ST Report: 4-Aug-95 #1131

From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 08/13/95-06:36:02 PM Z


From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 4-Aug-95 #1131
Date: Sun Aug 13 18:36:02 1995




                             SILICON TIMES REPORT

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   August 04, 1995                                           No. 1131

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     08/04/95 STR 1131   "The Original * Independent * OnLine Magazine!"
   
 - CPU Industry Report         - CIS CUTS Rates!   - Delrina NEWSWire 
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  From the Editor's Desk               "Saying it like it is!"
   
      Well its finally happening, STReport is going to yield to the flow of
 the times.  This issue is the first of the  NEW  look.  Wait a minute, its
 time enough.  This type of format will work equally as well on the Web and
 just about everywhere else.  All one needs is the FREE Word Viewer from
 Microsoft.  It read all types of Word Document files.  The release of
 Microsoft Word Viewer, a small program that allows users who do not own
 Microsoft Word for Windows to view and print Word documents exactly as they
 appear in Word.  Word Viewer allows users to view page layout, zoom,
 outline, headers/footers, footnotes, and annotations. With Word Viewer,
 people who own any version of Microsoft Word for Windows, or Word for the
 Macintosh; versions 4.0 and later, can share their documents with users who
 do not own Microsoft Word.  Best part is, its FREEWARE!   

      The news of  things  to come is very exciting these days.  The OnLine
 service scene is bustling with all kinds of activity. Watch for all the
 services to soon have their own Proprietary Software.  By that I mean, you
 must use their software to use the service.  Delphi is going completely
 Graphical very shortly ..as is CompuServe.  It stands to reason, that after
 the pasting AOL handed all the other services as every one of the Whigs sat
 still, sleeping in their overstuffed chairs behind their oversized desks. 
 Well, it appears they finally heard the alarms going off all 'round them. 
 When inquiries were made as to why all the ruckus...  suddenly, the younger
 executives in the services' lower ranks were given a real mission to
 complete.  They re doing it in record time.  The shakeout has already
 begun.  We can expect to see an acceleration of such along with mergers,


                                      2


 buyouts and other crafty and amazing deals within the next two to three
 years.

      STReport is using Word for Windows 95 Version 7.0, the thirty two bit
 version.  As the expression goes...  this is a test .  We want your
 opinions, suggestions and ideas.  Don t be bashful, let us hear from you. 

                                    Ralph....



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 Melanie Bell             Jay Levy            Jeff Kovach
 Marty Mankins            Carl Prehn          Paul Charchian



                                      3


 Contributing Correspondents:
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 Eric Jerue               Ron Deal            Mike Barnwell
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     STR INDUSTRY REPORT           LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS 
   

    
                    Computer Products Update - CPU Report
                                                
                   Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
                                        
                                  Issue #31
                                        
                      Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.



                            General Computer News


                      >> HP Cuts Desktop 660C Prices <<

 Hewlett-Packard Co. has cut prices on its line of HP DeskJet 660C home
 printers and HP OfficeJet printer-fax-copiers.
  
 With the price reduction, the DeskJet 660C printer for PCs and HP
 DeskWriter 660C printer for Macintosh computers will sell for about $399
 each, a decrease of $100.
  
 Meanwhile, the OfficeJet and OfficeJet LX printer-fax-copiers will sell for
 about $599 and $699 respectively, a price drop of around $100 per product.
  
  
                    >> Mac Accounting Software Updated <<

 Peachtree Software has announced Peachtree Accounting for Macintosh 2.5, an
 enhanced version of its Macintosh small business accounting software.  The
 company notes that the update features graphical guides, a setup checklist
 and online tutorials that are designed to help first-time users to get up
 to speed quickly and expert users to get their work done faster and with
 more accuracy.  The $99 program includes general ledger accounts
 receivable,  invoicing, accounts payable, check printing, payroll,
 inventory, checking account reconciliation, job/project tracking and
 numerous other features. Also provided is a custom forms designer that lets
 users design invoices, quotes, statements, checks and other forms. 
 Registered users of previous editions of Peachtree Accounting for Macintosh
 can upgrade to the new version directly from Peachtree for $79.
  
  
                     >> Marvel Comics Debuts on CD-ROM <<
  
 Toy Biz Inc. and Marvel Entertainment Group Inc. have introduced of a


                                      5


 series of Marvel Interactive CD-ROM Comics.  The companies note that the
 first four discs feature a mix of out-of-print classic tales featuring the
 X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Iron Man. The comics have been
 enhanced through computer coloring, narration, sound effects, music and
 animation.
  
 The CD-ROMs are compatible with both PC and Macintosh systems. The products
 will be distributed by Toy Biz and Marvel this fall through comic book and
 software stores, major toy retailers and the toy departments of major mass
 retailers. Each title will sell for $14.99.
  
 "It's a comic book come to life -- on a computer," says Stan Lee, chairman
 of Marvel Comics.
  
  
                     >> Apple Has QuickTake Promotion <<
  
 Apple Computer Inc. is offering an upgrade promotion for owners of its
 original QuickTake 100 digital camera.
  
 For $199, owners can upgrade to the QuickTake 150 and take advantage of
 new, more powerful Macintosh or Windows software, a close-up lens and
 longer-life lithium batteries. The upgraded model also offers twice the
 storage capacity of the earlier unit (16 high-quality or 32 standard-
 quality images) and improved overall image quality.  The offer runs through
 Nov. 30.
  
 Apple is also offering a special price on software for cross-platform users
 who purchased a QuickTake 100 Connection Kit for using the camera with both
 Macintosh and Windows systems. At the time of the upgrade order, such users
 may obtain upgraded software for an additional $49.
  
  
                     >> Sega Narrows PC-Video Game Gap <<
  
 In a move seen as potentially narrowing the gap between PCs and game
 machines that attach to TV sets, Sega of America Inc. is announcing plans
 to make video games for PCs that use a special chip by Nvidia Corp.
  
 Reports say that Sega will offer two games to be played exclusively on PCs
 with Nvidia's multimedia chip. The games were originally produced for
 Sega's new Saturn CD game machine, which has been on sale since May.
  
 Sega Vice President William White Jr. said, "The hardware is a means to the
 software.  We see it as a way to provide our games to a whole other
 audience we haven't been able to (reach) before Nvidia."
  
 Analyst Fred Dunn, vice president of Jon Peddie Associates, says Nvidia is
 the first maker of PC multimedia components to get the support of a game
 console company, adding, "This is a real feather in their cap. Sega is one
 of the leading game suppliers in the world; it's an instantly recognizable
 name. ... The Sega games will create a pull for boards that use Nvidia
 chips."
  
 The kits containing add-on cards with the Nvidia chip and at least one game
 will be on the market in time for Christmas at $249 to $399.  (Sega Saturn
 costs $399.)  Last May, Nvidia unveiled its NV1 Multimedia Accelerator,
 which puts sound, full-motion video and three-dimensional graphic

                                      6


 capabilities on a single chip. It also has patented technology that
 improves the realism of graphics.
  
  
                        >> NEC Cuts Notebook Prices <<
  
 NEC Technologies Inc. has cut prices by up to 17% on its Versa V Series of
 notebook computers.  NEC has also extended its Versa V promotion through
 September 30. The offer provides buyers of any Versa V model with an
 active-matrix TFT  display a free 14.4K bps data/fax modem (a $224 value)
 or a $100 cash rebate.  The Versa V models are available with a 50MHz
 486DX2 or 75MHz 486DX4 microprocessor.  System prices now start at $1,899
 and range up to $2,599.
  
  
                     >> MPEG/AVI Board Design Unveiled <<
  
 AuraVision Corp. and Zoran Corp. have co-developed a new MPEG/AVI  playback
 reference board design.
  
 The companies notes that the AuraVision-Zoran reference kit is the first
 production-ready design to include drivers and source code for Windows 3.1
 and Windows '95. The board also offers the ability to simultaneously
 display MPEG-1 video on a standalone television monitor and in a window on
 a VGA screen.
  
 According to the firms, add- in cards based on the reference design--code-
 named Antelope-- will enhance PC's multimedia capabilities by allowing
 full- resolution, full-motion video and CD-quality stereo 
 sound.
  
 "As the MPEG market has matured, we have been getting demands for more
 advanced reference functionality that will include Windows '95 and video
 output support," says Wayne Ricciardi, vice president of sales and
 marketing of AuraVision, which is based in Fremont, California. "The
 Antelope offers a ready-to-market solution for add-in board manufacturers
 and desktop computer OEMs."
  
 OEM design kits will include the board, schematics and support files, along
 with a suite of software drivers and source code.
  
  
                     >> Internet to Protect Trademarks <<
  
 A new policy to protect business trademarks has been announced by Network
 Solutions Inc., the firm that registers commercial addresses on the
 Internet on behalf of the National Science Foundation.
  
 Grant Clark, an attorney with Network Solutions, is quoted as saying, "that
 over the past year, several companies have discovered others are using
 their names as addresses on the network."
  
 "For example, the name ronald@mcdonald.com as well as the mcdonald.com
 'domain name' does not belong to McDonald's Corp."
  
 Says Clark, "We may not be able to give the name back to the 'rightful
 owner,' but we can certainly stop misleading use and piracy," adding that
 NSI's new policy could block what many large businesses see as blatant

                                      7


 trademark theft.
  
 While NSI still gives out the domain names on a first-come, first-served
 basis, if there is a fight between businesses, NSI will ask both parties
 for proof of trademark.
  
 The loser can choose to give up the address, taking 90 days to make a
 transition to a new domain name.  If the two cannot resolve the dispute,
 NSI will freeze the domain name, not allowing anyone to use it, and let the
 courts decide.
  
  
                       >> Anti-Virus Chip Developed <<
  
 A unit of Quantum Leap Innovations Inc. says it has developed a
 breakthrough computer anti-virus device for real-time data networks.
  
 A new anti-virus chip, which is broadly protected by international patents,
 "identifies the presence of any virus within a data stream, either entering
 or exiting a computer, or traveling along a network in real-time."
  
 Company officials says the technology is a low-cost integrated circuit that
 in its first version is compatible with all DOS-based 
 systems, adding Quantum will develop products for other operating systems,
 as demand develops.
  
 Anthony Warren, president of Quantum principal Technology Management &
 Funding, said Quantum's hardware-based product is fundamentally different
 from purely software-based anti-virus protection programs.
  
 He said the chip transparently protects against any program that behaves
 like a virus, whether it can identify the specific virus type or not. By
 contrast, he said, software-based anti-virus programs operate by consulting
 software libraries of known viruses that must be periodically updated,
 allowing for new and unknown viruses to potentially escape detection.
  
 The Quantum Leap chip sits between a receiving computer node and an
 incoming data stream, completely blocking the passage of virus contaminated
 data streams.  The chip can also be embedded in PC's modems, network
 servers and interface cards."
  
  
                   >> NEC Makes Re-Writable Optical Disk <<
   
 A re-writable optical disc that can store some 4 gigabytes of data with a
 12-centimeter compact disc size reportedly has been developed by Japan's
 NEC Corp.
  
  
                    >> PCMCIA Modem Gets Status Lights <<
  
 U.S. Robotics says it has added a DataView connector to its Sportster 28.8
 PCMCIA modem.
  
 The DataView connector allows PCMCIA modem users to view the status of
 their data and fax connections using the same kind of status indicators
 available on external desktop modems.  The DataView unit incorporates four
 LEDs that allow the constant monitoring of power, send, receive and online

                                      8


 functions during a fax or data transfer.
  
  The DataView connector greatly increases the ability to verify the
 progress of fax and data transfers in the portable computing environment,"
 says Michael Seedman, vice president and general manager of U.S. Robotics'
 personal communications division. "DataView eliminates the uncertainty
 previously associated with remote modem connections. The ability to monitor
 the status of a connection helps insure remote users of the success of
 their fax and data transfers."
  
 The Sportster 28.8 PCMCIA with DataView is priced at $399.
  
  
                    >> Justice Eyes Microsoft Web Plans <<
  
 The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust investigation of Microsoft Corp.
 now reportedly has been extended to look into the software giant's plan to
 bundle software for navigating the Internet's World Wide Web.
  
 The federal agency for months has been investigating the publisher's plan
 to bundle access to its new Microsoft Network online service with its new
 Windows 95 operating system to be released Aug. 24. (Online competitors
 contend the tactic gives Microsoft an unfair advantage.)
  
 And, write G. Christian Hill and Jared Sandberg in The Wall Street Journal
 this week, "according to people familiar with the investigation, the agency
 is now concerned about a new development, a plan by Microsoft to bundle
 software with Windows 95 to access and browse the Web, a fast-growing
 network that may become the main forum for electronic commerce."  Some
 suggest a Microsoft web browser could hurt the many start-up companies
 providing Internet access, the paper says.
  
 As noted, Microsoft announced 10 days ago it plans to bundle its Internet
 Explorer with a version of Windows 95 that will be installed by computer
 makers on new machines.
  
 "It won't be bundled, at least initially, with the standard Windows 95
 version to be sold in stores directly to consumers," says the Journal, "but
 will be offered at retail in a version called Windows 95 Plus. Windows 95
 will run other Internet browsers, but if it is already installed in new
 machines and is optimized to run on the new operating system, other
 Internet access providers will be at a significant competitive
 disadvantage."
  
 Reporters Hill and Sandberg comment, "Bundling the Web browser could
 provide a sort of imperfect end-run around any successful attempt by
 Justice to force Microsoft to unbundle access to MSN. All of the so-called
 'content' slated for MSN might be best displayed using Microsoft's Web
 browser, providing consumers with an incentive to ignore other on-line
 providers and Internet access providers."
  
 A Microsoft spokeswoman told the paper her employer's online and operating-
 system competitors all are including free Web browsers in their products,
 and that Microsoft has the right to also offer a browser.
  
 But, says the Journal, "people familiar with the investigation indicated
 they may feel the browser issue provides the agency with more and new
 ammunition," adding, "The move shows that the issue of bundling products

                                      9


 with Microsoft's dominant operating systems won't go away, and has to be
 dealt with one way or another."
  
 The paper, still citing people familiar with the investigation, said
 Justice Department lawyers spent part of last week "intently investigating"
 the potential impact of bundling the Internet access software.




     Frankie s Corner STR Feature
   

                                Louis Cat Orze

 separate CD-ROM versions for Windows and Macintosh
 for ages 10 to adult
 approximate retail $30
 IVI Publishing
 7500 Flying Cloud Drive
 Minneapolis, MN 55344-3739
 1-800-432-1332

                             Program Requirements

 IBM                                     Macintosh
 CPU:           386-25
 OS:            Windows 3.1               Not available at "press time"
 RAM:      8 mbs
 Hdisk:         1 mb
 Video:         640 by 480, 256 colors
 CD-ROM:   Double-speed
 Misc.:         Mouse, sound card, speakers


 The Kids' Computing Corner

 by Frank Sereno


 "Louis Cat Orze" is probably the most unique educational title I have
 reviewed to date.  The program is a historical mystery adventure based upon
 the disappearance of the Queen's Necklace from the Versailles palace of
 King Louis XIV.  The player's mission is to find the missing jewelry and to
 arrest the thief.  To solve the mystery, he must learn about the peoples
 and customs of the Sun King's court.

 The year is 1697 and the player only has six days to solve the crime.  Each
 day, he may visit several locations to gather clues and to learn about late
 Seventeenth Century France.  The King's cat, Louis Cat Orze, will serve as
 a guide and provide clues about palace intrigue.

 Even in the Seventeenth Century, visiting a royal palace is very expensive. 
 The player must spend money to gain access to the various clues.  He will
 be given a small stake to begin his quest but he must replenish his cash
 resources.  The program provides three methods of earning money.  

 First, the player can play the Palace Games.  The Games are multiple-choice

                                      10


 questions of three difficulty levels.  The values of the correct answers
 are twenty-five, fifty and one hundred lives.  Players do not lose money
 for incorrect answers.  Another way to earn money is by correctly answering
 the Palace Challenge which is hidden within each scene.  These multiple
 choice questions are based upon information which can be found in each
 scene.  A player can choose to search the room to find clues rather than
 answer the question immediately.  The final method for earning money is
 through good investigating.  Each scene has a hidden hot spot which
 provides an instant cash reward when discovered.

 Be careful when clicking though, for some hot spots can land the player in
 the Bastille.  The only escape is to answer four of five questions
 correctly.  Failure leads to life in prison without parole and the end of
 the game.

 Each scene is filled with hot spots which link to a book of interesting
 facts and biographies of the royal family and many important courtiers. 
 All the information must be carefully reviewed for clues to the crime of
 the missing necklace and for answers to later trivia questions.  I found
 many facts to be quite interesting.  I never knew that Versailles had no
 bathrooms!

 The game uses only five icons for gameplay.  A question mark represents the
 Help feature of the game.  The game is explained here.  A volume slider
 allows the player to control the sound levels.  The Save feature is
 available from within the Help section also.

 The G icon is the player's key to the Gallery, which includes the Palace
 Games, the Library, the Hall of Portraits and the Map Room.  The last three
 choices offer the player many opportunities to learn about the history and
 culture of late Seventeenth Century Europe.

 The fleur-de-lis icon is used to exit a scene, or to end a conversation or
 text display.

 A portmanteau is a traveling bag.  Clicking on this icon reveals the
 player's cash reserves. It also includes a notebook containing links to
 information about subjects from conversations which the player has
 overheard.

 The Q icon is for quitting the game.  Players can choose to save their
 place in the game when exiting.

 As you can see, the interface is very simple, yet it has many excellent
 features.  The program comes with a concise user manual which includes game
 hints and a troubleshooting guide.  Technical assistance is available toll
 free.

 The graphics are simply beautiful.  The scenes are like fine color
 illustrations from the finest children's books.  All characters are shown
 in proper historical dress.  The sound portion of "Louis Cat Orze" is
 excellent also.  The voice characterizations are well-acted. The only voice
 with a French accent is that of the cat!  Classical music of the period is
 used throughout the program and it is quite enchanting.

 Play value is difficult to rate on this program.  If your child enjoys
 learning, he should enjoy "Louis Cat Orze."  The program does include some
 humor, but most are in the form of puns or word games.  This is a very

                                      11


 cerebral piece of software.

 Educational value is very good.  The program covers many details of life in
 Seventeenth Century France and presents these facts in a very entertaining
 way.  The only problem is that this program will have limited appeal. 
 Those who are interested in history or France will enjoy "Louis Cat Orze"
 very much.

 Bang for the Buck is very conditional.  Before purchasing this program, one
 must be familiar with the tastes of the intended user.  If the person does
 not enjoy mysteries or history, then the program may get little use.  If
 the person can be persuaded to try it, he may find himself enjoying the
 game despite his prejudices against the subject matter because the
 presentation is excellent.

                                   Ratings

                          Graphics            9.5
                          Sound               9.5
                          Interface           9.0
                          Play Value          8.0
                          Educational Value   9.0
                          Bang for the Buck   9.0
                          Average             9.0   



                         Muppet Reading & Phonics II

                    dual format CD-ROM for Mac and Windows
                               for ages 3 to 7
                            approximate retail $30
                      from American Education Publishing
                          150 E. Wilson Bridge Road
                                  Suite 145
                              Columbus, OH 43085
                                1-800-542-7833

                            Program Requirements:

 IBM                                          Macintosh
 CPU:           386                           CPU:     Color Mac
 OS:            Windows 3.1                   OS:      System 7
 RAM:      4 mbs                              RAM:     4 mbs
 Video:         256-color VGA                 Video:   256 colors
 Hdisk:         1 Mb                          Hdisk:   1 Mb
 CD-ROM:   Single speed                       CD-ROM:  Single speed
 MISC:     Mouse, sound card (optional)       MISC:    Mouse

 Kermit, Piggy, Rowlf and the rest of the Muppet gang are back once again to
 entertain and educate your child.  This assortment of programs provides
 important lessons using tried-and-true teaching methods.

 Muppet Reading & Phonics II consists of three programs on a single CD-ROM. 
 These are Sound Patterns, Sorting and Ordering, and Thinking Skills.  Each
 program uses the same user-friendly interface and features many of our
 Muppet friends.  The interface has five control buttons along the bottom of
 the screen.  The Previous and Next buttons allows the child to move back

                                      12


 and forth among the twenty exercises included with each program.  The
 Contents button shows the list of contents.  Clicking on the name of any
 exercise will start it immediately.  The Show Answer button is self-
 explanatory.  The Exit button will end the program.

 Each exercise is presented with an explanation written in a text box at the
 top of the screen.  This text is read at the start of the exercise and will
 be repeated if it is clicked on.  The problem to be solved is in a large
 window and the child must click on the answer or drag it to the proper
 location.

 Sound Patterns features the sounds of -at, -et, -ot, -ig, -up, -an and -en. 
 Many exercises involve identifying an object and then clicking on the
 correct first letter or word.  

 Sorting and Ordering presents twenty exercises involving the sorting of
 items by various criteria, recognizing patterns, ordering steps in a
 procedure, and ordering numerically and alphabetically.

 Thinking Skills teaches sorting items by group, associating certain places
 with certain items or activities, deductive reasoning and word association.

 Phonics II has good graphics.  The Muppet characters are very appealing. 
 The graphics seem better in some exercises than others.  I am assuming that
 several artists were involved in each program.  The animation s are much
 better than in earlier American Education Publishing programs.  The sound
 portion of the program is disappointing.  The vocals have excellent
 clarity, but music isn't used at all.  Another disappointment is that none
 of the Muppet characters speak.  This doesn't hurt the program's
 educational value, but it does diminish the fun of the program.

 The interface is very simple and elegant.  It doesn't have a lot of the
 flourishes provided by other programs such as on-line parent guides or
 troubleshooting tips.  The manual is only two pages long.  These extras 
 just don't seem necessary for Phonics II.  Free technical assistance is
 available via a toll call.  The programs could benefit from better positive
 encouragement to the user.  The musical ditties used to signify correct
 responses are extremely understated and staid.

 These programs are fun.  Jim Henson's Muppets seem to have a magical
 quality only rivaled by Mickey Mouse.  Kids simply love these characters. 
 The exercises are enjoyable and varied enough that they do not become
 boring.  Unfortunately, some exercises are static in that the problems and
 answers are always the same and will not be challenging enough for more
 experienced children.  Replay value will suffer over time.

 Educationally, this program set covers many concepts.  The Sound Pattern
 program could benefit by featuring more sounds.  The many thinking skills
 exercises are excellent.  Also remember that American Education Publishing
 makes a fine line of Brighter Child workbooks that can be used to
 complement the computer programs.

 With a street price of $30, Muppet Reading and Phonics II is a very good
 buy.  Flashier programs abound, but they won't be more effective as
 learning tools than Phonics II.

                                       Ratings


                                      13


                               Graphics            8.0
                               Sounds              6.5
                               Interface           8.5
                               Play Value          8.0
                               Educational Value   8.5
                               Bang for the Buck   8.5
                               Average             8.0


                       Sanctuary Woods and NFL Team Up
                                     for
                             Educational Software

 On July 24, Sanctuary Woods Multimedia, NFL Properties, Inc., and NFL
 Players Incorporated announced an agreement which will allow Sanctuary
 Woods to use NFL logos and player photos in educational software titles. 
 The first title, NFL Math, is expected to ship this fall.

 Since sports produce so many statistics, it is natural to develop a math
 education program based on football.  And since so many fathers love
 football, an NFL Math game will help develop their interest in their
 children's educational software.  Parental involvement is one of the most
 important aspects for children's educational development.



                  ACTIVISION'S MECHWARRIOR 2 WORLD WIDE WEB
                     SITE DRAWS MORE THAN 37,000 VISITORS

                 One of the First Web Sites Ever Launched to
                            Promote a CD-ROM Game

 One of the first World Wide Web sites launched exclusively to promote the
 release of a CD-ROM game, Activision's MechWarrior 2 home page has had over
 37,000 visitors and more than 700,000 hits since it premiered just one
 month ago.  

 By logging onto http://www.activision.com, visitors can obtain the latest
 information about the highly anticipated 3-D action simulation game, which
 will explode onto retail shelves on July 24.  More than 500,000 Mb of
 MechWarrior 2 screen shots and video clips have already been downloaded.

 Additionally, over 7000 people have entered an exclusive OnLine contest to
 win an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas for four.  Once a week, since
 June 19, two names have been randomly drawn from the entries received.  The
 selected names are then eligible to compete in the final drawing which will
 be held on July 28.  This innovative web promotion is part of Activision's
 $1.5 million marketing campaign to support the launch of MechWarrior 2.


                        PAPARAZZI! TALES OF TINSELTOWN

 Activision has released a new, fast-moving satirical comedy, "Paparazzi!"
 on two CD-ROMs.  It is available for both IBM compatible and Macintosh
 computers.  This program was developed by Museworthy, Inc., a privately
 held company in Addison, Texas and it is being distributed by Activision.

 "Paparazzi!" is a tongue-in-cheek simulation of the life of the Hollywood

                                      14


 scandal-sheet photographer.  Keen wits, a quick eye and a steady shutter
 finger are necessary to win at this game.  Hazards abound in the form of
 angry celebrities, false tips and more.

 So if you have thought of clicking pics of the stars, here's your chance to
 see if you have the hustle and savvy to be a true paparazzi.

 As always, I thank you for reading!


  


     Delrina Updates! STR FOCUS!

                                 

 Delrina Unveils:

                 Vision for PC Communications At Your Command 


      Jack Snell, president of TinyTot Toys in Toronto, runs his business
 from his home - but you'd never know it. Right now he's sitting by his home
 computer, waiting for an important fax to come in from Hal, his sales guy
 in New York.  Hal thinks he can get a columnist at the New York Times to
 run a review of TinyTot's latest product.  Jack's anxious. He's working on
 a marketing report, but he's told his PC to let him know when Hal's call
 comes through. Meanwhile, a light on his screen is flashing. He clicks on
 the flashing icon and a list of his voice and e-mail messages comes onto
 the screen. Shoot.  Seems like everyone but Hal is trying to get a hold of
 him today. He's set up his PC to answer the calls. When people call in,
 they hear the message:

      "Welcome to TinyTot Toys. If you'd like to leave a message for Jack
 Snell, press 'one' now. If you'd like to leave a message for our sales
 force, press 'two.' If you'd like more information about our products,
 press 'three,' and our automated attendant will take your fax number." Now
 the phone rings again and Jack sees a message on the screen. It's Brad
 calling from San Diego. Drat it. Brad's been bugging Jack to e-mail him an
 article from the Wall Street Journal that Jack told him about. "Doesn't he
 have anything better to do?" But it's a no-brainer for Jack, he simply
 clicks on his news feed to pick up the article and drops it into e-mail to
 send it off to Brad.  Meanwhile, no word from Hal, and Jack decides to go
 for a short run to calm his nerves. Fifteen minutes later, he's heading
 back to his apartment and his pager goes off. The PC has just sent the
 notification that a fax from Hal has arrived. Jack runs back to the PC and
 sees the indicator light flashing again. Hal's message is music to Jack's
 ears: "All systems go! The New York Times loves us." Jack hunkers down to
 finish that marketing report so he can shoot it off to Hal.

      Welcome to the new age of personal computing.  No matter who you are,
 where you are, or whatever you need to get done -- send a fax or an e-mail,
 program your phone to take messages, tour the Internet, talk to someone
 else's computer -- it's all possible from your PC.  And the best part is,
 it's all so easy, even Brad in San Diego can do it.
         
      This bright new world comes to us courtesy of Delrina Corporation,

                                      15


 which has designed a suite of software products -- called CommSuite 95 --
 that pull all the popular elements of communications together in one place
 and get them working as a team.  CommSuite 95 is built on a firm
 philosophy:  give people everything they want in communications, and bring
 it together in
 one package that's simple, easy to use, and lets people save money, too.   

      "We're aiming at the person who's continually frustrated by current
 communications capabilities," says Delrina President Mark Skapinker. "The
 person who's continually asking, 'how do I get there?' 'why do other people
 find it so much easier than I do?"

 Overview
      People want to use their computers to communicate, but up until now,
 it's been so difficult.  Imagine what our lives would be like if, in order
 to chat to another person over the phone, we had to know how to install our
 own phone lines, and then how to configure our local connections to talk
 properly to the hundreds of computerized exchanges across the city, and the
 hundreds of thousands around the world.  Well, until just recently, that's
 pretty much what PC communication was like.  If you walked into a computer
 store and said you wanted to get your computer to talk to another computer,
 or to a fax machine or a telephone, often the salesperson would sell you a
 few pieces of software and then courteously point you toward the book
 section.  There you'd find a library full of thick, mind-numbingly
 technical tomes revealing the secrets of jumpers and switch settings and
 ports and addresses.  Sure.  Technically, you could get your PC talking,
 but the whole exercise was equivalent to studying to become an electrical
 engineer.  It wasn't fast, it wasn't efficient, and it sure as heck wasn't
 easy.

      But the world is changing and Delrina is leading that change. 
 Microsoft Corporation has designed a much-anticipated new operating system,
 Windows 95, that promises to create another explosion in the mass consumer
 market for PCs by making computers more friendly and accessible.  "Now
 Delrina can do what it's been wanting to do for a long time," explains Mark
 Skapinker, "That is, provide people with software that makes communications
 simple to do."  Delrina has designed programs that work in complement with
 Windows 95 and maximize all its best features.

      An operating system is literally the guts of a computer.  It's the
 software base that works with all the other programs you use on your
 machine, plus all the peripheral devices you plug in -- like modems and CD-
 ROM drives.  Microsoft has put new technology called "Plug-and-Play" into
 the Windows 95 operating system that promises to erase the traditional
 problems of getting all the pieces of hardware to talk to one another.  Buy
 the program, plug it in, and you're up and running.

      Delrina, meanwhile, has incorporated that same plug-and-play
 technology into its CommSuite 95 product.  But that's just the beginning.  
 Once you're up and running, and you've got your PC talking to your modem
 and your modem talking to the wide world, there's one other big question:
 Now what?  That's where Delrina really adds value.  In designing all the
 CommSuite 95 products, Mark Skapinker says Delrina's people kept one
 thought in mind, "How can we improve on what Microsoft is doing? It's not a
 question
 of throwing more software at the marketplace, but helping people find out
 what to do with the stuff once they've got it." Delrina's Vision:  "PC
 Communications at Your Command" 

                                      16


         According to Skapinker, the concepts of messaging and
 communications are often thought of as the same today, but those two terms
 are really very different.  Skapinker says messaging is an important part
 of communications but communications as a whole means much more than just
 messaging.  "PC communications is made up of two major components which
 include messaging
 and on-line/interactive,"  added Skapinker.

         "Delrina's vision is to deliver powerful yet simple PC
 communications, in essence, PC communications at your command," says
 Skapinker.  "Delrina will achieve this vision by delivering high-quality
 solutions encompassing the four key elements of communications -- types,
 functionality, integration and intelligence."

         Skapinker explains, "Delrina will focus on all communication types
 including messaging types such as fax, e-mail, voice/telephony and paging
 as well as on-line/interactive such as the Internet and terminal
 applications like bulletin board systems."

         In terms of functionality, Skapinker sees people using each of
 these communication types in different ways.  Yet each type has its own
 unique requirements in terms of functionality.  "Delrina's strength is to
 leverage its expertise in application development and end-user simplicity  
 to establish a balance between 'sophistication' such as an application's
 features, capabilities and power, and 'simplicity' like usability and ease-
 of-learning," says Skapinker.

         "To achieve powerful PC communications, we must address the last
 two elements: integration and intelligence," adds Skapinker.  "For
 integration, Delrina will provide users the ability to share and access
 common elements between the different messaging types like fax, e-mail,
 voice, and paging.  And finally, Delrina will deliver capabilities for
 people to automate certain tasks using the computer rather than having to
 do each task themselves -- this is the intelligence element," says
 Skapinker.

         When you bring these key elements together -- types, functionality,
 integration, and intelligence -- all in one package, all from one vendor,
 you have the formula for very powerful yet simple PC communications,
 according to Skapinker.

         At ten million copies sold, and with 70 per cent of the fax
 communications software market in the U.S., WinFax is the best-selling
 communications package of all time.  Now Delrina has a new version, WinFax
 PRO 7.0, which not only lets you send out messages, it lets you send e-
 mail, or lets your PC send a message to your pager when a fax has arrived 
 You can also use WinFax PRO 7.0 to get your telephone talking to your PC.

 Functionality
         People haven't always had this freedom of choice, and Delrina
 recognizes that. "There's a whole area of communications that hasn't been
 addressed because of this issue of whether one message-type, fax or e-mail,
 is going to take precedence over another," says Mark Skapinker.  "We don't
 think any one message type is going to dominate over the others.  So,
 Delrina's focusing on bringing all the types together and getting them
 working in a seamless fashion."

 Integration

                                      17


         Marc Camm, General Manager of Desktop Communications at Delrina,
 says Delrina's integrated approach makes PC communications mirror what
 people actually do in their everyday lives.  "What do people do when they
 come back from lunch?  They check their voice messages, they check their e-
 mail, and then they may go on-line to see if they missed anything on the
 news wires," says Camm.  "That's real world, today."  It's cumbersome and
 time-consuming having to go to separate machines to do all these things.
 But CommSuite means it all becomes much simpler.  Now when you want to send
 a message, you can send it out to one person as an e-mail, another person
 as a fax, and third person as message to his beeper, all your PC.

 Intelligence
         Picture this.  You're working at home, and you're expecting a call
 from your boss, but you've got to skip out for a last-minute client call. 
 No problem.  Your PC answers your calls with the message that you've gone
 off to visit a client.  And meanwhile, you've given the PC caller-I.D. 
 functions, so, your boss hears a message that you've left specifically for
 him: "I've gone out to see Mr. Mercer.  Please call me in his office." 
 Nifty, isn't it?

         Back at your computer, if you want to know right away when your
 boss calls, you type in his caller I.D. so the PC will tell you when he
 calls. The phone rings, and a message comes up on the screen telling you
 it's Mr. Smith calling.  If you have a voice modem, in future versions of
 WinFax you'll actually hear a voice saying, "Bob, pick up the phone, it's
 Mr. Smith calling."

         Or, picture this.  You're running your own desktop publishing
 business from your home.  You're writing up a brochure for a client and
 you've got a tight deadline to meet, so you don't want to be disturbed by
 the phone.  You've set up your PC to take the calls.  When the phone rings, 
 an automated attendant comes on, saying "Welcome to Perle Publishing.  If
 you'd like to leave a message for Winnie Perle, press 'one' now.  If you'd
 like a free catalogue of our services, press 'two' and we'll take your fax
 number."  The PC takes the message and an indicator flashes on your screen,
 letting you know there's a message waiting.  Meanwhile, the automated
 attendant has taken the customer's fax number and your PC is now faxing out
 that catalogue - that's called fax on demand, and the new features built
 into WinFax make it all possible.

         WinFax PRO 7.0 comes with other new features, including compression
 technology.  Compression squeezes a file into smaller bits, so it travels
 faster over the phone line.  The benefit to you?  It takes less time to
 send your fax out, and when you're sending faxes long-distance, costs
 matter.

         Delrina is working with the telephone companies to let WinFax users
 do broadcast faxing.  Let's say you've got a fax that has to go to 500
 different people. Just send the fax normally, once, to an assigned number,
 along with the numbers of all the people you need the fax to go to.  The
 rest is taken care of.  You'll get confirmation that the faxes have been
 sent, and you'll save money, too, because the faxes will be sent in
 parallel, instead of one at a time.

         WinFax PRO 7.0 features an intelligent scanner that lets you scan
 in those loose pieces of paper.  "It's even smarter than a fax machine,"
 says Albert Behr, Senior Director of Marketing Desktop Communications at
 Delrina.   "I take a piece of paper, and I literally drop it in.  The

                                      18


 scanner turns itself on, it scans automatically, and it asks me what I want
 to do with the image: fax it, store it, edit it."

         WinFax is simple to do because Delrina takes maximum advantage of
 the Windows 95 features, things like Object Linking and Embedding (OLE 2.0) 
 -- a tool that allows in-place activation.  Here's one way in-place
 activation is applied:  Let's say you're working in WinFax and you receive
 a file in Microsoft Word.  You only have to click on that file and you can
 read it and work with it in Word without leaving WinFax.  Tools like plug-
 and-play and drag-and-drop make the software easy to use from the outset. 
 Get the software, plug it in, and you're up and running.  Using the
 software is as simple as dragging icons from one area of the screen and
 dropping them onto another.

         That's good news, because it means that with Delrina CommSuite, you
 can cruise Cyberspace without being a rocket scientist.  Cyberjack,
 Delrina's own program, built from scratch, hooks you onto the Internet as
 easily as plugging in a phone jack.  Cyberjack gives you everything you
 need to take advantage of all there is to offer on the Internet - without
 having to study a library full of books to get there. No more Internet for
 Dummies.

         There's a reason why Internet for Dummies is so popular, says Mike
 Brookbank, Delrina's Internet Product Manager.  "One of the principal
 problems with people using the Internet is that when they finally get
 there, it's like, 'Okay, I'm on.  But what do I do?"  Hooking onto the Net
 is like walking into the world's largest library and finding no card
 catalogue, no index, no order.  "It's a library where the books aren't even
 on shelves," he says.  "They're just tossed around in piles that are
 scattered around at a million different sites."  In short, it's a mess,
 borne of the fact that no one person or group is building the Internet. 
 More data gets added to it every day, and it's all just more stuff thrown
 onto the pile.

 On-line and Interactive
         So, Delrina has designed the Guidebook, a quick and easy travel
 guide to Cyberspace.  You can change your Guidebook as often as you like by
 downloading another version from Delrina's file server.  "The Guidebook is
 a pre-delivered collection of cool and interesting places on the Net, and
 the user just has to point and click," says Brookbank.  So, if you're
 interested in art, you click on the art section in the Guidebook and you'll
 see a choice of places to go -- maybe the Louvre in Paris, or the Royal
 Ontario Museum in Toronto.  Popular places like these now have what are
 called Web Pages -- files of information thrown into what's known as the
 World Wide Web, the portion of the Internet that's captured the attention
 of the popular press.

      But the Guidebook is more than just Web browsing.  It's best described
 in Star Trek terms: You know how, when Captain Kirk says, "Beam me up,
 Scotty," and suddenly he's no longer out fighting the Klingons, but back in
 his ship?  Well, that same idea has been built into Cyberjack.  You click
 on an icon in the Guidebook, and it might take you to a Web site, but it
 might also take you off the Web to an FTP site to retrieve a file, or a
 news group or perform a search by asking you a couple of questions. "It's
 like morphing," says Brookbank.  "You click on an icon and suddenly you're
 doing something  else."
      
         That's a hot new innovation.  "Ordinarily, when you're on the Web,

                                      19


 you can only go to another Web site," Brookbank explains.  "If you click on
 something else, the software would do its best to show you what's there,
 but it would only be an approximation.  In our application , we give all
 the tools you need, so when you click on a link to an FTP site, it actually
 takes you there."  That's in-place activation, and it's a key benefit  of
 Cyberjack that Brookbank says Delrina has "used to the max."  Cyberjack is
 also integrated with Microsoft's e-mail client, Exchange.  So, if you're
 scanning a news file on the Internet, and you want to send a message out at
 the same time, you can do that right from where you are.  You don't have to
 quit the Internet and open up the e-mail function. "You need that
 integration," says Brookbank. "It's something that has been very poorly
 done in the past, and it's something we do very well."

         Other Internet packages don't offer this level of integration, they
 don't give people access to everything on the Net, and they don't offer
 this same ability to cruise around in it live.  Nor do other services offer
 a quick and easy way of transferring files from the Internet onto your
 desktop.  In Cyberjack, transferring files is simple and easy. Let's say
 you've found the FTP site where Sotheby's keeps its catalogue of upcoming
 items for auction.  You want to keep that catalogue.  Simply drag the file
 name onto your desktop and the file is saved there as an icon.  But it's
 not just a text file, it's a live connection back onto the Net.  "The
 object contains all the information necessary to make the connection,"
 explains Brookbank.  "I click on it and it makes the phone calls, it makes
 the connection to the proper machine, and, there you are."    And the best
 part of Cyberjack is that now you can share the Internet, live, with
 someone else.  "There are some very cool things on the Internet that people
 are unaware of," says Albert Behr, "and one of them is Internet Relay
 Chat," or IRC. Delrina incorporates this tool in the Cyberback package, and
 strips away the complexity of it, so now, with a click of the mouse, you
 can send messages back and forth to other people on the Internet, live. 
 Soon IRC will include a voice option, so you can get on the Net in New York
 and link up with your buddy at the Moscow University and actually talk to
 him (if you both have voice-modems) "and guess what?" says Behr, "You're
 not paying any long-distance charges."

          If you want to hook into an on-line bulletin board service or even
 get your PC talking to another PC, WinComm PRO 7.0 will let you do it
 simply.  WinComm PRO offers a quick and easy way to get to on-line bulletin
 board services.  Plug in the disk, make a few clicks with the mouse, and
 you're on-line. Imagine this scenario.  Jane Smiley is a housewife who
 works from her home in Toronto as president of the local chapter of an
 international agency that wants cities to clean up toxic waste.  She uses
 WinComm PRO 7.0 to get to an on-line forum where she can share her
 experience with other like-minded people.

         This sort of thing has been possible before, but with one big
 drawback -- there was no live dimension to it.  The files you downloaded
 were just words on a screen. But with WinComm PRO 7.0, those icons on the
 screen behave like live objects, not just text.  This is another example of
 that tool called in-place activation.  Click on one of the icons and it
 brings you right back on-line.

         "It's like a short-cut to get back on-line," says Ashley Desatlik,
 program manager for WinComm.  "Instead of having to go into WinComm, open
 up the program, open up the session you want and click on that, you just
 click once and you're in.
  

                                      20


       And WinComm makes it easy for you to share the experience of being
 on-line, says Desatlik.  "You can download a file and send off an e-mail to
 your friend and say, 'Hey, Fred, check this out'."

         And WinComm also comes with virus detection that's activated with a
 simple click of the mouse.  With other on-line packages virus detection
 means quitting your application, opening up another program called PKUNZIP
 , and going through a bunch of complicated commands that unzip the file,
 then running another piece of software to check for any viruses WinComm PRO
 7.0
 not only lets you detect viruses on the fly, but it comes with an Image
 Manager that lets you download complicated graphics from a bulletin board
 service and watch the image unfold right on your screen as it's being
 retrieved.

         Delrina is operating on a higher level than other PC software
 developers.  "Asking what it is that people really want to do with their
 PCs, and creating a solid package that people would prefer to pay money for
 because they know it's going to be reliable, well-integrated, extremely
 capable and very simple to use.  That's what we're focusing on.  Nobody
 else is focusing on that," says Mark Skapinker.

         Adds Marc Camm, "Windows 95 is an excellent operating system. 
 While Windows 95 has basic fax and Internet hook-up features, Delrina's
 vision takes these capabilities to a new level -- where they're integrated
 in a much more significant way. Every application has to be robust and able
 to stand alone.  They have to be fully-functional.  It can't be a grab-bag
 of stuff."

         "There are many exciting things coming down the line in the very
 near future," says Rich Goldher director of Delrina s Voice/Telephony Labs. 
 "Right now, the two most important pieces of equipment a person uses are
 his PC and his phone.  These two pieces of equipment are going to be merged
 into one.  So, you'll no longer have a phone on your actual desktop, but
 the phone will be on your electronic desktop.  And the phone will no longer
 be a dumb instrument, but will have all the functionality of your
 computer."

         Imagine this.  Your PC is in your office in Toronto.  A customer
 from San Diego calls in with an urgent matter that needs attention. 
 Meanwhile, you're away on business in New York.  Your computer calls you in
 New York to say that Mr. Walters from San Diego is calling, and that he's
 holding for you on the other line.  You accept the call, and the computer
 patches Mr. Walters through to you.

              "That future isn't as far off as you might think".

         "In the future, your fax, your phone, even your computer   these
 will no longer be separate pieces of equipment, but their function will be
 built right into your PC.  So you, the user, will be removed from the
 burden of having to think about what type of message you're sending or
 receiving, and by what method, " says Marc Camm.

         "Our business is creating the best communications software and
 developing an environment for people to be productive," says Mark
 Skapinker.  "So, however the different pieces of hardware converge, Delrina
 will be there creating applications to make them work together simply.  Our
 vision is that you'll always be able to walk into a computer store, buy a

                                      21


 PC, some additional software, and then buy the latest version of Delrina's
 CommSuite software for all your communications needs."


        WebEdit 1.1 STR Spotlight





                   WebEdit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


 This documented is intended to answer the most frequently asked questions
 about WebEdit.  If you have questions not answered in this document, please
 send your administrative questions to our feedback department and technical
 questions to technical support.  Technical support is only available to
 registered users.

            The following questions are answered in this document:

                              What is WebEdit? 
                         What's New in Version 1.1? 
                         How Can I Register My Copy? 
                      What is the Most Current Version? 
                          Where Can I Get WebEdit? 
                                What is HTML? 
                What Web Browsers are Available for Windows? 
             What Other HTML Editors are Available for Windows? 
                        How Can I Test My HTML Code? 
              Where Can I Learn More About the World Wide Web? 

 What is WebEdit?

 WebEdit is a Windows-based text editor specifically designed to ease the
 editing of hypertext markup language (HTML) documents. Click here for a
 screenshot.

 WebEdit strives to be the best Windows-based HTML editor available.
 Specifically, we have tried to include support for every feature of every
 version of the HTML specification, from HTML version 1 through the current
 draft specification for HTML version 3 (aka HTML+), including optional
 features and special non-standard extensions supported by browsers such as
 NetScape.

 Note: HTML 3 is a moving target. However, as the standard evolves, we will
 release minor upgrades to WebEdit that support the current syntax.
 Additionally, you can add any elements you like with WebEdit's User-Defined
 Tags dialog.

 Moreover, WebEdit tries to make all of these features available in a
 consistent, well-organized fashion, with a minimum number of keystrokes,
 allowing you to create HTML documents as rapidly as possible.

 The current version of WebEdit offers the following features:

        MDI - WebEdit's rich, multiple-document interface (MDI) lets you work on
    up to ten different HTML documents simultaneously. WebEdit uses a very

                                      22


    consistent, very "Windows-like" interface, with standard menus,
    toolbars, tooltips, status bars, etc. 

        HTML Dialogs - WebEdit has specially designed dialog boxes for defining
    anchors and links, inline images and figures, forms, tables, etc.,
    including a URL Builder for rapid creation of Uniform Resource Locators.
    Additionally, WebEdit saves every URL you enter, letting you choose from
    a list rather than retyping the same URLs over and over. 

        Browser Support - Whatever Windows-based browser you use, you can link
    it into WebEdit to test your HTML documents at the click of a button. 

        Document Structure Elements - Document structure tags such as <HTML>,
    <HEAD>, <TITLE>, <BODY>, etc. are all supported, including HTML 3 and
    Netscape-specific attributes. 

        Block Formatting Elements - WebEdit supports all HTML block formatting
    tags, such as <ADDRESS>, <BLOCKQUOTE>, and <PRE>, plus HTML 3 extensions
    such as <NOTE> and NetScape-specific extensions such as <CENTER>. 

        Logical Font Formatting Elements - Every logical formatting tag and
    attribute from HTLM version 1 through HTLM version 3 is included, from
    standard tags such as code and citation, to new proposed tags such as
    person, acronym, etc. 

        Physical Font Formatting Elements - Blinking text, bold, italics,
    underlining, typewriter text, emphasis, strong emphasis, font sizing,
    etc. It's all in here. 

        List and Miscellaneous Elements - Select a block of text and choose
    Numbered List or Un-numbered List, and WebEdit automatically inserts
    list-item tags on each line. WebEdit also includes all standard
    insertion tags such as <P>, <HR>, <BR>, etc. 

        Special Characters - WebEdit includes support for the entire ISO Latin
    character set, allowing you to easily insert extended ANSI characters
    into your documents. WebEdit also includes support for special
    characters such as "<", ">", "&", non-breaking spaces, and more. 

        Form Elements - Create web forms quickly and easily with WebEdit's
    built-in Form support. 

        Table Elements - HTML 3 defines a new syntax for displaying tabular
    information. NetScape now supports this syntax and even extends it.
    WebEdit supports both the HTML 3 and extended NetScape syntax. To
    simplify the creation of HTML tables, WebEdit also includes a WYSIWYG
    table builder; you simply enter your data in a spreadsheet-style grid,
    and WebEdit writes the HTML for you. 

        User-Defined Elements - If there are any HTML tags or other text you
    enter regularly that are not already built-into WebEdit, you can add
    them to WebEdit's User-Defined Tags dialog box for easy insertion into
    your documents. You can even add filenames into the dialog box for
    larger "insertion macros". Selecting a filename in the User-Defined Tags
    dialog tells WebEdit to insert the contents of the file into the current
    document. 

        Non-standard tags and attributes - WebEdit includes support for non-

                                      23


    standard tags and attributes, such as those recognized by NetScape (font
    sizing, special image alignment, etc.) and those in the HTML version 3
    draft (tables, background images, etc.). These tags and attributes are
    ignored by most browsers, but are included in WebEdit in case you need
    them. HTML Removal - WebEdit lets you quickly and easily remove HTML
    tags from any document or portion of a document. Simply highlight the
    text from which to remove HTML tags, and click the Remove HTML Tags
    button. 

        Spell Checker - Correct the spelling of your documents directly within
    WebEdit using our new built-in spell checker. 
    
        Shortcut Keys - We have provided shortcut keys (e.g., Ctrl-B for
    Boldface) for all of the most common tags, allowing you to enter HTML
    codes in your documents as quickly as possible. 

        Floating Toolbars - If you prefer to use a mouse to enter HTML codes,
    WebEdit 1.1 provides floating toolbars for every class of HTML elements
    (e.g., table elements, block formatting elements, etc.), and a special
    floating toolbar that has buttons for the most commonly used HTML
    elements. 

        Tooltips - Every field on every dialog has popup tooltips that provide a
    brief explanation of the purpose or use of the field, reducing the
    amount of time you will spend looking things up. 

        Right-Click Menu - Right-clicking on any document pops up a menu that
    allows you to close or save the file, or choose from a list of the ten
    most common HTML tags to insert in your document. 

 Is WebEdit Free?

 WebEdit is shareware. This means it is not free. You may download WebEdit
 and evaluate it freely for up to 30-days. If you continue using WebEdit
 after the 30-day evaluation period, you are required to register it and pay
 the registration fee. For commercial and government use, the cost of
 registration is US$99.95. For educators, students, home users and not-for-
 profit organizations, we offer a discounted registration fee of US$49.95.
 By registering your copy of WebEdit, you will receive several benefits.

 We have worked very hard to bring you what we feel is a world-class HTML
 editor. Without your support, we cannot continue to enhance WebEdit. Please
 make sure you register your copy of WebEdit if you plan to continue using
 it.

 What's New in Version 1.1?

 WebEdit version 1.1 has all of the features of WebEdit 1.0, plus:

        All the rest of HTML 3 

        WYSIWYG Table Builder 

        Spell checker 

        Floating toolbars 

        Tooltips on all toolbar buttons and dialog box fields 

                                      24



        New enhanced right-click popup menu 

        Many editing enhancements

 In addition, WebEdit 1.1 has been rigorously beta tested to ensure that it
 is completely stable under Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT
 and Windows 95.

 How Can I Register My Copy?

 You can register by telephone, fax or post at the following address:

                             KnowledgeWorks, Inc.
                      2251 San Diego Avenue, Suite A-141
                             San Diego, CA 92110
                                     USA

                            Phone: (619) 220-8026
                             Fax: (619) 220-8324

 Do not call KnowledgeWorks for technical support unless you are a
 registered user.  The cost of registration is US$99.95 per license for
 standard commercial and government users. If you are a student, a school, a
 home user or a not-for-profit organization, you may register for a
 discounted fee of $49.95. You may pay your registration fee by check or
 money order (US funds only please), or by Visa or MasterCard. Please call
 us for information about site-licensing discounts.

 What Benefits Does Registration Offer?

 Registration offers the following benefits:

        Access to WebEdit's advanced features, including: 

        Spell-checker 

        WYSIWYG table builder 

        Floating toolbars 

        No more nag screen (this screen does not appear until after the 30-day
    evaluation period) 

        A complete Help file, including HTML tutorial and reference 

        Free online technical support 

        Automatic notification of product upgrades 

        Free minor version upgrades 

        Discounts on major version upgrades 

 Most importantly, your WebEdit registrations are what allow us to continue
 upgrading the product. Developing this product takes time and money and we
 cannot do it without your support. 


                                      25


 What is the Most Current Version?

 The most current version of WebEdit is 1.1. You can download the current
 version of WebEdit here.  By registering WebEdit, you can help ensure the
 release of WebEdit version 2.0, which should include the following
 enhancements:

        Large Documents - One of the most important features we plan to add to
    version 2.0 is the ability to edit HTML documents larger than 32K. 

        Long Filenames - Because version 2.0 will be a 32-bit Windows 95/Windows
    NT program, it will include support for Windows 95 features such as long
    filenames (e.g., MyVeryOwnHomePage.HTML). 

        Import/Export - Rich Text Format (RTF) import and export, plus a
    document template for Microsoft Word for Windows will provide an easy
    way to convert your HTML documents to word processing documents or Help
    files, or turn your Word documents into HTML pages.

        Multi-level Undo - Multi-level undo will allow you to correct those
    accidental insertions and deletions. 

        Document Wizards - WebEdit 2.0 will include Wizards to help you create
    complex document sections such as forms and tables even faster. 

        Document Templates - Create your own boilerplate documents for a fill-
    in-the-blanks approach to HTML document creation. 

 Your Suggestions - Are there any features or shortcuts you'd like us to add
 to WebEdit? Let us know about them so we can continue to make WebEdit the
 easiest, most powerful HTML editor available. 

 Where Else Can I Get WebEdit?

 In addition to the web site shown above, you can also get WebEdit by
 anonymous ftp at ftp://ftp.thegroup.net/ in the directory /WebEdit.  If you
 are in Europe, WebEdit is available by anonymous ftp at ftp.demon.co.uk in
 the directory /pub/ibmpc/windows/webedit.  Other WebEdit locations will be
 listed here as they become available.

 What is HTML?

 HTML, hypertext markup language, is a relatively standardized hypertext
 page description language, primarily used for creating hypertext pages for
 the World Wide Web (WWW).

 Before you begin using WebEdit, you should have an understanding of HTML
 fundamentals. If you already know the basics, you will find that using
 WebEdit will help you learn HTML more thoroughly because it does much of
 the work for you, letting you choose HTML tags from menus and toolbars, and
 offering the attributes appropriate to each tag in dialog boxes.

 Here are some useful places to learn more about HTML:

 Introductory Documents

 A Beginner's Guide to HTML 
 How to Write HTML Files 

                                      26


 Introduction to HTML 

 Style Guides

 Composing Good HTML 
 CERN's style guide for online hypertext 

 Reference Documents

 The HTML Quick Reference Guide 
 The Official HTML Specification 
 A Description of SGML 
 Mosaic for X 2.0 Fill-Out Form Support 
 NetScape Extensions to HTML 

 What Other HTML Editors are Available for Windows?

 Our goal is to help you create the best HTML documents as easily as
 possible. In addition to writing the best possible program we can, that
 also means making it easy for you to find other HTML editors so you can
 choose the one that best suits your needs.  We invite you to evaluate the
 other commercial and shareware Windows HTML editors. We think you'll find
 that WebEdit compares favorably.

 The following sites offer independent reviews of the various Windows HTML
 editors: 

 http://www.interaccess.com/users/cdavis/edit_rev.html 
 http://gfecnet.gmi.edu/Software/softhtm.html 
 http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~neuroses/html.html 
 http://www.kosone.com/people/nelsonl/review.htm

 If you know of an editor that you think is better than WebEdit, we would
 like to hear about it. Please send us email with the name of the editor,
 where we can find it, and why you prefer it over WebEdit.

 How Can I Test My HTML Code?

 There are several HTML validation services on the Web. These can not only
 help you spot problems in your documents, but they can also help you learn
 to write better HTML documents. Here are a few we have seen:

 WebLint 
 HAL Software Systems HTML Validation Service 

 Where Can I Learn More About the World Wide Web?

 For those of you who would like to learn more about the Internet and the
 World Wide Web, including how it works and what resources are available, we
 strongly recommend the following books:


 The Internet Complete Reference

 The Internet Complete Reference is one of the most comprehensive and fun-
 to-read books ever written about the Internet. This book provides thorough
 and clear explanations of the Net and its various resources, including
 Usenet, mail, the world wide web, gopher, telnet, wais, archie, etc.

                                      27


                             Author: Harley Hahn
                        Publisher: Osborne McGraw-Hill
                            ISBN #: 0-07-881980-6
                               Price: US$29.95 

 The Internet Yellow Pages

 If there is a "roadmap" for the Internet, this is it. The Internet Yellow
 Pages, Second Edition is indispensable when it comes to finding and
 accessing what's on the Net. This book contains well over 5,000 entries. We
 strongly encourage everyone who uses the Internet, from beginner to
 advanced user, to pick up a copy of this book.

                     Authors: Harley Hahn and Rick Stout
                        Publisher: Osborne McGraw-Hill
                            ISBN #: 0-07-882098-7
                               Price: US$29.95

 Most recent revision: July 27, 1995

 Copyright   1995, Nesbitt Software
 All Rights Reserved 

              Kenn Nesbitt's WebEdit 1.1 HTML Editor for Windows

 Nesbitt Software introduces a powerful new upgrade to the most complete
 Windows-based editor for World Wide Web hypertext documents.  Nesbitt
 Software announces the availability of Kenn Nesbitt's WebEdit 1.1, a
 Microsoft Windows-based hypertext markup language (HTML) editor designed
 for rapid creation and easy maintenance of World Wide Web (WWW) documents.
 Created by internationally recognized Windows and Internet expert Kenn
 Nesbitt, WebEdit 1.0 was widely acclaimed as the best HTML editor available
 for the Windows platform. According to Harley Hahn, co-author of the number
 one best-selling computer book The Internet Yellow Pages and author of The
 Internet Complete Reference, "WebEdit is the program against which all
 other hypertext editors should be measured. I love WebEdit. Like all great
 tools, it helps me do what I want without getting in my way."

 WebEdit's clean, well-organized interface makes it the perfect tool for
 HTML beginners. And unlike other HTML editors, WebEdit does not skimp on
 power or flexibility. Designed for use by HTML experts, WebEdit 1.1
 provides support for every feature of HTML, including HTML levels 1, 2 and
 3, and even special language extensions such as those recognized by the
 Netscape Web browser.

 WebEdit 1.1 provides complete support the draft specification for HTML 3.
 According to Rick Stout, co-author of The Internet Yellow Pages and author
 of the forthcoming World Wide Web Complete Reference, "WebEdit is an
 exciting new editor that allows you to work in an organized, uncluttered
 environment. Of the many Web authoring tools I have looked at, WebEdit is
 the most compliant with the HTML 3 specification."

 Among it's many new features are support for HTML 3 inline figures,
 mathematical formulae, tabs, banners, admonishments, and more. WebEdit's
 powerful URL builder helps you construct uniform resource locators for
 hypertext links to Internet resources, and a new WYSIWYG table builder
 creates HTML 3 tables for you; simply enter your data into a spreadsheet-
 style grid, and let WebEdit write the HTML code. Using WebEdit's Custom

                                      28


 Tags dialog, you can define your own tags to quickly enter often-repeated
 sections of text. Floating toolbars provide single-click support for every
 tag in HTML. With new "Easy Links" and "Easy Images" windows, you can drag-
 and-drop inline images and hypertext links right into your documents. And
 WebEdit's new built-in spelling checker helps you make your pages letter
 perfect.

 WebEdit 1.1 is published by KnowledgeWorks, Inc. as shareware and can be
 downloaded from http://wwwnt.thegroup.net/webedit/webedit.htm for a free 30
 day evaluation. The registration fee is US$99.95 for business use, and
 US$49.95 for educational users, home users, and not-for-profit
 organizations.

                 WebEdit is a trademark of Nesbitt Software. 

 CONTACT:
                             KnowledgeWorks, Inc.
                       2251 San Diego Ave., Suite A-141
                             San Diego, CA 92110
                                (619) 220-8026
                              (619) 220-8324 Fax
                        Internet: webedit@thegroup.net
                             CompuServe: 76100,57



        OS/2 WARP STR FOCUS!                    NEW!  WARP COVERAGE!!        



 By Mike Restivo

 Hello, and welcome to the beginning of IBM's OS/2 Warp coverage right here
 in Silicon Times Report. This column will not only
 contain news and reviews of OS/2 applications, but also hints and tips on
 how to get the most out of your OS/2 system. Since some
 people either think that OS/2 has no future or it's technically inferior to
 other operating systems, I'll try to stay away from
 those arguments and let the facts speak for themselves. 

 If you're not familiar with OS/2 Warp, take the next few minutes to read
 over these few questions to learn a little more about it.

 Ok, let's begin!


 What is OS/2 Warp?

 OS/2 Warp is IBM's award winning operating system aimed at a large variety
 of computer systems, including desktop PC's and
 client/server systems.  OS/2 Warp is the third major release of OS/2. It is
 a powerful, 32-bit operating system which delivers what you need: 
 Compatibility, performance, value, reliability, and ease-of-use.

 What do I get when I buy OS/2 Warp?

 Currently, there are two types of OS/2 available: OS/2 Warp and OS/2 Warp
 Connect. OS/2 Warp Connect is OS/2 Warp plus a complete connectivity

                                      29


 solution, all in one box. OS/2 Warp Fullpack and Warp Connect Fullpack,
 versions with a Blue-spine box, include Win-OS/2 code, which provides
 compatibility with Windows programs; a Red-spine version does not include
 Win-OS/2 code, so it relies on existing Windows software to provide
 compatibility with Windows applications. All versions of OS/2 come with DOS
 compatibility. 

 In addition to this, every copy of OS/2 Warp and Warp Connect comes with a
 BonusPak. This collection of software includes:

 Communication software:
 Internet Connection (a.k.a. Internet Access Kit or IAK), Compuserve
 Information Manager, and HyperAccess Lite Multimedia: Person 2 Person,
 Multimedia Viewer, and Video In 

 IBM Works:
  Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Charting, Database,  Report Writer, Personal
 Information Manager (PIM)  

 FaxWorks

 System Information Tool

 As if this was not enough, OS/2 Warp Connect comes with TCP/IP for OS/2 and
 IBM's WebExplorer, plus additional software for your network.  Of course,
 with every version of OS/2 Warp, you have the best support and customer
 service in the industry, courtesy of IBM.

 What kind of system do I need to run OS/2 Warp?

 IBM says OS/2 Warp will run on a 386-SX or higher computer with 4 Megabytes
 of RAM. While this is true, OS/2 runs a lot better with 8 MB of RAM.  In
 addition, you need at least 55 MB of free hard disk space for OS/2 Warp
 (Red-spine, no Win-OS/2 code); closer to 75 MB for Warp Fullpack with Win-
 OS/2 code (Blue-spine); and at least 100 MB for Warp Connect.  OS/2 Warp
 installs off either an almost countless number of floppy disks (3.5") or a
 CD. 

 Other system requirements include VGA or better graphics support, an IBM-
 compatible mouse, and Multimedia-ready system for sound support.  To use
 the communications software provided, make sure you have a 9600 baud or
 faster modem, and lots of extra hard disk space.  (While the hard disk
 space is not required, you'll soon find yourself up at 3 a.m. downloading
 megabytes of files while reading Usenet newsgroups.)

 Ok, cut to the chase: Is OS/2 for me?

 OS/2 Warp will let you run virtually all your DOS and Windows programs, but
 that's only half the fun. OS/2 Warp also will run
 any of the thousands of native OS/2 programs. While they may not be as easy
 to find as your generic DOS/Windows application, when you find a good one,
 the advantages of OS/2 are clear.

 Microsoft, and a large number of developers for Windows, are moving away
 from Windows 3.x programs and toward the Win32
 platform. (Both Windows 95 and Windows NT run Win32 applications.) The
 problem is that there are few Win32 programs
 out there, but lots on the horizon. 

                                      30


 While you can compare the technical aspects of operating systems until the
 cows come home, the choice really boils down to
 software. Is there any immediate need to upgrade all your programs to their
 next versions? Do you want to continue to use
 the same programs you have, but updated for a new operating system?  If so,
 Windows 95 will probably be your best choice. 

 If you're not so sure about upgrading your software, but you do want to
 take advantage of the cutting-edge features in current
 operating systems, take a good long look at OS/2.  More and more companies
 are starting simultaneous development of Win32 and OS/2 versions of their
 software; combine this with OS/2's already large selection of software, and
 when you finally decide to
 upgrade your programs, chances are there will be an OS/2 program that will
 fit the bill.


  A Round of Applause...            ...as OS/2 Warp wins yet another award. 

 OS/2 WARP NUMBER ONE IN USER SATISFACTION

 The July 1995 special issue of PC Magazine names OS/2 Warp as the number
 one operating system for user satisfaction in their annual Reader Support
 and Satisfaction Survey.


 OS/2 Tip Of The Week

 If you are familiar with OS/2's Drag 'n' Drop mouse/keyboard combinations,
 add the line SET MENUSTYLE = SHORT to your
 config.sys file. When you right-click on any object, the list of menu
 choices does not include the Copy, Create Another, Create
 Shadow, Move, Delete, and other options. 

 Conversely, if you are a novice to OS/2, or are not comfortable with using
 the mouse/keyboard combinations to work with objects,
 add SET MENUSTYLE = LONG to your config.sys file. (This is the default.) In
 the end, it's all a matter of personal preference,
 and OS/2 lets you configure the Workplace Shell to work for you.

                      A first look at... OS/2 Essentials
                             by Stardock Systems

 As the name implies, OS/2 Essentials contains a number of programs which no
 OS/2 user should be without. You get DirMaster,
 an advanced file manager; Screen Saver 2.0; Roids, an arcade game; Filebar,
 a Launchpad replacement; and File Graph/PM. All
 this for only around $24.95.

       Contact Stardock Systems at (313) 453-0328; fax: (313) 453-1480;
        email: wardell@ibm.com; or WWW: http://oeonline.com/~stardock


 That's all for now. There will be lots more to come in the future,
 including in-depth reviews and previews of OS/2 software.
 Please direct any feedback to either our editor or, directly to me at the
 email address mike.restivo@streport.com


                                      31




             A T T E N T I O N A T T E N T I O N A T T E N T I O N

                  FARGO PRIMERA PRO COLOR PRINTERS - 600DPI
 For a limited time only; If you wish to have a FREE sample printout sent to
 you  that  demonstrates FARGO Primera & Primera Pro SUPERIOR QUALITY 600dpi
 24  bit  Photo Realistic Color Output, please send a Self Addressed Stamped
 Envelope [SASE] (business sized envelope please) to:
                       STReport's Fargo Printout Offer
                                P.O. Box 6672
                       Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155

 Folks,  the FARGO Primera Pro has GOT to be the best yet.  Its far superior
 to  the newest of Color Laser Printers selling for more than three times as
 much.   Its said that ONE Picture is worth a thousand words.  Send for this
 sample  now.  Guaranteed you will be amazed at the superb quality. (please,
 allow at least a one week turn-around)


            A T T E N T I O N A T T E N T I O N A T T E N T I O N

                                 
                            ___   ___    _____     _______
                           /___| /___|  /_____|  /_______/
                          /____|/____| /__/|__| /__/           
                         /_____|_____|/__/_|__|/__/
                        /__/|____/|__|________|__/
                       /__/ |___/ |__|_/   |__|_/_____
                      /__/  |__/  |__|/    |__|______/
                  ________________________________________
                 /_______________________________________/


 MAC/APPLE SECTION                       John Deegan, Editor (Temp)


     USR NEWS! STR FOCUS!


                       US Robotics ISDN MODEM NewsLines


 The I-Team is a subset of USR's Customer Support department that is
 dedicated to providing you assistance with all aspects of getting your I-
 modem up and running. The I-Team provides the following services: 

        Determining the availability of ISDN service to your location. 

        Determining installation and monthly service charges. 

        Determining lead time for installation. 

        Offering contact information for ISDN service providers. 

        Making the above information publicly available. 



                                      32


        Coordinating with your ISDN service provider to make sure the line is
    set up correctly. 

        Informing you of the correct I-modem settings for your ISDN line. 

 Whom Should I Contact?

 For pre- and post-sales ISDN line ordering information, and technical
 support for a purchased I-modem, call the I-Team at (800) 550 7800 between
 8 am and 6 pm Central Time or send Internet e-mail to support@usr.com. 

 For I-modem literature, pricing, and availability information, call the USR
 sales department at (800) USR CORP. 

 How Do I Get Detailed Information? 

 The information presented in this document is publicly available by the
 following means: 

                       USR Fax-on-Demand 800 762-6163 
                            USR BBS 708 982-5092 
                      World-Wide Web http://www.usr.com 

 ISDN Ordering Information for the I-modem.  ISDN Service Provider
 Information

 Ameritech
 Bell Atlantic
 Cincinnati Bell
 GTE 
 NYNEX
 Pacific Bell 
 Rochester Tel 
 Southern Bell 
 Southern New England Telephone (SNET) 
 Southwestern Bell 
 Stentor (Canada) 
 US West 

                             I-modem Requirements
                                  USR I-Team

 This document is intended to help you order your ISDN lines appropriately
 for the I-modem. This document lists all the requirements for the I-modem
 that your ISDN service provider should observe when setting up your ISDN
 line. 

 Physical Interface 

        ISDN Direct BRI service 

        2B1Q line coding with the D channel used only for signaling 

        Support for V.120/I.463 rate adaptation at 64kbps/56kbps or V.110/I.462
    rate adaptation 


 Line and Channel Configuration 

                                      33


 Line and channel configuration for the I-modem with Integrated NT-1 and
 analog device jack: 

        Minimum - 2 B channels: 1 that supports circuit switched voice and data
    (CSV/D) call types and 1 that supports circuit switched voice (CSV) call
    types. (NIIG Line set 12.) 

        Recommended - 2 B channels, both supporting circuit switched voice and
    data (CSV/D) call types. (NIIG Line set 17.) 

 Line and channel configuration for I-modems without an analog device jack: 

        Minimum - 1 B channel that supports circuit switched voice and data
    (CSV/D) call types. (NIIG Line set 4.) 
    
        Recommended - 2 B channels, both supporting circuit switched voice and
    data (CSV/D) call types. (NIIG Line set 17.) 

 General Requirements 

        Multipoint Attachment / Data line option (MP) 
    
        Automatic/Dynamic TEI assignments 
    
        No EKTS or CACH EKTS services 
    
        No B or D channel packetized (X.25) data 
    
        An RJ45/RJ61X or RJ11 connector 
    
        Terminal Type A 
    
        No additional / multiple call appearances 
    
        No flexible calling features or buttons for voice such as Automatic
    callback, Call forwarding / hold / conferencing / pickup, CNI / Caller
    ID, or Multiline hunt groups. 

 Provide This Information to Your ISDN Service Provider 

        Name, address, and current telephone number 

        Billing address (if different than above) 

        Installation address (if different than above) 

        Major intersection near the installation site 

        Indicate whether it's a business or residential ISDN installation 

        Preferred long distance carrier 

        Whether you'd like listed or unlisted ISDN Directory numbers 

        Whether any inside wiring is required ISDN physical information, line
    configuration, and general requirements (from the top of this page). 

 Get This Information from Your ISDN Service Provider 

                                      34


        1 Directory number (DN) per B channel 

        1 Service profile identifier (SPID) per B channel 

        CO switch type and call control protocol, either National ISDN-1: AT&T
    5ESS Standard, Northern Telecom DMS-100 "Standard" (PVC 2), Siemens EWDS
    Standard, or other NI-1 OR Custom: AT&T 5ESS "Custom" or Northern
    Telecom DMS-100 "Custom"  PVC 0) OR National ISDN-2 

 Cost for installation which would include initial service order, connection
 charge, and/or premise visit charge, wiring charge etc.  Monthly cost for
 local and long distance usage (tariff) and Installation date and circuit
 number 





      ATARI/JAG SECTION                       Dana Jacobson, Editor

      
        From the Atari Editor's Desk                                            
                    "Saying it like it is!"
  

 We have a lot of news and information for you this week.  It's seems,
 lately, that I've either been at a loss for words (really
 unusual!), or running out of time late in the week to really fulfill my
 editorial responsibilities to put forth my opinions in this space.

 Well, another week has swept past and I find myself in another similar
 situation!  It's been hectic here again - it seems like time
 is something that's not always something any of us has a surplus these
 days.

 Let me just say that interesting news is included this week.  Missionware
 Software had a successful launch of its latest version of
 Flash II - Version 3.00.  Check out the information about this new upgrade. 
 You're going to want to upgrade, or buy the program outright!

 Some interesting tidbits from the Internet, as well.  So, let's move
 forward and see what's happening this week.  I promise I'll try
 and force myself to put some time aside and put some thoughts together to
 get you thinking.
      
      Until next time...


                          Delphi's Atari Advantage!!

                          TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (8/2/95)
                                                                            
           (1) MEMWATCH 4           (6) CD_LIST UPDATE - JULY 1995*     
           (2) EASY MONEY 1.0       (7) DIAMOND EDGE PATCH -> V2.03   
           (3) IN-TOUCH 1.52        (8) FLASH II 2.23 UPGRADE          
           (4) MARIANT 1.0          (9) ATARI COMMUNITY EMAIL LIST*     
           (5) HCOPY 1.6S           (10) OCR V.1.4 (MAY, 1995)*


                                      35


                                                                            
                    * = New on list       HONORARY TOP 10
                                                                            
     The following on-line magazines are always top downloads, frequently
               out-performing every other file in the databases.
                                                                            
                   ST REPORT (Current issue: STREPORT 11.30
        ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE (Current issue: AEO: VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5)
          Look for the above files in the RECENT ARRIVALS database.


        Flash II, Version 3.00! STR InfoFile!  Version 3.00 Now Shipping!
  

                         FLASH II VERSION 3.00 SHIPS!

 FROM:
 MISSIONWARE SOFTWARE
 354 N. Winston Drive
 Palatine, Illinois   60067-4132
 United States of America
 phone 708-359-9565


 Missionware Software is pleased to announce the release of version 3.00 of
 Flash II.  This is our seventh update and is our all-new
 multitasking version!  Flash II originally went up for sale in April of
 1992.  Version 3.00 adds a number of new features, as highlighted
 below.

        Flash II is the update to the most popular Atari ST telecommunications
    program ever!  It's available exclusively from Missionware Software and
    at an affordable price!  Flash II is completely rewritten by Paul
    Nicholls of Clayfield, Australia.  It's easy and fast to use for the
    telecommunications beginner or pro!

        What's so new and good about Flash II version 3.0?  The following list
    highlights a few of the many changes that will make your on line time
    even better:

        Flash II is now fully multitasking capable.  The program easily
    multitasks under such operating systems as MultiTOS? (trademark of Atari
    Corporation) and Geneva? (trademark of Gribnif  Software).  

        All elements of the program are now contained within GEM windows
    including both editors and the terminal.  That means that Flash II can,
    by itself, do all file transfers in the background.

        A new Auto Learn DO function is included that makes making logon and
    other navigation scripts easy and automatic.

        A new menu structure is used in version 3.00 that confirms more rigidly
    to the official Atari standard.

        Version 3.0 includes 2 editors!  One editor is specifically  designed to
    be used as a capture buffer (just like the old editor) while the other
    is designed to be used as a type ahead window or command window (or
    both).  While these editor functions are dedicated to a specific use

                                      36


    while online, you can use them as separate editors while off line for
    any text editing purpose you desire.

        The Atari standard clipboard is now supported in 3.0 meaning that you
    can easily cut and paste text between both windows or between Flash II
    and other applications.

 A new Edit menu replaces the old Block menu and includes all standard
 editing functions, such as Cut, Copy and Paste.

 A new Window menu permits easy control over access to the windows.

 Default transfer paths can now be saved!

 Automatic saving of capture after logoff is now included.

 A mini-BBS function is now included!

 There are many more new features to Flash II version 3.0 too. 

 Other features of Flash II include:

        Fully Falcon030 compatible!

        Enhanced DEC VT Terminal emulations including the ability to swap the
    functions of the Delete and Backspace keys for conformance to standard
    DEC terminals.

        Enhanced ANSI terminal and graphics.  Blinking characters are now
    supported in version 3.00.

        Full support for all Atari serial ports on TT030 and MegaSTe as well as
    baud rates up to 153600.

        Terminal mode now displays either the real time clock or a timer.  

        DO script files compatible with older versions of Flash!

        All macros use the familiar Flash DO script format!

        Easily setup the parameters for each BBS you call...this includes
    everything from ASCII upload/download options to baud rate!

        You can program up to 20 individual and separate macros for each BBS
    plus an additional 10 global macros !

        Displays RLE & GIF pictures either on or off line!  You can also save or
    load these pictures for later review!

        Supports the following terminal types:  TTY, VIDTEX, VT52, ANSI, VT100,
    VT101, VT102, VT200, VT300 & PRESTEL.

        Includes full support for RTS/CTS.  This mode can now be turned on and
    off by the user.

        Includes Automatic Answer mode!

        Includes Auto Boards mode - Preselect the board(s) you wish to dial and

                                      37


    when Flash II is launched either manually from the desktop by you, or
    automatically by some other program launcher, Flash II will wakeup and
    dial the board(s) you've got selected.  It will also wait for the proper
    time to dial these boards.

        Supports the ST, IBM and DEC character sets, including IBM/ANSI graphics
    characters!

        Supports the following upload/download protocols: ASCII, Xmodem, Ymodem,
    Ymodem-G, Zmodem, Modem7, WXmodem, CIS B, Kermit and SEAlink!  And all
    of these protocols are built into the program...no external modules
    required!!!

        Zmodem supports the selection of AutoStart and Streaming  options.  If
    you prefer to use an external Zmodem protocol with  Flash II, you can
    now force Flash II's Zmodem autostart mode to off.  For BBS' that don't
    support "streaming", this too can now be turned  off.

        Logs all on line time and calculates your approximate costs for you!

        New version written in assembler!  Fast!

        Runs on all ST, STe, TT030 and Falcon computers!

        Supports "Install Application".  You can create a DO script that can be
    used to launch Flash II from the desktop and force it to dial up and go
    online for you, all automatically!

        Missionware  Software's  upgrade  policy  remains  the  same for the new
    Version  3.00!    We  will continue to upgrade any old version of Flash!
    (copyright  Antic  Software)  for  just  $35  US,  plus  $4 shipping and
    handling  (US and Canada), $8 worldwide.  Or, you can purchase Flash II,
    version 3.00 outright, for only $59.95 US plus the shipping and handling
    charges applicable to your area.  

        You  can  also  upgrade  any  old version of Flash II to our new version
    3.00.    We're  offering  an  "Easy Budget" upgrade which includes a new
    program disk and a short 40+ page manual.  This manual describes the new
    features  found  in  3.00.    (Your old Flash II manual suffices for all
    other  program  information.)    The cost of this upgrade is $15 plus $3
    shipping and handling ($6 worldwide).

        For  those  of  you  that  want or need our all-new, fully updated, 3.00
    manual,  you  can purchase our "Full Upgrade" which includes the new 250
    page  manual  and program disk.  The cost of this upgrade is $30 plus $4
    shipping and handling ($8 worldwide).

 To order, or for more information, contact:

                             Missionware Software
                             354 N. Winston Drive
                          Palatine, IL   60067-4132
                           United States of America

                              phone 708-359-9565




                                      38


     The Recipe Box! STR InfoFile! - The Leader in Recipe Storage Systems!
  

                              The Recipe Box 5.0


 In May of 1992, Mountain Software introduced The Recipe Box to the Atari ST
 community. Since that time, the program has been through numerous
 revisions, and has been ported to the Commodore Amiga and Apple Macintosh.
 Now, more than a year since the last revision, we are happy to announce the
 arrival of The Recipe Box 5.0 for the
 Atari ST! 

 Rather than trying to build on old technology, we completely rewrote
 version 5.0 from the ground up. The result being a more
 compact, more reliable, and more flexible application.

 One of our primary goals in version 5.0 was to make the program even easier
 to use, and the new button bar was the first step towards that goal. You
 can now jump effortlessly between all sections of the program instead of
 quitting back to the main menu for every task. In addition, we cleaned up
 most menus in the program by switching to context sensitive mouse response.
 Now right clicking an object will bring up the appropriate editor for that
 object.

 By eliminating unneeded buttons in the index menu, we were able to increase
 chapter titles to 24 characters, and record titles to 50
 characters. This means that you will now have more room for those recipes
 with long titles!

 In addition, we added a new "information" record type. This new record type
 lets you store up to 5 pages of 80 column text in each
 record. The possibilities this new record type opens up are enormous. These
 include simple uses such as storing nutritional
 information or cooking tips, up to entirely new uses for The Recipe Box
 such as personal information managers, diaries, address books, song/poetry
 books, family histories, inventories, etc.

 New database structures allowed us to increase storage capacity to over
 65000 chapters with 2000 records in each chapter. And, new
 loading routines mean nearly instantaneous chapter loading.

 The internal text editors have been greatly improved to be faster, more
 feature filled, and easier to use than previous versions.

 The recipe import formats have been enhanced, and we've added additional
 formats, including "Mastercook II" and the "Usenet
 Cookbook". Recipes that do not adhere to recognized formats may be imported
 easily using the manual import feature. And, any text file may be imported
 as an information record for easy management within The Recipe Box.

 As with earlier versions, recipe records may be exported directly in the
 latest "Meal-Master" format for easy recipe exchange
 with other users. And information records are easily exported for use with
 other software.

 The accuracy of the print routines has been greatly improved, and now
 supports multiple print formats including various notebook

                                      39


 sizes, 3x5 cards, and 4x6 cards.

 The new grocery menu has undergone many improvements to improve the speed
 of the database, and to make preparing grocery lists even easier.  A new
 "Locate" feature allows you to quickly find the item you are looking for
 even when there are many items with similar descriptions.  The grocery item
 editor now includes a "Staple" field for automatically inserting those
 items you buy on a frequent basis. In addition, any changes made to an item
 in the item list are reflected in both the item and grocery lists.

 The shopping list created by the grocery manager has been improved to be
 more readable, and more compact than previous versions.

 The old Meal Manager of previous versions has been replaced with a new
 Calendar Menu. This new menu features a full graphic calendar and an easy
 to understand event list. Any record in the database can be attached to any
 date on the calendar, or simply drag a record to the calendar to attach it
 to the current date. Personal notes may be entered on any date in the
 calendar as well.

 There is no limit on the number of events you may store in the calendar,
 and you may place as many events on a single day as you
 wish. In addition, events will be retained for as long as you wish, though
 outdated events are easily removed when you desire it. Or,
 simply drag the event to a new date on the calendar.  The batch menu allows
 you to select any of your desired records for printing or exporting.

 The new "Find" menu allows you to search the entire database for records
 matching your search string. The complete text or the titles only of each
 record may be searched depending on your needs. The results of each search
 are maintained so that you can quickly view multiple records that match
 your searches.

 The new graphical user interface is now much more configurable, and
 includes the ability to use up to 16 colors if your system supports it.
 Virtually every aspect of the interface is user selectable, and a number of
 presets are available to get you started.

 A new help system is built-in providing instant access to the program
 documentation, from any point in the program. The help
 system features a hypertext style document allowing quick access to any
 part of the text.

 A new statistics display makes it easy to determine the program version,
 the registered owner, the number of records stored in the database, the
 free memory available, etc.

 The Recipe Box runs on all Atari ST, TT, and Falcon computers with 1 Meg or
 more of RAM. A hard drive is highly recommended.

 GDOS/SpeedoGDOS is required for all printing functions. The program runs in
 color or monochrome in any resolution of 640x200 or greater (ST Medium, ST
 High, or greater).

 The Recipe Box lists for $45.00 and is available through better Atari
 dealers. Or, you may order directly from Mountain Software at:

                              Mountain Software

                                      40


                           6911 NE Livingston Road
                        Camas, Washington  98607   USA

                   Check or Money order in US Funds only! 
           Shipping is free in the US and Canada, $5.00 elsewhere. 
          Residents of Washington State, please add 7.6% sales tax.

 Registered users of any previous version may upgrade to version 5.0 for
 only $20, by sending a copy of your receipt, or a photocopy of your master
 disk.  Users who have purchased older versions on or after June 1, 1995 may
 receive a FREE update by sending a copy of your sales receipt showing the
 purchase date.  Questions regarding The Recipe Box may be directed to the
 following E-mail addresses, and a demo version should be available at most
 of these sites soon.

                               GEnie: A.WATSON6
                        Internet: awatson@pacifier.com
                      Internet: a.watson6@genie.geis.com
                    WWW: http://www.pacifier.com/~awatson
                   FTP: ftp.pacifier.com/pub/users/awatson
         Bear Cavern BBS: (360) 573-2054  (E-mail to Anthony Watson)
                      Postal Service: Mountain Software
                           6911 NE Livingston Road
                        Camas, Washington  98607  USA












        Pysgham! STR InfoFile!         "Virtual Drives" On the ST!



  Pysgham v1.50

                            S  T   e   c   t   r  e
                                   presents
                        P    y    s    g    h    a    m


 Virtual drives have been rather common in the ST range of computers. 
 Pysgham will also add sort of virtual drives to your machine but unlike RAM
 disks the new drives will correspond to folders in other real drives. If
 you for example have a much used folder on drive D such as:
 D:\WP\TEXT\LETTER\ then with Pysgham you can install a new drive (for ex
 H:) corresponding to D:\WP\TEXT\LETTER\. When installed by Pysgham you can
 access drive H:  as any other normal drive ,but the files/folder displayed
 in H: will be the one in D:\WP\TEXT\LETTER\. As an example H:\*.* will
 equal D:\WP\TEXT\LETTER\*.* ,and H:\TEST\*.*  will equal
 D:\WP\TEXT\LETTER\TEST\*.*


                                      41


 You will now no longer need to select the directory D:\WP\TEXT\LETTER\ but
 only need to click on drive H. And still data can be saved/loaded, program
 ran, file copying etc. all can be performed just as normal!

 Up to eight different drives of this kind might be installed at once by
 Pysgham. As drives installed by Pysgham will (normally)
 correspond to real drives therefore data saved on them will naturally not
 be lost when the machine is switched off.  Pysgham will also enable you to
 turn Write Verify On or Off for EACH drive. You can for example have Write
 Verify Off for RAM disks ,and
 certain hard drive partitions while keep Write Verify On on other
 partitions/floppies.  As well as that you can make certain drives Write
 Protected by using Pysgham.  Pysgham is controlled by using an easy to used
 GEM window program.  Pysgham will soon be available from the most popular
 Atari ftp sites.  Or email us to get back a uuecoded version.  pysghm15.zip 
 Please note that Pysgham is POSTCARDWARE.



        Mnilu! STR InfoFile!             GFA Basic 2 Compiler!


                                    Mnilu!
                 

 The GfA BASIC 2 Compiler. Compile GfA BASIC files into stand-alone GEMDOS
 executable relocatable files.

                 - extremely fast compilation speed
                 - create .TOS or .PRG program files
                 - minimum file length of output file only 28K
                 - easy to use GEM user interface
                 - fully compatible with 95% of GfA v2 written
                   source code

 Latest version (May ,1994) is 1.61.
 Mnilu Tranquil - the 'second' version of this great 'Compiler' is coming
 out SOON!

 MUCH improved and will also compile -!>GFA BASIC v3.5E<!- files Fully
 compatible with most GFA BASIC 2 AND 3.5E programs! > out (hopefully) in
 early August 95  > something worth waiting for

 If you've used the original version then you won't even recognize the new
 Mnilu Tranquil!

 Now EVERYONE will be able to turn their .BAS/.GFA files into stand-alone
 GEMDOS executable .PRG files
 Another GREAT program coming soon from STectre. 



        MIST STR 1 min. Show Report          The Show Must Go On!


 From Missionware's John Trautschold:

 Well, we're back from MIST.  We had a good time.  Apparently they had

                                      42


 around 200 folks attend - not bad considering!  :-)  They were purchasing
 products too.  I made a good profit.

 Yes, we released 3.00 at the show.  Folks seemed quite interested in it and
 were anxiously awaiting the chance to get their hands on a copy.  Some of
 these folks had attended the TAF show in Toronto and had been
 given a sneak preview there.  All told, it was a good show!  Back to work
 now...

                                           John T.


 There's been some discussion about ZIP drives for the ST; and whether or
 not the latest ICD hard drive utilities would support it.  From the U.K.
 comes this report:



        STR Mail Call   "...a place for our readers to be heard"



                              STReport's MAILBAG
                                       

                     Messages * NOT EDITED * for content
                                       




 I have bought a Iomega for my Falcon. It works great!

 It doesn't require any new driver. Just the ICD Pro SCSI 6.5.5 works.  And
 it works like floppy, I mean like removable media, the system recognized
 the change.  And it is fast also, just half the speed of my Quantum LPS
 540S.
 Thought, without new driver, I can't get functions like: password write
 protect.  I think you can include this email with your next issue.

 Malcolm 
  
 (1668)  30 Jul 95  00:38:52
 By: Troy H. Cheek, Inner Circle (1:362/708.4)
 To: Streport, The Bounty BBS (1:112/35)
 Re: ATTN: D. P. Jacobson, Atari Section Editor
 St: Pvt  Kill

 @FMPT 4
 @MSGID: 1:362/708.4 301ac692
 (In the event that this message goes astray, I am attempting to reach the
 offices of ST Report, particularly D.P. Jacobson of the Atari section.)

 > Jaguar Easter Eggs/Cheats/Hints STR InfoFile  -  Solving Those Riddles!

 >      We've been promising game tips and cheats for what seems like an
 > eternity.  I apologize for not getting these put together as rapidly as
 > I would have liked, but our compilation of game tips, cheats, etc. is

                                      43


 > just about complete.  In this week's issue, we're providing you with
 > just some of the game cheat codes for Hover Strike.  We'll have more
 > for this enjoyable game, next week.  We also have an "invincibility"
 > cheat, but we'll only send this to you if you request it, unless
 > there's an overwhelming demand from our readers!

 Consider this a request for the "invincibility" cheat.

 In fact, I'd be interested in your entire compilation.  If it's too big to
 send through Fidonet, would a blank floppy and a SASE do the trick?

 Troy H. Cheek            Internet: Defunct              
 Rt. #1, Box 409          Fidonet:  1:362/708.4          
 Benton, TN 37307         FAX line: by request only



       Steel Talons! STReport NewsFile!   New Game for Falcon030 Released!

 Lexicor Software Corporation is the US distributor for 16/32 Systems Atari
 Falcon adaptation of Tengen's coin-op STEEL TALONS. The game was favorably
 reviewed by such magazines as ST FORMAT. Llamazap and Pinball Dreams is
 also available for the Falcon.

 The game is a fast and colorful 3-D helicopter action simulation; full use
 of the Falcon's hardware results in an impressive
 polygon landscape and great speed and scrolling. Anyone who has played the
 original Tengen coin-op will not be disappointed with STEEL TALONS for the
 Falcon. There are a number of missions to complete, enemies to harry, and
 numerous attacks to avoid.

 STEEL TALONS is available from Lexicor Software, retailing at U$D 49.00.

      To order a copy, write to:

                      Lexicor Software Corporation
               108 Peterborough Street, 3rd floor, suite H
                            Boston, MA 02215

 or call (617) 437 0414 or fax (617) 437-9413
 email: games@lexicor.com

 Other games available are: Llamazap and Pinball Dreams.  Currently all
 games, Steel Talons included, are going for a holiday special of only 35
 U$D!
                       


        Branch Always News STR InfoFile



                PC Xformer 3.2 Atari 130XE Emulator for MS-DOS


 July 28, 1995

 Price: $34.95 U.S. ($29.95 until August 31)

                                      44


 Available: immediately
 Requires: any MS-DOS compatible 486 or Pentium based PC

 For additional product information contact Darek Mihocka at:

 Branch Always Software
 14150 N.E. 20th Street, Suite 302
 Bellevue, WA 98007, U.S.A.

 Phone:                   206-236-0540
 Fax:                     206-236-0257
 America Online:          BRASOFT
 Compuserve:              73657,2714
 GEnie:                   BRASOFT
 MSN:                     BRASOFT
 Internet:                brasoft@halcyon.com
 World Wide Web:          http://www.halcyon.com/brasoft/


 Introducing PC Xformer 3.2, the newest and fastest Atari 130XE which allows
 any 486 or Pentium based PC to run Atari 800, Atari 800XL, and Atari 130XE
 software as fast or faster than a real 130XE.  PC Xformer 3.2 is fully
 backward compatible with earlier versions of PC Xformer and ST Xformer and
 supports disk files created by the SIO2PC cable, ST Xformer, and PC
 Xformer.

 The three biggest features in version 3.2 are SPEED, SPEED, SPEED!  Unlike
 earlier versions of PC Xformer which were optimized for use on 386 based
 computers, PC Xformer 3.2 has been optimized for the 486 and Pentium and
 runs an average of about 40% faster than the earlier versions.

 What this means for users is that PC Xformer 3.2 now runs about 9 times
 faster than a 130XE (equivalent to a 16 MHz 6502) on a 90 Mhz Pentium,  and
 about 5 times faster on a 486/66. Even the slowest 486SX based PC now runs
 PC Xformer faster than a real 130XE giving faster smoother graphics in
 games and faster Atari BASIC programs, without having to upgrade your PC.

 For compatibility with programs that run best at the normal 1.8 MHz speed
 of the Atari, PC Xformer 3.2 has two speeds of operation: NORMAL (1.8 MHz
 mode) and TURBO (as fast as possible mode). All of the options,  such as
 selecting normal or turbo speed, whether to run with Atari BASIC, whether
 to run in Atari 800 or XL/XE mode, etc. can all be set from the MS-DOS
 command line.

 By popular demand PC Xformer now has a built-in 6502 debugger which allows
 you to examine and modify the Atari memory, disassemble 6502 code, and even
 single step 6502 code. For die hard hackers PC Xformer 3.2 also supports
 the ability to customize the Atari OS and BASIC.

 PC Xformer 3.2 has full support for emulating Player Missile Graphics with
 collision detection, GTIA graphics modes, ANTIC display lists and DLIs, 256
 color support, joystick support (as well as joystick emulation via the
 cursor keys on the keyboard), sound, printer, modem, and more.  Atari BASIC
 as well as the Atari 800 and XL/XE operating systems are built-in.

 PC Xformer 3.2 can also be run from the MS-DOS prompt in Windows 3.1, 
 Windows 95, OS/2 2.1, and OS/2 Warp. Run it directly from MS-DOS for
 fastest speed.

                                      45


 PC Xformer 3.2 also includes a  copy of the shareware SIO2PC software, and
 about a megabyte of sample Atari 8-bit software.


 How to order

 Brand new users can purchase PC Xformer 3.2 by contacting Branch Always
 Software directly. To order by VISA or MasterCard, call us at 206-236-0540
 and have your card ready, or send your order in by mail.

 During the month of August we are offering PC Xformer 3.2 at an
 introductory price of only $29.95. After August 31 the price is $34.95.

 Registered users of PC Xformer can upgrade for only $15. All prices include
 shipping to anywhere in the world.

 PC Xformer 3.2 will also be available by September 1 from major Atari
 dealers including American Technavisions, B & C Computervisions, and Toad
 Computers. Call your local Atari dealer for pricing and availability.

 Add-on products

 There are several products and services available from other Atari
 developers which are of benefit to PC Xformer users.

 The SIO2PC cable is a cable which connects your PC to your Atari 8-bit
 computer and allows you to transfer over entire disks of Atari 8-bit
 software to your PC. SIO2PC works on any MS-DOS based PC and creates "disk
 image" files which PC Xformer uses. SIO2PC can also be used to transfer
 files from the PC back to your Atari 8-bit computer.

 SIO2PC is available fully assembled or in kit form from:

         Nick Kennedy
         300 South Vancouver Street
         Russellville, AR
         72801

 Users who do not have access to an Atari 8-bit computer or an SIO2PC cable
 can have their disks transferred from Atari 8-bit 5.25" floppy disks to IBM
 PC 3.5"floppy disks for a small fee by contacting Rob Satonica at:

                              Creative Software Systems
                                  7775 Scottdale Rd.
                              Berrien Springs, MI 49103

                                phone: (616) 473-3904

 Also available from Creative Software Systems is the Atari Emulator
 Manager, an inexpensive MS-DOS utility which allows you to manage your
 Atari 8-bit files, configure your PC Xformer settings, and run PC Xformer,
 all by using your mouse to click on the various options and files on the
 screen. A must have for any PC Xformer user who juggles a lot of different
 Atari files! For example, you can have one configuration that runs your
 Atari BASIC software in turbo speed Atari 130XE mode. You could then have
 another configuration that runs your games disks in normal speed Atari 800
 mode. Do all this by just pointing and clicking with the mouse.


                                      46


 To order or to find out more about the Atari Emulator Manager, contact Rob
 Satonica at Create Software Systems.

 Atari Shows

 Once again we are hitting the road to demonstrate our products at Atari
 shows around North America. If you missed us at the Toronto and Sacramento
 shows in April, you can drop by our booths at the Indianapolis Atarifest on
 July 29th and the Dallas Atari show on October 7.

 At both shows we will be demonstrating and selling the PC Xformer 3.2
 emulator as well as our new Gemulator 4.0 Atari STE emulator for Windows
 95.

 If you cannot attend the shows, send us your name and address to receive
 future product announcements, show dates, our authorized Atari dealer list,
 product order forms, and more. If you are on the Internet, drop by our Web
 page.

 Benchmarks

 Ok, just how fast is PC Xformer? We believe it to be the fastest 6502
 emulator available for your 486 or Pentium. We put a real 130XE computer
 side-by-side with a 486/66 computer and a Pentium P5-90 computer then ran
 some benchmarks in Atari BASIC. We found the 486/66 runs at least 4 times
 faster than the 130XE, while the 90 MHz Pentium runs at least 8 times
 faster, and sometimes faster!

 Benchmark #1 is a simple FOR NEXT loop:

 10 FOR X = 1 TO 10000:NEXT X

 Atari 130XE: 22.5 seconds
 66 Mhz 486:   4.6 seconds (5 times faster)
 Pentium/90:   2.4 seconds (9 times faster)

 Benchmark #2 is a screen scrolling benchmark:

 10 FOR X = 1 TO 10000
 20 ?X;
 30 NEXT X

 Atari 130XE: 109 seconds
 66 Mhz 486:   29 seconds (4 times faster)
 Pentium/90:   14 seconds (8 times faster)

 And finally, Benchmark #3 is a graphical line sweep:

 10 GRAPHICS 8
 20 COLOR 1
 30 FOR X = 0 TO 319
 40 PLOT X,0
 50 DRAWTO 159,159
 60 NEXT X

 Atari 130XE: 32 seconds
 66 Mhz 486:   8 seconds (4 times faster)
 Pentium/90:   4 seconds (8 times faster)

                                      47


 Now you can understand why for games we needed to supply a normal speed
 option!



        STR News TidBits

                         CompuServe Launches Upgrade


      CompuServe Inc. has announced a $125 million overhaul, a new low-cost
 service for novices and a price change. It also says it is
 beginning an extensive marketing push and will nearly double its support
 staff.

      "We are moving from being a sleeping giant to really revitalizing the
 organization," CEO Robert Massey told reporter Jared Sandberg in this
 morning's Wall Street Journal.

      And Richard Brown, new CEO of CompuServe parent H&R Block, told the
 paper, "New competition and new challenges demand that we reinvent our
 products and services." (Sandberg points out the CompuServe announcements
 come three weeks before the launch of Microsoft Corp.'s Microsoft Network.)

 The paper notes CompuServe's plans include:

        An appeal to modem newcomers with the launch next spring of a service
    code-named Wow!  It is designed to be easy to use and to let users
    customize it to their liking.

        Introduction of a new look within 45 days.

        Simplifying pricing structure by eliminating multiple tiers.  It will
    charge a monthly fee of $9.95 for the first five hours and $2.95, down
    from $4.80, for each additional hour. Eliminated are surcharges for
    extended services, such as participating in forums, in a move to
    straight hourly fees.

        Beefing up the CompuServe network by doubling the number of local dial-
    up points to 105,000 from 50,000.

        Adding some 400 people to the support staff and tripling the marketing
    spending to $115 million in the current fiscal year ending next April,
    including a tripled advertising budget of $35 million.

 "This announcement represents a significant shift in focus," Massey told
 business writer Evan Ramstad of The Associated Press.


                      Ad Industry Discourages Net Regs 

 A U.S. Commerce Department task force has been urged by advertising
 industry executives not to restrict marketing campaigns on
 the Internet. The execs say advertising dollars are the best way to fund
 the growth of the global network.  

 United Press International reports Norman Lehoullier, co-director of Grey
 Interactive, told a meeting of the Telecommunications Policy Committee of

                                      48


 Information Infrastructure Task Force, "Regulating new media advertising
 will not only retard its growth and technical potential, it will retard new
 media's ability to increase this country's competitiveness."

 UPI says the executives pointed out advertising dollars played a crucial
 role in the development of broadcast TV and that today annual spending on
 TV advertising is an estimated $35 billion per year.  

 John Sarsen Jr., president of the National Association of Advertisers, says
 agencies hope to play a similar role in the
 development of the global data infrastructure, but will not be able to if
 regulators impose broadcast-style rules on electronic commerce.

 "Advertisers consider the Internet and online services a lucrative market
 which attract affluent, well-educated consumers," says UPI,
 noting that a recent Commerce Department study found that 58.1 percent of
 urban households earning $75,000 per year or more own a computer.  Among
 urban computer owners, 50.7 percent have attended four years of college or
 more.

 While online advertising still is in its infancy, the ad executives say
 they expect the medium to grow exponentially. Roughly 9 percent to 11
 percent of online consumers age 25-54 already peruse online classified ads. 
 The wire service noted the Clinton administration currently has not
 proposed to regulate advertising online.


                        Chip Markets to Double by 2000

  Texas Instruments' chief economist predicts that if present trends
 continue, the worldwide semiconductor market may more than double in size
 in the next five years to more than $300 billion.  Speaking at the annual
 Robertson Stephens & Co. Semiconductor
 Conference in San Jose, California, Vladi Catto said the semiconductor
 market is experiencing unprecedented growth for the 10th year in a row and
 the outlook is for growth to continue through the decade.

 According to the Reuter News Service, Catto said, "For the past 15 years,
 the worldwide market has grown an average of 15 percent per year. If that
 growth rate continues, the market will reach about $275 billion over the
 next five years. If the market grows at 20 percent annually, the industry
 could exceed $300 billion."  He said that influencing the industry's
 unprecedented growth are four major factors:
      
        The increasing use of semiconductors in electronics.

        Emerging market growth.

        Computerization of the workplace.

        The growth of cellular phones.

 Reuters reports the economist predicted the geographic diversification of
 the semiconductors market will act as a buffer to a slowdown in any
 particular region and that the world economic outlook remains positive,
 lessening the possibility of recession.  Catto also said that over the next
 five years, the semiconductor industry will require more than twice as much
 capital spending as it

                                      49


 has invested since 1990 to keep up with demand.


                      NEC Makes Re-Writable Optical Disk

 A re-writable optical disc that can store some 4 gigabytes of data with a
 12-centimeter compact disc size reportedly has been developed by Japan's
 NEC Corp.  In Tokyo today, sources told the Jiji Japanese press service NEC
 improved the phase change optical disc, a new re-writable computer storage
 device that is gaining popularity due to its capacity of some 650
 megabytes.

 "The company succeeded in shortening the length of pits or tiny
 indentations on the disc that record information to 0.33 micron from
 the current 0.9 micron," Jiji reports. "The technology allowed the 4GB
 capacity, which can store about two hours of video recording with better
 resolution than high-quality videocassette recorders."

 Jiji adds the overwriting function, or simultaneous erasing and recording
 of information, allows users to edit and process video clips
 and data.

 "For next-generation re-writable discs, Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita
 Electric Industrial Co. ... have announced the SD-RAM
 format... an enhancement of their super density-format digital videodiscs,
 but its capacity is limited to 2.6GB."


                           LCD Developer Dead at 68

 The scientist who invented the liquid crystal display technology has died
 of diabetes complications at 68.  Morris Braunstein, during a 20-year
 career at Hughes Research Laboratory, where he worked on the "Star Wars"
 defense system, also patented four other inventions involving laser and
 optical technology.

 The Associated Press notes he helped create hypo-allergenic cosmetics when
 he worked for Almay Cosmetics in the 1950s.


                       Feds Say Computer Counterfeited

 Some $259,700 in counterfeit money has been seized from a Lubbock, Texas,
 home where federal agents allege a Texas Tech student apparently used his
 home computer to print the bills.  Secret Service Agent R. David Freriks
 told United Press International the student, who has not yet been arrested,
 apparently used his PC to print the money which was found in several cities
 across west Texas and New Mexico.

 In addition to a suitcase stuffed with fake $50 bills, investigators seized
 a home computer, a printer and a scanner from the student's home.  "The
 bills look convincing from a distance but a closer look reveals slightly
 blurred designs and faulty coloration," UPI said. "The paper is also slick,
 unlike real currency, and lacks a watermark strip."

 Two more suspects, including the ringleader, still are being sought, said
 Freriks who added the student and five other suspects already identified
 will probably be indicted by a grand jury next week. Freriks said he had no

                                      50


 fear the 20-year-old student will flee, because "at this point, he's more
 afraid of his dad than anything."


                        Tobacco Docs A HIT on the Web

 Secret documents from the tobacco industry, leaked to researchers at the
 University of California, San Francisco, by a disgruntled Brown &
 Williamson Co. employee, have become a hot item on the Internet.  UCSF
 officials told United Press International in San Francisco that since the
 documents were first posted online nearly six months ago, an average of
 4,670 queries have been logged daily, many from as far away as Australia,
 Japan, Germany and Great Britain.

 The documents -- which include a letter from actor Sylvester Stallone
 agreeing to smoke tobacco products in his movies for $500,000 -- were
 opened to the public by a recent court decision. UPI notes Brown and
 Williamson is appealing those decisions, but their efforts to block public
 access during the appeal process has been denied by the California Supreme
 Court.

 UCSF officials told the wire service the high number of requests prompted
 the decision to release the material on the Net.

 Said UCSF professor Stanton Glantz, an authority on the politics of the
 tobacco industry, "The demand was so great, the staff in our archive room
 could not get any other work done, so it was merely a matter of efficiency.
 In hindsight, it looks like a brilliant
 decision."

 UPI adds, "The documents contain several files detailing scientific
 research that revealed decades ago a link between smoking and cancer. Those
 research files have been called invaluable by attorneys around the country
 involved in damage litigation against
 tobacco companies."

 Law professor Richard Daynard at Northwestern University said the release
 of the documents "may well be seen as a landmark in the
 information revolution as well as in tobacco control." Officials said while
 lawyers are among the more than 65,000
 computer users who have accessed the files, the majority are ordinary
 citizens.

 Among the items they are accessing is Stallone's letter, Glantz said,
 adding, "A lot of the documents are very technical, but everyone can
 understand the Stallone letter. It's one of those fun items." That letter,
 bearing Stallone's signature, says in part: "As discussed, I guarantee that
 I will use Brown and Williamson tobacco products in no less than five
 feature films. It is my understanding that Brown & Williamson will pay a
 fee of $500,000."

 (Stallone publicist Vicki Warren told UPI her client "did not make a penny
 on this issue.")

 World Wide Web surfers can read the letter for themselves by accessing Web
 address http://www.library.edu/tobacco.

 CompuServe members now have access to the Internet's Web through the

                                      51


 NetLauncher software. Enter GO NETLAUNCHER for details.





                                Jaguar Section



 Super Burnout Review!  CATnips!
 Jaguar Edge Update!  WMCJ Comments!
 Contest #3 Winner!  Contest #4!
 Towers II!  And much more!


        From the Editor's Controller                                             
                  Playin' it like it is!
   

 White Men Can't Jump and Flashback have hit the streets this week.  WMCJ
 seems to be the game that's seen more online reaction so far; and those
 reactions are extremely favorable so far.  We hope to have reviews of both
 shortly.

 We have a winner for last week's contest (see below); and we're providing
 you a second opportunity to win a copy of The Jaguar Gamers Guide.  See
 contest info at the end of this section.  As I mentioned earlier in this
 column, this is a bad week for editorial comments due to time constraints. 
 I do have a few topics that I'm in the middle of putting together.  I'm
 hoping that these upcoming editorials will generate some discussion and
 promote some ideas for Atari, and its userbase.  Expect to see these ideas
 in the weeks to come.  Meanwhile, let's get to the Jaguar gaming news and
 information this week!

      Until next time...


       Jaguar Catalog STR InfoFile          What's currently available, 
                                           what's coming out


     Current Available Titles

     CAT #   TITLE                  MSRP      DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER

 J9000  Cybermorph                  $59.99    Atari Corp.
 J9006  Evolution:Dino Dudes        $29.99    Atari Corp.
 J9005  Raiden                      $29.99    FABTEK, Inc/Atari Corp.
 J9001  Trevor McFur/Crescent Galaxy$29.99    Atari Corp.
 J9010  Tempest 2000                $59.95    Llamasoft/Atari Corp.
 J9028  Wolfenstein 3D              $69.95    id/Atari Corp.
 JA100  Brutal Sports FtBall        $69.95    Telegames
 J9008  Alien vs. Predator          $69.99    Rebellion/Atari Corp.
 J9029  Doom                        $69.99    id/Atari Corp.
 J9036  Dragon: Bruce Lee           $39.99    Atari Corp.
 J9003  Club Drive                  $59.99    Atari Corp.
 J9007  Checkered Flag              $39.99    Atari Corp.

                                      52


 J9012  Kasumi Ninja                $69.99    Atari Corp.
 J9042  Zool 2                      $59.99    Atari Corp
 J9020  Bubsy                       $49.99    Atari Corp
 J9026  Iron Soldier                $59.99    Atari Corp
 J9060  Val D'Isere Skiing          $59.99    Atari Corp.
 Cannon Fodder                      $69.99    Virgin/C-West
 Syndicate                          $69.99    Ocean
 Troy Aikman Ftball                 $69.99    Williams
 Theme Park                         $69.99    Ocean
 Sensible Soccer                              Telegames
 Double Dragon V                    $59.99    Williams
 J9009E Hover Strike                $59.99    Atari Corp.
 J0144E Pinball Fantasies           $59.99    C-West
 J9052E Super Burnout               $59.99    Atari
 White Men Can't Jump               $69.99    Atari
 Flashback                          $59.99    U.S. Gold


 Available Soon

      CAT #   TITLE                 MSRP           DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER

              Ultra Vortek          $69.99         Atari
              Flip-Out              TBD            Atari
              Rayman                $69.99         UBI Soft
              Power Drive Rally     TBD            TWI
              Jaguar CD-ROM         $149.99        Atari

      Hardware and Peripherals ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      CAT #   TITLE                 MSRP           MANUFACTURER

      J8001  Jaguar (complete)      $189.99        Atari Corp.
      J8001  Jaguar (no cart)       $159.99        Atari Corp.
      J8904  Composite Cable        $19.95     
      J8901  Controller/Joypad      $24.95         Atari Corp.
      J8905  S-Video Cable          $19.95
             CatBox                 $69.95         ICD



        Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile  The Latest Gaming News!



  CONTACT: Dorf & Stanton Communications
           Jessica Nagel/Jennifer Hansen
           310/479-4997 or 800/444-6663
  
  For Immediate Release
  
            WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP --- BUT CAN THEY PLAY BALL?
  Atari Corporation launches "hoops" game with Team Tap peripheral
  
 SUNNYVALE, CA (Aug. 1, 1995) --- Today Atari Corporation launched two
 exciting additions to the Jaguar 64 product line. The quickly expanding
 Atari arsenal now includes "White Men Can't Jump"(tm), a fast-paced, trash-
 talkin' game of street ball based on the major motion picture from

                                      53


 Twentieth Century Fox, and "Team Tap"(tm), a peripheral for the Jaguar 64
 system that allows up to four players to participate at once.  Now, four
 players can compete in this no-holds-barred hoops tourney where teams try
 to hustle and shove their way into the street ball hall of fame.
  
 "White Men Can't Jump" players must attempt to make it into the Slam City
 Tournament, the ultimate in street ball play.  It costs $5,000 to enter,
 however, and players start out with only $500 loaned to them from the
 BREAKLEG BROS, two unforgiving loan sharks. Hoopsters must hit the court
 and win games to hustle the remaining cash.
  
 Players custom design their teams as well as control the scoring, timing
 and possession rules. The one thing they can't control is the
 shovin' and trash talkin'. Players must be tough and ready to throw elbows
 because street ball rules apply --- traveling and goaltending are the only
 fouls called.

 Atari also launched "Team Tap", a peripheral for the Jaguar 64 system
 bundled with "White Men Can't Jump". "Team Tap" enables four players to get
 in on the jammin' hoops action all at once. A $29.95 value, "Team Tap" is
 included free with "White Men Can't Jump". With select future titles,
 players can employ two Team Taps for eight-competitor game play.
  
 Two play modes are available for "White Men Can't Jump": Tournament and
 Versus. Tournament mode lets one or two players compete as a team in a
 street ball game. With "Team Tap" and Versus mode, three or four players
 split into two pairs and play against each other.
  
 "'White Men Can't Jump' launches our fall line-up of sports and action
 games for the Jaguar," said Ted Hoff, President of Atari's North American
 Operations. "This game showcases the power of the Jaguar 64 and 'Team Tap',
 which provides the capability for four players to enjoy on-screen action in
 this two-on-two basketball game."
  
 "White Men Can't Jump" is rated KA, appropriate for kids through adults,
 and has a suggested retail price of $69.99. Atari communicated with tens of
 thousands of Jaguar 64 users highlighting the new title introduction and
 peripheral offer through the company's new Jaguar First Alert consumer
 postcard program. Other Atari summer releases include "Ultra Vortek,"
 "FlipOut!," and "Rayman." The library of games for Atari Jaguar 64 will
 approach 75 titles by the end of 1995.
  
 For over twenty years, Atari Corporation has provided consumers with high-
 quality, value-priced entertainment. Located in Sunnyvale, California,
 Atari Corporation markets Jaguar, the only American-made, advanced 64-bit
 entertainment system.
  
 Team Tap(tm) all rights reserved. Team Tap(tm), Atari logo and Jaguar are
 all trademarks of Atari Corporation.
  
 "White Men Can't Jump"(tm) (c)1995 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
 All Rights Reserved. "White Men Can't Jump" and associated characters are
 trademarks of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.  Licensed to Atari
 Corporation for distribution. Atari, the Atari logo and Jaguar are
 trademarks or registered trademarks of Atari Corporation.  All Rights
 Reserved. This software is authorized by Atari for use with the Jaguar 64-
 Bit Interactive Multimedia System.


                                      54



        Towers II STR InfoFile



                     TOWERS II - PLIGHT OF THE STARGAZER
                       COMING SOON TO A JAGUAR NEAR YOU

 JV Enterprises proudly presents Towers II for the Jaguar system.

 Towers II is:

 -> An RPG set in the mystical land of Lamini

 -> Full screen, smooth scrolling

 -> Over 600 Items to utilize

 Over 350 creatures to interact and battle with

 Two save game features --One to memory and one to cartridge.  These are
 full saves-- complete statistics, auto map, open and
 closed doors, all creature activity, and all item positions.

 Towers II will be on cartridge format and expected release date by
 Christmas (Constant updates for release dates will published)

 If anyone would like to have questions answered, or current screen shots of
 Towers II sent to them via e-mail, please let me know by
 writing to Jag Jaeger, gagnon@nevada.edu.  The screen shots are in TGA
 format and zipped into a 189k file.  Because of current work load, please
 allow a little time for a response.

 Towers II can be seen at
 http://www.mcc.ac.uk/~dlms/Consoles/Tower2/Jag_Towers2.html      This
 location is also linked with a current review of Towers II for the Falcon
 030.  Or you can download the screenshots from ftp.cnam.fr
 /pub/Atari/Jaguar/ TowersII-Jaguar-sceenshots.zip


        Gaming STR News TidBits


                            Accolade Names New CEO

 Entertainment software publisher Accolade Inc. has named company president
 Jim Barnett its new CEO.  During his tenure at Accolade, Barnett, 37, has
 supervised the firm's product development marketing, sales and finance
 operations. He previously served as chief operating officer of Storybrook
 Heirlooms, president of The Spectrum Group Inc. and has held various
 positions at Universal Pictures. He holds an MBA and JD from Stanford
 University.  Barnett succeeds Chairman Peter Harris as CEO.

      "The appointment is the final step in an aggressive turnaround plan
 focused on bringing together top industry talent, strategic partners and
 financial resources," says Harris. "Jim Barnett has been performing the CEO
 functions for several months." 


                                      55


 In June, Accolade completed a $30 million financing package that includes
 investments by Warner Music Group and Prudential Equity Investors. Accolade
 says it is using the investment proceeds to continue its development of
 sports and action games for PC, Macintosh, Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn
 platforms. 


  

        Jaguar Super Burnout! STR Review!


                                Super Burnout


 Developed by: Virtual Xperience
 Published by: Atari
 Price:  $59.99

 Available Now!


 by Craig Harris

      Let's face it: For racing fans, the Jaguar system was *not* the way to
 go. Note the key word "was." Yes, there is just no excuse for
 the sub-standard productions of Club Drive and Checkered Flag. But behind
 the name Shen is salvation for the Jaguar auto race genre. For it is they
 who have developed a solid motorcycle racing game for Atari called Super
 Burnout, and almost redeems the Jaguar name for race-fans everywhere.

 Note the key word "almost."

      Super Burnout, in its basic form, is a motorcycle racing game that
 pits one player against up to 6 computer opponents, or two
 players against each other on 8 different tracks. Each player has his
 choice of 6 different cycles, each with its own handling abilities. In
 single player modes, the player can choose whether to race on one track
 (his choice), race the entire circuit in the championship mode, fine-tune
 his abilities in a training mode, or race against the clock  in Record
 Mode.

      Controlling the racer takes place in a pseudo-first person
 perspective: you view all the action behind the your racer. While
 riding your bike over an extremely smooth-scrolling road, you must
 maneuvered it left and right through slight-to-tight curves, around
 computer drones, and away from roadside obstacles. Do all this while
 maintaining a high speed, and you've mastered it. Crashing your bike into
 obstacles and computer opponents (which happens a lot) will result in a
 high speed dismount across the pavement, as well as a loss of valuable
 time. 

      Each of the eight tracks has their own look. Australia takes place at
 night (with a big-ol' moon looming in the sky), where as in
 the U. S. A. it's twilight-time, and you race while the sun sets. If
 there's not enough natural light, your headlights automatically pop
 on. It doesn't help much, but adds to the overall effect of night-racing.
 All tracks have smoothly scaling roadside obstacles,

                                      56


 ranging from trees to tires to advertisements of possible future Jaguar
 games.

      All of the tracks have their own construction; some are made for
 speed, some are technical (lots of U-turns,) and a couple fall
 in-between. Pick the best bike for the track...unfortunately, you cannot
 change your cycle in the middle of a championship. If you've
 picked a bike that works best on speed tracks, you're going to have a heck
 of a time keeping it on the pavement on technical tracks.

      Okay, combining the above adds up to one fantastic racer, right?  Not
 quite. This game's a "no-frills" design. The game offers a
 two-player split-screen mode, but doesn't let those two players race
 against the computer. In championship mode, the game doesn't allow the
 player to get to "know" his computer opponents, by name or number, losing
 the "vengeful" factor included in most racing games. The computer doesn't
 display the player's championship race progress until the entire circuit
 ends. And those looking for an aggressive race between the player and the
 computer isn't going to get it here...the computer opponents leave no trace
 of their existence once out of the starting gate.

                              Graphics:     9.0
                              Sound FX:     7.0
                              Control       9.5
                              Manual:       8.0
                              Entertainment: 6.0

                           Reviewer's Overall:  7.0


      So, as a straight-forward racer, Super Burnout is right up the alley.
 However, a polished cartridge it's not. If you're looking for
 a good Jaguar racing game, this is it...but don't expect the gameplay to
 suck you in. Once or twice around and you've seen it all.





     Jaguar Easter Eggs/Cheats/Hints STR InfoFile Solving Those Riddles!  


 Looking for tips and "special moves"?  In next week's issue, we'll have
 some "super dunk" moves for White Men Can't Jump (actually, they can!). 
 Since the game has only been out a few days, we want to give you the thrill
 of finding out these moves for yourself; but we know there are a few of you
 who might get inpatient or frustrated trying to figure them out!  Hold
 tight, don't throw the ball (or the game) away just yet!



        Jaguar Online STR InfoFile         Online Users Growl & Purr!




 Status Of The Jaguar's Edge (long)
     From: John Marcotte <jmarcott@step.mother.com>

                                      57


 I want to apologize for not getting online recently.  I've been very busy
 with the magazine.

 As many of you have surmised, The Jaguar's Edge will not be coming out this
 month.  I tried as hard as I possibly could to make it happen, but it just
 wasn't in the cards.  You may have noticed that I have not cashed any of
 the subscription checks yet.  I didn't think it would be fair to until I
 had a solid release date.

 Here is the scoop on what has happened so far and what will be happening
 soon:

 I initially pitched the idea of the magazine to Steve Kipker of STeve's
 Atari Sales and David Troy of Toad Computers a the Sacramento Atari
 Computer Expo.  My plan was to see if they would distribute a few thousand
 for me for free, and I would pay for the magazine completely with
 advertising.  Instead of agreeing to distribute a few thousand, they agreed
 to distribute 10,000 apiece.

 So the mag had grown from a small fanzine, to a much larger scale.  The
 only catch was, I had to pay for the shipping.  This didn't seem to be much
 of a problem at the time.

 After meeting with David and Steve, I called several printing presses and
 got bids on printing 20-30,000 of the magazine. To this figure I added the
 shipping costs I was going to incur as a result of the free mailing. This
 increased my costs by nearly two-thirds.  But, I set my ad rates based on
 those costs and I went to E3 to see how the idea would fly. I received a
 tremendous amount of support from the Atari community at E3.  I sold
 several large ads and made lots of valuable contacts.  On the basis of this
 strong showing, I put out my first ads for subscriptions on the internet.

 The response from the internet community was also positive and quite
 strong.  I can't thank the subscribers enough.  It was due to you that
 Atari itself first began to notice us.

 As I have said previously, the support from the Atari community was
 incredible.  The problem is that the Atari community is rather small. I was
 only able to book about one-third of the advertising I needed from inside
 the Atari community.  When I went outside the Atari community I discovered
 my advertising rates were not competitive with other gaming mags.

 We simply couldn't compete with the larger magazines.  Not because of the
 printing, but mainly due to the large shipping costs that came with the
 free mailing.  I experimented with various numbers trying to reduce the
 costs, but as I lowered the number shipped, the printing costs (per issue)
 rose and negated any savings that might have been made.

 In order for the magazine to be a success, we need to set up a normal
 distribution route.  We need to get into bookstores and Babbages and as
 many other venues as possible.  This will allow us to keep a high
 circulation while bringing in revenues at the same time.  Unfortunately, 
 very few magazine distributors are willing to buy a magazine they have
 never seen before.  Which brings us to the present.

 I have secured a loan that will make it possible to print a "sample" of The
 Jaguar's Edge.  This will be a smaller version of the full magazine that
 will allow distributors as well as advertisers to see what the magazine

                                      58


 will look like.  The layouts are nearly complete on this abridged edition
 and we should go to press in the next week or so.  All current subscribers
 will get a copy of this "special" issue, but it will not count as one of
 the 6 issues in their subscription.

 If anyone wants a refund I understand completely.  Let me know and your
 check will be returned uncashed.  But I really believe that the magazine is
 going to do well.  My preference, of course, is that you stick around and
 check out the first issue.  I think you'll be
 impressed.  I welcome any feedback that you care to give.  I apologize for
 the delays, but they were unavoidable.

 Thanks for reading.

 John Marcotte
 Editor
 The Jaguar's Edge



 Sb: White Men Can't Jump
 Fm: Larry Tipton 74127,601
 To: All

 First Impression 08.01.1995 White Men Can't Jump

 I just received WMCJ today with the four player team-tap.  I've only been
 playing around with the game for about and 2 hours now.  DO NOT do what I
 did and try to start playing the game immediately!  First, read the manual.
 Otherwise you are going to be saying "what the..." a lot.

 Highlights:

 15 teams to choose from
 4 court styles
 Z Various game options
 25 Super dunks - you pull off then off like they are Street Fighter moves
 1-4 Players

 The zooming in and out (a nice effect) takes a bit getting used to. I had
 to get at least five feet away from my 20inch TV to get the right feel. 
 Further away on my large TV. The courts appear to be texture mapped.  The
 players are digitized. Everything scales in and out nicely. The metal and
 wooden fences look cool. For some reason, the game colors appear to be on
 the dark/muddy side.  I had to adjust the brightness and color on my TV to
 get it right.  The game looks better on my TV with SVideo than with the AV
 cables.

 There is a lot of "trash' talk in the game.  No cursing like in the movie
 though. The voices are clear! You can turn it down/up or off. 
 Likewise the in-game music and sound effects can be adjusted.

 The AI seems pretty tough.  My players keep getting knocked on their
 keesters. It also easy to miss a pass or have one picked off. The is a
 player vs mode (you can set the difficulty) and a tournament mode (you
 cannot set the difficulty) in the game.  You can save your tournament game
 in progress.


                                      59


 IMPORTANT in order to take control your computer controlled character you
 have to double tap on the speed burst button.  I also
 recommend leaving the player control flag on!

 At first I thought the game was slow, the players moved like they had been
 playing all day...or like it was a casual game between buds.  Ah, but when
 you press the speed burst, they move right along!  This game will take a
 bit to get used to and master.  Unfortunately, like AvsP, some people  are
 going to judge this game harshly because they did not spend a bit of time
 with it...it does not play like NBA JAM, blah, blah blah.

 Overall all, I like this game.  It is not perfect. It takes some getting
 used to, like Alien Vs Predator and Hover Strike, but once you
 get used to the controls, the zooming and scaling it is quite fun.

 Now to the Team Tap - Multi Player Adapter!  This is a high quality
 product.  It connects into one port on the Jaguar.  Apparently, the Jaguar
 can support two of these things!  It is compatible with both the 3-button
 and 6-button controller.

 That's all for now!

 -Larry Tipton



 Sb: #86941-WMCJ First Impressions
 Fm: Craig Harris 73733,2316
 To: Craig Harris 73733,2316 (X)

 Just wanted to add a bit to my last message:

 After another hour of play (less sweat this time), I beat the tournament
 mode. Again, another title falls into the "Atari Lame Ending"
 category. I won't give anything away, but after a humorous little
 sequence... there's nothing. Nothing at all. Just boots you back to
 the title screen.

 Not only that, I got to the final stage in 5 rounds, didn't lose a single
 match. My secret? 3-point shots at the top of the key are a
 CINCH! Even if you miss, your computer teammate is under the basket waiting
 for the rebound. Just grab the ball, take it to the top, fire the ball at
 the peak of the jump.

 I'm rather disappointed with the AI... but then again, this is a multi-
 player game. Most sports games get old-hat fast one-player. I
 won't hold too much against it in that aspect.

 I did inspect the construction of the Team Tap, even though I don't have
 extra pads hanging around. I noticed that the plugs on my pad fit much
 tighter in the Team Tap than they do in my Jaguar. To give you an example,
 if you blow on the plug while it's in the system, it falls out. No lie. At
 least Atari's paying attention.

 Again, I want to state that WMCJ is a *good* game...just waaaaay too easy
 one-player. I wish my friend was over here so I could whup his butt.

 -Craig-

                                      60




 Sb: WMCJ Programmer Writes..
 Fm: Larry Tipton 74127,601
 To: All

 WMCJ Programmer Responds!!!  Read on!

 Subject: Re: WMCJ impressions
 From: adisak@thymaster.interaccess.com (Adisak L. Pochanayon)
 Date: 2 Aug 1995 03:37:54 GMT

 In article <3vmftg$rco@newsbf02.news.aol.com>,JSMcKay <jsmckay@aol.com>
 wrote:
 >>-----------------------------
 >>playing.  BZZZT!  Wrong answer.  Remember how, due to the bad 
 >>animation in TAF, you'd lose your running back in a crowd, and had
 >>difficulty telling who was who?  Well, there is that quality here
 >>as well.  It's not as bad as TAF, probably due to the larger (and
 >>fewer) characters on-screen, but >it still makes the game more
 >>confusing and a pain in the *** to play.  It also, IMHO, severely
 >>affects your control.

 I think the "losing" a character in the crowd has more to do with getting
 used to playing in the perspective than with choppy animation s. This
 happened a lot during testing so I added an option to make it easier to get
 used to the game.  You can select from the options screen an option to
 permanently turn on the arrows above the players.  This makes it nearly
 impossible to lose track of your players.  I think once you stop "losing"
 players and getting used to the game's perspective, you will enjoy it much
 more.

 >>Second, is frame rate and overall game speed.  Frame rate seems
 >>pretty low (I couldn't venture a guess, though)

 The frame rate is between 12 and 18 fps.  It averages around 15.  The
 overall game runs at about the same speed as JagDoom with the exception
 that WMCJ has more than twice the resolution (320x220 vs 160x180). The
 framerate for the backgrounds and cameras is the same as the framerate for
 the game.  I find it hard to believe that you find the camera view and
 backgrounds smooth while the game is choppy???

 >>sound FX.  The most important parts of the game  - the basketball
 >>game itself (control, framerate, etc.) - is where WMCJ seems to 
 >>fail, IMHO. The bitmapped players and such are a great attempt, and
 >>although WMCJ wasn't an "airball", for me it just "rimmed out".

 There is a lot of features in the control of WMCJ that take getting used
 to.  You can pick up the basic features of the game
 immediately but getting good takes a little while.  For example, timing
 your shots makes them more accurate, using your energy to
 boost speed but maintaining enough to pull off dunks, and switching control
 of players can be fairly complicated.  Add to that the
 control changes in passing, blocking, pulling off plays, using the computer
 AI controlled teammate to pass to you, etc. and you have
 a lot to learn in two hours ;)



                                      61


 >>etc.).  I'll just hold out for NBA Jam when it's out next year......

 To be honest, WMCJ has more actual play depth than NBAJ.  You have more
 control over the game and features like the AI in WMCJ are considerably
 stronger (in NBAJ-TE, the AI simply boosts computer stats and cheats when
 the computer gets behind).  WMCJ has a much more complicated 3-D texture
 mapped game-field and overall is a better game IMHO.  NBAJ does feature 60
 fps play but only has parallax scrolling and no rendered 3-D.  The biggest
 appeals of NBAJ are actual NBA teams and lots of hidden features... plus
 the simplicity of having automatic dunks (rather than special moves for
 dunks like WMCJ).  Either way, they are both good games.  You might note
 that NBAJ will use the Team Tap which comes with WMCJ.  As far as I'm
 concerned you should buy both ;)

 adisak pochanayon -- Jaguar Programmer for WMCJ,- current project
 NBAJ-TE



 We have a winner for last week's contest.  Joaquin Ferrero, who has been a
 longtime STReport Internet subscriber, answered our contest question: "When
 is the JaguarCD scheduled for release?" correctly.  The answer, in case you
 somehow missed it in the issue, is August 24. Joaquin's prize will be going
 out to him next week!  Below, you'll be able to read what he's won; and
 also what you can win right now!

 In case you're unaware of it, the official Jaguar Gamer's Guide published
 by Sandwich Islands Publishing and written by the popular authors: Zach
 Meston and J. Douglas Arnold is shipping now!  Preorders should already be
 fulfilled and store copies should be arriving wherever popular game books
 are sold.  This book ordinarily retails for $18.95.

 If you've been putting off getting your copy, you forgot to enter last
 week's contest (or didn't win if you did!) - here's a second
 chance to win one!

 The guide includes special features such as gaming tips from Atari's own
 gaming masters. It has exclusive maps, helpful tips and innovative
 strategies.

 If you want in-depth play-by-play action coverage including strategies and
 tips found no where else on almost 20 of the Jaguar's hottest games, you
 must have this book.

 What do you have to do?  That's easy!  In fact, we're making it so easy, it
 should be considered criminal! <g>  If you're a subscriber
 to our Internet mailing list, you're entered in the contest - you don't
 have to do a thing!  If you're not a subscriber, send us e-mail
 now so you can be entered in the contest.  There are no questions, no
 special feats of strength, no fill in the blanks.  Just be a
 subscriber and leave the rest to us.

 To subscribe, just send a request to be added to our subscription mailing
 list, to STReport via E-mail to any of the following
 addresses:

                                dpj@delphi.com
                          71051.3327@compuserve.com

                                      62


                          d.jacobson2@genie.geis.com

                                      OR

                Dana Jacobson at Toad Hall BBS (617-567-8642)
                                      or
                          CATscan BBS (209-239-1552)

 The winner will be randomly selected from all current subscribers.

 All subscription requests must be received by midnight, August 9, 1995. 
 The winner will be announced in STReport Magazine, in the issue scheduled
 to be released on Friday, August 11, 1995.  Employees of Atari Corporation
 and staff members of STReport or Amiga Report are not eligible to win. 
 This contest is void where prohibited by law.

 Credits: STReport and its staff would like to thank Sandwich Island
 Publishing and Atari Corporation for its generous donation of the books. 
 Tradenames herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their owning
 companies.

   Permission hereby granted to re-post this contest text, in its entirety,
     anywhere that you feel it would be appropriate - your favorite BBS,
        user group newsletter, magazine, etc.  Please spread the word!


 ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine      The wires are a hummin'!

                                           
                                           
                            PEOPLE... ARE TALKING

             
              
 On CompuServe

 compiled by
 Joe Mirando
 CIS ID:   73637,2262
 Internet: 73637.2262@compuserve.com


 Hidi ho good neighbors.  Yep, it's that time again... Time for some of you
 to quickly skip to the back of the magazine (in which case, I don't know
 why I'm even writing this part), and time for others to dig in and either
 find things to agree with or to disagree with.  From the amount of e-mail I
 received this past week, it seems that about 90 percent of the folks that
 read this column agreed with my views about dedicated terminal programs. 
 By that I don't mean programs like CompuServe Information Manager (CIM)
 that give you the _option_ of using an automated program with all the cool
 bells and whistles like graphics and a sound or two.  My complaint was with
 services that _require_ you to use one of these programs (their own, of
 course).
  
 While most of you agreed with me, a few decided to take issue with my
 opinion (whether they understood what I was talking about or not).  One
 irate reader told me that programs like these were the wave of the future
 and that I should stop impeding progress.  I'm sorry folks but, to me,

                                      63


 progress means _increased_ flexibility, not decreased flexibility.

 The idea that you must:

     A)   Use the service's software and, B) Use a machine that they have
      decided is worth them taking your money with, make it very hard for me
      to agree with the statement that this is progress.  Now, an online
      service that put out a program that would allow you to automate your
      sessions on _all_ services, provided this program for _all_ platforms,
      and made it entirely optional, (or any combination of these things)
      now _that_ would be progress my friends. (Jeez, do I sound like Joe
      Franklin, or what? <grin>)

 My last bit of "impeding progress" is to clarify something I said last
 week.  I made mention of the fact that an un-named online service had set
 up their program to take information from your hard drive and upload it to
 their system.  One of my new "pen pals" told me that "that is
 impossible"... that the technology did not exist to allow a system to
 "pull" info from a remote hard drive, and that, "on top of that, there is
 nothing wrong with doing that anyway".

 As Mr. Spock would say: "Fascinating".  It seems that I have to clarify
 this as well.  Without naming names, a certain online service jointly owned
 by Sears and IBM constructed their user program (the terminal program you
 have to run on your DOS machine or Macintosh to access their service) with
 the ability to grab files from your hard drive and copy them into a cache
 file which would upload the data to the service when you called up.  The
 service, once it was discovered, said that the information was going to be
 used to get a better understanding of what types of things their users did
 with their computers.

 Unfortunately, this constitutes an invasion of privacy.  There were doctors
 who found that their patient lists had been "cached", and lawyers who found
 client information "cached", not to mention those "regular" folks who
 had... well, whatever they had "cached".

 Someone once said "Information is power", and they were quite correct. But
 your information should be _your_ power and not that of a couple of multi-
 million dollar corporations.

 Hey guys, the next time you want to find out what kinds of things your
 subscribers use their computers for, why not ASK?

 Well, let's get on with the reason for this column... all the great news,
 hints, tips, and (un-cached) information available every week
 right here on CompuServe.


 From the Atari Computing Forums

 Richard Safford asks a very topical question:

      "does anyone know how to copyright direct on the internet? I need to
 copyright direct seq gmid format."

 I have no idea what that last part was about, but Albert Dayes of Atari
 Explorer Online Magazine tells Richard:


                                      64


      "As soon as a work is created it is copyrighted. You do not have to
      put in a copyright notice but it is good to do so. So someone cannot
      claim that they did not know it was your work.
      
        Copyright (C) 1995 Richard Safford
      
      Something like the above is what you would need for a copyright
      notice."

 Mike Mortilla jumps in and posts:

      "...Under the law since 1976, a work is "copyright" at creation.  Of
      course, it's not a bad idea to register your work in the Lib of
      Congress."

 Albert adds:

      "If you need to register your copyright you need to contact the
      Copyright Office.
      
         Copyright Office (202)-479-0700"

 Chris Roth tries to make us all jealous with this post:

      "I'm back from my working/vacations journey to the Seychelles. It was
      like paradise, I am pretty sad now to be here in Vienna again. Diving
      was quite an experience there, I got some great film material of
      Whalesharks, what a sensation ;-)!
      
       Everybody allright here?
      
      Did some news occur on the Internet side? I mean, is there an internet
      package already available that supports off-line newsgroup reading?
 Has
      anybody got Oasis to work right now?"

 Daniel Osborne tells Chris:

      "Glad to see you back!

   I have gotten NOS 0.42 (FTP transfers) and Chimera (FTP and WWW browser)
      to work just fine on CIS.  Go back and read the message threads about
      "TAF" and "NOS PROBLEMS"."

 Denies Postal tells Chris:

      "While you were away I finally got to be able to use chimera. If you
      can get it running on your machine, or if you have access to any web
      browser, I recommend you try http://www.dejanews.com/ which has an
      excellent, search facility for all 10k+ news groups. I use it to find
      threads that are relevant to me.
      
      I'm away on holiday 4th Aug to 6th Sept. Longer than you but a much
      less exotic location."

 Good.  I thought that I was the only one who turned green with envy at the
 mention of an exotic vacation location.  Meanwhile, Rick Detlefsen asks:


                                      65


      "I'm wondering what the expected throughput is when downloading a file
      using a 14.4kb modem.  Is it greater than 20%?  Anything special that
      needs to be done to [get] it [to go] higher?"

 Daniel Osborne tells Rick:

      "When using QUICK CIS I get anywhere from 1200 cps to 1650 cps.  Which
      depends on the time of day, and the activity on CIS.

   I have never gone beyond 1670 cps on CIS.  CPS stands for Characters Per
      Second, which is a standard.  You can get higher than this on a
      standard Atari, if using a 28.8kb baud modem, when connected to CIS at
      19.2kb.  Mega STE's and TT's can go beyond 19.2k, but not with a 520,
      1040 ST's, or Mega ST's (unless modified - hardware modified - risky!!
      - use MegaTalk board in Atari Mega ST's). Only Mega STE's and TT's can
      do this, since they use an SCC chip, vs. an MFP serial chip, which is
      used in the older Atari's."

 Rick tells Daniel:

      "Thanks for the reply.  What baud modem are you using so that I can
      put the cps you mentioned into perspective."

 Daniel tells Rick:

      "I am currently using a SupraFAX Modem 14.4k V.32 bis.  I plan on
      buying a SupraFAX Modem 28.8k later this year, so I can get true 19.2k
      connections."

 On the subject of the Internet browser put out by the Toronto Atari
 Federation (now known as the "TAF package"), Chris Arrison posts:

      "I just got the TAF package, and have some questions. Is there any way
      to access Chimera without going through X-Windows? Also, once I've
      copied the Lynx files into the proper directories, how do I access it?
      And is there any way to speed up Mint when not using X-Windows?"

 Daniel Osborne tells Chris:

      "No, you must use Mint, and Mint-Net, and X-Windows to use the Chimera
      Program.
      
      We are working on the Lynx program, please read msg threads as they 
      are posted at this time.
      
      To access information about TAF disks (Chimera) please read prior msg
      threads about "TAF", this is an on going message thread.
      
      This subject maybe complicated, so please refer to msg threads for the
      latest info, until the final version of these programs are released!
      
      Please post any problems you are having, or any additional info you
      might have in this msg base!
      
      This msg might sound hard, but we have covered most of this info
      already within the recent 3 weeks here on the msgs bases!"

 Don't worry Daniel, I think we all know that feeling of having to repeat

                                      66


 the same info over and over.  It gets especially tiring when the info is in
 a database such as it is here.  It also provides a unique way to "learn
 from the mistakes of others.  Chris tells Daniel:

      "Thanks for the info. I've read the threads and gleaned many tips from
      them. I still am having a couple of problems, though. The docs say to
      change all references to dev/console in the "syslog.conf" file to
      dev/null. Yet, when I boot into X-Windows, I get some error messages:

                Syslogd: unknown priority name "none   var/log/syslog"
                Syslogd: unknown priority name "info   /dev/null"
                  "               "            "none   var/adm/messages"
                  "               "            "debug  var/adm/lpd-errs"
      And then this:

                               pid (syslogd): Bus error: User PC 1866100
 (basepage=1f3e00,
                               text=1e34d4)

      The only thing I've changed is the dev/console to dev/null. Also, when
      I try to dial up CIS,I get something about a file not being found in a
      dir like pipe/log. It will, dial but I think my chatfile may be wrong.
      I have this Connect "" ame:  CIS ID:102101,3036/GO:PPPCONNECT ord:
      my*password What am I doing wrong?  Thanks in advance.."

 Daniel explains it to Chris:

      "I believe they say to do this AFTER you've got the log on sorted out.
      Otherwise, there is no way of seeing what is happening with the logon
      script.
      
      There is a viable version for CIS in message No:108638 except that
      there needs to be a colon between GO:CONNNECT. (I see you already have
      it) Apparently CIS ppp connections are sensitive to *unusual*
      characters in passwords if you have such, changing it to '/' might
      help.
      
      Message 108639 has the 'etc./resolv.conf' file change for CIS.
      
      Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on."

 Chris tells Daniel:

      "Yes!  I finally got it to connect, though I still get error messages
      when X-Windows loads. Is it the lack of ram (I've only 4 megs) that
      makes the ftp program so slow? NOS is quite a bit faster. I tried
      Chimera, but kept running into the same problem. When I would connect
      (or try to) to the Toad Computers page, it would dl the file, and then
      go right back into X-win. Is it choking on the pics, or am I doing
      something wrong?"

 Daniel tells Chris:

      Remove all ACC and AUTO programs that are not required to run Mint,
      Mint-Net and Chimera, if you only have 4 megs of ram.  Also turning
      off the graphics option in Chimera will  help.
      
      I will upload a HTML file from the TAF home page on how to do this, on

                                      67


      Wednesday."

 On a slightly different subject, Andreas Graf tells us:

      "I want to use my ATARI computers for CompuServe connections (I have
      both STE and Falcon), but I have no idea how to do this.
      
      Is there any software like a WinCim or Cans for ATARI computers? If
      not, which modem and terminal settings are the best?"

 Sysop Bob Retell tells Andreas:

      "You can use a normal Atari telecommunications program with your Atari
      computers  to access CompuServe.. we have several choices in the
      software libraries here, including a good Shareware program called
      STorm.
      
      There are also some very nice commercial telecommunications programs
      available from various vendors.  Check out  FLASH II  from Missionware
      Software in the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN).
      
      We don't have anything like CIM for the Atari, but we do have a nice
      "navigator" style program called QuickCIS. It will do automatic
      sessions, log in, capture new messages or programs and log off very
      quickly.  It's available here in our software libraries too."

 Neil Newman posts:

      "I'm about to get a CD-ROM drive and next year when I can afford it, I
      would like to get a 2 Gig Hard Drive for HD recording etc. and I am
      wondering what are the best options. The computer I will be hooking
      them up to in the Falcon.
      
      I would like to have both units in one case with one power supply, to
      save desk space and power plugs/leads and all that unsightly stuff.
      
      One option crossed my mind, get a PC tower case with power supply and
      mount an internal SCSI CD-ROM and later add the internal SCSI HD.
      
      My question is would this work? Apart from a power supply, would I to
      have any other boards i.e.  motherboard and associated cards installed
      in the towercase to work internal drives or is it a matter of hooking
      the drives up with SCSI cables etc.?"

 Sysop Bob Retelle tells Neil:

      "Your idea of using a PC tower case for your Falcon drives should work
      just fine...
      
      The power supply should be adequate for anything you want to use, and
      there should be no need for any extra boards.
      
      A nice, compact mini-tower case with 200 watt power supply is selling
      here in the States for about $50 now, which is about the best price
      you're likely to find for any kind of case and power supply for your
      SCSI drives."

 Our own Atari Section Editor, Dana Jacobson, adds his recent experience:

                                      68


      "I just installed a number of SCSI devices in a PC tower case so I
      could hook it up to my newly-purchased Falcon.  You don't need any
      additional boards - just cables (ribbon cables inside - SCSI 2 -> SCSI
      external). Now I just need to make some space for the tower case!
      <grin>"

 Scott Starai asks:

      "Can anyone recommend a good terminal program? I am new at this and
      don't know too much about them. I have an Atari ST."

 That Dana guy tells Scott:

      "You might want to check out Flash II.  There should be a demo of it
      either in this Forum, or in the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN).  In
      fact, Flash II should see a new upgrade available this weekend at the
      MIST show, so look for some announcements soon."
  
 Look for the upgrade info elsewhere in this issue.  Sysop Bob Retelle
 adds:

      "As Dana mentioned, a very good commercial terminal program for the ST
      is "Flash II" from Missionware Software.
      
      A good shareware terminal program that we have here in our software
      library is Storm.
      
      If you're online now using an IBM compatible system, you can download
      Atari files to the PC & then transfer them to your ST if you remember
      to format the 3.5" floppies  ON THE PC FIRST, AS 720K DISKS.
      
      Then you can move the files to the Atari by copying them to the disks,
      and the Atari will read them directly."


 Well, that's about all the news and info for this week, but before I go,
 I'd like to share with you a note I got from my old friend, BJ Gleason. BJ
 has been a Sysop here on CompuServe in the forums devoted to the Atari
 Portfolio for years, and has written some amazing programs for the 'Folio. 
 He was also a professor at American University.  He recently took a
 teaching job with the University of Maryland (I think) which holds the
 "contract" with the military for continuing education over-seas.  His new
 job will enable him to see a good deal of Asia and some of Europe.  He's
 decided that he will keep in touch with friends and acquaintances over the
 internet.  His first installment arrived on my CompuServe "doorstep" today. 
 Here's part of what he wrote:

      "From: <Bjgleas@aol.com>
      To: 73637.2262@compuserve.com
      Subject: Report from the Field
      
      Hey Gang... and welcome to the list...
      
      Please do not use the address(es) that these messages may come from. I
 am currently an internet vagabond, logging in when and where I can. 
 BJGLEAS@AMERICAN.EDU will always reach me.  This is the last time I am
 going to be using  BJGLEAS@AOL.COM until I return to the US...
      

                                      69


      Well, I am currently in Los Angeles, awaiting for the flight to Japan
 tomorrow (Thurs.) at 12:45pm...  It still has not quite sunk in that it
 will be a while before I am back in the US again.  Right now, it just feels
 like another trip...
      
      Spend the last 6 weeks at my sisters, having a great time playing with
 the kids and putting off getting ready to go over seas.  In the final 48
 hours, I packed...  I am limited to 140 pounds and 2 bags.  No problem... 
 ha ha ha!

      You would be suprised how quickly stuff adds up.  For those keeping
 score at home, it came to about 120 pounds, 40 of which are dissertation
 materials...
      
      I was going to have them shipped, but decided to wait until I found
 out more about shipping things about.
      
      Had two days in LA, doing the sight seeing thing.  Santa Monica is
 VERY nice and highly recommended.  Cheap tourist trick, ride the free TIDE
 buses about to get a layout of the area.  Saw them filming BayWatch in
 Santa Monica.

      Keep an eye open for a torrid fling between Pamela Anderson and I...
      
      Interesting note in the elevator "In the event the doors do not open, 
 there is little chance of running out of air or dropping
 uncontrollably."  If you read between the lines, then, yes Virginia, there
 is a chance of running out of air and dropping uncontrollably...
      
      The Schedule:
      
      A week in Japan, orientation sessions, and some sightseeing...
      
      In Seoul about the 10th, and classes are scheduled to begin the 21st. 
 They will run for 8 weeks.  I am teaching three classes: Intro, C++
 programming, and Expert Systems.
      
      After that, who knows?
      
      Ok gang, I'll wrap this up for now.  You might not get another message
 from me until I hit Seoul...
      
      bj

      bjgleas@american.edu"

 If you know BJ, or even if you only know him by some of the great programs
 he's written for the Portfolio, and want to be included on his mailing
 list, drop him a line.  Anyone who's heard or read BJ knows that he's got a
 sharp wit (like that Pamela Anderson thing) and a great delivery.  If you
 forget to drop him a line, don't worry, I'll be keeping you up to date
 right here in this column.

 See ya next week, same time, same channel, so be ready to listen to what
 they are saying when...

                              PEOPLE ARE TALKING


                                      70




        STReport CONFIDENTIAL    "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips"



        Columbus, Ohio                  CompuServe reportedly  Takes Gloves
    Off !!

 Our  super snoop  has really been busy this past week.  First, CIS is
 lowering prices for the second time this year, beginning next month. CIS
 also announced that they are forming a new online service for beginner on-
 liners.  No details on content or cost have been released at this time. 
 Don t kid yourselves bunkie, this new service is the  NEW  CIS... Super
 powerful WinCim Software version 3 (around the Holidays)  The days of a
 drab ascii interface on CIS are almost over.  An interim update to WinCim
 shortly, perhaps around the end of the summer.  HMI takes over completely,
 no more ascii interface.  Compuserve is finally waking up to the real
 world.  Snoops sez,  three guesses  as to which competing service CIS has
 leveled their guns on... This is a  Case  of real business competition. 
 CIS is going to win easily.

 Highlights of the rate changes:

        5 free hours of access each month to most all of  CompuServe's services.

        Additional hours billed at only $2.95 each.

        No more differentiation between basic and extended services.  Some
    premium services still carry surcharges.

        Electronic mail will be billed based only on connect time, with no
    additional charges for sending or receiving the message over the
    Internet.

        There will be no mail surcharges based on message size or number of
    recipients.

        Club pricing will be expanded to lower the costs for heavy users of the
    service. As an example,  a super value plan will provide 20 free hours
    for $24.95 per month and additional hours at $1.95 each.

      Snoop also said the above rate changes is only the beginning. 
 CompuServe is  On the March  and out to win the whole enchilada.  Watch for
 some very strange  bed-fellows  in the months ahead.


        Rockville, MD.                     GEnie CANCELS Atari Contract!

      Old Snoop really dug this one out, seems the old expression.  What
 goes around comes around  is ever so true.  The  Episodes  of a few years
 ago now are on the other foot, so to speak.  GEnie canceled the Atari
 RoundTable contract effective, 08/04/95.   Psst... Hey Lee!  How About
 that!!  (In our best Mel Allen voice)





                                      71


                        STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON"

        A "Quotable Quote"              A true, "Sign of the Times" 
   

  That Telecommunications Bill the Republicans are busy Pushing through the
                                    house
                     only proves just how strong the... 

               THE REPUBLICAN CONTRACT  ON  AMERICA REALLY IS!!


                    STReport International OnLine Magazine
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           AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON OVER 100,000 PRIVATE BBS SYSTEMS

 STR OnLine!           "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE"        August 04, 1995
 Since 1987         Copyright   1995 All Rights Reserved            No. 1131

 All  Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the provisions of
 The  Fair  Use  Law of The Copyright Laws of the U.S.A. Views, Opinions and
 Editorial  Articles  presented  herein  are  not  necessarily  those of the
 editors/staff  of  STReport  International  OnLine Magazine.  Permission to
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                                      72


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