OS/2 Community to Convene in Los Angeles, California
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (June 26, 1997) - At a highly charged internet IRC meeting last week, the Warpstock event steering committee selected southern California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to be the host of the 1997 OS/2 Warpstock convention. Commonly known as Warpstock '97, the inaugural event will be held October 25-26, 1997, in Diamond Bar, California. The event kicks off promptly at 8:30am Saturday and ends Sunday at 6:00pm. Over 50 events in multiple tracks are scheduled for the SOHO user, the individual OS/2 user, and for officers of OS/2 user groups. Presentation modules are also scheduled for OS/2 developers and those users interested in programming applications for OS/2. Hardware vendors, OS/2 ISVs, OS/2 user group officers, and IBM representatives will all be on hand to help OS/2 users get the most out of their investment in OS/2 software applications.
"I'm quite pleased to announce the details of Warpstock '97 at this time. We've been swamped with requests for information ever since Warpstock '97 was conceived and announced in April," said Paul Hethmon, President and CEO of Hethmon Brothers, an internet tools provider and chairman of the Warpstock steering committee. "We hope to address the most critical questions regarding dates, location, and registration fees with this announcement," Hethmon added.
"We've worked hard to make this event affordable for everyone, while packing the event with as much usable information as a multitasking, multithreaded OS/2 user can take," said Judy McDermott, a Warpstock steering committee member and head of volunteer registrations and assignments. "At the same time, we recognize 'All work and no play' make OS/2 users go banannas, so we're planning tours of local attractions which the whole family can enjoy," McDermott said.
Attendee Registration
Individuals may sign up for a single day or for both days of the event. Attendee registration is $40.00 for both days or $30.00 for a single day through September 1st. Registrations received after September 1st are $60.00 for both days or $45.00 for a single day. On-line registration and traditional phone and mail registrations will be handled by BMT Micro, Inc. via any of the following methods:
800/414-4268 - Voice / USA-Canada
910/350-2937 - Voice / Outside North America
800/346-1672 - Fax / USA-Canada
910/350-2937 - Fax / Outside North America
Internet: http://www.bmtmicro.com or
https://secure.falcon-net.net/BMT/order0262.html (case sensitive; secure
browser required)
All attendee registrations received prior to September 1st will automatically be entered into a special drawing for attractive "Early Bird" prizes.
The Warpstock '97 planning committee is negotiating with AQMD to provide child care facilities during the event. AQMD is conveniently located near a wide variety of amusement parks and other family oriented attractions, so OS/2 users are invited to bring the whole family and make a vacation around Warpstock '97.
Exhibitor Registration
Exhibitors may register through September 1st for $300.00. Exhibitor registrations received after September 1st is $450.00. Exhibitor registrations will receive two complimentary show passes; additional show passes are available for $40.00. All exhibitors will be allocated 10' x 10' booths. Hardware vendors, software ISVs, user groups, and shareware authors are all invited to attend. Shareware vendors may share a single booth to reduce expenses; however, each shareware author must register as an attendee in order to qualify for the booth sharing arrangement.
Travel and Lodging
The Warpstock steering committee has negotiated special travel arrangements with Ship to Shore Travel (Toll free: 888/447-1333 or 405/447-1333; please ask for James Kruger and mention the Warpstock '97 event). Warpstock attendees flying to Warpstock '97 may save money by scheduling airfare, lodging, and car rentals through Ship to Shore Travel. A group of hotels in a wide range of prices near AQMD (21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765) have been reserved to accomodate Warpstock '97 attendees. Ship to Shore travel is located at 1932 W. Lindsey St, Suite E, Norman, OK, 73069.
Warpstock 97, a major conference for OS/2 small office/home office (SOHO) and individual end-users, is an excellent opportunity for OS/2 SOHO and individual users and OS/2 vendors to identify this market segment's product requirements and to exchange ideas. The idea of an "OS/2 love-fest" was conceived as one result of The OS/2 Marketplace, a highly successful OS/2 vendors conference held recently in Phoenix.
Discussion about the event is on-going on the internet's comp.os.os2.misc newsgroup, on commerical on-line services, and with centralized discussion on an Internet mail list. For more information, visit http://www.warpstock.org and join the Warpstock listserv. To subscribe to the Warpstock listserv, send an e-mail to warpstock-request@warpstock.org with no subject and the words "subscribe" in the message body.
Further announcements about Warpstock will be forthcoming as planning for the event continues; updates will be posted to the Warpstock '97 home page. Warpstock '97 is an ALL-VOLUNTEER effort; anyone committed to promoting OS/2 is invited to sign up and volunteer their time and skills to make Warpstock '97 a success. Volunteers should join the listserv to obtain information on available slots.
MANKATO, MN (July 7, 1997) - Oberon Software today released its first Java based toolkit. "This builds on everything we have learned over the years about multi-threaded programming under OS/2," said Oberon founder and President Brady Flowers. "We know that developers will find many good uses for this toolkit and we ourselves will be using it extensively in the months to come as we begin to release a range of new Java based applications and applets."
Building on its strength as a supplier of terminal emulation and telecom software, Oberon has included in the new toolkit Java implementations for ANSI, VT100, and Telnet terminal emulations and ZModem file transfers as well as a number of Java AWT extensions and utility classes such as circular spin buttons, Regular Expression matching, CRC calculations, and Internet e-mail (SMTP) utility classes.
The library contains an extensive collection of classes for scientific function plotting which, in addition to being attractive to scientists, engineers, educators and students, can also be used by anyone needing to display, size, and rotate three dimensional images.
Also included in the toolkit are OS/2 native classes for accessing the serial port, HLLAPI programming, and a REXX interface which allows a developer to add REXX scripting support to Java applications. Oberon Software plans to release cross platform versions of these native classes in a forthcoming release of the toolkit later this year.
Oberon Software allows the toolkit runtime package to be freely distributed without royalty and has announced an introductory price for the programmer's portion of the toolkit or $39.95. All interested parties are invited to contact Oberon Software for more information. Oberon Software can be reached by phone at 507/388-7001, their web page at http://www.OberonSoftware.com, or by mail at Oberon Software, Inc., 1405 E. Main St., Mankato, MN 56001, USA.
Oberon Software has been developing OS/2 software and providing OS/2 related services since 1988. More than just a specialty, OS/2 related products and services are Oberon Software's only business. Oberon OS/2 products include TE/2 and TE/2 Pro!, FSHL - Oberon Software's Alternative Command Line Executive, The Oberon Personal VoiceMail Assistant, DiskStat, LstPM, and the Commpak/2 Programmer's Toolkit for creating telecommunications routines under OS/2. In addition, Oberon Software has developed unique, OS/2 based solutions for a number of major corporations in the banking and communication industries.
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN (July 9, 1997) - Keller Group, developer of the OS/2 fax software sold as FaxWorks for OS/2 and PMfax, is now shipping PMfax version 3.01 with enhanced voice features and a new multiple mail box voice mail system. Many additional voice/fax modems are supported, new voice options are available for enhanced voice quality, and standalone PMfax users can now run an advanced multiple mailbox system for faxes and voice messages.
In addition to supporting Brooktrout boards and voice/fax modems based on the popular Rockwell chipset, PMfax 3.01 includes settings for the U.S. Robotics Sportster Voice modems, ZyXEL OMNI modems, and modems based on the new Cirrus Logic MD3452 chipset with IS-101 voice. For optimal voice quality and performance, these modems can be used in a new "native voice format" mode and support for playing and recording the voice messages through the modem's speaker, microphone and handset jacks is provided.
The new multiple mailbox script supports an unlimited number of user mail boxes for both voice mail and faxes. Each user can call the system and enter a personal password to remotely retrieve their voice messages and faxes, change their password, record their personal mailbox greeting, or retrieve items from the fax log using fax-on-demand. "The new script works with all supported voice/fax hardware," says Mark Ahlstrom, President of Keller Group, "and since it requires just the PMfax version 3.01 software, this is easily the most cost effective voice/fax system for the OS/2 platform and quite likely the most powerful such system on any computing platform." PMfax version 3 is a $69 upgrade for users of FaxWorks Lite that comes free in the OS/2 BonusPak.
PMfax version 3.01 is now shipping for electronic orders which are placed directly with Keller Group (http://www.kellergroup.com) or through Keller's electronic publishers such as BMT Micro (http://www.wilmington.net/bmtmicro) or the OS/2 SuperSite Rapid Internet Purchasing system (http://www.os2ss.com/rip). PMfax customers who have purchased PMfax version 3.00 directly from Keller Group can get a free upgrade from Keller Group. Customers who have purchased Keller-developed version 3.00 products from other publishers can obtain the PMfax update through Keller's new Support Program or check with their publisher for availability.
Keller's Web page (http://www.kellergroup.com) has complete details on the latest products, features and program updates. Please contact Mark Ahlstrom at Keller Group with any questions.
PMfax is a trademark of Keller Group Inc.
FaxWorks is a trademark of Global Village Communication.
Chorus Web Site: http://www.bmtmicro.com/chorus
WILMINGTON, NC (July 10, 1997) - BMT Micro, Inc. announced today the release of Chorus for OS/2, a new suite of world class OS/2 software intended to get new users up and running and to allow experienced users to increase the value derived from their OS/2 systems.
Chorus for OS/2 is the combined product of some of the best known and most talented software developers in the OS/2 community including Michael Shillingford, Rich Walsh, Eric Slaats, BMT Micro, and Bruce Henry.
Now, for the first time, these developers have joined forces to bring seven extremely popular, versatile, powerful and time-tested OS/2 products to end-users in one great package.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Chorus for OS/2 is THE suite every OS/2 user needs to make his or her OS/2 machine really sing. It blends seamlessly with users' systems to increase OS/2's productivity and enjoyability.
Commenting on the suite, Thomas Bradford, President of BMT Micro, Inc. said, "Despite its power and flexibility, OS/2 is generally considered to be missing some key pieces. Chorus for OS/2 is the perfect solution to this problem. In this suite are applications that should be on every user's Desktop. A challenging and addicting game; file, system and productivity applications; and PM and WPS enhancers--Chorus has it all."
Chorus for OS/2 features all the powerful software OS/2 users need to make their systems more enjoyable and more productive:
X-IT - A desktop enhancer which provides a one button click to many operations such as closing a window, displaying a task list, edit field cut-and-paste, and a unique title bar roll-up function. Extremely customable, X-IT features keyboard shortcuts and full OS/2 and DOS command window support.
DragText - A PM enhancer that gives OS/2 Warp drag-and-drop text abilities from almost ANY window or dialog, including DOS and OS/2 command prompt windows! Drag text between windows, drop a URL to create an object, or enter complete file and path names just by dragging and dropping. DragText has to be experienced to be believed!
Smalled - A fast and powerful WYSIWYG text editor. Smalled takes full advantage of OS/2 specialities like Drag-n-drop, EA's, multithreading, ATM font support and WPS integration so it will blend into your system perfectly. Add to that automatic backup, full printing features, a configurable interface and advanced text formatting tools and you have the perfect OS/2 text editing solution.
SMEHTM Extensions - A perfect match for Smalled, these extensions feature a floating toolbar in notebook style that converts Smalled into a full-fledged HTML editor. Define hotkeys or use convenient buttons to insert HTML tags into existing documents or create web pages on the fly!
SwapMonitor - A utility that displays the size of OS/2's swap file and warns you when its size changes. SwapMonitor also shows other useful information such as free space on all drives, percentage of used space, the number of threads and processes currently running and more. A must for any OS/2 system!
FileFreedom - FileFreedom is a fast and powerful PM file manager with an uncluttered, easy-to-use interface. It requires a minimum of setup yet does not skimp on features, including integrated Info-Zip support, one button zipping & unzipping and Drag & Drop support. FileFreedom is the best answer to OS/2 file management requirements.
Matrix - A challenging and addicting PM strategy game. Matrix is easy to learn--like Tetris--but requires skill and intelligence--like Go. This is the diversion you have been looking for!
GREAT PRICE
Chorus for OS/2 not only represents some of the best software available for OS/2, it is also one of the best deals! The Suggested Retail Price for Chorus is only $49.95.
When asked about this incredibly low price, Thomas Bradford said, "Users have been buying these products in droves for years. Now we are offering consumers a chance to get all the applications they want and save money at the same time."
AVAILABILITY
Chorus for OS/2 is available immediately from OS/2 resellers everywhere including:
Indelible Blue - 800/776-8284 - http://www2.indelible-blue.com
J3 Computer Technologies - 800/787-0930 - http://www.os2store.com
Mensys - 023-548-20-20 - http://www.mensys.nl
OS/2 Supersite - http://www.os2ss.com
BMT Micro - 800/414-4268 - http://www.bmtmicro.com
Check http://www.bmtmicro.com/chorus or call BMT Micro at 800/414-4268 for an updated list of resellers.
Tel: 800/414-4268
Fax: 910/350-2937
E-Mail: bmt@bmtmicro.com
WWW: http://www.bmtmicro.com
Manufacturers and retailers interested in preloading or bundling Chorus for OS/2 should contact BMT Micro, Inc. for information.
PM Radio 1.02 has been released and uploaded to: ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/incoming/pmr102.zip
Its expected that its final resting place will be: ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/sound/util/pmr102.zip
PM Radio 1.02 is a device driver and accompanying application for driving the Reveal RA300 PC radio card.
It is designed to operate much like a normal car radio with push button tuning, station scanning and 20 memory selections. It also features tuning indication and per memory volume settings.
This version works on OS/2 Warp 3.x and 4.x. Both English and German executables are included. The documentation is in English only.
Dadaware extends the $10-off competitive upgrade from ColorWorks to include the electronic version of Embellish for OS/2, which has an MSRP of $59.99.
The electronic version of Embellish is sold through the OS/2 Supersite at http://www.os2ss.com.
For any questions regarding this offer, please contact Debi Gonzalez at debig@dadaware.com or 510/339-1278.
HARRISON, NY (June 27, 1997) - InnoVal Systems Solutions has released a shareware version of Hacksaw. This shareware version has no crippled features or time limitations. The software has been uploaded to Hobbes for placement in the /pub/os2/apps/internet/util directory. The name of the file is shackos2.zip. The file is also available from other sites through InnoVal's home page.
"We wanted customers to have a chance to fully investigate this power tool for FTP, SMTP, POP3 and HTTP," wrote Dan Porter, president of InnoVal, in a letter to customers. "Shareware seemed to be the best way to do so."
"Some of our corporate customers are putting HACKSAW to use in very creative ways," the letter went on to say. "One customer uses it to distribute files to dozens of file servers. One uses it to synchronize several web servers with each other and web page building tools. It is being used to query POP3 servers and download forms for special processing without email software. Regular e-mail is left on the server for handling with an e-mail client. Similarly, it is being used to automatically send messages to customers from within another program."
"Individuals are using it primarily for its powerful FTP function or to send e-mail from within word processing software. One blind user is creating a series of single-keystroke procedures for updating his web site."
HACKSAW is not for everyone. It is designed for power users. It takes time to investigate the power and potential of this software. The shareware version is intended to give you as much time as you need to evaluate this software. When you start to use it regularly or for business purposes, you should register it. When you do so you will be entitled to download the latest version, entitled to free maintenance releases, and entitled to technical support.
The regular commercial street price for HACKSAW is $49.95. Shareware users will have an opportunity to register the program for only $29.95 through our home page at http://www.innoval.com.
For more information, please see InnoVal's home page at http://www.innoval.com or contact Marianne Roderus at the address or phone number shown below. Thank you.
InnoVal Systems Solutions
600 Mamaroneck Ave
Harrison, NY 10528 USA
E-mail: innoval@ibm.net
Tel: 914/835-3838 (8:30am to 6:00pm, M-F, New York time)
Fax: 914/835-3857
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (June 26, 1997) - TrueSpectra Inc. today announced an enhanced version of their best-selling Photo>Graphics for OS/2, a highly advanced and innovative graphics creation and editing application. The release of Photo>Graphics PRO for OS/2 V2.0 features many important new features, using an innovative object based design for advanced integration of photographic images, user draw and text layout.
Following on the successes of the critically acclaimed Photo>Graphics for OS/2, Photo>Graphics PRO V2.0 builds upon the original creative design with extensive support for additional graphic file formats, TWAIN for OS/2 scanner device drivers and optimized PostScript printing. Included are new features for automation via the OS/2 REXX language, new drawing tools, additional image effects, and even greater support for creation of Web based graphics. The package also contains a royalty-free Image and Clipart library and a 5-user license copy of the product built using IBM's OpenDoc component technology.
Since the original version release in mid-1996, Photo>Graphics has been a Top 10 selling application with exceptional customer reviews extoling the simplicity with which professional quality graphics are created. The release of PRO has generated tremendous amounts of excitement, with orders already pouring in.
Photo>Graphics PRO is built upon TrueSpectra's patent-pending ColorWave Graphics Engine which integrates resolution independent graphic objects with a highly efficient, real-time rendering engine. The result is the ability to create fully scalable professional graphics on existing hardware. Versions of the ColorWave engine and the Photo>Graphics application are preparing for release on other platforms including Windows 95 and Windows NT, Macintosh, and multiple UNIX variants.
Photo>Graphics PRO v2.0 requires a PC running OS/2 Warp 3.0 or later with a 486/66MHz or higher processor, 8MB RAM, and at least 256 color video support (64,000 colors or higher is recommended).
Photo>Graphics PRO v2.0 has a suggested retail price of US $249.95, and is available through retail channels in North America, Europe and Australia. Registered owners of previous Photo>Graphics versions can upgrade for $99.95 until August 31st, 1997.
TrueSpectra can be contacted for orders and product information at 4950 Yonge Street, Suite 802, North York, Ontario, Canada, M2N 6K1; Tel: 416/224-0076, Fax: 416/224-0309, and via the Internet sales@truespectra.com, or http://www.truespectra.com.
A rapidly growing company, TrueSpectra Inc. was founded in 1992 to develop graphics software and tools based upon the ColorWave Graphics Engine design. Doubling in size twice since December 1996, TrueSpectra continues to develop graphics tools around ColorWave technology and the evolving graphic-centric world of the Internet.
TrueSpectra, Photo>Graphics are trademarks and ColorWave is a registered trademark of TrueSpectra Inc. TWAIN for OS/2 is a service mark of Solution Technology, Inc. Other names are trademarks of their respective holders.
In order to demonstrate TrueSpectra's continuing commitment to the power and capabilities of the OS/2 platform we are making the following special offer available.
For existing users of other advanced graphics applications, TrueSpectra is offering special, limited time, competitive upgrade pricing of $99.95US, plus shipping, when you upgrade from your existing graphics applications to Photo>Graphics PRO v2.0 for OS/2 (suggested retail price of $249.95).
This offer extends to owners of any comparable graphics application for OS/2 or other environments who order Photo>Graphics PRO v2 for OS/2 before July 31st, 1997.
To qualify for this special price the following is required:
Name of Reseller where the product was purchased
Back Cover of the other product's User Guide/Manual (Mailed to TrueSpectra)
Examples of suitable products include: SPG ColorWorks, ImpOS/2, MGI PhotoSuite, CorelDraw, PhotoShop
*Shareware is not acceptable unless a hardcopy manual is provided.
The limited time, upgrade pricing is only available directly from TrueSpectra.
Orders (including Back Covers) can be mailed to:
TrueSpectra Inc.
UPGRADE OFFER
4950 Yonge St., Suite 802
North York, Ontario M2N 6K1
Canada
Please include the following:
Name
Full Shipping Address
Telephone/Fax
E-mail
Payment
Payments must be one of VISA or AMEX Credit Cards, International Money Order (drawn on a US/Canadian bank), Wire Transfer, or Check (drawn on a US/Canadian bank).
For additional information:
WWW: http://www.truespectra.com
E-Mail: sales@truespectra.com
Tel: 416/224-0076
Fax: 416/224-0309