EvangeList Digest Wednesday, March 3 1999 Volume 01 : Number 1384
In this issue:
?? - Robotics Curriculum -- Resources PR - Digital Wipeout DK PR - Painting 1.6 ?? - Sound Conversion to Telephony VOX Format Tidbit - Low End Mac Relocates Tidbit - WWWB Welcomes Mac User Groups Tidbit - Macs Conquer Berlin [Review] Lode Runner 2 PR - Chronicus for Macintosh
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:05:28 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ?? - Robotics Curriculum -- Resources
This request is from:
CHAT Mac Lab <mailto:chat@interlog.com>
We hope to offer a robotics course to our senior (grade 12) students next year, but have been unable to find the hardware and software resources -- and curriculum guides -- which would enable us to teach the course in our Mac Lab. Several Wintel-based solutions have been uncovered; but so far, we've had no luck on the Mac OS side.
If Evangelistas with relevant information would be so kind as to contact us directly, with their suggestions,we'll summarize their answers in a future posting.
Thank you for your help.
M.D. Arkin Computer Studies Department Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto 200 Wilmington Avenue Toronto, Canada M3H 5J8
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:05:43 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - Digital Wipeout DK
This announcement is from:
John Mauro <mailto:maurojc@bushbaby.alfred.edu>
John Mauro Software is proud to announce the release of Digital Wipeout DK for Mac OS. Digital Wipeout DK is the new Danish version of Digital Wipeout translated by Casper Strunge Andersen.
Digital Wipeout is an educational shareware game that challenges the math skills of any level of player. The object is to score as many points as possible by "wiping out" numbers on the board. Up to eight players (human or computer) can play at once. If you play alone, try to set a new record by wiping out the entire board. Version 4.0 features complete game board customization and CD quality sound by Fadeout Studios. Digital Wipeout is a fun and educational game for people of any age! Requires Mac OS 7.0 or higher, 2048K RAM, and color monitor. Apple QuickTime 3.0 and Mac OS 8.5 recommended.
Both the English and Danish versions of Digital Wipeout may be downloaded from my site at
<http://cs.alfred.edu/~maurojc/software>
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:05:48 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - Painting 1.6
This announcement is from:
Sarwat Khan <mailto:sarwat@interlog.com>
Painting 1.6 is the latest release of the fabulous shareware graphics program. This event also marks the move of the official web site to <http://sarwat.net/painting>.
Painting is an award winning graphics application that is useful for creating everything from the simplest icons to the most breathtaking artwork. Painting has all the standard paint tools, plus special effects, support for multiple file formats, customised colour sets, graphics tablet support, and much more.
New features in version 1.6 include: - Painting 1.6 adds support for pressure-sensitive graphics tablets. Colour and/or width of brush strokes can be controlled. - Uses QuickTime 3 Effects. You can apply several special effects to your documents and add more to your system. - 360 rotation. Requires QuickTime 3. - Fixed a serious bug that caused problems with Save As in version 1.5.3. - User interface changes and other minor bug fixes.
The new Painting web site is an excellent resource for Painting users, offering a collection of tips, goodies, sample artwork and feedback links.
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:05:23 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ?? - Sound Conversion to Telephony VOX Format
Over the last few weeks I've searched in vain for a sound recording/conversion program that would generate a sound format called VOX. Management wanted to use a "professional" voice to record our opening greeting on our voice mail system (an ActiveVoice implementation on an OS/2 system). Cassette tape in hand, I started my search for first the format and then a conversion program.
I'm not proud to say that the only solution I found was to use a WinTel program called CoolEdit. We even have full-fledged video production with Avid Media Composer, but could not create a simplistic 4-bit sound format at 6,000 samples a second.
I guess with limited server based telephony applications on the Mac, it was not something that was seen as needed. I was even disappointed that I could not take the pristine sound file I created on the Mac and convert in on the PC. The program would import the Mac file okay, but too much was lost in the conversion bringing it down to the VOX format. Recording it on a PC with a $25 cassette recorder produced the best results.
In my search, I did find other Mac users in the past searching for the same solution, but without finding one. I know I will need to create VOX format files in the future. Maybe someone knows of a program on the Mac that will accomplish this task.
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:05:37 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Low End Mac Relocates
This tidbit is from:
Dan Knight <mailto:dknight@mail.iserv.net>
A leading site covering older Macs, Low End Mac has moved to its own domain -- and is now served on a Macintosh.
<http://lowendmac.com/index.shtml>
Born in April 1997 on my personal web site, Low End Mac grew steadily, joining the MacTimes Network in November 1987.
Over the years, several sites have grown out of Low End Mac. They are:
the iMac channel <http://lowendmac/imac/index.shtml>
One of the earliest iMac sites with original editorials and links to other stories of interest to the iMac user.
They started going Wintel in the local school system. MacInSchool was my way of fighting back -- and helping others in the same boat.
Mac Daniel <http://lowendmac.com/macdan/index.shtml>
I started writing an advice column in October. Response has been overwhelming. Covers everything from vintage Macs through Power Macs plus networking, shared internet access, and more.
Mac Merit Badge <http://lowendmac.com/merit/index.shtml>
A lot of site awards are thrown around promiscuously. Not the Mac Merit Badge, which only goes to the best Mac sites on the web.
A family of email lists covering different families of Macintosh computers, plus links to a number of other Mac email lists.
Low End Mac has grown from a collection of spec sheets for pre-68040 Macs into a comprehensive hardware resource on most things Macintosh. I'm overwhelmed by the positive response of the Mac community and thrilled to reach the point where having my own domain is a reality.
Dan Knight, Mac Advocate, <mailto:dknight@mactimes.com> webmaster, Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/> webmaster, the iMac channel <http://lowendmac.com/imac/>
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:06:04 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - WWWB Welcomes Mac User Groups
This tidbit is from:
Karen Priore <mailto:GCSKap@wwbchat.com>
World Without Borders, the premiere web-browser based chat community, is proud to welcome Macintosh Users Groups to it's Apple Community Connection. The inaugural chat will take place on Tuesday, March 2nd at 6:00 pm pacific/9:00 pm eastern.
Join us when we meet guest User Group expert Bill Davies, President of MacNexus in Sacramento, California. Bill will be online to address the issue of Computer Resource Centers. MacNexus is soon to open a Community Access computer lab in conjunction with several local organizations this month, ask Bill Davies about what they did to initiate the idea and get it off the ground.
Macintosh User groups offer the greatest support bargain for most computer users. Within these groups you'll find some of the most helpful and knowledgeable computer experts, and they're willing to share their experience and advice. Each month the online user groups will schedule speakers and events that give you a chance to keep up-to-date and learn more about the possibilities of your computer.
Don't miss this opportunity to meet monthly guests!
To take part in The Macintosh Users Group chats, point your Java enabled browser to: <http://worldwithoutborders.com> and click on ChatNOW!
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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 02:05:55 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Macs Conquer Berlin
This tidbit is from:
Ed Ward <mailto:100342.1373@compuserve.com>
Our Digital Guy has said he'd like to see some more stuff from overseas. Here's my report.
When I first moved here to Berlin five years ago, Macs were as thin on the ground as they were elsewhere in Europe. There were only two Mac shops I was aware of, but they were friendly and even offered English software and tech support.
Working in publishing, with Americans, we naturally used Macs, and when it was time to send our magazine to the designers, it was easy: they used them, too. But we were, undoubtedly, a minority. Fortunately, there was a good Mac magazine (called, unsurprisingly enough, Mac Magazine), so I got my updates on their CD-ROM; downloading on the Internet was expensive because Deutsche Telekom's rates for local calls are so high.
When did it start to change? Maybe when the first "Think Different" (in English!) banners went up: across from the ultra-deluxe Adlon Hotel next to the Brandenburg Gate, in Alexanderplatz, in Potsdamer Platz, and other high-visibility locations.
Things definitely took a turn with the iMac. The day it came out, I was in the Mehdi Chouakri Gallery, one of the cutting-edge galleries here, and they had one on their desk. Over the next few weeks, I saw people bringing them home, saw the cartons at the paper recycling bins, and saw ads everywhere.
Today, it's hard to go anywhere without seeing them: this year's Transmediale festival for young video artists at the Podewil culture center has a whole hallway filled with iMacs, each displaying a multimedia piece created on the Mac. About half the pieces at the recent Cross Links exhibit of female multimedia artists were also created on Macs. Techno and electronic music artists use them almost exclusively. And the new cyber-cafe near my house is packed: the drawing-card? iMacs in every flavor.
And, of course, in the two years that my friends and I have been working to try to get another English-language magazine going here, we've never seriously considered any other way of getting the job done. The three issues of the magazine we published to try to raise funds were all made on Macs, from writing to printing. Our website (http://www.berlinfo.com) is created on them.
Today, I'm five minutes' walk away from two Mac shops if I need a cable or software (or, soon, a new G3). Newbies call me with technical questions. Friends ask if I've gotten my new Powerbook yet, or the new G3, because they want my old computers.
It may not happen overnight, but it's happening!
Ed Ward Editor-in-Chief b Magazine Berlin Information Group
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Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 02:05:47 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: [Review] Lode Runner 2
This tidbit is from:
<mailto:webmaster@applelinks.com>
Review: Lode Runner 2
By Kirk Hiner < <http://www.applelinks.com/reviews/loderunner2.shtml> >
Review "Lode Runner 2?" Okay. Sure. In fact, I'll sum the whole thing up in this one quote that--had I written this review before the game hit the shelves--I'm sure would've ended up on the back of the box...
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Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 02:05:09 -0800 From: The EvangeList Mailing List <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - Chronicus for Macintosh
This announcement is from:
shane <mailto:shane@squeem.com>
SQUEEM Software, maker of the leading debt consolidation software for Macintosh, Debt Wizard, released a new software title named Chronicus. Chronicus is available for immediate download at http://www.squeem.com/download.html.
Chronicus is a simple time management tool, practical for almost any use where one benefits from measuring time. Chronicus allows one to add additional categories to keep track of time for, and has the ability to tie a billing rate to specified times. More information is available online at http://www.squeem.com/cron.html.html.
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1384 *********************************