8,732
edits
Changes
→Value
'''— JK'''
=Newsbytes=
==Software demos==
Software Carousel, of Valencia, California, is adding a new twist to software marketing with a demonstration cassette: that it will send to the curious for $4. The firm markets a program called the Graphics Code Generator. TI· users who order the demonstration tape load the demonstration program into memory and then disconnect the tape recorder from the computer. The tape recorder is then turned on and the user listens as an announcer talks him through a demonstration of the Graphics Code Generator. Users may return the tape for a $2 refund or $3 credit on purchase of the graphics generator program.
According to William S. Schwartz, who developed the program, the demonstration tape is a way in which potential buyers can preview a program with minimum risk. "Our demo allows your readers to see the progrnm in use while listening to a fully synchoronized sound track that explains exactly how it works and what it will do for them."
The program and demonstration tape require Extended BASIC. For more information, contact the company at 23757 Via Kannela. Valencia, CA 91355. Phone: (805) 254-4141.
==Compiled BASIC==
A St. Louis company is planning on
introducing a BASIC compiler this
year as well as several games written
in assembly language.
Challenger Software, 4127 Quincy,
St. Louis, MO 63116, says all of its new
programs will require a disk drive,
expansion memory and the Extended
BASIC cartridge.
According to company spokesman
Mark Sumner, titles include Gravity
Master, Maze Master and what is tentatively
being called Pizza Parlor. The
games are expected to sell for about
$20 each.
The compiled BASIC program is
expected to sell for about $50.
"I always had a problem with
assembly language," Sumner said by
way of explaining the usefulness of a
BASIC compiler. "With this compiled
BASIC I managed to accelerate development
time for programs by 10 to 100
times."
Sumner says the program includes
commands not found in Extended
BASIC, including sprite coincidence
checking that is much faster than what
can be done with Extended BASIC.
Cutting back
A company that had been producing
a parallel printer interface and 32K
memory expansion for the TI99/ 4A
has eliminated the interface from its
inventory. Doryt Systems Inc., 14 Glen
St., Glen Cove, NY 11542 (516) 676-7950,
has dropped its Paraprint 18A interface.
The 18A was designed to be an
interface between the TI home computer
and any parallel printer, eliminating
the need for an RS232 card. A spokesperson
said the company will
continue to market the 32K memory
expansion.
Nothing from Thorn
Despite reports published recenly
in a leading home computer magazine
that indicated that Thorn E.M.I. is
marketing Computer War for the TI
home computer, the company is doing
no such thing. According to spokeswoman
Val Demeo in the company's
New York office, Thorn E.M.I. has no
plans to market any of its games for
the TI. The company had planned to
produce several games for the TI
computer but everything was cancelled
last December after TI pulled
out of the home computer market.
Demeo says the company has
''nothing planned'' for the TI.
Foundation update
Software routines from Foundation
which will let users save their BASIC
programs into files with the company's
128K memory card and
EPROM chip will be available "in a
few weeks," Foundation officials said
near the end of February.
The routines will also allow the
memory to be used as a sequential file.
The routines can be used in BASIC,
Extended BASIC and assembly
language.
Bill Hunter, vice president of opera-.
tions, said the wait for the software
routines is because they are being
enhanced. The software to access the
extra 96K memory in the card is
already in the EPROM chip. he says.
32K of the card is directly accessible
by the computer.
He said that the 128K card itself is
basically a memory assembly language.
The 128K card is four memory
banks which can be switched back and
forth at an assembly lrnguage level.
He noted that it is not accessible with
such cartridges as Microsoft Multiplan
and TI-Writer.
Kathy Hunter, vice president for
marketing for Foundation, said that
the wait for the routines is "frustrating'
· but was "to the customer's
benefit" because the routines will do
··everything we said in our brochure
and more.··
She said that the TI market '·shortterm
looks very healthy. As for the the
long-term, we want to enhance it."
She commented that she feels the TI
home computer will be around for a
long time as "the Volkswagen Beetle
of the computer set.··
More Tis
Texas Instruments ctidn ·t actually
end production of its home computer
last year. As late as last month the
company w,1s still produC.'.ing a limited
number of the machines to be used by
the company·s 46 exch:.rnge centers.
Newsbyles is a column of general
information for Tl99/4A users. It will
include product announcements a n d
other items o f interest. Vendors and others
are encouraged to submil items for
consideration. Items submitted will be
verified by lhe staff before inclusion and
edited to fit the Newsbytes format. Items
may be mailed to the Compendium, P.O.
Box 1343, Round Rock, TX 78680.
