans to create their own team by modifying existing rosters
with new and retired players, team name, and stadium. New player specific
touchdown celebration dances and taunts bring the game to life. New
defensive controls allow the user to read the offensive set at the line of
scrimmage and adjust pass rushing routes, linebacker drops and pass
coverage instantly. EA also obtained the exclusive rights to the Coaches
Club license and worked with NFL coaches to develop authentic strategy and
signature playbooks in the game.
Madden NFL 2001 for the PlayStation is rated ``E" (Everyone). It is analog
controller compatible and supports up to eight players. Consumers may
purchase the game directly at the EA Store(SM) (http://www.eastore.ea.com)
or by calling EA Direct Sales at 800/245-4525. The game has a suggested
retail price of $39.95.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Strengthens
Fall 2000 Lineup With Cool Pool: Billiards Master
for PlayStation 2
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced that it will bring all the
fun of Cool Pool: Billiards Master home to the PlayStation2 this fall.
Developed by ASK Co., Ltd., Cool Pool: Billiards Master is scheduled for
release on PlayStation 2 on November 26th.
``We are pleased to announce Cool Pool: Billiards Master for PlayStation
2," said Larry Muller, COO of Take-Two Interactive. ``Fans of the sport of
pool and billiards will surely be delighted with the amazing gameplay and
realism that Cool Pool: Billiards Master has to offer."
Cool Pool: Billiards Master is a 3D pool simulation game where players will
be challenged in a variety of extremely realistic pool games featuring
beautiful graphics and amazingly realistic ball physics including friction,
speed, collision, and roll. Choose from a wide variety of levels including:
US Nine, International Nine, Eight, Straight Pool, Rotation, Frozen and
Free Play, plus several bonus games: Bowlliards, Carrot and Random Six. The
game can be played from many different camera angles and parameters.
Players can train and strengthen their skills in Lesson Mode where they can
practice basic to advanced techniques such as curve shots and position
play. Once ready, players can then make their way through the ranks to
battle against Cool Pool's Top Ranked Players. Cool Pool: Billiards
Master's full simulation of realistic billiards action make for great
gameplay and now with the DUALSHOCK2 analog controller allows for a
keen sense of resistance and force with each called shot.
Infogrames Zaps Looney Tunes: Duck Dodgers
Starring Daffy Duck for Nintendo 64 Into Stores
This Week
Daffy Duck Stars in His Very Own Action-Adventure
Game Based On The Looney Tunes Cartoon, 'Duck
Dodgers & the 24th 1/2 Century'
Dodgers. Duck Dodgers. Infogrames announced today that it is bringing one
of the world's favorite ducks, Daffy Duck, to most major retail stores this
week in Looney Tunes: Duck Dodgers Starring Daffy Duck for the Nintendo 64
game console. It's up to Duck Dodgers, savior of the Universe (and master
klutz), to stop Marvin the Martian from his diabolical plan of destroying
the Earth. Grab your ray guns and help Daffy save the Earth!
Marvin has built the Ultimate Weapon as part of his Diabolical Plan to wipe
out our planet. But there's just one small problem... he doesn't have the
energy to power his new toy! To get it, Marvin sends his minions out to the
nearby planets to collect energy atoms. Lucky for us, our klutzy hero, Duck
Dodgers, and his trusty sidekick Porky Pig, are ready to take on Marvin
and his minions.
``Looney Tunes: Duck Dodgers Starring Daffy Duck gives players the feeling
of actually being in a Looney Tunes cartoon by providing a truly living
environment -- just about everything in the game is interactive," said
Mike Markey, vice president of marketing for Infogrames' San Jose Label.
``Daffy's hilarious witicisms and klutzy antics will keep children of all
ages engaged for hours on end."
``Infogrames has done a fantastic job of bringing the Looney Tunes
characters to life," said Michael Harkavy, vice president, Warner Bros.
Worldwide Publishing, Kids' WB! Music, Interactive Entertainment. ``This is
yet another example of the great product that grows from the extraordinary
relationship between Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and
Infogrames."
Players will waddle through five huge worlds, each world featuring varied
gameplay, such as sewage surfing and silly boss encounters. On one planet,
players will discover an arcade filled with mini-games. Here, players can
put their skills to the test with a Pong-style tennis match, a basketball
game and a shooting gallery, not to mention Daffy's very own take on the
popular game, Quake, entitled 'Quack.' In addition, our cartoon pals will
be armed with gizmos galore, including the ACME jetpack, raygun, boxing
gloves, and Instant Martian decoys to aid them in their quest to foil
Marvin's plan.
Developed by Paradigm Entertainment, Looney Tunes: Duck Dodgers Starring
Daffy Duck is available at an estimated retail price of $49.99 and can be
found at most major retail outlets.
Square Ships Chrono Cross for the PlayStation
Square Electronic Arts announced the release of Chrono Cross for the
PlayStation game console. Chrono Cross, sequel to the award-winning Chrono
Trigger, is an action role-playing game that follows two young heroes on
their search for a mysterious artifact. Chrono Cross offers players
multiple endings, an extraordinary cast of more than 40 playable
characters, and a combat system which allows players to customize
characters with a variety of magical spells and combat techniques.
The story takes place 20 years after the events in Chrono Trigger and
centers around a seemingly ordinary boy named Serge and a young woman named
Kid. Serge's simple life in a small fishing village takes a turn for the
worse when his presence suddenly triggers a portal to a parallel universe,
leaving him in a strange yet familiar world where his alternate self has
been dead for 10 years. Even before he has time to ponder his situation, he
is confronted by bandits, and rescued by a young woman named Kid. Caught up
in events beyond his control, Serge agrees to follow Kid on her quest to
retrieve an artifact, unwittingly embarking upon an adventure that will
span time and space. Adding a new layer of complexity to his quest is the
shadowy pursuit of an unknown entity bent upon his capture. In a race
against time to find the artifact, Serge is forced to delve into his past
for answers to the mystery posed by both his pursuers and the artifact
itself. This mystery must be solved before the malevolent entity can bridge
the gap between worlds, and bring ruin to both.
An epic saga spanning two worlds, Chrono Cross expands beyond the
traditional linear plot line by providing players with multiple choices
that can culminate in one of 10 different endings. Complimenting this
dynamic story element is a cast of more than 40 interactive characters,
each with its own particular strengths and weaknesses.
Players face their enemies using a combination battle system that provides
flexible fighting options. For example, there are three levels of
hand-to-hand combat and special fighting techniques that allow two or more
party members to team-up and execute powerful combination moves. The battle
system offers players variety and an added action element to the fighting
that traditional turn-based fighting games don't. Players are further aided
by an overhead view that shows enemies approaching. This gives players the
option of choosing when to fight and eliminates random encounters for which
they may not be prepared.
In addition to traditional combat, players can also use magic on their
enemies. Chrono Cross' magic system incorporates supernatural elements that
are strategically placed in a character's ``grid," a panel of slots which
can be assigned elements. The grid gives players the flexibility to tailor
their spells to the mission at hand. As a character becomes more powerful,
the number of slots on their grid increases, allowing access to more spell
elements. Spell placement on the grid determines spell attributes. The
higher on a grid a spell is placed, the more powerful, though it takes more
effort to cast. Spells at the lower end of the grid don't pack as much
power, but can be quickly executed.
Chrono Cross is compatible with the DUALSHOCK analog controller and has
a suggested retail price of (US)$40. The game carries an ESRB rating of
``T" (Teen).
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Splashes
Onto Sega Dreamcast
Dive into an underwater adventure like no other! Sega of America, Inc.
introduced ``Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future" for the 128-bit,
Internet-ready Sega Dreamcast videogame console. A sequel to the
award-winning Sega Genesis hit, ``Ecco the Dolphin," the game takes
players on a 3D underwater adventure of the deep blue sea. Voted ``Best
Adventure Game of E3," ``Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future" is
available at retail stores nationwide this month.
Filled with expansive underwater environments and breathtaking
civilizations, ``Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of the Future" was created
using hundreds of oceanographic videos and National Geographic photography.
In addition, the game integrates advanced AI technology designed to
recreate real ocean animal behaviors, communication and interaction, and
ultra-responsive control to mimic the motions, behavior and characteristics
of a living dolphin. The vibrant lighting effects and ambient soundtrack
make ``Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of the Future" a true-to-life underwater
experience.
``Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of the Future is a graphical masterpiece and a
game that will entertain both casual and hard-core gamers alike," said
Charles Bellfield, director of marketing communications for Sega of
America. ``With an engaging storyline, breakthrough graphics and intriguing
puzzles and mazes, Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of the Future provides an all
new adventure for the Sega Dreamcast."
From the mind of award-winning science-fiction author David Brin comes
``Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future," an action/adventure game that
takes players on a journey between past and future worlds to preserve a
peaceful existence for all creatures. As the story goes, in the future,
human and dolphin live harmoniously on Earth under the protection of a
supreme being called The Guardian. Man and dolphin travel into space to
explore the unknown, leaving behind only a few dolphin caretakers on the
Earth. The terrible Foe seizes this opportunity to inflict destruction on
the world. Players assume the role of Ecco, the bottlenose dolphin, who
must repair the Foe's damage in the past to ensure the evolution of the
dolphin and humans in the future.
``Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future" is available in stores at a
suggested retail price of $39.95. ``Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of the
Future" is rated E for Everyone. www.eccothedolphin.com.
Acclaim Ships RC Revenge for the PlayStation
Acclaim Entertainment announced that its remote-control racer, RC Revenge,
started shipping Thursday to national retail outlets.
Designed specifically for the PlayStation, RC Revenge features dozens of
cars and boats with varying levels of top speed, handling, and stability.
As players race through the action-packed game levels, they earn bonus
vehicles by completing championship races and pick up additional weapons to
add to an arsenal filled with water balloons, lightning bolts and oil
slicks.
RC Revenge takes place within a movie-themed racing world. Races to win the
four cups (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) take place in five diverse
environments including a Jungle World, Horror World, Sci-fi World, Monster
World and Cartoon World. The races take place on water-specific and hybrid
tracks so that boats can now race against cars. RC Revenge also sports a
hand-brake feature specifically designed to enhance gameplay by giving the
player the ability to power-slide or perform super tight turns and the
special track editor allows players the ability to create their own racing
tracks and save to a memory card.
RC Revenge has been designed so that even beginners will find the game to
be very easy to pick up and play, and long-time game enthusiasts will find
that the addictive gameplay will keep them racing for hours.
Acclaim has also dedicated a website to RC Revenge in order to provide
additional information, artwork, and movies for the game. This sight is
accessed at: http://www.acclaim.com/games/rcrevenge/index.html.
THQ and Disney Interactive Announce ``Disney's
the Little Mermaid II" for PlayStation
THQ Inc. announced an agreement with Disney Interactive to publish and
distribute ``Disney's The Little Mermaid II" for the PlayStation game
console. The game is scheduled to release throughout North America and
Canada in fall 2000 in conjunction with the direct-to-video release,
``Disney's The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea."
``Disney is a leader in creating timeless family entertainment," stated
Alison Locke, executive vice president, North American Publishing, THQ.
``The wide recognition of `Disney's The Little Mermaid,' coupled with THQ's
proven track record in the kids gaming arena, is sure to make `Disney's The
Little Mermaid II' for PlayStation a hit."
Walt Disney Pictures' 1989 animated underwater adventure, ``Disney's The
Little Mermaid," was a box office sensation. Now the characters continue
their adventures in a direct-to-video sequel, ``Disney's The Little Mermaid
II: Return to the Sea." Joining original characters including Ariel,
Flounder, Sebastian and Triton is Melody, newly introduced as Ariel's
daughter.
In ``Disney's The Little Mermaid II" for PlayStation, players assume the
role of either Ariel or Melody, and are challenged to solve puzzles,
collect treasures, avoid enemies and interact with friends in 15, 3D
underwater and land-based levels. Players will find bonus mini-games
throughout, including an underwater sea adventure with ``Sebastian's
Orchestra."
The game uses stills from the movie to create an animated 3D-world, and
features more than 30 minutes of full motion video from the original
``Disney's The Little Mermaid" and ``Disney's The Little Mermaid II:
Return to the Sea." Footage is cut into gameplay to help guide the story.
The game also features original character voices and music from the
direct-to-video release.
NYKO'S Viper2 Gets Licensed for Success
Twist, turn, blast and burn with the NYKO Viper2 controller for the
PlayStation game console.
The Viper2 is the first and only third-party controller for PlayStation
with vibration function and dual analog sticks to be licensed in North
America. It received licensing status from Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. (SCEA) earlier this year. The SCEA license indicates
compatibility with PlayStation hardware.
The NYKO Viper2 controller is equipped with dual vibration motors and
provides realistic game interaction with compatible software. The Viper2
also provides special functions such as independent turbo, steering wheel
simulation mode, and oversized ergonomics for superior comfort and
outstanding performance.
The eight-way directional pad is excellent for fighting games while the
steering wheel simulation mode is ideal for racing games. It allows the
right analog stick to respond as the throttle and brake functions, which
provides superior response and control.
``This license represents another significant milestone for NYKO," said
Robert Rienick, NYKO vice president sales and marketing. ``We are proud to
have met SCEA's strict testing standards. Our engineering effort to earn
this new license over the past two years reinforces our commitment to the
PlayStation consumer. NYKO considers it an honor to be the first to license
this type of controller from Sony Computer Entertainment America."
The Viper2 is available in five assorted translucent colors and can be
purchased at such retail stores as Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Toys 'R Us,
Babbages and FuncoLand at a suggested retail price of $24.95.
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Gaming Online - Online Users Growl & Purr!
"""""""""""""""""""
Songbird Update
Due to the recent move, the Songbird Productions mail order business will be
closed for most of August while we relocate our merchandise. Any orders
received will be temporarily held until then.
Also, Songbird has almost exhausted its supply of new Jaguar products.
Soccer Kid is out of stock, Hyper Force has only one copy left, and
Protector and Skyhammer have a few copies each. When Skyhammer is gone, it
is gone and will likely never be reproduced again. The other games will
have a second run made in the next 2-3 months.
Likewise, supplies of Ponx, SFX, and Lexis are running low, and there are
no plans to reproduce these games once they have sold out.
Once Songbird re-opens, we will offer a bunch of new products for sale,
including Jaguar Rapid Fire Controllers, Lynx Remnant, and Lynx Crystal
Mines II: Buried Treasure. All are limited edition items that may not be
offered beyond their initial run.
Thanks for your continued support, and for your patience during this
transition.
Sincerely,
Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird.atari.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUGS, New Underground Software Loader Comes to Jaguar Platform
The fabled JUGS (Jaguar Unmodified Game Server) proves to be more
than just a rumor
August 14 , 2000 -- In a moved that shocked the Underground Jaguar
Development Community to it's very core, the JUGS Team officially
announced the availability of it's JUGS system today. The JUGS System
has been rumored to exist for many months, but until now it was
largely dismissed as an elaborate hoax. With the addition of this
system to the available Underground Jaguar Development Tools, the
ability to load and run Underground Jaguar Software is now within
reach of the masses.
The loss of the key to the Jaguar internal encryption routines has
prohibited many people from being able to load and run software
created since the Jaguar console was declared an open system. Until
recently the only way to use this new software was to own an Official
Jaguar Development System / FLASH Cartridge, or to modify a Jaguar
console to circumvent the operating system encryption routines.
[Ed. note - Songbird Productions has also published new software
available in cartridge format since the Jaguar was declared an open
system.]
The JUGS System was revealed via the Official JUGS Website at
www.buyjugs.com to consist of a special cable to connect to your PC
Compatible, a proprietary PC based loading utility program, and
sophisticated server firmware piggybacked within the BattleSphere
Jaguar Game Cartridge. Using a special code embedded within
BattleSphere, software can be loaded into the RAM memory in any
Jaguar console and then executed. JUGS bypasses the Jaguar's internal
encryption routines by running software after the BattleSphere
game has passed encryption tests on power-up. The fact that the
server code is executed from an existing cartridge enables the
product to be the only one of it's kind which does not require any
soldering or cutting of the Jaguar circuitry.
For More Information, Visit www.buyjugs.com, or www.battlesphere.com,
or Contact: sales@buyjugs.com
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
AMD Starts Shipping 1.1 Gigahertz Chip
Computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. said on Monday it began
shipping its 1.1 gigahertz processors to major computer companies, and said
it expected to meet its goals for shipments in the coming quarters.
AMD has been in a seesaw battle with rival Intel Corp. to produce the
fastest processors. AMD just beat out Intel earlier this year with a chip
running at 1 gigahertz, or one billion cycles per second.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AMD said the personal computer market outlook is
strong, and the company was ``on track to meet its goal of doubling
shipments of seventh generation PC processors to 3.6 million units in this
quarter, and again doubling shipments to 7.2 million units in the fourth
quarter."
AMD said it expected that its total PC processor shipments, including AMD
Athlon, AMD Duron, and AMD-K6-2 processors, could approach 7 million units
this quarter and 9 million units in the fourth quarter. AMD said its new
1.1 gigahertz Athlon processors are priced at $853, and systems that
feature the chips will sell for about $2,500 each. The chips will be used
in computers expected to reach the market on Aug. 28.
Adobe Ships GoLive 5.0
Adobe announced this morning they are shipping the much-anticipated GoLive
5.0.
Version 5.0 introduces such new features as an on-board interactive editor
for editing multimedia, "360Code" that enables control over any Web design
source code, beefed up site planning and management, "asset" check in and
out through WebDAV support, and "smart links" that provides drag-and-drop
object-sharing with other Adobe products. Plus, advanced functionality such
as Dynamic Link simplifies the incorporation of dynamic database and
e-commerce capabilities.
GoLive 5.0 is tightly integrated with Adobe's professional Web and graphics
products, including Photoshop, Illustrator, LiveMotion, After Effects and
Premiere. And Adobe will provide further additions to the GoLive product
family, based on the GoLive 5 foundation that will provide collaboration,
e-business, site management and content management to the web workgroup,
according to Hank Skorny, senior director of Adobe's Internet Products
Group.
"With version 5.0 we're empowering professional Web designers with the
richest visual design tool to date for improving their development
process," said Michael Hopwood, director of Web product management at
Adobe. "And tighter integration with the industry-standard Web design
toolset, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and LiveMotion, will make
GoLive the preferred choice for serious Web designers."
Adobe GoLive 5.0 for Macintosh and Windows is now available in the U.S. and
Canada for an estimated street price of US $299, and can be purchased
online through the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com or from an authorized
reseller. GoLive 5.0 is also now available as part of The Adobe Web
Collection, which also includes Illustrator 9.0, LiveMotion 1.0, and
Photoshop 5.5, available for an estimated street price of US $999 in the
U.S. and Canada. Pricing and availability may vary by region.
Olympus Introduces 10X Zoom Digital Camera
If you think it was hard to choose between the myriad digital cameras
available, don't look now, but things just got more complicated. Olympus
America has released the USB connectable C-2100 Ultra ZOOM, a full featured
10X optical zoom/2.6X digital zoom, EVF filmless digital camera. Due this
month, the US $999 camera also has a QuickTime movie feature.
The QuickTime Movie feature provides the ability to film short movies, to
post on the Internet or view through the camera's LCD. You don't need an
external microphone as sound is recorded directly from the camera's
built-in microphone. The video with sound can also be viewed on any TV with
the included NTSC AV cable.
Sporting a half-inch, 2.1 megapixel CCD and lens, the C-2100 Ultra ZOOM is
the first Olympus filmless camera to offer a 10X image stabilized all-glass
aspherical zoom lens from 7-70mm (38-380mm equivalent in 35mm film
photography). The result, according to Olympus, is a reduction in unwanted
user camera shake for a clearer image. The camera produces a 35mm
equivalent telephoto over 980mm for extended range and at f2.8 -3.5, the
lens is fast and bright with 1/3 step aperture control to f11 throughout
the zoom range to maximize camera control.
According to Olympus' product announcement, new features built into the
C-2100 Ultra ZOOM include: fast performance times with the 16MB SD-RAM
buffer for a burst mode of three frames per second and 1.2 second shot to
shot performance; an electronic viewfinder (EVF) SLR viewfinder design; and
iESP TTL or spot autofocus and focusing illuminator to focus "from macro to
infinity." White Balance is also included in the new iESP multi-pattern
full-automatic TTL system with four preset manual selections. The metering
system features the Digital ESP multi-patterned metering system, center
weighted, spot or multi-spot metering of up to 8 spot readings.
The manual exposure mode allows the shutter and aperture to be selected
independently. The automatic exposure modes include Aperture Priority,
Shutter Priority, Program Auto and the new S-Program mode with Portrait,
Landscape, Sports, Night Scene, and Custom setup modes. Exposure
compensation is available in +/- 2 steps EV by one-third step increments
and Auto Bracketing from 1/3, 2/3 or one-stop increments for three or five
shots.
The C-2100 Ultra ZOOM provides four resolution levels of recording in TIFF
or Low and Normal JPEG compressions for photographic images, for a total of
12 different settings. The digital camera employs SmartMedia storage cards
and comes with an 8MB SmartMedia card and it can accept cards of up to
64MB.
Compaq Unveils New Internet Gadgets
Compaq Computer Corp. Tuesday unveiled five Web access products, expanding
its focus well beyond the personal computer.
The new products included two new e-mail two-way pager devices, which will
be sold under the Compaq iPaq brand name through a deal with Research In
Motion of Canada. The e-mail devices come in a handheld organizer-size
model and a smaller model. Both send and receive wireless e-mail.
Compaq, through a partnership with CMGI Inc.'s online music provider iCast,
also unveiled a portable personal audio player that allows users to
download music from the Web onto the pager-size device.
Two new products were made for the home, including the home Internet
appliance, a toaster-size computer that allows a user to surf the Web and
get e-mail. The Internet appliance, called the iPaq home Internet
appliance, was offered through a partnership with Microsoft Corp.'s MSN
Network.
A home networking hub was offered to help users with multiple personal
computers to link them together wirelessly and with peripherals, such as
printers, as well as to the same online connection. Along with the hub,
WatchGuard Technologies Inc. would provide a firewall to protect networked
PCs from security threats.
Group Takes Next Step Toward Tiny Computers
Researchers said on Thursday they had developed microscopic chemical
switches that could form the basis of tiny, fast and cheap computers that
will ``do things we cannot even imagine now."
The hair-thick switches can be turned on and off time after time, offering
the possibility of random-access memory -- a key facility of computers that
allows users to store and manipulate information.
The team at the University of California Los Angeles hope they have taken a
big step toward making a ``molecular computer" that will replace the big,
unwieldy and power-hungry silicon computers of today.
``With molecules comes the message that we are working as small as we
possibly can," Fraser Stoddart, a UCLA chemistry professor who designed
the switches, said in a telephone interview.
Researchers predict that molecular computers will some day replace those
based on silicon chips and could ultimately make it possible to have a
computer so small it could be woven into clothing, for instance. They
should be able to hold vast amounts of data safely, with less fear of
crashes and other glitches.
``A molecular computer will enable us to do things we cannot even imagine
now," UCLA's James Heath, who led the study, said in a statement. It would
be a million times more efficient, he said, than a silicon-based machine.
The basis of the tiny switch is a molecule called a catenane. As described
in this week's issue of the journal Science, it consist of two tiny,
interlocked rings made up of atoms linked in a circle.
``Imagine two interlocked rings as part of a chain," Stoddart said. Each
has two structures on it, called recognition sites, that will interact
electrochemically.
A pulse of electricity will remove one electron, causing one ring to flip
or rotate around the other. This turns the switch on. Putting an electron
back turns the switch off.
Last year, the same team made a less-efficient switch made out of a
molecule called a rotaxane that could work only once.
``It was a bit like a fuse -- you could use it for as long as you wanted to
and then you lit it and blew it," Stoddart said. ``It gave us the basis
for read-only memory."
The new switch can be open and closed over and over again -- like the
difference between a CD-ROM that can be recorded on once, and a disk that
can be erased and used over and over.
``It is very robust. You can do this at room temperature," Stoddart, whose
team is cooperating with a group at Hewlett-Packard, said.
It is also easy to see whether the catenane is working. ``It is green in
the starting state ... and then it switches to being maroon," Stoddart
said. ``You can use your eyes to detect it."
At first the switch worked in solution -- not very practical for a computer
-- but Stoddart's team managed to get the molecules to form a film. They
will sit in place just like a thin film of oil, Stoddart said.
Having switches is one thing, but the scientists now need wires to hook
them together and the overall architecture to make the components into a
computer.
``There is still a problem with wires -- if you can get them down to about
a millionth of their present size, then these can be very, very small
devices," Stoddart said.
His group is working with carbon buckytubes with this aim in mind. These
are long, thin tubes made of pure carbon that are also known as carbon
nanotubes.
Stoddart, whose work is being funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, says he has already designed
a switch that may be even faster. It has a dumbbell design and may be more
efficient than the linked rings.
AOL 6.0 to Include E-Mail, Shopping Improvements
The new version of America Online Inc.'s client software, AOL 6.0, will
include improvements in the electronic mail and shopping features, media
analysts said Thursday after meeting with AOL management.
AOL 6.0, which is expected to be available in late September, will offer
more personalization of content and easier navigation through the service,
as well as a new design and look, analysts said.
``The AOL 4.0 to 5.0 transition came with substantially more new
features," said ING Baring analyst Youssef Squali. ``The 6.0 to me is an
enhancement of a lot of the features that were already out there."
``Better navigation and more consumer services equal more usage which
equals more advertising and commerce revenues," said Scott Reamer, analyst
at SG Cowen, in a research note.
The AOL Welcome Screen in the new version will encompass programming to
make it more personable, enabling members to customize up to 10 areas they
visit often.
``Their user group is aging as they get more experience. It becomes too
simple and they want something more like a Yahoo interface so I would
expect the next version to have a dual mode with something for advanced
users and new users," said Rob Enderle, analyst at Giga Information.
``Personalization is a way to let their more experienced users customize
their front-end experience and not get frustrated."
A new shopping assistant and a built-in AOL wallet, a feature that rivals
Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. both have, will enable one-click shopping to
about 300 AOL merchant partners by the holiday season, analysts said.
``The launch of the AOL wallet could increase the transaction completion
percentage meaningfully. Currently about 60 percent of consumers cancel a
transaction (on-line) when it comes time to input their credit card info,"
Reamer said, adding that even small increases in this metric could result
in substantial increases in revenue for merchant partners and therefore
more ad and commerce revenue for AOL.
Dulles, Va.-based AOL, whose merger with media giant Time Warner Inc.
is expected to close this fall, will again enhance e-mail and instant
messaging features in this version.
The new features will allow members to sort messages and save them directly
into specific folders, as well as set customized ``do not disturb"
messages while on-line and a status window detailing instant messages
received while away or busy.
``They don't have a lot of integration between e-mail and instant messaging
services. We will see if they integrate the two platforms this time,"
Enderle said, referring to the inability of AOL's AIM users to talk to
AOL's ICQ users.
Instant messaging (IM) rivals have called on AOL to open its platform so
that users of other services can also talk to AOL IM users.
AOL 6.0 will also feature integration between devices, voice enablement and
a media player that will allow the download of streaming media and supports
all sorts of files.
A company spokeswoman declined to comment on how many people have
downloaded AOL 6.0 during its beta tests, which began in June.
``AOL 6.0 should help improve users' experience further, driving even lower
the number of unsatisfied shoppers at sites affiliated with AOL. (It)
brings the company one step closer to a fully operational AOL Anywhere
strategy," Squali said, referring to the company's goal of providing its
services to members worldwide.
Analysts also said the AOL.com flagship site will also be relaunched as the
new hub for AOL Anywhere, the company's strategy to ensure the Internet
giant's services are available to members wherever they are.
GNOME Throws Down The Gauntlet
Thirteen open-source vendors and organizations launch their plan for an
alternative to the Windows/Office desktop monopoly.
Representatives from 13 different companies and organizations took to the
podium Tuesday at
LinuxWorld with one unified intention: to combat
Microsoft's dominance on the desktop.
Members of the newly minted Gnome Foundation outlined the various
open-source technologies they are hoping to integrate going forward. The
participants said they believed the very nature of the GNU public license
and open-source development model would prevent them from succumbing to
the fragmentation and infighting that has plagued standardization efforts
over the years.
"This is more than just another desktop or just another initiative,"
claimed Sun Microsystems vice president and general manager Marco
Boerries. Instead, the Gnome Foundation's goal is to establish a user
environment where "you won't need to be worried about somebody closing
them out or eating their lunch."
Sun and other open-source vendors have been vocal in their charges that
Microsoft Corp. has hindered competition by refusing to publicize all of
the Windows and Office application programming interfaces.
What's in an open-source desktop?
The folks backing The Gnome Project and its Gnome Foundation group of
directors claim they want to change the rules for developers and users of
desktop software.
The Gnome Project has championed the Gnome user environment that runs on a
variety of Linux and Unix variants. The Gnome Foundation, the formation of
which was announced on Tuesday, will administer not only the direction of
the open-source Gnome interface but also a variety of other elements that
will comprise the evolving Gnome desktop environment. Among these elements
are:
* Gnome Office, the open-source components of StarOffice contributed by
Sun Microsystems Inc.;
* Evolution, a competitor to Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes on the
groupware/messaging front that is being developed by Helix Code;
* Nautilus, an open-source graphical file manager developed by Eazel;
* Mozilla, the open-source version of the Netscape Navigator Web
browser;
* Sash, an open source development tool recently placed into open
source by IBM; and
* Gnome's Bonobo component project and GTK toolkit work.
The Foundation is aiming to roll into a single, embedded environment all
of the various technologies, explained Eazel vice president of engineering
Bud Tribble. "The Gnome desktop will integrate embedded Mozilla into the
(Eazel) Nautilus file manager," Tribble said. "From the user's view,
they'll get a single view of the local storage, Web and Web services."
As part of Tuesday's Gnome Foundation unveiling, Compaq Computer Corp.,
Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp. and Sun's hardware business all lent their
backing, by committing to make the Gnome interface an integrated part of
the client user interfaces going forward. Compaq said it has underway an
effort to integrate the Gnome environment onto its iPaq handhelds. HP, IBM
and Sun all said they are planning to offer Gnome as an adjunct to the
Common Desktop Environment (CDE) on their Unix platforms.
How rapidly any of the Gnome user environments will be available from
their respective vendors is uncertain. Sun officials said they planned to
have an early test version of Gnome on Solaris available before the end of
the year, with a more solid release available to users by mid-2001.
In addition to hardware makers Compaq, HP, IBM and Sun, other backers of
the Gnome Foundation include: Helix Code, CollabNet, Gnumatic Inc., the
Object Management Group, Red Hat Inc., VA Linux Systems Inc. and the Free
Software Foundation.
=~=~=~=
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