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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:21 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - GPSy 3.10 released (Macintosh GPS software)
This announcement is from:
Karen Nakamura, <karen@gpsy.com>
Global Mapping Systems has released version 3.10 of GPSy (TM) -- its Macintosh GPS communications package. GPSy 3.10 adds a significant number of new features and enhancements including:
* Improved map interface such as PhotoShop (TM) style commands for drag- scrolling and zooming; as well as enhanced printing and calibrating. * Ability to center on current map location and update in real-time for true moving map display capabilities * Improved windowing support * Improved GPS device support
(the full 3.10 release notes are attached to the bottom of this message)
GPSy is a full featured Global Positioning Systems (GPS) software package for the Macintosh. GPSy can interface with practically any data-capable GPS unit on the market and provides a real-time moving map display with navigation features as well as numerous "offline" waypoint and route planning utilities.
Karen Nakamura, head of Software Development and Tea Serving at Global Positioning Systems, comments that "GPSy 3.10 is a significant upgrade to this package in terms of new features and new interface options and is the result of considerable user-feedback. Anyone who hasn't downloaded GPSy in a while should try this new release. We've continued our tradition of free upgrades for previous customers; so there's no excuse not to download it. GPSy 3.10 has tested 98.8% Carbon-pure and we're fully committed to shipping a fully native MacOS-X version."
There is a free downloadable demo of GPSy 3.10 on Global Mapping Systems' web site:
<http://www.gpsy.com/download.html>
To upgrade to the full version is US$50 for individual users and US$100 for institutional users. Academic pricing is available. Purchases can be made through the online web site or via more traditional means.
<http://www.gpsy.com/purchase.html>
Also on the web site are links to GPSy compatible maps; resources for both novice and expert GPS users; and links to third party packages:
<http://www.gpsy.com>
GPSy requires a 68020 or above or PowerPC; System 7.5.5 or above (8.1 recommended); QuickTime 3.0; and a compatible GPS receiver and cable.
In a related story, Global Mapping Systems is one of the sponsors of the Pony Express Tour 98 run by the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation. During the tour this summer, GPSy will be used as part of the pre-tour planning and routing process as well as during the tour on the support van as part of the automapping system. Global Mapping Systems has donated several copies of GPSy and is loaning some of their test GPS units to the tour. The Pony Express Tour is an all-Mac effort, so the Macintosh community is strongly encouraged to help support them:
<http://www.cybercyclemag.com/ponyexpress98/>
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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:22 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Rhapsody-Drivers Mailing List
This tidbit is from:
Kirk Rogers, <rogers.146@osu.edu>
The Rhapsody-Drivers mailing list is now publicly available.
Rhapsody-Drivers is aimed at giving driver developers, device manufacturers and concerned users a place to meet and exchange ideas, concerns, questions, etc. The primary focus of Rhapsody-Drivers will be developing driver software for Rhapsody and MacOS X. We will also entertain requests for particular hardware drivers that Apple may not supply with Rhapsody/MacOS X.
Subscription Info:
You can subscribe by sending email to <autoshare@> msem26.eng.ohio-state.edu> with "subscribe rhapsody-drivers <Your Name>" in the message *body*. Please use your real name without quotes or brackets when you subscribe.
A 10-message digest version will be available. After you subscribe send email to <autoshare@> msem26.eng.ohio-state.edu> with "set rhapsody-drivers digest" in the message *body*.
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:20 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Introducing YankPro 2 from Maui Software
This announcement is from:
Maui Software, <sales@mauisoftware.com>
YankPro 2 is a $29 Mac commercial application that does eight things:
- -- Uninstalls an application and related files. You installed SurfRider on your hard disk years ago, but you never use it? Now you can uninstall SurfRider and all SurfRider related files.
- -- Searches for duplicate applications. How many copies of SimpleText do you really need?
- -- Searches the System Preferences folder for orphaned files. Almost every program you ever run creates a preference file, including those shareware programs you tried years ago just one time.
- -- Slims Fat Applications. Many applications contain two sets of code so they can run in native mode on both PowerMacs and older 68K Macs. Now you can reduce the size of most fat applications by up to 30%.
- -- Remove unnecessary Apple Guide files. You probably already know how to use your applications, so there is no need to clutter up your hard disk with all those unwanted help files.
- -- Searches for orphaned alias files. An alias file is a file that points to another file. If somehow the alias loses track of which file it points to, it becomes an orphaned alias.
- -- Searches for empty files. Helps you get rid of files that contain no data. There is usually no need to clutter up your hard disk with unnecessary empty files.
- -- Searches for empty folders. Helps you get rid of empty folders. There is usually no need to clutter up your hard disk with unnecessary empty folders.
YankPro 2 is a free upgrade from YankPro 1.
For more information visit <http://www.mauisoftware.com/YankPro/YankPro.html> or send email to <mailto:sales@mauisoftware.com>.
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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:30 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Innovative car shown using QTVR
Keyword: Advocacy, Macintosh in Action
This tidbit is from:
Ivanov, Nikolay, <Ivanov@IBS.ru>
NEWS.COM today features a piece about newest Silicon Valley fashion: futuristic electric driven car by GM.
"Silicon Valley's computer nerds say the latest in geek chic is an aerodynamic, environmentally correct electric car. " ...It is the ultimate in nerd status," [director of the Institute of the Future in Menlo Park, CA] Saffo said. "Six months from now when everyone has a Beetle and no one cares, it's the electric car that will still turn heads. These things look like messenger vehicles for the Martian assembly."
Full text of the article is at <http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,22604,00.html?st.ne.fd.mdh>
What innovative technology do you think GM uses to show off the innovative car at a special Web site?
<http://www.gmev.com/evsite/ev1/movies/index.htm>
Car manufacturers seem to be the most active commercial users of QTVR, I must say.
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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:25 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Followup - Mac-based Voicemail
This follow-up message is from:
Lynn Joiner <NRecs@aol.com>
A few weeks ago I posted an inquiry about Mac-based voicemail systems for multi-line office phone installations, on both the EvangeList and the Mac Managers list. We had just installed a Lucent Technologies Partner ACS phone system in my wifes medical office (five incoming lines, 14 stations), and I hoped to find a Mac-based voicemail system that would integrate with the Partner ACS box and a future data network.
Let me first apologize for taking so long to report back. The posts generated well over a hundred responses--the majority from the larger EvangeList--and the task of summarizing was daunting enough for me to use the "wait for a convenient time" excuse. There never is a convenient time, but as people are still asking for results and posting similar queries, I had better get to it--additional apologies for the length of this, but it appears to be a hot topic.
A lot of folks directed me to various vendors of Mac telephony software and equipment, well-known and less so. As it turns out, none currently offer voicemail systems with the capabilities of the PC-based systems that dominate the industry, but they may suit some users needs, and a few bear watching for future developments:
(1) PhonePro from Bing Software, formerly AVEO, formerly Cypress <Research <http://www.bingsoftware.com>:> PhonePro is "telephony development software which uses an intuitive icon-based scripting language." Bing claims that it will work with "most popular analog and digital PBX systems," but "digital systems require an analog extension." Bing also adds, "Currently any telephony application created on the Mac can only answer one telephone line at a time." The key word is "currently"; according to a source at Bing, "We are working on a Multiline solution using a PCI Mac and Dialog multiline cards (the same cards used on the evil Windows side)." Meanwhile, a demo of PhonePro is available from Bings web site. Judging from one comment, we can look forward to the multiline version: "The power and scalability of this system," writes Scott McCambley, "is scary."
(2) MegaPhone, also from Bing Software: Its popular, ships with some Macs, and is designed for single-line, analog applications.
(3) PhoneMaker, from Micromat <http://www.micromat.com> the makers of TechTool: Two respondents thought Micromat was (in the words of one) "toying with taking their PhoneMaker software multi-line." But according to Micromat, "We dont expect to have anything like this soon." PhoneMaker is, like PhonePro, an icon-based development tool, and appears similar in its capabilities to PhonePro. Conceivably Micromat and Bing could emerge one day as competitors for the multi-line Mac market. What does "soon" mean?
(4) CommuniGate from Stalker Software <http://www.stalker.com>. Several respondents (two associated with medical offices) suggested we investigate this product, which gets raves for its e-mail and fax management capabilities. However, Stalker reports that its CommuniGate Voice module is "on hold for about a year." In any case it is apparently designed to work with a modem, not with a multi-line digital phone system.
(5) VOICEstf, from stf, makers of the popular FAXstf and now owners of Pleiades Software's Front Office voicemail <http://www.stfinc.com>:> Since the Pleiades product line is being integrated into the STF line, this pronouncement from STF may serve for both: "We may do a multi-line, digital or analog solution in the future but we currently don't have anything like that available."
(6) MacComCenter, from Smith Micro <http://www.smithmicro.com>:> Another well- known fax and voice application, but also only for single-line, analog systems.
(7) Dakota, from Cambridge Computer Corp. <http://www.cam.com>:> "Dakota is an application development environment for building Power Macintosh telephony systems." Like PhonePro and PhoneMaker, it uses icons to build flow chart systems--not apparently for multi-line systems.
(8) YoYo, from Big Island <http://www.big-island.com>:> Well-reviewed telephone features, but not voicemail.
Besides these leads to major Mac vendors, there were a number of unique but intriguing approaches to the problem of Mac-based voicemail:
(9) Duet, from Magnum Software <http://www.magnumcorp.com>:> Only one respondent mentioned this firm, which claims to have made the "the very FIRST iconic flowcharting telephony system on the market," in 1988. TFLX, as it's called, runs on everything from a Mac Plus on for single-line applications. Duet, however, uses the Mac as a front-end for a DOS-based PC using a multi- port board. What this offers, of course, is ease of programming, an advantage obviated to some extent (dare I say it?) by Windows.
(10) Jerry Ray reports that he threw out a Northern Telecom system, bought standard analog phones, subscribed to CentraNet (which provides PBX functions for a monthly charge), "all tied together with Front Office 1.5 and FAXstf." He adds: "I have had much less trouble with this at a tenth of the expense of a 4 port (Rhetorex board) turnkey PC system I had two years ago." Clearly, if you have an existing Mac network and no modern phone system (or one you can afford to toss out), this is a possible way to go.
(11) Virtual PC on a G3 Mac: "You don't want to go Wintel! You'll regret it, and your pocketbook will, too!" (Mike)
(12) Terminal emulation: "Most of the PC-based solutions can be administered from *any* machine with a telnet or null-modem connection--through a terminal emulator!" (Ted Thibodeau, Jr.).
(13) Wait for Rhapsody: "NeXT (from whence it comes) is a prime system for AT&T wireless so have a little patience and the systems will come to you" (JB).
(14) A network called I-Link Worldwide has a voicemail/messaging/faxing component called V-Link <http://www.I-Link.net>. It apparently ties you into a central server which can handle a large number of telephone functions. It requires no internal hardware. I don't fully understand it, but it looks promising.
(15) Other suggestions: the SupraExpress 56 modem from <Diamond <http://www.diamondmm.com>>, which comes with voicemail software; the Apple Geoport Adapter (used by many of the single-line systems); Apple Telecom 3.0; Qualcomm (provides voicemail only over the Internet).
The upshot of all this:
There are no turnkey Mac-based voicemail systems for multi-line, digital phone systems. Now that the Mac uses PCI slots, and so can use the same boards the PC-based systems do, it is probably a question of demand. Judging from the responses to this original post, there is a great deal of interest in Mac voicemail, which would probably translate into customer demand. About half of my respondents said, "Me too. Please let me know if you find anything."
But maybe it doesn't matter all that much. Here's reassurance from a correspondent named Joel:
"Mac voice mail "Does not exist.
"But don't despair.
"A voice mail system usually sits in a phone closet and has no bearing on what platform you use in your office. . . Think of it this way: Older voice mail systems had proprietary hardware, but nobody based their networks on that. . ."
As for the path to CTI (computer-telephony-integration), which led me to worry about the voicemail system, Joel asks: ". . .do you REALLY need it or have you just seen a lot of marketing that says you really need it? I am yet to see anyone outside of customer service help centers actually use this and like it. Most people don't like the thought of their phone crashing. . ."
In addition to enthusiasm and fervor, in the Mac community there is realism as well: leave the PC in the closet to run your phone system and use your Macs for the real work.
Lynn Joiner Walking Creek Productions <NRecs@aol.com>
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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:28 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Hypercard Mailing List
This tidbit is from:
samu, <samu@golden.net>
From time to time, a request shows up on the Evangelist - the damndest thing is really, that this kind of request hits the Evangelist all the time - a request for a single ability program or a customized database that does something that only a DOS or Windows program can do. Do you know you can create most of these solutions yourself, easily, using HyperCard?
Recently a request was made for a program to track Mac stations across a network without the Chooser. A number of such requests have been cross-posted to the HyperCard mailing list where a short discussion usually ensues as to how easy or straightforward it would be to do such-and-such in HyperCard or HyperCard with Applescript.
We have a couple of "Kids" on the list capable of writing - in HyperCard and Applescript - a networked HyperCard stack for the presentation of an assignment at school. Recently I spent two afternoons writing a stack that turned into a Network Chat program demonstrating Program Linking. I am a 45 year old artist - not a programmer by any definition.
HyperCard seems to be a solution for everything without being a specific solution to anything - until someone with imagination, someone who thinks differently, comes along and realizes it. I can't neglect to mention FileMaker as a solution too for these kinds of requests posted to the Evangelist, but, powerful tools for personal and creative solutions are already in your hands.
Some links to get you started with seeing what HyperCard can do:
For a great start try: The HyperCard Resource Page: <http://www.glasscat.com/hypercard> HyperCard Heaven: <http://members.aol.com/hcheaven/index.html>
Then move on to: Mark Gregory's Teach HyperCard site: <http://www.chepd.mq.edu.au/boomerang/TeachHC/>
This site link below will let you subscribe to the HyperCard mailing list. We want to help you! The HyperCard Mailing List: <http://www.glasscat.com/hypercard/HCML.cgi>
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Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 02:06:12 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Charity Begins At Home
This tidbit is from:
Robert Paul Leitao, <rleitao@atpm.com>
My name is Robert Paul Leitao and I'm the managing editor of ATPM, an independent, all-volunteer e-zine for Mac users <www.atpm.com>. The low prices on G3s are tempting many of our readers to buy new computers. Personally, I'd like an iMac for my kids and a new Powerbook for me. The problem is while many of us may have a little bit of room on our credit cards,our homes don't have room for an old Mac and a new Mac.
Donating our older computers to a charity will not only free up the space in our homes for a new G3 desktop or mini tower, it may also open the wonderful world of Macintosh computing to new groups of users. If you know of charitable organizations that will take donations of Macintosh equipment, please e-mail me at <rleitao@atpm.com>. Specifically, I'd like the following information:
Organization Name Contact Name Contact Phone Number Contact E-mail Address Type of Organization (i.e. school, private charity, etc.) Kind of Mac Equipment Needed or Accepted
I'll match this information with offers of pre-owned Macintosh hardware that I receive from our readers and from Evangelistas. Please send offers of Macintosh hardware to the same e-mail address <rleitao@atpm.com>. This is a volunteer effort designed to help others while we help ourselves to the Pentium poundin' power of Apple's G3 machines!
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Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 02:06:12 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Programmers Online Forum Reopens
The Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum on the Delphi online service has just reopened after a complete overhaul. It provides a web site with some news, but more importantly, MacProg provides moderated message boards and conference rooms for serious (and sometimes not-so-serious) Macintosh programming discussions.
"Moderated" means that although all messages are posted immediately, there is staff available to help guide discussions to ensure that they remain more or less relevant to Macintosh and PowerPC programming (unlike some places, where message fascists edit every message before it gets posted).
The staff is also available to help answer your questions, and includes professional Mac programmers, technical writers, and a couple of hobbyists as well.
The Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum's web site is located at <http://www.delphi.com/macprog/>. MacProg is an official Delphi forum, operated under contract by Syndicomm, Inc.
Access to MacProg is free-of-charge, and provides a safe, comfortable place to debate whether or not you should be implementing that blitter in assembly instead of calling CopyBits, or how to get that C++ class doing exactly what you want.
For more information about MacProg, visit MacProg's web site at <http://www.delphi.com/macprog/> or email <sheppy@syndicomm.com>. __________ This msg originated from the MacDev-1 listserv and was selectively redistributed on your favorite list -- EvangeList. To subscribe to MacDev-1, check out <http://www.mactech.com> or send an email to<MacDev-1@listmail.xplain.com>
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Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 02:06:13 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Visual MacStandardBasic Offer Extended
This announcement is from:
ZCurve, <zcurve@zcurve.com>
ZCurve Software has announced that it has extended its special offer of $29.95 for Visual MacStandardBasic through August 31st, 1998. Visual MacStandardBasic normally has a retail price of $ 99.
Professional Macintosh applications can be visually created in minutes. Visual MacStandardBasic uses and extends BASIC's easy to learn format to utilize the power of the Macintosh. It is easy for users to integrate sound, speech, color graphics, sprite animation, movies into their applications.
Users can purchase and download the complete Visual MacStandardBasic package from the ZCurve Software web site <http://www.zcurve.com>. Currently, Macintosh users anywhere in the world can get Visual MacStandardBasic within minutes over the Internet.
Visual MacStandardBasic is also available from Developer Depot <http://www.devdepot.com>. Developer Depot is a leader in providing software products to Macintosh users around the world.
Visual MacStandardBasic is optimized for both Apple's newer Power Macintosh computers and older Macintosh models.
For more information about Visual MacStandardBasic visit the ZCurve Software web site at <http://www.zcurve.com> EMail: <zcurve@zcurve.com>
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1201 *********************************
