Kim Howe has released Preview Release 3 of Arachnid, his Apple IIGS web browser. The new version includes passive FTP downloading support, support for browsing without a proxy server, and improved configuration options, among a host of other improvements. For more information about this exciting release, visit Kim’s web site at http://www.omninet.net.au/~khowe/arachnid/index.html..

Jeff Fink has released new versions of two of his programs. Compare2 1.1 is the latest version of his Applesoft file compare utility, and Silvern Castle 7.0 is the latest version of his fantastic role-playing adventure game. Silvern Castle 7.0 is downloadable as an updater for previous versions..

A2Central.com is pleased to announce that our first set of email capability is now available. The mail menu now provides the ability to send (but not yet to receive) messages from our telnet environment, and you can use POP3-compatible email software, such as Spectrum Automated Mailer, to read your email. We will continue to enhance our email services over the coming weeks. Your email address is username@a2people.com, and you should set your email program to use mail.a2people.com as the POP3 server..

Ryan Suenaga has released the January 2001 edition of Apple II News and Notes, which you can download from our FTP server..

The Aurora Area Apple Core will hold its next meeting on January 11 at 700 North Lake St. (Rt. 31) in Aurora, Illinois, starting at 7:00 PM. This meeting will include a demonstration of setting up and using Bernie ][ The Rescue on a member’s computer..

The South Bay Apple Computer Club of Torrance, California will meet on Tuesday, January 9, 2001, at 7:30 PM at the usual location. Tony Diaz will go over the new Bernie ][ The Rescue 3.0..

The Kansas City Apple II Users Group (ABUG) will meet on January 9 at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting will begin at about 6:30, and will be a planning meeting to plan future meetings and the direction the group should take in the first year of the new millennium..

A2Central.com and our parent company, Syndicomm, wishes everyone a Happy New Year, New Century, and especially New Millenium. Imagine the fantastic things this Third Millennium will bring us!.