Updates from last month's column:

The WarpZilla team has released as of 03/12/2002 WarpZilla version 0.9.9. This is an update to WarpZilla 0.9.2 that Dave Watson demoed at the July 2001 SCOUG general meeting. Go to ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla/releases/mozilla0.9.9/. The file is mozilla-os2-vacpp-0.9.9.zip. More info is at http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/.

NOTES:
1. Steve Wendt has a WarpZilla tips page at http://www.os2bbs.com:80/os2news/Warpzilla.html.
2. A script to convert WarpZilla builds from ZIP format to WPI format (for installation via WarpIn) is now at version 1.2.1 as of 03/25/2002. Go to http://hellspawn.dnsalias.net/~mircomir/os2.php. NOTE: The web page is in Italian.
3. A fix for GFX_OS2.DLL was released as of 03/20/2002. It fixes the problem on some video drivers where large pages overwrite themselves when scrolling (generally non-GRADD or non-SciTech drivers). Go to ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/ps/products/warpzilla/99gfx.zip.

DFSee, which was demoed at the June 2001 SCOUG meeting, has been updated to version 4.18 as of 03/18/2002. It is a FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems. It now includes some JFS and LVM support. Go to http://www.fsys.demon.nl/dfsee.htm. NOTE: DFSee is now shareware. For information on using DFSee, take a look at the tutorial written by Tony Butka.

RSJ CD Writer, the powerful CD mastering program, has been updated to version 4.02 as of 03/11/2002. It has support for freedb, DAO (Disk at Once mode), IDE drives, creating bootable CD's, and more. Go to http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/. NOTE: It must be purchased, but is available as a digital delivery (i.e. purchase online, download the program, and then receive a license key via e-mail).

cdrecord version 1.11a16 has been released as of 03/09/2002. It can burn single-session, multi-session, or audio CD's. Use search key cdrtools on Hobbes.

A version of InfoZip UnZip version 5.5 that supports unShrink has been posted to Hobbes as of 02/26/2002. Use search key uzs.

The RAR archiver has been updated to version 3.00 beta 5 as of 03/18/2002. This is a command-line compression utilitiy, with tight general and multimedia compression, recovery record option management of non-RAR archives, RCVT (aRchive ConVersion Tool), and more. Go to http://www.rarsoft.com.

Psion OS/2 Utilities version 1.51 have been updated as of 03/18/2002. They are text-mode FTP-like utilities for the Psion handhelds. There is also a NetDrive plugin available. Go to ftp://cbs-edu.chel.su/pbu/Porro/Psion. Or you can use search keys psiftp (for the utilities) or ndppsion (for the NetDrive plugin) on Hobbes.

Amouse version 2.0 is now GA (general availability) as of 03/23/2002. It is a scroll mouse device driver that works better on some wheel mice than IBM's driver. There is also a widget for XCenter available now. Go to http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms2en.htm.

An updated version of GAMEDD.SYS for joysticks has been released as of 03/09/2002. Use search key gamedd on Hobbes.

DaniATAPI version 0.3.9 was released as of 03/10/2002. Use search key dania on Hobbes.

DaniN512.FLT version 0.1.3 has been released as of 03/15/2002. This filter driver allows removable media with large sectors (1024 & 2048 bytes/sector) to work with other drivers which only support 512-byte sectors. Use search key danin512 on Hobbes.

The Network Interface Card Pak (NICPak) has been updated as of 03/14/2002. This is a collection of various NIC drivers and a tool for detecting and installing them. Go to http://pws.prserv.net/mckinnis/nicpak/.

A port of the Linux BTTV driver (for BT8X8 TV cards) has been released as of 03/28/2002 (build 928). A small radio application is included. Go to http://www.nord-com.net/s.milcke/bttv_en.htm. NOTE: This should be considered a beta driver.

CW-Multimedia classes version 0.2.1 has been released as of 03/20/2002. These classes are for seamless integration of the MMIO procedures for MP3 and OGG files; after installation, OGG and MP3 files are treated the same way by the WPS as the other audio files, with icons and menus. There is also a new Media Folder, which plays any audio class known to OS/2. Go to http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm.

Vice/2 version 1.8 was updated as of 03/18/2002. It is the Commodore game emulator which uses DIVE and DART. Go to http://www.prakt.physik.tu-muenchen.de/tbretz/vice2/.

WarpIn version 0.9.18 has been released as of 03/26/2002. This is an open-source PM installer / uninstaller, that can also install quietly through environment variables. A number of bug fixes and enhancements are included. Go to http://www.xworkplace.org/proj_warpin.html.

XWorkplace version 0.9.18 has been released as of 03/26/2002. This was part of Gary Granat's series on Seeking Ways to Get Rid of System Bloat. This version fixes some problems with previous versions (especially where some objects lose their settings after the first re-boot after installation of XWorkplace 0.9.17), and has a new "turbo folders" feature. It requires WarpIn (see above). Go to http://www.xworkplace.org/proj_xwp.html.

IBM has updated the BIOS for the Thinkpad T23 as of 03/26/2002. Go to ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/mobiles/spsd1a53.exe.

This month's new listings - Drivers:

IBM has updated the BIOS for the Thinkpad T22 as of 03/08/2002. Go to ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/mobiles/spsd1629.exe.

IBM has updated the BIOS Embedded Controller Program for the Thinkpad T23 as of 03/28/2002. Go to ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/mobiles/embc1d20.exe.

IBM has released as of 03/07/2002 a SCSI Geometry Filter driver. This resolves problems with LVM and removable media. Go to http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/Driver+Profile+Web/scsiflt.exe?OpenDocument.

Dawicontrol has released version 4.30 of their drivers for all of their SCSI cards. Go to http://www.dawicontrol.com/english/html/framee.htm.

A driver for the National Semiconductor DP83815 10/100 MacPhyter3V PCI Ethernet adapter was released as of 03/01/2002. Use search key tigris on Hobbes.

A patch for Win/OS2 GRADD drivers to use small fonts was released on 03/05/2002. This is compatible with the drivers that come with SciTech Display Doctor/PRO 7.0.9 GA. Use search key WINOS2Small on Hobbes.

An AC'97 sound driver for Via Technologies 8233 chip has been released as of 03/07/2002. Use search key 8233ac97 on Hobbes.

The open-source C-Media audio driver is now at version 0.1.8 as of 03/21/2002. It supports the C-Media CMI8738 sound chip. Use search key cmedia on Hobbes.

Analog Devices AD188x (SoundMax) audio driver version 3.0.9 has been posted to Hobbes as of 03/20/2002. Use search key ad188xos2.

JJSCDROM has been updated as of 03/20/2002. It is an alternative to IBM's OS2CDROM.DMD, which fixes some problems and adds a few features. Use search key jjscd on Hobbes.

The P6 / K7 MTRR (Memory Type Range Registers) management package has been updated to version 0.07b as of 03/20/2002. This is a device driver that can manage MTRR's of Intel P6 / AMD K7 series processors. It includes VFBWC.EXE, which uses MTRR write-combining for the video frame buffer; this can often improve graphic performance, especially DIVE. Go to http://www.sys3175.com/~jjsuwa/.

This month's new listings - Applications:

IBM has released as of 03/04/2002 a fix for systems using LVM that have LBA-enabled drivers (usually with hard drives greater than 8.3GB). This fixes a problem with OS2DUMP overwriting partitions on LBA-enabled systems. Go to ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/ps/products/os2/fixes/v4.5warp/dmp0304.zip.

If you are running Convenience Pack 1, IBM has released as of 02/28/2002 FixPak XR_C002. NOTE: You need a current Software Choice subscription to download.

• For the diskette version (use LOADDSKF or DSK4PM), go to http://www3.software.ibm.com/cgi-bin/asd/priv/rsudl/images/xr_c002.
• For the RSU method, go to http://ps.boulder.ibm.com/pbin-usa-ps/getobj2.pl?/pdocs-usa/xr_c002.rsu.
• Or, you can download the FixPak as a single zip file at http://www3.software.ibm.com/cgi-bin/asd/priv/rsudl/images/xr_c002/xr_c002.zip.

For those of you still running plain Warp 4 (not the Convenience Paks or eComStation), IBM has released as of 03/08/2002 FixPak 16. HOWEVER: Starting with this FixPak, you will need a current Software Choice subscription to download.

• For the diskette version, go to http://www3.software.ibm.com/cgi-bin/asd/priv/rsudl/images/xr_m016/;
• For the RSU method, go to http://ps.boulder.ibm.com/pbin-usa-ps/getobj2.pl?/pdocs-usa/xr_m016.rsu.

IBM has released LAN Server FixPak IP08605 as of 03/08/2002. According to Steve Wendt, it applies to Warp Server for e-Business and probably the 2 succeeding Convenience Paks. Go to ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/ps/products/lan/fixes/warp_srv_e-bus/english-us/ip08605/.

eCS FixTool version 1.09.3 was released as of 03/25/2002, along with a Dialog Enhancer update. HOWEVER: You must be a registered user of eComStation to download. Go to http://www.ecomstation.com to register and download (after you have logged into ecomstation.com).

Opera version 5.12 beta 3 has been released as of 03/14/2002. This is an update to the web browser that Dave Watson demoed at the July 2001 SCOUG general meeting. It requires WarpIn to install, but no longer requires Odin to run, as it includes the necessary components already. It supports running OS/2 and Win32 plugins, printing, Java 1.3, has the OS/2 look and feel, support for drag&drop, and has instant messaging. Go to http://www.opera.com/os2/.

z! has been updated as of 03/03/2002. This is a text-mode MP3 player that can handle streaming audio (Shoutcast), and now has Normalize support. Go to http://dink.org/z/.

OdinTool version 0.06 has been released as of 03/05/2002. This allows you to install Odin ZIP files comfortably, and keep configuration settings. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/odinusers/files/.

There are now some tools available at Hobbes for unpacking Windows archives, which can be useful for extracting programs for use with Odin. E_Wise, released on 03/22/2002, extracts archives in the WISE format; use search key e_wise. STIX, released on 07/17/2001, is an InstallShield 3.x & SFX extractor; use search key stix.

JunkBuster version 2.9.11 beta has been ported as of 03/01/2002. This blocks ads and cookies while you are doing Web browsing. This was reviewed in the August 2001 OS/2 For You. Go to http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118.

Guiffy, which was presented at the Feb. 2002 SCOUG general meeting, has been updated to version 4.0 as of 03/01/2002. It is a file compare / merge (diff-like) tool with a GUI implemented in Java. Go to http://www.guiffy.com/.

Electronic Teller has been updated to version 4.11 as of 02/26/2002. It is one of OS/2's oldest shareware home financial applications, and allows you to keep track of your checking, credit card, and cash accounts. It can keep track of multiple accounts and multiple users, and can import .QIF files from Quicken. Go to http://members.rogers.com/phcaron/et/etintro.htm.

VCDImager version 0.7.12 has been ported as of 02/24/2002. It is able to create different kinds of Video (VCD) and S-video (SVCD) CD's. Go to http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/vcdimager/vcdimagermain.htm.

jOggPlayer version 1.1.2 has been released as of 02/19/2002. This is an open-source GUI Java Ogg Vorbis player. Go to http://www.webarts.bc.ca/joggplayer/.

Some patches and utilities for IBM's Visual Age for C version 3.08 have been released as of 02/22/2002. Use search key vacstuff on Hobbes.

A set of tools to control CPU cooling on Via Technology 8233 (KT266A) chipsets has been released as of 03/07/2002. Use search key 8233cool on Hobbes.

CDR/RW Wizard version 1.0 beta 6 has been released as of 03/10/2002. It is a GUI wizard interface to CDRecord/2 to burn CDR/CDRW (data, audio, etc). It now features BootWizard for creating bootable CD's, and CDRDAO/2. Go to http://www.quasarbbs.net/rocco/.

cdrdao version 1.1.6-pre1 fix3 has been released as of 03/15/2002. It is a free CD-R/RW writing program for Disk At Once mode. NOTE: You need the Aspirout 1.1b5 driver version, but the EMX runtime is not required. Use search key cdrdao on Hobbes.

ZOC version 4.05 has been released as of 03/09/2002. It is an award-winning telnet, secure shell (SSH), rlogin, modem, and ISDN communications program. Go to http://www.emtec.com/zoc/. NOTE: There are German and Windows versions available also.

An UnZip plugin for Netscape and WarpZilla has been released as of 03/07/2002. Use search key npunzip on Hobbes.

MMPMTool version 0.1 has been released. This utility allows you to view and modify the MMPMMMIO.INI entries. Go to http://www.maazl.de/project/misc/mmpmtool.html.

DTape beta 9 has been released. It is an OS/2 PM program which provides the facilities to record and replay digital audio directly to/from disk (a digital tape recorder). Features include peak-level monitoring and unlimited .WAV file sizes (up to 4GB). Go to http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape.

GOGO version 3.10 fix1 was released as of 03/24/2002. It is a very fast MP3 encoder based on LAME. Use search key gogo on Hobbes. NOTE: You need the EMX runtime to use this.

WarpGoGo version 0.99c (not to be confused with GOGO version 3.10 fix1 above) was released on 03/25/2002. This is also an MP3 encoder, with a graphical interface. Go to http://www.os2.cz/ed2/.

ThirdEye version 2.0 preview has been released as of 03/14/2002. It is a universal digital camera manipulation program, that supports cameras from Agfa, Olympus, Epson, Nikon, Sanyo, Kodak, HP, and Konica. It has a REXX interface, a NetDrive plugin, and both PM and VIO versions of the application. This allows you to browse the pictures in your digital camera with your favorite file manager or the WPS. Go to http://ecomstation.ru/thirdeye/.

SmartBar, which was part of Gary Granat's series on "Seeking Ways to Get Rid of System Bloat, Part 4", is now at version 3.2 as of Sept. 2000 (at the earliest). However, this version was never posted to Hobbes, where version 3.1 is located. I found out about version 3.2 by browsing the XWorkplace-User group on Yahoo Groups. According to one of the postings on this group, this may be the final version of SmartBar unless the source is released to Netlabs or a similar group. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xworkplace-user/message/6656; at the bottom of the message is a download link to SMBAR32.ZIP. An alternate download site is http://ftp.quasarbbs.com/alessandro/smbar32.zip; however I was unable to connect to that site.

A patch to allow Mortal Kombat to run with sound has been posted to Hobbes as of 03/25/2002. Use search key mortalfx. Also, there is a web site devoted to running DOS games under OS/2 at http://www.os2world.com/games/html/dos_games.html.

A utility to change IRQs on PCI cards has been released as of 03/22/2002. Use search key spciirq on Hobbes.

DrDialog Control version 0.1.1 has been released as of 03/21/2002. This is a DLL for use with DrDialog which provides a progress bar and fly-over help; you may freely set colors, font and label. Full source is included. Go to http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/drdialog/drdialogmain.htm.

As for DrDialog itself, it is an application builder from the IBM Developer Connection that allows developers to build windowed 32-bit applications using the classic REXX language. Steven Levine & Jerry Rash are using it to build GUI front-ends as an alternative to using VxREXX. Use search key drdialog on Hobbes; also available are fixes to DrDialog.

Apache version 1.3.24, the premier web server of the Internet, has been released as of 03/21/2002. Go to http://apache.org/dist/httpd/binaries/os2/. Also available as of 02/22/2002 is an "in-development" version of Apache 2.0.32 for those who want to try out the new features. It offers big performance improvements due to multi-threading and elimination of some EMX dependencies. Go to http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/apache_v2.shtml.

PMMail for OS/2 is now at beta version 2.20.2382 as of 03/19/2002. It contains some bug fixes and now allows ESMTP authentication. Go to http://www.pmmail2000.com/.

PMView version 2.32 was released as of 03/28/2002. A number of bug fixes are included. Go to http://www.pmview.com; you can also get it at BMT Micro (http://www.bmtmicro.com/BMTCatalog/multipleos/pmview.html, or at ftp://ftp.bmtmicro.com/bmtmicro/pmview2000v232os2.exe).

Editorial Note: Special thanks to SCOUG's Dallas Legan for writing a handy REXX script to convert URLs in a text file into HTML tags. It's much appreciated!

Copyright 2002 the Southern California OS/2 User Group. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SCOUG, Warp Expo West, and Warpfest are trademarks of the Southern California OS/2 User Group. OS/2, Workplace Shell, and IBM are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.