ST Report: 22-Nov-96 #1247
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 12/05/96-04:41:17 PM Z
From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 22-Nov-96 #1247
Date: Thu Dec 5 16:41:17 1996
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>From the Editor's Desk...
Comdex, Comdex, Comdex... We have the coverage and more is planned for the
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though, we are here for you, our readers.
That's right!! The Holidays are upon us! A wonderful Thanksgiving to all.
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Ralph..
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LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Comdex Expecting 210,000 Guests
Some 210,000 people are expected to attend Comdex, still considered by most
to be the most important industry trade show, which opens today in Las
Vegas. More than 2,000 Comdex exhibitors have 13,500 booths in two immense
convention halls, a hotel and a couple of pavilions, "displays that range
from the techno-nerd dull to glitzy enough to do the Strip proud," says
business writer Catalina Ortiz of The Associated Press, who adds, "But even
with 94,000 hotel rooms -- more than any other American city - Las Vegas is
overflowing." In fact, she notes, hotel rooms -- the difficulty in finding
them and their high prices -- are the No. 1 gripe among Comdex attenders.
"As is common at many trade shows, Softbank Comdex Inc. buys up rooms in the
most desirable hotels and makes reservations for participants," says Ortiz.
"But those and other rooms are quickly booked and often cost two to three
times what they do the weeks before and after the show. The conventional
wisdom -- that techies don't gamble and therefore hotels must raise prices
to make up for lost casino revenue -- is largely correct." Also, she notes,
long cab lines are the norm, as are daunting distances between key venues.
It's more than 2 miles from the Aladdin hotel, where keynote speeches are
given, to the Las Vegas Convention Center. All this is a long way from the
first Comdex in 1979 when it was still "the Computer Dealers Expo" and drew
150 companies and 4,000 attenders.
Founding Fathers of PC Industry Receive Awards
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- COMDEX brought together the founding
fathers of the PC industry earlier this week for award ceremonies as part
of COMDEX/Fall's continuing celebration of the 25th anniversary of the
microprocessor. Ten categories of microprocessor innovations were chosen
for awards, prompting a rare reunion of industry legends. Among the
revolutionary chip innovations to receive recognition at COMDEX were: MOS
Technology 6502, Zilog Z80, Intel 9088, Motorola 68000 processor, Intel
386(TM) processor, Sun SPARCstation, and the Intel Pentium(R) processor.
Nolan Bushnell presented the MOS Technology 6502 award to two recipients.
Bushnell created the video game industry in 1972 by founding Atari with
$250,000 and co-created the table tennis-like game Pong. One of the
awards went to William D. Mensch, Jr., president and CEO, The Western
Design Center Inc. Mensch was fundamental to the development of the
Motorola 68000 microprocessor, and he went on to help invent and develop the
6502 chip at MOS Technology in the early 1970s. The 6502 was eventually
used in Apple, Commodore and Atari computers.
The second award in the category was presented to Chuck Peddle, president,
Thstyme Ltd., and another MOS Technology veteran. Peddle pioneered the
phenomenally successful 6502 microprocessor, and, under Commodore, led the
development of one of the first personal computers: the PET (Personal
Electronic Transactor), which put the 6502 chip to practical use. Gordon
Eubanks, Jr., president and CEO, Symantec Corporation, presented awards for
the Zilog Z80, one of the most popular microprocessors in industry history.
The Z80 was particularly well suited for personal Computers and was powerful
enough to run business applications, paving the way for a whole new segment
of the PC market. Federico Faggin, president and CEO, Synaptics Inc., and
co-founder of Zilog Inc., received one of the Zilog Z80 awards. Masatoshi
Shima, chairman, V.M. Technology Corporation, and co-developer of the Z80,
received the second award. Another award went to Ralph Ungermann, president
and CEO of First Virtual Corporation (FVC). Ungermarm also co-founded Zilog
Inc. and introduced the Z80 product line.
Dan Bricklin presented the award for achievements with the Intel 8088.
Bricklin, along with Bob Frankston, designed VisiCalc, the first
spreadsheet program for the computer in 1976. The 8088, introduced in 1979,
was intended as an entry level device designed to coax 8-bit customers into
the 16-bit world. Instead, the 8088became one of the most influential
microprocessors of its time. The award went to William B. Pohlman, a 25-year
veteran of Intel who worked as design manager on the chip. Heidi Roizen,
vice president, DeveloperRelations, Apple Computer Inc., presented the award
for Motorola 68000 innovation. In 1979, Motorola introduced the 68000, the
most advanced microprocessor on the market at the time. The 68000 played an
important role in the development of Apple Computer and the Macintosh, and
was quickly adapted to workstations. Systems based on the 68000 were known
industry-wide for their graphic capabilities, a distinction the Mac still
holds today. Tom G. Gunter, corporate vice president and general managerat
Motorola, received one of the Motorola 68000 awards.
Rod Canion, co-founder of Compaq Computer Corp., and now chairman, Insource
Technology Corporation, presented the Intel 386 award to John Crawford.
Crawford, a former computer architect for microprocessordesign, is now
director of microprocessor architecture at Intel. The Intel 386 was the
first Intel Microprocessor with 32-bit data and address buses, and enabled
the launch of IBM-compatible graphical operating environments, such as
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) and IBM's OS/2.
Michael Slater, publisher and editorial director of Microprocessor Report,
presented the award for innovations with the Sun SPARCstation. The SPARC
microprocessor by Sun represents the first real commercial success of the
RISC (reduced instruction set computing) design philosophy, perhaps the most
significant shift in computer architecture of the past 15 years. The award
went to Bill Joy, founder and vice president for Research, Sun Microsystems
Inc., and a co-designer of the SPARC architecture.
Theodore Waitt, chairman of the board and CEO, Gateway 2000 Inc., presented
awards for the Intel Pentium(R) processor. In 1993, Intel launched the
Pentium, a significant improvement over the Intel 486processor. The Pentium
dominates the PC market today, and has brought forth a new generation of
sophisticated multimedia and communications applications with startlingly
realistic graphics. Avtar Saini, general manager, Platform Components
Division, Intel Corporation, who co managed the design of the Pentium chip,
received the award.
The awards categories and winners were selected by a panel of experts from
Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. They sought to recognize seven innovative
microprocessors that fundamentally changed the information technology
industry. COMDEX/Fall '96, taking place November 18-22, 1996 in Las Vegas,
has provided a record number of attendees with a first-hand look at more
than 10,000 new products, providing the most exciting series of product
launches in COMDEX history. From the desktop to the server to the Web, over
2,100 companies from around the world are currently demonstrating products
and technologies for more than 210,000 attendees representing over 120
countries.
COMDEX/Fall is the largest and most significant IT trade show and
conference, providing exhibitors and attendees alike with the latest product
and technology information in the areas of Internet and the Web;
Communications; Network Computing; Multimedia; Servers; Computer Telephony;
Desktop Systems; Mobile and Wireless Computing; Office Systems and OEM
Sources. The COMDEX Conference Program brings together the industry leaders
to provide in-depth direction, comparison and evaluation on today's
technology and products through more than 70 high-impact sessions.
Gates Nods to NCs, Defends PCs
Bill Gates now concedes there is a role for stripped-down Network Computers
that are dependent on online resources for performing functions. But he
also sees a bright future for personal computers -- that depend onMicrosoft
Corp. software. Taking the stage in Las Vegas for the keynote address at
the Comdex tradeshow, the Microsoft chief who once dismissed the NC concept
outright, gave a nod to the new generation of machines. (NCs are not
popular with the software giant because their software will be downloaded
from central computers via the Internet or corporate networks, rather than
requiring costly installation on each machine's hard drive.)
Still, says business writer Catalina Ortiz of The Associated Press, Gates
told Comdex that customers want such snazzy features as voice recognition,
better video conferencing and programs that can adapt to different tastes.
He says it's easier and cheaper to do that on PCs than on computer "servers"
that run computer networks, which also can become overloaded. Speaking to
7,500 people, Gates said, "I see PCs becoming more powerful, not less
powerful. A lot of what the attack (on the PC) has been has sort of been a
questioning of empowerment." Ortiz notes Microsoft is being challenged on
the NC front by Oracle, Sun Microsystems and Netscape, each of which hopes
to make computing cheaper and simpler -- and dethrone Microsoft -- with the
new diskless terminals, a few of which are on display at Comdex. While not
mentioning his rivals by name, Gates acknowledged NCs will work well for
some things. For instance, Sony is thinking of making diskless terminals
running entertainment software to put on the back of airline seats.
Still, he also emphasized recent and future PC advances, including faster
microprocessors, greater storage capacity and enhanced multimedia features
to mix text, sound, video and graphics. Said the Microsoft founder, "We'd
like to give more and more power out to the machines but hide the
complexity," adding the PC industry's economies of scale and the falling
price of components are keeping the new technology relatively affordable.
Ortiz notes that while so far the Comdex speaker podium has been dominated
by the promoters of "Wintel" technology -- Intel Corp. CEO Andy Grove
delivered the main Comdex keynote earlier -- the NC camp gets its chance
today when Netscape Communications Corp. CEO Jim Barksdale gives his
keynote.
Clinton Signs Encryption Order
An executive order liberalizing U.S. export policy to allow companies to
sell more powerful encryption devices abroad has been signed by President
Clinton. However, as noted, firms taking advantage of the new rules first
must assure the U.S. government that law enforcers -- acting on court orders
-- can crack the code and intercept the communications. This has caused
critics to contend the plan is difficult to administer, doesn't offer
companies enough export freedom and raises privacy concerns.
Also yesterday, the president named David L. Aaron, currently the U.S.
representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, as special envoy to promote international cooperation and
coordination on encryption matters. He will serve while retaining his
current position. Associated Press writer Lawrence L. Knutson quotes Vice
President Al Gore, the administration's point man on the encryption issue,
as saying, "These two actions will help promote the growth of international
electronic commerce and robust secure global communications in a manner that
protects the public safety and our national security."
The point of all this, of course, is software that allows users to scramble
phone and computer messages in cyberspace. Users want to keep their data
private with few or no restrictions, while law enforcement officials have
argued that they need the power to unscramble the messages to investigate
terrorists and other criminals. "The goal," AP comments, "is to balance the
needs of law enforcement with the needs of U.S. companies, which contend
that existing export restrictions are causing them to lose billions each
year in potential sales abroad. Law enforcers want access to an electronic
'key' to unlock secure communications in the event of a national security
or law enforcement emergency."
Clinton's order transfers jurisdiction for export control of commercial
encryption from the State Department to the Commerce Department and will
become effective when regulations are issued later this year. AP notes
current policy permits companies to export encryption devices with
electronic key lengths of up to 40 bits. Devices with a large number of
bits are stronger and harder to decode. The new plan allows companies to
export devices with a harder-to-crack length of 56 bits, as long as they
have a plan for law enforcement to unlock secured communications, the wire
service reports.
HP Plans Encryption Announcement
On the heels of President Clinton's signing of a new federal data encryption
order, Hewlett-Packard Co. is set to unveil technology it says will provide
a breakthrough in the long-deadlocked debate over secure datatraffic.
Reporting from Palo Alto, California, Samuel Perry of the Reuter News
Service says, "If the encryption technology has won the backing of industry
and the U.S. and other governments -- which Hewlett- Packard officials say
is the case -- the development could eliminate a key obstacle to the growth
of electronic commerce via the Internet."
Look for HP Chairman Lewis Platt this week to provide details on the plan,
which includes technology patented by the Palo Alto computer giant as well
as other technologies. A company spokesman told Perry technology from RSA
Data Corp. the de facto standard-setter for Internet security, will be
involved Hewlett- Packard officials said. Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp. and
Intel Corp. executives also are scheduled to attend tomorrow's news
briefing at the National Press Club in Washington.
HP officials told the wire service the technology will make it possible to
export products containing so-called "strong encryption," which cannot be
exported under national security laws dating back to the Cold War. "Under
national security law, the U.S. government has allowed the export of
software and other computer products containing only weaker data encryption
technologies," Reuters notes. As noted, encryption has been classified as
munitions because of its potential for use by terrorists, spies or other
criminals to conceal messages. Encryption programs use mathematical formulas
to scramble information, such as electronic mail messages or credit card
numbers, to render them unreadable to computer users without a password or
"software key" that can unlock the coded material.
Silicon Valley executives recently noted that consumer devices, such as
WebTV Network's Web browsing television device that hit store shelves this
autumn, use the same levels of strong encryption as used in militarysystems.
Notes Reuters, "The government recently proposed that the roadblock be
eliminated by providing a key recovery system, in which authorities could
recover keys to crack messages if they received a court warrant to do so.
Industry has rebuffed this as difficult to manage."
HP says its solution will be flexible, allowing customers to use the levels
of encryption required by different governments, allowing "very strong
encryption," said a spokeswoman. The company said its technology provides
a means of "solving the data security and integrity issues that have
impaired and frightened users andcompanies from exploiting the full power of
the Internet." As reported earlier, Clinton has signed an executive order
liberalizing U.S. export policy to allow companies to sell more powerful
encryption devices abroad. But firms taking advantage of the new rules first
must assure the U.S. government that law enforcers - - acting on court
orders -- can crack the code and intercept the communications.
Net Search Market Shakeout Seen
The market for consumer-oriented search and directory services is
overcrowded, and a shake out could be in the offing in 1997, according to
New York market research firm Jupiter Communications. "There are simply
too many players offering similar functionality and features, competing for
a limited number of advertising dollars and users," says Diana Simeon,
Jupiter's content publisher. "Search and directory players are now in
direct competition with online aggregators, local and specialized content
sites, and the many others that are threatening to usurp the traditional
role of these services."
Jupiter forecasts that:
z Only the select few search and directory sites that have already
established a critical mass of usership and brand name resonance have a
reasonable chance of survival.
z Those players competing in the consumer space must evolve into more
rich and deep World Wide Web services in order to keep users and, in turn,
boost advertising dollars. This is requiring the development ofspecialized
services, such as personalization, and the licensing of news, entertainment
and other programming.
z Advertising has become (and will continue to be) the primary revenue
stream. In the first half of 1996, the top five major players -- Yahoo!,
Excite, Magellan, Infoseek and Lycos -- generated approximately $14 million
in advertising revenues, putting them among the top online publishers.
z There is an opportunity to diversify the revenue stream with new
offerings, including offline ventures, derivative online ventures and,
potentially, for-fee services. These companies will be partnering with a
variety of strategic players on these fronts.
z Major players could indirectly -- or directly -- begin to pose
competition to major online services such as Microsoft Network, CompuServe
and even America Online, and vice versa.
The race is on to get maximum share of the "Web desktop" by partnering with
client developers, such as Netscape and Microsoft. Technology advancements
are of central importance to players, as they seek to be the "best" in
consumers' minds, plus derive revenues from licensing.
Compaq Settles Complaint
Under an agreement with 22 states, computer industry leader Compaq Computer
Corp. has pledged to adopt measures to prevent dealers from repackaging
used computers and selling them as new. Also, Compaq will no longer give
dealers materials such as extra marked boxes and factory sealing tape, which
had been used to replace cartons damaged in transit.
The Associated Press reports Houston-based Compaq will be allowed to provide
dealers with styrofoam pieces and unmarked boxes for use in returning
products to the company. And Compaq will pay $6,000 to each state to cover
costs of their investigations. The wire service notes the investigation was
sparked by complaints that
some Texans may have bought used Compaq computers they thought were new.
Compaq lawyer William D. Coston said the company itself had asked the states
to look into ways in which independent computer stores took care of returns
of its computers, adding, "The outcome for Compaq is not that we were doing
anything improper in handling returns." As reported, Compaq rival Packard
Bell Electronics Inc. agreed in September to a similar settlement with the
same 22 states. The company said it would place notices on all its computer
and monitor boxes explaining that the products may contain components from
previously sold computers. Packard Bell also agreed to pay $70,000 to each
state.
In addition to Texas, states entering yesterday's agreement with Compaq are
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri,New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, WestVirginia and Vermont.
Net Ads Challenge Newspapers
New Internet-based classified advertising technologies are evolving so
rapidly they may seriously impact the revenue patterns of traditional print
newspaper classifieds sections in as little as three years, according to a
new industry study. The report, to be published by Editor & Publisher Co.
on Dec. 2, warns that "if the newspaper industry does not respond to the
threats posed by electronic competitors creating new niche products and
services, serious injury is certain." Editor & Publisher, based in New York,
publishes a weekly newspaper industry trade journal.
The issue of cyber-competitors is critical for newspapers, warns Editor &
Publisher, because classified ads account for so much of their revenue.
U.S. papers, for instance, derive 37 percent of their total advertising
income from classifieds. The issue is also controversial. Opposing camps in
many print publishing companies are currently fighting bitterly over
whether to expand their companies' advertising presence in cyberspace or
focus on protecting the traditional print classifieds franchise - even
against the marketing programs of their own companies' new media divisions.
The reports finds that although many newspapers have set up Web sites that
include classified advertising sections, the strategies and functions of
those sections are generally weak and ineffectual in comparison to the
innovative systems deployed by the leading non-newspaper cyber-classifieds
companies. It notes that "only a few traditional print publishers have been
able to think 'out of the box' when it comes to reinventing classified
advertising." Additional information about the report may be found on
Editor & Publisher's Web site at http://www.mediainfo.com.
New Mail 'Virus' Is Book Hoax
Word from London is online rumors of a new virus circulating by e-mail are a
hoax orchestrated by Penguin Books as a publicity stunt. Consultant Graham
Cluley with Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit told Wes Thomas of the
Newsbytes computer news service that the online message in question reads:
"There is a computer virus that is being sent across the Internet. If you
receive an e-mail message with the subject line 'Irina,' DO NOT read the
message. DELETE it immediately. Some miscreant is sending people files
under the title 'Irina.' If you receive this mail or file, do not download
it. It has a virus that rewrites your hard drive, obliterating anything on
it."
The message cites as its source "Professor Edward Prideaux, College of
Slavonic Studies, London." The London Daily Telegraph notes "Prideaux" is
one of the main characters in the Irina book Penguin is planning to launch.
Cluley told Newsbytes that Penguin sent out a bogus letter to newspapers and
television stations, adding, "The hoax was eventually traced back to
Penguin via the envelopes used. The College of Slavonic Studies does not
exist. But London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies said it had
been inundated with calls to the fictitious Prof. Prideaux."
Newsbytes quotes Cluley as saying the letter was sent by Guy Gadney, the
former head of electronic publishing at Penguin, adding, "Although Gadney
sent out a second letter explaining that the first was a hoax, it has done
little to stop the spread of the alert, and it is now beyond anyone's
control, like the Good Times hoax." And at least one anti-virus company
apparently complicated matters by faxing the phony alert to their users.
"Seems they didn't realize it was a hoax," said Cluley, adding, "One should
note that merely reading an e-mail text message -- as long as that e-mail
program is not foolishly configured to launch attachments automatically --
cannot cause damage or spread a virus."
U.S. Firms Report Computer Crimes
More than half the major corporations in America have been victimized by
computer break-ins, suggests a new survey done in cooperation with a
congressional committee. USA Today reported this morning the survey, done
in conjunction with the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations,
found:
z 58 percent of the companies that responded said they had experienced a
break-in in the past 12 months.
z Nearly 18 percent said they suffered losses of more than $1 million.
z Two-thirds reported losses exceeding $50,000.
z More than 20 percent of the break-ins were believed by the corporations
to be the work of competitors.
z More than a third of the corporations would report a break-in only if
required by law. Many companies said they were concerned that disclosure of
the crime would undermine customer confidence.
Jim Christie, a Defense Department computer crime investigator, told the
paper, "A lot of this kind of crime goes unreported despite everyone seeing
it happen. The survey supports what we understood." The paper says the
Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which held public hearings
on this summer on computer crime, cooperated in the survey along with major
corporations. A total of 236 out of 500 companiesquestioned responded to the
survey.
Computer Injuries on the Rise
An Illinois-based consumer group finds a significant boost in the percentage
of on-the-job injuries that are musculoskeletal disorders that corresponds
with an increased use of computers in various occupations. Reporting from
Springfield, Illinois, United Press International says a study by the
Coalition for Consumer Rights finds that:
z 66 percent of all new on-the-job injuries reported during the past two
years were computer related.
z About 75 percent of people who work with computer terminals suffer some
sort of disorder, even if it is not severe enough to prevent them from
working.
Director Nancy Cowles told the wire service such injuries "can be as
devastating as a violent crash or explosion, making it impossible for them
to work or to carry out day to day activities without pain." The report
indicates service and retail trade workers suffer 46 percent of all keyboard-
related injuries, and note the number of women with such disorders is
significantly higher than the number of men. In the past, coalition
officials have been critical of changes made by the Republican-dominated
General Assembly of the past two years in the area of worker compensation
law.
"Those changes were intended to benefit business interests by bringing
injured-worker lawsuits under control," UPI notes, "but Cowles said they
have had the effect of making it more difficult for people who suffer
computer injuries to collect compensation." Meanwhile, Mike Doyle, director
of the Chicago-based Families Advocating Injury Reduction group, says
results in higher costs for government, as Medicaid winds up paying for
treatment, adding, "Government ought to be trying to reduce the number of
injuries, not just shifting off the burden for paying for them."
California Eyes Ergonomics
California is set to become the first state to pass ergonomics standards to
protect workers from injuries caused by repetitive work, such as typing on
keyboards or working an assembly line. Reporting from San Diego,
Associated Press writer Matthew Fordahl says that after two years of debate
and a court order, the state's Occupational Safety and Health Standards
Board has voted unanimously to approve the regulation.
"The ergonomics standards are not due to take effect until January," Fordahl
says, "but already they are being criticized by labor groups as too soft
and by businesses as too harsh." The regulation calls for employers to
evaluate the work site, control exposure to the injury-causing routine and
implement a program designed to minimize the problem. Preventative measures
include training programs, special breaks and special furniture. AP notes a
state report two years ago showed 31,800 California workers reported
repetitive motion injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis
and muscle sprains, which are generally believed to be the fastest- growing
workplace ailment among both blue- and white-collar workers.
The standards apply only to businesses with 10 or more employees and after
doctors document that two workers with similar jobs suffer from repetitive
motion injuries. Labor unions are unhappy with that. "It is an
unenforceable standard," said Tom Rankin, of the California Labor
Federation, AFL-CIO. "Any employer can say, `Sorry, the work wasn't
identical.'" But AP says the occupational safety board defended the
measure, which passed after a state court ordered the board to comply with
a Legislature-imposed deadline.
Said spokesman Rick Rice of the state Department of Industrial Relations,
"The reason it is written this way is that no two workplaces are alike. It
would be impossible to draft regulations that specifically cover conditions
in every workplace."
First Net Commercial to Debut
The first full motion video commercial made specifically for the Internet
will begin appearing at six Web sites next week, marking a new milestone in
the development of the Net as a commercial medium. The commercial is
sponsored by VDOnet Corp. and promotes the Palo Alto, California, company's
VDOPhone as an ideal holiday gift to bring families living apart closer
together. VDOnet specializes in Internet communications and video
technologies.
"The video commercial made specifically for the Internet is a strong
indication of how far and how fast video streaming technology has advanced
the past year and how the Internet continues to develop as a commercial
medium," says Yuval Cohen, vice president, marketing, for VDOnet. "Because
the quality of video on the Net has evolved far enough, people will be able
to make educated buying decisions based upon what they see and therefore
we expect to see a significant growth in such Internet commercials by a long
list of advertisers."
The VDOnet commercial was written and directed by Michael Tarr, an Emmy
Award-winning screenwriter and film maker. The commercial will run through
the end of the holiday season. VDOnet says it will track ad viewership at
each site and measure the effectiveness of the message through sales data.
The VDOnet commercial will appear on the following web sites: www.vdo.net;
www.azteq.com; www.brainworks.net; www.imall.com; www.lumanet.com and
www.virtualmedianet.com.
Net Homes to Hit 66.6M by 2000?
A prominent Internet observer is predicting the number of worldwide "online
households" -- those with PCs or other devices for accessing online
services and the Internet -- will reach 66.6 million by the year 2000, up
from 23.4 million this year. Jupiter Communications says increased PC
penetration, telecommunications deregulation and deployment of ISDN
(integrated services digital network) in Europe and Asia will be the key
factors driving growth. Kurt Abrahamson, managing director of New York-
based Jupiter Communications, says in the report, "The global market for
online services is in position to grow tremendously over the next five
years." The company provided this breakdown of world Net connections today
and its prediction for year 2000:
z North America, 15.4 million currently, 38.2 million in 2000.
z Europe, 3.7 million to 16.5 million.
z Asia/Pacific Rim, 3.4 million to 10 million.
z "Non-Primary markets," 0.9 million now to 1.9 million in 2000.
In a statement from New York, Jupiter comments, "Japan, Germany, and the
U.K. are clearly the non-U.S. front-runners for growth in online
households. The U.S. will continue to lead in online households with 36
million in the year 2000, but its share of the total world market will drop
from 62.8 percent in 1996 to 54.1 percent in 2000."
Computers Most Wanted Holiday Gift
A survey sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association
finds that computers top Americans' holiday wish lists. Large-screen color
TVs, Internet appliance/Web TV devices, camcorders and VCRs are the other
top electronics products that consumers hope to receive as gifts this year.
CEMA, based in Arlington, Virginia, polled 1,000 U.S. adults in late
October and early November.
"With the growing popularity of the Internet and all of the different
services that personal computers can provide, computers are really a gift
that the whole family can enjoy," says CEMA President Gary Shapiro. "We're
seeing this trend across other product categories, as well." The survey
finds that during the holiday season, desktop computers will be purchased
for family use 53 percent of the time. Forty-one percent of VCRs, 42 percent
of camcorders, 44 percent of home stereo systems and 42 percent of cordless
phones will be purchased for the entire family, the survey finds.
Survey Says Firms Rushing to Net
>From London comes a new survey that finds consumer-related companies are
rushing to the Internet to communicate with the public about a wide range
of subjects. Some 83 percent of top advertisers in Britain -- comprising
multinationals in the United States, Western Europe and Japan, and local
British companies -- have created home pages on the Internet's World Wide
Web, says Kathleen Callo of the Reuter News Service, which conducted the
survey.
"The survey showed people on the Internet could use company Websites to buy
books, get insurance quotes, track soccer results, check flight schedules,
learn how to fit a bathroom, get advice on choosing a dog and avast number
of other day-to-day activities," Callo reports. While companies such as
Britain's Tesco and J.Sainsbury allow Internet users to order wine,
chocolate and flowers from their Websites other companies use Websites for
softer marketing, Reuters found.
For instance, Procter & Gamble, the world's biggest advertiser, has about 10
Websites, but singles out its "parenttime" site http:/www.parenttime.com)
as a valuable connection to consumers, providing information for busy
parents about child development. Meanwhile, Britain's Bass Brewers said it
created a site (http//www.fa-carling.com) to show the public the company
loves soccer, providing information about soccer clubs, results and
players, and offers soccer club shirts and other merchandise.
Says Callo, "Just under half of the companies who responded said they used
their Website to sell products or services. They said Internet users could
use a variety of payment methods, including online payment by credit card,
and orders placed by fax, phone or e-mail." Also, just under half the
respondents said their companies advertised on or sponsored other Websites.
Called "Advertising and Marketing on the Internet," the Reuters survey
covered the top 100 advertisers in Britain, as listed by Register MEAL
research group.
Microsoft Unveils Windows CE
Windows CE -- a slimmed-down version of the Windows 95 operating system
designed for a growing class of smaller consumer and business devices --
has been unveiled by Microsoft Corp. on the eve of the Comdex trade show in
Las Vegas. At least seven companies are expected to launch products built
around CE and, says business writer Catalina Ortiz of The Associated Press,
while most are hand-held computers similar to Sharp's Zaurus or the Psion
Palmtop, "the operating software could be used for a huge range of devices,
from set-top boxes that turn televisions into Internet cruisers to 'smart'
phones that handle electronic mail."
In fact, "That's a key Microsoft technology you're going to hear a lot about
because we intend to use it in quite a variety of devices," Microsoft
chairman Bill Gates said at last night's unveiling. Analyst Tim Bajarin of
Creative Strategies Research International told the wire service Windows CE
was an attempt by Gates "to take his Windows 95 franchise and extend it
beyond the desktop," adding, "It could be on anything that's digital -- and
specifically for the consumer." Previously code-named Pegasus, CE is its
first operating system smaller than existing ones and shares many key
components with Windows 95, which should make it relatively easy for people
familiar with it to use the new hand-held computers and write programs for
it.
Compaq Unveils Hand-Held Unit
A hand-held computer called The PC Companion, designed to work in
conjunction with traditional desktop PCs, has been unveiled by Compaq
Computer Corp. Reporting from Compaq's Houston headquarters, The Wall
Street Journal this morning quotes the computer maker as saying the battery-
powered device can be used separately to enter and organize data or to
access the Internet, and information can be transferred to any desktop PC
running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 95 operating system.
Compaq said the unit uses Microsoft's new Windows CE operating system, a
scaled-down version of Windows 95. The PC companion is available today
through both retail and direct channels at $499 to $699. It is manufactured
in conjunction with Casio Computer Co., which is expected to release its own
version of the product. The Journal says the product weighs less than a
pound and includes a small keyboard and touch- sensitive gray screen. It
comes with either two megabytes or four megabytes of random-access memory,
includes word-processing and spreadsheet software packages, and can be
combined with a pager from the SkyTel unit of Mobile Telecommunications
Corp. for wireless two-way messaging.
Several other computer makers also are expected to unveil similar products
this week as Microsoft touts Windows CE at the Comdex trade show in Las
Vegas. Notes the Journal, "Compaq didn't label its device a personal
digital assistant, or PDA -- an unwelcome tag in tech circles. Those early
versions of the hand-held computer were plagued by software and hardware
bugs. Computer makers are positioning the new generation of products as PC
supplements rather than stand-alone machines."
U.S. Robotics Upgrades Modems
A program for upgrading modems to its new faster "x2" technology, including
some free upgrades, has been unveiled by modem market leader U.S. Robotics
Corp. From Robotics' Skokie, Illinois, headquarters, the Reuter News
Service reports the x2 technology allows users to connect at speeds of 56
kilobits per second over regular analog phone lines, twice as fast as
today's common connection.
U.S. Robotics officials told the wire service that customers with remote
access servers, modem pools and Courier desktop modems purchased between
Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 will be eligible for a free upgrade. For products
purchased as of Jan. 1, x2 upgrades will be priced at about $60 to $95 per
port. The upgrade will be in the form of a software and will not require a
change in chip or equipment, Reuters says. U.S. Robotics said software
upgrades for Courier products will be available in January and for Total
Control Enterprise Network Hubs in February. Upgrades for other systems are
expected in February and March, depending on the product. U.S. Robotics
said it will offer additional upgrades once a standard for the 56K bps
technology is established.
Apple OS Chief Steps Down
Isaac Nassi, head of Apple Computer Inc.'s computer operating system
division, has resigned from the company to pursue other interests. Nassi
headed the Applesoft Division of the computer company for the last two
years. The Reuter News Service quotes an Apple spokesman as saying the move
was announced internally to Apple employees on Friday. Reuters notes Apple
declined to elaborate on Nassi's reasons for leaving "and whether it was
the result of disagreements over the company's direction under Chairman and
Chief Executive Gilbert Amelio." The wire service notes Apple has been
widely rumored to be interested in buying Be Inc., a start up company
founded by former Apple executive Jan-Louis Gassee, a move which would allow
Apple to improve its operating system. Nassi's duties will be assumed by
Ellen Hancock, Apple's new chief technology officer.
Browser War has a NEW FACE? STR Focus Barksdale trying a NEW Twist?
Here WE GO AGAIN!
An Opinion
by Ralph F. Mariano
In this reporter's opinion, Jim Barksdale, CEO of Netscape, has made
it abundantly clear. Its no longer a simple and easily defined Browser War.
It's a Fight for Survival as far as Netscape is concerned! While he may not
have stated so directly. in this reporter's opinion, the handwriting is
already on the wall. Microsoft's Internet Explorer has literally entranced
and captured the Brower world with its sleek, sure-footed performance. Now,
we see Barksdale and company busy touting an end run affair they're
"proudly" calling "Constellation". To bad they didn't ask me what name I'd
prefer to use. Titanic seems to fit rather well.
"Netscape Communications is developing software designed to organize a
computer desktop, pushing Microsoft's Windows software off center stage.
Constellation, which is expected to ship in mid-1997, gives the computer
the look of a television screen with a row of buttons down one side. Each
button represents either a Web site to visit or an application program.
Netscape "hopes" its new product could become a de facto operating system,
with software developers writing their programs for Constellation rather
than Windows."
Microsoft on the other hand, plans to introduce a competing product, called
Active Desktop, in the second half of next year. One analyst says
Netscape's new approach to the browser battles shows it's growing up: "Up
until this point it's been primarily a religious battle, with Netscape
saying, it's us or them. Now they're saying, we realize we will not rule
the entire domain. However, what we will do is become the entire container
within which disparate pieces can be used."
This may, in a certain warped interpretation, make sense to the
stockholders and most of the cheerleaders of Netscape. But in reality, we've
all seen the "move over Windows" OS promotions and gimicks before. Can
anyone recall the names of some recent contenders that didn't make it?
Frankly speaking, any progress Netscape makes with this exercise will be due
to Microsoft allowing such. At this point, its fairly obvious that Windows
95/NT is "the name of the game. In all honesty, if this is anything like
some of the other recent schemes popping up on the `Net ..for the benefit of
the `Net.. perhaps, its time for the Netscape stockholders to consider a new
"catch word" like SELL. Especially after all the AWARDS Microsoft has had
bestowed upon them at Comdex. Oh well. the times they are changing and
going to get interesting. At least for Netscape and company.
For Immediate Release
Corel Corporation Launches Corel VENTURA 7
Full featured, high-end DTP package offers multimedia publishing
capabilities, a new customizable UI and powerful document design tools.
OTTAWA, Canada - November 18, 1996 - Corel Corporation and its
subsidiaries celebrated the launch today of Corel VENTURAT 7 at Fall Comdex
in Las Vegas, Nevada. Scheduled to begin shipping by late November, Corel
VENTURA 7 is a high-end desktop publishing package that combines the ease of
traditional desktop publishing with the power of the online world.
Rewritten to take full advantage of Windowsr 95 or Windows NTr 32-bit
processing and multi-tasking capabilities, and for the first time featuring
multi-document windowing, Corel VENTURA 7 is a fast, smooth and efficient
way to produce documents.
A fully customizable interface, multi-user access and the drag-and-drop
features of VENTURA LibraryT and VENTURA NavigatorT add to the user's
control and flexibility. In addition to advanced desktop publishing
capabilities, Corel VENTURA 7 ships with a full assortment of valuable
applications and utilities such as Corelr WordPerfectr 7, Corel PHOTO-PAINTT
6, Corelr Database Publisher, Corelr CD Creator 2 and much more. The
package carries a suggested list price of $895 US, with upgrades available
for $249 US.
"Corel VENTURA 7 has reached a new level of ease-of-use along with
unprecedented publishing power. This latest version allows users to publish
one document to paper, to a portable electronic EnvoyT document, or to the
World Wide Web, while consistently maintaining formatting and markers," said
Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel
Corporation. "Multiple master pages, a context-sensitive Property Bar and
the ability to easily transform documents to the Web using the power of
JavaT technology in Corel BaristaT make this powerful publishing software at
its best."
According to the July 15, 1996 edition of INFOWORLD, "the new Corel VENTURA
7 currently offers the most alternative publishing options, and they are
better designed than those that you'll find elsewhere. Corel VENTURA 7 now
equals and often surpasses the functionality of its competitors." The
August 1996 edition of Home Office Computing adds that "Corel VENTURA 7 will
provide you with helpful features including pre-designed layouts and
advanced drawing tools. The latest version of Corel VENTURA offers
practical, high-level function to create sophisticated publications."
New User Interface Features in Corel VENTURAT 7
Property Bar: The Property Bar, which complements the modeless cursor
operation in Corel VENTURA 7, is an innovative and powerful context-
sensitive toolbar that changes depending on the tool and object the user
has selected.
Modeless dialog boxes: Many dialog boxes are now modeless, meaning that
users can leave them open while working on documents, or open more than
one dialog box at once.
Master pages: To give users more power in document design, Corel VENTURA
7 now incorporates multiple master pages into each publication.
Grids and guidelines: To assist with the layout and design process,
Corel VENTURA 7 now provides optional non-printing grids and guidelines.
Tables: All tables now include spreadsheet-like features such as
hundreds of built-in functions, support for formulas, and AutoFill and
Sort commands. Users can import spreadsheets as Corel VENTURA 7 tables
and maintain any supported formulas. Other enhancements include the
ability to have multiple paragraphs in a cell, a skewed header row and
skewed header text.
Conditions: Paragraph tags, frames, graphics, tables, and ruling lines
now support conditions. Conditions allow users to produce different
versions of a document from one Corel VENTURA 7 publication.
Electronic Publishing Features
Publish As: This command enables users to publish Corel VENTURA 7
documents to HTML, Novell EnvoyT, Adobe Acrobatr, a CD-ROM, over an
internal network, or on the Internet.
Corel BaristaT: Corel has taken the power of the JavaT programming
language and incorporated it into Corel VENTURA 7, giving users the
ability to create Web documents that will appear consistently across all
Java-enabled browsers and operating system platforms. Web pages can be
created in Corel VENTURA 7 and published to the Web with WYSIWYG accuracy
-- with no programming knowledge required.
Corel SGML Layout Designer: Allows users to pre-format documents by
associating Corel VENTURA based layout tags with SGML objects in a
context-sensitive manner.
Corelr Visual DTDT (Document Type Definition): Allows users to compile an
SGML DTD, a textual description of a SGML document pattern.
InContext SGML Editor: Allows users to edit and validate a SGML document.
New Paper Publishing Features
Hi fidelity color printing: The Pantoner HEXACHROMET color library is now
included for high fidelity color printing and separations.
Powerful drawing tools: Full vector drawing and node-editing tools have
been included for creating objects and node-editing frames and imported
vector graphics. A new artistic text tool which enables text to be
fitted to a path, stretched, skewed or rotated has also been added.
Advanced color separations and prepress tools: The package now includes
full page print preview, controls for trapping and custom imposition,
halftone type selection, support for PostScript level 2, RGB to CMYK-TIFF
conversion and selective printing of inks, text or graphics.
High-end typography controls: Users can now maintain high precision
control over tracking and kerning within the publication or shared with
other publications.
Support for additional file formats: Corel VENTURA 7 can now import 44
different graphic file formats and 50 text file formats.
Advanced color management system
New Document Management Features
VENTURA NavigatorT: This feature provides one location for users to find
everything they need to manage a publication. It displays information
about all open publications, making it easy to share information between
documents, or to drag and drop files. VENTURA Navigator works like
Windowsr 95 Explorer: click and double-click to expand and compress the
display of a publication's structure, including chapters, master pages,
and style sheets.
VENTURA LibraryT: This feature makes the documentation process easier and
less time-consuming. A Library is a file window that contains all
available VENTURA components from graphics and bitmaps, to tags and
master pages. Users can borrow any of the components or any previously
created document, or share them with other users, other documents or open
publications. Simply drag the desired element into the open publication.
In addition to this, when changes are made to an element in a Library,
the changes are reflected in every element to which it is linked the next
time the document is opened.
Corelr Versionsr: Corel Versions provides document archiving and version
control for all file types. Users can compare any two files to see the
differences between them and retrieve any archived version of a file.
Users can also track multiple users of a common file, delete any archived
file from the history list, or protect a specific archived version from
being discarded.
Multi-user access control: You can now assign read/write access rights
for chapters, style sheets, or entire publication as well as create
passwords and assign administrator rights to maintain control over shared
files.
Other applications include:
Corel WordPerfect 7: This award-winning, 32-bit version puts the
Internet to work while taking advantage of Windows 95 to enable users to
finish faster and work smarter with improved output.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT 6: A powerful paint and photo re-touching program.
Corel Database Publisher: Databases to Corel VENTURA 7 or HTML can be
published weekly or daily at timed intervals automatically with this
application.
Corel CD Creator 2: To complement the new electronic publishing
capabilities of Corel VENTURA 7, Corelr CD Creator 2 software is included
for publishing documents to CD-ROM.
Corel SCRIPT EditorT: This feature allows the user to automate complex or
repetitive tasks. Scripts work like macros and can be created by
recording actions or keystrokes, or by using this feature to create
dialogs and make Corel VENTURA work the way the user works.
CorelMEMOT: An OLE compliant utility that allows users to attach notes to
their drawings or documents without altering the original graphics or
text.
Corel CAPTURET: An advanced screen capture utility used to capture all or
custom areas of a screen.
CorelDEPTHT: An easy-to-use utility that facilitates the creation of 3D
logos and text.
CorelrWEB.Site Builder: A graphical Web site creation tool.
ATM (Adobe Type Management ) 4.0 Lite: A font-management program.
Over 80 new templates
Libraries of HTML buttons and graphics
Over 20,000 clipart and symbols
Over 100 HTML Templates
Over 1,000 Type 1 and TrueTyperFonts
System Requirements
Users will require a minimum of a 486 DX2, 16 MB of RAM, 640x480, 256
colors, 120 MG of hard disk space for a typical installation, (65 MG for a
minimum install) a CD-ROM player (double-speed or higher recommended), a
Mouse or Tablet, and Windows 95 or Windows NT version 3.51 or higher.
Corelr Announces Corel Print & Photo HouseT
Corel's New Graphics Tool Perfect for Home or Small Business Design Projects
OTTAWA, Canada -- November 19, 1996 -- Shipping now for Windowsr 95 and
Windows NTr 3.51 or higher, Corel Print & Photo HouseT is an easy-to-use
graphics package designed to help home or small business users create
greeting cards, certificates, banners, business forms, signs, calendars and
more. Corel Photo House, a brand new photo-editing and bitmap creation
application, has been developed to make it easy for users to scan in their
own photographs, touch them up, and add fun special effects or create bitmap
images using the painting tools.
"Corel Print & Photo House is a simple, all in one graphics shop with a
friendly wizard-based interface that anyone can use without training," said
Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel
Corporation. "With a variety of ready to print sample files, drawing tools,
clipart images, photos and phrases, users will be able to create any project
within minutes."
Corel Print & Photo House includes more than 1,600 ready-to-print sample
files (700 of which are cards), 1,000 photos, 1,000 phrases, 150 TrueTyper
fonts, 7,000 clipart images, 200 backdrops, 70 intelligent borders and
templates from PaperDirect Inc. Users can also use their imaginations to
express their own ideas once they have become familiar with the program.
New features in Corel Print House include the following:
Shapes: A feature that allows shapes, including circles, hearts and
raindrops, to be dropped onto artistic, paragraph text objects and
bitmaps.
Fit Text to Path: A feature that makes it possible to fit text to a path.
Rainbow fills: This feature allows users to create fancy looking rainbow
fills.
Align/Distribute: Allows users to easily align and distribute objects.
Display Printable area
Corel Print House key features include the following:
Wizard-based User Interface: Corel Print & Photo House wizards are
available to walk users through any task such as changing the color of an
object or adding shadows to text.
Notebook: Convenient on-screen context-sensitive help guides users
through various operations such as how to apply effects, choose a paint
brush or access the photo collection. It also provides easy and visible
access to clipart, borders, backdrops, and preset styles that can be
dragged and dropped into designs.
Tools: In addition to the Rectangle, Ellipse, Pen and Text tools, the
Polygon tool lets users easily create multi-sided objects such as stars
and flowers. The Table tool automatically creates tables for business
projects.
Namelist: Corel Print House gives users the ability to create customized
lists of names and groups. This option makes it possible for users to
print letters, greeting cards or any other design for a group of people.
Shadows and Fading: Allows users to easily create shadows for text and
objects and fade any object.
Fully Editable Graphics: All vector graphics and text can be flipped,
rotated, re-sized, ungrouped and fully customized by color and shape.
Corel Photo House key features include the following:
Notebook: Convenient on screen help guide gives users easy and visible
access to photos, effects, colors and brushes.
Tools: Selection, Rectangle, Freehand, Eyedropper, Eraser, Flood Fill,
Paintbrush, Spray Can and Clone tools give users plenty of mobility when
touching up photos.
Touch-up Effects: Seven effects including Sharpen, Brightness/Contrast,
Remove Dust and Scratches, Reduce Speckles, Simplify Colors, Remove Red
Eyes, and Change Colors gives users everything they require to spruce up
or enhance photos.
Fun Effects: With these special effects -- Page Curl, Emboss, Swirl,
Custom Negative, Vignette, Motion Blur, Add Light Source, Psychedelic,
Ripple, Texture, Impressionist and Sketch -- photo editing possibilities
are endless.
Availability and Pricing
Shipping now, Corel Print & Photo House is available for a suggested retail
price of $69 US.
System Requirements
The minimum system requirements for Corel Print & Photo House are an IBMr PC
486 DX or compatible, Windowsr 95 or Windows NTr, a CD-ROM drive, a VGA card
and monitor and a mouse or tablet. Windows 95 users will require 8 MB of
RAM and Windows NT 3.51 or later users will require 12 MB of RAM.
Corel Corporation Hopes You Can Help Save The World
Ottawa, Canada - November 14, 1996 - Corel Corporation today announced the
release of The Wild World of Madison JaxxT. This educational, geographic
game is one of the latest additions to the CD HOME line and is targeted
towards anyone from eight years old to adults. The Wild World of Madison
Jaxx will be available for a suggested retail price of $59 US.
"The Wild World of Madison Jaxx is a comprehensive and fun way to learn
about geography and current world affairs," said Dr. Michael Cowpland,
president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "The hundreds
of maps, photographs and profiles of over 150 countries will quickly improve
anyone's geography skills and knowledge."
The game revolves around nine occupational characters who travel around the
world as they try to track down dangerous criminals. In the course of the
characters' missions, players will be asked to answer questions about each
of the countries that the characters visit and provide information on the
criminals who cross their paths. This five-CD-ROM title features real-time
video characters, 90 cases to solve, over one hour of narrative video, 530
sites, over 450 location photos, 200 country and regional maps and an
interactive geographical encyclopedia.
The game begins in the headquarters of the Global Special Services (GSS), a
crime-fighting enterprise owned by Mr. Madison Jaxx. Mr. Jaxx himself
addresses the nine specialists in the room and asks for their help in
solving the many new cases which the GSS has been asked to solve. Once his
briefing is over, the player selects an assignment through the occupation
screen.
Players can choose from characters including a diplomat, a TV journalist, a
film maker, an archeologist and an environmentalist. By clicking on the
face of one of the characters, the player will hear them state their name.
A click on the button displaying their job title will call up detailed
information on the character including their education, languages spoken,
previous experience and other skills. The player can accept this character
and their missions or return to the occupations list and choose another.
The missions reflect the nature of the characters' work and are informative
in a unique way which makes geography come alive. In the course of the film
maker's assignment, for example, the player will learn about Portuguese
wines, Spanish history and even experience the usual and the not-so-usual
problems which can beset a film crew. As players follow the characters
around the world, they will gain an insider's knowledge of the politics,
history and culture of every country they visit.
The interactive story of the player's journey is narrated for their
enjoyment. These entertaining audio segments are very informative and
contain answers to the clues which the player must attain. After listening
to each segment, they will be prompted to answer specific geography
questions relevant to the storyline. The players score points for each
correct answer and lose if an answer is incorrect. If they don't know an
answer but do not want to lose points, they can click the "Country Info"
button and access the GSS database right from their laptop via a simulated
Internet connection. A click on the "Country Map" button will provide
information pertaining to a country's borders, location and geography.
The goal of the game is to continue visiting different sites and answer the
questions, which will result in the successful solution of the case.
However, brain power alone is not enough. Players have to be nimble and
quick in order to neutralize dangerous criminals, or that could be the end
of their assignment. After each encounter with a criminal, the player can
click on the "Crime Lab" button and relay the clue which they have just
obtained. After the player has been to more than 10 countries and solved as
many clues as possible, Madison Jaxx will greet them and congratulate them
on their success.
Development and System Requirements
The Wild World of Madison Jaxx was developed by Studio Arts Multimedia, Inc.
Minimum system requirements include Windowsr 3.1x, a 486 DX 66, 8 MB of RAM,
23 MB hard disk space, 640x480, 256 color graphics display, 16-bit audio
capabilities, speakers and a double-speed CD-ROM drive.
Corel Corporation
Incorporated in 1985, Corel Corporation is recognized internationally as an
award-winning developer and marketer of productivity applications, graphics
and multimedia software. Corel's product line includes CorelDRAWT, Corelr
WordPerfectr Suite 7, Corelr Office Professional, CorelCADT, CorelVIDEOT and
over 30 multimedia software titles. Corel's products run on most operating
systems, including: Windows, Macintoshr, UNIX, MS-DOS and OS/2 and are
consistently rated among the strongest in the industry. The company ships
its products in over 17 languages through a network of more than 160
distributors in 70 countries world-wide. Corel is traded on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (symbol: COS) and on NASDAQ-National Market System
(symbol:COSFF). For more information visit Corel's home page on the Internet
at http://www.corel.com. Corel and WordPerfect are registered trademarks
and CorelDRAW, CorelVIDEO, Corel VENTURA CorelMEMO, Corel CAPTURE,
CorelDEPTH, PHOTO-PAINT, Visual DTD, VENTURA Library, VENTURA Navigator and
CorelCAD are trademarks of Corel Corporation or Corel Corporation Limited.
All products mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
JFK STR Spotlight
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Quotes about the Man.
"John F. Kennedy was a man of his generation, an eloquent spokesman for that
strange new world which the Second War had ushered in. More than any
President since Woodrow Wilson, he believed in the power of ideas. His quick
intelligence gave him an extraordinary grasp of the vast scope of the
Presidential office; his deep intellect molded a philosophy of government
that rare oratorical powers enabled him to articulate with grace and with
distinction.
"He was a man of the world, who understood the role of the United States in
this world. He was a man of peace, who at first hand had experienced war. He
was above all a man of political sophistication, who appreciated what the
United States could do and what it could not do in its relations abroad.
While a brilliant exponent of American democracy, he never fell into the
trap of believing in the myth of American omnipotence.
"He was a man of moderation, as he demonstrated repeatedly during his too-
brief years in office; he was also a man of courage, as he showed in that
moment of acute crisis over Cuba a year ago...
He has been murderously cut off in the prime of life and power; the Nation
has suffered another day of infamy which the American people will never
forget."
Quotes of His own..
"I do not promise to consider race or religion in my appointments.
I promise only that I will not consider them.""Hungry men and women cannot
wait for economic discussions or diplomatic meetings -- and their hunger
rests heavily on the consciences of their fellow men."
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the
right answer."
"Man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human
poverty and all forms of human life."
"When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters..
one represents danger and one represents opportunity.""While we shall
negotiate freely, we shall not negotiate freedom.""I believe in human
dignity as the source of national purpose, human liberty as the source of
national action, the human heart as the source of national compassion,
and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas.""With a
good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our
deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His
help,
but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."
"We seek not the world-wide victory of one nation or system but a world-wide
victory of man. The modern globe is too small, its weapons too destructive,
and its disorders too contagious to permit any other kind of victory."
"I do not believe that any of us would exchange places withany other people
or any other generation.
The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will
light our country and all who serve it.. and the glow from that fire can
truly light the world."
"...Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. The advancement
of learning depends on community leadership for financial and political
support..
and the products of that learning, in turn,
are essential to the leadership's hopes for continued progress and
prosperity..." (to have been delivered at Dallas, Texas,
November 22, 1963.)
one day, the truth shall be known.. for indeed, it is out there
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
LEXMARK OPTRA C
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Folks, the LEXMARK Optra C has to be the very best yet in its price range.
It is far superior to anything we've seen or used as of yet. It is said
that ONE Picture is worth a thousand words. The out put from the Lexmark
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amazed at the superb quality. (Please.. allow at least a two week turn-
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If you would like a sample printout that's suitable for framing. Yes that's
right! Suitable for Framing. Order this package. It'll be on special
stock and be of superb quality. We obtained a mint copy of a 1927 COLOR
ENGRAVER'S YEAR BOOK. Our Scanner is doing "double duty"! The results will
absolutely blow you away. If you want this high quality sample package
please include a check or money order in the amount of $6.95 (Exp, S&H only)
Please, make checks or money orders payable to; Ralph Mariano. Be sure to
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sent to you protected, not folded in a 9x12 envelope. Don't hesitate.. you
will not be disappointed. This "stuff" is gorgeous!
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
MS Office 97 STR Spotlight Does it get any better than this?
Microsoft Office 97
Preliminary Overview
Microsoft Office 97 brings organizations the power of the intranet, enabling
users to share information, collaborate on projects and be more effective in
getting their work done.
Office 97 provides:
z Individual Efficiency Intelligent and integrated software helps users
get organized and be more productive.
z Intranet Solutions Users can exploit the power of the intranet for
sharing information throughout an organization.
z Improved Software Management Enhanced setup and administration tools
translate to easier migration and reduced support costs.
This whitepaper will discuss in detail how organizations can make a
successful transition to Office 97 through software management improvements
over previous releases of Office. All of the capabilities mentioned in this
whitepaper are fully documented in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit from
Microsoft Pressr.
Customer Requirements
Upgrading software for end users in a large organization is not a trivial
undertaking. Most large organizations go through extensive evaluation of any
software prior to purchase. In addition to providing capabilities end-users
want, software is also evaluated for:
Ease of deployment.
z Administrative flexibility in setting defaults.
z File sharing capabilities across different platforms and versions of
the same software.
z Ability to get information and support for deploying the software.
Migrating to Office 97
Microsoft Office has an installed base of more than 22 million licensed
users. Over 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft Office. The
rise in popularity of Microsoft Office started with Microsoft Office 4.x,
when many large organizations recognized the benefits of the ease of use and
consistency of the products, and standardized their entire organization on
Microsoft Office.
Microsoft works closely with large organizations to find ways to make it
easier to deploy new versions of Microsoft Office. This includes making it
easier for users to work together when they are using different versions of
Microsoft Office, or using Microsoft Office on different operating systems.
Following are some of the capabilities, tools and strategies in Office 97
that make it easier to migrate, and some pointers for deploying Office 97 in
your organization.
Setup
Flexibility
Microsoft Office is a full-featured set of desktop productivity software
tools with a wide variety of setup options to support Microsoft's broad
customer base. It is designed to provide administrators with the same high
level of flexibility and control whether end-users go through setup
themselves, a technician goes out to the computer to set-up the software, or
a fully-automated, hands-off process such as Microsoft Systems Management
Server is used. All of the options discussed below work on all three
platforms Office 97 supports: Windowsr 95, Windows NTr Workstation and the
Macintoshr, except where noted.
Options
Physical Media There are a variety of media sources from which to install
Office 97. Users who are not connected to a network can install Office 97
from a CD-ROM or floppy disks. For users connected to the network, it's
easier to create a network installation (formerly called an administrative
installation) of Office 97 on a server. Not only is it easier for the end
user (no swapping disks), but the administrator retains maximum control and
flexibility.
What to Install? For simplicity, administrators can advise users to do a
Typical installation. This installs the most frequently-used components
without forcing users to make decisions they may not understand.
Administrators can use the Network Installation Wizard (described below) to
effectively create a custom Typical installation, to ensure users have all
of the components they need. Since this customization allows for several
different scripts, several Typical installation types can be used within one
organization.
Where to Install? Users can also choose where to install the software. For
example, laptop users may want to install all the software on their hard
drive to ensure they have all of the tools they need even when they are
disconnected from the network. Some organizations may prefer to run all
software from a network server for complete control and easier
administration, even though it may increase network traffic and decrease
performance.
A third option, making it possible to run the shared components from a
server, reduces the install size on an end-user's computer without
sacrificing performance. Individually, these components are smaller and used
less frequently, but combined, they can save a great deal of hard drive
space on the end-user's computer.
Batch Mode Setup supports creation of one or more script files that work
with the setup engine to customize an installation of Office 97. Switches
can be used to specify the script file to use and to turn off any
user-interaction dialog boxes. Switches also control whether the user's
screen shows the progress of the installation or shows nothing (a "quiet"
installation). In Office 97, batch-mode setup is supported on the Macintosh
as well as Windows.
Additional Setup Features It is not uncommon for a user to delete a
vitally important file such as Excel.exe, to decide after the fact that they
want a feature they did not initially install, or, to want to delete clip
art to free hard disk space. To address these needs, additional setup
options are available after Microsoft Office has been installed. These
include Reinstall, Add/Remove Components, and Uninstall, which will
completely remove Microsoft Office. Reinstall does not recopy files that are
fine - it just fixes files that may have been deleted and makes sure all
registry or preferences information is restored. A new feature in network
installations writes to a network log every time a user installs Microsoft
Office. This gives administrators a way to track users who have installed
from each share point.
Technologies Supported
Many large organizations use tools to manage their users' desktops, so
Microsoft has provided the technology to support these tools.
System Policies
Introduced in the Windows 95 operating system, and now supported in
Windows NT Workstation 4.0, System Policies give the administrator control
over custom settings for both the operating system and the applications on
end users' computers. System Policies can be enabled for any user who logs
on to the network. Through System Polices, the administrator can determine
operating system options, the appearance of the Desktop and Start Menu, and
options in Microsoft Office. Options in Microsoft Office that can be
determined via System Policies include default file formats in which to save
documents, default file locations, Office Assistant settings, the workgroup
template location, and many of the options available in the Tools, Options
dialog boxes in each of the applications.
Microsoft Systems Management Server
Microsoft Systems Management Server is one of the BackOfficeT server
products from Microsoft. It provides the following services:
z Hardware and software inventory
z Software distribution
z Remote administration of end user desktops
Microsoft included support for Systems Management Server in Office 97 and
individual applications to make it easy to deploy Microsoft Office
throughout an organization without having to make a physical visit to each
desktop. The appropriate Package Definition File (PDF) is included with the
software. The PDF is the set of instructions Systems Management Server uses
to distribute software. PDF and the many batch-file switches for Office
Setup described below, make it possible to create a customized, completely
hands-off method for distributing Office 97. At the end of setup, a message
information file (MIF) is generated for Systems Management Server, so a
report is returned on whether or not the installation was successful, and
what error(s) occurred.
Administrative Tools
Most large organizations have worked diligently to establish a network and
computing paradigm that works well for their enterprise and desktop
computing needs. These models vary widely between organizations. Rather than
providing solutions for the few common permutations, Microsoft has created
tools that allow administrators to customize Microsoft Office to an
organization. Following are descriptions of these tools.
Network Installation Wizard
Many organizations want to be able to create several types of custom
installations to handle different departments and user populations. The
most-frequently requested improvement to our Setup program is friendly
interface for customizing batch scripts. For Office for Windows 95, we
delivered the first version of the Network Installation Wizard, and we've
improved it for Office 97. This is a tool that functions like a typical
Office Wizard, stepping users through the process and options for creating a
custom Setup Table File (STF) for Office 97. Options include choosing which
features should be installed; whether users should install the software on
their local hard drive or run it from the server; the default folder for
installing Microsoft Office; the default location for the "My Documents"
folder; and the ability to add additional files to Setup, such as custom
templates. The Network Installation Wizard is available on the CD-ROM in the
Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit, which is available in book form and
electronically on the World Wide Web.
Setup allows users to specify which STF to use during any given
installation, so Network Installation Wizard lets users create one network
installation of Microsoft Office 97 and several different STF files - one
for each type of setup. Users simply give each type of setup a different
name, such as accntg.stf or sales.stf, and use the appropriate Setup switch
to point Setup to the correct STF file, without having to create another
network installation.
The Network Installation Wizard runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51 or
later. Custom installation scripts can be created for each of the platforms.
The Network Installation Wizard
Policy Template
Most users would find it very difficult to create a Windows 95 or
Windows NT 4.0 System Policy entry from scratch. What really makes System
Policies useful are templates with the settings and appropriate options
defined by software developers. The Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit CD-ROM
includes a policy template developed for the common custom settings for
Office 97. It can be used with the Policy Editor utility that comes with
Windows 95 or Windows NT to check off options that the user wants to set.
For more information on implementing System Policies, customers can refer to
the Windows 95 Resource Kit or the Windows NT Resource Kit.
Windows 95 System Policy Editor with the Office 97 Policy Template
The Office Upgrade Wizard
One of the benefits of Office 97 is that nearly 50 percent of the code is
shared by the Office 97 applications, so it uses less memory and disk space.
In addition, many Office Family and Office Compatible applications, such as
Microsoft Project, Microsoft Publisher and a variety of third-party
products, also rely on this common code and won't install it if it's already
available on the computer or network.
Because of this, when upgrading from Office 4.x to Office 97, it is not
always best or necessary to remove all previously installed software. The
Office Upgrade Assistant, available with the Microsoft Office 97 Resource
Kit, helps end users and administrators remove all old Office 4.x or Office
for Windows 95 software. It provides a variety of choices and is
configurable by the administrator.
Other Office 97 Tools
z Batch file converters Convert entire directories of files to any file
format supported by that application.
z Complete list of files A database with a complete list of files
installed, including queries that show what feature installs which files,
where they are installed to, version information, and whether they are
included in Typical Setup.
z Project Deployment Planning Template A template created in Microsoft
Project to help users plan and schedule the deployment of Microsoft
Office 97, including resource allocation. There will also be a Microsoft
Excel version of this tool.
File-Format Compatibility
File-format compatibility is potentially one of the greatest areas of
concern for organizations moving to a new version of desktop productivity
applications. Unfortunately, new features, which greatly enhance software,
often also require changes to the file format. For example, additions such
as Microsoft Excel PivotTabler dynamic views, Visual Basicr for
Applications, an object model, and support for shared code such as for the
new OfficeArt, have all required changes to the file formats.
Microsoft's goal is to develop file formats that do not need to change when
new features are added. Until this goal is achieved, the groundwork is laid
in Office 97 to eliminate converter issues, even when the file formats
change.
New File-Converter Architecture
In a mixed environment of Microsoft Office users, sharing files can be
problematic. Administrators don't want to expend the effort and cost of
installing converters for older versions of software, and users of the new
version don't want to give up new features in order to save in older
formats. It is also annoying to end users to receive a Microsoft Word
object, for instance, in email, but double-click, and have Microsoft Word
fail to recognize the file or open it. These are the problems the new
converter architecture should solve.
z File Format Detection Starting with the Office 97 applications,
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and PowerPointr will be able to determine
if a file that is being opened was created in a newer version.
z Network File Converter Location Converters will be able to exist on a
shared network location, even if the user has installed Microsoft Office on
the local hard drive. This is supported via a registry entry which tells
the applications where to look for additional converters.
z System Policy Template Support Administrators will be able to
predetermine or change the location of the converter using System Policy.
We will make it easy to set this entry by supporting it in our System
Policy Template. This support is available only on Windows 95 and Windows
NT 3.51 or higher, since these are the only two operating systems with
this feature.
z Install from Web if the application detects that there is neither a
converter stored locally for the given format nor a network location for
the new converters, it will inform the user that this is a newer file
format and that there is a converter available for reading it. If it
detects that the user has a way of connecting to the Internet, it will
invite the user to connect to the Web and download this new converter from
the Microsoft Web site. If the user agrees, the application will start up
the connection, allow the user to download the filter, install it, and end
the connection. The user can then open the file successfully.
Migration to new versions of Microsoft Office will be much smoother since
users working with different versions of Office will not have problems
sharing files. Even better, there are no costs associated with this
solution.
File Format Differences
There is a great deal of compatibility between different versions of
Microsoft Office. The few incompatibilities that do exist are documented in
the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit. There is also thorough documentation
on file-format compatibility for those switching from applications other
than Microsoft Office, such as WordPerfectr and Lotusr 1-2-3r.
Default Save
Another frequently requested feature from administrators is the ability to
restrict users to saving in a particular file format. Since most large
organizations do not upgrade everyone at one time, this is an effective
intermediary solution for sharing files. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and
PowerPoint all support the new Default Save feature that only allows users
to save documents in the file format of a previous version of the
application. End users can specify the file format in which to save
documents in the Tools Options dialog box in each of the applications. In
addition, on the Windows 95 and Windows NT platforms, the administrator can
set the file format using the System Policy. Administrators can set what
file format to save in and customize the message users see when they save in
a different file format. If users are not sharing files and want to save
them in the Office 97 format, they can override this setting.
Batch File Conversion
Once users have migrated to Office 97, many administrators will want to
convert all older files so end users don't have to do it one file at a time.
Batch file converters provided with the software will convert entire
directories of files from any given format to the Office application format.
Viewers
The ultimate compatibility tool, Viewers allow users who do not have Office
to view and print Office documents. Although they cannot create or edit
files, Viewer users can accomplish specific tasks such as following
hyperlinks, using the various views in the Microsoft Word Viewer, showing a
presentation in the PowerPoint Viewer, or using the AutoFilter feature in
the Microsoft Excel Viewer.
Viewers will be available for Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and
Microsoft Excel on the following platforms:
Windows 3.1
Windows 95
Windows NT
Macintosh
File Format Compatibility
The following section highlights ways users of different versions of
Microsoft Office can share files and the compatibility between these
versions. Full details can be found in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word 97 will be able to open and save documents created by earlier
versions of Microsoft Word, back to version 2.0 of Microsoft Word for
Windows, 4.0 of Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, and 5.0 of Microsoft Word
for MS-DOSr. In addition, users of Microsoft Word for Windows back to
version 2.0 and Microsoft Word for the Macintosh back to version 5.0 can
open Microsoft Word 97 files by using a converter that must be installed
separately. If changes are saved in the earlier version, there may be loss
of some features that are new in Microsoft Word 97, but data is preserved.
Although the development environment and language have changed completely in
Microsoft Word 97, almost all older WordBasic macros should work without
problems.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel 97 can open and save to earlier versions of Microsoft Excel,
back to version 3.0 on both the Windows and Macintosh platforms. Microsoft
Excel can save both the Microsoft Excel 97 and the Microsoft Excel 5.0/95
format information into one file. The file will be larger than the average
file, and will take longer to save, but, end users of Microsoft Excel 5.0,
95 and 97 can open and save files in this format. It is not necessary to
install special converters for users of Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 95. The
older macro language, XLM, continues to be supported in Microsoft Excel, so
older macros should run without problems.
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access can open all older Microsoft Access files on the Windows
platform only. (Microsoft Access is not available on the Macintosh.) Users
can view all objects in the database and add, delete, or modify records.
However, users can't modify the design of objects such as Forms, Reports or
Modules. Earlier versions of Microsoft Access can not open Microsoft
Access 97 files, but, Microsoft Access for Windows 95 users can use (attach
to) data from Microsoft Access 97 tables and queries.
A solution for compatibility among Microsoft Access users is to separate the
tables and queries from the application, put data in one format that all
users can attach to, and then have more than one version of the application
so users of Microsoft Access 97 can take advantage of new functionality.
Microsoft Access 97 can run both older Access Basic and older Visual Basic
for Applications modules with very few exceptions.
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft OutlookT desktop information manager replaces previous Microsoft
Mail and Microsoft Exchange e-mail clients and Schedule+. The following
information covers most compatibility scenarios. More information can be
found in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit.
Outlook 97 users will be able to participate in the following activities
with users of Outlook 97 and all previous Schedule+ versions, regardless of
whether the mail system is Microsoft Mail 3.2 or Microsoft Exchange Server.
Send to and receive meeting requests View published free/busy information
Import calendars from previous Schedule+ versions and other common formats
(text, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel)
Schedule+ 95 introduced a new feature which, with permission, allows users
to right-click on a busy time for another user in Planner View, and get the
details of the appointment. Outlook 97 users will be able to view these
details for all users, However, Schedule+ 95 users will not be able to see
the details for an Outlook 97 user.
Delegate Access allows one user to appoint another user to act as an owner
of a schedule - planning appointments, requesting meetings and accepting
meeting. Outlook 97 supports Delegate Access, but only among Outlook 97
users.
The Microsoft Exchange client and Outlook 97 support the ability to create
customized views of email messages, both for personal and public folders.
Outlook 97 users will be able to use views created in the Microsoft Exchange
client, and both will be able to use views created in Outlook, provided that
the Microsoft Exchange client switch is turned on when the view is created
in Outlook.
For electronic-forms compatibility between Microsoft Exchange client and
Outlook 97 users, users should create forms with the Microsoft Exchange
Forms Designer, which will run in Outlook 97. Finally, the Outlook object
model is very different from the Schedule+ 95 object model, so solutions
created for Schedule+ 95 will not work in Outlook 97.
Microsoft PowerPoint
The PowerPoint presentation graphics program can open and save to older
files back to versions 3.0 on both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.
There will be converters that need to be installed separately for users of
PowerPoint for Windows 95 and PowerPoint 4.0 on both the Windows and
Macintosh platforms. These converters allow users of previous versions to
open PowerPoint 97 files. PowerPoint also allows users to save files in a
version that includes all information needed for both PowerPoint for
Windows 95 and PowerPoint 97 formats. This will enable users of these
versions to share files without being concerned about the version.
The object model in PowerPoint has changed extensively for more consistency
with other applications and to include a host of new objects. Consequently,
programs written for PowerPoint for Windows 95 will need to be updated.
Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit
In the tradition of the various Windows Resource Kits, the Microsoft
Office 97 Resource Kit is designed to be the administrator's guide to
Microsoft Office 97, and will be available when Microsoft Office 97 ships.
Organized into five main sections, the resource kit covers the majority of
IS migration issues:
z Deploying Office 97 Fully explains Setup procedures, including
customizing client installations, optimizing Office 97, and
troubleshooting.
z Upgrading to Office 97 Complete coverage of how to upgrade from
previous versions of the Office applications, back to Office 3.0.
z Switching from Other Applications Similar to the preceding section,
this is complete information on making the change from non-Office
applications, such as WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3 and Lotus Freelancer.
z Using Office 97 Throughout Your Organization This section covers many
topics, including supporting multiple versions of Office at the same time,
workgroup functionality in Office 97, administering an Office Web, and
interoperability with electronic mail.
z Architecture Detailed information on the architecture of the Office
applications, including registry settings, and ways to exploit the
architecture.
Resources
z Microsoft Office is overwhelmingly the most popular suite of desktop
productivity applications in the world and there are a variety of resources
available to assist efforts to deploy and support Microsoft Office.
z Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit Available Online
z The Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit is continually updated after it is
published. As accounts deploy Office 97, new information is learned that
can help others. The up-to-date, electronic version of the Microsoft
Office 97
Resource Kit can be found in the following locations:
z Microsoft Web Site: www.microsoft.com/ork/
z Microsoft TechNet CD-ROM
Solution Providers
a host of Microsoft Solution Providers are specifically trained to assist in
deployment of and development with Microsoft products. Information about
Solution Providers can be obtained by calling 1-800-SOL-PROV in North
America or by calling your local Microsoft subsidiary.
Training Organizations
A variety of training organizations offer training to end users on
Office 97. For information on Authorized Training and Education Centers,
call 1-800-SOL-PROV in North America or a local Microsoft subsidiary.
Microsoft TechNet
Microsoft TechNet is a comprehensive information resource for anyone who
evaluates, implements, or supports Microsoft business products. A survival
guide for the technical jungle, TechNet includes more than 150,000 pages of
in-depth information on CD - shipped to subscribers every month. The
ultimate tool for supporting Microsoft products, this monthly CD-ROM
includes all of the Microsoft Resource Kits, Microsoft's Product Support
Service Knowledge Base of support articles, support information written by
third parties, and much more.
Customers in the U.S. and Canada have three ways to subscribe:
Contact their authorized reseller.
To start a subscription immediately, call (800) 344-2121, dept. 3120 with
credit card information any time between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Pacific
Time, weekdays.
Fill out an electronic order form on our Web site.
Outside of North America, see the complete listing of phone numbers in the
TechNet area of the Microsoft Web Site.
World Wide Web Site
The Microsoft World Wide Web site has everything from product information to
free software and drivers, to electronic versions of resource kits and the
TechNet CD.
z Microsoft Home Page http://www.microsoft.com/
z Microsoft Office Home Page http://www.microsoft.com/office/
z TechNet Home Page http://www.microsoft.com/technet/
Product Support Services
All Microsoft products are backed by an award-winning Product Support
Services (PSS) group. Microsoft Office, Standard Edition, is the only
desktop productivity suite with free, unlimited end user support (via toll
lines). Microsoft Access includes two free support calls. Microsoft also
provide some free developer support, with a variety of packages to fit user
needs for additional developer or premium support. For more information on
PSS packages for Desktop Applications, in North America call 1-800-931-4100,
visit the Support area on the Microsoft Web site, or contact a local
subsidiary.
1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
The information contained in this document represents the current view of
Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication.
Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not
be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft
cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of
publication. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT
MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. Microsoft,
BackOffice, MS-DOS, Outlook, PivotTable, PowerPoint, Microsoft Press, Visual
Basic, Windows, Windows NT, and the Office logo are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft in the United States and/or other
countries. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
WordPerfect is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. Lotus, 1-2-3,
Freelance is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corportation.
UltraEdit32 STR Spotlight
UltraEdit / UltraEdit-32 - v4.20aThe editor for all your editing
needs.UltraEdit is an excellent replacement for NOTEPAD and a lot more, with
support for unlimited file sizes, 100,000 word spelling checker, full HEX
editing capabilities, configurable syntax highlighting for programmers,
column editing. UltraEdit has all the features you will need. UltraEdit
handles multiple files at once, even if they are multi-megabyte files. It
is Disk based and only requires a small amount of memory, even for very
large files. UltraEdit-32 designed for Windows NT and Windows 95, and
UltraEdit for Windows 3.1 with no additional fee.
Standard Features:
- Disk based text editing
- No limit on file size, minimum RAM used even for multi-megabyte files
- Multiple files open and displayed at the same time
- Column mode editing!!!, Insert columns/ delete/ cut/ add sequential
- numbers
- File sort (with remove duplicates, ignore case, ascending, descending)
- 100,000 word spell checker
- Syntax highlighting - configurable, pre configured for C/C++ and VB
- Automatic word wrap at specified column with hard return
- Insert file into an existing document at cursor position
- Drag and Drop support from the file manager
- Configurable toolbar
- Splitter windows
- Insert and overstrike modes for editing
- Multi-level undo and redo
- UltraEdit is Windows 3.x CUA compliant
- Find and Replace - Also allows selection of text between caret and
- find target when shift key is pressed
- Goto Line Number/Page Break
- Font Selection for display and printer. (Supports all fonts installed
- including TRUE-TYPE fonts)
- Print support with headers, footers, margins and page breaks.
- Automatic Line Indentation
- Tab Settings
- Word Wrap Support
- Hexadecimal Editor - Allows editing of any binary file - HEX Cut,
- copy and paste support
- HEX Insert and Delete of characters
- HEX Find, Replace and Replace All
- Bookmarks - Unlimited number of Bookmarks
- Multiple Windows of the same file
- Comprehensive macro support, including saving and loading
- Context Sensitive Help
- Automatic backup file generated with (.BAK) extension in the directory
of the original file
- UltraEdit retains its screen position each time it is used
- Line & column number display (line number display may be disabled)
- Pop-up menus with right mouse button.
- Text conversion to lower or upper case and capitalization.
- Unix/Mac to DOS Conversion
- DOS to Unix conversion
- Auto detect UNIX/Mac files
- Convert Word Wrap to CR/LF's allowing word wrap to be written to file
- with hard returns
- Convert CR/LF's to Word Wrap (removes CR/LF's from file)
- Template Support
- More ...
Also: - UltraEdit accepts a command line input and so can be used to replace
NOTEPAD or other editors that are called up from a file manager by clicking
on a file.
RegistrationYou are limited to 45 Days of use for an unregistered
version.UltraEdit is a shareware program. If you find it useful and continue
to use it you are obligated to register it with the author by sending
$30.00 (Ohio Residents add $1.65 Sales Tax) to:
Ian D. Mead
8209 Chestnut Hill Ct.
West Chester, OH 45069
USA
Free upgrades for at least 1 year. Upgrade fee is $15.00 (Ohio residents
add $0.83 Sales Tax)for previous
registered users.
VISA/MASTERCARD Accepted
For VISA/MasterCard orders, include:
1) Name of card holder
2) Address of card holder
3) Name and address of user if different from card holder
4) Expiration date of card
5) Card #.
Credit card orders may be faxed or telephoned to (513) 779 8549, or sent to
my E-Mail address (see below).
Compuserve Registration
UltraEdit may also be registered online on compuserve by typing GO SWREG and
following instructions for registering using ID 2662 (Same ID was used for
MEDIT and EditPro - UltraEdit replaces these products at the same cost).
This will entitle you to an authorization code, the latest registered
version, and technical support. For CompuServe registrations, a newer
version is not sent out if the latest version is available on CompuServe.
E-Mail Address
Internet: IDM@iglou.com
CompuServe: 71613,2654
WWW http://www.iglou.com/idm
Return Policy
No refunds are issued after an authorization code has been issued.
Exchanges are allowed if appropriate.
This program may be freely distributed provided it is unmodified, no charge
is made for the software, and all of the following files are included:
1) READ.ME - This File
2) UltraEdt.EXE - Executable File
3) UltraEdt.HLP - UltraEdit help file
Latest Version
The latest version of UltraEdit/UltraEdit-32 may be found in several places:
The following www page:
http://www.iglou.com/idm
- In the WINUSER Forum on CompuServe, an official distribution and
support online resource for future updates. Search for ULTRAEDIT.ZIP, and
UEDIT32.ZIP.
- The Windows Users Group Network (WUGNET), operators of the oldest and
largest independent support resource forum (WINUSER) for Windows Users on
CIS with nearly 1,000,000 active members is recognized in the press, user
groups, developers, and Microsoft as the foremost resource for shareware
publishers on CompuServe and the Internet.
- The Bounty BBS 904-268-4116
- On the Internet on several sites, including CICA and other sites.
History
History - Purged changes prior to v3.10
v3.10 - Enhanced macro support for file loading, saving closing, HEX
editing
and mode switching - see help for full set of features.
- Allow multiple macros, with configurable HOT KEYs
- Allow nested macros
- Added support for upto 6 languages for syntax highlighting
- Allow configurable block comments with syntax highlighting
- Spawn a DOS command and capture output - run a compiler
- Start a Windows Program
- Auto detect UNIX or Binary/Hex files when loaded
- Added regular expression support
- Added literal character insertion to insert control codes - CTRL+I
- Added find matching brace
- Other minor changes and fixes
v3.10a - Fixed GPF with open of file from most recent file list when file
did not exist. Minor fix to syntax highlight for configurable block
comments on and off. Fix problem not being able to open multiple instances.
Shows up when opeing files from file manager.
v3.10b - Fixed "Nocase" not working with Syntax Highlighting and causing
possible GPF's. Fixed pop-up format menu on pop-up edit menu. Fixed
possible lockup with Convert Wrap to CR/LF's. Fixed loading of pre v3.10
macros with find/replace. Other minor fixes.
v4.00 - Added the following features:
- Configurable toolbar
- Splitter Windows
- Read Only default option and edit menu item
- Save Select As file
- Delete Line
- Insert Date and Time
- Command line option for line and column
- Enhancements:
- HTML keyword for syntax highlighting to allow '<,>,/' characters
- UNDO for column paste, insert functions
- Time/Date in status bar and page headers follow control panel
settings
- Column functions honour select start and end for inserts
v4.00a - Minor change for deleting columns in column mode and fix DOS
command in 32-Bit version on Windows 95. Generated at customer request.
v4.00b - Fixed GPF when exiting using EXIT button on TOOLBAR. - Allow
multiple files on command line on 32-Bit version if fully qualified, or in
quotes ("...")v4.10 - File Sort with ascending, descending, remove
duplicate, ignore case (no undo for sort) - Convert ANSI to OEM, OEM to
ANSI (format menu)
- DOS to MAC conversion
- Color selection for background, normal text, bookmarks (view menu)
- Tools configuration, up to 10 user tools in advanced menu
- Improved DOS commands and output capturing (particularly for Win95)
(now can pass path and/or filename and/or extension)
- Invert Case
- Macros can choose not to show the cancel dialog
- Option to automatically reload the last set of open files on startup
- Ctrl+Double Click now selects a complete string (configurable
delimiters)
- 20 Templates now available
- HEX mode highlights both sides of display (HEX and ASCII)
- Improved macro support
- Syntax highlighting now has configurable delimiters to better
support langauges with words that contain not alpha characters
- Show spaces, tabs and new lines (View menu)
- Bug fixes
v4.10a - Bug fixes - Foreign keyboards not working with AltGR+0 to AltGR+9
Change templates 10 - 19 to use Shift+Alt+0 - 9.
- Fix window sizing when invoked from right mouse button
- Allow commas in file names
- Fixed Find in Files to not lose sreen information
- Changed Ctrl+Alt for aumlet characters - see help
keyboard commands
- Fixed intermittent problem with two small square
boxes showing up at end of file (at last)
V4.20 - ASCII file compare under file menu
- Replace in files
- Replace in all open files (option under standard replace)
- Command line improvements:
a) The command line parameter /r will open the specified files for
read only.
b) Wildcard support: you may now specify *.c to open all c files.
c) You may specify that the filename on the command line contains a
list of file to open:
uedit32 filelist.txt /f
where filelist.txt contains a list of files, each on a separate
line.
- New spelling checker engine that supports French, German, Spanish,
Italian, Finnish, Swedish and Dutch. Download dictionaries
separately. Alos support multiple user dictionaries and can share
Microsoft's custom dictionaries.
- New column markers to indicate the lines extending beyond specified
columns (View menu).
- Added option "Save File As Input Format" also that allows a Unix
file to be opened and then save as Unix format automatically when
used in conjunction with the "Auto Convert Unix Files" function.
- User selectable reference help files. From the Help menu you may
add help files that you want UltraEdit to be able to reference
with keyword searches. Great for adding help support for your
programming API.
- Syntax Highlighting improvements:
a) Fixed //* problem with comments for C/C++
b) Added support for selectable colors for all 6 languages
c) Added 5 user colors per language (was 3)
d) Added color selection for strings (stings not recognized if
cross multiple lines)
- Added FORTRAN_LANG key word for syntax highlighting to support
'c', 'C' and '*' as comment indicators if in first column.
- Long or short filename support passing file names in the
Dos/Windows and Tools commands. If the %F, %P, %N and %E are lower
case the name passted to the application is the long file name and
the user should put the %f in quotes i.e.
c:\somecommand "%f" or
c:\somecommand "%p%n"
- Other changes
V4.20a - Bug Fixes:
Vertical Scroll Bar Thumb Size
Opening files with UNC convention computer name
Fix possible crash with syntax highlighting (reported once)
Windows is a registered Trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
MICROSOFT OFFICE 97 STR Review "The BEST becomes BETTER!
MICROSOFT OFFICE 97
Editor's Choice 1997
By Ralph F. Mariano
The evolution and maturation of Microsoft's universally acknowledged top of
the line suite of productivity applications has a list of powerful yet easy
to use functions. Office 97 is bound to appeal to Office 95 users in
droves. Office 97's New features, options, and benefits are both plentiful
and well thought out. They range from easy to use enhancements and updates
to truly a more intuitive and easy to observe interface. The everyday-
language help system, along with a simplified network installation and
management tools are added bonuses. For Network Administrators increased
code sharing offering less hard disk consumption and fewer GPF's generated
by corrupted DLLs and overwritten system files is an added plus. Office 97
Professional showcases the fact that Microsoft's code crunchers understand
the implications and future of Web technology. This powerhouse package also
includes Web search, hyperlinks, and a powerful HTML formatter. A new Web
toolbar provides easy access to all the `Net features of the suite's
applications.
IntelliSense IntelliSense, an anticipatory sort of machine intelligence,
tries to understand what you want to accomplish. With an interface similar
to the real-time spelling checker in Office 95, IntelliSense has been
expanded, enabling it to detect grammar errors in real time. IntelliSense
works across all of the suite's modules. In Excel, for example, it lets you
write formulas that refer to a cell's contents instead of requiring you to
define a named range. In addition, Excel will now automatically correct the
dozen or so most common errors in formula building.
Office Assistant
How do you write software for millions of users, while making it work as if
it were designed for each individual user? Microsoft created software that
can learn from the user and change its behavior based on what the user does.
The role of user assistance, or help, in Microsoft Office has evolved over
time. Initially I all help files, the goal was to document every feature and
its use in a hard copy manual. However, since many people didn't have the
time to read that type of huge documentation, Microsoft decided to integrate
user assistance into the product. They put more information into online
help, making it easier to access or search for particular topics. Along the
way, they added features such as Cue Cards, which are a form of online help
that stays on-screen while you use it, and the TipWizardr assistant, which
watches what you do and suggests an easier way to accomplish specific tasks.
While these innovations advanced users' abilities to work with Office,
customer feedback and a series of research projects indicated the need for a
fresh approach to online assistance. Microsoft observed the phenomenon of
the departmental guru, and created the Office Assistant to emulate that
guru, allowing the user to ask questions in everyday terms, not
"technobabble," to get assistance in using Office 97. The Office Assistant
also serves as the central place to unify all of the user assistance
provided in the Office products. Microsoft obviously spent a great deal of
time testing Office Assistant, ensuring that it would be appropriate for all
levels of users, and for users around the world. The Office Assistant is in
every Office 97 application.
Some of the ways the Office Assistant helps the user include:
z Natural Language Assistance When a user asks the Office Assistant a
question in everyday language, such as "How do I print sideways", the
Office Assistant shows the way.
z Tips Based on the way a user uses Office 97, the Office Assistant can
give tips for methods that are more efficient, or expose features the user
may not have discovered.
z Intelligent Help Based on user actions, the Office Assistant will
actually guess what they might need assistance on without their even having
to ask.
The Office Assistant is designed to give guidance to the user in using the
existing user interface, not to replace it, as was the case with Microsoft
BobT. It is highly customizable, allowing the user to control what it looks
like and how it behaves. There is even an object model so that developers
creating custom solutions with Microsoft Office can add their own help to
the Office Assistant.
Office Art
Every one of the Office applications are able to use the same powerful set
of greatly enhanced drawing tools. Create 3-D objects with shading,
beautifully formatted fills, or textures that can also be used to enhance
charts, Bezier curves, and connectors to create flow charts or diagrams.
Special effects include lighting and finishes such as matte or metallic, and
there are a host of pre-created shapes that you can size to your needs. Text
can be added to any object without creating an additional text box and any
drawing object can have a hyperlink associated with it. This makes it easy
for any Office user to create great-looking navigation buttons or maps
within their documents or for use elsewhere. With Office Art, you get one
set of sophisticated drawing tools that have the ease of use of Office to
use in all of the applications.
Outlook Outlook, a multilayered personal information manager, (PIM) combines
an address book, contact manager, calendar, universal in-box (superseding
Exchange, Microsoft Mail, and Schedule+), and a personal task manager that
can manage every minute of your professional life. As with all of the
applications in Office 97, Outlook is also packed with innovative and useful
touches. For example, E-mail Preview shows the first two lines of messages,
AutoName inserts the recipient's name from your address book, and the
Meeting Planner shows available times for the people you want to attend a
meeting. The applause for the best new goodie in Office 97 goes to Outlook.
Outlook is the hub of Office 97's enhanced workgroup capabilities. One of
the Key benefits includes a full Messaging API-compliant e-mail messaging
client.
Word 97
Letter Wizard
The Office Assistant in Word works together with the Letter Wizard to offer
assistance in creating letters. As soon as the Assistant sees that you are
addressing a letter, it offers assistance and starts up the Letter Wizard.
The Letter Wizard then functions as a central place to choose and edit all
letter elements. No more rewriting common text and tweaking details to make
sure that the letter "looks" right. In addition, the Letter Wizard helps
place all the necessary elements with the right punctuation. And, when
you're done with your letter, it even offers to step you through creating an
envelope.
AutoSummary
Different audiences for your documents often want to see varying levels of
detail. Your manager may want all of the details of the project you are
working on, but the division vice president may only want a synopsis.
Word 97 now helps you automate document summaries by creating them for you.
Word analyzes the document statistically and linguistically to generate
summaries based on the following choices:
z Choose a specific percent of the document or word-count-based summary.
z Condense the document or highlight relevant portions on-screen.
z Create an abstract and insert it in the document
Background Grammar Checking
In Word for Windows 95, we introduced background spell checking. While you
worked, Word would go through your document, spell checking it, and putting
a wavy line underneath words that were misspelled. A simple shortcut mouse
click on the word would reveal the suggested corrections for that word.
Background Grammar Checking is very similar to this feature. Now, while you
work, Word uses its new natural language Grammar Checker to check your
document for grammatical errors. It puts a green wavy line under problem
words, phrases, or sentences, and gives you suggested corrections when you
click on the underlined text with the shortcut mouse button. By changing the
options for the grammar checker, you control what mistakes it looks for.
Table Drawing Tool
What's more intuitive than simply drawing out a table the way you want it?
That's how you do it on paper, and now you can do it that way in Word 97.
Simply click on the Table Drawing tool on the toolbar, and start drawing.
You can draw in the rows and columns where you need them, and Word will make
corrections for grammatical errors. It puts a green wavy line under problem
words, phrases, or sentences, and gives you suggested corrections when you
click on the underlined text with the shortcut mouse button. By changing the
options for the grammar checker, you control what mistakes it looks for.
Excel
Excel now shares its workbooks thus, allowing multiple users to collaborate
on the same spreadsheet. The Merge Workbooks function consolidates changes
in multiple copies of a single workbook and exports it to Office Binder.
Extending the idea of group cooperative efforts to intranets, Office 97
includes Web FindFast, a full-text search engine; hyperlinks; and Web
Toolbar, which substantially speeds up the creation, editing, and posting of
HTML documents. Office 97's Publish to the Web wizard handles most of the
time-consuming conversion details with ease. If. you still can't find the
application or feature that fits your needs within Office 97, build in your
own!! That's right, build your own custom solutions using the suite's
bundled Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), Release 5, and VBScript. VBA's
integrated development environment is complete, including a project
explorer, an object browser, property sheets, a debugger, and ActiveX
control support. Dialog boxes are created with Forms, a set of 32-bit forms
and controls to create custom windowless dialog boxes.
PowerPoint 97
Save as HTML Wizard
With the Save as HTML Wizard for PowerPoint 97, you can build dynamic
presentations that can be easily exported as robust HTML pages without
having to master HTML. The Internet Assistant simply asks a series of
questions:
z Would you like your output to contain frames?
z Would you like your speaker notes displayed as text?
z Would you like your output to have an outline that allows those viewing
your presentation to manually browse through your slides?
z Would you like your presentation to have links?
z Would you like it to export as static GIF or JPEG images, or would you
like it to export as a full animation?
PowerPoint Animation Player
You can use PowerPoint 97 to easily add multimedia to a Web page by taking
advantage of built-in PowerPoint animation, movies, and sound. Simply create
a great-looking animated presentation with all of the easy-to-use PowerPoint
tools, and use the Internet Assistant to save the file as a PowerPoint
Animation. Those who want to view the animation can simply download the free
PowerPoint Animation Player (a browser extension that works Netscape
Navigator 2.0 and higher, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 and higher),
which allows individuals to view a full-fidelity presentation within a
window. The PowerPoint Animation Player and Viewer are distributed for no
charge at http://www.Microsoft.com, or you can choose to allow users to
download it from your site as well.
Presentation Conferencing
It isn't always possible to collect everyone in the same room for a
presentation. The people needed may be scattered around the country or
around the world, or perhaps there simply aren't enough conference rooms
available when you need to meet. With PowerPoint Presentation Conferencing,
you can hold a "virtual" meeting, presenting your information via PowerPoint
over the network. Presentation Conferencing allows users to join a
conference over the network, and then sends the presenter's presentation, in
slide-show mode, to all of those users. It's remains a live meeting because
the presenter advances or otherwise navigates the slides when appropriate,
driving them on all of the audience members' machines as well. Presentation
Conferencing supports up to 64 users connected via TCP/IP on a LAN, WAN, or
even an Internet connection.
Improved Software Administration
For a larger organization, the answer to the question of whether to upgrade
or change software is based largely on what it will take to make the change.
Issues that have a bearing on such a decision include how easy it will be to
deploy and administer the software, whether existing hardware supports it,
and whether users with different versions of the software will be able to
work together. Office 97 provides features, tools, and documentation that
support the administrator.
System Policy Template
The Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 operating systems have a
feature called System Policies. When a user logs on, the policies the
administrator has set up are downloaded to her computer, enforcing a
standard set of policies. This makes it much easier to administer the
desktop. Office 97 supports system policies in two ways: first, most of the
user settings are stored in the registry, and second, Microsoft created a
policy template that can be used with the System Policy Editor. The
administrator can determine user settings such as the default directory for
saving files or the default file formats to use. With a policy template,
it's as easy as checking off features to define.
Network Installation Wizard
The Network Installation Wizard is used to create custom setup scripts. It
looks and operates like a traditional Office wizard, and prompts the
administrator to determine whether the user will run the software from the
hard drive or network server, what features to include, and even how the
program items should appear on the Start menu or Program Manager.
Support for Microsoft Systems Management Server
Also included is support for Systems Management Server in Office 97 and the
individual applications to make it easy to deploy Microsoft Office in your
organization without having to visit each desktop. You create the
appropriate Package Definition File (PDF) and include it with the software.
This is the set of instructions Systems Management Server uses in order to
distribute software. When used in conjunction with the many batch file
switches for Office Setup described below, it's possible to create a
customized, completely hands-off method for distributing Office 97. And, at
the end of setup, a MIF (message information file) for Systems Management
Server is created, so you'll get an entry in your Systems Management Server
database on whether the installation was successful; if it wasn't, the entry
will include what the error was.
Office 97 Cleanup Utility
Since Office 4.x, Office has installed code that is shared not just by the
Office applications, but by Office Compatible and other applications as
well. Because we cannot always tell whether there are other applications
installed that depend on this code and would break if it were removed, we
tend to be cautious in removing this code when upgrading Office. The
Office 97 Cleanup Utility allows the end user or administrator, who knows
whether any of the old software is still needed, to have Setup remove all
old files.
Microsoft Office 97 ProfessionalMicrosoft Corp.'s sweeping remake of its
flagship suite combines superb wide-ranging enhancements, an outstanding
lineup of features, and a user interface that, almost magically, is able to
make time at the keyboard highly productive and unbelievably, fun. Soon
after Office 97 Professional ships, Microsoft will offer the Office 97
Developer Edition, which will contain distribution tools, sample code, and
developer licensing agreements.
Positives: Intuitive, helpful menus; total collaborative computing; custom
application development; Internet and intranet connectivity; fast
performance. There is no going back to Office 95 ..this product is superb.
Complaints: So Far.. NONE!
EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
Edupage
Contents
Time Warner Asks FCC To Squelch MCI Satellite Plan
Debate Over Internet Taxation Continues
Microsoft Bleeding Red Ink On Net Services
New Group Formed To Advance Internet Telephony
NRC Report Refutes Assumptions In Intellectual Property Treaty
BellSouth Says Interactive Cable Not Yet Profitable
Chip Insecurity
Hewlett-Packard Has New Encryption Scheme
NYU Expands Learning Opportunities
Neural Nets Concentrate On Virus Particles
Computers Become Part Of Solution To Urban Problems
Clinton Okays Encryption Policy Change
Campus Computer Growth Slowed Since Last Year
Bank Warns E-Money Needs Regulation
Compaq's New Hand-Held Computer
Time Pathfinder Moves To Subscription Model
MasterCard Takes 51% Stake In Mondex
PC Makers Must Deliver More Than PCs
Bell Plans Market Trial
CompuServe May Pull Admin Unit Out Of Germany
Computer Theft, Low-Tech Style
Canada Eyes Internet Regulation
German Police Seize Corel Software
Remembering Paul Evan Peters
Half Of Companies Surveyed Hurt By Computer Break-Ins
"Ping Of Death" Security Flaw
Treasury Says: No Taxes On Internet
IBM Smart Card Spells Computing Mobility
Sun Powers Up MIT Project
Intel Urged To Slow Down
New AMD Chip Challenges Intel Hegemony
Compaq Acts To Stop Dealer Malpractice On Used PC Sales
Netscape Plans To Edge Microsoft Off The Desktop
Barksdale Says E-Mail Will Soon Look Like A Web Page
TIME WARNER ASKS FCC TO SQUELCH
MCI SATELLITE PLAN
Time Warner is urging the Federal Communications Commission to deny MCI's
application for a satellite license, on the grounds that MCI is being
acquired by a foreign-owned company (British Telecommunications). If the MCI
satellite plan is blocked, a major loser would be Rupert Murdoch's News
Corporation, which in partnership with MCI hopes to use the satellite for
direct-broadcast TV services in the U.S. However, it seems unlikely that
the FCC will withhold MCI's license. (New York Times 16 Nov 96 p23)
DEBATE OVER INTERNET TAXATION CONTINUES
At a conference held last week on taxation of telecommunications and
electronic commerce, several participants advocated federal pre-emption of
state taxation powers, saying that state tax laws would take too long to
update and that state tax officials often get hung up on the "how much money
are we talking about" level. Bruce Reid, director for excise and property
tax at Microsoft, pointed out that Internet service providers already pay
telecommunications taxes when they acquire connection services from
carriers, and that online customers pay taxes on their phone line
connections. Meanwhile, Dan Bucks of the Multistate Tax Commission said he
was "in total shock" to hear that the Treasury Department apparently is
leaning toward residency-based taxation, which he says is "a dead end in an
Internet world" because computer servers can be relocated at any time in a
matter of minutes. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 14 Nov 96 H5)
MICROSOFT BLEEDING RED INK ON NET SERVICES
Microsoft Executive VP Steve Ballmer says his company will spend about $400
million this year on content development for its Internet services, and
plans to continue investment at approximately that level over the next few
years. "We're going to lose a lot of money before we break even," says
Ballmer. In addition to content for Microsoft Network, the company is also
investing in MSNBC and its Expedia travel service. None of the services is
expected to be profitable for several years. "If only companies with the
financial power of Microsoft can make it in the content business, then
we're years away from a viable Internet economy," says the president of
Forrester Research. A group director at Forrester estimates that revenues
generated from companies' Web activities are covering only about 20% to 30%
of their costs. (Wall Street Journal 15 Nov 96 B9)
NEW GROUP FORMED TO ADVANCE INTERNET TELEPHONY
A coalition of about 40 vendors has formed the Voice Over IP (VoIP) Forum,
with the goal of creating and deploying a set of technical standards for
Internet telephony products, including hardware, software and networking.
The group's formation was instigated by networking giant Cisco Systems and
Internet telephony software firm VocalTec Inc., and includes companies such
as Dialogic Corp., 3Com Corp., Creative Labs Inc., Micom Communications,
Microsoft, Nortel, Nuera Communications, Vienna Systems, Voxware and U.S.
Robotics. "The VoIP goal is to complement" the International
Telecommunication Union's H.323 interoperability standard, and address
those issues not covered by H.323, says VocalTec's chairman. (InfoWorld
Electric 12 Nov 96)
NRC REPORT REFUTES ASSUMPTIONS
IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TREATY
The National Research Council is taking the unusual step of releasing a
portion of its upcoming report on electronic copyright concerns, called
"Bits of Power," in an effort to counter government forces advocating the
treaty on database copyright drafted by the World Intellectual Property
Organization. Debate on the draft treaty is scheduled to begin on December
2 in Geneva. The report's findings indicate that market forces are not
capable of protecting the public good associated with open access for
scientists and educators. The full report, which has been two years in the
making, will be released Nov. 22. Researchers have argued that
implementation of the draft treaty, as it's now written, could make it more
difficult and costly to access data on everything from the human genome to
global weather patterns. (Science 15 Nov 96 p1074)
BellSouth SAYS INTERACTIVE CABLE NOT YET PROFITABLE
Though reaffirming his company's commitment to continued tests of
interactive cable services, BellSouth executive Duane Ackerman admits that
a pilot program involving 8,000 households in an Atlanta suburb has failed
so far to demonstrate the economic viability of interactive television,
because the necessary equipment costs too much at the present time.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution 15 Nov 96 H1)
CHIP INSECURITY
Cambridge University lecturer Ross Anderson says even the most secure chips
on the market can be penetrated: "We have been able to break every chip we
have turned our attention to. The onus is now on companies to show their
system is sound." Anderson thinks banking system designers are unwise to
trust the claims made by manufacturers that their smart cards and other
security processors are resistant to tampering. (Financial Times 16 Nov 96)
HEWLETT-PACKARD HAS NEW ENCRYPTION SCHEME
Hewlett-Packard thinks it has developed an encryption scheme that will
resolve the controversy over the government's rules for limiting
exportation of technology using powerful encryption algorithms. The HP
encryption scheme, supported by Intel and Microsoft, adheres to export
controls because it incorporates an authentication procedure that would
enable the government to maintain control over who receives and uses
products containing stronger cryptography. (Los Angeles Times 16 Nov 96)
NYU EXPANDS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
New York University has teamed up with IBM to boost the number of online
course offerings from four to 30 by next year. The partnership focuses on
classes geared toward information systems professionals, as part of a
"global virtual college" program. "The goal is to allow computer
professionals to sharpen their IT skills or obtain graduate degrees without
entering a classroom," says the director of NYU's IT continuing education
program. (Information Week 11 Nov 96 p136)
NEURAL NETS CONCENTRATE ON VIRUS PARTICLES
Researchers at IBM's Thomas J. Watson lab have found a way to enable neural
networks to sniff out viral code without exposing them to the entire
universe of existing viruses. Rather, by digesting computer code into
sequences of three bytes each, and isolating those likely to be present in
computer viruses but not in legitimate programs, the "virus particles" have
formed the basis for the learning process that neural networks go through
to train as virus spotters. "Our program is on millions of desktops and has
detected about a half-dozen previously unknown boot viruses," says a senior
manager at the lab. "There have been only three false positives, and all
of these were security programs whose codes share many similarities with
viruses." (Forbes 18 Nov 96 p252)
COMPUTERS BECOME PART OF SOLUTION TO URBAN PROBLEMS
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been working to
revitalize East St. Louis, Missouri, developing hard evidence with which to
confront slow-moving city inspectors -- 800 specific sites of serious code
violations (illegally dumped trash, derelict buildings, dense overgrowth)
that students surveyed and entered on the university's computerized
Geographic Information System. The project's Web site
<http://imlab9.landarch.uiuc.edu/~eslarp > is being used to gather data,
maps and analysis for neighborhood improvement and to force city
cooperation. Computers, including surplus university equipment, are being
installed at multiple sites, with training available. (Washington Post 16
Nov 96 F07)
CLINTON OKAYS ENCRYPTION POLICY CHANGE
President Clinton has signed an executive order loosening U.S. encryption
export policy, allowing companies to begin exporting encryption technology
with key lengths longer than the previous limit of 40 bits. At the same
time, the order mandates third party "key escrow," ensuring that U.S. law
officials could obtain decoding keys on a case by case basis from a
"trusted" third party. Hewlett-Packard has already developed an encryption
technology that can be built into any computer, but must be activated by a
third party before it can be used. Theoretically, that would give the
government the ability, through licensing and other restrictions, to
determine whose encryption system gets activated. "We support any move that
encourages electronic commerce in a safe and sensible manner," says an HP
spokesman. (Wall Street Journal 18 Nov 96 B3)
CAMPUS COMPUTER GROWTH SLOWED SINCE LAST YEAR
The 1996 Campus Computing Survey results are in -- and indicate that about
25% of college courses use e- mail, up from 20% last year. The 5% increase
was small in comparison to the previous year, which saw growth rate of
about 12%. "After a year of tremendous growth, it's not unusual that we see
a period of consolidation," says survey author Kenneth Green. More than
half the schools surveyed had a technology resource center for faculty, but
only one in eight rewarded their faculty for the time they put in on
integrating information technology into their teaching methods. About half
the faculty surveyed had computers, but fewer than a third of the students
did. One in seven campuses surveyed uses a private company to provide
students with Internet accounts. (Chronicle of Higher Education 22 Nov 96
A21)
BANK WARNS E-MONEY NEEDS REGULATION
The Bank for International Settlement, sometimes called the "Central
Banker's Central Bank," warns in a recent report that electronic money
currently is so unregulated that it risks being used as a cross-border
vehicle for illegal activities, including money laundering. The report
notes that while the use of e-money can make retail transactions cheaper
for both the merchant and the consumer, the issue of who actually has final
legal jurisdiction over e-money in cross-border transactions bears close
scrutiny. In countries such as Japan and the United States, where cash
constitutes a large portion of central bank liabilities, extensive use of
"electronic money" could shrink those liabilities very quickly. "This issue
is, at what point this shrinkage might begin to adversely affect monetary
policy implementation," notes the report. (BNA Daily Report for Executives
18 Nov
96 A1)
COMPAQ'S NEW HAND-HELD COMPUTER
Compaq Computer's new hand-held PC companion is designed to be used
separately to enter and manipulate data or access the Internet, and can
then transfer information to any desktop running Windows 95. The PC
companion uses Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, weighs less than a
pound, and includes a small keyboard and a touch-sensitive screen. (Wall
Street Journal 18 Nov 96 B3)
TIME PATHFINDER MOVES TO SUBSCRIPTION MODEL
Time Inc. has launched its Pathfinder Personal Edition, offering customized
Web content to subscribers at $4.95 a month. Readers can choose content
from Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Entertainment Weekly, as well as
30 news feeds and other content sources. Time hopes its new format will
experience the same success that the Wall Street Journal's online
subscription service has enjoyed. The Journal currently claims 30,000
online subscribers. (Broadcasting & Cable 11 Nov 96 p65)
MASTERCARD TAKES 51% STAKE IN MONDEX
MasterCard is acquiring a 51% stake in Mondex International, a company which
issues prepaid smart cards containing embedded computer chips that store
value and allow a card holder to make small retail purchases. Additional
value can be added to a card from the card holder's bank account. (New York
Times 19 Nov 96 C19)
PC MAKERS MUST DELIVER MORE THAN PCs
Intel CEO Andy Grove says there's more to the PC business than just building
machines: "By the end of the decade, the definition of the personal
computer will broaden again to include interactive, lifelike experiences.
We need to look at our business as more than simply the building and selling
of personal computers. Our business is the delivery of information and
lifelike interactive experiences." (Wall Street Journal 18 Nov 96 B4)
BELL PLANS MARKET TRIAL
Bell Canada announced plans to launch a one-year trial market of a new
wholesale service aimed at providing billing choice in the wireless market.
The trial will allow wireless service providers to offer cellular and
personal communications system users the option of subscribing to a service
in which the calls they receive would be billed to the caller. (Toronto
Financial Post 19 Nov 96 p11)
COMPUSERVE MAY PULL ADMIN UNIT OUT OF GERMANY
CompuServe's administrative operations in Germany may be transferred to
another country because of proposed German legislation that would make
Internet companies block access to pornography, neo-Nazi material or
extremist pictures or writing. CompuServe says it does not want to be in
the position of having to "censor" the Internet. (New York Times 19 Nov 96
C5)
COMPUTER THEFT, LOW-TECH STYLE
A thief broke into a Visa International data processing center in California
a couple of weeks ago and stole a personal computer containing information
on about 314,000 credit card accounts, including Visa, MasterCard, American
Express, Discover and Diners Club, says a Visa spokesman. Some issuers,
including Citibank, began calling customers last week and have issued new
cards. Others are keeping quiet about the event and monitoring accounts
for unusual activity. Authorities speculate that the perpetrator was stolen
for the resale value of the hardware, rather than the information it
contained. (St. Petersburg Times 19 Nov 96 E2)
CANADA EYES INTERNET REGULATION
Canada's federal regulator says it may regulate content on the Internet to
provide for more Canadian content. (Ottawa Citizen 15 Nov 96 D15)
GERMAN POLICE SEIZE COREL SOFTWARE
Police in Munich confiscated CorelDraw 6 software from store shelves because
it contains Nazi-related "clip art" images under the historical people
sections that are allegedly not legal for use in Germany. The move
followed the use by one individual of images of Adolph Hitler in neo-Nazi
propaganda. Corel says its software includes a provision that clip art
images not be used for unlawful purposes and insists that the images in its
clip art do not glamorize the former Nazi leader or nazism. The company
has appealed the seizure, and a German judge has overturned an earlier
judicial order that allowed police to seize copies of its CorelDraw software
that contained clip art images of Hitler. (Toronto Globe & Mail 18 Nov 96
B8, 19 Nov 96 B4)
REMEMBERING PAUL EVAN PETERS
We are saddened to report the untimely death of Paul Evan Peters, from
complications of asthma. Well- respected by the entire Educom community,
Paul was Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information. He
will be remembered and missed for his wisdom, charm, and sweet nature.
HALF OF COMPANIES SURVEYED HURT BY COMPUTER BREAK-INS
WarRoom Research LLC, a Baltimore-based security firm, says 48% of the 200
Fortune 1,000 companies it recently surveyed had experienced computer break-
ins over the past 12 months, with 84% putting their losses at $50,000 or
higher per incident. Forty-one percent said their losses totaled $500,000
or more per intrusion. costs were calculated based on the loss of
assets, plus the costs of repairing the damage and installing new security
protections. WarRoom's executive VP cautioned that the survey was "far from
being a scientific survey" of the overall state of corporate computer
security, but called it "the best indicator that has been done so far."
Assisting in the survey were the National Computer Security Association, and
several vendors of computer security equipment, including IBM and Symantec.
(Wall Street Journal 21 Nov 96 B4)
"PING OF DEATH" SECURITY FLAW
Software programmers are scrambling to fix a recently documented security
flaw found in the "ping" Internet function, which is used to check whether
a piece of hardware is properly hooked up to a network. The problem arises
when a cracker sends a booby-trapped ping command, nicknamed the "ping of
death," to a targeted computer. The computer responds by rebooting,
crashing or shutting down. Computer security expert Eugene Spafford says
he's seen two such attacks on his campus, neither of which was malicious:
"You ust track down where this came from and have a long talk with them,
with or without a blunt instrument." For more information on the "ping of
death," check out < http://www.sophist.demon.co.uk/ping/ >. (Chronicle of
Higher Education 22 Nov 96 A23)
TREASURY SAYS: NO TAXES ON INTERNET
The U.S. Treasury Department is issuing a draft report opposing new federal
taxes on the Internet. A deputy secretary said: "We absolutely reject the
idea that the Internet is some sort of golden goose whose feathers should
be taxed. The key message of the report is, no Internet taxes." The
department plans to post the document at < http://www.ustreas.gov >. (New
York Times 21 Nov 96 C20)
IBM SMART CARD SPELLS COMPUTING MOBILITY
IBM has developed a network computer with a built-in smart card reader,
allowing users to download their "computing personalities" from any
location. The feature would allow users on a network to sit down at any NC
and download all their individual applications and files. In conjunction
with IBM's NC, Lotus has developed a series of Java-based applets that
allow users to customize the interface that appears on a networked system,
depending on that person's job responsibilities. "The applets let you
customize the GUI depending on what class of user you are in your company.
And if you like to check your e-mail first, you can make sure that comes up
first when you log on in the morning," says a Lotus spokesman. (InfoWorld
Electric 19 Nov 96)
SUN POWERS UP MIT PROJECT
Sun Microsystems has donated $2.6 million worth of computing equipment to
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be used as the basis for
Xolas, MIT's high-performance computer-clustering project. The gift, which
Sun says is one of its largest donations to a university to date, comprises
nine symmetric multiprocessor servers and related gear. The Xolas system
will handle large-scale computations for the physical sciences and other
research. "Xolas will enable a unique collaboration of physical and
computer scientists at MIT to play a leading role in the future development
of high-performance computing," says an MIT nuclear science professor.
(Investor's Business Daily 20 Nov 96 A8)
INTEL URGED TO SLOW DOWN
A Gartner Group analyst says Intel's relentless drive toward higher-powered
microprocessors is wearing down PC makers and buyers. Computer
manufacturers "would love to skip a generation and I think the end users
would love to skip a generation," he suggests. In response, Intel is
working on a module that would allow users to install a new microprocessor
in their existing machines. (Wall Street Journal 20 Nov 96 B1)
NEW AMD CHIP CHALLENGES INTEL HEGEMONY
A new 200-megahertz microprocessor from Advanced Micro Devices threatens to
give Intel a run for its money, says AMD group VP and former Intel engineer
Vinod Dham. The new K6 chip will be faster than Intel's Pentium and
Pentium Pro chips, will have multimedia capabilities, and will be smaller
and cheaper as well. Intel plans to retaliate next spring with two new
generations of chips, including multimedia Pentium and Pentium Pro chips.
"It's going to be an interesting 1997," says Dham. The K6 chip, which will
ship in early 1997, is based on NexGen technology. AMD acquired NexGen
last January for $800 million in stock. (Wall Street Journal 21 Nov 96 B5)
COMPAQ ACTS TO STOP DEALER
MALPRACTICE ON USED PC SALES
To prevent dealers from trying to repackage used PCs and reselling them as
new ones, Compaq will stop providing dealers with materials such as extra
marked boxes and factory sealing tape (which had been given to dealers so
that they could replace damaged cartons). Packard Bell recently took
similar steps to combat the same problem. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 21
Nov 96 D3)
NETSCAPE PLANS TO EDGE MICROSOFT OFF THE DESKTOP
Netscape Communications is developing software designed to organize a
computer desktop, pushing Microsoft's Windows software off center stage.
Constellation, which is expected to ship in mid-1997, gives the computer
the look of a television screen with a row of buttons down one side. Each
button represents either a Web site to visit or an application program.
Netscape hopes its new product could become a de facto operating system,
with software developers writing their programs for Constellation rather
than Windows. Microsoft plans to introduce a competing product, called
Active Desktop, in the second half of next year. One analyst says
Netscape's new approach to the browser battles shows it's growing up: "Up
until this point it's been primarily a religious battle, with Netscape
saying, it's us or them. Now they're saying, we realize we will not rule
the entire domain. However, what we will do is become the entire container
within which disparate pieces can be used." (Wall Street Journal 20 Nov 96
B10)
BARKSDALE SAYS E-MAIL WILL SOON LOOK LIKE A WEB PAGE
Netscape chief executive officer James Barksdale says that the Web browser
"is just the beginning of what you'll be able to do. The next phase will be
rich and robust e-mail" that will allow a message to look like a Web page
and to be enhanced with spreadsheets, audio files, and full-motion video.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution 21 Nov 96 D3)
Edupage is written by John Gehl (gehl@educom.edu) & Suzanne Douglas
(douglas@educom.edu).
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KeyNote Speeches STR Focus
1996 Comdex/Fall
by Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.Comdex - November 18-22Las Vegas, the town that never
sleeps. Las Vegas, the town that Elvis put on the map. Vegas, the town
that can handle 10 to 20 different conventions at one time and never blink.
Las Vegas, the town that this year's Comdex brought to its knees. The over
215,000 Comdex attendees turned the city into one big cab line with
attendees more concerned with getting one of the 1,300 taxis than with all
of the fancy new handheld devices, digital cameras, software and other high-
tech doo-dads that were featured at this week's show.
Not bad for a show that started in 1979 with 150 exhibiting companies, 350
exhibition units, 35,000 sq. ft. of booth space, and had 4000 attendees.
This year's show had more than 2,100 exhibiting companies, 13,500
exhibition units, 1,350,000 sq. ft. of booth space (with a total of 2.2
million total sq. ft. of show area), and had over 215,000 attendees. For
the last seven years Comdex/Fall has been ranked as the largest trade show
in North America. More products have been launched at Comdex/Fall, with
over 10,000 at the 1996 show alone, than for any other trade show event in
the world. As the old cigarette commercial said, "You've come a long way
baby!"
When the editor of STReport called me to cover (via the Internet) this
year's Comdex, the first words out of my mouth were, "Ralph, you've got to
be kidding!! Are you out of your freaking mind?!?! Have you been smoking
some loco-weed?!? No one person can come close to covering even one-percent
of what's happening at Comdex. News agencies and magazines send teams of
reporters to Comdex and still only touch the surface.
I promised to stop laughing at him if he promised to stop asking me to do
the impossible. So we reached a compromise. I figured there was enough
other news media around to tell the STReport readers about all of the new
gadgets, gizmos, and software that was shown at Comdex and they didn't need
me doing a third-hand rehash from my internet sources. So this article is
going to concentrate on the three major keynote speeches by Andrew S. Grove
- President and CEO of Intel Corp., Bill Gates - Chairman and CEO of
Microsoft Corp., and James Barksdale - President and CEO of Netscape
Communications Corp.
A 'war of eyeballs' between the PC and TV
Andrew Grove, CEO, Intel Corporation
"A Revolution in Progress"
In Monday's keynote speech, Intel CEO Andy Grove hailed the 25th anniversary
of the microprocessor, which Intel invented, and with his vision of what
could lie ahead. A 10GHz chip could be in our future IF the PC industry
can wean the users away from TV. But, he said, this would only bring the PC
to parity with the television as an entertainment device. The industry
must focus on satisfying "our most demanding users: 10- year-old kids,".
Grove said the $400 billion personal computer industry must serve up more
than just television-like features to impress its most demanding customers:
10-year-old kids.
Grove said the entire industry needs to focus on satisfying customers with
aggressive output of new products. "My fear is that some day that
(product) cycle might sputter," he told reporters after his address. The
industry should aim to grow by 15 percent to 17 percent a year, as it has
for the last decade or more, he said. "Just as we are investing in
technology for the long term, we need to target the new users of the future
today."
With the help of video testimonials from several Intel executives who
recalled the various steps in microprocessor evolution, Grove led a fast
look at recent technical accomplishments and innovations. From the 4004
through the Pentium Pro, these insights provided an overview of how the
microprocessor has developed. And development continues at a rapid rate.
The industry axiom known as Moore's Law states the number of transistors a
microprocessor can accommodate doubles every 18 months. This process, Grove
maintains, is not likely to slow down. He projects that the chips available
15 years down the road will be really impressive, capable of a 10GHz
frequency.
Grove projected that microprocessors could by the year 2011 be capable of
holding 1 billion transistors and deliver 100,000 million instructions per
second, or MIPS. Grove said these advances are possible with current
technology. Such advances cannot be taken for granted, and require a
significant investment by the industry as a whole, according to Grove. To
accomplish this, he underscored three important points:
z Microprocessors will continue their current trend toward increased
speed and smaller size.
z We must operate under certain laws of physics and economics.
z Finally, there must be a corresponding increase in users. "We need this
increase, or else this "marginal circle" where development drives economics
and so on, will break down," he said.
To acquire the needed user increase, the PC must become significantly more
interesting. "In this war, he who captures the most eyeballs wins," he
said. "In our battle for eyeballs, user experience on the PC must not only
meet the expectation levels set by TV viewing, it must exceed them."
Entertainment supplied on the PC must be compelling enough to draw users
away from the boob tube and into a significantly more challenging
interactive environment.
"We are in competition for these consumers, for their dollars and their
leisure time," he said, arguing that time especially was a "finite"
commodity and computers needed to compete with TV for consumer share.
Grove said there are only about one-third as many personal computers as TVs
installed worldwide, even though the numbers of PCs sold annually is
starting to outpace the number of new televisions sold on a worldwide basis.
But a real battle exists for time spent in front of the devices. People are
still inclined to spend a few hours in front of the TV rather than the same
time involved in a computer game or interactive experience.
Active and exciting video is a part of this equation. Grove showed how the
video capability of the PC has grown in four short years by using a clip
from Twister played through a tiny window, then jumping to today's
technology projected onto a full screen. The quality of the final
demonstration was comparable to that in a movie theater (this was
reinforced by another animated clip from the current Space Jam). "In the
processor revolution, we've gone from applications that aren't very sexy,
like traffic lights and blood analyzers, to exciting applications that are
a part of everyday life."
Grove finished by relating a quotation from 19th century poet George Sand to
current times. Today's microprocessor-driven "revolution" has become an on-
going, collaborative process, like those of bygone days: "No one person
makes a revolution by themselves. Some revolutions humanity accomplishes
without knowing how, as everybody takes them in hand."
A glorious PC future
Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corporation
"Information At Your Fingertips:A Challenge For The PC Industry."
Tuesday's keynote speaker, Microsoft's CEO Bill Gates, spoke to a packed
house. Gates sweept aside doubts about the future of the personal
computer, saying this type of computer system is going to be in the
forefront for many years to come. The Microsoft co-founder used his
keynote address at the annual Comdex industry trade show in Las Vegas to
illustrate how the PC has survived criticisms over its shortcomings and will
continue to be used in a wide range of devices, from home computers to
cellular phones.
Touting the virtues of the PC, Gates said, "The strength of the PC is what
you take for granted," he said. In recent years, for example, Microsoft and
the industry have introduced features that allow PC users to easily plug in
new devices and multimedia features such as video and audio. The personal
computer industry has grown dramatically, he said, with more than 200
million PC users worldwide. Although sales volume is approaching 70 million
units a year, it will be hard to keep unit sales growth worldwide above the
10 percent figure in future years, Gates said.
"It's hard to grow at greater than 10 percent. There will probably be some
years where you won't see any growth at all," he said, adding that,
nonetheless, "people are doing more and more with the PC." "I envy kids
growing up today," the Microsoft co-founder and CEO summarized in his
animated and humorous address. "They won't have to go through what we have
gone through."
A montage of past commercials and documentaries - including Apple Computer
commercials going back to 988 - dramatized various visions of a digital
future: a glorious world of graphical interfaces, small machines, big-but-
flat displays, voice recognition, agent software, digital money, and high
bandwidth.
"All this will be possible in the next decade," Gates said.
Future capabilities for the PC he predicted (seriously or otherwise)
include:
z Return-receipt mail that could not only acknowledge the receipt of a
message, but describe the recipient's reaction to it. ("I feel sorry for
the President of the United States," Gates noted, "since for some reason
I get copied on a lot of e-mail to him.")
z Scalable multi-processor PCs with up to 16 processors.
z Customized periodic software upgrades based on that user's typical use
of the software, and the available hardware.
z Similarly, automatic bug reports that would include the context of the
problem, and the user's comments, uploaded via the Internet.
z Use of the Internet integrated into daily life, including such things
as scheduling doctor's visits. ("I've used the Internet to buy books and
learn about pregnancy," Gates explained.)
z A computer interface based on the system's analysis of the user's
activities and needs, instead of static file listing.
z PC server speeds advancing from 6000 transactions per minute to 60,000
in two years.
Meanwhile, what we have gone through, he explained, has been two decades of
adding power to the PC while resisting the temptation to switch to another
platform. "People have looked at the PC and said something is missing, and
that we should throw it out and start with something new," Gates recalled.
Unix workstations looked promising at one point, but now the PC is as
powerful but cheaper, he noted. "The irony is that the Unix platform was
associated with open systems, but now you pay a premium and give up
flexibility to move to an open system," he said.
Taligent, a futuristic consortium-backed operating system, was abandoned
when it was seen that the PC could accomplish the same things, he recalled.
Meanwhile, diskless PCs have proven useful in some settings, but threaten
to overload a network, and users often end up spending more than the cost of
the missing disk drives to get more performance out of their servers. "The
PC platform has proven superior," Gates declared. "The software developers
have played a big part in this. You can use any programming language (on the
PC) and the economies of scale are such that advanced (software)
technologies can move into the (PC) market with little markup.
"Meanwhile, this was the best year yet for technological advances," Gates
said. "The (RAM) memory price drop has been wonderful, although the memory
vendors may not think that way. And the hard disk manufacturers are to be
congratulated - you rarely see a PC with less than a gigabyte drive any
more. You could type your whole life and not fill a gigabyte." Still, "the
PC can be viewed as a glass half full," Gates added. "Think out 10 to 20
years, to where the Internet will be used on a daily basis. Bandwidth is
one of the bigger problems. (I've been informed that) backhoes do not
follow Moore's Law [of semiconductor power doubling every 18 months], and
grow by only two percent a year, so we cannot expect everyone to get optical
fiber overnight. Rockwell's and U.S. Robotic's double-speed models are a
fantastic step forward and we will try to speed their adoption rate."
Gates' reverie was backed up with a series of video interludes, including:
z Dramatizations of some of the weirder customer support calls that
Microsoft has fielded, including the famous, "It says press 'Any Key' but
I've looked all over the keyboard and don't see the Any key."
z Wacky man-on-the-street interviews concerning arcane network protocols
and the public's incredulous responses. (One teenager actually knew the
answer.)
z A take-off on Dickens's A Christmas Carol where a father decides to
give his teenage daughter "The Gift of Bandwidth" so she won't have to be
humiliated being the only girl in school still running at 14.4kbps.
z Movie star Danny DiVito and pro basketball badboy Dennis Rodman made
appearances as people pretending they are someone else on-line: DiVito
pretending to be tall and handsome. Rodman pretending to be someone named
Chantell. Gates pretending to be Dennis Rodman.
z A public service announcement from Internet Addicts Anonymous with a
testimonial from a sufferer identified only as "Bill," portrayed by Gates.
"I've been off-line now for six days and four hours, and it's been hard,"
he stammered.
z And enraged users attacking their PCs with various lethal weapons (an
audience favorite).
"So we have work to do," Gates said, reflecting on that final video. "We get
millions of calls a year, and log them, and try to design the next system
so that there will be fewer calls. And the unit volume was down with
Windows 95 and Office 95, but it is still important that we get those
calls," he said. Also presented was a video tour of the projects in the
Microsoft research labs, showing voice recognition software, face
recognition and eye-tracking software for face-to-face control of the
computer; faster 3D video; and intelligent help systems that analyze the
user's dilemma.
"We may look back on the computers of today and say, 'Oh, those were the
computers you couldn't talk to,'" Gates said.
Richness of Web will be everywhere on desktop
James Barksdale, President and CEO, Netscape Communications Corporation
The Third Wave
Wednesday's keynote speaker, James Barksdale, CEO of Netscape, promised that
electronic mail and groupware "with all the richness of the Web" will also
become commonplace on the desktop. The now- familiar Mac/Win interface will
be augmented within months, according Barksdale, as Navigator 4.0 allows
transparent overlays over a full screen. Eliminating the annoying clutter of
icons and arrows that pave over so much monitor real estate, the new browser
will give the user's screen an appearance more like a good multimedia
presentation. Each overlay can be a different HTML document.
Clearly focusing on the corporate intranet market, Barksdale evoked images
of a still-to-be-completed software package, code-named Constellation,
which could take the concept of the "networked enterprise" closer to
realization. Using HTML, Java, and JavaScript across the 17 platforms
supported by Netscape, Constellation provides a rich environment to use
existing information from legacy systems in a point-and-click interface.
The idea is to further open communication both within and without the
enterprise to provide timely data and encourage greater collaboration.
Challenging Microsoft's BackOffice and Lotus Notes, Constellation
incorporates intelligent agents to gather data and automatically update
files. Rather than dumping the information on the desktop, however,
Constellation transparently replicates it to the server. The information is
now available to the individual anywhere in the world with access to the
Internet. With a release date scheduled sometime in the middle of next
year, Netscape is aggressively seeking partners to make as much content
available as possible. The company is already working with the PointCast
Network to push personalized news and information onto enterprise desktops.
Barksdale also announced that Constellation will integrate Marimba's
Castanet Tuner technology which, for example, allows intranet managers to
deploy software across the enterprise. With 48 million copies of Navigator
in use, the software has become the most popular application ever on the
desktop, Barksdale noted. Netscape implementation at large companies is
already reaping enormous returns on investment, Barksdale affirmed, with
some companies reporting well in excess of 1000 percent ROI.
Savings come from such areas as reduced training across platforms with the
use of a common interface; uniform data collection from many departments,
and a reduction in the amount of native code that has to be written and
maintained. Barksdale sees an improvement in productivity comparable to
that in the telephone industry where a three-minute long distance call
cost $100 in 1927 and 30 cents in 1996.
The individual desktop user will not be forgotten, Barksdale promised.
Future versions of the software will be backward-compatible. "We won't
forget the Win16 user." Predictions for the next 25 years focus on
unpredictability ... like first 25 years
Creative Technology NEWS STR Focus
Creative to Upgrade Sound Blaster Installed Base
With New Technology
New Upgrades Include Software-Based Wave-Synthesis Engine
COMDEX, Las Vegas, NV -- November 18, 1996 -- In line with its commitment to
continue offering its Sound Blasterr customers the latest audio solutions,
Creative Technology Ltd. (Nasdaq: CREAF), today announced it will make
available software upgrades for its latest audio technology. The upgrades
will be made available at retail, directly from Creative and from its web
site "The Creative Zone" (www.creativelabs.com or www.soundblaster.com ) in
Q1 of 1997.
Creative is focused on expanding its installed base of enabled users by
making the very latest technology available to its Sound Blaster customers.
"Our new upgrades will allow our customers to upgrade their Sound Blaster
solutions for a richer wave-synthesis audio experience," said Sim Wong Hoo,
chairman and CEO of Creative Technology. "We're very focused on empowering
our customers with the very latest technology and ensuring that they stay
compatible with the broadest possible base of software and hardware."
The Upgrades
The upgrades were developed in order to offer Creative's installed base of
over 30 million users, the ability to enjoy a richer, smoother, more robust
audio experience. Creative will provide an upgrade for Sound Blaster 16
users that delivers an additional 32-notes of polyphony wave-synthesis and
an effects engine with the Creative WaveSynth.
Creative will also provide an upgrade for Sound Blaster AWE32 users, and
Sound Blaster 32 users with additional RAM, that delivers a 32-note wave-
synthesis and effects engine with Creative WaveSynth , and SondiusT
WaveGuide technology. This upgrade provides functionality comparable to the
newly announced, Sound Blaster AWE64 (see separate news release).
Sondius WaveGuide technology is based on Acoustic Physical Modeling, a
technique for efficiently simulating the behavior of musical instruments.
WaveGuide technology allows instrument sounds to be reproduced with a
precision that is more natural and expressive.
Creative WaveSynth is a software-based synthesizer that provides 32-note
polyphony for more realistic MIDI playback. It is compatible with
Microsoft's DirectSound and Windows 3.1 applications as well as support for
General MIDI. This new technology upgrade is designed to use minimal system
resources. In order to take advantage of this upgrade the user must have a
system that meets the following requirements:
z Intel Pentium 90 or greater processor
z 16MB RAM
z Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster 32 or Sound Blaster AWE32
z Microsoftr Windows 3.1 or Windows 95
Creative NetSynth, a trial version of these technologies, will be available
from Creative's Web site in December. Creative NetSynth allows existing
SB16 and SB32/AWE32 users to experience the software synthesis technology
using a supported browser free of charge.
Creative Showcases DVD Technology at COMDEX
New Line of DVD Kits to Begin Shipping in Q1 '97 Starting at $499
COMDEX, Las Vegas, NV -- November 18, 1996 -- Creative Technology Ltd.
(NASDAQ: CREAF), the world's leading provider of multimedia products for
personal computers, is demonstrating its new line of DVD solutions for the
PC consumer. As with Creative's popular Sound Blaster multimedia kits, the
new DVD kits will provide a complete solution that includes a DVD-ROM
drive; AC3 audio; an MPEG-2 video card; and bundled software. The new kits
are priced starting at US$499, and will begin shipping in Q1 of 1997.
"DVD is opening up tremendous opportunities for title developers, multimedia
vendors and content providers to deliver an exciting new entertainment
medium for PCs," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative
Technology. "Leveraging its position as the leading supplier of
entertainment hardware for the PC, no one is better positioned than
Creative to deliver consumer-based DVD solutions for those who are looking
to combine consumer electronics functionality with their PC experience."
Creative created and continues to be the leader of the multimedia upgrade
kit market and plans to expand its position and offerings into the emerging
and potentially larger DVD market.
Creative and Accolade Unveil 3D Audio
in Action-Packed Adventure GameEradicator Showcases Advanced Audio Features
With Sound Blaster AWE64
and Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold
FALL COMDEX, LAS VEGAS - November 18, 1996 - Creative Labs, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ: CREAF), has partnered
with well-known game developer and publisher, Accolade, Inc., to bundle the
action-shooter adventure game, EradicatorT with the newly announced Sound
Blasterr AWE64T and Sound Blaster AWE64 GoldT. Optimized to take advantage
of Creative's 3D Positional Audio and SoundFontr technology, Eradicator
astounds game players with vibrant sound and immersive 3D audio as they
battle their way through more than 28 levels of action-packed adventures.
Eradicator is not just another "shoot-em up" game. Players must go where no
well-equipped armada has yet to succeed. It takes a single soldier, with
skill and cunning, to slip past the defenses of the living Citadel and shut
down the protected power source from within. Those who are up to the
challenge enter the deadly Citadel as one of three characters -- each with
their own strengths, weaknesses, weapons and levels only they can access.
Eradicator's unique first and third person perspectives drive players to
switch between views in order to solve puzzles and destroy enemies. As
players battle the advanced artificial intelligence and complete the
assigned missions for each level, they will find themselves surrounded by
awesome 3D sound effects and remarkable audio when played with Creative's
advanced Sound Blaster products including the Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold,
Sound Blaster AWE64 and Sound Blaster AWE32.
"The 3D sound effects that we've incorporated into Eradicator are absolutely
unbelievable," said Matthew Powers, producer of Eradicator for Accolade.
"When players can distinctly hear what direction the enemy is coming from,
they can respond more quickly making the overall gameplay even more
compelling and captivating."Eradicator's exceptional 3D Positional Audio and
unique sound effects are made possible through the EMU8000, an advanced
digital signal processor from E-mu Systems, Creative's US subsidiary, is
known for its high-end professional synthesizer. The EM8000 chip gives
developers 3D Positional Audio and SoundFont technology to create
customized sound tracks for unique audio effects and in multimedia
applications and games. Accolade adopted this advanced audio technology
giving its customers the ability to experience a dramatically enhanced
level of gameplay. "PC users who purchase high performance sound cards such
as the Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold expect to be totally blown away," said Eric
Larsen, manager of Developer Relations at Creative Labs. "When leading game
developers like Accolade take advantage of Creative's 3D Positional Audio
and SoundFont technology, they are making a commitment to deliver the best
possible gaming experience to the consumer. This is what pushes game play
to the next level."Eradicator will be bundled with the Sound Blaster AWE64
and Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold giving customers the ability to experience
exceptional 3D audio technology right from the box. Both products will be
available in January at a suggested retail price of $199 for the Sound
Blaster AWE64 and $249 for the Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold.Headquartered in San
Jose, Accolade, Inc. publishes action, sports and strategy games for
personal computers and next generation gaming systems, such as the Sony
PlayStation game console. The company's products are distributed in North
America by Warner/Elektra/Atlantic Corp., a unit of Warner Music Group.
Leading titles from Accolade include Bubsy, HardBall, Jack Nicklaus,
Deadlock and Star Control.Creative Technology Ltd. is the world's leading
provider of advanced multimedia solutions for personal computers, including
sound, graphics, communications and video conferencing products. The
company's Sound Blaster technology has been accepted as the worldwide
standard sound platform for PCs, and the company's global distribution
network is among the most extensive in the multimedia industry. Creative is
focused on enhancing the overall user experience by providing powerful,
enabling, high-value technology for the mass market.
Sound Blaster, AWE32 and Blaster are registered trademarks of Creative
Technology Ltd. E-mu is a registered trademark of E-mu Systems, Inc. Sound
Blaster, Blaster and Sound Blaster Discovery CD are registered trademarks of
Creative Technology Ltd. E-mu is a registered trademark of E-mu Systems,
Inc. Microsoft, Windows and MS-DOS are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Sondiusr Sound Synthesis made under license from the Board of Trustees of
the Leland Stanford Junior University. "Sondiusr and the Sondiusr symbol
are trademarks of the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior
University. This product contains one or more programs under international
and U.S. copyright laws as unpublished works. They are confidential and
proprietary to the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior
University. There reproduction or disclosure, in whole or in part, or the
production of derivative works therefrom without the express written
permission of the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior
University is prohibited. Copyright 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 by the
Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights
reserved.
Kids Computing Corner
Frank Sereno, Editor
The Kids' Computing Corner
Computer news and software reviews
from a parent's point of view
Since this is the last issue before Thanksgiving, I'd like to wish everyone
a happy holiday.
May you have much to be thankful for!
--Frank
Space Jam
Last Friday my family and I saw Space Jam, featuring Michael Jordan and Bugs
Bunny. I won't pretend to be a movie critic, but I do know what my children
and I like. This is a funny and well-done family movie. Yes, it does
contain cartoon violence, but it isn't as over the top or as emphasized as
it was in the old Warner Brothers shorts (especially Road Runner and Wile E.
Coyote). The storyline is cute and it tells a tale of redemption,
perseverance and fun. One particularly funny scene is in the hospital
corridor with Shawn Bradley and Patrick Ewing...
Michael Jordan is more than adequate playing himself in his first leading
role in a feature film. The man has a lot of charisma that helps him to
carry the film. He also presents an air of not taking the film or himself
too seriously so we can just have fun with it. I think MJ could carve out a
respectable film career in light comedies and adventure flicks.
The movie's graphics are outstanding. The mixing of 2D and 3D computer
graphics and animations is spellbinding. The sequence in which Michael is
pulled through the golf hole into the Looney Tunes world took three months
of intensive labor, the end result is mind-boggling eye candy. Bugs and
company have never looked so good. We can only hope that a sequel is in the
works.
All in all, this was a fun movie experience for my entire family. My sons
were rapt while watching this film. The audience as whole seemed to love
the movie and there was not much talking or other commotion while it was
playing. This is a good Christmas season movie for everyone. Dad will want
to see it for the basketball and the entire family loves Bugs. Three and a
half stars out of four.
Kidsongs Musical Mystery
IBM-compatible CD-ROM
for ages 3 and up
price $29.95
TerraGlyph Interactive Studios
1375 Remington Road
Schaumburg IL 60173
847-781-4100
Program Requirements
IBM Macintosh
OS: DOS 5.0, Windows 95 OS: System 7.5
CPU: 486SX/33 CPU: PowerPC
HD Space: ? HD Space: ?
Memory: 8 MB Memory: 8 MB
Graphics: 640 by 480 with 256 colors Graphics:
256 colors, 13" monitor
CD-ROM: Double-speed CD-ROM: Double-speed
Audio: 8-bit Windows compatible sound card
Other: mouse
reviewed by Frank Sereno
TerraGlyph has just released a new program that is sure to garner a myriad
of awards. Kidsongs Musical Mystery is based on the PBS children's
television series. It is a child's first adventure game that is visually
and aurally astonishing. The superb animation is the equal of that in
feature films and the sound track is filled with bright, enjoyable tunes.
Your task is to search through eight musical lands for the missing
instruments of the Harmonious Orchestra of Professor Major Chord. You can
choose either Ruby or Billy Biggle, the adorable and furry hosts of the
program, to be the on-screen detective. You guide your Biggle about this
brightly animated world with the mouse. The instruments are hidden and you
can find them by clicking on hot spots in the different lands. The cursor
arrow will turn dark when it is on a hot spot. Those hot spots that are not
connected to a missing instrument will trigger humorous animations that will
tickle your funny bone.
Once you find an instrument, it is placed in the inventory box in the corner
of the screen. It can only hold one item. If you pick up another item,
then the current item will be dropped. Besides instruments, you can also
find magic dust that adjusts the size of your Biggle so he can explore three
hidden worlds. Once you find an instrument, you must take the instrument to
the correct band member. You may have to travel through a door to get some
worlds. If you do, you have to win a skill game that is presented by Knocky
the Doorknocker. These puzzles require you to remember a picture's hidden
location, associate a sound with a picture or to choose which picture
doesn't belong in a group. Once you have reunited the eight band members
with their instruments, you win the game and you are rewarded with a twenty-
song jukebox.
The program is very easy to use. Installation is easy under both DOS and
Windows 95. The game supports the autoplay feature of Windows 95. The
program ran flawlessly in both DOS and Windows 95. An introductory sequence
explains your mission and how to play the game. Audible help is available
at the options panel and in the Knocky the Doorknocker games. To get to the
control panel, just move the cursor to the lower left corner of the screen
and click when it becomes a TerraGlyph icon. Once in the control panel you
can save your game in progress, load a saved game or adjust the game to
three levels of difficulty. The game also includes a map screen that you
can access by moving the cursor to the bottom center of the screen. Once in
the map screen, you can access a progress screen that shows which band
members have their instruments.
In addition to being a fun game, Kidsongs has good educational value. It
teaches coordination in using the mouse. It encourages deductive thinking
as the players learn to find the hotspots and then give the proper
instrument to each band member. Knocky's skill games enhance memory skills
and logical thinking. The characters' dialogues will improve children's
vocabularies. All written words such as building signs or posters are read
aloud when the child clicks on them so this in a limited way can help
children to learn to read. Finally, the wonderful songs will teach children
to appreciate many styles of music.
Kidsongs is different every time you play it. The program randomizes the
band members, their locations and the instruments in each game. You will
have to play the game many times to catch the many jokes and subtleties in
the animations. Should I mention that I enjoyed playing this game as much
as my children have? Here's a secret tip: once you have completed a game
and won, you can save the game on the jukebox screen so you can play the
songs without having to play the game through the game again.
Kidsongs Musical Mystery is a delightful sensory feast. It is a joy to play
and a pleasure to behold. At $29.95, it is very affordable and reasonably
priced. If you are looking for a wholesome and fun game for your young
children, Kidsongs is an excellent choice.
Business Essentials by World's Easiest Software
Review by Donna Lines
The latest revision, number 3, of Business Essentials makes it even easier
for the home or business user to create professional level stationary
directly from your own desktop printer. For high volume printing or custom
printing, such as raised lettering, you can send your files on-line to a
printing service - Deluxe, the check printing company.
To get you started Business Essentials has included hundreds of templates
that you can modify to meet your needs, such as business cards,
certificates, letterhead, envelopes, labels and more! They've even included
popular samples of pre-printed specialty papers from Paper Direct to get you
started. You can preview your designs on the Paper Direct templates on
screen by selecting the button marked "PDI" or on a plain background by
selecting "Plain Paper."
Before you begin designing your project you must select either "Home and
Office Printing" or "Professional Printing." If you will be sending the
file to the professional printing service you must create the design in the
"Professional Printing" option. The printing company has certain design
requirements, such as the number of colors used in the design, and the level
of complexity of the graphic image used.
You can import your company logo or graphics in bmp, eps or tif format. If
you are printing on your desktop printer you can use colored images. If you
are sending the file to the professional printer you may use only black &
white graphics. Additionally the professional printing service will limit
the total number of colors to two per design.
This program will save the non-graphics artist a lot of time and frustration
designing stationary for everyday business or home office needs. Who could
ask for anything easier? World's Easiest has included an instant $3 rebate
check to encourage registration. Simply fill in the information on the back
of the check and then take it to any bank. It's that simple.
Hardware Requirements:
486 or higher
4MB RAM
11MB of Disk Space
CD-ROM drive, 4x or higher recommended
SVGA display
Mouse
Retail Price - $40
www.easiest.com
Special Notice!! STR Infofile File format Requirements for
Articles
File Format for STReport
All articles submitted to STReport for publication must be sent in the
following format. Please use the format requested. Any files received that
do not conform will not be used. The article must be in an importable word
processor format for Word 7.0.. The margins are .05" left and 1.0"
Monospaced fonts are not to be used. Please use proportional fonting only
and at eleven points.
z No Indenting on any paragraphs!!
z No Indenting of any lines or "special gimmickery"
z No underlining!
z Columns shall be achieved through the use of tabs only. Or, columns in
Word format. Do NOT use the space bar.
z No ASCII "ART"!!
z There is no limits as to size, articles may be split into two if
lengthy
z Actual Artwork should be in GIF, PCX, JPG, TIF, BMP, WMF file formats
z Artwork (pictures, graphs, charts, etc.)should be sent along with the
article separately
z Please use a single font only in an article. TTF CG Times 12pt. is
preferred. (VERY Strong Hint)
If there are any questions please use either E-Mail or call. On
another note. the ASCII version of STReport is fast approaching the "end of
the line" As the major Online Services move away from ASCII.. So shall
STReport. All in the name of progress and improved readability. The amount
of reader mail expressing a preference for our Adobe PDF enhanced issue is
running approximately 15 to 1 over the ASCII edition. Besides, STReport
will not be caught in the old, worn out "downward compatibility dodge" we
must move forward. However, if the ASCII readership remains as high, rest
assured. ASCII will stay. Right now, since STReport is offered on a number
of closed major corporate networks as "required" Monday Morning reading..
Our ascii readers have nothing to worry themselves about.
Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-operation and
input.
Ralph F. Mariano, Editor
STReport International Online Magazine
Gaming & Entertainment Section
with Atari User Support
Editor Dana P. Jacobson
>From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
Wow, what a weird week! The weather has been wreaking havoc across the
country; and my real job has been more hectic than usual (and it's usually
typically hectic!). And, it certainly doesn't help that I'm trying to get
things caught up at work because I'll be taking some time off for the
upcoming holiday, and getting prepared (I'm the turkey guru in my house!).
I'd like to take this time to [finally!] welcome Michael R. Burkley,
that renowned Unabashed Atariophile, to the Atari pages of STReport. As
most of you are probably aware, Michael has been writing his Unabashed
Atariophile column for a few years now based on his never ending challenge
of discovering new and interesting public domain software; and, pointing it
out to us in his writing.
I "met" Michael on my BBS quite a number of years ago and met him
personally at the last AtariFest in Connecticut (1993?). Michael is an
incredible individual and is one of the nicest people that you could ever
meet. Michael is one of those people who enjoys sharing his experiences and
knowledge regarding Atari software to his fellow Atarians; and he does it
well. I'm heartened to have Michael join our staff and offer our readers
the opportunity to once again be able to enjoy his writings. Please join me
in welcoming Michael to the staff!
Since next week is Thanksgiving, and our next issue will be the
following day, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has
helped make the Atari section of STReport a success. While we've had our
disappointments with the ever changing Atari world, it's the users/readers
who continue to make this effort worthwhile. Have a terrific holiday and
please stay safe!
Until next time...
Atari Safari STR Show News
Sb: #117616-Houston Atari Safari Show
Fm: George N. Iken 104403,3100
To: Dana P. Jacobson 71051,3327
The Houston Atari Safari '97 will be held on February 22nd, 1997. The 7th
annual Safari will be a one day show at the Four Points Hotel, 7611 Katy
Freeway, from 10 am to 5 pm. Primarily a vendor show, Safari '97 will
include local users with used software and hardware and a large showing of
Atari developers, including ChroMagic Software Innovations, Crawly Crypt
Corporation, Branch Always Software, It's All Relative, ICD, 4-Play,
Systems For Tomorrow, Toad Computers, and Trace Technologies.
The Unabashed Atariophile
By: Michael R. Burkley
MRBURKLEY@DELPHI.COM or Michael-R-Burkley@Worldnet.att.net or Genie:
M.BURKLEY1
I'm Back!!! It's getting close to a year since my last "Unabashed
Atariophile" article in Atari Explorer Online (AEO), and I am glad to be
"back in the harness" again. Dana has been trying to get me to write for
STR for over three years now, and he's finally succeeded. I look forward to
being a part of his team. I don't know what has happened to AEO, my former
home, but I finally decided it was time to take up Dana's offer to write for
him. Thanks Dana! I appreciate your attitude and your ongoing support for
all of us Atariophiles!
I have a big problem. Since the last time I wrote I've collected over a Gig
of Atari files, mostly from the internet from sites like Hensa, Uni-Kl,
Leo, and UMich. There are literally scores of other sites as well. Of
course, the commercial online services such as Delphi and Genie are still
busy, though not to the extent they were in the past. I especially enjoy
the friendships, files and conversations on Delphi. Both Genie and Delphi
now offer complete Internet services, with several options for usage and
payments. Delphi offers the ability to link up to the Net in a text-based
manner using their own Lynx Internet software. They also allow Atari users
to access the Internet in a graphical way using CAB, STik, and that whole
suite of programs. I don't know what Genie is doing in that area.
But I haven't been accessing the Internet through my TT, I'm a bit sorry to
say. I'm using Netscape Navigator on my Cyrix P-120 equipped Windows 95
machine. I like that machine in some ways, but I really am frustrated with
it in others. When it works, it's great, though I still like my TT more. The
trouble is, it doesn't work very well! I turned it in to a local dealer on
July 2nd for an upgrade from a 486 chip to the Cyrix P-120. They couldn't
get it to work reliably until the beginning of October. Even now it crashes
perhaps ten times a day. You might think that it was incompetence on the
part of the dealer. I don't think so as I finally took it to another
dealer, and he couldn't do anything with it either! They both blame my SCSI
hard drives saying, "It's awfully hard to put those things into a system
and get it working." Great! I seem to remember plugging SCSI drives into my
Atari with no problem. I haven't mentioned the modem/sound card/video card
conflicts that have bedraggled this system. It's really quite frustrating
to have the computer die on you with such regularity.
Oh, and trying to start Windows 95 after it crashes! Here's what I have to
do...turn the computer on and have the Windows 95 screen come up. Shut the
computer off when the screen freezes. Turn the computer back on and have it
start up in "Safe Mode." Shut the computer off when "Safe Mode" doesn't help
and the computer freezes again. This time when I turn it on it will likely
boot all the way (hurrah!), but now I have to "quit" and re-start the
computer with the full set of drivers. Finally, I can begin working...until
it crashes again. The dealers' reaction? "I wonder why it does that?"
Working with that machine has really convinced me that my Atari (whether it
be my T-25 equipped STE or my TT) is an easier to use machine. Moving
files around (something I do a lot of) is MUCH easier on my TT (though I
have to admit the clone transfers data much faster than my TT). I use the
Universal Item Selector, one of the many replacement Item Selectors
available and love it. I still haven't found anything comparable for
Windows, and I've looked. So what did I do? I bought the GEMulator from
Emulators, Inc. (formerly Branch Always Software). It works so well (and
takes advantage of the Windows 95 fast file transfers) that I've moved my
TT from my home office to the church office and just use the GEMulator for
Suzy B's Software and everything else Atari. Believe it or not, with the P-
120 chip (Cyrix's approximate equal to the Pentium 120), my computer with
GEMulator is almost twice as fast as my TT! That makes a big difference in
compressing and uncompressing files! Of course, it's even faster under
plain Windows 95, but the interface and the features of the uncompression
utilities I've used there are not as usable as, say, STZIP26 or LHA311. I
must admit I am having some problems with STZIP in regard to uncompressing
files and so I am using WinZIP95, but I don't like it as well as STZIP.
Even the dealers (who both have used Atari's in the past) agree that Atari's
are easier to work with. So even though I have a PC clone I am still "The
Unabashed Atariophile."
At the beginning of this article I said that I had "a big problem." So what
is my problem? It's really quite simple: I have too much to write about! I
have downloaded all of those files, but I've been so busy downloading that
I haven't been doing much describing! I promise though that I will begin to
work on resolving that difficulty right away!
So I will end my first column in STR without reviewing a single piece of
PD/Shareware software for the Atari. I'll try not to do that again! I hope
to be back here in about two weeks (I don't think that I can write columns
faster than that, but we'll see).
Until then, and especially on Thanksgiving Day, may you all see the
blessings of God in your lives,
--Michael R. Burkley
Entertainment Section
Alien Trilogy! Gameday '97!
UPI Comments! Baldies Review!
Download Nintendo Games!
And more!
>From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
Y'know, I must admit that getting information from Atari regarding the
Jaguar was much easier than getting information from the likes of Sony or
Nintendo. Although Atari's public relations firms changed more often than
New England weather, I always managed to be quickly placed on mailing lists
(email & hard copy) and the news was forthcoming. I'm supposedly on Sony's
press distribution list but I haven't received anything directly from their
press people (I have from other departments). Same with Nintendo. We hope
that this will change, but it's frustrating to us, and our interested
readers.
Speaking of frustration, after getting a lot of feedback and recommendations
from JV Enterprises regarding Towers II; and then, later from Telegames,
we can't seem to connect with Telegames to get reviewcopies of their pending
games, the first two due in a couple of weeks! With Jaguar activity at an
all time low, you'd think that Telegames would be banging down the doors to
all of the publications that still support the Jaguar with coverage! Maybe
it makes too much sense? Regardless, we'll continue to provide that
coverage, if possible; I know our readers are clamoring for information as
I've had the ecmail to prove it!
So, as in the past few weeks, the bulk of our gaming information this week
deals with the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. We hope you continue to enjoy
it.
Until next time...
Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News!
New System To Offer Downloadable Nintendo Games
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1996 NOV 15 (Newsbytes) -- By Martyn Williams. Shoppers at
Japanese convenience stores will be able to purchase blank memory
cartridges and download computer games onto them simultaneously when a new
system from Nintendo Co. Ltd [TOKYO:7974] begins. The Osaka-based gamesmaker
will offer the system in Lawson convenience stores and hopes to cut down on
distribution costs by using the new technology.
Under the planned system, customers will buy a blank cartridge and purchase
a game which can then be written into the cartridge by a special machine.
The system will require Nintendo to distribute just the cartridges rather
than individual packaged games, thus saving money. Initially it will be
limited to games for the Super Famicon system and not the newer Nintendo 64
system.
Plans call for the system to be made available from summer 1997 at the
Lawson stores. The chain has around 6,000 stores across Japan and is owned
by Japan's leading supermarket operator Daiei, Inc. The same operatorbegan
selling Nintendo 64 machines and games in June when the new console was
launched. A system that showcases games for Sony's PlayStation machine is
currently being planned and will utilize a channel on the PerfecTV digital
satellite TV service. That will be installed in 7-Eleven, Family Mart,
Circle-K and Sunkus convenience stores.
Acclaim Entertainment and FOX Interactive Blast...
GLEN COVE, N.Y. (Nov. 18) BUSINESS WIRE -November 18, 1996-- - First-Person
Action Game Features Multiplayer Capabilities on PC - The non-stop action
and heart-stopping intensity of the blockbuster Alien movies are back in
Alien Trilogy, a first-person interactive blitzkrieg from Acclaim
Entertainment and Fox Interactive. Maximizing Acclaim's exclusive motion-
capture technology to deliver the most realistic andterrorizing 3-D first-
person action to date, Alien Trilogy will be available later this month on
PC CD-ROM.
Already one of the best-selling games of all-time on the Sony PlayStation,
Alien Trilogy casts the player as Ripley, one of science fiction's greatest
heroines, battling through 30 heart-pounding levels of acid-encrusted hell,
fighting the most feared enemies from all three Alien movies. The game's
multiplayer capabilities allow PC users to battle each other over a
network, in the dark corridors of the overrun LV 426 colony, throughout the
abandoned prison planet and aboard the Derelict spaceship.
"Alien Trilogy combines all of the hide-your-eyes and grit-your-teeth
realism of the Alien movies with the best of first-person gaming. Now,
with stunning FMV sequences and a chilling movie-quality soundtrack -- as
well as the PC version's multiplayer network play -- Alien Trilogy is more
intense and even more challenging," said Steven Lux, vice president of
marketing at Acclaim Entertainment, adding that the new PC edition will
build on the success of the initial PlayStation version.
Alien Trilogy extends the story of the three blockbuster feature films from
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. The one organization of which all
humans are members is The Company, even the armed forces are privatized,
sworn to uphold the interests of The Company. As a host of parasitic alien
seeds threaten the very existence of the human race, The Company wants to
keep the deadly spawn alive for use as a secret weapon. The task of saving
humanity comes down to Lt. Ripely, as portrayed and directed by the gamer at
the controls.
A hardcore arsenal of lethal weapons -- including flamethrowers, pulse
rifles and seismic survey charges -- are the last line of defense to
eliminate deadly creatures hiding among trap doors, hidden ducts and secret
passages. The enemies that try to halt the mission include Chest Bursters,
Face Huggers, Warriors, Company Soldiers and ultimately three acid-
spitting, flesh tearing Queen Aliens. Alien Trilogy PC will be supported
through extensive advertising in leading gaming and PC publications, demo
discs of the game in PC publications, and comprehensive online support.
Alien Trilogy is available now for Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The DOS
CD-ROM will be available later this month. The DOS version requires a
486DX2/66MHz processor, 8 MB of RAM, 2 MB of hard disk space, a 1MB SVGA
graphics card, SVGA monitor, double-speed CD-ROM drive, and 100% Sound
Blaster compatible sound card.
NFL GameDay '97 to Hit Retail Shelves on December 5
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Nov. 18) BUSINESS WIRE -Nov. 18, 1996--Sony Computer
Entertainment America today announced that NFL GameDay '97 will be available
at retail nationwide on December 5. This highly anticipated sequel will
only be available for the PlayStation game console. The original NFL
GameDay was one of last year's best-selling PlayStation titles and won many
awards from enthusiast magazines.
As with last year's title, NFL GameDay '97 has all the features necessary to
create the most realistic football video game available; more than 1,500
real NFL players; real uniform designs -- both home and away; actual player
numbers on the uniforms; all 30 NFL teams and their stadiums faithfully
recreated in stunning 3D; and, for the most accurate movement ever seen in
a video football game, NFL GameDay '97 features the motion- capture
animation of the Oakland Raider's All-Pro wide receiver, Tim Brown.
"NFL GameDay reset the bar as the best football video game ever created,"
said Peter Dille, senior director, product marketing, Sony Computer
Entertainment America. "While video games players have told us how great
NFL GameDay is, what's equally gratifying is the overwhelming enthusiasm and
praise we've received from so many NFL players. "Many of them have told us
they play NFL GameDay at home; that they have PlayStation's and NFL GameDay
in their training rooms; and, that they play tournaments while on the road -
- in their hotel rooms and on the teams' airplane. That's a great
testament to the realism of the game."
As part of Sony Computer Entertainment America's $50 million marketing
campaign, NFL GameDay '97 will have a dedicated television ad that will
begin airing on November 16. The spot, which plays off the realism found
in the game, will air during NFL games on both FOX and NBC, as well as on
national syndication and on cable channels such as ESPN and MTV.
Acclaim Launches Explosive International Best...
GLEN COVE, N.Y. (Nov. 19) BUSINESS WIRE -Nov. 19, 1996--Strapped into a high-
speed, weapons- laden, futuristic battle cruiser, players careen through 3-D
worlds at speeds that push their cheeks past their eyebrows. The cruiser
slides by cannon blasts while pulling a 6-G 180-degree turn to launch heat-
seeking missiles at the enemy chopper fleet. No matter what, players must
remain focused on the mission objective! The world's hopes have been
pinned on gamers and their B1 hovercraft in Tunnel B1, a much-anticipated,
3- D first-person action game from Acclaim entertainment, Inc.
(NASDAQ:AKLM). Tunnel B1 is scheduled for release in November for the Sony
PlayStation and Sega Saturn for a suggested retail price of $59.99 and later
in the year for PC CD-ROM for a suggested retail price of $49.99.
Tunnel B1, the first title to stem from the new marketing alliance between
developer Ocean and Acclaim, is one of the hottest games in Europe.
According to the November 2, 1996, edition of ChartTrack, the Sony
PlayStation version of Tunnel B1 is rated among the top five sellers in
Europe, along with Formula One, Tekken 2, WipeOut 2 and Resident Evil.
Tunnel B1 is already benefiting from strong advance previews in the U.S.
with Next Generation Online, one of the industry's leading gaming websites,
stating that Tunnel B1's "spectacular lighting effects and smooth gameplay
make this title stand out." Dan Hsu of Electronic GamingMonthly expressed,
"Tunnel B1 is one of the most visually stimulating games to come out for a
32-bit system....The attention paid to details is simply marvelous!"
Players experience, in first person, the speed and fluidity of the game the
minute their B1 craft begins its journey through these menacing tunnels.
Offering a multitude of realistic enemy tanks, helicopters, machine guns
and obstacles along with impressively complex scenarios, Tunnel B1 is
designed to challenge players of various skill levels. The soundtrack
enhances the fear and sense of urgency as the B1 craft navigates through
enemy strongholds, and gamers are driven by the quest to eliminate the
'ultimate weapon.'
"We are very pleased to commence our partnership with Ocean with the release
of a title as impressive as Tunnel B1," said Jim DeRose, president and
chief operating officer of Acclaim's North American operations. "Given the
high quality of Tunnel B1, with its fervent gameplay and vivid 3-D graphics,
we are very enthusiastic about its retail potential this holiday season."
Ocean, Europe's leading developer of interactive games, mirrors Acclaim's
enthusiasm about the companies' collaboration. "This is a title we are
quite proud of, and we are happy to have Acclaim behind it," David Ward,
Ocean chairman, said. "With Acclaim's solid marketing and distribution
prowess, we are confident that Tunnel B1 will have excellent reception in
the marketplace."
Video games for the holidays ahead UPI Computer Comment
LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- In this case, the good old days were just two years
ago. Back then, in the dim days of 1994, you could walk into a toy store,
a video arcade or a discount store and be asked only to pick among the two
platforms most people used: Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. Today, it's not
so easy. It is more fun to play the modern-day games, but picking them as
gifts is not easy. The first thing you need to do is ask the person for
whom you are buying which video game they possess. Be specific. And write
this down, because a Playstation CD won't play in a Saturn. And it's no fun
to get a gift you cannot use.
You might also check with parents and friends, to make sure your gift-getter
isn't also getting a new computer game system this year. A lot of young
people will be migrating from Sega and Nintendo this year to the Sony
Playstation, which, in general, has screens that are more intensely colored
and intricate than on other platforms. Many of the hottest new games coming
out this year for video game systems are coming out in PlayStation format,
including an intriguing kid-to-adult age-range game called the Adventures of
Lomax, from Foster City, Calif.-based Psygnosis games -- a subsidiary of
Sony.
Billed as an "answer to Mario and Crash" this game features 40 levels in
four exotic landscapes and fueled by some of the best action and three
dimensional rendering in use on video games today. Psygnosis has also
ported out the runaway best-selling PC software known as Myst for the
PlayStation, which should introduce a whole new, older, generation to the
richly colored worlds and lightning-fast action that can be found on video
games. Myst is a strange book that draws you into a lush island world where
nothing is as it seems, a surreal sort of anti-action game that was
extremely popular among computer users a few years ago.
Sega of America, based in Redwood City, Calif., is also trying to break down
the generational wall that has divided PC users from video game
aficionados, with a device called Sega Saturn Net Link. This machine adds
onto your Sega Saturn game system and lets you surf the World Wide Web from
your television. Of course, you have to pay a service provider and plug
this into a phone line, but it does tend to blur the link between what is a
computer and what is a game.
A key advantage of the system is that it lets game players compete in
selected games across the Internet, on a head-to-head basis. That said,
Sega is no where near abandoning the video game system that brought it to
fame and power, the Sega Genesis. New games from Sega this season for the
Genesis include six new titles starring Sonic the Hedgehog. Among them is
Sonic Blast: The Ultimate 3D Adventure, which features somewild action and
graphics that are fully up to the limits of what the Genesis can offer.
Nintendo's hot machine this year, and the one that a lot of gamers are
talking about, is the Nintendo 64, which offers 64-but home video gaming for
about $200. The 64-bit part translates into faster action, 360-degree
movement and in some cases, startlingly true three-dimensional graphics.
The games being launched by Redmond, Wash.-based Nintendo for the new Video
game system include Super Mario 64. If you want to know about how good the
graphics are, ask any kid playing around in the video game section of the
toy store. This is usually the first game they tell you to look at. The
opening screens are phenomenal.
Not everybody has a Nintendo 64. Lots of people have the 32-megabit Super
Nintendo system at home, and there are a lot of games coming out in time
for the holiday that will make even an older system a lot of fun.
Chief among the new offerings is Toy Story, which includes most of the gags
you've seen in the movie, plus the action you've come to associate with
Nintendo. However, there isn't any violence. And lots of the early
level stuff is very easy.
And while the other video machine makers are gearing up and adding more,
Nintendo is introducing a sleeker, slimmer version of one of its most
popular machines, the one most likely to be found in a teacher's desk,
theGame Boy. And while it may now fit in the palm of your hand and play 440
of the Game Boy games on the market already, it's still the game most
likely to wind up in a teacher's desk. The Game Boy Pocket carries a
manufacturer's suggested retail price of $59.95, about what a good, new game
costs for most video machines.
Joe Fasbinder can be reached on the Internet at fasbinder(at)delphi.com or
fasbinder(at)prodigy.net fasbinder(at)wynd.net or on CompuServe at
74431,2554. By JOE FASBINDER - UPI Business Writer
Baldies STR Review
Baldies
-= Available Now =-
By Wes Powell, Courtesy of the Jagu Dome
Type: Strategy
Players: 1
Levels: 100 + bonuses
ProController: Yes
Story:
Ever want to rule the world? With Baldies you have the resources, but do you
have the strategy and skill? Build your own society complete with workers,
builders, soldiers, and scientists, and use them to conquer enemy
territory. When it comes to killing your foe, creativity is highly
encouraged. You can skunk 'em, drown 'em, blow 'em up, and electrocute 'em.
The only limit is your imagination. Plan your attack well. The enemy is
trying to do the same to you.
Overview:
Baldies has been on my "getting" list for quite some time now. I finally
have it now and I'm a very happy gamer. You control the world (not the bad
dudes). The game gives you little bald dudes to work with in attempt to
defend yourself and kill the hairy dudes. There are five different
landscapes with 20 levels in each. Each landscape has it's own features.
There are four types of baldies, each with it's own power bar.
Blue(builder), Red (worker), Green (soldier), and White (scientist). You use
the builders to get your house set up. The houses can be built up into huge
castles(each landscape has different house styles). They make houses,repair
houses, and upgrade houses. Use the soldiers to make ammo, protect your
fortress, and destroy the enemy by hurling grenades and spraying bullets
onto the scene. The workers build up your red bar, allowing you to use the
shovel(after building 3 houses). When inside, they breed. The scientists
make inventions. The inventions are of many.
They range from landmines to popper fields, and from Flamehead to
helicopters. The game has fairly good graphics along with all of the
playability. The music is quite cool while there should have been moresound
effects. The cinematics are cool, but only average quality. Control is
adequate. The only gripe is that sometimes pinpointing objects is hard. I
am very happy with this game and so are my friends. Please do not look only
at the graphics of this title. Look through to the gameplay instantly. Then
you will find the value that is to be found in this game. It has
everything to keep you playing for weeks.
Graphics-8
They get the job done. The cinemas are cool but have been cut down in size
and are only average quality.
Sound/music-8 1/2
The tunes are different in each landscape and are varied in style. They are
well done. The SFX left me wanting more though.
Control-9
Everything is easy. Just pinpointing things is a little tough. No big deal
though.
Power-8 1/2
It's got over 100 challenging levels. The CD doesn't spin while you play.
It must load the whole game in at once. Cool.
Fun factor-10
These are the games for me. It sucks you in!
Overall-89%
Jaguar Cheats, & Hints STR InfoFile - Solving Those Riddles!
Baldies Cheats:
z Level Codes:
Green Ice Circus Desert Hell
01:(none) 21:26481912 41:99799799 61:69556532
81:99589435
02:69317691 22:37736169 42:71394421 62:92826938
82:26997667
03:32585431 23:29329995 43:37118763 63:38293232
83:72143164
04:53199313 24:25849779 44:51776684 64:92729513
84:25454616
05:95568176 25:44694221 45:99584621 65:23835728
85:99162722
06:14799741 26:25259781 46:96193782 66:46365977
86:15969299
07:99112932 27:26827251 47:55992751 67:42127597
87:22789619
08:25579427 28:37495714 48:75326691 68:59744212
88:19783692
09:94554648 29:25899273 49:36296862 69:66652545
89:32927721
10:95555366 30:25141462 50:17228223 70:92969395
90:19892933
11:95532656 31:98435959 51:75478824 71:22169481
91:99997799
12:22938689 32:69667792 52:67788234 72:93671736
92:17214394
13:89232323 33:24164317 53:13324585 73:52999329
93:33677118
14:22513979 34:55616442 54:35133199 74:92757849
94:45816776
15:33728582 35:96722219 55:69751568 75:14242694
95:19296584
16:66977534 36:56299991 56:11447799 76:12857259
96:29867193
17:22597714 37:28619972 57:29399112 77:12562827
97:15557992
18:94212475 38:98692371 58:72254579 78:43177495
98:17956326
19:65545266 39:22721793 59:89446554 79:32752899
99:23668296
20:26395999 40:99933281 60:69653555 80:22654141
100:31272228
ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
On CompuServe
Compiled by Joe Mirando
CIS ID: 73637,2262
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Well, as you may (or may not) know by now,
there is a new member of "Team STR-ATARI". I'm not going to tell you who
it is in case his column has been delayed, but suffice it to say that he is
someone for whom I have the utmost respect. Even though he used to write
for a competing online magazine, I've been happy to consider him a friend
since I met him at a computer show several years ago. The fact that he
(along with Jennifer Troy) sang 'Happy Birthday' to my wife at dinner one
night after the show only convinced me that he really is as good a guy as
he seems. It wasn't so much that he simply sang the song. Heck, anybody
could've done that. He really seemed to enjoy himself doing it. I've had
quite a few conversations with him since then and my opinion remains the
same: He is truly one of 'the good ones'.
While we're talking about old friends, I'll mention that our friend from
Costa Rica, Alejandro Aguilar, is back. Alejandro was without internet
access for a while and therefore had been out of communication. For those
of you who don't remember, ALejandro wrote the 'Emulator Wars' review that
we published several weeks ago. Since it came out so well, he is now
talking about doing a review called "OS Wars". The idea is to put several
of the available operating systems for the Atari ST series of computers head-
to-head and see which one does what. Since, in the opinions of both Dana
Jacobson and myself, the first review was so good, anything that Alejandro
wants to submit will be gratefully accepted. I use Geneva and I love it
but I've often wondered about the new kid on the block, MagiC. I guess
that I'll have a chance to learn more when Alejandro gets the review done.
I can't wait. That's the kind of thing that _I_ want to see!
Well anyway, let's get to the reason for this column in the first place...
all the great news, hints, tips, in info available every week right here on
CompuServe.
>From the Atari Forums on CompuServe
Last week someone mentioned that they couldn't get MagicMac to print to
their printer. This week, Bill Anderson posts:
" I have been using "Power Print" with good results on a Power Book and a
Desk Jet. The product consists of a serial to parallel converter and a
selection of printer drivers."
Michel Vanhamme tells Bill:
"I have no printing problems ATM (I don't have one - yet <grin>)."
Neill Orr asks:
"Does anyone know of a compatible zipping program in the Atari, so I can
move files via single density disc to my PC? And unzip them there?
[These are] prodominantly Calamus files and graphics."
David James tells Neill:
"You can use STZIP to create zipped files on the Atari which can then be
unzipped on A PC."
Albert Dayes adds:
"A 720K disk formatted on the PC will work as a good method to move
files back and forth between the Atari and PC. Using ST-ZIP v2.6 which
can be found in the library provides compatibility with the PC's PK-ZIP
v2.04g"
Mark Showalter asks for help:
"Lisa at cslive told me to send you my questions.
1: WHERE do I find the encoding/decoding programme for sending files over
the internet? As in a text file?
2: I need to get decompressing programmes for zip; lzh; zoo; etc. Where do I
find these?
I am on a 1040ste and very happy so far with this service, it's great! I'd
appreciate any help."
Sysop Keith Joins tells Mark:
"For encode/decode get the following file from library 4:
ESSCOE.LZH
Title : ESS-Code 6.4 - UUENCODE/UUDECODE utility.
Keywords: ESS-CODE UUENCODE UUDECODE MIME BTOA SHAREWARE ELECTRIC STORM
ESS-Code 6.4 from Electric Storm Software. UUENCODE/UUDECODE program,
plus other options.
For zipping the following file from library 4 will be the one to get:
STZ26.TOS
Title : Version *2.6* of Vincent Pomey's STZIP is here!
Keywords:ATARI TS ST-ZP 2.6 IP COMPRESSION UTILITY POMEY POSTCARDWARE
Here, hot off the Internet, isversion 2.6 of ST-ZIP by Vincent Pomey.
===
The first file in a ZIP now extracts and the maximum number of parameters is
now 100. For the six or seven Atarians left out there in the world, enjoy
this GREAT utility. Send Vincent postcards!!
As far as ARC and LZH files go, get ARCLZH.PRG also found in library 4."
In a continuing conversation about getting SCSI devices to work on different
Atari models (ST/STE, TT, Falcon) using ICD's excellent hard drive
utilities, John McCarthy tells Steve Norman that the Falcon 'bumps' SCSI
devices up by 8 numbers. Steve replies:
"So this means that I would have to set the first device to device *?? Most
SCSI devices can't be set to unit 8."
John tells Steve:
"You would set the device to unit 1, but ICD will see it as unit 8 for some
reason. I thought that you might have set the device to unit 0, which is
reserved for the internal HD, and that this could be the source of the
problem. Is there a way you could test another HD with ICD to see if it
reacts the same way? I spent 6 months with a variation of the problem your
facing before finding out I needed a different HD. In my case ICD was not
the problem, but yours may still be a compatibility issue. Set your device
to unit 1 and see what happens."
ICD's Tom Harker tells John:
"When you are using our SCSI Pro Utilities (ICDBOOT 6.5.5) on a TT, the
Atari port (DMA) IDs are seen as 0 through 7, TT SCSI drives are seen as 8
through 15 (0=8, 1=9, etc.) and on the Falcon, the IDE drive is seen as ID
16."
John explains to Tom:
"Steve's Falcon does not acknowledge the presence of his SCSI device."
Tom replies:
"Oops. Guess I jumped in too late without all the facts. I had a similar
problem and found a bent pin in the SCSI cable. The Falcon end of the cable
has some small, closely spaced pins. Also, there may be some SCSI drives
that just won't work well on the Falcon. Specifically, I would stay away
from new Quantum SCSI drives like the Fireball series."
John fills Tom in:
"The problem I had was between a Quantum Empire an CAF. It drove me nuts.
Apparently the HD's driver was incompatible with Cubase, though it seemed
to work with some other software, including ICD."
While Tom is out and about Jim Wellington asks:
"Any hints on what to expect on a Stacy 4? I somehow destroyed the Auto-
boot sector ( I think) and have 6.5.5 but somehow think there must be
something different on the stacy to get it to Auto-boot from the HD.
I haven't really fooled with it but getting tired of running it from
floppies."
Tom tells Jim:
"No, the Stacy is pretty much like a standard DMA device ST. I think they
used the same host adapter as inside the Mega STE. It should autoboot just
fine. Try running HDUTIL and reinstalling the booter from floppy."
Jim tells Tom:
"Thanks, I'll give it a shot. I haven't used the HD in so long It'll spoil
me rotten to have it again. I think I had a conflict problem with the Auto
folder when I tried to add a couple of new things to it."
John Camp posts:
"A couple of years ago I downloaded a animated Christmas Card from Atari. I
do not remeber which format it was in but it was for IBM-PC's. It starts
out with a dog sleeping and then the dog accidentally turns on the TV with
the remote. The characters come alive out of the TV with each change of the
TV channel. Then finally the owner wakes up and comes into the living room
and kicks the dog out into the snow with the message Merry Christmas from
Atari. Can anyone tell me where I can find this file ? I love this demo and
used to have it a few years ago."
Our own Atari Editor, Dana Jacobson, tells John:
"The file is called CatNap and should be available here. As far as I know,
this animation demo only runs on Atari computers. I still have the file
myself and view it now and again - a real gem!!"
John tells Dana:
"I looked for the file but could not find it. Can you tell me what format it
is? I am sure it works on IBM PC's because that is all I have ever owned.
Thanks for your reply."
Hmmm.... was there a SEQ viewer for PC's?? I, like Dana, have this
animation and love it. It was quite clever for its day. By the way, did
you ever notice the name in front of the house at the end of the animation?
Take a look next time. Some folks will get a real warm feeling from it.
<grin>
Kenneth Inman is a man with many...
"QUESTIONS:
1. Can anyone tell me how to modify the startup configuration of my 520ST?
2. Does anyone have the pinout of the mouse so as to wire a standard pc
mouse to use on my ST?"
Sysop Bob Retelle tells Kenneth:
"We have some text files in our software library here which address the use
of an IBM style mouse on an Atari ST... try searching using the keyword
MOUSE. As for modifying the startup of your ST, all the files which
execute when your ST boots up will be in the folder called AUTO which is
in the "root directory" of the bootup disk, either hard drive or floppy.
Any executable program you put into that folder will be run before you see
the GEM desktop, in the order they're found on the disk (not necessarially
in alphabetical order as you see them in a disk directory window). If you
want to prevent a program in the AUTO folder from running, either delete it
from the folder, or rename it to something which isn't recognized as an
executable program... that is, if something is called PROGRAM.PRG rename it
to PROGRAM.PR and it won't be executed.
The other way programs are run at startup is if they're special "ACCessory"
programs, and are in the root directory of the bootup disk. These programs
can be recognized by their .ACC filename extension... that is,
CALENDAR.ACC in the root directory would be a special accessory program that
runs at bootup and appears in the ACCessory menu on the menubar of the GEM
desktop. Once again, if you don't want an ACCessory program to run, rename
it to something like CALENDAR.AC and it will be skipped at bootup. What
is it you'd like to change about the way your ST boots up..?"
Well folks, that's about it for this time around. Tune in again next
week, same time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they are
saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
EDITORIAL QUICKIES
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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