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=Newsbytes=
Not-Polyoptics Inc. has introduced several new game programs for the TI99/4A. Included are Backgammon, Bankroll, Tower and Cosmopoly in Extended BASIC and Ophyss in BASIC.
All games come on cassette. For more information, write: Not-Polyoptics, 13721 Lynn St., Suite 15, Woodbridge, VA 22191.
==Protected backup==
Maple Leaf Micro Ware is offering a cassette-based program called Backup that allows users to create backup copies of file-protected Extended BASIC programs on tape. The copies remain protected, the company says. The program requires the Mini-Memory cartridge. The price is $19.95.
Diskit is a new program that permits the user to write adventure game files from cassette to disk, the company says. It also allows users to write Mini-Memory-targeted assembly language and file-protected Extended BASIC program tapes to disk. It requires a disk system and MiniMemory cartridge or Editor/Assembler cartridge with 32K memory expansion. The price is $29.95.
Maple Leaf also has introduced two new educational programs: Math Flash Astronaut and Spelling & Phonics Tutor.
Children are rewarded by having their rocket launched upon successfully answering math questions in Math Flash Astronaut. There are 12 levels of difficulty. It requires only a console and tape recorder. The price is $14.95.
Spelling & Phonics Tutor lets the user compose lessons with data statements, using words within phrases that illustrate their correct context. Children can review the phrases or practice spelling and reading the words. It requires a tape recorder, speech synthesizer and the Terminal Emulator II cartridge. The price is $14.95.
For more information, write: Maple Leaf Micro Ware, P.O. Box 13141, Kanata, Ontario, Canada K2K 1X3. All prices are in U.S. funds.
==Top sellers==
Texas Instruments, as we all know, sold a lot of home computers last year, but Commodore Business Machines sold more, according to Future Computing Inc. Here are the figures, rounded off, of course: Commodore, 2 million: Texas Instruments, 1.5 million: Atari Inc., 500,000: Times, 500,000: Tandy Corp., 400,000: others, 100,000.
==TI catalog?==
TI said in January that a New York firm was going to publish a catalog of TI products to be mailed free of charge to all TI users included on Tl's l million name mailing list. TI spokesmen said at the time that vendors of TI products could be included in the catalog by contacting the firm, March Direct Marketing, and working out arrangements.
An MDM spokesman says that the catalog will be coming out in April and indicated that two more editions would be published before the end of the year. However, he declined to note how many pages the catalog would include. He also declined to discuss how vendors could have their wares promoted in one of the upcoming catalogs. Apparently, the first edition will feature TI-licensed products. It was indicated in January by an MDM spokesman that the first catalog woulp include 16 pages.
==Printer cable==
A San Fernando, California, company is offering a parallel printer interface for the TI99/4A that does not require an expansion box or RS232 interface.
Axiom Corporation's Parallax TI
interface will operate with any parallel
input printer, according to the
company. The device, which is a small
black box with a cable connected to it,
plugs into the right side of the
computer.
The company says the device is
compatible with all TI software.
The company also markets a series
of three Seikosha printers for the
TI99/4A and other computers. One of
the printers, the GP-700 Series, offers
full-color. A second printer, the GP-550
Series, offers what the company calls
"near letter quality" print while a
third printer, the GP-100 Series, is
described as an 80-column printer for
the budget-minded.
All are dot-matrix printers. None
requires an RS232 card as each is outfitted
with a direct connect cable that
plugs into the computer console, the
company says.
For more information and prices
write Axiom Corporation, 1014 Griswold
Ave., San Fernando, CA 91340, or
call (213) 365-9521.
Newsbytes is a column of general information
for Tl99/4A users. It includes product
announcements and other items of
interest. The publisher does not necessarily
endorse products listed in this column.
Vendors and others are encouraged to
submit items for consideration. Items
submitted will be verified. by th·e staff
before inclusion and edited to fit the Newsbytes
format. Mail items to: MICROpendium,
P.O. Box 1343, Round Rock, TX
78680
