-=========================================================================- _ __ _ <>_ __ _ || /\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || Amiga Update -News and Rumors /__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ ||(A Very Ocassional Newsletter) / \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ || BACK FOR THE FUTURE || -=========================================================================- AMIGA and the Amiga logo are trademarks of Amiga Technolgies, GmbH --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 960415 M O R E O N T H E S A L E O F A M I G A T E C H F I R M S T E P S T A K E N B Y A T T O I M P R O V E N O R T H A M E R I C A N D I S T R I B U T I O N A M I N E T 1 1 A N N O U N C E D --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A N O T H E R A P R I L S U R P R I S E Amiga folk are beginning to distrust the month of April. Two years ago, Commodore announced its voluntary liquidation after close of business on a Friday in April (quite sneaky, that was). One year ago in April, it was confusion after confusion as the remains of Commodore were finally disposed of. At least that event seemed to have ended well - or did it? Just this past Friday, Escom announced it was selling off Amiga Technologies, after a dismal fiscal year. At least they didn't do it after close of business. That event was significant enough that we've spent the weekend trying to find additional information for you, which is why you're receiving another newsletter so soon. We've come up with many interesting items and feel much better about the situation this morning. Just this AM we came across an piece of e-mail from one of the key players at VIScorp. We think you'll find it very interesting - and encouraging. If you don't read anything else in this newsletter, read the note from Carl Sassenrath. VIScorp The first thing we did was try to find out some information about VIScorp, the soon to be owners of Amiga Technology. VIScorp has been building set top boxes for some time. These devices are designed to enhance your TV set, providing everything from Internet hookup to home shopping. VIScorp had already licensed the Amiga chipset from AT for use in their products. Clearly, the main reason they're interested in Amiga is because of this technology. They are not a computer company, and building and selling computers would represent a change of business for them. At a time when a key trend in business is concentrating on core product lines, this led to our concerns about the future of the Amiga as a computer. But there's more to this picture. A quick visit to the VIScorp home page on the Internet revealed something surprising. The page shows a VIScorp set top box prominently at the top, as expected. The rest of the page is mostly links to Amiga sites around the Internet. These are not just any sites, either. These are the key sites used by Amiga enthusiasts. The Amiga Web Directory is there, as is the Aminet, both the real Amiga home page at AT and the "so called Amiga home page" which kept us going during the hiatus, and several other good links. We looked a bit further. Turns out the Software Director (and Webmaster) of VIScorp is Carl Sassenrath whom we just mentioned above. Mr. Sassenrath's name is familiar to us from years past. He is an ex-Commodore Amiga employee who held the title of Director of Operating Systems. A quick visit to his home page turned up an impressive resume, including the following: "Commodore Amiga, Inc., Manager of Operating Systems. Designed and implemented one of the first Multitasking Operating Systems for personal computers. The design included pre-emptive multitasking, message based communications, dynamically loading libraries and devices, interrupt system. "Carl Sassenrath is a designer of Interactive Multimedia Technology, Platforms, Tools, and Interfaces related to Interactive Television (ITV). His history includes development of next generation ITV Systems and Tools, the VIS Corp Cable Box Operating System, the Commodore Amiga Operating System, the Pantaray Digital Video Editor, the CDTV CD-ROM Operating System, CD-ROM Creation and Optimization Tools, CD-ROM Motion Video Tools, Atari Lynx Tools, Amiga Logo, Object Oriented Languages, and more." By Amiga Logo, we assume is meant the well regarded programming language of a few years ago. Please see the copy of a note to and reply from Mr. Sassenrath, below. Such things can be faked but I accept this as real. It brightens a grey, snowy day in Wisconsin considerably. VIScorp, in fact, seems to harbor a number of ex-Commodore Amiga engineers and designers. (We don't have good information about the rest of the staff yet, so we'll let it go for now.) It's just possible that the computer has landed in the hands of people who are genuine Amiga proponents. Only time will tell if this is part of the picture, or if the basic business plan of VIScorp involves nothing more than a technology raid. At present, the press releases, the note from Sassenrath, and the company's image at least give good reason for hope. We picked up a rumor that the price paid for AT was four times what Escom paid for Commodore's remains. The implication is that VIScorp is better capitalized than Escom. If so, and if they intend to continue Amiga production, they would be in a better position to do so. The price quoted was 40 M dollars. Keep in mind that VIScorp already had access to the chipset they need for their set top boxes. Good or Bad? Might Depend on Where You Are It also seems where you are in the world has some influence on whether you regard the sale as good or bad. Rumors only for this but supposedly SoftWood, the principle American writer of Amiga productivity software, regards things in a positive light while Digita, a principle competitor and a British company, does not. Currently, Digita products are bundled with the Amiga. Softwood products are not. Hmmm. We've also noted British pundits making statements to the affect of "the future of the Walker project and the Power PC products is now in doubt." We suppose that's true. We do have doubts, for the moment anyway. We also have much more hope than we did Friday. WOA and VIScorp If you've been reading "AmigaUpdate" for any time, you're aware that the World of Amiga started in England this weekend. We learned Sunday night that VIScopr was there with AT. We have no specifics at this time as to what they might have said or what capacity they were there in, but we'll keep digging. New US Distributors!! We also learned this weekend that AT has sacked American Distributor SMG! We know this has been a topic of some heated discussion in the Usenet groups for some time, between users and the SMG folks. Amiga industry insiders do not agree with the SMG position that the A1200 can't be sold in Amierica, believing there is room for both the A4000 and A1200 here. AT apparently agrees with the industry folks. They have replaced SMG with three (!!) distributors for America - Software Hut, CEI and Micro PACE, plus North American manufacturer and sales source QuikPak of Norristown, Pennsylvania. Whatever else is happening, someone at AT is taking a pro-active, agressive approach. It's been a long time since we've seen such actions in the Amiga market. Below you will find the text of the fax sent to SMG to terminate the agreement. Sometimes things just mysteriously appear in our mailbox. We also found a copy of the fax from QuikPak informing SMG that they had been terminated, reproduced below as well. You may find the last paragraph of that letter reassuring, though note the date is before the sale to VIScorp. Following this long winded introduction are some press releases, the text of the faxes, and other information we've acquired on the topic. Finally, we've included new product news - after all, the Amiga community continues despite the changes. At least for now - and as the following item indicates, we have hope we'll continue for some time to come. Brad -------------------------------------------------------------------------- N O T E F R O M C A R L S A S S E N R A T H ( R E A D T H I S I F Y O U R E A D N O T H I N G E L S E ) >From: Carl S.[SMTP:carl@sassenrath.com] >Sent: Friday, April 12, 1996 2:51 PM >To: Peter Ostrowski >Subject: Re: amiga? > >: At 2:19 PM 4/12/96 -0400, Peter Ostrowski wrote: >: >: HI carl.. Im a happy amiga user who just found out the company you work >: for has just bought (almost) the amiga.. DO you have any more info on >: this.. I aslo heard that you worked on amiga dos os.. THATs cool.. Best >: Dam Os I have ever used... If you have any info the what viscom has >: plans for the amiga, Please email them to me.. I would be for ever >: greatful.. > > >What I have been telling people is not to worry. We are all >Amiga lovers here. Unlike ESCOM or even Commodore, VIScorp >does not have a single IBM PC person in the development group. >We are all solid Amigans from the very beginning. Personally >speaking, I don't plan on killing the Amiga. In fact, I'm >hoping to build one killer Amiga! > > Carl Sassenrath > Director of Software, VIScorp > URL: www.vistv.com > >PS: Please feel free to post or forward this anywhere and >everywhere, as I am getting swamped with the same email >question from so many dedicated Amigans. Keep the faith! >This is for the better! > >__________________________________________________________ >Valid Addresses: > EMAIL: carl@sassenrath.com (Please try this one first) > or: carl@pacific.net (Only, if the above fails) > or: carl@vistv.com > URL: www.sassenrath.com > or: www.vistv.com > POST: PO Box 1510, Ukiah, CA 95482, USA > >NOTE: NO LONGER ON Compuserve, AOL, AppleLink, BIX, CIX or videostream.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- V I S I C O R P V E R S I O N O F P R E S S R E L E A S E VIScorp Moves to Acquire Leading Technology Company Letter of Understanding Signed by Escom AG, Amiga Technologies and VIScorp Chicago, IL, April 11,1996 -- Visual Information Services Corp. (Nasdaq: VICP, Bulletin Board), a developer of Interactive TV (ITV) set-top boxes to enhance television use and viewing by providing Internet access and electronic communications functions, announced that it has a binding letter of understanding to acquire the assets of Amiga Technologies from Escom AG. "We believe the Amiga television interface technology is clearly superior to anything that now exists for ITV boxes," said William Buck, VIScorp's chief executive officer. "Earlier this year, we licensed this technology for our second-generation prototype box. The proposed acquisition of Amiga would enable us to fully apply the proprietary technologies, patents and copyrights that are vital to the appearance, user appeal and functionality of our product." The proposed acquisition would include the intellectual property of the former Commodore Business Machines, except Commodore trademarks. Terms were not disclosed. The pending acquisition would be subject to the approval of both boards of directors. Mr. Buck stated: "Aiding our time to market, the proposed acquisition of Amiga would provide us with the installed base of our primary target market for Internet-supported software program distribution, which may ultimately lead to a new type of television network. This intended acquisition is part of VIScorp's strategy to build market leadership in the fast-growing field of ITV." Mr. Buck explained that the proposed acquisition would give VIScorp ownership of Amiga intellectual properties, including several that are currently used in its set-top Electronic Device (ED), as well as control over the supply of chip sets used in ED, Amiga inventories, and access to the company's sales and distribution channels. If the acquisition is completed, noted Mr. Buck, VIScorp anticipates continued sales and support of popular Amiga computer models. Commenting that the primary objective of the proposed acquisition is to give VIScorp full access to the Amiga/Commodore technology to support development of its ITV device, Mr. Buck said: "Our TVset-top interactive boxes would give home users capabilities such as telephone reception and dial-up, facsimile, pay-per-view options, electronic mail, access to online services, including the Internet, and more." Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. VISORP> 111 North Canal Street, Suite 933 Chicago, IL 60606> Corporate Information Contact: Florine Radulovic Voice 312.655.0903 FAX 312.655.0910 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- S E R V I C E M A N A G E M E N T G R O U P R E P L A C E D As mentioned above, Amiga Technolgies has taken firm action by removing their distributor SMG and replacing them with other organizations. SMG had done little to promote the revived Amiga line in the Americas and apparently regarded the A1200 as unsellable here. The replacement firms are Micro PACE of Champaign, Illinois; Software Hut of Philadelphia, Creative Equipment Inc. of Miami (CEI was a leading bidder for Commodore during the liqidation) and QuikPak, of Norristown, Pennslyvania, which is actually the North American maufacturing arm and sales source for the other three. Two faxes of interest follow. Note that our copies are pretty bad. We can't accurately read the name of the individual at SMG to whom that fax was sent, nor some portions of either fax. Where we can't read them, we've substiuted Xs for the unclear letters and added ?s. The Sevice Management Group, Inc Mr. Rick Stine (??) 10400 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 440 Columbia, MD 21004 USA March 25, 1996 Notice of Termination Dear Mr. Stine, {??} This has reference to the Product Service Agreement dated November 10, 1995 between AMIGA Technologies, GmbH, Bensheim, Germany, and The Service Managment Group, Inc., Columbia Maryland. Persuant to Section X(X), this Agreement may be terminated by notice duly given by March 31, 1996. We hereby terminate the above mentioned Product Services Agreement in accordance with seciton 8{?}(a) of this contract. Further, this letter is to certify that the law firm of Fanich{?}, Schwarze, Jacobs & Nadel{?} PC, 1801 Market Street, Philadelphia, is authorized to act on behalf of AMIGA Technologies, GmbH, having offices at Berliner Ring 89, 5452X Bensheim/Germany, regarding the termination of the above mentioned Agreement between AMIGA Technologies, GmbH and Service Managment Group, Inc., dated November 10, 1995. Best regards, (signature) Petro Tyschyschenko ppa Ralf Schmeid{?} CEO Company Lawyer ---------- Mr. Paul X. Bielski, Jr. April 3, 1966 Service Management Group 10400 Little Patuxent Pkway Suite 450 Columbia, MD 21044 Dear Paul, I have just received notification from Amiga Technologies that SMG's contract with Amiga Technolgies has been terminated as of March 31, 1996. Specifically, I have received copies of both Amiga's U.S. legal counsel's termination notice to you of March 22 and Amiga's confirmatory termination notice to you of March 25. Therefore I must tell you that I am puzzled by SMG's communications to me this week seeking additional product. As you know, QuickPak is not only the exclusive North American manufacturer of the Amiga products but now, with your termination, the only authorized North American sales source for Amiga products. To privde a level playing field ant to assure that all of the distributors in the Amiga market demonstrate a significant committment to that market, QuikPak has established specific volume levels for distributors to purchase product from us. Unfortunately, SMG does not qualify as a distributor based on both current and historic shipments to date. For your convenience I have listed the current authorized distributors in North America. I recommend that you contact and establish SMG as a dealer with one of these distributors, and place your 7 piece order with one of these 3, all of whom inform us that they maintain a constant inventory of Amiga Products for immediate shipment. Micro PACE Software Hut Creative Equipment Champaign, IL Philadelphia, PA Miami, Fl {omitting phone numbers and contact names. Brad} Thank you for your interest in Amiga products. There are many new products and programs in the works and over the next few weeks we are planning several major announcments. We hope to see you continue to participate in this market. If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me. Best regards, (signature) David A. Ziembicki (?) CEO -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A M I N E T 1 1 A V A I L A B L E TITLE Aminet CD 11 AUTHOR Urban D. Mueller (umueller@aminet.org) CONTENTS Aminet CD 11 contains, you already guessed it, about 1 gig of freely distributable software. The newest archive included is from March 2nd. Apart from the new software, the CD concentrates on maps collected from various sources. The space is used as follows (after decompression): 670M of software newer than Aminet CD 10 (all time high!) 150M of high resolution maps covering most areas of the world 80M of top downloads 20M of commercial software: XiPaint 3.2, full version XiPaint is a nice 24-bit paint program that works gfx boards and just about any image format. It is licensed to the buyer of the CD only, and not freely distributable. Check the upgrade offer that comes with it. The freely distributable part is composed as follows: 500 mods, most of them new 200 utilities 200 communcations programs 800 programs of other categories plus 700 maps in 24-bit JPEG format, covering most areas of the world. The maps have an index that is sorted by continent, and a search facility. ACCESS SOFTWARE Still the well known Amigaguide based user interface with extensive search facilities. Some bugs fixed. Included is now a search tool for owners of single Aminet CDs (ie people who do not own Aminet Sets). PRICES The CD can be ordered from the following addresses: (credit cards OK) Germany: Stefan Ossowski (English spoken) Tel: +49-201-788778 Fax: +49-201-798447 Email: stefano@tchest.e.eunet.de Price: DM 25 USA: Fred Fish Tel: +1-800-804-0833 Email: orders@ninemoons.com Price: $19.95 Prices exclude shipping. Subscriptions are available. A complete index is found in docs/lists/Aminet-CD-11.lha Authors of software on the CD are entitled to one free CD. Send HELP FREEBIES to aminet-server@wuarchive.wustl.edu for more info. Aminet Set 1 and Aminet Set 2 are still available and give you, together with CD 9 to 11, a complete snapshot of Aminet. {Note: Amiga dealers can also supply you with copies of Aminet 11. Check with your local dealer. Brad} -=========================================================================- _ __ _ <>_ __ _ || Brad Webb - available at: /\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || webb@malamute.med.ge.com /__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ || bandr@globaldialog.com / \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ || Portal -- XJumpdisk -=========================================================================-