Date: Thu, 25 JUN 1998 14:51:31 +0000 (GMT) From: Dave Walker Subject: Acorn Developer News 25/06/98 To: isvquery@acorn.com Cc: regdevs@acorn.com Hi folks... Acorn Developer News 25/06/98 In Case you Haven't Heard... ---------------------------- ...there's been a few changes at Acorn involving upper management. Here's the statement we released to the press last week: > Acorn Group announces that, with immediate effect, Mr Stan Boland formerly > SVP of the company, takes over as Chief Executive Officer. After three > successful years, Mr David Lee has resigned as a Director of the company. > His contribution to Acorn's success is appreciated, and his colleagues wish > him well in his future endeavours. > Stan Boland will lead the company through its next phase of development. > Acorn will continue to leverage its position within the broadband digital > interactive set top box market, and further cultivate its position in > system software, audio and video codecs - along with component and chip > design - in the rapidly expanding area of DiTV. > Chris Cox, VP of the Workstations Division continues to have full > responsibility for the workstations group and reports direct to Stan > Boland. > Commenting on today's announcement, Chris Cox said: "The management changes > announced today mean that Workstations continue to occupy centre stage at > Acorn. We are currently in the process of bringing to market the Phoebe > 2100 which is set to be the flagship product of the recently created > Workstations Division." > The division will continue to enhance its position in the areas of thin > client computing and expert high-end workstations for the education and > developer community. > Stan Boland has appointed a new management team to help steer the company, > and welcomes Andy Mee and John Redford to join Richard Conway as members of > the operating board of Acorn Computers Limited. Further announcements > regarding the management team will be made as the company achieves in its > chosen markets, over the coming months. > In addition to these changes, both Peter Bondar and Graham Dodgson have > left the company, in order to pursue other interests. Everyone at Acorn > values their contribution, and wishes them both all the best in their > future ventures. Reading between the lines, what this means for us is "business as usual". Phoebe isn't affected at all, and the other Phoebe-associated projects in the wings don't appear to be affected either. Panic not. New Toolbox Modules ------------------- A new set of Toolbox modules was built yesterday and uploaded to the Developer site; most of the changes associated with these are to do with the merging of some branches of our CVS-based source trees. These modules have not been audited or fully tested (although the intention is for them to be audited in the next month or so), so please don't ship them with product yet; however, we'd appreciate it if you were to bash them and report back to me with your findings. The new set of modules comprises: Toolbox 1.43 Window 1.53 Menu 0.33 TextGadgets 0.11 ColourDbox 0.17 ColourMenu 0.19 DCS_Quit 1.08 FileDbox 1.00 FileInfo 0.16 FontDbox 0.16 FontMenu 0.21 IconBar 1.18 PrintDbox 0.14 ProgInfo 0.14 SaveAs 0.15 Scale 0.13 ToolAction 0.15 and can be found as http://www.art.acorn.co.uk/SALES/DEVELOPERS/resource/reference/bootstruct/toolbox.arc Year 2000 Auditing ------------------ We've been approached by a large organisation which uses Acorn kit (everything from BBC Model Bs to Risc PCs) to help them with their internal Year 2000 audit. We've produced a set of notes which describes what to look for in the way of hardware and code sequences on their 8-bit systems which could spell trouble, but they would like a tender for one or more engineers to travel around the country and audit their machines in situ. We predict there's between two and three man-weeks worth of travel and work here for anyone prepared to take this up; if you know of anyone with knowledge of historical Acorn systems (and preferably knowledge of their MOS calls and 6502 assembler), please ask them to contact me (dwalker@acorn.co.uk). Request from LookSystems ------------------------ I received an email the other day from Adrian Look; LookSystems are recruiting software engineers.... > CALLING ALL SOFTWARE ENGINEERS > LOOKsystems are seeking talented, creative software engineers to service > our existing and expanding business and to develop a *major* six-figure > RISC OS based project on behalf of a UK plc. > We are offering a unique opportunity to contribute to a ground-breaking > project with the potential for high profile, national exposure. > ABOUT LOOKSYSTEMS > Now based in Falmouth (Cornwall), LOOKsystems was created in 1991 and since > then has become renown for producing high-quality, innovative products for > the RISC OS desktop market - with typically 'Acorn-friendly' customer > service to match! > The company has also thrived on developing and licensing a wide range of > RISC OS solutions to customers both in and out of the software industry. > TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE > The ideal candidate should have a *detailed* working knowledge of RISC OS, > experience of developing RISC OS compliant applications, and fluency in at > least two of the following languages: > + C/C++ > + ARM BASIC > + ARM Assembler > Experience of any of the following areas would be advantageous: > + Advanced Data Structures > + Database Management Systems Design > + Database Design > + User Interface Design > + Highly Graphical Displays > + Geographical Displays > + Systems Analysis and Design > + EDI Standards > + (Inter)networking and TCP/IP > + I/O Scheduling and device drivers > PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES > Initially working on-site, you will form part of a small, highly-focused > team. You will be responsible for achieving demanding personal deadlines > and for maintaining high quality standards. In return, we offer an informal > and flexible environment with the possibility of working from home (albeit > with regular progress reviews). > Personal time management will be extremely important. > Applicants must be: > + able to work on their own as well as in a team > + have a 'can-do', positive attitude > + have a natural problem-solving inclination > + be highly conscientious towards their work > + have creative flair > Above all, we are looking for committed, talented individuals. > EMPLOYMENT > Whilst full time positions based in Falmouth are on offer, part-time posts, > temporary work or contract/teleworkers will be considered. > Salary will be negotiated according to experience and may range from > £10,000 to £25,000 pro-rata. > WHO SHOULD APPLY? > + Computer graduates with some experience of RISC OS programming. > + Programmers with a proven track record in the Acorn industry. > + Enthusiasts with an exceptional RISC OS software portfolio. > + Temporary work for high-calibre enthusiasts/undergradutes will be > considered. > APPLICATIONS > Please send or e-mail your current CV with a covering letter/note to the > address below. > First round informal interviews may be conducted by telephone (or in > exceptional circumstances by e-mail) with an invitation to a formal > interview in Falmouth to follow. > -- > Adrian Look > > LOOKsystems > 15 Grovehill Drive > Falmouth > Cornwall > TR11 3HS > Tel/Fax: (01326) 318279. > International: +44 1326 318279. Cheers, -- Dave Walker, Developer Support Specialist Acorn Computers Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 1223 725233 Acorn House, 645 Newmarket Road Fax: +44 (0) 1223 725333 Cambridge, CB5 8PB, United Kingdom WWW: http://www.acorn.co.uk/ **** ACORN WORLD '98 16 - 18th OCTOBER 1998, LONDON ARENA, DOCKLANDS ****