Productivity Products International is offering an object-oriented software engineering environment that contains Objective-C, Vici, and a catalog of Software-ICs. Objective-C is an object-oriented software engineering language that includes such features as encapsulation, which holds data within an object and surrounds the data with a shell of procedures; inheritance, which builds and reuses code; and dynamic binding, which allows Objective-C objects to decide at run time which routine to run. Vici is a prototyping and debugging environment. Software-ICs are modules of reusable code that give programmers the same advantages as integrated circuits give hardware designers.
The PPI product set is available for the DEC VAX, Sun Microsystems, HP-9000, and Apollo lines and the IBM PC AT. Source code licenses are available for users who want to port the environment to their own proprietary hardware. Reader Service No. 16.
Productivity Products International Inc. 27 Glen Rd. Sandy Hook, CT 06482 (203) 426-1875
A new programming product for the Macintosh is available from Coral Software. Object Logo features object-oriented programming tools, an interpreter for interactive debugging, a compiler that automatically translates each procedure into native code, a user interface that conforms to the Macintosh standards, complex and rational arithmetic, arrays, Macintosh ROM support, and a variety of advanced primitives' and debugging tools. Object Logo is available for the Macintosh 512, 512E, Plus, and SE and costs $79.95. Reader Service No. 17.
Coral Software P.O. Box 307 Cambridge, MA 02142 (617) 547-2662
A Modula-2 language systems is now available from ana-systems. Modula-2/68 is suitable for professional software development or academic instruction on systems using the Motorola line of 32-bit microprocessors. With Modula-2/68, program modules can be compiled separately. An executable process can be built by linking with previously compiled program modules or by linking with library procedures written in C. Modula-2 programs can easily access standard C object libraries, which means that modules can use previously written and debugged subroutine libraries written in other programming languages. For special applications based on the MC68000 processor line, the linked Modula-2 programs can be written out in the Motorola 5-record format and then easily downloaded to standard development systems.
Modula-2/68 is available for the Convergent Technologies line of Unix systems and sells for $1,200. Reader Service No. 18. ana-systems 697 Saturn Ct. P.O. Box 4759 Foster City, CA 94404-0759 (415) 341-1768
WATCOM has announced two new C language products for IBM PC and PS/2 DOS systems. WATCOM C 6.0 is an optimizing compiler that comes with a full range of programming tools, including a windowed source-level debugger. WATCOM Express C provides an integrated development environment, including an editor, compiler, debugger, and run-time library that are all memory-resident.
Programs may be compiled in memory and then executed directly without separate link and load steps. Reader Service No. 19.
WATCOM Products Inc. 415 Phillip St. Waterloo, Ont. Canada N2L 3X2 (519) 886-3700
C Workshop from Wordcraft is a program that teaches C. It also contains a programming environment that users can use for experimenting, prototyping, and developing the modules for any programming project. C Workshop contains a full standard K & R compiler, an editor, a run-time library, tutorial software, and a book. The software uses 220K and runs on 320K MS-DOS computers with industry-standard BIOS. The package sells for $69.95. Reader Service No. 20.
Wordcraft 3827 Penniman Ave. Oakland, CA 94619 (800) 227-2400
PL/D from Dair Computer Systems is a new system language that allows users the speed and control of assembly language with the ease of expression of a compiler. Like assembly language, PL/D has no run-time library overhead. PL/D code is inherently capable of relocation for EPROM-based embedded control, a common PL/D application. Features of the language include macro and conditional compile facilities, library functions that can be incorporated into the program at compile time as SYS source files, 17 options that can be specified within the source, and some features similar to Forth and C. Source code of the compiler is available. PL/D requires a 192K IBM PC AT or PC/XT with MS-DOS 2.0 or later and sells for $124.95. Reader Service No. 21.
Dair Computer Systems 3440 Kenneth Dr. Palo Alto, CA 94303 (415) 494-7081
If you are tired of programming and want to get out of the house, Expanded Entertainment has released a new film that compiles some of the top shorts in computer animation in The Computer Animation Show. The show is a collection of 3-D character animation, abstract work, corporate show reels, experimental animation, and several ground-breaking music videos. The show is presented in 35 millimeter and charts the growth of computer graphics over the last five years. The movie debuts in 400 cities nationwide throughout 1988. Reader Service No. 22.
Expanded Entertainment 2222 S. Barrington Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90064 (213) 473-6701
RasterOp. Corp. has introduced a high-resolution color graphics board for the Macintosh II. The ColorBoard 1/104 features a single-slot design, true color capabilities, and 1,024 x 768 pixels on a 24-bit color plane capable of displaying 16.7 million colors simultaneously. The Color-Board 1/104 is priced at $2,795 and runs on the Macintosh II. Reader Service No. 23.
RasterOps Corp. 10161 Bubb Rd. Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 446-4090
The EVERCOM II 24 is a 2,400-bps modem for the IBM PS/2 with Micro Channel architecture. Available from Everex, this modem features state-of-the-art signal processing and adaptive equalization, auto-dial, auto-answer, auto-speed-matching to the calling modem, and auto-sense of tone/pulse dialing. Users can easily switch from voice to data and data to voice during a call. Built-in intelligence can detect and respond to such variables as transmission speed and data format. International compatibility is supplied by incorporating Hayes, Bell 212A/103, CCITT V.22, and V.22 bis protocol standards. BitCom, a menu-driven communications program is also included. The EVERCOM II 24 is priced at $299. Reader Service No. 24.
Everex 48431 Milmont Dr. Fremont, CA 94538 (415) 498-1111
DigiBoard has introduced the OpenEnder, a multichannel board for the PS/2. The OpenEnder features DigiBoard's modular I/O concept, the I/O Mate. The I/O Mate contains I/O components and mounts to the OpenEnder portion of the board that holds the processor and memory. I/O Mates are available in both 4- and 8-port configurations with an added synchronous channel available on the I/O Mate + series. The OpenEnder features an on-board 80186 microprocessor operating at 12 MHz, 256K of dual-ported RAM, and up to 64K of ROM to store user-define-programs. The OpenEnder is compatible with MS-DOS and Xenix and will support other operating systems. List prices are $1,349 with I/O Mate-8, $1,399 with I/O Mate8 +, $1,149 with I/O Mate-4, and $1,199 for I/O Mate4 +. Reader Service No. 25.
DigiBoard Inc. 6751 Oxford St. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 (612) 922-8055
Kinetic Access is a security product from Kinetic Corp. that offers micro system security through an easy-to-use program. The total system includes a hardware device that controls the booting process and a resident control program that requires 45K RAM while in operation. The hardware device can be either an EPROM, which fits into an available ROM socket, or a short expansion card that plugs into any available slot on the PC. After installation of Kinetic Access, every time the system is booted up, Kinetic Access password protects users' files and applications. Kinetic Access is available for users of IBM PC, XT, AT, and true compatibles operating with MS-DOS, Versions 2.x or 3.x. The product is priced at $129.95 per unit with EPROM and $149.95 per unit with short expansion board. Reader Service No. 26.
Kinetic Corp. Distillery Commons 240 Lexington Rd. @ Payne Louisville, KY 40206-1990 (502) 583-1679
A data-compression package has been released by Isogon Corp. NEWSPACE is a RAM-resident utility that significantly increases the storage capacity of any IBM or IBM-compatible PC hard disk. The program automatically and transparently compresses word processing, spreadsheet, database, and all other kinds of data files without any user involvement. Although the kind of compression achieved depends on the nature of the data, 50 percent overall compression is average. NEWS-PACE operates with all application programs and RAM-resident utilities and works on all PC-DOS and MS-DOS machines running Version 2.0 or later, including the PS/2. The program sells for $69.95. Reader Service No. 27.
Isogon Corp. 330 Seventh Ave. New York, NY 10001 (212) 967-2424
Quinn-Curtis has announced Science and Engineering Tools for the Macintosh 512K or bigger. The package includes procedures for general statistics, multiple regression, curve fitting, integration, FFTs, solving differential and simultaneous equations, matrix math, complex math, data smoothing, linear programming, root finding, and special functions. A 160-page manual describes the form, function, and parameters of every procedure and function. All the software tools are supplied on a 3.5-inch disk in both Lightspeed Pascal and Turbo Pascal source code. The Science and Engineering Tools package retails for $74.95. Reader Service No. 28.
Quinn-Curtis 49 Highland Ave. Needham, MA 02194 (617) 444-7721