Apple has announced a series of moves to increase its
presence on the Internet's World Wide Web. The moves
are designed to expand and consolidate all of the com-
pany's Internet and online content and services develop-
ment into one division. Apple has changed the name of
its online services division to ‘Apple Internet Services.’
The new group will be responsible for:
  The launching, in 1996, of a series of new Apple-
branded World Wide Web sites
  The management of eWorld, the company's online service, moving it toward a more
Internet based service
  The direction and integration of all Apple's World Wide Web sites
As part of the move, Apple announced that it is offering "one-click access to cool web sites" via eWorld. The enhancements to eWorld integrate preselected World Wide Web sites into eWorld's graphical buildings. This means that eWorld users no longer have to log on separately to the Internet and wander through the maze of different directories in order to find the Web sites they want. Instead, they can simply visit the intelligently and simply organized eWorld buildings and have one-click access to an array of Web sites and eWorld publisher sites that complement each other.
Select Web sites are listed in directories beside eWorld's own content. To access eWorld content users simply click on a descriptive icon and are transported to the Web page or eWorld publisher requested. All content—including Internet sites—has been topically and alphabetically categorized to improve navigation through the service. Short descriptions of each content area help subscribers find the information that most interests them, before they travel there. Readers can learn more about eWorld at its new web site, http://www.eworld.com.
 
Responding to customer demand, Apple's Customer Services Division has finally created a special Apple area on the America Online information service (The America Online keyword for the Apple area is ‘applecomputer’). While not all information posted to www.info.apple.com, www.apple.com and www.support.apple.com will be posted on AOL, Apple has promised that the new AOL forum will get the most popular items.
The new Apple forum will include:
  About the Apple Area
  Apple Product information—both in Acrobat PDF and in text format
  Apple Press Releases
  Apple Tech Info Library—on the Worldwide Web, at http://til.info.apple.com.
  Ask Apple Tech Support FAQs—Frequently Asked Questions
  Download QuickTime 2.x (Mac and Windows)
  The Information Alley—Apple's biweekly electronic support journal
  USA Apple Software Updates
  Apple Support Professional Solutions Series
Unlike eWorld, Apple will not offer online technical support via America Online. Within the United States, technical support issues should be directed to 1-800-SOS-APPL. Questions about the Apple area on AOL can be sent chas99@aol.com.
  
Apple has announced plans to ship a new advanced version of its
Newton operating system, Newton 2.0, to customers in December.
The new OS will be previewed in a dedicated booth at the upcoming
industry trade show, COMDEX, which takes place in Las Vegas from
November 13-17 (Booth #4354, North Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center). The new OS will also be previewed at Macworld Sydney (Australia) and Apple Expo UK the week of November 6, 1995.
Newton 2.0 will be a major revision of the operating system and is the result of much customer feedback and user testing. It provides improved organizational and communications capabilities, as well as the ability to integrate Newton PDAs with Windows and Mac OS-based personal computers and enterprise environments. Apple claims that the new platform is also a more flexible and extensible architecture for a growing number of partners and solutions providers, including independent software vendors (ISVs), systems integrators (SIs), and value-added resellers (VARs).
Newton 2.0 will initially be available on MessagePad 120s shipping in December, and is expected to be available on products from Newton licensees in 1996. Apple promises that the new, more open operating system will be accompanied by more flexible and productive tools for developers using Windows or Mac OS-based personal computers, making it an ideal platform for vertical applications development.
Existing Apple MessagePad 120 customers will be able to upgrade their systems beginning in December. Customers with the earlier MessagePad 100 and MessagePad 110 will be able to take advantage of a rebate program beginning early next year. Consumers can also access information about the Newton platform via the Newton homepage at http://www.info.apple.com/newton.
  
Apple has announced a low-priced hardware accelerator for
QuickDraw 3D which can accelerate 3D graphics interaction up to
1200%. The QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card is a 7" PCI card that
fits the new 7200, 7500, 8500 and 9500 Power Macs and other
PCI-based Mac OS computers. The card speeds complicated techniques graphics professionals use most: Gouraud shading, texture mapping, transparency, con- structive solid geometry, and more. The Apple QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card is expected to be priced at $399 US and should be shipping in volume by the end of this month.
 
 
After hastily withdrawing it, Apple has rereleased the System 7.5.2
Printing Fix. Version 1.0.2 of the extension fixes a printing problem
that may occur on Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, 8500 and 9500
computers. Without this fix, the computer may freeze if the user
attempts to print to a network-based printer that is already busy,
and it may be necessary to restart the computer. The fix can be found at
Apple's usual online sites, and is on the internet at Apple's FTP support site at http://www.support.apple.com.
Fixes have also been released for other printing software. Desktop Printing Software 1.0.3 fixes memory problems on new PCI Macs running Open Transport. The QuickDraw GX Print Spooler patch fixes a problem when printing in AppleShare and Novell Netware print spoolers using QuickDraw GX 1.1.1, 1.1.2, and 1.1.3. Surprisingly, the patch’s READ ME file warns that “This patch is not officially supported by Apple Computer, but problems encountered while using print spoolers with QuickDraw GX and this patch can be reported by email to reigel@eworld.com. These problems will be fixed in an upcoming release of QuickDraw GX.” Like the System 7.5.2 Printing Fix, this patch was also hastily rereleased this month after initially disappearing and is now available at http://www.support.apple.com.
  
Apple has shipped a maintenance release of its Open Transport
networking software. The four disk Open Transport 1.0.8 update
is intended for Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, 8500 and 9500
computers. Changes since version 1.0.7 include fixes to the Open
Transport AppleTalk software and the Open Transport TCP/IP software. Power Macintosh computers using Virtual Memory (including RAMDoubler) may crash when using MacPPP 2.1.2SD or FreePPP (1.0 and 1.0.1). Apple says that this is not an Open Transport problem and will be fixed in a new release of FreePPP. Until that time, the problem can be avoided by turning off Virtual Memory. Open Transport 1.0.8 is available from Apple's online software areas and on the Internet from their ftp sites.
  
Apple has released version 2.0 of AppleGuide. The system extension,
which debuted with System 7.5, provides online help and limited
active assistance. Version 2.0 is now compatible with Systems 7.0
and 7.1, and offers various bug fixes and performance improvements.
You can pick up the new Apple Guide 2.0, complete with an authoring kit, from Apple's Developer ftp site at ftp://ftp.info.apple.com/Apple.Support.Area/Developer_ Services/System_Software_Extensions/Apple_Guide_Authoring_Kit/.
  
Apple has licensed and is freely distributing PowerTalk personal
gateways from StarNine Technologies, Inc. The StarNine gateways
include Mail*Link Internet for PowerTalk, Mail*Link MS for
PowerTalk and Mail*Link QM for PowerTalk, and give Mac OS
users access to Internet mail, StarNine Mail or C.E. Software's
QuickMail.
Macintosh System 7.5 customers can obtain these gateways, free of charge, via Apple's world wide web site at http://www.info.apple.com/dev/evangelism/ powertalk/powertalk.html. These fully functional gateways will also be included in future system updates of the Mac OS. Apple says it will maintain, support and enhance the gateways for future versions of its operating system.
PowerTalk is an optional System 7.5 technology that provides system level centralized email, where all mail services use a single desktop mailbox. Macintosh System 7.5 currently ships with PowerTalk personal gateways for direct dialup, fax, pager and CompuServe, and includes demonstration copies of the StarNine products.
  
Apple has announced updates to AppleShare and enhancements to
several other network products including the Workgroup Server
Series, the Internet Server Solution packages, the AppleShare
Client for Windows and PowerShare Collaboration Server software
packages.
 
AppleShare 4.2 is designed for PowerPC processor-based systems with NuBus and provides an average of 110 percent performance improvement over AppleShare 4.1 for file transfers between personal computers and an AppleShare server. Apple claims even greater performance for multi-user database applications—up to 140% faster than AppleShare 4.1. The new AppleShare includes a simple-to-manage block cache architecture that dynamically tunes itself for optimal performance, making it easier to configure and tune. The upgrade also supports nearly 10 times as many open files as AppleShare 4.1 and increases the maximum number of concurrent users from 150 to 250.
AppleShare 4.2 will be available with Workgroup Servers from Apple or as an upgrade to existing AppleShare 4 customers. For customers who purchased AppleShare 4.x before September 1, 1995, the upgrade cost is $199 US (plus shipping and handling). For customers who purchased AppleShare 4.0.2 or 4.1 on or after September 1, 1995, the upgrade will be free of charge, beyond shipping and handling costs. AppleShare 4.2 includes updated versions of Santorini Server Manager 3.1 and AppleShare Client for Windows 1.01.
 
The Workgroup Servers have been enhanced with added software. The additional software solutions, not previously available with the Workgroup Server package, include:
  Virex virus protection software from Datawatch Corp. of Wilmington, MA.
  netOctopus asset management software also from Datawatch.
  Skyline/Satellite network traffic archiving and analysis software from
The AG Group Inc. of Walnut Creek, CA.
  4-Sight Fax LE software for sending and receiving faxes from 4-Sight,
L.C. of West Des Moines, IA.
Customers who purchase a PowerPC processor-based Workgroup Server after September 1, 1995 are eligible to receive the latest Workgroup Server solutions from Apple for the cost of shipping and handling only. (Internet Server Solution customers are not included in this offer). Apple expects the latest software will be available to qualified Workgroup Server customers by mid-November. To order these latest software offerings, customers can call (800) 950-5382 (ext. 759). Customers can also direct questions to the Apple Network Information Line at (408) 862-3385.
 
Apple's Internet Server Solution for the World Wide Web has also been enhanced with the addition of Adobe PageMill. The PageMill software (a WYSIWYG World Wide Web home page layout tool) is available to Internet server customers who purchase an Internet server on or after September 1, 1995 for the cost of shipping and handling only. To order Adobe PageMill, qualified Apple Internet Server Solution customers can call the Apple Network Information Line at (408) 862-3385. All other customers, including those who purchased an Apple Internet Server Solution before September 1, can get information on how to purchase Adobe PageMill directly from Adobe by calling (800) 411-8657.
 
The AppleShare Client for Windows 1.0.1 now has expanded its network support to include LocalTalk and Token Ring networks. Additionally, the latest software update provides increased performance and reliability for large printing tasks. The AppleShare Client for Windows was developed to give Windows users in mixed Macintosh and Windows networking environments easy access to AppleShare file and print services.
 
The latest PowerShare Collaboration Server software (version 1.1) includes enhanced Internet support, including the ability to import Internet addresses from a text file into a PowerShare catalog. PowerShare 1.1 also allows administrators to import more types of data directly into the PowerShare catalog, along with improved performance in message routing and more space for log information. The latest update also makes it easier to support and integrate PowerShare and PowerTalk into SMTP-based environments.
Upgrades to AppleShare Client for Windows 1.0.1 will be available to version 1.0 customers free of charge, beyond shipping and handing. Upgrades to PowerShare 1.1 will be available to existing PowerShare 1.0 customers for $75 US (plus shipping and handling). PowerShare 1.1 is expected to be available in November. Call (800) 950-5382 (ext. 759) for upgrades and upgrade information, and direct questions to the Apple Network Information Line at (408) 862-3385.
