NeXTSTEP plays HyperCard

by Lee Sherman

Fort Collins, CO Ð More than three years after it was announced, HyperSense authoring software is shipping from Thoughtful Software. The prerelease version features a nearly identical scripting language to Apple's HyperCard and can import HyperCard stacks.

HyperSense takes full advantage of NeXTSTEP features like CD-quality sound, full-color Post-Script graphics, object-oriented drawing tools, and rich text.

Other features include full word processing capabilities with ruler-based formatting, embedded graphics, and a built-in spell-checker.

While it lacks the power of Xanthus CraftMan, which provides full access to the NeXTSTEP operating system, HyperSense will allow business users to more easily create hypertext documents, business presentations, databases, and interactive tutorials. In addition, developers can extend the program through the use of external commands written in Objective-C.

The prerelease version of HyperSense is $299 until May 31; users will get a free upgrade to version 1.0, which was due at NeXT-WORLD Expo. After May 31, the price will jump to $499. A version of HyperSense for Intel-based computers is expected this summer.

Thoughtful can be reached at 303/221-4596.