POEM VideoBox, a video SDK that provides decompression at 30 frames per second (on ISA-BUS 80486/50 MHz PCs), has been announced by Iterated Systems. Developed for network archiving, multimedia publishing, training, and other video applications, the kit provides software-only video at low bandwidths. The SDK contains C object libraries for integrating video decompression into DOS applications, sample programs with source code, and sample video footage. POEM VideoBox supports Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro sound cards. Frames are dropped dynamically on slower computers to maintain sound synchronization. POEM sells for $1795.00. Reader service no. 20.
Iterated Systems
5550-A Peachtree Parkway
Norcross, GA 30092
404-840-0310
Network Program-to-Program Communications (NPPC) from Software Corp., is a library designed for creating Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups network applications in C or C++. The library is available for either IPX or NetBIOS; the API is the same for both. NPPC adds about 30K to DOS-based applications. The Windows version is implemented as a Windows DLL. NPPC functions are implemented as high-level application calls that are used to perform program-to-program communications at the message level. Either library (for Windows IPX or NetBIOS) is available for $195.00 or $395.00, respectively. A BBS downloadable demo for DOS or Windows is available by calling 415-949-0207. Reader service no. 21.
Softwarehouse Corp.
326 State Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
415-949-0203
Distinct Corp. has announced the release of its Professional Edition TCP/IP for Windows, Version 3.0. New features of the upgraded software developer's package include three kits in one: the Windows Sockets API, Version 1.1, as well as Distinct's TCP/IP Kernel API for Berkeley-style Sockets (TCP, UDP, ICMP, Telnet, and FTP), and Distinct RPC, a complete ONC RPC/XDT tookit for Windows. Enhanced installation and easy configuration is an added feature to the upgrade. Developers can choose the portions of the program they wish to install, and then install those portions in their own directories. In addition, the program's easy to use dialog boxes allow fine-tuning networking parameters to optimize specific work environments. Possible modifications include time-out and retry values for the different protocols and maximum transmission units for packets. Distinct offers the Professional Edition SDK as an upgrade to previous versions for $200.00. Reader service no. 22.
Distinct Corp.
14395 Saratoga Ave., Suite 120
Saratoga, CA 95070
408-741-0781
Symantec's C++ 6.0 for Macintosh and C++ 6.0 for Apple's Macintosh Programmer's Workshop (MPW) are development environments available with an integrated, native C++ compiler, and incremental linker. The linker reduces development time by only linking new or modified code into the program. Supported are C++ features such as templates, multiple inheritance, and nested classes. The environment includes an editor, a source-code browser, and a C++ source-code debugger. Symantec also upgraded Think C to Version 6.0. The Think Project Manager keeps track of all files and libraries. Symantec C++ for Macintosh includes Apple's SourceServer, which supports team development. Symantec C++ 6.0 for Macintosh or MPW costs $499.00, and Think C 6.0 sells for $299.00. Reader service no. 23.
Also from Symantec is a free, early look at Bedrock (Symantec's cross-platform development environment) for software developers. A limited supply of CD-ROMs (for Macs and Windows) gives programmers a more detailed overview of the upcoming release of the environment. Detailed descriptions include information on Bedrock's header files, online documentation, and sample programs. Call the Bedrock information hotline at 408-446-8931. Reader service no. 24.
Symantec Corp.
10201 Torre Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014-2132
408-253-9600
Nohau is using a special emulation device from Dallas Semiconductor to achieve emulation of the DS80C320 microcontroller. The DS80C320 is pin compatible with 80C32 and uses the standard 8051 instruction set. The core is a redesigned high-speed architecture which removes 8051's "dead cycles." This means that the DS80C320 will run instructions 1.5 to 3 times faster than if they were run in a regular 80C32 using the same clock frequency. The EMUL51-PC is a high-performance, in-circuit emulator specifically designed to give an optimized environment to develop 8051 hardware and software. The EMUL51-PC emulator consists of a board which plugs directly into the IBM PC/XT/AT bus. It is also available in a box which communicates with the PC through a standard RS-232 channel at rates up to 115 kilobaud. An optional trace board holds up to 256K trace records, 64 bits each. It has multiple trigger levels, filterings, loop counting, on-the-fly timing, and time stamp. The emulator board costs $3595.00; and the DS80C320 probe sells for $995.00 and runs at speeds up to 25 MHz. Reader service no. 25
Nohau Corp.
51 E. Campbell Ave.
Campbell, CA 95008
408-866-1820
Microtek International has introduced the Microtek Pentium Emulator (MPE), an in-circuit emulator for the Pentium processor. The company claims it is the first emulator to run at 66 MHz. One of MPE's features is the ability to capture an accurate execution history, even when executing code out of cache. Traditionally, this has been a stumbling block for logic analyzers and emulators. Prior to this, the designer was forced to disable the cache, thus introducing a large non-transparency issue in the debug process. Other features of the MPE include four execution breakpoints, eight complex bus event recognizers, 16K frame trace buffer, time stamp, 32-bit occurrence counter, and an external-trigger BNC connector. Reader service no. 26.
Microtek International
3300 N.W. 211th Terrace
Hillsboro, OR 97214-7136
503-645-7333
Mortice Kern Systems announced a new version of its compiler construction tools, MKS LEX&YACC 3.2. New features include a Windows NT release, the ability to create code for Windows application development, and 32-bit DOS extended support. MKS LEX&YACC is used in the development of software that analyses and interprets input, such as an embedded command language in a configurable text editor. LEX builds a lexical analyzer, which takes a stream of input and breaks it up into tokens according to user-specified rules. YACC builds a parser, which takes a stream of tokens (such as provided by MKS LEX) and matches them against a grammar. When a portion of the grammar is matched, source code embedded in the YACC grammar file is executed, giving action to the parsed commands. LEX&YACC is available for $299.00, or as an upgrade from any previous version for $99.00. Reader service no. 27.
Mortice Kern Systems
35 King Street North
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2J 2W9
519-884-2251
CodeProbe, from General Software, is a software analyzer for DOS developers. This analyzer records sequences of events and can show the elapsed time between them. A developer can monitor a running program at full speed, capturing system events such as hardware, DOS, and BIOS interrupts, and user-defined events triggered by the user code calling a special trace function from C or assembly language. After event capture, the developer can display the trace in summary and fully-decoded forms, with each event time stamped to sub-millisecond resolution.
The analyzer installs directly on any DOS-based PC/AT or 386/486-based machines, and runs concurrently with the software under test. CodeProbe is priced at $350.00. Reader service no. 28.
General Software
P.O. Box 2571
Redmond, WA 98073
206-391-4285
ACI US has updated its source code editor Object Master Universal by adding 150 new features and enhancements. Version 2.0 provides the Class Tree window that lets you display the hierarchy of the project and see all methods and fields of the selected routine. This editor works with applications created in MPW, Think C/C++, and Think Pascal. Other new features include modeless search dialogs, project history lists, and filters for class/file displays. Reader service no. 29.
ACI US
10351 Bubb Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-252-4444
ProtoView Development has released the WinControl Library, a package of 14 custom controls that simplify the process of developing applications for Windows in C/C++ or Pascal. These controls use point-and-click tools to create 3-D applications, and allow you to add functions such as context-sensitive help, DDE links, data validation, user-defined error messages, custom colors, and custom fonts. WinControl sells for $249.00
Also new from ProtoView is a Visual Development System for Windows applications, an integrated visual development workbench that streamlines the development of C/C++ and Pascal applications for Windows. ProtoGen+ features the latest in advanced object-oriented programming. ProtoGen+ replaces the ProtoGen Application Generator and Screen Manager, Menu Designer, Library, and Dialog Editor. Reader service no. 30.
ProtoView Development Co.
353 Georges Road
Dayton, NJ 08810
908-329-8588
PIPES Platform, from PeerLogic, allows programs to communicate over heterogeneous networks. PIPES is available for OS/2 2.1, AIX, Sun OS, MVS, DOS, Windows, and NetWare systems. This SDK makes it possible for organizations to incorporate IBM's desktop offerings into a mixed-vendor, client/server configuration. The SDK for OS/2 costs $495.00. Reader service no. 31.
PeerLogic
555 DeHaro Street
San Francisco, CA 94107-2348
415-626-4545
The LARL Parser Generator is an alternative to YACC for programmers building compilers, interpreters, macro languages, and so forth. MicroQuill software recently acquired the generator from Autom and updated the product to Version 4.3. Noted improvements include faster parsers, restartable parsers, improved Windows compiler support, support for multiple parsers, and improved disk organization. Priced at $795.00; the source code sells for an additional $2000.00. Reader service no. 32.
MicroQuill Software Publishing
4900 25th Ave. N.E., #206
Seattle, WA 98105
206-525-8218
Software entrepreneurs looking for help in marketing software can now turn to Marketing Made Easy, a practical, no-nonsense how-to newsletter for independent application developers. The newsletter takes a hands-on approach by providing step-by-step guidelines, case studies, examples, and marketing tips and techniques. More specifically, Marketing Made Easy (published by Mickey Friedman) will address the issues of pricing, direct mail, public relations, advertising, market research, and the like. The newsletter is published six times per year at an introductory annual subscription price of $149.00. Discounts are available through user groups and other organizations. Reader service no. 33.
The Friedman Group
4323 170th Place SE
Issaquah, WA 98027-9009
206-641-3498
Another newly published newsletter that recently crossed our desk is the International Calculator Collector published by the International Association of Calculator Collectors. This publication chronicles the development of the handheld, electronic calculator. In addition to focusing on the history of calculators over the past 25 or 30 years, the newsletter includes classified ads, allowing readers to exchange information and devices. Membership in the association, which includes a subscription to the newsletter, is $8.00 per year. Reader service no. 34.
Wilson/Barnett Publishing
1212 So. Parton Street
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Digitalk has announced the Parts CICS Wrapper, a new component for its Parts Workbench--a client/server integration toolset for visual application development. With the Parts CICS Wrapper for IBM CICS OS/2, programmers can connect Parts applications to on-line transaction processing applications. The Parts CICS Wrapper includes the ability to connect CICS legacy function and data to visual parts, call CICS COBOL subprograms on local or remote systems, exploit CICS and OS/2 multitasking for parallel processing, and so on.
Digitalk also said that future Parts Wrappers will include a Parts COBOL Wrapper and a Parts Relational Database Interface Wrapper. The Parts CICS Wrapper sells for $2995.00. Reader service no. 35.
Digitalk Inc.
9841 Airport Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310-645-1082
Fuzzy Logic Designer, a Windows-based developer's tool and code generator from Byte Dynamics, now provides a 3-D simulation mode to graphically depict the response of a fuzzy logic design in the form of a contour plane or surface plot. Source code generated by Fuzzy Logic Designer continues to be standard ANSI C. The system sells for $295.00 and no royalties or license fees are required. Reader service no. 36.
Byte Dynamics
14608 E. Olympic Ave.
Spokane, WA 99216
509-926-6011
Copyright © 1993, Dr. Dobb's Journal
