NeXT, in response to customer requests, has posted a fat-binary version of NewsGrazer on the Net. The software, originally developed by Jayson Adams when he worked at NeXT, offers users an easy yet powerful way to access the Usenet news groups. The application is not supported by NeXT. NewsGrazer can be found on the archive server cs.orst.edu under /pub/next/submissions/NewsGrazer75.tar.Z.
Metrosoft in February released an improved version of the API to its MetroTools 2.1 utility package, which allows users to create commercial-grade GUI utilities. The package also includes header files and full source code for a MetroTools module. Metrosoft: 619/488-9411, 619/488-3045 fax; info@metrosoft.com.
ITS in February released as shareware its ClassMaker NEXTSTEP-documentation generator. The software, which parses head files and writes out both .m and RTF documentation of classes, protocols, and categories, is designed to reduce the time it takes developers to format project docs. ClassMaker is available on cs.orst.edu and sonata.cc. purdue.edu. ITS: 312/474-7700; info@its.com.
Dancing Bear Enterprises is in motion, having moved its NeXT-equipment brokerage business to Vail, Colorado. The company has also become an authorized reseller of Quix Computerware's Daydream hardware add-on. Daydream enables NeXTstations to run Macintosh System 7.1 and application software. Dancing Bear: 303/479-9101; tim@dancingbear.com.
IFE Technologies has released Magellan 2.0, an app that provides real-time industrial-process control. The package, which is designed to control material processes involving temperature, pressure, digital controls, and safety interlocks, can be used in semiconductor, thin-film, and ceramic production or research, according to the company. Magellan costs $9990 for a single-user license. A development kit can be purchased for $4990, and educational pricing is available. IFE: 33/1/47.08.92.50; jj@ ife.fdn.org.
WhiteLight Systems has leveraged the object-oriented design expertise it gained from working on its WhiteLight Engineer enterprise-modeling software into the pivotal games market, releasing Mission Critical Solitaire 1.0. The company claims that the software will be a compelling alternative for Windows users because "Solitaire is the app most used on Windows." The fat-binary game sells for $35. WhiteLight: 415/321-2183, 415/321-2083 fax; info@whitelight.com.
Leading Market Technologies in January released TickBase, a UNIX server for rapid storage and retrieval of time-critical transaction data. The package, which was primarily developed under NEXTSTEP, is targeted at users of real-time financial data from sources such as Reuters, Telerate, and Knight-Ridder. It is available on a variety of UNIX platforms and sells for between $500 and $2000 per seat, depending on volume and platform. Leading Market: 617/494-4747.
Alembic Systems International announced in January that it has launched a hardware-leasing program that offers several different Intel systems for NEXTSTEP users. The company leases two basic systems, a 66MHz '486 and a 60MHz Pentium, that come preloaded with NEXTSTEP and have a variety of configuration options for RAM, hard-disk size, and system design. Alembic: 303/799-6223, 800/452-7608, 303/799-1709 fax; info@alembic.com.