Simple Real-time Color Frame Animation

By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief

Source Code Escrows

Fidex Americas Corporation has announced a source code escrow service targeted to meet the needs of independent software developers and their clients. More than half the software companies in the U.S. employ three people or less. These small developers offer unsurpassed expertise, responsiveness, and pricing. At the same time though, a single accident can put a company like this out of business. So a potential client may hesitate to entrust their crucial project to a small developer.

If a custom program needs to be updated and the developer who wrote the software is out of business, what can the user do? The new Software Security Service from Fidex Americas Corporation gives the software developer a way to alleviate their client's concern.

The concept is simple: in order to guarantee that their client's custom software will be maintained for as long as they need it the software developer deposits a copy of the source code with Fidex Americas Corporation.

The source code is accompanied by a written agreement between the developer and client detailing the events that trigger release of the source code to the client. The deposit materials are stored by Fidex Americas in a climate controlled subterranean vault, while both the software developer and their client rest easy.

For more information, contact Fidex Americas Corporation, 821 Fir Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Voice: 208/263-5348, Fax: 208/265-4191.

3DGraphics Book

Addison-Wesley has released the second edition of a book called 3D Computer Graphics by Alan Watt. This new edition of Fundamentals of 3D Computer Graphics has been extensively revised to take new developments in graphics into account. It is a comprehensive introduction to the techniques needed to produce shaded images in three-dimensional solids on a computer graphics monitor. The aim of the book is to give a theoretical understanding of these techniques together with the programming expertise required to implement them. It features new material on modeling and representation, viewing systems, parametric representation and scientific visualization. The book is richly illustrated with world-class graphics, many of which are produced by the author.

Highlights of the new edition include expanded coverage of key topics, including: Modeling and representation; Viewing systems; Parametric representation; and Scientific visualization. The book is priced at $48.50.

For more information, contact Addison-Wesley Publishing Group, 1 Jacob Way, Reading , MA 01867, Voice: 617/944-3700.

Inside Photo CD

The Color Resource has released a white paper (in book format) called Inside Photo CD: Marketing Opportunities in a leading Edge Technology. Technology buying indications show significant support for Photo CD, implying widespread use of this important imaging format and the likely emergence of a standard. This report has had strong early support among graphics arts professionals for Kodak's imaging technology. Inside Photo CD shows readers where early adopters are applying the technology and how they are marketing it. Inside Photo CD explains where the market opportunity exists through first-hand commentary by prepress production managers and company presidents, both users and vendors of the scanned images in production settings.

For more information, contact The Color Resource, 708 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, Voice: 415/398-5337, Fax: 415/398-5339.

Paige from datapak

DataPak Software, Inc. announces the Alpha version release of a revolutionary new cross-platform development tool, code named “PAIGE”.

Now text handling and formatting for diverse applications from simple editors to full blown page layout and powerhouse word processors can be accomplished for multiple platforms by using Paige.

In the same way that Word Solution Engine allowed developers to overcome the 32K barrier (and other frustrating limitations of Apple’s TextEdit), Paige promises to deliver even greater capabilities for a number of PC platforms. Plans are in the works to make it available for Macintosh, DOS, Windows, Windows NT and Unix. Paige will be compatible with both Bedrock and PowerPC.

Since the bulk of Paige’s code is machine independent, applications using Paige will be completely portable. It fills the gap that currently exists for sophisticated multi-platform text handling.

DSI is scheduled to officially release Paige during the first quarter of 1994.

For more information, contact DataPak Software, Inc., 9317 NE Hwy 99, Suite G, Vancouver, WA 98665-8900, Voice: 206/573-9155, Fax: 206/573-9269, AppleLink: D0142, America Online: DATAPAK1, CompuServe: 76424,3027.

Compuserve intros 14.4!

High-speed access at 14.4 kilobits per second (kbps) is now available to CompuServe Information Service members in 10 U.S. cities at the same price as its 9.6 kbps service. CompuServe is the first online information service to offer access at the 14.4 speed.

The 14.4 service is initially available in Cambridge, Mass., Chicago, Columbus, Los Angeles, New York, Newport Beach, Cal., Orlando, Philadelphia, Rochelle Park, N.J. and Santa Clara, Cal. More U.S. cities will be added during the coming year. CompuServe also plans to offer the service in Europe but does not currently have a date for international implementation.

The benefits of 14.4 service for CompuServe members include faster file transfers and more rapid online display of Graphics Interchange Format (GIF TM) images, resulting in lower connect-time charges. GIF is a format CompuServe developed for storing graphics. It allows CompuServe members to view an image online or download the file for later viewing. The 14.4 service supports V.42 error correction and requires that the member have a V.32bis modem. CompuServe members in the cities listed above can find their local phone number for 14.4 access by typing "GO PHONES."

CompuServe members pay $8.95 per month for unlimited connect-time access to 47 basic services. CompuServe's extended services are available for $8.00 per hour for 1200 or 2400 bps access and $16 per hour for 9.6 kbps or 14.4 kbps access.

For more information, contact CompuServe, 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd., P.O. Box 20212, Columbus, OH 43220, Voice: 614/457-8600, CompuServe: 70004,336.

[Remember, the relevant source code files that accompany articles in MacTech Magazine are available on CompuServe. To see our online area, type “GOMACTECHMAG”. - Ed.]

Attn: 4Dand HyperCard users!

commstalk for HyperCard (commstalk-hc) allows developers to fully integrate terminal communications sessions within a HyperCard stack, bringing the benefits of client-server computing to older, non-SQL-based host applications. By reengineering host systems with improved HyperCard-based graphical interfaces, organizations can preserve their investments in aging applications and extend their useful life, without disruption. Applications developed with commstalk-hc can simultaneously communicate with multiple host systems utilizing standard Apple Communications Toolbox (CTB) tools. Connectivity options exist for IBM (5250, 3270), DEC (VT-100, VT-320, VT-420) and Unix (TCP/IP, Telnet, FTP) as well as a variety of standard async. file transfer protocols (X/Y/ZModem, Kermit, Text). Host data can be fully integrated with locally held stack data to provide completely integrated, cooperative applications. Developers using commstalk-hc benefit from dramatically reduced development time, easy maintenance of applications and reduced host loading. The developer kit retails for $295, run-time kits retail for $95.

The 4D Communications Kit (4DCK) brings the benefits of client-server computing to older, non-SQL-based host applications by front-ending them with 4th Dimension-based applications. With 4DCK, developers can completely merge host sessions into 4D applications, allowing database integration and creation of user-friendly GUIs, eliminating the need for stand-alone terminal emulation programs. Organizations can preserve their investments in aging host applications and extend their useful life, without disruption. Applications developed with 4DCK can communicate with multiple host systems utilizing standard Apple Communications Toolbox (CTB) tools. Connectivity options exist for IBM (5250, 3270), DEC (VT-100, VT-320, VT-420) and Unix (TCP/IP, Telnet, FTP) as well as a variety of standard async. file transfer protocols (X/Y/ZModem, Kermit, Text). Developers using 4DCK benefit from dramatically reduced development time, easy maintenance of applications and reduced host loading. The developer kit retails for $295, run-time kits retail for $95.

For more information, contact Full Moon Software, Inc., P.O. Box 700237, San Jose, CA 95170-0237, Voice: 408/253-7199 , Fax: 408/252-2378.

Custom Newton Development

Newtonian Technologies, Inc. today announced the availability of custom software development and systems integration services for Apple Computer's Newton-based Personal Digital Assistants.

Newtonian Technologies uses an all-encompassing Total Quality Management approach to custom software development services, including an initial consultation, personalized project requirements capture, business proposal as well as documentation, training, and on-going support for the systems they develop.

For more information, contact Newtonian Technologies, Inc., 51 University Avenue, Suite J, Los Gatos, CA 95030, Voice: 408/399-8800, Fax: 408/997-2088, AppleLink: NEWTON1.