The NEW British version of the Spectrum 128K computer now seems to be ready. A consignment of 3000 of these units were shipped via a route thru Tokyo, Japan, to a company called MCK Freight. They are agents for Sinclair Research in Cottenham, Cambridge.
These new Spectrum 128Ks are apparently being built by old T/S 2068 “buddies”… Samsung in Seoul, South Korea. The computers are intended to form a basis for a “stockpile” of the new models prior to the proposed UK launch in the early part of 1986. Samsung are now also producing the Spectrum Plus and the QL for sale in the far east.
TASWORD THREE will be the new version of the best word processor for the Spectrum to date. However, the new program will only be available on Microdrive cartridges, and not on cassettes. This is bad news for those not having a Microdrive unit. This new version will have up to 128 columns, improved find and replace, a proper insert mode that automatically inserts and rejustifies as text is typed, and user defined TABS. Also included are auto page-numbering, multiple copies, and printing of Header and Footers. There are now a few other word processors coming out…one is called WORD MANAGER from OCP, and is claimed to be as good as Tasword Two, if not better. Another is THE WRITER from SOFTEK. This program is a re-vamped version of SPECTRAL WRITER (program that comes with the Wafadrive). The Writer, I am told, will be able to read and write WORDSTAR files, allowing the user to send files to the office computer by RS232 link.
A new newsletter related to ASTRONOMY type information and tends to most computers including the ZX81/1000-15000 and 2068, is available from: Computer Astronomy Network, 20 Helen Street, Warren, NJ 07060. Rates for this newsletter are $3.00/six issues, or 50¢ each.
If you have a QL, and would be interested in a copy of a LISTING for a GRAPHICS TOOLKIT, then send a S.A.S.E. to me at the following address: [address omitted].
The techniques of this new toolkit are similar to those used by Walt Disney Prod. to create the movie TRON. You can experiment with “Fractrals”. This is the replication of natural shapes to form landscapes, rock formations and buildings. The toolkit listing was done by a professional programming team, and took two months to complete.