Pinnacle Research makes splash with sysadmin and graphics tools

Tucson, AZ Ð Pinnacle Research has announced four new application programs for NeXTSTEP 3.0.

The applications cover a wide spectrum, from system management to image manipulation. Some were developed in-house; Pinnacle is also publishing applications created by several small developers in the Tucson area, said Ralph Zazula, Pinnacle president.

The new programs include:

• PageChain, a simple application for combining multiple Post-Script, EPS, TIFF, RTF, or ASCII files into a single document for faxing or printing. The program also allows the user to create pre-assembled documents, including cover sheets, price lists, and other information, which can then be updated piecemeal but printed or faxed as a complete set.
• WetPaint, an image-retouching and pixel-editing program that includes drawing tools as well as image-processing filters. WetPaint supports dynamically loaded tools and filters that allow users to write their own and load them into the program.
• VWall is a system-administration tool for displaying important messages on the screens of other people's NeXT machines. VWall can also be used by the administrator to remotely reboot or power down networked NeXTs.
• Typeology, a program for designing and modifying Type 1 PostScript fonts. Typeology includes a bit-map editor for constructing font bit maps for high-quality, low-resolution display.

Zazula sees the existing market of 50,000 NeXT machines as fertile ground for the new offerings. Pinnacle also plans to have "all of our products on '486 as soon as possible" Ð and certainly in time for the expected May release of NeXTSTEP for Intel processors.

Pinnacle can be reached at 602/ 529-1135; e-mail: info@pri.com.

New Pinnacle Products

Product description - Price

PageChain $129/$89/$49

VWall $250/$200/NA

Typeology $295/$225/$99

WetPaint $295/$225/$99

VirtSpace 3.0 $69/$39/$29