** 3 pages news / 2210 words **
** Don't drop grabs to cram in more text a la Darryl **
** Drop items and matching grabs at your discretion **
** Steal items from PD news if required **
** If you need more ask :-) **

UK Atari Computing Convention

Following the announcement that Mike Goodman, due to pressure of work, is no longer able to organise UK Atari Shows, Atari Computing magazine is hoping to sponsor an event later this year.
We're aiming to make this convention the essential ACCessory to your Atari computing and at this stage we've come up with dozens of ideas to change the format of the shows to encourage everyone to stay all day but we really want to hear your ideas and whether you're likely to attend before we decide whether to go ahead.
Organising events is extremely hard work and we're only prepared to make the effort if we get enough feedback and encouragement. Please take the time to have your say by completing the survey form on page 11 and returning it to us as soon as possible. It's all to easy to forget or leave it to others but the chances are there won't ever be another UK Atari show if you do that!

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Atari World '98

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We're not the only ones planning shows this year. An International Atari Collector/User Show has been set for the summer of 1998 (on a weekend) at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California, USA.
The show is still in the early planning stages, with the organisers still canvassing support and feedback about what you would like to see at the show. The promoter is Rich Tsukiji, who organised the popular ST World Shows. Atari dealers planning to attend include:

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* 16/32 Systems (UK) - Atari software/hardware
* Atari Computing magazine (UK)
* B&C Computervisions
* Best Electronics
* Wizztronics
* chro_MAGIC Software
* Dark Knight Games - Makers of the Blackhawk Joystick for the Jaguar
* Peers of Omaha - offering on-site Atari service and repairs!
* Steve's Software
* Telegames
* Video 61
* Digital Press
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Planned features:
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* Atari collectors' buy and sell sections for 2600, 5200, 7800, 400/800, XL/XE, ST/TT/Falcon, Lynx, Jaguar, Arcade machines and printed matter/memorabilia.
* Atari ST Clones.
* Atari Midi music show.
* Special hotel rates for attendees and their families.
* Show Airlines: American, Continental, Delta and United.
* 3, 6 day and longer tour packages with car rental discounts.
* Discount passes and tour packages for, Knotts Berry Farm, Sea World, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, San Diego Zoo, Queen Mary, Movieland Wax Museum and lots more.
* By Special Arrangement: Breakfast and photos with Disney characters at the Disneyland Hotel for your children.
* French journalist and film crew will be in attendance to document the show.
* Demonstrations and workshops by ex-Atari employees and industry people.
* Demos from developers for Atari consoles and computers.
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The show cannot take place unless the organisers receive 1,000 survey replies so even if you cannot make the show, please take the time to fill out the survey form on-line at The Atari Gaming Headquarters at:

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http://www.atarihq.com/
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ZipPlus from Iomega

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Iomega Corporation have released a ZipPlus version of its popular 100Mb Zip drive along with a range or Zip related products. ZipPlus retails at $199.95 (around œ125) and boasts a 40% performance increase, an AutoDetect feature that allows the drive to be used with either a SCSI or parallel interface, a smaller universal power supply and an on/off switch.
The drive will also be bundled with PC multimedia software, including full versions of Adobe PhotoDeluxe, DataViz's Web Buddy and Digital Arts & Sciences' Image AXS.
Neil Snyder, general manager of Iomega's Zip after market business said "Iomega conducted extensive focus studies with our customers to determine how we could best match their needs" and "ZipPlus has been extremely well received by our distributors and retailers who have previewed the product". The original Zip drive will also remain available.

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URL: http://www.iomega.com/product/zip/zipplus.html
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** ALTPARTY.GIF here **
 After the cancellation of this year's SILIconvention event, relief comes in the form of the Alternative Party. This demo party will run over the Easter weekend, 10th to 12th April 1998 in Turku, Finland.
The organisers are keen to attract users of obscure hardware and the event is open to all machines except high-end PCs or Amigas - which typically dominate these events. Entry will cost 100 FIM (around œ12) for the three day period. There's more information at:

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URL: http://www.fishpool.com/alternative-party/
Or UK mirror at:
URL: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/arnel/alternative-party/
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** TITANDA.GIF here **

DA's Layout

DA's Layout offers genuine PostScript level 2 output, the ability to use Calamus CFN fonts as well as PostScript Type 1 fonts, excellent vector illustration tools and the ability to share artwork with Calamus!

DA's Layout is also now available for Apple Macintosh and Power Macintosh computers and DA's Layout documents are fully 100% cross platform compatible!

Competitive Upgrades

Until 30th April 1998 Titan Designs are offering competitive upgrades to users of any version of Calamus (v1.09/S/S2/SL/SL95), Pagestream, Didot Professional, DA's Vector, DA's Vector Pro or pre v6.0 DA's Layout for the Atari platform. Crossgrades from the Atari to the Macintosh version are also available. Call Titan for more details.

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A demo version is available for download from:
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URL: http://www.compdirect.com/digital-arts/atari/

** L_NEMSIS.GIF here **

Nemesis update

Due to increased production costs Nemesis boards have been increased œ10 to œ69.95 with a discount of œ10 to registered APEX users (prices including VAT). Two companies in the UK have been appointed to offer authorised Nemesis upgrades and installation:

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FDC Electronics, Penrhyd, Llanrhuddlad, Anglesey LL65 5BG
Tel: +44 (0)1407 730132

MJL Insights, 12 Portal Road, Halton, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 5PR
Tel: +44 (0)1296 622400
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Carriage is extra and discount for non-EU destinations is available so please contact Titan to confirm details before placing orders.

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Titan Designs/Black Scorpion Software
6 Witherford Way, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 4AX, England
Tel: +44 (0)121 693 6669
Fax: +44 (0)121 414 1630
Email: 100345.2350@compuserve.com
URL: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/TITANWEB/
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** A4CLUB.GIF here **

The A4 Atari User Group from Deinze in Belgium have re-scheduled their second edition Atari show, originally planned for Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March 1998, to some time during August or September. For the latest information contact:

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Computer vereniging A4 Deinze, Postbus 90, B-9600 Ronse, BELGIUM
Email: saka@stud.rma.ac.be
URL: http://www.stud.rma.ac.be/popo/148_pol/samyn/rechts.htm

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** SYSTEM_S.GIF here **

HD Driver 7.12 available

HD-Driver supports IDE/EIDE, SCSI, ZIP, JAZ, EasyFlyer, SyJet, Magneto Optical and Phase Change drives. The most important new feature in this release is the ability to create removable media which are accessible from both TOS and DOS/Windows without the need for additional software such as Big-DOS or MagiC.

HD Driver 7.1 costs œ29.95 including VAT plus P&P or œ25.49 plus P&P to overseas customers.

Upgrade prices

Upgrades from v3/4/5/6 include a new manual. To upgrade, return the original disk and manual and add P&P.

œ 5.00 from v7.0 to 7.12
œ19.95 from HD Driver v3 or v4
œ15.00 from HD Driver v5 or v6

Package and Posting

UK: œ3.95 for recorded delivery (or send suitable sized and stamped envelope instead).
Europe, USA and Canada: œ3.95 for international recorded delivery.
Rest of world: œ4.95 for international recorded delivery.

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Sales office: 119 Arthur Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1RU
Fax: +44 (0)1753 830433
Tel: +44 (0)1753 832212
Email: sales@system-solutions.co.uk
Head office: 17-19 Blackwater Street, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8RS
Tel: +44 (0)181 693 3355
Fax: +44 (0)181 693 6936
Email: info@system-solutions.co.uk
URL: www.system-solutions.co.uk/cafe
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ICQ 4 U?

ICQ is internet software which alerts you when other, previously selected users, come on-line. You can then use ICQ to send them messages and chat "IRC style". ICQ versions are available for the PC/Mac and other platforms but there's currently no Atari version.
The protocols are owned by Mirabilis but Atari programmer, Christian Andersson, has agreed to write an Atari version if enough people are interested and Mirabilis are agreeable. To campaign for an Atari version email both Mirabilis and Christian today!

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Email
Mirabilis: etam@icq.com
Christian Andersson: faltrion@alfaskop.net
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** FLOPSHOP.GIF here **

Floppyshop have announced exclusive UK distribution rights to the Electronic Cow music software products. These high quality applications for Atari based amateur and professional musicians have gone relatively unnoticed and Floppyshop intend to remedy this situation. A free technical helpline, manned by Electronic Cow, to answer questions about Electronic Cow software is also available. The packages are:

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* MIDI Arpeggiator: Create arpeggio style mini-sequences or use as a live sequencing tool
* Sound Chip Synth: Harness the power of the built-in Atari soundchip for use in your MIDI compositions
* Snippit Synth: Create your own library of extraordinary sounds for Cubase with this granular synthesiser
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All Electronic Cow products are available now.

Positive Image 2 is scheduled for release before the end of April, with a Falcon specific CD-ROM, two other CD-ROMs and the re-launch of the Easy Text Professional and Easy Text Pro Vector DTP packages.

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Floppyshop, PO Box 273, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, AB15 8GJ
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1224 312756
Email: sdelaney@zetnet.co.uk
URL: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/sdelaney/floppyshop/
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** YESCREW.GIF here **

YesCREW Beta Party

The biggest ever Atari Party in Slovenia will be held on 14th of March in town Maribor in Slovenia. The organisers are still preparing the program of events but they'll be plenty to do and see including:

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* See Falcons, Jaguars, ST's, 800XL, VCS 7800 and 2600, Lynx's, Portfolio and hopefully a TT.
* Demo, games, art, and music competitions with prizes - Atari Computing has donated a back issue magazine and CD-ROM collection.
* Organised help to registration shareware.
* Presentation explaining how to set up the MiNT.
* Presentation explaining how to connect Atari machines to the internet.
* Presentations explaining how to use Ataris for music making.
* Presentation of Capy, a YesCREW game release.
* Presentation of BeST, a Croatian Atari disk magazine, put together by the Croatian Atari Team (CAT).
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Email: uros.vidovic@guest.arnes.si
URL: http://yescrew.home.ml.org/
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** L_ATIMES.GIF here **

1997 Atari Times Awards

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* Best Programmer: Tony Greenwood
Other nominations: Peter Rottengatter, Alexander Clauss, Anthony Jacques, Doug Little, Mark Wherry, Matthew Bacon, Matthias Jaap, Tat, Thomas Much

* Best commercial release: CAB 2.5
Other Nominations: MagiC, Papyrus 5, Homepage Pengiun 2.0pro, TOS2Win

* Best Shareware release: Running
Other Nominations: Thing, Start Me Up, CixComm/CixRead, Conquest of Elysium II, Everest, Freedom, Gemjing, Graoumf Tracker, LED, MPlayer, MIDPLAY, OLGA, PaCifiST, POPWatch, ResourceMaster

* Best PD/Freeware release: STiNG   Other Nominations: HERO 2, Godboy, Aniplayer, Appline, ASCONV, Diamond Ice, HS Modem, KP Flash, Newsie, Okami, XURL

* Best TOS game: HERO 2
Other Nominations: Crown of Creation, Mole Mayhem

* Best Jaguar game: Iron Soldier II
Other Nominations: Tempest 2000, Towers 2

* Best Demo of 1997
Sonolumineszenz

* Best hardware add-on: Nemesis
Other Nominations: TUS Internal STE HD, PAK 030, Afterburner 040

* Best Atari supporting company: Titan Designs
Other Nominations: TUS, System Solutions, ASF, ASH, Computer Direct, Falke Verlag, Floppyshop, Goodmans

* Best non-profit making Atari organisation: STOSSER Software
Other Nominations: ACG, Maggie, Croft Soft, CyberSTrider, InterActive, Portfolio Club, SHAG, WAG

* Best Disk Magazine: ST+   Other Nominations: Maggie, Atari Times, AtariPhile, ATOS

* Best paper based magazine: Atari Computing
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Other Nominations: ST Computer/Atari Inside, Dream, ST Magazine

* Best Atari supporting web page: The Atari Launchpad
Other Nominations: STOSSER Software, The Zone, ASH, Elysium, Mille Babic, InterActive, Jo Vandeweghe, STAG, ZMOe COOLeR THAN Yee

* Best Atari friendly Internet Service Provider: Zetnet
Other Nominations: CIX, Pacifier.com

* Special award for long standing services to the Atari community: Jeff Minter
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For more information contact:

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Colin Polonowski
Atari Times, The Croft, Hope Road, Nibley, Bristol, BS17 5JH
Email: polonowski@zetnet.co.uk
URL: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/polonowski/atimes/
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HiSoft BASIC User Group

With the lack of open support for HiSoft BASIC in the Public Domain and on the WWW, Matthew Bacon and Paul Jones have created the HiSoft BASIC User Group. The HiSoft BASIC User Group provides programmers from all over the world with a forum in which they can discuss any HiSoft BASIC/Atari problems or ideas they may have and share source code and experience. To give you an idea of the range of topics discussed, they have included, how to program BubbleGEM, print using SpeedoGDOS, use OLGA and AV protocols, use NetWorld extensions etc. A web site is currently being developed at:

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www.kingston.ac.uk/~k964101/hbasic.htm
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where you can find out information on the User Group/Forum, its members and download some excellent source code!
You can join the forum by either email or by post. If you have access to email, all you have to do is send an email to:

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majordomo@spodden.zetnet.co.uk
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with the message of "subscribe hisoft-basic" or send a SAE and disk to:
HB User Group, 49 Douglas Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7RZ.

If you would like further information, or can contribute information/source code, contact Matthew Bacon (at the address above) or Paul Jones:

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Email: k964101@kingston.ac.uk
Email: paulat.jones@zetnet.co.uk
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