____ ____ / / / \ \ \ Your Online Amiga News Source! / / / \ \ \ ____ / / / AMIGA REPORT \ \ \ ____ EDITOR: Charles E. Hill \ \ X / / \ \ X / / \_\_X_/ INTERNATIONAL \_X_/_/ SPECIAL EXPO EDITION #3 --------------------------- | PRINT ASSOCIATES | --------------------------- UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND Amiga Mart Professional Amiga User Aceville Publications Australian Commodore & Amiga Review 89 East Hill Colchester, Essex England, CO1 2QN ATTN: Paul Rigby ATTN: Andrew Farrell CIS: CIS: 100033,1406 -------------------- | CONTACT POINTS | -------------------- PHYSICAL ELECTRONIC AM-Report CompuServe: 76370,3045 5765 Crane Place InterNet: 76370.3045@compuserve.com Orlando, FL 32807-3108 GEnie: USA Portal: FidoNet: EDITOR'S COLUMN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please excuse any errors, typos, etc. I wanted to get this issue out the door as fast as possible. Last issue (AM-Report #208) and this issue were put together mainly on a PC, since my monitor (A1950) died. Commodore sent me (via my dealer) a new one, and it is supposed to be in Monday (tomorrow). After that, things will return (mostly) to normal. Commodore's World of Amiga show in Pasadena saw a deluge of information and products. Commodore, who has been very tight-lipped in the past, not only announced a raft of new products (A600, A600HD, A4000, A570, AGA, AmigaVision Pro, AmigaDOS 2.1, AmigaDOS 3.0) but did a complete 180 degree turn on announcing *future* plans. Until now, Commodore's policy has been "if it isn't shipping, it doesn't exist". However, at WOA Commodore said that they would ship more new products in the next six months than anyone could believe possible. This includes AmigaDOS 3.1 (with network extensions and DSP support), and Digital Signal Processor upgrade for the A4000. They also mentioned retargetable graphics and Postscript support in AmigaDOS 4.0 as well as some nifty deals on CDTV (free with a new A3000 or $599 for current Amiga owners). Well, read it for yourself. This issue covers the WOA exclusively... everything else (as well as more WOA items) will be in the next AM-Report (v2.09). -Chas ============================== COMMODORE PRESS RELEASES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMODORE INTRODUCES THE AMIGA 4000 AT WORLD OF COMMODORE SHOW (Pasadena, CA --- September 11, 1992) --- Commodore Business Machines, Inc. today introduced the Amiga (R) 4000, the company's revolutionary new premier multimedia computer. The Amiga 4000 marks the company's most significant new technology advancement in its Amiga line since the product's introduction in 1985. In addition to the Amiga 4000, Commodore announced several other significant product introductions including the Amiga 600 and 600HD, AmigaDOS TM Release 3 Operating System, A570 CD-ROM Drive, and AmigaVision TM Professional Authoring System. James Dionne, President and General Manager of Commodore Business Machines, Inc., commented, "These product announcements exemplify Commodore's continued commitment to offer computers with probably the best price/performance ratios in the computer industry today. We are confident that these products, particularly the Amiga 4000, will keep Commodore at the forefront of multimedia technology and enable us to continue our aggressive push in the multimedia marketplace." Amiga 4000 This powerful new machine features Commodore's Advanced Graphics Architecture TM custom co-processor chip set that enables users to display and animate graphics in multiple resolutions at up to 256,000 colors from a palette of 16.8 million. The new hardware features are driven by AmigaDOS Release 3, the newest version of Commodore's multitasking operating system, in combination with the machine's main processor, the Motorola (R) 68040. While this new version of the operating system takes advantage of the latest hardware features, it also maintains backwards compatibility with Amiga software not written specifically for the Amiga 4000. The Amiga 4000 will come standard with a 120MB hard drive, 6MB of memory, a dual speed high-density floppy drive, and CrossDOS which enables users to read and write to MS-DOS (R) formatted floppy and hard drives. Other key multimedia features include: a dedicated slot for video devices; selectable NTSC scan rate compatibility; four voice dual-channel digital audio; up to 8 sprites, enabling high speed animations; and full hardware video overscan. The Manufacturer's Suggested List Price for the Amiga 4000-040/120 is $3699.00. AmigaDOS Release 3 The newest version of the Amiga operating system adds several software enhancements to the previous 2.04 operating system. Among the new features are: CrossDOS, allowing access to MS-DOS formatted floppy and hard drives; a new Installer utility; and a Postscript printer driver. Additionally, AmigaDOS Release 3.0 offers full support for the new Advanced Graphics Architecture chip set featured in the Amiga 4000. Amiga 600 The Amiga 600 is a powerful entry-level computer with a small footprint and low profile shape, making it very attractive to the home computer buyer. The Amiga 600 and 600HD will come with AmigaDOS 2.XX and a selection of software packages. A570 CD-ROM Drive The A570 is a high capacity read-only storage device for the Amiga 500 series. The A570 accepts standard 5" compact discs in a CD caddy and plays all CDTV (R), audio CD, CD+G, and CD+MIDI discs. It can also read industry-standard ISO-9660 CD-ROM discs. AmigaVision Professional AmigaVision Professional builds and expands on the visual programming environment used in earlier versions of AmigaVision. The new features include support for the CDTV player, speed and memory improvements, and enhancements to the authoring environment. In addition, a freely redistributable runtime module has been included, enabling flows created in AmigaVision to be played back without loading AmigaVision. Commodore Business Machines, Inc., based in West Chester, PA, is the U.S. subsidiary of Commodore International. The company manufactures and markets a complete line of Amiga computers and peripherals for the business, consumer, education and government markets. Commodore (R) and CDTV (R) are trademarks of Commodore Electronics Limited. Amiga (R), AmigaDOS, AmigaVision, Bridgeboard and Advanced Graphics Architecture are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc. MS-DOS (R) is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Motorola (R) is a trademark of Motorola Inc. ### TITLE: Press Release (2 of 6) Amiga 4000 Technical Specifications CPU: - Motorola (R) 68040 series 32-bit processor - 25 Mhz clock speed - Removable processor module MEMORY: - 2 MB 32-bit Chip RAM - Up to 16 MB 32-bit Fast RAM - Easily expandable via standard SIMM units - Additional standard RAM is supported by the Amiga's proprietary AUTOCONFIG (TM) capability SOFTWARE: - 512 KB 32-bit ROM - AmigaDOS (TM) 3.0 Multitasking Operating System - Supports programmable resolutions - Supports outline fonts - Localized for multiple language/countries - CrossDOS MS-DOS (R) file transfer utility INTERFACES: - Keyboard - Mouse/Joystick/Lightpen/Tablet ports (2) - Serial (RS-232) - Parallel (Centronics) - Video (RGB analog or RGBI digital) - Right and Left stereo audio - Internal and External floppy disk drive ports - Internal AT IDE port. Optional SCSI adapter SYSTEM SLOTS: - CPU slot (200-pin) supports high-speed memory and advanced processors - Amiga system bus - Four 16/32-bit Zorro III expansion slots (100-pin) with AUTOCONFIG - PC bus - Three PCAT T(M) slots VIDEO SLOT: - Extended 24-bit Video slot - In line with standard 100-pin Zorro slot for easy integration of Zorro and video boards Zorro III Slots ____________________________________________ | | 1 | [==========][======] [=================] | 2 | [==========][======] [=================] | 3 | [==========][======] [=================] | 4 | [======][=========] [=================] | |_ ____ _| |_________________| |_________________| 1, 2, 3 = PC/AT Slots; 4 = Video Slot How the Slots Work: If MS-DOS compatibility is desired a Bridgeboard may be placed in slot 1, 2 or 3. When a Bridgeboard is installed, the empty PC slots are capable of supporting a wide variety of XT or AT- style boards. The remaining Zorro III slots support both 24 & 32-bit Zorro boards. KEYBOARD: - Detachable - 94 keys, including 10 function keys - Separate numeric keypad - Separate cursor keys (inverted "T" layout) MOUSE: - Opto-mechanical - 2-button design DISK DRIVES: - Built-in 3.5-inch high density disk drive (880 KB/1.76 MB formatted) - Hard Drive models pre-formatted and pre-loaded with system software and utilities - 2 rear and 2 front 3.5-inch drive bays - 1 front 5.25-inch drive bay GRAPHIC MODES: - AGA custom chipset produces resolutions ranging from 320x200 to 1280x400 (more with overscan), including 800x600 - NTSC and PAL video resolutions - Color palette of 16.8 million colors - 2 to 256,000 user-definable colors displayable on screen VIDEO DISPLAY OUTPUT: - Works with RGB analog VGA or multiscan monitors (not all modes supported with non multiscan monitors) - Horizontal scan rats 15 kHz - 31 kHz - Vertical scan rates 50 Hz - 72 Hz SOUND: - Four channel stereo sound, capable of reproducing complex waveforms - 8-bit D/A converters - 6-bit volume DIMENSIONS: - 15 1/4" deep x 15" wide x 5" high WEIGHT: - Approx. 20 pounds POWER REQUIREMENTS: - 110 volt/60Hz 150 watt power supply A4000 CONFIGURATIONS: A4000-040/120 - Amiga 4000 with Motorola 68040 Processor, 6 MB RAM, internal 3.5" 1.76 MB Floppy Drive and 120 MB IDE Hard Drive - 94-key Keyboard - 2-button Mouse - AmigaDOS Release 3.0 System Software and Utilities - Gold Service Warranty Package AmigaDOS (TM) Release 2.1 System Software Upgrade Technical Specifications NEW FEATURES: - Dynamic Localization of Programs to different languages and locales - Includes CrossDOS for easy transfer of MS-DOS (R) and Amiga (R) files - Includes Postscript (R) Printer Driver - Supports Multiple Serial and Parallel Printer Preferences - New Preferences Editing - Motorola (R) 68040 compatible - Screen mode requester added for selection of screen mode or video mode FONTS: - Supports Agfa Compugraphic Intellifont scalable typefaces - Includes CG Times, CG Triumvirate and LetterGothic typefaces - Supports scaling of bitmap fonts - Better control of font rendering for Desktop Publishing applications AREXX PROGRAMMING: - Includes ARexx, a powerful inter-process communication language - Can be used to control applications which support ARexx - Allows the integration of different applications that support ARexx into a single environment - Ability to launch applications from within other applications USER INTERFACE: - Professional three-dimensional look - Improved ease of use and consistency - Extensively configurable through Preferences Editors - Standard file and font requesters - Supports scrolling screens larger than the monitor - Select Locale/Country by clicking on World Map - Keyboard selection in Input Preferences WORKBENCH FEATURES: - All files are accessible from the Workbench - Files are accessible by name or by icon - Drag selection of multiple icons - Includes New Drawer command - Easier cleanups and positioning of icons - Icons can be "left out" on the Workbench backdrop for easier access OTHER FEATURES: - General purpose installer added with installation activation of Keymaps, Monitors, Printers and DOS Drivers - Select keyboard from Preferences Editor - Printer Drivers for popular printers added - Spline animations on blanked screens - Support for European monitors - Enhanced reliability even under low memory situations - Faster and more reliable floppy disk access - Improved Icon Editor SHELL ENHANCEMENTS: - AmigaDOS commands are faster, more powerful and require fewer keystrokes - New commands handle environment variables and links - Cut and Paste in shell windows - Extended wildcard capabilities - Backtick feature allows embedded commands within commands - Shell windows have a close gadget - ARexx scripts can be run directly from the Shell ECS FEATURES: Enhanced Chip Set Required - 640x480 non-interlaced Productivity Mode (requires 31 kHZ-capable monitor) - 1280x200 and 1280x400 Super-HiRes Modes - 800x600 requires Multisync - New genlock features HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: - Requires any 2.0X ROM-ready Amiga 500, 600, 2000 or 3000 series computer - Amiga 2500, A2620 or 2630 requires rev-06 or greater ROMs on the accelerator card - ECS features require optional Enhanced Chip Set - Contact nearest Commodore reseller for details and installation ORDER INFORMATION: AS215 AmigaDOS Release 2.1 Software Upgrade includes: - 6 disks - 3-manual set AS216 AmigaDOS Release 2.1 ROM and Software Upgrade includes: - 2.0X ROM - 6 disks - 3-manual set Contact your Commodore reseller for details. To locate a Commodore reseller in the U.S., call 1-800-66-AMIGA; in Canada call 1-800-661- AMIGA. Amiga 600 Technical Specifications CPU: - Motorola (R) 68000, 16/32 bit - 7.16 Mhz NTSC - Multi-Chip coprocessor system for DMA, Video, Graphics and Sound MEMORY: - Expandable to 2MB Chip RAM - Maximum RAM expansion 6MB with PCMCIA SOFTWARE: - 512KB ROM - AmigaDOS (TM) Release 2 Multitasking Operating System in ROM - Workbench 2.X and Utilities software KEYBOARD: - Integral 78 Key International MOUSE: - Opto-mechanical - 2-button design DISK DRIVES: - Built-in 3.5-inch 880 KB floppy disk - External 3.5-inch floppy disk - Internal IDE hard disk drive (optional) GRAPHIC MODES: - Color palette of 4096 colors - Selectable resolutions - Supports full overscan VIDEO DISPLAY OUTPUT: - RGB analog 15 KHz Horizontal Scan Rate - Color Composite - RF Modulated SOUND: - Four channel stereo sound DIMENSIONS: - 14" deep x 9.5" wide x 3" high WEIGHT: - Approx. 6 lbs. POWER REQUIREMENTS: - Switching power supply 23 watts INTERFACES: External: - Floppy Disk (DB23) - Mouse/Joystick/Lightpen (2 DB9) - Serial (RS-232, PC-compatible) - Parallel (Centronics -- PC-compatible) - Video RGB analog (DB23 15 KHz) Color Composite (RCA) RF Modulator (RCA) - PCMCIA Card Slot Internal: - Internal AT IDE connector A600 CONFIGURATIONS: A600 P - Amiga 600 with Motorola 68000 Processor, internal 3.5" 880K Floppy Drive, 1 MB RAM - Integral Keyboard - Release 2.X Operating System and Utilities - 2-button Mouse A600HD - Amiga 600 with Motorola 68000 Processor, internal 3.5" 880K Floppy Drive, 1 MB RAM - Internal 40MB IDE Hard Drive - Integral Keyboard - Release 2.X Operating System and Utilities - 2-button Mouse Amiga 570 External CD ROM Storage for the Amiga 500 Technical Specifications FEATURES: - High Capacity, Read-only CD-ROM - CDTV Compatibility - 2MB Fast RAM expansion (internal) - Rear expansion slot for plug-in cartridges OPERATING SYSTEM: - ISO 9660 file system handler - High-speed decompression for graphics, audio, CD+Graphics and CD Digital Audio CD-ROM DRIVE SPECS: - Data Transfer - Normal : 153 KBytes/sec (Mode 1) : 171 KBytes/sec (Mode 2) - Average access time : 0.5s - Maximum access time : 0.8s - Soft read error : Less than 1 in 10^9 - Hard read error : Less than 1 in 10^12 - Seek error : Less than 1 in 10^6 - Commands : CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD+G, CD+MIDI - Standard supported : ISO-9660 - Data Capacity : 540 MegaBytes (approx.) - Mechanism : Protective Disk Caddy Type CD AUDIO SPECS: - 8x oversampling - Audio output : External 2.0V p-p, 10K OHM - Frequency response : 4-20 KHz - Signal/Noise : -96db - Channel Separation : -85db - Harmonic Distortion : 0.02% at 1 KHz - Maximum audio capacity : about 28 hours - AM quality - Sample Rates : variable from CD Audio rate (44 KHz) - Dual 16-bit D/A converter plus 64 levels of attenuation PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Rear Panel: - Power Supply Connector - Power Switch - Amiga Audio In (Left and Right) - CDTV Audio Out (Left and Right) Front Panel: - Stereo Headphone Jack - Compatibility Switch - Power-On Pilot LED - Drive Activity LED - Disc Loading Slot Dimensions: - Approx. 256 x 180 x 68 mm Weight: - Approx. 6 pounds POWER REQUIREMENTS: - 110 volt/60Hz from external supply AmigaVision Professional specs CDTV (R) SUPPORT FEATURES - Playback of CD-XL Motion Video Files - Plays CD Digital Audio tracks - Cursor and Jumping Highlight Modes - Reads CDTV IR Controller - Full Support for CDTV Preferences - Control MIDI out files to MIDI or Amiga VIDEO CONTROL FEATURES: - Supports full-motion video - Supports Genlocks - On-screen videodisc controller - Video setup and configuration - Supports Sony, Pioneer and Phillips laserdisc players, NEC PC-VCR, Panasonic TQ3032F, Sony Umatic 9 Tape Players - Supports drivers for custom players USER INTERFACE: - Primary Interface(s) Direct Manipulation of Icons Requester Boxes - Presentation in flowchart format - User input from keyboard, mouse, joystick or touchscreen - Auto-open and reduced-size icons GRAPHICS & ANIMATION: - Combines Text and Graphics on screen - Uses Amiga standard IFF ILBM files as foreground and background - Simultaneous playback of Animation and Audio - 34 Transitions with 4 speeds 17 palette/resolution independent - Visual Display Elements: Graphics, Text, Animation, Video SOUND: - Supports Amiga Stereo Audio - Supports Amiga standard SMUS files with tempo, dynamics and chord support - Digitized sound in standard 8SVX format - Speech synthesis and text-to-speech conversion - Pre-loading of audio and streamed-in animation and sound for increased display and playback speed - Audio Display Elements: Digitized Sound, Music, Speech Synthesis DATABASE: - Integrated into AmigaVision - dBase III (R) data file compatible - up to 10 files open simultaneously - Read and Update functions - Variable definition and manipulation - Define data input forms - String, numeric, data and Boolean operations VISUAL PROGRAMMING: - Features: Flow Control Subroutines Interrupts AV Engine Libraries of Events Object Editor Conditional Statements - Unlimited Number of Hit Boxes/Buttons per Screen - Unlimited Text Windows - Hypertext Browsing - Runs external programs via ARexx - Chaining of programs - Selectable memory constraints - Create runtime modules - Relocate applications - Name, Position and Move objects including animation brushes - Define Paths and Traversal Options RUNTIME PLAYER: - Includes freely distributable Runtime Player HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: - Minimum Delivery System: Amiga computer with 2 MB RAM - Suggested Development System: Amiga Computer with Hard Drive and 4 MB RAM - Runtime Player Requires approx. 270KB, 1 MB RAM recommended AMIGAVISION PROFESSIONAL (PN: AS251) INCLUDES: - Program Disk - Install Disk with printer and video drivers - Demo Disk with Guided Tour booklet - Examples Disk - User's Guide - Runtime Player - Requires AmigaDOS (TM) 1.3 or higher The configurations and prices of the systems discussed in the previous six releases are for the U.S.A. only. Configurations and prices will vary in other countries. -------------------- THE FUTURE OF THE AMIGA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of the seminars at the recent WOA show in Pasadena was "The Future of the Amiga", given by Lewis Ebechbert (sp?). It was recapped on CompuServe by Vic W. of Metadigm in a conference during the weekend. Here is a summary of that summary: :-) 1) Commodore is re-doing their chip design tools to conform to the industry regular 'foundries'...e.g., there are HP chips in the A4000 which were designed by Commodore. 2) CBM is moving to a CMOS design so that it will be possible, sometime in the future, to build an Amiga laptop. 3) CBM is working on reducing the total number of special chips to four (total transistors from between 750,000 and 1,000,000). At this point they will be able to sport things like a 1k x 1k video resolution using dual- ported VRAM; 100 MHz 16-bit sound (both in and out) using demand DMA; 24-bit color modes; true bit level blitting (as opposed to the current word level blitting); SCSI-2; pixel clocks upto 114 Mhz; on-board, high-speed serial; etc. [Dual-ported VRAM means that add more RAM and get more resolution.] 4) AmigaDOS 4.0 will have retargetable graphics (CBM was looking for developers to volunteer for a 'spec' committee). ADOS 4.0 will also have "full PostScript capability". 5) No exact time frames were given, but Lewis said "more products would be announced in the next 6 months than anyone would believe" 6) AmigaDOS 3.1 will have network extensions, printer/file sharing and support the DSP (see item #7). 7) A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) upgrade for the A4000 next spring. This will be in the form of a CPU board replacement. Since the 68040 is on it's own daughter board, you can replace it without messing with the motherboard. The DSP will supposedly reside on this board with the CPU. 8) AmigaDOS 3.0 can double-buffer intuition screens and can swap buffers at a speed of more than 2000 per second. 9) A tower version of the A4000 is being worked on. 10) Zorro III, SCSI-2 before Christmas; possibly migrating to the motherboard at a future date. 11) Commodore stated that they will be putting the AGA chipset in the entire product line inthe future. This seems to include the A600 and CDTV. [Note that this makes HAM-E, DCTV and Colorburst totally obsolete.] [Commodore is doing an awful lot of talking. For a company that, for the last year, has done a fair imitation of a clam, this is a hell of a lot of information on "future" products. Changing the chips to a CMOS design not only brings the possibility of an Amiga laptop to light, but it would also help curb reoccurances of the A500/A3000 (under)power-supply burnout syndrome. By announcing a DSP upgrade for the A4000, Commodore is addressing concerns over upgrades to the Amiga's sound capabilites (which hasn't changed one iota since 1985 and the A1000). It also answers the questions that arose earlier this year when it was reported CBM had negotiated with a major manufacturer for rights to use their DSP (Motorola?, AT&T?...I forget). Retargetable graphics, and what looks like Display PostScript (ala NeXT) would justify bumping AmigaDOS version numbers. The A4000 (with a 68040 and custom chips) should be more than able to handle Display PostScript quick enough (which the early NeXT machines and their 68030s *couldn't*.) This bodes very well for the Amiga. Now, if Commodore follows through and *promotes* the new AGA and Amiga 4000, they could be in a *very* good position as a "major player" in the computing industry.] -------------------- OTHER NOTES ~~~~~~~~~~~ While I haven't gotten any first-hand reports on AmigaVision Professional, the second-hand reports have all been glowing. AVPro now sports a FREELY-REDISTRIBUTABLE runtime player that consumes only 270K of RAM! Beefed up device support now includes CDXL, the CD-ROM animation routines for CDTV. Commodore is pushing AVPro as a development and delivery method for CDTV. Speaking of CDTV, Commodore is pushing it as the CD-ROM drive for A2000, A3000 and A4000 machines. Current Amiga owners can get a CDTV unit; parnet and a cable for $599. I've had unconfirmed reports of free CDTV's being given away with new A3000s, but again, that is unconfirmed. The A570 is Commodore's CD-ROM solution for the A500. List price is $599 and that includes not only the drive, but installation, some chip changes and an upgrade to 1 Mb of chip RAM. No mention was made of the A670. Commodore is supposedly having a contest. "I use the Amiga because..." Finish it in 25 words or less. First prize is an A4000. More details as I get them. To all developers, NDAs on the A600, A4000, AmigaVision Pro, AmigaDOS 2.1 & 3.0, AA and the A570 are lifted. NOTHING ELSE, and this means the Denver Devcon info and notes are still NDA! The only (supposed) difference between AmigaDOS 2.1 and 3.0 is that 3.0 takes advantage of AGA. AmigaDOS 2.1 is for ECS machines (A500, A600, A2xxx and A3000). AmigaDOS 3.0 is for A4000s only. The difference between Commodore's 1950 and 1960 monitors is this: A1950: 800 x 600 resolution @ .31 dot pitch A1960: 1024 x 768 resolution @ .28 dot pitch -------------------- DESCRIPTION ~~~~~~~~~~~ The A4000 is a box that measures 15 x 15 1/4 x 5 inches. This is a bit larger than an A3000. The color is the same "platinum" as the A600 -- brighter than the A3000. Five drive bays include two externally-accessable 3 1/2" and one external 5 1/4" as well as 2 internal 3 1/2". One of the 3 1/2" external is taken up by the built-in floppy drive, and I assume the hard drive occupies one of the internal bays. Leonard Poma's (Consultron) CrossDOS is now a part of AmigaDOS (2.1 and 3.0) so the new machines can read/write DOS format disks. Deinterlacing is done in software/firmware so there is only one RGB-out port on the back of the machine. I believe the deinterlacer on/off switch is gone, too. Obviously the external SCSI port is gone. RAM is now back to SIMM modules, and you don't have to completely disassemble the machine to get to it (like the A3000). Chip RAM, while still limited to 2 Mb, is fully 32-bit wide, now. The DMA bandwidth is over 4x that of an A2000 and over 2x an A3000 which allows for super-fast animation at even the highest of resolutions. The CPU is on a removable daughterboard, making for simpler replacement and upgrade. The list price is $3,699 and a few dealers are already reported to have set retail price at under $3,000. That is *far* below the introductory price of the A3000. Oh, yes. THE NEWTEK VIDEO TOASTER HAS AS MUCH CHANCE OF FITTING IN THE A4000 AS IT DOES IN THE A3000! (In other words, not without a hack.) Besides, the video slot has been "enhanced". I don't know if it is compatible with the older A2000/A3000 video slot. Yes, it is still inline with a Zorro III slot. GRAPHICS ~~~~~~~~ The new AGA chipset supports all of the old and ECS resolutions as well as adding one of it's own. The major advantage is that AGA really expanded color support for all resolutions. All resolutions can display Extra Half Brite and HAM. All resolutions can display *true* 6, 7 and 8 bit color (64, 128 and 256 colors) as well as 8-bit HAM (256,000+ colors). All this from a palette of 16.7 million (24-bit) colors! This all includes VGA resolutions of 160, 320 and 640 x 480 (non-interlaced) as well as an 800 x 600 resolution (which requires multisync monitor). Yes, folks. This means that we can now do *true* VGA and *true* Extended-VGA (800 x 600), but not quite Super VGA (1024 x 768). No more PC-game writers whining about having to use 16-colors only or EHB for Amiga games. There was a demonstration of the new graphics in the way of a HAM-8, Super Hires (1200 x 480) picture that was supposedly *awesome*. The new HAM-8 gives you 64-base registers to work with, and since it can be used in the higher resolutions, fringing will most likely occur only when you want it to (sort of like Jim Hendrix using feedback on purpose in a concert). The new AGA chips set *IS NOT* available for current machines. It is not plug compatible with the A3000 or ECS chips. Sprites are now changable. They can be the same resolution as the screen, including interlaced. They can be a maximum of 64 pixels wide. (Hires, interlace sprites & pointer!) SOUND ~~~~~ Sound is the same. Nothing has changed. Except....Commodore has said they will have a 16-bit DSP upgrade for the A4000 by spring of 1993. This allows for 100% hardware compatibility with existing software as well as some professional quality sound for those who need it. DRIVES ~~~~~~ The floppy drives are the new high-density, 1.76 Mb drives. Using CrossDOS (now supplied with AmigaDOS, like ARexx) you can read/write MS-DOS formatted 720k and 1.44m disks. I suppose it would work with 5 1/4" disks, too. IDE has replaced SCSI as the hard-drive controller on the motherboard. This has gernerated the most heat for Commodore, by far. Why replace SCSI (DMA, 7 device support, non-hard drive support) with IDE (non-DMA, 2 device, hard- drive only)? Blame has been placed on Bruce Syndes, ex-VP in Charge of Engineering for Commodore...the same man responsible for the IBM PCjr and the IBM "chicklet" keyboard. Still, he is only one man, and VP or not, I doubt his will was the only reason for the change. There is no doubt that IDE is inferior to SCSI. IDE is not DMA-able, which means that the CPU has to do all the work. This shouldn't be any real problem on a machine that uses a 25 MHz 68040 (it will be more noticable on the A600HD) *unless* you are doing some realtime video work or intensive multimedia. Then IDE will prohibit realtime video-from-hard drive transfers. So why? 1) IDE is smaller and cheaper. An IDE controller and supporting hardware take up much less space on a motherboard than a SCSI one. IDE hard drives seem to average between $5 and $10 (retail) cheaper [I got that figure by going through a couple of issues of Computer Shopper and comparing prices on similar/same drives]. This may mean only pennies per drive to Commodore, but when you are talking 500,000 to 750,000 drive per year, it adds up. Reportedly, IDE controllers are costing CBM about $1 each in quantity, whereas SCSI controllers were costing around $15 each. This can mean anywhere between $50 and $200 price increase to OEMs and $100 - $500 retail increase. 2) SCSI doesn't cut it, either. Yes, you read that right. On a machine like the A4000, with the data transfer rates of the Zorro III bus, SCSI is an insult. Commodore has announced a Zorro III, SCSI-2 board to be shipping BEFORE CHRISTMAS (this year, ha ha). SCSI-2 is *fast*. SCSI-2 on a 32-bit bus like Zorro III will *scream*. Commodore didn't anticipate having SCSI-2 ready by the time the A4000 was ready, so it is possible they chose the simple, cheap IDE instead. SCSI-2 is going to be a dream come true for people who want realtime data transfer rates. So use the included 120 Mb, IDE hard drive for a system drive, where time critical data and programs aren't. Plug in Commodore's SCSI-2 card and go to town on time sensative data. Can't wait for the SCSI-2 and need to use all them SCSI peripherals now? Buy an A2091 card. They are currently selling for about $100 and I've seen them as low as $75. A drop in the bucket considering you'll be paying $3,000 for the computer and $600+ for a monitor. Considering the cost of adding SCSI-1 to the motherboard probably would have risen the price of the A4000 *higher* than the extra $100 for an A2091, you're getting a controller (IDE) for free. SOFTWARE ~~~~~~~~ The graphics modes on AGA are added late in the boot sequence. It is possible for a program to boot using the ECS modes only. Well behaved programs should work fine. Compatibility is high, but poorly written programs, particularly games, will have problems. (Who buys a 68040 based machine with 6 Mb of RAM for *games*???) WHEN? ~~~~~ Okay, when are all these neat toys actually shipping? The A600 and AmigaVision Pro are *now*. The A4000, AmigaDOS 2.1 & 3.0, A570 are shipping in limited quantities this week, and in full before October 1 (1992)! Again, the list prices are: A600 ..... $ 399 A600HD ... $ 599 A570 ..... $ 599 A4000 .... $3,699 CDTV ..... $ 599 (supposedly free with a new A3000) THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GigaMem/Innovtronics: GigaMem virtual memory enhancement system allows your Amiga to utilize its unused hard drive space as RAM with no additional hardware. This powerful utility (commodity) allows you to run RAM-hungry programs such as Art Dept. PRO, DPaint, CanDO, Audiomaster, and Pagestream without running out of memory. While fully accessible at any time, its unique features are completely transparent to system software and all sbseqent programs. GigaMEM works on all Amiga 020/030 based platforms wih MMUs operating under KS2.04 or higher, ensuring future software compatiblility. If you are in the need of more RAM but don't need the high price RAM chips, GigaMem provides an efficient and cost-effective way to expand your machine's memory. Features Include: A fully Multi-tasking Environment Transparent Operation Seamless integration with system software Utilize all avaiable Amiga format partitions as contiguous memory. 100% assembly language Powerful customization tools to suit your specific needs Utilizes special disk cacheing routines making it significantly faster than conventional virtual memory system. Easy to install with automatic installation software provided. Intro price was $149.95 Call 800 875-8499, INOVAtronics ---------- [The following two paragraphs were written by Rico D. Walker and posted on CompuServe.] Softlogik: Art Expression - Due to be release in two months. Hotlinks 1.1 - An Update to 1.0. More features in Hotlinks and also BME is now upgraded to 1.1. This will include a Bitmap tracing program and save it to DR2D format. Art Expression will not be Hotlinkable until the next upgrade in PageStream. Also PageStream has a patch to 2.21. Look for it on CompuServe or Softlogik bulletin board. Upgrade to Hotlinks 1.1 will be $35 look for infomation in the mail from Softlogik. ---------- Digital Micronics, Inc.: Digital EditMaster - Uses full-motion JPEG Technology to capture real-time 30 fps Video. Although they do not have a software interface for the board, they were using to boards to show Terminator 2. One board was compressing (5-10:1 - 80-90:1) and the other board was decompressing in real-time. The output was then sent to a big screen television. Possible outputs are NTSC, PAL, and SVHS. Real-time compression to a harddrive is possible if you have a fast enough drive and big enough. 30:1 compression and one gigabyte drive will hold about 30 minutes of video. This board is also fully intergrated with the SunRize Industries sound boards using SMPTE time code for simultaneous digitizing and editing of both the audio and video track. Suggested List Price: $2495.00 ---------- Black Belt Systems was showing an AGA version of ImageMaster at the WOA that, I'm told, really blew some minds. (Neither ASDG's Morph Plus or GVP's morphing product were anywhere to be seen, except on video tape.) ---------- New Horizons ProWrite supports AGA, AmigaDOS 2.1 and 3.0, as well as SoftLogick's Hotlinks. (Commodore was annoyed that New Horizons blabbed a week early on AGA and 3.0!) ---------- Sunrize was showing their 16 bit soundboard, which was a lot more interesting when coupled with the second board that they were showing that had digital I/O. (price for the accessory board not set as yet.) There will be no 1016 board from SunRize. The combination of the 516 and the accessory digital I/O board is the substitute. ---------- SCALA, Inc: SCALA comes with 15 different typeface families, 40 predefined palletes, and 60 backgrounds by professional designers. An art library consists of 80 symbols and there are 80 different transitions (wipes). MM200 contains support for sound playback (8SVX, SMUS, Soundtracker) and a sound recorder (works with most hardware, not supplied). At the demo, they said you could play anims directly from disk, rather than requiring they be in memory all at once. I thought the professionally done artwork could set it apart from similar products and, as they stated (at the demo), free the user up to focus on the content of their presentation. The Shuffler shows miniatures of the slides in your presentation, from 6 to 112 pages at a time. The brochure boasts a configurable main menu, faster loading of pictures/anims, buttons, and SCALA EX for external program modules. Included are modules to support laserdisk, still video, MIDI, CDTV, and ECS Denise Genlock. They said more are available for Impact Vision 24, Opal Vision, V-LAN and VCR's (I presume at additional cost). Scripts can be written in their LINGUA language for more sophisticated applications, and AnimLab provides the advanced animation support. The package includes 350 page manual and 8 disks. At the show, Creative Computers put their price for MM200 around $300. ---------- GVP, Inc.: G - L O C K Description: GVP's new low-cost genlock, called "G-Lock", is a highly intergrated, very flexible external genlock that can be used with all Amiga models in both NTSC and PAL video standards, as well as SECAM conversion. The G-Lock offers a video and audio solution to the video ebthusiast or producer. Required Hardware and Software The G-Lock works with any Amiga with 512K Chip Memory (1MB recommended), Amiga-Dos 1.3 or greater (2.0 recomended). Features: - Software control panel (Intuition based) with full AREXX and CLI interfaces. - Multiple audio and video Setup memory locations. - Audio Processor with two audio inputs (software switchable or mixable) with software control of Volume, Bass and Treble. - Two composite video inputs (software switchable) or one Y/C (S-Video) input. - Simultaneous composite, Y/C (S-Video). and RGB output - Transcoder ability - RGB output can be software switched to provide YUV (M-II/BetaCam) output. - Video Processor (Proc Amp) provides real-time software control of video attributes such as brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, sharpness, filtering, gain, etc. - Special color filter circuit for special effects. - Can convert most SECAM video sources into PAL video (VCR quality). European users. - Keyer modes include Amiga only, External Video only, Overlay, and Inverse Overlay modes PLUS control of Amiga ECS/IAA special effects. - Operates as a software controlled and adjustable electronic RGB splitter for direct operation with the NewTek Digi-View or other slow-scan video digitizer. AREXX scripts included. - Works with the Display Enhancer, Flicker-Fixer, FlickerFreeVideo boards for simultaneous genlocked video and de-interlaced Amiga graphics output.- Transition controls using AREXX (example AmigaVision flow and AREXX scripts included). Release Date - Unknown ==================== PREDICTIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) I expect to see a "high-end" AGA machine out in 1993, probably a tower version of the A4000 but with SCSI-2 and the DSP. 2) I also expect to see a "low-end" machine, probably the replacement for the A2000, but based off of a Motorola 68030/881. 3) I don't know when it will happen, but I expect to see an AGA version of the A600 as well as the A3000. I think old Amiga and ECS is history. 4) When #3 happens, expect to see a trade-in program aimed at current A500, A2000, A3000 and those last hold-out A1000 owners. Commodore will want to get as many AGA machines on the streets as possible. 5) Expect a "Power-Up" program, similar to the A3000 version. This will probably happen after Christmas, though it may go slightly before the holidays. I doubt it, though. Commodore's holidays are going to be concentrating on selling as many A600s as they can produce. 6) Expect an A600 promotion before Christmas. I expect to see the list price drop at least $50 on the floppy-version and probably $100 on the HD version. I am not alone in predicting #1 and #2. A number of people, including some developers, are expecting the same. Commodore has said that they are "working" on a tower model and there are rumors of an A3000+ going around. Prediction #3 has already been stated by Commodore (really playing it safe, aren't I?) :-) Numbers 4 and 5 are based off of Commodore's previous trade-in programs. They've had a couple and I expect to see more. Number 6 is logical. Price always drops on stuff after it's release (exception: New Tek Video Toaster) and Christmas makes the most sense. The A600 is a consumer item and the end-of-year holidays are numero uno for those items. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" AMReport International Online Magazine Available through more than 10,000 Private BBS systems WorldWide! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" AMReport "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" September 14, 1992 32bit Magazine copyright 1992 Expo Special #3 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""