-=========================================================================- _ __ _ <>_ __ _ || /\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || Amiga Update -News and Rumors /__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ ||(A Very Occasional Newsletter) / \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ || BACK FOR THE FUTURE || -=========================================================================- AMIGA and the Amiga logo are trademarks of Amiga Technolgies, GmbH --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 960422 O F F I C I A L W O R D F R O M V I S C O R P & M O R E O N T H E V I S C O R P S T A F F D R A C O - T H E A M I G A C O M P A T I B L E A M I G A C O N V E N T I O N I N J A P A N R E B I R T H O F W O N D E R C O M P U T E R S VIScorp has now issued a statement on the buyout of Amiga Technologies. We carry their press release below and follow it up with more information about their staff. It's all very interesting and bound to become more so as time passes. At this point, there's still no announced plan from VIScorp. The press release sheds some light on why, and what VIScorp is thinking. We'll continue to keep you posted as we learn more. We do anticipate newsletters becomming more "occasional" again, now that things are settling down some, but we won't let anything significant slip by. Were you aware that the Amiga is NOT the only computer that runs AmigaOS? You were if you're a long time reader of "AmigaUpdate" or European Amiga magazines. The "other" Amiga is the DraCo, a German creation designed specifically for video work, especially non-linear editing. Draco is also a complete Amiga except for the custom chips. Graphics is handled through an AGA compatible graphics board. We haven't heard much from DraCo recently but the product and American distributor Draco Systems have apparently just become a presence on the Internet. We bring you the spec sheet for DraCo from their new site, which proves the DraCo is still with us. We find that very pleasing. Prowling the net we turned up an announcement of an upcoming Amiga convention, in Japan. While we have a real yen to attend that one (boo, hiss) we doubt we'll be able to make it. If you find yourself in Japan later this month, check it out. We especially like their theme of "Amiga - the last hobby computer" though we suspect the Linux folk might argue that point. If you get there, please explain to us the reference to the dog. Many Amigans remember the Canadian company "Wonder Computers". The company had gone into bankruptcy but has now returned from the grave. Where have we heard that before? Enjoy the issue! Brad --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIScorp - Memo - 19APR96 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Posted to WWW.VISTV.COM, COMP.SYS.AMIGA.MISC, 19-APR-96 Permission Granted to Distribute without Alteration VISCORP and AMIGA: The Phoenix Strategy Much has been said and written about the recent announcement of the signing of a letter of understanding between VIScorp and Escom AG Germany. In addition, VIScorp has received hundreds of telephone, fax and Email communications requesting information as to the status of the deal and our plans for the Amiga. We are providing this posting to inform those interested in the knowing about the current arrangements -- and will provide additional information as the they develop. VIScorp is currently conducting a thorough due diligence assessment of Escom's Amiga holdings. This process is painstaking and extremely time consuming; however, without full disclosure, no satisfactory deal can be concluded. Due to the letter of understanding, VIScorp is restricted from releasing information relating to the negotiations until they are completed. Until such time, Amiga remains the asset of Amiga Technologies/Escom and all inquires relating to current Amiga operations should be directed to Amiga Technologies/Escom. VIScorp currently holds a license to the Amiga OS and chip sets and is developing a family of TV-based products that utilize the Amiga's unique functionalities. Many of VIScorp's senior management have previously worked for Commodore and have a thorough knowledge of the Amiga. Our intent to purchase the Amiga comes out of (i) an appreciation of the core technology and its importance to VIScorp's long-term business development and (ii) a belief that the Amiga can -- like the Phoenix -- rise from the ashes and become a profitable technology for the future. Over the coming days and weeks we anticipate to see a flood a mis-statements in the press, on the Net and via voice communications -- some will be made out of ignorance, others out of malice. We will do our best to keep the Amiga community regularly informed. We have received hundreds of messages and anticipate many more to be received until final resolution of formal negotiations is completed. While we are making every effort to do so, please excuse us if we do not respond to your individual message. David Rosen Vice President, Business Development April 19, 1996 {Following is a list of some VIScorp Engineering Team members with Amiga related experience, as spotted in a note from Carl Sassenrath dated 14 April. Brad} Don Gilbreath - VP - Yes, CDTV HW, Commodore for ten years. Steve Kreckman - Director of HW - Commodore, consulting engr. Carl Sassenrath - Director of SW - Orig Amiga Team, CDTV SW, Apple, HP, etc. Jim Goodnow - Senior SW Engr - Creator of MANX C, Zardoz, Videostream, etc. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- E - L E T T E R S T O T H E E - D I T O R We don't expect this to become a regular feature and in fact take care of most of our correspondence one on one. However, something contained in a recent letter from a reader was a very good suggestion: >... BTW, do you have a web page or FTP site or some >such for posting the back-issues of your newsletter? Just a thought... > >Thanks again. > >-Steve We didn't have such a site but we do after receiving that note. You can find all the "AmigaUpdate" issues we still have copies of on line as of this last weekend. We're still working on the site, but you can download what's there so far. Using a web browser, go to site http://www.globaldialog.com/AdventureCentral and use the link to AmigaUpdate. The files are also available via ftp. Use anonymous ftp to site ftp.globaldialog.com then directory pub/amiga-update-archive. All newsletters are listed by date of issue in our standard yymmdd format. Over time we hope to add guides making it easier to find specific items from past issues. Keep in mind that this newsletter grew out of private correspondence from me to other Amiga users. As such, the first "issues" are more like letters and in fact many are now missing. What we still have are now available to you, along with all recent issues. Brad. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I N F O R M A T I O N O N T H E D R A C O S Y S T E M About DraCo Systems, Inc. DraCo, The Nonlinear Workstation DraCo Systems 3591 Nyland Way Lafayette, CO Phone:> 303.499.1975 Fax: 303.499.1979 Technical Support: 303.447.8126 Email: draco-info@draco.com DraCo Systems, Inc. is a division of Micro Reps, Incorporated, a 12-year-old international marketing and distribution firm. DraCo Systems began distributing the award-winning line of MacroSystem products out of Germany in June of 1994. DraCo Systems, Inc. provides innovative, creative, affordable, and practical tools for the digital video market. DraCo Product Specifications DraCo, The Nonlinear Workstation Audio Inputs/Outputs: RCA are standard, Optional XLR Audio Hardware: DAT quality stereo audio Digital Audio Sampling: 16 bits/48kHz Video Inputs/Outputs: Composite, S-Video are standard Optional Component, Uncompressed Digital, Compressed Digital (Firewire DV Standard) Compression Algorithm: Motion JPEG Compression Range: Selectable from 2:1 - 50:1 Maximum Data Rate: 10 MB per second with SCSI II Graphics Modes: From 320 x 240 to 1600 x 992 Video Standard:> NTSC or PAL Image Resolution: CCIR 601 standard 720 x 480 MovieShop: Sophisticated, easy-to-use and powerful package Near Real-Time DVE's: Optional DEC Alpha Co-Processor for near real-time rendering All of It CPU/Speed: Motorola MC 68060: 50 MHz Optional DEC Alpha rendering co-processor: 233 MHz Operating Systems: Amiga OS standard, Mac OS via ShapeShifter All PC OS via PC board option, Net BMD UNIX Memory: 8MB Standard 72 pin SIMMS Expandable to 128MB on board Case: Tower SCSI Ports: Fast SCSI II - 6 Internal, 1 External External Interfaces: SCSI II, Serial, Parallel, Mouse, Keyboard, RCA or XLR audio, Composite and S-Video, optional breakout for other video inputs/outputs Internal Interfaces: 6 SCSI II Internal Slots: Passive backplane with 2 for the DraCo board, 3 DraCo direct, 2 PCI slots, and 3 16-bit slots Internal Drive Bays: 6 horizontal 5.25" full height 4 horizontal 5.25" half height Disk Drives: 4x CD ROM, HD Floppy Mouse: 3 button opto-mechanical Keyboard: Detachable 101 key Power Supply: Switchable: 110/220 Software Included: MovieShop, AmigaDOS 3.1, XiPaint, ADPro, MorphPlus, CyberGraphix Suggested Retail:> $8,995 $10,995 with 1GB System Drive & 4GB Video Drive --------------------------------------------------------------------------- J A P A N E S E A M I G A C O N V E N T I O N Author: Makoto Yagihashi(yagih@vier.mech.nitech.ac.jp) "Amiga Convention in Hamamatsu '96" --------------------------------------------------- The last hobby computer, AMIGA Date 4/27(Sat.) afternoon:pre-meeting dedicated to a dog? 4/28(Sun.) 13:00 - 14:05:Lecture 14:15 - 17:00:Exchanging information Places Accomodation Sunbia Hamamatsu If you want to join us, please mail to SDI00828@niftyserve.or.jp Meeting place Hamamatsu Shoukoukaigisho Council room:C on the 10th Floor Access 10 minutes from JR Hamamatsu station where Super Express SHINKANSEN stops by ENTETSU bus. Please come to the meeting place directory Admission Fee 1,000yen Last Amiga Convention in Hamamatsu('95) If you have any question about this convention, please mail to SDI00828@niftyserve.or.jp ------------------------------------------------ If you have any question, please mail to umashika-webmaster@vier.mech.nitech.ac.jp --------------------------------------------------------------------------- W O N D E R C O M P U T E R S B A C K I N B U S I N E S S LAZARUS ENGINEERING CORPORATION --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ottawa, Ontario * (613) 798-3617 * Fax: (613) 798-6923 Lazarus Engineering Corporation Secures Amiga Intellectual Property Ottawa, Ontario - Lazarus Engineering Corporation would like to announce that its tender to purchase the Intellectual Property assets of the former Wonder Computers Inc. has been accepted by their trustees in bankruptcy. Commercial software products included with the transaction include: DesignWorks, PowerManager, Flow, QuickWrite, Profonts, WordMaker, Mac2Dos, Dos2Dos and Disk2Disk. Commercial hardware products included the KB-10 IBM-Amiga keyboard protocol converter. All other intellectual property including unfinished software and hardware projects, marketing materials, commercial graphics, in-house as well as out-sourced developed utilities, and production stock were also included in the transaction. Mr. Steve R. Cockwell, President and CEO of Lazarus Engineering, has renewed his committment to the Amiga platform with this acquisition. "Our strength is in the people around us. From our talented engineers, technical writers, graphic artists, and support staff to the customers around the world that have shown us their support through the EMails, Faxes and letters that we have received in the past few months. It takes an entire community to make a company like this possible, and we are proud to say that we are a part of the one called Amiga." Mr. Cockwell also noted that production will soon begin again for Lazarus Engineering's newest commercial products: KB-10 and DesignWorks 2.0, and that a special promotion for these will be announced shortly. Lazarus Engineering Corporation was founded in 1993 by Steve R. Cockwell, a long-time veteran of Corel Corporation in Ottawa, Ontario. The company can be reached for comment about any of the above information during regular office hours (8:30 to 17:00 EST, Monday to Friday) or via EMail at the above address. -=========================================================================- _ __ _ <>_ __ _ || Brad Webb/AmigaUpdate /\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || webb@malamute.med.ge.com /__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ || bandr@globaldialog.com / \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ || Portal -- XJumpdisk -=========================================================================-