After being cancelled last year, it was really great to have the Wakefield Show back with us (you were missed). As is the trend with the current pandemic, the Show was an online event this year, with a single track of talks on Zoom. This allowed a wider attendance, with visitors from all over there UK (I tuned in from Kent) and overseas.
 

The Wakefield Show takes places this saturday. And unlike previous years, you don't even need to be in Wakefield to attend as the Show is online.
 

This year's Wakefield Show is set to take place this coming Saturday, the 24th of April. With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic ruling out the possibility of a physical get-together, this is WROCC's first attempt at an all-online version of the show. "Visitors" won't have any show stalls to peruse, but instead there's a full day of virtual theatre presentations planned, with the whole event streamed for free on Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom.
 
Although the schedule is still subject to change, the day is currently planned out as follows:

• 10:30 AM - AMCOG Games will be celebrating the release of their latest game, "Spy Mission: The Ice Caves of Dr. Atom", as well as giving updates on RDSP and the AMCOG Development Kit, and a quick look at their impressive back-catalogue of previous games.
• 11:30 AM - A bumper two-hour slot for RISC OS Developments to discuss the latest OS developments (Iris web browser, new TCP/IP stack, Pinboard 2, and more), and R-Comp/RCI to discuss their latest hardware & software developments, including some surprises & special offers.
• 1:30 PM - Half-hour lunch break
• 2:00 PM - RISC OS Open with updates on OS development and the bounties
• 3:00 PM - Sine Nomine Software will be demonstrating the forthcoming RiscOSM version 2.00, and development updates on their other software
• 3:30 PM - Elesar will be showcasing the recently-resurrected TextEase Studio, as well as showing off some of their hardware products.
• 4:00 PM - CJE Micro's will no doubt be discussing the latest updates to their product line
• 4:30 PM - Soft Rock Software are aiming to release an updated version of Escape from Exeria, the first game that was released under the SRS label
• 5:00 PM - Cloverleaf Project will be discussing their new Kickstarter, their hardware projects, and Paolo Zaino's Desktop Modernisation project.
• 5:30 PM - RISCOSbits will be showing off their range of cases and accessories (including their new Raspberry Pi 4 based "PiAno"), and maybe some previews of in-development products
• 6:00 PM - The afterparty - the Zoom call will be left open to allow the participants to chat informally

Each presentation is planned to include a Q&A section at the end, with questions drawn from the Zoom audience - so if you want to take part in that, or the after-show discussion, make sure to email zoom@wakefieldshow.org.uk to receive an invite to the call.
 

A special announcement from WROCC:

Along with the more obvious problems associated with the cancellation of
this year's Wakefield Acorn & RISC OS Computer Show came two less expected
ones.
 
As befitted the 25th show organised by the Wakefield RISC OS Computer Club,
Andy Marks of RISCOSbits had produced us a very special silver edition Deuce
case for the first prize in the raffle that we had intended to hold. With no
show and no raffle, the Club is now in possession of a totally unique, and
very special item.
 
The case is silver coloured, with the Club's acorn logo on the lid, and the
Wakefield 2020 (25 years) show banner engraved on the side. It is designed
to take a Raspberry Pi 3+, and comes with an adaptor plate for a Pi 4.
 
Details and photos can be found at:
 
https://www.wrocc.org.uk/silver-deuce
 
The loss of the show also meant that we were unable to organise our regular
Charity Stall in support of Wakefield Hospice. Over the years the stall has
raised in excess of £20,000 to support their work, and at a time when
COVID-19 is having a great impact on charities, it was a shame not to be
able to add to that figure.
 
To this end, the Club will be listing the silver edition case for auction on
eBay on Thursday 3rd September, with the specific intention of raising money
for Wakefield Hospice. The retail price of the standard case is £30, but
given the unique nature of this particular one, we are very much hoping that
we can raise even more for the Hospice.
 
We would like to think that those who bid on the case and fail to win would
consider donating a similar amount in order to support the important work of
the Hospice in its 30th anniversary year at this difficult time. This can be
done via our JustGiving page, which passes the money direct to the Hospice:
 
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wakefield-2020
 
In addition, donations from all members of the RISC OS community will be
gratefully received.
 
The Club would like to thank all of our exhibitors and visitors at past
Wakefield Shows, and hope that we will be able to see you all again in
person in April 2021.

 

The London Show has announced that there will be no physical show in October but they are arranging something online.
 
So while there will be no event to attend we can still look forward to something in October. Hopefully developers will still have some exciting things to still announce for us.
 
We will keep you posted.
 
If you are missing the RISC OS scene, there are still things happening online, with the next ROUGOL online talk on Monday 17th August.
 

In more normal times (remember those!) this would have been the weekend when lots of people trekked up to the Wakefield Show (and there would have been a write up in The Icon Bar for those unable to attend).
 

The Wakefield show organisers have announced that this year's show has been postponed, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic:

"Wakefield RISC OS Computer Club regrets to announce that, in the light of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
outbreak, the 25th Wakefield Acorn & RISC OS Computer Show will NOT go ahead on the 18th April 2020, and
will have to be postponed. We will endeavour to contact all exhibitors directly in the coming days, and
further announcements regarding the event will be made in due course, once the situation becomes
clearer."

Anyone know a good virus killer?
 

The South-West Show took place at it new regular home on a wet, but bright saturday. It was the most positive and exciting show for a long time with lots to see and do. For the first time it was even streamed live on the Internet (but still much more exciting to be there). Here is what I saw wandering around the stands.