While RISC OS may now be regarded as a small, niche operating system, with only a tiny fraction of the number of users that more mainstream platforms attract, it does still have a surprisingly vibrant community – so with that in mind, every once in a while I look through a selection of news groups, mailing lists, and forums, looking for announcements that haven’t found their way to me via the RISCOSitory news inbox, and from those compile a ‘snippets’ post. Here, then, is the latest selection of news items…
Read MoreMusicMan and MusicCD updated
Updates for MusicMan and MusicCD are available from R-Comp. Both applications, now at version 2.22, have been updated to remain compatible with the latest versions of RISC OS, and have also been pointed in the direction of a new online database for audio CD look-ups; FreeDB, the service previously used, was recently closed. In addition, MusicCD has been moved onto the same 2.22 codebase as MusicMan, and has therefore gained some features from it – in particular the ability to lookup information online, such as cover art, artist or composer…
Read MoreArchive 24:6 on doormats and online, and introducing the new editor
A new issue of Archive magazine – volume 24 issue 6 – has been produced by Bart Nagel, and if you are a subscriber it should by now have landed on your doormats. In fact, even if the previous issue – 24:5 – marked the end of your subscription, you should have received a copy of 24:6 anyway.
Read MoreNews nybble: Form filler 1.17 released
As if the first update to Form Filler in over eight years wasn’t enough, Kevin Wells has now put out another. The application allows you to store a number of preset strings of text, ready to be sent to the cursor location at the click of a button, and features an option to use a ‘slim’ version of its main window. This version of the window can therefore be put neatly down one edge of the screen so that it’s not in the way so much, while still easily accessible.…
Read MoreElesar musters up Debian Buster – a new Linux build for Titanium
As well as RISC OS, Titanium owners have had the option of using Linux on their system since the motherboard’s launch; it could be purchased from Elesar Ltd bundled with either RISC OS or Linux – and since April 2016, owners of the RISC OS version have had the ability to enjoy the best of both worlds; a RISC OS-based Titanium that could launch from RISC OS into Linux via the GoLinux application.
Read MoreRelease candidate 16 (RISC OS 5.28) now available for the Pi
Official support for the Raspberry Pi 4 now within sight There has been no formal announcement (yet) by RISC OS Open Ltd (ROOL) – but Raspberry Pi users who like to keep up with the latest developments might wish to take a peek at the Raspberry Pi downloads page on the ROOL website.
Read MoreHear about Euclid and more in a virtual visit to ROUGOL – 15th June
With the pandemic still an ongoing problem, though seemingly tailing off for now, and the UK lockdown still mostly in place, another RISC OS user group has opted to explore the use of Zoom to hold their meetings online: The RISC OS User Group of London (ROUGOL) will hold its first virtual meeting on Monday, 15th June. The guest speaker will be Tony Cheal, who wrote a number of RISC OS applications while he was the tea boy at Ace Computing.
Read MoreNews nybble: RISCOSbits Etsy shop
If you want to get away from the usual rectangular cases for your Raspberry Pi, a new range of shaped cases has been introduced by RISCOSbits. There are two basic shapes; Disq is circular, cut from 5mm fluorescent green acrylic, and there are five optional engraved designs on the top, such as a space invader, or Cthulhu, all of which are priced at £19.50 plus p&p. Then there are Winky, Hyde, and Stinky – ghost shaped cases, also cut from 5mm acrylic, but red, orange, and blue respectively, and all…
Read MoreNews nybble: Form Filler 1.16 released
Receiving its first update in over eight years, Kevin Wells has released a new version of Form Filler. The purpose of the application, as you might guess from its name, is to make it easier to fill in forms online. It does this by sending text it has stored directly to the cursor – which means that form data could also be used for other purposes; any short piece of text you refer to a lot, such as URLs, could be stored in Form Filler to save you typing them…
Read MoreAwards voting deadline extended
And an updated list of alternative votes. The Awards poll for 2019 went live towards the end of March, with a deadline for votes pencilled in as the end of May. However, due to the disappointing number of votes received, I have decided to leave it open until the end of this month.
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