By Jon A. Bell
START Associate Editor
Finally-True Desktop Publishing
Timeworks Inc., makers of Word Writer ST, Data Manager ST and Swiftcalc,
has just released the Timeworks Desktop Publisher ST. Completely
GEM-based, Publisher ST allows you to do word processing, page layout and
graphics, all with amazing speed and ease. The word processor lets you
cut, copy, paste and replace text; the page layout functions allow you
to load graphics and text and mix them in an enormous variety of forms.
You can load files from Word Writer ST (or any ASCII text file), load pictures
from many ST drawing programs (or create simple graphics from within the
program), and merge them into beautiful sales reports, brochures, newsletters
and more. Publisher ST also includes drivers for 9- and 24-pin printers
and laser printers, including ones equipped with Postscript. This may be
the one to beat, folks. Desktop Publisher ST, $129.95. Timeworks, Inc.,
444 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015, (312) 948-9200, (800) 535-9497.
On the other hand, the one to beat it might be Calamus, the new desktop publishing program from ISD Marketing (VIP Professional and Masterplan). Calamus boasts a complete GEM interface, and features full text and document processing, layout design, a presentation graphics generator, bitmap graphics editor and font editor. Print your work out on dot matrix printers, Postscript or non-Postscript laser printers, or photo-typesetter machines such as the Linotronic. Calamus also includes a spelling checker, hyphenation dictionary; multiple chart forms, graphics pad support and 16 different typefaces. Requires one megabyte. Calamus, $349.95. ISD Marketing, Inc.. 2651 John Street, Unit #3, Markha Ontario, Canada, L3R-2W5, (416) 479-1880.
Cyber Upgrade
Cyber Paint, Antic Software's combination paint/animation/post-production
program has been upgraded to Version 2.0. Version 2.0 has many new features,
including an all-new Color menu that lets you change your animation sequence
palette per frame, and do color fades, blends and cycling over any range
of frames. 2.0 also includes automatic traveling mattes, an enhanced antialiaser,
outline (for neon effects), striking pixel effects such as "Crystalize"
and "Shatter," and many more features. Registered owners of Cyber Paint
1.0 can get the upgrade by sending in $25 plus the original disk. Cyber
Paint 2.0, $79.95. Antic Software, 544 Second Street, San Francisco,
CA 94107, (415) 957-0886; (800) 234-7001.
Viva!
Here's a late-breaking item: VIVA, an icon-based scripting language
for making presentation graphics you can show on either your ST or TV (you
can also transfer them to videotape). VIVA (Video Interactive Visual Authoring)
allows you to create animated presentations, mixing text, graphics and
speech (through routines included with the software). You can do charts,
storyboards and interactive presentations (setting up icons for users to
click on to activate specific displays). VIVA comes with over 200 graphic
procedures and 50 video commands; it also can send either RGB or composite
video output. VIVA is designed primarily for sales and education. VIVA,
$249.95. Knowledgeware, distributed by MichTron, 576 Telegraph, Pontiac,
MI 48053, (313) 334-5700.
Two Super Modems
Black Box Corporation has released Tote-A-Modem, a tiny Hayes-compatible
device available in either 1200 baud or 2400 baud. The Tote-A-Modem operates
on either a 9-volt battery or AC adapter, and will work as either a direct-connect
or acoustical modem (which allows you to use Radio Shack acoustic cups,
for operation at 300 and 1200 baud). Tote-A-Modem 1200 baud, $199; 2400
baud, $359. Black Box Corporation, P.O. Box 12800, Pittsburgh, PA 15241,
(412) 746-5500.
Supra Corporation, known in the Atari ST community mainly for its hard drives, has just released the SupraModem 2400. The compact, Hayes-compatible modem can operate at 300, 1200 or 2400 baud and can be configured easily through simple commands, which you can also save in the modem's nonvolatile memory. The commands are loaded whenever you turn the modem on or reset it.
The modem also features full AT command capability, an automatic answer/dialer (either tone or pulse), two phone jacks, variable-volume speaker and a one-year warranty. Included with the modem is an operator's manual, a quick reference card, DC power supply, telephone cable, and software and connection cables for your specific computer (ST, Amiga, etc.). SupraModem 2400, $219.95. Supra Corporation, 1133 Commercial Way, Albany, OR 97321, (503) 967-9075.
Super Digitizing
Trio Engineering, the three-man team that did the Spectrum 512 paint
program, has released Digispec, a software package that allows ST
owners to capture full 512-color images with the Computereyes Color Video
Digitizer and a video camera or VCR. Besides using the ST's palette of
512 colors, Digispec uses dithering (dense fill patterns of two or more
colors) to simulate over 24,000 colors. Digispec can load Amiga IFF and
CompuServe .GIF pictures, and let you display them in a slideshow program
(included), or you can load them into Spectrum 512 and do touch-up work.
Digispec works on all STs. Digispec, $39.95 plus $3 shipping and handling.
Trio Engineering, Inc., P.O. Box 332, Swampscott, MA 01907, (617) 964-1673.
Hail to the Chief
It's election time, and SSI's President Elect is an interesting
simulation designed to let you pick the new leader of the U.S. The 1988
edition comes with 69 candidates dating from every presidential election
since 1960. You can pit all the current Democrat runners against their
Republican counterparts, or else mix and match them (pit Jimmy Carter against
John F Kennedy, for instance). See how the candidates react to your questions,
ranging from social and economic to foreign issues; rate their responses
and watch how they run their campaigns. President Elect, $24.95. Strategic
Simulations, Inc., 1046 Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View CA 94043, (415)
964-1353.
CIRCLE 245 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Do you have a new ST product? If so, we'd like to hear about it. Please send your press releases and product photos to New Products, START 544 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94107.