Index Information a UK based multimedia company specialising in Amiga's since it's inception in 1991 has announced two new Amiga's mainly aimed towards the multimedia presentation market. Please bear in mind that without Gateway's approval none of the machines can be (legally) released although Index have stated they are keen to talk to GW2000.

• The first, titled Access is basically designed for low cost multimedia presentations and includes as standard CD ROM connectivity, an 8 bit ISA bus and many more enhancements. A working model will be on display at the World Of Amiga 97.
• The other model and most exciting is titled Inside Out and claims to add "RISC performance" and a maximum resolution of 1280x1028 in 24bit color to Amiga's. This model sounds suspiciously like the previously mentioned RISC machine that Direct Software were supposedly involved with. The hardware is said to be complete, Index are only waiting on the software.

• GamaSoft has announced a new "Dealer-Direct Network" which will aid both dealers and developers in marketing and selling their products. Various promotions, merchandise and competitions will be set up and the profile of Amiga software will be raised immeasurably. The full press release can be found at the Amiga Web Directory.
• Phase5 has reacted to criticism of it's PowerUP PPC accelerator cards and upgrade program in the German newsgroups. In the statement Phase5 clarify why PowerUP cards (especially for the A4000) are expected to retail at much more than first indicated and delays in getting the boards manufactured and released. The full translation can be found Here. Thanks to Vaipan from the Pure Amiga Mailing List for the translation.

• ClickBOOM publishers of Capital Punishment and the yet to be released Myst have asked for Amiga users input into the type of games or specific games they wish to see on the Amiga. Users are free to email ClickBOOM and ask thwm about the possibility of a port, if there is a percieved demand for a title ClickBOOM will endeavour to port it to the Amiga (publishers permission permitting of course). The press release can be found at the AWD.
• Holocaustic Software are bound to turn a few heads with their new game, Damage. The game which sees you on the wrong side of the law armed with a baseball bat attacking swarms of police and the general public is definetly politically incorrect to begin with, couple that with the super gory flow of blood and you have a potent mixture certain to offend and upset the conservative. A demo can be found on Aminet, dmgpre.lha.

• There is rumblings that the long awaited game by Ocean TFX will make an appearance at the UK World Of Amiga to be held in a few weeks time. It will apparently be on show at the CU Amiga stand. The game though is said to be still in it's incomplete form and there are no plans by Ocean or DID to complete and release it.
• Haage & Partner have announced the release of a new Amiga Java engine. Titled Merapi, the first version is due for release towards the end of June. Haage & Partner have also announced the release of many other interesting Amiga products including StormC for PPC/pOS, the exciting and innovative Tornado3D and the internet suite Netconnect.
• Not really Amiga related news but it does involve new owner Gateway 2000. They have come to the aid of US flood victims in North Datoka by donating 17 Gateway PC's to the local governement. The full press release can be found at http://www.cucug.org/at/gw2k970503.html.

• Mutation Software have officially ceased development of future Amiga titles although all is not lost. All current titles will still be available and supported and they are "constantly monitoring the marketplace". The full press release can be found at http://www.mutation.demon.co.uk/news.html.
• VoyagerNG 2.70 has just been released. It is clearly the most advanced Amiga web browser to date. The new version incorporates SSL encryption (with Miami 2.1), improved HTML support including many netscapisms and built in PNG image decoding to name but a few. A full feature list and download details can be found at VaporWare.
• Hot on the heels of the release of VoyagerNG Holger Kruse has released another major update to Miami, version 2.1. This long awaited release is the first Amiga TCP stack to support multicasting and SSL encryption. Many other bugs have been fixed along with the addition of many new support utilities and the updating of others in the Miami distribution. Please visit Holger kruse's Home Page for more information on Miami and downloading.

Amitrix Development have announced the release of AWeb 3.0. Due in the latter part of May it will fully support frames, internal FTP support, a user configurable toolbar and many more. The price remains at $US45 while upgrades are available for $US20. The full press release can be found Here. In other news:

• X Developments has announced the release of ErgoWeb, a WYSIWYG HTML editor for the Amiga. Previously ErgoWeb was only available for RiscOS and the Psion range of palmtop computers. It will be very reasonable priced at 10UKP, X Developments state that if this sells well there will be further Amiga development. The full press release can be found at the CU Amiga website.
• Scala has denied having dropped Amiga development. In an emailed conversation I recently had with John Chang he stated Scala are "merely waiting for the oppertunity" to port the latest Scala Backbone Technology to the Amiga. He stated that Scala are watching the Gateway sale and Phase5 very closely.
• PIOS have announced yet another machine in their PowerPC line, titled Keenya, it is basically a MacOS clone based on a motherboard licensed from Motorola. All PIOS development appears to be centred around BeOS/pOS and Mac clones at the moment as they are currently unable to get a license to use AmigaOS. The first PIOS machines are due to ship in late May or early June.
• Motorola will be releasing 68060's at faster clock speeds than 50mhz. Currently 60mhz versions are in testing. It is unknown if an Amiga developers will utilise these.

Newtek developers of Lightwave have suspended further development of the program for the Amiga platform. The last version released is/will be 5.0, the planned 5.5 and 6.0 will not be released on the Amiga. The main reasons Newtek cite are the stagnation of the Amiga technology, even though "quasi standards" like CyberGFX and PowerUP exist Newtek think that their customers who are primarily Toaster users do not have this technology and even then it would be more cost effective for them to "upgrade" to the PC platform. This article was posted to comp.graphics.apps.lightwave, the local version can be found here. Keep an eye on the previously mentioned newsgroup for latest news and debate.

Mutation Software have suspended development of Amiga software due to "circumstances beyond our control". The press release goes on to state that they are "considering all options being made available to us". The announcement comes as a surprise because less than 2 weeks earlier Mutation announced they would be developing only for AGA Amigas and announced their first AGA title. The full press release can be found at http://www.mutation.demon.co.uk/news.html.

• The situation regarding the Digital Corruption port of Quake has been settled. A text file was posted to comp.sys.amiga.games clarifying the situation, to read it click Here.
• Amitech '97 is currently in progress. While nothing ground breaking has as yet come out of it there are a few points of interest. Wolf Dietrich is reportedly considering PowerUP PPC accelerator cards for the A2000 and unfortunately Petro T. has no news for public consumption on the Gateway buyout.

IBrowse 1.11, Worms:TDC & 175mhz 603e?

• IBrowse 1.11 has just been released. The small update corrects many bugs and overall makes IBrowse a much more stable HTML compliant browser. The update is available free to all customers at http://www.hisoft.co.uk/ibrowse/.
• Sales of Worms:The Directors Cut are reportedly very disappointing so much so that Team17 has pretty much ruled out any future Amiga titles. Andy Davidson author of both Worms titles is said to be very disappointed but will still release the planned patch allowing you to play Worms:TDC over a TCP/IP network.
• Phase5 are rumoured to be considering switching the 120mhz PPC603e currently planned to appear in the A1200 PowerUP cards to a 175mhz model. Long term supply of the 120mhz looks decidedly dodgy as Motorola are apparently on the verge of scrapping the 120mhz chip. Any change in processor is not expected to alter the price greatly.

The plot thickens regarding the current status of the Amiga port of Quake. ClickBOOM continue to email all webmasters who have the DC port available for download from their page declaring it is now an illegal port as there will be a commercial release soon. ClickBOOM though have made no official announcement as to even their intentions to chase an Amiga port. It appears ClickBOOM are in negotiations with ID Software as to the possibility of a commercial port, otherwise the previous statement by ID Software would still stand (the DC port is OK, see older news) and ClickBOOM/PXL Computers would have no reason to ask webmasters to remove the port.

In other Quake News:

• Digital Corruption are rumoured to have scrapped any further updating to Amiga Quake. The current freely available version is 0.31 although there is a version 0.49 of the engine floating around in some circles.
• There is at least one other team working on Quake for the Amiga. Details are scant to say the least, the only information available is that one team is comprised of two Finnish programmers. Theoretically there could be numerous projects underway as the sources could have ended up in anybodies hands and apparently are still available if you know where to look.
  

Amiga User International the UK based Amiga mag has been "suspended" by Manager Editor and Publisher Antony Jacobson. May 1997 was the last issue, all full time staff have unfortunately been laid off and the AUI offices will close this month. The email address will remain active. The full press release can be found at the AUI News page.

When magazines begin dying it really is a sign of waning support for the Amiga. Even though we appear to be in the midst of an Amiga revival of sorts with the PPC cards due to arrive soon and Gateway's buyout of AT we continue to be reminded of reality as one by one dealers, developers, publishers and users abandon the Amiga. If something isn't done soon to make the Amiga attractive and put a plug on the gaping hole thats sucking out Amiga suppport I'm afraid there may not be anything or anyone left. Death for the Amiga is still a long way off but I'm beginning to smell carrion in the air.

A few tid bits about Phase5's PowerUP cards came to light this week including:

• National Amiga reports that the PowerUP cards have been delayed until mid May. Pricing remains as previously stated. For more info check out there page.
• Vulcan Software's Paul Carrignton has declared he has "two or three titles under consideration" for a PPC port. On the Pure Amiga mailing list he refused to elaborate as to the actual games under consideration or their release dates.
• A PowerMac emulator will be released by emulation guru Jim Drew of Emplant and PCx fame for the PowerUP cards. It will be titled Fusion. More information is available at the Blittersoft home page.
  

Impulse publishers of Imagine,a main stay of Amiga 3D have reaffirmed their commitment to the Amiga platform by announcing version 6.0 of Imagine. They are reported to be very pleased with sales of version 5.0, which can still be purchased for the bargain price of $US100. This is great news in light of news that NewTek will not be releasing Lightwave 6.0 for the Amiga.
The full press release can be found at The Amiga Web Directory.

• The interview between Petro T and Amiga Magazin in Germany is said to be a fake. Petro T. is far from happy and is reported to be seeking legal advice. More info can be found at the Network News page.
• Version 4.0 of AHI has been released. AHI has quickly become the defacto standard for Amiga retargettable sound supporting both built in sound (Paula) and pretty much every available Amiga sound card. The full press release can be found at the Amiga Web Directory.
• Team Mango have announced the release of their first commercial title Skimmers.
• Titan Software a new software publisher and reseller has announced the release of BrainKiller, a 3D shoot em up. The demo can be found at their page or on Aminet (bkiller.lha). Titan also publisg MakeCD (CDR Software) and ArtEffect amongst others.