Wakefield 2008 show preview - RISC OS News, Software and Information

Wakefield 2008 show preview

Published: 22nd Apr 2008, 21:40:17GMT Source: drobe.co.uk
By the Drobe news desk

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ROL and ROOL prepare surprises for punters

The Wakefield 2008 show takes place this Saturday in West Yorkshire and exhibitors are itching to announce their latest products ahead of the weekend. Both RISCOS Ltd and RISC OS Open are, as we type, preparing their own operating system releases in time for the event.

ROOL, which oversees the development of a shared-source RISC OS 5, intends to pump out another load of OS source code for third-party programmers to study and contribute to. The team also hopes to unveil a more user-friendly website and tout new ROOL-branded kit to raise cash for the project. The fruits of the previously mooted cooperation between ROOL and ROL, which develops the rival RISC OS 6 product, is also expected to be laid bare at the show.

ROOL's Steve Revill said: "We have some very important RISC OS source code releases due for the show and a revamp of our website will hopefully make it much more accessible to ordinary users.

"ROOL will also be selling a new range of promotional merchandise to help cover our show costs and support the ongoing project efforts. Further results of the ROOL and RISCOS Ltd cooperation are expected to be available at the show."

Meanwhile, ROL is close to turning out a new RISC OS Select release although the company is remaining tight-lipped on any new features present. ROL boss Paul Middleton confirmed a new version of the subscription-based OS is on its way and said: "A press release will be going out in the next few days."

Both companies are exhibiting at Wakefield 2008.

Show co-sponsor MW Software will also be present to demonstrate the latest version of vector graphics package ArtWorks 2.8 with PDF import support - allowing it to load classy PDF illustrations, like the one pictured here. Soft Rock Software will be changing the name of its WebChange application to WebChangePro and show off the latest albeit unreleased version at the event. A beta release is said to be due out in a couple of months ahead of a full release.

VirtualAcorn will be showing off the new official release of its RiscPC-emulator VirtualRiscPC for Intel and Apple Mac computers and APDL have a number of special offers. R-Comp will have their new PDFmaker software on sale and may have one or two other surprises up their sleeves.

Other exhibitors include co-sponsors Advantage Six and Crawfords the Printers, plus Archive magazine, The ARM Club, CJE Micros, Castle aka Iyonix Ltd, Joel Rowbottom with a Domesday System, JGH BBC Software, the NetSurf team, Orpheus Internet Services, programmer Ray Favre, RISC OS Connect, the RISC OS Packaging Project, RISC OS Now, programmer Steve Fryatt and Stuart Tyrrell Developments.

Also, don't forget the show charity stand, which raises cash for Wakefield Hospice, and the programme of talks. The event is organised by the Wakefield RISC OS Computer Club. Show supremo Chris Hughes mentioned this week that this year's RISC OS festival may be his last as an organiser unless ticket sales are good.

He said in a drobe comment: "I have decided that I will use this year's show attendance as a benchmark as to whether I do any more after this one. If attendance is the same or greater (preferably greater then last year's event), it's likely I will attempt another one. Otherwise, it may become too much effort and time.

"It's enough of a hassle trying to get one exhibitor to pay their stand bill and they will not be allowed to set-up unless it is paid before the event. I will name and shame nearer the time."

Funnily enough, a cheque from an exhibitor arrived through Chris's letterbox soon after he wrote the above, so there will be no naming and shaming, he told us.

Links
Wakefield 2008 website - location, times, tickets and more

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lym (+2.0) 22/4/08 10:09PM	Good news from ROOL, and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. I actually really like their website, but I'm sure making it more user-friendly won't hurt. It will also be fascinating to see what ROL, MW Software and the rest come up with.
sa110 (+1.0) 22/4/08 10:21PM	Looking forward to seeing the new Select release from ROL. Even better when I can load it on my A9home. Be good to see the fruits of the ROOL and ROL cooperation too. This PDFmaker sounds interesting too. Also looking forward to have a chat with John about the new layout for the current issue of Qercus.
Col1 (+1.0) 22/4/08 11:13PM	Unfortunatly I can't make it- which will be two Wakefield shows running. But I'm sending my wife who is under orders to bag any bargins - presuming John with let her escape the Qercus stand!
sa110 23/4/08 11:05AM	*In reply to Col1:* Make sure you slip her a set of bolt cutters so she can cut off the shackles when John is not looking!
rjek (+1.0) 23/4/08 12:29PM	*In reply to sa110:* Please, do not put images into people's mind line that during working hours!
hzn 23/4/08 2:38PM	In reply to WROCC: In some announcement I read "All the RISC OS magazines will be represented by Qercus, Archive, RiscWorld and RISCOS Now.". Unfortunately this statement is not quite true since there is one of the older RISC OS magazines which is published bi-monthly since 16 years and which is not represented: "GAG-News". But I can live with that...
VinceH 23/4/08 3:40PM	"Please, do not put images into people's mind line that during working hours!" Yeah, look at the effect it's had on Rob's typing. :p
Col1 23/4/08 3:57PM	*In reply to sa110:* She'll probably escape while he's doing his theatre presentation.
AW 23/4/08 7:22PM	What's John going to talk about?
sa110 23/4/08 9:06PM	*In reply to AW:* Perhaps Qercus and how Acorn User is celebrating 25 years and how they are bring back selected articles from their (Acorn Computing, Archimedes World and Acorn User) back catalogue and making them relevant to today.
AW 24/4/08 3:52PM	I was wondering whether it'd be technical aspects of magazine production but a taster of what might come in later issues would be a lot more interesting personally.
Stewy 25/4/08 11:17AM	PDF import into ArtWorks works wonderfully well (even in the pre-release versions). For the first time, multiple pages can be exported from EasiWriter into ArtWorks, which is brilliant. Thanks Martin! Being able to edit existing PDF documents is a significant step forward for RISC OS. Hurrah!
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