Newsbyte reports are copyright 1991 by Newsbytes News Network.
Republication of any portion is strictly without prior authorization.
subjects
setDisplay (
buttonUp
buttonUp
setDisplay
apple
Apple
business
Business
General
General
telecom
Telecom
trends
Trends
other
Other
proto
oselectedTextLines
goTitle
(x = keyEnter);
tonUp
keyUp
buttonUp
leaveField
buttonUp
'o,CgoTitle
keyUp
buttonUp
leaveField
NAUTILUS is pleased to provide the following
industry reports from the Newsbytes News Network..u
Subjects are listed on the left (Apple, Business, etc.). Click a subject button to display a list of Newsbytes for that subject. Click on any item in the list to go to that story.
import
Import Newsbytes
gather
Gather Titles...
1. This is the template book. Use File/Save As to save this file as a new book into which you will import a new set of Newsbytes. By convention, name it "NB_MMYY.TBK" replacing the MMYY with month/year info (eg, NB_0991.TBK, NB_1191.TBK, etc.).
2. From the new stack, click "Import Newsbytes" button. You are prompted for the location of the files to import (which is MUCH faster if done locally vs. across the network). This will take a while...
3. When importing is done, click the "Gather Titles" button. You are prompted for sort order. Choose Subject (as text) first, then Dateline (as date/time).
4. Be sure to delete the green buttons and this field.
newsbytes
restoreDisplay
goTitle x
saveDisplay
default
setDisplay whichOne
4currSubject
"proto"
selectedTextLines
4currScroll,
, currTitle
setfields whichWay
whichway
"apple"
"business"
"general"
"govt"
"ibm"
"telecom"
"trends"
"unix"
"other"
terPage
setDisplay
saveDisplay
goTitle
restoreDisplay
enterPage
setfields
enterPage
restoreDisplay
goTitle
saveDisplay
default
setDisplay
proto
proto
proto
proto
saveDisplay
currSubject
whichOne
saveDisplay
proto
proto
currScroll
currSubject
currTitle
restoreDisplay
proto
proto
proto
proto
currScroll
currSubject
currTitle
setfields
whichway
whichway
apple
business
general
telecom
trends
other
proto
whichWay
gatherTitles
Zapple, business, general, govt, ibm, telecom, trends, unix, other
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- 3Com Asia has unveiled SuperStack, which it claims is the network industry's first fault tolerant system of stackable hubs, switches, and internetworking devices.
According to 3Com, by using the 3Com SuperStack, users can integrate best-of-class networking components to build cost-effective, scalable fault-tolerant and easy-to-manage systems for today's Ethernet, Token Ring, SNA (synchronous network architecture) and FDDI environments with future support for high-speed technologies including Fast Ethernet and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode).
3Com claims to have established the market for stackable hubs when it introduced its first stackable hub in December of 1991. Demand for the second generation LinkBuilder FMS family is so strong, the company claims, that it predicts that its installed base of Ethernet stackable ports will top the two million mark this month -- double the number installed six months ago.
"Stackables are the fastest expanding segment of the networking market and 3Com has been experiencing explosive growth in this area. With the introduction of the SuperStack we've once again changed the rules of the game by delivering the functionality and port density of chassis-based systems in a stackable form," explained Roy Johnson, managing director of 3Com Asia.
"3Com has a significant breadth of product, high volume manufacturing capability and worldwide distribution channels to deliver customers such a complete, cost-effective stackable solution," he said.
According to 3Com, its SuperStack scalable architecture avoids the overhead of unused ports or backplane capacity, providing a way to build high-performance networks that integrate connectivity systems from the desktop to the WAN (wide area network). An optional redundant power system gives the whole stack fault-tolerance.
The complete SuperStack system is managed with Transcend Enterprise Manager, 3Com's graphical network management application. For SuperStack workgroup systems, 3Com is also offering Transcend WorkGroup Manager.
SuperStack systems are designed to support networks ranging from small remote offices to large corporate workgroups. The stackable networking environment offers scalability with a single hub stack capable of supporting up to 192 Ethernet or 256 Token Ring users.
According to 3Com, the low prices per-port and incremental investment path make SuperStack an affordable entry point into full-featured managed internetworking. SuperStack products announced include LinkBuilder FMS II 12 or 24-port Ethernet hubs, LinkBuilder FMS TR 12 or 24-port Token Ring hubs, and NETBuilder Remote Office boundary access, and full-function routers. SuperStack-based Ethernet local area networks (LANs) can be segmented with 3Com's slide-in bridge modules, or via the LinkSwitch Ethernet/FDDI stackable LAN switch.
3Com says it also intends to help users integrate their LAN and SNA traffic by delivering leading SDLC conversion technology. The LinkConverter for SuperStack is being developed in partnership with Sync Research, a company in which 3Com recently took an equity position. 3Com also plans to deliver dial-in remote access for the mobile user/telecommuter by integrating the recently introduced AccessBuilder platform into SuperStack.
(Keith Cameron/19940523/Press Contact: Roy Johnson, 3Com, +852-868 9111)
tact: Roy Johnson, 3Com, +852-868 9111)
5/23/94
3Com Superstack Network Integration
GENERAL
Chinese Authorities May Execute
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
CARROLLTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- If your computer keyboard has ever suffered the ravages of spilled beverages or dropped crumbs, you'll probably be glad to know that a Texas company has introduced a keyboard designed to protect the board's working parts.
Identity Systems Technology has introduced its IDKB101-SR keyboard, a unit that features a moisture-proof membrane beneath the keys to keep the underlying mechanism safe.
According to the company, if you've never experienced the results of a spilled drink or breadcrumbs in the keyboard as you eat while you rush to complete that last minute project, you are very fortunate. PC system administrators and consultants report that it's a common problem.
Allan Haynie, Identity's senior vice president, claims that the company's new keyboard is an improvement over the soft molded plastic covers already available to protect keyboards. "Users don't like plastic covers that detract from the comfortable feel and responsiveness of the keys and slow the operator," he said.
The 101-key keyboard has 12 function keys, Alt and Control keys on both sides, separate numeric keypad and cursor navigation keys, num lock, caps lock, and scroll lock indicator lights.
The $39-95 unit comes with a PS/2 adapter and attached to most notebook computers equipped with an external keyboard port.
(Jim Mallory/19940523/Press contact: Alan Weinkrantz for Identity Systems Technology, 210-820-3070; Reader contact: Identity Systems Technology, 213-323-4600 or 800-723-8258, fax 214-323 0666/IDENTITY940520/PHOTO)
0666/IDENTITY940520/PHOTO)
5/23/94
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
GENERAL
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
Europe - Artisoft CorStream Dedi
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Artisoft has unveiled the CorStream server, a dedicated file server for its LANtastic network operating system.
According to the company, which has announced the product as available on a Europe-wide basis, the server is a high performance 32-bit Lantastic NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) which comes combined with a runtime version of the Novell NetWare 4.xx 32-bit network operating system. The server will start shipping from the beginning of next month, Newsbytes was told.
Sunil Padiyar, vice president of Artisoft's engineering operations said that the server is an ideal system for users who want "to have familiar peer-to-peer functionality along with the performance and expandability of a dedicated server. The CorStream server brings users the power of the Novell NetWare platform while maintaining the LANtastic network's ease of use."
According to Artisoft, the CorStream servers appears as another LANtastic server to Lantastic 5.0 or 6.0 network clients. Despite this, the server is billed a providing substantially increased performance to 5.0 and 6.0 LANtastic networks.
The server also supports Novell's System Fault Tolerance (SFT) level 1 (the hot fix) and level 2 for LANtastic users. In level 1, the system automatically recognizes bad sectors on the drive and moves it to undamaged areas, also automatically.
Under level 2 SFT compliance, the server supports disk mirroring and disk duplexing. Disk mirroring involves a single hard drive controller controlling and duplicating data onto two drives; if one fails, the other can pick up all the tasks. Disk duplexing, meanwhile, adds a second drive controller to the system; if either a drive controller or a disk fails, the system can still operate.
The CorStream dedicated server will be offered as a stand-alone unit for use within existing LANtastic networks, or as a network system kit that includes the server and LANtastic 6.0 client software.
Both offerings will sold in the UK (and Europe) in five, 10-, 25-, 50 and 100-user kits. Pricing starts at UKP 695 for a five-user stand-alone kit, and UKP 850 for the five-user network bundle. For a limited period, Artisoft is offering a free Eagle Technology NE310 Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) adapter free with the server kits.
(Steve Gold/19940523/Press Contact: Lindy Dragsta, Artisoft Europe BV Tel: +31-20-606-0643; Public Contact: Artisoft UK: - Tel: +44-753 554999)
c Contact: Artisoft UK: - Tel: +44-753 554999)
5/23/94
Europe - Artisoft CorStream Dedicated Server
GENERAL
Europe - Artisoft CorStream Dedi
UK - Cheyenne Enterpriseware
REDHILL, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Cheyenne Software has launched EnterpriseWare, a "universal solution" product for network users that expands the company's server backup technology into the enterprise networking arena.
At the same time, Cheyenne has launched several new and updated products under the EnterpriseWare banner: Arcserve, an Apple Computer Macintosh backup package; Faxserver 2.0, a network fax package; and Monitrix 3.0, a network management tool.
The idea behind EnterpriseWare, Paul Dunford, the company's regional manager for Northern Europe, told Newsbytes, is to offer "middleware" to the networking industry.
"Middleware mediates between the network operating system and the applications running on it. It embraces traditional network servers along with optical storage media, and spans the PC DOS and Windows environments, as well as Unix, OS/2 and Apple Mac platforms, all under one umbrella control system," he said.
EnterpriseWare operates as a suite of modules which are marketed as stand-alone products for different platforms in the network management security and communications areas. Each modular package dovetails and interacts in with others, such as the Arcserver backup-restore package which is "aware" of Innoculan's anti-virus facilities.
"The problem to date has been that different network utilities have operated on a stand-alone basis. EnterpriseWare allows all of the packages, which are available on a one-stop basis from us, to operate in tandem with each other," Dunford explained to Newsbytes.
Dunford said that Cheyenne differentiates itself in a crowded security and backup product market with its high levels of support. "We have end user hotlines. We also have a support BBS in the UK and a forum area on Compuserve. We see the electronic distribution of updates as a key factor in keeping customers up to date on the anti-virus utilities side of the business," he said.
Weaving the whole EnterpriseWare ensemble together is the company's ARMS -- Architecture for Reliable Managed Storage -- strategy.
According to Dunford, ARMS allows disparate network and stand-alone environments to exchange data using the concept of essential and advanced services. Cheyenne's range of EnterpriseWare products meets the needs of the essential services side of ARMS, while the advanced side is met by the raft of new products from the company.
Pricing on the component packages that make up the Enterpriseware suite of products depends on country and site licensing requirements Newsbytes was told.
(Steve Gold/19940523/Press Contact: Sara Mallinson, Herald Communications for Cheyenne - Tel: +44-737-775500; Paul Dunford Cheyenne Software - Tel: +44-737-775500)
oftware - Tel: +44-737-775500)
5/23/94
UK - Cheyenne Enterpriseware
GENERAL
Networking Roundup
ATI Graphics Xpression Accelerat
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- ATI Technologies has introduced the Graphics Xpression 64-bit graphics accelerator card for PCs running DOS or Microsoft Windows.
Available in versions for the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) buses, the Graphics Xpression is based on ATI's recently introduced mach64CX processor.
The ISA version, which ATI claims is the only 64-bit graphics accelerator for the ISA bus, is aimed largely at owners of older machines who want to upgrade their video performance, company spokesman Andrew Clarke told Newsbytes.
The card will work with monitors that provide resolution of 640 by 480 or greater, he said.
The board can display up to 65,000 colors at 1,024 by 768 pixels resolution, ATI said, and the vendor rates its performance at 36.9 Winmarks. It comes equipped with two megabytes of dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
The board uses WinSwitch, an instant mode switching technology that lets use toggle back and forth between high resolution and true color modes without restarting Windows, ATI said.
The card also has a FlexDesk+ control panel that ATI said will let users preview thumbnail views of resolution and color depth choices before switching modes. The DeskScan or "virtual desktop" feature provides an off-screen workspace of 1,536 by 1,280 pixels resolution to pan across larger documents or drawings using a smaller monitor.
The list price is US$299, or C$399, for all versions of the board which is due to begin shipping May 25.
(Grant Buckler/19940523/Press Contact: Andrew Clarke, ATI Technologies, 905-882-2600 ext. 8491, MCI Mail 612-0298)
2-2600 ext. 8491, MCI Mail 612-0298)
5/23/94
ATI Graphics Xpression Accelerator
ATI Graphics Xpression Accelerat
Airline Schedules Preloaded On I
OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- The Official Airline Guide (OAG) has announced that its Flightdisk Worldwide Edition, a database that includes airline schedules for more than 650,000 direct and connecting flight schedules, will be available on a pre-installed basis for IBM Thinkpad notebook computers starting this month.
Flightdisk allows users to view flight schedules and cost, as well as ground transportation information, frequent flyer information and toll-free airline, hotel, and car rental phone numbers. When the user enters origin and destination information, as well as travel dates the software lists the various flights that meet that criteria.
"Thinkpad users tend to be on the road and will appreciate the convenience of having OAG flight information at their fingertips," said OAG senior vice president, Mel Trudeau, explaining the strategy behind the deal.
OAG spokesperson Peter Duckler told Newsbytes that the disk-based version of Flightdisk contains the same information as the printed books used by travel professionals worldwide and is available updated on monthly basis. A realtime version of OAG flight information is also available on several online subscription services.
IBM Thinkpad users are being offered a discount of over 50 percent on the first year's subscription to either version of Flightdisk. Duckler told Newsbytes that the Worldwide version's regular $248 cost is discounted to $108 plus a $21 shipping cost. The North American version, which regularly sells for $198, is cut to $77 plus an $18 shipping fee.
OAG says the software will be available this month for Thinkpads shipping in the US and Canada, with Latin America and Asia-Pacific market shipments scheduled in the near future.
(Jim Mallory/19940523/Press contact: Peter Duckler, HLB Communications for OAG, 312-649-0371; Reader contact: OAG, 800-525-1138 or 708-574 6414)
er contact: OAG, 800-525-1138 or 708-574 6414)
5/23/94
Airline Schedules Preloaded On IBM Thinkpads
3Com Superstack Network Integrat
Airline Schedules Preloaded On I
Chaos Author Now Internet Servic
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Those waiting for the next masterpiece like "Chaos" from author James Gleick may have some time to wait. Newsbytes has learned that he's now working full time managing The Pipeline, an Internet service provider in New York.
"We're partly a service provider, but we're more of a software company," he told Newsbytes. The company offers Windows-based software which many reviewers say makes the Internet comprehensible for the first time. "We developed this interface for ourselves thinking everyone else was doing it, but it turned out when we were done we were ahead of the curve. So we're licensing the software widely to other service providers," he said.
"We have either up and running or in the process of installation service provider agreements in San Francisco, Ireland, Philadelphia Tennessee, Ontario in Canada, and here in New York. Our software can be customized for many services," including bulletin boards running under the Unix operating system, "and there are a lot of other licensing deals in the works. Our goal is to make the software available everywhere," he added.
Gleick also addressed some of the recent concerns of the Internet, and was optimistic on all counts: "It's true the Internet is still largely academic. But that's not the Pipeline's demographics. As soon as you provide a graphical interface that doesn't require knowledge of Unix you get different people online. There's an enormous amount of interest," he told Newsbytes.
Newsbytes asked about the case of an Arizona lawyer who put ads on Internet newsgroups, and whether his legalistic attitude was a threat to the ethical, anarchistic attitude found on the self-governing Internet. "We'll see what happens. The case in Arizona may prove an aberration... I hope it will. It's not right to think one lawyer represents the legal attitude on the Internet," Gleick replied.
Newsbytes also asked about the recent Clinton Administration moves concerning the Clipper Chip, and attempts to put the brakes on Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), an encryption scheme loaded onto the Internet a few years ago.
"I have an optimistic view. The government's policies on encryption are a black spot in an otherwise-intelligent technology policy. The Administration inherited a federal bureaucracy with a strong vested interest in doing the wrong thing in this area, and they've given in to the internal pressures so far," he said.
Gleick added that, except for this, he supports the Administration's technology policies. "They're having an important influence, just by talking about it as though it's important."
Gleick also expressed an optimistic attitude toward possible censorship of Internet postings by religious groups who fear children may get access to objectionable material. "It's an unimportant issue. There's lots of television and stuff in movies kids shouldn't have access to. But if they're determined they'll see it. This is something parents need to worry about. If you don't want your kids in 'alt.sex.fetish.foot' don't let them," he said.
Finally we asked Gleick about his own journalism, which is on hold indefinitely. "Someday I may go back to writing book, but at the moment The Pipeline is all I'm doing," he said.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523/Press Contact: Susan diSesa, The Pipeline, 212-572-4985)
act: Susan diSesa, The Pipeline, 212-572-4985)
5/23/94
Chaos Author Now Internet Service Provider
TELECOM
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Dell Computer and Aurora Electronics have introduced a plan to offer a solution to the problem of what to do with your old PCs when you replace them.
In the past there have been only a few ways to dispose of outmoded personal computers. You could donate them to a school, sell them to employees, or non-profit organization, or list them for sale in a classified ad. In a few cities you might find a reseller outlet that will take them on consignment. Increasingly, however, PC makers are taking them and offering new models in return.
Dell and Aurora are providing what they call "asset recovery services" throughout the US. Companies looking to replace existing computer systems can trade in their old equipment and receive credit toward purchase of a new Dell system. The program will initially be targeted at Fortune 500 companies.
According to Dell and Aurora, advances in technology make the technological life span of a PC about 24 months for desktops and about six to 12 months for portable systems. Even though many companies replace their systems less frequently than technology advances dictate, there has still been a tremendous growth in the replacement market and PC managers are often frustrated in their attempts to recover part of their investment in the older hardware. Dell says that the aging computer population, equipment depreciation and a desire for the latest technology are driving that growth.
Dell spokesperson Jill Shanks told Newsbytes that the program, which is currently in its infancy, calls for evaluation of the trade-ins on a system-by-system basis. As the program expands, a trade-in schedule may be developed to facilitate the process.
San Diego, California-based Aurora refurbishes, reconfigures, tests and resells the older systems under their own brand label, complete with a one-year warranty. Unusable components are disposed of in accordance with regulations governing the disposal of electronic equipment.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Adobe Systems known for its page description language Postscript, has announced Dimensions 2.0 for the Power Macintosh. It's a vector-based graphics package for creating Postscript language three-dimensional (3D) objects and effects with both Apple Computer Macintosh and a Power Mac version in the same box.
Adobe claims that Dimensions 2.0 allows users to create and edit paths, enter and edit text, and print, all within any drawing, page layout, or photo design application. The ability to print is new to version 2.0.
Since the work is done in Postscript, the objects created are resolution-independent, scalable, and can be integrated with illustrative artwork produced in other Postscript-language drawing programs.
Adobe says that Dimensions has the advantage of being the only Postscript language rendering program that allows users to map to curved surfaces, create lathed 3D objects, and design their own bevels.
A Pen Tool included with the product allows users to create two dimensional (2D) profiles of a 3D object, which can be viewed in 3D as well in another window simultaneous with the 2D view. Changes to objects in the 2D window show up immediately in the 3D window view Adobe said. Previous versions of the product required users to create and edit 2D views in another 2D application then import them into Dimensions.
A new Text Tool allows the creation of text on the screen and the application of 3D effects from within the program. Even after adding an effect, such as extrusion or revolving the text, the text can be edited retaining the 3D attributes.
Custom views can be controlled by the user using a new perspective dialog box, Interactive Perspective control. Users can interactively select a custom perspective anywhere between zero degrees (no perspective) to 160 degrees (very wide angle) or choose from pre programmed wide-angle, normal, or telephoto settings.
Other new features include support for Custom Colors, Multiple Undo and Send to Back/Bring to Front alignment. An Interruptible Redraw feature, also included, allows users to continue editing and arranging objects without waiting for the screen to redraw between each step.
Adobe Dimensions exports in the file formats of Adobe Illustrator 1.1 3.2, and 5.0 which are compatible with Macintosh drawing programs such as Aldus Freehand 4.0 and Deneba Canvas. Adobe Dimensions also supports Postscript on the Clipboard, which facilitates moving objects among the Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Streamline programs.
Adobe Dimensions version 2.0 software runs on a 68020-based Macintosh or greater running System 7.x software, and the newly introduced Power Macintosh which uses the reduced instruction set computing (RISC) based PowerPC microprocessor.
The program requires a minimum of 2 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) for applications on the standard Macintosh 68000 platforms and 3MB of application RAM on the Power Macintosh. A math co-processor is not required, but one is strongly recommended for enhanced performance on the Macintosh 68000-based platform.
Adobe Dimensions version 2.0 for the Macintosh and Power Macintosh is $199 and is expected to be available from Adobe resellers in July of this year. Upgrades are available to Dimensions 1.0 users for $69. Those purchasing the 1.0 version on or after March 14, 1994 will receive a free upgrade to Adobe Dimensions 2.0 with proof of purchase the company said.
ORINDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Maxis, best known for its simulation games, is entering the productivity software market with its first title, Print Artist. According to the company, Print Artist is targeted at homes and schools and allows the creation of greeting cards, signs, banners, envelopes, and stationery.
The package offers users the ability to customize text and graphics with effects and colors. In use, it offers 700 graphics, categorized for use, which can be customized or used as is. 500 professionally designed documents ready for personalization are also included.
Graphics may also be imported and modified from other programs and export in popular graphic formats is also an option.
The software was developed by Vacaville, California-based Pixellite and formerly called Instant Artist. The DOS version of Print Artist requires a PC with an 80286 or higher processor, 4 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space, 512 kilobytes (K) of random access memory (RAM), and graphics capability in monochrome or color.
The Windows version requires a 80386 or higher processor, 5.5MB of free hard disk space, Windows 3.1 or higher, 2MB of RAM, a video graphics array (VGA) display, and a mouse.
The product retails for $49.95 directly from Maxis via a toll free call or from software retailers.
Maxis says this is just the first of a line of creativity products aimed at the home market. The company is already well known for its simulation games for both PCs and the Macintosh including: A-Train based on trains, cities, and money; El-fish, a computerized fish breeding simulation; Simant, a simulated ant colony where the player leads a group of black ants to beat the opposing red ant colony; and Simcity, a program to design, build, and manage a city.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940523/Press Contact: Lois Tilles, Maxis, tel 510-253-3764, fax 510-253-3736; Public Contact, Maxis 800-336 2947)
64, fax 510-253-3736; Public Contact, Maxis 800-336 2947)
5/23/94
Maxis Enters Home Productivity Market With Print Artist
* H ~
Maxis Enters Home Productivity M
Autodesk Gets $100,000 In Piracy
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Autodesk has announced a successful conclusion to its copyright infringement case against Cadisys Corporation and its president, Simon Chan.
Filed in June of last year, this case sought to prevent Cadisys from selling allegedly unauthorized copies of AutoCAD Release 12 under a variety of names, including Cadisys 3D ProStation, Garth Chouteau senior PR specialist for Autodesk, told Newsbytes.
"One of the best sources for uncovering piracy of Autodesk products is our loyal base of customers and resellers. In this case, they had seen versions of Cadisys 3D ProStation at a trade show and notified us that it appeared to be a copy of AutoCAD," he told Newsbytes.
"Upon investigation, we determined that Cadisys had somehow gotten our source code and were able to produce their `bootlegged' version," he added.
According to Autodesk, its legal division and anti-piracy task force is committed to combating illegal acts of duplication wherever it occurs. Sandy Marin, vice president, general counsel and manager of Autodesk's legal department, told Newsbytes: "Ninety-eight percent of the cases that we are able to expose are settled prior to going to court.
"What we really want to do is to educate the public about the nature of acts of piracy and copyright infringement and let them know that we are willing to work with them to a cooperative end which will provide for a legal installation of our products. We take it very seriously and find that a lot of illegal users actually do not realize that they are breaking the law and participating in an act that is causing this industry billions of dollars in lost revenue," he said.
In this present case, Autodesk was represented by Jeff Randall from Brown and Bain of Palo Alto, California. In a movie-like sequence of events, Autodesk was able to conclude this case prior the any court appearances.
The attorneys obtained a Writ of Seizure, went to the sheriff, who did not have the time to assist them, and then appeared at Cadisys offices where they were refused entry. A few phone calls later, they were able to gain entry into the offices where they found partial evidence of the copyright infringement and the appearance of attempts to destroy other evidence, they say.
Autodesk reports it was able to prevent a scheduled pick-up by the debris service and found traces of source code in the garbage. A search of magnetic media at Cadisys found evidence that they had full AutoCAD source code in their possession, the firm reports.
After filing a preliminary injunction, the legal firm filed a default judgement because of the destroyed evidence. Autodesk won on the motion of default and was awarded the $100,000. At this time Autodesk has also been awarded approximately $12,000 in court costs and is pursuing legal fees that have not been announced.
While it appears the possibility of bankruptcy for Cadisys might be considered, attorneys are looking into an alleged transfer of funds that occurred while the legal actions were being taken.
Sandra Marin continued: "We are currently involved with a number of legal cases internationally and two cases in the US. We want to emphasize are willingness to cooperate and assist unregistered users in correcting any illegal uses."
Autodesk has set-up 1-800-NO COPIES number for reporting illegal use of its products.
(Patrick McKenna/19940523)
se of its products.
(Patrick McKenna/19940523)
5/23/94
Autodesk Gets $100,000 In Piracy Case Settlement
Autodesk Gets $100,000 In Piracy
SynOptics Ships 10 Millionth Int
CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- SynOptics Communications has proven its strength in the market for intelligent network hubs by becoming the first vendor to ship 10 million network connections Newsbytes has learned. The milestone was achieved earlier this month when SynOptics shipped a Lattis System 5000 intelligent hub to Bally the Swiss-based international shoe manufacturer.
According to the company, its installed base of 10 million intelligent network connections is now double that of its nearest competitor giving SynOptics the largest base of network connections in the world.
"SynOptics pioneered the intelligent hub industry, which now accounts for annual sales of more than US$2 billion," said Asia Area Director Neil Sundstrom. "We have led the market since we shipped the first intelligent hub in 1987, "he added.
According to market research from International Data Corporation (IDC), SynOptics has increased its 1993 worldwide market share for hub port shipments to 27 percent, five percent up on its 1992 share. Ports are physical hub connections into which users plug devices such as computers, servers, and printers.
According to the IDC report, SynOptics increased its share of the European intelligent hub market to 19 percent in 1993, up from 14 percent a year earlier, growing faster than the total hub market and helping the company to become the leading supplier of intelligent hubs in Europe. In 1993, SynOptics shipped 891,000 ports, up from 359,000 in 1992 -- an increase of 148 percent.
According to a new report by Dataquest, SynOptics garnered a 31 percent revenue share of the worldwide Ethernet and Token Ring intelligent hub market in 1993, up from the 1992 share of 25 percent.
With 1993 revenues of more than US$700 million, SynOptics has joined the Fortune 500 and was ranked the fifth best performing company in the US for its 81.2 percent revenue growth.
(Keith Cameron/19940523/Press Contact: Peter Woo (SynOptics): +852 878-1021)
ress Contact: Peter Woo (SynOptics): +852 878-1021)
5/23/94
SynOptics Ships 10 Millionth Intelligent Hub Node
GENERAL
: d H
Trace Family History With Window
Editorial - Any News At Comdex?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- By Dana Blankenhorn. This is a Spring Comdex with a difference. There's lots of optimism, but almost no news.
Blame Microsoft, which will only offer hints on its "Chicago" project in Bill Gates' keynote address. "Chicago" is a version of Microsoft Windows that's a true operating system, one which isn't built on top of DOS. Absent that real news, reporters will have lots of time on their hands.
There will be a lot of time to compare the merits of the PowerPC chip against the Pentium, and wonder what will be done with all this power. But there will be few important announcements, no "killer apps." Some reporters may be sorry they're not at the National Cable Television Association show in New Orleans instead, where Intel will show "cable adapters" offering 10 million bit/second access to Prodigy, America Online, and other services.
The party list is incredibly short. That's not so bad in itself nothing wrong with trying to keep computer geeks and journalists sober but it does point out a growing problem. Optimism is fueled by huge sales volumes, especially in the home market. Those sales take place at superstores and through mail-order. Margins there are razor-thin and huge sums must be spent pulling in customers.
Only big companies have the necessary capital. But innovative software comes from small companies. One result is a split in the software industry, with bigger firms acting as distributors for smaller ones. The big firms, like Electronic Arts, invest their money on ads and store signage, and their PR budgets on getting reviews in the right places. Comdex, where small retailers looked for small developers in hopes of finding big hits, is superfluous.
In the office market, where Comdex has always been key, the malaise is palpable. The falls of Borland, Commodore and WordPerfect, the way Novell and Digital Equipment are teetering, the sad rumblings heard from such quarters as Quarterdeck and Traveling Software, all point toward a final consolidation. The American auto industry will never again be more than GM, Ford, and Chrysler, if we can hold it to that. In PCs it's Microsoft and Lotus, IBM and Apple, Motorola and Compaq could those be the final standings? No wonder reporters are coming in with long faces.
Of course, you couldn't prove any of this to the Interface Group Comdex' sponsor. Exhibitors and attendees are once again setting records. The Comdex Show Daily claims this show is the biggest computer event ever east of Las Vegas. Reporters are staying as far away as Marietta, a suburb 12 miles northwest of town and far beyond any shuttle bus run. The area around the World Congress Center was already jammed on Sunday, with attendees making sure they were badged before the Monday crunch.
Maybe we're just getting nostalgic, for the days before PC magazine editors made $2 million a year, when we were all younger, the game was newer, the standings weren't set and the standings weren't known before the games were played. Perhaps the lesson is simply this. Once the products are done and working, the developers' fun is over.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523)
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523)
5/23/94
Editorial - Any News At Comdex?
EDITORIAL
GENERAL
Editorial - Any News At Comdex?
Comdex - Seagate Shows Faster Ac
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Seagate has found an interesting way to press the case for its new AT Attachment, or Fast ATA standard, which offers faster data transfer rates than current IDE drives. The company invited a select group of reporters out to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where they took quick lessons that put them behind the wheel of stock cars racing at up to 140 miles per hour as part of a speed analogy, and to get their attention.
Fast ATA systems transfer data faster by employing the latest in high speed programmed input/output or direct memory access protocols. Seagate says that data transfer rates of 13.3 million bits/second are faster with Fast ATA, compared with 10 million bits/second for Fast SCSI-2 and 4.3 million bits/second for standard IDE.
The speed is important for such things as non-linear editors, in which dozens of gigabyte-sized drives have to be chained together to create half-hour long shows. Workplace applications like video conferencing and bigger client-server networks can also use all the speed they can get.
Most important for Seagate are the endorsements of leading PC makers assuring the new technology will find its way to market. In its materials for Fast ATA, Seagate offered written endorsements from Dell Computer and Packard Bell, and cited other OEMs like Olivetti and Zeos International.
All four will begin installing Seagate's Decathlon 545 drives, based on the Fast ATA standard. The drives draw just 0.9 watts in standby mode and 2.5 watts in idle, and have an acoustic noise rating of just 26 decibels, making it easier to build desktop PCs without fans.
BEIJING, CHINA, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- When officials in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) decide to do something, they don't fool around.
Apparently PRC authorities want the US government to grant it continued Most Favored Nation (MFN) special trade status, and have promised skeptical US companies that they will jail or even execute copyright and trademark pirates.
"Criminal sanctions must be imposed on those who commit intellectual property right offenses to safeguard the integrity of ideas and the dignity of law," said Justice Minister Xiao Yang, according to a report in the newspaper China Daily.
The PRC news agency Xinhua reports that Li Bida, deputy director of the trademark office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, said that violators of trademark laws face harsh penalties of up to life imprisonment and the death sentence.
The Clinton Administration recently delayed a decision to brand China as a major pirate of US books, music, movies and computer software in order to give the two countries more time for negotiation. The decision is now due by June 30, 1994. That's nearly a month after the deadline for the government to decide if it will renew the PRC's Most Favored Nation status. Clinton must decide by June 3 if Beijing has made enough progress on human rights to receive an extension of its MFN status.
Xiao Yang told a conference of foreign business people last week that the PRC has drawn up plans to battle the rapidly growing product pirating industry that is estimated to cost companies such as Microsoft tens of missions of dollars each year. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates met recently with Chinese authorities to discuss the problem.
(Jim Mallory/19940523)
to discuss the problem.
(Jim Mallory/19940523)
5/23/94
Chinese Authorities May Execute Software Pirates
Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19%
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Compuadd Computer Corporation has announced price reductions on its personal computer products by as much as 19 percent. The cuts affect the direct marketer's entire product line including Pentium-based systems.
The biggest reduction is on the Compuadd C466D, a low profile local bus model 66 megahertz (MHz) 486 system with four drive bays, five expansion slots, four megabytes (MB) of memory, a 128K cache, 525MB hard drive, one floppy drive and a 14-inch super VGA color monitor. The C466D is being reduced from $2,421 to $2,042.
Compuadd's top of the line Pentium-powered CP60p is being reduced eight percent, from $2,999 to $2,789, and you can now buy a C466D desktop model powered by a 486DX2 chip with VLB bus, 4MB of memory and 14-inch super VGA monitor for $2,146, a 15 percent reduction in price.
In the notebook product line Compuadd has reduced its 425TX, a 486SX powered 25MHz system with a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Type II bus, 4MB of memory, and 120MB hard drive, to $1,595. The 433TXC color notebook with 4MB of memory and a 200MB hard drive has been reduced 12 percent to $2,595.
All Compuadd systems include a 101-key keyboard, mouse, MS-DOS 6.2, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, a Compuserve starter kit, a one-year on-site warranty and lifetime technical support.
The company says that the new prices are reflected in its latest product catalog which was mailed to more than 160,000 customers and prospects last week.
(Jim Mallory/19940523/Press contact: John Pope, Compuadd Computer Corporation, 512-250-2530; Reader contact: Compuadd Computer Corporation, 800-627-1967 or 512-250-2000)
n, 800-627-1967 or 512-250-2000)
5/23/94
Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19%
Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19%
Do-It-Yourself High-Capacity HD
CARROLLTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- So you want to upgrade the hard drive in your PC, but can't leave it in the repair shop for a week or more? A Texas company has the solution.
Identity Systems Technology has announced the availability of a do-it yourself upgrade kit that provides all the tools and information you need to swap that old hard drive for a higher-capacity 3.5-inch drive. The kits are available in 210MB, 260MB, 340MB, 450MB and 525MB models.
Allan Haynie, Identity Systems senior VP, said that many of the personal computers now in use in homes and home offices were purchased when hard drive capacities and memory configurations were smaller or the PC may not have had a hard drive. "Upgrades are the cost-effective solution, and when people upgrade they want the largest amount of disk they can afford."
Haynie says that the advent of graphical user interfaces (such as Microsoft Windows) and the ability to manipulate larger databases and use complex graphic applications have exploded the need for disk storage. "Few serious computer users are satisfied with using floppy disks to support their applications and data storage requirements," he said.
Newsbytes notes that graphics applications require large amounts of disk space and more memory, but will run very slowly on PCs powered by chips with clock speeds of less than 33 megahertz. Do-it-yourself disk upgraders may wish to determine if their computer microprocessors can be upgraded if they plan to run graphics.
Prices for the hard drive upgrade kits range from $299 for the 210MB model to $599 for the 525MB drive. Each kit contains a set of mounting rails, an IDE hard/floppy drive controller, power and data cables, a 5.25 inch mounting bracket, a power Y adapter and an instructional video tape.
Haynie told Newsbytes that Identity upgrade kits are available through mass merchandisers, including Incredible Universe, Lechmere and Sun TV.
(Jim Mallory/19940523/Press contact: Alan Weinkrantz, Alan Weinkrantz & Company for Identity Systems Technology, 210-820-3070; Reader contact: Identity Systems Technology, 214-323-4600 or 800-723-8258, fax 214-323-0666/IDENTITY940523/PHOTO)
3-8258, fax 214-323-0666/IDENTITY940523/PHOTO)
5/23/94
Do-It-Yourself High-Capacity HD Upgrade Kits
Italian Telecom Firms Merge To C
Canadian Product Launch Update
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: Apple's new PowerBooks Compaq's Presario 660, Hewlett-Packard's latest workstations and graphics subsystems, IBM's new ValuePoint and ThinkPad PCs, Lotus' Ami Pro for HP-UX, and Microsoft Project 4.0.
Apple Canada, based in Markham, Ontario, unveiled six new models in its PowerBook line of portable computers (Newsbytes, May 16). The new PowerBook 500 series machines are available now, with expected dealer prices ranging from C$2,999 to C$7,300. The PowerBook 280 and 280c also available right away, are expected to cost from C$4,200 to C$5,700, depending on configuration, Apple Canada said. Upgrades from some earlier models are to be available in the first half of 1995 costing less than C$2,000, the company added.
Compaq Canada, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, introduced the Presario 660 (Newsbytes, May 16), an addition to its line of home PCs. The estimated selling price of the 660 in Canada is C$1,999, not including the monitor.
Hewlett-Packard (Canada), of Mississauga, Ontario, announced four new workstations in its PA-RISC line and four new graphics subsystems (Newsbytes, May 16). The workstations use reduced instruction set computing (RISC) technology. The Model 715/64 starts at C$14,466 and includes a 17-inch color monitor, 32 megabytes 9MB) of memory, and a 525-MB hard disk. The Model 715/80 is C$19,789 in the same configuration, and the Model 715/100 is C$27,645.
These three models are available now. The Model 725/100 is expected to be available in the third quarter and HP Canada did not announce pricing. HP's new HCRX-8 graphics subsystem lists for C$3,657, the HCRX-24 for C$5,851, the HCRX-8Z for C$8,045, and the HCRX-24Z for C$10,239.
IBM Canada, of Markham, Ontario, joined its US parent company in unveiling new PS/ValuePoint and ThinkPad personal computers (Newsbytes, May 18). Pricing and availability information were not available at Newsbytes' deadline.
Toronto-based Lotus Development Canada announced shipment of its Ami Pro 3.0 word processing software for Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP-UX version of the Unix operating system (Newsbytes, May 10). Currently available on the HP 9000 Series 700 and 800 machines, Ami Pro for HP UX has a suggested retail price of C$655 in Canada.
Microsoft Canada, of Mississauga, Ontario, said it is now shipping Version 4.0 of its Project software (Newsbytes, May 16). The Canadian suggested retail price is C$940. There are free upgrades for those who bought Version 3.0 of the project-management software after March 12. Other users of previous versions can upgrade for C$199, Microsoft said.
(Grant Buckler/19940523/Press Contact: John Elias, National Public Relations for Apple Canada, 416-586-0180; John Boyle, Compaq Canada 416-733-7876, fax 416-229-8898; Tracy Holotuk, Hewlett-Packard Canada 905-206-3493; Kate Dennis, IBM Canada, 905-316-2191; Marsha Connor Lotus Canada, 416-364-8000; Bernard Wong, Microsoft Canada, 905-568 0434 ext. 4270, fax 905-568-1527; Public Contact: Apple Canada, 905 477-5800; Compaq Canada, 800-263-5868; Hewlett-Packard Canada, 800 387-3867; Lotus Canada, 800-465-6887)
867; Lotus Canada, 800-465-6887)
5/23/94
Canadian Product Launch Update
GENERAL
Canadian Product Launch Update
SofNet Bundles Fax Software, Mod
P ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- SofNet says it is now shipping its Faxworks Pro Power Pack, a combination of Faxworks Pro and/or Faxworks Pro LAN (local area network) software and a Hayes JT Fax 14400B Dual fax board.
The company says that the Power Pack is designed for PC-based stand-alone and networked users with heavy inbound and/or outbound fax traffic. Users can elect to use the two-line capability of the Hayes JT board for broadcasting faxes to large distribution lists in less time, simultaneously sending on one line and receiving on the other or using both lines for sending and receiving.
A single-user version of the Power Pack has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $599, while the two-user version sells for $899. A 10-user package carries an SRP of $1,298, while the 25-user kit goes for $1,698. Fifty-user versions are priced at $2,498. Additional JT Fax 14400B dual fax boards can be purchased for $525.
SofNet says that the Power Pack will run on most networks, including those using LANtastic, Novell Netware, and Microsoft LAN manager software. A dedicated server is not required. Class 1, Class 2 and CAS fax modems are also supported. DOS and Windows interfaces are provided for each user.
Faxworks Pro allows the user to create custom fax cover sheets provides annotation tools for marking up and editing faxes for re transmission, and supports optical character readers (OCRs). Personal and shared phonebooks to maintain fax addresses are included, and FaxTracker provides fax management including archiving, finding logging and indexing. Incoming faxes can be rotated in 90 degree increments.
Multiple documents can be assembled into a single fax. The program uses a "no questions asked installation procedure that will automatically detect the hardware setup in most systems.
A feature called CueCard Help, which can be toggled off and on provides help for each icon, button or menu item. Incoming faxes can automatically be re-transmitted to another fax device.
Faxworks support is available telephonically or on the Sofnet forum on Compuserve (GO SOFNET). You can also fax questions to Sofnet. The company released Faxworks Pro version 3.0 in July 1993.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Plantronics brought a large press gathering in for free CompuSet Modem Headsets at Comdex Spring today, then pushed a different story on them, namely a set of standards it's putting forward for audio input-output on PCs.
The standards have already gotten support from Intel, Digital Equipment and Hewlett-Packard, who announced "working relationships" with the company, best-known for its telephone headsets. The key standards include definitions for seven key signals in an electrical interface, like left-channel, right-channel, and ground, as well as enhancements like a VCC signal for fingertip mute or volume controls and a bi-directional control for features like wireless out of-range signals, out-of-jack warning signals and confirmed headset connections. There are also physical and desktop interface standards and support for PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) technology.
Marvin Tseu, the company's vice president for marketing and sales said that the company has revenues of $134 million with 65 percent of the headset market, establishing standards in the market.
"The biggest opportunity is computer-integrated telephony," he said through things like the Microsoft Telephone Application Program Interface (TAPI). "This will bridge two powerful tools, the network and the desktop computer, through an unsophisticated instrument, the telephone. It's a block, a barrier, to more powerful business activities.
"We see a future where the computer and telephone will be integrated based on business standards," Tseu said. "They'll be hands-free, of high quality, safe, private, and comfortable." Tseu says that his market research indicates there were only 600,000 audio input-output devices sold last year, but that will grow to 16.7 million by 1998 and 37.8 million by 2003. "These are staggering numbers," he said.
Current offerings lack privacy and don't connect well with speakers and microphones, Tseu charged, and they don't meet worldwide telephony standards. That's where the new Plantronics standard comes into play. "We've spent decades working with telephone companies, and stereo firms must listen to these business issues, because business users are defining the marketplace," he said.
The big problem with the Plantronics offering is its connection to the computer, a mini-DIN plug. A connector is shipping with Intel's ProShare product, Tseu said, but the system is not compatible with the RJ-11 plugs found on current phones.
"It's a computer interface, not a direct network interface," he said. "You need more wires than those found on an RJ-11 connector" to do everything Plantronics wants done.
To Newsbytes, this means endorsements from such phone-switch makers as AT&T and Northern Telecom are far more important to Plantronics than plaudits from Intel and Microsoft. Tseu agreed, and admitted he could make no announcements today on that front. But stay tuned, he added. Plantronics has been working with those companies for decades.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523/Press Contact: Paul Wcislo, Plantronics 408/458-4468)
ss Contact: Paul Wcislo, Plantronics 408/458-4468)
5/23/94
Comdex - Plantronics Promotes Audio I/O Standard
TELECOM
Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes Fi
Comdex - More On IBM Objects
Comdex - Shamrock Offers Documen
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Hardware and software vendors have joined with major users to develop a specification for an enterprise document management architecture.
The group was code-named Shamrock when it first met in March, and came to Comdex Spring billing itself as the Shamrock Document Management Coalition. Among the members are Adobe Systems, Aetna, Andersen Consulting, Coca-Cola, EDS, Frame Technology, Hewlett-Packard, IBM Interleaf, Merck, Microsoft, OpenVision Technologies, Saros, Sybase ViewStar and Wang Labs.
The group hopes it can create something akin to the SQL database standard, which helped in the development of consistent relational databases. Enterprise Document Management, or EDM, is defined based on user requirements. Among them are the need for different systems to inter-operate, the ability to interface EDM systems to older "legacy" systems, to access multiple EDM systems from a single application, and to implement applications that access Enterprise Library Services using a common, non-proprietary interface.
Those ELS will be the group's first "deliverable," and will be an object-oriented interface. The Shamrock ELS specification will provide an interactive set of services that enable universal access to existing information systems along with uniform security and administration across workgroups and departments.
This will be implemented through application program interfaces, or APIs, based on a universal user log-in and security model. ELS will then allow authorized users to access any object file or full-text index in a registered repository. Later, cross-repository searching will be enabled by the standardization of document index values and an ELS-specific full-text index.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523/Press Contact: Leeta Wiley, for Shamrock 503/245-0905)
act: Leeta Wiley, for Shamrock 503/245-0905)
5/23/94
Comdex - Shamrock Offers Document Standard
TELECOM
NIST Announces Digital Signature
Poland Intros New Intellectual C
Australia - PC 94 Computer Show
Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- In his Windows World keynote, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates offered a promise the baseball Cubs can't match. His Chicago will be playing in the fall. "It will be a lot of fun to challenge that date" he said of estimates the program will ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
Chicago is the code-name for Microsoft's new version of Windows which, unlike earlier versions, will run directly as an operating system, without relying on MS-DOS. The entire world, not just the computer world, is eagerly awaiting Chicago's delivery, and Gates began his talk by claiming he would "rebut the things that Connie Chung" of CBS "said about me the other night" in a televised interview he gave her.
Gates said that two million copies of Microsoft Windows are now sold each month, worldwide, and major applications found only on the Unix platform are now being ported to Windows NT. But Microsoft isn't just powerful in operating systems, he added -- there are now over 4 million users of the Microsoft Office suite. But like Windows itself, Gates considers his suite "a platform for solutions" which independent developers can write to. "Compatible products will be out by summer," he promised.
What about Chicago? "Chicago will be easier to use, faster, more powerful, and more compatible" than earlier versions of Windows. He demonstrated its ease-of-use features for novices, which included an icon marked "Start Up" which offered a pop-up menu of accessible programs. "A Task-Bar at the bottom of the screen keeps up with what is happening," he said, another new feature. And Gates showed how the set-up of Chicago can be changed without rebooting.
How about another code name? Gates is working on a program code-named Touchdown which will integrate e-mail with groupware applications under Chicago. And he touched on Tiger, the video server technology which Microsoft is demonstrating at the National Cable Television Association show in New Orleans. Tiger will have other uses, he said.
"Tiger servers can be gateways between transactions and databases" across gateways of all kinds, he claimed, not just allow cable operators to offer video on demand. He claimed the interaction between PCs and TVs will create many new businesses. "CD is an unbelievable phenomenon. There's more software shipping on CD now" than ever before, with 14 million CD-ROM drives shipping this year.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523)
ng this year.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940523)
5/23/94
Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago in the Fall
Networking Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Calculus, Pyramid Technology Corporation, Network Equipment Technologies, and ANET Systems.
Calculus, (305-481-2334), has introduced EZ-Fax 4.0 faxserver software. EZ-Fax 4.0 includes Customized Cover Pages, Inbound Routing Annotation, Foldering, Archiving, and Security. Calculus says it will continue to promote its peer-to-peer EZ-Fax 3.x faxserver, which is LANtastic Certified Compatible. Artisoft's LANtastic is a leading peer-to-peer network operating system software product.
The company claims that EZ-Fax's installation is easy, including the switchless auto-configuring EZ-Fax faxcard. Once installed, it provides all Windows applications with faxing capability. Version 4.0 is available in 8, 20 ,50 and 100 station breaks. Prices start at $1,999.00 including a NetWare-ready faxcard.
Pyramid Technology Corporation (408-428-9000) has announced the Nile 100 network server. The Nile 100 is targeted at the mid-range of the scalable, open systems market. The Nile 100 is designed to give these organizations a scalable entry point for fault-resilient computing for both business-critical on-line transaction processing (OLTP) and decision support/data warehouse information management "solutions."
The Nile 100 can also function as a regional server for larger companies, providing a central computing resource for branch offices or for LAN (local area network) segments within a large facility. The Nile 100 houses all system components in a single-cabinet, and is based on the 64-bit MIPS R4400 RISC processor technology, which supports 32 kilobyte (KB) on-chip primary cache and an on-chip floating point coprocessor.
According to the company, the Nile 100 is optimized for fast single threaded performance as well as scalable multiprocessor performance. It also reportedly protects the system against data corruption by incorporating error-correcting code memory logic, parity protection across all bus lines, and parity protection of CPU (central processing unit) boards. The Nile 100 enterprise server is available now direct from Pyramid Technology, with prices starting at $155,000 for a basic configuration (two CPUs and 64 megabytes of memory).
Network Equipment Technologies (415-780-5936), introduced software release Version 12.x2 for the IDNX family of Communications Resource Managers (CRMs). The NET software includes a number of features including support of two new IDNX modules -- the E3 Trunk Module and the ECHOX Echo Canceller modules -- and an Automatic Trunk Backup capability that provide IDNX customers increased versatility efficiency and reliability for their networks, according to the company.
The E3 Trunk Module is designed for use with the IDNX/90, NET's highest-capacity CRM. The module, which supports up to 1,880 circuits simultaneously, enables organizations transmitting voice and data to access carrier facilities operating at 34 Mbps, the E3 transmission rate, an international standard. IDNX software Release 12.x2 and the E3 and ECHOX modules are available immediately. Release 12.x2 list prices range from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the IDNX model. Non redundant and redundant versions of the E3 Trunk Module are priced at $16,000 and $32,000, respectively. The ECHOX Echo Canceller lists for $6,000.
ANET Systems (305-784-9431), has announced a new entry level 10BaseT hub for the low end Ethernet marketplace. Priced as low as $31 per port, the ANET/WorkGroup-8 is an 8 port 10BaseT hub, designed for the entry level user. In addition to providing 10BaseT network connectivity, the new eight-port hub provides network statistics and individual port level control via the ANET/Managed out-of-band management software package. The ANET/WorkGroup-8 provides eight 10BaseT compliant connections and one AUI connection for network expansion.
The hub can also be cascaded with similar units to provide 98 10BaseT connections without connecting to a backbone. The hub is compact and is claimed to fit easily on the desktop or can be wall mounted. The ANET/WorkGroup-8 is equipped with 12 LEDs (light emitting diodes) to provide at-a-glance status of the hub to the user. Nine LEDs, one for each of the 8 twisted pair ports and one for the AUI expansion port report individual network port activity and facilitate problem resolution.
The other 3 LEDs provide status about hub power, overall hub activity and collisions. The hub also contains built-in features like jabber protection and auto-partitioning and reconnection, to guard against faulty equipment disabling the entire network. The ANET/WorkGroup-8 has a suggested list price of $249 and is scheduled for general availability in June 1994.
ANET has also announced a new line of low-cost NE2000-compatible Ethernet adapters. The ANET/nic 2000 series of adapters are available in three versions: The "-T" version supports unshielded twisted pair cable; the "-C" version supports coaxial cable; and the "-TC" version supports both cabling options on a single adapter card. The adapters are based on the AT/LANTIC chipset. The ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 16-bit network adapters are compatible with the industry standard NE2000 architecture.
The adapters are claimed to be fully software configurable. The ANET/nic 2000 series of adapters are scheduled for general availability this month priced in single packs, 5 packs or 20 packs. The suggested list price for the ANET/nic 2000-T is $82 in single packs, $400 in 5 packs and $1,560 in 20 packs, as is the ANET/nic 2000-C. Pricing on the ANET/nic 2000-TC is $92 in single packs, $450 in 5 packs, and $1,760 in 20 packs.
(Ian Stokell/19940523)
an Stokell/19940523)
5/23/94
Networking Roundup
GENERAL
Company Results Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Data Broadcasting Corp., Compuware Corp., LaserMaster Technologies and Sierra On-Line.
While Data Broadcasting was reporting a large growth in its net income for the third fiscal quarter, licensing fee revenue for Compuware was following the same trend. Meanwhile, LaserMaster backed down from its plan to make a share offering to the public, and software company Sierra On-Line reported losses for both its software and network operations.
Data Broadcasting Corp., (212-208-7705) reported a 45 percent increase in net income on a 26 percent gain in revenues for its third fiscal quarter. The company says that results for the period reflect the seventh straight quarter of increasing revenues including record sales performance on the part of its Signal and QuoTrek products.
The results also include two months of earnings from recently acquired Capital Management Sciences (CMS), the Los Angeles-based fixed income analytics firm. For the three months ended March 31, 1994, net income rose to $1.45 million, compared with $1.0 million in the prior-year period. Revenues for the quarter reached $17.7 million, compared with $14.0 million a year ago.
Excluding the CMS acquisition, net income rose 20 percent to $1.2 million for the quarter and total revenues were up 13 percent to a record $15.9 million. For the nine months ended March 31, 1994 DBC's net income increased 41 percent to $3.3 million from $2.3 million in the prior-year period. Nine-month revenues rose 15 percent to $47.7 million from $41.4 million a year ago.
Data Broadcasting is a provider of real-time financial market data analytics and news to the private and professional investment communities via wireless broadcast, cable television signals and telecommunications networks.
Compuware Corp., (810-737-7506) announced financial results for its fiscal year ended March 31, 1994. Software license fee revenue increased 49% during the fourth quarter rising to $43.4 million from $29 million in the same quarter last year. License fee revenue for the full year increased 37% to $122.2 million from $89.1 million in the last fiscal year. Maintenance fee revenue increased $20.6 million, or 24% to $104.7 million from $84.1 million. Total revenues for fiscal 1994 increased to $330.3 million, an increase of $68.6 million from $261.7 million in fiscal 1993.
Income from operations for fiscal 1994 increased to $84.5 million from $50.5 million in fiscal 1993, an increase of 67%. Net income for fiscal 1994 was $59.1 million, an increase of $23.6 million, or 67% from $35.5 million in fiscal 1993. Earnings per share for fiscal 1994 were $1.52, an increase of $.51 from $1.01 in fiscal 1993.
Earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994 were $.50, an increase of 108% from $.24 in fiscal 1993. Compuware develops, markets and supports an integrated set of systems software products designed to improve the productivity of data processing professionals in application implementation and maintenance.
LaserMaster Technologies, (612-944-6069), announced that plans for a public offering of its shares have been canceled, as a result of general conditions in the equities market. The company had announced on April 18 its intention to file a registration statement relating to a public offering of shares before the end of its June quarter.
Software company, Sierra On-Line, (206-649-9800), announced its results of operations for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994. Revenues from the company's core software publishing business increased 28 percent to $60.2 million in fiscal 1994 from $46.9 million in fiscal 1993. Sierra's pre-tax loss from core software publishing operations narrowed to $1.8 million in fiscal 1994 compared to $6.3 million in fiscal 1993.
In July 1993, the company sold part of its wholly owned subsidiary The Sierra Network, to AT&T and General Atlantic and renamed it The ImagiNation Network (INN). INN's revenue increased approximately 185 percent to $8 million in fiscal 1994 compared to $2.8 million in fiscal 1993. INN's net loss increased to $11 million in fiscal 1994 compared to $5.4 million in fiscal 1993.
(Ian Stokell/19940523)
(Ian Stokell/19940523)
5/23/94
Company Results Roundup
BUSINESS
Interleaf Adds SGML Object Manag
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Interleaf has added Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) object management support to its Relational Document Manager (RDM) software, thanks to a deal with Berger-Levrault/Advanced Information Systems (AIS) in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
Interleaf said it will use the SGML/Store database system from AIS in the next release of RDM, and will make the technology available as soon as possible to customers who need SGML capabilities right away.
SGML is an international standard for marking up documents so that they can be exchanged among different publishing systems and electronic media without losing format information. Initially popular in government and the military, it is now widely used in various regulated industries, in legal publishing, in telecommunications, and in the automotive industry, Pat Byrne, product marketing manager at Interleaf, told Newsbytes.
Interleaf said that the SGML/Store technology, serving as a repository of SGML data, will give its software a document component database which lets end users manage documents or parts of documents based on content and structure. RDM will be further extended to comply with SGML, the vendor said, so that users can store and retrieve SGML documents, components, and Document Type Definitions.
Interleaf plans to integrate the SGML repository into a new release of Interleaf next year. In the meantime, Byrne said, the company is preparing a prototype which it will make available to customers who need SGML urgently. It has not been determined what, if anything, this upgrade will cost.
Interleaf's document management software runs on personal computers including Apple Computer Macintoshes, as well as various Unix workstations. AIS is the technology and integration arm of Berger Levrault, which has been involved in the French publishing industry for more than 300 years, officials said.
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- JetForm and Moore have begun shipping Image Street Electronic Printshop forms software for Microsoft Windows. The companies said that the software will let users simplify form selection, customization, and printing.
JetForm and Moore are showing the product at the Comdex/Windows World trade show in Atlanta this week.
Aimed at small office and home office users who need cheap and efficient forms systems, Electronic Printshop works with business forms manufacturer Moore's Image Street catalogue of stationery products. Users can choose a form design from the catalogue, customize it, and then print the personalized forms.
The software has an icon-based user interface, and the makers claim it is so easy to use that no instruction manual is needed.
The software is available now at an introductory price of $69.95. The special price will last through December, 1994 and will include The Personal Professional Forms Library, a collection of more than 40 electronic business form templates. Regular pricing is $79.95 for a single-user package of Electronic Printshop and $49.95 for The Personal Professional Forms Library, JetForm said.
At present, the software is available only in North America and only in English, a spokeswoman for JetForm told Newsbytes. Versions in other languages are planned, but no timetable has been announced, she said.
JetForm develops enterprise-wide forms automation products, including JetForm Filler and JetForm Server, for various personal computer and Unix systems. The company has offices in the United States, Canada and Australia, and works with distributors worldwide. Moore is a maker of paper and electronic business forms, operating in 58 countries with worldwide sales of more than $2 billion.
The two companies have done joint marketing before but Image Street Electronic Printshop is their first joint development project, the spokeswoman said.
(Grant Buckler/19940523/Press Contact: Abe Ostrovsky, JetForm 617-647-7700; Leahanne Hobson, Copithorne & Bellows for JetForm 617-252-0606, MCI Mail 457-6211; Public Contact: JetForm 800-538-3676)
211; Public Contact: JetForm 800-538-3676)
5/23/94
JetForm, Moore Ship Electronic Printshop
Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes Fi
NIST Announces Digital Signature
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has approved a standard for digital signatures that can be used for conducting business, much as handwritten signatures are used today.
The first applications of the standard will be in federal government agencies, Anne Enright Shepherd, a spokeswoman for NIST, told Newsbytes. Effective December 1, the new standard will apply to all federal agencies and their contractors when digital signatures are needed on unclassified information.
A recent IRS procurement, for example, required digital signatures on bidding documents. The NIST digital signature standard, or DSS, does not provide for confidentiality of the file or message being signed but encrypts the signature to guarantee that it is authentic and provides a method to verify it.
Many government agencies have been moving away from paper-based systems for buying and paying for goods and services and communicating information and toward electronic communications. Predictably agencies are using different ways to verify and authenticate information in these electric systems, according to Enright Shepherd.
While the standard is voluntary outside the federal government, its publication as an official NIST standard "sends a strong message" to the private sector that it is a solid, viable technology, said Enright Shepherd. As a result, banks, credit card companies, stock and bond brokerages, and other businesses with an interest in electronic commerce are likely to use the NIST standard where a legally valid signature is necessary.
Another reason that the NIST standard is likely to win acceptance in the private sector is that the government is providing the standard for free. The DSS uses public key cryptography, which uses two software keys: a public key and a private key. While the keys are related mathematically, knowing the public key does not reveal the private key. Anyone can know the public key but no one can modify it. The private key is the user's secret.
The DSS defines a system for randomly generating the private key according to an NIST briefing paper. The system uses the key and an algorithm to generate the public key. The standard uses the existing NIST "secure hash standard" to generate and verify the DSS and a digital signature algorithm that can be used to authenticate the identity of the signer.
The NIST paper notes that in legal systems, a time stamp is often needed on documents. The digital signature standard provides for a way to digitally time stamp the document and protect the time stamp as well as the signature. It can also be used in electronic funds transfer, says NIST.
"Suppose an electronic funds transfer message is generated to request that $100.00 be transferred from one account to another," postulates the paper. "If the message was passed over an unprotected network, it may be possible for an adversary to alter the message and request a transfer of $1,000.00." But, if the digital signature we put on the message before it was sent, "the received would know the message had been altered because it would not verify correctly. The transfer request could then be denied."
The new digital signature standard is officially known as Federal Information Processing Standard 186. It was published in the May 19 edition of the Federal Register, the government's daily record of activities.
(Kennedy Maize/19940523/Contact: Anne Enright Shepherd, 301-975-4858)
ntact: Anne Enright Shepherd, 301-975-4858)
5/23/94
NIST Announces Digital Signature Standard
Electronic & Chip Markets To Gro
Radius Buys Into Supermac
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- Two companies with a strong foothold in the Macintosh market, Radius and Supermac, have announced they will merge. Radius will purchase Supermac in the stock swap deal valued at about $80.5 million.
Both companies have developed monitors, digital video, and multimedia products for the Apple Mac and PC markets, but both have their largest commitments in the Macintosh market. Charles W. Berger, chairman and chief executive officer of Radius, will lead the new combined company while Michael A. McConnell, president and chief executive officer of SuperMac, will be vice chairman and have responsibility for industry relations and providing advice on marketing and product strategy Radius said. In addition, McConnell and Lawrence G. Finch, currently chairman of the SuperMac board, will take two seats on the Radius board of directors.
Apple Computer's struggle to maintain a foot-hold in the personal computer marketplace appears to have hurt both Radius and Supermac. Radius fell to a loss on lower revenues and a restructuring charge in its 1993 fiscal year, but rallied in the first half of the 1994 fiscal year to report a gain. In 1993 Radius reported revenues of over $130 million.
Supermac, which had historically reported rapid growth, fell to a 1993 loss despite 60 percent higher earnings of over $200 million. In its first quarter 1994 report, the company was still haemorrhaging and for the first time since going public in 1992 reported lower revenues.
The introduction of Macintosh computers (Power Mac) that can run software designed for the Intel-based IBM compatible personal computer is changing the game for companies who have traditionally adhered to the Apple platform. McConnell said: "As a single, much larger enterprise, we will be much better equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities resulting from the introduction of the Power PC and the convergence of the Macintosh and Windows platforms on the PCI bus."
The PCI, or Peripheral Component Interconnect, is a local bus standard from Intel aimed at multimedia. PCI can connect more peripherals supports a wider data path, and promises overall better performance. Apple has publicly committed to PCI, forcing add-on peripheral makers like Radius and Supermac to change gears and adapt their products to the new standard.
However, Supermac has been very strong in driving the digital video and multimedia markets and is best known for its introduction of the affordable digital video product Videospigot. Radius has had a long standing foothold in the desktop publishing market with its displays aimed at paper-white, two-page-at-a-time viewing.
The merger will create a $340 million company and is subject to SEC approval, antitrust scrutiny, and the approvals of both company's stockholders. Radius (NASDAQ: RDUS) will exchange 1.4763 shares of its common stock for each share of Supermac's (NASDAQ: SMAC) approximately 8.9 million shares of outstanding common stock. If all goes well the companies expect the merger to be finalized in August of this year.
The company resulting from the merger may get a new name, according to representatives for Radius, but no announcements will be made concerning a name change until after the required approvals are secured.
Radius said it will continue to market and support all major products of both companies and continue the sales and marketing programs aimed at supporting the efforts of the resellers of each company.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940523/Press Contact: Robert Saltmarsh, Radius, tel 408-955-1765, fax 408-434-1070; James Heisch, Supermac Technology, tel 408-541-5270)
chnology, tel 408-541-5270)
5/23/94
Radius Buys Into Supermac
BUSINESS
Networking Roundup
Systems Support Expo - Fujitsu's
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Pub
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. These photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board systems in Minneapolis and in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
All photos are in JPEG format with PICT file thumbnails. The story number at the end of the string has been dropped. The photos are tagged with title/year/month/day. The JPEG and PICT indicators are now shortened to JPG and PCT.
NOTE TO PUBLISHERS / Apple photo policy: An `Apple Computers' courtesy along with the photographer's name is to be printed when an Apple Computer photo is used. The bulletin will indicate this. Unless otherwise noted, all Apple product shots; courtesy Apple.
Week of May 23 - May 27,1994
FtrTel940511 - Color from photo / shot of 'PrimeView' card.
DECPC940517 - B&W from photo / shot of the DECpc LPx+ 400 one of the new 'Green Line' pcs meeting EPA 'Energy Star' guidelines.
ALDUS940517 - Color from slide / screenshot of TypeTwister at work.
P'Tel940512 - B&W from photo / shot of presenter at the PictureTel podium, where screen can be seen.
Prince940506 - Color from artwork / The 'glyph' which now serves as Prince's nom de plum.
HuntHaft940425 - B&W from photo / portrait shot of Ms Hunt-Haft Managing Director, Claris Canada, Inc.
C&T940509 - Color from photo / The 'CHIPS' chips, Mustang family of VGA flat panel controllers. Background is a sky with a profile of a horse.
Time940505 - B&W from photo / cover art of the Translate It software box.
Orange940428 - Color from photo / a hand holds the Nokia cell phone used in the Orange service from Hutchinson telecom.
IBM940513 - B&W from photo / cross section of a mock up of the IBM multilayer compact disk.
IBMAS400940503- Color from slide / view of the AS400 advanced system. Done with some art direction flair.
Toshiba940502 - Color from slide / This photo was dropped.
Carrera940429 - Color from slide / Shot of Carrera Cobra AXP 275. CPU tower, monitor and keyboard.
Check940505 - Color from photo / Software package for CheckMark: Payroll for Windows.
Satphone940505 - Color from photo / View of unit (handset and main unit) on backdrop.
Atari940503 - Color from slide / Shot of Jaguar game system with hands on the controller.
Sharp940502 - B&W from photo / View of Expert Pad with stylus with the external fax/modem plugged in.
Performa940427 - Color from slide / shot of Performa computer no photographer credit.
Aisle17-940425 - B&W from photo / two shots of products aimed at the disabled market. 1] Co:Writer writing ass't. 2] Ke:nx On:Board keyboard ass't.
Newton M Pad - B&W from photo / There is no particular story tag here. This is a good all purpose Newton Messagepad shot. Note on screen says 'Airport 4:30, Flight 137.' photo by Frank Pryor.
(Newsbytes/19940523)
by Frank Pryor.
(Newsbytes/19940523)
5/23/94
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers
GENERAL
New Group Focuses On Cybertrespa
| WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- A group of computer software firms and large software users have launched a new national campaign to boost ethical and responsible uses of computer technology.
The National Computer Ethics and Responsibility Campaign will officially kick off its campaign next month with a day-long program in the Rayburn House Office Building with members of Congress and the Clinton administration who support the campaign.
The campaign, a creation of the Washington-based Computer Ethics Institute, has lined up support from the Atterbury Foundation, the Business Software Alliance, Compuserve, Merril Lynch & Co., the Software Publishers Association, and Symantec Corp.
Mike Volpe, the campaign's Washington media representative, told Newsbytes that Ziff Davis and several major telephone and banking companies will also sign on to the ethics campaign. Peter Tippett, an executive of Symantec and co-chairman of the campaign, says he is alarmed about the lack of awareness of ethical issues related to computers.
"Concepts like: what is private or in the public domain; what constitutes theft, libel or plagiarism; or how to deal with electronic versions of potentially controversial content such as pornography, as well as many other topics, have very different manifestations in cyperspace," he said.
"It's easy to understand the concept of trespass in physical terms," he added. "But when someone uses a co-worker's personal computer to view a private directory, or when someone creates a computer virus which is transmitted via shared software to other computers without the owner's permission or knowledge, then that person may be guilty of cybertrespassing."
The campaign hopes to raise awareness and promote discussion of computer ethics issues. The Los Angeles-based group says it does not take a stand on any given issue or seek adoption of a particular code of ethics.
An information sheet the campaign is distributing says: "There is no technological fix to a computer ethics problem. Educating people to this fact, and providing them with the guidelines and tools they need to use technology in responsible ways is essential if we are all to use technology effectively and beneficially."
(Kennedy Maize/19940523/Contact: In Washington, Mike Volpe, tel 703 534-5022; In Los Angeles, Nick Routledge, 310-478-6599, Internet: 6300836@mcimail.com)
78-6599, Internet: 6300836@mcimail.com)
5/23/94
New Group Focuses On Cybertrespassing
TRENDS
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
New Group Focuses On Cybertrespa
Newsbytes Daily Summary
T LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 23 (NB) -- These are the capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> 3Com Unveils Network Integration Technology 05/23/94 3Com Asia has unveiled SuperStack, which it claims is the network industry's first fault-tolerant system of stackable hubs, switches and internetworking devices.
2 -> Identity Systems Intros Spill-resistant Keyboard 05/23/94 If your computer keyboard has ever suffered the ravages of spilled beverages or dropped crumbs, you'll probably be glad to know that a Texas company has introduced a keyboard designed to protect the board's working parts.
3 -> Artisoft Unveils CorStream Dedicated Server 05/23/94 Artisoft has unveiled the CorStream server, a dedicated file server for its LANtastic network operating system.
4 -> UK - Cheyenne Announces Enterpriseware 05/23/94 Cheyenne Software has launched EnterpriseWare, a "universal solution" product for network users that expands the company's server backup technology into the enterprise networking arena.
5 -> ATI Launches Graphics Xpression Accelerator 05/23/94 ATI Technologies has introduced the Graphics Xpression 64-bit graphics accelerator card for PCs running DOS or Microsoft Windows.
6 -> Airline Schedules Come Pre-loaded On IBM Thinkpads 05/23/94 The Official Airline Guide (OAG) has announced that its Flightdisk Worldwide Edition, a database that includes airline schedules for more than 650,000 direct and connecting flight schedules, will be available on a pre-installed basis for IBM Thinkpad notebook computers from this month onwards.
7 -> Author Becomes Entrepreneur 05/23/94 Those waiting for the next masterpiece like "Chaos" from author James Gleick may have some time to wait. Newsbytes has learned that he's now working full time managing The Pipeline, an Internet service provider in New York.
8 -> Dell, Aurora Electronics Announce PC Trade-in Program 05/23/94 Dell Computer Corporation and Aurora Electronics have introduced a plan to offers to solution for what to do with your old PCs when you replace them.
9 -> Adobe Dimensions 2.0 For Both Power Mac & Mac Versions 05/23/94 Adobe Systems, known for its page description language Postscript, has announced Dimensions 2.0 for the Power Macintosh.
10 -> Maxis Enters Home Productivity Market With Print Artist 05/23/94 Maxis, best known for its simulation games, is entering the productivity software market with its first title, Print Artist. According to the company, Print Artist is targeted at homes and schools and allows the creation of greeting cards, signs, banners envelopes, and stationery.
11 -> Autodesk Gets $100,000 In Alleged Piracy Case Settlement 05/23/94 Autodesk has announced a successful conclusion to its copyright infringement case against Cadisys Corporation and its president, Simon Chan.
12 -> SynOptics Ships 10 Millionth Intelligent Hub Node 05/23/94 SynOptics Communications has proven its strength in the market for intelligent network hubs, by becoming the first vendor to ship 10 million network connections, Newsbytes has learned. The milestone was achieved earlier this month when SynOptics shipped a Lattis System 5000 intelligent hub to Bally, the Swiss based international shoe manufacturer.
13 -> Comdex - First Report From The Show Floor - Any News Here? 05/23/94 This is a Spring Comdex with a difference. There's lots of optimism but almost no news.
14 -> Comdex - Seagate Shows Faster Access Standard 05/23/94 Seagate has found an interesting way to press the case for its new AT Attachment, or Fast ATA standard, which offers faster data transfer rates than current IDE drives. Instead of holding a press conference or a party at Comdex Spring, the company invited a select group of reporters out to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where they took quick lessons that put them behind the wheel of stock cars racing at up to 140 miles per hour.
15 -> Chinese Authorities May Execute Software Pirates 05/23/94 When officials in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) decide to do something, they don't fool around.
16 -> Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19 Percent 05/23/94 Compuadd Computer Corporation has announced price reductions on its personal computer products by as much as 19 percent. The cuts affect the direct marketer's entire product line including Pentium-based systems.
17 -> Do-It-Yourself High-Capacity HD Upgrade Kits Available 05/23/94 So you want to upgrade the hard drive in your PC, but can't leave it in the repair shop for a week or more? A Texas company has the solution.
18 -> Canadian Product Launch Update 05/23/94 This regular feature, appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: Apple's new PowerBooks, Compaq's Presario 660, Hewlett-Packard's latest workstations and graphics subsystems, IBM's new ValuePoint and ThinkPad PCs, Lotus' Ami Pro for HP-UX, and Microsoft Project 4.0.
19 -> SofNet Bundles Fax Software, Modem 05/23/94 SofNet says it is now shipping its Faxworks Pro Power Pack, a combination of Faxworks Pro and/or Faxworks Pro LAN (local area network) software and a Hayes JT Fax 14400B Dual fax board.
20 -> ****Comdex - Plantronics Promotes Audio I/O Standard 05/23/94 Plantronics brought a large press gathering in for free CompuSet Modem Headsets at Comdex Spring today, then pushed a different story on them, namely a set of standards it's putting forward for audio input output on PCs.
21 -> Comdex - Shamrock Offers Document Standard 05/23/94 Hardware and software vendors have joined with major users to develop a specification for an enterprise document management architecture.
22 -> Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago in the Fall 05/23/94 In his Windows World keynote, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates offered a promise the baseball Cubs can't match. His Chicago will be playing in the fall. "It will be a lot of fun to challenge that date" he said of estimates the program will ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
23 -> Networking Roundup 05/23/94 This is a regular feature, summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Calculus, Pyramid Technology Corporation Network Equipment Technologies, and ANET Systems.
24 -> Company Results Roundup 05/23/94 This is a regular summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Data Broadcasting Corp., Compuware Corp., LaserMaster Technologies and Sierra On-Line.
25 -> Interleaf Adds SGML Object Management To RDM 05/23/94 Interleaf has added Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) object management support to its Relational Document Manager (RDM) software thanks to a deal with Berger-Levrault/Advanced Information Systems (AIS) in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
26 -> JetForm, Moore Ship Electronic Printshop 05/23/94 JetForm and Moore have begun shipping Image Street Electronic Printshop forms software for Microsoft Windows. The companies said that the software will let users simplify form selection customization, and printing.
27 -> NIST Announces Digital Signature Standard 05/23/94 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has approved a standard for digital signatures that can be used for conducting business, much as handwritten signatures are used today.
28 -> Radius Buys Into Supermac 05/23/94 Two companies with a strong foothold in the Macintosh market, Radius and Supermac, have announced they will merge. Radius will purchase Supermac in the stock swap deal valued at about $80.5 million.
29 -> NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers 05/23/94 These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. These photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board systems in Minneapolis and in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
30 -> New Group Focuses On Cybertrespassing 05/23/94 A group of computer software firms and large software users have launched a new national campaign to boost ethical and responsible uses of computer technology.
(Steve Gold/19940523)
(Steve Gold/19940523)
5/23/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
GTSI Moves On California Governm
Samsung To Make PDAs
Action! For Windows 3.0 Intro'd,
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Macromedia has announced that the new version of its multimedia presentation tool Action! for Windows 3.0 contains new features and a lower price tag. In addition, the company is offering a second CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) version with sound editing capability thrown in.
Aimed at the entry-level multimedia user, Action! adds to its ability to make presentations using text, graphics, animation digital video, and sound new text tools, templates, and an enhanced user interface, according to the company.
Macromedia said Action! now includes an outliner and a spelling checker. The outliner is for planning and organizing key points of the presentation and the spelling checker helps prevent "typos."
Over 300 templates are available in the new version, including graphic design, motion, font/color selections, visual flourishes and synchronization. The template libraries are interchangeable so context created with one template may be transferred to a different template. Automated motion and transition effects are available to the user, including flying bullets and a motion palette.
The company claims it has enhanced the user interface to make it easier to use with commonly used commands accessible in the tool bar and in floating palettes. The right mouse button is also being used as a context sensitive help button providing the options available in the working area of the screen at any particular point.
Action! 3.0 is also compatible with Microsoft Office and uses Microsoft's object linking and embedding (OLE) 2.0 technology. OLE support allows users the ability to work with other programs also supporting OLE, so users can drag-and-drop data between programs edit information in place, and share data between programs.
Action! for Windows 3.0 has been cut nearly $100 from $295 to $199. Upgrades for those with previous versions are $49 until July 31, 1994, and $69 anytime later.
The CD-ROM version will be $295 when it is available in June and it offers 230 megabytes of Clipmedia as well as Wave Tools and musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) editing software. The additional software is from sound company Turtle Beach, and allows users to create or edit their own sound clips and special sound effects. Upgrades to the CD-ROM version for those with previous versions will be $69 until July 31, when the price goes up to $89.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940523/Press Contact: Lynn Stadler Macromedia, tel 415-252-2234, fax 415-626-0554)
r Macromedia, tel 415-252-2234, fax 415-626-0554)
5/24/94
Action! For Windows 3.0 Intro'd, CD-ROM Version
Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19%
Zilog Intros PC 28.8Kbps Modem C
Comdex - Galvin Keynote Pitches
Modatech Offers Sales Suite For
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Pr
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- By John Hastings. Intel has set an extremely ambitious goal to sell over 7 million Pentium CPU (central processing unit) chips before the end of this year. Some estimate the company has sold fewer than one million chips during the past thirteen months.
For Intel to realize its goals in the face of mounting competition chip prices will surely fall. Some industry experts are expecting fire sale prices during the fourth quarter. Smart shoppers are delaying large purchases until the real bargains appear.
Apple is expected to lower the prices on some low end Macintosh computers soon. These are the models that have the greatest effect on used computer prices. Hence, used prices could be forced lower as a result. Color Classics are expected to sell between $600 and $700, but supplies are limited and the impact on the used computer market could be short lived. The Quadra 605 prices may drop by several hundred dollars. This could force used prices down by an equal or slightly greater amount on a more permanent basis.
Most of the software for the Macintosh is currently being converted to take advantage of the phenomenal speed increase available from the new PowerMacs. Some of these conversions are relatively simple matters involving a process known as recompiling. Other applications may have to be essentially rewritten. Over the course of the next year virtually all applications will be available in PowerMac format. IBM compatible users will face a similar transition next year when the next version of Windows is released.
Because Windows 4.0 will be a 32-bit operating system and Windows 3.1 is a 16-bit operating system, most of the Windows applications will need conversion effort ranging from minor to major. Unfortunately, Windows users will not see the same speed improvement as will the Macintosh users. However Microsoft does plan to put a completely new and different user interface on the new version of Windows. The new interface may be optional to eliminate retraining for those familiar with the current version. The new interface is said to be easier for first time users to learn.
Apple is trying to capitalize on the video capabilities built into many of its new models. It is expected to announce a device which will allow television programs to be displayed on the computer screen. While this is not the first device to accomplish that, it may be the first to sell for less than $100.
Computer sales to large corporations have fallen flat lately due to saturation. Meanwhile, small business sales have grown dramatically. Graphical interfaces have allowed more small businesses to computerize with less effort and training. In addition, lower prices have made computers more affordable. Small businesses today account for more than half of all computer sales.
Average Average
Buyer's Seller's
Machine Bid Ask Close Change
IBM PS/2 Model 30/286 20MB $250 $450 $300 +25
IBM PS/2 Model 70 60MB 400 700 550 ..
IBM ThinkPad 350 1000 1550 1025 ..
IBM ThinkPad 700 1100 1700 1350 -50
IBM ThinkPad 720 1600 2000 1775 -25
AST 386/20, 80MB 450 850 525 ..
Dell 325SX,60MB 400 800 525 -50
Dell 386/20, 120MB 600 900 675 -25
Gateway 386SX/20, 80MB 400 850 525 ..
Gateway 386/25, 80MB 500 800 650 ..
Gateway 486/33 120MB 900 1300 975 +50
Clone Notebook 286, 40 MB 350 700 400 -25
Clone Notebook 386SX, 40 MB 500 900 750 +25
Clone 386/25 80MB, VGA 450 850 650 ..
Clone 386/33 80MB, VGA 550 950 700 ..
Clone 486/25120MB, VGA 800 1250 950 +50
Compaq SLT/286 20MB 250 500 350 ..
Compaq LTE 286 40MB 300 675 400 -25
Compaq Deskpro 386/20e 100MB 500 800 650 ..
Compaq Contura 320 60MB 500 1000 775 +25
Macintosh Classic 40MB 350 600 400 -25
Macintosh SE/30 40MB 375 800 550 -25
Macintosh II 40MB 350 650 500 -25
Macintosh IIcx 80MB 400 700 550 +50
Macintosh IIci 80MB 700 1000 800 ..
Macintosh IIfx 80MB 800 1400 1050 +50
PowerBook 100 20MB 525 900 650 ..
PowerBook 140 40MB 900 1400 1100 +75
PowerBook 170 40MB 1200 1700 1350 +50
PowerBook 180 80MB 1400 1800 1575 ..
LaserWriter IINT 700 1000 750 -25
Toshiba 1200XE 300 650 550 +25
Toshiba 1900 120M 1000 1700 1175 ..
Toshiba 3200SX 40MB 400 800 550 ..
Toshiba 5200 100MB 850 1250 1025 +25
HP LaserJet II 400 850 750 ..
HP LaserJet IIIP 375 950 575 ..
HP LaserJet III 750 1100 925 +25
HP LaserJet IV 1000 1300 1125 ..
John Hastings is the president of the American Computer Exchange Corporation. The American Computer Exchange matches buyers and sellers of used microcomputer equipment. For more information contact the American Computer Exchange Corporation at (800) 786-0717.
(AMCOEX/19940523)
(800) 786-0717.
(AMCOEX/19940523)
5/24/94
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices
BUSINESS
Adobe Intros Illustrator 5.5 For
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Adobe has announced the latest version of Illustrator, its illustration and single-page design program, is available for both the Macintosh and Power Macintosh platforms. The new version contains the software for both Macintosh platforms as well as a CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) with an interactive how-to presentation.
Since Apple Computer's introduction of the PowerPC-based Power Macintosh, applications that run "native" on the new computer are in short supply. The Power Macintosh will run regular Macintosh applications, but those programs do not get the benefit of the added processing speed of the reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) PowerPC chip. Adobe has placed both the Macintosh and Power Macintosh versions in the same box with Adobe Illustrator 5.5.
Added features of the new version include: text-handling functions such as tabs; a spelling checker; search and replace by font; and the ability to import, edit, and export with a new Portable Document Format (PDF), and some new or expanded filters aimed at high-end, quality publishing.
The Pathfinder filters have been expanded to enable trapping which allows the user to blend the colors better before printing so color boundaries are not obvious. A new Document Info filter lists files in the image, including the needed fonts and images so a last minute check can be made before going to the service bureau for printing. A new Custom-To-Process filter highlights custom or spot colors developed by the user that need to be converted back to process color before going to print.
Adobe is claiming some beta testers gave up their page layout programs because they can now lay out copy and produce small documents as large as eight pages.
The CD-ROM Edition is now a standard component, Adobe added and contains: an interactive presentation on Adobe Illustrator tips and techniques; 220 of Adobe's Type 1 fonts; 100 clip art drawings; and Adobe Collectors Editions I and II. Documentation for both the Adobe Illustrator and Acrobat manuals is also on the CD-ROM as well as technical notes for the file import PDF. Quicktime, the multimedia system extension, is provided on the CD-ROM for use by the interactive presentation.
Adobe Illustrator requires at least a Macintosh computer with a 68020 or greater processor, System 6.0.7 or greater, 4 megabytes (MB) of application random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, and a 13-inch color monitor. A CD-ROM drive is recommended for making use of the information provided on the CD-ROM Edition. Retail price for Adobe Illustrator 5.5 for Macintosh is $595 and the product is available through Adobe resellers, the company said.
Adobe recently announced its intention to combine with page layout software maker, Aldus, known for its Pagemaker product in a merger valued at over $525 million.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Workgroup computing software is designed to work on a network, in order to take advantage of interactive capabilities between users. As a result, software companies often write versions of their products to work with specific networking environments. Now ICL's TeamWARE Division has announced that it will begin shipping groupware products for the "native" Novell NetWare environment during the third quarter.
Newsbytes notes that Novell's NetWare commands about 65 percent of the network operating system (NOS) market. Native versions of NOSes are designed to take advantage of specific functions and capabilities within the environment. As a result users of native versions can usually expect better performance increased speed, and less compatibility problems.
ICL says that the first available NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) products in the TeamOFFICE groupware line will be TeamMail electronic mail and TeamForum electronic conferencing. Other TeamOFFICE modules are planned for later in 1994, along with support for additional NetWare services including MHS, Novell's message transport protocol, and NetWare Directory Services (NDS).
According to Mika Enberg, ICL TeamWARE Division marketing director, "ICL sees NetWare as one of the primary platforms for its TeamOFFICE products. It's all about giving customers greater choice. The further integration of MHS, NDS and additional X.400 support announced May 10 as part of a strategic development agreement (SDA) with Novell, will give our customers a powerful multi platform solution for enterprise wide client-server computing."
ICL and Novell have worked together before. Also, the recently announced SDA calls for Novell to offer ICL's NLM version of TeamOFFICE as a third party product through its own authorized distribution channels in Europe. Plans are also under discussion for US distribution of TeamOFFICE through Novell's US reseller channel.
The company says that TeamOFFICE is an "open," modular office information system, that combines a range of workgroup applications with scalable enterprise-wide groupware services. TeamOFFICE modules include TeamForum, TeamMail, TeamLibrary document management, TeamCalendar group and resource scheduling and TeamFlow workflow routing.
TeamOFFICE runs on multiple server platforms, including NetWare OS/2, Windows NT, SVR4 Unix, and Solaris (set for a third quarter 1994 release). It supports Windows, DOS, Macintosh, OS/2, and ASCII terminal clients.
No-one was available at the company for comment by Newsbytes press time.
(Ian Stokell/19940523/Press Contact: Anne Prine, 714-855-5505 ICL TeamWARE Division)
ne Prine, 714-855-5505 ICL TeamWARE Division)
5/24/94
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of TeamOFFICE
GENERAL
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A,. 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Former Micrografx head George Grayson now heads 7th Level, a multimedia CD-ROM company known for "Tuneland," an interactive cartoon starring Howie Mandel, and TopGun, the authoring system used to produce it. At this show the company accepted three awards for "Tuneland" from New Media magazine, and announced something completely different -- a CD-ROM based on the "Monty Python" TV show.
Also of interest is Grayson's business vision, fueled by his attempt to merge Silicon Valley with Hollywood, begun at Micrografx's chili cook-offs for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
"Silicon Valley will never get entertainment right, outside of games," he said. Disney and Warner Brothers still have all the best animators working for them -- no one in Silicon Valley can do it. The reason to put a studio in LA is to attract that talent."
Among 7th Level's crew now are Dan Kuenster, who was once offered control of Don Bluth's studio, and Steve Martino, an Oscar winner formerly from MetroLight, as well as former music producer Bob Ezrin. "With them, we can compete with the studios. But my competitors out of Silicon Valley don't have that kind of thinking."
An example of Grayson's thinking is his new three-year deal to produce multimedia with Charles Fleischer, the voice of "Roger Rabbit" and a comic known for his bit on numbers called "Moties." Other examples are the TopGun authoring system and Annie, an animation tool. "We'll create our own production standards and technologies that will be so far ahead of what they have, they'll have to come to us. That's our business --- get there first and capitalize."
Grayson is convinced that the PC platform will dominate the information highway. He is developing his best stuff for the 486 this year, and next year will start expecting Pentium-based systems with 16 megabytes of memory for top performance.
He is not impressed with either the 3DO or the Apple, and told a story of how cruel kids can be in enforcing tastes. "I was checking out a software store stocking 'Tuneland' and overheard two kids talking. One bragged that his mother had bought him a Nintendo. The friend immediately replied, 'Well, my mother just got me a 486.'"
Newsbytes asked Grayson where multimedia developers can go to show their wares. "There isn't a good show right now for us," he admitted. "One big challenge now is how to market to this very loosely affiliated mass market," which he figures now totals six million families. "It's horizontal, it's people from all walks of life -- they tend to have more money of course, 35-45 year old parents, and half have small children. They can't be targeted in the normal way....so I spend a lot of time talking to writers. I can reach more people through PR than other ways."
And he gave some other insights into his marketing plan. "What we've done is hire part-timers around the country, with three key salespeople for each region. The part-timers work our primary outlets. Then we do all the merchandising things, send our stars, like Howie Mandel, onto TV shows to talk about us, and we'll do the same thing with Charlie Fleischer. We may get Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones or Michael Pahlin to work with us on 'Python,'" probably around the Fall Comdex.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940524/Press Contact: Karen Hart, for 7th Level, tel 214-394-5115, fax 214-394-5272)
h Level, tel 214-394-5115, fax 214-394-5272)
5/24/94
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On Multimedia
TRENDS
Comdex - NewMedia's Envision Awa
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- One of the major events of this show was the presentation of awards by NewMedia magazine for multimedia. The Envision awards, which started last year, drew 600 entries, and this year drew such stars as M.C. "Weird Al" Yankovic and "Roger Rabbit" voice Charles Fleischer.
Technology being as squirrely as it is, the show was 45 minutes late getting off the ground. Fleischer vamped some comedy, then gratefully introduced an all-star band featuring 7th Level Executive Vice President Scott Page, who formerly played with Pink Floyd, and former members of such bands as Steely Dan and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
As entertainment, the band proved better than the show itself which mainly featured executives, publishers looking uncomfortable in black ties, and canned demos. Real emotion was reserved for winners with socially relevant titles like those on addiction and AIDS prevention.
Perhaps better than the show was the "playground" put together for all the winners outside the Windows World show hall, which opened right after the ceremony and stayed open through the rest of the show.
Best of Show was "Addiction and its Processes" and "Life Moves: The Process of Recovery," from the American Institute of Learning. Other top titles ran all over the map, and here are a sampling of the gold medal winners. Andersen Consulting won for its "McDonald's Service Enhancement Training," while Noal Multimedia won for its "This Old Pump," a training application. Artemis Alliance won a gold for its Skyvision, a manufacturing/technical support product. The Wall Street Journal took a gold for its "The Affluent Investor," while North Communications Inc., won a point-of-sale kiosk award for the "Singapore Post."
"Books That Work" won gold in the advertising category for its "Home Survival Toolkit," while Mackeral Interactive Media took gold for its "Mackeral Stack 2.0." Disc Manufacturing Inc. took gold for its product demo, "DMI Interactive Gallery, and intouch group won for its ad, "The iStation." West End Post Interactive also won a gold for its Electronic Business Card.
In the education area, D.C. Heath took gold for its "Discovering French Interactive and the Open Learning Unit of John Moores University won gold for its CytoVision Laser." Another education winner was the Interactive Media Lab of Dartmouth College for "HIV & AIDS: An Interactive Curriculum."
In the Entertainment Area, Sanctuary Woods won gold for "Sitting on the Farm." Grid Media Ltd. also won for its "Journey to the Source." Among reference works, Microsoft took two Silvers but gold was won by "AARX:Kronolog II" by Human Code.
Consumer Gold winners included: Maris Multimedia for "Red Shift Multimedia Astronomy;" Sierra Online for "Berlitz for Business Japanese; and "Birdsong" from Mackeral Interactive Media. Microsoft also won a gold for the "Microsoft Art Gallery," as did Philips Interactive Media for its "Voyeur." Other gold winners in the same area were "Make My Video: INXS" from Digital Pictures, and "Lenny's MusicToons" from Paramount Interactive.
Among the best end-user designed applications were "The Dynamic Spine" from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine," and "Brothers" from the Brother's Network: National Task Force on AIDS Prevention," as well as the "Arris Imaging System from Chiropractic Consultants Ltd.
On the technical side, gold winners included: "En Passant: Experiences in Interactive Shopping" from Medior Inc; "the 7th Guest" from Trilobyte Inc; "Total Distortion" from Pop Rocket Inc; and "World Tour Golf" from Media Designs.
In addition to merit, some observers contended that the judges also wanted to honor programs that could use the attention. Thus, among those who did not win top honors were some very well-known products, like Microsoft's "Encarta" encyclopedia, and "Tuneland" from 7th Level.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940524/Press Contact: Susan Lake NewMedia Magazine, 415-573-5170)
Lake NewMedia Magazine, 415-573-5170)
5/24/94
Comdex - NewMedia's Envision Awards
GENERAL
Comdex - Open Standards Waiting
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- When last Newsbytes saw the Comdex crowd, they were arguing over patent rights. Things have changed. At this show there were numerous "open" standards begging to be used.
The first few hours held a flurry of such announcements. Folio said it would welcome the creation of application programming interfaces, or APIs, for its Open Views 2.0 technology.
A group code-named Shamrock said it would work toward open interfaces for corporate databases, and Plantronics offered a mini-DIN plug as a replacement for RJ-11 plugs, noting it was better adapted to use with computers and, again, offering it as an open standard.
Microsoft decided not to announce its Chicago operating system, a version of Windows not based on DOS. Bill Gates still hopes to ship it before year-end, but he is obviously not willing to bet on that.
With no big announcement from Microsoft, that took the pressure off other exhibitors, who held off on announcements of their own. IBM talked about some minor add-ons for OS/2, but would have made a bigger deal of them under pressure. Lotus also held off. WordPerfect put on a show using one of the World Congress Center's auditoriums, but there was little news there, either.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940524)
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940524)
5/24/94
Comdex - Open Standards Waiting
GENERAL
Editorial - Any News At Comdex?
Systems Support Expo - Saving Mo
VMark Software Intros Vantage Se
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Shortly after reporting its 21st consecutive quarter of financial growth VMark Software, a producer of "post-relational databases" and object-oriented client-server software, has unveiled Vantage Services, a suite of support, education and consulting services for customers and distributors.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Steve Machnik, VP of marketing attributed the spiraling success of the Framingham, Massachusetts based vendor to the ability of value-added resellers (VARs) to use VMark's uniVerse and HyperStar software for developing "real world" vertical applications.
The applications are designed for areas like manufacturing, health care, finance, libraries, legal, and retail and wholesale distribution Machnik told Newsbytes. Most of VMark's customers are mid-sized organizations with networks based on Unix servers and PC clients the VP added.
VMark's 15,000 customer organizations include Stanford University Electronic Data Systems, BP Oil, the London Underground Anheuser-Busch, and the French National Office of Forestry.
VMark conducts 90 percent of its business through VARs, Machnik emphasized. From first quarter 1993, to first quarter 1994, the ten-year-old company added 83 more resellers to its roster, for a total of 316.
Over the same period, earnings per share increased 53 percent to $0.23 from $0.15 per share in the previous year's first quarter exclusive of a one-time special charge related to VMark's purchase of Constellation Software. Revenues also rose 53 percent exclusive of the one-time charge, to $9,907,000 for first quarter 1994 from $6,458,000 for the same quarter last year.
Machnik told Newsbytes that VMark had been distributing HyperStar, a client-server middleware product originally produced by Constellation, for about a year before acquiring Constellation in January.
The Constellation move marked the second acquisition for VMark in just a few months. In October, 1993 VMark purchased ComputerVision's Prime Information relational database management (RDBMS) software, PI/open and Prime, together with a portion of the business unit that provided support for the Prime Information customer base.
Meanwhile, VMark has evolved its flagship uniVerse product into a "post-relational database" with multi-dimensional viewing capabilities, Machnik said. By incorporating multiple values into a single data field, uniVerse allows users to look at data from a variety of perspectives, he explained.
In addition, unlike competing RDBMSes, which adhere to two dimensional rows and columns, uniVerse permits fields and records of variable lengths, he noted.
"As a result, we are able to connect more users on small systems than RDBMSes can," he maintained. "Oracle, for instance, makes a lot of statements about being able to connect 100 users. Well, 100 users is very easy for us to do. In fact, we have many customers with 1,000 users on a system, and some with 2,000 users."
UniVerse is now able to work with structured query language (SQL) queries, as well as with other data retrieval methods, such as other additional language languages and VMARK's BASIC programming language, he added. "So the benefits of SQL are available to more people than just SQL users."
VMark's HyperStar uses an object-oriented approach, meaning that unlike much client-server software, it is not "hard-wired to anything in particular," according to Machnik.
The HyperStar middleware employs a "very advanced set of object oriented messages" to present requests, commands or results to data structures "in ways that are native to that particular data structure," he explained. To communicate with Oracle, for example, HyperStar uses Oracle SQL.
HyperStar is currently available in versions for Oracle, Sybase Informix, and uniVerse, as well as for PI/open, a Unix-based RDBMS and Prime, a proprietary RDBMS. The versions for Prime and PI/open are generally used when "somebody had Prime to begin with, and now wants to move to Unix," he said. HyperStar can also be easily adapted to almost any other data source, according to Machnik.
The new Vantage Services suite fulfills another expansion opportunity for VMark, he reported. "Our core business with the database and applications is still very good and growing. The opportunities with HyperStar and the client-server market are excellent for our existing core activities. But services present another market in and of themselves," he told Newsbytes.
Last year, VMark added consulting and education elements to its existing product development, sales and support services. The newly announced Vantage Services make these offerings available in a modular format that allows VARs and customers to "choose what they want," Machnik said. The services are available either directly from VMark or through VARs.
Some of the offerings are brand new, such as the ability to enjoy "24-by-7" telephone support, a service provided by VMark's new Vantage Premier Twenty-Four service.
Vantage Services also supplies four additional levels of phone support: Vantage Standard Support, for phone access from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday; Vantage Plus Twelve, for access 12 hours a day, Monday through Friday; Vantage Plus Twenty-Four, for access 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday; and Vantage FlexCare for "five days of 24-hour telephone support, to be used sequentially or individually at any point throughout a single year."
Other VMark support options include Vantage Install, for on-site installation of VMark products by a VMark Technical Support Engineer; and the Vantage Certified Support Engineer Program.
The new Vantage Services program also provides three consulting programs and a pair of education options, according to Machnik. The consulting programs include Application and Data Conversion Services; Conversion Planning Services, which are focused on analyses of platform, network, application and data conversion needs; and Program Management Services.
The Program Management Services include project management and planning; "vendor selection and coordination;" product acquisition; application conversion, testing and validation; and training of support personnel and end users.
Vantage Education Services fall into two categories: classroom courses and "self-paced training." The classroom courses teach a number of VMark database fundamentals, including VMARK BASIC programming, uniVerse communications/networking, HyperStar and systems administration.
The self-paced training encompasses a range of individual and bundled courses on open systems, networks, and databases according to Machnik.
As a provider of support services, VMark claims a competitive edge that stems from the company's long experience in working with supporting multivendor hardware and software platforms, he said. UniVerse, for instance, runs in 20 different hardware and software environments, including RS 6000, HP 9000, and, most recently, Windows NT.
HyperStar also offers a great deal of flexibility, according to Machnik. The client-server middleware can be used with any application development tool that is based on either C, C++, the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) standard, or dynamic data exchange (DDE).
"In terms of moving forward our open systems capabilities, we're spending our time on uniVerse," the vice president noted. "We've been incorporating more PI Open Functionality in uniVerse, so PI customers have a way to get there."
Also for the future, VMark is looking at further ways of expanding its business. "The applications development market is very hot right now. Just about every VAR (value-added reseller) is planning to make a decision as to its development platform in the near future. Companies like Powersoft and Uniface have been very successful," Machnik pointed out.
"Our plan is to get closer to (the application development tool) vendors, and possibly to offer our own application development products, as well," he added. Vmark has already established strategic alliances with both Powersoft and Uniface, Newsbytes was told.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940523/Reader Contact: VMark Software 617-879-3311; Press Contacts: Paula Levis Suita, VMark, 508-879 3311, ext 3311; Jeff Aubin or Ann Hawkins, Brodeur & Partners for VMark, 617-894-0003)
deur & Partners for VMark, 617-894-0003)
5/24/94
VMark Software Intros Vantage Services
GENERAL
!0"Z">"
Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes Fi
Comdex - More On IBM Objects
Identity To Introduce Notebook P
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Newsbytes spoke to George Grayson of 7th Level, at Comdex in Atlanta. One of the subjects discussed was education.
Grayson's next project will be an interactive science disk called "The Universe According to Virgil," based around a character called "Virgil Reality," a mad scientist whose voice will be by Charles Fleischer, who also did Roger Rabbit.
Grayson showed some sketches from the proposal and called it "The world's first interactive pencil test. We're creating the whole feature in outline, and then after compositing we can ink and paint, and anti-alias."
Animation will be in the Warner Brothers style, but what really excites Grayson is the amount of material the disk will cover. "You can click on galaxies and learn about astronomy. You can click on the Earth and learn about geologic time, or explore continental drift." On the Earth "objects also change based on the age -- some are facts, some are jokes. If you're in a period with dinosaurs," one "might stick his head through the glass and roar at you. There's also digital video, and Virgil flies around. There's a biology section, done through a microscope. There's a song called 'I'm an amoeba,' and particle people like the muzon with additional facts."
He continued: "The whole idea is to pique interest, to teach the wonder of the universe. So many people get lost in the details that wonderment is never taught." For instance, "The amount of matter that makes up the Earth, if you eliminate all the space between the particles, will fit in a teaspoon." That sort of thing also fascinates Fleischer, a physics "nut" and stand-up comic whose best-known bit, "Moties," involves the magic of numbers.
Grayson strongly believes that multimedia will change the way we think about education. That vision brought him to 7th Level's major investor, Michael Milken. Grayson turned out other investors and went with Milken money because of that shared vision. But he sees his company as meaning more than money, but as a way to do something meaningful.
Kids are ultimately going to become the engine for change Grayson believes. "My son Nathan has 3 friends with computers, 15 friends who don't" have computers. "When they get together he'll show off his library of software, and they all play together. His friends know what they'd like if they had a PC...but they can't" get it until they have the hardware. "That's the phenomenon that will occur" -- kids getting educational tools the same way they now get Nintendo sets.
Newsbytes asked where all this is going. "What we're going to get to, and few talk about it, is that every school desk will have a docking station, hooked to an intelligent network, and when you carry the computer from class to class the network will give you your restricted files. You'll carry your lessons from place to place and you'll carry it in that box. Think of the benefits administratively -- not to have our education system focused on this is unbelievable."
Newsbytes mentioned the present political divide in education between teachers and researchers on the left and religious conservatives on the right. It seems impossible to break that logjam, we said. "That's why it takes someone to come in...when I retire from 7th Level I'll work on trying to further children's issues. I did that from the birth of my first child. That's what the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is about. Children are our future. To the extent you deal with social problems of children, you solve problems. When you do it with adults, you paper over it -- it's a permanent scar. Children don't have those scars -- let's not let them form."
Why not get into the political battle then? "You have to do it outside the political system. The only way to approach it is the grassroots. Politicians only deal with what they feel is consensus." Until then, Grayson will be happy making money demonstrating where that consensus might be.
PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- In an effort to entice Windows users to use its Family Ties program Individual Software has released a new version of its genealogy software.
Matt Hendrickson, product and marketing manager for Individual Software, told Newsbytes, "Our release of Family Ties for Windows is targeted towards people who want to trace their family lineage back a few generations. We have moved our Family Ties program from DOS-only to the Windows environment and can now offer all the features associated with Windows. This makes it easier for first time users who might find genealogy a bit confusing. We are not trying to attract high-end users who want to trace their family to the Fourteenth century."
According to Individual, the average street price of $19.95 for Family Ties for Windows is half that of its nearest competition. This new program will ship in June of this year and be available in most retail channels.
Hendrickson continued, "Market studies have shown that a lot of our users are in the 50-and-over age group, which tells us that a lot of parents and grandparents use this program to develop a tree to pass down to their children. We have worked to develop Family Ties for Windows as a very user-friendly software. For users that want to graduate to a more complicated and professional program we have built-in a export and import feature which allows users to export all their data into another program."
Family Ties for Windows highlights a Quick Tour for instruction automatic verification, quick review of names, automatic save/back up, cut, copy and paste, name and word search, additional notes area and online help.
The exporting and importing features use the Genealogical Data Communications format (GEDCOM) and the enclosed manual, prepared by Myrna Leferver Smith, offers extensive research information in reading lists, archives, libraries and genealogical centers in the US.
A conflict alert signal notifies users when conflicting information has been entered. Individual claims the new version allows users to include divorces as part of the format. Completed output can be printed in ascending or descending style.
This program requires a 386 or higher processor, Windows 3.1 or higher, two megabytes (MB) of RAM, a Video graphics array (VGA) or higher resolution display, 2MB of hard disk space and a mouse pointing device.
DAYTON, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- AT&T Global Information Solutions has announced the Globalyst line of personal computers which the company describes as "communications-ready."
There are four models in the new PC line, using Intel Corp.'s 486 and Pentium processors and a combination of the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) and Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA) local buses.
AT&T Global Information Solutions -- the former NCR Corp. is applying the marketing tag "communications-ready" to the machines. Those experienced with PCs know there is nothing special about the ability to hook a personal computer to a network, so the availability of pre-installed network interface cards -- Token Ring, Ethernet, or WaveLAN -- and software is hardly revolutionary. What is more unusual is a refinement of the power-management features in the Globalyst models that makes for more effective energy conservation on a network.
Most energy-saving PCs go into a "sleep mode" after a certain period of inactivity. The trouble is that when such a PC is attached to a network, the power-management software interprets routine network traffic as activity and wakes the machine up again, explained Jim Borton, Globalyst brand manager. The Globalyst PCs' power-management software ignores routine network traffic.
AT&T also said it is certifying its products to work with Novell Inc.'s popular NetWare local area network operating system, under a program called NetWare Pledge. While Novell already certifies third-party products with its "Yes, it works with NetWare" label Borton said AT&T is going one step farther by offering a money-back guarantee. If the company cannot resolve a compatibility problem with any product covered by its NetWare Pledge, he told Newsbytes, the customer can return it within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
The Globalyst line includes four models: the Globalyst 510, a small desktop PC with ISA and VESA buses; the larger-chassis Globalyst 515 desktop, also with ISA and VESA; the Globalyst 550 which uses the PCI local bus along with ISA; and the Globalyst 590, which offers a choice of 60 or 66 megahertz (MHz) Pentium processors in a mini-tower cabinet.
A range of processors from the 33MHz 486SX to the 66MHz Pentium are available. The systems can be upgraded later using Intel OverDrive chips. A Flash BIOS (basic input/output) system allows the BIOS to be upgraded as well, AT&T said. Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) expansion slots are optional.
All models are available now, AT&T said. Typical prices, all including diskette drive, keyboard, mouse, MS-DOS operating system and Microsoft Windows, are: $1,040 for a 510 with 33MHz 486SX processor, four megabytes (MB) of memory, and 170MB hard drive; $1,999 for a 515 with a 50MHz 486SX2 chip, 8MB of memory, 170MB hard drive, dual-speed compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, stereo speakers, 16-bit sound card, and a bundle of multimedia software; $2,015 for a 550 with a 66MHz 486DX2 chip, 8MB of memory, and 270MB hard drive; and $3,075 for a Globalyst 590 with 66MHz Pentium, 8MB of memory, 340MB hard drive, 1MB of dual-ported video random-access memory, and 256 kilobytes of write-back cache.
(Grant Buckler/19940524/Press Contact: Sean Glynn, AT&T 513-445-1951; Kate Bochonko, Manning Selvage & Lee for AT&T 212-213-1951; Public Contact: AT&T, 800-637-2600)
951; Public Contact: AT&T, 800-637-2600)
5/24/94
AT&T Intros PCs Communications-Ready
NIST Announces Digital Signature
Poland Intros New Intellectual C
Zilog Intros PC 28.8Kbps Modem C
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Zilog has announced a 33 megahertz (MHz) version of its Z80182 (Z182) modem controller that will transfer data along standard phone lines at the V.Fast speed of 28,800 bits-per-second (bps), yet still works with existing personal computer (PC) communication software.
Aimed at the internal, external, and credit-card sized modem market, the company claims the controller is capable of its V.Fast or V.32 speed without using data compression. Currently popular modems operate at speeds of 2400, 9600, and 14,400 bps without data compression.
The controller integrates the static Zilog Z8S180 microprocessor unit (MPU) core and the Z85230 Enhanced Serial Communications Controller (ESCC) by linking two channels, 24 bits of parallel input/output, and a 16550 MIMIC. These components link for a direct interface connection to a 16-bit Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, also known as an IBM personal computer advanced technology (PC AT) bus.
The components provide 32-bit cyclical redundancy checking (CRC) error checking for wireless communications and emulation of the standard 16550 Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) for transmitting and receiving data on the serial port. It is the 16550 UART emulation that provides the PC Communication software compatibility, but the design also allows a parallel interface with the PC host so the controller can accommodate higher data transfer rates, by-passing the limitations of the UART.
Zilog also said it is offering its customers who have been developing modem products for the company's Z80 and Z180 architecture to upgrade to the Z182. The upgrade is designed to make it easy to migrate to the V.34 with the idea of reducing design time and speeding up time-to-market, according to Scott DuBose, channel manager for the modem line at Zilog.
The biggest disadvantage to the 33MHz version of the Z80182 is that it requires 5.5 volts, which takes it out of the running for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) credit-card sized modems that require low voltage. The 33MHz version is aimed at internal and external modems for desktop computers, the company said. However, a 20MHz 3.3 volt version is available for PCMCIA applications and other applications where low voltage is a requirement because the system has to run off battery power.
The Z182 is available at 33MHz in a 5.5-volt 100-pin QFP/VQFP packages for $14.36 in 10,000 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) quantities. The 3.3-volt version running at 20MHz in 100 pin QFP/VQFP packages is available for $13.83 in 10,000 OEM quantities.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940524/Press Contact: Chris Bradley, Zilog tel 408-370-8246, fax 408-370-8056)
, Zilog tel 408-370-8246, fax 408-370-8056)
5/24/94
Zilog Intros PC 28.8Kbps Modem Controller
TELECOM
Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19%
Zilog Intros PC 28.8Kbps Modem C
IBM Launches First EISA Server
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- IBM has announced a network server aimed at small businesses and workgroup local area networks (LANs), and at the same time made a concession to market realities by using the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) system bus for the first time in one of its servers.
The EISA bus is a rival to IBM's own Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), launched by a group of IBM competitors who disagreed with IBM's 1987 break with the traditional Industry Standard Architecture (ISA -- formerly known as the AT bus). Unlike the MCA bus, the EISA specification accepts expansion cards made for ISA slots.
IBM talked to potential customers in the small business and workgroup LAN market, company spokeswoman Nancy Meyers told Newsbytes, and found that "they're looking for industry standards."
IBM continues to tout MCA as a better option for interconnected networks and those with more sophisticated requirements, and will keep offering it in its higher-priced PC servers, Meyers said.
The IBM PC Server comes in two models, one built around a 66 megahertz (MHz) Intel 486DX2 processor and one using a 60MHz Pentium chip. IBM will offer the machines to resellers without hard drives so they can be customized, or with a 728 megabyte (MB) Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk drive or a one gigabyte (GB) small computer systems interface (SCSI-2) drive.
Both models are equipped with the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus as well as EISA, and come with a SCSI-2 Fast PCI adapter, IBM said.
IBM also upgraded NetFinity, its network hardware management package, adding the ability to manage Microsoft Windows clients and Novell NetWare servers, plus the ability to generate Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) alerts and call pagers automatically. The new release also adds database export and scheduling features.
The new servers are due to ship within three weeks. The base price for the 486DX2 server with 8MB of memory, without a hard disk, is $2,499. With the 728MB disk, that model is $3,099. The Pentium server, with 16MB of memory, is $3,899 without hard disk and $4,999 with a 1GB SCSI-2 drive. These prices do not include monitors, Meyers said.
NetFinity 2.0 is to be available in July. NetFinity Manager including one copy of NetFinity Services, costs $850. NetFinity Services, for individual machines on a network, costs $115 per copy.
(Grant Buckler/19940524/Press Contact: Nancy Meyers, IBM 914-766-1027)
Nancy Meyers, IBM 914-766-1027)
5/24/94
IBM Launches First EISA Server
Europe - Artisoft CorStream Dedi
IBM Launches First EISA Server
MIPS R4400 200MHz Beats Pentium
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- MIPS is touting its 200 megahertz (MHz) reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) based R4400 microprocessor. The company claims it is over three times faster than a 90MHz Intel P54C Pentium microprocessor when running 32-bit Microsoft Windows NT applications.
Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) is manufacturing the chip along with semiconductor partners Integrated Device Technology (IDT) and computer manufacturer NEC.
The 64-bit MIPS processor is manufactured using a more compact 0.35 micron complementary metal-oxide semiconductor process (CMOS) and has a die size of 134 square millimeters with 2.3 million transistors, says the company. The chip operates at the low-power consumption of 3.3-volts and offers 32 kilobytes (KB) of internal cache, with 16KB for instructions and 16KB for data.
MIPS made its claim at the Spring Comdex show in Atlanta Georgia. The company says the Windows NT comparison tests were on real software applications rather than on synthetic benchmarks. In the standard workstation performance measurements the R4400 running at 200MHz measured in the integer test a SPECint92 of 117 and a SPECfp92 of 131 in the floating-point test.
Three versions of the new MIPS chip are available from Toshiba. The R4400PC supports primary cache and is aimed at desktop and high-performance embedded control applications. The R4400SC supports both primary and secondary cache and is designed for workstation and server-class products. The R4400MC provides secondary cache functionality plus multiprocessing support, and is aimed at high-performance computers and network superservers.
First introduced in 1991, the R4000 series had the 150MHz R4400 as its fastest family member until the introduction of the 200MHz version. Toshiba, which has been making MIPS R4000 family chips since 1992, and claims it offers a complete range of RISC systems products, including its Tigershark chip set, introduced in May 1993. The Tigershark chipset converts R4XXX family system interface signals (SYSAD and SYSCMD buses) to a 32-bit local bus compatible with the Intel 486 bus.
The Tigershark can talk to industry-standard buses available on IBM-compatible personal computers (PCs), including the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) or AT bus, the Extended ISA, the Video Electronics Standards Association Local (VL) bus, and the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus standard from Intel aimed at multimedia. The Tigershark chip set also features a built-in cache controller that interfaces to second-level cache memory, Toshiba said.
MIPS said the sampling price of the R4400/200 will be set individually by IDT, NEC, and Toshiba. Toshiba has announced its prices as: $1,600 for the R4400PC-200; $1,950 for the R4400SC 200; and $2,150 for the R4400MC-200. Pricing is based on 10,000 piece quantities.
The Toshiba R4400PC is also available in 179-pin pin grid array (PGA) packages, with the other two versions offered in 447-pin PGA packages. General sampling of the R4400/200 starts in June 1994, with production set to begin in the third quarter of this year.
MIPS also provided a preview of processors to come. The company said its next generation processor as internally code-named the T5, will be announced later this year. The T5 will be binary compatible with software for the R4xxx series processors, but will add performance, MIPS said. MIPS added that it has already delivered complete specifications for the T5 to its customers who were also involved in the early design stages of the chip.
Another processor, aimed at supercomputing and high-performance image processing, code-named the TFP, will be announced this summer.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940524/Press Contact: Jim Lucas, Toshiba America Electronic Components, 408-456-8900; Steve Schick, MIPS Technologies, 415-390-2573; Caroline Phillips, Integrated Device Technology, 408-492-8620; Joany Winkler, NEC Electronics, 415 965-6495)
oany Winkler, NEC Electronics, 415 965-6495)
5/24/94
MIPS R4400 200MHz Beats Pentium Running NT
GENERAL
Electronic & Chip Markets To Gro
Comdex - Monty Python CD-ROM Lau
NCTA - Cross-Industry Cooperatio
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, U.S.A.,1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- As cable television systems-owners cope with the effects of rate rollbacks imposed recently by the Federal Communications Commission, they should look to online services and the computer industry in general for support. Speaking at the opening general session of the National Cable Television Association Cable '94 convention, NCTA Chief Executive Officer and President Decker Anstrom laid out a case for cross-industry cooperation.
"We have to look outside our own industry to build alliances and partnerships with others that share our goals," he said. "We hope to improve the lives of our customers with new programming and new technologies, so we should seek out the computer companies, the newspaper companies, and yes, even the broadcasters -- in a spirit of cooperation."
Anstrom attacked the FCC rollbacks, which must be implemented by July, "as nothing less than a political caning." Yet he added that although court appeals to the FCC were filed, the industry should think positively about the future.
Noting the more than 20,000 in attendance at this year's NCTA Anstrom said that "We are shattering attendance records, so I know you all didn't come here for a funeral. You came here because in spite of the regulatory obstacles, this industry is full of promise. This industry will lead America into a new revolution in telecommunications."
Pausing after applause from the 4,000 general session attendees Anstrom added that, "We put sound and images into the lives of more than 55 million Americans more than seven hours a day. We have the responsibility of making our commitment a powerful one. We've had enough of licking our wounds. it is time for us to get on with our business."
(Russell Shaw/19940523/Press Contact: Rich D'Amato, National Cable Television Association, 202-775-3629
nal Cable Television Association, 202-775-3629
5/24/94
NCTA - Cross-Industry Cooperation Called For
TELECOM
Italian Telecom Firms Merge To C
DB/Expo - IBM Intros Products
NCTA - Prodigy In Cable Deal Wit
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA, 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Prodigy Services Company has announced a venture with Media General Cable offering its services over cable to Media's entire 209,000 subscriber base in affluent Fairfax County, Virginia. Prodigy and Media General executives made the announcement during the National Cable Television Association Cable '94 Convention being held through Wednesday.
Initial testing will take place in the next few months. Prodigy President Ross Glatzer said that the joint venture with Media General is a natural outgrowth of plans first announced six months ago to seek multimedia alliances with cable companies.
Last year at the Western Show (a major cable industry trade show held in December in Anaheim, California) Prodigy announced its intention to be a major partner with the cable television industry.
"It's important to us in our strategic direction to form partnerships with networks and multi-system operators to make products that are more acceptable and valuable to our subscribers," he said. Glatzer added that a prime motivator for the joint venture is the realization that broadband cable is a better transmitter of data than standard phone networks are.
"For Prodigy, the fundamental basis of this (the agreements with cable companies) is that it means we can deliver our service 50 to 100 times faster than our members receive it today over conventional telephone lines," he said. "It also allows us to evolve the service using much more multimedia -- to go to images to sound, and soon, to video. It helps us continually increase the value of our products."
Glatzer was quick to add, however, that ventures between Prodigy and cable are mutually beneficial. "About 30 million households in America have a personal computer, so we simply want to help the cable industry expand their market and bridge to what we think is a pretty appealing customer base," he added.
Scott Junit, executive vice president, products, marketing and development for Prodigy, reiterated Glatzer's perspective. "The cable industry is our absolute future," he said. "Because cable distribution makes our product so much more usable, if we could today, switch all of our over-the-telephone customers to cable we would do it." Plus, for cable networks, we increase viewership because we provide interactive, relationship marketing," he added.
At the convention, Prodigy's Kurnit also said the service would expand its marketing effort to start proprietary discussion groups and bulletin boards for high-technology associations.
(Russell Shaw/19940523/Press Contacts: Debra Borchert, Prodigy 914-448-8305/Michael Harris, Media General Cable, 703-378-3922)
ichael Harris, Media General Cable, 703-378-3922)
5/24/94
NCTA - Prodigy In Cable Deal With Media General
TELECOM
Interleaf Adds SGML Object Manag
Radius Buys Into Supermac
NCTA - Prodigy In Cable Deal Wit
Systems Support Expo - Fujitsu's
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- At Systems Support Expo, Fujitsu Networks Industry unveiled DeskTop Conferencing for Support (DTC-Support), a Windows-based system that lets a technical support specialist share a user's applications use pen and pointer tools to mark up the user's screen, and call in additional experts as "consultants" in an online support session.
In an interview on the show floor, Jim Zimmerman, director of marketing for the Stamford, CT-based company, told Newsbytes that the new system adds an alternative interface, specifically designed for tech support, to Fujitsu's Novell LAN (local area network)-based DTC.
DTC-Support stands out from competing tech support systems by allowing technicians and users to share screens, Zimmerman said. The client-server software also includes a remote control option he added.
When a "flipchart" is invoked, a technician ("expert") and user ("client") can each access pens and pointers to take notes brainstorm ideas, or give instructions, on either blank white pages or captured application screens.
The screen sharing capability lets the technician see how a user is working with an application, and determine what the user might be "doing wrong," according to Zimmerman.
Alternatively, the user can watch the technician work with the application, and then model the technician's actions while the technician looks on. If the user starts to run into trouble, the technician can take control of the user's mouse and keyboard. Technicians can also share their own screens, if desired.
A user will typically learn more from actively working with an application than from passively observing an expert, Zimmerman noted.
In a demo, the marketing director showed Newsbytes how the user double-clicks on an icon to set up a support conference. The "expert" then joins the conference by clicking on the client's name in a list of conferences displayed on the screen.
Once begun, the remainder of the support conference session is conducted from the expert's machine. This eliminates the need to train multiple users in an organization in how to use DTC-Support Zimmerman maintained.
The technician can call in up to seven outside experts at a time for extra assistance in an online help session. These individuals might be other technicians or "power users" with special expertise in a particular application or technique, Newsbytes was told.
Each expert or client in a session can be assigned a specific color for use in annotating pages in the flipchart. Flipchart pages can be saved for future reference.
A built-in file transfer tool allows experts to distribute software updates or fixes by sending files to the client, and to transfer files from the client's machine for review purposes.
Experts can also send or receive the contents of the local or remote Windows Clipboard. The recipient can then copy/paste the contents into applications, according to Zimmerman.
Another capability, the "flipchart organizer," permits the expert to create, manage, and store flipchart pages in a "visual database."
DTC-Support experts are also provided with a messaging feature that lets them exchange text messages of up to 240 characters with any or all other experts in a conference.
Fujitsu DTC-Support is shipping now. A single client version is priced at $99 per user. Expert versions are priced at $299 for a single edition, $2,490 for a ten-pack, and $17,900 for a 100-pack.
The client version requires Windows 3.0 or higher. The expert version requires Windows 3.1. Novell NetWare 2.2, 2.11 or 4.0 and IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) are also required. The product works with any network topology. A bridge or router with at least 56 kilobits-per-second (kbps) bandwidth is recommended for wide area interconnects.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940523/Reader Contact: Fujitsu Networks Industry, 203-326-2723; Press Contacts: Leahanne Hobson or Narina Sippy, Copithorne & Bellows Public Relations for Fujitsu, 617-252 0606)
ws Public Relations for Fujitsu, 617-252 0606)
5/24/94
Systems Support Expo - Fujitsu's DTC-Support
Japan Plans Asia's Information S
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- The Japanese Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications has unveiled a plan to set up an information superhighway in Asia. To begin with, the Japanese government plans to create a steering committee, or an institute to push the project.
The ministry will propose the plan at the Asia Pacific Telecommunications meeting in Thailand this week. First, the agency wants to hold talks on the standardization of telecommunications systems in the region.
According to a ministry report, there are no institutes to study the standardization of telecommunication systems in some Asian countries. Also, telecommunication systems are different from the country to country. In addition, some countries are behind others in the development of such systems.
Meanwhile, the ministry is also planning to support experiments on optical fiber data transmission in Japan in September. The experiments are planned by major Japanese telecommunications and computer firms, including NTT, IBM Japan, KDD, Fujitsu Hitachi, Japan Digital Equipment, Japan Sun Microsystems, and Cray Japan.
Under the plan, they will use optical fiber with a maximum data transmission speed of 156 megabytes per second. The experiments will include videoconferencing and remote medical diagnosis between Tokyo and Osaka.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940524/Press Contact: Japanese Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, Press Bureau tel 81-3-3504-4161, fax 81-3-3504-0265)
ureau tel 81-3-3504-4161, fax 81-3-3504-0265)
5/24/94
Japan Plans Asia's Information Superhighway
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL F
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Japan's Casio Computer has signed an agreement with Finland-based telecom firm Nokia that calls for Casio to help maintain Nokia's mobile phones in Japan. Meanwhile, Tokyo-based Ricoh has signed a deal with Light Work Design (LDL) involving the joint development of software interfaces.
The agreement between Casio Computer and Nokia covers the maintenance service of Nokia's mobile phones in Japan. Casio will provide such a service through its 28 service centers in Japan. Currently, Nokia has an agreement with Mitsui Bussan Trading involving the sale of digital mobile phones in the country.
Both Nokia and Mitsui Bussan are jointly providing the maintenance service through their joint venture firm, Nokia Mobile Phone Japan. Casio's maintenance service could provide strong support for Nokia in the sale of mobile phones in Japan.
Casio has the Personal Handy Phone System technology as well as a variety of electronics equipment. It also has the powerful maintenance network in Japan.
Meanwhile, Ricoh has signed an agreement with Light Work Design of the United Kingdom. Under the deal, both firms will develop the software interface for Ricoh's CAD (computer-aided design) software, called the Design Base, and Light Work's graphics program, called Light Works.
Ricoh has already licensed Design Base software to over 70 firms in Japan, while Light Works has licensed Light Works to over 35 firms in the UK.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940524/Press Contact: Casio Computer, tel 81-3-3347-4830, fax 81-3-3347-4669, Ricoh tel 81-3-5411-4704, fax 81-3-3403-1578)
icoh tel 81-3-5411-4704, fax 81-3-3403-1578)
5/24/94
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL Forge Links
BUSINESS
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
UK Distributor Swallows Up Frenc
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Azlan, the networking distributor, has acquired a 99.97 percent stake in Research and Development (R and D), a French computer distributor.
According to David Randall, Azlan's managing director, the deal involves an initial payment of FF5.5 million (UKP650,000) followed by a payment of FF500,000 (UKP60,000) payable six months after completion. Further payments are due in the years 1995 to 1998 which could push the price as high as UKP3.4 million, Newsbytes understands.
The final payments will be based on the performance of the company in the four years following the buy-out, a standard procedure in UK business operations, Newsbytes notes.
Commenting on the deal, Randall said: "We see the acquisition of R and D as a stepping stone towards achieving our strategic objective of maximizing market opportunities that exist in Europe for the distribution of our network computing products and services."
This is third acquisition deal by Azlan in recent times. Just over two years ago, Random, R and D's main shareholder (with a 75 percent stake) and a major French computer dealership, went into liquidation causing the distributor some financial worries, which resulted in a pre-tax loss of FF1.3 million for financial year 1991/92. Since then R and D has been operating in the black. In 1992/93, R and D generated a profit of UKP370,000 on a turnover of UKP8.5 million.
(Steve Gold/19940524/Press & Public Contact: Azlan 44-734-894400)
24/Press & Public Contact: Azlan 44-734-894400)
5/24/94
UK Distributor Swallows Up French Counterpart
BUSINESS
JetForm, Moore Ship Electronic P
MIPS R4400 200MHz Beats Pentium
Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims A
UK - Silica's Stores-Within-Stor
SIDCUP, KENT, 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Silica, the computer dealer operation subsidiary of Prodis, has announced plans to open a chain of "stores within stores" in the Debenhams chain of department stories across the UK.
The move follows the successful trial of a mini-store in the Selfridges department store in London. The first new mini-store which has just opened, is located in Debenhams' Oxford Street store in London. Plans call for the mini-stores to be rolled out to a further 18 locations around the UK.
According to Silica, the mini-stores will offer consumer and business PC hardware and peripherals, as well as PC software with a bias towards Microsoft Windows applications. Plans are also in hand to offer training courses through the stores, as well as technical advice for all customers.
Silica has a proven track record in the UK as a discount mail order supplier. According to the company, the Debenhams' mini-stores will maintain this price-competitive edge, with prices on a par with its mail order catalogs.
So what sort of customer is Silica pitching for? A company spokesman told Newsbytes that all types of computer users, ranging from novice through to advanced, will be catered for at the outlets.
(Steve Gold/19940524/Press & Public Contact: Silica Shop 44-81-309-1111)
524/Press & Public Contact: Silica Shop 44-81-309-1111)
5/24/94
UK - Silica's Stores-Within-Stores Computer Outlets
BUSINESS
Compuserve Heads For 2 Million M
MCI, Stentor Join Forces On Conf
UK - Compaq Number One In Comput
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Following figures released in the US that show Compaq as number one seller in unit sales terms in the portable marketplace, Compaq UK is citing Dataquest figures reportedly showing the company assuming the same slot across all PC markets in the UK.
According to Dataquest's 1993 figures, Compaq moved ahead of IBM/Ambra and Apple Computer. Also, in the first quarter of 1994 Compaq cites Dataquest's figures showing that it consolidated its position in the market.
During 1993, Dataquest rated Compaq as having 10.5 percent of the UK PC marketplace, as against 9.8 percent for IBM/Ambra, and 7.2 percent for Apple Computer. Compaq also pulled ahead of Big Blue in the professional PC marketplace, according to Dataquest, which shows Compaq with 12 percent in unit sales terms, as compared to 9.7 percent for IBM/Ambra.
Is this a flash in the pan for Compaq? The company says no, citing Dataquest's European figures, which show Compaq as being responsible for 11.8 percent of the 2.7 million machines shipped in Western Europe in 1993, as compared with 11.0 percent for IBM/Ambra. This compares with Compaq's 10.8 percent market share in 1992, when IBM/Ambra was 12.8 percent.
Jo McNally, Compaq UK managing director and vice president of the company worldwide, said that the figures underline "the dramatic surge that Compaq has been making in recent months," in its bid to achieve a number one slot worldwide within the next few years.
McNally said that the company's UK operation is the first division of the company to achieve this goal.
(Steve Gold/19940524/Press Contact: Dave Currer, A-Plus Group for Compaq Computer UK, 44-753-790700; Public Contact: Compaq UK, 44-81-332-3888)
Public Contact: Compaq UK, 44-81-332-3888)
5/24/94
UK - Compaq Number One In Computer Sales
TRENDS
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of
COMDEX - Singapore Company Relea
Cyrix Asks $750 Million In TI La
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Cyrix Corp. has amended its 1993 lawsuit against Texas Instruments (TI) to ask for damages in the amount of $750 million. TI says the change is a tactic to delay the trial.
The amendment filed this week in Dallas (Texas) County District Court, also asks the court to confirm that Cyrix rightfully terminated its 1991 manufacturing and supply agreement with TI order TI to stop manufacturing Cyrix-designed chips and to return all Cyrix intellectual property.
"As a result of TI's refusal to honor its production and allocation commitments, Cyrix lost hundreds of millions in additional profits that would have been generated by the unfilled demand for its high performance math coprocessors and microprocessors," according to Cyrix General Counsel Russ Fairbanks.
Cyrix says that in 1991, TI agreed to supply Cyrix with math coprocessor chips and microprocessors in exchange for the license to certain Cyrix designs. The company says it granted TI rights to the Cx486SLC and Cx486DLC entry-level microprocessors, the type of chips that are the heart of personal computers (PCs).
Cyrix said it was led to believe that in the original agreement it would receive commercial quantities of math coprocessors in the beginning, and then microprocessors once Cyrix provided the designs.
The suit alleges that TI gave priority to manufacturing Cyrix-designed chips for TI's use, refusing to properly allocate production to Cyrix purchase orders. Cyrix contends that TI never intended to meet its production commitments.
Cyrix terminated the agreement on July 28, 1993, allegedly because TI failed to meet its obligation to supply wafers to Cyrix in exchange for product rights. TI filed a countersuit in Delaware Chancery Court in December, 1993, demanding rights to Cyrix's 486DX and 486SX chips that were not included in the original agreement.
Cyrix says TI has not manufactured any chips for it in over a year. Cyrix currently gets its chips from IBM Microelectronics and from SGS-Thomson.
Texas Instruments spokesperson Terri West told Newsbytes TI believes the amendment to the suit is an attempt to delay its request for a speedy trial. "We are asking them to live up to what they agreed to. We've met all terms and conditions but they are refusing to," said West.
A trial date hearing is scheduled June 3, 1994. TI has requested a July 18th trial date. "We're ready to go to court. It sounds like they are trying to delay," West told Newsbytes.
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Texas Instruments (TI) has unveiled an inkjet color printer it expects will sell for less than $400.
The company calls its new microMarc "two printers in one," since the color and monochrome print heads that come with the unit are interchangeable. Users can reduce operating cost by using the less expensive monochrome head except when they need to print in color.
TI will shortly announce a driver for the microMarc called colorMarc Color Magic. No details were available about the driver, but TI spokesperson Julie Boutwell said it will be a "user-friendly easy-to-install driver that will make color printing much easier."
The new printer will print one to two pages per minute in color and three to four pages per minute in the monochrome mode, depending on the complexity of the print job. The system comes with a 120-sheet auto sheet feeder that can handle letter and legal size paper. Courier, Letter Gothic, Times, Nordic, BF Times and Linea fonts are built in. It also supports Truetype fonts. The suggested retail price is $439. Boutwell told Newsbytes the unit is expected to have a street price of about $399.
In other TI news, the company says it has signed a license agreement to integrate Macrovision Corporation's patented video copy protection technology into its line of dedicated video compression integrated circuits. According to TI the technology allows digital video system makers to protect against unauthorized duplication of program material from Hollywood studios by implementing Macrovision's anti-copy technology.
According to Ron Slaymaker, manager of TI's Digital Compression Products Group, the transition from analog VHS tapes to digital video products has created a new requirement for anti-copy technology. "By putting Macrovision's technology into silicon with minimal incremental cost and producing it in high volume, we make it easy for cable set-top box manufacturers and other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to take advantage of this standard allowing them to respond to Hollywood's need to protect programming against unauthorized copying.
(Jim Mallory/19940524/Press Contact: Jerry Rycaj, (color printers), Texas Instruments, 817-774-6110; General Info: Terri West, Texas Instruments, 214-995-3481)
o: Terri West, Texas Instruments, 214-995-3481)
5/24/94
TI Intros Color Inkjet Printer For Under $400
TRENDS
Editorial - Clipper And The Mark
kjet Printer F
IBM Extends RS/6000 Offerings
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- IBM has announced a wide range of new reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) computers, including additions to its line of systems built on the PowerPC microprocessor developed in cooperation with Apple Computer Inc., and Motorola Corp.
IBM also added new models using its Power2 microprocessor, a RISC architecture related to PowerPC. The company beefed up the graphics capabilities of its RISC System/6000 workstation and claimed to have taken the performance lead in several areas.
The company claimed its announcements include the industry's most powerful uniprocessor desktop and deskside servers and PowerPC-based systems with industry-leading two-dimensional (2-D) graphics performance plus three-dimensional (3-D) capabilities.
In a New York press conference, William J. Filip, vice-president and general manager of IBM's RISC System/6000 division, said the announcements were aimed at "leveraging our technology in three different categories:" extending the PowerPC line; expanding the Power2 line; and adding to graphics capabilities.
The announcements include seven servers. One, the Model C10, uses a PowerPC 601 processor running at 80 megahertz (MHz). Three servers are based on Power2 technology. IBM said the Power2-based Model 59H is the highest-performing uniprocessor desk-side server on the market now. The Model 380 and 390 servers are also Power2-based. The R10, R20, and R24 are rack-mountable servers.
IBM said it plans to ship the C10 server in early June at a list price of $12,800, or $15,800 with one megabyte (MB) cache. The Model 380 is to ship in early June at $24,200. The Model 390 will be available in early June for $28,200, and in August a choice of 5MB or 1MB cache will be available. The Model 59H server is due in early June starting at $74,450. The rack-mount servers will range from $41,100 to $98,100, with the R10 and R20 models shipping in June and the R24 in mid-July.
New graphics workstations based on PowerPC chips include the RS/6000 41T and the RS/6000 41W. The 41W is essentially the same machine as the 41T but sold without a monitor, officials said.
The RS/6000 Model 3AT and 3BT workstations use Power2 microprocessors, and IBM claimed they deliver impressive technical computing performance, with the 3BT scoring 205.3 on the Standard Performance Evaluation Council's SPECfp92 benchmark.
The 41T workstation has a list price of $12,100, or $13,600 with 5MB cache. The 41W is $10,895, or $12,395 with .5MB cache. The basic models are due to ship in early June and those with the cache later in the month. The 3AT workstation lists for $24,795 or $30,300 with .5MB cache, and the 3BT for $28,300, or $32,300 with cache. The non-cache models are due in early June and the cache models in early August.
For owners of existing workstations there are new graphics accelerators to boost performance.
Filip said demand for PowerPC systems have been strong, to the point where IBM has had trouble keeping up with orders. By the end of the second quarter, he said, the company hopes to be able to fill orders within two weeks.
IBM also launched new versions of its Database 2 relational database management system for the OS/2 and AIX/6000 operating systems and for Hewlett-Packard Co. and Sun Microsystems Inc. workstations, plus DB2 Parallel Edition for AIX, a version of the database software meant to exploit IBM's parallel-processing hardware.
The company announced VisualGen, a client/server rapid application development (RAD) tool for OS/2, as well as the IBM Visualizer family of data presentation software and a family of data replication software.
And the company's Storage Systems Division in San Jose, Calif. announced two new storage products and two new connecting devices, and enhanced other products.
IBM Storage Systems unveiled two small computer systems interface (SCSI) controllers: the SCSI-2 Fast/Wide Adapter/A and the SCSI/2 Differential Fast/Wide Adapter/A.
The new storage products are the IBM 7134 High Density SCSI Disk Subsystem, providing from four to 28 gigabytes (GB) of storage and the 7204 External Disk Drive Model 315, a 2GB drive for the RS/6000.
IBM enhanced its 7135 RAIDiant Array Models 010 and 110, 3514 High Availability Disk Array Models 212 and 213, 3494 Tape Library Dataserver, and 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem Enhanced Capability Models to work with the new SCSI controllers. Also the division announced a new 5.25-inch optical disk drive with 600MB capacity for its 9334 SCSI Expansion Unit.
(Grant Buckler/19940524/Press Contact: Steven Malkiewicz, IBM 914-642-5449; Gregory Golden, IBM, 914-642-5463; Rick Bause IBM, 914-766-1750; Terrie Phoenix, IBM, 914-766-1165; Carol Keslar, IBM Storage Systems, 408-256-9451)
Storage Systems, 408-256-9451)
5/24/94
IBM Extends RS/6000 Offerings
Microsoft/Creative Tech In Sound
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Microsoft originally supported the Creative Labs Sound Blaster products for Windows 3.1, but later said the sound products market was not going the way it wanted and introduced its own sound products. Now Microsoft and Creative have announced a "strategic relationship" to share each other's technology for audio and digital signal processing (DSP) aimed at the IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) market.
In this current agreement, Microsoft will license Sound Blaster 16 technology from Creative Technology, the parent company of the US subsidiary Creative Labs. Creative Technology, in turn, will license Microsoft's Windows Sound System software.
Recent events have put Creative, already the leading audio and multimedia hardware manufacturer, into an even stronger market position. Its largest competitor, Media Vision, is on the ropes fighting for its life battling almost incredible reports of financial mismanagement, an exodus of the company's upper management, and investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Creative has also won several legal fights with smaller competitors over compatibility issues.
Microsoft is openly acknowledging that Creative's Sound Blaster is a compatibility standard in the market. The agreement between the two companies covers DSP technologies aimed at the home and business marketplaces. Microsoft mentioned the implementation of its DSP Resource Manager and Interfaces in Creative products as a consistent method for accessing the resources of a DSP within future Microsoft operating systems. This appears to be a reference to Chicago, the next implementation of the Windows interface, but without DOS underneath.
In addition, the agreement targets the inclusion of Sound Blaster 16 included in future Microsoft products, the inclusion of Windows Sound System 2.0 software in Creative's sound board products, voice recognition, and text-to-speech application programming interfaces (APIs).
(Linda Rohrbough/19940524/Press Contact: Steffanee Foster Creative Labs, 408-428-6600 ext 6430; David Hufford, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, tel 408-986-1140, fax 408-986-1390)
for Microsoft, tel 408-986-1140, fax 408-986-1390)
5/24/94
Microsoft/Creative Tech In Sound Technology Deal
BUSINESS
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
Reuters Announces Two New Media
US-Japan Trade Talks To Resume
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Stalled trade talks between the US and Japan will resume following a compromise over the issue of how to measure progress in opening Japanese markets to American goods such as telecommunications gear, according to officials in Washington and Tokyo.
According to US officials, the deal was wrapped up in a late-night agreement between Bowman Cutter, White House deputy economic adviser, and Japan's deputy foreign minister, Sadayuki Hayashi, in Washington. Negotiations over the meaning of the so-called "framework agreement" of last July broke down in February over the issue of numerical, market-share targets to measure progress.
According to White House officials, who requested anonymity, the compromise involves two elements: Japan will acknowledge that measurable results are needed in areas where the US is attempting to boost sales in Japan; and the US will state in writing that it will not rely solely on numerical targets in judging whether Japan is keeping its trade promises.
The framework talks -- hailed by President Clinton as the start of a new era in US-Japan trade relations -- crashed after an acrimonious meeting between Clinton and then-Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa February 11. The sticking point was the US desire for "objective criteria" for measuring trade gains in four major sectors: telecommunications equipment, automobiles and auto parts, insurance, and medical equipment.
The Japanese charged that Washington was trying to practice managed trade, while Washington said the Japanese were attempting to cure their massive, $131 billion surplus with smoke and mirrors.
The US is "not seeking numerical targets or managed trade," US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor told a news conference in Washington announcing resumption of the talks, but is committed to "objective criteria" on trade.
The trade acrimony threatened to undermine the solid political relationship between Washington and Tokyo and to topple the shaky new government of Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata.
According to White House officials, Hata sent the trade delegation headed by Hayashi to Washington with instructions to get the talks back on track and show results before the July Group of 7 economic summit in Naples, Italy.
Washington has been signaling its intention to soften its hardline stance on Japan for weeks, ever since Kantor met privately with Japanese officials in Morocco during talks about the new World Trade Organization.
The US was also worried about the "pounding" the dollar has been taking against the yen, which was making investors skittish. The discussions between Hayashi and the White House team began last Thursday.
(Kennedy Maize/19940524)
(Kennedy Maize/19940524)
5/24/94
US-Japan Trade Talks To Resume
Electronic & Chip Markets To Gro
Comdex - Monty Python CD-ROM Lau
DEC Names Auer To Head PC Unit
NCTA - FCC Rollbacks Causing Pro
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB)- In the light of rate rollbacks ordered by the FCC, cable systems are pruning their wish list of desired technical upgrades.
According to National Cable Television Association Vice President of science and technology Wendell Bailey, operators have been "performing triage" on their equipment purchases and upgrade goals reducing purchases often at the behest of financial managers at the companies involved.
Bailey made these comments during a press conference at Cable '94, the annual convention of the National Cable Television Association.
"The plain fact of the matter is, that during the years when our business, according to Congress and the FCC, was 'raising rates dramatically,' we had our largest subscriber gains in years. The reason was, we were putting money in programming and technology. What we had cued up here, until the rate rollback was a variety of projects. There was a palpable excitement two years ago in our business," he noted.
"You have these projects on your plate, and someone in a company has come to you, the engineer, and says, 'I'm sorry you can have the first four projects, but you've got twelve, so some of those have got to be put off till the following year.' Yes, that's a damper, not on the willingness to do it, but on the ability to fund projects, because in that mix of project money comes technology as well as program launches as well as other operational issues. You'll see people go on, it's just that they will do some triage on the projects they are going to handle."
Bailey added that in meetings with system-operator attendees, he has sensed this feeling. "If you have a severely constrained amount of project money, I think a lot of people will more finely tune the idea of the projects they would like to accommodate," Bailey said.
He added, though, that smaller cable systems -- widely thought to be the most vulnerable to rollback-engendered cost-cutting have some workable alternatives by which to pursue technical upgrades.
"One of the most positive things that has happened is the idea of "head-ends-in-the-sky," Bailey said of several regional hub arrangements. These are things that are very positive for small operators, because it allows them to trade capital investment in the capability of doing some of these things for what is essentially an investment in transactional fees to accomplish some of the same things."
(Russell Shaw/19940523/PC: Rich D'Amato, NCTA Public Affairs, 202-775-3629
ich D'Amato, NCTA Public Affairs, 202-775-3629
5/24/94
NCTA - FCC Rollbacks Causing Project Pruning
TELECOM
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On
Comdex - Motorola's Pres Defends
Hands On Learning Intros New Tra
Australia - Modem Manoeuvring
NCTA - Online Services/Cable TV
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 -- Two leading engineers in the cable television industry predicted at the National Cable Television Association's Cable '94 convention that more online services will be carried by cable systems in the near future.
"What's in it for the online services? The bottom line is simply speed," said NCTA Vice President of science and technology Wendell Bailey. "Every online service looks like a totally new service, a service that no one has seen before, when you do it at the speeds that bandwidth can give you when compared to telephone dial-up lines. It's really that simple."
Bailey added that carrying online services will be beneficial to cable operators as well. 'Operators I think are interested in (online services) for a couple of reasons," he said. "One is not withstanding the limitations of delivering this service on telephone lines, it (the online services) have got brand identity. People know what it is. So if you can make it look real spiffy -- which bandwidth does -- you've got a brand name product that is really impressive."
Bailey predicted this synergy of advantages will lead to more partnerships similar to the arrangement announced this week that will make Prodigy available to the 230,000 Fairfax County, Virginia subscribers of Media General Cable in the near future.
"I see that cable operators like the idea of an online service with brand identity potentially available to them," Bailey said. "Cable operators don't have to do anything, because in technical terms this is a slice of a very large pie. We are quite conversant in the cable business of putting very large carriers of data on to our plants. There are several equipment suppliers that can do this."
The major remaining technical hurdle, according to Bailey, "is upstream. As we go forward with architectures and upgrades of our plant itself, it will still, for a long time be what we call spin upstream, because the human interface doesn't originate a lot of data -- it elicits a lot of data. We're moving into areas where people want to exchange data files, compressed videos, and then the upstream capacity gets greater. It's gotten potentially easier because we've redeployed fiber to the feeder, and will get easier yet as new technical rules are implemented.
Craig Tanner, vice president of advanced television projects for industry research arm Cable Television Laboratories, added that if online services are piped into homes via cable, the services will profit because traditional telephone lines previously used to deliver online networks to the home will not be tied up by voice communication.
"From personal experience, as an America Online user, I have competition with my wife for the telephone line. She very often comes into the room, sees me sign on and says, 'I've got to make a phone call, when are you going to be off the computer?'" Tanner said.
"Putting an online service on cable frees up the phoneline. I think that is probably to the advantage of the online service provider. Generally, you get so many hours for a flat fee, and then charge so much per hour. The more hours people spend on it, without competing for someone's phone line, the better they'll do and the happier the customer will be."
(Russell Shaw/19940524/PC: Rich D'Amato, National Cable Television Assn., 202-775-3629
D'Amato, National Cable Television Assn., 202-775-3629
5/24/94
NCTA - Online Services/Cable TV A Natural Marriage
TELECOM
Apple, IBM, Sci-Atlanta Seek Int
0 ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- Apple, IBM, and Scientific-Atlanta are still talking about interactive services to home consumers. This time the companies are talking about combining to develop "open, scalable, interoperable, and interactive" television interfaces in an attempt to attract third party application development.
In June of last year, Scientific-Atlanta announced its intention to provide the television set connection in the form of a set-top box to deliver interactive services via cable. The PowerPC, a reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)-based microprocessor developed by a partnership between Motorola, Apple, and IBM, is to power the set-top boxes originally announced for delivery this summer.
Scriptx, the multimedia programming language developed by the IBM/Apple joint venture Kaleida, is still the focal point of the software end of the system. But the interactive television venture may need third-party involvement to make it come alive. Kaleida recently announced it will layoff 20 percent of its staff and attempt to accelerate development on Scriptx, which is behind schedule. The company also said it would narrow its focus, cutting back on development of its Malibu graphics controller and development of an operating system for set-top boxes.
However, Apple has added its Opendoc component software object model and IBM is contributing its SOMobjects/DSOM object model. The implication is that developers can leverage their investment by being able to develop for the new IBM workstation platform and the Power Macintosh, which are also PowerPC-based, as well as for the Scientific-Atlanta set-top boxes
Scientific-Atlanta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James F. McDonald said: "In an open architecture environment, third party providers would be able to develop many new applications for use on home communications terminals, providing consumers a broad choice of information and entertainment options."
The announcement is one of intention. The three companies said they still have yet to reach a definitive business agreement for creation of a combined technical and business team.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940524/Press Contact: Betty Taylor, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-2042, fax 408-974-2885; Kevin Clark, IBM 914-766-4280; Bob Meyers, Scientific-Atlanta, 404-903-4608)
; Bob Meyers, Scientific-Atlanta, 404-903-4608)
5/24/94
Apple, IBM, Sci-Atlanta Seek Interactive Apps
JetForm, Moore Ship Electronic P
MIPS R4400 200MHz Beats Pentium
Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims A
3-D Backgrounds For Windows
Company Brings Internet To Your
Newsbytes Daily Summary
%PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 24 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Action! For Windows 3.0 Intro'd, CD-ROM Version 05/24/94 Macromedia has announced that the new version of its multimedia presentation tool Action! for Windows 3.0 contains new features and a lower price tag. In addition, the company is offering a second CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) version with sound editing capability thrown in.
2 -> AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices 05/24/94 By John Hastings. Intel has set an extremely ambitious goal to sell over 7 million Pentium CPU (central processing unit) chips before the end of this year. Some estimate the company has sold fewer than one million chips during the past thirteen months.
3 -> Adobe Intros Illustrator 5.5 For Mac & Power Mac 05/24/94 Adobe has announced the latest version of Illustrator, its illustration and single-page design program, is available for both the Macintosh and Power Macintosh platforms. The new version contains the software for both Macintosh platforms as well as a CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) with an interactive how-to presentation.
4 -> ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of TeamOFFICE 05/24/94 Workgroup computing software is designed to work on a network, in order to take advantage of interactive capabilities between users. As a result software companies often write versions of their products to work with specific networking environments. Now ICL's TeamWARE Division has announced that it will begin shipping groupware products for the "native" Novell NetWare environment during the third quarter.
5 -> Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On Multimedia 05/24/94 Former Micrografx head George Grayson now heads 7th Level, a multimedia CD-ROM company known for "Tuneland," an interactive cartoon starring Howie Mandel, and TopGun, the authoring system used to produce it. At this show the company accepted three awards for "Tuneland" from New Media magazine, and announced something completely different -- a CD-ROM based on the "Monty Python" TV show.
6 -> Comdex - NewMedia's Envision Awards 05/24/94 One of the major events of this show was the presentation of awards by NewMedia magazine for multimedia. The Envision awards, which started last year, drew 600 entries, and this year drew such stars as M.C. "Weird Al" Yankovic and "Roger Rabbit" voice Charles Fleischer.
7 -> Comdex - "Open" Standards Waiting 05/24/94 When last Newsbytes saw the Comdex crowd, they were arguing over patent rights. Things have changed. At this show there were numerous "open" standards begging to be used.
8 -> VMark Software Intros Vantage Services 05/24/94 Shortly after reporting its 21st consecutive quarter of financial growth, VMark Software, a producer of "post-relational databases" and object-oriented client-server software, has unveiled Vantage Services a suite of support, education and consulting services for customers and distributors.
9 -> Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On Education 05/24/94 Newsbytes spoke to George Grayson of 7th Level, at Comdex in Atlanta. One of the subjects discussed was education.
10 -> Trace Family History With Windows Family Ties 05/24/94 In an effort to entice Windows users to use its Family Ties program Individual Software has released a new version of its genealogy software.
11 -> AT&T Intros PCs "Communications-Ready" 05/24/94 AT&T Global Information Solutions has announced the Globalyst line of personal computers, which the company describes as "communications-ready."
12 -> Zilog Intros PC 28.8Kbps Modem Controller 05/24/94 Zilog has announced a 33 megahertz (MHz) version of its Z80182 (Z182) modem controller that will transfer data along standard phone lines at the V.Fast speed of 28,800 bits-per-second (bps), yet still works with existing personal computer (PC) communication software.
13 -> ****IBM Launches First EISA Server 05/24/94 IBM has announced a network server aimed at small businesses and workgroup local area networks (LANs), and at the same time made a concession to market realities by using the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) system bus for the first time in one of its servers.
14 -> MIPS R4400 200MHz Beats Pentium Running NT 05/24/94 MIPS is touting its 200 megahertz (MHz) reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)- based R4400 microprocessor. The company claims it is over three times faster than a 90MHz Intel P54C Pentium microprocessor when running 32-bit Microsoft Windows NT applications.
15 -> ****NCTA - Cross-Industry Cooperation Called For 05/24/94 As cable television systems-owners cope with the effects of rate rollbacks imposed recently by the Federal Communications Commission they should look to online services and the computer industry in general for support. Speaking at the opening general session of the National Cable Television Association Cable '94 convention, NCTA Chief Executive Officer and President Decker Anstrom laid out a case for cross-industry cooperation.
16 -> NCTA - Prodigy In Cable Deal With Media General 05/24/94 Prodigy Services Company has announced a venture with Media General Cable offering its services over cable to Media's entire 209,000 subscriber base in affluent Fairfax County, Virginia. Prodigy and Media General executives made the announcement during the National Cable Television Association Cable '94 Convention being held through Wednesday.
17 -> Systems Support Expo - Fujitsu's DTC-Support 05/24/94 At Systems Support Expo, Fujitsu Networks Industry unveiled DeskTop Conferencing for Support (DTC-Support), a Windows-based system that lets a technical support specialist share a user's applications, use pen and pointer tools to mark up the user's screen, and call in additional experts as "consultants" in an online support session.
18 -> Japan Plans Asia's Information Superhighway 05/24/94 The Japanese Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications has unveiled a plan to set up an information superhighway in Asia. To begin with, the Japanese government plans to create a steering committee, or an institute, to push the project.
19 -> Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL Forge Links 05/24/94 Japan's Casio Computer has signed an agreement with Finland-based telecom firm Nokia, that calls for Casio to help maintain Nokia's mobile phones in Japan. Meanwhile, Tokyo-based Ricoh has signed a deal with Light Work Design (LDL) involving the joint development of software interfaces.
20 -> UK Distributor Swallows Up French Counterpart 05/24/94 Azlan the networking distributor, has acquired a 99.97 percent stake in Research and Development (R and D), a French computer distributor.
21 -> UK - Silica's "Stores-Within-Stores" Computer Outlets 05/24/94 Silica, the computer dealer operation subsidiary of Prodis, has announced plans to open a chain of "stores within stores" in the Debenhams chain of department stories across the UK.
22 -> UK - Compaq Number One In Computer Sales 05/24/94 Following figures released in the US that show Compaq as number one seller in unit sales terms in the portable marketplace, Compaq UK is citing Dataquest figures reportedly showing the company assuming the same slot across all PC markets in the UK.
23 -> ****Cyrix Asks $750 Million In TI Lawsuit 05/24/94 Cyrix Corp. has amended its 1993 lawsuit against Texas Instruments (TI) to ask for damages in the amount of $750 million. TI says the change is a tactic to delay the trial.
24 -> TI Intros Color Inkjet Printer For Under $400 05/24/94 Texas Instruments (TI) has unveiled an inkjet color printer it expects will sell for less than $400.
25 -> IBM Extends RS/6000 Offerings 05/24/94 IBM has announced a wide range of new reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) computers including additions to its line of systems built on the PowerPC microprocessor developed in cooperation with Apple Computer Inc., and Motorola Corp.
26 -> ****Microsoft/Creative Tech In Sound Technology Deal 05/24/94 Microsoft originally supported the Creative Labs Sound Blaster products for Windows 3.1, but later said the sound products market was not going the way it wanted and introduced its own sound products. Now Microsoft and Creative have announced a "strategic relationship" to share each other's technology for audio and digital signal processing (DSP) aimed at the IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) market.
27 -> ****US-Japan Trade Talks To Resume 05/24/94 Stalled trade talks between the US and Japan will resume following a compromise over the issue of how to measure progress in opening Japanese markets to American goods such as telecommunications gear, according to officials in Washington and Tokyo.
28 -> NCTA - FCC Rollbacks Causing Project Pruning 05/24/94 n the light of rate rollbacks ordered by the FCC, cable systems are pruning their wish list of desired technical upgrades.
29 -> ****NCTA - "Online Services/Cable TV A Natural Marriage" 05/24/94 Two leading engineers in the cable television industry predicted at the National Cable Television Association's Cable '94 convention that more online services will be carried by cable systems in the near future.
30 -> ****Apple, IBM, Sci-Atlanta Seek Interactive Apps 05/24/94 Apple, IBM, and Scientific-Atlanta are still talking about interactive services to home consumers. This time the companies are talking about combining to develop "open, scalable, interoperable, and interactive" television interfaces in an attempt to attract third- party application development.
(Ian Stokell/19940524)
(Ian Stokell/19940524)
5/24/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
GTSI Moves On California Governm
CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Government Technology Service Inc. believes it will win a major share of sales from a new California government computer blanket order that mimics the way the General Services Administration in Washington buys computer products for the federal government.
California's Department of General Services has established a multiple awards schedule with GTSI as one of the providers.
Carter Cromly of GTSI told Newsbytes the California schedule look very much like a combination of GSA Schedules A, for work stations, and B/C, for microcomputers.
GTSI has become the leading supplier to the federal government on both schedules. On the B/C schedule, of $703 million in sales last year, GTSI snagged $115 million, by far the largest share for any vendor. GTSI is the exclusive supplier of Sun Microsystems systems on the schedule A.
The new California program is an alternative to one-by-one competitive purchases. Once a vendor's wares are included on a schedule, a state government buyer can order from the schedule without going through a complex procurement process.
The schedule approach is also an alternative to CalStore, a computer superstore available to state government agencies. CalStore rang up $40-$50 million in sales last year, according to GTSI.
The California schedule provides state-wide delivery and a maximum single order of $250,000.
"We applaud California's commitment to improve efficiencies in the state's procurement process by replicating 'GSA schedule-lie' ordering agreement," said Frank Slovenec, GTSI president. "Clearly, California's decision to establish (the ordering agreement) with GTSI demonstrates the value of a one-stop shop in the state and local marketplace."
According to GTSI's Cromley, there may be a trend in state governments moving to emulate the GSA open schedules. Minnesota has adopted GTSI's Schedule A for Sun systems, he told Newsbytes, as has Ohio, while Kentucky has gone for the B/C schedule.
GTSI says most of the products on its GSA schedules will be available to California government buyers. GTSI provides some 12,000 hardware, software and networking products from more than 160 manufacturers including IBM, DEC, 3-Com, Compaq Hayes, WordPerfect, and Sun.
With its position in the federal market firmly secured, GTSI is going after state and local government markets aggressively. The company had $23 million in sales to state and local agencies in 13 states last year, the company said, a 33 percent increase over 1992.
(Kennedy Maize/Contact: Carter Crowley, 703-502-2035)
Maize/Contact: Carter Crowley, 703-502-2035)
5/25/94
GTSI Moves On California Government Market
Lotus To Buy Notes Development F
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Lotus Development Corporation is planning to purchase Iris Associates, a company founded and headed by the principal developer of Lotus Notes, for $84 million in Lotus common stock.
Lotus has agreed to make the stock payment in exchange for all future royalties on Lotus Notes, a Lotus spokesperson told Newsbytes. Lotus has owned the source code to Notes since 1988, but has been paying royalties to Iris on each copy of Notes sold. The proposed transaction is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Under terms of the deal, Iris will become a wholly owned Lotus subsidiary. Ray Ozzie, Iris' CEO (chief executive officer), and other company founders will stay on with Iris. Iris will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Westford, Massachusetts.
The deal was forged by Jim Manzi, president and CEO of Lotus, Jeff Papows, VP of Lotus' Notes Division, and Ozzie, the spokesperson said. The parties agreed that deciding on a definition of "what is Notes," and determining what royalty payments should or should not be paid, is becoming increasingly difficult in light of Lotus' agreement with AT&T for Network Notes and the emergence of Notes companion products such as PhoneNotes and Lotus Notes: Document Imaging (LN:DI).
The 38-year-old Ozzie worked for Lotus in the early 1980s. Before that, he was a systems programmer for Plato, an early computer network used by university faculty and students for chats, games and exchanging information.
In 1984, Lotus agreed to fund a venture to be headed by Ozzie for the purpose of developing communications software. Lotus maintained an option to purchase the software.
Since Notes became ready to go to market in 1989, Iris has developed three major releases of the groupware product, along with periodic enhancements, in exchange for royalty payments on Notes sales.
As previously reported in Newsbytes, revenue from Notes, cc:Mail and Lotus' communications consulting business together constitutes 25 percent of all Lotus revenues, according to Cliff Conneighton director of marketing.
In announcing the proposed deal with Iris, Lotus officials said that they plan to account for the merger as a "pooling of interests," and that they expect the deal to have an "immaterial" impact on 1994 earnings per share.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940524/Reader contact: 617-577-8500; Press Contact: Richard Eckel, Lotus, 617-693-1284)
ess Contact: Richard Eckel, Lotus, 617-693-1284)
5/25/94
Lotus To Buy Notes Development Firm For $84Mil
BUSINESS
Poland Intros New Intellectual C
WARSAW, POLAND, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- After years of fighting its way through the parliament, the Polish Government has finally enacted its new copyright legislation, which supersedes the 1952 legislation on the subject.
The 1994 Copyright Act, which was passed in January of this year came into force Monday, May 23, and introduces the concept of intellectual copyright, a subject that is almost alien to the music and computer industries in Poland.
As reported previously by Newsbytes, only last Christmas, it was possible to buy pirate music cassettes for as little as $2 each, while major software applications from the likes of Borland (dBase) and WordPerfect's word processors, were available for around the $15 mark for a pirated copy. The manuals, many imported from the Far East, were close to the legitimate product, Newsbytes has observed.
Since January, all that has changed, Newsbytes notes, with the peddlers and hawkers being driven from the streets, not by the Police but from fear of legal reprisals. The new law means that anyone breaking copyright rules faces up to five years in jail, confiscation of their profits, hardware and software, plus a very heavy fine.
Ironically, the legislation is aimed at the purveyors of fake watches jewelry and perfume, which are still being sold openly on the streets from suitcases. The problem has become so vast in recent years that unsuspecting foreigners have been passed off with fakes even in stores.
Announcing the new legislation at a press conference in Warsaw Nick Garnett, director of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), said that the law would raise the income of his member companies to levels they enjoy in the West. "It's a great day for Polish culture and economy," he said.
Garnett said that he estimates as many as 70 percent of music tapes sold in Poland were counterfeit. Despite many press reports Newsbytes can verify that tapes are excellent quality, usually recorded on chrome dioxide tape and with color inlays.
Both the computer and music industries face a problem with the new legislation. While wages have remain relatively static over the last few years, inflation has seen the typical government employee's wages drop from $200 to under $100 a week in real terms. It is a common joke on the streets of Poland that all the "good" Police have either left the force or that their moonlighting operations make them more money than their day job. Many people have accused the Police of taking bribes.
Against this backdrop, with car crime hitting new peaks, the Police are overstretched as it is, so copyright piracy -- which many Poles regard as a perfectly valid method of making money -- is low on their list of priorities. The problem has been laid at the feet of Western companies, many of whom have refused to license their products in Poland until the last few years, forcing people to turn to pirated products to meet their music and computer needs.
Ryszard Kucsunki, the Warsaw district prosecutor, said that it is important that anyone who feels their copyright has been infringed should sue the pirates. This is all very well, Newsbytes notes, but the Polish legal system is still very much in its infancy in the post communist era and overstretched by criminal prosecutions -- civil cases tend to take a back seat. Then there is the issue of who pays the costs of the case.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940524)
osts of the case.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940524)
5/25/94
Poland Intros New Intellectual Copyright Law
European Commission Reviews Jetp
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- The European Commission (EC) has announced a plan to investigate a joint venture arrangement between British Telecom and France Telecom to operate mobile phone services for inflight passengers around Europe.
The problem with the Jetphone system is that, instead of the calls being bounced via satellite, as the newer US systems are proposing digital calls are fed to and from ground base stations, using a high frequency (900 megahertz) transmission system.
The Jetphone operation was to have been created by BT Jersey and France Cables et Radio, two operating subsidiaries of, respectively BT and France Telecom. According to the EC, however, such plans are now on hold, pending a decision by the Commission on whether to investigate the planned project in depth.
According to a statement issued by the EC, the European government says it hopes to let BT and France Telecom know of how the decision has gone within the next two months.
Ironically for BT and France Telecom, the EC investigation will not involve Mercury's In-Flight Phone Europe (IFPE) operation, which plans to use the same technology. The reason is that the Jetphone investigation revolves around a possible abuse of companies having a monopoly or near-monopoly situation in the market. Mercury meanwhile, is not regarded as a major company in the European telecoms market.
Currently, Mercury is undertaking a series of tests for its IFPE phone systems with Lufthansa, the German airline. The IFPE service to be used on the Lufthansa jets uses a similar concept to cellular, with base stations handing calls over to other base stations as the plane travels through Europe. Up to 60 base stations ensure that total coverage is available throughout Europe and nearby areas.
Although details of the Jetphone system have yet to be announced experts suggest that it will be similar to the Mercury IFPE technology. The only reason that Jetphone is being investigated Newsbytes notes, is that it is a cross-border initiative by two major companies.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940524/Press & Public Contact: British Telecom 44-71-356-5000; Mercury Communications, tel 44-71-528-2561 fax 44-71-528-2577)
unications, tel 44-71-528-2561 fax 44-71-528-2577)
5/25/94
European Commission Reviews Jetphone Limitations
Systems Support Expo - AT&T Take
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- In response to a corporate reorganization at AT&T Global Information Solutions (GIS), formerly known as NCR, the company's customer service arm has adopted a "user-centered, team-driven, open systems" approach said William J. Scanlon, assistant VP, Customer Support Services (CSS) Programs & Sales, at a meeting with Newsbytes in Boston.
"We're a new company," Scanlon asserted, speaking with Newsbytes at Systems Support Expo. Last October, five months after taking the company helm, Chief Executive Officer Jerre Stead instituted a "customer-focused business model," the assistant VP explained.
The corporate change has converted CSS into a "flatter, more fleet-footed" organization, while adding a series of strategic agreements with outside vendors, according to Scanlon. A training alliance with Microsoft and Cisco Systems and a warranty service deal with Auspex, both announced at Systems Support Expo, are two examples of these kinds of pacts.
Meanwhile, CSS has eliminated about 200 management jobs since last fall, and employees at all levels have been given greater decision-making power.
"We used to be a hierarchy. At each level of the hierarchy somebody else had a chance to say 'No.' But now, we are empowered to say 'Yes,'" Scanlon told Newsbytes.
The new architecture of the CSS division revolves around small flexible teams of experts in areas like sales, service, accounting large systems, networking, and systems integration, Scanlon said. "The same people who sell you the service are responsible for continuing to meet your needs after the sale is made."
A key player on the new team is the "support service consultant," who coordinates all aspects of post-sales service. Preventing service delays is an important role for these staff members according to Scanlon.
Large corporate accounts are typically assigned a "dedicated" support service consultant, he told Newsbytes. Other support service consultants, who specialize in smaller national and international accounts, typically work with four or five customers at any given time.
A third category of consultant handles regional customers, such as banks and supermarket chains. Taking all three types of accounts into consideration, the ratio of support service consultants to service teams is 1 to 1.5, the assistant VP said.
The new "focus on the customer" also incorporates efforts to make Dayton, Ohio-based AT&T GIS a handy place for "one-stop shopping," according to Scanlon. AT&T's new Systems Environment Support Services, also introduced at Systems Support Expo, will reflect this thrust, he maintained.
Now under development, the package will consist of a range of products and services designed to prevent system "crashes" through "proper" connectivity and power delivery.
Beyond a stronger emphasis on open systems and other customer needs, the customer support division is concentrating on making its offerings "global," as opposed to merely "worldwide," Newsbytes was told.
"We've been operating in 120 countries, but in 110 different ways," Scanlon acknowledged. A new "universal" problem management and dispatching system, with a "problem resolutions database," is expected to be fully in place on a worldwide basis by some time next year.
In the newly unveiled alliance with Microsoft and Cisco, customers of AT&T GIS will be able to receive courses in Windows NT and Cisco Systems in six cities nationwide. Courses will be taught by AT&T instructors who are certified by Microsoft and/or Cisco.
In the Auspex deal, AT&T will provide warranty service to Auspex customers in 16 cities throughout the US. The three-year $1.8 million contract covers labor-only hardware maintenance installations, and hardware upgrades, along with field change orders.
The upcoming Systems Environment Support Services package encompasses: power audits; uninterruptible power supplies (UPS); transient surge suppressors; "special application" power protection premises cabling, design and installation; and networking services.
In the power audits, AT&T will evaluate customers' AC power wiring test for wiring errors, and provide customers with complete reports of their findings, according to Scanlon. Under the networking services AT&T will take a base line or "snapshot" of the customer's network before fine tuning network components and certifying the network.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19930523/Reader Contact: AT&T Global Information Solutions, 513-445-4921; Press Contacts: Gena Jerozal, AT&T Global Information Solutions, 513-445-4921; Christine B. Carlson, United Publications, 207-846-0600)
ine B. Carlson, United Publications, 207-846-0600)
5/25/94
Systems Support Expo - AT&T Takes Customer Focus
GENERAL
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
Reuters Announces Two New Media
Pennsylvania Network Offers Free
HP LaserJet Celebrates 10th Anni
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard opened Comdex in Atlanta with Jason's Run, a 10 kilometer event featuring Evander Holyfield, former world heavyweight boxing champion, as honorary starter. The race was the beginning of a marketing campaign to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the LaserJet laser printer.
In May, 1984, HP unveiled the first member of the LaserJet family of printers. The LaserJet line has now sold more than 12 million units in 23 different models. According to HP, this figure accounts for more than half of all laser printers sold in the industry.
A spokesperson for HP told Newsbytes, "HP will use (the event) in its marketing strategy to continue with different promotions in the coming months, leading to Comdex/Fall in Las Vegas. The opening event, this race, was called Jason's Run and it was in tribute to a local Boys and Girls Club counselor named, Jason Allgood, who died while supervising a canoe trip with disadvantaged Atlanta youths."
Proceeds will go toward building LINK (Leadership in Nature's Kingdom) in the Boys and Girls Club Local Outdoor Education Camp.
Its first LaserJet offered one typeface, Courier, and plain 300 dots-per-inch (dpi) printing. That compares to current LaserJets which offer scores of typefaces, memory and performance enhancements, multi-language and operating-system switching capabilities and power management features which control energy use.
Energy and recycling issues have become mainstream issues with the addition of recyclable cartridges, reduced toner use for draft copies, intelligent off/on switching, and the use of recyclable materials in the construction of new printers.
Advances in network printing technology has also contributed to printer energy efficiency with the use of the Simple Network Management Protocol. HPs latest LaserJets can print as much as 17 pages-per-minute with a 600-dpi resolution.
HP says it is now looking to provide color laser printing to the desktop "at an affordable price." The company predicts a similar path to that taken by the monochrome laser -- what was once seen as an expensive corporate advantage became a "must-have" for every desktop.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- While many analysts contend that the increasingly overcrowded online market is heading for a shakeup, established services continue to add members at a rapid rate. Now Compuserve says it will announce its 2 millionth member in June.
In addition to established and upcoming online services, such as Apple's eWorld and Ziff's new offering, the Internet is reportedly adding members at a grow rate of 15 percent per month. Also Newsbytes recently reported that America Online membership had reached 500,000.
Among other factors, the inclusion of information services software with modems and personal computers (PCs) is assisting this rapid growth. Compuserve has also announced an "expanded" alliance with Hayes involving that company's modems. The deal gives purchasers of Hayes' Accura or Optima modems, or Smartcom communications software, a special Compuserve membership offer. The offer includes one month of unlimited use of the basic services area, a $15 credit toward extended services and a free subscription to Compuserve Magazine.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Jane Torbica, spokesperson for Compuserve said, "This is an extension of our long association with Hayes and we see it as a 'win/win' situation. Hayes has the advantage of offering our service and we are connected to a great family of products."
According to Compuserve, the real benefit of the alliance is the availability of its software, CompuServe Information Manager pre-installed on PCs shipped with Hayes modems, including Compaq, Gateway 2000, NCR/AT&T, Dell, NEC technologies, and Advanced Logic Research.
Compuserve basic services are available at $8.95 for Mac, DOS and Windows users. Services beyond the basic package are charged $4.80 per hour for connection at 1,200 and 2,400 bits-per-second modem and $9.60 per hour for connection at 9.6 or 14,400 bps.
(Patrick McKenna/19940524/Press Contact: Jane Torbica Compuserve, 614-538-3347)
: Jane Torbica Compuserve, 614-538-3347)
5/25/94
Compuserve Heads For 2 Million Members
GENERAL
Systems Support Expo - Saving Mo
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- "It costs a lot of money not to manage a PC," noted Gunar Mallor, in open one of the dozens of technical sessions at Systems Support Expo. Over the next hour, Mallor explained how a new category of products called "software asset management tools" can lessen the financial burden of PC ownership.
Members of the new product group include asset managers, inventory/ audit tools, electronic software distribution systems, and the emerging class of "technical license managers," according to Mallor, who is program manager at Canton, Massachusetts-based Corporate Software.
Generally speaking, the products are most valuable in a networked environment, but many can also be useful with standalone PCs, he said.
If you purchased a PC in 1987, you've probably spent around $37,000 on the machine already, he added, citing statistics from a Gartner Group study. Contrary to public misconception, "capital costs" are not the most expensive aspect of PC ownership, he reported.
Indeed, capital costs account for only 18 percent of PC system costs, according to the study. Operation costs, including "data management," constitute the largest chunk, at 46 percent, with support coming in second at 21 percent. Administration costs consume another 15 percent.
When Windows software only is considered, the cost for support leaps to 48 percent of overall costs. Distribution/installation represents 18 percent, and administration, 13 percent. License fees eat up 11 percent, and upgrade fees another 7 percent. "Selection" costs, on the other hand, can be blamed for only three percent.
Greater complexity, a growing user base, connectivity, a heterogenous environment, and "architectural chaos" are a few factors that are contributing to these cost trends, Mallor added.
Intel-based hardware is still more or less standard at the desktop level, he said. But the single-vendor, "integrated software solutions" that have traditionally been available for large systems have little place on PCs.
On a positive note, the multitude of PC software vendors that are vying for attention leads to a situation where useful new applications and updates hit the market frequently, he advised. The "down side," though, is user confusion and the existence of certain gaps in the marketplace. "The challenge for you," he told the audience, "is to figure out how to bring it all together." The new category of software asset management tools can be helpful in this way, he indicated.
The oldest class of products in this group, inventory/audit tools will tell you what hardware and software is installed, where, and who has it, Mallor said.
A rising class of products, the asset manager, keeps track of cost and contract information, including license types. Also on the rise is electronic software distribution, which is aimed at eliminating the need to "roller-skate around" from one desktop to another when installing new applications and upgrades.
An even newer type of tool, the technical license manager, keeps license usage data, answering questions such as who is licensed to use a software package, when they became licensed, and for how long they will be licensed, according to Mallor.
The software asset management category is most abundant in the IBM-compatible PC market, although some of the products have equivalents in the Macintosh and Unix environments, he said.
By showing organizations what software and hardware are already on hand, this family of tools can eliminate the hefty expense of unnecessary upgrades, he suggested. Although the price of software upgrades is often minimal, productivity losses from time spent in learning how to use the new versions can be substantial, he contended.
Also in the financial arena, the tools are helpful in keeping alert to chargebacks, depreciation, leases, taxes, and payment schedules, he said.
Tech support specialists can use the tools for detailed views of users' configurations, to input moves and changes, and for tracking phone calls and other aspects of problem management.
A wide range of inventory/audit tools is already on the market, or scheduled to ship soon, according to Mallor. These include: Frye's LAN (local area network) Directory; the LanAuditor product from Horizon; Tally's PC/Net Census; Central Point's Lanlord, and Microsoft's Hermes, which is slated for availability at the end of this month.
These tools are a "short-term necessity to address the overall issue," Mallor said. Ultimately, inventory/audit capabilities will become a standard part of the systems management function, he predicted.
Existing asset managers are much scarcer, to the point that they now constitute "a key missing component to an effective strategy," he maintained. Comdisco and Janus Technology, both of which hail from the mainframe world, are two players in this new market. Janus has just released its first PC-based asset manager. Another new arrival on the scene is French-based Apsylog.
Asset managers can be helpful on networks, as well as for users of multiple standalone PCs, he said. An individual user might employ an asset manager to keep track of software and licenses for an office PC, a home computer, and a portable device, for instance.
Existing electronic software distribution tools include: Novell's NetWare Navigator; Novadigm's Enterprise Desktop Manager; Frye's SUDS WAND (Software Update Distribution System Wide Area Network Distribution); Symantec's Norton Administrator for Networks (NAN); Legent's mainframe-based Distribulink; and Brightwork's new Fusion, according to Mallor. Microsoft's Hermes can also be placed in this category, along with some tools from IBM, he said.
Some of the electronic software distribution products follow a "push" model, in which applications and updates are "pushed" to the user from the network. Others adhere to a "pull" model, in which users "pull" the software they want or need. Some products are "push/pull." In addition, some can be configured for scheduled updates at particular times and dates.
Technical license managers, also known as metering tools, include DEC's PLS; Symantec's NAN; Frye's SMART; Brightwork's Site Meter; Gradient's iFor/LS; and Wave Systems' "hardware chip with DES (Data Encryption Standard) encryption."
Mallor referred to the technical license managers as the "key to future licensing paradigms." Eventually, he said, the metering function will be incorporated within base operating systems.
(Jacqueline Emigh/10040523/Reader Contact: United Publications 207-846-0600; Press Contact: Christine B. Carlson, United Publications, 207-846-0600)
istine B. Carlson, United Publications, 207-846-0600)
5/25/94
Systems Support Expo - Saving Money By Managing PCs
TRENDS
New CD-ROM Journeys To The Plane
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- A Seattle company has released a multimedia title on CD-ROM that can take you on a journey to the planets.
Multicom Publishing Inc., has released Journey to the Planets for Apple Computer's Macintosh platform and for MPC (Multimedia PC) compliant IBM-compatible personal computers (PCs). Both versions of the software are on the single CD-ROM disk that comes in the product box.
Multicom Director of Strategic Product Marketing Dennis Tanner told Newsbytes that Journey to the Planets contains over 500 photographs and more than 30 video clips as well as diagrams animations, and three-dimensional (3-D) illustrations to convey information about all nine planets in our solar system including size, structure, surface features and orbital patterns. There is also a glossary of planetary and scientific terms.
Multicom's animation engineers have created computer-generated videos that give the user the feeling of zooming along in a spaceship just above the planet's surface. The effect, called "fly-through" uses planet topographical data collected by NASA spacecraft for realistic effects. For the planets for which there is no highly detailed topographical information, such as Pluto the user's spacecraft flies over the planet at a higher altitude.
According to Tamara Attard, Chairman and CEO (chief executive officer) of Multicom Publishing, Journey to the Planets, "The title lets you shoot from planet to planet, dipping down to skim across the surface and experience the grandeur of Martian craters, the rings of Saturn, or the dramatic mountains and plains of Venus."
Tanner told Newsbytes that the program is suitable for children age 10 and above, and for adults.
On a Macintosh, you need at least a 13-inch color monitor, four megabytes (MB) of available memory, and a CD-ROM drive. The program, which has a suggested retail price of $59.95, has not yet been tested on a Power Macintosh.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB)- The Federal Communications Commission will stand firm on enforcement of its rollback of rates charged by the cable television industry, but the industry should not take the rollbacks as a challenge, not an obstacle. That was the crux of remarks made by FCC Chairman Reed Hundt to attendees at Cable'94, the annual convention of the National Cable Television Association.
"I'm not here to commiserate over your decline or to eulogize at your wake," said Hundt, but "as far as I can tell, this industry is on the verge of a new dawn. It is going to enter new markets and create new markets and achieve new heights of growth. That's what I believe good government policy should encourage."
Hundt then said that the best way for the cable television industry to remain competitive will be both to compete with, and occasionally to work with, other technologies.
"The economy and the consumers should have the benefit of full-scale, head-on competition among all voice, video and data providers, including competition both in content and in conduit. And beyond that, the future can take care of itself," he said.
But Hundt added that with competition, comes opportunity. "I think that cable can, and should, compete to provide local phone services. That's what the cable system in Montgomery county, Maryland where I live, proposes to do, and that's what Time Warner Cable proposes to do in Rochester, New York. And that's the competition all consumers should be able to enjoy as soon as possible," added Hundt.
The opportunities to build the "information highway" should prove enticing to cable operators, he added.
"There is the information highway to be built. If we want that construction project to proceed competitively, then you need to attract the investment necessary to install the switches and the fiber and the servers and the software necessary to transform your coax systems into the broadband interactive networks that will deliver all the imaginable and even the unimaginable applications that the consumers will want," he pointed out.
In conclusion, Hundt added that, "You have the unwelcome burden of accommodating the intrusions of the Cable Act into your ongoing business plans, but you have the strength, creativity and resilience to manage this change successfully. You could say that the cable industry has substantial, real, bankable, prospects for increasing growth and net revenues, multiplying the number of services offered to customers, and seizing the leadership among businesses that will build the information highway."
(Russell Shaw/19940525)
formation highway."
(Russell Shaw/19940525)
5/25/94
NCTA - FCC Chairman Insists On Rollback Rates
TELECOM
Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims A
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Cognos Inc. of Ottawa and Xcellenet of Atlanta have announced an alliance to promote a combination of their products for distributing data to large numbers of computer users.
Sales people from the two firms will work together and recommend each other's products to customers, officials said. They are promoting Cognos' PowerPlay, a multi-dimensional reporting tool for desktop computers, working with RemoteWare Subscriber software for delivering information to remote or mobile computers.
The combination should appeal to any organization with many computer users in remote sites, whether they use fixed desktop PCs or portable computers, said Mindy Aronin, a spokeswoman for Xcellenet. Mobile sales forces and service technicians are likely examples, but the software might also be used to deliver information to customers or suppliers, Aronin told Newsbytes.
The two software packages work together without additional integration, Aronin said.
Cognos describes PowerPlay as "business intelligence software" meant to provide corporate data to managers and executives. It runs on PCs equipped with Microsoft Windows software. A version for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh is expected early next year.
RemoteWare Subscriber lets users at distant locations request view, print, and search information created by application software at a central site, using a list defined and managed by an administrator at that central location.
(Grant Buckler/19940525/Press Contact: Roberta Carlton or Robert Greene, Cognos, 617-229-6600; Mindy Aronin, Xcellenet 404-804-8100)
Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims At Data Distribution
BUSINESS
Bell Atlantic Expands AirBridge
BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Bell Atlantic Mobile said it will roll out its AirBridge wireless data services to more parts of its serving area over the next few months.
The AirBridge Gateway service, which relays calls from cellular modems to landline modems, coping with protocol incompatibilities between the two types of modems, is being extended immediately to Connecticut, Rhode Island, western and southeastern Massachusetts upstate South Carolina, and Charlotte, Gastonia, Hickory, and Rockingham in North Carolina.
The Gateway service was previously available in Philadelphia Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, and all of New Jersey.
Because cellular-modem protocols are different from those of landline modems, Bell Atlantic Karen Ann Kurlander told Newsbytes, calls from one to the other often run into snags.
The Gateway service takes the cellular modem's call, adjusts protocols to suit the landline modem at the other end and relays the call, allowing a cellular modem user to connect to, for instance, an online information service.
This service costs $2.95 per month -- payable only if the service is used at least once during the month -- plus regular cellular air-time charges, Kurlander said.
Bell Atlantic Mobile also plans to extend its AirBridge Packet cellular digital packet data (CDPD) service from Washington Baltimore, and Pittsburgh to all of the company's serving area by the end of 1994. CDPD transmits data in short bursts or packets inserted before and after voice conversations on the cellular network.
These two services, along with the AirBridge Fax and AirBridge Circuit-Switched Solutions services, make up a package of wireless services that Bell Atlantic Mobile launched late in 1993. Kurlander would not say how many subscribers have signed up for the service to date, but did say that "wireless data over-all is the fastest-growing segment of our business."
(Grant Buckler/19940525/Press Contact: Karen Ann Kurlander Bell Atlantic Mobile, 908-306-7552)
n Ann Kurlander Bell Atlantic Mobile, 908-306-7552)
5/25/94
Bell Atlantic Expands AirBridge Wireless Services
TELECOM
Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL F
UK - Mercury Offers Free Mobile
Atlantic Expands AirBridge
Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- The pressure was off IBM after Microsoft decided against pushing its Chicago revision of Windows at this Comdex. But that didn't stop the folks from "Little Blue" from having a little fun at the expense of "Big Green." They printed up some OS/2 t-shirts and bags which read on the back "Chicago: Been There, Done That." OS/2 2.0 was launched at a Comdex in Chicago a few years ago.
To the press, however, IBM was being relatively serious, pushing its company line. Senior Product Manager David Barnes IBM insists that OS/2 has the largest installed base of any 32-bit operating system anywhere. This is based on the idea that it has more 'firepower' than any other operating system and that Windows 3.1 is really a 16-bit system in disguise. IBM said it shipped its five millionth copy of OS/2 on May 18, which it claims is 20 times the volume of Windows NT.
On the announcement front, the main emphasis is that IBM is responding to requests that it simplify the installation process of OS/2. Later this summer it will have a "one button" installation routine for OS/2. There will also be a Server Market Place, or SMP version of the product later this year.
Speaking of later, someone asked, what of OS/2 for PowerPC? That is something Little Blue was anxious to talk about. That version will be "Human Centric," with such things as voice activation, voice to text, and UltiMail built-in.
Voice activation will include controls of many keyboard and mouse commands through the spoken word. Voice to text will be performed through a program called the Personal Dictation System which can translate accurately, after some training, at speeds of up to 70 words per minute. UltiMail will allow multimedia files to be included in electronic-mail through the Internet. It takes advantage of Unix-based features that heretofore have been little known to PC consumers.
At the end of the event John Schaeffer, chief executive officer of a game software company called AIMS, took the stage. He said game players want good looks, challenge, and adventure. He demonstrated a couple of his games under the OS/2 operating system. He added that AIMS has negotiated a deal for the popular game, SimCity, so there will be an OS/2 version of SimCity ready by summer and a multi-player version for OS/2 ready for the Christmas market.
(Dana Blankenhorn & tbass/19940525/Press Contact: Rob Crawley IBM, 512/823-1779)
ontact: Rob Crawley IBM, 512/823-1779)
5/25/94
Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2 Push
Comdex - HSC Ships Kai's Power T
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- HSC Software said it is shipping Version 2.0 of its Kai's Power Tools for Windows, a group of filters and extensions for desktop imaging programs that support the Adobe plug-in architecture, like Adobe Photoshop and Micrografx' Picture Publisher
Newsbytes got a demonstration at the company's booth from Larry Koopet, HSC's director of software development. Two key features of the new program, he said, are its new Gradient Designer and Fractal Explorer.
"Gradient Designer expands Adobe Photoscolor blend. You can now get up to 512 colors in a single blend. You can pick up a color from a picture and match it. The real-time preview window is new, as well as the ability to move your center point on a gradient. PhotoShop's channel operations have also been incorporated in the user interface. This allows you to see how say, multiple gradients would interact together," he said.
He also said that Texture Explorer allows you to create textures like asphalts and foams. It works the same way as Gradient Designer with a preview window that features real-time updates.
He added that Windows version is much better than the same program's Macintosh version. "Some of the things we've done over the Mac version allow you to reproduce and fax consistently, or saturate and de-saturate on-the-fly by holding down on the 'domain' key." Instead of supporting the Pantone color system, used by many catalogs and magazine publishers, however, the product supports Adobe Photoshop's Custom Color tables.
Another interesting feature was explained to Newsbytes. "The big thing in the Texture Explorer is you can run the gradient designer inside it, minimizing it if you want. And they're still tightly coupled," he said.
Newsbytes asked about the company's attitude in making design decisions. "We're of the mindset that if we're not going to do it real-time, we're not going to do it."
HSC has also begun shipping Version 2.0 of its InterActive multimedia development system. The new version has a video editor a waveform editor, a full-featured three-dimensional (3-D) charting package and two CD-ROMs loaded with 1,200 megabytes of royalty free video clips, music and sound effect files, as well as sample images.
The new price point on InterActive is also $295. Hundreds of thousands of people have the earlier version of this program, CEO John Wilczak noted in a press statement, through its being bundled with Sound Blaster audio cards. Those users, and existing retail customers, can upgrade for $89.95.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Christopher B. Galvin, president of Motorola Inc., grandson of its founder, and the son of former President Robert Galvin, was the official keynoter for this Spring Comdex show. While he didn't make any new product announcements, he did provide some insights into his company's corporate culture.
He also provided some insight into what lies behind the company's decisions to back such technologies as the Iridium satellite phone network, the PowerPC chip, and mobile computing systems that, despite abundant hype, some observers contend appear sometimes to be going nowhere in the market.
Counter-intuitive thinking, he said. "Our story is based on it. We were founded based on failure. My grandfather started two businesses, and went out of business by doing what everyone else did. Then he started Motorola with the battery eliminator. The Depression ran him out and he decided on something new. He decided to do a radio for the automobile, and created the auto entertainment radio industry. But the conventional wisdom at the time was radios were unsafe -- you couldn't tune them, drive, and listen to them. We stood against it."
He continued: "When Motorola was founded, many things that came later, like the satellite, transistor, TV and pager, couldn't be seen. They were surprises. Counter-intuitive thinking caused us to adapt and survive. We apply it geographically as well. We went to China committed $100 million to it in 1986. We decided to do something besides joint ventures," and they're succeeding.
"Everyone told us it was too hard to do business in Japan. Everyone said the rules there were unique. We said the Japanese weren't fair that they shouldn't hold their home market as a sanctuary, and we had to cut our eye teeth on their market because they believe in quality.
"We see no end in sight," he continued. "Because people demand more speed. They demand more visual clarity, more portability. They'll want huge amounts of data. People like to communicate and they'll always be a need to upgrade.
"There's always one thing that's gotten us into trouble in our long past. That is when we stayed with the current paradigm too long. When we fell in love with the current platform" Motorola failed with it. "The barrier to change, the greatest risk for all of us, lies in what we call at Motorola 'conventional thinking.' This is true for both our customers and Motorola itself."
He concluded: "We define counter-intuitive thinking as a thoughtful firm way of standing up against the crowd. In this industry, I leave behind the thought that much of the value for us and your companies will be found in searching for the counter-intuitive."
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Motorola President Chris Galvin used his Spring Comdex keynote to push two key computer technologies -- the PowerPC chip and mobile computing.
Helping in the first task was Tommy George, president and general manager of the Motorola semiconductor products sector in Austin, Texas. "I remember when the information superhighway was just a country lane," he began. "Now it's paved with silicon." And the PowerPC will be a key piece in widening that highway he said.
That is because the PowerPC really does represent convergence George said, a single processor family that works in everything from PCs to mobile devices to TV set-top boxes and automobiles. "Users demand common software and one architecture for a single solution," he said, whether the result is computing communications, or entertainment.
George said the company is especially proud of meeting its deadlines, and performance predictions, for the PowerPC chips it has shipped over the last 18 months. "We have 400 technologists from three different companies and corporate cultures" he said noting the contributions of IBM and Apple, yet, "The alliance has delivered on track, on schedule, on their road map so far. This is an industry first.
"Every major operating system will support, and is compatible with, the PowerPC," he continued, "either native or emulation. Emulation is a temporary need, and it's no longer such a dreaded word. Within weeks of the" new 604 chip's "delivery, objections to emulation became a moot point."
One press report indicated systems should be able to match the 60-64 megahertz (MHz) Pentiums, even in emulation mode. Plus "Hundreds of vendors worldwide are developing PowerPC 'native' software. Native ports of 50 Windows NT applications are underway. Apple shipped 50 native applications, with 50 more this summer. The goal of creating an open system environment is being realized. And don't forget the hundreds of applications that haven't been invented because there wasn't the horsepower. Once the people who write software become familiar with the PowerPC they'll create exciting new applications. This will allow interaction with the computer on your terms. The computer will recognize handwritten notes, give you your schedule when asked, and respond to voice commands."
Embedded controllers are another integral part of Motorola's strategy. "Today you find 70 used in the average home, everything from security systems, to video games, to exercise equipment. By the year 2000 that will more than triple, to 226. The typical auto will have 35, at the office we expect 42 will be in various devices. By applying PowerPC to microcontrollers, we enable more solutions with an emphasis on lighter weight and lower power. More function moves from hardware on the board to software on the chip. This will change the embedded application world for the better."
Randy Battat, vice president and general manager of the company's wireless data group, then took the stage to claim that a mass market for wireless "solutions" is just around the corner. Problem is, Motorola was making the same claims a few years ago and it has not happened. Still, he said, the need is there. "There are 48 million workers on the go. Half wander around inside their building. The other half are on the road, and need wide area solutions.
The market for wireless data today is centered on the vertical market," he admitted, "just as the market for pagers were 25 years ago, and cellular phones 10 years ago. We're just on the edge of wireless applications like wireless electronic-mail, so you can go to a store, buy a 'solution,' and make it work. The Holy Grail is the consumer market, where all of us can tap the power of these devices. It seems to take 10 years or so to make the kind of progression, from vertical markets to consumer markets, we want to make. We're now just about to tap these broad-based horizontal business applications."
Battat demonstrated a few, like pagers linked to e-mail systems adding that such capabilities are now being put onto PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cards. He also joked that PCMCIA stands for People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms.
Despite the wireless data industry's slow ramp-up, he also touted packet radio networks like RAM and ARDIS, the cellular digital packet data (CDPD) protocol packet data networks now being slowly built on top of cellular systems, and finally, the Envoy "Personal Wireless Communicator," based on the Magic Cap system from General Magic. He added that versions will come out later based on the Apple Newton and Microsoft WinPad platform as well.
In all these cases, Battat was singing a common refrain from this Comdex, namely, we have an open standard and you should support it. "These networks present a new opportunity in application software," he said.
"Today mobile applications must synchronize data, or reconnect from many points on the network. The next step will be wireless oriented applications, because mobile computing and wireless communications add new considerations to application development. I use multiple devices, and it would be nice is a network knew how to reach me across those devices. Sometimes I'll be in a wireless LAN (local area network), sometimes on CDPD, sometimes on the pager. The software must route the message," and that's an opportunity for others.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- IBM's problem is that it has great technology, but still has not figured out how to deal with the market Comdex represents. A good illustration of that idea was a Newsbytes talk with John Schwarz, division director of the company's Toronto lab.
Schwarz is responsible for what he calls "middleware" -- things like databases and application development tools. "Sometimes we build mail applications, or calendar management tools," he said.
Life's been changing at Toronto. "We're now supporting all platforms. IBM and non-IBM. We're intending to support virtually everything for Windows 32-bit, and NT, once it gets robust enough," as well as Hewlett Packard and Sun's versions of Unix.
In terms of development, Schwarz does have his act together. He is moving from a host-centric to a client-server centric environment, and from procedures to objects. "Everything we do is targeted at client-server and toward objects." An example is the company's new CSet++ compiler, now shipping for OS/2 and AIX soon to be ported to Sun and Windows NT. "It is the premiere vehicle for building C++ applications. Every bit as good as Borland or Microsoft's, but on more platforms. It has all their functions -- browsers, interactive native debuggers."
So where can the public buy it, Newsbytes asked? There's the rub. Suddenly Schwarz went into IBM-speak. "What we haven't delivered is the technology of altering the obligations to meet the requirements of the rapid evolution of the value buyers and sellers require as they change relationships."
He added: "We've authorized distributors like Merisel to sign up any remarketer they can get. We want an army of resellers. The decision to sell is based on the opinions of those managers -- without IBM approval. There's a short certification period. What our job is inside IBM is to build enabling services so these guys can come back to us when they run into trouble."
But what about just shrink-wrapping the product and shipping it to Micro Center or CompUSA? The average home-based business does not buy through resellers. "The issue is do we know how to do it cheaply enough to make it worthwhile. It's one thing to charge $1,000 for a piece of software, another to charge $50 and try to make money, especially since you have more levels of middlemen." This for a product that claims over 100,000 customers.
"Stores are small, with a limited shelf space," Schwarz continued. "It's difficult to persuade them to add a product if it's not a complete suite, which we didn't have until recently. We're now trying to get shelf space. To get that you need a track record -- it's a Catch 22. And the terms have to be flexible, so a store run by different people can get different connections."
IBM can't get shelf space? "We've just organized to met the requirements of mass merchants in January," he insisted. "Volumes show we're doing well."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940525/Press Contact: Terrie Phoenix IBM Software Solutions, 914/766-1165)
Terrie Phoenix IBM Software Solutions, 914/766-1165)
5/25/94
Comdex - IBM Pushes Objects, Admits Channel Problem
Japan - Sumitomo Trading & TCI I
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Sumitomo Trading and Colorado-based Telecommunications Inc. (TCI) have signed an agreement involving cable TV in Japan.
The deal covers the setting up of two joint venture firms in Japan. Both firms have already been cooperating in the cable TV business.
Under the agreement, Sumitomo Trading and TCI will create a joint venture firm, called Multiple System Operator, by the end of this year. This new firm will deal with the management of cable TV firms, such as advertisement fees and cable TV programs. A major role of the firm will be to purchase TV programs.
Sumitomo Trading and TCI are also planning to set up another joint venture firm which will deal with the supply of TV programs purchased by Multiple System Operator. In cooperation with Multiple System Operator, the new firm is expected to play a major role in the cable TV business in Japan.
Sumitomo Trading is a major conglomerate in Japan. The firm has already been participating in the management of over 25 cable TV firms in Japan. As part of the firm's strategy, Sumitomo Trading signed an agreement with TCI in June, 1993. Under that deal, TCI purchased 18 percent of Sumitomo's Cable Software Network.
TCI is also helping in the management and technical aspects of Suginami Cable TV, in which Sumitomo Trading has a major stake. The firms are preparing to begin multimedia broadcasting tests involving such services as "video-on-demand", TV shopping, and video games.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- The Electronics Industry Association (EIA) in Japan says that the electronics and semiconductor chip markets have considerable potential in Asia.
The EIA report says that the production of electronics products is expected to grow by 13.6 percent per year until 1997. Between 1997 and 2000, the increasing rate will be 10.8 percent annually.
Regarding the production of semiconductor chips, it will grow by 20 percent each year until 1997. Between 1997 and 2000, it will drop to 15.7 percent growth annually.
The total shipment amount of electronics products in the Asian market, excluding Japan, in the year 2,000, is expected to be over $202.4 billion. This amount is predicted to be much larger than that of the Japanese or European markets. Regarding the shipment of semiconductor chips, it will be around $34.2 billion -- about the same amount as Japan.
The details of the report will be released on June 2.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940525/Press Contact: The Electronics Industry Association in Japan, tel 81-3-3213-5861 fax 81-3-3213-5863)
pan, tel 81-3-3213-5861 fax 81-3-3213-5863)
5/25/94
Electronic & Chip Markets To Grow In Asia
TRENDS
Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard Hong Kong has appointed specialist manufacturing software developer Integrated Solutions Ltd. (ISL) as a reseller for its HP 9000 Series of business servers.
Working through HP's master reseller, Gateway Computer Resources Integrated Solutions will market its Manufacturing Information System (MIS) software on the HP 9000 platform to local manufacturers.
The collaboration will also allow HP to benefit from Integrated Solutions' close links with PRC manufacturers in penetrating China where the need for computerization is growing rapidly.
"Integrated Solutions has already established a strong customer base of more than 150 sites in Hong Kong and has embarked on an aggressive marketing program aimed at boosting sales of its manufacturing software in Southern China," said Michael Lam channel sales manager of HP Hong Kong. "It was this proven track record and an obvious flair for innovation -- the company's MIS software won the Governor's Award for Industry in 1992 -- which convinced us that Integrated Solutions would be an asset as an HP reseller."
"This is the first time that we have been able to offer our customers a leading-edge, Unix-based platform capable of leveraging the full power of the MIS software," said Dr Ricky Leung, managing director of Integrated Solutions.
According to Dataquest, HP is the number one Unix vendor in the world. "Small companies can use the HP/MIS solution to meet their existing requirements, and bolt on additional processing power as they grow," said Leung. "Importantly, an HP/ISL solution will preserve a customers' investment in existing technology, and it provides more horsepower than the Intel-based platform."
Hong Kong is one of Asia's most successful industrial centers, yet fewer than 10 percent of its manufacturers use information technology. The percentage in China is even lower. "The combination of our modular MIS software and Hewlett-Packard's leading edge HP 9000 platform will help Hong Kong and Chinese manufacturers sharpen their competitive edge," said Leung.
Integrated Solutions' relationship with HP has already borne fruit. The software developer has closed a deal with Mazen Industries Ltd to supply an HP 9000 Series 800 E25 business server together with the MIS software. The system will enable the company to meet its growing information management needs and provides ample capacity for future growth.
Later this month, Integrated Solutions and Gateway will jointly demonstrate for the first time the HP/MIS solution at China's leading computer integrated manufacturing exhibition, CIMTech, which takes place in Guangzhou.
(Keith Cameron/19940525/Press Contact: Karen Wan 852 5997616, HP)
ron/19940525/Press Contact: Karen Wan 852 5997616, HP)
5/25/94
Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated Solutions A Reseller
BUSINESS
MCI, Stentor Join Forces On Conf
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- MCI Communications Inc. and the Stentor consortium of Canada's regional telephone companies have launched a North American Conferencing Service which they said will make it easier to set up videoconferences between the United States and Canada.
Announced at the ICA Expo '94 trade show, the North American Conferencing Service combines MCI's VideoNet and Stentor's VideoForum services. Like those services, the new service provides communications links between customers' videoconferencing studios, said John Houser, a spokesman for MCI.
Previously, Houser told Newsbytes, a customer could not have used either company's service to set up a cross-border videoconference. Now that is possible. In the first phase of the program, beginning right away, customers can call a single number to arrange cross border videoconferences. MCI and Stentor are also providing codec conversion to let equipment from different videoconferencing vendors communicate.
That can be useful not only for cross-border videoconferences but for conferences within the same country where different equipment is involved, Kent Martin of MCI told Newsbytes.
The first phase of the offering also includes gateways to other carrier networks and support of switched 56-kilobit and 64-kilobit integrated services digital network (ISDN) access technologies.
The second phase, which Martin said is planned for the third quarter of this year, will provide single-ended billing. Later the companies plan to offer a combined audio, video, and data platform.
Ottawa-based Stentor and Atlanta-based MCI have an existing alliance that has led to the joint development and marketing of other voice and data communications services.
(Grant Buckler/19940525/Press Contact: Kent Martin, MCI 800-388-3780; Frank Walter, MCI, 212-326-4389; John Houser MCI, 703-506-6092)
2-326-4389; John Houser MCI, 703-506-6092)
5/25/94
MCI, Stentor Join Forces On Conferencing
TELECOM
Modatech Offers Sales Suite For
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Modatech Systems Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, is putting its Maximizer for Windows contact management software together with three other programs in a bundle aimed at sales people. At the Comdex Spring and Windows World trade show, Modatech announced Maximizer Sales Suite for Windows.
The suite combines Maximizer for Windows with Maplinx mapping software from Maplinx Corp. of Plano, Tex., Crystal Reports from Vancouver-based Crystal Services, and FaxWorks facsimile software from SofNet of Atlanta.
Frank Macri, product manager for Maximizer at Modatech, said that while the contact management software appeals to a variety of customers, the suite is meant especially for sales people who want to manage a sales territory and keep in touch with clients. He called it "the first integrated vertical market sales suite that's aimed at the sales professional."
The suite includes an on-screen tool bar that provides access to all four applications.
The Maplinx software can represent information from the Maximizer client database on a map, and can be used to retrieve information. For example, a user could circle a city on the map to bring up a list of clients in that area and show their locations.
Crystal Reports is a report writer that can be used to create custom reports using data from the Maximizer database.
The FaxWorks software works with the Maximizer database also allowing the user to send faxes to any client from within FaxWorks, Maximizer, or any other Windows program, the company said.
Due to be available June 15 in North America, the suite has a list price of $379 (in US or Canadian dollars) and Modatech expects the street price to be around $279. There are no immediate plans to sell the suite outside North America, Macri said, but Modatech may consider doing so if it does well in North America.
(Grant Buckler/19940525/Press Contact: Frank Macri, Modatech 604-736-9666 ext. 168)
nk Macri, Modatech 604-736-9666 ext. 168)
5/25/94
Modatech Offers Sales Suite For Windows
0 Z x
Dell Reduces Derivatives Portfol
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Dell Computer Corp. says it has reduced its interest-rate derivatives portfolio by more than 50 percent. The portfolio now stands at $159 million compared to the previous $355 million.
Derivatives are investments whose value is derived from an underlying security such as stocks, bonds, or currency. Dell took a $15.6 million after-tax charge as a result of derivatives in the first quarter.
Meredith said the $159 million is comprised of $109 million in swaps and $50 million in options. Dell also took a $10.7 million after-tax charge for non-temporary declines in the market value of certain investments due to downward interest-rate changes.
Dell Chief Financial Officer Tom Meredith said that charge was taken for Dell's short-term investment portfolio which includes marketable debt and equities securities which Dell carries at market value.
Meredith said the portfolio has an additional $6 million unrealized loss due to a temporary decline in market value. "We have both the ability and intent to hold the underlying securities to maturity, or until their market value recovers," said Meredith.
Meredith said Dell has set specific levels at which it will close each position in the event interest rates move further downward, in order to limit potential losses.
(Jim Mallory/19940525/Press contact: Roger Rydell, Dell Computer Corporation, 512-728-4100)
Computer Corporation, 512-728-4100)
5/25/94
Dell Reduces Derivatives Portfolio
BUSINESS
Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes Fi
LOUISVILLE, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Storage Technology (Storagetek) officers should go into this year's annual meeting with shareholders today a lot happier than they have in the past two years.
The company has just announced that it has recognized the first revenue from its long awaited, and often delayed, Iceberg disk array data storage system.
Gardena, California-based Kaiser Permanente, a group medical practice prepayment plan that provides medical care and hospital service, installed its first Iceberg system in January and has ordered a second system.
Iceberg is a half-million dollar fault-tolerant multiple disk drive array for mainframe computers that uses up to 256 floppy disks to store data. The same data is stored on several disks in order to protect against critical data loss.
The system was originally expected to ship in the second half of 1992. Since then it has been plagued by software development problems, police officers on hand at one annual meeting to maintain order, and charges that company officers took advantage of inside information about delivery delays to sell their stock at a favorable price.
Ryal Poppa, Storagetek chairman, president and chief executive officer, says there are currently 60 of the household refrigerator sized Iceberg systems in the field and the company has begun committing to shipping dates to its customers.
Poppa says he is pleased with having reached this important milestone, but he is cautiously optimistic about an aggressive production ramp-up. "The speed of this ramp will depend on our ability to manage the inevitable issues that arise with an expanding customer base of new, feature-rich systems."
Storagetek stock rose more than $3 per share to $32 after the news. Company officials are predicting up to $500 million in Iceberg revenue this year. Storagetek stock sold in the mid-seventies after Iceberg was first announced.
The outlook for Iceberg is generally optimistic, bolstered by a favorable review by Kaiser Permanente data managers. "In earlier tests performed with pre-production microcode, we learned that the higher the volume of work the better the performance of Iceberg," says Kaiser Permanente Supervisor of Storage Management Zaven Anbarchian. He said Iceberg's performance is "very impressive" due to the parallelism of the architecture.
Storagetek reported a $77.8 million loss on revenue of $1.4 billion in the fiscal year ending December 31, 1993. The company attributed most of the loss to restructuring.
(Jim Mallory/19940525/Press contact: David Reid, Storage Technology, 303-673-4815)
David Reid, Storage Technology, 303-673-4815)
5/25/94
Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes First Revenues
GENERAL
Gateway 2000 Intros Multimedia K
NORTH SIOUX CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) Gateway 2000 has announced a high-performance multimedia kit that includes speakers, a sound card, and some multimedia software. The company has also extended the standard warranty period for its computer systems to three years.
The multimedia kit comes with Altec Lansing speakers, Ensoniq's Soundscape wavetable sound card, and software to take advantage of the system's sound capabilities. Bundled software titles include Aegis: Guardian of the Fleet, a program that features live-action video, three-dimensional (3-D) cinematic graphics and CD-quality sound effects in a high-tech naval war simulation based on historical military information and accounts of actual battles.
The kit also comes with Sound Explorer, a CD-ROM based collection of Limited Edition versions of Midisoft packages that include MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) music sequencing and notation software, music education software, digital audio recording and editing software, and the Midisoft Music collection of over 40 tunes in MIDI and CD audio formats.
Gateway spokesperson Wendell Watson told Newsbytes that the kits which are only available with the sale of a Gateway system or as a Gateway computer add-on product, includes Microsoft Encarta software.
The Altec Lansing two-speaker system includes a separate, powered sub-woofer with its own 30-watt power supply, an on/off power switch, and dual inputs.
The Ensoniq Soundscape sound card uses digitally recorded samples of over 150 musical instruments to simultaneously produce up to 32 voices of 16-bit sound. It supports Sound Blaster, AdLib, Roland General MIDI, Windows 3.1 and Microsoft Windows Sound System audio standards. Soundscape comes bundled with device drivers that emulate the Yamaha OPL-2 chip to produce FM synthesis quality audio.
Gateway, which decorates its shipping cartons with a Holstein cow black-and-white pattern, has also extended the standard warranty on all its desktop and tower computer systems, CrystalScan monitors and Gateway SVGA monitors to three years.
The warranty covers replacement parts and includes one year of free on-site service and includes point-of-sale installed peripherals such as sound cards, hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and other internal peripherals. Individual products purchased separately from the original system are covered by a one-year parts warranty.
IRVING, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- GTE Telephone Operations says it is ready to begin a 10-year project building a video network that will encompass over seven million homes in 66 of its key markets nationwide. Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard has announced several deals with cable companies for its set-top boxes in preparation for interactive services.
GTE plans to use set-top boxes, but has not said whose box they will use. Construction is beginning now and by 1995, GTE says it will be providing interactive services to four markets: Thousand Oaks, California; St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida; Honolulu Hawaii; and northern Virginia. By the year 2003, GTE is predicting it will be able to services to a total of two million households.
The company said it expects to spend about $2.7 billion each year to upgrade and maintain its national network. In addition, it expects to invest $250 million by the end of 1995 to build its new fiber optic and coaxial cable video network for nearly 550,000 homes in the four initial markets.
Some of the services it has been testing in Cerritos, California since 1988 are already available, such as its cable channel GTE Main Street. Main Street offers 70 interactive services, such as home shopping, games, and education. The other services tested included an expanded pay-per-view movie channel called Center Screen, interactive advertising, interactive games, long-distance learning, the broadband switch, the video microscope, the video phone call, and movies-on-demand.
Some of the services GTE wants to deliver require the removal of regulatory restrictions in Northern Virginia, where the Cable Act of 1988 has been overturned by a court's ruling in favor of Bell Atlantic. The Cable Act restricts telephone companies alone from providing in-franchise video services, but GTE says the federal government has said to proceed with the video services based on the court ruling for Bell Atlantic.
Not all of the services in experiment at Cerritos will be offered. GTE's David Russell told Newsbytes the company plans to offer tested services, such as Main Street, and new services as well. Some of the new services include a navigator system that allows the opportunity for viewers to preview programming and ImagiTrek, an interactive video game service with participation from Sega and Philips.
Hewlett-Packard (HP) is also gearing up to be a part of delivery of interactive services in its announcements at the National Cable Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. HP is claiming it is the only computer maker to announce "smart" set-top boxes that go between the cable provider and the home television set that work with the existing cable infrastructure.
HP has announced Tele-Communications, Inc (TCI), the largest US cable-television operator, has increased its order from 100,000 set-top boxes to 500,000. TCI has 10.7 million customers in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Comcast, the fourth largest US cable operator, has also agreed to purchase HP's set-top boxes for two-way interactive services it is planning.
General Instrument (GI) is also licensing HP its Digicipher II access and control, compression and transmission technology for the set-top boxes. GI, personal computer (PC) chip maker Intel TCI, Rogers Cablesystems Ltd. of Canada, and a number of electronic bulletin board services such as America Online and Prodigy announced an agreement last week for delivery of interactive services via cable.
Intel is building an add-on card for PCs that can strip off digital signals to the computer which can be piggy-backed on top of the radio frequency (RF) cable signal and does not interfere with television reception. The digital signal content will be provided by the electronic bulletin board providers. The attraction is the speed, which is 1,000 times faster over cable than over telephone lines.
Other announcements from HP include the design of an analog de-scrambling technology by ESP, an ANTEC company, making HP's set-top boxes compatible with many existing cable systems. Broadcom will provide HP with a way of receiving digital signals on the set-top via a 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) receiver technology. Digital video allows more channels in the same "space" or bandwidth with improved picture quality. And Dolby Labs' will provide HP with its Dolby AC3 multichannel digital sound technology that will deliver high-quality, two channel Dolby Pro Logic Surround-sound-compatible digital audio.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940524/Press Contact: David Russell, GTE Telephone Operations, tel 214-718-6913, fax 214-718-7503; Casey Sheldon, Hewlett-Packard, 408-553-2948; Karen Kane, General Instrument, 312-541-5011; Lela Cocoros, TCI, 303-267-5273; Barbara Lukins, Comcast, 215-981-7619)
a Lukins, Comcast, 215-981-7619)
5/25/94
GTE, HP Plan Interactive Cable
TELECOM
Electronic & Chip Markets To Gro
Comdex - Monty Python CD-ROM Lau
DEC Names Auer To Head PC Unit
Claris Intros Organizer PIM For
Italian Telecom Firms Merge To C
ROME, ITALY, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- The shareholders of four Italian telecoms companies -- Iritel, Italcable, Sirm, and Telespazio have voted to merge their company operations into a new conglomerate, called Telecom Italia.
The idea is that, as Telecom Italia, the consortium will be able to pitch for international business on a better footing, as well as achieve better recognition at home.
Plans are now under way to launch Telecom Italia to the general public of Italy in August of this year. The new company's shares available on an exchange basis for stock in the four companies will start trading that month as well.
According to Italcable, the capital for the new company will be split between Telecom Italia with L7,000 million ($4,400 million) and Iritel with L4,500 million ($2,800 million). The combined turnover of the new company will be around the L27,000 million mark with target profits of L1,000 million for its first year of operations.
(Steve Gold/19940525/Press & Public Contact: Italcable Servizi Cablografici Radiotelegrfici e Radioelettrici, tel 39-6-57341 fax 39-6-5734-4773)
i e Radioelettrici, tel 39-6-57341 fax 39-6-5734-4773)
5/25/94
Italian Telecom Firms Merge To Create Telecom Italia
TELECOM
UK - Vodafone GSM Net Gets Voice
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- Brite Voice Systems Group (VSG) has secured a contract to supply Vodafone with a voice-mail network for its GSM Eurodigital and Metrodigital networks.
The voice-mail system, known as Recall, is already up and running Newsbytes was told. The move means that Vodafone's GSM (global system for mobile communications) network subscribers will be able to subscribe for the UKP4.75 month flat-rate subscription fee for the voice-mail service, rather than paying for each call divert.
The Recall service was first implemented on Vodafone's analog network two years ago by Brite VSG. It works by accepting voice-mail calls where a mobile phone is unavailable for whatever reason -- for example, a flat battery, out of range, or call unanswered -- and takes a voice-mail message. Then, when the mobile logs back on to the network, a special voice alert is sent to the mobile, advising the subscriber that the customer has a message waiting and to hold on to hear it being played.
Since GSM digital networks can use the short message service (SMS) whereby text messages of up to 160 characters can be transmitted across the network, Vodafone subscribers can elect to have an SMS message sent to their phone in preference to a voice alert.
According to Brite VSG, to implement the Recall voice-mail system for GSM subscribers, the company has had to make substantial modifications to its technology, working closely with Vodata, the division of Vodafone that provides the Recall voice-mail service to Vodafone's mobile phone division.
Commenting on the new service, David Channing-Williams, Vodata's managing director, said that the company's relationship with Brite has "helped us to extend the benefits of voice messaging to Vodafone's GSM subscribers. Brite was one of the few companies with the special expertise required to implement the messaging service for such a large scale network."
(Steve Gold/19940525/Press Contact: Fiona Tully-Tuner, Brite VGS, 44-61-976-4550; Frank Smith for Brite VSG, 44-625 511966l; Public Contact: Brite VSG, 44-61-976-4550; Vodafone 44-635-33251)
rite VSG, 44-61-976-4550; Vodafone 44-635-33251)
5/25/94
UK - Vodafone GSM Net Gets Voice-Mail Services
TELECOM
Nokia To Supply Trunked Mobile R
HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, ENGLAND, 1994 MAR 25 (NB) -- Nokia Telecom has signed a contract with Norwegian Telecom to supply an Actionet trunked mobile radio system.
According to Nokia, the system is the first public access mobile radio (PAMR) network for Norwegian Telecom and will initially cater for around 3,000 subscribers in the Oslo region.
PAMR is a simplex (push to talk) mobile radio system that makes economical usage of available network bandwidth. The advantages are that calls can be routed only between PAMR mobiles, meaning that the switching infrastructure can be a lot simpler than for say, analog or digital mobile phones.
In the UK, PAMR systems charge flat-rate subscriptions, allowing users to make as many calls as they wish. To stop users hogging the system calls are automatically timed out after a few minutes.
According to Nokia, tariffs and other operational details of the Norwegian Telecom PAMR system have yet to be worked out, although Actionet's default connection times out after one minute, Newsbytes notes. Service will start in the fall of this year and, as 1995 progresses, the network will be rolled out to other areas of Norway.
According to Norwegian Telecom, the decision to adopt PAMR as an alternative to mobile phone technology was taken owing to the success of the technology around Europe. Several terminal suppliers produce equipment for PAMR systems, so making the service relatively competitive as far as equipment purchase is concerned.
Actionet is already in operational on a public and a private basis in more than 20 countries, including Australia,, Germany and UK.
(Steve Gold/19940525/Press Contact: Michaela Grimson, Nokia Telecom UK, tel 44-480-434444, fax 44-480-435111; Public Contact: Martin Sandelin, Nokia Oy, tel 358-400-445-333 fax 358-0-511-5569)
n, Nokia Oy, tel 358-400-445-333 fax 358-0-511-5569)
5/25/94
Nokia To Supply Trunked Mobile Radio Net To Norway
TELECOM
DB/Expo - IBM Intros Products
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- At the DB/EXPO in San Francisco, IBM announced new versions of Database 2 (DB2) products for OS/2, AIX/6000, HP workstations and Sun workstations, along with a number of other products.
Other new introductions included: DB2 Parallel Edition for AIX; VisualGen for building new OS/2 applications; a Visualizer family of tools to convert data into information; a family of data replication products; POWERquery for the SP2, a turnkey Unix product; a new release of Information Management System; enhancements to Distributed Relational Database Architecture; the availability of DataGuide/2 version1 and DataGuide/MVS version 1; and enhancements to Common Data Facility/MVS.
Christopher Arnold, site general manager for IBM, told Newsbytes "The message that we really want to get out to the public is that IBM, today, is showing these products on the trade show floor to prove that we are ready to deliver fully integrated hardware software, support and service to our customers."
Promising the strength, speed and power of massively parallel processor technology, IBM claims it is ready to deliver detailed and relevant customer information from extensive volumes of data, typically found in legacy systems.
IBM also emphasized its commitment to a comprehensive multimedia "solution" with the development of VisualAge for OS/2 C SET ++ for OS/2, Ultimedia Manager Professional Edition for OS/2 and DB/2, VRPG Client/2, and extensions to DB/2 and DB2/6000 version 2.
IBM says it stresses object-oriented technology to decrease development time and increase company productivity through the use of better custom applications.
Arnold continued to Newsbytes, "We do not see any other company out there that can offer the integration that we have available to our customers now. Other companies may have alliances that bring together hardware, software, service and support, but that does not offer customers the reliability of having one provider who offers seamless integration from beginning to end."
(Patrick McKenna/19940525/Press Contact: Philip Little, The Spindler Organization, 213-930-0811)
ler Organization, 213-930-0811)
5/25/94
DB/Expo - IBM Intros Products
Newsbytes Daily Summary
!PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 25 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> GTSI Moves On California Government Market 05/25/94 Government Technology Service Inc. believes it will win a major share of sales from a new California government computer blanket order that mimics the way the General Services Administration in Washington buys computer products for the federal government.
2 -> ****Lotus To Buy Notes Development Firm For $84Mil 05/25/94 Lotus Development Corporation is planning to purchase Iris Associates a company founded and headed by the principal developer of Lotus Notes, for $84 million in Lotus common stock.
3 -> Poland Intros New Intellectual Copyright Law 05/25/94 After years of fighting its way through the parliament, the Polish Government has finally enacted its new copyright legislation, which supersedes the 1952 legislation on the subject.
4 -> European Commission Reviews Jetphone Limitations 05/25/94 The European Commission (EC) has announced a plan to investigate a joint venture arrangement between British Telecom and France Telecom to operate mobile phone services for inflight passengers around Europe.
5 -> Systems Support Expo - AT&T Takes Customer Focus 05/25/94 In response to a corporate reorganization at AT&T Global Information Solutions (GIS), formerly known as NCR, the company's customer service arm has adopted a "user-centered, team-driven, open systems" approach said William J. Scanlon, assistant VP, Customer Support Services (CSS) Programs & Sales, at a meeting with Newsbytes in Boston.
6 -> HP LaserJet Celebrates 10th Anniversary 05/25/94 Hewlett- Packard opened Comdex in Atlanta with Jason's Run, a 10 kilometer event featuring Evander Holyfield, former world heavyweight boxing champion as honorary starter. The race was the beginning of a marketing campaign to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the LaserJet laser printer.
7 -> Compuserve Heads For 2 Million Members 05/25/94 While many analysts contend that the increasingly overcrowded online market is heading for a shakeup, established services continue to add members at a rapid rate. Now Compuserve says it will announce its 2 millionth member in June.
8 -> Systems Support Expo - Saving Money By Managing PCs 05/25/94 "It costs a lot of money not to manage a PC," noted Gunar Mallor, in open one of the dozens of technical sessions at Systems Support Expo. Over the next hour, Mallor explained how a new category of products called "software asset management tools" can lessen the financial burden of PC ownership.
9 -> New CD-ROM Journeys To The Planets 05/25/94 A Seattle company has released a multimedia title on CD-ROM that can take you on a journey to the planets.
10 -> ****NCTA - FCC Chairman Insists On Rollback Rates 05/25/94 he Federal Communications Commission will stand firm on enforcement of its rollback of rates charged by the cable television industry, but the industry should not take the rollbacks as a challenge, not an obstacle. That was the crux of remarks made by FCC Chairman Reed Hundt to attendees at Cable'94, the annual convention of the National Cable Television Association.
11 -> Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims At Data Distribution 05/25/94 Cognos Inc. of Ottawa and Xcellenet of Atlanta have announced an alliance to promote a combination of their products for distributing data to large numbers of computer users.
12 -> Bell Atlantic Expands AirBridge Wireless Services 05/25/94 Bell Atlantic Mobile said it will roll out its AirBridge wireless data services to more parts of its serving area over the next few months.
13 -> Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2 Push 05/25/94 The pressure was off IBM after Microsoft decided against pushing its Chicago revision of Windows at this Comdex. But that didn't stop the folks from "Little Blue" from having a little fun at the expense of "Big Green." They printed up some OS/2 t-shirts and bags which read on the back "Chicago: Been There, Done That." OS/2 2.0 was launched at a Comdex in Chicago a few years ago.
14 -> Comdex - HSC Ships Kai's Power Tools For Windows 05/25/94 HSC Software said it is shipping Version 2.0 of its Kai's Power Tools for Windows, a group of filters and extensions for desktop imaging programs that support the Adobe plug-in architecture, like Adobe Photoshop and Micrografx' Picture Publisher
15 -> Comdex - Motorola's Pres Defends Counter-Intuitive Thinking 05/25/94 Christopher B. Galvin, president of Motorola Inc., grandson of its founder, and the son of former President Robert Galvin, was the official keynoter for this Spring Comdex show. While he didn't make any new product announcements, he did provide some insights into his company's corporate culture.
16 -> Comdex - Galvin Keynote Pitches Motorola Technology 05/25/94 Motorola President Chris Galvin used his Spring Comdex keynote to push two key computer technologies -- the PowerPC chip and mobile computing.
17 -> Comdex - IBM Pushes Objects, Admits Channel Problem 05/25/94 IBM's problem is that it has great technology, but still has not figured out how to deal with the market Comdex represents. A good illustration of that idea was a Newsbytes talk with John Schwarz division director of the company's Toronto lab.
18 -> Japan - Sumitomo Trading & TCI In Cable TV Deal 05/25/94 Sumitomo Trading and Colorado-based Telecommunications Inc. (TCI) have signed an agreement involving cable TV in Japan.
19 -> Electronic & Chip Markets To Grow In Asia 05/25/94 The Electronics Industry Association (EIA) in Japan says that the electronics and semiconductor chip markets have considerable potential in Asia.
20 -> Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated Solutions A Reseller 05/25/94 Hewlett-Packard Hong Kong has appointed specialist manufacturing software developer Integrated Solutions Ltd. (ISL) as a reseller for its HP 9000 Series of business servers.
21 -> MCI, Stentor Join Forces On Conferencing 05/25/94 MCI Communications Inc. and the Stentor consortium of Canada's regional telephone companies have launched a North American Conferencing Service which they said will make it easier to set up videoconferences between the United States and Canada.
22 -> Modatech Offers Sales Suite For Windows 05/25/94 Modatech Systems Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, is putting its Maximizer for Windows contact management software together with three other programs in a bundle aimed at sales people. At the Comdex Spring and Windows World trade show, Modatech announced Maximizer Sales Suite for Windows.
23 -> Dell Reduces Derivatives Portfolio 05/25/94 Dell Computer Corp. says it has reduced its interest-rate derivatives portfolio by more than 50 percent. The portfolio now stands at $159 million compared to the previous $355 million.
24 -> Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes First Revenues 05/25/94 Storage Technology (Storagetek) officers should go into this year's annual meeting with shareholders today a lot happier than they have in the past two years.
25 -> Gateway 2000 Intros Multimedia Kit, 3-Year Warranty 05/25/94 Gateway 2000 has announced a high-performance multimedia kit that includes speakers, a sound card, and some multimedia software. The company has also extended the standard warranty period for its computer systems to three years.
26 -> ****GTE, HP Plan Interactive Cable 05/25/94 GTE Telephone Operations says it is ready to begin a 10-year project building a video network that will encompass over seven million homes in 66 of its key markets nationwide. Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard has announced several deals with cable companies for its set-top boxes in preparation for interactive services.
27 -> Italian Telecom Firms Merge To Create Telecom Italia 05/25/94 The shareholders of four Italian telecoms companies -- Iritel Italcable, Sirm, and Telespazio -- have voted to merge their company operations into a new conglomerate, called Telecom Italia.
28 -> UK - Vodafone GSM Net Gets Voice-Mail Services 05/25/94 Brite Voice Systems Group (VSG) has secured a contract to supply Vodafone with a voice-mail network for its GSM Eurodigital and Metrodigital networks.
29 -> Nokia To Supply Trunked Mobile Radio Net To Norway 05/25/94 Nokia Telecom has signed a contract with Norwegian Telecom to supply an Actionet trunked mobile radio system.
30 -> DB/Expo - IBM Intros Products 05/25/94 At the DB/EXPO in San Francisco, IBM announced new versions of Database 2 (DB2) products for OS/2, AIX/6000, HP workstations and Sun workstations, along with a number of other products.
(Ian Stokell/19940525)
(Ian Stokell/19940525)
5/25/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Watermark To Image-Enable Fax An
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- In the two latest deals out of more than a dozen forged so far with other vendors, Watermark's software will be used to "image-enable" SoftLinx's Replix for Windows fax management software and Advanced Labeling Systems (ALS) Inc.'s LabelMAX Director.
In an interview with Newsbytes about the licensing deals, Peter Brumme, senior VP for sales and marketing, said that SoftLinx will use Watermark Explorer Edition to let users view, retrieve highlight, and annotate fax documents sent and received via Replix for Windows.
ALS will employ Watermark Discovery Edition to give similar capabilities to users of LabelMAX Director, along with voice comments, redlining, "objecting linking and embedding (OLE) document properties," and a few other extra tools that are included in Discovery, Newsbytes was told.
The "OLE document properties" permit users to "associate a certain set of properties with an image," Brumme explained. Watermark's less expensive Explorer Edition is "really more the 'true OEM' (original equipment manufacturer) version," he noted. Discovery Edition, however, "has been used in an OEM role, as it is with ALS in cases where more annotation is needed and document properties are important."
The OLE 2.0 compatibility incorporated in Watermark Image Server and Professional Edition, two new products announced last month will be migrated over time to all Watermark products, including Explorer and Discovery, according to Brumme.
Since Watermark's founding early last year, the Burlington Massachusetts-based company has established agreements with "a dozen or two" application software and hardware vendors, the senior VP told Newsbytes. The deals with SoftLinx and ALS, he said represent a category of "OEM licensing deals" that also encompasses several other applications, including three major document management systems: PC DOCS, Seros, and WordPerfect's SoftSolution.
Watermark has also arrived at a number of co-marketing relationships, such as a bundling deal with Pentax for its line of scanners, and an arrangement with Delrina in which Watermark software is used to read the WinFax Pro inbox. Co-marketing agreements with other vendors call for joint seminars, mailings and channels.
In addition, Watermark software works in conjunction with WordPerfect In-Forms, WordPerfect Office, and all OLE-compliant Microsoft applications, the senior VP pointed out.
The new Replix for Windows, he said, will let Windows users access SoftLinx's Unix-based Replix fax server for exchanging fax documents with each another, as well as with users of Sun, HP and IBM workstations, and X Windows and character-based terminals that are connected to the Replix server. Like other Replix products Replix for Windows will also allow document exchange with outside fax servers and fax machines.
Fax recipients with Replix for Windows installed on their PCs will be able to annotate and highlight documents, in addition to changing, adding to, and manipulating previously created markups. Other recipients of documents annotated with Replix for Windows will be able to view the annotations, but will not be able to access the markups for modification or manipulation.
LabelMAX Director is used by product manufacturers and graphics designers for an electronic approval process that involves routing viewing, marking up, tracking, and reviewing labels, Brumme said. The product works with ALS' LabelMAX Designer for label creation and LabelMAX Producer for label printing.
LabelMAX end users run the gamut from "graphics artists who are charged with designing a nice-looking label, to law departments who need to make sure that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ingredients listings are correct, to production control people who are looking to see that certain kinds of warning labels are attached."
Next month, Watermark will probably announce another OEM deal calling for inclusion of the Explorer Edition on a CD-ROM law forms application, Brumme told Newsbytes. "We've also been talking with vendors of accounting software applications," he said.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940525/Reader Contact: Watermark Software, 617 229-2600; Press Contacts: Kevin Lach, Watermark, 617-229-2600, ext 228; Leahanne Hobson or Peter Gorman, Copithorne & Bellows for Watermark, 617-252-0606)
Copithorne & Bellows for Watermark, 617-252-0606)
5/26/94
Watermark To Image-Enable Fax And Label Software
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of
COMDEX - Singapore Company Relea
UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscri
Compaq UK Unveils Two More Presa
m LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) - Compaq Computer UK has unveiled two new additions to its Presario range of PCs -- the 660 and the 860 CDS. Both machines are billed as fast, with the 860 CDS coming in a new minitower case.
According to Compaq, both machines are easy to use and "combine speed with power and multimedia capabilities." They are both available immediately in the UK.
In parallel with the launch of the new machines, Compaq has announced it is pre-installing Microsoft Publisher and Golf onto all its Presario systems at no extra charge. These packages are in addition to Tabworks and MS-Works, which have been pre-installed on the Presario range since their launch.
Dave Clarke, UK marketing director with Compaq, said that the two new Presarios join the 433 and CDS 633 models unveiled earlier this year. These new machines, he said, broaden the company's machines available specifically for the consumer.
"Compaq first entered the consumer market in August of last year and in only four months attained 2.2 percent of the UK private PC market in terms of units shipped in 1993, according to Dataquest," he said, adding, "Across Europe, the private PC market is estimated to grow to 2.2 million units in 1994, representing 23 percent of the overall PC market.
"With Compaq's goal to become the leader in the consumer marketplace, these products represent the next evolutionary step to provide consumers with products that serve their needs in terms of ease of use, performance, software choice and choice of form factors," he said.
The Presario 660 is billed as being ideal for consumers who are looking for the best value and technology in a desktop PC. Powered by the AMD 486SX2/66 processor, the UKP1,200 (and up) machine has a 200 megabyte (MB) hard disk.
The Presario 860 CDS, meanwhile, comes with multimedia facilities and is pitched at the "edutainment" marketplace. According to Compaq, the machines comes with a 66 megahertz (MHz) 80486SX2 processor, internal double speed compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) drive, 270MB hard disk, Creative Labs SoundBlaster Sound Card, twin speakers, a microphone and a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) card. The machine starts pricing from UKP1,360.
(Steve Gold/19940525/Press Contact: Dave Currer, A-Plus Group for Compaq Computer UK, 44-753-790700; Public Contact: Compaq UK, 44-81-332-3888)
ublic Contact: Compaq UK, 44-81-332-3888)
5/26/94
Compaq UK Unveils Two More Presario PCs
Adobe Dimensions 2.0 For Power M
Dell Reduces Derivatives Portfol
Correction - IBM Continues OS/2
BroadBand Delayed In New Jersey
UK - Pinacl Products Intros Fibe
RHYL, CLWYD, WALES, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Pinacl Products, has unveiled Unitex, a fiber optic product that it claims provides a cost-effective "solution" for internal and external cable installations.
The fiber optic system is a rugged, loose tube that can be fitted internally or externally to provide a resilient fiber optic link the North Wales-based company claims.
The USP (unique selling point) of Unitex, according to the company is that it eliminates the need for different types of cable and their associated connectors, and splice boxes.
John Oliver, Pinacl's product marketing manager, said that the company is primarily concerned with manufacturing products that address the current needs of the market.
"That's why we were one of the first developers and suppliers of an internal/external cable, a demand that has grown over the last 12 months, with users becoming increasingly aware of the performance and cost benefits. We've enhanced the concept further by offering greater cost savings and higher performance," he said.
Unitex comes in a standard cable format with between one and 12 strands of 250 micro fiber optic fibers, all contained in a central polymeric buffer tube, three millimeters in diameter and strengthened with aramid yarns. The central part of the tube is wrapped in kevlar, a strong man-made material, and then oversheathed in polypropylene. A final layer of water-resistant and mechanically sound compound is then coated on the outside.
According to Pinnacl, the resultant cabling is capable of withstanding 1000 Newtons. Pricing on the cabling depends on user requirements, the company says.
Pinnacl is a cabling and networking company based in Rhyll, a coastal town in North Wales. The company employs 150 staff and has an annual turnover of UKP20 million. It has two divisions - Pinacl Products and PCSL, the latter of which specializes in networking and cabling infrastructure design.
(Steve Gold/19940525/Press & Public Contact: Jane Harrard marketing manager, Pinacl Products, tel 44-745-589224 fax 44-745-584780)
Pinacl Products, tel 44-745-589224 fax 44-745-584780)
5/26/94
UK - Pinacl Products Intros Fiber Optic Cable System
GENERAL
Informix Dynamic Server 6.0 On P
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Informix Software is now making available its parallel database product Informix Online Dynamic Server 6.0, on the Nile series and MIServer ES series symmetrical multiprocessor (SMP) enterprise server computers offered by Pyramid.
SMP computers are claimed to be some of the world's fastest and Informix says it has added special benefits and features to the Online Dynamic Server database to take advantage of the parallel processing environment.
The software can break up database queries, sorts, and indexing into parallel using the simultaneous processing capability inherent in the multiprocessor server to speed these time consuming tasks.
Informix says its Online Dynamic Server offers enhanced disk mirroring, offering faster performance, while still making that critical exact copy on a second drive as a safeguard against disk failures.
The software also offers parallel backup and recovery. The archives can be made onto the backup devices in parallel speeding backup time. Recovery is also faster in parallel especially if the system uses multiple tapes, Informix said.
The Informix Online Dynamic Server for Pyramid Nile and MIServer ES series systems is expected to be available in June. Informix is offering a toll-free number for customer information on the server software.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940525/Press Contact: Elaine Knechtel Eastwick Communications for Pyramid, tel 415-306-4191 fax 415-306-4193/PYRAMID940525/PHOTO)
tel 415-306-4191 fax 415-306-4193/PYRAMID940525/PHOTO)
5/26/94
Informix Dynamic Server 6.0 On Pyramid SMP Computers
DB/Expo - 30,000 Attendees Expec
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) Blenheim's sixth annual DB/Expo opened this week at the Moscone Center in San Francisco to a large crowd of attendees eager to visit more than 700 exhibits, nine conferences and an almost constant program of noted speakers.
Predicting an attendance of more than 30,000, Blenheim will feature: Andrew S. Grove, president and CEO of Intel; Jerre Stead chairman and CEO for AT&T Global Information Solutions; Colin White, conference director; Dr. Robert Epstein, executive vice president of Sybase; Umang Gupta, president and CEO of Gupta Corp; Dr. Jim Gray, corporate consulting engineer with DEC; Don Haderle, IBM fellow and director of Data Management; Philippe Kahn president and CEO of Borland; and Steve Mills, general manager of IBM Software Division.
From the trade show floor Amdahl, AT&T, IBM and White Cross are exhibiting massive parallel processor technology.
Meanwhile, in contrast, client/server database products and tools are to be found at every corner. In keynote speeches, speakers questioned and debated whether client/server technology has really fulfilled its promises and saved the money its promoters claimed or will the reported revival of mainframe technology signal a new era marked by renewed interest and sales, claimed by network gurus.
Highlighting this show is IBM's fully integrated hardware software and service of mainframes to networks. With massive parallel technology, the company promises to deliver every piece of the picture to re-establish a mainframe revival.
This new parallel technology does not come cheap, as companies may easily spend more than $1,000,000 to enter high-level processing. For companies whose mainframe computing requirements are not as high, White Cross, a United Kingdom company, demonstrated entry level massively parallel processor technology beginning in the $200,000 range.
Over the years, conference goers walk out of trade shows with the promise of the latest and greatest due to be released in the next six months. A trend among exhibitors from BD/Expo, both large and small, seems to stand out, perhaps in response to too many false promises in the past. From IBM to the smallest vendor there was an emphasis on "viewable and available now."
Among those products, the highlight is "objects" and while programmers still have employment, the manipulation of "objects" as the technique for future development is dominant in tools and in databases.
The new products unveiled at the show have come from more than sixty companies including Digital Equipment, Cray, Empress Software, Hands On Learning, Matisse, Must, Oracle, Next, and Unisys.
Blenheim also announced that the 1995 DB/Expo would run concurrently with Networks Expo from May 2-4, 1995, in San Francisco.
One odd sight in the exhibit area was an eight-plus foot tall transformer, robot-looking giant called Number Nine provided courtesy of Symantec. The robot was actually David Rawlins, its creator from Logan Enterprises of Greensboro North Carolina.
(Patrick McKenna/19940525/Press Contact: Jill K. Reynolds Blenheim, 415-966-8934/LOGAN940526/PHOTO)
heim, 415-966-8934/LOGAN940526/PHOTO)
5/26/94
DB/Expo - 30,000 Attendees Expected
GENERAL
Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL F
UK - Mercury Offers Free Mobile
Sprint Not Talking About Latest
Motorola Paging System Quiets Re
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- If you're tired of hearing loud paging announcements as you wind your way through the aisles of a favorite store, help is on the way from Motorola's Customer Owned Paging Operation (MCOP).
The company has announced Shopper's Delight, a wireless technology that cuts down on much of the annoying loudspeaker chatter, and speeds up response to incoming phone calls for product information.
According to MCOP Director Steve Spiro, Motorola developed the system after research showed that customers want a quieter store environment, faster response time when requiring assistance, and a way to avoid wasting precious time waiting for in-store assistance.
Motorola spokesperson Valeri Polcyn told Newsbytes that one component of the system, developed in conjunction with California based Indyme Electronics Inc, utilizes wireless call boxes strategically located throughout the store.
Called Shop Talk, the system allows a shopper who needs help to press a button on the box and a sales person is automatically contacted via the pager he or she wears and sent to the customer's location.
For consumers calling by phone, a high speed paging terminal enables the store's telephone operator to send a message to the right employee via Motorola's People Finder system. If that person is unavailable the system automatically routes the call to another employee.
According to Polcyn, the Shopper's Delight system could be installed for as little as $2,000, depending on the number and style of the pagers used.
Indyme has already installed the system in about 30 Super Kmart Centers. The centers sell groceries and general merchandise and average 160,000 square feet in size.
(Jim Mallory/19940526/Press and reader contact: Valeri Polcyn Motorola, 407-364-3687; Steve Deal, Indyme Electronics Inc 619-268-0717)
ve Deal, Indyme Electronics Inc 619-268-0717)
5/26/94
Motorola Paging System Quiets Retail Stores
TELECOM
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On
Comdex - Motorola's Pres Defends
Hands On Learning Intros New Tra
UK - AST Unveils New Retail Sale
Quiets Re
H/R Pack Employee Tracking Softw
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- d&b Solutions Inc., has announced H/R Pack software, a database program to track employee information, benefit schedules, and training records.
H/R Pack is a non-Windows product that ships with a PIF file and an icon for users who want to run it under Microsoft Windows. The program has more than 90 pre-determined data fields. Data can be recalled using criteria for any field or combination of fields.
d&b Solutions spokesperson B.R. Winkler told Newsbytes that H/R Pack can export information in an ASCII comma delimited format that can then be imported for use in many popular word processing, spreadsheet and databases. It can also import data which has been exported in the ASCII format from another program.
Winkler said H/R Pack was initially developed as a custom software package for one client. "We had a lot of people expressing interest so we turned it into a marketable product." It will track an unlimited number of employees.
The single user version of H/R Pack has a suggested retail price of $295 and is available directly from d&b Solutions Inc. There is also a network version that sells for $495 for use on an unlimited number of nodes. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
or 800-856-7330, fax 713-293-8372/HRPACK940526/PHOTO)
5/26/94
H/R Pack Employee Tracking Software For PCs Intro'd
Easel Boosts Windows, Notes Supp
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Easel Corp. has added "native" support for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows environment, and support for Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes workgroup software to its line of software development tools. The company introduced the ESL Technology Family, including some new development tools and upgrades of existing Easel software.
With the introduction of ESL for Windows, Easel now offers native Windows development support, explained Bill Driest, director of product marketing. In the past, developers could write applications for Windows but they had to use ESL Workbench running on the OS/2 operating system. "You were left with having to test in the native Windows environment without a lot of supporting tools," he said.
ESL for Windows includes ESL QuikStep, a source-code project manager and interactive source-level debugger meant to simplify testing and maintenance of ESL for Windows applications.
While Easel has added support for Windows, there are no immediate plans for Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. Driest said that by Microsoft's own admission NT is expected to be used mainly on servers, and Easel is focusing on development tools for client PCs. The next release of Windows, code-named Chicago definitely will be supported, he added.
ESL Workbench 4.0 is the latest release of the company's integrated development software for client/server applications. A highlight of the new release is support for Lotus Notes. Using application programming interfaces (APIs), ESL applications can act as front ends to Notes databases, company officials said. Documents created by ESL Workbench 4.0 applications can be added to a Notes database and Notes documents can be read into ESL Workbench 4.0 applications.
ESL Renovator 4.0 is the latest update of a suite of Easel software, including ESL Workbench and the Easel language for Windows or OS/2. It also includes Wizard, a library of reusable code meant to "give a head start for the developer" in creating applications, Driest told Newsbytes.
The new products are due to ship worldwide in June. ESL Workbench will cost from $3,900 to $10,900 depending on configuration. ESL for Windows will sell for $4,900 to $9,900, also depending on configuration. ESL Renovator 4.0 for Windows will be $7,900 and the OS/2 version will list at $9,900. These prices are for the United States.
Easel has subsidiaries in Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom and sells its software in a total of 28 countries worldwide.
(Grant Buckler/19940526/Press Contact: Christine Simeone, Easel tel 617-221-3072, fax 617-221-3099; Public Contact: Easel 617-221-2100)
; Public Contact: Easel 617-221-2100)
5/26/94
Easel Boosts Windows, Notes Support
Totally Wireless Store Opens In
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Announcing what it claims is the first wireless products retail outlet, Skyway Cellular has opened "Totally Wireless" in San Jose, California, to provide a "single source" for wireless information, sales and service.
Newsbytes notes that in the corner of almost every trade show wireless technology appears at a booth where perspective customers walk around trying remote computing on personal digital assistants (PDAs). From the Apple platform to DOS-based systems, companies have been developing wireless communications for wide area networks (WANs) and local-area networks (LANs).
Newsbytes has previously reported on the use of wireless technology in a number of different LANs including those used in hospitals, warehouse/inventory sites, and large offices.
According to Michael Merrill, president of Skyway Cellular, who spoke to Newsbytes, "There is the impression that the public sees this as a futuristic product and does not know that there are a number workable products on the market now. In many cases wireless technology is more common in a wide area network than in a LAN."
Currently, the wireless market is reportedly greater for portable computer users who may communicate through cellular phone connections or through RadioMail two-way messaging.
While communication through cellular technology is relatively expensive, Merrill pointed out that many portable computing users do not realize how easily and inexpensively two-way remote communications can be established. "Using a packet data modem, a notebook user may send and receive electronic-mail using RadioMail's two-way messaging and e-mail service. This allows for instant communication with all electronic addresses which gateway through Internet," said Merrill.
Typically, a packet data modem lists for $399 and RadioMail's monthly charge of $89 covers unlimited 24-hour use.
"Totally Wireless" offers cellular modems and data interfaces RadioMail two-way paging, wireless modem connections, integrated wireless systems that include cellular phones, wireless delivery of e-mail, news and stock quotes to notebooks and PDAs, wireless LAN equipment, wireless credit card terminals for merchants and back-up phone systems and switching capabilities.
Michael Merrill further told Newsbytes that approximately twelve stores are planned for California in the next twelve to sixteen months.
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Nanao has announced plans to bundle Sonnetech's Colorific, a product billed as the "first software-only color management system," with its FlexScan monitors for PCs and Macs.
Sonnetech will be offering Colorific through bundling deals only and Nanao will be the first monitor maker to provide the software a Nanao spokesperson told Newsbytes. Colorific is now in beta testing, and is scheduled for general availability in July, he added.
The new color management software supplies the same ability to "calibrate" (match the colors between) monitors and printers as competing hardware-and-software systems priced from $200 to $1,000, according to the spokesperson. Colorific is also easier to use, he maintained.
Unveiled at Comdex in Atlanta, the plans call for Torrance California-based Nanao to ship Colorific free of charge to all customers who return Nanao warranty registration cards. PC users will receive an edition of Colorific that complies with Kodak's color management system. Mac customers will be sent a version of Colorific for Apple's ColorSync.
Nanao offers a similar deal with Berkeley Systems' After Dark screen-saver software. However, the After Dark deal only applies to Nanao's "green monitors," he said. In contrast, the Colorific software will be available to customers who purchase any Nanao model. All Nanao Flexscan models support PCs as well as Macs he said.
Colorific's new software-only calibration capabilities make a great deal of sense today, now that color printing is moving to the desktop level, the spokesperson maintained.
Competing calibration systems require the use of hardware components, as well as software that is often more complex than Colorific, he contended. The learning curve for these other calibration products tends to be too steep for users who are not professional graphics designers, he added.
The user can install and implement Colorific in ten to 15 minutes according to the spokesperson. The software asks the user to select the type of monitor, and then to perform a series of simple "color matching" exercises designed to assure that the colors seen on the monitor are "true," and will be accurately reproduced by the printer being used.
The versions of Colorific that will be shipped to Nanao customers will list all FlexScan models on a menu, along with a "standard VGA" setting for non-Nanao monitors.
The user will only need to implement Colorific once, unless changes occur in ambient lighting or temperature level, two environmental factors that can affect color calibration.
Nanao is among a handful of vendors that have started to bundle software to "add value" to their monitors in an atmosphere of heated price wars, according to the spokesperson. Other bundling deals have included the inclusion of proprietary "power down" software with Optiquest and Viewsonic monitors, and the packaging of Corel Draw with NEC monitors, he noted.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940525/Reader Contact: Nanao, 310-325-5202; Press Contacts: Brian Mast, Nanao, 310-325-5202, ext 112; Leslie Schroeder for Sonnetech, 408-446-9158)
ext 112; Leslie Schroeder for Sonnetech, 408-446-9158)
5/26/94
Nanao Bundles Color Management Software With Monitors
GENERAL
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Pr
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- By John Hastings. As expected, Intel has stated that its prices on the Pentium CPU (central processing unit) chips will drop dramatically before the end of this year. In some cases, prices will fall by 50 percent.
This aggressive pricing is an attempt to preempt unprecedented competition in the chip industry. In less than a year Cyrix and IBM will be marketing the Cyrix M1 chip and Advanced Micro Devices will introduce its K5 chip. The M1 is expected to equal the performance of the Pentium, while the K5 is expected to run 50 percent faster than the Pentium. During the next year, some RISC (reduced instruction-set computing)-based CPU chips will incorporate hardware emulation of the Pentium processor. The PowerPC should be the first to outrun the Pentium. The most powerful chip available should be Digital Equipment's Alpha CPU.
Some experts feel Intel is attempting to force the industry to adopt the Pentium CPU chip by curtailing production of the 486 chips. If computer makers can only get Pentium chips in the quantities they need, they will be forced to place their marketing efforts behind that processor. Intel has stated it expects to sell six million Pentium chips this year, but is well behind that pace.
Meanwhile, Motorola announced the next version of the PowerPC chip. The 603 chip offers Pentium level performance in a low power chip suitable for portable computers. Motorola's pricing surprised the industry at less than one third the price of most Pentiums.
Many notebook computer users have upgraded from monochrome screens to color. While pleased with the newer screens, most users have been disappointed with the shorter battery life. The problem with color screens is due to the bright backlighting necessary with color. Unlike monochrome screens, the backlighting is not optional with color. The design of the screen makes backlighting mandatory.
In some notebooks, the backlighting consumes up to 70 percent of the battery power. A new color screen just announced by Sharp eliminates the need for backlighting, using a highly reflective film instead. With battery life comparable to monochrome screens, this screen could give a significant boost to the demand for color notebook computers. Sharp expects the new screens to appear before the end of the year.
The ability to print on multi-part forms will keep the dot-matrix printers alive, but they will never regain the prevalence they once held. Prices of other technologies have dropped to competitive levels. In addition, print quality and sound levels make laser and ink-jet printers more popular. Last year laser printers out-sold dot-matrix printers for the first time.
The following prices are for May 20, 1994.
Average Average
Buyer's Seller's
Machine Bid Ask Close Change
IBM PS/2 Model 30/286 20MB $250 $450 $275 -$25
IBM PS/2 Model 70 60MB 400 700 525 ..
IBM ThinkPad 350 800 1450 1000 -25
IBM ThinkPad 700 1100 1700 1325 ..
IBM ThinkPad 720 1600 2000 1700 -50
AST 386/20, 80MB 450 850 500 -25
Dell 325SX,60MB 400 800 500 ..
Dell 386/20, 120MB 600 900 625 -50
Gateway 386SX/20, 80MB 400 850 500 -25
Gateway 386/25, 80MB 500 800 600 ..
Gateway 486/33 120MB 900 1300 950 ..
Clone Notebook 286, 40 MB 350 700 475 +25
Clone Notebook 386SX, 40 MB 500 900 700 -50
Clone 386/25 80MB, VGA 450 850 675 ..
Clone 386/33 80MB, VGA 550 950 725 +25
Clone 486/25120MB, VGA 800 1250 950 ..
Compaq SLT/286 20MB 250 500 400 +50
Compaq LTE 286 40MB 300 675 475 +25
Compaq Deskpro 386/20e 100MB 500 800 625 -25
Compaq Contura 320 60MB 500 1000 750 ..
Macintosh Classic 40MB 350 600 375 ..
Macintosh SE/30 40MB 375 800 500 -25
Macintosh II 40MB 350 650 525 +50
Macintosh IIcx 80MB 400 700 550 ..
Macintosh IIci 80MB 700 1000 800 ..
Macintosh IIfx 80MB 800 1400 975 -25
PowerBook 100 20MB 525 900 625 -25
PowerBook 140 40MB 900 1400 1100 ..
PowerBook 170 40MB 1200 1700 1325 -25
PowerBook 180 80MB 1400 1800 1525 ..
LaserWriter IINT 700 1000 700 -50
Toshiba 1200XE 300 650 550 ..
Toshiba 1900 120M 1000 1700 1075 -50
Toshiba 3200SX 40MB 400 800 525 ..
Toshiba 5200 100MB 850 1250 1000 -25
HP LaserJet II 400 850 800 +25
HP LaserJet IIIP 375 950 575 ..
HP LaserJet III 750 1100 950 ..
HP LaserJet IV 1000 1300 1175 +25
John Hastings is the president of the American Computer Exchange Corporation. The American Computer Exchange matches buyers and sellers of used microcomputer equipment. For more information contact the American Computer Exchange Corporation at (800) 786-0717.
(AMCOEX/19940526)
(800) 786-0717.
(AMCOEX/19940526)
5/26/94
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices
BUSINESS
Bookworm Multimedia Dev't Tool L
) KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Bookworm, the electronic book development software from Communication and Information Technologies (CIT) is being announced in conjunction with the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Exhibit this weekend in Los Angeles, California. The software is intended for the development of electronic books for both Macintosh and Microsoft Windows-based personal computers (PCs) that users can modify.
CIT is also launching several Macintosh electronic titles, based on its software development technology from its Bookworm Press division. The compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) titles are: The Shakespeare Quartet: Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and a Midsummer Night's Dream; Making the Modern: Nineteenth Century Poetry in English; and After the Fire: American Literature in the Age of Expansion 1865-1914. Title prices range from $20 to $150 directly from CIT.
The company claims the titles use text, audio, video, and graphics as well as being prepared in collaboration with major scholars in the field of literary criticism.
An added benefit of the titles is the ability for the user to add hypermedia links to text passages as well as multimedia annotations of their own. One example of how this might be useful uses the Shakespeare titles, where teachers can create sets of notes annotations, test questions, and essays within the application for student use. Students can also interact with each other, the teacher and the material by leaving their own annotations and notes.
The Bookworm Engine is the multimedia authoring tool, while the Bookworm Reader is the runtime version, distributed with each title, that allows users to view and modify Bookworm titles. The titles are available now, but the Bookworm Engine in a cross platform version for both Macintosh and Windows will be released in September.
The Bookworm development environment requires five megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), but the company says 4MB is recommended for running the resulting titles. Pricing information for the Bookworm Engine has not yet been released.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940526/Press Contact: Emily Jones Communication and Information Technologies, tel 615-927-4601; Public Contact: Communication and Information Technologies 800-845-1755)
ication and Information Technologies 800-845-1755)
5/26/94
Bookworm Multimedia Dev't Tool Lets Users Modify
GENERAL
Toshiba/IBM/Siemens To Develop 6
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Toshiba has agreed with IBM and Siemens concerning the joint development of a powerful 64-megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
The firms have already been developing a 256-megabit DRAM, and they will incorporate this technology in the development of the 64-bit DRAM.
Toshiba has reportedly already developed a first-generation 64-megabit DRAM, and is planning to ship it next year. Meanwhile IBM and Siemens are jointly developing a 64-megabit DRAM.
The three firms will reportedly develop a second-generation 64-megabit DRAM chip based on Toshiba's current 64-megabit DRAM.
Production costs will be reduced due to the smaller size of the chip. About 50 engineers and researchers will work on the development of the new DRAM at IBM's Research Center in New York, and Toshiba's headquarters in Tokyo.
It is expected to be between two and three years before the firms start quantity production of the new 64-megabit DRAM. Each firm plans to use their own facilities to manufacture the new chip. Toshiba will produce it at its own plant in Japan as well as at Tohoku Semiconductor, which is a joint venture firm with Motorola in Northern Japan.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940526/Press Contact: Toshiba, tel 81-3-3457-2100, fax 81-3-3456-4776)
Toshiba, tel 81-3-3457-2100, fax 81-3-3456-4776)
5/26/94
Toshiba/IBM/Siemens To Develop 64-megabit DRAM
BUSINESS
Japan - Windows Language Transla
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Fujitsu has developed language translation software for Windows-based personal computers (PCs). The software was originally developed for Fujitsu's workstations.
It is already used by some translation firms and also available via some PC networks, such as Nifty-Serve. Both English-Japanese and Japanese-English versions are available, priced at 198,000 yen ($1,980) each.
Fujitsu's latest language translation software is called Atlas/Win and includes a 130,000 basic word dictionary, and 24 kinds of special-term dictionaries.
Each special-term dictionary contains about 1.2 million words. These dictionaries cover data processing, electronics, physics machinery, chemical industry, industrial plants, architecture metal, geology, transportation, automobiles, military, farming biology, medical science, economy and finance, laws, business and "who's who" lists.
Fujitsu claims that the quality of the software is relatively high, due to two kinds of sentence analyzing techniques. The first is based on structural analysis, while the second is based on the actual meaning of each sentence.
This software was originally developed for Fujitsu's workstations and was rewritten for DOS/V-based PCs. Fujitsu aims to ship 15,000 units of the software within three years. An optical scanner is also available to read-in the text directly to PCs.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940526/Press Contact: Fujitsu tel 81-3-3213-4160, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
ct: Fujitsu tel 81-3-3213-4160, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
5/26/94
Japan - Windows Language Translation Prgm Intro'd
TRENDS
OneSource Pleased Over Lotus/Mer
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- With their first two Windows-based products already on the market and others on the way, officials of OneSource Information Services, a Lotus spinoff, are pleased that Meridian Data has signed with Lotus to complete the development work on Lotus CD/Networker version 5.0 according to Mark VanDine, senior product manager for OneSource.
OneSource, which was a division of Lotus until becoming a separate company last fall, now produces about a dozen business and financial titles on CD-ROM, in addition to information retrieval software, said VanDine, in an interview with Newsbytes.
The current products from OneSource include Windows-based add-ins for the Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, according to VanDine. A Windows-based title from OneSource called StockChart is now in beta testing. A Windows version of the company's flagship OneSource product is slated to enter beta testing soon.
Most of the OneSource customer base "has made a strategic decision to move to Windows," and all of the company's major customers now use networks, the senior product manager explained.
But CD/Networker 4.2, the CD-ROM server software presently being used by almost all OneSource customers, is "not particularly friendly to Windows," he maintained.
As a division of Lotus, OneSource produced CD/Networker in addition to CD-ROM titles until earlier last year, VanDine said. Some time before the spinoff, Lotus transferred the CD-ROM server software from the One Source Division to "Lotus corporate," he added.
The CD-ROM titles, however, remained with the One Source Division. "My understanding at the time was that Lotus thought (CD/Networker) might be a good fit with multimedia," VanDine told Newsbytes.
In September, 1993, Lotus announced the spinoff of the One Source Division into a new company, to be owned by the division's management and employees and two venture capital firms Information Partners of Boston and William Blair Ventures of Chicago -- with a minority investment position to be held by Lotus. About one month previously, Lotus had decided to stop further development on CD/Networker 5.0, according to Van Dine.
"At about the time we were becoming our own company, we were only half-way through the development of our Windows products. We saw that we still had about six months to figure out what to do. So we got right to work on it, and came up with some alternatives," he said.
Like earlier versions of CD/Networker, v4.2 requires Windows users to back out into DOS and run a CDNetworker subprogram each time they wish to change the CD-ROM volume they are using on the network according to the senior product manager. The subprogram "remaps what product goes with the drive letter dedicated to the CD server." This process, he reported, is "terribly inconvenient."
Ease of use under Windows is especially important to OneSource because some of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company's 12 major titles are dual ROM products, VanDine said.
OneSource's Windows-based add-ins for 1-2-3 and Excel are already available, according to VanDine. The 1-2-3 add-in will retrieve information from CD-ROM databases and "plunk it right into the cell" based on user specifications as to database, company, item of information, and time period, he noted.
In examining alternatives for a CD-ROM server to be used with the Windows-based CD-ROM titles, OneSource came up with several that "were good alternatives to the CD Networker path," including SCSI (small computer system interface) Express, Optinet and Meridian's own CD Net Integrated Servers. "At that time, Meridian came forward and started talking to Lotus," he added.
As reported in Newsbytes recently, Meridian Data has signed with Lotus to complete, market and support CD/Networker 5.0. Meridian plans to sell the newly renamed software, CD NET for OneSource, to OneSource and Lotus customers now running CD/Networker 4.2, as well as to users of Meridian's CD Net Integrated Servers.
VanDine told Newsbytes that, although he and other OneSource officials are pleased about the deal, he hopes that Meridian will release a similar product to the 5.0 software originally developed at Lotus.
A particularly useful feature of the "original" version 5.0 is a "CD browser" that will "allow you to change what CD-ROM the network drive you're mapped to thinks it is looking at" without leaving Windows, he said.
OneSource's upcoming Windows-based StockChart will produce "presentation-quality charts of stock price and volume data" for investment banks, according to VanDine.
StockChart is now available to most OneSource field organizations over the company's Notes networks, and will probably be released on CD-ROM for a few weeks of beta testing in another week or two according to VanDine. "I just want to make sure that everyone's happy with the user interface. If we need to rearrange a few things for usability, we will," he told Newsbytes.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940526/Reader and Press Contact: OneSource Information Services, 617-441-7156)
Contact: OneSource Information Services, 617-441-7156)
5/26/94
OneSource Pleased Over Lotus/Meridian CD Server Deal
Comdex - More On IBM Objects
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- In an interview with Newsbytes at Comdex, John Schwarz, division director of IBM's Toronto lab, emphasized the company's decision to move from a host-centric, procedural software model to a server-centric object-based software model.
"Everything you see us announce is squarely in that area everything we do is targeted at client-server and toward objects," he said.
In addition to its CSet++, which Schwarz says is every bit as good as what Borland and Microsoft offer, except it works on more platforms, there is Visual Age, "a visually-centered application development tool built on a Smalltalk engine. It comes with its own debugger and library, as well as a parts library, so you can build objects from parts."
Of course, lots of companies claim they have object-based products, he admits, but look inside. "They've built the tool using the object paradigm, but they don't provide the building from-parts capability. Objects are about re-use -- if you can't re-use it, you don't have an object. If you take a library of parts and create new parts from them, you short-cut the development time by an order of magnitude. And if they can be linked by the user, you offer more than what's available now. If you don't have a fully functioned object environment, you can't do those two things, and it can be more expensive than writing in a procedural fashion."
All this is built on the SOM and OpenDoc technologies brought to Spring Comdex by IBM a year ago, except now those technologies will be on multiple platforms. The two taken together represent "a style for open objects, which has nothing to do with objects per se." SOM Objects will also be managed in IBM's new database extensions.
But more important than what IBM offers the market is what IBM is using internally. "We write our own stuff in an object oriented form. When you buy Visual Age, it was built with Smalltalk in an object-oriented way. We spent more money building it that way than in C. But we've now ported Visual Age to Windows. That was a snap -- we re-used nearly 100% of what had been built, changing it only for the interface. Since we'd used a consistent Smalltalk compiler, we could re-use. The third time we'll re-use it is by porting it to a C++ back-end. That's a complete re-use because both SmallTalk and C++ are built with SOM Objects. We're looking at rates of productivity that are levels of magnitude better than in older languages."
What happens next? "The next level is the guy who uses these tools to build applications. They can take the parts we've pre built, and others have pre-built, then connect them using a scripting language, rather than writing code. You could have a CICS access object, or a SQL (structured query language) call object...you just pull it out of the library."
But there is another level of productivity, "Arranging things so you can deal with them," Schwarz says. "That's what we're trying to do through OpenDoc and scripting languages and through the visual programming paradigms, that don't require you to bury yourself in basic, or Smalltalk."
Schwarz calls that technology Global Desktop -- it is not a working product. By first building parts from objects, then scripting the parts together, and finally having end users use those parts and scripts together dynamically, objects can finally come into their own. That is Schwarz' goal for the end of the decade. "We're some ways from the third level," he admits. "We know how to do it, but you need to be an expert."
Once it happens, it will revolutionize programming. "There is a phenomenal activity for people who can use this, and a real threat to those with services that get eaten up. It won't happen so rapidly that there will be thousands of people thrown out of work quickly." But it will happen, he says.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940526/Press Contact: Terrie Phoenix, IBM Software Solutions, 914/766-1165)
tware Solutions, 914/766-1165)
5/26/94
Comdex - More On IBM Objects
Comdex - WordPerfect Looks Up Ma
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- WordPerfect has been taking it on the chin for months. Its flagship product has reportedly lost market share to Microsoft Word, and a "Wall Street Journal" feature called the firm's managers amateurs, and hinted Novell was buying it to prevent a total collapse. But at Spring Comdex, all that was far away.
At Spring Comdex, WordPerfect dominated the halls, with an impressive auditorium stage show and fancy giveaways like umbrellas, all tied to the debut of its Main Street line.
Newsbytes notes that, when it rained late Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, hundreds of WordPerfect golf-style umbrellas came out, and someone actually started singing "Singing in the Rain."
Main Street will be a complete line of software -- everything from personal productivity tools to entertainment to education programs. The aim is to make WordPerfect the Proctor & Gamble of the software industry as the mass market grows and brand names become more important than technical details.
Newsbytes talked about this with Daniel Rask, a product marketing director at WordPerfect. He said some of the products in the new line, like Grammatik Version 6.0 for Windows, have a long history, and have gotten complete updates. Grammatik itself dates from the late 70s, and now has features like sentence rewriting and new checking styles. "We took a hard look at what people need to work faster," he told Newsbytes. "Productivity is the focus simplicity the goal." Grammatik was first written for CP/M machines, and WordPerfect acquired it from Reference Software in 1992.
In other areas, however, WordPerfect is acquiring others' titles. "Our education partner is the Waterford Institute, a non-profit organization" which formerly had a master distributorship agreement with Broderbund. "We'll work with them on an extended basis with multiple products. We're concentrating on the 4-12 age range -- reading, writing, and math."
While system requirements differ, most Main Street products will require Macintosh System 6 or Windows 3.1. CD-ROM-based titles will have higher requirements, based on the MPC II specifications and many of the specific titles will be announced next month at the Summer CES.
As to the show itself. A real extravaganza, a professional Mistress of Ceremonies, a tremendous light show with a simulated earthquake, and three-dimensional (3-D) effects representing a reconnection between her and someone on the screen she was supposedly interviewing.
The idea behind the earthquake is that WordPerfect products are an "Earth-shattering experience." As people exited the show, they handed in their 3-D glasses and got the umbrellas, plus a chance to win a trip to Hawaii. As word of the show spread, crowds actually got larger, not smaller, as with most Comdex events.
And the big splash at Comdex is just the start of a big marketing summer for WordPerfect. "With Main Street, we're trying to create a brand that people associate with dependable quality. We're trying to make our focus clear. We do intend to work through mass merchants, as well as superstores, classic software distribution, and direct response. We're going on a summer-long tour to 60 cities, one-two day events in major hotels where we bring in key accounts and inform them of what we're doing. It's a specially built touring show with a 90 minute set of presentations." It is like organizing a rock show, or a circus. "There are 50-75 people and two separate groups."
The tour itself is split into the three market segments, added Sam Yee, a product marketing director for consumer product marketing. "We'll focus the show based on the audience. They'll be different rooms in each hotel where the audience will be segmented. You don't talk about Main Street to government people -- you talk to them about end user" applications. Last year's tour paid for itself, he added, and it is just one part of an integrated trade show and marketing campaign that should make consumer products 20 percent of WordPerfect's revenues by 1995.
"The consumer industry is evolving into a packaged goods industry," added Yee. "You get major players in each market. Electronics is basically a few brands, there's a coalescing. The consumer area will see that as well."
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Despite some technical difficulties, 7th Level officially launched its Monty Python CD-ROM, titled "The Secret to Intergalactic Success," at a Spring Comdex press conference.
The technical difficulties, it should be noted, had nothing to do with the title. The microphones in the hotel room 7th Level had rented simply did not work. This led to some serious vamping by Charles Fleischer, the voice of Roger Rabbit and 7th Level's upcoming "Virgil Reality" title. Some reporters promptly began dubbing Fleischer, who will soon have a column in "PC Computing" magazine, "the seventh Python."
The title, as demonstrated, was integrated and elegant. It is not just a group of clips thrown together, but a whole universe of "hot spots," characters popping out of the screen on command. There is a game and a contest, so the first person to figure out the "secret to intergalactic success" can win themselves $5,000 or a high-end computer. It does take such a computer to run the title -- a 486-based machine with Windows 3.1, MPC II accessories, and a double-speed CD-ROM drive are recommended.
There was also some real news. 7th Level Inc. is in the process of going public through Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenreete, with 3.120 million shares to be sold representing about one-third of the company, probably in about three months.
President George Grayson, called "Groucho" repeatedly by executive vice president, and "Pink Floyd" producer, Bob Ezrin said in response to questions that the new title does represent an evolution in 7th Level's development technology, called "Top Gun." He also noted that Terry Gilliam, the film director who did Monty Python's animation sequences, is listed as a co-executive producer on the new title, and all the other members of the troupe, save John Cleese, have expressed a willingness to be involved as well. Cleese is just too busy, Grayson explained with books, videotapes, marketing work, and the sequel to "A Fish Called Wanda."
The title is due for an official delivery to stores August 11.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- One main theme at Spring Comdex in Atlanta appeared to be compact discs (CDs).
CDs were everywhere. Newsbytes found two CD-ROM-based magazines -- CD-ROM Today from Future Publishing and Medio Magazine from Medio Multimedia.
Medio Magazine will start taking advertising from the next issue and plenty of advertisers should be around. One of the chief complaints expressed by exhibitors involves the difficulty of finding their markets, who are widely dispersed and do not have a central gathering point at which to compare products.
All sorts of major publishers announced new CD-ROM titles. Turner Interactive, a new division of Turner Home Entertainment headed by Ted Turner Jr., launched a number of new products, including a CD-ROM based on "The Flintstones" TV show, one based on the Turner movie "Gettysburg," and an adventure game called "The Pagemaster," based on a movie that will not come out until November.
Despite all the razzle-dazzle, CD-ROMs remain something of a cottage industry. It will take time to integrate the entertainment based CD-ROM producers into the computer-based Comdex crowd. That distance was on display during the 1994 Envision Awards sponsored by New Media Magazine on the first night of the show. Entertainers like "Weird Al" Yankovic tried to keep the show going but executive presenters and programmer recipients could not keep up the pace.
Just about all the titles released at this show will require a double-speed CD-ROM drive, MPC II accessories and a 486-based PC. But some 6 million such units have been sold in the last year presenters kept repeating, and more are being sold all the time.
Some developers are even talking about making the 486 a "base" machine next year and expecting users to have Pentium or PowerPC hardware to get the full effects of their upcoming titles.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940526/Press Contact: CD-ROM Today, Stuart Anderton, +011-44-0225-44-22-44; Steven Boehm, Medio Magazine 206/867-5500; Turner Interactive, Ronnie Gunnerson, 404/827-2890)
nie Gunnerson, 404/827-2890)
5/26/94
Comdex - CDs A Major Theme
TRENDS
Wordperfect Renames Office 4.0a
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corp., has renamed and upgraded Wordperfect Office, now calling the product Wordperfect Symmetry 4.1
Wordperfect President and CEO Ad Rietveld made the name change announcement at the Comdex/Windows World computer trade show in Atlanta this week. He said the change, which accompanies the announcement of version 4.1 was made to clarify the product's function as an integrated messaging application and to avoid confusion with other software products. Microsoft also publishes a software suite known as Microsoft Office. That product includes Microsoft Word word processing, the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet PowerPoint presentation program and Microsoft Mail.
Newsbytes reported in October, 1993, that Wordperfect had signed a deal with MCI for the two companies to integrate Wordperfect Office 4.0 with MCI Mail. The agreement incorporated Wordperfect Office post offices into the MCI Mail network. That lets Office users exchange electronic mail with computer users outside the Office system.
Symmetry 4.1 includes electronic mail, a calendar and group scheduler, message management, workflow routing and task management. It supports 12 client desktops, five remote operating systems, 10 server platforms and 23 gateways. Wordperfect calls it, "the most open and scalable solution in cross-platform enterprise-wide electronic messaging."
New with Symmetry 4.1 is support for a "native" Power Mac client and seven Unix environments including Hewlett-Packard UX, IBM AIX, SCO Unix, Data General UX, Sun Solaris 2.x, SunOS 4.1.3, and SVR4 for Intel platforms.
Symmetry 4.1 for Windows extends its electronic messaging services to other applications. Through the use of a custom message mechanism other applications can be registered in the system and identified in a user's In Box with a unique message-type icon.
Custom commands enable users to access other Windows applications through any Symmetry 4.1 for Windows pull-down menu. The commands can also be incorporated into any message view, which could then trigger any action or set of actions.
A feature called Listserver allows users to join forums on other systems such as the Internet and automatically receive messages that are sent to that forum.
Other new features include Symmetry remote packages for Windows DOS and Macintosh users that allow them to keep in touch while they are away from the office through both wireless and asynchronous communications. There is also a rules-based pager gateway which connects the user to local, regional and national paging services as well as a telephone access server that provides use of a touchtone telephone to listen to and send messages.
Wordperfect says the improved network installation process allows even a novice user with the appropriate network access to install Symmetry in less than two hours. The client install procedure has also been simplified.
Other Symmetry features include an asynchronous gateway to OS/2 and incoming fax capabilities for the fax/print gateway.
The Wordperfect Symmetry 4.1 client/administration pack, which includes five user licenses, has a suggested retail price of $695 for all supported platforms. Additional licenses range in price from $135 for one to $9,500 for 100. The DOS Message Server Pack sells for $495. OS/2, Unix and Network Loadable Module packs sell for $1,495, $1,995 and $2,495 respectively. All products are scheduled to ship in June 1994.
(Jim Mallory/19940525/Press contact: Brian Chapman, Wordperfect Corporation,801-228-5037; Reader contact: Wordperfect Corp. 801-225-5000 or 800-451-5151, fax 801-228-5077)
801-225-5000 or 800-451-5151, fax 801-228-5077)
5/26/94
Wordperfect Renames Office 4.0a Software Suite
Sony Signs Multimillion Deal For
MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- In the second largest contract ever for Sony Electronics, Sony has signed with the Associated Press (AP) to design and build a multimillion dollar system, set for November rollout, that will add video capabilities to AP's current network of 92 bureaus in 67 countries.
The AP's new APTV news service will use a worldwide network to transmit international stories from a video capture, control, edit and distribution center in London, a Sony spokesperson told Newsbytes.
The newly signed deal calls for Sony to install, engineer and support the London news feed and global network, and to outfit AP bureaus with electronic news gathering equipment, according to the spokesperson. Sony will be the "primary provider" for APTV.
APTV will employ "professional quality" Sony ENG video cameras and edit and feed backs for covering breaking news stories. AP bureaus in major news centers will be supplied with Sony Betacam cameras fly-away packs, and editing and field equipment. Other bureaus will be provided with Sony Hi-8 format cameras and editing and field equipment.
The AP expects to launch APTV on November 1, the spokesperson said. The wire service plans to add TV professionals to its staff around the world for the new video service. The AP now provides news photos, graphics and audio services to over 15,000 TV and radio stations.
The spokesperson told Newsbytes that AP and Sony are not disclosing financial terms of the deal, or the amount of equipment involved. The agreement, though, is the second largest in Sony's history topped only by a $50 million deal with Hughes Direct TV that Sony signed last year, she said.
Information as to the number of TV professionals to be added to AP's staff was also unavailable at press time. With 3,200 employees today, the AP bills itself as the largest news gathering organization in the world.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940526/Reader Contact: Sony Electronics, 800 635-SONY; Press Contacts: Gerrie Schmidt, Sony Electronics, 201 930-7454; Richard Schineller, Technology Solutions for Sony, 212 505-9900)
eller, Technology Solutions for Sony, 212 505-9900)
5/26/94
Sony Signs Multimillion Deal For AP Video Service
BUSINESS
Rogers Cable To Harness Microsof
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Rogers Cablesystems Ltd., one of the major cable television operators in Canada, has announced plans to use Microsoft Corp.'s recently introduced Tiger media server software to offer new services to its subscribers.
The two companies announced the signing of a letter of intent that says Rogers will be involved in early testing of the software, which will be used in cable television companies' head-end systems and in set-top boxes in cable subscribers' homes.
Colin Watson, president and chief executive of Rogers Cablesystems, told Newsbytes that engineers from his company will be working with Microsoft at its Redmond, Wash., headquarters and Rogers hopes to install its first Tiger media server in Toronto in the second quarter of 1995. Wider deployment is planned for 1996, he said.
The servers will be used to provide services such as interactive home shopping, movies on demand, and education and directory services.
Watson said there is a proven demand for at least some of these services. Rogers already offers four channels of pay-per-view movies on its cable systems, and demand has been strong, he said.
The company is confident that the ability to watch movies almost exactly when viewers want will add to that demand. Watson also maintained that a number of shoppers who currently order goods from printed catalogs will like shopping through their television sets.
Meanwhile, he said, the future may hold truly new "killer applications" that will make interactive television services even more attractive.
Other opinions on the demand for such services are mixed. The Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, a Toronto-based lobby group reported on a survey last year in which a majority of television viewers said they would prefer higher-quality programming to more choices. And Forrester Research Inc. of Cambridge, Mass. maintained in a recent study that it will be at least the year 2000 before interactive content becomes compelling and cheap enough to appeal to many consumers.
(Grant Buckler/19940526/Press Contact: Colin Watson, Rogers Cablesystems, tel 416-447-5500; Ken Nickerson, Microsoft Canada tel 905-568-0434 ext. 4246, fax 905-568-1527)
l 905-568-0434 ext. 4246, fax 905-568-1527)
5/26/94
Rogers Cable To Harness Microsoft's Tiger
TELECOM
Compaq Grabs Top Spot For 1st Qu
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Compaq Computer Corporation has taken over the leadership in the US market, at least temporarily, shipping more personal computers (PCs) than any other company during the first quarter of 1994.
Compaq's dominance in "units shipped" is reflected in the list published by research firm Dataquest Inc, a San Jose, California company. It is the first time Compaq shipped the most PCs in the United States in one quarter and puts the company on its way to fulfilling its self-proclaimed goal of garnering industry leadership by 1996. Many industry analysts speculate the company will take over leadership from IBM this year.
Dataquest figures show that Compaq also shipped more portable computers than any other company in the world during the quarter. Newsbytes reported recently that Compaq led the industry in units shipped in the United Kingdom for the first quarter of 1994.
Compaq spokesperson John Sweney told Newsbytes the company is pleased with the results but isn't resting on its laurels. "We think the numbers are a great indicator that we are on track for reaching our goal of being number one by 1996, but we also recognize that this only represents one quarter's results. It's a long ball game with formidable competitors."
Compaq US shipments were up more than 55 percent over the first quarter last year. Whether it can maintain its leadership is unclear. According to Philippe de Marcillac, director and principal analyst of Dataquest's Personal Computers Worldwide research group Compaq took advantage of Apple's transition to the Power Macintosh and IBM's traditionally slow first quarter. "We expect it to be a close three-way race by year-end," says the Dataquest executive.
IBM had supply problems with its PS/2 and color Thinkpad systems which contributed to its drop in the standing.
Apple occupies the number 2 spot on the Dataquest list with 10.4 percent of the market compared to Compaq's 12.4 percent. IBM followed close behind with 10.1 percent. Completing the top 10 list are Packard Bell, Gateway 2000, Dell, AST Research, Zenith Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard, and Toshiba.
Total shipments for the year were up slightly over 1993. Last year the 10 companies reported shipments totalling 3.35 million units compared to this year's 3.94 million.
Packard Bell, Zenith Data Systems, Hewlett Packard and Toshiba all showed good improvement this year, shipping about twice as many units as they did last year.
The struggle for market share has been a benefit for consumers, with prices continuing to drop and more PC makers distributing their products through mass market channels in addition to the traditional computer stores and resellers.
(Jim Mallory/19940526/Press contact: Paul Wheaton, Dataquest Inc 408-437-8312, John Sweney, Compaq Computer Corporation 713-374-1564)
Compaq Grabs Top Spot For 1st Quarter PC Shipments
TRENDS
UK Distributor Intros New Range
WITHAM, ESSEX, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Aashima, the computer distributor, has announced a new range of Trust branded notebooks. According to the company, the range will be sold exclusively through resellers and will range in price from UKP929 to UKP1,769.
The new machines are modular, with the hard disk and processor being fully upgradable. Because Aashima is importing them en-masse into the UK, the company claims that accessories are easily available and include a docking station, extra nicad (nickel cadmium) battery and a charger for the car, as well as mains electricity.
Announcing the range, David Johnson, Aashima's commercial director said that the introduction of quality, price-competitive notebook products is a welcome addition to the increasingly important Trust range. "The Trust notebook range is the only one available from Aashima and, with the full range of accessories available, should prove to be very popular," he said.
The new machines are based around a 50 megahertz 80486SLC2 or 80486DX2 chipset, and come with a 9.4-inch or 9.5-inch screen in respectively, color or monochrome. The color version weighs 2.9 kilograms (kilos), while the mono version weighs 2.5 kilos.
Integral to the new machines is a power management system which Aashima claims ekes out battery life, even on color machines, to 3.5 hours. A 200 megabyte (MB) hard disk is fitted as standard.
Aashima is a trade only PC peripherals distributors with a claimed reseller customer base in excess of 1,500 resellers. Its unique selling point (USP) is that delivery is guaranteed within 24 hours. The company is part of a European distribution network -- Aashima International -- with offices in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.
(Steve Gold/19940526/Press Contact: David Johnson, Aashima Distribution UK, 44-276-502050; Reader Contact: Aashima Distribution UK, 44-376-502050)
ntact: Aashima Distribution UK, 44-376-502050)
5/26/94
UK Distributor Intros New Range Of Notebooks
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Apple Computer UK has outlined its "Stand Out and Fit In" strategy for the future development of its "System" Mac operating system. According to Apple the strategy calls for the company to deliver regular improvements to the Mac system software and its user interface.
This, Apple claims, should make the Mac more productive and easy to use. The idea, Apple officials told Newsbytes, is to make it easier for PC/DOS and Windows users to migrate the graphical user interface (GUI) of the Apple Mac.
"We aim to make Mac technology even more relevant and available to a much broader group of customers, including Windows and DOS users," explained David Nagel, AppleSoft's senior vice president and general manager, in a prepared statement. "We plan to extend our leadership in making computing even more natural and intuitive. And we also plan to make Macintosh the best option in a world that has many different types of computers in it."
According to Apple, the "Stand Out" aspects of Apple's strategy include using the power of Apple's new PowerPC-based systems to extend the Mac's human user interface. In the future, Apple claims that the System software will migrate from being a passive GUI to an active assistant.
"Over time, greater levels of intelligence should be incorporated, so that the computer can actually anticipate the user's needs. Other Stand Out innovations are expected to include advanced graphics and multimedia capabilities, improved speech recognition and text-to speech technologies and collaboration enhancements," said Apple.
A key element in all of this, Apple says, is the OpenDoc component application architecture. Apple claims that OpenDoc defines a new method for applications to be created, using object-oriented technology. These smaller applications, or parts, which by design are interoperable with other parts, can be mixed and matched to form custom solutions.
Using OpenDoc, Mac users will be able to open a document, regardless of where the document has come from (for example, DOS or Unix) and regardless of what application created the file, as long as the application is OpenDoc-compliant.
Unfortunately, Newsbytes notes, System 7.5, the update of the Mac operating system software designed to take account of the new PowerPC-based Power Mac platform, will not include OpenDoc as an integral feature. That is likely to arrive with System 8.x or beyond as beta versions (or OpenDoc) are being readied for shipment to software developers this summer, alongside customer shipments of System 7.5.
System 8.x has been code named Copland and has been penciled in for a 1995 shipment, though Apple officials will not be pinned down on a precise time-frame for the software. Copland will include OpenDoc as well as extra advances in the field of active assistance. Other enhancement to System include better multitasking, memory protection, and data input/output.
In 1996, Apple plans an even more advanced version of its System software. Code-named Gershwin and loosely termed System 9.x, the operating system will provide fully-fledged intelligent assistance, as well as a microkernel architecture suitable for porting to other platforms, plus support for the expected significant improvement in graphics.
(Steve Gold/19940526/Press Contact: Russell Brady, Apple Computer UK, 44-81-730-2480; Reader Contact: Apple Computer UK 81-569-1199; Toll free in UK only, 0800-127753)
-569-1199; Toll free in UK only, 0800-127753)
5/26/94
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7.5 & Beyond
APPLE
Brussels WordPerfect/ODA Confere
[ BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- WordPerfect Corp., and the Open Document Architecture (ODA) consortium have announced plans to host a developer's conference in Brussels in June.
The idea behind the two-day seminar is that software developers and systems managers can discover more about the ODA and where it fits in with the "great scheme of computer things."
According to WordPerfect, ODA is a critical tool for any company government agency, publisher or individual wanting to share documents without sacrificing formatting. Users of any ODA-compliant program can retrieve formatted text, graphics and other information created in a different program.
So what is ODA? WordPerfect says that it is an international standard independent from any program, and even the versions of the program in which the document was created. It has designed to solve the difficulties created by many proprietary document formats used to store documents. An ODA document can be called up, changed exchanged, stored and reproduced by any ODA-compliant program.
Newsbytes notes that ODA is similar to the Apple OpenDoc concept as well as the Adobe Acrobat multi-platform document viewing and editing application. While Acrobat is available now, OpenDoc and ODA have yet to be supported in an application.
The first day of the ODA conference (June 21), will consist of a training seminar to examine and compare the characteristics and value of ODA documents. The second day (June 22), will consist of a comprehensive developers' training session on how to use the ODA Consortium toolkit and how to integrate the ODA code into existing software.
Plans call for an ODA advisory committee, the ODA Consortium Association (ODACA), to be organized during the conference to provide continuing dialogue on the development of the ODA consortium's products.
The ODA consortium, a Brussels-based European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG), has attained active support from Bull, IBM, ICL Siemens Nixdorf, Unisys, and WordPerfect.
(Steve Gold/19940525/Press Contact: Vivienne Wilson, WordPerfect UK, 44-932-850500; Reader Contact: ODA consortium - Fax (only) 32-2-774-9690; ODA Conference - Henk Loman, WordPerfect Europe Barbizonlaan 25, 2908 MB Capelle a/d IJssel, Netherlands; tel 31 10-40-70-100, fax 31 10-45-66-255; electronic-mail on the Internet: henklo@wordperfect.com)
onic-mail on the Internet: henklo@wordperfect.com)
5/26/94
Brussels WordPerfect/ODA Conference Set For June
GENERAL
Borland UK Announces C++ 4.0 Upd
Northern Telecom To Pull Out Of
WARSAW, POLAND, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Northern Telecom (NT) has announced that, having been snubbed by the Polish government on telecoms contracts, it is shutting down its Polish operations.
According to the telecoms giant, the decision to shut down the operation was taken after NT saw several other foreign companies notably AT&T (US), Alcatel (France) and Siemens (Germany), secure contracts. This, the company claims, amounts to a closed market hence the pull-out.
Existing customers of NT in Poland will be supported from the company's European headquarters in London, as well as via Kapsch, its Austrian partner. Many customers will be supported by Elwro, the Polish telecoms company which NT invested in two years ago.
Press reports of the pull-out in Warsaw suggest that the pull out is a snub back in the face of Polish Telecom (PT). It is unclear how many staff will be laid off, but the company is thought to have taken on several staff since it set up shop three years ago.
Reports in the local press suggest that NT may still allow PT room for manoeuvre, however, as it will take several months to scale down and transfer support for customers. Newsbytes notes that, now that the new fiscal year is under way, PT may be swayed into awarding some smaller contracts to NT in the hope of keeping the company on.
Northern Telecom, meanwhile, is refusing comment to the press, other than the simple statement that it intends to pull out of the country.
(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940525)
(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940525)
5/26/94
Northern Telecom To Pull Out Of Poland
TELECOM
US West Invests In Spanish Cable
BARCELONA, SPAIN, 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Hard on the heels of announcing plans to acquire Thomson Directories, a UK competitor to Yellow Pages for an undisclosed amount, US West has teamed up with Time Warner to form Cable y Television de Europe (CTE), a joint venture operation with Spanish Multimedia Cable also on the shareholders' list.
The idea of the new company is to build a state-of-the-art cable TV network in the Barcelona region in the south-east of the country. Plans call for CTE's fiber optic network to carry up to 50 channels.
The selection of Barcelona as the chosen spot over Madrid appears to be because the footprint of the Astra TV satellite system, which transmits two Spanish channels, is weaker than over Madrid. Also Barcelona only has a limited local TV network, Newsbytes notes.
Announcing the new venture, Richard Callahan, US West's president said that the project will cost more than $5,000 million to wire up around 600,000 potential households initially, with the same number being added to the network every year over the next ten years, to reach a target six million subscriber households.
"US West International and its associates intend to invest in Spain in such a way that it becomes a market leader in the development of sophisticated domestic entertainment," he explained.
According to Callahan, cable TV will be "one of the most exciting sectors in the industry in the coming years, given that new technology will allow us to expand both interaction with the client and the programming available to them," he said.
If the project is a success, then other cable TV franchises could be possible in Spain, the company said.
(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940525)
(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940525)
5/26/94
US West Invests In Spanish Cable TV
BUSINESS
ing System Blasted B
Unisys Unveils Its SolutionVisio
J SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- Unisys has introduced SolutionVision, a software strategy for development execution and management of enterprise client/server environments. In alliance with Microsoft, Unisys announced the first step of SolutionVision with TransIT Open/OLTP software and its availability for Microsoft's Windows NT operating environment.
In the coming months, Unisys will be announcing new products on a variety of mulitvendor platforms with the intention of bringing client/server computing to operational and decision support applications critical to business transactions.
TransIT Open/OLTP is a suite of client\server products and services that allow universal interoperability among disparate information systems.
Dr. William Bray, vice president and general manager of Software Products Group for Unisys, told Newsbytes, "This company is going through a major transformation from being a company that is considered to be another mainframe company. We are going to be a mainframe company because there is a large customer base that we need to serve. But we are moving from being just a mainframe company to being a server company."
He continued: "We are also moving from a company that has been known, historically, as a hardware organization, to a software and a services organization, because we are determined that we are going to participate in the high growth segment of the information technology industry."
Unisys is making it clear that it will expand itself to provide greater services and support for its existing and potentially new customers, while promising not to back away from its core technologies.
Bray defined TransIT Open/OLTP "as a software environment that allows users to access and update information resources located anywhere in the enterprise. We are delivering TransIT Open/OLTP to Microsoft NT and Microsoft Windows Advanced Server."
TransIT Open/OLTP is available in three packages, as Client/Server Starter, Client/Server, and Distributed Transaction Processing. The price of TransIT Open/OLTP for the U 6000 Series of Unix servers ranges from $1,995 to $25,995 and is currently available. The Windows NT Advanced Server price and availability will be announced in third quarter, 1994.
(Patrick McKenna/19940526/Press Contact: Oliver Picher, Unisys 215-986-5367)
Oliver Picher, Unisys 215-986-5367)
5/26/94
Unisys Unveils Its SolutionVision
GENERAL
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
Hike The Rocky Mountains Virtual
NEDERLAND, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- A Colorado company will soon ship a CD-ROM program for Apple Computer's Macintosh platform that allow the user to snowshoe through the winter landscape of the scenic Rocky Mountain landscape from the comfort of their home.
Rocky Mountain Digital Peeks (RMDP) says it expects to ship its newest Virtual Reality Landscape CD-ROM, titled "Winter Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park" in early June.
The company says the snowshoeing adventure is not a slide show or travelogue, but an interactive exploration of the park's winter environment.
Using a custom program called VLNavigate the user walks through the landscape, controlling destination, orientation, and information. According to RMDP the program gives you the feeling of actually being there by providing surround views at every trail stop panoramas that allow you to explore beautiful vistas, and interactive maps and compass controls that track every move.
The company says all the more than 2,200 color full-screen photos are original, and provide context of the users position rather than just the "best view." A customized palette for each image ensures close to "true color" on 8-bit color computer displays. Eastman Kodak's PhotoCD technology is used to store the images.
The CD-ROM is the first of a series of explorations of "beautiful natural areas and interesting places" the company plans to release. The next title will explore a larger area of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the spring season, including the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park.
RMDP spokesperson and programmer Jim Perdue says the current version of "Winter Hiking" is not a "native" application for the Power Macintosh, but has been tested on that platform and runs well.
Earlier releases include "Calculated Beauty," a fantasy version of a virtual landscape that features over 6,000 square feet of fractal mosaics and a program to customize them for high-resolution printing.
RMDP products are distributed direct to the consumer and through the Educorp and MacZone catalogs. "Winter Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park" has a suggested retail price of $49.
Perdue told Newsbytes a Windows version of the program is scheduled to ship in late 1994. He is also considering releasing a DOS version if there is sufficient demand.
(Jim Mallory/19940526/Press contact: Donna Perdue, Rocky Mountain Digital Peeks, 303-258-3779; Reader contact: Rocky Mountain Digital Peeks, 303-258-3779, Educorp, 800-843-9497, MacZone 800-248-0800)
Hike The Rocky Mountains Virtual Reality Landscape
APPLE
Newsbytes Daily Summary
!PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 26 (NB) -- These are capsule summaries of all today's news reports.
1 -> Watermark To Image-Enable Fax And Label Software 05/26/94 In the two latest deals out of more than a dozen forged so far with other vendors, Watermark's software will be used to "image-enable" SoftLinx's Replix for Windows fax management software and Advanced Labeling Systems (ALS) Inc.'s LabelMAX Director.
2 -> Compaq UK Unveils Two More Presario PCs 05/26/94 ompaq Computer UK has unveiled two new additions to its Presario range of PCs -- the 660 and the 860 CDS. Both machines are billed as fast, with the 860 CDS coming in a new minitower case.
3 -> UK - Pinacl Products Intros Fiber Optic Cable System 05/26/94 Pinacl Products, has unveiled Unitex, a fiber optic product that it claims provides a cost-effective "solution" for internal and external cable installations.
4 -> Informix Dynamic Server 6.0 On Pyramid SMP Computers 05/26/94 Informix Software is now making available its parallel database product, Informix Online Dynamic Server 6.0, on the Nile series and MIServer ES series symmetrical multiprocessor (SMP) enterprise server computers offered by Pyramid.
5 -> DB/Expo - 30,000 Attendees Expected 05/26/94 Blenheim's sixth annual DB/Expo opened this week at the Moscone Center in San Francisco to a large crowd of attendees eager to visit more than 700 exhibits, nine conferences and an almost constant program of noted speakers.
6 -> Motorola Paging System Quiets Retail Stores 05/26/94 If you're tired of hearing loud paging announcements as you wind your way through the aisles of a favorite store, help is on the way from Motorola's Customer Owned Paging Operation (MCOP).
7 -> H/R Pack Employee Tracking Software For PCs Intro'd 05/26/94 d&b Solutions Inc., has announced H/R Pack software, a database program to track employee information, benefit schedules, and training records.
8 -> Easel Boosts Windows, Notes Support 05/26/94 Easel Corp. has added "native" support for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows environment, and support for Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes workgroup software to its line of software development tools. The company introduced the ESL Technology Family, including some new development tools and upgrades of existing Easel software.
9 -> "Totally Wireless" Store Opens In San Jose 05/26/94 Announcing what it claims is the first wireless products retail outlet, Skyway Cellular has opened "Totally Wireless" in San Jose, California, to provide a "single source" for wireless information, sales and service.
10 -> Nanao Bundles Color Management Software With Monitors 05/26/94 Nanao has announced plans to bundle Sonnetech's Colorific, a product billed as the "first software-only color management system," with its FlexScan monitors for PCs and Macs.
11 -> AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices 05/26/94 By John Hastings. As expected, Intel has stated that its prices on the Pentium CPU (central processing unit) chips will drop dramatically before the end of this year.
12 -> Bookworm Multimedia Dev't Tool Lets Users Modify 05/26/94 Bookworm, the electronic book development software from Communication and Information Technologies (CIT) is being announced in conjunction with the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Exhibit this weekend in Los Angeles, California. The software is intended for the development of electronic books for both Macintosh and Microsoft Windows-based personal computers (PCs) that users can modify.
13 -> Toshiba/IBM/Siemens To Develop 64-megabit DRAM 05/26/94 Toshiba has agreed with IBM and Siemens concerning the joint development of a powerful 64-megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
14 -> Japan - Windows Language Translation Prgm Intro'd 05/26/94 Fujitsu has developed language translation software for Windows-based personal computers (PCs). The software was originally developed for Fujitsu's workstations.
15 -> OneSource Pleased Over Lotus/Meridian CD Server Deal 05/26/94 With their first two Windows-based products already on the market and others on the way, officials of OneSource Information Services, a Lotus spinoff, are pleased that Meridian Data has signed with Lotus to complete the development work on Lotus CD/Networker version 5.0 according to Mark VanDine, senior product manager for OneSource.
16 -> Comdex - More On IBM Objects 05/26/94 In an interview with Newsbytes at Comdex, John Schwarz, division director of IBM's Toronto lab, emphasized the company's decision to move from a host-centric procedural software model to a server-centric, object-based software model.
17 -> Comdex - WordPerfect Looks Up Main Street 05/26/94 WordPerfect has been taking it on the chin for months. Its flagship product has reportedly lost market share to Microsoft Word, and a "Wall Street Journal" feature called the firm's managers amateurs, and hinted Novell was buying it to prevent a total collapse. But at Spring Comdex, all that was far away.
18 -> Comdex - Monty Python CD-ROM Launched 05/26/94 Despite some technical difficulties, 7th Level officially launched its Monty Python CD-ROM, titled "The Secret to Intergalactic Success," at a Spring Comdex press conference.
19 -> Comdex - CDs A Major Theme 05/26/94 One main theme at Spring Comdex in Atlanta appeared to be compact discs (CDs).
20 -> Wordperfect Renames Office 4.0a Software Suite 05/26/94 Wordperfect Corp., has renamed and upgraded Wordperfect Office, now calling the product Wordperfect Symmetry 4.1
21 -> ****Sony Signs Multimillion Deal For AP Video Service 05/26/94 In the second largest contract ever for Sony Electronics, Sony has signed with the Associated Press (AP) to design and build a multimillion dollar system, set for November rollout, that will add video capabilities to AP's current network of 92 bureaus in 67 countries.
22 -> Rogers Cable To Harness Microsoft's Tiger 05/26/94 Rogers Cablesystems Ltd., one of the major cable television operators in Canada, has announced plans to use Microsoft Corp.'s recently introduced Tiger media server software to offer new services to its subscribers.
23 -> Compaq Grabs Top Spot For 1st Quarter PC Shipments 05/26/94 Compaq Computer Corporation has taken over the leadership in the US market, at least temporarily, shipping more personal computers (PCs) than any other company during the first quarter of 1994.
24 -> UK Distributor Intros New Range Of Notebooks 05/26/94 Aashima the computer distributor, has announced a new range of Trust branded notebooks. According to the company, the range will be sold exclusively through resellers and will range in price from UKP929 to UKP1,769.
25 -> ****Apple UK Reveals All On System 7.5 & Beyond 05/26/94 Apple Computer UK has outlined its "Stand Out and Fit In" strategy for the future development of its "System" Mac operating system. According to Apple, the strategy calls for the company to deliver regular improvements to the Mac system software and its user interface.
26 -> Brussels WordPerfect/ODA Conference Set For June 05/26/94 WordPerfect Corp., and the Open Document Architecture (ODA) consortium have announced plans to host a developer's conference in Brussels in June.
27 -> Northern Telecom To Pull Out Of Poland 05/26/94 Northern Telecom (NT) has announced that, having been snubbed by the Polish government on telecoms contracts, it is shutting down its Polish operations.
28 -> US West Invests In Spanish Cable TV 05/26/94 Hard on the heels of announcing plans to acquire Thomson Directories, a UK competitor to Yellow Pages, for an undisclosed amount, US West has teamed up with Time Warner to form Cable y Television de Europe (CTE), a joint venture operation with Spanish Multimedia Cable also on the shareholders' list.
29 -> Unisys Unveils Its SolutionVision 05/26/94 Unisys has introduced SolutionVision, a software strategy for development execution and management of enterprise client/server environments. In alliance with Microsoft, Unisys announced the first step of SolutionVision with TransIT Open/OLTP software and its availability for Microsoft's Windows NT operating environment.
30 -> Hike The Rocky Mountains "Virtual Reality" Landscape 05/26/94 A Colorado company will soon ship a CD-ROM program for Apple Computer's Macintosh platform that allow the user to snowshoe through the winter landscape of the scenic Rocky Mountain landscape from the comfort of their home.
(Ian Stokell/19940526)
(Ian Stokell/19940526)
5/26/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Senate Looks At Schools And The
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Education Secretary Richard Riley is urging Congress to make sure schools aren't bypassed by the revolution in telecommunications, by making provisions for free or inexpensive access to information services.
Speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee, Riley said that as it considers rewriting the national telecommunications law Congress should mandate a "public or educational lane on the information superhighway," so that schools will have access to major libraries and museum collections.
Riley's testimony came as a study by civil rights and consumer groups said the new telecommunications technologies could actually serve to widen the gap between rich and poor schools if stiff user fees are imposed for information services. A key aim of the Clinton administration is that the national information infrastructure have universal access.
Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), chairman of the committee and principle sponsor of the Senate telecommunications bill (S. 1822), said he was also concerned that the information highway could turn into "a toll road" available only to the rich.
The hearing turned into something of a technology show. Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) had a principal and student from a high school in Lincoln demonstrate a new IBM project called EduPort. This project involves digitizing video at museums and universities around the nation, storing it at the University of Nebraska, and then sending it over fiber optic cable to the school.
Principal Kathryn Piller used the technology to bring up on a TV screen footage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt making a speech in 1936. The footage is used in the school's American history curriculum.
"We are not out to get rid of books," said student Clay Ehlers. "We are out to get more books. If you can see it and hear it and get it from anywhere in the world, there is nothing better."
Apple Computer was on hand to make its case for allocating a portion of the radio spectrum to schools so they can get wireless access to the infobahn. Apple's Cheryl Vedoe demonstrated wireless technology with students from Chapin Middle School in Chapin, SC, Hollings' home state. The students visited several sites with a PowerBook portable computer from the Senate hearing room, through a wireless connection to the Internet.
Apple's technology is based on "spread-spectrum" radio, a technique which the Federal Communications Commission has approved for unlicensed use in certain frequency bands. Apple believes that hard-wired networks are difficult and expensive while wireless access is free and easy.
(Kennedy Maize/19940526)
is free and easy.
(Kennedy Maize/19940526)
5/27/94
Senate Looks At Schools And The Superhighway
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
Dummies On The Net
Windows Macromedia Director
Difficulties For Korean Computer
Electronic Newsstand Moves To Th
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- The Electronic Newsstand, a Washington-based company founded last year to market magazines, books, newsletters and business information via the Internet, is moving to the World Wide Web (WWW).
The Web is the Internet's multimedia service, offering text sound and graphics using hypertext links between documents. The Mosaic program, developed at the University of Illinois, has become very popular as a way to access WWW documents through personal computers running Windows software.
The newsstand will continue to be available through text-only Gopher services, which will also be available from the newsstand's home page on WWW. The newsstand is also available on online services including America Online and The Well. Why the move to multimedia? "We belied the technology is moving in that direction," Paul Vizza told Newsbytes. "We will begin with a home page and see how that works out. The Web now has a limited number of machines and bandwidth, but we believe that will change."
"While the number of Mosaic users able to access WWW at high speeds is probably in the hundreds of thousands only," said Robert Raisch, president of The Internet Co., and chairman of the newsstand, "the multimedia capabilities offered by it are seductive and, as bandwidth becomes more available through cable and other means, WWW will one day become a serious multimedia platform for commercial users."
Vizza said the newsstand, which began last July with eight magazines and a few readers, is now getting 40,000 to 50,000 calls per day, has 90 titles and is making money. Access to the Electronic Newsstand is free and available by Gopher or telnet at enews.com. Log in as "enews."
(Kennedy Maize/19940526/Contact: Paul Vizza, tel 202-331-7494)
ze/19940526/Contact: Paul Vizza, tel 202-331-7494)
5/27/94
Electronic Newsstand Moves To The World Wide Web
TELECOM
Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, S
NexGen, IBM In Chip Manufacturin
Amdahl's First Massively Paralle
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Amdahl had on display this week at DB Expo in San Francisco the Xplorer 2000, its first series of massively parallel processing database servers, integrating hardware, software and services.
In March, Amdahl announced its strategic alliance with Oracle nCUBE and Information Builders to develop massively parallel processing technology for accessing large volumes of enterprise data. The Xplorer 2000 is the result of its promise to make products available in thirty to sixty days.
Intended to bring new life to mainframe computing in System/390 environments and offer network connectivity, Xplorer 2000 is capable of handling thousands of transactions per second while searching gigabytes of data. Amdahl emphasizes cost improvement and protection of customers' investments in applications, data and hardware. The company also announced new consulting and support services to assist customers to assess the benefits of this technology for their individual uses, as well as additional support for new Xplorer 2000 customers.
Amdahl predicts the key applications for the Xplorer 2000 series will be in business management, demographic analysis, buying pattern analysis, census data analysis, and decision support analysis across multiple databases as is typical in financial simulations.
The first two members of the family are Model 50 with 32 to 64 processor nodes and 10 to 80 gigabytes (GB) disk storage and Model 100 with 64 to 512 processor nodes and 48 to 1,176 GB of storage. Processor nodes for Model 50, upgradable to Model 100, may be added in 16-node increments and in 32-node increments for Model 100. Storage increments are 10 and 12 GB respectively.
Henry Cassel, director of compatible systems for Amdahl, told Newsbytes, "One of the main distinctions of the Xplorer 2000 is its ability to connect to a System/390 mainframe channel while also being connected to a local area network in a client server environment." The Xplorer 2000 series can be configured as System/390 channel attached, database offload processors for DB2 dynamic SQL queries and can be accessed by System/390 compatible processors through as many as 8 System/390 channels.
Cassel continued, "We have been out talking to perspective customers over the past two months and we will begin our first shipments in June." He added: "The mainframe environment has always been strong on data and short on information. The 2000 can access vast quantities of data and turn it into information in a much more cost effective way than any product to date."
(Patrick McKenna/1994/Press Contact: John Radewagen, Neale-May Partners, tel 415-328-5555)
John Radewagen, Neale-May Partners, tel 415-328-5555)
5/27/94
Amdahl's First Massively Parallel Processing Server
GENERAL
OneSource Adds Windows Support
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- OneSource Information Services, Inc., will soon offer a user interface for its collection of business and financial databases that works with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating environment.
OneSource recently previewed OneSource for Windows, saying the new interface will make OneSource products easier to use and add some new searching capabilities.
The new interface will be available for OneSource's collection of databases on CD-ROM. The company said it will continue offering DOS versions of the products as well.
A highlight of the Windows release is new searching capabilities that let users combine numeric and text searching across different databases. For instance, it will now be possible to search for companies with earnings in a certain range and with certain words included in descriptions of their business. That means taking numeric data from one or more databases and at the same time conducting a full-text search on yet another database explained Michael Bailey, a spokesman for OneSource.
OneSource has also created custom applications that work with the major Windows spreadsheet programs -- Microsoft's Excel and former parent company Lotus Development Corp.'s 1-2-3 -- to take information retrieved from OneSource databases and pull it into a worksheet for further massaging. For instance, the U.S. Equities Corporate Tear Sheet application, available for either spreadsheet, is designed to create single-page presentation-quality corporate summaries.
For a limited time, Bailey told Newsbytes, current users of DOS-based OneSource products can upgrade to Windows at no cost. The retail prices for OneSource for Windows are not yet final and the software is expected to ship worldwide within 60 to 90 days.
OneSource for Windows will require a personal computer with at least a 386 processor and four megabytes (MB) of memory, and OneSource recommends a 486 with eight MB. The company is working on provision for Windows and DOS PCs on the same network to share access to the same CD-ROMs, Bailey said.
(Grant Buckler/19940526/Press Contact: Michael Bailey, OneSource tel 617-441-7239, fax 617-441-7135; Public Contact: OneSource tel 800-554-5501/ONESOURC940526/PHOTO)
0-554-5501/ONESOURC940526/PHOTO)
5/27/94
OneSource Adds Windows Support
Correction - IBM Continues OS/2
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- This is a correction to a story titled Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2 Push which ran on the Newsbytes wire May 25, 1994.
The report said that IBM plans an SMP version of OS/2 later this year, and defined the SMP acronym as meaning "Server Market Place." In fact, SMP stands for symmetric multiprocessing.
Newsbytes regrets the error.
(Newsbytes/19940527)
ts the error.
(Newsbytes/19940527)
5/27/94
Correction - IBM Continues OS/2 Push
CORRECTION
Newsbytes Off For Memorial Day
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- This is a reminder that Newsbytes will not be published on Monday May 30 in honor of Memorial Day in the United States.
Our regular publishing schedule resumes Tuesday, May 31.
(Newsbytes/19940527)
May 31.
(Newsbytes/19940527)
5/27/94
Newsbytes Off For Memorial Day
GENERAL
Creative 3DO PC Add-on Cards, Wi
SINGAPORE, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Creative Technology makers of the Sound Blaster line of products for personal computers (PCs), is demonstrating a prototype of its 3DO PC add on card at the Spring Comdex show in Atlanta, Georgia. The company also announced a line of wireless pen and mouse input devices, and new titles for its Screen Singer for Windows series.
The 3DO add-on card will require a Creative Labs multimedia upgrade kit, which includes a CD-ROM drive. Rich Buchanan director of product marketing for Creative's video and CD technologies, said a user interface will allow a double-click on a 3DO application which will then present the 3DO player either full-screen or partial screen. The add-on card will contain the complete 3DO processor as well as the 3DO graphics chipset Buchanan added. No retail pricing was available, but without the expense of the CD-ROM drive the add-on card is sure to be less than a 3DO system.
Creative says it has an exclusive on the cards and eventually hopes to marry its technology in sound and CD-ROM with 3DO's technology in other products further down the road. For now however, plans are to release the 3DO add-on card before the end of the year.
The 3DO company does not produce its own products, but licenses its technology to hardware and software companies who produce game systems and software titles. The widely-heralded 3DO multiplayer, which began shipping last year, connects to a television set and is equipped with computing horsepower able to drive graphics and game play up to 50 times faster than other game systems. Shipped last year under the Panasonic brand name the unit is based on a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) chip from ARM and uses compact discs (CDs).
While 3DO claims it has 700 outside software developers working on titles, about only 50 titles are currently available for the system. However, the system appears to have made a big splash when launched in Japan in March, according to company officials.
Creative Technology also announced the Aeromouse, Aeropen, and Aeroduet three-dimensional (3D) wireless pen and mouse computing devices based on its Freepoint infrared technology. The Aeroduet is both the mouse and pen units bundled in the same package.
Like a traditional mouse, the Aeromouse or Aeropen receiver attaches to the serial port of a PC and processes infrared signals the x, y, and z axis location. The Aeromouse and Aeropen contain no moving parts and require no wires. A control panel software interface allows the user to customize a virtual work area and configure the product, scaling the work area size setting the cursor size, setting performance characteristics, and switching from mouse to tablet mode. The user can also switch from a traditional horizontal mode to a vertical 2-dimensional mode for presentations and PC-generated slideshows, Creative said.
The mouse and pen hand held units operate on two AAA batteries and feature a "touch sensitive" power management that only powers the unit when it is in the grasp of the user for maximum battery life. Retail pricing was not available at press time, but Creative claims the wireless input devices will ship in August.
Creative also announced new titles for its Windows-based Screen Singer compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) series for August 1994 availability. Each title will focus on a music segment, such as movie themes, Broadway showtunes, country and western, golden oldies, pop hits of the '80s and '90s, children's melodies American folk songs, and Christmas carols. In addition to music which can also be played on an audio CD system, the titles will offer karaoke, color images, animation, graphics presentation templates for use in desktop publishing, and screen savers.
Screen Singer requires a 386-based PC running at 33 megahertz (MHz) with 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), 2 MB free hard disk space, Microsoft Windows 3.1 with a 640 by 480 256-color super video graphics array (SVGA) display, a Sound Blaster audio card, a CD-ROM drive, and speakers or headphones.
The acknowledged leader in the PC sound card market, Creative Technology's US subsidiaries include Creative Labs, E-mu Systems and Sharevision. Reported revenues for Creative Technology (NASDAQ-NNM: CREAf) were nearly tripled to about $292 million in its 1993 fiscal year.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940526/Press Contact: Benita Kenn, Creative Labs, tel 408-428-6600 ext 6406; Matt Afflixio, Cunningham Communication for Creative Technology, tel 408-982-0400, fax 408 980-6170)
tive Technology, tel 408-982-0400, fax 408 980-6170)
5/27/94
Creative 3DO PC Add-on Cards, Wireless Mouse & Pen
Denmark - Technology Briefs
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Here's a look at some technology items from the Newsbytes bureau in Scandinavia.
COMPUTERS HELP DECISION ON DANISH-SWEDISH BRIDGE:
Supercomputers are now working overtime to feed the discussion about environmental effects of one of Europe's biggest construction projects - a bridge linking Denmark and Sweden.
The Danish government has already approved the project and started construction work. In Sweden, however, a so-called "Water Court" has decided that harmful effects of a bridge on animal and plant life in the waters of Oeresund must be eliminated further.
Consequently, work starts all over for the supercomputers used by the Danish Hydraulic Institute to calculate the flux of sea-water in the strait between the two Scandinavian countries. Calculations are expected to last up to two weeks.
DANISH NEURAL NETWORK HELPS EYE SPECIALISTS
Artificial intelligence can now help ophthalmologists diagnose the eye disease glaucoma up to six years earlier than was previously possible, says Danish medical doctor Simon von Spreckelsen.
Until now the eye disease was often uncovered too late to save the patient's eyesight. This frustrated von Spreckelsen, a doctor at the major Hvidovre Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark so much that he decided to utilize computer technology instead.
Dr. Simon von Spreckelsen's invention allows photographs of the eye's cornea to be analyzed by a neural network on a regular PC. The program knows which symptoms to look for and even improves its knowledge with every test, says von Spreckelsen.
He expects the invention to be ready for mass production in three years. At that time, the test will be simple and cheap enough to be performed by general physicians and opticians.
DANISH OLIVETTI SUBSIDIARY BEST SELLING OUTSIDE ITALY
Olivetti's Scandinavian activities, controlled from Denmark are the best-selling subsidiary of the giant Italian IT group. In 1993, Olivetti Scandinavia showed a growth of 15 percent to a turnover of 142 million dollars.
The Danes in Olivetti had success in reducing costs. They fell from 48 to 34 percent of the company's turnover. Next year further cuts are expected to reduce costs to 30%.
Olivetti fights Compaq to be Denmark's second largest supplier of PCs after IBM. Last year, Olivetti reached a market share of 13 percent. In the inkjet printer market, Olivetti is now number one in Denmark with a 20% market share, according to the company's own figures.
(Leif Bomberg & Lars Moeller & Allan Thestrup/19940525)
er & Allan Thestrup/19940525)
5/27/94
Denmark - Technology Briefs
GENERAL
Samsung To Make PDAs
SEOUL, KOREA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Advanced RISC Machines (ARM), the company that makes the chips that power the Apple Newton Messagepad and the 3DO multiplayer, has licensed its technology to Korean electronics giant Samsung. Samsung has said it is planning a personal digital assistant (PDA) some time in the future as a result of the agreement for the reduced instruction set computing (RISC) technology.
The more immediate plan for the ARM6, ARM7, and ARM610 RISC chips Samsung has licensed, is to incorporate the technology in Samsung's own peripheral products, including hard disk drives laser-beam printers, and multimedia processors.
Samsung can't sell the technology in a merchant way for two years according to the agreement with ARM. This leaves the company to produce products with the RISC technology, instead of components used by others to create products, as has been its practice.
Hyung Lae Roh, director of Samsung's Micro Component Business Group said: "The convergence of sophisticated digital technologies, from wireless personal digital assistants and cellular fax/phones to set-top boxes and interactive TV, is creating a critical need for low-cost, high-performance computational power embedded in these devices to control them." Samsung officials told Newsbytes the ARM chips are the core, or engine, for a number of different applications the company is investigating.
The low-power consumption ARM6 and ARM7 chips macrocells are 32 bit RISC processor cores that can be used as the basis for application-specific semiconductor products. The 32-bit ARM610 RISC microprocessor is the same chip that powers the Newton Messagepad PDA. The ARM60 powers the 3DO multiplayer, but was not licensed by Samsung.
UK headquartered ARM Ltd., was formed in 1990 by Acorn Computers Apple Computer, and VLSI Technology. A fourth investor, Nippon Investment and Finance (NIF), a Daiwa Securities company, was added in 1993 to strengthen the company's position in the Japanese market.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940527/Press Contact: Tad Bixby, Edelman Worldwide Public Relations for Samsung, tel 415-968-4033, fax 415-968-2201; Vera Haire, Samsung Electronics, 408-954-7228)
tronics, 408-954-7228)
5/27/94
Samsung To Make PDAs
BUSINESS
Proposed Rating System Blasted B
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Small software publishers, especially those marketing shareware, are extremely concerned about establishment of a ratings system for video games that they say could put them out of business. In response to consumer concerns, a group of legislators are proposing a ratings system to be administered by a newly formed Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), in which software publishers would have to pay a fee to get their games rated for distribution.
The fray started over software titles for the type of home game systems that connect to television sets. The violent nature and sexual overtures of some titles, such as Night Trap for the Sega system and Mortal Combat for Sega, Nintendo, and personal computers, have stirred public concern and controversy. Sega and Nintendo have conducted public "mud slinging" in press releases over the issue, but both companies have now teamed up in support of the IDSA.
The rating system would not be mandatory, and in fact, has not even been established. But US Representative Tom Lantos (D-Calif) along with Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn) and Herbert Kohl (D-Wisc) have sent letters to retail outlets encouraging them to only carry software rated by the IDSA. Two sets of hearings have been conducted over the issue and a third hearing will be conducted this summer before the rating guidelines are set, the legislators said. Walmart, Toys R Us, and Babbages have all expressed a desire in public hearings for a rating system, and said they would only carry rated software if a system is established.
The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), the Shareware Trade Association and Resources (STAR), the Educational Software Cooperative (ESC), and the Association of Shareware Authors and Distributors (ASAD) have said the rating could put some software publishers under because either shareware authors couldn't afford the fees of $500 or more per title, or they couldn't have their software distributed in the retail channels without the rating. The four groups represent over 2,000 software developers.
Shareware authors, who distribute their titles on a try-before you-buy basis, are only paid if the person who uses the software decides to respond to a request for payment programmed into the software. About 10 percent pay, one shareware author told Newsbytes. Some shareware authors make as little as $5,000 a year, according to Karen Crowther, president of educational software company Redwood Games and a member of all three shareware software associations.
In addition, the shareware groups are expressing concern that Sega and Nintendo, who they say have a history of using US legislation to stifle competition, are trying to use the rating system to put small software developers out of the running.
The shareware authors say they can rate themselves, without the expensive fees. But that raises the question as to how many ratings systems might arise and whether or not the systems would be followed. A single, nationwide rating system would make it easier for retailers and parents alike and is more likely to be followed, according to the legislators. Rosemary West, of the ESC said all four groups are working on a single rating system that they feel will be more specific than the IDSA system.
In addition, software developers are expressing concern over having an independent body in contact with other developers get an advanced look at their software titles. The workload of rating the thousands of game software titles is a matter of concern as well, the shareware groups said.
The rating system is an attempt at avoiding legislation on the issue and aimed only at video games, not educational programs business software titles, or other productivity software. The issue as to whether the ratings system will apply to all software or just to cartridge or CD games is another that has not been decided.
Jamie Schwing, judiciary committee aide to Senator Kohl told Newsbytes that the senator "understands the legitimate concerns of the shareware authors." There is no plan on the part of the legislators to favor the "big guys" against the small publishers or to give anyone a competitive advantage, Schwing added, "We would hope all segments of the industry would work together for the common good of the consumer."
Crowther said the bottom line for consumers is a fee-based ratings system will boost the price of software. "None of us will be able to sell our software for $5, $10, or $15 a copy if we have to pay $500 a title."
Interested parties are invited to attend the third hearing on the ratings system. Information on time and location of the final hearing this summer will be available from the offices of the legislators, Schwing said. The IDSA hopes to have the ratings system established by fall and software titles with ratings in stores by the holiday season this year.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940527/Press Contact: Karen Crowther, Redwood Games, tel 707-937-3320, fax 707-937-3320; Jan Abbott Association of Shareware Professionals, 616-788-5131; Rosemary West, Educational Software Cooperative, 818-363-3966; Doug Lowenstein, Robinson Lakes Sawyer & Miller PR for IDSA, 202-457 6372; US Representative Tom Lantos, tel 415-342-0300; Senator Joseph Lieberman, 202-224-4073, Senator Herbert Kohl, tel 202 224-4129, fax 202-224-9787)
nator Herbert Kohl, tel 202 224-4129, fax 202-224-9787)
5/27/94
Proposed Rating System Blasted By Small Software Pubs
Australia - PC 94 Computer Show
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- The latest computer show held in Australia was PC 94 in the state of Queensland, the "Sunshine State." Visitors came from all over the state and from Papua, New Guinea to the near north.
Held over May 17-19 with just under 13,000 visitors, this wasn't a big show by international standards, but organizer Australian Exhibition Services (AES) reports that visitors and exhibitors were very pleased with the show. Key exhibitors included Anabelle Bits, Canon, AST, IBM, NEC, Toshiba, Optima, NetComm and Total Peripherals. Sybiz Pacific Queensland, and Optima Computer Technology won awards for their stand design.
Although it was the first AES show in Brisbane, it was the 23rd show AES has held in Australia.
Gabrielle Stephens of AES commented, "The PC show is essentially 'business driven' and visitors had the opportunity to shop around, ask questions, compare and find specific solutions to their PC and information technology needs, all under the one roof at Brisbane. Due to the outstanding success bookings for next year have already been made and we're moving to a bigger venue at the new Brisbane Exhibition Center."
Like all AES PC shows, visitors under 18 years are not allowed. AES does, however, run home shows that cater to all ages.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- NetComm, the company that cut its prices by up to 50 percent last month, has come up with new models for the consumer market. And Hayes, the US manufacturer that told Newsbytes in could easily cut prices to fight NetComm, has done just that - at up to 50 percent.
The four new NetComm models are said to be aimed directly at the growing SOHO (small office, home office) marketplace. They appear to be some of NetComm's high-end products repackaged and represented at a lower price, and available in mass-outlets such as Harvey Norman Discounts chain. The packaging highlights key applications such as faxing from the PC, global access to information libraries, bulletin boards and the Internet, and remote access/telecommuting. Retail price for the products ranges from AUS$199-$599 (around US$145-$435).
(Paul Zucker/19940527)
35).
(Paul Zucker/19940527)
5/27/94
Australia - Modem Manoeuvring
TELECOM
Identity To Introduce Notebook P
CARROLLTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Identity Systems Technology Inc., is poised to ship a line of customizable notebook computers it says lets the user "build their own dream system."
The standard Identity Select notebook system is built around a 486SX 25 megahertz (MHz) microprocessor, and comes with four megabytes (MB) of system memory, a 128MB hard drive, a monochrome display capable of displaying 64 shades of gray, a built-in 25mm trackball two PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Type II slots or one Type III, a Super VGA port that supports external monitors with resolutions up to 1024 X 768 in 256 colors, one 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive, a PS/2 mouse/external keyboard port, and parallel and serial ports. The NiCad (nickel-cadmium) battery-powered system comes with MS-DOS 6.21 Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and PFS: Window Works software installed. The base system has a suggested retail price of $1,799.
Identity is offering a number of upgrade options, including a dual scan 256 color display, 486DX and SX 33MHz and 486DX2 50 and 66MHz central processors, and hard drives with capacities of 210MB, 340MB or 524MB. Memory upgrades to 8,16, 20 or 32MB are also available. Other options include on-board dual batteries, up to 1MB of video RAM (random access memory), and a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery.
You can also get a sound card that supports the Microsoft Windows 3.1 sound system, Sound Blaster and the Microsoft Sound Recorder and Media Player systems. The sound card has one line-in and one line-out jack and a microphone jack.
Identity says the system will run for about two hours on a single battery and twice that on dual batteries. Recharge time is one to two hours, and power management provides standby and suspend modes to extend battery life. The marble-sized trackball, which replaces a mouse, is centered below the keyboard.
You can add a 101-key keyboard with a trackball, a 14-inch non-interlaced monitor, and a docking station that supports multimedia devices such as CD-ROM drives and stereo speakers.
Identity will market its Identity Select computers through mass merchants and consumer electronics specialty stores under its SelectandShip program. The store displays a sample computer for a hands-on inspection and test drive. After deciding on the desired options, a customer pays the store, and Identity ships direct to the buyer.
According to Identity Chairman Tony Sachdeva the system is built tested, and shipped within 72 hours of order receipt.
The systems are scheduled to be officially introduced on Memorial Day.
(Jim Mallory/19940527/Press contact: Alan Weinkrantz for Identity Systems Technology, 210-820-3070; Reader contact: Identity Systems Technology, 213-323-4600 or 800-723-8258, fax 214-323-0666/SELECT940527/PHOTO)
fax 214-323-0666/SELECT940527/PHOTO)
5/27/94
Identity To Introduce Notebook PCs
High Tech Execs Cheer Clinton Ch
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- America's computer and telecommunications industries were jubilant following President Clinton's decision to continue most favored nation trading status for China and to delink human rights from trade in future decisions on MFN.
"Delinking trade and human rights creates the best environment for increased US exports," said Jerry Junkins, Texas Instruments chief executive officer, speaking for The Business Roundtable, a group of major US corporations.
"We believe the president's announcement today to delink trade and human rights will not only increase trade and create high tech, high wage jobs in the US, but provide focus and constructive engagement on human rights necessary to address US concerns," said Dick Iverson, president and chief executive officer of the American Electronics Association which represents high tech companies in Washington.
Iverson noted that China is the world's fourth largest economy and the fastest growing. "With such a high growth rate, China has a tremendous need to build up its economic infrastructure -- not only roads, airports and bridges -- but telecommunications and information infrastructure," he said. "US industry can and should supply these needs."
AT&T issued a statement praising Clinton's decision to abandon his campaign promise to link progress on human rights in China with most favored nation status. "This decision means continued access for American-made products to China's large and rapidly growing market for telecommunications equipment," said AT&T.
The telecommunications giant said it "brings with it to China its global corporate values and best operational practices. We will strive to uphold and promote these values in every community where we do business, including -- as the president has urged -- in China."
Personal computer maker AST Research, which says it has the largest share of the PC market in China, also praised the White House action. "Information tools empower people, provide access to information and help them to promote and manage change," said Safi Qureshey, AST's president and chief executive officer. Wai Szeto, head of Asian operations for AST, said the market for personal computers in China will grow 30 percent this year. The Clinton decision, he said, "removed a lot of the negative feelings and we can go ahead and develop our business."
(Kennedy Maize/19940527/Contact: AEA, Ramona Gann, tel 202-682-4443; AT&T, Jim McGann, tel 202-457-3942; AST, Gerry Lynne Baker, tel 714-727-7959)
942; AST, Gerry Lynne Baker, tel 714-727-7959)
5/27/94
High Tech Execs Cheer Clinton China Decision
Parallel Processing At DB/Expo
[ SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- From DB/Expo in San Francisco, White Cross Systems of the United Kingdom introduced its 9000 product line of servers with massively parallel processor technology. Its two models, the 9010 Deskside Server and Model 9020, are appropriate for databases in the 1-20 gigabytes (GB) range, and 20 GB to the 100s of GB range respectively.
Dr. Bill Porter, director of marketing, told Newsbytes, "Our primary target for the 9000 line is complex decision support systems. It is important to realize that customers do not care whether it is mainframe technology or not, they just want to use the technology to produce the information they need from large amounts of data. Our technology allows that information to be produced in speeds that may be fifty times faster than the most powerful mainframes. As the size of the data increases, nodes of processors may be added to assure that there is almost no degradation in information access speed."
According to White Cross, it is the first company to be certified by the US Government standards organization (NIST) as 100% compliant to ISO 9075 SQL database language standard. While the entry level of most massively parallel technology-based systems may be over $1,000,000, White Cross with an emphasis on business decision support, delivers entry-level systems at $200,000. These prices may at first seem very high, but the delivery of information in the speeds offered by this technology allows a business to potentially increase its profits dramatically.
Bill Porter continued, "We have one customer in the UK who has paid for the cost of the technology in a month by the use of information they did not previously have. Typically, this information might be a new type of customer or a new purchasing trend."
White Cross has designed its products for markets such as banking, financial services, insurance, retail sales mail order sales and travel industry services. Applications include sales and marketing analysis, customer profiling demographics, sales analysis, risk analysis and product profitability.
An entry level system scans rows of relational tables at some 3,000,000 per second. To date, White Cross has thirteen units in place in the UK, Japan, and South Africa.
(Patrick McKenna/19940526/Press Contact: Lisa Compass, White & Cromer, tel 415-274-8119)
hite & Cromer, tel 415-274-8119)
5/27/94
Parallel Processing At DB/Expo
GENERAL
HK Telecom Picks Microsoft Mail
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Hongkong Telecommunications has signed a two year, HK$15 million (around US$ 2 million) contract with Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd for the corporate-wide provision of a range of PC desktop and networked software products. As a result of the deal, negotiated under the Microsoft Select program, over 5,000 Hongkong Telecom personnel will be given access to an enterprise-wide electronic mail network based on Microsoft Mail.
Microsoft Select is a corporate enterprise volume purchasing program which streamlines product acquisition, licensing, and maintenance for large and multinational corporations. The Select contract covers all Hongkong Telecom business units including Hongkong Telecom CSL and ComputAsia.
Hongkong Telecom is adopting Microsoft Office applications including the Word document processing program, Excel spreadsheet program and PowerPoint business graphic program, as the corporate standard for PCs running Microsoft Windows. It will also start to use Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server network operating system and Microsoft SQL Server network database management system as the foundation for selected business applications.
"The prospect of operating an enterprise-wide electronic mail network is a very exciting one for us. It will enable us to speed up internal communication and implement a series of workgroup applications that use the e-mail for data transport," said Tom Sheppard, Hongkong Telecom's director of information technology.
He added that the firm is standardizing its word processor spreadsheet and business graphics applications on the Microsoft Office products line, "so that we're all operating in the same environment."
Hongkong Telecom has committed to purchasing more than 10,000 units of Microsoft applications over two years, and 2,000 units worth of products from the server pool. The agreements also cover software maintenance, enabling the company to upgrade software purchased under Microsoft's Select program as new versions appear during the contract period.
"This is the largest single software contract signed by Microsoft Hong Kong and one of the largest single-country orders to date under the Microsoft Select programme worldwide. Hongkong Telecom will now be able to manage its software purchasing and installation internally with a minimum of paperwork," said Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd.
Microsoft Mail post offices will be installed on up to 100 local area networks (LANs) running at over 30 Hongkong Telecom sites across the territory. The post office program passes messages between local Microsoft Mail users and exchanges messages with Mail post offices serving users connected to other LANs.
The LAN-based e-mail network largely replaces a host computer-based messaging system that, because of cost, was reserved for use by senior Hongkong Telecom managers. A gateway between Microsoft Mail and the old Digital All-In-One system will be used to exchange messages across the Cable & Wireless Group's global e-mail network.
(Keith Cameron/19940525/Press Contact: Dora Wong, Microsoft 852 804 4266)
ora Wong, Microsoft 852 804 4266)
5/27/94
HK Telecom Picks Microsoft Mail
BUSINESS
Bill Gates Awards Windows Compet
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Want to shake hands with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates? All you have to do is write a custom Microsoft Windows application that provides an effective solution to a business or organizational problem and enter it in the annual Windows World Open.
You'll have to wait until next year for your few minutes in the spotlight. Gates awarded the trophies for the 1994 winning applications earlier this week in Atlanta, Georgia at this year's Windows World trade show.
Show organizers say more than 140 qualifying entries were received. That number was narrowed to 24 finalists who showed their applications in Atlanta as part of the final round of judging. All finalists received recognition at the awards ceremony when the winners got their trophies from Gates.
The winner in the Finance category was The Bank of New York. The Office of Pupil Transportation/Fund for the City of New York captured the government/Public Administration category. Molly Maid took honors in the Healthcare/Services field, while Eastman Kodak walked off with the trophy in Manufacturing.
Other US winners were the Mattabassett District in the Transportation/Communications/Utilities field, and Marvin Windows and Doors for Wholesale/Retail/Distribution programming.
International entrants also took home trophies. ABASIS S.A. de C.V. won with a mortgage loan program in the Insurance/Real Estate category, while J.L. Sistemas, C.A./Domino's Pizza of Venezuela was first in the Other category with its Fast Food Store Control System.
The Windows World Open competition is sponsored by Computerworld Microsoft and Windows World. Co-sponsors include AT&T Global Information Solutions, Fortune magazine, Borland International Cognos and Wall Data.
(Jim Mallory/19940526/Press contact: Pam Fricke, Janet Church & Associates, 206-443-3329; Reader contact for competition packet: 800-829-4143 or 206-443-3329)
ompetition packet: 800-829-4143 or 206-443-3329)
5/27/94
Bill Gates Awards Windows Competition Trophies
GENERAL
Delrina Signs Deals On Internet,
ll Gates Awards Windows Compet
DEC Names Auer To Head PC Unit
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corp. has named Bernhard Auer, former head of its European personal computer operations, to head its Personal Computer Business Unit.
Auer, a 53-year-old German, takes over day-to-day responsibility for the PC unit from Enrico Pesatori, who recently took on added responsibility for DEC's Systems Business Unit and worldwide sales and marketing.
As vice-president and general manager of the PC unit, Auer will continue to report to Pesatori, who retains authority over the PC unit as vice-president of the systems and personal computer business units, company spokeswoman Judy Carlson told Newsbytes.
Before his one-year stint as head of DEC's European PC operations, Auer was for three years vice-president and managing director of the general business group of Compaq Computer Corp.'s European operation. Before that, he spent 23 years with IBM.
Auer will move from DEC's European headquarters in Geneva to world headquarters in Massachusetts.
While Digital continues to lose money, its personal computer unit is showing some promise. Recent figures from market researcher Dataquest say that in 1993 the company's share of the worldwide personal computer market grew from .52 percent to 1.27 percent in unit terms, with unit shipments more than doubling. Digital's revenues from personal computers also more than doubled, from $452.8 million in 1992 to $977.5 million in 1993 Dataquest said.
(Grant Buckler/19940527/Press Contact: Judy Carlson, Digital Equipment, tel 508-496-9607, fax 508-496-8572)
508-496-9607, fax 508-496-8572)
5/27/94
DEC Names Auer To Head PC Unit
BUSINESS
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
Dummies On The Net
Windows Macromedia Director
Computer Associates' Revenue, In
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Computer Associates International Inc., continued its strong financial performance by reporting a substantial growth in revenue and net income for the fiscal year ended March 31.
Thanks largely to growth in its midrange client/server software business, CA posted net income of $401.26 million or $2.34 per share for the year, up 63 percent from the previous year's $245.54 million or $1.44 per share.
Revenues were $2,148.47 million, up 17 percent from the previous year's $1,841.01 million.
The strongest growth was in sales of CA's midrange software products. Deborah Coughlin, vice-president of investor relations told Newsbytes that the release of the first versions of Unicenter, the company's system management software for Unix and personal computer servers, played a large part in the midrange growth.
Midrange software made up 10 percent of CA's sales in fiscal 1994, Coughlin said, up from six percent in the previous year. In the fourth quarter, midrange software sales brought in 13 percent of the company's revenue.
The mainframe market, which was CA's historic base, is generally weakening. Nonetheless, Coughlin said, CA's sales in that market continued to grow in the past year, though not as fast as its midrange business.
Earlier this month, CA announced plans to buy The Ask Group Inc., California-based maker of the Open Ingres database server software and other products, through a share offer expected to work out to between $310 and $315 million. Company officials said this will extend the company's focus on the client/server market.
In the fourth quarter, CA reported net income of $158.79 million or 93 cents per share, on revenues of $633.74 million. Those figures compare to net income of $99.1 million, or 57 cents per share, on revenues of $540.06 million in the final quarter of fiscal 1993. On a year-over-year basis, net income rose 60 percent while revenues were up 17 percent.
Computer Associates' board of directors announced an increase in the company's dividend from 14 to 20 cents per year, to be paid twice a year.
(Grant Buckler/19940527/Press Contact: Deborah Coughlin, Computer Associates, tel 516-342-2173, fax 516-342-5329; Public Contact: Computer Associates, tel 516-342-5224)
Contact: Computer Associates, tel 516-342-5224)
5/27/94
Computer Associates' Revenue, Income Up Again
BUSINESS
Analysts Downplay DEC Cash Probl
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- The resignation of Digital Equipment Corp.'s chief financial officer soon after a confidential memo warning of cash problems at the company was leaked may be mostly a matter of embarrassing timing. However, the change does appear to reflect dissatisfaction with past financial management.
On Thursday, May 26, the Wall Street Journal reported on an internal memo written in April by DEC Treasurer Ilene Jacobs which warned that the money-losing company was using up its cash reserves too fast and might soon have to borrow against accounts receivable. Also on Thursday, DEC announced the resignation of Chief Financial Officer William M. Steul "to pursue other interests."
The sudden replacement of Steul by Vin Mullarkey, formerly DEC's corporate controller, made the memo look significant. And a reference to Mullarkey's "strong background in financial management and controls" in a statement announcing his appointment strengthens the impression that the change could have been a response to concerns raised in Jacobs' memo.
Company officials denied this. Jim Chiafery, a DEC spokesman told Newsbytes Mullarkey was not appointed in response to the memo. However, he admitted the appointment was meant to tighten financial controls and improve DEC's focus on returning to profitability.
DEC lost $183 million in its most recent fiscal quarter, and revenue dropped by six percent, reversing five quarters of revenue growth. Officials have admitted the loss was unexpected.
Wall Street analysts told Newsbytes that cash flow is fairly far down on the list of DEC's problems.
"The company is certainly in a strong enough cash position," said David Wu, who follows DEC for S.G. Warburg in New York. While Digital's cash reserves may not be as strong as the company would like, Wu told Newsbytes, customer confidence in the firm is a far more pressing problem. "I don't think they're going under," he said.
Shao Wang, who watches DEC for Smith Barney in New York, agreed. "I think the cash issue might be a little bit overplayed," he told Newsbytes, noting that it is normal for most companies to use up more cash early in a fiscal quarter than they do toward the end of the quarter.
Chiafery noted that Jacobs wrote her memo early in the quarter when "not all the dust had settled" from the third-quarter loss announcement. Warning of potential cash problems is part of the treasurer's job, he said, but DEC's cash reserves are satisfactory now.
Wang said cash flow may be something of an issue for Digital, but he said it is less important than controlling expenses and building up the company's revenues.
The company has lost $3 billion in the past three fiscal years. Edward Lucente, former vice-president of sales and marketing resigned under pressure late in April.
In early May, President and Chief Executive Robert Palmer told company employees the firm's revenue per employee is too low, and warned that the present staff of more than 90,000 will be cut to about 65,000 over the next couple of years.
The company needs to make up its mind which of its businesses to stay in and which to leave, Wu said.
(Grant Buckler/19940527/Press Contact: Jeffry Gibson, Digital Equipment, tel 508-493-6865)
act: Jeffry Gibson, Digital Equipment, tel 508-493-6865)
5/27/94
Analysts Downplay DEC Cash Problem, Despite CFO Change
BUSINESS
IBM Signs Agreement With Excalib
DEC Cash Probl
Networking Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Proteon Inc., The Open Software Foundation, Legato Systems Inc., Beame & Whiteside Software.
Proteon Inc., (508-898-2800), claims in the SNA (Systems Network Architecture) internetworking market, it has bettered the competition in a Data Link Switching (DLSw) industry benchmark performance test. The testing, which also reportedly involved IBM Corp. and Wellfleet Communications, was sponsored by the Tolly Group and Layland Consulting. The test involved megabits-per-second throughput under various SNA packet (RU) sizes. The tests were run from Token Ring to Token Ring across a T1 WAN (wide area network) link, with the highest possible throughput at 1.53 Mbps. At RU sizes of 256 bytes, Proteon's CNX 600 router reportedly achieved a throughput level of 1.33, compared to .32 for IBM and .79 for Wellfleet. At 512 bytes, Proteon's throughput was 1.39 compared to .64 for IBM and .91 for Wellfleet.
The Open Software Foundation, (617-621-8997), announced the general availability of its Distributed Management Environment (DME) Network Management Option (NMO) 1.0 technology. The second component of DME, the NMO reportedly provides a "common, vendor neutral" platform to access network management services. The NMO provides technology for applications that need to access the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and the Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP) to manage network devices. It consists of the XMP application programming interface (API) which has been standardized by X/Open, as well as other communication tools. The underlying technologies that were selected by OSF come from Bull S.A. (Bull), Hewlett-Packard (HP), and Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme (SNI). Bull was chosen as the prime integrator for NMO and also supplied the XMP technology.
Legato Systems Inc., (415-812-6112), announced its new quarterly Device Support Supplement program that will enable Legato NetWorker backup and recovery software to support newly introduced devices faster. Each quarter, Legato plans to introduce support for the new tape, optical, and autochanger devices commonly requested by its customers. Included in the first release of the quarterly Device Support Supplement is support for new DAT (digital audio tape) DLT, optical, and 8mm devices. NetWorker now has expanded support of 4mm DAT through support of the DDS-2 format WangDAT 3400DX and the dual-drive, DDS-2, 12 slot ADIC VLS 4mm autochanger.
Beame & Whiteside Software, (919-831-8989), announced BW-Connect TCP and BW-Connect 3.1, the new versions of the company's TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and NFS connectivity software introduced in April, are now shipping to customers. The company's BW-Connect products now include support for Windows Virtual Device Drivers. Beame & Whiteside is also shipping versions of BW-Connect NFS that will support Microsoft's TCP/IP protocol stack or Novell's TCP/IP for LAN Workplace. BW-Connect NFS 3.1 includes a Beame & Whiteside's TCP/IP protocol stack developed specifically for Windows environments. BW-Connect 3.1 can support up to 64 simultaneous Windows sockets, as opposed to 20 sockets in the previous release. A BW-Connect NFS client can also be configured to give remote users access local files printers, and other resources using TELNET, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and other TCP/IP-related sessions. BW-Connect TCP for DOS and Windows retails for $245, BW-Connect NFS for DOS and Windows sells for $349, BW-Connect NFS for Microsoft sells for $299 and BW-Connect NFS for LAN (local area network) Workplace sells for $199. All four products start shipping this week.
(Ian Stokell/19940527)
an Stokell/19940527)
5/27/94
Networking Roundup
GENERAL
COMDEX - Singapore Company Relea
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- MediaMagic, a unit of IPC Technologies in Singapore, released the Telemetry-32, a simultaneous communications manager designed in a joint agreement with AT&T.
IPC entered the US market through the purchase of Austin Computers, a PC clonemaker it put the IPC name on earlier this year. The new board was designed in the US, made in Singapore and comes to the market at a low price of $399.
Ed Prokop, vice president of MediaMagic, called the product a "truly simultaneous communications manager that works." The board is based on AT&T's VCOS operating system and DSP3207 digital signal processor, and offers a 19,200 data and fax modem upgradable via the modem, a system for tracking incoming and outgoing calls, using the telephone networks' Caller ID features and digital answering machine capabilities. In addition, the Telemetry-32 is a complete 16-bit audio board compatible with all major sound standards. It runs on any IBM compatible PC with a 386 or faster processor, and ships in mid-summer.
The press conference was also a coming-out party for IPC, which said it had revenues of $380 million last year and earned a 9 percent after-tax return, for profits of about $33 million. The company projects a 15-25 percent annual growth rate for 1994, and it's publicly traded on the Singapore stock exchange. The company has a number of circuit-board plants each capable of producing millions of units per year, and it's a major maker of point-of sale terminals or cash registers as well as computers.
US Observers noted some irony in all this. A few years ago Far East companies used their low labor costs to produce board-level products for US brands. Now the profits from that have become capital, which is being used to buy US brands and control the work of US engineers for the profits of Far Eastern bosses. The consumer benefits, however, for as one US reporter cracked, "You can't beat that value with a stick."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940527/Press Contact: Sarah Brandmire MediaMagic, 512-339-3591)
ess Contact: Sarah Brandmire MediaMagic, 512-339-3591)
5/27/94
COMDEX - Singapore Company Releases Multimedia Board
COMDEX - MindPath Offers New Pre
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- MindPath Technologies launched Remote Control, a new system that lets presenters add special effects from up to 45 feet away, during their presentations.
Chris Laux, director of OEM sales for MindPath Technologies called the product, "The next generation of presentation tools. Computer-based presentations are good, but when you are tied to the computer by a mouse it really limits your ability to emphasize points. Remote Control allows you to move around the room while making your presentation and spontaneously emphasize key points while tailoring the explanations to your audience."
The Mind Path Remote Control model IR50 F/X package consists of an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver which plugs into a serial port, and Mind Path Presentation F/X software. The Mind Path Presentation F/X software can be purchased separately for use with a conventional mouse or keyboard.
The infrared transmitter and receiver will operate from about 45 feet according to Laux, giving presenters plenty of room to maneuver while performing. The handheld mouse operates via a mouse disk on a device shaped like a cross between a spaceship and a cigar. Also on the transmitter are five programmable buttons allowing users to set up the features they want to access during the event. Configuring this device is done through remote settings software.
The software offers a clear window over the windowed program being presented, similar to a vellum overlay over a chart. As the program is run the Presentation F/X software allows access to 16 categories of tools, which can magnify specific areas, break the timing of the presentation, or allow parts of the screen to be blocked while another area is shown. Sound can come through .WAV formatted sound tracks, and there's a telestrator function that allows lines to be drawn directly on the screen. These are just a few of the features which can be used on-the-fly and they can be used singularly or in combination. Alex Tsarkiris of Mind Path also told Newsbytes "You can broaden the features by combining various parts of the them."
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Ameritech has begun implementing 6,000 in job cuts previously announced by reducing its staff of operators by about 1,450.
Dave Onak of Ameritech told Newsbytes that the cuts at the profitable regional Bell company were decided upon based on benchmarking, measuring the number of employees Ameritech needed to perform various functions against those used by competitors. "We learned through our benchmarking with other companies that we weren't as efficient as other world-class companies. Other companies had fewer operator centers, but larger centers. We now have something like 83 locations, with 50-90 people each. What we're doing is shifting to 21 centers but with larger head counts at each location." He says there will be 125-300 operators at each new Ameritech center.
As with all such job cuts, this decision became political. Most of these are union employees, represented by the Communication Workers of America. The union said it would try to get early pensions and other incentives to minimize the impact of the cuts. In East St. Louis, city officials lost their operator center days after a long meeting in which they urged company officials to expand their center. East St. Louis has an official unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, but state officials have said it could be much higher.
Ameritech took an earnings hit of $530 million in its last fiscal quarter ending in March to account for the 6,000 job cuts.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940527/Press Contact: Dave Onak, Ameritech 312-750-5205)
ak, Ameritech 312-750-5205)
5/27/94
Ameritech Begins Job Cuts
TELECOM
Editorial - Lessons From Spring
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- By Dana Blankenhorn. Each Comdex show helps set up the next six months in computing. Despite a lack of hard news, this one was no exception.
Apple Computer's back. Despite the fact the company was supposed to have only a small booth for its Newton PDAs, Apple won this Comdex's best-in-show award for its new line of Powerbook notebooks. Motorola's strong presence at the show also helped Apple, which is looking for low prices on PowerPC-based machines to bring it back.
Was Thomas Watson ever sleepless in Seattle? Some might think so given how well Bill Gates of Microsoft has gotten at spreading Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, and how totally he now controls the industry. IBM's OS/2 is left hoping the Justice Department will put the hammer down on Microsoft before "Big Green" puts something into Windows that makes OS/2 incompatible with it. The possibility has many users reluctant to try OS/2, fearful of becoming orphaned.
There was also a lot of talk at this show about the growing Microsoft-Oracle feud over video server software. Microsoft has announced and demonstrated its Tiger platform, and Jones Intercable already announced support for it -- but is Tiger really anything more than a demo? Meanwhile, Oracle's software continues to set access-speed records.
CD-ROM makers are desperate for a selling channel. Some music and video stores are setting up CD-ROM sections, but the industry won't like it when they start offering rentals. The market is wide but not very deep -- an estimated six million homes have the double-speed drives needed to run the products shown here. But their operators have such a wide range of interests, the costs of reaching them now seem exorbitant.
CD-ROMs are the hottest niche in computing today. Not only are there plenty of titles, and more coming out all the time, but they're becoming indispensable to the corporate LAN environment. Among the more important introductions here was a 20-CD player from CBIS Inc., of Norcross, Georgia, with its own 486-based computer, that can act as a node on the network and allow all the CDs to be used without degrading network performance. Look for that product, and its competitors, to do very well in the next six months.
WordPerfect has a brand new strategy. The company is emphasizing its Main Street brand and hoping to dominate retail channels by filling every niche. But there's risk in putting the brand name in front of the actual products. After all, some noted, Sears doesn't bring people to the Phil Collins concert, Collins brings people to Sears. People buy products, not brand names. Will a huge marketing campaign overwhelm this market reality? Stay tuned -- Utah's entire high-tech future depends on the answer.
Finally, the Comdex audience is changing. It surprises some exhibitors how many Americans are totally familiar with their buzzwords, and the success of this show bears that out. Thousands of schoolkids and corporate employees from around Atlanta were given the day off on the last day of this show to check out COMDEX, and reportedly their tough questions gave exhibitors quite a workout. That's true in the channel as well -- stores are filling with office managers and businessmen who know more about the stock than the employees. It's something we at Newsbytes are constantly reminded of -- our readers are smart there are a whole lot of them, and even complex mistakes are now quickly brought to our attention, which we appreciate.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940527)
reciate.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940527)
5/27/94
Editorial - Lessons From Spring Comdex
EDITORIAL
GENERAL
Seagate Opens New Wafer Plant In
SPRINGTOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND, 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- New computer factories opening in Ireland are nothing new, but it's unusual to find a company setting up shop in Northern Ireland rather than Ireland itself, as many firms shy away from "The Troubles" caused by the warring political factions there. Seagate has surprised the British computer industry, then, with its decision to set up a new wafer fabrication plant in Springtown an industrial area about 90 miles to the northwest of Belfast.
Plans call for the 100,000-square-foot facility to employ around 500 staff once it opens for business later this year. According to Seagate, the new facility will cost the company around UKP 28 million ($41.5 million), with most of the money having been spent already in installing the production lines.
Seagate plans to make enough silicon wafers at the plant to go into 100 million thin film recording heads a year. Staff from Seagate's existing wafer facility in Penang, Malaysia, have been brought in to train the new staff up to the necessary level of skills.
"The opening of the Springtown facility reflects Seagate's commitment to this critical field of technology," said Alan Shugart, Seagate's president and chief executive officer (CEO).
"The superb team of well-qualified and trained managers administrators, engineers, technicians and operators, combined with one of the most advanced thin-film wafer factories in the world, is a pivotal factor for Seagate's continued success as a world leader in the production of thin-film recording heads and related technologies," he added.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Radio Shack will begin selling IBM brand personal computers (PCs) and accepting electronic items that need repair in its 6,600 consumer retail outlets in the US. The company said it is also looking at offering PCs from other manufacturers such as AST.
In the highly competitive PC manufacturing market characterized by diminishing profit margins, John Roach, chairman and chief executive officer of Tandy Corporation, the parent company of Radio Shack, said the company is attempting to meet rapid technology changes and avoid obsolescence. The company hopes to leverage off its strong retail presence, and appears to be moving away from manufacturing. Tandy has already sold off its computer manufacturing facilities to AST, but is still carrying its own brand of PCs in Radio Shack outlets nationwide.
"Tandy branded product will continue to provide special value..." Roach said, but added, "...we will rely to a much larger extent on 'name brand' products."
In a pilot program, 500 Radio Shack stores will begin offering the 486SL, 25 megahertz-based IBM PS/Note Model E35 monochrome notebook and the PS/Note Model C45 color notebook computers. AST computers are being considered for similar tests and possibly other brands in the future.
In another move to leverage its retail outlets, the company announced "The Repair Shop at Radio Shack" program. Tandy hopes to begin providing out-of-warranty service for over 45 name brand electronics products, including video cassette recorders (VCRs) video cameras, and PCs.
The company said it did a survey and found consumers were unsatisfied with their repair experiences with current name brand repair practices. Consumer feelings were "anxiety, hassle, and uncertainty" when it came to repair of electronic devices.
In response, Radio Shack is offering a 90-day guarantee on repairs and is promising a 15-day or less turnaround time. A detailed estimate is available for $20, which may be credited to the repair. For those who just want it fixed, the Radio Shack store will require a $10 deposit, which is credited to the repair. The company is also offering a toll-free number to assist consumers in determining if an item should be repaired or replaced.
The 6,600 Radio Shack stores, where the company claims one in three households buy products each year, will be the repair drop off points, shipping the items to 116 service centers nationwide. Radio Shack says its service centers already process 1.8 million products each year.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940527/Press Contact: Fran McGehee, Tandy, tel 817-390-3487, fax 817-878-6508; Public Contact: The Repair Shop At Radio Shack, 800-482-6399/RADIOSHACK940527/PHOTO)
op At Radio Shack, 800-482-6399/RADIOSHACK940527/PHOTO)
5/27/94
Radio Shack To Carry IBM PCs, Begins Offering Repairs
Microsoft Summit - 1600 More Alp
Personnel Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Xerox Graphic Systems, Dun & Bradstreet Corp., Conner Peripherals Inc.
Xerox Graphic Systems, (415-812-4612), announced the appointment of David R. Lightfoot as vice president, sales and marketing. Xerox Graphic Systems was recently created to market Verde Digital Film silverless, dry processing film for the graphic arts and printing industries. Lightfoot joins Xerox from Du Pont's Newspaper Publishing Systems Division, where he has served as vice president marketing and sales for the past four years. Prior to that, he was senior vice president, sales and marketing for Crosfield Electronics Inc., which was acquired by Du Pont in October, 1989. A number of other appoints have also been announced by the company: Edward H. Ernst, to vice president, business development; Arnold L. Pundsack to vice president, operations; Dr. Hardy Sonnenberg, to vice president research and technology; and Bettie A. Steiger, to vice president market development.
Dun & Bradstreet Corp., (212-593-6727), announced that its board of directors elected Earl H. Doppelt, age 41, senior vice president and general counsel. He succeeds Charles F. G. Raikes, a senior vice president who has been the company's general counsel since 1972, and who will be of counsel to the company until his retirement at the end of this year. Since March 1994, Doppelt has been senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Viacom Inc. He was previously senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Paramount Communications Inc., which became a majority-owned subsidiary of Viacom in March. Doppelt was with Paramount for 11 years. Before that from 1977 to 1983, he was a litigator specializing in antitrust and securities matters with the New York firm of Paul, Weiss Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Doppelt received a B.A. in history and political science from the University of Rochester in 1974 and a J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1977, where he was a member of the Law Review Board of Editors.
Conner Peripherals Inc., (408-456-3134) has appointed two senior sales executives to oversee the company's business in Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company has also announced the promotion of another sales executive to head its new retail and distribution sales unit. The company named Peter Boot as vice president of sales for Europe and Larry Sanders as vice president of sales for Asia-Pacific. Both men report to John Haughey, senior vice president, who in March assumed overall responsibility for Conner's international sales operations. Conner also announced the promotion of Frank Sammann vice president, who will be in charge of Conner's new Distribution and Retail Sales Group. Sammann, who joined Conner in 1992, formerly was responsible for Asia-Pacific OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and distribution sales. Boot, a native of England, will work out of Conner's London office and be responsible for overseeing OEM and distribution sales of Conner's disk, tape, software and storage systems products in Europe. Sanders will be based in Conner's Singapore office. He will be in charge of all Asia-Pacific OEM and distribution sales.
(Ian Stokell/19940527)
n Stokell/19940527)
5/27/94
Personnel Roundup
GENERAL
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Company Results Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Northstar Computer Forms Inc., Dell Computer Corp., Novell Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Sharp Corp.
While Northstar Computer reported earnings slightly up on increased sales for its second quarter sales, major PC vendor Dell posted first quarter net income rose 86 percent on increased sales. Leading network operating system vendor Novell posted a huge increase in revenue for its second quarter, and a 30 percent increase in net income. Two japanese companies, Toshiba and Sharp posted widely different results. Toshiba's net income decreased 41 percent for the year, while Sharp's net income rose 7.4 percent for the year.
Northstar Computer Forms Inc., (612-338-8601), reported earnings of $358,000 or $.20 per share for the second quarter of fiscal 1994 ended April 30, an increase of 24% from $288,000 or $.16 per share in the year-earlier period. Second quarter sales rose 4% to $5,393,000. For the first six months of fiscal 1994, net income totaled $624,000 or $.35 per share, up 36% from $460,000 or $.26 per share in the first half of fiscal 1993. Not included in these results from continuing operations is a one-time gain in the first quarter of 1993 related to the adoption of a new tax accounting method. First half sales increased 11% to $11,088,000, from $9,999,000 a year ago. Northstar Computer Forms is a specialty printer that designs, manufactures and markets business and financial forms.
Dell Computer Corp., (512-728-4100), reported earnings per common share of $.42 for the first quarter of fiscal year 1995 ended May 1 1994, compared with earnings per common share of $.25 in the year-earlier quarter. Net income rose 86 percent over the prior-year period to $19.0 million. Sales were $766.6 million, up 14 percent over the first quarter of the prior year and up 3 percent sequentially from the fourth quarter. The company's net income includes a $15.6 million after-tax charge related to interest-rate derivative instruments. Based on Dell's analysis of its investment portfolio as of May 1, 1994, the company also took a $10.7 million after-tax charge for non-temporary declines in the market value of certain investments due to interest-rate movements.
Networking software company Novell Inc., (408-577-8361), has reported net revenue of $407 million for its second quarter ended April 30, 1994, up 45% from $281 million in the comparable fiscal 1993 period. Net income grew 30% to $105 million, or 33 cents per share compared to $80 million, or 26 cents earned during the second quarter last year. For the first six months of fiscal 1994, revenue was $718 million, up 33% from $541 million for the same period of 1993. Net income increased 17% to $178 million, or 57 cents per share, from $151 million, or 49 cents earned during the first six months of last year. The results include a previously announced Sun Microsystems purchase of a one time fully paid license for Unix technology for $81 million and associated expenses to Novell of $35 million. Excluding this royalty and associated expenses, net revenue in the second quarter grew 16% year-over-year to $326 million, and net earnings declined 7% to $75 million, 24 cents per share. By geography 50% of net revenue during the second fiscal quarter was from the United States and 50% from those regions outside the United States, excluding the effect of the Unix technology royalty. Revenue from the United States grew 9% on a year-over-year basis, Europe 13% Asia Pacific 52% and Latin America 72%. Collectively the rapidly growing markets of Asia Pacific and Latin America now represent over 20% of total net revenue.
Toshiba Corp., (212-596-0600), announced consolidated operating results for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 1994. Sales remained flat at 4,630,907 million yen (US$44,960 million) compared with 4,627,499 million yen ($44,927 million) in the last fiscal year. Income before taxes increased 5 percent to 90,190 million yen ($876 million) from 85,982 million yen ($835 million) in the same period a year ago. Net income decreased to 12,140 million yen ($118 million) down 41 percent from the year earlier 20,551 million yen ($200 million). Overseas sales rose 2 percent to 1,403,130 million yen ($13,623 million) from last year's 1,378,661 million ($13,385 million).
Meanwhile, Sharp Corp., (202-625-6930), of Osaka, Japan, announced consolidated net sales of $14.61 billion (1.49 trillion yen) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, an increase from last year's consolidated net sales of 1.48 trillion yen. Net income increased 7.4 percent for the same period. To accommodate continued growth in the $4.2 billion worldwide LCD (liquid crystal display) industry, Sharp increased production of LCD screens by 35 percent and achieved double-digit growth in sales of screens to continue as the global market leader with a 43 percent share, according to the company. Sharp Electronics Corp., its US subsidiary, reported an all-time high $2.81 billion in net US sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, up 16.5 percent from the previous year.
(Ian Stokell/19940527)
(Ian Stokell/19940527)
5/27/94
Company Results Roundup
BUSINESS
Tadpole 1st 1GB Notebook, Plans
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Tadpole has announced a Sparcbook 2 billed as the first notebook to offer 1 gigabyte (GB) of capacity, in addition to plans with DEC to build a notebook based on Alpha AXP.
Newsbytes has learned that the Alpha AXP-based notebook will be similar in form factor to Tadpole's Sparcbook 3 and to the PowerPC-based IBM RS 6000 940 notebook.
Tadpole's newly upgraded Sparcbook 2 Unix-based notebook, which is shipping now, comes with two internal 520 megabyte (MB) SCSI (small computer system interface) hard disk drives, for the equivalent of over 1 GB in internal storage, a Tadpole spokesperson told Newsbytes.
The forthcoming AXP notebook, to be jointly designed and developed with DEC, will resemble the lighter and more "ergonomic" Sparcbook 3 and IBM 940, but will offer an Alpha AXP DECchip 21066 microprocessor for superior processing power to either of these two models, he added. Newsbytes notes that Tadpole manufactures the PowerPC-based 940 for IBM.
The Sparcbook 2 weighs in at 6.5 pounds, and the Sparcbook 3 and IBM 940 at about 1 pound less, according to the spokesperson. Unlike the Sparcbook 2, the Sparcbook 3 and IBM 940 offer an internal pointing device. The Sparcbook 2 incorporates a 40 megahertz (MHz) SPARC processor providing 28 MIPS. The Sparcbook 3 uses a 50 MHz microSPARC processor supplying 59.1 MIPS.
The Sparcbook 2, Sparcbook 3 and IBM 940 all feature a magnesium alloy case for ruggedness and heat dissipation, he added.
Tadpole decided to boost the hard disk space on the Sparcbook 2 in order to meet the current standard among Unix-based desktop workstations for at least 1 GB of internal storage, the spokesperson explained. With the added storage, the latest model of the Sparcbook 2 will behave just like a standard desktop workstation when a desktop monitor is plugged in, he maintained.
The Sparcbook 2 is able to run all 5,000 Sparc applications, he said. Other capabilities include 16, 32 or 64 MB of random access memory (RAM), an integral TFT display with 8-bit color, and ports for SCSI-2, audio and Ethernet.
The Sparcbook 2 ships with Tadpole's Nomadic Computing Environment (NCE) Version 1.0, a software package that offers operating system protocols and servers, an operating system layer for support of "nomadic" applications, and a suite of applications, utilities and libraries for mobile computing that includes a Save and Resume feature.
The upgraded Sparcbook 2 is priced at $14,500 with 16 MB of RAM. Current Sparcbook 2 users can upgrade to 1 GB capacity for $3,000. Information on pricing, release date, and specific features of the upcoming Alpha AXP-based notebook will be announced at a later date, the spokesperson told Newsbytes.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940527/Reader contact: Tadpole Technologies 512-219-2200; Press Contacts: Stacy Saxon, Tadpole, 512-219-2200; Karen Quatromoni, DEC; Robert Walt or Kerry Swanson, Walt & Sommerhauser Communications for Tadpole, 408-496-0900)
user Communications for Tadpole, 408-496-0900)
5/27/94
Tadpole 1st 1GB Notebook, Plans AXP Portable
Michigan Man Charged With Electr
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- A Michigan man has been charged with "stalking" in connection with electronic messages he sent a women via computer.
Andy Archambeau was charged with violating the state's anti-stalking law after he failed to comply with requests by the police and the object of his electronic affections to stop.
Archambeau, 31, allegedly sent messages complimenting her appearance, inviting her to travel to the Bahamas with him, and telling the woman he had secretly watched her leave work. That's when she became concerned and contacted police. "He makes it sound like he was being romantic. But it was very, very spooky," said the 29-year old woman, who asked not to be identified.
The couple initially met through a video dating service. They reportedly talked for hours on the phone, then met at a dating service party. The woman said she felt sparks at first. They had a lot in common, including their computers, and exchanged more than a dozen computer messages back and forth before the exchange got too heavy for the victim's liking. "He was talking about marriage and kids," she told police.
Detectives said Archambeau didn't actually threaten the woman, but did make some remarks that could possibly lead to a threat to her safety.
Archambeau was arrested and charged May 4, 1994. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense he faces a possible jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $1,000. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for June 15th.
The American Civil Liberties Union says it's considering providing legal defense for Archambeau. "If their charges aren't thrown out then there's something for e-mail users to worry about," said Michigan ACLU chapter Director Howard Simon.
Dave Banisar, policy analyst with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, says electronic stalking should be treated the same as physical stalking. "If it's considered stalking when you send mail through the US Postal Service or over the phone, the same kind of rationale should be used for electronic networks."
Marion Groton, a spokesperson for the Michigan Attorney General, told Newsbytes this was the first case her office was aware of in the state that involved electronic stalking. She said Michigan joined 28 other states in enacting anti-stalking laws in January 1993. The Michigan statute specifically prohibits "electronic stalking."
Groton said violators convicted of a second offense could receive penalties up to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
(Jim Mallory/19940527/Press and reader contact: Michigan Attorney General, 517-373-1110)
contact: Michigan Attorney General, 517-373-1110)
5/27/94
Michigan Man Charged With Electronic Stalking
Odyssey BBS Adds Internet Access
MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- Odyssey, an international, adult bulletin board service (BBS) owned by Computer Productions of Monrovia, California, said it is now offering its members access to the Internet services.
Members now have access to File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Telnet, E-Mail, Gopher, Internet Rely Chat (IRC), World Wide Web (WWW), and UUCP Newsgroups.
The service is also adding access lines so over 400 lines will be available, streamlining its 32-bit interface, and increasing its storage and speed capability. Adding the Internet access to the service has cost Odyssey upwards of $30,000, but the BBS service said users have been asking for the access.
Odyssey has raised its access charges from a flat fee of $20 a month for unlimited access to include three rate plans. Users can get 5 hours a month for $14.95, 15 hours a month for $35.00, and 30 hours a month for $65.00. Additional time, called "overage charges" is billed at $4.80 an hour. No additional charge is planned for the Internet access, the service said. A toll-free number is available with sign-on instructions for new users.
In addition, a Microsoft Windows interface is being tested. Odyssey officers said investigation into providing access to the graphical portion of the Internet is proceeding, but nothing is available yet. If users have their own access software for the graphical portion of the Internet, however, it will work with Odyssey, the company said.
In addition, Odyssey plans to offer video still-frame shots of users themselves tied to the match-maker dating services portion. The video still-frames will be taken of the user right in front of his or her computer with hardware offered by Odyssey and the hardware costs will be billed at a low monthly rate to the customer's account.
Users will then be able to say, "what do you look like?" and a still-frame image, taken at that moment, can be sent across the BBS. The video will require a 486-based personal computer (PC) Windows, and at least 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM). The video service is expected to start-up this fall.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940527/Press Contact: Jim Hughes, Odyssey Online, 800-947-0936, fax 818-358-6571; Public Contact: Odyssey Sign-on Info, 800-947-0936)
dyssey Sign-on Info, 800-947-0936)
5/27/94
Odyssey BBS Adds Internet Access
TELECOM
Newsbytes Daily Summary
#MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 27 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Senate Looks At Schools And The Superhighway 05/27/94 Education Secretary Richard Riley is urging Congress to make sure schools aren't bypassed by the revolution in telecommunications, by making provisions for free or inexpensive access to information services.
2 -> Electronic Newsstand Moves To The World Wide Web 05/27/94 The Electronic Newsstand, a Washington-based company founded last year to market magazines, books, newsletters and business information via the Internet, is moving to the World Wide Web (WWW).
3 -> Amdahl's First Massively Parallel Processing Server 05/27/94 Amdahl had on display this week at DB Expo in San Francisco the Xplorer 2000, its first series of massively parallel processing database servers, integrating hardware, software and services.
4 -> OneSource Adds Windows Support 05/27/94 OneSource Information Services, Inc., will soon offer a user interface for its collection of business and financial databases that works with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating environment.
5 -> Correction - IBM Continues OS/2 Push 05/27/94 This is a correction to a story titled Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2 Push which ran on the Newsbytes wire May 25, 1994.
6 -> Newsbytes Off For Memorial Day 05/27/94 This is a reminder that Newsbytes will not be published on Monday, May 30 in honor of Memorial Day in the United States. Our regular publishing schedule resumes Tuesday, May 31. (Newsbytes/19940527)
7 -> Creative 3DO PC Add-on Cards, Wireless Mouse & Pen 05/27/94 Creative Technology, makers of the Sound Blaster line of products for personal computers (PCs), is demonstrating a prototype of its 3DO PC add- on card at the Spring Comdex show in Atlanta, Georgia. The company also announced a line of wireless pen and mouse input devices, and new titles for its Screen Singer for Windows series.
8 -> Denmark - Technology Briefs 05/27/94 Here's a look at some technology items from the Newsbytes bureau in Scandinavia.
9 -> Samsung To Make PDAs 05/27/94 Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) the company that makes the chips that power the Apple Newton Messagepad and the 3DO multiplayer, has licensed its technology to Korean electronics giant Samsung. Samsung has said it is planning a personal digital assistant (PDA) some time in the future as a result of the agreement for the reduced instruction set computing (RISC) technology.
10 -> ****Proposed Rating System Blasted By Small Software Pubs 05/27/94 Small software publishers, especially those marketing shareware, are extremely concerned about establishment of a ratings system for video games that they say could put them out of business. In response to consumer concerns, a group of legislators are proposing a ratings system to be administered by a newly formed Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), in which software publishers would have to pay a fee to get their games rated for distribution.
11 -> Australia - PC 94 Computer Show 05/27/94 The latest computer show held in Australia was PC 94 in the state of Queensland, the "Sunshine State." Visitors came from all over the state and from Papua, New Guinea to the near north.
12 -> Australia - Modem Manoeuvring 05/27/94 NetComm, the company that cut its prices by up to 50 percent last month, has come up with new models for the consumer market. And Hayes, the US manufacturer that told Newsbytes in could easily cut prices to fight NetComm, has done just that - at up to 50 percent.
13 -> Identity To Introduce Notebook PCs 05/27/94 Identity Systems Technology Inc., is poised to ship a line of customizable notebook computers it says lets the user "build their own dream system."
14 -> ****High Tech Execs Cheer Clinton China Decision 05/27/94 America's computer and telecommunications industries were jubilant following President Clinton's decision to continue most favored nation trading status for China and to delink human rights from trade in future decisions on MFN.
15 -> Parallel Processing At DB/Expo 05/27/94 From DB/Expo in San Francisco, White Cross Systems of the United Kingdom introduced its 9000 product line of servers with massively parallel processor technology. Its two models, the 9010 Deskside Server and Model 9020, are appropriate for databases in the 1-20 gigabytes (GB) range, and 20 GB to the 100s of GB range respectively.
16 -> HK Telecom Picks Microsoft Mail 05/27/94 Hongkong Telecommunications has signed a two year, HK$15 million (around US$ 2 million) contract with Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd for the corporate-wide provision of a range of PC desktop and networked software products. As a result of the deal, negotiated under the Microsoft Select program, over 5,000 Hongkong Telecom personnel will be given access to an enterprise-wide electronic mail network based on Microsoft Mail.
17 -> Bill Gates Awards Windows Competition Trophies 05/27/94 Want to shake hands with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates? All you have to do is write a custom Microsoft Windows application that provides an effective solution to a business or organizational problem and enter it in the annual Windows World Open.
18 -> DEC Names Auer To Head PC Unit 05/27/94 Digital Equipment Corp. has named Bernhard Auer, former head of its European personal computer operations, to head its Personal Computer Business Unit.
19 -> Computer Associates' Revenue, Income Up Again 05/27/94 Computer Associates International Inc., continued its strong financial performance by reporting a substantial growth in revenue and net income for the fiscal year ended March 31.
20 -> ****Analysts Downplay DEC Cash Problem, Despite CFO Change 05/27/94 The resignation of Digital Equipment Corp.'s chief financial officer soon after a confidential memo warning of cash problems at the company was leaked may be mostly a matter of embarrassing timing. However, the change does appear to reflect dissatisfaction with past financial management.
21 -> Networking Roundup 05/27/94 This is a regular feature summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Proteon Inc., The Open Software Foundation, Legato Systems Inc. Beame & Whiteside Software.
22 -> COMDEX - Singapore Company Releases Multimedia Board 05/27/94 MediaMagic, a unit of IPC Technologies in Singapore, released the Telemetry-32, a simultaneous communications manager designed in a joint agreement with AT&T.
23 -> COMDEX - MindPath Offers New Presentation Tools 05/27/94 MindPath Technologies launched Remote Control, a new system that lets presenters add special effects from up to 45 feet away during their presentations.
24 -> Ameritech Begins Job Cuts 05/27/94 Ameritech has begun implementing 6,000 in job cuts previously announced by reducing its staff of operators by about 1,450.
25 -> Editorial - Lessons From Spring Comdex 05/27/94 By Dana Blankenhorn. Each Comdex show helps set up the next six months in computing. Despite a lack of hard news, this one was no exception.
26 -> Seagate Opens New Wafer Plant In Northern Ireland 05/27/94 New computer factories opening in Ireland are nothing new, but it's unusual to find a company setting up shop in Northern Ireland rather than Ireland itself, as many firms shy away from "The Troubles" caused by the warring political factions there. Seagate has surprised the British computer industry, then, with its decision to set up a new wafer fabrication plant in Springtown, an industrial area about 90 miles to the northwest of Belfast.
27 -> Radio Shack To Carry IBM PCs, Begins Offering Repairs 05/27/94 Radio Shack will begin selling IBM brand personal computers (PCs) and accepting electronic items that need repair in its 6,600 consumer retail outlets in the US. The company said it is also looking at offering PCs from other manufacturers such as AST.
28 -> Personnel Roundup 05/27/94 This is a regular feature summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Xerox Graphic Systems, Dun & Bradstreet Corp., Conner Peripherals Inc.
29 -> Company Results Roundup 05/27/94 This is a regular feature summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Northstar Computer Forms Inc., Dell Computer Corp., Novell Inc. Toshiba Corp., and Sharp Corp.
30 -> Tadpole 1st 1GB Notebook, Plans AXP Portable 05/27/94 Tadpole has announced a Sparcbook 2 billed as the first notebook to offer 1 gigabyte (GB) of capacity, in addition to plans with DEC to build a notebook based on Alpha AXP.
31 -> ****Michigan Man Charged With Electronic "Stalking" 05/27/94 A Michigan man has been charged with "stalking" in connection with electronic messages he sent a women via computer.
32 -> Odyssey BBS Adds Internet Access 05/27/94 Odyssey, an international, adult bulletin board service (BBS) owned by Computer Productions of Monrovia, California, said it is now offering its members access to the Internet services.
(Wendy Woods/19940527)
(Wendy Woods/19940527)
5/27/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
TWYFORD, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Borland has announced PowerPack for DOS, a suite of DOS development tools and libraries that work with the company's C++ version 4.0 programming language.
According to the company, the package includes both 16- and 32-bit DOS extenders, Turbo Vision 2.0 and a new 32-bit version of the Borland Graphics Interface (BGI). Borland officials claim that, unlike most of the competition, the PowerPack for DOS includes runtime licenses for resultant applications developed using the software libraries.
"Most of our customers still develop or maintain DOS applications. This product provides the additional technology that many of our customers have been requesting," explained Mike Hyman, Borland's language business unit manager. "Our goal is to make the deployment of powerful DOS and Windows applications cost-effective and easy."
Borland says that its PowerPack for DOS provides support for DOS developers, as well as software developers, who are making the move from DOS to Windows. The suite includes 16- and 32-bit DOS extenders that the company claims seamlessly integrates into the C++ 4.0 integrated development environment (IDE).
The interesting feature of the PowerPack for DOS utilities is that code created for the DOS environment can be run under Borland's C language to run under both DOS and Windows. Some DOS applications do not run under Windows, except within a DOS Window, but Borland claims that the resultant code from PowerPack for DOS-developed applications can run under both environments.
The only caveat to this code portability, Newsbytes notes, is that 16 bit applications cannot run under 32-bit DOS or Windows, while the reverse is true, with 32-bit applications not running in a 16-bit environment.
PowerPack for DOS is available immediately in the UK for a special price of UKP 69.95 until the end of August. After that date, the price rises to UKP 349.95.
(Steve Gold/19940531/Press & Reader Contact: Borland International 44-734-321150)
t: Borland International 44-734-321150)
5/31/94
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack For DOS
N x
UK - Psion-Dacom Intros Low-Cost
: MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Psion Dacom has announced the Meteor desktop modem. The unit, which costs UKP249, works at speeds of up to 14,400 bits-per-second (bps), and brings the company into line with the rest of the modem market, Newsbytes notes.
Not unexpectedly, Psion-Dacom is making great play on the modem's price, claiming that this price tag includes all the necessary cables and software, allowing the unit to run from the box.
Wendy Thompson, PR spokesperson for Psion-Dacom, told Newsbytes that the main aim of the new modem is to get the company back into the mainstream as far as modem pricing is concerned.
"The last year has seen modem prices fall dramatically. We've watched this happen and have developed our own offering that keeps the price down, but offers all the facilities that you'd expect from higher priced unit," she told Newsbytes.
The 14,400 bps modem handles all modem speeds down to 300 bps, as well as Class I and II fax modem transmissions from 4,800, through 9,600 and 14,400 bps. Unusually for a modem in this price bracket, the Meteor 14.4 supports MNP (Microcom Network Protocol) Class 10 error correction and data compression, making it suitable for cellular phone links. V.42Bis and MNP Class 5 data compression and error correction systems are also supported.
Bundled with the modem is a copy of Trans-send WinDOS Lite fax/data communications software for both DOS and Windows users. A 9/25-way serial cable, CompuServe starter kit, and mains PSU (packet switch unit) are also included.
Hughes reckons that, at the price, the modem should appeal to the retail, as well as the business sector. As a result, Psion-Dacom will be offering the modem into the retail outlet channel, as well as traditional dealer channel.
"We have no doubt that the Meteor will be affordable to the new breed of modem user who wants to buy his modem in the high street. It has been our intention from the start to produce a complete solution encased in bright attractive packaging suitable for the retail sector and we are actively seeking retail partners," he said.
The new modem is officially available from Psion-Dacom's dealers from June 1 onwards, complete with a two-year warranty.
(Steve Gold/19940531/Press & Reader Contact: Psion-Dacom tel 44-908-261686, fax 44-908-261688)
Psion-Dacom tel 44-908-261686, fax 44-908-261688)
5/31/94
UK - Psion-Dacom Intros Low-Cost 14,400bps Modem
TELECOM
UK - Optech Handles BT Directory
FARNHAM, SURREY, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- After offering its Phonedisk/CD ROM directory enquiries (DQ) disc direct from its sales office for the past few years, British Telecom (BT) is now offering the system through dealers. As a result, BT has announced the signing of its first dealer to handle Phonedisk -- Optech Limited, the multimedia specialists.
The updated Phonedisk system comprises a regularly updated CD-ROM disc with special PC software that interfaces with the data on the disc and allows special "fuzzy logic" searches to be completed on incomplete data. This contrasts with the online version of Phonedisk, which is available on a pay-as-you-go basis, and requires exact information to get a match.
The disc holds 17 million entries of names, addresses, phone and fax numbers from the BT yellow and white pages, but excludes ex-directory numbers, Newsbytes notes. Optech claims that the package is suitable for major companies making a lot of directory enquiry calls, which cost 45 pence on a standard BT phone line.
"Phonedisk is ideal for those companies who make several hundred directory calls a quarter and are looking for a flat rate priced package," explained Emma Davies of Harvard public relations, for Optech.
According to a spokesman for Phonedisk, the system software can print out up to 200 queries at a time for every transaction entered into the system. As supplied, the system software requires a minimum of a 386-based PC with at least 20 megabytes of hard disk pace. Free online support via an 800 free-phone number is available as part of the subscription for the package.
Phonedisk is available on two levels. The quarterly level costs UKP2,200 a year with updated discs available every three months. The annual package costs UKP950.
Unlike the existing BT sales outlet offerings, Optech is also offering value-added subscriptions, which include combinations of the discs software, a CD-ROM drive and maintenance, with prices starting from UKP1,160.
(Steve Gold/19940531/Press Contact: Emma Davies, Harvard tel 44-81-759-0005, fax 44-81-897-3242; Reader Contact: Optech tel 44-252-714340, fax 44-252-711121)
ntact: Optech tel 44-252-714340, fax 44-252-711121)
5/31/94
UK - Optech Handles BT Directory Enquiries CD-ROM
BUSINESS
UK PCMCIA Specialist Intros Netw
GUILDFORD, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Portable Add-Ons has announced a range of Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) network adapters that it claims covers all bases as far as user requirements are concerned. Three cards are initially available, one for Token Ring networks, and two for Ethernet users.
The Token Ring card comes with 16,000 byte buffer and operates at either four or 16 megabits per second (Mbps). The company claims that, since it plugs straight into the PC bus via the PCMCIA socket it offers performance equivalent to that of a conventional PC fitted with a network card.
The UKP399 Token Ring adapter can be used with Novell NetWare, IBM PC LAN (local area network) Manager for DOS and OS/2, Banyan Vines and any other network operating system (NOS) that supports IBM LAN Support Program (LSP) services. The card operates with DOS 5.0 or later.
The Ethernet adapter card, meanwhile, operates with 10BaseT (twisted pair) and Thin + 10BaseT (coaxial cable), is fully NE2000 (NetWare) compatible and recognizes PCIC 8236SL, ASCII J6841/2, Databook Sharp and the proprietary Toshiba standards.
The Ethernet 10BaseT card costs UKP199, while the 10Baset/Thin version costs UKP239.
BOREHAMWOOD, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Following hard on the heels of announcing that 62,500 subscribers had signed up in the first six months of its operation, Mercury One-2-One, the digital mobile phone network has announced what it claims is the ultimate marketing come-on -- a golden SIM (subscriber identity module) card.
SIM is the credit card-sized device that contains the subscriber details. When slotted into any compatible phone, the phone identifies itself to the network as registered to the SIM's number.
The golden SIM will allow totally free inland UK calls, excluding other mobile network and premium rate calls, until 11:59pm on the 31 December, 1999. The deal, Newsbytes notes, could be worth tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of pounds.
The golden SIM has been sealed into one of the Mercury One-2-One starter kits which are shipped to dealers. The starter kits contain a phone and SIM card, and are sealed right up to the point they are sold to the customer. When the customer buys the starter kit, they phone Mercury's central HQ to energize the SIM. Mercury says that the golden SIM should be sold within the next three weeks, based on current sales statistics.
"What a fantastic surprise is in store for the lucky customer who buys this special phone marking 100,000 Mercury One-2-One customers. It matches the huge success that Mercury One-2-One has had in opening up mobile phone competition in the UK," commented Lord Young, chairman of Cable & Wireless, the parent company to One-2-One, which is jointly owned by C&W along with US West.
According to Lord Young, everything is going well with One-2-One, with "growth in customer numbers, phone usage and call revenues all ahead of target as we start to expand the One-2-One service in key population areas up and down the country."
Mercury claims that its One-2-One digital mobile phone system has been achieving a 30 percent share of all mobile phone sales inside its London and South East coverage area. This equates, the company claims to an approximate 12 percent share of the total market in London and the South East.
UK - Mercury Offers Free Mobile Phone Calls To Year 2000
TELECOM
Greece Announces OTE Telecom Pri
ATHENS, GREECE, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- The Greek Government has given the go-ahead for plans to partially privatize the state-controlled telecommunications company, OTE. The announcement has been critically timed, Newsbytes notes, as the Greek stock exchange is in the midst of a sharp downward trend, putting pressure on interest rates to rise.
Unlike many other European Community (EC) countries, Greece's OTE operation is highly profitable, having enjoyed the benefit of considerable government investment in recent years. The Greek telecoms infrastructure is seen as vital to the country's future, owing to the scattered nature of the population.
According to a statement issued by the Greek government, 25 percent of OTE will be sold off through the National Bank of Greece, enjoined with Shroeders and Credit Suisse Boston. Exact dates for the sell off will be made later this summer, once a valuation has been placed on the company.
OTE is currently in the first year of an 850,000 million drachma ($3,400 million) five-year investment plan. As part of the plan, the government has promised that the company will generate profits of between 150,000 and 200,000 million drachma a year.
According to Tannos Papanoniou, the Greek national treasury minister no formal agreements have been signed with the National Bank of Greece or the two foreign financial institutions, but broad agreements are in place, pending a formal valuation.
(Steve Gold/19940531)
ding a formal valuation.
(Steve Gold/19940531)
5/31/94
Greece Announces OTE Telecom Privatization Plans
FAS Attacks Clinton Information,
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- "Judging by the number of documents being withheld from the public on asserted national security grounds," says the Federation of American Scientists, "the Clinton administration is the most secretive presidency in the history of the Republic."
FAS analyst Steven Aftergood cites the latest annual report of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) to support his views of the White House's information policy. According to that report, classification activity increased by 1% in fiscal year 1993 to 6.4 million classification actions.
At the same time, notes Aftergood in his "Secrecy & Government Bulletin" newsletter, declassification activity fell by 30% "For a substantial net growth in the universe of classified files."
ISOO Director Steven Garfinkle, in his transmittal letter to the president, said, "The data that we report here continue to support the need for reform." The trend will not change, Garfinkle suggested, "unless we adopt entirely new methods of classifying and declassifying information."
The administration has been circulating a draft executive order reforming information policy and cutting back dramatically on classification actions. At the Energy Department, one of the agencies that has independent authority to classify materials Secretary Hazel O'Leary has been pushing the agency to declassify most of the material it has assembled on the use of humans as guinea pigs in DOE's atomic bomb programs.
But O'Leary has reported "cultural" problems with a bureaucracy accustomed to automatically wielding the "secret" stamp. DOE's authority to classify is so extensive that it can, and has declared material already published in the open to be retroactively classified.
"The administration's latest draft executive order on classification has much to recommend it," says Aftergood. "If properly implemented, it would ameliorate the worst defects of today's cold war classification system. But that draft is reportedly encountering resistance from the intelligence community and other opponents of reform. And by all accounts the deliberative process is taking longer than anyone had predicted."
John Podesta, White House staff secretary and the leading figure behind the draft executive order, told a National Press Club symposium recently, "I had hoped the new executive order on classification would be completed by now." He estimated it might be issued in 45 days.
The Federation of American Scientists is an arms control group based in Washington. It was founded after World War 2 by scientists who had worked in the Manhattan Project and wanted to be sure that the bomb would not be dropped again.
(Kennedy Maize/Contact: Steven Aftergood, 202-675-1012 electronic-mail to saftergood@igc.apc.org)
5-1012 electronic-mail to saftergood@igc.apc.org)
5/31/94
FAS Attacks Clinton Information, Secrecy Policy
Context Systems Intros D-Day CD
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Timed to coincide with memorials and celebrations in Europe and the US Context Systems and Simon & Schuster have released The D-Day Encyclopedia. The CD features 50 period news-reel video clips, 24 full-colored maps, interviews, and a multimedia version of the famous 287-foot Operation Overlord tapestry depicting the event.
Paul Kelly, vice president of marketing and sales, speaking to Newsbytes, said, "The D-Day Encyclopedia represents the most extensive focus on D-Day as possible. We have hyperlinked the entire CD with highlighted keywords, so that one may easily search through in their own personal way. We have designed the CD to have easy to use chronological paths as well."
According to Context, some of the highlights are "pre and post" D-Day conditions and a number of interviews, including one with the son of Rommel. A user may click on Eisenhower and choose to study his statements and strategy before, during, or after D-Day.
Context Systems plans to continue working with Simon and Schuster for the production of more CD titles.
Continued Kelly to Newsbytes, "Here at Context we plan to develop an entire line of CDs, which we call 'encyclopedia extensions.' When a person goes to an encyclopedia they find a summary of material relating to their subject. What we offer are specific events which greatly expand the topic with much grater detail that is not available in an encyclopedia."
Context is also working with Compton's who will assist in marketing the CD to major retail channels. Egghead Software will have a promotion featuring The D-Day Encyclopedia during the week of remembrances of the famous invasion (June 6).
Selling for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $79.95, the CD is available for Windows users whose computers have CD-ROM capabilities and audio cards.
(Patrick McKenna/19940531/Press Contact: Pat Meier, Pat Meier Associates, 415-957-5999; CONTEXT940531/PHOTO)
ssociates, 415-957-5999; CONTEXT940531/PHOTO)
5/31/94
Context Systems Intros D-Day CD For Windows
4 ^ |
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Pub
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- TO ALL OUR US CUSTOMERS, WE HOPE YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WAS A PLEASANT ONE ! These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. The photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board system in Minneapolis. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
All photos are in JPEG format with PICT files for thumbnails. The photo 'tag' numbers: title/year/month/day. The JPEG and PICT indicators are 'jpg' and 'pct.' Slides are no longer enlarged.
APPLE PHOTO POLICY: An 'Apple Computers' courtesy along with the photographer's name is to be printed when an Apple Computer photo is used. The bulletin will indicate this. Unless otherwise noted all Apple product shots; courtesy Apple.
Week of May 30 - June 3,1994
NuPBook940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook Duo 280.
NuPBook*940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook 540.
PYRAMID940526 - Color from transparency / the Pyramid 'Nile' server.
MAXIS940523 - Color from slide / screen shot of PrintArtist work.
ECLIPSE940509 - B&W from photo / shot of Eclipse FAX package.
ADOBE940523 - Color from slide / shot of Dimensions program at work.
IDENTITY940523 - Color from slide / view of the liquid proof keyboard with, OH NO!!, coffee being spilled onto the keyboard.
PHOENIX940426 - B&W from photo / view of the CD Essentials package.
PHONE940510 - Color from slide / view of man (frame right) on phone set attached to PC, using the InterActive Communicator.
NOTEFLEX940518 - B&W from photo / view of the Zenith Data NoteFlex notebook computer. For scale; a cell phone, pen & coins frame left.
FtrTel940511 - Color from photo / shot of 'PrimeView' card.
DECPC940517 - B&W from photo / shot of the DECpc LPx+ 400 one of the new 'Green Line' pcs meeting EPA 'Energy Star' guidelines.
ALDUS940517 - Color from slide / screenshot of TypeTwister at work.
P'Tel940512 - B&W from photo / shot of presenter at the PictureTel podium, where screen can be seen.
Prince940506 - Color from artwork / The 'glyph' which now serves as Prince's nom de plum.
HuntHaft940425 - B&W from photo / portrait shot of Ms Hunt-Haft Managing Director, Claris Canada, Inc.
C&T940509 - Color from photo / The 'CHIPS' chips, Mustang family of VGA flat panel controllers. Background is a sky with a profile of a horse.
Time940505 - B&W from photo / cover art of the Translate It software box.
Orange940428 - Color from photo / a hand holds the Nokia cell phone used in the Orange service from Hutchinson telecom.
IBM940513 - B&W from photo / cross section of a mock up of the IBM multilayer compact disk.
IBMAS400940503- Color from slide / view of the AS400 advanced system. Done with some art direction flair.
(Newsbytes/19940530)
direction flair.
(Newsbytes/19940530)
5/31/94
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers
GENERAL
HP Intros Aptrex X Terminals To
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard has announced the Aptrex family of X terminals, a product line primed to compete against Sun's own X terminals plus third party contenders from companies like NCD and Tektronix.
"Sun has been a 'reluctant bridesmaid' in the X terminal market. The result? Third-party vendors are having a field day. We're looking to capture this market, much as we have done elsewhere," asserted K.C. Chavda, marketing manager for the X terminal business in HP's Panacom Division, in a pre-announcement phone briefing with Newsbytes in Boston.
HP's new Aptrex terminals provide a "richer" feature set, along with better performance and maintenance, at lower prices than either Sun's X terminals -- which were first introduced last August -- or the third-party candidates, the marketing manager told Newsbytes.
Targeted at Sun users who want to add more seats to their networks Aptrex offers a "Sun-like" keyboard, monitor and look-and-feel while at the same time "leveraging" the same inner components that HP gives its own customers in the HP Entria and Envisex families of X terminals, he maintained.
Pricing for the six new Aptrex models ranges from $1,595 for the 19M, the only monochrome X terminal in the group, to $3,350 for the 20Cs, the top-of-the-line color model with a 20-inch, 1,280-by 1,024 monitor, eight megabytes (MB) of RAM, and 125,000 Xstones performance.
The Aptrex model 17C, a color X terminal with a 1,024-by-768 monitor and 4MB of RAM, performs at 104,000 Xstones and is priced at $2,200, according to Chavda. In comparison, the NCD Model ECX supplies half the performance at 52,000 Xstones, for $2,595, he said. The 16-inch color Sun SPARCclassic X terminal Model 4/10EC-8 delivers only 30,000 Xstones, or one-third the performance of the Aptrex 17C, for $2,995.
HP is marketing its X terminals for Sun through a special "800" telesales number dedicated to Aptrex (800-633-3670), instead of through the direct sales force used for Entria and Envisex. HP decided to institute the 800 number for Aptrex as a result of market research findings, Chavda said.
"Sun customers said they were afraid the HP sales force was going to tell them that the HP workstation was better than Sun's. And that's not what (the customers) want to talk about," he explained. The personnel who are working on the telesales line "are experts on Aptrax and Sun."
Also, through market research, HP determined that "most customers who buy X terminals in the Sun marketplace buy them not from Sun, but from third-party vendors," Newsbytes was told. Over the past year, Sun has sold only 3,000 X terminals, out of a market of some 300,000 units, Chavda added.
In the $615 million worldwide X terminal market, HP ranked number one in 1993, with 23.4 percent, according to the X Business Group a market research consulting company in Fremont, California.
"Sun has not embraced the X terminal market. Their high level officials have called X terminals 'brain-dead,'" Chavda charged. The HP marketing manager characterized the X terminals from Sun as "stripped down workstations."
In contrast, he said, HP's new Aptrex terminals are equipped with a RISC-based Intel i960 superscalar microprocessor, 4MB of RAM on the motherboard and two single inline memory module (SIMM) slots expandable to 68MB; built-in ThinLAN and 10Base-T support for local area network (LAN) connections; one parallel port; one serial port; and two PS/2 connection ports. A Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and flash read-only memory (ROM) support are optionally available.
Chavda also told Newsbytes that HP has "customized" Aptrex for the Sun environment. Aptrex terminals come with Sun Type 5 keyboards as well as "Sun-style" monitors, he noted. The products also work with many older Sun monitors.
The new X terminals support OpenLook Window Manager, rather than the HP Vue supported by HP's Entria and Envisex models. Aptrex Entria, and Envisex all support Motif Window Manager, however.
In addition, HP has supplied "Sun install" scripts for connecting Aptrex to a Sun workstation. Software is available for Sun SPARCserver and SPARCstation hosts running either SunOS 4.1.3 or Solaris 2.3.
"We've even gone so far as to have the Sun documentation and sales materials look like Sun's," Chavda pointed out. The materials are printed in "Sun purple" colors. Specifications are presented in a way that "will be familiar to those who know how to read Sun documentation," he said.
Also unlike Sun and other competitors, which offer return-to-depot service, HP is providing one-year limited warranty (48-hour delivery on any part) free of change through a program called ExpressExchange. ExpressExchange also includes the new Aptrex Help Desk, which will handle calls from the Aptrex support line (800-442-7800). All Aptrex customers receive 30 days of free software-installation support.
"Watch out, Sun!," observed Greg Blatnik, an analyst at the X Business Group, in a separate interview with Newsbytes. "As Satchel Paige used to say, 'Don't look back. Somebody might be gaining on you.'"
Sun "does not appear to have a very strong commitment to X terminals, or to be particularly rich in features in comparison to HP and other vendors," according to Blatnik. Further, the performance of Sun's X terminals is "fairly mundane," except for Sun's top-of-the-line models, which include extra graphics accelerator hardware but are "expensive," he told Newsbytes.
"Sun has just heard the starting gun go off, after denying for many years that X terminals were of any value. It's kind of like being in a race where everybody else has already run five miles," Blatnik continued. As a result, Sun's sales figure of only 3,000 X terminals so far is understandable, he added.
"But to be fair, our surveys show that Sun customers give good ratings to Sun on the quality of (Sun's) X terminals, and even on their performance," Blatnik noted. What conclusions should be drawn from these findings? "Either (X terminal performance) isn't a big deal to Sun customers, or they may have been using some of Sun's higher-end X terminals," the analyst replied.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940530/Reader Contact: Aptrex Telesales 800-633-3670; Press Contacts: Jim Barbagallo, Hewlett-Packard 508-436-5049; Tim Hurley, Hewlett-Packard, 508-436-5042; Roman Kichorowsky, Copithorne & Bellows, 617-252-0606)
chorowsky, Copithorne & Bellows, 617-252-0606)
5/31/94
HP Intros Aptrex X Terminals To Vie With Sun
Claris Intros Organizer PIM For
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Claris has unveiled Claris Organizer, a Mac-based application for calendaring scheduling, note-taking and contact management envisioned by the company as the "Claris Works of PIMs (personal information managers)."
"What separates Claris Organizer from the competition is integration, intelligence, and, most of all, ease of use," claimed Larry Cohen, product manager, Personal Organization Products, in an interview with Newsbytes.
Claris created Claris Organizer in response to requests from users of the Claris Works productivity package for an integrated calendar and contact manager, Cohen told Newsbytes.
The Santa Clara, California-based division of Apple Computer, which focuses on business applications, now has an installed base of some six million users worldwide, he explained. Nearly two million of these customers use Claris Works.
"Intelligent" features of Claris Organizer include: drag-and-drop; user-defined templates; an "auto completion" capability for data entry, based on previous entries; an "auto linking" function for "automatically attaching related information as it is created;" and "smart find," for searching the calendar, contact manager, and other program components by keyword.
Claris is currently analyzing the Windows market to decide whether a PC-based version of the new PIM is feasible, Newsbytes was told. Claris Works, Claris FileMaker Pro, and the ClarisDraw and ClarisImpact graphics packages are all available on a cross platform basis for Windows and the Mac.
"As a whole, Claris is committed to cross-platform solutions," the product manager noted. But Claris perceives greater differences in the Windows and Macintosh markets for PIMs than for many other product categories, he added. "We're spending a lot of time analyzing where the Windows market for PIMs is today, where it might be going in the future, and where we might fit," said Cohen.
One factor in the Windows market that Claris considers significant is the inclusion of Lotus Organizer in SmartSuite, he said. Another concerns the kinds of PIM capabilities that Microsoft's upcoming Chicago might provide.
Meanwhile, on the Macintosh side, Claris Organizer will offer greater functionality than competing products, in a "compact" package requiring only one megabyte (MB) of random access memory (RAM) and 850 kilobytes (KB) of disk space, according to Cohen.
In contrast, alternative approaches for the Mac call for the use of separate scheduler and contact management applications that eat up more disk space, as well as up to 2MB of RAM each, the Claris official said.
Claris Organizer's "auto completion" feature automatically fills in the "missing letters" of a data entry, after the user types in an initial text string, according to Cohen. "San F," for example, is transformed into "San Francisco."
"Auto linking" lets the user link information between program components by dragging-and-dropping. For instance, the user can create the task "call Mike" by dragging Mike's record on to the task icon, and schedule a time to place the call by dragging "call Mike" from the task list to the agenda.
"Smart find" permits all program components to be searched in "plain English," and searches to be refined, as well. After searching for and presenting a list of all entries containing the name "Mike," "smart find" might be further directed to find all "Mikes" who are personal friends rather than professional contacts.
Through another "intelligent" feature, called "custom views," users can filter and view subsets of information, such as family and friends, or tasks due this week, Cohen said.
Claris Organizer is also compatible with a variety of outside schedulers and contact managers, such as Meeting Maker, Dynodex Now Contact, Up To Date, and Aldus DateBrook Pro and Touchbase Pro.
Claris Organizer is able to "sense" the identity of the other application and automatically align fields for accurate import into Organizer, the product manager said.
In addition, users can print out calendars, appointments addresses, envelopes, fax cover sheets, and phone lists. Claris' new PIM incorporates built-in daybook print formats such as DayTimer, FiloFax, and Franklin.
Claris Organizer is slated for release this summer. Through September 30, the product will be sold at a special introductory price of $49. The regular suggested retail price will be $99.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- You can buy a desktop scanner for under $1,000, but how about throwing in faxing and copying capabilities as well? ScanPlus is claimed to be the first such product.
Creative Pacific, distributor of the SoundBlaster range in Australia is distributing this new machine with a suggested retail price of AUS$1,199 or around US$800.
It consists of a 10-sheet feed scanner with "fax" and "copy" buttons that work with your fax-modem and PC printer. In addition, it also has a 14-number memory for frequently called fax numbers.
As a scanner, it offers 24-bit 1,200 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution in color or gray scale. It comes with Picture Publisher 4.0 SE and Word Scan 2.0 software (a Windows based optical character recognition package). There is even a one-button OCR mode. The ScanFX is Twain-compliant, making it compatible with most current graphics, OCR, and photo modifying software.
It is compatible with most fax modems, such as US Robotics, Intel and Zyxl, and with printers from such companies as HP, Canon, QMS. Copy speed is four pages-per-minute in monochrome with a HP LaserJet. Power is taken from the host PC as it draws just 1.5 watts when idle and 10 watts when active.
(Paul Zucker/19940527/Contact: Lou Schillaci at Creative Pacific tel 61-2-906 8887, fax 61-2-906 5577)
reative Pacific tel 61-2-906 8887, fax 61-2-906 5577)
5/31/94
Australia - Color Scanner/Fax/Copier For Under $800
GENERAL
CoSA Ships Mac Special Effects P
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- CoSA, a division of Aldus Corporation, says it is now shipping three new products that enhance its special-effects program, After Effects.
The new products are After Effects for the Apple Power Macintosh; the After Effects Rendering Engine; and Effects Pack, volume 2: Keying Effects. The company says the entire After Effects product line now ships with both Macintosh and Power Macintosh versions of the software in the box. Most software written for Macintosh computers before the Power Mac was introduced will run on the newest Apple machine but do not take advantage of the PowerPC chip's speed.
Effects Pack, volume 2: Keying Effects adds "professional quality" bluescreen removal and color keying capabilities to the After Effects software, claims the company. The program includes 11 keying effects used for detailed compositing projects.
The user can select from a range of difference matte, color difference and linear keys best suited for the project at hand. On-screen help, that CoSA calls "a goal-oriented interface," aids the user in the setup of the keying process. Effects Pack, volume 2: Keying Effects has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $695, but the company is selling it for $495 through June 30, 1994.
After Effects 2.0.1 for the Power Mac includes fixing some minor bugs found in the standard Mac version and a performance increase of two to four times over the standard Mac version, according to the company. The software has an SRP of $1,995.
If you bought your standard Mac version of After Effects 2.0 before March 15, 1994, you can upgrade for $99. The upgrade is only $25 for software purchased on or after March 15. If you do not have a Power Mac but want to get the bug fixes you can download a patching application at no cost except connect charges from the CoSA area on America Online or Applelink.
The After Effects Rendering Engine is a way for After Effects 2.x users to put idle CPU (central processing unit) time on a Mac or Power Mac to use. Once a composition has been completed using After Effects and is ready to be rendered, final output frames can be put on a different machine, or machines, running the rendering engine. That frees up the primary After Effects workstation for continued editing.
The rendering engine comes in multi-pack units, with an SRP of $495 for a single unit, $995 for three and $1,995 for 10.
After Effects 2.01. and the rendering engine require a Macintosh II or greater equipped with a floating point unit (FPU) math co-processor, System 7.0 or later operating system software, the Apple Quicktime 1.5 system extension or later, and at least eight megabytes (MB) of memory. CoSA recommends at least 20MB of memory.
On a Power Macintosh you need system 7.1.2 or later, Quicktime 1.6.2 or later, and a bare minimum of 16MB of memory. CoSA recommends 24MB. You also need at least an 80MB hard drive, although CoSA recommends 500MB. The company recommends the use of two monitors when using After Effects.
After Effects and the After Effects Rendering Engine are "copy protected" by an Apple Desktop Bus hardware key device.
(Jim Mallory/19940527/Press contact: Tricia Horner, CoSA 206-343-4208; Reader contact: CoSA, tel 206-628-4526 fax 206-343-4240)
CoSA, tel 206-628-4526 fax 206-343-4240)
5/31/94
CoSA Ships Mac Special Effects Products
APPLE
Firms Team To Speed Remote PC Co
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- A Colorado company and another in Florida have teamed up to produce compatible software that reportedly speeds up Windows and DOS applications running on remote personal computers.
Niwot Networks Inc., in Boulder, Colorado, and Ocean Isle Software of Vero Beach, Florida have announced that Ocean Isle's ReachOut Remote Control Modem version is now compatible with Niwot's Remote Control Support Kit.
ReachOut Remote Control allows the user to control a remote PC getting rapid screen refresh, smooth mouse operation and good integration with Windows, according to the company. The modem version includes security features, background file transfer, printer redirection, disk redirection, and the ability to reboot the host when the remote connection is terminated.
Niwot's support kit includes an AT/SD synchronous adapter that supports data exchange rates from 9.6 kilobits to four megabits over V.35, RS-232 or RS-449 interfaces, an RCDRVR software driver for INT14/6B support, a VDIAL software dialer for synchronous V.25bis DSUs, TA, and IMUXs. You also get a cable to connect to DSU (data service unit), TA (terminal adapter), or IMUX with a standard V.35 interface, and a ReachOut Remote Control Modem version single user license.
"Up until now we have been limited by the COM (serial) port performance," says Ocean Isle President Jim Kendall. "Using the Niwot package we see great screen updates and file transfers over a megabyte a minute for ISDN (integrated services digital network) and faster connections."
Bill Gibson, president of Niwot Networks, says combining ReachOut Remote Control with the faster digital lines which Niwot supports gives users support and management of remote applications using the same switched digital hardware that was previously dedicated to file transfer or videoconferencing.
The Niwot support kit is available direct from Niwot Networks for $995. ReachOut Remote Control Modem Host and Viewer sells for $199 from Ocean Isle Software.
(Jim Mallory/19940527/Press contact: Sally Smith, Smith & Associates, 513-897-0654; Reader contact: Jay Knutson, Niwot Networks Inc, 303-444-7765 or Doug Fowler, Ocean Isle 407-770-4777)
or Doug Fowler, Ocean Isle 407-770-4777)
5/31/94
Firms Team To Speed Remote PC Computing
Comdex - Plantronics Pushes Mini
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Plantronics, a long-time leader in the telephone head-set business, offered a new standard for computer connections to telephones at the recent Comdex expo in Atlanta. The standard was based on a mini-DIN plug.
Vice President Marvin Tseu showed a prototype head-set at a Comdex press conference, then defended the design under close questioning from reporters. "It's a computer interface, not a direct network interface," he explained. "You'll need more wires than those found on an RJ-11," the standard, square plug used for connecting to telephones.
Plantronics said it was defining an "open audio standard" and announced working relationships with Intel, Digital Equipment, and Hewlett-Packard to support it. The standard defines electrical as well as physical interfaces, as well as appropriate signal levels. Tseu said adoption of the standard would allow closer connections between computer telephony and multimedia applications, making the headset a key interface between the user and the computer.
Tseu said Plantronics is a long-time supplier to companies like Northern Telecom and AT&T, which make telephone equipment, and their support is essential for the adoption of the interface. The telephone equipment suppliers "recognize their interfaces have to become more open," but he acknowledged to Newsbytes that neither company has yet announced support for its standard from switch makers.
The Plantronics press conference drew a big crowd of reporters based on a promise of free headsets. As the press conference proceeded, some reporters began wondering aloud if they were going to get headsets with the mini-DIN plugs, which cannot be plugged into anything. They were assured that the free headsets would come in the mail, with RJ-11 plugs. But the whole display illustrated the difficulty Plantronics faces in trying to get its new "standard" adopted.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940527/Press Contact: Paul Wcislo Plantronics, 408/458-4468)
/Press Contact: Paul Wcislo Plantronics, 408/458-4468)
5/31/94
Comdex - Plantronics Pushes Mini-DIN Plug Standard
TRENDS
Diagsoft Diagnostic Prgm Adds Wi
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Diagsoft has announced it will include the capability to troubleshoot personal computer (PC) problems over the telephone by bundling the remote communication software product Cosession with its QAPlus line of PC diagnostic software. IBM has agreed to add the new bundle to its Valuepoint PCs.
Diagsoft has offered the ability for remote control in a DOS environment previously, but Cosession from Iselina, New Jersey based Triton Technologies will add the ability to perform remote operation in both the Microsoft Windows and DOS environments.
David Saphier, Triton's president, said: "With QAPlus and Cosession, if the user needs assistance, he or she can have a support technician connect to the troubled PC via a modem and remotely run diagnostic tests to get the system up and running in the least possible amount of time!"
The companies are encouraging computer manufacturers to bundle the Diasoft/Cosession products with new PCs. IBM is the first to take them up on it, bundling the 6.0 version of QAPlus/Win with the Cosession remote capability with the Performance Series of Valuepoint PCs.
IBM customer support representatives will reportedly be able to help customers pin-point a problem, and increase customer confidence in the hardware when it can be shown the problem is not hardware-related. Diagsoft says it believes PC vendors can count on higher customer satisfaction at lower support costs and fewer hardware returns.
Scotts Valley, California headquartered Diagsoft claims it has shipped 6 million copies of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) version of QAPlus to date. The company's other products include QAPlus/Win, QAPlus/FE, QAPlus/Factory, Peace of Mind for the Macintosh, and Power Meter.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940527/Press Contact: Rita lencioni, The Terpin Group, 310-798-7875, fax 310-798-7825; Sabrina Castaneda Diagsoft, 408-438-8247, fax 408-438-7113; Public Contact: Diagsoft, 800-342-4763; Compuserve, GO DIAGSOFT)
tact: Diagsoft, 800-342-4763; Compuserve, GO DIAGSOFT)
5/31/94
Diagsoft Diagnostic Prgm Adds Windows Remote Control
Delrina Intros Flintstones Scree
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Stone-age puns are flying as Delrina Corp. announced The Flintstones Screen Saver, a whimsical bit of software timed to capitalize on the release of a movie based on the old animated cartoon series.
In a press release making liberal use of "Flintstone-speak" by changing random syllables of words to "rock" or "stone" -- it refers to Delrina President Mark Skapinker as Mark Skapinkstone for example -- Delrina said the screen-saver will be available in June at major computer caves and mail order tablets.
The suggested retail price is US$34.95 or C$44.95. The software is available for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 3.1 and for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh computers using System 6.07 or higher.
The software comes with several modules, including a performance of the Flintstones theme song, a "Dictabird" that records and replays sound bites, a Bronto Crane that removes pieces of the Windows or Apple Macintosh desktop, and a paper boy who drives across the screen throwing copies of The Bedrock News.
The software requires five megabytes (MB) of disk space, 3MB of memory, and a 256-color display and adapter. Delrina recommends a sound board.
Though it is mostly just for fun, the screen saver does provide password protection and other security features, Delrina said.
It uses the same Intermission screen saver engine as other Delrina products such as The Far Side Screen Saver Collection and Opus'n Bill. Those who already have one of these products can get the Flintstones Screen Saver directly from Delrina for US$19.95 or C$24.95.
(Grant Buckler/19940531/Press Contact: Synthia Wong, Delrina, tel 416-443-4358, fax 416-441-0333, Internet swong@delrina.com; Public Contact: Delrina, tel 800-268-6082 or 416-441-3676)
elrina, tel 800-268-6082 or 416-441-3676)
5/31/94
Delrina Intros Flintstones Screen Saver
GENERAL
McCaw Links With PageNet, While
Medio Intros New PC Multimedia T
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Medio Multimedia Inc., has announced several new interactive multimedia titles on CD-ROM, including Medio Magazine, Jets!, and World Beat.
Medio Magazine is a monthly general interest magazine on CD-ROM that includes sections called Entertainment, Sports, Business and Finance, Scene, News, Reference, KidStuff, and Backtalk. The Entertainment section includes full-motion video clips from upcoming Hollywood movies and interviews with stars and directors.
The Scene section has video clips of recent fashion shows from the fashion capitals of the world. The cover of the first Medio Magazine issue features a cartoon character waiter holding aloft a world globe on a CD-ROM disk.
Jets! is about jet-powered aircraft and their pilots and designers. You get 30 minutes of video, including interviews with people like Chuck Yeager and Scott Crossfield. There are also narratives on topics such as test pilots and experimental planes that let users further explore their areas of interest by clicking on a video clip animation or still photo during the narration.
The disk includes two complete books, three-dimensional (3-D) animations, color photographs, and a morphing timeline that shows the development of jet aircraft. Morphing is a technique that gradually changes one image into a different image, and is becoming popular in television commercials.
Jet! covers planes from the German Me 163, through Stealth aircraft and into renderings of future planes.
World Beat is a collection of music styles from around the world. The program explains the origins and histories of more than 150 music styles. There are videos of performances and interviews with musicians, and you can experiment with the tempo and volume of songs in a section called the Music Studio. There is also a source listing for records and audio disks and overviews of Asian, Latin American and African music styles.
World Beat includes two MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) set-up features that walk the user through the installation process and test the system.
Jets!, World Beat, and Medio Magazine each have a suggested retail price of $59.95. You can also get Medio Magazine for $9.95 per issue. The three disks are included in the Medio Explorer II collection along with JFK Assassination: A Visual Investigation for $119.95.
The software is distributed through Egghead Software, CompUSA Computer City, Electronic Boutique, Software Etc, and Incredible Universe.
To run any of the Medio Multimedia programs you need a 486SX or higher personal computer, four megabytes (MB) of hard disk space an MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive, VGA or better graphics, Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later, a mouse or compatible pointing device, and an audio board with speakers or headphones.
(Jim Mallory/19940531/Press contact: Pam Miller, Kaufer Miller Communications Inc for Medio Multimedia Inc, 206-450-9965; Reader contact: Medio Multimedia Inc, 206-867-5500 or 800-788-3866, fax 206-885-4142/MEDIO940531/PHOTO)
66, fax 206-885-4142/MEDIO940531/PHOTO)
5/31/94
Medio Intros New PC Multimedia Titles
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Ditek Software Corp., of Markham, Ontario, announced at the recent Comdex Spring and Windows World trade show a design software package for personal computers (PCs) running Microsoft Windows.
DynaDesigner! is an all-purpose design, drawing, drafting, and illustration program, the company said. According to Oren Asher president of Ditek, it is a somewhat stripped-down version of DynaCADD, a Windows design package that Ditek plans to release -- after some delays -- this summer.
DynaCADD, to be launched at the Comdex/Canada show in Toronto in mid-July, will include rendering and more extensive three dimensional (3-D) design functions than DynaDesigner!, Asher told Newsbytes. DynaCADD is in beta testing now, he said.
DynaDesigner! users will be able to upgrade to DynaCADD without having to learn new commands, according to the vendor. The company also said DynaDesigner! files are compatible with various other Windows applications, including AutoCAD, CorelDraw! Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, PageMaker, and QuarkXPress.
The software uses a point-and-click icon interface that Ditek calls InstaKlik, allowing access to more than 2,000 commands. Experienced users can use a keyboard-based command-line interpreter if they prefer.
Ditek estimates the street price of DynaDesigner! will be about $250. Asher said the street price of DynaCADD will probably be around $500.
Ditek has established distribution in Europe, with distributors in Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, Asher said. The company has historically been stronger in the European market than in North America. Ditek is building up its North American marketing channels and is looking for distributors in the Asia and Pacific region, Asher said.
C TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- This regular feature, appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: IBM's new PC Servers and RISC System/6000 models, and Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4 for DOS.
IBM Canada Ltd., of Markham, Ontario, announced new PC Server models (Newsbytes, May 24). The new servers are due to ship within three weeks. The base price for the 486DX2/66 server with eight megabytes (MB) of memory, without a hard disk, is C$4,599. The Pentium server, with 16MB of memory, is C$7,199 without hard disk.
IBM Canada also introduced new models in its RISC System/6000 line of reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) workstations and servers (Newsbytes, May 24).
IBM Canada said it is now shipping the RS/6000 C10 server at a list price of C$16,450. The Model 380 lists at C$32,760, and the Model 390 at C$38,480. The Model 59H server will start at C$103,720. The rack-mount servers will range from C$55.080 to C$136,620, with the R10 and R20 models shipping in June and the R24 in mid-July. The RS/6000 41T workstation has a Canadian list price of C$16,020. The 41W is C$14,300. The 3AT workstation lists for C$32,900 and the 3BT for C$37,910. All these models are due to ship in early June.
IBM Canada also followed its US parent's lead in introduced graphics accelerators and updated software for the RS/6000 products. Database 2/2 Version 1.2 and Distributed Database Connection Services/2 Version 2.2 will ship at the end of June the company said. New graphics accelerators are to be available June 10.
Toronto-based Lotus Development Canada Ltd. announced 1-2-3 Release 4 for DOS (Newsbytes, May 17). 1-2-3 Release 4 for DOS will ship in Canada in June at a suggested retail price of C$789 the company said. Upgrades from all other releases of 1-2-3 and from qualifying competitive spreadsheets have a suggested retail price of C$175.
(Grant Buckler/19940531/Press Contact: Kate Dennis, IBM Canada [PC Servers], tel 905-316-2191; Susan Turnbull, IBM Canada [RS/6000], tel 905-316-3910; Jane Bargout, IBM Canada [database software], tel 905-316-2262; Marsha Connor, Lotus Canada, tel 416-364-8000, fax 416-364-1547; Public Contact: IBM Canada 905-946-9000; Lotus Canada, tel 416-364-8000)
Lotus Canada, tel 416-364-8000)
5/31/94
Canadian Product Launch Update
GENERAL
Motorola Licenses Matsushita's F
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Osaka-based Matsushita Electronics Corporation says it has signed an agreement with Motorola concerning the licensing of ferroelectric technologies.
According to Matsushita, the technology can be applied to a 256 megabit and a one gigabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip.
According to Matsushita, the two technologies licensed to Motorola are high dielectric BST (barium strontium titanate) and non-volatile Y-1 (superlattice perovskites).
Matsushita claims that it is the first firm in the industry to succeed in the commercialization of BST technology in the fabrication of gallium arsenide integrated circuits. Such chips are already used in digital portable telephones and telecommunication terminals.
Motorola will reportedly use the technologies in its portable phones. Also, it is expected that the firm will develop card-type integrated circuits for portable phones.
Matsushita Electronics started basic research into ferroelectric technologies jointly with the University of Colorado in 1991. The concept itself was reportedly originally developed by Dr. Carlos Paz de Araijo at the University of Colorado.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Fujitsu has reportedly developed a powerful pocket personal computer (PC), called the OASYS Pocket 3. The Pocket 3 can link with digital cellular phones, and will be priced at 99,800 yen ($998) when it is introduced on June 10.
Fujitsu's latest pocket computer is a revised version of an existing model, and was originally based on technology from its British subsidiary, ICL. Fujitsu has added additional technologies including the digital cellular phone feature Kanji capabilities, and word processing.
The OASYS Pocket 3 weighs only 490 grams and is only about half the size of a B5-size document. It has a full keyboard and a large LCD (liquid crystal display). It can continuously be operated for about 10 hours with two removable batteries.
The pocket PC also includes a "to-do" list and project feature, as well as those associated with an electronics organizer, such as a scheduler, a memo-pad, a calculator, and spreadsheet.
Fujitsu has already developed a small digital phone for the device which is based on NTT's "standard." Also, it can be linked with a desktop PC and a printer.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940531/Press Contact: Fujitsu tel 81-3-3215-5236, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
tel 81-3-3215-5236, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
5/31/94
Japan - Pocket PC Debuts From Fujitsu
TRENDS
Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, S
PC Learning Companies Announce M
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Two training companies have announced they will merge to form, what they claim is "the largest developer and publisher of computer education products and services in the world."
Learn PC Inc., based in Minneapolis, says it will merge with Burlington, Massachusetts-based Hands On Learning. Learn PC is a privately held company, formed in 1986 to develop video-based software training systems. Hands On Learning is a developer of educational products for computer industry professionals. Its flagship product is the Workshop Training Series which combines various learning media to teach diverse skills.
The yet-unnamed company created by the merger will offer educational products on operating systems, programming languages and software applications. The organization will employee more than 100 people in its Minneapolis corporate offices and field offices in Boston, Toronto, Austin, Chicago, Fayetteville, Los Angeles, New York, and Phoenix. Distribution centers are located in the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Belgium, and the Middle East.
Learn PC spokesperson Kara Ellinger told Newsbytes Hands On Learning's corporate headquarters in Burlington will remain open as a sales office.
Ellinger said no jobs will be lost as a result of the merger. The two private companies say they may consider a public offering at a later date. An announcement of the name of the new company is expected within 60 days.
Chuck Gorman, president and CEO of Learn PC, will hold those same positions with the new firm. Dan Frawley, Hands On Learning president, has been named executive vice president. Jeff Traynor will be chief financial officer, and John Barrow will also be an executive vice president.
(Jim Mallory/19940531/Press contact: Karen Ellinger, Learn PC 612-930-4543)
Karen Ellinger, Learn PC 612-930-4543)
5/31/94
PC Learning Companies Announce Merger
BUSINESS
Motif & Asahi Promote Active Add
WILSONVILLE, OREGON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Motif Inc., says it has signed a letter of intent to form a strategic alliance with Asahi Glass Company.
Motif is the developer and manufacturer of active addressing liquid crystal display (AALCD) technology and is a joint venture of Motorola and In Focus Systems. Asahi Glass manufactures passive matrix liquid crystal displays.
Through the alliance, Motif will sell active addressing integrated circuits (AAICs) to Asahi, enabling that company to add AALCDs to its product line.
The two companies say they will each benefit from the alliance. Asahi gets the AAICs, while Motif gets raw liquid crystal cells which it will integrate with its own AAICs.
Asahi has developed a "fast responding" LCD technology called multiple line selection (MLS). The agreement calls for the two companies to work together to expand the market for all such next-generation passive matrix LCDs. It is expected it will take six to nine months for products to become available.
Passive matrix display panels have traditionally used sequential signaling of each pixel using circuitry placed off the display panel. That makes the panel easy to manufacture, but limits refresh rates because each pixel (picture element or the dots that make up the image displayed) is updated sequentially. Active matrix displays place a thin-film transistor (TFT) at each pixel. That speeds up the refresh rate, but makes the panels more difficult and expensive to manufacture.
Active addressing bridges the gap between the two methods by signaling all pixels constantly and simultaneously using AAIC circuitry located off the screen in silicon, maintain the companies.
The market for active addressing LCDs includes notebook and sub-notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) instrumentation, video games, and projection systems.
(Jim Mallory/19940531/Press contact: Kevin Cornelius, Motif Inc. 503-682-7700; Reader contact: Motif, tel 503-682-7700 fax 503-682-7036)
act: Motif, tel 503-682-7700 fax 503-682-7036)
5/31/94
Motif & Asahi Promote Active Addressing LCDs
BUSINESS
3-D Backgrounds For Windows
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Domain Virtual Worlds has announced the release of Crystal Walls 1.0, a program that puts three-dimensional (3-D) animation and sound behind your Windows screen.
Crystal Walls offers 18 animated worlds, including: Serengeti Savanna; Bert the Windows Washer; Superheroes: NightMask and Twilite; and Fruit Punch Pool Party. There are also gargoyles chinese bulldogs, Zen sages, indian designs, chinese papercut mobiles, planets, globs of good sliding down the screen, gnomes and other views to select.
The company claims that, what sets Crystal Walls apart from other Windows "wallpaper" is that the characters and objects in the program continue their interaction while you are working in an application. The program detects how much activity is present on the computer and varies the rate of animation dependent on how much processor time is available. The characters interact with each other, and in some instances respond to your actions.
Virtual Worlds President Joseph King says Crystal Walls is better than a screen saver. "Screen savers are fun mostly when you're not there. By keeping the (Crystal Walls) worlds active while you use other applications, Crystal Walls provides instead, a playful personal space in which to work."
The company says you need at least a 386-based personal computer running at 25 megahertz (MHz) or faster, Windows 3.1, four megabytes of RAM and a 16-color VGA monitor or better.
A "browse" feature lets you preview the 18 offerings, and any you do not want can be removed. Features such as the rate of activity number of characters in a world, the number of colors to display and when you want the sound effects to play are user-selectable. After Dark screen saver modules can be run as Crystal Walls worlds.
The five-disk program has an introductory price of $49.95 until January 1, 1995, when the price will go up to $59.95.
(Jim Mallory/19940531/Press contact: Richard Leeds, Computer Product Introductions Corporation for Domain Virtual Worlds Inc., 206 451-9788; Reader contact: Domain Virtual Worlds, 206-328 7200 or 800-896-7537, fax 206-328-7271/DOMAIN950531/PHOTO)
-328-7271/DOMAIN950531/PHOTO)
5/31/94
3-D Backgrounds For Windows
UK - ICL To Bundle New NT With E
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- ICL Computers has announced plans to ship copies of Windows NT 3.5 with its ErGoPRO 90 megahertz (MHz) Pentium-based PCs, as soon as the new version of Microsoft's NT operating environment becomes available.
"Microsoft's Windows NT and ICL's ErgoPRO Pentium systems work hand-in-glove to provide customers the performance and features they need to optimize enterprise wide client-server computing," said David Mills, managing director of ICL Client-Server Systems announcing the bundling deal.
According to Mills, ICL's ErGoPRO systems bundled with the new version of Windows NT should boost sales of the company's Pentium-based systems. "We intend to make the Pentium/Windows NT the affordable platform of choice for customers who need a powerful platform to implement new 32-bit applications and multimedia features," he said.
According to Microsoft, the new "Daytona" version of Windows NT offers users true multitasking, long filenames, 32-bit file access and enhanced networking capabilities.
"Windows NT is an obvious choice for high-performance Pentium PCs targeted at anyone who needs additional power," commented Jim Allchin vice president of Microsoft's business systems division.
ICL's ErGoPRO systems are pitched as high-end workstations and servers in the UK marketplace. The systems, which are sold through value-added resellers on a software bundling basis, feature Pentium OverDrive upgradability, PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) local bus architecture, memory expandable to 128 megabytes (MB), hard disk capacity up to 2,000MB, and graphics memory of up to 4MB.
(Steve Gold/19940527/Press Contact: Mark Casey, Leading Edge Communications, 44-71-454-9360; Public Contact: ICL 44-344-711711)
, 44-71-454-9360; Public Contact: ICL 44-344-711711)
5/31/94
UK - ICL To Bundle New NT With ErGoPRO Pentium PCs
TELECOM
UK - Microsoft Previews Windows
UK - Intuit Intros Quickbooks 2.
HARMONDSWORTH, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Intuit Ltd., the UK subsidiary of Intuit in the US, has announced Quickbooks 2.0 for Windows, its first small/medium business accounting software application.
Selling for UKP149.95, the package aims to offer a choice for small to medium-sized businesses considering Quicken, the budget accounts software home and small business use.
Unlike competing packages, QuickBooks does not use professional accounting terms, but substitutes everyday language instead.
As supplied, the package comes in three distinct sections: the customer pack, including disks and sample stationery; an 88-page getting started guide; and a 422 page user's guide.
Installation steps the user through the set-up functions in about 10 minutes. Once set up, the package makes a big play on its removal of the need for accounting terms such as "debit," "credit" and "general ledger," preferring instead to talk in laymans terms, such as "receiving payments," "making deposits" and "paying bills."
If you use Quicken for DOS or Windows, or the recently-introduced QuickTax package, you can convert your files over to QuickBooks as the format is broadly similar. Once installed, the package has a slideshow tutorial that steps the user through the program's usage.
Despite its simple approach to bookkeeping, QuickBooks is billed as a very powerful package, offering historical, current and projected report, analytic and spreadsheet facilities, adding graphs and charts as required, in an easily accessible format.
Ian Yarlott, managing director of Intuit, told Newsbytes that he sees QuickBooks as appealing to the small and medium-sized businessman who would otherwise pay several hundred pounds for an accounting suite.
"With Quicken, we've found a number of users running their businesses on the package, despite the fact that its really a home accounts package. QuickBooks is a real business package except that, like Quicken, it costs a fraction of the price of equivalent and competing software," he said.
Intuit is offering users a 60-day money-back guarantee and free technical support facility. "That makes us a lot cheaper than any of the competition, most of which charge for their support," Yarlott said.
There are no plans at the moment to offer a DOS version of QuickBooks in the UK. "When I look at my DOS sales of Quicken, I see 15 percent of total sales. The bulk of sales are in Windows, so we've decided not to release a DOS version over here. Obviously, if our users ask for a DOS version on a large scale, then we'll review that decision," Yarlott told Newsbytes.
Existing users of Quicken can upgrade to QuickBooks at the special price of UKP84.95. Quicken 3.0 users even get UKP25 off the upgrade price, Yarlott said
Quickbooks 2.0 for Windows, UK edition, requires a 386-based PC or better, Windows 3.1, a hard disk with nine megabytes of space, and a VGA or higher resolution monitor. The package will be available in the UK from June 1 onwards.
(Steve Gold/19940527/Press & Public Contact: Intuit 44-81-990-5500)
/Press & Public Contact: Intuit 44-81-990-5500)
5/31/94
UK - Intuit Intros Quickbooks 2.0 For Windows
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
Control Data Gets Russian Automa
Great Bear Intros Windows Family
MORAGA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Great Bear has announced Family HealthTracker, a Windows program designed to track, record and locate personal and family health records and health-related activities.
The $49 software has a notebook interface with seven sections: Cover, Daily Activities, Medical Records, Women's Health, Graph Information, and Address Book. The product is part of the HealthSoft brand name of products that Great Bear markets.
At the same time, Great Bear announced a price reduction on its multimedia titles of The Complete Guide to Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs and its Medical Dictionary & Family Health Guide, as well as its All Music Guide from $69 and $59 to $49.
Family HealthTracker's Information section includes phone numbers and addresses for over 300 health resources, such as the American Cancer Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
The Graphing section creates graphs for both exercise- and diet related activities as well as tracking calorie intake, cholesterol levels, fat consumption and body weight. The Cover section presents an opening screen that provides "tips of the day" and facts to reduce stress and prevent disease. The Women's health section provides recording areas for menstrual cycles, breast exams, birth control and related drug usage.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Doug Cole, president and chief executive officer of Great Bear, said, "Our market research told us that there was no way of tracking all or some of the health records issues and related activities. Our company likes to develop programs that can be used on daily basis and fits into family use."
Comparing it to Quicken, Cole said, "If people just kept track of their body as they do with their checkbook we would have a lot healthier world."
An IBM or compatible computer with four megabytes (MB) of RAM and 7MB of hard disk space, using Windows 3.1 and a mouse pointing device, is necessary for installing and using Family HealthTracker. The company offers a 60-day money back guarantee and technical support.
(Patrick McKenna/19940531/Press Contact: Maria Amundson, A&R Partners, 415-363-0982)
act: Maria Amundson, A&R Partners, 415-363-0982)
5/31/94
Great Bear Intros Windows Family HealthTracker
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
Micrografx's Free Business Graph
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At
Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- Xaos Tools (pronounced "chaos") known for its software tools for creating visual effects on Silicon Graphics workstations, says it is shipping Terrazzo, a plug-in pattern generator for the Macintosh version of Adobe Photoshop.
The software can reportedly be used for creating background patterns for graphic design and multimedia, making texture maps or bump maps for three-dimensional (3-D) modeling, or generating repeating patterns for textiles, wallpaper, and floor coverings.
Terrazzo generates patterns by selecting one of 17 basic geometry patterns, or symmetries, and applying it to a section of an image. This creates a tile that can then be repeated to form a pattern or texture. Once the pattern is made, it can be applied to existing digital images or saved as an individual tile in the PICT file format. The PICT file format allows the tile to be used later or in programs that do not support the Adobe Photoshop plug-in standard.
Users can vary the capacity of a pattern, use a "feather" tool to create soft transitions instead of visible boundaries between tiles, and change characteristics such as lightness, hue saturation, color, and luminosity. Finished tiles and patterns may be modified in Photoshop's built-in image manipulation tools and other plug-in filters, including Xaos Tools' other Photoshop plug-in, Paint Alchemy.
Terrazzo is aimed at graphic designers, multimedia artists, 3-D animators, and textile designers. The Photoshop add-on requires a color Apple Macintosh, with System 6.0.5 or later and retails for $199.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940531/Press Contact: Kelly Burke, Xaos Tools tel 415-487-7000, fax 415-558-9886; Public Contact: Xaos Tools 800-833-9287/COMPANY940527/PHOTO)
Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For Mac Adobe Photoshop
APPLE
Live From New York, It's The Sat
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- The original cast of "Saturday Night Live" will be featured in the 20th Anniversary CD-ROM set. The two-disc set from the longest running and highest-rated comedy/variety show in television is being produced by GameTek and Saturday Night Live's co-producer with NBC, Broadway Video.
The CD-ROM set will feature an icon-based user interface based on a digitized image of the Saturday Night Live Studio set. Script passages, promotional video footage, sound clips, and a scrapbook of rare photos from the original cast will all be included.
Musical parodies from the show will be available as well as performances by "The Blues Brothers." A full-color companion guide filled with Saturday Night Live photographs will accompany the set.
GameTek said the Saturday Night Live CD-ROM, available for both Macintosh and IBM-compatible computers, is part of 60 new products it plans to release through June, 1995. The company is also planning to release movie classics on CD-ROM such as "Night of the Living Dead" and compilations of "Our Gang" episodes.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940531/Press Contact: Stephen Curran, GameTek tel 305-935-3995, fax 305-932-8651/GAMETEK940531/PHOTO)
Live From New York, It's The Saturday Night CD-ROM
GENERAL
Newsbytes Daily Summary
!PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 31 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> UK - Borland Intros PowerPack For DOS 05/31/94 Borland has announced PowerPack for DOS, a suite of DOS development tools and libraries that work with the company's C++ version 4.0 programming language.
2 -> UK - Psion-Dacom Intros Low-Cost 14,400bps Modem 05/31/94 Psion Dacom has announced the Meteor desktop modem. The unit, which costs UKP249, works at speeds of up to 14,400 bits-per-second (bps), and brings the company into line with the rest of the modem market Newsbytes notes.
3 -> UK - Optech Handles BT Directory Enquiries CD-ROM 05/31/94 After offering its Phonedisk/CD- ROM directory enquiries (DQ) disc direct from its sales office for the past few years, British Telecom (BT) is now offering the system through dealers. As a result, BT has announced the signing of its first dealer to handle Phonedisk Optech Limited, the multimedia specialists.
4 -> UK PCMCIA Specialist Intros Network Cards 05/31/94 Portable Add-Ons has announced a range of Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) network adapters that it claims covers all bases as far as user requirements are concerned. Three cards are initially available, one for Token Ring networks, and two for Ethernet users.
5 -> UK - Mercury Offers Free Mobile Phone Calls To Year 2000 05/31/93 Following hard on the heels of announcing that 62,500 subscribers had signed up in the first six months of its operation Mercury One-2-One, the digital mobile phone network has announced what it claims is the ultimate marketing come-on -- a golden SIM (subscriber identity module) card.
6 -> Greece Announces OTE Telecom Privatization Plans 05/31/94 The Greek Government has given the go-ahead for plans to partially privatize the state-controlled telecommunications company, OTE. The announcement has been critically timed, Newsbytes notes, as the Greek stock exchange is in the midst of a sharp downward trend putting pressure on interest rates to rise.
7 -> ****FAS Attacks Clinton Information, Secrecy Policy 05/31/94 "Judging by the number of documents being withheld from the public on asserted national security grounds," says the Federation of American Scientists, "the Clinton administration is the most secretive presidency in the history of the Republic."
8 -> Context Systems Intros D-Day CD For Windows 05/31/94 Timed to coincide with memorials and celebrations in Europe and the US Context Systems and Simon & Schuster have released The D-Day Encyclopedia. The CD features 50 period news-reel video clips, 24 full-colored maps, interviews, and a multimedia version of the famous 287-foot Operation Overlord tapestry depicting the event.
9 -> NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers 05/31/94 TO ALL OUR US CUSTOMERS, WE HOPE YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WAS A PLEASANT ONE ! These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. The photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board system in Minneapolis. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
10 -> HP Intros Aptrex X Terminals To Vie With Sun 05/31/94 Hewlett Packard has announced the Aptrex family of X terminals, a product line primed to compete against Sun's own X terminals plus third party contenders from companies like NCD and Tektronix.
11 -> Claris Intros Organizer PIM For Mac 05/31/94 Claris has unveiled Claris Organizer, a Mac-based application for calendaring scheduling, note-taking and contact management envisioned by the company as the "Claris Works of PIMs (personal information managers)."
12 -> Australia - Color Scanner/Fax/Copier For Under $800 05/31/94 You can buy a desktop scanner for under $1,000, but how about throwing in faxing and copying capabilities as well? ScanPlus is claimed to be the first such product.
13 -> CoSA Ships Mac Special Effects Products 05/31/94 CoSA, a division of Aldus Corporation, says it is now shipping three new products that enhance its special-effects program, After Effects.
14 -> Firms Team To Speed Remote PC Computing 05/31/94 A Colorado company and another in Florida have teamed up to produce compatible software that reportedly speeds up Windows and DOS applications running on remote personal computers.
15 -> Comdex - Plantronics Pushes Mini-DIN Plug "Standard" 05/31/94 Plantronics, a long-time leader in the telephone head-set business offered a new standard for computer connections to telephones at the recent Comdex expo in Atlanta. The standard was based on a mini-DIN plug.
16 -> Diagsoft Diagnostic Prgm Adds Windows Remote Control 05/31/94 Diagsoft has announced it will include the capability to troubleshoot personal computer (PC) problems over the telephone by bundling the remote communication software product Cosession with its QAPlus line of PC diagnostic software. IBM has agreed to add the new bundle to its Valuepoint PCs.
17 -> Delrina Intros Flintstones Screen Saver 05/31/94 Stone-age puns are flying as Delrina Corp. announced The Flintstones Screen Saver, a whimsical bit of software timed to capitalize on the release of a movie based on the old animated cartoon series.
18 -> Medio Intros New PC Multimedia Titles 05/31/94 Medio Multimedia Inc., has announced several new interactive multimedia titles on CD-ROM, including Medio Magazine, Jets!, and World Beat.
19 -> Ditek Launches PC Design Package 05/31/94 Ditek Software Corp., of Markham, Ontario, announced at the recent Comdex Spring and Windows World trade show a design software package for personal computers (PCs) running Microsoft Windows.
20 -> Canadian Product Launch Update 05/31/94 This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: IBM's new PC Servers and RISC System/6000 models, and Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4 for DOS.
21 -> Motorola Licenses Matsushita's Ferroelectric Technology 05/31/94 Osaka-based Matsushita Electronics Corporation says it has signed an agreement with Motorola concerning the licensing of ferroelectric technologies.
22 -> Japan - Pocket PC Debuts From Fujitsu 05/31/94 Fujitsu has reportedly developed a powerful pocket personal computer (PC) called the OASYS Pocket 3. The Pocket 3 can link with digital cellular phones, and will be priced at 99,800 yen ($998) when it is introduced on June 10.
23 -> PC Learning Companies Announce Merger 05/31/94 Two training companies have announced they will merge to form, what they claim is "the largest developer and publisher of computer education products and services in the world."
24 -> Motif & Asahi Promote Active Addressing LCDs 05/31/94 Motif Inc., says it has signed a letter of intent to form a strategic alliance with Asahi Glass Company.
25 -> 3-D Backgrounds For Windows 05/31/94 Domain Virtual Worlds has announced the release of Crystal Walls 1.0, a program that puts three-dimensional (3-D) animation and sound behind your Windows screen.
26 -> UK - ICL To Bundle New NT With ErGoPRO Pentium PCs 05/31/94 ICL Computers has announced plans to ship copies of Windows NT 3.5 with its ErGoPRO 90 megahertz (MHz) Pentium-based PCs, as soon as the new version of Microsoft's NT operating environment becomes available.
27 -> UK - Intuit Intros Quickbooks 2.0 For Windows 05/31/94 Intuit Ltd., the UK subsidiary of Intuit in the US, has announced Quickbooks 2.0 for Windows, its first small/medium business accounting software application.
28 -> Great Bear Intros Windows Family HealthTracker 05/31/94 Great Bear has announced Family HealthTracker, a Windows program designed to track, record and locate personal and family health records and health-related activities.
29 -> Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For Mac Adobe Photoshop 05/31/94 Xaos Tools (pronounced "chaos") known for its software tools for creating visual effects on Silicon Graphics workstations, says it is shipping Terrazzo, a plug-in pattern generator for the Macintosh version of Adobe Photoshop.
30 -> Live From New York, It's The Saturday Night CD-ROM 05/31/94 The original cast of "Saturday Night Live" will be featured in the 20th Anniversary CD-ROM set. The two-disc set from the longest running and highest-rated comedy/variety show in television is being produced by GameTek and Saturday Night Live's co-producer with NBC Broadway Video.
(Ian Stokell/19940531)
(Ian Stokell/19940531)
5/31/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
" #J#.#
DEC Unveils Interactive Video Co
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- DEC has announced plans to open a Digital Content Center this summer in Tarrytown, New York. It will be the first of a half-dozen centers in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim that will support content providers in creating and adapting interactive video applications for use on broadband and cable networks.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Phil Corman, manager of DEC's Content Center program, said that the centers will initially support trials and deployments involving DEC and its partners, but will later expand to include digital video applications for other networks, too.
As previously reported in Newsbytes, DEC's video server technology has been selected for use in a proposed commercial deployment of "video dialtone" services by Nynex in Rhode Island, as well as in trials being conducted by Nynex in New York City, US West in Omaha Nebraska, Telecom Australia throughout Australia, and USA Video.
DEC has also signed deals to take part in several other video trials, according to Charlie Christ, VP of DEC's Storage Business Unit.
Corman told Newsbytes that one of DEC's upcoming content centers will be located in Europe, one in the Pacific Rim, and the remainder in North America. DEC plans to "cut the ribbon" on its initial center in Tarrytown late this summer, although operations there will be up and running before the official ceremony, he added.
Services provided by the centers will be customizable to specific customer needs, according to Corman. Where requested, DEC will develop entire interactive video applications "from scratch," he said. In other situations, DEC will provide technical help only.
Areas of technical assistance to be handled by the centers will include: end-to-end testing of interactive applications on actual networks; conversion of analog video to digital format; compression; integration of new interactive applications with existing databases; and "formal and informal" training and consultation on matters such as how to design interactive applications for different set-top environments.
DEC personnel will also be able to assist large content providers in establishing their own on-site content centers, according to Corman.
DEC envisions that the applications to be created and adapted by its content centers will include interactive shopping, interactive business information, and "distance learning."
Some of the applications will be designed for use at home, and others for office use, Corman reported. The home applications will be deployed through TV set-top boxes, while the business applications will run on office computers.
"In the end-to-end testing, providers will be able to see how their applications operate on 'real' networks from phone companies like Nynex and US West," Corman maintained. DEC is especially interested in helping providers to test the same application on multiple networks, he added.
In digitizing and compressing video and audio, DEC will initially use MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group)-1 technology, and later move to MPEG-2. "We'll do our best to achieve high compatibility between MPEG-1 and MPEG-2," noted Corman.
In many instances, DEC will be adding, or helping to add, menus or other mechanisms that will bring "interactivity" to video that has been converted from analog to video format.
The new DEC content centers will employ staff members who are already on board at DEC, as well as some "new hires" from outside the company, according to Corman.
But, he emphasized, developers who work at the centers will need to meet a "rigid" set of qualifications that calls for an extensive background in networking.
"Third-party developers who have created CD-ROM titles are finding the requirements to be quite different for interactive video on networks," he explained. "DEC's expertise in networking was one of the chief reasons why we decided to establish the content centers."
Also, as previously reported in Newsbytes, content providers who have announced their participation in the Nynex video-on-demand trial in New York City include Advanced Research and Technologies Inc. (ARTI), Urban Communications Transport, and Liberty Cable Television. Time-Warner is expected to join the trial later this year.
The trial in New York City will ultimately allow up to 800 users in three Manhattan apartment buildings to use their TV remote controls to access movies, home shopping, and other interactive services, a Nynex spokesperson told Newsbytes.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940531/Reader Contact: DEC, 508-493-5111; Press Contacts: Gloria Bates, DEC, 508-841-6544; Janice Rosen or Steve Diamond, The Weber Group for DEC, 617-661-7900)
e Diamond, The Weber Group for DEC, 617-661-7900)
6/1/94
DEC Unveils Interactive Video Content Centers
TRENDS
Reuters Announces Two New Media
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Reuters is quietly trying to win itself a position of dominance in news delivered by new media. Its strategy is to make strategic alliances for every possible transmission medium.
For instance, the company has customized its wires to create a new Top News library on the Nexis service, accessed with the keyword TOPNWS. The company is offering a business summary international summary, political summary and news briefs, all updated three times daily except for the briefs, which are updated every hour, seven days a week.
The summary files provide briefs on the wire's top stories in specific categories, and automatically display the most recent data when the file is accessed, ordered based on the news judgement of Reuters editors.
Markers are inserted so that the full-text of each story is also easily accessible, and don't carry the regular two-hour Reuters embargo on its online news. The deal with Reuters is non exclusive -- Nexis also carries AP News Briefs.
Reuters' NewMedia unit also announced a venture called Ingenius in conjunction with Liberty Media, which TCI is in the process of re-acquiring. The new venture is aimed at distributing multimedia products based on daily current events to US classrooms and homes.
Buford Smith, president of Reuters NewMedia, commented in a press statement that "We're looking for new markets and education looks like a promising one," with 48 million students now in grades K-12 at 110,000 schools nationwide.
Gerald Bennington, president of X-PRESS Information Services will head the new joint venture. Its first planned product is called What On Earth. The company runs an online service called X-Change that delivers its data over cable systems reaching 28 million homes and 18,000 schools, through TCI and other cable operators.
Earlier, Reuters helped create D-Net, a "video-on-demand" news clip service started by two former NBC newsmen. D-Net began as an experiment covering last year's race for New Jersey governor, and is now expanded into a wider service, in part by using the Reuters news library.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940531/Press Contact: Dorothy L. Delman Reuters America, 212-603-3570; Monica Schiffler, Mead Data Central, 513-865-1519)
ffler, Mead Data Central, 513-865-1519)
6/1/94
Reuters Announces Two New Media Deals
TELECOM
Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, S
NexGen, IBM In Chip Manufacturin
Correction - VMark Intros Vantag
WTI Announces Lower-Cost Two-Way
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Hoping to jump-start a horizontal business market for two-way wireless messaging, Wireless Telecom Inc., has announced a bundling deal with two major players in the market -- RAM Mobile Data and RadioMail.
RAM Mobile Data, a joint-venture between RAM Broadcasting and BellSouth, is the Mobitex wireless network for the US, using a packet radio standard first developed by Ericsson. RadioMail is a gateway between wireless and wired electronic-mail services. The two will now be available as a package for under $400.
That price, however, does not include the Mobidem radio modem needed to access the services, which currently retails for about $1,000, according to a WTI spokesman. The promotion will run through the end of the year.
In the last few years a lot of the excitement has left the wireless messaging market, which turns out to be far more price-sensitive than many analysts first thought. While some industries, notably in trucking and transportation, have been willing to spend big-money on wireless communications systems working with value-added resellers (VARs), most salesmen and traveling executives still rely on wired phone connections and when necessary, pagers.
The price of pager services, meanwhile, has been going down with big satellite-delivered services like SkyTel forced to lower prices in response to ground-based services like PageNet.
RAM and RadioMail are among the horizontal business market pioneers in wireless, two-way messaging. Under their program RadioMail start-up costs are being cut in half, and low fixed monthly service rates are being guaranteed, for message sent and received on IBM compatibles, Apple Macintoshes and Hewlett Packard palmtop PCs. RAM service, with unlimited use of RadioMail's gateway, is just $89 per month in this promotion.
RadioMail founder Geoffrey S. Goodfellow said in a press statement that "Prospective users have been waiting for this sort of pricing to get into two-way wireless messaging." Time will tell whether he is right. Wireless Telecom Inc., a unit of Intelligent Electronics, has been RadioMail's master distributor since February.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940531/Press Contact: RadioMail, Ed Forman 415/286-7800; e-mail: ed.forman@radiomail.net; RAM Mobile Data Veronica Corchado, 415/357-3613; e-mail: vcorchado@radiomail.net; Wireless Telecom, Inc., Kathy Kriner, 303/793-2482; e-mail: kkrinerradiomail.net: Customer Contacts: RadioMail, 1-800-597 6245; RAM Mobile Data, 1-800-726-3210; Wireless Telecom 1-303-793-2459)
RESEARCH TRIANGLE, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) New complaints from cable operators are delaying Bell Atlantic's installation of BroadBand Technologies fiber-in-the-loop system in New Jersey.
BroadBand's system, called Fiber Loop Access or FLX, was chosen by Bell Atlantic as its platform for upgrading the lines of 50,000 New Jersey subscribers after that state's legislature and regulators approved a "price cap" plan which let it financially justify the upgrade.
More recently, Bell Atlantic has announced plans to use AT&T as its main contractor in a hybrid fiber-coax system serving many of its major markets, but the BroadBand network is the first on which it requested a Federal Communications Commission "construction permit," commonly called a "214 filing."
The latest challenge, by the New Jersey Cable Association charges that Bell Atlantic has already begun work on the upgrade in violation of the law.
Newsbytes discussed the situation with Sam Quattrocchi, vice president-marketing for BroadBand. He acknowledged that cabinets are going in with electronics that is part of the upgrade. But "If you look at the cabinets, you can't tell which portion is video or telephony."
For over three years, BroadBand has been offering a system that lets phone networks upgrade their phone service first, then upgrade to video easily once permission to do that is granted.
This is not the first challenge from the New Jersey cable operators to the company's plans, Quattrocchi added. "Prior to this the challenge was about channels, and our new effort will increase the number of channels available. It was originally a minimum of 64, and the new release goes to 384 as a minimum, to 1,500 as a maximum." The upgrade consists of both software and some hardware for MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) encoding and will be available by this fall.
The cable operators have also expressed concern that Bell Atlantic is subsidizing its entry into the video business with profits from its phone operations. "There are very specific rules of the FCC on accounting practices that help avoid that, plus Bell Atlantic has reached agreement with New Jersey regulators agreeing to price caps," said Quattrocchi.
The important point, he added, is "We're on the leading edge, the first filing for a national commercial deployment. It may be one reason we're getting so much attention from the cable industry."
In other news from the company, BroadBand said that ED TEL, the municipally-owned phone system service the area around Edmonton Alberta, in Canada, said it will conduct a trial of FLX, looking at the transport of voice over fiber cabling. The trial covers 62 homes in the Lewis Estates area of West Edmonton, delivered in January. BroadBand hopes this is just the "first step toward establishing a residential fiber optics network to replace ED TEL's copper cable network."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940531/Press Contact: Patrick Fetterman for BroadBand, 617/252-0606)
rman for BroadBand, 617/252-0606)
6/1/94
BroadBand Delayed In New Jersey
TELECOM
Popkin Software Intros New Schem
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- To increase support of System Architect 3.0, which was shipped in January of this year, Popkin Software has introduced version 2.0 of its Schema Generator.
SA Schema Generator 2.0 automatically generates referential integrity triggers for SQL (structured query language) Server and Sybase database applications directly from the System Architect repository.
This optional, add-on model to System Architect 3.0 translates entity relationship diagrams, IDEFIX object-oriented class diagrams or physical models into schema definitions for 16 database management systems, both SQL-based and non-SQL-based.
The company claims that the new interface of Scheme Generator will make it easier to use, and multiple Schema Generators may be opened with the opening of multiple diagrams. The original design intention was to provide database developers with a "simple, reliable and powerful" toolset for creating client/server applications.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Ronald Scherma, president of Popkin, said "We are driven by technology and will continue to bring out new products for our System Architect family. More than 30% of our revenues are directed towards research and development."
Popkin also announced new features to its optional SA Reverse Data Engineer with version 2.0, which reverse engineers SQL database applications from several popular database management systems including Microsoft's SQL Server, Sybase, DB/2, Informix and Oracle.
Both the SA Schema Generator 2.0 and the SA Reverse Data Engineer 2.0 are priced at $795 each and will be available in the second quarter.
System Architect for MS Windows is $1,395 for the single user version and $2, 940 for the first two copies of the network version. Architect 3.0, OS/2 PM version is available for $1,795 single user version and $3,790 for the first two copies of the network version.
According to the company, planned announcements for later this year include a powerful trigger and stored procedures for the new Schema Generator and trigger support for Oracle.
(Patrick McKenna/1994/Press Contact: Rob Fuggetta, Regis McKenna, 415-354-4404)
t: Rob Fuggetta, Regis McKenna, 415-354-4404)
6/1/94
Popkin Software Intros New Schema Generator
GENERAL
UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscri
B BOREHAMWOOD, HERTS, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- After six months of operation, Mercury Communications has revealed it has signed 62,500 subscribers up to its One-2-One digital mobile phone network.
One-2-One is a joint venture company between Mercury, itself a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless, and US West. Like Hutchison Orange the network operates to GSM-1800 standards, which work at 1,800 megahertz (MHz) -- twice the operating frequency of the global GSM-900 systems seen around the world. GSM stands for global system for mobile communications.
According to the company, the 62,500 figure was hit at the end of March of this year and, James Ross, chief executive of Cable & Wireless, said, the 100,000th subscriber should be signed some time during June.
According to Ross, this means that the company is on target. At the end of June, he said, One-2-One will have been in operation for nine months. Cellnet and Vodafone, meanwhile, took two years to reach their 100,000 customer marks, he added.
One-2-One has been criticized by some telecoms experts, mainly on account of it only covering London and the South East of the UK. Expansion plans are under way, Newsbytes notes, in the Birmingham area, with further plans to roll out the service to several major cities around the UK by the end of the year.
The company claims that One-2-One covers 24 percent of the UK's population, although Newsbytes notes that Orange covers more than 50 percent.
Despite this, One-2-One is claiming that it should hit profitability fairly soon, although the UKP33 million startup costs for the network have been high.
Ross said that he welcomes the arrival of Orange into the market. Far from competing, he sees Orange's presence as raising the profile of the new digital mobile phones, scoring them against the existing analog networks from Cellnet and Vodafone, which have two million subscribers between them.
Neither Cellnet nor Vodafone have responded to the pricing initiative of Orange. A spokeswoman for Cellnet told Newsbytes that the company is very relaxed about the arrival of Orange, but added that until One-2-One and Orange can match Cellnet's 98 percent coverage they will not be overly worried about the competition.
UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscriber Figures For One-2-One
TELECOM
Hands On Learning Intros New Tra
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- With a long history of live training sessions, Hands On Learning also developed a Workshop Training Series consisting of video workbooks, reference books and test diskettes to address the technical needs of computer users, programmers and managers. In its latest release, the company has announced five new sets of products.
The new products are Relational Database Management Systems Networking, Unix System Administration, Office Automation and Oracle CASE.
The new products scheduled for shipment include: Introduction to the Database World: Fundamentals of SQL (structured query language); Relational Database Design, Sybase SQL Server 4.x; Microsoft SQL Server; Migrating to Sybase SQL Server Release 10; Sybase Performance and Tuning, Introduction to the Network World; TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) Concepts; Network Administration for Unix Systems; Network Programming for Unix Systems; Unix System Administration I for Unix SVR4; Uniplex II Plus, and Oracle CASE Integrated Education Library.
John Barrow, vice president of marketing for Hands On Learning, told Newsbytes, "We specialize on technical audiences typically like database, client/server, CASE (computer-aided software engineering) and object oriented technologies."
Hands On Learning accounts for most of its sales from the corporate world of Fortune 1000 companies, government and educational institutions. A privately-held company, Hands On Learning reported a 35% increase in gross revenue from 1992 to 1993 and is currently predicting a 50% increase in 1994.
Barrow concluded, "Our products typically retail for about an average of $4,000 to $5,000 and range from $500 to $10,000. We do have a bunch of announcements coming up in the next couple of weeks which will stress our recent work on multimedia developments."
(Patrick McKenna/19940527/Press Contact: Barry Doctor, Hands On Learning, 617-272-0088)
: Barry Doctor, Hands On Learning, 617-272-0088)
6/1/94
Hands On Learning Intros New Training Products
GENERAL
8 b F
ADB Intros Matisse 2.3 DBMS
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- ADB Inc., formerly Object Databases, has unveiled the latest version (2.3) of Matisse, its database management system.
The new version provides object-oriented modeling capabilities with mission-critical transactional technology, according to the company. It also supports Sun OS version 4.1.3, Sun Solaris version 2.3, HP-UX, VAX/VMS, and KSR/Series highly parallel processing machines.
The company plans to release version 2.3 for Windows and Macintosh clients during the summer of 1994. At the recent DB/Expo in San Francisco, Matisse was demonstrated using applications for operating procedure management for a nuclear fuel processing plant, a hospital patient file management system and a geographic data management system.
Matisse is used in applications for configuration and technical data management systems, decision support, advanced document management and signal and process data organization for the health defense, transportation, utility and telecommunication industries says the company.
A spokesperson from ADB, told Newsbytes, "Our version management capability reduces disk storage requirements and ensures data constancy. With the history of high reliability that we have established, worry-free 24 hour operation provides support staff and managers more freedom for other tasks."
According to ADB, Matisse features performance, scalability, data consistency and reliability with 24-hour operation. The company spokesperson told Newsbytes of a nuclear processing plant in Europe using an application to capture all sensor readings in real-time and store them for 30 years as required by law. This system has had no downtime since its inception in the Spring of 1992. Since it is not dependent on C++, Matisse can store objects from ADA, Fortran, or Cobol, as well as C++.
(Patrick McKenna/19940527/Press Contact: Christina Bernard Matisse, tel 617-3544220, fax 617-547-5420)
17-3544220, fax 617-547-5420)
6/1/94
ADB Intros Matisse 2.3 DBMS
GENERAL
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch
AURORA, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Interealm has released a new version of its application launching palette program Powerlaunch for the Macintosh.
The company says Powerlaunch II version 1.7d includes resizable Mega-Palettes which provide an unlimited number of palette sets as well as new Finder Quickapp Extensions.
Powerlaunch allows the user to create multiple palettes that contain icons to launch applications, documents, desk accessories control panels, sounds, and Quickey Apps, with a single click of the mouse. The palettes can be customized to display horizontally or vertically and use large or small icons. Each palette supports up to 80 icons.
The user can configure files to launch at a designated time, either individually or in groups, or with special video and sound parameters. A trial version of Powerlaunch II is available on several major online services, including America Online Compuserve, GEnie and Applelink, as well as Internet FTP sites.
The company also publishes Powerlaunch Lite 1.7d, which replaces earlier shareware and Powerlaunch Lite versions. Powerlaunch Lite does not include the Mega-Palette and supports only 80 icons total.
Interealm distributes its software through its I-Start program that lets the user try the product for a period of 30 days. If you decide to purchase the software, all you have to do is purchase an activation kit to register and continue to use the program.
Activation kits sell for $35 to $45. The company offers an upgrade program for users of competitive products Square One and At Ease for $25.
(Jim Mallory/19940601/Press and reader contact: Interealm 303-366-8327 or fax 303-360-9118)
terealm 303-366-8327 or fax 303-360-9118)
6/1/94
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch For Mac
APPLE
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
Compaq Reduces Some Desktop/Serv
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Compaq Computer Corporation has announced a cut in prices on several of its most popular notebook, desktop and file server products and selected optional items. The reductions range from four to 29 percent on the computers and up to 34 percent on selected optional equipment.
The company has lowered the price of its Contura Aero sub-notebook computer, with Aero prices now starting at $999 for a monochrome 4/25 Model 84 and topping out at $2,399 for the color Aero 4/33C Model 250.
Compaq also reduced the price of a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) floppy drive for the Aero computers. The drive now sells for $159.
The Compaq Contura 4/25CX line has been cut by up to 19 percent with prices for those systems now ranging from $2,799 to $2,999.
Presario CDS models, which include a CD-ROM drive and some software now start at $1,299 for a Presario CDS 633. The Presario 833CDS mini-tower models are now priced at $1,599.
Pentium-based ProSignia and ProLiant 1000 models have been reduced by as much as 18 percent. ProSignia PCs are now available from $4,400 to $8.400. A ProLiant 1000 5/60 Model 1050 now carries a $6,500 price tag. Compaq also reduced the price of server-related hard drives by 18 percent and memory modules for increased system memory by up to 34 percent.
The company says it has added some features to all models of the ProSignia line, with those systems now having an internal tray load CD-ROM and Compaq Insight Manager version 2.1 as standard equipment.
(Jim Mallory/19940601/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq Computer Corp., 713-374-0484; Reader contact: Compaq Computer 800-345-1518 or 713-374-1459)
ntact: Compaq Computer 800-345-1518 or 713-374-1459)
6/1/94
Compaq Reduces Some Desktop/Server/Portable Prices
Epoch Forms Client/Server Servic
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Epoch Inc., which sells storage-management products for client/server computing installations, is out to capitalize further on its knowledge of client/server computing with a new group that will help with needs analysis, installation, and related tasks.
The Epoch Professional Services Group will work with resellers and systems integrators to analyze customers' storage management needs and plan data management strategies, company officials said.
Services will include helping customers determine what storage systems and software they need, planning backup strategies and the like, company spokesman Andrew Hettinger told Newsbytes.
Epoch, which has sales and support offices in the United States Canada, Europe, and Asia, sells storage management products for workstations from a variety of vendors. Eight of the company's roughly 200 employees will work in the new group, Hettinger said.
The new group will also provide installation and integration services and develop custom software for current and potential Epoch customers, according to Epoch.
Company spokesman Andrew Hettinger told Newsbytes many activities of the new group will be things the company was doing for clients to some extent already.
Some of the staff will be drawn from current employees, but Epoch will be hiring new employees both to staff the Professional Services Group and to take over the former duties of existing employees who move into the new group.
(Grant Buckler/19940601/Press Contact: Andrew Hettinger, Epoch Systems, tel 508-836-4300)
ettinger, Epoch Systems, tel 508-836-4300)
6/1/94
Epoch Forms Client/Server Services Group
BUSINESS
Pennsylvania Network Offers Free
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) TEC/Pennsylvania Small Business United (TEC/PSBU) is offering free access to the Internet as part of its TEC-Online computer service.
The group of 4,200 businesses and 110,000 small business employees in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, has headquarters in Pittsburgh and a regional office in Harrisburg Pa. The TEC-Online network is accessible from anywhere.
Officials said providing Internet access to TEC/PSBU members will give them access to resources that have been available to larger companies for some time.
Initially, TEC/PSBU members will just be able to send and receive electronic mail over the Internet, said Joe Palermo of TEC-Online customer service. If users know the names of files they want to obtain from other locations on the Internet, Palermo told Newsbytes, they will be able to request them and have them sent by electronic mail.
TEC-Online is accessible to the general public, but is meant mainly for small-business people. Unlike many online services, it permits buying, selling, and advertising. According to the backers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, job hunters, and inventors are encouraged to discuss ideas and business, locate economic development assistance, and find business-related information through the system.
TEC-Online also offers news from the daily newspaper USA Today and other news sources, and investment help from Trendvest Investment Services.
Subscribers to TEC-Online get their own Internet identification. TEC/PSBU members pay $5.95 per month for TEC-Online; non members pay $9.95 per month and $6 per hour. There will be no extra charge for most Internet usage, though TEC-Online may levy a small charge for very large messages or files, Palermo said.
(Grant Buckler/19940601/Press Contact: Leo McDonough or Joe Palermo, TEC/PSBU, tel 412-371-1500, fax 412-371-0460; Public Contact: TEC/PSBU, tel 412-371-1500; TEC-Online, modem 412-371-5638 [8-N-1 up to 14,400 bps])
line, modem 412-371-5638 [8-N-1 up to 14,400 bps])
6/1/94
Pennsylvania Network Offers Free Internet Access
TELECOM
: d H
Software AG Launches Insight Con
RESTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUNE 1 (NB) -- Software AG, a half billion dollar software company headquartered in Reston, Virginia has launched Insight, a consulting service for customers as well as non-customers of Software AG products.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Jonathan ("Jon") Church, general manager of Insight Consulting, said that the new consulting subsidiary is geared to medium-sized and large companies that are looking to boost productivity by implementing some kind of change.
Insight adheres to the belief that technology's key role is to support the business goals of the organization, according to Church, a 13-year veteran of Software AG who also initiated the company's professional services division in 1987 and Spirit Services, a predecessor to Insight, in 1993.
The decision to use a particular technology, either from Software AG or any other vendor, should not be based on whether or not the technology is at the "leading edge," he explained.
"Even though Insight is part of a large software company, they take an objective view. They're not out to sell Software AG products. They're out to find the best solutions for customers," attested Dave Bartholomew, a Software AG and Insight user, in a separate interview with Newsbytes.
Bartholomew is chief information officer (CIO) and senior VP at First American Real Estate Information Services, a nationwide provider of real estate tax information, mortgage credit reporting and property inspection services.
The Dallas, Texas-based subsidiary of First American Financial Services is consulting with Insight on issues related to its ongoing expansion from the mainframe environment into client/server-based local and wide area networks.
Questions the company seeks to answer revolve around whether to replace the character-based interface on its legacy mainframe database with a graphical user interface (GUI), and what kinds of distributed databases to use in augmenting the mainframe database in the future.
Insight Consulting provides "business process analysis, quality improvement, and value-based redesign" as primary services, and also conducts seminars on rightsizing, business planning, and "change management," summed up Church.
"Business process analysis" involves reaching an understanding of an organization's "intentions" and actual business processes, and comparing the two to see what kinds of changes can be made for more efficient use of time and materials, the GM told Newsbytes.
"A 'business process' can be as general as 'order entry' or 'shipping,' or as specific as the way new clients are added to the databases," Church elaborated, when asked to define the term.
Ways of discovering a company's "intentions" include examining the mission statement and analyzing presentations made by company executives to audiences inside and outside the organization, he said.
"Value-based redesign," on the other hand, approaches productivity by looking at value versus "cost to the organization" at each stage in the product delivery cycle. "Differentiation of labor, materials mechanization, and information systems. All these stages are examined," he said.
To build consensus at customer companies, Insight seeks to involve management as well as technical personnel in reengineering and rightsizing efforts, according to Church.
Insight plans to supplement its own staff, as needed, with consultants who are well versed in vertical areas like banking health care, and higher education, and in "specialty" technologies such as CASE (computer-aided software engineering).
"We've developed a great deal of trust in Software AG's services over the years," noted Bartholomew, who heads up the 150-person data processing division at First American Real Estate Information Services. The company also uses Software AG's products "extensively," added the CIO.
The company's reengineering project is being overseen by the Phoenix Committee, a steering group made up of Bartholomew along with the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dallas-based firm and the presidents of tax services, mortgage credit, and other company divisions.
A "rightsizing exercise" recently completed with Insight led to the preliminary conclusions, "that we need to develop a new database structure, as well as to modify our business processes to take advantage of our new database once it is populated," according to Bartholomew.
For several years, the company has been running Software AG's Adabas on its mainframe, he said. But the legacy database currently "takes a long time to read" because it is packed with redundant data, Bartholomew said. The problem "is not a function of the database tool itself, but of how we originally set up the database," he acknowledged.
The character-based database is used by the company's employees as well as by customers at external remote sites. The company has been replacing its "dumb" terminals with IBM-compatible PCs, but some terminals still remain. Customers' hardware also represents a mix of PCs and terminals.
The interface to the legacy database resides with the database on the mainframe, Bartholomew told Newsbytes. Users access the host database through an terminal emulation package that was developed by First American. The SMART package is offered for sale to the company's customers.
In light of the preliminary conclusions drawn from the rightsizing exercise, Insight has recommended two new steps, the CIO told Newsbytes. Through a business process analysis, the Phoenix Committee is currently "redefining" the company's business processes. Meanwhile, the group is exploring database alternatives via a data modeling exercise.
"After that, we'll select new platforms, GUI interfaces, and software acquisitions. And finally, we'll physically build and populate the new database," according to Bartholomew.
First American definitely plans to retain its mainframe database the user said. "There will also be some distributed databases, but we haven't yet determined whether those will be from Software AG or another company, such as Oracle," Bartholomew added.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940531/Reader Contact: Software AG 703-860-5050; Press Contacts: Tina Bosse, Software AG, 703-391 6720; Leahanne Hobson, Copithorne & Bellows for Software AG 617-252-0606)
Copithorne & Bellows for Software AG 617-252-0606)
6/1/94
Software AG Launches Insight Consulting Service
GENERAL
Hong Kong - HDS Mainframe, Clien
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Hitachi Data Systems has issued a "statement of direction" that indicates a "commitment to meeting the requirements" of System/390 users and the growing open systems community. It also outlines a broad-based approach to HDS customers' future computing needs.
Based on extensive customer input, the statement provides a vision of future company strategy and describes eventual product offerings in order to give customers the information they need to help them understand and plan for future migration options.
In the System/390 market, HDS is defining new product directions for three distinct processor platforms. They include a "next-generation" high-speed system, an intermediate CMOS (complimentary metal oxide semiconductor) system and a parallel CMOS system.
In the open systems arena, HDS provides directions for an expanded Osiris suite of "vendor neutral, standards based" products. Osiris is the HDS open systems client/server computing platform.
"These directions provide solutions for users who need to access information directly and transparently, regardless of its location in the enterprise," said Hong Kong Manager Geoff Kennedy. "Software investments will be protected while customers will be able to migrate complex applications to parallel platforms an at orderly rate."
He continued: "HDS has been providing products in the global systems market for more than 20 years. During our last five years we signed over 1,000 new customers, grew the business by nearly 90 percent and were ranked first in overall satisfaction by our customers in 22 independent international surveys."
HDS products which are coming within the next two years include a high-speed "hybrid" technology system.
The company says that the platform is designed for customers who require the performance that only a very fast uniprocessor can provide. It is also designed for those who require the highest capacity single system image and or for those who want to reduce risk by migrating to parallel architecture at an appropriate pace.
The system will reportedly deliver approximately twice the performance of current HDS GX 8000 uniprocessor and multiprocessor models. Using a combination of bipolar ECL (emitter-coupled logic) CMOS and a unique new chip technology incorporating both bipolar ECL and CMOS, the company says the system will "extend reliability and system availability, while significantly improving environmental characteristics and price performance."
An intermediate CMOS system, also on the way, uses CMOS System/390 microprocessor components. This system, suitable for office environments, will be compatible with current GX systems. It will be the growth path for intermediate systems users, exploiting the advantages of CMOS microprocessor design without requiring parallel architecture.
Hong Kong - HDS Mainframe, Client-Server Directions
GENERAL
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
Hong Kong - HDS Mainframe, Clien
Australia - Apple Offers Video E
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Apple Computer Australia is distributing a new video to schools and resellers. Titled "At home with Apple computers," the program features "real-life" examples of how computers are being used in Australian homes, and is aimed at anyone considering the purchase of a home computer.
David Rigg, Apple Australia marketing director explained the rationale of the video. "Computers are for everyone, not just people in offices. Someone who has never used a computer before will realize just how easy it is when they see a two-year old boy developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination by playing on the computer. They'll see his three and five year old brother and sister learning to read and count on a Macintosh."
He continued: "In the video we've used real case studies - real families. The families we talk to have children from pre-school age right through to university, and parents who use the computer for both work and entertainment. We also examine a consultant using a PowerBook to run a business from home."
The move towards digital storage is driving the home market, he said. "By the end of this decade it is expected that 95 percent of the world's information resources, including movies, paintings and music will be stored digitally and we will access it by computer. This will add to the appeal and necessity of owning a home computer."
He concluded: "We produced the 'At Home' video so that people now considering the purchase of a personal computer can take a look inside some other families and see just how PCs have become part of home life in the 90s."
(Paul Zucker/19940527/Contact: Apple Australia tel 61-2-452-8000, fax 61-2-452-8160)
ct: Apple Australia tel 61-2-452-8000, fax 61-2-452-8160)
6/1/94
Australia - Apple Offers Video Explaining Its Computers
APPLE
Court Says Micrografx Shareholde
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- A US District Court judge has told Micrografx shareholders they have not provided enough information to support their claims of securities violations on the part of company officers. He gave the plaintiffs until June 24, 1994 to re-plead the case.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in March, 1993, by shareholders who alleged that Micrografx and some of its officers and directors published misleading financial reports and public statements.
The suit alleges that those actions resulted in shareholders losing money on their Micrografx stock when it dropped from a March high of 9-1/8 to 4-3/4 after the company announced an anticipated loss of over $1.5 million for the fourth quarter, which ended in March.
Micrografx spokesperson Greg Peters told Newsbytes the company has asked that the suit be dismissed, and if the plaintiffs do not re-plead by June 24 "it's effectively over."
Peters said a 1991 shareholder suit filed in the Southern District of New York in 1991 failed to achieve class action status. The company has also requested dismissal of that suit. That request is still pending.
Micrografx cut 20 percent of its workforce and realigned its worldwide operations, and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer David Henkel resigned after the loss was reported. The company was also hurt by the discovery of mismanagement of corporate funds in its Japanese subsidiary Micrografx KK that led to a $500,000 loss reported in last year's financial results. Peters said the manager of the subsidiary has "disappeared."
Micrografx is now led by President and Chief Executive Officer Gordon M. Tucker, who took over the company leadership following the resignation of George D. Grayson. Tucker previously was vice president and general manager of PepsiCo subsidiary Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Micrografx is expected to ship a new version of Micrografx Designer this summer. Earlier this year its At-Home Products Division introduced two products for the home market -- Crayola Art Studio and Crayola Amazing Art Adventure -- in conjunction with Binney and Smith, a Hallmark subsidiary that markets crayons under the 90-year old Crayola brand name.
Last month Micrografx shipped its ABC Toolkit, a Windows-based product designed to streamline business processes.
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- IBM has given two senior executives new responsibilities in an effort to coordinate the technology development effort known as Workplace and speed the Workplace technology to market.
Separate pockets of work on Workplace, which encompasses a variety of pieces, will now work together and report to the same executives.
Peter R. Schneider, a vice-president of IBM, has been given the job of coordinating development of Workplace technology and its incorporation into IBM products, company spokeswoman Tara Sexton told Newsbytes. Schneider will report to John Thompson, senior vice-president and group executive.
David L. Schleicher has been named assistant general manager of Workplace development. Groups working on Workplace within IBM's Personal Software Products, AS/400, and RS/6000 business units will now all report to Schleicher, Sexton said. Schleicher in turn will report to Lee Reiswig, president of Personal Software Products and a vice-president of IBM.
Instead of separate groups working on pieces of Workplace in isolation, Sexton said, the changes mean that now, "They're all working together."
Workplace is expected to make its first commercial appearance in products from the Personal Software Products unit in the second half of this year, she said.
IBM's Workplace project is partly aimed at creating a new operating system, generally referred to as Workplace OS, that would use multiple personalities to run software written for existing operating systems such as IBM's OS/2 and AIX, plus Microsoft Corp.'s Windows environment and others. Pieces of the technology apparently are to be used in other products as well.
(Grant Buckler/19940601/Press Contact: Tara Sexton, IBM 914-765-7342)
ress Contact: Tara Sexton, IBM 914-765-7342)
6/1/94
IBM Shuffle Aims To Speed Workplace Effort
Blaze Stoked On Clipper Criticis
Try Before You Buy Software Offe
Sprint-EDS Merger Off - It's Off
OIS To Develop Active Matrix LCD
Japan - Information Superhighway
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- The Telecommunications Council which is under the control of the Japanese Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, has completed a report offering guidelines for Japan's future information superhighway.
The report recommends that fiber optic cables should be laid to each household by the year 2,010. It also recommends that various regulations should be lifted as early as possible.
According to the seven-chapter report, the Japanese government should support and stimulate the development of application programs and devices. In order to do this, the government should provide "no-interest" loans to the private sector.
The Posts & Telecommunication Ministry has already started discussions to remove various telecommunications regulations. A number of other ministries are involved in the discussions including the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
It is estimated that it will cost 53 trillion yen ($530 billion) to install relevant fiber optic cables to each house, which is mainly accomplished by NTT. The government will also reportedly provide financial support to NTT.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940601/Press Contact: The Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, Press Bureau, tel 81-3-3504-4161 fax 81-3-3504-0265)
u, tel 81-3-3504-4161 fax 81-3-3504-0265)
6/1/94
Japan - Information Superhighway Report
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
Micrografx's Free Business Graph
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At
US Multimedia Quadruples, Contin
Japan's NEC To Increase Chip Pro
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- NEC has announced that it will produce more semiconductor chips in Europe. The firm will invest eight billion yen ($80 million) to create the facilities in Europe within the next four years.
To begin, NEC is planning to produce more dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) at its Irish and Scottish plants.
The move is seen as part of NEC's major restructuring plan to shift chip production to the country or region where the market demand is growing. In this way, NEC hopes to reduce shipping costs and counter the surging Japanese yen.
At the Scottish plant, NEC will double its capacity, from the current three million units, to six million units within four years. At the Irish plant, it will start production of 16-megabit DRAM by the end of this year. According to the plan, it will ship 200,000 units per month in December. By next March, that will go up to 800,000 units per month.
For the first year, NEC will spend 2.56 billion yen ($25.6 million) on both plants. NEC is currently producing the basic 16-megabit DRAM unit at its Roseville plant in California.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940601/Press Contact: NEC tel 81-3-3451-2974, fax 81-3-3457-7249)
ontact: NEC tel 81-3-3451-2974, fax 81-3-3457-7249)
6/1/94
Japan's NEC To Increase Chip Production In Europe
BUSINESS
Japan - Sun Micro/Shin-Nippon In
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Sun Microsystems Japan and Shin-Nippon Steel have inked an agreement involving systems integration technologies.
The deal will reportedly help Shin-Nippon Steel develop "quality" office systems in Japan. Shin-Nippon Steel only recently entered the computer business, as part of its restructuring plan.
The two companies have already been working together in the area of systems integration, with the firms signing a sales partner agreement in 1987. Since then, Shin-Nippon Steel has been selling Sun workstations in Japan.
So far, the business has been going well, and both Shin-Nippon Steel and Sun want to expand the agreement. Under the new deal the firms will jointly develop systems integration technologies and computer systems for clients of Shin-Nippon Steel.
Shin-Nippon Steel was originally a specialist in steel products. The steel industry was a major market in Japan. However, due to dwindling profits, Shin-Nippon Steel was forced to restructure and decided to enter the computer business.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940531/Press Contact: Sun Microsystems Japan, tel 81-3-5717-5084, fax 81-3-5717-2584)
osystems Japan, tel 81-3-5717-5084, fax 81-3-5717-2584)
6/1/94
Japan - Sun Micro/Shin-Nippon In Sys Integration Deal
BUSINESS
Japan Plans Asia's Information S
Comdex - IBM Pushes Objects, Adm
Gateway 2000 Intros Multimedia K
DB/Expo - 30,000 Attendees Expec
FAS Attacks Clinton Information,
Context Systems Intros D-Day CD
WTI Announces Lower-Cost Two-Way
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch
Windows Business Process Reengin
Semaphore Intros New Encryption
USENIX Conf - Penn Jillette Expo
Reprogrammable Sega Game Cartrid
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Retailers will be able to reprogram Sega rental cartridges with the hottest games this summer and eventually will be able to produce needed quantities of the games just-in-time for sale as well. The cartridge programming system is being tested in a deal between Sega and Blockbuster/IBM joint ventures Newleaf Entertainment and Fairway Technologies.
An electronic software delivery system, jointly developed by Newleaf Entertainment and Fairway Technologies, requires specially-designed reprogrammable video game cartridges. The flash memory cartridges can be reprogrammed an unlimited number of times, and look and play just like standard video game cartridges.
Newleaf Entertainment and Fairway Technologies, both located in the same office building just north of Ft. Lauderdale in Deerfield Beach, Florida, were formed by entertainment distribution company Blockbuster and computer manufacturer IBM about a year ago. Fairway pursues the actually technology development, while Newleaf is involved in the business development, content, and licensing arena.
Tom Kalinske, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Sega of America subsidiary of $4 billion Sega Enterprises, said: "Game rental has become an increasingly important market segment with estimates at about $15 billion a year industry-wide. But with nearly one thousand Genesis and Game Gear software titles available, it's tough keeping an inventory broad and deep enough to satisfy peak demand. This system ensures that every customer will be a satisfied customer."
IBM has been talking about just-in-time delivery of entertainment products through outlets such as Blockbuster for over two years. The company first talked about in-store information kiosks that would also produce on the spot CD-ROM music titles for customers but has not moved in the area of kiosks yet, according to Mike Bowden, vice president of Newleaf.
Bowden told Newsbytes the idea of producing CD-ROMs in a just-in time fashion is one still being pursued with talks both in the music industry as well as the film and entertainment industry. "From our standpoint, we don't really care what it is, we just know that it's bits and bytes, and we'll send it from one end to another."
At this point, retailers will need storage capacity for the game titles being reproduced, but Bowden said updating the titles might be done via telecommunications or by CD-ROMs distributed to the stores. The titles have been encrypted and there are a number of security measures in place to protect the intellectual property rights of the holders, Bowden added.
A market test is being done first for evaluation of the system. Newleaf and Fairway indicated that the system would be offered nationwide to retailers that wish to participate in the game rental business.
This announcement comes on the heels of Sega and Nintendo's involvement in controversy surrounding the violent and sexual overtones found in some games, such as Night Trap for Sega and Mortal Combat, available for both systems. The Japanese companies have joined together to support involvement in a US video game rating system to be implemented by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA).
Small software publishers have blasted the system, saying it is an attempt on the part of the Japanese software giants to stifle competition by imposing the rating system on retailers and high rating fees on developers.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940601/Press Contact: Christine Bock, Manning Selvage & Lee for Newleaf and Sega, tel 818-509-1840, fax 818 509-1973)
r Newleaf and Sega, tel 818-509-1840, fax 818 509-1973)
6/1/94
Reprogrammable Sega Game Cartridges For Rental Market
TRENDS
Symantec's Peter Tippett Looks A
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUNE 1 (NB) -- The underlying problem in computer ethics, says Symantec computer virologist Peter Tippett, "Is a lack of sandbox training. As kids, we learned from just hanging around with other kids that eating worms is icky."
But that hasn't happened with computers, Tippett, who is a physician as well as a computer executive with the Norton division in the leading computer utilities firm, told Newsbytes.
As a result, the ingrained ethical responses that serve most of us in general life don't restrain us when it comes to such things as software piracy, hacking into corporate computers, or writing viruses.
Tippett, as a member of the board of the Computer Ethics Institute, is the leading figure behind the new National Computer Ethics and Responsibilities Campaign. The purpose of the campaign, he says, is to "get a discussion started" so computer users can begin to internalize an ethical compass.
In researching bad behavior by computer users, Tippett said he found four widespread fallacies that all of us share to some extent. These four fallacies contribute to the climate of ethical indifference among computer users.
First, says Tippett, is the "Nintendo fallacy." This is the belief many computer users have that the computer won't let them do anything wrong. Interviews with computer break-in artists consistently find the hackers say, "the system let me" break in, Tippett says.
Then there is "Samsonite fallacy," that nothing a user does from a keyboard can harm the computer. Even computer experts foster this fallacy when they use this argument to get new users over their fears. But viruses, electronic-mail bombs "flaming" and the like do harm people and lower productivity.
The third fallacy is "the taking candy from a baby fallacy," says Tippett. "If things are easy to do, they are 'okay' to do such as illegally copying software," says Tippett.
Finally, Tippett says, there is "the hacker ethic." This is the belief "that its okay to do anything in pursuit of knowledge." Hackers always say, "All I did was look around," notes Tippett. "It wouldn't be right if someone comes in your house while you are gone, makes some phone calls, watches some television smokes a cigarette, even if they leave a stack of quarters behind," he says. "But if it's a computer system, it's all right."
He continued: "All of use have all of these fallacies in undercurrents of our behavior. And the younger we are, the more we have. People under 25, who have grown up with computers have a far different concept of things such as privacy than older Americans."
Said Tippett, who has worked on computer security issues for eight years, "Today, we have 150 million users who have parents who don't know about any of this computer stuff. That's why the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. How can we respond? We can put up bigger walls and build fortresses, but that reduces openness and flexibility. Or we can try to lower the water a bit" by addressing the problem from the users' end. "That's what the computer ethics campaign is all about."
(Kennedy Maize/19940601/Contact: Peter Tippett, 310-449-4122; Mike Volpe, 703-534-5022)
er Tippett, 310-449-4122; Mike Volpe, 703-534-5022)
6/1/94
Symantec's Peter Tippett Looks At Computer Ethics
GENERAL
FBI Picks Teams For Fingerprint
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A, 1994 JUNE 1 (NB) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has picked three major teams for the design phase of its automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS).
Each team will get about $10 million for the work and will compete against the others for a final contract for the full system worth "in the tens of millions of dollars," according to the FBI.
One team is headed by Martin-Marietta, another by Unisys, and the third by TRW, Peter Higgins, an FBI engineer, told Newsbytes. Unisys will be working with Japan's NEC, which has a presence in fingerprint technology. Martin-Marietta has a relationship with Morpho, another fingerprint technology company. TRW will be working with Teledyne Brown Engineering, which has optical processing experience.
Over the next 14 months, the three teams will develop the requirements and design of a system that can search and match ten-print fingerprint cards and latent prints against a database of 32 million records. The teams will also build a basic unit to demonstrate the fundamentals of their system and a software simulation of how to scale up to the full system, Higgins said.
Higgins said the FBI has worked with General Services Administration's new computer acquisition center in Boston on the project. "That has worked very well," Higgins said. "GSA was very helpful on the work."
Once the FBI has evaluated the work of the competing teams and picked a winner, the full AFIS system will be up and running at the FBI's facility in Clarksburg, W.Va., in the spring of 1998.
(Kennedy Maize/19940601/Contact: FBI public affairs 202-324-3691)
tact: FBI public affairs 202-324-3691)
6/1/94
FBI Picks Teams For Fingerprint Work
IDB Accountant Change Hurts Stoc
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- A dispute with its auditors has reportedly cost IDB Communications Group Inc. considerable credibility with investors.
IDB, which provides international long-distance services and offers satellite services through a series of "teleports," held a conference call with analysts after markets closed May 31 to say its auditors, Deloitte & Touche, had resigned.
An IDB spokesman re-iterated the story told during that conference call to Newsbytes. "DeLoitte had been the auditor for years, and they rotate their audit partners. The new partner apparently had no experience in telecommunications, and banged heads on two issues having to do with the timing of revenue recognition."
Continued the spokesman, "It came to a head and they decided to resign. IDB doesn't feel it was such a big issue, and was surprised they left. According to IDB, there was no real issue -- it came to a question of whether revenue should be recognized in the first quarter or second quarter." IDB wanted revenue recognized and reported in the March quarter, and its first quarter earnings statements reflected that.
If Deloitte's view is upheld, the spokesman added, "The numbers will be back in the second quarter." But, Newsbytes was told "There is fear something else will come out."
That was reflected in early trading June 1 on IDB common, which trades on the symbol IDBX on the NASDAQ exchange. The shares fell by more than 50 percent, roughly $8.50 per share, to about $6 by mid-day.
The auditing trouble comes just three weeks after People's Telephone, which operates pay phones, called off a $280 million merger with IDB, which would have turned IDB into the nation's fourth-largest long distance company, according to company officials.
As to the sudden drop in the stock, an IDB spokesman admitted to Newsbytes, "Some people felt it was a credibility issue." Still "I was surprised to see how much it was down this morning."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940601/Press Contact: Susan Rodney, for IDB, 212/850-5600)
usan Rodney, for IDB, 212/850-5600)
6/1/94
IDB Accountant Change Hurts Stock
TELECOM
Hearst Opens New Media Center
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Hearst has opened a New Media Center in its midtown Manhattan headquarters.
The center, which takes up the ground floor of the company's main offices at 959 8th Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets, will be used to train Hearst personnel on new media technologies and will act as a development center for Hearst's new media efforts.
A spokesman told Newsbytes that the company owns a number of magazines, like "Good Housekeeping" and "Popular Mechanics," which could be adapted to CD-ROM publications.
In addition, the new center will be a site for expanding services to be carried on Universal, Bidirectional Interactive, or UBI, an interactive TV system in Quebec, Canada, that Hearst is building with five Canadian companies which will go online in 1995.
The center will also be used for HomeNet, an interactive multimedia service the company is developing. Also, the company will do work based on its joint venture with Books That Work announced in February.
Hearst New Media is headed by Al Sikes, a former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. In a press statement, Sikes noted that new media allows "greater personalization" of information, as well as "increased speed and simplicity" for future providers of mass communications.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940601)
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940601)
6/1/94
Hearst Opens New Media Center
GENERAL
Banyan Announces European Resell
CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Banyan Systems has announced two new European reseller programs -- the European Premier Network Integrator (EPNI) Program, and the National Premier Network Integrator Program (NPNI).
According to Banyan, the programs have been introduced to recognize and reward those resellers who have made major investments in Banyan products and services and are able to offer a high level of support to end-users of Banyan networks before, during, and after the sale.
Constance Regan, Banyan's European channel sales and marketing director, said that the launch of the new programs augments the existing reseller schemes the company offers its dealers. "These programs will produce significant benefits for customers who will be guaranteed a top quality level of pre- and post-sales support," she said.
So what are the benefits for resellers under the EPNI and NPNI programs? Banyan claims that any reseller who participates in these programs will gain a "high level of visibility amongst their customers and prospects," as well as accruing a number of specific benefits such as having a direct point of contact with local Banyan offices around Europe. Other benefits include teaming with Banyan's sales staff on corporate accounts, and the ability to order product direct from Banyan and have the order fulfilled quickly through normal distribution channels.
In order to qualify for admission to either program, resellers must provide details of their annual business plan for Banyan to review as well as participate in Banyan's quarterly sales training and product/technical updates.
They must also operate a telephone support/response center and demonstrate a high level of technical expertise by having a minimum of two Certified Banyan Engineers (CBEs) staffed at the organization's central location within the first six to nine months of authorization.
(Steve Gold/19940601/Press & Reader Contact: Banyan Systems 44-293-612284)
eader Contact: Banyan Systems 44-293-612284)
6/1/94
Banyan Announces European Reseller Program
GENERAL
> "
UK - Microsoft Previews Windows
` ' LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Late last week saw Jim Allchin vice president of Microsoft's business systems division, fly into the UK to preview an upgrade to Windows NT server and workstation versions.
The upgrade, which is scheduled to ship later this summer, is known as version 3.5 and has tightened up on the program code and memory requirements for Windows NT, Newsbytes was told.
"We've made a number of major improvements to NT at the desktop. The power user will be able to take advantage of the considerable performance improvements we have made to the base operating system," explained Julie Cox, business systems group marketing manager with Microsoft UK.
According to Cox, NT Workstation 3.5 requires four megabytes less memory to run efficiently -- a third less than with v3.1 -- yet runs up to 50 percent faster. The advanced server edition, meanwhile offers similar memory savings and speed advantages.
"We've listened to our customers' comments about Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 and made v3.5 up to twice as fast, using less memory. We've also made major connectivity improvements that enable our customers to integrate Windows NT with their existing IT (information technology) infrastructure with ease, irrespective of legacy platform," she said.
A key improvement of both versions of v3.5 is the package's high performance graphics. V3.5 now includes the open GL API (application programming interface), an industry standard library of graphics functions that were originally developed by Silicon Graphics.
The GL API is now included as a native function of Windows NT 3.5 something that Microsoft claims will be of particular use to users of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) design or statistically or scientific analysis operations.
Version 3.5 of Windows NT Workstation and Server are due to ship late summer. Microsoft says that exact pricing and packaging details will be announced prior to shipment. Purchasers of v3.1 who bought their software after May 15 this year, will have an upgrade available free of charge for six months after UK shipment. Other users will be able to upgrade to v3.5 at a price to be announcement close to product shipment time.
(Steve Gold/19940601/Press & Reader Contact: Julie Cox, Microsoft UK, 44-734-270001)
Julie Cox, Microsoft UK, 44-734-270001)
6/1/94
UK - Microsoft Previews Windows NT 3.5
Borland UK Announces C++ 4.0 Upd
TWYFORD, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Borland has announced an update to its C++ 4.0 object oriented program compiler. The company claims that the service update allows software developers access to improved online documentation and "just-in-time" debugging.
According to Borland, the update also offers increased flexibility to software developers through modifications to the C++ 4.0 integrated development environment (IDE) that enable it to run under Windows NT Chicago and OS/2 v2.1.
"We're committed to providing our customers with high quality innovative tools that solve their problems," explained Guy Martin product marketing manager for development tools at Borland.
Martin added that the modifications have been added to the package as a result of customer feedback. What, Newsbytes asked, is "just-in time" debugging?
According to Borland, just-in-time debugging centers around the idea that programmers frequently find errors in their applications during normal testing and usage, and not when they are operating from the debugger.
Since isolating these bugs is time-consuming, just-in-time debugging involves the launch of a turbo debugger when a fault occurs under Windows NT. The debugger identifies and displays the line of code where the error has occurred.
Other improvements seen in C++ 4.0's service update involve faster load and build times, smaller and more efficient project files reduced memory usages and an enhanced help file system.
Borland claims that the service upgrade of C++ 4.0 integrates seamlessly with the company's PowerPack for DOS package, a suite of DOS development tools and libraries which is scheduled to ship later this month in parallel with the C++ 4.0 service update.
In addition to the new features of the C++ 4.0 service update, Borland is offering its customers ForeHelp, a help authoring tool for Windows developed by Forefront of Boulder, Co. The package provides a what-you see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) development environment for creating full-featured Windows help files quickly and, the company claims easily.
Borland officials told Newsbytes that, unlike other help utilities on the market, ForeHelp's WYSIWYG environment does not require developers to create help files using a word processor and word processor commands.
The Borland C++ 4.0 service update will be available from the end of this month onwards on CD-ROM for UKP9.95 or disks for UKP19.95 including post and packing, for registered users of C++ 4.0. ForeHelp is available to all users for UKP 49.95.
(Steve Gold/19940601/Press & Public Contact: Borland International (UK), 44-734-320022)
nd International (UK), 44-734-320022)
6/1/94
Borland UK Announces C++ 4.0 Update
Aldus UK Unveils IntelliDraw 2.0
ISLEWORTH, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- Aldus UK has begun shipping IntelliDraw 2.0, an upgrade on its cross-platform "smart" drawing package.
Enhancements to the package fall into three main areas: drag-and drop templates; expanded file support and connectivity; and response to user requests.
"IntelliDraw 2.0 offers many new capabilities to both professional and business users who require an easy to use and accessible graphics package," commented Mark Durrant, product marketing manager for Aldus UK.
Durrant added that the new version will appeal to users who need "graphics on a daily basis, but who aren't necessarily artistically skilled or have enough time to draw them from scratch."
The drag-and-drop facility is the key improvement of the three main areas, Newsbytes notes, Aldus has introduced an IDRAW (I draw) templates feature that allows browsing and creation of existing/new graphics. A number of ready-to-use templates have been included on the new version of the software.
On the Mac and Windows versions of IntelliDraw 2.0, Aldus has included support for just about every possible file format. The Windows version, for example, includes the ability to import file formats as specialized as AutoCAD DXF or IBM PIF.
The Mac version requires a recommended specification of a Mac SE/30 or later with System 7.0, four megabytes (MB) or memory, a hard disk and Adobe Type Manager 2.0 or later. Aldus notes that the software will run on a Mac Plus, System 6.0.5, 2MB of memory and a hard disk.
The recommended system for the Windows version is a 386-based or better PC, Windows 3.1 and 8MB of memory plus a VGA card and a mouse. The minimum specification is a 4MB memory system as for the recommended system.
IntelliDraw 2.0 is available immediately for UKP150 in the UK. Existing users of the package can upgrade to v2.0 for UKP50. The package is also being released into other world markets for Aldus products, including the US and Canada.
(Steve Gold/19940601/Press & Public Contact: Aldus UK 44-81-568-8868)
19940601/Press & Public Contact: Aldus UK 44-81-568-8868)
6/1/94
Aldus UK Unveils IntelliDraw 2.0 For Windows, Mac Users
GENERAL
Swiss Firm Readies Personal Mess
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- According to Matignoni Electronics (ME), a Swiss technology company, personal messaging centers (PMCs) that can handle voice, fax and data messaging in a single unit are set to permanently change the conventional fax modem marketplace. The company has announced plans to offer PMCs into the UK market from this October onwards.
"As more people integrate comms into their working routine, technical aspects are less and less relevant to many potential buyers. Comms devices are becoming a commodity, so the new product is styled packaged and priced to differentiate it from the crowd as well as having advanced features," explained Bart Corver, the company's sales manager.
Craig Coward, a senior staffer with the Edge Partnership, the public relations company that is handling the pre-launch publicity for ME before it launches in the UK, told Newsbytes that pricing on the PMC will be announced at shipment time. The price is expected to be under the UKP400 mark.
"That's not at all bad for a device that can handle voice-mail, faxing and data comms at speeds of up to V32Bis (14,400 bits-per-second). We think it will sell well into the existing data/fax user community as well as the non-technical user marketplace," he added.
Coward told Newsbytes that BABT approvals are being applied for at the moment in the UK, ready for the official launch in October of this year. "The product was previewed for the Swiss market at Cebit in March of this year, but a decision to export the product to other European countries since then has now been taken," he said.
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 1 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> ****DEC Unveils Interactive Video "Content Centers" 06/01/94 DEC has announced plans to open a Digital Content Center this summer in Tarrytown, New York. It will be the first of a half-dozen centers in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim that will support content providers in creating and adapting interactive video applications for use on broadband and cable networks.
2 -> Reuters Announces Two New Media Deals 06/01/94 Reuters is quietly trying to win itself a position of dominance in news delivered by new media. Its strategy is to make strategic alliances for every possible transmission medium.
3 -> WTI Announces Lower-Cost Two-Way Wireless Bundle 06/01/94 Hoping to jump-start a horizontal business market for two-way wireless messaging, Wireless Telecom Inc., has announced a bundling deal with two major players in the market -- RAM Mobile Data and RadioMail.
4 -> BroadBand Delayed In New Jersey 06/01/94 New complaints from cable operators are delaying Bell Atlantic's installation of BroadBand Technologies fiber-in-the-loop system in New Jersey.
5 -> Popkin Software Intros New Schema Generator 06/01/94 To increase support of System Architect 3.0, which was shipped in January of this year, Popkin Software has introduced version 2.0 of its Schema Generator.
6 -> UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscriber Figures For One-2-One 06/01/94 After six months of operation, Mercury Communications has revealed it has signed 62,500 subscribers up to its One-2-One digital mobile phone network.
7 -> Hands On Learning Intros New Training Products 06/01/94 With a long history of live training sessions, Hands On Learning also developed a Workshop Training Series consisting of video workbooks, reference books and test diskettes to address the technical needs of computer users, programmers and managers. In its latest release, the company has announced five new sets of products.
8 -> ADB Intros Matisse 2.3 DBMS 06/01/94 ADB, Inc., formerly Object Databases, has unveiled the latest version (2.3) of Matisse, its database management system.
9 -> Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch For Mac 06/01/94 Interealm has released a new version of its application launching palette program Powerlaunch for the Macintosh.
10 -> Compaq Reduces Some Desktop/Server/Portable Prices 06/01/94 Compaq Computer Corporation has announced a cut in prices on several of its most popular notebook, desktop and file server products and selected optional items. The reductions range from four to 29 percent on the computers and up to 34 percent on selected optional equipment.
11 -> Epoch Forms Client/Server Services Group 06/01/94 Epoch Inc., which sells storage-management products for client/server computing installations, is out to capitalize further on its knowledge of client/server computing with a new group that will help with needs analysis, installation, and related tasks.
12 -> Pennsylvania Network Offers Free Internet Access 06/01/94 TEC/Pennsylvania Small Business United (TEC/PSBU) is offering free access to the Internet as part of its TEC-Online computer service.
13 -> Software AG Launches "Insight" Consulting Service 06/01/94 Software AG, a half- billion dollar software company headquartered in Reston, Virginia, has launched Insight, a consulting service for customers as well as non-customers of Software AG products.
14 -> Hong Kong - HDS Mainframe, Client-Server Directions 06/01/94 Hitachi Data Systems has issued a "statement of direction" that indicates a "commitment to meeting the requirements" of System/390 users and the growing open systems community. It also outlines a broad-based approach to HDS customers' future computing needs.
15 -> Australia - Apple Offers Video Explaining Its Computers 06/01/94 Apple Computer Australia is distributing a new video to schools and resellers. Titled "At home with Apple computers," the program features "real-life" examples of how computers are being used in Australian homes, and is aimed at anyone considering the purchase of a home computer.
16 -> ****Court Says Micrografx Shareholder Suit Lacking 06/01/94 A US District Court judge has told Micrografx shareholders they have not provided enough information to support their claims of securities violations on the part of company officers. He gave the plaintiffs until June 24, 1994, to re-plead the case.
17 -> IBM Shuffle Aims To Speed Workplace Effort 06/01/94 IBM has given two senior executives new responsibilities in an effort to coordinate the technology development effort known as Workplace and speed the Workplace technology to market.
18 -> Japan - Information Superhighway Report 06/01/94 The Telecommunications Council, which is under the control of the Japanese Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, has completed a report offering guidelines for Japan's future information superhighway.
19 -> Japan's NEC To Increase Chip Production In Europe 06/01/94 NEC has announced that it will produce more semiconductor chips in Europe. The firm will invest eight billion yen ($80 million) to create the facilities in Europe within the next four years.
20 -> Japan - Sun Micro/Shin-Nippon In Sys Integration Deal 06/01/94 Sun Microsystems Japan and Shin-Nippon Steel have inked an agreement involving systems integration technologies.
21 -> Reprogrammable Sega Game Cartridges For Rental Market 06/01/94 Retailers will be able to reprogram Sega rental cartridges with the hottest games this summer and eventually will be able to produce needed quantities of the games just-in-time for sale as well. The cartridge programming system is being tested in a deal between Sega and Blockbuster/IBM joint ventures Newleaf Entertainment and Fairway Technologies.
22 -> Symantec's Peter Tippett Looks At Computer Ethics 06/01/94 The underlying problem in computer ethics, says Symantec computer virologist Peter Tippett, "Is a lack of sandbox training. As kids we learned from just hanging around with other kids that eating worms is icky."
23 -> FBI Picks Teams For Fingerprint Work 06/01/94 The Federal Bureau of Investigation has picked three major teams for the design phase of its automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS).
24 -> IDB Accountant Change Hurts Stock 06/01/94 A dispute with its auditors has reportedly cost IDB Communications Group Inc. considerable credibility with investors.
25 -> Hearst Opens New Media Center 06/01/94 Hearst has opened a New Media Center in its midtown Manhattan headquarters.
26 -> Banyan Announces European Reseller Program 06/01/94 Banyan Systems has announced two new European reseller programs -- the European Premier Network Integrator (EPNI) Program, and the National Premier Network Integrator Program (NPNI).
27 -> UK - Microsoft Previews Windows NT 3.5 06/01/94 Late last week saw Jim Allchin, vice president of Microsoft's business systems division, fly into the UK to preview an upgrade to Windows NT server and workstation versions.
28 -> Borland UK Announces C++ 4.0 Update 06/01/94 Borland has announced an update to its C++ 4.0 object oriented program compiler. The company claims that the service update allows software developers access to improved online documentation and "just-in-time" debugging.
29 -> Aldus UK Unveils IntelliDraw 2.0 For Windows, Mac Users 06/01/94 Aldus UK has begun shipping IntelliDraw 2.0, an upgrade on its cross-platform "smart" drawing package.
30 -> ****Swiss Firm Readies Personal Messaging Centers 06/01/94 According to Matignoni Electronics (ME), a Swiss technology company, personal messaging centers (PMCs) that can handle voice fax and data messaging in a single unit are set to permanently change the conventional fax modem marketplace. The company has announced plans to offer PMCs into the UK market from this October onwards.
(Ian Stokell/19940601)
(Ian Stokell/19940601)
6/1/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Apple Computer has confirmed that it has begun shipping Power Macintosh computers to the People's Republic of China. The shipments began Wednesday June 1, and are part of Apple's continuing effort to penetrate the region.
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has said China is a market to watch from a computing retail standpoint.
CI/Infocorp analyst Matt Sargent told Newsbytes that there are few direct market research resources in China and that while there is lots of hype about the potential of the Chinese market most of that information is speculative. China is progressing Sargent said, and is probably economically on the verge.
Apple sources told Newsbytes the company has been active in China since it opened a representative office in Beijing in September and began working with a Chinese distributor there.
Before that, Apple was selling its products through three Hong Kong-based distributors into the Chinese market. As for the number of shipments, Apple representatives who could comment were unavailable by Newsbytes' press time.
The reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)-based Power Macintosh was introduced by Apple in the US in March of this year. Apple said in its second quarter earnings statement it had shipped 145,000 of the PowerPC-based units by April 1, 1994.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940601/Press Contact: Nancy Keith Kelly Apple Computer, tel 408-974-2042, fax 408-974-2885)
l 408-974-2042, fax 408-974-2885)
6/2/94
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
APPLE
WTI Announces Lower-Cost Two-Way
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch
Windows Business Process Reengin
UK - PCMCIA Card For Non-PCMCIA
Cadre Upgrades ObjectTeam & Team
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Cadre has issued upgrades of its year-old ObjectTeam tools for object oriented (00) application development, as well as its long-time Teamwork tool suite for structured analysis and modeling methods automation.
ObjectTeam, a product first launched in May, 1993, and used mainly by large corporations, supports both the Slaer-Mellor and Rumbaugh et al object-oriented methodologies, according to a company spokesperson. Teamwork, on the other hand, offers a range of development tools targeted primarily at smaller and mid-sized companies, he told Newsbytes.
The new Teamwork 6.0 adds two new modules, along with structured query language (SQL) generation capabilities for the Informix and Ingres relational database management systems (RDBMS) enhancements to the reverse engineering and metrics functions in the Teamwork/Ada module, and improved document generation.
The new modules are Teamwork/ShortCut (SC) 6.0 for rapid prototyping, and Teamwork/Dynamic Analysis (DA) 6.0 for "dynamic model verification" and debugging, the spokesperson said.
The major enhancement in the new ObjectTeam 2.0 is the addition of "recursive design" support to the Shlaer-Mellor method, he noted. This feature allows automatic generation of executable C++ code from C code in the analysis model of an application, he explained. Previously, developers had to generate C++ code manually.
ObjectTeam 2.0 for Shlaer-Mellor also adds the ability to "automatically derive and generate" a state transition table, one of the diagrams specified by the Shlaer-Mellor method.
In addition, developers can now generate documentation in Department of Defense (DoD)-2167A, DoD-498 (draft), International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard formats.
The new Teamwork/SC module is designed to let developers quickly create prototypes, run these prototypes based on "real-time requirements," and fix any problems before coding begins.
Teamwork/DA is aimed at letting developers troubleshoot and estimate the performance of structured analysis real-time models to ward off potential bottlenecks and deadlock conditions.
New capabilities in Teamwork Ada include RevAda, for automatic generation of graphical designs from Ada source code, and QualGen for generation of a variety of quality metrics.
Teamwork's newly added support for Ingres and Informix joins previously existing support for Oracle, Sybase, and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Level 2. Teamwork 6.0 also brings "push button" documentation for DoD 2167A, DoD-498 (draft) ISO9000, and IEEE standards, according to the spokesperson.
Also with the new releases, Cadre has added several new features across its product line, such as first-time support for the Motif user interface and European characters, and improved editing and printing capabilities, the spokesperson said.
Pricing starts at $3,995 for ObjectTeam 2.0 and $8,500 for Teamwork 6.0. The products from Cadre run on Microsoft Windows OS/2, AIX, SunOS, Solaris, HP-UX, Silicon Graphics' Irix, and DEC's Ultrix, OSF/1 AXP, and Open VMS.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940601/Reader Contact: Cadre Technologies 401-351-5950; Press Contacts: Harry Merkin, Cadre, 401-351-5950; Mark Nardone, Rourke & Company for Cadre, 617-267-0042)
e, Rourke & Company for Cadre, 617-267-0042)
6/2/94
Cadre Upgrades ObjectTeam & Teamwork Tools
GENERAL
Japan Plans Asia's Information S
Comdex - IBM Pushes Objects, Adm
Gateway 2000 Intros Multimedia K
DB/Expo - 30,000 Attendees Expec
FAS Attacks Clinton Information,
Context Systems Intros D-Day CD
WTI Announces Lower-Cost Two-Way
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch
Windows Business Process Reengin
Semaphore Intros New Encryption
Korea - Foreign Info Comms Equip
USENIX Conf - Penn Jillette Expo
Power Mac Success Over Intel Dep
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- According to analysts, what will make or break sales of the new Power Macintosh from Apple Computer is the number of significant applications for the platform -- applications that will attract Intel users. While shipments of the new PowerPC-based Macintosh have been good, speculation continues as to whether or not the platform will succeed in attracting a large enough market share.
Apple said it plans to transition its line of Macintosh computers over time from the Motorola 68000 series of microprocessors to the reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)-based PowerPC microprocessor, developed jointly by Apple, IBM, and Motorola.
In its 1993 annual report the company said that success will depend on continuing sales of its 68000-based products during its transition to the Power Macintosh, gaining market acceptance of the PowerPC-based products, and coordinating development and distribution of new versions of commonly-used software products specifically designed for the PowerPC-based platform, also known as "native" applications.
Philippe de Marcillac, director and principal analyst of Dataquest's Personal Computers Worldwide research group said: "Apple was encouraged by shipping more than 90,000 Power Macintoshes in the last 18 days of the first quarter, proving there is pent-up demand among Apple users for more computing power." Apple said in its second quarter report it shipped more than 145,000 Power Macintoshes.
However, for Apple it is the "fence-sitters" and the Intel-based PC user that Apple has to convince now, according to CI/Infocorp analyst Matt Sargent. The toughest crowd will be Intel users Sargent said, and right now there is no incentive for them to switch because there are few significant applications available aimed at those users. Of the approximately 80 applications that are native for the PowerPC, most are desktop publishing titles aimed at the current Macintosh installed user base.
While applications designed for the Intel platform will run on the Power Macintosh, they run in emulation mode which is significantly slower than on the faster Intel-based computers available.
But there is no indication that Power Macintosh sales are slowing Sargent claims. Twenty to 30 percent of Apple's Computer sales are Power Macintosh, according to Sargent, and that trend appears to be continuing.
Dataquest's de Marcillac agrees, saying that while Intel-based personal computer maker Compaq is currently in the computer shipment lead, he expects a "three-way" tie by year-end between Compaq, IBM, and Apple.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940601/Press Contact: Dan Ness, CI/Infocorp tel 619-535-6733; Paul Wheaton, Dataquest, 408-437-8312)
5-6733; Paul Wheaton, Dataquest, 408-437-8312)
6/2/94
Power Mac Success Over Intel Depends On Apps
APPLE
Accessing Internet For Afro-Amer
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- At a recent gathering of Afro-American business leaders in Oakland, California Manselmedia produced "Business Opportunities on the Information Highway," a seminar designed to introduce the audience to potential advantages available on Internet for business education marketing, collaboration, and new business development.
Speakers included Maurice Welsh of Pacific Bell, Ms. Pat Patterson of Bank of California and Patterson Associates, David Beckemeyer of Beckemeyer Development, Brian Saunders of Compus Services and Michael Heathman of Enterprise Integration Technologies.
Patterson told Newsbytes, "One of the goals tonight is to give the audience an idea of some of the business strategies that are critical to being competitive in today's market. Through Internet, a small company may interact with other businesses to share information and possibly collaborate on things like group purchases."
Patterson's presentation covered systems contracting and consortium purchasing as a means of introducing the type of business strategies that might be incorporated into the local business community.
"Introduction to the Internet," "An Introduction to CommerceNet," "PacBell's Resource Network," and "Mosaic" were among the presentations delivered.
Maurice Welsh, told Newsbytes, "We are not just here for Black businessmen. We want to bring this technology to all of Oakland's business community, not only for the access and participation but to let others know that Oakland welcomes technology-based businesses such as multimedia design and production companies."
This first meeting to introduce business leaders to these technology advantages is the beginning of what Welsh hopes will be a successful endeavor, similar to Multimedia Development Group of San Francisco which he co-founded.
Mansel of Manselmedia, said to Newsbytes, "We think it is critical to let these leaders learn how to make their businesses more efficient by using information technology. By communicating with one another we will find out what our different needs are and how they can be addressed right here in Oakland using the information highway."
"Business Opportunities of the Information Highway" was sponsored by Pacific Bell, the Men of Tomorrow (a business development group) The Small Business Growth Center, and the Black Business Listings newspaper.
A group of more than 200 business leaders attended and participated in product demonstrations of Mosaic, PacBell's Re:Source, Compus back-up and recovery systems, A Family of Electronic Catalogues and Internet tours by Beckemeyer Development.
Accessing Internet For Afro-American Business Leaders
GENERAL
Compuserve Offers New Video Game
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Game players are being offered a chance to get together with one another and with game designers and publishers through Compuserve's two new forums Video Game Publishers Forum and Video Games Forum.
In the Video Game Publishers Forum, Compuserve will provide users an opportunity to meet and discuss ideas and techniques with representatives of companies such as Accolade, Data East Electronic Arts, Game Genie, Koei, Konami, Spectrum Holobyte Takara and Working Designs. These companies will provide product support, screen samples, new product introductions, game hints and other information.
Meanwhile, the Video Games Forum, will provide a communication area where players can discuss hardware, the merits of games personal tips and suggestions, and their own reviews. Players of Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, 3DO Multiplayer, Atari Jaguar Phillips CD-I, and other game consoles will be able to join with users of the same systems to expand more specific issues.
Speaking with NewsBytes, Jim Pasqua, Compuserve product marketing associate, said, "The growth of new game hardware has produced a new and expanded audience of game players in dramatic numbers. We felt that we should offer an opportunity for them to communicate with one another and with the publishers as well. As well as these new forums, we also provide users with downloadable and online games in our gaming section. We have more than 18,000 game files for downloading."
Existing members can find the Video Game Publishers Forum by typing "VIDPUB" at the "GO" command and "VIDGAMES" for the Video Games Forum. These new forums are not part of the basic services package offered by Compuserve and users will be charged $4.80 per hour at 1,200 and 2,400 bits-per-second (bps) speeds and $9.60 per hour for 9,600 or 14,400 bps.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- In today's news Rohm teams up with Alliance in SRAM business, Oki Electric to enter TFT LCD driver IC market, and Hitachi to triple color STN LCD production this year, Kubota Computer markets Unix server costing less than one-third the price of earlier models with the same performance, and Sanyo Electric joins hands with Western Digital in CD-ROM LSI development.
Rohm teams up with Alliance in SRAM business
Rohm has teamed up with Alliance of San Jose, California, in the SRAM (static RAM) business. The two companies will develop 1Mbit and 256Kbit SRAMs with an access time of 12 nanoseconds (ns) and a consumption current of less than 100ma. The chips will be smaller than four millimeters (mm)-square, more than 50% smaller than conventional 1Mbit SRAM chips. The two firms will also develop 120ns 1Mbit and 256Mbit SRAMs for use in game machines. Rohm will be in charge of production and sales in Japan and other Asian countries. Alliance will OEM (original equipment manufacturer) procure chips from Rohm and market them in North America. Sample shipments and volume production are slated for within the year and next spring, respectively.
Oki Electric to enter TFT LCD driver IC market
Oki Electric will enter the thin-film transistor LCD driver IC market. The company, which manufactures 6 million units of super-twisted nematic and other LCD driver ICs per month, plans to start producing TFT LCD driver ICs at its Miyazaki plant in August, but does not intend to invest in new production equipment. The TFT LCD market is said to exceed 500 billion yen ($4.81 billion) in 1996 or 1997, and targeting PC LCD makers OKI is aiming to boost TFT LCD driver IC output to over 1 million units per month within two to three years.
Hitachi to triple color STN LCD production this year
Hitachi intends to nearly triple production of color super-twisted nematic LCDs this year. While thin-film transistor LCDs are attracting a great deal of attention in the LCD market Hitachi has concluded that demand for STN LCDs will be growing stronger for use in low-cost PCs and portable data terminals. The company's Taiwanese subsidiary is scheduled to begin producing color STN LCDs this fiscal year. Together with a new TFT LCD line that will begin full-scale production in the second half of this year, Hitachi's annual LCD business in fiscal 1994 is expected to reach 50 billion yen ($480.8 million).
Kubota Computer markets Unix server costing less than one-third the price of earlier models with the same performance
Kubota Computer has begun marketing an entry-level model in its Titan Server Series of Unix servers which costs less than one third the price of earlier models with the same performance. The Titan Server Model 1300mp can use up to four 190 megahertz (MHz) DEC 21064 RISC (reduced instruction-set computer) processors and can have up to two gigabytes (GB) of main memory and up to 32GB of disk space. The server is priced from 4.78 million yen ($45,962) and shipments will begin on September 1. First-year sales are expected to total 500 units.
Sanyo Electric joins hands with Western Digital in CD-ROM LSI development
Sanyo Electric has joined hands with Western Digital, a US hard disk drive maker, in CD-ROM LSI development. The companies will jointly develop a CD-ROM decoder LSI incorporating an "extended IDE" controller. Western Digital proposes IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) as an interface between PCs and peripherals. The extended IDE interface defines a data transfer capacity of 8.4GB and is expected to be widely accepted from now. Sanyo, which plans to start sample shipment by year's end, will be in charge of production and sales.
(Terry Silveria/19940602)
(Terry Silveria/19940602)
6/2/94
Japan - Computer News Roundup
GENERAL
Japan - Telecom News Roundup
M TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- In today's telecom news from Japan, MPT's Telecommunications Council reports development of nationwide optical communications network will cost $721.15 to $913.46 billion, and OKI Electric as well as banks to start full motion video on-line shopping service experiment in Tokyo next year.
MPT's Telecommunications Council reports development of nationwide optical communications network will cost $721.15 to 913.46 billion.
The MPT Telecommunications Council has reported that the development of a nationwide optical communications network will cost 75-95 trillion yen ($721.15 to 913.46 billion), including 42 trillion yen ($403.85 billion) estimated to cost to lay optical fiber cables underground. The council has submitted recommendations concerning network development to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications. The report recommends that the network be built in three stages until 2010.
The first-phase, which should be completed by 2000, will connect cities with prefectural government seats covering 20% of population. The second-phase, which should be finished by 2005, will expand the network to include cities with a population of over 100,000, covering 60% of population. The third-phase should be completed by 2010. The council estimates that the development of the network will result in the creation of a 123 trillion yen ($1.18 trillion) market and the generation of 2.43 million jobs in 2010.
OKI Electric, banks to start full-motion video on-line shopping service experiment in Tokyo next year
OKI Electric, in cooperation with city banks and trading firms, will start a full-motion video on-line shopping service experiment in the Tokyo metropolitan area next year. The service will use a video-on-demand system to allow shoppers to view full-motion product images on home terminals. They will then order merchandise and transfer payment funds from a bank, all from the same terminal.
Currently available PC-based shopping services use still-video images, but OKI's system will be the first to use full-motion video and the first to offer transaction settlement capability on the same terminal. The company is now drafting specific system plans with major city banks and plans to call on trading firms supermarkets, and others to participate in the experiment.
(Terry Silveria/19940602)
(Terry Silveria/19940602)
6/2/94
Japan - Telecom News Roundup
TELECOM
Court Computers Offer Near-Realt
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- When 16-year old Jacob Ind, charged with murdering his mother and stepfather, wants to study what a witness in his trial has just said all he has to do is press a button. A system, called the Computer Integrated Courtroom (CIC) in use on an experimental basis in Judge Jane Looney's 4th Judicial District courtroom, displays every word spoken in the trail.
The system displays what the court reporter transcribes, showing the text on terminals in front of the judge, prosecution and defense about one second after the words have been spoken.
The system is in use in about 30 courtrooms nationwide on a regular basis, while another seven are testing the system. In Colorado, CIC is in use in the Colorado Springs and Englewood district courts, and in federal bankruptcy court in Denver.
In addition to seeing current testimony, users can scroll back through the text, highlighting or saving portions for future use.
According to Melanie Humphrey-Watkins, president of the Colorado Court Reporter Association, most judges like it because they can catch up with the testimony if they are momentarily distracted.
Proponents believe CIC will also allow hearing impaired persons to serve on juries, since the system can be used to provide captioned video.
The $10,000 system in Judge Looney's court is the brainchild, and partially the property of, court reporter Terri Lindblom, in addition to two out-of-date state computer terminals, some cabling and the necessary software. Other Colorado judges are comparing CIC with the current audio recording system.
Court reporters type what is said in court phonetically. CIC's software converts those words back into English, including any spelling errors the court reporter makes.
(Jim Mallory/19940602)
court reporter makes.
(Jim Mallory/19940602)
6/2/94
Court Computers Offer Near-Realtime Transcripts
TRENDS
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
Windows Macromedia Director
Company Brings Internet To Your
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- A Seattle company wants to bring the Internet into your home - literally. Fine.com, a division of Fine Marketing Communications, says it will come to your home or business, install a combination of freeware and shareware on your computer, and teach a single user how to get the most out of the Internet.
Cost of the personal visit and the software is $249 for a single-user home or home office installation. You have to agree to remain on Fine.com's service for at least six months at a rate of $30 per month for the link.
Fine.com spokesperson Dan Fine told Newsbytes the company provides a more sophisticated service for commercial users on a network. For about $4,000 the network user gets an Internet connection for up to 10 users, a file server, modem and the necessary software. The company also does remote control problem-solving as needed for commercial users.
Fine says many people are frustrated when they try to connect to the Internet. "They don't know how to configure it, the don't know their IP (Internet Protocol) address, and they don't know what to do when they get on." The software Fine.com provides makes Internet connecting a point-and-click operation for exchanging electronic-mail talking with other users, and finding files.
Fine.com can configure IBM-compatible, Macintosh or Unix systems. He says the free and low cost software his clients use is less expensive than commercial programs such as Microsoft Mail and Lotus Mail. "We're really promoting the freeware/shareware idea," Fine told Newsbytes. Freeware is software available without cost while shareware is sold for a nominal fee, often $25 to $50. While the quality of freeware and shareware varies, proponents argue that much of it is as good as commercial products that cost several hundred dollars.
Newsbytes recently reported that computer users in Pennsylvania Ohio, and West Virginia can exchange mail and obtain files on the Internet at no cost if they are members of the TEC/Pennsylvania Small business United organization. Members pay $5.95 for a TEC Online subscription. The system allows small businesses to buy sell, advertise, and exchange business information, locate economic development assistance, and find business-related information. It also carries news and investment information.
A number of companies act as gateways to the Internet, providing the necessary software to connect the user with the invisible web of computer systems that link educational institutions and private users across the globe. However, Fine.com may be the first service provider that comes to your location to install the software and teach you how to use it.
Internet users can download and upload files and exchange electronic mail with users worldwide.
(Jim Mallory/19940602/Press and reader contact: Dan Fine, Fine Marketing Communications, 206-292-2888)
Fine, Fine Marketing Communications, 206-292-2888)
6/2/94
Company Brings Internet To Your Home - Literally
TELECOM
Canadian News Service Based On L
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Lotus Development Canada Ltd. and Globe Information Services have announced plans to use Lotus' Notes workgroup software to deliver an electronic version of the Toronto-based daily newspaper The Globe and Mail as well as a company profiles service.
Globe Information Services is the electronic publishing arm of The Globe and Mail, a newspaper with national distribution. Globe Information is working with Lotus and Sandpoint Co., a Cambridge Mass., firm whose software is used in several similar services in the United States, to provide the services. They are to be available June 6.
The Globe and Mail Electronic Personal Version (EPV) will give daily access to the full text of The Globe and Mail on a desktop PC, the companies said. Graphics and charts that accompany news stories are not yet available online but will be shortly according to Globe Information Services. The electronic edition does not include advertising.
Using Notes, readers will be able to define personal views of the newspaper or scan pre-defined news by person, organization industry, subject, and newspaper section. Stories will be available at 6:00 am on the issue data and remain in the user's personal database for a week after publication, said Marsha Connor of Lotus Development Canada.
The Company Profiles offering will contain briefings on thousands of Canadian companies, including company description, financial results, corporate management and directors, and references from news wires, newspapers, and the trade press.
The companies said they plan to offer expanded company profiles and a Business Topic Research package this fall.
The services will cost $300 per year, which includes Lotus Notes plus a $25-per-month subscription fee to The Globe and Mail Connor told Newsbytes. Notes clients are available both for Intel-based PCs and for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh.
(Grant Buckler/19940601/Press Contact: Marsha Connor, Lotus Development Canada, tel 416-364-8000, fax 416-364-1547; Josee Gauthier, Globe Information Services, tel 416-585-5163, fax 416-585-5249; Public Contact: Globe Information Services, tel 416-585-5250; Lotus Canada, tel 800-465-6887)
16-585-5250; Lotus Canada, tel 800-465-6887)
6/2/94
Canadian News Service Based On Lotus Notes
GENERAL
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
Control Data Gets Russian Automa
UK - School Computer Porn Scare
Toronto Free-Net To Open Soon
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Toronto is shortly to be added to the growing list of Canadian cities with free-nets -- public-access computer networks that provide access to a variety of information at no cost to the user.
The Toronto Free-Net, now in testing and expected to be open for public access by the end of June, will have 101 incoming telephone lines initially, probably growing to 300 or more over time, Jud Newell, former president and now treasurer of the project, told Newsbytes.
Newell, founder and former system operator of Canada Remote Systems, one of North America's largest computer bulletin boards said more than 100 information providers, including two major newspapers, are either committed to the Toronto free-net or seriously looking at it, and virtually all the public libraries in Metropolitan Toronto have agreed to provide space for public access terminals.
Free-nets are accessible using a personal computer and modem as bulletin boards are, but in order to make the services accessible to people without access to their own PCs, most free-nets provide public-access terminals in places like libraries and community centers.
Equipment has been donated from various sources, including a batch of modems from Gandalf Data Inc. of Ottawa, Newell said. Ryerson Polytechnical University in downtown Toronto has donated space, and Rogers Cablesystems Ltd. is providing operating staff Newell said. The Toronto Free-Net is also receiving financial support from the Province of Ontario.
Canada has operating free-nets in Ottawa and in Victoria and Trail. British Columbia. Newsbytes has recently reported on networks that are close to opening in Vancouver and Halifax. Projects are also under way in Montreal and numerous other locations.
(Grant Buckler/19940601/Press Contact: Toronto Free-Net 905-568-9944)
Toronto Free-Net 905-568-9944)
6/2/94
Toronto Free-Net To Open Soon
TELECOM
IBM Offers 1 Gigabyte AT Drive F
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- IBM's Storage Systems Division is now offering its 3.5-inch, one gigabyte (GB) AT Hard Disk Drive for sale to individual personal computer (PC) users.
Sold to other system manufacturers since February of this year and used in some IBM PCs, the drive is now available under IBM's Options by IBM brand name. It can be used with any PC that uses the AT bus (also known as the Industry Standard Architecture, or ISA, bus), a spokeswoman for the company told Newsbytes.
Another 1GB drive that IBM has been selling for some time requires a small computer systems interface (SCSI) adapter.
The 1GB AT Hard Disk Drive is one inch high, runs at 5,400 revolutions-per-minute (rpm), and has 8.5 millisecond (ms) access time, according to IBM. The company promises a mean-time-between failures of 800,000 hours, and sells the drive with a five-year warranty.
A key feature of the drive is that it can work in duplex mode making it compatible with existing AT basic input-output systems (BIOS) by having the drive appear as two logical 500 megabyte (MB) drives. Thus the drive would appear as volumes C and D, each of 500MB, getting around the inability of older AT BIOS systems to deal with drives of more than 528MB. No additional device drivers are needed, IBM said.
It supports the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) AT Attachment Interface with Extension (ATA-2). Available now, the 1GB AT Hard Disk Drive has a list price of $785.
(Grant Buckler/19940601/Press Contact: Tom Beermann, IBM, tel 408-256-1925; Linda Garcia, Brodeur & Partners for IBM, tel 408-562-6108; Public Contact: Options by IBM, tel 800-426-7299)
ublic Contact: Options by IBM, tel 800-426-7299)
6/2/94
IBM Offers 1 Gigabyte AT Drive For Direct Sale
Sale Of Mobile Devices To Double
NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- True or false? "The more a professional travels, the more likely that professional is to have a portable PC." Surprisingly, the answer is "false," according to a new study by BIS Strategic Research.
Even more significantly, the survey forecasts that US sales of mobile devices will soar from 11.2 million units in 1993 to 20.9 million in 1998, nearly doubling in the five-year period.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Jeff Henning, associate director of publications for BIS, noted that the survey predicts portable PCs will become an increasingly important part of the expanding mobile product mix.
In 1993, sales of portable PCs equalled 2.8 million units, meaning that the computers took third place behind the cellular telephone and pager in the overall mobile market, he said. By 1997, though BIS expects portable PCs to climb to the top spot, with 6.3 million units in sales.
Pager sales will show steady growth of 10.6 percent annually, to a total of 4.8 million units in 1998, according to Henning. Cellular phones and electronic organizers, though, will each "peak" a year or two from now.
The new category of "PCS (personal communicators) handsets" will start to hit the market in 1995. In 1996 or so, low-end PDAs (personal digital assistants) will emerge that offer "more functionality than organizers."
Henning told Newsbytes that, before embarking on the study, BIS hypothesized that "high-frequency travelers" -- or professionals who spend more than 60 percent of their time away from their desks -- would be more likely than other professionals to have portable PCs.
But in fact, portable PC use turned out to be the greatest among professionals who spend 40 to 60 percent of their time away from their desks. "Generally speaking, people who travel more than that have never 'stood still' long enough to learn to use a desktop PC. They don't tend to be interested in having a portable version of something they've never worked with anyway," Henning explained.
As BIS anticipated, "low-frequency travelers" -- or those who are away from their desks less than 40 percent of the time -- have little need for portable PCs, for the very reason that they are seldom out of the office.
Norwell, Massachusetts-based BIS further found out that, on the whole, mobile professionals spend less of their time "on the road" (20 percent) than "away from their desks but in the office building or on the immediate campus" (28 percent).
Still, though, the demands of remote travel continue to dominate in currently available mobile products, Henning pointed out. "It might be easier for you to reach your boss on his car phone than when he is "`away from his desk but in the office,'" the BIS official illustrated.
In the future, when patterns of mobile use become clearer, PDAs and palmtops will be much better positioned to meet the needs of the "locally mobile," he predicted. Technologies will include wireless connectivity, PC docking stations, and even, perhaps, LAN (local area network) access points in conference rooms, and "guest nodes" in professionals' offices for visitors' PDAs.
Despite the growing popularity of faxing, electronic-mail, and other text-based ways of getting in touch, the overwhelming majority of professionals surveyed (89.4 percent) still prefer to communicate by phone, he noted.
The EO, a voice-capable PDA recently withdrawn from the market, was a device ahead of its time, according to Henning. "The EO was meant to be a 'portable smart phone.' But since we don't really even have 'smart phones' yet, few people understood the EO," he told Newsbytes.
In addition, many PDAs still require users to learn new operating systems, and to purchase special applications and peripherals. "You have to 'build your own PDA solution,' in a sense," he maintained. The EO, for instance, used the PenPoint operating system.
Further, he added, the first release of the Newton did not offer "adequate application software." Apple has since corrected that situation, though.
One new kind of device that looks likely to emerge in the future is the "computicator," a "hybrid" of a computer and a communicator Henning said. One form of the "computicator" would be a "pocket messaging terminal" that offers wireless access to voice-mail as well as e-mail, he proposed.
Also in the future, portable PC makers will continue to enhance their products with color LCDs (liquid crystal displays), bigger hard drives, more memory, and better batteries, he suggested.
Henning added that although notebooks will be increasingly popular vendors will also develop a super powerful portable PC that he has nicknamed the "neo-transportable."
These new computers, to be equipped with batteries, will tip the scales at about six pounds each, in contrast to the 20-pound weights of their battery-less "transportable" cousins of the early 80s, Newsbytes was told.
The new survey also covers many other aspects of the mobile computing market. A full copy of the study, "Mobile Professionals in Focus: Who They Are and How They Work," is available from BIS Strategic Decisions for $2,450.
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Proteon has launched "User Access: The Time Is Now," the third nationwide series of user seminars to be offered by the vendor over the past 18 months. This time, the focus is on remote access.
Proteon's complimentary seminars are aimed primarily at network managers, telecommunications specialists, and MIS (management information systems) directors, a company spokesperson told Newsbytes. The events are also proving popular with CIOs (chief information officers), VPs of technology, and network architects he added.
Topics covered in the current series include multiprotocol routing integration and branch office connectivity. Like the two earlier series, "User Access: The Time Is Now" encompasses eight major cities in the US, the spokesperson said.
Each half-day seminar in the current series starts out with a continental breakfast, followed by a keynote speech by Robin Layland, principal of The Layland Group.
Later in the morning, William Donovan, Proteon's director of product marketing, delivers a talk on "Innovative Internetworking Solutions for SNA and Multiprotocol Networks."
The day is capped by an "interactive panel discussion," featuring questions from the audience. Attendees are invited to bring network schematics along with them for on-the-spot troubleshooting, or to fax their schematics or questions in advance.
Upcoming dates in the series are: June 3 in Atlanta; June 9 in Los Angeles; June 14 in Seattle; June 17 in Boston; and June 23 in New York City. Seminars were held recently in Wilmington, Delaware, and in Dallas and Houston, Texas. To register for one of the upcoming seminars, call 800-698-3719.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940601/Reader Contact: 800-698-3719; Press Contacts: Joe Grillo or Karin Bakis, Proteon, 508-898-2800; David Kitchen or David Copithorne, Copithorne & Bellows for Proteon, 617 252-0606)
orne, Copithorne & Bellows for Proteon, 617 252-0606)
6/2/94
Proteon Launches Nationwide Series Of User Seminars
GENERAL
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
New Group Focuses On Cybertrespa
UK - Vodafone GSM Net Gets Voice
Bookworm Multimedia Dev't Tool L
COMDEX - MindPath Offers New Pre
UK - Optech Handles BT Directory
Medio Intros New PC Multimedia T
Court Says Micrografx Shareholde
Canadian News Service Based On L
Electronic Commerce On The Inter
Ungermann-Bass Changes Name
Knowledgeware Acquires Database
Soros To Fund Radio Free Europe
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Financier George Soros, whom the Wall Street Journal has called "the bad boy of global finance," has agreed to fund a new research institute to replace the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty research institute.
The new institute, to be located in Prague, Czech Republic will preserve and computerize the research institute's archives and eventually make them available over the Internet.
The archives include more than 15 million items and reportedly constitute a "comprehensive collection" documenting the struggle against Communism. According to the Board for International Broadcasting (BIB), the federal government agency that oversees Munich-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the archive includes some of the most detailed biographical files every compiled of Communist leadership in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
A new law enacted this year called for private sector funding of the research institute and the BIB has given pink slips to the institutes employees effective at the end of the year.
Congress plans to cut the overall Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty budget by two-thirds to $75 million in fiscal year 1996.
"Federal funds for archive preservation are simply not available," said Daniel Mica, chairman of the BIB. "Thus we are extremely pleased the new institute will be able to achieve this goal and make the rich historic record available via computer to scholars, journalists and historians worldwide."
Mica is a former Democratic congressman from Florida. Ironically, his brother John Mica is currently a Republican congressman from Florida.
Mica said the archives would remain the property of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, with the new institute, acting in conjunction with the Central European University, as curator. Central European University is a Soros-funded graduate school with campuses in Prague and Budapest.
The funding will come from the Open Society Institute, a New York-based foundation that Soros has established. OSI will put up a minimum of $15 million over the next four years to support the new institute. Mica said the BIB will provide a small, but unspecified amount, of funds.
Hungarian-born Soros oversees the Quantum fund, which has assets of some $11 billion. Quantum is a hedge fund that operates worldwide and has been extremely successful over the years according to investment experts.
(Kennedy Maize/19940602/Contact: Richard McBride, BIB 202-254-8040; Shawn Pattison, OSI, 212-887-0602)
202-254-8040; Shawn Pattison, OSI, 212-887-0602)
6/2/94
Soros To Fund Radio Free Europe Digital Archive
Government Encryption Plans Hit
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- A Massachusetts Institute of Technology computer scientist has added his name to the list of claimants to patents on pieces of the federal government's encryption initiatives, including both the controversial Clipper chip and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's digital signature standard.
Silvio Micali of MIT says a patent granted to him in January covers a key area of the technology, breaking up the encryption key into parts held by escrow agents.
Under the Clinton Clipper plan, authorized government agencies would be able to decode encrypted data by presenting a request to two escrow agents, which each hold half of the key to unscramble the code.
Micali wants the government to pay him a license fee. "If they don't get a license I will sue them," he told the Wall Street Journal. "There will be a lot of money to be made. There will be a lot of these Clipper chips."
Philadelphia inventor Andrew Logan claims that his March 1993, patent also covers Clipper technology. He says NIST once offered him $500,000 but later changed its mind, which NIST denies.
NIST also has patent problems with its recently announced digital signature standard. While the standard is voluntary NIST has said it will make the technology available for free. The standard uses public key-private key technology.
But Public Key Partners, a limited partnership in California represents holders of several encryption patents related to the digital signature technology that RSA Data Security of Redwood City owns. NIST announced a year ago that it had a tentative licensing deal with Public Key Partners, but the deal fell through.
NIST officials confirmed that they are continuing to negotiate over the patents.
The Clipper chip has also taken a hit from another direction. The New York Times has reported that AT&T Bell Labs scientist Matthew Blaze has found a flaw in the design that would allow a user to scramble a message in a way that the government cannot decode.
(Kennedy Maize/19940602/Contact: Silvio Micali, MIT 617-253-1000; Anne Enright Shepherd, NIST, 301-975-4858)
-1000; Anne Enright Shepherd, NIST, 301-975-4858)
6/2/94
Government Encryption Plans Hit Patent Problems
MecklerWeb Business Web On Inter
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- MecklerMedia is planning a worldwide business and commerce web on the Internet called MecklerWeb.
Said Christopher Locke, president of newly formed MecklerWeb, in a press conference given at Internet World in San Jose, California "We saw a need to provide Internet users a coherent path to commercial companies that are interested and willing to explore the possibility of this new way of doing business."
MecklerMedia has brought together AlterNet, Enterprise Integration Technologies, WAIS Inc., and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as its key technology partners. From the business side, it has gathered core partners Dun & Bradstreet, Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, and Ogilvy & Mather Direct, who will design the on-screen "look and feel" of MecklerWeb.
Christopher Locke told the audience that MecklerWeb will go live in approximately "60 to 90 days" and, while the initial offering will not provide online monetary transactions, the investigation into secure encryption technology for the transfer of funds is currently a priority.
MecklerWeb follows a recent announcement by CommerceNet, a group of Silicon Valley businesses collaborating on the exploration of business potential on the Internet. In a "spirit of cooperation," CommerceNet is one of more than 40 companies who have already confirmed participation in the web of companies MecklerWeb will offer to Internet users.
"Build it and they will come? No, that is not the motto," said Locke. "It is more correctly stated -- They are coming, we better build it."
In answer to the questions of "Will it make money" and is the company "Exploring a dead-end" Locke, said, "We cannot answer that. What you are seeing is a new frontier in the way we do business. These companies are the pioneers of a new way of conducting business -- a way which is faster and cheaper."
He continued: "Out of Control? Absolutely! Like Internet itself, we are not into control, we invite and encourage participation and competition. If someone has a better product then they are welcome to create it." As for the gamble, Locke said, "It is here, but when you look at companies like DEC and Dun & Bradstreet, and Ogilvy & Mather you have to think we are on the right track."
Companies will pay $25,000 annually to participate in MecklerWeb. That sum will provide them with 10 megabytes (MB) to 20MB on the web which will be partitioned into area such as medical, technology law, sports, environment, finance, arts, manufacturing and education.
Locke offered special thanks to its core partners but singled out DEC for its contribution that was "almost open-ended". Among the confirmed partners to date are Sun Microsystems, SunSoft, Spyglass Inc., The Reference Press, NovX, Pharmaceutical Information Associates, Cornell Legal Information Institution, American Cybercasting, KnowledgeWare, and some thirty others.
The Universal Resource Locator for more information on MecklerWeb is: http://www.mecklerweb.com/demo.html.
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- According to Sanctuary Woods' President Scott Walchek, the software market is moving away from floppy disk distribution, and onto CD-ROM.
These should be good times for Sanctuary Woods Multimedia. The company's "Sitting on the Farm" storybook won three "NewMedia INVISION Multimedia Awards" at Spring Comdex, while its Dennis Miller CD-ROM drew a good response at the Winter CES. The company has also announced a definitive merger agreement with Magic Quest Inc., a privately owned educational software developer based in Palo Alto, for stock. Magic Quest is best known for MathAce, an arcade style math game. Also, Sanctuary Woods is in good shape on distribution, thanks to its affiliate-label agreement with Electronic Arts.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Walchek said MathAce, which runs under MS-DOS, will be out under Windows and on the Mac later this year. He predicted that by next year most software will be sold on CD-ROMs, not on floppy disks.
"The advantage of CD for the customer are much richer products. You can add deeper, richer sounds, he told Newsbytes. "Disk-based products are often cheap on sound. You can get deeper graphics and exploration as well, and more problems to be solved. The end user experience is dramatically different than, say an 8-disk set, which might hold 20 megabytes (MB). The production cost of CD is also lower for us. That raises our gross margins, because cost of goods is significantly lower. The final cost of making a CD, with the shrink-wrap, is under $1.20, versus 83 cents per disk."
As a result, "Our expectation is that 1994 will represent the year where we go from majority disk to majority CD. We're seeing that indication from major retailers who will dedicate much larger portions of shelf-space to CD products. In 1995 almost everything will be CD."
But if software is going to CD, why are the packages still so big? "Packaging hasn't changed yet," he admitted. "The shelf space model we inherited is very competitive, and there have been attempts to do standardized packages but none has succeeded. People feel they should use packaging as a marketing vehicle. As shelf space becomes more limited, this season and beyond, people will by necessity go to smaller packaging, but I doubt it will ever be standardized, except as a controlling entity like Nintendo or Sega restricts it on set-tops." They will get smaller to reduce cost of goods, increase efficiency of shelf space and ecological reasons, he thinks.
Newsbytes asked about the division of the market between PCs and game machines, and what Walchek had to say was interesting. "Right now you have 33% penetration of PCs in the homes projected to over 50% by the end of the decade. You have a very steep, probably 70%, growth in CD-ROM penetration. But you have a diminishing growth trend of cartridges, particularly 16-bit cartridges. There are a lot of reasons, from both customer and vendor viewpoints."
He continued: "From the customer point of view, I can have a general-purpose tool that I can not only use for telecommuting but which will play games. The price-performance curve means that products going into homes today have super capabilities, which makes for a wonderful education and entertainment environment. When I can do that for $2,500 or less, I opt to do that."
Newsbytes asked why cartridge-based games are mostly "shoot-em-ups," while PC-based games are more complex. Text is one reason. "The cartridge-based systems, because it's NTSC (National Television Standards Committee)," with pictures displayed on regular TV sets, "doesn't support text very well. So PCs use more 'edutainment' because you can get good text on a desktop machine.
"The games are still driving the revenue in this industry," he added. "Education programs are still a very small percentage of the home market category. Games continue to drive things. But the types of games you're getting on a desktop are different, mostly because of the sophistication of the processors. Because the set top is a single-purpose, graphic machine you don't get the sophisticated activity you can get on a PC. The tools for authoring on a PC or Mac allow you to do much deeper products."
Walchek then discussed his company's place in all this. "We're not a big company. We're a well-funded start-up with several compelling titles. There's a number of ways marketing takes place. You can self-publish, affiliate label or partner publish and they're all ways to get more marketing resources. But the channels are changing tremendously this year. We're moving beyond the specialty store to the mass market venues like video and audio stores. Those present huge expenses to publishers."
How to market CD-ROMs in this changing environment is a big problem. "There are only a few ways to do it. There are few magazines that sell CDs today, so the advertising choices are difficult and expensive. And the shelf space war is tough. We try to be innovative and own as much shelf space as possible and as much floor space. So we've done point-of-purchase pieces in order to get additional eye space using traditional techniques like those in book and record stores. The other thing we do is leverage our bundling partnerships, those people selling the CD ROM and MPC hardware. Usually they're the first line of access to the customer. We're being very aggressive in going after bundling deals, then converting those customers."
Still, the selling environment will be very different by Christmas, 1995. "In a year, most CD-ROMs will still be sold through computer stores, maybe 75%, with a much greater percentage after that coming through the mass market venues, like audio and video stores," as well as warehouse stores like Sam's Club. "But that's changing. The mass market media, and the superstores, which will become more media-centric, and will be doing a much bigger percentage of business."
Newsbytes asked about the subject of rentals, which are big in the movie-rental stores now starting to stock CD-ROMs. "A few months ago I would have thought rentals would have to be an important part of the strategy, but I'm no longer sure that's going to happen. There's been an outcry from the industry, that the rental business is something to look at cautiously. Insofar as Blockbuster and Viacom come to an agreement there may be some tests, but it won't be as ubiquitous as people thought. We were in their initial trials, and hits drive the business. It will be the same thing for rental as well -- there will be a business of the hits."
Walchek then noted that many big players, including Electronic Arts and Sega, have pulled out of this month's Summer CES show in Chicago. "January CES will be a dominant show for buyers," he said, and Sanctuary Woods took advantage of it this year with a party starring comedian Dennis Miller, who's done some work for the company. "But if you're talking about the industry shows there are a ton of shows developing clout. Sega has its own show, and as they get more share in the set-top CD business that becomes more important, but we still think it's CES January that's the show for buyers."
The key question, however, is where people will go to learn what to buy. Newsbytes asked about CD-based magazines. "A number of people will try it," he said. "My hunch is, that if I were given the choice between spending time in front of my computer, I wouldn't be reading a magazine. I might do it to get samples of stuff to buy at Christmas."
For now, however, parents will do what they did last Christmas. "We'd like to believe parents will call computer supervisors at schools for recommendations. There's an important link between school and home. But the majority of people will go into the store and ask the clerks what's good. There will be a few people who'll pick up some magazines, but my hunch is, based on what I hear from the channel, that people will still use the store as their buying decision-making venue."
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Storm Technology is hoping Kodak's PhotoCD technology can win it a bigger place in the education market. As a first step in that strategy, the company has acquired the rights to Kid's Studio, a multimedia storytelling program developed by CyberPuppy Software and distributed by Maxis.
Kid's Studio is currently a disk-based product for the Macintosh that allows children to freely create their own stories using photo-realistic images, paint, text, sound and special effects. Using Kodak's PhotoCD technology, children can create personalized stories using their own photos.
Newsbytes discussed the move, and the strategy, with Storm Vice President of Marketing Duane Schulz, "We're pushing people to use photographs," he said. "We want to make them as everyday as fonts. It turns out one customer category that's natural for that is kids. We happened to run across Kid's Studio, and felt it was a perfect fit."
But the educational software market is becoming very crowded and noisy -- how will Storm break through, Newsbytes asked? "The way to break through the noise is by focusing on the developmental appropriateness of the product. It's a very straightforward program -- the student doesn't have to deal with frame grabbers multimedia and video. They add pictures with Kodak Photo CDs. We want to make it easy for a kid K-6 to use photographs. We hope to sell through educators, and make it easy to access."
Storm's distributor, Maxis, is best-known as the publisher of the game Sim City. But it is not the company's only channel. "We have a direct relationship with Educational Resources, a subsidiary of Davidson. We'll be running a hot show special" at the National Educational Computing Conference in Boston this month "to encourage trials by educators. We also have a special educator version of the product, a classic ring-binder with curriculum notes, CD-ROM and all that stuff inside it."
How will schools use the product? "The way it works is that families or kids can take their film to anyone who does Kodak processing and get CDs made. The product comes with hundreds of images already in it, but what gets kids turned-on is when they see their own pictures, so we'll be encouraging them to take he step of going to the drug store and getting things back as CDs not just disks. We've got an agreement with Kodak for couponing."
While Kids' Studio was originally a disk-based product, it has already been introduced on CD-ROM. In addition, development of a Windows version of the product is ongoing. That could be done by Christmas.
KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- McCaw Cellular which also owns the nation's fifth largest paging service, signed an agreement to resell the services of number-one Paging Network Inc., in those locations where it currently does not do business.
Paging Network uses conventional land-lines and antennas for its system, and leads the market in part because it charges less for service than satellite-fed paging networks like SkyTel.
The agreement between the two companies makes McCaw a member of PageNet's existing affiliate program, said PageNet Chief Operating Officer Steven Dussek in a press statement.
"We announced that program in January," a PageNet spokesman told Newsbytes, "and we now have over 4,000 resellers, ranging from small local companies to McCaw and Ameritech."
McCaw will market the PageNet services under the McCaw name. PageNet has about 3.3 million pagers in service and also provides such things as news and stock quotes, voice-mail, fax forwarding and wireless data transmission to palmtop computers, as well as regular paging service. McCaw has operations in 42 markets nationwide.
In other news involving McCaw, AT&T asked US District Court Judge Harold Greene to waive provisions of the 1982 Bell break-up decree and let its takeover of McCaw go forward. AT&T said in its waiver request the takeover would give McCaw the resources to maintain its network and let it compete with regional Bell companies, increasing consumer choice.
The regional Bells oppose the merger saying it lets AT&T back into the local phone business it left following the signing of the decree.
McCaw stock still trades very close to the value of AT&T shares which suggests to many analysts that the deal will go through.
McCaw Links With PageNet, While AT&T Pleads Its Case
TELECOM
Correction - WTI RadioMail Bundl
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- In a recent story on Wireless Telecom Inc., offering a bundle of RadioMail and RAM Mobile Data wireless data services, Newsbytes reported that the Mobidem, a packet data modem needed to access the services, was not included in the $400 offering.
That was in error, as Wireless Telecom spokesman Kathy Kriner has pointed out. The bundle, priced at $399, includes an Ericsson GE Mobidem wireless modem, as well as RadioMail client software and necessary cabling, plus 12 months of RadioMail service with unlimited messaging over the RAM Mobile Data wireless service at $89 per month.
ireless Telecom, tel 303/771-6381, fax 303/770-7945)
6/2/94
Correction - WTI RadioMail Bundle Includes Mobidem
CORRECTION
TELECOM
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
Reuters Announces Two New Media
Pennsylvania Network Offers Free
Software AG Launches Insight Con
Accessing Internet For Afro-Amer
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
Micrografx's Free Business Graph
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At
GEnie Now Does Windows
US Multimedia Quadruples, Contin
AT&T Announces WorldWorx Video S
Modern Media Intros Gus And The
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Modern Media Ventures Inc., a small multimedia developer, has announced a new educational title called "Gus and the CyberBuds Sing, Play and Paint-A-Long" on CD-ROM.
Using the disk, young children enter an environment that allows them to sing-a-long to a mix of traditional and original songs while creating scenes to accompany the lyrics.
It was created in-part by Pat Lewis, who has a master's degree in education and over 10 years of early education and curriculum development experience. Terry R. Schussler of Gray Matter Design co-developed the product -- Terry also worked on the company's first product, "Gus Goes to CyberTown."
Children's singer-songwriter David Maloney, who created the soundtrack for Modern Media's "Gus Goes to CyberTown" title, also contributes original songs composed for the new disk.
The product is available on both the Macintosh and Windows MPC platforms. Interface controls will be available in English, French Spanish, German, and Japanese. The company also announced its fall release, again based on the Gus character, will be "Gus Goes to Cyberopolis."
Pat Lewis' husband Bob runs the company, and Newsbytes discussed the new disk with him. "Gus Goes to Cybertown has gotten good reviews, and we're winning an award at CES, so it's a quality product," he said. So far the company has had no problem with distribution. "We've gotten into Egghead, Software Etc. We're self-publishing and looking for distributors."
Newsbytes asked how parents can tell what to buy. "Right now it's by reading magazines and looking at reviews. We're also working with KidSoft," which distributes program samples on CD-ROM "and we'll do a couple of samplers with them, along with one with EduCorp. We've also got a demo on CD-ROM Today magazine. Those are good ways to start. There's a couple of organizations focusing on kids' software, setting up review guidelines. Like Home PC, Family PC," both new magazines published by Walt Disney, "and a few newsletters."
Newsbytes asked Lewis what the company's big development advantage is. "The advantage we have is that my wife Pat was a pre-school teacher for 10 years, and used a lot of fun activities in the classroom. She's incorporated them into this program. There's sound teaching fundamentals. We also teamed up on our first product with David Maloney, a children's singer-songwriter who does performances live in front of kids. It's a very strong team."
The company will not be bringing its wares to the National Educational Computing Conference in Boston later this month which is a show attended by teachers, preferring the Summer CES instead.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940602/Press Contact: Bob Lewis, Modern Media Ventures, 415-546-1515)
t: Bob Lewis, Modern Media Ventures, 415-546-1515)
6/2/94
Modern Media Intros Gus And The CyberBuds CD-ROM
GENERAL
Cray Claims New Software Saves E
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Cray Research says its new Hexar software product can save as much as six months of time and hundreds of thousands of dollars for engineers and researchers.
The company says the software can be used for designers of everything from sporting equipment to automobiles to automatically convert raw computer-aided design (CAD) data for complex objects into a three-dimensional (3-D) computer model used by engineers to simulate and analyze new products.
The 3-D models are known in the engineering trade as "meshes." According to development team chief Taza Iaghavi Hexar can create a mesh in minutes compared to the months required for hand generated meshes.
"It could easily take six months and $150,000 or more to develop a million-element, hexahedral (six-sided) mesh. Now this typically will take less than 30 minutes using Hexar software on a Cray Research supercomputer system," according to Iaghavi. He says competitive products still require substantial manual intervention or do not produce meshes containing hexahedrals.
The company says Hexar is scheduled to ship in July, 1994, for use on its line of parallel vector and massively parallel processing (MPP) systems. Hexar pricing is platform-dependent and starts at $18,000.
Cray Research says Hexar can produce meshes compatible with most computer-aided engineering formats, including Patran, Ideas, and EnSight.
(Jim Mallory/19940602/Press contact: Steve Conway, Cray Research Inc., 612-683-7133; Reader contact: Cray Research, 612-452-6650)
Cray Claims New Software Saves Engineers Time, Money
GENERAL
HRB Acquires Global Positioning
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- HRB Systems has announced the acquisition of Dallas-based Auto-Trac Inc., a company that provides vehicle location and navigation systems.
HRB, a subsidiary of E-Systems headquartered in State College Pennsylvania, had previously purchased a minority interest in Auto-Trac. E-Systems spokesperson John Kumpf declined to reveal the purchase price for Auto-Trac.
The combined companies will provide real-time fleet tracking and management systems using the Navstar global positioning system (GPS) for government and commercial customers.
The company says it already has a contract to deliver a GPS system for the County of Lackawanna Transit System in Scranton Pennsylvania. That system is designed to use GPS to automatically trigger audio messages to announce stops on bus routes. The specific amount of the Lackawanna contract was not disclosed, but Kumpf told Newsbytes it was "under a million (dollars)."
Vehicle-mounted and hand-held GPS systems use satellite and ground-based communications to provide very accurate positioning (within a few meters) of vehicles and individuals. Such technology was used by the US military during the Persian Gulf war.
Kumpf told Newsbytes the 12 Auto-trac employees will all be retained. HRB employees 850 people.
(Jim Mallory/19940602/Press contact: John Kumpf, E-Systems 214-392-4923; Reader contact: Jackie Jones, Auto-Trac Inc. 214-480-8145)
t: Jackie Jones, Auto-Trac Inc. 214-480-8145)
6/2/94
HRB Acquires Global Positioning System Firm
BUSINESS
Another Super-Virus Discovered
BRIER, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- A super-virus that can create havoc on your computer system has been accidentally discovered while a sales representative was demonstrating an anti-virus program for a customer. Called "Junkie," the virus was discovered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while a Reflex Inc. rep was demonstrating the merits of that company's Disknet anti-virus software.
"Junkie" reportedly has software engineers concerned for several reasons: It is encrypted, making it difficult to be spotted; it is polymorphic, meaning it changes each time it replicates; and it infects both the drive's boot sector and executable files on the disk. The latter characteristic is called multi-partite by engineers.
Reflex engineers are studying the characteristics of "Junkie" in an effort to see what other effects it may have on a computer. The source of the virus is still uncertain, but it was discovered on pre-installed, shrink-wrapped software.
The PC manufacturer that pre-installed the software was not identified, but Reflex spokesperson Bob Reed told Newsbytes that it appears that was not the source of the infection. "The system was installed for a month before it ("Junkie") showed up," said Reed.
Reflex engineers say "Junkie" is spread by infecting the boot sector, the portion of the hard disk that contains the startup instructions for a computer. It can reportedly also infect the boot sector of a floppy drive and even make an anti-virus program a carrier.
"Junkie can make anti-virus toolkits spread viruses. Scanners open files to search for viruses, in turn opening the door for Junkie to use the scanner itself as a means of spreading the virus," according to Reflex President Frank Horwitz.
Reed said the Ann Arbor incident is the only time so far "Junkie" is known to have surfaced. He said there are no visible warnings of the virus. He stresses the need for having a current backup of your computer data. "The only known cure is re-formatting the hard disk," says Reed. That gets rid of "Junkie." Users are cautioned not to make a backup copy of a drive that is suspect, since the backup will also be contaminated.
Most anti-virus programs scan for known viruses, but cannot always detect a new and different problem such as "Junkie." That makes it necessary to continually update anti-virus programs, with a resultant added cost in time and money to make sure your computer system is virus-free.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- The first annual conference of the European Telecommunications User Panel (ETUP) was held May 26-27 in Amsterdam. According to Ovum, the London-based market research company, the conference marked the culmination of a year-long program of research conducted by Ovum on behalf of 17 leading telecommunications companies and communications equipment suppliers.
Ovum claims that the research examined the changing needs of the top 100 users of telecoms products and services in Europe. The market research company also claims it is working with ETUP in the longer term by offering independent benchmarking of member's telecoms products against each other.
Members of ETUP include Alcatel, AT&T, Belgacom, Bell Northern, BT Cable & Wireless, Mercury, Ericsson, GPT, Norwegian Telecom, SIP Swiss Telecom, Telia, and Telstra.
David Lewin, Ovum's chairman, opened the conference with a keynote speech, saying that the next five years represent an "enormous opportunity for the largest companies in Europe to use telecoms to their competitive advantage. On the one hand, liberalization in Europe will give them significantly lower prices and greater product functionality. On the other, they need to use telecoms more effectively if they are to improve market responsiveness, customer service and decision making, while lowering unit costs of production."
He added: "The European Telecoms User Panel gives both major users and their suppliers a unique opportunity to understand and respond better to this challenge."
The ETUP is a non-profit organization, Sponsorship of the group costs UKP30,000 a year. Sponsors receive detailed reports at regular intervals through the year and can attend the annual conference.
Reports from Ovum over the last 12 months have covered ISDN (integrated services digital networks), attitudes to service competition, the future of the private network, outsourcing, high growth applications, and high bandwidth applications.
BRENTFORD, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- AST Europe has announced it is launching its Advantage! desktop, multimedia and mini-tower PCs into the retail channel. The diversification is quite a major one for the company which, to date, has concentrated on the business/dealer side of the channel.
Spearheading the move into retail outlets are a series of deals with Rumbelows, a high street white goods chain, as well as with Byte and Staples, two UK computer superstore chains.
Announcing the deals and move, Graham Hopper, AST's UK general manager, said that he is very excited by the potential for sales and general opportunities for the company's Advantage! range of PCs. "Increasingly, consumers are demanding brand names over no-name clones and are able to compare and contrast different systems most easily in a retail environment," he said.
AST is making a few changes to its Advantage! product specification before offering them in retail outlets. While the underlying hardware is the same as in the business channel, based around processors ranging from 33 megahertz (MHz) 80386 to 66MHz i486DX2 chipsets the retail versions come with Microsoft Works, Ami Pro and Lotus 1-2-3, as well as Intuit's Quick home and small business accounts package.
Further upscale in the retail channel, AST is equipping its Advantage! PCs with a 16-bit stereo sound card, speakers, microphone and CD-ROM drive. The idea behind the reconfigured systems is that they become "perfect family computer systems for education and entertainment," AST officials claim.
"We offer a strong brand and excellent solutions for the retail channel. Based on the successful strategy we have developed in the US the range of Advantage! systems are designed for the needs of the small office, home office (SOHO) buyer," explained Frank O'Brien, AST UK's sales manager. "Our new manufacturing facility in Limerick Ireland, also means we will be able to respond quickly to changing consumer requirements."
The Rumbelows' range of Advantage! PCs start from UKP1,049.99. For this, buyers get a family pack based on a 33MHz i486SX chipset configured with four megabytes (MB) of memory, a 170MB hard disk and VGA graphics. Two other systems, based on 50MHz i486SX2 and 66MHz i486DX2 processors, push the price up to UKP1.499.99. Rumbelows has 47 outlets in the UK at the moment.
Similar packages are available through the Byte and Staples' computer superstore outlets, although with the pitch being towards the small business user as well as consumer users. AST products are already available through Staples' US outlets, Newsbytes notes.
(Steve Gold/19940602/Press & Reader Contact: Willson Hau, AST tel 44-81-232-5000, fax 44-81-568-4600)
AST tel 44-81-232-5000, fax 44-81-568-4600)
6/2/93
UK - AST Unveils New Retail Sales Strategy
BUSINESS
Symantec & Central Point Complet
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- The two largest utility software companies in the personal computer (PC) market have officially merged. Symantec announced it has completed the $60 million, stock-swap merger of competitor Beaverton, Oregon based Central Point Software.
The goal of the merger is to aim directly at the enterprise software market, according to Symantec. Company officials did not have exact figures, but claimed Symantec was the number one utility software company, while Central Point Software was rated second.
The combined company will keep the Central Point PC Tools product and staff in the Beaverton, Oregon office. Chuck Boesenberg chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of Central Point, will manage the development and shipment of the next-generation Central Point desktop products, including the PC Tools brand and will take a seat on the Symantec board of directors. Rick Schell, currently vice president and general manager of the Central Point Network Product Group, will also remain.
About 100 Central Point employees will keep their jobs after the merger out of the Central Point staff of about 280. Other overlapping products between the two companies may go as well, but company representative Brett Smith told Newsbytes no definite decisions have been made.
Gordon Eubanks, Symantec's president and CEO, said the enterprise software market is one of the fastest growing. "We have already demonstrated success in this burgeoning market with the release of Norton Administrator for Networks, which has sold more than 300,000 nodes," Eubanks said. Symantec hopes to strengthen its resources for developing enterprise software in the merger.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940602/Press Contact: Brett Smith, Symantec tel 408-446-8977, fax 408-252-4694; Public Contact: Symantec Product Information, 800-441-7234 or 503-334-6054)
Information, 800-441-7234 or 503-334-6054)
6/2/94
Symantec & Central Point Complete Merger
BUSINESS
Internet World '94 - DEC To Prov
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- Taking many Internet World attendees by surprise, Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC) demonstrated a strong commitment in support of Internet connectivity and commercial services.
Its prominent trade floor presentation, "Putting the Internet to Work for You," featured banking, city services and other commercial uses of Internet.
Introducing the Internet Electronic Connection, DEC will now offer information and ordering capabilities to customers of its hardware software, services and third-party products, as well as the latest announcements and special offers.
Under its Digital Internet Services, it will provide software patches to DEC customers and Digital's Internet Security Services will provide customers with new measures of security for online operations.
Among its Internet announcements, DEC revealed a licensing agreement with the commercial licensee of Mosaic, Spyglass Inc. of Champaign, Illinois. Mosaic is the browser or graphical user interface (GUI) that allows Internet users a means of searching, retrieving displaying, and storing the massive data available on Internet.
Digital will ship Mosaic on all of its systems. The company also announced its participation in CommerceNet and the newly constructed MecklerWeb.
"Digital has long been a supporter of Internet and today we are demonstrating an even greater support of our belief that this is the future that will give our customers an advantage over our competitors," Gail Grant, Digital's manager of Alpha AXP Internet Program, told Newsbytes.
Digital is providing an Alpha AXP server and systems integration resources for the launch of the new MecklerWeb.
(Patrick McKenna/19940602/Press Contact: Karen Quatromoni Digital Equipment Corp., 508-264-5358)
ren Quatromoni Digital Equipment Corp., 508-264-5358)
6/2/94
Internet World '94 - DEC To Provide Internet Mosaic
TELECOM
Internet World '94 Opens In San
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- MecklerMedia's Internet World '94 is being held in San Jose, California, this week. The show concentrates on the use of the global Internet.
The show includes Internet providers, software developers online purchasing and commercial information services, Internet publications, a look at network connections, and introductory software and information for novice users.
With about 20 computer stations in the middle of the trade show floor, participants lined-up to get on the Internet to send messages, check their mail or just "surf the Net," as several attendees told Newsbytes.
Ongoing seminars and conferences dealt with legal issues, medical topics, pricing, networking, security, commercialization, privacy and other topics. Lively debates centered around privacy, freedoms government influence and legislation, and commercialization.
Highlighting the announcements surrounding the show were MecklerMedia's new MecklerWeb, Digital Equipment Corp.'s Mosaic licensing agreement with Spy glass, the Internet Business Association, and Global Network Navigator's (GNN) "Best of the Net" awards.
The Internet was routinely applauded for its independence, its constantly changing identity, and its availability to anyone with a personal computer, a modem, software and a necessary Internet provider.
In offering a definition of the Internet, Howard Rheingold, author and Internet visionary, winner of GNN's First Citizen of the Net award, said, "When it comes right down to it, the Internet is a bunch of really cool stuff delivered to the world for everyone to share by a bunch of really cool people." GNN reportedly gave Howard Rheingold the award because of his efforts to "identify and guide the democratic role of life on the Net."
(Patrick McKenna/19940602/Press Contact: Ron Pernick, Niehaus Ryan Haller Public Relations, 415-615-7891)
Haller Public Relations, 415-615-7891)
6/2/94
Internet World '94 Opens In San Jose
GENERAL
Newsbytes Daily Summary
#PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 2 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Apple Ships Power Macs To China 06/02/94 Apple Computer has confirmed that it has begun shipping Power Macintosh computers to the People's Republic of China. The shipments began Wednesday, June 1, and are part of Apple's continuing effort to penetrate the region.
2 -> Cadre Upgrades ObjectTeam & Teamwork Tools 06/02/94 Cadre has issued upgrades of its year-old ObjectTeam tools for object- oriented (00) application development, as well as its long-time Teamwork tool suite for structured analysis and modeling methods automation.
3 -> Power Mac Success Over Intel Depends On Apps 06/02/94 According to analysts, what will make or break sales of the new Power Macintosh from Apple Computer is the number of significant applications for the platform -- applications that will attract Intel users. While shipments of the new PowerPC-based Macintosh have been good speculation continues as to whether or not the platform will succeed in attracting a large enough market share.
4 -> Accessing Internet For Afro-American Business Leaders 06/02/94 At a recent gathering of Afro-American business leaders in Oakland California, Manselmedia produced "Business Opportunities on the Information Highway," a seminar designed to introduce the audience to potential advantages available on Internet for business education marketing, collaboration, and new business development.
5 -> Compuserve Offers New Video Games Section 06/02/94 Game players are being offered a chance to get together with one another and with game designers and publishers through Compuserve's two new forums Video Game Publishers Forum and Video Games Forum.
6 -> Japan - Computer News Roundup 06/02/94 In today's news, Rohm teams up with Alliance in SRAM business, Oki Electric to enter TFT LCD driver IC market, and Hitachi to triple color STN LCD production this year, Kubota Computer markets Unix server costing less than one-third the price of earlier models with the same performance, and Sanyo Electric joins hands with Western Digital in CD-ROM LSI development.
7 -> Japan - Telecom News Roundup 06/02/94 In today's telecom news from Japan, MPT's Telecommunications Council reports development of nationwide optical communications network will cost $721.15 to $913.46 billion, and OKI Electric as well as banks to start full- motion video on-line shopping service experiment in Tokyo next year.
8 -> Court Computers Offer Near-Realtime Transcripts 06/02/94 When 16-year old Jacob Ind, charged with murdering his mother and stepfather, wants to study what a witness in his trial has just said all he has to do is press a button. A system, called the Computer Integrated Courtroom (CIC) in use on an experimental basis in Judge Jane Looney's 4th Judicial District courtroom, displays every word spoken in the trail.
9 -> Company Brings Internet To Your Home - Literally 06/02/94 A Seattle company wants to bring the Internet into your home literally. Fine.com, a division of Fine Marketing Communications, says it will come to your home or business, install a combination of freeware and shareware on your computer, and teach a single user how to get the most out of the Internet.
10 -> Canadian News Service Based On Lotus Notes 06/02/94 Lotus Development Canada Ltd. and Globe Information Services have announced plans to use Lotus' Notes workgroup software to deliver an electronic version of the Toronto-based daily newspaper The Globe and Mail, as well as a company profiles service.
11 -> Toronto Free-Net To Open Soon 06/02/94 Toronto is shortly to be added to the growing list of Canadian cities with free-nets public-access computer networks that provide access to a variety of information at no cost to the user.
12 -> IBM Offers 1 Gigabyte AT Drive For Direct Sale 06/02/94 IBM's Storage Systems Division is now offering its 3.5-inch, one gigabyte (GB) AT Hard Disk Drive for sale to individual personal computer (PC) users.
13 -> ****Sale Of Mobile Devices To Double By 1998 06/02/94 True or false? "The more a professional travels, the more likely that professional is to have a portable PC." Surprisingly, the answer is "false," according to a new study by BIS Strategic Research.
14 -> Proteon Launches Nationwide Series Of User Seminars 06/02/94 Proteon has launched "User Access: The Time Is Now," the third nationwide series of user seminars to be offered by the vendor over the past 18 months. This time, the focus is on remote access.
15 -> Soros To Fund Radio Free Europe Digital Archive 06/02/94 Financier George Soros, whom the Wall Street Journal has called "the bad boy of global finance," has agreed to fund a new research institute to replace the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty research institute.
16 -> ****Government Encryption Plans Hit Patent Problems 06/02/94 A Massachusetts Institute of Technology computer scientist has added his name to the list of claimants to patents on pieces of the federal government's encryption initiatives, including both the controversial Clipper chip and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's digital signature standard.
17 -> ****MecklerWeb Business Web On Internet Planned 06/02/94 MecklerMedia is planning a worldwide business and commerce web on the Internet, called MecklerWeb.
18 -> ****Software Moves From Floppy Disks To CD-ROMs 06/02/94 According to Sanctuary Woods' President Scott Walchek, the software market is moving away from floppy disk distribution, and onto CD-ROM.
19 -> Storm Takes PhotoCD To Schools 06/02/94 Storm Technology is hoping Kodak's PhotoCD technology can win it a bigger place in the education market. As a first step in that strategy, the company has acquired the rights to Kid's Studio, a multimedia storytelling program developed by CyberPuppy Software and distributed by Maxis.
20 -> McCaw Links With PageNet, While AT&T Pleads Its Case 06/02/94 McCaw Cellular, which also owns the nation's fifth largest paging service, signed an agreement to resell the services of number-one Paging Network Inc., in those locations where it currently does not do business.
21 -> Correction - WTI RadioMail Bundle Includes Mobidem 06/02/94 In a recent story on Wireless Telecom Inc., offering a bundle of RadioMail and RAM Mobile Data wireless data services, Newsbytes reported that the Mobidem, a packet data modem needed to access the services, was not included in the $400 offering.
22 -> Modern Media Intros Gus And The CyberBuds CD-ROM 06/02/94 Modern Media Ventures Inc., a small multimedia developer, has announced a new educational title called "Gus and the CyberBuds Sing, Play and Paint-A-Long" on CD-ROM.
23 -> Cray Claims New Software Saves Engineers Time, Money 06/02/94 Cray Research says its new Hexar software product can save as much as six months of time and hundreds of thousands of dollars for engineers and researchers.
24 -> HRB Acquires Global Positioning System Firm 06/02/94 HRB Systems has announced the acquisition of Dallas-based Auto-Trac Inc., a company that provides vehicle location and navigation systems.
25 -> ****Another Super-Virus Discovered 06/02/94 A super-virus that can create havoc on your computer system has been accidentally discovered while a sales representative was demonstrating an anti-virus program for a customer. Called "Junkie," the virus was discovered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while a Reflex Inc. rep was demonstrating the merits of that company's Disknet anti-virus software.
26 -> Amsterdam Telecoms User Panel Meeting Report 06/02/94 The first annual conference of the European Telecommunications User Panel (ETUP) was held May 26-27 in Amsterdam. According to Ovum, the London-based market research company, the conference marked the culmination of a year-long program of research conducted by Ovum on behalf of 17 leading telecommunications companies and communications equipment suppliers.
27 -> UK - AST Unveils New Retail Sales Strategy 06/02/93 AST Europe has announced it is launching its Advantage! desktop, multimedia and mini-tower PCs into the retail channel. The diversification is quite a major one for the company which, to date, has concentrated on the business/dealer side of the channel.
28 -> Symantec & Central Point Complete Merger 06/02/94 The two largest utility software companies in the personal computer (PC) market have officially merged. Symantec announced it has completed the $60 million, stock-swap merger of competitor Beaverton, Oregon- based Central Point Software.
29 -> Internet World '94 - DEC To Provide Internet Mosaic 06/02/94 Taking many Internet World attendees by surprise, Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC) demonstrated a strong commitment in support of Internet connectivity and commercial services.
30 -> Internet World '94 Opens In San Jose 06/02/94 MecklerMedia's Internet World '94 is being held in San Jose, California, this week. The show concentrates on the use of the global Internet.
(Ian Stokell/19940602)
(Ian Stokell/19940602)
6/2/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
UK - Intercom Data Launches Tele
GUILDFORD, SURREY, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) - Intercom Data Systems (IDS) has launched Prophet, a new call center analysis service that it claims has been specifically designed as a self-contained package to take any type or size of organization through the complete process of call analysis.
"Many organizations are changing the way in which they conduct business, and the telephone is taking more of a leading role in the interaction and communication with their customers. To successfully achieve radical change in any company's business processes requires both careful planning and the cooperation of many areas of the business concerned," explained Colin McLaren, ISD's sales director.
According to McLaren, Prophet takes call data in at the front end and allows customized reports on the call data to be printed out. This, he said, "Leapfrogs companies through the time-consuming area of call data analysis."
Exact pricing of the Prophet service depends on user requirements McLaren said, adding that customers must agree on the scope of the Prophet processor and what is most appropriate for the business and prepare initial background research and establish personnel to be involved on both sides. There must be research by IDS on-site through work study, interviews, and discussion with follow-up research and information analysis, primarily handled on an off-site basis.
An interim report is then generated, feedback comes from all concerned, a final report is issued that details the outcome of the call center analysis.
"The beauty of Prophet is that we are able to give our customers a fixed price, fixed time commitment, and agree what the final report will cover from the outset. This means they know exactly what we will be doing on their behalf, how long it will take, and what kind of information they can expect from it," said McLaren.
& Reader Contact: Colin McLaren, IDS - +44 483-755205)
6/3/94
UK - Intercom Data Launches Telecoms Call Mgmt System
TELECOM
H ,
Nokia Equipment To St Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Nokia Telecom has signed a contract with Northwest GSM for the supply of a global system for mobile (GSM) communications digital mobile phone network in the St Petersburg region of Russia.
Northwest GSM, the network operator, is a jointly owned company, with Telecom Finland, Telia International of Sweden, Nortelinvest of Norway, and several Russian telecoms firms, as shareholders.
Construction of the GSM network will begin this summer, with full commercial operation expected towards the end of the current year. Initially, the service will cover the St Petersburg area only using a handful of base stations, although plans are in hand to roll the service out to cover other cities and major roads as far as 200 kilometers away from the city, the limit of Northwest GSM's operating area. The rollout will take four years, Newsbytes was told.
The total area of Northwest GSM's licence covers around 7.5 million people. Despite the relatively small size of the network, Nokia claims that the network will be heavily used, primarily because no mobile phone network exists at present, plus the fact that the local telecoms infrastructure dates back to the 1950s.
The arrival of more than 1,500 joint venture companies into the region over the last decade has placed an intolerable load on the wireline (fixed) phone network with many users experiencing delays of several minutes to receive a dial tone when they lift the wireline phone handset off the hook.
Northwest GSM intends that its mobile phone network will act as a replacement for the wireline network. Although outbound calls from the phones will be charged at a premium rate, inbound calls will not be surcharged as far as the caller is concerned -- the surcharge is imposed on the GSM mobile subscriber.
Despite this limitation, Northwest GSM is confident of selling several tens of thousands of subscriptions in its first year of commercial operation.
(Steve Gold/19940602/Press & Reader Contact: Matti Suvanto, Telecom Finland - +358-400-800-808; Tapani Kaskinen, Nokia - +358-49-418-605)
8; Tapani Kaskinen, Nokia - +358-49-418-605)
6/3/94
Nokia Equipment To St Petersburg's GSM Net
TELECOM
Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacit
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Increased demand for storage space will push computer users to seek five to 15 times more hard disk space, according to market research group Frost & Sullivan. By 1996, the average hard disk on a stand-alone desktop PC will be 1 gigabyte (GB) in size, the market research group said.
The 1993 total US personal computer/workstation storage market totaled $8.2 billion in 1993, with nearly $6.2 billion from hard disk drives, over $700 million by floppy disk drives, $600 million from tape drives, nearly $450 million in optical disk drives and over $100 million each by flash memory and removable disk drives.
The demands for storage media are being prompted by the obvious such as graphics-intensive software programs and 32-bit operating systems, but are also being affected by the increasing size of user files and the expanding number of installed software programs per computer, Frost & Sullivan analyst John Kelly said.
Currently users need 125 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space for the seven to eight applications typically installed per PC, Kelly maintains. Programs are not the 4 to 5 MB in size they were even 5 years ago, said Kelly, who noted basic word processing programs require much more disk space. For example, Microsoft's Word for Windows needs 24 MB while WordPerfect for Windows requires 33 MB.
Increasing capacities in smaller form factors are also expected to continue. For example, the Kittyhawk II hard disk drive introduced by Hewlett-Packard last year offers 42.8 megabytes of storage in a 1.3-inch form factor and is aimed at the mobile computing market.
Hard disk drive storage capacities have increased by nearly 60 percent a year, with falling per-megabyte prices, and that trend is also expected to continue, Frost and Sullivan asserted. In addition, improvements in access times, data-throughput rates and capacity (due to magnetoresistive heads) will keep magnetic hard disk drives in demand as the dominant online storage medium. In fact, by 1996 most file servers will have an average storage capacity of over 20 megabytes.
Despite assertions on the part of some analysts that flash memory would dominate the storage market, flash memory cards, Kelly claims will need dramatic price declines to heavily penetrate the broad portable computer markets.
Optical drives, for which market growth is only surpassed by flash memory cards, have not met predictions for broad market acceptance, but have had success in application-specific markets. Hard disk drive technology is improving at a rate that continually raises the threshold optical drives need to meet to compete, and file access times and capacities have not advanced in the optical arena as fast as expected. However, growth in the market is expected at 30 percent a year as advances in the performance and commercial availability of green and blue laser technology continue.
The number of storage units overall is expected to more than double by the year 2000, with 43.4 million units shipped in 1993 and a predicted 75.3 million units predicted to ship in the year 2000. Revenues however, will not grow as fast, with a 6.3 percent overall revenue growth rate predicted by the end of the 20th Century. While 1993 revenues overall were at $8.31 billion predicted year 2000 revenues will be at $12.78 billion.
l, Frost & Sullivan, tel 415-961-9000, fax 415-961-5042)
6/3/94
Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacity By 1996, Says Survey
TRENDS
CompuServe Releases CD
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- CompuServe released CompuServeCD, a multimedia extension of the CompuServe Information Service, for CD-ROM drive-equipped computers that run Microsoft Windows.
CompuServe is the first major online service to offer the enhancement. Some copies of the disc were offered to the media at the recent Spring COMDEX trade show, but a formal announcement was held-up until delivery of the product.
Debra Young of CompuServe told Newsbytes that the CD will be available by subscription, at $7.95 per issue, and will be updated once every two months until the middle of 1995, when it will become monthly. "You don't need to be a member to see the CD, but you'll want to make the most use of it. About the only thing that the disk lacks is an automatic sign-up to the service. "Maybe next year," said a spokesman.
Each issue also includes the latest version of the CompuServe Information Manager, Windows Edition, known as WinCIM, the graphical interface to the information service, as well as File Finder.
Newsbytes asked about the enhancements the CD gives to CompuServe members. "If you go into the electronic mall area on the CompuServe CD and decide to purchase something, you hot-link directly to the CompuServe service, in that area, where you can provide billing information, an address and credit card." The decision on when to process the order goes through the merchant.
The CD is organized into six departments: Technology and Trends, Entertainment, Home & Leisure, Personal Enterprise Shopping and Member Services. To run CompuServeCD, members need an MPC II standard PC, Windows 3.1, 4 megabytes of memory although 8 are recommended, a 256-color monitor with 640x480 resolution, and at least an 8-bit Sound Blaster or equivalent sound card, although again the 16-bit sound card and external speaker configurations are recommended. CompuServeCD requires approximately 5 megabytes of disk space, plus 2.6 megabytes for WinCIM and .4 megabytes for Viewer for Windows if these programs are not already resident on the system.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940602/Press Contact: Debra Young CompuServe, 614-538-4553)
ompuServe, 614-538-4553)
6/3/94
CompuServe Releases CD
TELECOM
Sega Makes Deals With Coke, Huds
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Sega Enterprises has signed an agreement with CocaCola Japan which calls for a joint advertising campaign for both firms' products. Sega's agreement with Hudson concerns joint development of video game software for Sega's video game machine.
Under the agreement with CocaCola Japan, Sega Enterprises will develop video game software incorporating CocaCola's cartoon advertising characters for its next-generation video game machine, due at the end of this year. Sega has several amusement facilities in Japan where the ad campaign will most certainly be launched.
Meanwhile, Sega has linked with Hokkaido-based game software maker Hudson to develop video game software for Sega's next generation video game machine. Hudson makes software for NEC Home Electronics' video game machine and specializes in CD-ROM.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940602/Press Contact: Sega Enterprises, Tel, +81-3-5736-7037, Fax, +81-3-5736-7167)
1-3-5736-7037, Fax, +81-3-5736-7167)
6/3/94
Sega Makes Deals With Coke, Hudson
BUSINESS
Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL F
UK - Mercury Offers Free Mobile
Sprint Not Talking About Latest
Microsoft Ships DOS 6.22 With Ne
PC Supercomputing Accelerator To
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
Dummies On The Net
Windows Macromedia Director
Difficulties For Korean Computer
CES - Wristwatch Doubles As Phon
Comcast To Buy Maclean Hunter Ca
lly To CD-
Toshiba Multimedia Car Navigatio
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Toshiba has announced that it has developed a small-sized car navigation system. It is equipped with a CD-ROM drive that plays both music CDs and CD-based software.
To be released at 268,000 yen ($2,680) on September 1, Toshiba's latest car navigation system is called the NP-A50. It consists of a controller, display monitor, and CD-ROM-based map software. The controller measures 14.5 x 5 x 19.5 and weighs 1.15kg. This is about a fourth the size of Toshiba's existing model.
Due to the size, this system can be installed in almost all types of cars and is portable. Toshiba has additionally enabled it to be connected with a regular television set.
The car navigation system uses a global positioning system to locate the car's position. The controller receives signals from eight different space satellites owned by the US military but available for public use. Interchangeable map software allows the system to be used in almost any area in the world. Due to Toshiba's "map-matching" feature, the firms says, the system's ability to locate a car's position has a high degree of accuracy.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940601/Press Contact: Toshiba, Tel 81-3-3457-2100, Fax, +81-3-3456-4776)
Tel 81-3-3457-2100, Fax, +81-3-3456-4776)
6/3/94
Toshiba Multimedia Car Navigation System
TRENDS
Mini-Disks Store TV Programs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Japan's Hitachi has developed a powerful Mini-Disk that stores a whopping 100 times more data than regular Mini-Disks. Hitachi reports that the new medium can store motion picture data, including TV programs.
Hitachi's latest Mini-Disk technology was developed by improving the method with which data is written to the disk. Optical fiber material is used instead of a lens. The optical fiber enables data to be written by an extremely narrow laser with a wavelength of 0.07 micron, or about a 10th the size of the laser applied on a regular Mini-Disk. Hitachi has applied what it calls "the tunnel effect" of lights in combination with this optical fiber material. Hitachi claims it is possible to further increase the amount of data stored to about 1,000 times higher by applying even narrower optical fiber material.
Hitachi did not specify how long it will take for the technology to reach the market.
With 100-times more data, the Mini-Disk will be able to store about one hour of motion picture data, the company reports. That makes it capable of storing more than a regular compact disc which stores only two minutes of motion picture signals.
The Mini-Disk technology was originally developed by Sony, and many electronics firms including Matsushita and Sanyo have been selling Mini-Disk-based products.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Kyoto-based Kyocera has developed a multimedia box for video-on-demand service called the Set Top Box. Kyocera claims that this represents the first time a Japanese firm has developed this kind of multimedia box.
Kyocera's Set Top Box is a terminal device for home television. It measures 31 x 23 x 40 cm, which fits on top of a television set. This box has an interactive data transmission feature which allows users to receive motion picture data from a host computer, and also allows them to send commands to the host computer. They can stop or "freeze-frame" pictures on the screen or choose their favorite video programs to be played instantly. It is said it can also be used as a karaoke device.
Kyocera is planning to sell this device to video-on-demand service firms including TV broadcasters and cable TV firms in the US. Kyocera claims to have the technology and capability to produce 50,000 to 60,000 units of this device per month.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Hitachi has developed an unique automatic bank teller machine (ATM) which flattens and sterilizes dollar bills. The firm claims to be getting its first purchase orders for the device from hospitals.
This ATM has a steam roller inside which rolls across a dollar bill at a temperature of 200 degrees centigrade. All the wrinkles, germs, and bacteria are said to be vaporized when a bill goes through this ATM.
The price of this unique ATM is 9.80 million yen ($98,000) which is about seven percent more than a regular ATM.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1994 JUN 3 - In computer news from Denmark OS/2 has strong base in Denmark, Danish technology in future digital superhighway, and first Danish interactive book on CD-ROM.
OS/2 Has Strong Base In Denmark
Microsoft's Windows NT operating system is not faring well in finding customers in the Danish financial sector, especially the banks. Danish banks continue to expand their systems using IBM's OS/2. The latest examples are the Jyske Bank and SDC, a service provider for a number of banks.
OS/2 also has a strong base in the Danish public sector, where it competes head-to-head with Microsoft Windows. According to a new analysis from IDC, OS/2 has a market share of about 20 percent in government offices, with Windows holding about 40 percent.
IDC also estimated the hardware market shares in the Danish public sector. In government offices, IBM, Olivetti, and ICL are the most common PC brands. Multi-user systems are dominated by Bull Digital and the Danish manufacturer DDE. In municipal administration the predominant PCs are the same, while ICL, IBM and Olivetti sell the most multi-user systems.
Danish Technology In Future Digital Superhighway
HyperVision, a small Danish high-tech company in Copenhagen has great ambitions for participating in the creation of a European digital superhighway. It has created an interactive television set-top box.
HyperVision, which counts the famous hi-fi manufacturer Bang & Olufsen among its shareholders, has developed a "black box" designed to be placed between the TV set and the cable network. The box allows the user to select among a variety of interactive offers. Among the possibilities, HyperVision mentions home banking, video on demand, and tele-education.
First Danish Interactive Book On CD-ROM
On May 31st, the first interactive, electronic book was published in Danish. The CD-ROM, available for both Macintosh and Windows, is not just a multimedia show, but can be "read" like a regular book with a beginning and an end.
"Computer Pictures," as the CD-ROM is titled, is produced by three artists and programmers working with the Danish television network TV2. It is published by the publishing house Gyldendal which hopes to acquire experience in tomorrow's form of publishing.
The book is comprised of text and examples of professional computer graphics, both internationally known animations and the authors' own work for Danish television. The graphics are shown as QuickTime movies or Video for Windows clips.
Runs on: Interface requires PC with 640K of RAM and EGA or VGA graphics, 2 free megabytes of hard disk space, MS-DOS 2.1 or higher, plus a Hayes-compatible modem running at 2,400 or 9,600 baud.
Price: Free Analyzer software, $12.75 including shipping and handling, and includes 30 days of free non prime-time access. ProSearch software costs $295. Non prime-time online time costs 41 cents, with prime-time service, 7 AM to 6 PM on weekdays costing 94 cents per minute. Those per-minute charges don't include a 10 cent charge for each graph downloaded. There's also a flat billing-rate program, $45 per month for unlimited analysis, non prime-time. ProSearch searches add $15 per month to the unlimited use monthly fee, or add $2 to each search made during prime time, $1 in non-prime time.
PUMA rating: 3.9 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Dana Blankenhorn
Summary: The best tool yet to help individual investors track the stock market.
=======
REVIEW
=======
Financial analysis software, and online services, can become very intensive and expensive. Traders' systems, which work with real time data, display multiple charts, and allow for direct communications with floor traders, can cost thousands of dollars per month, per workstation.
Individual investors can't afford that, and until now they've been greatly hampered as a result. Most services, like the online service Dow Jones News-Retrieval and Signal, which works on FM sub-carriers, only offer text, and then on a 15-minute delay.
Telescan fills the gap. Like the low-end services, its data is on a 15-minute delay. But unlike those services, it offers charts galore. And not just price action, but all sorts of tools, like stochastics, which sophisticated investors like to use.
In addition to buying the software directly from Telescan, you can also get its software and services indirectly, through brokers like Charles Schwab and Fidelity which offer private label versions of it, and tie their trading desks to it. The company's latest link in this area is an agreement with Schwab to support its InvestorSource program and Schwab Visa card, which allows cardholders to earn credit on charges for investment information products, including Telescan.
Telescan's software runs under MS-DOS, but now DesqView. Simply load it into a subdirectory called TELE30 and invoke it from that prompt by typing the letter t. What you get are an impressive array of tools which can minimize your time online.
Two of these programs were tested by Newsbytes. Analyzer creates online graphs of price action. ProSearch lets you compare valuations based on a number of different measures. Both packages can be used with a keyboard, but work well with a mouse and they have windowing features, although they're not MS-Windows packages. When you move through the ProSearch menu, a separate window explains the meaning of things like P/E ratios, which can be very helpful.
In addition to the graphing software and downloading of reports on stocks, Telescan offers a number of other services, most of which weren't reviewed. Among its text services are a number of different newsletters including one by Ian Woodward, whose "high growth stock" method is made much easier to work with Telescan. Telescan, in fact, recently backed a speaking tour by Woodward and resells his videotapes.
I've always felt that investing is a lot like gambling, except with better odds, and a better reputation. With its data, graphs and helpful touts, Telescan is bidding to become an online version of the "Daily Racing Form" used by horseplayers. If Pete Rose had had Telescan, the action would likely have kept him from wanting to bet on sports.
Some Telescan products were not tested, and cover different securities. Mutual Fund Search costs $100, Profit Tester/Optimizer costs $100, Portfolio Manager costs $395 Options Analyzer costs $895, and Options Search costs $595. All work within the Telescan system.
=============
PUMA RATINGS
=============
PERFORMANCE: 3.9 Setting up the software is simple, and it runs on a low-end machine. Pity it doesn't work with DesqView however.
USEFULNESS: 3.9 If you play the stock market a lot, this is one of the most useful tools you can own.
MANUAL: 3.9. All the manuals were useful. The one search I couldn't find within the manual, an insider trading report on a whole group of companies, couldn't be done through the system.
AVAILABILITY: 3.9 The toll-free number is useful, but that's the main route to getting the service.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940601/Press Contact: Richard Ames Telescan, 713-952-1060)
ress Contact: Richard Ames Telescan, 713-952-1060)
6/3/94
Review of - The Telescan System, online service,
REVIEW
TELECOM
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
Runs on: Color Macintosh computers
From: Sierra On-Line, P.O.Box 485, Coarsegold, CA, 93614 800-376-2683, 206-644-4343
Price: $59.95
PUMA rating: 3.25 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed by: Naor Wallach
Summary: A quasi-adventure game that requires you to solve scores of logic problems to get a job. Very well done graphics and sounds help attract interest.
=======
REVIEW
=======
Castle of Dr. Brain is a collection of mind-bending puzzles masquerading as an adventure game. It is one of the slickest presentations of the logic puzzle genre that I have encountered. The graphics and music are fantastic and the story line is believable enough to draw you in. In short, a good game.
The Castle of Dr. Brain comes on four diskettes. Along with the diskettes you get a 30-page game manual, a ten-page instruction manual, and a selection of assorted brochures.
Sierra also throws a book into each copy of this game. Titled "Fantastic Book of Logic Puzzles," it contains 70 puzzles and mind bending logical exercises for those who like this sort of thing. Given that this skill is necessary for success in the game, I suspect most players would enjoy the additional challenges being posed by the puzzles in the book. The book is completely independent of game play. There are no clues hidden within it nor need for it during game play.
There is an installation utility on the diskettes which takes care of all the tedious details once you've started it. Installation takes only a few minutes. Be prepared to use up about 3 MBof hard disk space for this game. Once installed, the game is ready to be played.
The storyline is that a famous scientist and researcher called Dr. Brain is looking for an assistant to help him save the world. You being unemployed at the moment, are interested in applying for the job. Since Dr. Brain is interested in good candidates only, he has set up a unique interviewing system. To get hired you must find him within his castle. And to do that, you must enter the castle and solve all kinds of challenges until you get to him. The game is designed for players from age 12 to adult. This is a proper characterization of the age range. Any child younger than middle school age would have trouble with several of the sections. Even some of us who are slightly older might need to dig into our memory or encyclopedias!
There are three levels of play. You may switch between them at any time. Once switched, they affect the next puzzle that you come up against. I worked through this game at both the Novice and Expert levels and noticed that the difficulty level of the puzzle does increase.
The puzzles are of different types. There are more than 25 different puzzles. Some of them are solved in one sitting, some require you to assemble some tools from other puzzles, and yet others cannot be solved unless you've solved several other puzzles in the right sequence. Some of the puzzle areas are: Memorization skills arithmetic, magic numbers, timing combinations, following directions mazes, anagrams, tangrams, hangman, ciphers, star charts, and unlocking safes. None of the puzzles are violent or cause you to "die." In this game, the object is to exercise your mind, not your hand-eye coordination.
Each scene along the path is rendered in full color and was obviously created with great care by the art staff at Sierra. The locations have an almost movie-like quality to them. In some cases the scenes and puzzles take on a cartoonish flavor. In either case gazing at the graphics took some of my time the first couple of times through a particular scene. Many of the scenes have background music associated with them. In most cases, the music is relatively unobtrusive. But there is a way to turn it off.
The game supports three different screen sizes so that you can size the window to fit your screen or eyesight. The game does not remember what the last setting was, so every time you start the game up again you will need to reset the screen size. That's assuming that you want a size that is larger than the smallest one. The top part of the window shows the name of the game and the difficulty level you have selected. By placing the cursor on that part of the screen, the game will eventually show you an additional menu of choices for controlling various aspects of the game. This is the place where you decide whether to look at different things or touch things and try to make things happen.
Following the introductory screen, the first scene shows you outside the castle looking at the entrance door. The door is closed, of course. To enter, you must figure out what starts the first puzzle, and then solve it. Pay particular attention to the pink flamingos! Once past the entryway, you are placed in the first level corridor. There are three rooms running off of this corridor. Each one of them is behind a closed door. Each closed door can be opened if you solve the puzzle associated with them. This first level concentrates on mathematical puzzles. (Each level tends to have a concentration of similar subject puzzles.) You need to solve things in the right order to get through the level. The order is easily determined, but make sure that you look at everything! Some of the things that you can do will give you things that might not be needed until very late in the game.
The game is copy-protected by forcing the user to retrieve the documentation to solve some of the puzzles. The method is really buried in the game play and is not as obtrusive as some that I've encountered before.
You might find that you are unsure on how to proceed as you are presented with a particular puzzle. Each puzzle is outlined in a box with three buttons that are common to all puzzles: The question mark the coin slot, and the Exit button. The Exit button lets you leave the puzzle in midstream. The question mark gives you instructions on how to work the puzzle. The coin slot allows you to buy hints or partial solutions. Each time you solve a puzzle, you get additional hint coins. If you spend them all on buying hints there are no more. So, be very careful to use them only when you absolutely must.
0nce you reach Dr. Brain's study, you are almost done. When you do find Dr. Brain, the game is essentially complete. The only thing that remains is the sequence of credits and the tantalizing hint about the next game in this series.
On the negative side, all the graphics and sounds take up a lot of computer horsepower to play and consequently, you will find that you are waiting during transitions. Even on my Centris 610, the delays were typically measured in the tens of seconds. This is unfortunate as the delays detract from an otherwise finely executed game. There are other problems as well. The game menu seems to take forever to appear and when it does, it sometimes does inconsistent things. For instance, I've given up trying to predict if, when I leave the inventory screen, I'll be in look mode, or in touch mode. It seems to be a totally random process. Also, there is a major defect in version 1.0 of the game. If you are playing it any time beyond September 1992 (kind of a given, isn't it?) the game will lock up at a certain point. According to Sierra technical support this is due to a software fault. There is a patch available which Sierra will send you at no charge. However, you must first call Sierra and report the problem. I do not know if there are subsequent versions out on the market and the box is not labeled with the version number. A temporary solution that Sierra suggested was to reset your Macintosh clock to any date prior to 1992. I tried that solution and it worked.
Sierra maintains a technical support phone number (toll call). There is also a hint line (900 type toll call). And you can also talk to their sales department (toll free). In addition, Sierra maintains their own on-line system for both playing games and getting answers to questions, and they are present on all of the major on-line services as well.
To summarize: I was very happy with this game. It took no effort for me to find the time to dedicate to this review. I liked the concept and found that Sierra's adventure game background was of great help in this game. Unfortunately, there are several problems with the game that detract from it.
=============
PUMA RATINGS
=============
PERFORMANCE: 3 There is a major bug as described above. The ending sequence takes a very long time to run and there is no way around it. Some of the transitions between scenes seem to take a very long time.
USEFULNESS: 4 This is a good game, in a good setting, with an interesting storyline, and beautiful presentation.
MANUAL: 3 Once you figure out which manuals do what, you're all set. It seems odd to me that Sierra includes a manual that addresses telephone numbers but in which everything else is not germane to this game.
AVAILABILITY: 3 Available from mail order and software stores. Although technical support is available, it is not a toll-free call. And in this game, it was needed.
(Naor Wallach/19940506)
eded.
(Naor Wallach/19940506)
6/3/94
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
APPLE
REVIEW
$(%T%r%
California Can Save Millions Usi
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- The State of California is implementing videoconferencing and encouraging government offices to use the service instead of spending money on travel. The California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), one of the six government charter entities to begin use of videoconferencing, estimates it will save $1 million annually in travel expenses, travel time, and increased productivity.
Joanne Corday Kozberg, Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency in Sacramento, said, "The expansion of videoconferencing will deliver twin benefits. It will cost millions of dollars from the state's yearly bill for employee travel and it will boost productivity... With the traditional meeting format, those attending must report back to distant colleagues and then schedule further meetings. With videoconferencing, all the principals needed to make a decision are present."
She added, "Videoconferencing also give employees many more productive hours by eliminating time wasted in airports and on the freeway." Travel time in congested California is always an issue.
Three demonstration sites have been established: one in Sacramento at 455 Capitol Mall, one in San Francisco at 185 Berry Street, and a Los Angeles location at 300 South Spring Street in the Ronald Reagan Building. Two of the sites are open now, and the San Francisco site will open in July. The sites are operated by the California Department of General Services (DGS).
Each test site supports communication at 56 kilobytes per second (Kbps) to 1.44 megabytes per second (Mbps) at standard 30 frame per second (fps) rates including support for the video full common intermediate format (CIF). In addition the sites offer the use of a six-line Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interface, a document camera, an electronic writing surface, a 35 millimeter (mm) slide-to-video projection system, a video cassette recorder (VCR) with play and recording capability, and a computer interface.
Pacific Bell and partners Compression Labs, Inc. (CLI) and Tele Images, Inc. were awarded a three-year, state-wide master contract for comprehensive videoconferencing services. The contract called for equipment ranging from desktop to hearing room configurations, and contains provisions for equipment purchase, lease, and rental in addition to training and maintenance services. CLI, known for video compression, worked with American Telephone and Telegraph on the development of the AT&T Videophone, designed for home and business users that sends live, color video images over standard telephone lines.
The state has also formed a committee just to handle videoconferencing -- the State of California Videoconferencing Advisory Committee. Charter members include six government entities, including CALTRANS and DGS. The four other government divisions involved are: The California Department of Insurance (CDI); The California State University at Sacramento (CSUS); and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES).
The Videoconferencing Advisory Committee claims the State can save millions each year using videoconferencing instead of travel and is attempting to entice state agencies to test drive the technology at one of the three DGS test sites. The DSG conducted a live videoconference Thursday, June 2 between Kozberg in Sacramento and Michael Fitzpatrick, Pacific Bell's executive vice-president for state-wide markets in San Ramon to show off the system's capabilities.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940603/Press Contact: Mary Ann Olsen, State of California Department of General Services, tel 916-323-2113, fax 916-322-3850)
General Services, tel 916-323-2113, fax 916-322-3850)
6/3/94
California Can Save Millions Using Videoconferencing
TELECOM
Australia - Computer Associates
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Computer Associates, the world's number two software manufacturer, has re-organized its Australian distribution, appointing a single distributor for all PC products. The distributor is Sourceware, a mid-level organization which claims to offer a higher level of service and support than the two main distributors.
Gary Mitchell is regional manager of Computer Associates Channel Partners, with responsibilities for all PC business as well as Unix and AS400 software area resellers. He explained, "We looked for a distributor for all CA PC products and Sourceware best fitted the bill. Our experience in the PC marketplace has taught us that a one-stop distributor strategy is best for us, hence our move to Sourceware. It is able to provide the support and backup and the professional assistance our resellers need. In the Australian distribution scene it appears to be a Merisel-versus-Tech Pacific battle with the result that the little distributors get squeezed out. But distributors like Sourceware who are able to offer a different focus will continue to succeed."
Mitchell explained that the CA products Sourceware distributes fall into these categories: accounting (ACCPAC Plus) development and productivity. They include Realizer, Clipper Cricket, Simply Money, and SuperProject.
ACCPAC Plus accounting software is a separate group within Sourceware. "We have tightened our ACCPAC Plus reseller program. There are now two levels - authorized dealer and professional reseller. Dealers can sell product but they have to nominate a qualified installer so that the customer is assured of expert assistance."
CA also has a range of Unix Products it distributes directly. "I look after HP, DG, Wang, Fujitsu, Arthur Anderson and Applied Micro Systems," said Mitchell. "These businesses are a combination of hardware and systems integrators. In that area we have a Unix product called CA-Unicentre which provides systems management for Unix. With the trend to downsizing this provides a way to run mission critical applications on Unix machines. Security, problem management storage management, job scheduling, console automation and helpdesk. The majority of interest has come from Unix people saying 'That's great, we'll have that.' It opens a number of opportunities because it runs on many different Unix platforms. The aim is to run the entire enterprise from the one point. Perhaps from the one OS/2 or Windows machine but it operates across the system."
Ever since CA bought Nantucket and took over the Clipper development system, resellers and developers have been waiting for the much-touted Visual Objects for Clipper product. "You won't have to wait much longer," Mitchell announced. "It's scheduled for US availability in late August and Australia soon after. And you can expect competitive pricing to introduce it."
He continued: "We're continuing to do some interesting things in the SOHO [small office, home office] market in June, when we're using Simply Money to do a spot of strategy testing with Uniloc. We've put a fully functional but 'locked' Simply Money on the cover of PC User magazine. That's 50,000 copies. The software is locked with Uniloc which means it's much more than a demo disk. You can actually use the product but you can't save or print anything. If people like it and want to be able to use it they simply pay $40 to have it unlocked and receive the manuals."
He said that if the response rate was over five percent then CA would probably use Uniloc on other products.
Australia - Computer Associates Revamps Distribution
BUSINESS
Dell Australia Gets New Boss
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Dell Australia start-up man Jeff Herrick has gone from the company, leaving a functioning and mildly successful part of the US-based multinational operation.
In his exit statement, Herrick said he had achieved what he set out to do, that the parting was "amicable" and that it was time to "pursue other interests." Saddling up in his place is David Bernstein who speaks in a good-ol'-boy drawl and wants the local subsidiary to take its place in the sun with volume PC vendors like Osborne, IBM, and Compaq. Bernstein will ride herd on the local Dell for three or four months while the company head-hunts for a fresh MD from local stock. He believes the company can ascend from its lowly position on the market share charts to be one of the top five vendors in Australia within three years.
"We're going to ride the Pentium bandwagon," said Bernstein adding that Pentium server sales and Dell's new notebook line will boost the company's fortunes. A wider channel including retail outlets and more VARs (value-added resellers) is being looked at. Dell Australia started selling here in January 1993 using its trademark telesales method.
According to IDC's Australian Personal Computer market review and forecast study, Dell sits at number 23 with a one percent market share and shipments of around 7,500 units for 1993. The company made bellicose marketing noises early last year taking on Compaq in a series of glossy spreads in newspapers and magazines. Mimicking Dell's US efforts, the local subsidiary attacked Compaq on price, ignoring the fact that the real price leaders in the ultra-competetive Australian market are the hundreds of small assemblers.
(Stuart Kennedy and Computer Daily News/19940603)
Computer Daily News/19940603)
6/3/94
Dell Australia Gets New Boss
GENERAL
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
Control Data Gets Russian Automa
UK - School Computer Porn Scare
Survey - Backbone Demand Rising
Compton's Migrates Wholly To CD-
Internet Business Association Fo
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Like any other community, the Internet brings together business partners whose common goals are best met in a spirit of cooperation. Much like a chamber of commerce, the Internet Business Association (IBA) brings together small companies doing business on the Internet.
The IBA will monitor the role of government, provide education through the dissemination of information to other businesses the media, and the public in general, create a World Wide Web server, represent the interests of small to medium-sized Internet businesses, and address the issues of privacy, rights and conduct within the Internet community.
From Internet World '94, the founding members of InterCon Systems, Performance Systems International, Digital Express Group, NETCOM On-Line Communications Services, Portal Information Network and Frontier Technologies, announced the availability of charter memberships and a mid-June charter meeting of this new association.
The IBA plans to disseminate information through press conferences, advertisements, videos, seminars, newsletters and speeches.
Kurt Baumann, CEO of InterCon Systems and founding member of IBA, told Newsbytes, "Large corporations have a lot of influence in Washington, but the only way small and medium-sized companies will have any voice is to join together. There is a lot of concern across the Net about the role of the government and many fear that if we do not have united representation we will never have input into the evolution of a community that has been founded on individualism and freedom of restrictive regulations."
Privacy and freedom of access and contribution are the hallmarks of Internet and conversations and seminars throughout Internet World '94 often featured discussion of people's concerns that government regulatory agencies would recreate their open landscape. IBA representatives claim that they need to show they are able to police their own environment before an outside influence does. Even the policing role of IBA was met with some argument as these fiercely independent participants and contributors dig in their heels at every indication of control.
Mary-Ann Carolan, assistant inside sales manager for Performance Systems international, told Newsbytes, "Policing ourselves is not the main focus of IBA. We are really here to establish a representative group of small companies and an educational outlet about the Net and our community."
(Patrick McKenna/19940603/Press Contact: Ben Merritt, Ben Merritt Media Relations, tel 410-263-1525)
itt Media Relations, tel 410-263-1525)
6/3/94
Internet Business Association Formed
TELECOM
Bill Gates will Give Away Billio
2 REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates says eventually he will give away most of his wealth leaving about $10 million to any children he might have.
Gates, 38, is considered the second wealthiest American, with a net worth of about $6 billion. Gates points out that his fortune is mostly on paper, saying "I don't own dollars. I own Microsoft stock. So it's only through multiplication that you convert what I own into some scary number." Since late April Gates and other Microsoft officers have sold millions of shares of Microsoft stock. That includes 1.12 million shares that brought Gates over $93 million. Microsoft officials decline all requests for information about the sale of stock by its officers. Share prices have fluctuated from a low of 41-1/2 in mid-April to 52-1/2 this week. Gates said when he divests himself of much of his wealth it will go to charities and scientific groups.
In November 1991 Gates personally donated $12 million to the University of Washington School of Medicine to create a Department of Molecular Biotechnology. In August of 1991 he donated $1 million to the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and a year later gave $6 million to Stanford University to help the school complete its new Information Sciences building.
Gates recently married Melinda French, manager of a Microsoft business unit, in a lavish ceremony held at a Hawaiian golf resort. He is building a multimillion dollar home on the shores of Lake Washington not far from the Microsoft headquarters campus. The home will reportedly include electronic entertainment devices and digitized versions of classic art works. The project is reportedly about a year behind its four-year construction schedule.
Gates says he will continue to run Microsoft for another decade then step aside to let a younger person run the day-to-day activities of the giant software company.
Gates says despite Microsoft's success he still worries about the competition. "In this business, by the time you realize you are in trouble, it's too late to save yourself. Unless you're running all the time, you're gone."
Gates says he tries to make his life as normal as possible flying coach class when he travels, and eating at McDonald's more than most people.
(Jim Mallory/19940603)
more than most people.
(Jim Mallory/19940603)
6/3/94
Bill Gates will Give Away Billions - Eventually
GENERAL
Correction - AST Ascentia 900N N
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- In a story of this title which ran June 13 on the Newsbytes wire, the AST AST Ascentia 900N notebook computer was described as having a 500 gigabyte (GB) removable hard drive. In fact, the drive is 500 megabytes in size.
Newsbytes regrets the error.
(Wendy Woods/19940615)
ets the error.
(Wendy Woods/19940615)
6/15/94
Correction - AST Ascentia 900N Notebook
CORRECTION
CA Wins Class Action Suit, Newtr
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Computer Associates International Inc., has emerged the victor in a three-year class action lawsuit that accused its officers of securities fraud after disappointing quarterly financial results in 1990. Meanwhile, a trial has been postponed in another dispute involving CA and Newtrend Group, of Orlando, Fla., over a joint venture that went sour.
A federal court jury unanimously rejected allegations that CA and its officers engaged in federal securities fraud. A group of shareholders had filed the class-action lawsuit after the company's stock price fell on July 12, 1990, just after CA announced preliminary figures for its first quarter of fiscal 1991.
Those results were below analysts' predictions, though the company did make a profit in the quarter, CA spokesman Bob Gordon told Newsbytes.
A statement from CA said the lawsuit was frivolous and legislation in the United States should be reformed to discourage such claims.
Also on the legal front, a trial scheduled for June 2 in the CA-Newtrend dispute was postponed. Due to problems in scheduling witnesses, Newtrend has asked for a postponement to July 11 and CA has asked for July 25, Gordon said. The new trial date has not been set.
CA and Newtrend, a vendor of banking software founded in 1977 entered into a joint venture in 1991, under which Newtrend was to sell CA's Infopoint commercial banking software. "Early on we began disagreeing on decisions concerning the joint venture," Gordon said. CA filed its first lawsuit against Newtrend in August, 1993, and a second suit later.
(Grant Buckler/19940603/Press Contact: Bob Gordon, Computer Associates, tel 516-342-2391, fax 516-342-5329)
puter Associates, tel 516-342-2391, fax 516-342-5329)
6/3/94
CA Wins Class Action Suit, Newtrend Trial Postponed
Saskatchewan Reseller Fined For
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Duncan Computer Corp., which was the largest computer manufacturer and reseller in Saskatchewan until closing two years ago, and its former owner have been convicted of pirating copies of Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system and ordered to pay fines and compensation.
The company must pay a C$40,000 fine and C$32,500 in compensation to Microsoft, while John Duncan, its owner, was ordered to pay a C$5,000 fine and C$10,000 in compensation to the Redmond, Wash. software firm.
Duncan Computer was convicted of installing hundreds of copies of MS-DOS on personal computers sold to customers without having the proper licenses.
The court decision was announced by the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA). Microsoft is a member of both groups.
CAAST, a Toronto-based group of eight major software vendors, has been instrumental in several convictions of computer resellers and users for software piracy in the past few years.
Among them was the first conviction of a Canadian computer user for software piracy: Rexcan Circuits Inc. of Belleville, Ontario was fined C$50,000 after pleading guilty to four counts of software piracy last summer. These were the first criminal charges laid against a computer user in Canada -- as opposed to a dealer -- for software piracy, said James Courtney, general manager of Quarterdeck Office Systems Canada Inc., one of CAAST's member companies.
(Grant Buckler/19940603/Press Contact: Allan Reynolds, CAAST, tel 416-598-8988, fax 416-598-3584; Public Contact: CAAST, tel 800-263-9700)
98-3584; Public Contact: CAAST, tel 800-263-9700)
6/3/94
Saskatchewan Reseller Fined For Pirating MS-DOS
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Ava
PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Celestin Company has released a collection of more than 450 megabytes of Macintosh source code on CD-ROM disc called Apprentice. The company says the collection provides Mac programmers up-to-date code samples at an affordable price.
Celestin says it got permission from over 200 Macintosh developers to include their sample code and utilities on the CD-ROM disc. Included are working examples of applications, games, control panels, extensions, and utilities, most written in C, C++ and Pascal.
There are also shell programs and application frameworks that handle tasks such as menus, standard dialog and, file management. Dozens of libraries contain routines designed for a specific task, from graphics and sounds to menu management and serial communications. In addition to complete source code there are hundreds of small routines that perform tasks like displaying a color icon or resolving a file name alias.
Apprentice contains several complete programming environments. Ada C, Forth, Lisp, Modula-2, Oberon and Prolog come with documentation, programming examples, and some source code for those languages. You also get a collection of information from a Mac programmer discussion group, and demonstration versions of commercial programmer utilities.
The disk's contents are indexed so users can easily find what they are looking for.
Celestin President Paul Celestin told Newsbytes the company plans to release updates to Apprentice, probably about every six months. The current version of Apprentice contains standard Mac code, but Celestin says future versions will include code for the Power Macintosh. Celestin also markets a high-speed Macintosh modem cable that supports hardware handshaking and carrier detect, and a resource for the Mac communications program Microphone that shows users how to script and solve specific programs using that software.
Apprentice sells for $35, including shipping in the US and Canada. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
(Jim Mallory/19940603/Press contact: Christine Convy, Celestin Company, 206-385-3767; Reader contact: Celestin Company 206-385-3767 or fax 206-385-3586 in the US, and Analysis Limited 011-44-203-419-996 in the United Kingdom)
Limited 011-44-203-419-996 in the United Kingdom)
6/3/94
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Available On CD-ROM
APPLE
More Patent Problems For Clipper
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology computer scientist Silvio Micali already holder of a patent that could apply to the Clinton administration's proposed Clipper encryption technology, says he has been awarded a second patent that the government must license if it wants to implement Clipper.
"I just heard from my patent lawyer that a second patent has been issued," Micali told Newsbytes. He added that he has "various" information security patent applications pending that could apply to Clipper.
Micali confirmed that he has been negotiating with Michael Rubin, an attorney at the government's National Institute of Standards and Technology, over royalties for his technology. "The negotiations are coming along more slowly that I like but they are continuing," he said.
"There is no question the government will need a license," Micali told Newsbytes. "I think they know that and the conflict will be resolved amicably. I believe we can have some trust in the government."
Micali says he invented the notion of breaking the key to an encrypted message into two parts and entrusting those parts with a trustee or agent. Only when the pieces of the key are united can the scrambled message be decoded.
Under the Clipper approach, the government would determine who the escrow agents are that hold the parts of the key. Then under court order, the government could unite the key and decode the message.
Micali says he prefers a bottoms-up approach rather than the top-down government solution. "The user should pick the secret key and pick the trustees," he said. "That's much more suitable for a democratic society."
If the government is forced to license parts of the Clipper technology, it could drive up the cost of the technology and harm its position in the marketplace. The administration has said that its encryption technology, which includes a chip in communications devices using it, is voluntary. But it hopes it will become a standard.
In a related development, the International Chamber of Commerce has called for a global encryption policy "that will ensure that encryption remains an effective tool enabling business to secure international electronic communication."
In a policy statement, the international business group says encryption policy should follow three principals: standardization, flexibility, and free trade.
"Users should be free to use and implement the already existing framework of generally accepted encryption methods and choose keys and key management without restriction, and cryptographic algorithms and schemes for key managements must be open to public scrutiny," says the policy statement.
"Encryption methods should be implementable in both hardware and software. Vendors and users should be free to make technical and economic choices about modes of implementation and operation, and owners, providers, and users of encryption methods should agree on the responsibility, accountability and liability for such methods," the policy continues.
Finally, "encryption methods, except those developed for military or diplomatic uses, should not be subject to export or import controls, usage restrictions, restrictive licensing arrangements or other restrictions."
The US Council for International Business, the New York-based US affiliate of the ICC, says it "fully endorses the ICC position."
(Kennedy Maize/19940603/Contacts: Silvio Micali, tel 617-253-1000; Nanette Di Tosto, US Council, tel 212-354-4855)
sto, US Council, tel 212-354-4855)
6/4/94
More Patent Problems For Clipper
Experts Debate Canada's Informat
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- At the annual conference of the Canadian Science Writers' Association here this week, pundits and representatives of various industry players agreed that Canada has a good base for "information highway" communications services, but differed on what needs to be done to build on that position.
Andrew Bjerring, president of the Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry, and Education (CANARIE), cited a recent Canadian study that placed this country third in overall existing information infrastructure among seven countries studied, after Singapore and France. He added that Canada placed first in the penetration and quality of its telephone and cable television networks.
Bjerring said Canada was found to be second only to Singapore in the competitiveness of its "pre-broadband" network. But he added that the same study forecast that, based on present levels of spending on communications networks and on the current regulatory climates, Canada will drop to fifth by 1997.
Bjerring said Canada needs some changes in telecommunications regulation to prevent this. For instance, he said, telephone companies should be allowed to depreciate their infrastructure faster than they now are, to encourage more new investment.
But others said the talk of Canada being left behind in new communications services in alarmist.
Ken Englehart, vice-president of regulatory law at Rogers Communications Inc., which owns sizeable cable-television interests and a stake in long-distance telephone carrier Unitel Communications of Toronto, said it is misleading to point to lower levels of spending on new communications technology in Canada, because the existing infrastructure is more modern than in most other countries.
"Part of the reason that we're not spending as much money as other countries is because we spent it before they did," he said.
And he warned against comparing the reality in Canada today to the ambitious future plans announced in other countries. "A lot of these plans are just hype," he said, "and it's important to look at them in the context of what those countries are actually doing."
As an example, Englehart cited a widespread belief that Japan is installing optical fiber to every home. An ambitious plan announced a few years ago has since been scaled back and little has actually been done, he said. In fact, Englehart claimed Japan is actually well behind Canada in fiber deployment.
And Terry Rochefort, director-general of economic, social and technology analysis for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) -- the federal regulatory body that oversees broadcasting and voice and data communications said Canada is not missing the boat. In fact, he said, "the boat hasn't been completely designed yet."
Greg van Koughnett, vice-president of legal and corporate affairs for Stentor Telecom Policy Inc., agreed with Bjerring that regulatory changes are needed. He called for a move away from setting prices by regulating carriers' rates of return, and sought open access to the cable carriers' networks.
Van Koughnett said that if telephone companies had access to cable companies' networks all the pieces needed to feed broadband information to homes would be brought together. "We've got the switches, they've got the distribution network."
But Englehart retorted that "what he didn't tell you was that he got narrowband switches. They can't switch broadband." Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switches are needed, Englehart said. Neither telephone companies nor cable carriers have those today, and either could buy them.
As this verbal sparring suggests, Canada's telephone companies and its cable carriers are battling for dominance of new services. But neither will necessarily emerge the victor. Bjerring said he believes there will be "at least two driveways" from Canadian homes to the information highway, with telcos and cable carriers competing to provide access.
However, said Gordon Gow, assistant deputy minister with the Province of Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade "it's important to remember that the four, eight, or even 12-lane superhighways that we take for granted today are less than 40 years old, nor did they appear overnight."
The technological issues of building information "highways" will take care of themselves for the most part, Gow said. The social issues may be trickier. He cited questions of privacy, changes in the nature of jobs, and the protection of Canadian culture.
Bjerring agreed. "The real challenge that we face will be social not technological," he said.
(Grant Buckler/19940603)
gical," he said.
(Grant Buckler/19940603)
6/3/94
Experts Debate Canada's Information Highway
TRENDS
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
New Group Focuses On Cybertrespa
UK - Vodafone GSM Net Gets Voice
Bookworm Multimedia Dev't Tool L
COMDEX - MindPath Offers New Pre
UK - Optech Handles BT Directory
Medio Intros New PC Multimedia T
Court Says Micrografx Shareholde
Canadian News Service Based On L
Electronic Commerce On The Inter
Ungermann-Bass Changes Name
Knowledgeware Acquires Database
Sprint/France Telecom/Deutsche T
Digital Funhouse Caricature Arti
UK - BT Announces Major Price Re
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- After weeks of conjecture on how it was going to reduce its overall level of charges in line with government requirements, British Telecom (BT) has unveiled a basket of price reductions that it claims will "hand back" around UKP 550 million of profits during the current year to its subscribers.
The basket of price reductions sees a shuffle of the customer discount schemes for both residential and business subscribers, allowing what BT calls its smallest business and medium usage residential subscribers, to enjoy discounts starting from 15 percent on all their calls. The new discounts, which kick in on 1 July, replace and augment existing schemes, which offer discounts of 10 percent-plus for major users of the phone.
Users will also get the opportunity to earn "air miles," bonus vouchers entitling holders to free air travel, although only one air mile is being issued for every UKP 10 spent on telecoms services Newsbytes was told by a member of BT's press office.
Many international calls to selected European destinations, as well as long haul destinations such as Japan, are being reduced by up to 20 percent. BT claims that the reductions will stimulate trade with these foreign countries, citing the fact that 95 percent of calls to Japan for example, are for business.
Industry experts see the reductions as a method of BT selectively "putting the squeeze" on its main competitor, Mercury Communications which has announced it plans to meet BT's price reductions and still offer better value for money.
This should not be too difficult, Newsbytes notes, as many international circuits are rented by BT out to Mercury. Any reduction in customer tariffs will be followed by reductions to its major customers -- in this case, Mercury Communications.
Announcing the changes, Mike Hepher, BT's group managing director said: "More choice and better value for money has been our constant theme this year. These price cuts underline that commitment -- more good news for business and residential customers."
The shuffles also see the scrapping of existing cheap rate periods of 8pm to 8am weekdays and weekends and a new cheap rate for all international calls, from 6pm to 8am on weekdays and all weekend. Cheap rate calls to Ireland will also be slashed by a hefty 28 percent, while daytime calls are cut by 25 percent.
(Steve Gold/Press (only please) contact - BT Corporate News Room 44-71-356-5369; Reader Contact - 150 for residential subscribers and 154 for business subscribers; non-BT network subscribers - 0800-100 150 or 0800-100-154 as appropriate)
00-100 150 or 0800-100-154 as appropriate)
6/3/94
UK - BT Announces Major Price Reductions
TELECOM
Electronic Firms Press EC For Op
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- It's ironic fact that, ten years ago, the European Commission was pressing EC member state telecoms companies to open up (liberalize) their markets. Since then, the EC has achieved a lot of what it set out to do, but now it's the telecoms companies' turn to press the EC to force the pace at which things are moving.
At a meeting of the EC last week in Brussels, the EC telecoms and electronics companies petitioned the EC to impose heavy legislation on to the EC telecoms marketplace, forcing the more laggardly of countries to open their markets to all comers from within the EC.
The companies have formed a pressure group, known as the Bangemann Group, to express their disappointment that draft proposals by the EC do not go far enough. Members of the 19-strong Bangemann Group include IBM, ICL, Philips and Siemens.
According to Martin Bangemann, the EC's industry commissioner, who chairs the group, liberalizing Europe's telecoms markets is critical to fostering the information superhighway in the EC. He has criticized the report of the EC meeting, published this week, which concludes that the EC should not get involved in the continuing liberalization of the Euro-telecoms market, when the current directive expires in four years time.
The Bangemann Group, Newsbytes understands, is currently compiling its own report and expects to offer this to the EC within the next few weeks.
(Steve Gold/19940603)
within the next few weeks.
(Steve Gold/19940603)
6/3/94
Electronic Firms Press EC For Open Telecoms Market
TELECOM
Editorial - Clipper And The Mark
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- By Dana Blankenhorn. A paper by Dr. Matthew Blaze of AT&T Bell Labs has renewed the political firestorm over the "Clipper" chip.
Clipper represents an attempt by the government to maintain its current ability to eavesdrop on potential lawbreakers as networks become digital. Using the technology, all phones, fax machines and computers would get special chips which would automatically encrypt transmissions, but would include a decryption key which law enforcement agencies, using a subpoena, could use to learn what's going on.
The battle is often seen as one between privacy and security, or between the ethical anarchy of the Internet and the legal fearfulness of the government. But in the end it may be more than that.
Throughout history, government and markets have been in conflict. What government makes illegal, the market supplies nonetheless. Law enforcement raises the price, but it doesn't stop commerce in illegal goods and services. In the foreign policy arena, this fact has served US ends well. Communism fell as much because its government could not control the economy as because of Star Wars or other military technology. The Clinton Administration will now rely on markets in its struggles with China. As "Business Week" recently made clear in a cover story, China's policy of systematic abuse of human rights is now being opposed by a market-driven network emphasizing the rule of law. Moves to destroy this network risk wrecking the economy.
But markets are amoral. The same forces which bring Thomas Jefferson to Shanghai also supply the desires of pedophiles and cocaine kingpins in this country. Some fast-growing Asian nations, like Singapore and Malaysia, are now trying to prove that fast growth and civil order are not incompatible, if government is prepared to be ruthless. That is the lesson of Michael Fay's torture.
While most Americans could go along with Singapore's rules most of the time, the important question is the price Singapore will pay in the market for its stance. This question is very important for American conservatives. If the market and human rights can be decoupled, as fascists for a century have sought to do, then human freedom can indeed be quashed in our lifetime. As many libertarians note, a government with the power to absolutely halt bad actions also has the power to halt actions it deems bad like dissent and religion.
Which brings us back to the Clipper chip and Dr. Blaze. A draft of his paper, titled "Protocol Failure in the Escrowed Encryption Standard," was sent to reporters on background, and a copy was received by Newsbytes. (See "Blaze Stoked On Clipper Criticisms 06/03/94" published by Newsbytes.) Without violating our confidentiality agreement with Bell Labs, we can report that according to Blaze, the flaws in the Clipper chip can be corrected. And they're limited. Blaze has not found a way to unscramble files which have been scrambled with the chip. And his paper discusses techniques which could make the system more secure.
But in a market, no one is alone. No government can mandate use of its encryption technology by citizens of other governments. As with all attempts at law enforcement, widespread use of the Clipper technology will only stop those without the resources or know-how to get around it. The worst criminals -- foreign intelligence agencies, drug cartels, or hard-core pedophiles will find ways around it, either by using other techniques like Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, which was recently posted on the Internet, by creating alternate encryption schemes, or by finding real holes in the Clipper algorithms. As with all efforts by law enforcement, Clipper is a tax which upper class criminals can pay, but the middle class cannot pay, except by allying, from time to time, with upper class criminals.
The battle over Clipper, in the end, will not be fought in the courts or the Congress. It will be fought in the labs and the markets.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940603)
ets.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940603)
6/3/94
Editorial - Clipper And The Market
EDITORIAL
Sprint Not Talking About Latest
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Sprint will not comment on reports it's discussing possible minority investments by major international PTTs as an alternative to merging with General Motors' EDS unit.
"Our longstanding corporate policy is we don't comment on rumors or speculation," spokesman Steve Dykes. "We confirmed the EDS discussions only because of widespread media reports."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Sprint has held discussions with Japan's NTT, Germany's Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom about minority investments. The result could be to make the company's ownership structure similar to that of Infonet, a worldwide packet network once owned by Computer Sciences.
Sprint and EDS confirmed a few weeks ago they were discussing a variety of possible combinations, including a merger, but since then nothing has been finalized. EDS is reportedly anxious to get out from under the corporate umbrella of General Motors, while Sprint is being pressed hard by AT&T and the combination of British Telecom and MCI on the one hand, and smaller rivals like LDDS and IDB Communications on the other. The assumption on all analysts' parts is that more capital is needed to compete.
But Sprint is more than a long distance company, something it repeated at-length after its acquisition of Centel a few years ago. It also has interests in cellular phone networks and local exchanges, as well as other units. Merger discussions based on its long distance holdings must make employees at those units nervous, but Sprint executives indicate they have no choice but to keep silent until they make final decisions.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940603/Press Contact: Sprint, Steve Dykes 828-7422)
s Contact: Sprint, Steve Dykes 828-7422)
6/3/94
Sprint Not Talking About Latest Rumors
TELECOM
Blaze Stoked On Clipper Criticis
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- A draft paper by a Bell Labs scientist has re-ignited debate over the government's attempts to allow wiretaps on the Information Highway.
The paper, due for presentation at a conference this fall discusses possible flaws in implementing the Escrowed Encryption Standard, or ESS, using PC Cards under PCMCIA standards. The cards Blaze worked with contain "Clipper" chips the Clinton Administration hopes will maintain security for legal correspondence but allow government wiretaps of illegal activity. Blaze found some techniques which could be used to frustrate the system, and discussed his findings with John Markoff of The New York Times.
The effect was electric, and AT&T officials quickly moved to stem the political damage. David Maher, chief scientist at AT&T for secure communication systems, emphasized that the flaws found by Blaze don't involve transmission of common voice, fax, or slow speed data calls. AT&T's official policy is to support Clipper the company is currently the only supplier of the necessary chips. Bell Labs, however, does operate with a degree of independence, and scientists there may not be as enthusiastic about Clipper as executives at the parent company.
The government also worked to contain the damage. A spokesman for the National Security Agency noted it would take a half-hour to run the necessary programs to thwart the ESS standard using techniques discussed by Blaze, making them impractical. In addition, a Bell Labs spokesman noted to Newsbytes, Blaze's own paper discusses possible approaches to closing the holes he identifies, improvements in the Law Enforcement Access Field, or LEAF, that would render it less vulnerable.
Still, opponents of Clipper, like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, were quick to charge the technology is being rendered impractical. The idea is that government officials still could not use the Clipper to decode voice or data conversations without a subpoena, but critics charge such subpoenas are granted routinely, and in testimony before a Senate Judiciary sub committee headed by Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, the government confirmed it wants to make keyholders immune from liability over the use of decryption keys.
The debate over Clipper has become increasingly heated in recent months, with law enforcement concerns over criminality facing off against engineering and civil liberatarians' concerns over privacy. While analog phone conversations are routinely tapped by police agencies, digital conversations can be scrambled to avoid detection, and as the world moves toward digital communication systems it must decide whether to mandate decryption or risk the abuse of such systems.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940603/Press Contact: Donna Cunningham, AT&T Bell Labs, 802-482-3748)
ngham, AT&T Bell Labs, 802-482-3748)
6/3/94
Blaze Stoked On Clipper Criticisms
Massively Parallel Processing Co
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- When you think of massively parallel processing (MPP) you probably think of supercomputers or high-performance workstations. But the technology will soon be available for your personal computer.
Adaptive Solutions Inc. (ASI), says it will ship a MPP coprocessor board for the PC in July. The company says the board, designated the CNAPS/PC, can speed up performance of a Pentium-based system by as much as 1,000 times. ASI spokesperson Craig Tenney told Newsbytes it also works with 386 and 486-based systems. The board complements the PC's microprocessor by accelerating high-volume pattern recognition applications such as real-time optical character recognition (OCR), forms processing, image processing signal processing and neural networks.
"This allows the PC to perform those tasks which humans traditionally perform but which have been difficult for even the most powerful computers, such as reading handwritten text recognizing an individual's face, or quickly understanding patterns within complex data such as a manufacturing process," according to Adaptive Solutions President John Heightley.
Using CNAPS/PC as a coprocessor to perform extremely high-speed parallel computations (multiple computations performed simultaneously) leaves the main CPU free to control the system and interface tasks. ASI says that offloads the main CPU of demanding pattern recognition tasks, similar to the function performed by math and graphics co-processors.
Tenney said at present CNAPS/PC is an OEM (original equipment manufacturer)-only product, since it also requires some application software. However the company is working on plans yet unannounced, to release the board as an after-market item.
Development of CNAPS/PC was funded in part by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), a Department of Defence agency under a grant aimed at bringing low-cost MPP to the government and civilian workplace.
CNAPS/PC is priced at $2,995 to $6,695 in OEM quantities and is scheduled to ship in July.
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Fore Systems Inc., Precision Software Midnight Networks Inc., Telebit Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. Spry Inc., Artisoft Inc., and Optical Data Systems Inc.
Fore Systems Inc., (412-772-8681), announced the first customer shipments of 155 Mbps OC-3c/STM-1 adapter cards. The company says that all adapters are in "full compliance" with the ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) Forum specifications and are immediately available. The new cards provide support for Sbus, HP EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) bus EISA bus, and VMEbus. The SONET (synchronous optical network)/ SDH ATM adapter cards utilize the Advanced Cell Processing Architecture developed by Fore Systems, which is based on an embedded Intel i960 RISC processor. Quantity one list price for the OC-3c cards ranges from $1,895 for Sbus to $2,995 for VMEbus. All adapters are available with either SC or ST interfaces for multimode fiber.
Precision Software, (617-890-7730), announced Loan Server 2000, a client/server software product that reportedly gives commercial lending operations capabilities previously available only through expensive mainframe computers. Loan Server 2000 is claimed to be a comprehensive, multicurrency commercial loan-processing system, built specifically to handle all domestic and international loan needs, including syndications and asset sales. Loan Server 2000 uses open client/server software technology, a relational database and Microsoft Windows as a user interface. Loan Server 2000 reportedly enables lending operations to reduce their processing costs when compared with mainframe-based solutions. Bank personnel can access information as well as enter data through PCs. Loan Server 2000 will enter beta testing at several major financial institutions during fall, 1994, with production shipments to begin in the first half of 1995.
Midnight Networks Inc., (617-890-1001), announced the addition of a Point-to-Point Protocol test suite to their automated testing system. ANVL (Automated Network Validation Library) reportedly allows networking vendors to test their PPP implementations "quickly, inexpensively, and more thoroughly than with standard testing methods." ANVL PPP includes tests for ensuring a device can establish a PPP connection, authenticate a user via PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) or CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol), and set up an IP (Internet Protocol) connection over the PPP link. Negative tests that check how a device reacts to incorrect packets are included in addition to tests that verify behavior under correct conditions. The test suite contains over 150 tests in all. ANVL PPP is available now for direct purchase through Midnight Networks with pricing starting at $15,000, based on the type of license and number of test suites purchased.
Remote LAN access company, Telebit Corp., (408-745-3340) received the Internet Industry Award from Mecklermedia Corp. for its NetBlazer PN1, a dial-up router with an integrated modem designed to provide easy access to the Internet. The award was presented during the Spring Internet World '94 trade show held in San Jose, California. The NetBlazer PN1 reportedly provides "cost-effective" remote access for small office environments.
Cisco Systems Inc., (408-526-5486), and Spry Inc. (206-442-8231), have announced an agreement to enhance the Cisco Configuration Builder, a software application that is designed to simplify the task of configuring Cisco multiprotocol routers on a network, to run on the Windows NT operating system, as well as on its original platform Windows for DOS. Spry, a developer of transport-independent TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) applications for Windows and Cisco, will co-develop the Windows for DOS and Windows NT versions of Configuration Builder, which are expected to be completed in third-quarter 1994. Cisco Configuration Builder, reportedly simplifies the initial configuration of Cisco routers and synchronizes the configurations of multiple routers across a network. It includes tools for viewing, checking and changing interrelated configuration parameters, enabling users to configure whole networks, not merely individual devices according to the company.
Artisoft Inc., (602-670-7100), announced the CorStream server a dedicated server for its LANtastic network operating system. According to the company, the server is a "high-performance," 32-bit LANtastic network NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) combined with a runtime version of the Novell NetWare 4 32-bit operating system. The CorStream server is expected to begin shipping during June, 1994. The product is claimed to provide "substantially increased performance" to LANtastic 5.0 and 6.0 networks "without adding complexity or changing the way workstation users work." The CorStream server appears as a LANtastic server to LANtastic 5.0 and 6.0 network clients. It also provides the same look-and-feel of LANtastic while providing additional features and increased performance capabilities, including fault tolerance, file system/media management, mission-critical reliability, and applications compatibility. The CorStream dedicated server will be offered as a stand-alone server for use within existing LANtastic networks, or as a network kit including the server and the LANtastic v6.0 client software, both being offered in 5-, 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-user kits. Pricing starts at $949 for the 5-user stand-alone version, and $1,149 for the 5-user network bundle.
Optical Data Systems Inc., (214-234-6400), an intelligent hub developer, has announced an ATM switch that supports up to 16 ATM interfaces. The 1093-ATM-16 incorporates Newbridge Networks Corp.'s ATM matrix switched interfaces and switches with an ODS designed backplane. The company's design forms a compact switch enclosure which takes up only 37 inches of rack space. The company says that the ODS/Newbridge ATM components are based on a "true matrix switched" architecture rather than a bus-type architecture, and claims that "as a result does not have the inherent capacity and contention problems found in bus-based ATM systems."
(Ian Stokell/19940603)
an Stokell/19940603)
6/3/94
Networking Roundup
GENERAL
Personnel Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Sierra On-Line Inc.'s ImagiNation Network, Sigma Designs Inc., Individual Inc., Western Publishing Group Inc., SyQuest Technology, Acclaim Entertainment Inc., Edmark Corp., and National Semiconductor Corp.
The main personnel news of the week involved the resignation of Sierra On-Line Inc.'s (206-649-9800) The ImagiNation Network's Morris Goldstein. He resigned as president and chief operating officer of The ImagiNation Network to return to Ziff Communications Inc., his previous employer, after Ziff "made me an offer I could not refuse."
Meanwhile, Sigma Designs Inc., (510-770-2673), a manufacturer of multimedia computer products, added Bill Almon to its board of directors. Almon, 61, is currently chairman and CEO of StorMedia in Santa Clara, California. Almon served as president and chief operating officer of disk drive company Conner Peripherals Inc., from 1989 to 1992. During his time at Conner, the company grew from revenues of $256 million in 1989 to $2.2 billion in 1992.
Individual Inc., (617-354-2230), announced that Bruce Glabe joined the company as vice president and chief financial officer. Glabe was previously senior vice president for finance and administration at Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) in Cambridge. He also held the position of president and general manager for BBN's Communications division. He is a graduate of MIT and the Harvard Business School. Individual provides electronic information services
Western Publishing Group Inc., (212-688-4500), a company involved in the publishing of interactive electronic books computer and multimedia edutainment products, announced the resignation of Frank P. DiPrima as president and chief operating officer. In addition, DiPrima will not stand for re-election to the board of directors of Western Publishing Group. He will assume the position of vice chairman and president of the consumer division of a developmental pharmaceutical company.
SyQuest Technology, (510-226-4000 ), announced the appointment of Tom Kobayashi as president and representative director of SyQuest KK in Japan. He will be responsible for all marketing and sales activities in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan for SyQuest's entire product line of removable hard cartridge drives. He will report to David Everett, SyQuest's executive vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to SyQuest, Kobayashi was the representative director Seagate KK in Japan for two years. At Seagate he was responsible for customer engineering, sales and marketing efforts in Japan. Before that, Kobayashi was president and representative director of Harris KK in Japan for nearly 15 years.
Former president of Sega's North American coin-op company Thomas Petit, has been chosen to head Acclaim Entertainment Inc.'s (516-624-8888) newly formed Coin-Operated Amusements Division, and in the position of President, spearhead the company's 1995 coin-op market entry. In the new position Petit will report directly to Robert Holmes, president of parent company, Acclaim. One of the founding executives of Sega Enterprises Inc., U.S.A., Petit was responsible for the development, sales, marketing and distribution of Sega's amusement products, including arcade uprights and virtual reality simulators throughout North America. Prior to joining Sega, Petit was vice president of sales and marketing for DataEast's coin-op division, and held various sales and marketing positions with Nintendo of America and Atari Corporation prior to DataEast.
Educational Software company, Edmark Corp., (206-556-8810) announced the appointment of Mark McNeely to the newly created position of vice president of marketing and sales. The position will have overall responsibility for all marketing and sales activities in both the consumer and education channels. McNeely previously served for five years as chairman of Cole & Weber. He has an MBA from Harvard University.
National Semiconductor Corp., (408-721-2646), announced expanded responsibilities for three executives, including the appointment of a chief operating officer. Kirk P. Pond is appointed to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. He is responsible for overseeing the company's daily worldwide operations. Rich Beyer, president of the Communications and Computing Group, assumes the additional responsibility of leading the corporation's Strategic Market Segment program.
(Ian Stokell/19940603)
n Stokell/19940603)
6/3/94
Personnel Roundup
GENERAL
Company Results Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Borland International Inc., The Software Developer's Company Inc., CompuTrac Inc., and GameTek Inc.
While software giant Borland continues to post losses, this time for the fiscal year, The Software Developer's Company reported a small income for its most recent quarter. Law firm software provider CompuTrac also posted a small operating income, while game company GameTek posted a 25 percent increase in revenue for its third quarter.
Borland International Inc., (408-431-1621) reported revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994 of $393.5 million a 15.2 percent decrease compared with $464 million for the prior fiscal year. The net loss for fiscal year ended March 31, 1994 was $69.9 million compared with a net loss of $49.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1993. The company lost $2.62 per share for the year compared with a loss of $1.87 per share for the prior year. On March 31, 1994, the company announced a restructuring of its organization including significant changes to its sales and marketing programs. The results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 1994 include a pre-tax restructuring charge of $14 million principally for work force reduction and the closing of facilities related to these changes. Additionally, the results include a charge of $8.2 million related to the write down of real estate held for sale. Fourth quarter revenues were $51.0 million, a 56.4 percent decrease compared with $117.1 million for the same period of fiscal 1993. Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 1994 was $76.0 million compared with a net income of $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The Software Developer's Company Inc., (617-740-0300), reported net income for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 1994, of $44,000 as compared to a loss of $(610,000) for the same period in fiscal 1993. Net income per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994 was $0.01 as compared to a net loss per share (after assumed dividends of $0.08 per share) of $(0.32) for fiscal 1993. Net revenues for the quarter were $8,336,000 as compared to $8,433,000 in fiscal 1993. For the fiscal year 1994 net income was $214,000 as compared to a loss of $(971,000) in fiscal 1993. Net income per share for the 12 month period was $0.03 as compared to a net loss per share (after assumed dividends of $0.38 per share) of $(0.81) for fiscal 1993. Net revenues for fiscal 1994 were $31,098,000 as compared to $34,463,000 in fiscal 1993. The company markets, distributes and supports PC-based specialty software and hardware through The Programmer's Shop and Personal Computing Tools.
CompuTrac Inc., (214-234-4241), a Hewlett-Packard provider of law firm management software, announced results for its first fiscal quarter ending April 30, 1994. The company reported consolidated revenue of $2.1 million and operating income of $100,000. In the same period last year, the company reported an operating loss of $600,000 on nearly identical revenue of $2.1 million.
GameTek Inc., (305-935-3995), reported revenues of $13,633,000 for the third quarter ended April 30, 1994, a 25 percent increase from $10,910,000 in revenues reported for the third quarter of 1993. Income before taxes for the quarter totaled $1,602,000, up 27 percent from $1,260,000 in the comparable 1993 period. Net income for the third quarter totaled $1,031,000, or 14 cents per share, compared to last year's $1,068,000, or 18 cents per share, on 1.7 million fewer shares. For the nine months ended April 30, 1994, the company reported revenues of $36,750,000, up 45 percent from revenues of $25,303,000 in the comparable 1993 period. Income before taxes for the fiscal 1994 nine-month period totaled $3,727,000 up 45 percent from $2,577,000 last year. Net income for the 1994 period totaled $2,426,000, or 38 cents per share compared to net income of $2,184,000, or 38 cents per share in 1993. GameTek develops, publishes, markets and distributes interactive entertainment, educational and productivity software for use on personal computers and Nintendo and Sega platforms.
(Ian Stokell/19940603)
(Ian Stokell/19940603)
6/3/94
Company Results Roundup
BUSINESS
Borland 4Q Losses Large
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- Borland reported $76 million in losses for its final fiscal quarter of 1994 and went back to charge another $3.3 million against its third quarter 1994 results, putting that quarter in the red as well. The company has already said it expects the next quarter closing June 30, 1994, to be a losing proposition as well.
Fourth quarter revenues were $51.0 million, a 56.4 percent decrease compared with $117.1 million for the same period of fiscal 1993. Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 1994 was $76.0 million compared with a net income of $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of the previous year. The company lost $2.84 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994, compared with an income of 19 cents per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1993.
For the fiscal year (FY) ended March 31, 1994, Borland lost $69.9 million compared to a loss of $49.2 million in the FY 1993. Revenues were $393.5 million, a 15.2 percent decrease compared with last year's $464 million. The company lost $2.62 per share for the year compared with a loss of $1.87 per share for the prior year.
As for the third quarter of 1994, ending December 31, 1993, the company said marketing commitments were not fully accrued and an accounting adjustment was necessary. The adjustment was $3.3 million charge for the December quarter, taking the formerly reported net income of $419,000 down to a net loss for the quarter of $2.9 million.
Borland is blaming lower Quattro Pro and Paradox for Windows sales and a stalled introduction of dBASE for Windows for the red ink. Borland delayed its fourth quarter earnings report and during the delay began a $14 million restructuring campaign which included cutting back its workforce by 200, or about 14 percent.
In addition, Borland's chief financial officer (CFO), Alan Hendricks, resigned and Borland appointed its first chief operating officer (COO), Price-Waterhouse turnaround expert Keith Maib.
The sale of Quattro Pro to networking giant Novell for $145 million is expected to help next quarter's bottom line. But Borland could lose its profits from the sale to spreadsheet competitor Lotus in an expected judgement in a legal battle between the two companies that analyst's have said could cost Borland as much as $100 million. In addition, Borland will take a one-time write-off of approximately $16 million in connection with the acquisition of database report writer software company Reportsmith, which closed during the June quarter.
Philippe Kahn, chairman, president, and chief executive officer (CEO), has been complaining loud and vehemently about how the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface has turned the software market into a commodity market by making every product look and feel pretty much the same. Borland's ace is the long awaited dBASE for Windows, according to Kahn.
Analysts agree. Market research firm Dataquest has already said it expects an enthusiastic greeting for dBASE for Windows. Chris Letoq, an analyst with CI/Infocorp said that while he can't talk about dBASE for Windows because of a commitment to Borland, the beta test version of the product that is already out there has received excellent reviews and developers appear to be enthusiastic about it.
Newsbytes asked if Borland is putting all its eggs into one basket and Letoq answered that dBASE for Windows, given the current climate, is the company's primary basket. He added that it would be a bad idea for Borland to come up with any diversionary baskets at this point.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940603/Press Contact: Steve Grady, Borland tel 408-431-1621, fax 408-431-4175)
1-1621, fax 408-431-4175)
6/3/94
Borland 4Q Losses Large
BUSINESS
Comdex - Gates Promises Chicago
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL F
UK - Mercury Offers Free Mobile
Sprint Not Talking About Latest
Microsoft Ships DOS 6.22 With Ne
PC Supercomputing Accelerator To
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
Dummies On The Net
Windows Macromedia Director
Difficulties For Korean Computer
CES - Wristwatch Doubles As Phon
Comcast To Buy Maclean Hunter Ca
Analysts Applaud AT&T-Unisource
ds SGML
Microsoft Summit - 1600 More Alp
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- A total of 530 "native" applications are now shipping for Windows NT running on DEC's Alpha AXP, and about 1600 more are slated for release by the end of this year, said Charles B. Piper, Windows NT marketing manager for DEC, speaking at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston.
The applications for Alpha AXP cover a sweeping range of vertical and horizontal areas, and are part of a strategy by DEC to offer Alpha as well as Intel-based "solutions" from "the laptop to the data center," he added, in one of a series of talks presented by Microsoft's "hardware partners."
Windows NT applications show "a dramatic performance increase" when operated on Alpha AXP, Piper asserted. "But at the same time, there is demand for (Intel-based) products," he acknowledged.
Piper advised attendees that they could witness the speed of Windows NT applications on Alpha AXP in a show floor demonstration of DEC's new 2100 Server Model A500MP, which comes in configurations with either one or four 190 MHz Alpha AXP chips, and supports OSF/1 and OpenVMS in addition to Windows NT Advanced Server.
DEC's 2100 Server, Piper added, will be upgraded to a 275 MHz Alpha AXP chip six months from now. "The plan is to offer additional (chip) upgrades for the 2100 Server every six months," he said. Speaking with Newsbytes at the close of the presentation, Piper noted that the 275 MHz Alpha AXP chip is already being used by Carrera and Aspen, two of DEC's OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).
Issues related to compilers and databases could possibly affect plans to release all 1600 of the new Windows NT applications by the end of 1994, he told Newsbytes.
Although Piper did "talk products," the bulk of his presentation was devoted to a discussion of the "close relationship" between DEC and Microsoft, including the two vendors' collaboration in the Common Object Model (COM), a crossplatform communications specification that brings together elements of Microsoft's object linking-and-embedding (OLE) 2.0 and DEC's ObjectBroker 2.5.
The Windows NT marketing manager also showed a video concerning use by the Chicago Stock Exchange of Windows NT applications running on Alpha AXP.
Other Microsoft "hardware partners" who have delivered talks at the Microsoft Envision Summit include NEC, Sequent, Gateway 2000, and AT&T Global Information Systems (GIS).
The Microsoft conference, which continues through today at the World Trade Center in Boston, also features several general sessions, plus breakout sessions on the use of Windows-based applications in fields ranging from medicine to law and accounting.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940603/Press and Reader Contact: Microsoft 206-882-8080)
940603/Press and Reader Contact: Microsoft 206-882-8080)
6/3/94
Microsoft Summit - 1600 More Alpha AXP/Windows NT Apps
Newsbytes Daily Summary
%MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 3 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> UK - Intercom Data Launches Telecoms Call Mgmt System 06/03/94 ntercom Data Systems (IDS) has launched Prophet, a new call center analysis service that it claims has been specifically designed as a self-contained package to take any type or size of organization through the complete process of call analysis.
2 -> Nokia Equipment To St Petersburg's GSM Net 06/03/94 Nokia Telecom has signed a contract with Northwest GSM for the supply of a global system for mobile (GSM) communications digital mobile phone network in the St Petersburg region of Russia.
3 -> Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacity By 1996, Says Survey 06/03/94 Increased demand for storage space will push computer users to seek five to 15 times more hard disk space, according to market research group Frost & Sullivan. By 1996, the average hard disk on a stand-alone desktop PC will be 1 gigabyte (GB) in size, the market research group said.
4 -> CompuServe Releases CD 06/03/94 CompuServe released CompuServeCD, a multimedia extension of the CompuServe Information Service, for CD-ROM drive-equipped computers that run Microsoft Windows.
5 -> Sega Makes Deals With Coke, Hudson 06/03/94 Sega Enterprises has signed an agreement with CocaCola Japan which calls for a joint advertising campaign for both firms' products. Sega's agreement with Hudson concerns joint development of video game software for Sega's video game machine.
6 -> Toshiba Multimedia Car Navigation System 06/03/94 Toshiba has announced that it has developed a small-sized car navigation system. It is equipped with a CD-ROM drive that plays both music CDs and CD-based software.
7 -> Mini-Disks Store TV Programs 06/03/94 Japan's Hitachi has developed a powerful Mini-Disk that stores a whopping 100 times more data than regular Mini-Disks. Hitachi reports that the new medium can store motion picture data, including TV programs.
8 -> Japan - Kyocera Develops Set-Top Multimedia Box 06/03/94 Kyoto-based Kyocera has developed a multimedia box for video-on-demand service called the Set Top Box. Kyocera claims that this represents the first time a Japanese firm has developed this kind of multimedia box.
9 -> Japan - Hitachi ATM Cleans Money 06/03/94 Hitachi has developed an unique automatic bank teller machine (ATM) which flattens and sterilizes dollar bills. The firm claims to be getting its first purchase orders for the device from hospitals.
10 -> Denmark - Computer News Roundup 06/03/94 n computer news from Denmark, OS/2 has strong base in Denmark, Danish technology in future digital superhighway, and first Danish interactive book on CD-ROM. OS/2 Has Strong Base In Denmark
11 -> Review of - The Telescan System, online service, 06/03/94 Runs on: Interface requires PC with 640K of RAM and EGA or VGA graphics, 2 free megabytes of hard disk space, MS-DOS 2.1 or higher, plus a Hayes-compatible modem running at 2,400 or 9,600 baud.
12 -> Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain 06/03/94 Runs on: Color Macintosh computers
13 -> California Can Save Millions Using Videoconferencing 06/03/94 The State of California is implementing videoconferencing and encouraging government offices to use the service instead of spending money on travel. The California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), one of the six government charter entities to begin use of videoconferencing, estimates it will save $1 million annually in travel expenses, travel time, and increased productivity.
14 -> Australia - Computer Associates Revamps Distribution 06/03/94 Computer Associates, the world's number two software manufacturer, has re-organized its Australian distribution, appointing a single distributor for all PC products. The distributor is Sourceware, a mid-level organization which claims to offer a higher level of service and support than the two main distributors.
15 -> Dell Australia Gets New Boss 06/03/94 Dell Australia start-up man Jeff Herrick has gone from the company, leaving a functioning and mildly successful part of the US-based multinational operation.
16 -> Internet Business Association Formed 06/03/94 Like any other community, the Internet brings together business partners whose common goals are best met in a spirit of cooperation. Much like a chamber of commerce, the Internet Business Association (IBA) brings together small companies doing business on the Internet.
17 -> Bill Gates will Give Away Billions - Eventually 06/03/94 Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates says eventually he will give away most of his wealth, leaving about $10 million to any children he might have.
18 -> CA Wins Class Action Suit, Newtrend Trial Postponed 06/03/94 Computer Associates International Inc., has emerged the victor in a three-year class action lawsuit that accused its officers of securities fraud after disappointing quarterly financial results in 1990. Meanwhile, a trial has been postponed in another dispute involving CA and Newtrend Group, of Orlando, Fla., over a joint venture that went sour.
19 -> Saskatchewan Reseller Fined For Pirating MS-DOS 06/03/94 Duncan Computer Corp., which was the largest computer manufacturer and reseller in Saskatchewan until closing two years ago, and its former owner have been convicted of pirating copies of Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system and ordered to pay fines and compensation.
20 -> Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Available On CD-ROM 06/03/94 Celestin Company has released a collection of more than 450 megabytes of Macintosh source code on CD-ROM disc called Apprentice. The company says the collection provides Mac programmers up-to-date code samples at an affordable price.
21 -> More Patent Problems For Clipper 06/04/94 Massachusetts Institute of Technology computer scientist Silvio Micali, already holder of a patent that could apply to the Clinton administration's proposed Clipper encryption technology, says he has been awarded a second patent that the government must license if it wants to implement Clipper.
22 -> Experts Debate Canada's Information Highway 06/03/94 At the annual conference of the Canadian Science Writers' Association here this week, pundits and representatives of various industry players agreed that Canada has a good base for "information highway" communications services, but differed on what needs to be done to build on that position.
23 -> UK - BT Announces Major Price Reductions 06/03/94 After weeks of conjecture on how it was going to reduce its overall level of charges in line with government requirements, British Telecom (BT) has unveiled a basket of price reductions that it claims will "hand back" around UKP 550 million of profits during the current year to its subscribers.
24 -> Electronic Firms Press EC For Open Telecoms Market 06/03/94 It's ironic fact that, ten years ago, the European Commission was pressing EC member state telecoms companies to open up (liberalize) their markets. Since then, the EC has achieved a lot of what it set out to do, but now it's the telecoms companies' turn to press the EC to force the pace at which things are moving.
25 -> Editorial - Clipper And The Market 06/03/94 By Dana Blankenhorn. A paper by Dr. Matthew Blaze of AT&T Bell Labs has renewed the political firestorm over the "Clipper" chip.
26 -> Sprint Not Talking About Latest Rumors 06/03/94 Sprint will not comment on reports it's discussing possible minority investments by major international PTTs as an alternative to merging with General Motors' EDS unit.
27 -> ****Blaze Stoked On Clipper Criticisms 06/03/94 A draft paper by a Bell Labs scientist has re-ignited debate over the government's attempts to allow wiretaps on the Information Highway.
28 -> Massively Parallel Processing Comes To Your PC 06/03/94 When you think of massively parallel processing (MPP) you probably think of supercomputers or high-performance workstations. But the technology will soon be available for your personal computer.
29 -> Networking Roundup 06/03/94 This is a regular feature summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Fore Systems Inc., Precision Software, Midnight Networks Inc., Telebit Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Spry Inc., Artisoft Inc., and Optical Data Systems Inc.
30 -> Personnel Roundup 06/03/94 This is a regular feature summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Sierra On-Line Inc.'s ImagiNation Network, Sigma Designs Inc. Individual Inc., Western Publishing Group Inc., SyQuest Technology Acclaim Entertainment Inc., Edmark Corp., and National Semiconductor Corp.
31 -> Company Results Roundup 06/03/94 This is a regular feature summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Borland International Inc., The Software Developer's Company Inc. CompuTrac Inc., and GameTek Inc.
32 -> ****Borland 4Q Losses Large 06/03/94 Borland reported $76 million in losses for its final fiscal quarter of 1994 and went back to charge another $3.3 million against its third quarter 1994 results putting that quarter in the red as well. The company has already said it expects the next quarter, closing June 30, 1994, to be a losing proposition as well.
33 -> ****Microsoft Summit - 1600 More Alpha AXP/Windows NT Apps 06/03/94 A total of 530 "native" applications are now shipping for Windows NT running on DEC's Alpha AXP, and about 1600 more are slated for release by the end of this year, said Charles B. Piper, Windows NT marketing manager for DEC, speaking at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston.
(Wendy Woods/19940603)
(Wendy Woods/19940603)
6/3/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
& 'J'.'
UK - PCMCIA Card For Non-PCMCIA
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- PPCP, the portable products distributor, has announced the Cardport ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), a PC half card from Chase Advanced Technologies in the UK, which offers two PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international association) slots on desktop PCs that do not feature slots as a native facility.
The UKP 190 PC half card is pitched at users of PCMCIA technology on their laptop, while having no facilities for cards on their desktop machine, Mike Welbrock, PPCP's operations director, explained.
"PCMCIA is now de facto standard for portable peripherals, simply because it's so convenient. Many portable PC users also have a desktop PC either at home or in the office and, for the first time, they can share the same peripherals between the two machines. There's no longer any need to double up devices such as modems and local area network (LAN) adapters just because you have a notebook PC as well as a desktop," he said.
In use, the Cardport ISA slots into a PC expansion slot and has a PCMCIA type III (10.5 millimeter) slot in its backplane, plus another slot for fitting a PC drive bay like any floppy drive. Both sockets can be used at the same time allows, as an example cited by PPCP, a LAN adapter to be plugged into the back, and a removable PCMCIA hard drive to be plugged into the front of the machine.
The Cardport ISA is billed as providing card and socket services for compatibility with a wide range of PCMCIA peripherals. In use, the card supports XIP (execute in place) and ExCa (exchange card architecture) facilities.
(Steve Gold/19940606/Press Contact: Craig Coward, the Edge Partnership 44-625-511966; Reader Contact: John Nolan, PPCP - +44-81-893-2277)
: John Nolan, PPCP - +44-81-893-2277)
6/6/94
UK - PCMCIA Card For Non-PCMCIA PCs
Microsoft Australia Launches Sof
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- In what is claimed to be the largest software promotion in Australia, Microsoft has introduced three packages -- Home Pack, Office Pack and PowerPack -- aimed at taking the worry out of choosing PC software. The packs are designed for home and office users.
Microsoft Home Pack contains Works, Creative Writer and Entertainment Pack. The suggested retail price is AUS$229 (around US$170) which is about half of the separate components.
Microsoft Office Pack, meanwhile, contains Excel, Word, PowerPoint Access, Mail, Publisher and Money. The suggested price is AUS$875 (around US$640) which is around 40 percent less than the components individually.
Last, but not least, Microsoft's PowerPack contains MS-DOS 6.2 upgrade, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and a Microsoft ergonomic mouse. The price is AUS$229, a saving of around 50 percent.
Although Microsoft has moved to a "user-pays" support system in Australia, these three products come with free service and support up until September 30, 1994.
Microsoft's new Australian MD, Chris Kelliher, said that the point of the products wasn't just saving money.
"The Microsoft home and office pack promotion applies the same retailing principle as a McDonalds Combo Meal or a Kentucky Fried Chicken Dinner Box. Consumers don't have to stop and try to work out all the bits and pieces they want. They can just order a pack simply and easily," he explained.
Microsoft is backing the new packs with a promotion that includes $300,000 in buyer giveaways and a BMW 318i for one lucky dealer.
(Paul Zucker/19940606)
or one lucky dealer.
(Paul Zucker/19940606)
6/6/94
Microsoft Australia Launches Software To Go
Trace Family History With Window
NCTA - FCC Chairman Insists On R
Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated
GTE, HP Plan Interactive Cable
Totally Wireless Store Opens In
Japan - Windows Language Transla
Brussels WordPerfect/ODA Confere
Senate Looks At Schools And The
Motif & Asahi Promote Active Add
IBM Shuffle Aims To Speed Workpl
eWorld Bucks Online Anonymity Tr
FAA Slashes Computer Control; La
Losses Large
Intel, Telecom Australia To Co-D
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Intel Australia and Telecom Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding that will form the basis for joint development in the fields of audio, data and video desktop applications.
Telecom's Telemedia manager, Martin Turner, said that the deal was built on the "close fit" between Intel's experience in developing powerful applications for the PC and Telecom's internationally recognized standing as a telecommunications carrier.
"As the sectors of telecommunications and computing move closer together, we see cooperative undertakings such as this one with Intel as the way to get the best out of our shared interests and separate strengths. We now have technologies which allow computers and telephone services to be tailored to meet individual customer needs and the market potential for desktop communications in this environment is quite astounding," he said.
David House, Intel's senior vice president of corporate strategy, has been visiting Australia this past week and said" "Information is the power of today's global society. By merging the power of the PC with the immediacy of the telephone, we will spawn new capabilities in business communications including telephone integration, data sharing and video conferencing."
According to House, the end result is that business users will get better access to information, be able to make better and quicker decisions, and be more competitive. "Our partnership with Telecom will extend the PC's capability into real-time personal conferencing communications in Australia," he said.
The two companies will work on desktop conferencing applications which can be accessed via modem, local area networks, the public switched network or the integrated services digital network (ISDN).
(Robert Small/19940606)
gital network (ISDN).
(Robert Small/19940606)
6/6/94
Intel, Telecom Australia To Co-Develop Products
TELECOM
Ontime Scheduler Adds Phone Inte
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Campbell Services has announced some new telephony services it is adding to its group scheduling program OnTime for Windows.
The added technology will link with Passageway Telephony Services Solution, a computer-telephony integration (CTI) product announced over the last week by AT&T and Novell, to initiate calls from within OnTime using that program's scheduling, to-do list management and phone book program. Passageway links stand-alone and networked computers with telephones and PBX systems. A caller ID feature retrieves and displays caller information on the computer display.
Campbell says that it will implement the OnTime CTI features in stages. Initially users will be able to speed dial phone numbers from within their calendars and to-do lists. Call lists will be able to be imported from other programs into OnTime.
The user will just point-and-click to autodial desired numbers. It will be possible to keep notes and information saved or deleted as the user works. Names not deleted from the to-do list will automatically roll over to the next day's list.
OnTime includes an alarm feature, and users will be able to click on the screen to dial that number when the alarm pops up.
Users will also be able to schedule conference calls, automatically be notified when it is time to make those calls and initiate conference calls with a mouse click. Additional features will be supported in future versions of OnTime by Director. That's a future AT&T application scheduled to be added to the Passageway product line.
Campbell says it plans to release its Ontime Phone Book later this year. Phone Book, with software links to OnTime and the Passageway family, will be sold as a separate product but will further streamline the autodialing process.
Future versions of OnTime will also include the ability to write macros - stored keystrokes that perform specific functions and can be launched with one or two keystrokes -- that are triggered by scheduled events or by incoming calls. The company cites as an example a scheduled event that notifies the user about a conference call, pulls contact information from the phone book and sends it across the network to other users participating in the conference call, and dials all the conferences.
(Jim Mallory/19940606/Press contact: Don Campbell, Campbell Services 810-559-5955; Reader contact: Campbell Services, 313-559-5955 or 800 345-6747, fax 810-559-1034)
9-5955 or 800 345-6747, fax 810-559-1034)
6/6/94
Ontime Scheduler Adds Phone Integration
UK - Hardware Distrib Aashima Ha
WITHAM, ESSEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Aashima, a PC hardware distributor, has announced it is moving into software sales. The Witham-based company has agreed to handle Windows-based applications from Toplevel, distributing the packages to its 1,800-plus resellers.
This is the first time that the distributor has agreed to handle software and, according to David Johnson, Aashima's commercial director, will allow the company to move steadily towards its aim of being a "one stop shop" for resellers' requirements.
Three packages comprise the Toplevel range, including Complete Works a suite package; Fine Words, a word processor; and Toplevel Forms, a forms handling package.
Johnson said that the agreement signifies the company's move into the software distribution marketplace. "We have an excellent reputation in the (hardware) marketplace and Toplevel's products are ideally suited to our customers," he said.
Jane Roberts, Toplevel's marketing director, said that adding Aashima to its distribution arrangements will allow the company to "hit a whole new set of resellers."
(Steve Gold/19940606/Press & Reader Contact: Aashima Distribution UK 44-376-502050; Fax - +44-376-518780)
ribution UK 44-376-502050; Fax - +44-376-518780)
6/6/94
UK - Hardware Distrib Aashima Handles Software
BUSINESS
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of
COMDEX - Singapore Company Relea
UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscri
Toshiba Multimedia Car Navigatio
Massively Parallel Processing Co
Delrina Signs Deals On Internet,
Japan - Computer News Briefs
Gateway 2000 PCs Bundle Software
Miros Intros Computer Face Recog
IBM Launches Wireless Networking
AT&T Announces WorldWorx Video S
NECC - Educational Prgms Cross O
Mobile Data Users To Skyrocket
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- According to a report just issued by Ovum, the market research company, the total number of mobile data subscribers in Europe and North America is expected to multiply 25 times over between now and the end of the decade, pushing the subscriber base towards the 18 million-plus mark.
According to "Mobile Data: Mobile Strategies," a UKP 1,190 report from Ovum, the market will be fuelled by strong growth from the mainstream (horizontal) marketplace.
When Ovum published its first report on mobile data in June of last year, forecasts for the mobile data subscriber base in Europe and North America were quite modest, and were predicted as expected to hit the nine million mark by the end of the decade.
According to a spokeswoman for Ovum, last year, the strength of mobile data was focused on vertical markets, which is the police and airlines, and it appeared that this situation would stay that way until the end of the decade.
By the time 1994 came into view, however, there were several developments in software that started to fuel growth in the horizontal marketplace. Ovum predicts that, by 1997, the horizontal market will dominate the vertical market as far as mobile data technology is concerned. "These developments will bring the appeal of mobile data to a wider audience and expand the potential subscriber base," Ovum officials said.
Ovum's report notes that the most notable advances in mobile data products have come from Microsoft and Novell. Microsoft has announced it is teaming up with Mobile Telecommunications Technologies (Mtel), the largest paging firm in the US, to construct a $150 million advanced wireless network to be up and running by 1995. The venture, known as the National Wireless Network, will provide two-way data messaging services special alphanumeric pagers and a new generation of Mtel-developed pocket data communicators.
Also, Novell has introduced an extension to its Appware applications development tools that will be available from this September. Novell hopes that the Distributed Appware Bus will simplify the creation of remote access applications, using Appware loadable modules (ALMs) which allow users to change between local area network (LAN) and modem without any problems.
Mobile Data: market strategies, with four quarterly updates, costs UKP 1,190 in the UK and $2,215 in the US.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 6 (NB) -- VTEL, the third-largest videoconferencing system supplier in the US, has secured a prestigious contract with the State of Mississippi. Terms of the contract call for VTEL to supply 17 of its MediaConferencing systems to the state's community colleges.
According to VTEL, the systems sold to the state are H.320-compliant making them compatible with kit sold by the company's larger rivals Compression Labs and Picturetel.
VTEL said that its Mississippi community college project will be installed and serviced by ATS Telephone & Data Systems of Memphis Tennessee, one of its authorized resellers. Under the contract, the Mississippi Community College Foundation will put 15 systems in community colleges across the states, and additional systems at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service at Mississippi State University.
The network is expected to be operational prior to the fall semester. This will allow the community college network to provide more advanced degrees in nursing and allied health professions than it can today and it will also allow the extension of the service to deliver lessons on agriculture issues like safety and disease prevention.
The network could also allow high school students to take advanced courses, and it could be used for public or private business conferences as well, officials told Newsbytes.
The system will be dedicated by Senator Thad Cochran, a Republican, on July 11, in the state capitol of Jackson.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940606/Press Contact: VTEL, Sheri Goodwin 800/856-0125; Mississippi Community College Foundation, George Wynne, 601/857-3560)
lege Foundation, George Wynne, 601/857-3560)
6/6/94
VTEL Distance Learning Sale To Mississippi
TELECOM
Try Before You Buy Software Offe
MAITLAND, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- The Multimedia Software division of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) has announced it is offering free copies of RIO Desktop, its DOS-based illustration design, and image creation software program, on a "try before you buy" basis.
Under the scheme, the software will be available for 30 days to the first 50,000 respondents, who will then be expected to pay $99 for the product if they decide to keep it.
AT&T is beginning advertising of the offer by taking a series of ads in magazines. It is also planning a series of direct mail offers to further promote its multimedia software products. AT&T's hope is to further build the user base for the RIO product line.
RIO is also available in a Professional version. RIO Animator, an add on product available from AT&T, that takes images or objects created in RIO, as well as scanned images, allows the ability to add vector based text, so that the user can rotate, scale, flip, or multiply the object to create an animation sequence.
A Microsoft Windows 3.1 version, as well as a Windows NT version, of RIO is in the works. The Windows 3.1 version will be available in October users who buy RIO now will be offered a special $69 upgrade price when the Windows version ships, company officials told Newsbytes.
A telemarketing firm is handling free RIO for DOS requests via a toll free number. The DOS version normally retails for $495.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940606/Press Contact: Charges Valeston, AT&T Multimedia Software, 407-662-7235; Richard Goswick, Goswick Advertising, 713-622-4100, fax 713-622-4159; Public Contact: RIO Order Line, 800-898-6544)
13-622-4159; Public Contact: RIO Order Line, 800-898-6544)
6/6/94
Try Before You Buy Software Offer From AT&T Multimedia
Australia - Apple Intros Schools
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- A new program from Apple Computer Australia has been designed to make licensing of the company's software easier and less expensive for Australian schools.
Under the Schools Site License Agreement, preschools, primary schools and high schools will be able to choose any of seven Apple software products and copy them onto all of the school's on-site computers and teacher's personal off-site computers for a cost of AUS$695 per computer (around US$500).
"The program is a very simple, inexpensive way for schools to ensure that all of their computers have legal rights to the latest versions of Apple software." explained Diana Rydall, Apple Australia's director of education.
"It also means teachers can ensure that they are using the latest software to develop materials for classwork, and that they aren't working on different versions at home to those used at school," she said.
The products available under the scheme are: System 7.1; Hypercard 2.2; At Ease for Workgroups; Apple Font Pack; Macintosh PC Exchange; PhotoFlash; and Apple Personal Diagnostics.
After placing an order, the school receives one complete version of the product to be duplicated on the eligible machines. The school also receives two school site licence agreements, one of which must be returned to Apple. In return a licence certificate is sent to the school. It is a perpetual licence, although each new version must be purchased.
(Toni Scoble and Paul Zucker/19940606)
purchased.
(Toni Scoble and Paul Zucker/19940606)
6/6/94
Australia - Apple Intros Schools Software Licensing
APPLE
GTSI Moves On California Governm
Samsung To Make PDAs
Japan - Kyocera Develops Set-Top
Review of - The Telescan System,
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
IDB Hopes The Bad News Is Past
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
Control Data Gets Russian Automa
UK - School Computer Porn Scare
Survey - Backbone Demand Rising
Compton's Migrates Wholly To CD-
Apple Newton Launched In France
Lotus 2 Qtr Revenues $20M Lower
UK - Apricot MD Warns On Info Hi
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Dr Peter Horne, Apricot Computers' group managing director, has warned UK businesses that the world is on the brink of a new industrial revolution, occasioned by the arrival of the information superhighway.
Speaking at the annual convention of the Chambers of Commerce in London last week, Horne warned that the "information revolution" represents significant growth opportunities for forward-looking companies which "have embraced information technology and trained their workforces now."
He also warned that any company that does not embrace the challenge of this new age, cannot expect to remain in business by the beginning of the next century.
"It's my belief that we are on the brink of a new industrial revolution which will have as much impact on the way we do business as the last revolution 200-plus years ago. At the core of his revolution will not be steam power, or the canal network, but the PC and the information highway it will be linked to. Unless you realize this now you will not survive," he said.
Horne also called on the British government to ensure that Britain will be able to compete in the information age, "For this to come to fruition in the UK, we need the right infrastructure. I would ask the UK government to support the development of our new information highway just as the US and Japanese governments are," he said.
According to Horne, the computer will be the tool at the heart of businesses providing comms and information, not just to the managing director, but to the whole of a company's workforce -- "driving your business forward into markets not limited by geography but by your ability to deliver the customer with products and services at the right point in time," he told delegates from Chambers of Commerce from around the UK.
"Business people in the last century were stunned by the grown opportunities that the canal network offered them and they quickly became dependent on them. Business this century has been greatly impacted by the telephone, car and plane. The information highway coupled with the PC, is set to open up the whole world to UK business and the changes that it will cause in society will dwarf those caused by the last industrial revolution," he said.
"If you don't run with this now, you won't be joining us at the Chamber of Commerce annual convention in the year 2000," he added.
Horne explained that this new worldwide network will change the markets that will be open to UK business. "For small and medium-sized organizations, most business is currently conducted in local markets and this is usually one that can be serviced geographically. The information revolution will change all that -- with a worldwide comms and information network that is cheap and open to all, the definition of what is local will radically change," he said.
"The future information highways will bring people to work, more people will work from home in the future -- already 39 million do in the US. It will be easier for organizations to work together at a distance and, of course, it will bring people to people -- for instance, already 20 million people worldwide are using the Internet, many of whom use it for individual contact via electronic mail," he added.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- In the article "Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacity By 1996, Says Survey" that ran June 3, 1994, Newsbytes quoted market research firm Frost & Sullivan as saying that, by 1996 most file servers will have an average storage capacity of over 20 megabytes. Of course that should have read over 20 gigabytes.
Newsbytes apologizes for the error.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940608)
apologizes for the error.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940608)
6/9/94
Correction - Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacity By 1996
CORRECTION
TRENDS
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Apple Computer UK has announced a "dead or alive" trade in program for educational sector buyers of its Power Mac machines. Under the scheme, any bona fide educational buyer, many of whom already qualify for a substantial discount, can trade in his/her PC, whether working or not, and get up to a further UKP 400 discount.
According to Mike Newton, Apple Computer UK's general manager, a user of a working computer will get more than the UKP 400 minimum discount for a Power Mac, which can be one of six machine configurations. The actual level of discount varies, dependent on the type, age and condition of the returned PC and which Power Mac is purchased.
In parallel with the trade-in program, Apple has announced four key market accreditations for its dealers: schools reseller, higher education reseller, corporate systems specialist and authorized publishing reseller. Resellers qualify for the accreditation, based on staff assigned to each market, systems expertise, and the volume of current business in that key market.
Of the trade-in campaign, Newton said that it is an indication of the aggressive marketing tactics that Apple plans to employ to exploit the Power Mac's lead over the competition, "in terms of raw power and usability."
"Education is an important market for Apple in the UK and our schools and higher education resellers have the skills to grow Apple's market share on the back of this campaign," he said.
The campaign is being supported by customer mailings and local advertising from Apple's 24 authorized higher education resellers and nine authorized schools resellers. The "Wanted: Your PC Dead or Alive" campaign runs until the end of this month (June).
Minimum discounts start at UKP 150 for a non-working PC off the price of Power Mac 6100, UKP 300 for a 7100 and UKP 400 off an 8100. The better the PC, the better the trade-in -- Apple UK cites the example of a customer trading in a Compaq Deskpro 386/33 M120 4/120 for a Power Mac 7100 8/250, getting a UKP 600 trade-in offer.
(Steve Gold/19940606/Press Contact: Russell Brady, Apple Computer UK 44-81-730-2480; Reader Contact - Apple Computer UK - +44-81-569-1100; Toll-free in UK only - 0800-127753)
-569-1100; Toll-free in UK only - 0800-127753)
6/6/94
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-In Program
APPLE
Taligent PEEK Developer Training
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Taligent, the Apple IBM joint venture application software tools development company, has starting shipping early editions of its object-oriented Taligent Application Environment (TalAE) package to a select group of developers working in the IBM AIX operating system environment.
Taligent says that it is offering training and support for its first product to this early group, in a program it is calling the Partners Early Experience Kit (PEEK).
Taligent will begin its PEEK program this week with more than 100 companies participating in a two-day developer briefing followed by six one-week training sessions. The developers will receive a two disc set of CD-ROMs containing TalAE, an integrated set of development and analysis tools, and sample applications.
According to Taligent, this version of TalAE is aimed at users of the IBM RS/6000 workstation platform running AIX, although the version of the package for the PowerPC-driven RS/6000 is not yet available.
Newsbytes understands that the developers chosen in the early tests are Fortune 1,000 professional software developers, independent software vendors (ISVs), systems integrators, value-added resellers (VARs), and higher education developers.
Taligent representatives said that the company wanted a wide variety of developers working on different platforms, "brand-name" developers and those doing interesting projects for PEEK. None of the developers are paying to be involved in the program.
The development tools include: approximately 80 of the frameworks planned for TalAE version 1.0 and an early version of Taligent's People, Places and Things user interface metaphor. The frameworks fit into three primary categories: application frameworks (such as compound document frameworks and user interface frameworks), domain frameworks (such as international text, two-dimensional, and three dimensional graphics) and support frameworks (such as application services and network or distributed computing).
While the company claims that the PEEK frameworks offer sufficient tools for developers to begin designing and programming TalAE applications, the company hopes to incorporate developer feedback, add a small set of additional frameworks and functions, and continue with what it calls "productization efforts" before releasing the beta TalAE 1.0 version to a wider audience.
Taligent's investors, which include Hewlett-Packard (HP), as well as IBM and Apple, have plans to eventually ship TalAE on their own respective platforms. For example, IBM intends to ship TalAE on OS/2 and AIX, HP intends to ship TalAE on HP-UX, and Apple intends to ship TalAE on PowerOpen and future versions of System 7.
The beta version of TalAE will ship by the end of the year, Taligent said. Other planned products, The Taligent Development Environment (TalDE) and the Taligent Object Services (TalOS), will ship the first part of 1995, company representatives said.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Delrina has signed deals with two US companies -- MobileComm and CommTouch -- to give it footholds in the world of wireless communications and Internet electronic mail.
The first deal is with MobileComm, a subsidiary of BellSouth, that will let Delrina integrate MobileComm's wireless paging technology in its personal computer software packages.
This will mean users of Delrina's software will be able to have pagers notify them of events or deliver text messages for integration into the applications. For instance, Delrina spokesman Shelly Sofer told Newsbytes, an alphanumeric pager could be used to deliver a short text message that would then be integrated into an electronic form using Delrina's PerForm software.
Delrina's second deal is with CommTouch Software of San Mateo California, to license front-end technology for sending and receiving electronic mail over the Internet.
CommTouch provides a graphical user interface that shields computer users from most of the technical complexities of using the Internet's worldwide e-mail system. "Connecting to the Internet, unless you're a real expert, is very complicated," Sofer said. He claimed that the CommTouch software makes the process very quick and easy.
Delrina plans to incorporate the CommTouch software in its Delrina Communications Suite, a bundle of the company's communications products, Sofer said.
Delrina has not announced exactly when it expects to offer the results of the two partnerships to its customers. However, Sofer said, Delrina and CommTouch have already demonstrated their products working together.
(Grant Buckler/19940606/Press Contact: Shelly Sofer, Delrina, tel 416-441-4702, fax 416-441-0333, Internet shellys@delrina.com; Jean Coppenbarger, MobileComm, tel 601-977-1648; Public Contact: Delrina, tel 800-268-6082 or 416-441-3676)
ontact: Delrina, tel 800-268-6082 or 416-441-3676)
6/6/94
Delrina Signs Deals On Internet, Wireless Fronts
TELECOM
Japan - Preview Of Windows World
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- IDG World Expo Japan has announced that next week's Windows World Expo Tokyo, scheduled to be held at the Makuhari Messe on June 15/17, will be the largest show of its type. This event, the third in the annual series of shows, has attracted 215 exhibitors, IDG officials said. This, they told Newsbytes, is around twice as many as last year.
Plans call for the event to feature an exhibition of both hardware and software products with a general Windows theme, as well as a conference, a series of seminars, and a Windows workshop.
Firms taking part in the event include Intel Japan, NEC, NTT Software Oki Electric, Olympus, Compaq, CSK, Just System, Seiko Epson, Sony Softbank, Dell Computer, Toshiba, IBM Japan, Japan Digital Equipment Japan Victor (JVC), Japan Unisys, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Borland Microsoft, Matsushita Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, MIPS, Yamaha Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard, Ricoh, Lotus, Information Resources Japan Nomura Research Institute and ASCII Corporation.
Main speakers booked for the event include Paul Maritz, Microsoft's senior vice president, who will speak on Microsoft's technology strategy for the future, as well as Intel's David House, who will be discussing Intel's technical strategy.
Also booked to speak at the event is Microsoft's Mark Ryland, who will explain the continuing evolution of Windows and its future, with details of Daytona, Chicago, and Cairo being revealed.
Other speakers include Microsoft's (Tokyo) Toru Furukawa, ASCII's Kazuhiko Nishi, and NTT's Hironobu Nagano.
Topics scheduled for the workshop vary from applications tools to multimedia entertainment. A hands-on corner will, as the name implies give show visitors a chance to try out the latest Windows' hardware and software.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Cox Enterprises and Times Mirror has decided to merge their cable operations into a new public company, which will be the third-largest cable operator in the US with 3.1 million subscribers. Previously, Cox was the sixth largest US cable operator, and Times Mirror the 10th largest.
According to the companies concerned, the deal is being carried out as a tax-free reorganization which values Times Mirrors' systems at $2.3 billion. Holders of Times Mirror common, other than the papers' founders represented by the Chandler Trusts, will get 20 percent of the new company's common stock with a value of about $932 million protected by a "collar" in case the stock price fluctuates by more than 10 percent.
In addition, Times Mirror will get $1.364 billion in cash, which will be added to the new company's indebtedness. Even with that, however the new Cox Cable will have among the lowest debt-equity ratios in the cable industry, according to James Cox Kennedy, Cox's of Cox Enterprises.
The deal comes just two months after Cox cancelled an agreement to merge its cable network with Southwestern Bell, a regional Bell holding company. The 21 Cox operations in that deal were estimated to be worth $3.3 billion, and Cox would have gotten $1.6 billion in cash and an initial 60 percent of the venture's equity. When that deal was cancelled, both parties blamed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its cable rate ruling, which cut estimated cash flows.
In addition to combining their respective cable operations, Times Mirror and Cox have formed a new partnership to develop and invest in cable television. Times Mirror will manage the venture. Of the $300 million equity in that deal, two-thirds comes from Times Mirror one-third from Cox.
Along with cash, Times Mirror is tossing in The Outdoor Life Channel a network it previously announced for launch in 1995. The two companies have also agreed to explore a test of interactive services over a broadband network to be finished later this year in Irvine California.
Cox is privately held, but it operates much like a public company, and for decades its TV and radio stations were publicly held as Cox Broadcasting. Those operations were acquired by Cox Enterprises in the early 1980s, shortly before James Cox Kennedy, a grandson of company founder James Cox, became the head of the firm. The first Cox was a newspaperman and Governor of Ohio as well as the 1920 Democratic candidate for US president.
The new company has its largest systems in San Diego, California Phoenix, Arizona, and Orange County, California, as well as New Orleans, Louisiana, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the state of Rhode Island. Other systems held by the two companies have less than 100,000 subscribers each, but there are over 40 in all.
Along with the cable and programming interests, the new company will also hold 30.1 percent of Teleport Communications, which competes with regional Bell companies for the local leg of long-distance calls, and which has ambitions of competing with their local networks, as well as international programming services and cable systems in Denmark and the UK.
Analysts said that the new deal is better for Cox, better for the industry, and may help the Clinton Administration. The argument is that Cox will have complete control of the new operation, which will make the whole cable industry smaller, and the deal puts the lie to the idea that the FCC rate cuts killed the industry. The one vulnerability in the deal is California, where about one-fourth of the new company's subscribers should have a choice of operators within a few years, when Pacific Bell expands its network.
In the short-term, the big winner seems to be Times Mirror. Its shares rose nearly 12 percent in price as word of the deal spread, and the company said that, with the cash and plans for lower dividend pay outs, it will have billions to invest in "promising information businesses."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940606/Press Contact: Ellen East, Cox Cable 404-843-5854; Martha Goldstein, Times Mirror, 213-237-3727)
tha Goldstein, Times Mirror, 213-237-3727)
6/6/94
Cox, Times Mirror Merge Cable Operations
TELECOM
IDB Hopes The Bad News Is Past
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- The IDB Communications Group is fighting press reports that its days as a high flyer are past, following a rugged week, capped by the announcement of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation of the company.
Publicly, IDB spokesmen have noted that they had announced the SEC inquiry themselves, and that it's routine. "We asked the SEC about a disclosure concerning their inquiry and they said it was nothing material," a spokesman told Newsbytes. "We issued a press release noting their inquiry, to be ultra-conservative."
The SEC launched its inquiry following a decision by IDB's auditors Deloitte & Touche, to resign the account following a dispute over when revenue should be credited. The resignation caused the company's stock to lose half its value, which could hurt its growth efforts long-term since IDB has been relying on stock as its currency in acquisitions. In addition, shareholders have filed a class-action suit against the company, alleging that the company's managers mislead public shareholders about the firm's finances while selling their own stock.
Some suggest "bad karma" is at work. IDB chairman, Jeffrey Sudikoff, and company director, Joseph Cohen, recently bought 72 percent of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team from Bruce McNall, who has his own financial troubles. While a private matter, that deal too was roundly criticized.
According to IDB spokesmen, the trouble began with Deloitte's concerns over documents for revenues generated in the quarter ending in March for which IDB announced profits of over $8.8 million. IDB's documentation on those transactions still didn't satisfy Deloitte which resigned the account May 23.
IDB President Edward Cheramy said that the specific transactions involved dealings with British Telecommunications, and some bad debts. He called it a documentation issue, and spokesmen told Newsbytes that at worst, a reduction in IDB's first-quarter earnings will be reversed in its next earnings report, once the documentation is cleared up.
"The events of the past three days have not changed the underlying fundamentals of our growing business. In the first four months of 1994, our international call traffic rose more than 45% to an annualized rate of 404,000,000 minutes in April," commented Sudikoff in a prepared statement.
"We have cash and short term investments of over $54 million, long term debt to total capitalization of 38%, 150 international private line operating agreements, and over 50 international public switched voice agreements," he said.
"We are a vibrant and growing international telecommunications company. In the near future, we expect to retain a leading accounting firm to review our first quarter results and become our new auditors," he added.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940606/Press Contact: IDB Communications Group, Susan Rodney, 212/850-5600)
oup, Susan Rodney, 212/850-5600)
6/6/94
IDB Hopes The Bad News Is Past
TELECOM
Microsoft Ships DOS 6.22 With Ne
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Microsoft has released a version of its MS-DOS operating system that includes a new disk compression technology.
MS-DOS 6.22 includes Drivespace, a technology that replaces its earlier Doublespace program after a court determined that it violated the data compression patent of Stac Electronics, the publisher of Stacker, a data compression program.
The shipment of MS-DOS 6.22 culminates a 16-month battle between Microsoft and Stac. In January 1993 Stac sued Microsoft, alleging violation of its patents. A month later Microsoft countersued charging patent infringement by Stac. In May 1993 Stac cut 20 percent of its workforce, blaming that and lowered earnings on Microsoft.
In August 1993 a US District Court in Los Angeles denied an injunction against Stacker, saying the issue would have to be settled at trial. That trial, which ended in February of this year, awarded Stac $120 million, and gave Microsoft $13.7 million on the two companies respective lawsuits.
In April 1994 Microsoft started shipping MS-DOS 6.21, its disk operating system without data compression. Earlier this month a federal judge denied Microsoft's attempt to have Stacker pulled from retail shelves, and ordered Microsoft to withdraw or destroy any versions of MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 that hadn't already been sold.
The Drivespace technology included in the latest release of MS-DOS offers similar features to those in Doublespace, according to Microsoft. It also includes a revised ScanDisk, the utility that detects, diagnoses, and repairs disk errors on uncompressed drives, to support Drivespace. A feature called Doubleguard has been added that provides an extra layer of protection for data, says Microsoft.
Currently MS-DOS 6.22 is shipping to PC makers, and is expected to be available to users later this month. Microsoft will make available MS DOS 6.22 Upgrade for users of MS-DOS 2.11 or higher, and a Step-Up that allows licensed users of MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.2 to upgrade to the latest version. MS-DOS 6.22 has a suggested retail price of $77.95.
(Jim Mallory/19940606/Press contact: Colleen Lacter, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
Microsoft Corporation 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
6/6/94
Microsoft Ships DOS 6.22 With New Data Compression
New Add-Ons For Pagemaker 5.0
PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Extensis Corporation has announced the availability for Apple Computer Macintoshes of PageTools an integrated set of additions for Aldus Pagemaker 5.0.
PageTools is Extensis' first product and includes Pagebar Pagepreview, Pagethumb, Pagealign, Pagecolors, Pageprinter, Pagemover Pagerulers, Pageguides, and Pagezoom. Pagebar lets the user create customized menu bars. Pagepreview lets the user view the first five pages of any file or publication before opening it. Pagethumb meanwhile, offers a floating window in which the user can view other pages while working on the current page. Pagealign makes it easier to align objects.
Pagecolors lets the user selectively change the color of lines rectangles, ovals and text individually or as a group. Pageprinter lets the user preview and select pages before they are printed. Pagemover lets the user move selected objects like graphics or text to any page in the document without losing his or her place in the document.
Pagerulers provides the user with up to 40 floating horizontal and vertical rules for measurement of objects without affecting the anchored rules.
Pageguides makes it possible to add, delete, or duplicate all types of guides from any page in a publication, plus create guides for selected objects. Pagezoom allows the user to examine a portion of a page in fine detail while still working in the current layout view.
In some of the PageTools, changes can be transferred to page masters.
PageTools is currently available for Apple Macintosh computers. A Windows version is scheduled to ship in the fall of this year. PageTools has a suggested retail price of $169. To run the additions you need Pagemaker 5.0 and Apple's System 7 operating system software.
Enhancements such as PageTools is a new but growing market. According to Extensis total annual revenues for the desktop publishing market in 1993 reached over $300 million with nearly 600,000 desktop publishing programs sold. The total cumulative installed base of desktop publishing software is estimated to be over two million.
Aldus Corporation, the publisher of Pagemaker, is estimated to have about half of the worldwide desktop publishing application market. About half of those users are in the US. The Alliance Consulting Group estimates the installed base of desktop publishing programs will reach almost five million units by the end of 1996.
(Jim Mallory/19940606/Press contact: Bill Warner, Alliance Consulting Group for Extensis Corporation, 503-452-5920; Reader contact: Extensis Corporation, 503-274-2020, fax 503-274-0530)
503-274-2020, fax 503-274-0530)
6/6/94
New Add-Ons For Pagemaker 5.0
APPLE
Sprint-EDS Merger Off - It's Off
x WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Sprint and General Motors' EDS unit have announced they have suspended their merger discussions after failing to agree on how to value each others' operations.
The two companies are continuing to "explore other forms of a strategic relationship," with some sources suggesting that Sprint may be looking for new international partners to follow the BT/MCI initiative announced last year.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Sprint wanted 1.3 shares of EDS common for each share of their company, while EDS offered 1.1 shares. Hints of a breakdown in talks came earlier in the week when it was revealed Sprint was talking to Japanese, German, and French PTTs about a strategic investment. While refusing to confirm those discussions, Sprint had confirmed earlier it was discussing a merger or "other business combination" with EDS.
Sprint is the third-largest long distance company in the US, following AT&T and MCI, while EDS is the largest "outsourcing" firm, running the computer and communications operations of General Motors and others. EDS was acquired by GM in 1986, and GM's business still represents 39 percent of the company's revenues.
Both companies still need to make moves. EDS wants out of its GM merger and GM needs to fund a $22 billion shortfall in its pension plan. A combination of EDS and Sprint would have helped both companies, giving the former access to low-cost long distance links and the latter access to EDS' customer base.
But the two firms have very different corporate cultures and strong willed chiefs, William Esrey for Sprint and Les Alberthal for EDS. A few years ago, in what was billed a merger of equals, Sprint swallowed Centel, ignoring claims that Centel's management was superior to Sprint's own.
Sprint also needs to make a move. Esrey told shareholders at the company's annual meeting that international expansion is a "priority," and the company is being pressed hard, both from above by AT&T and MCI, and from below by LDDS-Metromedia, which recently made a bid to acquire WilTel which that company is still considering.
While both firms may see a compelling need to make strategic moves, it seems clear at this point that move will not be a merger between them.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940606/Press Contact: Sprint, Susan Krauss 202-828-7422; Tony Simonetti, General Motors, 212-418-6380)
imonetti, General Motors, 212-418-6380)
6/6/94
Sprint-EDS Merger Off - It's Official
TELECOM
Microsoft Summit - SMS (Hermes)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Microsoft's upcoming Systems Management Server (SMS), a product code-named Hermes, will use a SQL (Structured Query Language) Server for Windows NT to let organizations store and access information on client/server configurations distributed throughout the enterprise, officials said at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston.
"The promise of `client-server' has been to give computing to the masses. The problem has been management," explained Craig Davis Microsoft's regional systems marketing manager, and moderator of a session called "The Microsoft Approach to Client-Service Solutions."
SMS, which is currently in beta and "about ready for release," will reach beyond the "host-centric" emphasis of traditional network administration to bring systems management to the desktop level, Davis added.
SMS will also integrate with all SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)-based network management tools, and will be "fully compatible" with OLE (object-linking-and-embedding) 2.0, Microsoft officials said during the session.
"This product will allow you to manage the entire environment whether it be all the desktops or all the servers," Davis said.
Product functionality will encompass remote installation and distribution of software throughout the enterprise, in addition to hardware and software auditing, diagnostics, and help desk support according to the officials.
In a preview of "some of the functionality," Don Elliot, systems architect on Microsoft's SMS development team, showed how SMS will allow tech support staff to view detailed systems configuration information by "site," "domain," and "machine," to generate queries and to temporarily take over management of users' screens through remote control.
"The key thing to remember about SMS is that it will use a relational database, SQL Server for Windows NT, at the console level," Elliot told a large crowd of Microsoft customers who gathered for the conference at the World Trade Center in Boston.
SMS users will "be able to generate queries that say `Give me all the 486 systems that have the following parameters, and/or any of these objects,'" he explained.
Use of the relational database will also let organizations "architect the SMS product like their business models," he said. Various "entities" within the organization -- such as marketing manufacturing, and engineering, for example -- could be "given their own consoles" within the relational database, he added.
"These consoles could then become `children' to the `parent' (SQL Server database) at the MIS (management information systems) level," Elliot said.
SMS will support "Windows networking" as well as additional networking environments, including NetWare, Pathworks, and LAN (local area network) Manager for Unix, according to Elliot. The network operating environments can be managed as "lists of domains."
"In opening up a domain," he said, "you see a list of machines." For each machine in the domain, the user can view configuration "profiles." The configuration information includes operating system; type of network; PC BIOS; random access memory (RAM); interrupts; mouse; and serial, parallel, and video ports.
"How many of you have gotten a phone call saying, `I've fallen and I can't get up?'" he inquired. "The user adds, `I've just put a new card in my machine, and now it won't work.' You ask,`Do you remember what interrupt you put that on?' and (the user) responds, `Yeah, I put in on interrupt 3.' Well, now you can tell him, `That's your COM 2 port.'"
Elliot used a split-screen display to portray how SMS' remote control capability can be used to teach users about applications and techniques. "The user can watch me as I can through the steps," he said.
In addition to remote control, SMS will include capabilities for remote file transfer, remote reboot, remote execute, and "remote chat," the Microsoft official told the group.
Newsbytes notes that, in April, Microsoft and Sybase ended a seven year joint development relationship for Sybase's SQL Server.
At that time, Sybase regained control of System 10 and higher versions of SQL Server for various operating systems, including Unix, OpenVMS and Windows NT Advanced Server, and agreed to continue marketing the current Microsoft version of SQL Server for Windows NT Advanced Server during the transition.
Microsoft, which had been selling SQL Server for Windows NT and OS/2 under license from Sybase, gained the authority to independently develop and market new editions of the product based on Version 4.2.
Then, at Interop in May, Microsoft and Texas Instruments announced plans to develop an "enterprise repository" for Windows NT to utilize Microsoft's SQL Server and OLE 2.0 and TI's application development tools.
tact: Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 206-637-9097)
6/6/94
Microsoft Summit - SMS (Hermes) To Use SQL Server
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of
COMDEX - Singapore Company Relea
UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscri
Toshiba Multimedia Car Navigatio
Massively Parallel Processing Co
Delrina Signs Deals On Internet,
Japan - Computer News Briefs
Gateway 2000 PCs Bundle Software
Miros Intros Computer Face Recog
IBM Launches Wireless Networking
AT&T Announces WorldWorx Video S
IBM Offers Cyrix Chips In Its Bl
NECC - Educational Prgms Cross O
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- A special "Veterans' Bulletin Board" on Prodigy, launched just before Memorial Day to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day, has already received 20,000 letters from people of all ages.
"I can't spend more than a minute on the bulletin board and keep a dry eye," said Carol Wallace, Prodigy's program manager for communications.
The letters are being posted by veterans, in addition to students and other young people interested in obtaining first-hand accounts of the invasion of Normandy, according to Wallace. Veterans are writing about their World War II experiences, as well as announcing plans for local reunions.
In conjunction with the bulletin board, Prodigy is running "extensive eyewitness accounts and personal photos" in its news section, Wallace told Newsbytes. One eyewitness account is presented through a batch of letters is from a "D-Day pilot who didn't make it home."
The materials on D-Day are crossreferenced to extensive facts stored elsewhere in Prodigy, she added. If a veteran mentions the "B-26 Marauder," for example, users can access background information about the World War II fighter plane.
Prodigy intends to continue running the special bulletin board for the next three weeks, Wallace noted. "After that, we'll fold the bulletin board into our education section for access on a permanent basis."
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940606/Reader Contact: Prodigy, 800-PRODIGY; Press Contact: Lydia Trettis or Leslie Gray, Connors Communications for Prodigy, 212-995-2200)
ray, Connors Communications for Prodigy, 212-995-2200)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Adobe Systems and Aldus Corporation have moved the completion of their merger back to July 16 because of a request by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for more information. The two companies say the change is in order to allow additional pre-merger notification time as required by the Hart Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
Aldus spokesperson Brad Stevens told Newsbytes that the FTC has 20 days to request additional information once the initial notification of intent is filed. If the FTC does not comment in that period, the merger is clear to move forward, said Stevens.
In this case the FTC requested additional information. "(The delay) isn't surprising to us, given the voluminous amount of documents we supplied for them," said Stevens. He declined comment on whether the delay would cause any problems in completing the merger.
The change will apparently delay the shareholder meetings which were to be held in late June or early July. The companies announced a definitive merger agreement in mid-March in an exchange of common stock deal that is estimated to make the acquisition of Aldus worth about $500 million. The agreement also calls for payment of a breakup fee of an undisclosed amount of the deal doesn't go through.
Company executives say they don't expect any problem getting shareholders to approve the acquisition, which will create a company headquartered at Adobe's facility in Mountain View, California. Aldus president, founder, and major shareholder Paul Brainerd has said he will vote his shares in favor of the merger.
Aldus' flagship product is Pagemaker, a high-end desktop publishing program. Adobe publishes Postscript, a typeface program and last year introduced Acrobat, multi-platform software that lets the user view navigate and print electronic documents regardless of the file format in which they were created.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- America Online (AOL) has announced the addition of Wide Area Information Server (WAIS) and Gopher facilities to its Internet Center which is open to all members.
Gopher is a way of browsing extensive directories and text of organizations and individuals with Gopher servers. This menu-driven program is assisted by a second program, Veronica, for easier searching of the volumes of information. Gopher was developed at the University of Minnesota whose mascot is the gopher.
While the origin of the name Veronica is not so easily traced, the general concensus is that it was named in relation to another program called Archie. WAIS (pronounced WAYZ) is a tool that allows users to find articles based on a subject search of the user. With more than 500 databases available on the network, WAIS presents an attractive tool for managing one's time.
David O'Donnell, AOL Postmaster and Internet Center manager, told Newsbytes: "Gopher is like looking in the contents of a book and seeing what subjects are covered. WAIS, on the other hand, is like looking at the index of the same book to see if one can find a particular subject or topic."
AOL has combined these tools to allow AOL users to get acquainted with the Internet a bit more easily. Certain Gopher centers have been pre selected by AOL as "Editor's Choices" so that there is an easy starting point.
Steve Case, president and CEO of AOL, said that he believes there is a strong market for Internet services in a bundled and delivered form offered by AOL as compared to the often difficult management of Internet services through a standard Internet provider.
(Patrick McKenna/19940606/Press Contact: Pam McGraw, AOL, tel 703-3746)
ss Contact: Pam McGraw, AOL, tel 703-3746)
6/6/94
America Online Adds To Internet Services
TELECOM
Integrated Network Intros Multim
NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- With the trend towards the use of multimedia, companies are requiring increasingly complex tools to manage the various technologies involved. Now Integrated Network Corporation (INC) has announced a multimedia network switch with an architecture that the company claims works with a wide range of digital transfer protocols.
James Horton, a spokesman for the company, told Newsbytes that the initial target market is two-fold: "Video-on-demand, either telephone companies or cable companies; and any environment where there are multiple formats being used at the same time," he said.
The company says that the switch, called the Allendale Multimedia Network Switch, handles efficiently and simultaneously voice, data image and video traffic. Allendale transports TDM (time division multiplexing), frame relay, cell relay, and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). The switch is based on INC's Scalable Multimedia Network Architecture (SMNA) for distributed broadband networks.
Interestingly, INC says that it believes the public network will make the same transition from a centralized to a distributed architecture that the computer networking industry made in the 1980's, and that public networks of the 90s will be characterized by multiple overlay backbone networks, each optimized for a particular type of traffic from specific classes of applications.
Announcing the new switch, Andrew H. Chapman, executive vice president of INC, said: "The largest advantage to Allendale is that it is scalable. You can add switching capacity incrementally as customers subscribe to services."
According to the company, it designed the new switch "to keep start-up costs low and investments in multimedia aligned with revenues." The switch routes user information to the backbone network best suited to the user application. It uses the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and an Internet protocol engine that adapts foreign protocols. The switch also has redundant system components and hardware protection switching.
Continued Chapman: "The Allendale Multimedia Network Switch is modeled as a broadband networking server which provides layered communications services in packet and circuit modes. All system units convert user data into a standard microcell format. The cells are then transported on a high-speed, one gigabit-per-second bus. Receiving units retrieve individual cells from the bus then convert the data into appropriate physical and frame formats for transmission."
Horton told Newsbytes that the company is "taking orders now and shipping in August. He added that because of the multitude of possible configurations involved with the technology, there is no set pricing. Instead, the company says it is based on "customer configuration size, and distribution architecture."
(Ian Stokell/19940606/Press Contact: Valerie Rasines, Integrated Network, 908-218-1202; James L. Horton, Slater Hanft Martin for INC 212-674-3100)
L. Horton, Slater Hanft Martin for INC 212-674-3100)
BERLIN, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Hoping to appeal to small and medium-sized businesses, Cisco Systems has introduced Point and Click Internetworking, a technology that has been designed to allow users with limited experience to design, install and configure their router based networks using a single Windows-based personal computer (PC).
At the same time, the company has also announced the appointment of 10 new distributors across Europe to service the small- and medium- sized internetworking market.
The company says that Point and Click Internetworking is designed for users who need to interconnect office workgroups at up to 15 sites. It bundles two or more Cisco 2500 entry-level routers with a suite of PC software tools on three CD-ROMs that offer "step-by-step instructions" for interconnecting multiple remote sites. The program is initially aimed at users purchasing routers through its European resellers.
Announcing the program, Bruce Byrd, Cisco product marketing manager said: "Point and Click Internetworking addresses the needs of the small to medium-size user who typically buys products through reseller channels and wants a simple, cost-effective way to set up an internetwork."
"Up to now, vendors, in an effort to reduce the level of technical expertise required by customers, have focused mainly on remote- access products in large installations. This does nothing to help the smaller customer who is setting up an internetwork for the first time perhaps connecting a half dozen LAN (local area network) workgroups at different sites -- who isn't technically oriented and whose installation is based on the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), Novell IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) or AppleTalk protocols," he added.
The Cisco 2500 series is an entry-level router product line. The company claims to have shipped more than 20,000 units since its introduction in January.
Point and Click Internetworking's CD-PAC consists of three CD-ROMs. The first involves an Internetworking Overview, a tutorial on IP/IPX/AppleTalk internetwork design and installation along with descriptions of third-party offerings such as WAN (wide area network) services.
The second is an Installation Toolkit of PC-based tools, which includes the Cisco Configuration Builder, a graphical application that synchronizes Cisco router configurations across a network; a TCP/IP protocol software application that provides a TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) server and Telnet client. UniverCD contains the full Cisco router documentation library and enables users to search for topics by keyword.
Point and Click Internetworking will be available in August through the company's European reseller partners. The program will involve Point and Click Kits (PACKs) made up of Cisco 2500s and a CD-PAC. The Cisco 2500s are priced between $3,295 to $4,495 depending on interface configuration. Each PACK containing five or six Cisco 2500s comes with one CD-PAC free of charge. Each PACK containing two to four Cisco 2500s comes with one CD-PAC priced at $495. CD-PACs can be purchased separately for $995 each.
Meanwhile, Cisco's new European distribution channels involve: Frontline, Persona, and Unipalm in the UK; Omnilogic and Interquad in France; Ronin in the Netherlands; Algol in Italy; PC LAN in Sweden; NetCenter in Norway; and Computer 2000 in Germany.
Philippe Brawerman, vice president of European operations, commenting on the new agreements, said: "Traditionally routers have been sold to large blue chip organizations with a high degree of in-house technical internetworking expertise. Now, Cisco has produced a range of products and tools that make it easy even for non-specialists to exploit the benefits of internetworking."
"There are millions of smaller organizations - probably running from two to ten LANs in total - who want to exchange data electronically with other offices, customers and suppliers and who need the functionality that only routers can provide. By interconnecting multiple sites to allow transparent and free access to information these organizations will benefit from significant productivity gains and the resulting competitive advantage," he added.
Cisco Europe says it has made "internal organizational adjustments" to cater to the needs of this new channel, creating a new "high-volume products team" that has "direct experience" in the distribution market sector. The company has also also streamlined its order processing and implemented a new "high-volume support team" at its European technical assistance center) in Brussels.
(Ian Stokell/19940606/Press Contact: Jacqueline Brinker, 408-526-7598 Cisco Systems; Markus Badde, Cisco Systems Europe, 33-1-6918-61002)
Badde, Cisco Systems Europe, 33-1-6918-61002)
6/6/94
Cisco Offers Point & Click Internetworking
GENERAL
PCLawjr Offered For Windows
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- The Alumni Computer Group has announced the Windows version of PCLawjr, an office administration package for small to medium-sized law firms. According to the company the new Windows version of PCLawjr offers the same functions as the existing version for the DOS operating system, plus the graphical user interface of Windows.
Alumni also plans continue selling the DOS version of PCLawjr, which is "doing very well," a spokeswoman for the company told Newsbytes.
PCLawjr has modules for time billing, accounts receivable, general ledger, check writing, financial statements, management reports, and trust accounting. The software uses the one-write accounting system which is favored in smaller operations. According to company officials, lawyers always see current information because the software updates all journals and ledgers automatically as entries are made.
The software also offers a choice of billing formats, as many as five billing rates for each attorney, a management report package, and a mortgage amortization program.
The software sells for US$295 for firms with up to five timekeepers or US$580 for up to 10. Users of the DOS version can upgrade for US$95, the spokeswoman said. PCLawjr is available in the United States and Canada.
(Grant Buckler/19940606/Press Contact: Jodi Perkins, S&S Public Relations for Alumni, tel 708-291-1616, fax 708-291-9083; Public Contact: Alumni Computer Group, tel 800-387-9785)
uter Group, tel 800-387-9785)
6/6/94
PCLawjr Offered For Windows
FAA Slashes Computer Control; La
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cancelled and restructured parts of the multi-billion dollar contract Loral holds to upgrade the nation's air traffic control computer systems. The result will be significant layoffs in Loral's new federal system division, acquired from IBM late last year, Newsbytes has learned.
According to the FAA, the move will save "hundreds of millions of dollars." But Loral was able to rescue the biggest part of the contract, new computer workstations used in 21 centers to guide traffic flowing between major cities.
Loral Chairman Bernard Schwartz said: "We have spent the last five months re-examining the program, which we acquired from IBM in December 1993. We knew going in that major changes were necessary. The changes which we have worked diligently to formulate with the FAA will produce an enroute and tower air traffic control system that will carry America into the twenty-first century."
While the government has already spent more than $1 billion on the workstation project, an independent review recommended starting from scratch, because there are so many flaws in the software written by IBM. After listening to Loral's case, the FAA decided to conduct a three-month review of the software instead.
Schwartz said that Loral will be "a full member" of the review team. He said he was sure Loral would keep the workstation contract and it would bring in "well over $1 billion" in future work. Large parts of the air traffic control system, know as the Advanced Automation System or AAS, are now up for grabs following the FAA's decision.
The FAA said it will take bids on replacing the computer systems at "terminal" facilities, which are the air traffic control centers near airports. The agency said it wants to push off-the-shelf technology for these system.
The FAA has also said it will bid out parts of the project aimed at new mainframe computers and software, adding that it will reduce from 150 to 70 the number of airport towers getting upgrades.
The FAA has not disclosed how much it would pay Loral in cancellation fees. And while FAA Administrator David Hinson said the project has gone overbudget several times, the agency refused to give a new budget estimate.
In a prepared statement, Loral said it is "preparing a plan for personnel reductions to reflect the revised program requirements which will be announced as soon as possible."
(Kennedy Maize/19940606/Contact: Gerard Corbett, Loral, tel 212-697 1105)
ontact: Gerard Corbett, Loral, tel 212-697 1105)
6/6/94
FAA Slashes Computer Control; Layoffs At Loral
FCC Revising Spectrum Rules For
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) s expected to announce significant changes in the next week on the way it will divide up the radio spectrum for personal communications systems (PCS).
PCS is a generic term used by the communications industry to decscribe the new generation of digital mobile phones that make more effective use of the radio spectrum than conventional analog phones.
Plans call for the FCC to then auction the spectrum to the highest bidders starting later this summer with narrowband licenses or enhanced paging. The FCC's original plan for parcelling out the spectrum, adopted last September, drew howls of protest and some 67 formal petitions for changes.
The FCC is now expected to adopt a proposal from Motorola for a single 120 megahertz (MHz) section of the spectrum for any location. Under Motorola's approach, the commission would then offer three 30MHz licenses and three 10MHz licenses at each location.
The FCC's September plan would have forced bidders to buy different pieces of the spectrum and then cobble together a full system. An FCC official told Newsbytes that the Motorola proposal, or something very much like it, "is almost a shoo-in." Motorola's proposal has credibility, says the official, because it has interests in all of the technologies that will be competing for licenses. The official said the FCC has been getting lobbied heavily on the plan. "The Gucci group has moved from Congress to down here," he said.
The new plan for splitting the spectrum is also expected to save consumer money. Motorola argued that handsets would be 25 percent more expensive under the September plan than under the new one.
Once the auction begins, the FCC has estimated that it could raise as much as $10 billion in winning bids. But the FCC's record for crystal ball gazing isn't very good. It vastly underestimated the market for cellular phones when it issued licenses in the 1980s.
(Kennedy Maize/19940606/Press Contact: Rosemary Kimball, FCC, tel 202 632-5050; Consumer Contact: Patti Grace Smith, tel 202-632-0260; Small Business Contact: John Winston, tel 202-632-1571)
tact: John Winston, tel 202-632-1571)
6/6/94
FCC Revising Spectrum Rules For PCS
Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, S
REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- Troubled Communication Intelligence Corporation (CIC), known for its handwriting recognition tablet hardware for Microsoft Windows, has announced it is cutting back its work force by 12 percent and reducing staff salaries. The company, which recently saw its first quarter of black ink in five years, says it is attempting to reduce operating costs and conserve cash.
Sold on the notion that handwriting recognition will increase in popularity for desktop computers, CIC has thrown nearly all its resources at the Handwriter writing tablet product. Sales across all product lines, including its Windows and Macintosh versions, are at about 12,000 units, the company said. While the sales helped boost first quarter revenues 46 percent to $1.7 million, CIC (NASDAQ: CICI) was still haemorrhaging to the tune of $2.8 million due to expenses associated with the launch of the Handwriter product line.
Now the company will layoff 12 percent of its work force of 150 leaving about 132 employees. All of the layoffs are in the US, even though the company has offices in Tokyo, Japan and Nanjing, China company officials told Newsbytes.
The Redwood Shores, California headquartered company is offering those who survive the layoffs incentives to accept what it is calling temporary salary reductions until it can get $3 to $5 million in financing.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940606/Press Contact: Anne Butler, Communication Intelligence Corporation, tel 415-802-7713, fax 415-802-4777)
tion, tel 415-802-7713, fax 415-802-4777)
6/6/94
Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, Salaries
BUSINESS
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Pub
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. The photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board systems in Minneapolis and in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
All photos are in JPEG format with PICT files for thumbnails. The photo 'tag' numbers: title/year/month/day. The JPEG and PICT indicators are 'jpg' and 'pct'. Slides are no longer enlarged.
APPLE PHOTO POLICY: An 'Apple Computers' courtesy, along with the photographer's name is to be printed when an Apple Computer photo is used. The bulletin will indicate this. Unless otherwise noted all Apple product shots; courtesy Apple.
Week of JUNE 6 - JUNE 10,1994
ADOBE940524 - Color from slide / screen shot of Illustrator 5.5.
Epson940517 - Color from slide / view of the new Epson Stylus color printer, based on piezo technology.
LOGAN940526 - B&W from print / shot of 'Number Nine' the hit robot of the recent DB/Expo.
MEDIOa940531 - Color from slide / screen shot from the interactive cd rom 'Medio Magazine' by Medio.
MEDIOb940531 - Color from slide / screen shot from the interactive cd rom 'World Beat' by Medio.
SKBOSSES940518 - B&W from photo / shot of SoftKey execs surrounded by software. (left) Kevin O'Leary president = (right) David Patrick vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.
R'SHACK940527 - B&W from photo / shot of service tech working on camcorder.
Amdahl940527 - B&W from photo / shot of Xplorer 2000 Model 100 database server.
NuPBook940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook Duo 280.
NuPBook*940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook 540.
PYRAMID940526 - Color from transparency / the Pyramid 'Nile' server.
MAXIS940523 - Color from slide / screen shot of PrintArtist work.
ECLIPSE940509 - B&W from photo / shot of Eclipse FAX package.
ADOBE940523 - Color from slide / shot of Dimensions program at work.
IDENTITY940523 - Color from slide / view of the liquid proof keyboard with, OH NO!!, coffee being spilled onto the keyboard.
PHOENIX940426 - B&W from photo / view of the CD Essentials package.
PHONE940510 - Color from slide / view of man (frame right) on phone set attached to PC, using the InterActive Communicator.
NOTEFLEX940518 - B&W from photo / view of the Zenith Data NoteFlex notebook computer. For scale; a cell phone, pen & coins frame left.
FtrTel940511 - Color from photo / shot of 'PrimeView' card.
DECPC940517 - B&W from photo / shot of the DECpc LPx+ 400 one of the new 'Green Line' pcs meeting EPA 'Energy Star' guidelines.
ALDUS940517 - Color from slide / screenshot of TypeTwister at work.
P'Tel940512 - B&W from photo / shot of presenter at the PictureTel podium, where screen can be seen.
Prince940506 - Color from artwork / The 'glyph' which now serves as Prince's nom de plum.
HuntHaft940425 - B&W from photo / portrait shot of Ms Hunt-Haft Managing Director, Claris Canada, Inc.
(Newsbytes/19940606)
ris Canada, Inc.
(Newsbytes/19940606)
6/6/94
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers
GENERAL
Newsbytes Daily Summary
$LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 6 (NB) -- These are the capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> PPCP Offers PCMCIA Facilities Card For Non-PCMCIA PCs 06/06/94 PPCP, the portable products distributor, has announced the Cardport ISA (industry standard architecture), a PC half card from Chase Advanced Technologies in the UK, which offers two PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international association) slots on desktop PCs that do not feature slots as a native facility.
2 -> Microsoft Australia Launches "Software To Go" 06/06/94 In what is claimed to be the largest software promotion in Australia Microsoft has introduced three packages -- Home Pack, Office Pack and PowerPack -- aimed at taking the worry out of choosing PC software. The packs are designed for home and office users.
3 -> Intel & Telecom Australia To Co-Develop Products 06/06/94 Intel Australia and Telecom Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding that will form the basis for joint development in the fields of audio, data and video desktop applications.
4 -> Ontime Scheduler Will Add Telephone Integration 06/06/94 Campbell Services has announced some new telephony services it is adding to its group scheduling program OnTime for Windows.
5 -> UK - Aashima To Handle Software 06/06/94 Aashima, a PC hardware distributor, has announced it is moving into software sales. The Witham-based company has agreed to handle Windows based applications from Toplevel, distributing the packages to its 1,800-plus resellers.
6 -> Mobile Data On The Up And Up - UK Report 06/06/94 According to a report just issued by Ovum, the market research company, the total number of mobile data subscribers in Europe and North America is expected to multiply 25 times over between now and the end of the decade, pushing the subscriber base towards the 18 million-plus mark.
7 -> VTEL Makes Distance Learning Sale To Mississippi 06/06/94 VTEL, the third-largest videoconferencing system supplier in the US has secured a prestigious contract with the State of Mississippi. Terms of the contract call for VTEL to supply 17 of its MediaConferencing systems to the state's community collages.
8 -> "Try Before You Buy" Software Offer From AT&T Multimedia 06/06/94 The Multimedia Software division of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) has announced it is offering free copies of RIO Desktop, its DOS-based illustration, design, and image creation software program on a "try before you buy" basis.
9 -> Apple Australia Intros Schools Software Licensing 06/06/94 A new program from Apple Australia has been designed to make licensing of the company's software easier and less expensive for Australian schools.
10 -> UK - Apricot MD Warns On Information Highway 06/06/94 Dr Peter Horne, Apricot Computers' group managing director, has warned UK businesses that the world is on the brink of a new industrial revolution, occasioned by the arrival of the information superhighway.
11 -> Apple UK Intros "Dead Or Alive" PC Trade In Program 06/06/94 Apple Computer UK has announced a "dead or alive" trade in program for educational sector buyers of its Power Mac machines. Under the scheme any bona fide educational buyer, many of whom already qualify for a substantial discount, can trade in his/her PC, whether working or not and get up to a further UKP 400 discount.
12 -> Taligent Offers PEEK Developer Training Program 06/06/94 Taligent, the Apple-IBM joint venture application software tools development company, has starting shipping early editions of its object-oriented Taligent Application Environment (TalAE) package to a select group of developers working in the IBM AIX operating system environment.
13 -> Delrina Signs Deals On Internet & Wireless Fronts 06/06/94 Delrina has signed deals with two US companies -- MobileComm and CommTouch -- to give it footholds in the world of wireless communications and Internet electronic mail.
14 -> Preview Of Windows World Expo In Tokyo 06/06/94 IDG World Expo Japan has announced that next week's Windows World Expo Tokyo, scheduled to be held at the Makuhari Messe on June 15/17, will be the largest show of its type.
15 -> Cox, Times Mirror Merge Cable Operations 06/06/94 Cox Enterprises and Times Mirror has decided to merge their cable operations into a new public company, which will be the third-largest cable operator in the US with 3.1 million subscribers. Previously, Cox was the sixth largest US cable operator, and Times Mirror the 10th largest.
16 -> IDB Hopes That The Bad News Is Past 06/06/94 The IDB Communications Group is fighting press reports that its days as a high flyer are past, following a rugged week, capped by the announcement of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation of the company.
17 -> ****Microsoft Ships DOS 6.22 With New Data Compression 06/06/94 Microsoft has released a version of its MS-DOS operating system that includes a new disk compression technology.
18 -> Extensis Ships Mac Additions For Pagemaker 5.0 06/06/94 Extensis Corporation has announced the availability for Apple Mac computers of PageTools, an integrated set of additions for Aldus Pagemaker 5.0.
19 -> ****Sprint-EDS Merger Is Off - Official 06/06/94 Sprint and General Motors' EDS unit have announced they have suspended their merger discussions after failing to agree on how to value each others' operations.
20 -> ****Microsoft Summit - SMS (Hermes) To Use SQL Server 06/06/94 Microsoft's upcoming Systems Management Server (SMS), a product codenamed Hermes, will use a SQL (Structured Query Language) Server for Windows NT to let organizations store and access information on client/server configurations distributed throughout the enterprise officials said at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston.
21 -> ****Prodigy's "D-Day Bulletin Board" Gets 20,000 Letters 06/06/94 A special "Veterans' Bulletin Board" on Prodigy, launched just before Memorial Day to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day, has already received 20,000 letters from people of all ages.
22 -> FTC Asks For More Info On Aldus-Adobe 06/06/94 Adobe Systems and Aldus Corporation have moved the completion of their merger back to July 16 because of a request by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for more information. The two companies say the change is in order to allow additional pre-merger notification time as required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
23 -> America Online Adds To Internet Services 06/06/94 America Online (AOL) has announced the addition of Wide Area Information Server (WAIS) and Gopher facilities to its Internet Center which is open to all members.
24 -> Integrated Network Intros Multimedia Network Switch 06/06/94 With the trend towards the use of multimedia, companies are requiring increasingly complex tools to manage the various technologies involved. Now Integrated Network Corporation (INC) has announced a multimedia network switch with an architecture that the company claims works with a wide range of digital transfer protocols.
25 -> Cisco Offers "Point & Click Internetworking" 06/06/94 Hoping to appeal to small and medium-sized businesses, Cisco Systems has introduced Point and Click Internetworking, a technology that has been designed to allow users with limited experience to design install and configure their router-based networks using a single Windows-based personal computer (PC).
26 -> PCLawjr Offered For Windows 06/06/94 The Alumni Computer Group has announced the Windows version of PCLawjr, an office administration package for small to medium-sized law firms. According to the company, the new Windows version of PCLawjr offers the same functions as the existing version for the DOS operating system, plus the graphical user interface of Windows.
27 -> FAA Slashes Computer Control; Layoffs At Loral 06/06/94 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cancelled and restructured parts of the multi-billion dollar contract Loral holds to upgrade the nation's air traffic control computer systems. The result will be significant layoffs in Loral's new federal system division acquired from IBM late last year, Newsbytes has learned.
28 -> FCC Revising Spectrum Rules For PCS 06/06/94 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) s expected to announce significant changes in the next week on the way it will divide up the radio spectrum for personal communications systems (PCS).
29 -> Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, Salaries 06/06/94 Troubled Communication Intelligence Corporation (CIC), known for its handwriting recognition tablet hardware for Microsoft Windows, has announced it is cutting back its work force by 12 percent and reducing staff salaries. The company, which recently saw its first quarter of black ink in five years, says it is attempting to reduce operating costs and conserve cash.
30 -> NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers 06/06/94 These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. The photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board systems in Minneapolis and in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
(Steve Gold/19940606)
(Steve Gold/19940606)
6/6/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Aldus Corporation has announced Aldus Chartmaker, a software program that lets the user incorporate charts into files created in any standard Macintosh application, including those published by companies other than Aldus.
Aldus says Chartmaker is an object linking and embedding (OLE) module that can be used with any word processing, spreadsheet illustration, page layout or design application to add two dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) charts.
The company says Chartmaker is the first in a series of modular software products, called Aldus Accessory Products, it will release over the next 12 months. Each module will focus on a single function or task to add features to a host application.
Chartmaker offers 84 separate 2-D and 3-D chart types as well as an array of special effects. In addition to bar, line and pie graphs chartmaker can produce radar, polar, spectral map, histogram bubble, and open/close charts. A library of thumbnail images lets the user select the desired chart type. Chart types can be changed after creation with a mouse-click.
The attributes of an object can be displayed at the click of a mouse. An eyedropper tool can pick up an object's color so it can be applied to another object, and the special effects palette lets the user apply custom gradients or graduated fills to individual objects. Textures and bitmap graphics can be added to a background or a single chart element for emphasis, and 3-D images can be rotated, tilted, scaled and the perspective changed. A custom designed chart template can be saved in the gallery for future use.
Once a chart is complete using chartmaker, it can be placed in an OLE-compliant application using Publish/Subscribe, OLE or the Macintosh Clipboard. Charts are printed using the host application.
Recommended system requirements for the Macintosh version include an Apple Mac IIcx or better, Centris, LC III, Powerbook 160 or greater or a Quadra computer. You should have four megabytes (MB) of memory, 8MB of available hard drive space, and operating system System 7.0 or later. Aldus says Chartmaker will work on a Mac II or IIx, Classic II or Color Classic, LC or LC II, Powerbook 140 or 145 equipped with 2MB of available memory, 8MB of available hard disk space and system 7.0 or later.
The Mac version of Chartmaker is shipping now, with a suggested retail price of $149. The company says it plans to ship a Windows version at a later date.
Accessory Products are aimed at graphics and business professionals who need to produce high-quality graphics, including users of desktop publishing software such as Aldus Pagemaker.
Chartmaker is one of a growing line of products that specialize in performing one or just a few tasks within a host application. Some analysts predict that will be the trend in software in the coming years, replacing feature-rich programs.
The trend could see software publishers marketing programs as building blocks, with consumers purchasing only the features they need to build their applications, instead of programs with features which they do not need.
"A product such as Chartmaker represents one of the first steps in making this a reality," said Kerri McConnell, product manager for the Aldus Accessory Products family.
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- OrCAD, a leading supplier of personal computer (PC)-based electronic design automation (EDA) software, says it is releasing three upgraded products for DOS, a new product for the Microsoft Windows graphical environment, and a new direct sales and distribution arm.
The upgraded DOS products are: Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 386 Layout Tools; Verification and Simulation Tools (VST) 386+; and Schematic Design Tools (SDT) 386+. With the upgrade of these three design products, the company says it has not upgraded its entire 32-bit product line for DOS. It previously introduced Programmable Logic Design (PLD) 386+, in February, and a new Placement and Critical Route (PCR) 386+ product in March.
The just introduced versions support new display, printer and plotter drivers, and the network compatibility among the tools has been greatly improved, the company claims.
The PCB Layout Tools provide printed circuit board design specialists with everything needed to take a board design from netlist to manufacturing output, according to the company.
The product offers features such as expanded ratsnesting, so the user has the optimum routing path displayed at all times and can shape any trace or automatically create traces out of ratsnest lines, and design reuse. The rubberbanding follows the drawing ground rules for 90 degree or 45 degree arc corners or any angle drawing
Reuse has also been added so users can start from boards already designed or just reuse sections. Nets can be renamed, so that users can change entire nets on-line, connect nets at the board level, or create new net designations.
A prefix can be added to a net or group of nets, enabling the user to meld multiple boards into one board without mixing net names. Also, PCB 386+ has continuously enclosed zones that are object definitions, allowing those zones to be moved and shaped to fit any situation, claims the company.
Third party software vendors, such as Cooper & Chan Technology are offering additional capability to OrCad PCB 386+ products. Cooper & Chan's Shape-Based autorouters reportedly speed routing of extremely dense boards. Router Solutions is offering bi directional translators so customers can move board designs done in other PCB design products to and from OrCAD products. Hyperlynx offers LineSim Pro V3 and BoardSim, so signal simulation can be done during the design stage to avoid costly board rework time.
VST 386+ offers functional and timing simulation tool for digital designs including CPLDs and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The new release supports timing simulation of boards with multiple Xilinx and Actel FPGAs mixed with transistor transistor logic (TTL) and other parts from the extensive VST 386+ simulation parts library. The company said the product is now more tightly integrated with SDT 386+ and is supported by the major FPGA vendors, including Xilinx and Actel.
Schematic design tool, SDT 386+, is the most widely used according to the company. The new version allows both the output and input of schematics in plain text or ASCII format which greatly extends the tool's editing capability, says the company. The ability to send engineering change orders to layout has been expanded to include PADS layout tools as well as OrCAD's PCB 386+. Printing and plotting capabilities have been expanded to increase capacity as well as speed. In addition, part lists can now be exported to databases and spreadsheets for creation of custom bills of materials, the company said.
Further, the company is hoping it can capture the Windows schematic design market. It claims it already has the majority of the DOS market. The company has just announced the OrCAD Design Desktop for Windows, the company's suite of graphical products. The first of these products is OrCAD Capture for Windows, the Windows' equivalent of OrCAD's SDT for DOS product.
Capture for Windows offers new features such as: point-and-click selection of objects for editing; an object-oriented database that is electrically intelligent offering user-named properties on library parts, part instances, and nets and pins; import and export capability; all utilities online; context-sensitive commands; and tasks such as printing, plotting, or the generation of a materials list bill to be done interactively.
The new DOS products will be available in the US and Europe by June 30 through OrCAD's new distribution arm, OrCAD Direct. US pricing is $2,495 for PCB 386+ Layout Tools, $1,995 for the VST 386+ product, and $895 for SDT 386+ (which includes a free upgrade to the newly announced Capture for Windows product when it ships.)
The Design Desktop for Windows will be released in stages. OrCAD Capture for Windows will be released first in November of this year at a retail price of $995, the company said. Other Windows products are expected for release in the third and fourth quarters of 1994, but OrCAD officials were unavailable to comment on those products.
Product purchases include one year of technical support, access to the OrCAD bulletin board system, and a one-year subscription to the company's technical newsletter, called The Pointer.
In a change of sales strategy, OrCAD Direct, headquartered in its Beaverton, Oregon location, has replaced its value-added reseller (VAR) channel in the US. However, the new distribution channel will not replace the company's international VAR channels. A toll-free number is offered by OrCAD Direct for customer information, ordering, and upgrades, and order fulfillment will be offered by the new marketing arm as well.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940606/Press Contact: Abbie Kendall, OrCAD tel 503-671-9500, fax 503-671-9501; Public Contact: OrCAD Direct 800-671-9505)
Public Contact: OrCAD Direct 800-671-9505)
6/7/94
OrCAD Intros New DOS/Windows EDA Products
DoE & Cray Launch Industrial Com
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- The Department of Energy and Cray Research, along with 16 other firms, are launching a $52 million program to push supercomputing.
Two of DOE's national laboratories, Lawrence Livermore in California and Los Alamos in New Mexico, will put up a total of $26 million, DOE spokeswoman Amber Jones told Newsbytes. Cray will put in $16 million, and the other 16 firms a total of $10 million.
The funds will be used for joint research projects through government "cooperative research and development awards." According to Jones, some of the other companies involved include Amoco, Alcoa, AT&T, Boeing, Hughes Aircraft, and Schlumberger.
Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary and John Carlson, Cray's chief executive officer, are kicking off the industrial computing initiative at a Washington press conference, where they will demonstrate several industrial applications.
One demonstration will show how supercomputers can improve oil exploration through better reservoir modeling. Another will show how restoring sites contaminated by chemicals and radiation can be improved by modeling groundwater flow. A third will show how supercomputers can lead to more efficient and cleaner internal combustion engines.
DOE says the program "will strengthen the competitiveness of the supercomputing industry and update the scientific computing capabilities of the laboratories." Underlying the project, however is a move by O'Leary to try to find something constructive for the agency's multi-billion dollar national labs to do, according to veteran analysts of the agency.
"The labs were born for one purpose - bombs," said one long-time observer of DOE. "Now the big question is whether they can do anything else. The jury is out on that one."
(Kennedy Maize/19940606/Contact: Amber Jones, DOE 202-586-5806)
ze/19940606/Contact: Amber Jones, DOE 202-586-5806)
6/7/94
DoE & Cray Launch Industrial Computing Initiative
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
Reuters Announces Two New Media
Pennsylvania Network Offers Free
Software AG Launches Insight Con
Accessing Internet For Afro-Amer
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
Micrografx's Free Business Graph
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At
GEnie Now Does Windows
US Multimedia Quadruples, Contin
UK - Dataquest Places US Robotic
Microsoft, Stac Settle Patent Di
Correction - Sidekick For Window
CES - Digital Technology Creates
AP's Video News Service Targeted
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- The Associated Press will market APTV, its upcoming video news service, to newspapers and radio stations as well as TV stations, said Jim Williams, VP and director of AP's Broadcast Division, in an interview with Newsbytes.
As previously reported in Newsbytes, AP recently signed a multi-million dollar contract with Sony to install, engineer and support a London news feed and global network that will support APTV, and to outfit AP news bureaus with electronic news gathering equipment.
Williams told Newsbytes that APTV will complement AP's existing services, which include audio, still photos, and TV graphics, in addition to text-based news.
"We are a news gathering organization," he explained. "As such, we offer media companies what they need. We will continue to do so in the future, whether it be fax, audiotext, multimedia, or whatever other needs arise out of the convergence of technology."
AP's TV graphics service is the largest in the industry, with a customer base that includes all three major TV networks in the US along with 250 local stations, Williams maintained.
The stations download the graphics from a searchable database after viewing low resolution "postage stamp" versions of the images, he reported. The postage stamps are displayed 16 to a screen.
Williams also noted that, in another recent announcement, AP has unveiled plans to add a 24-hour "news radio" service to its hourly audio news offerings.
The AP intends to launch APTV on November 1. The AP's new video service will employ "professional quality" Sony ENG video cameras and edit and feed backs for covering breaking new stories.
AP bureaus in major news centers will be supplied with Sony Betacam cameras, fly-away packs, and editing and field equipment. Other bureaus will be provided with Sony Hi-8 format cameras and editing and field equipment.
The AP and Sony are not disclosing financial terms of their deal or the amount of equipment involved. As previously reported by Newsbytes, the agreement is the second largest in Sony's history exceeded only by the $50 million deal that Sony signed with Hughes Direct TV last year, according to a Sony spokesperson.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940606/Reader and Press Contact: Evelyn Cassidy, Associated Press, 202-736-1152; Reader Contact: Sony Electronics, 800-635-SONY; Press Contacts: Gerrie Schmidt, Sony Electronics, 201-930-7454; Richard Schineller, Technology Solutions for Sony, 212-605-9900)
chineller, Technology Solutions for Sony, 212-605-9900)
6/7/94
AP's Video News Service Targeted At Media Companies
TRENDS
Canadian Product Launch Update
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: Claris Organizer for the Apple Macintosh.
Toronto-based Claris Canada, announced Claris Organizer, a personal information manager for the Apple Macintosh (Newsbytes, May 31). Claris Organizer will be available in Canada this summer, the company said, with an introductory suggested retail price of C$69 until Sept. 30, rising to C$129 after that.
(Grant Buckler/19940606/Press Contact: Susan Taylor, Atkins & Ellis for Claris Canada, tel 416-368-6880; Joan Wilson, Claris Canada, tel 416-941-9611, fax 416-941-9532; Public Contact: Claris Canada, tel 416-941-9611)
Claris Canada, tel 416-941-9611)
6/7/94
Canadian Product Launch Update
GENERAL
Internet's Virtual Computer Stor
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- The Internet Shopping Network (ISN) computer shopping center is up and running on the Internet, presenting some 15,000 software and hardware products from both large and small companies.
ISN allows anyone to visit the shopping center for free, but to purchase, a user will have to become a member of ISN. This membership is merely a free registration which also involves the validation of an approved MasterCard or Visa card, which will be used to charge purchases.
"This is very much like a television shopping network or a catalog means of shopping, as regards to the method of payment," said Randy Adams, founder and president of ISN. "Thousands of safe and secure payments are done this way everyday. The responsibility of the company is to make sure that all credit identification codes are protected at all times," he said.
ISN also announced the inclusion of an electronic version of InfoWorld. This new service will provide users with product reviews and articles relating to computer products. "It is our hope that this electronic edition of InfoWorld will give our users more reliable information to guide their buying decisions. We are providing the past 12 months of editions for members to search," continued Adams.
When asked why a user would prefer ISN over a superstore, Adams said, "It is our policy to provide the lowest price possible. Whenever possible, we will undercut the streetprice of any product. And we should be able to do that because this new way of sales and marketing offers 24-hour shopping, much lower advertising costs no need for shelf-space, no shoplifting and immediate processing within 15 minutes of receiving an order."
ISN works on a profit margin of five to eight percent which compares well to the twenty and higher percentages of most stores. Randy Adams is projecting $10 million in sales for 1994 with an eye on $100 million in the near future.
(Patrick McKenna/19940606/Press Contact: Patrick Corman, Internet Shopping Network, tel 415-326-9648; Public information, e-mail info@internet.net; Mosaic URL access, http://shop.internet.net)
L access, http://shop.internet.net)
6/7/94
Internet's Virtual Computer Store
TELECOM
Hong Kong Welcomes Compuserve's
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Video game players in Hong Kong now have a direct connection to fellow players and game publishers all over the world through Compuserve Hong Kong's Video Games Forum and Video Game Publishers Forum.
Using these new forums, Compuserve Hong Kong members can preview new games, talk strategy and receive hints, tips and shortcuts on their favorite games, similar to the Special Interest Round Tables on Genie.
The Video Games Forum (type GO VIDGAMES), is an on-line special interest group for users of Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, 3DO Multiplayer, Atari Jaguar, Philips CD-I and other game consoles. Players can discuss various games hardware and exchange reviews commentary and playing tips with fellow enthusiasts.
"All of this may seem 'old hat' to information network users in the US," one local IT (information technology) industry veteran told Newsbytes, "but this part of the world has been starved of information network access for many years. The only accessible services have involved unbelievable international telecom charge loadings and consequently have not been very popular."
He continued: "Even Genie took years to get here, and now it is only available on an 'agency' basis which includes an overseas call recovery loading and hence both Compuserve and Genie remain very costly. None-the-less, the situation is slowly improving."
The Video Game Publishers Forum (type GO VIDPUB), provides on-line support from well known game publishers, as well as news, product announcements, game codes, screen samples, and sound files.
"A major issue for video game players is whether or not their hardware will run different publishers' games," said Peggy Scott general manager for Compuserve Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Hutchison Information Services. "Through Compuserve Hong Kong players can get the latest news on this and other subjects and really make the most of the gaming technology they already have."
She concluded: "Just like other computer users, video game players want to know about compatibility. Now they can get all their information immediately from one source and do not need to go through piles of publications to find out if their console can be used for a new game."
CompuServe members in Hong Kong pay a monthly fee of HK$158 (US$20) which allows access to 70 basic services at HK$1.30/minute (US$0.17). Members can also access extended services for HK$1.93/ minute (US$0.24) at 2,400 baud and HK$2.55/minute (US$0.32) at 9,600 baud.
(Keith Cameron 19940607 Press Contact: Jean Ng, Hutchison 852-599-2788)
607 Press Contact: Jean Ng, Hutchison 852-599-2788)
6/7/94
Hong Kong Welcomes Compuserve's Video Game Forums
TELECOM
Legent Buys Lachman Technology
HERNDON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Legent Corp., a supplier of distributed computing software and services, has bought privately-held Lachman Technology Inc., of Naperville Ill., for about $15 million.
Lachman develops storage management and networking software for various versions of the Unix operating system. The company has 60 employees and reported revenues of just over $8 million in 1993.
Lachman will remain as a separate division of Legent for the time being, Legent spokeswoman Kathleen Janson told Newsbytes. There will be no changes in management or staff at Lachman, she added.
The transaction is to be accounted for as a pooling of interests with the current shareholders of privately-held Lachman receiving 500,000 shares of Legent common stock. Legent stock closed at $31.50 on the NASDAQ trading system Monday.
Legent officials said the deal continues the company's strategy of creating a storage product line running from desktop computers to mainframes, while also bringing the company expertise in networking.
Lachman has a line of storage management products called Open Storage Manager (OSM), including client and server management components. The company also supplies networking technology to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the Unix field. Its network products include its Streamware line of network management and protocol software.
Legent said it plans to produce a version of Open Storage Manager, which is currently sold to OEMs, for the end-user market by early next year.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Knowledgeware Inc. has announced a software tool for personal computers (PCs) that graphically maps how work flows through a company and how organizational units relate to one another.
Called Maxim, the Windows-based software can identify and define a company's basic business operations in preparation for the development of new systems. The process is known as "business process reengineering."
According to Knowledgeware President and Chief Operating Officer Donald Addington, "Maxim is a leading edge tool that will allow organizations to fundamentally understand who they are and how they want to conduct business."
A workflow diagrammer in Maxim shows the sequence of activities included in a process, the organizations involved in those activities, and the information or work that flows as part of the process.
Maxim's workflow diagrams are designed to help users discover dependencies and bottlenecks in process flows by graphically displaying both organizations and processes in the same diagram and mapping their interaction. The user can then define "what if" scenarios of potential changes to the processes and see the impact of those changes.
Time and cost measurements can be associated with each process step. Those measurements can then be exported to spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 for further analysis. Any changes made in the spreadsheet can be imported back into Maxim to keep the model up to date. Additional text and graphics can be incorporate using object linking and embedding (OLE).
An organizational flow diagrammer included as part of Maxim provides a high-level view of the relationships created in the workflow diagrammer. Internal and external relationships are displayed so users can examine the interactions to identify inefficient or fragmented functions and activities. Maxim data is stored in an underlying object-oriented database for re-use.
Maxim includes an on-line tutor that uses a step by step approach to business process reengineering. It also includes hypertext documentation that provides information on concepts and approaches to business processing reengineering and instructions on how to use the program.
Knowledgeware provides a Maxim interface to its Application Development Workbench (ADW) for organizations that want to build applications based on the models developed with Maxim. The company says the bi-directional interface can accelerate projects by allowing Maxim to re-use enterprise and business process models previously developed with ADW.
Maxim has a suggested retail price of $499, but Knowledgeware is introducing it at $249. The ADW interface is priced at $1,899 and is being introduced at $1,599.
Knowledgeware is a founding partner of the Internet-based MecklerWeb Initiative. The company says participation in the web will allow application developers to use the Internet to conduct business with Knowledgeware and interact with its support staff and developers electronically.
Windows Business Process Reengineering Prgm Intro'd
Time Warner Completes PCS Test W
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Time Warner and Qualcomm said they have managed to integrate personal communications services, or PCS, with Time Warner's Full Service Network cable plant.
PCS is a wireless phone technology which uses microwave frequencies, from 1.8-2.2 gigahertz (GHz). The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to auction the needed frequencies, either late this year, or early next year. The successful test means major cable operators should be more active bidders in those auctions.
The system tested uses the Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, digital technology, of Qualcomm. CDMA offers 10 times the calling capacity of analog cellular systems, using digital encoding. CDMA has been offered to the existing cellular phone industry, but so far those which have gone to digital service have used a rival scheme, Time Division Multiple Access, or TDMA.
TDMA divides calling channels into discrete frequency segments and is related to the Groupe Speciale Mobile, or GSM, standard used in Europe. CDMA sends digital information throughout a calling channel, sorting the traffic at the end of the call.
The announcement of the successful Time Warner test was made jointly by top executives of Time Warner Telecommunications and Qualcomm.
The Time Warner executive, Dennis Patrick, is a former FCC chairman."This network achieves a number of technical and operational firsts," said Patrick in a press statement. "Most of all, it demonstrates the tremendous potential of cable plant in delivering better and cheaper wireless telephone and data services to average consumers. Assuming adequate spectrum is made available to new entrants, the cable industry will be a major participant in realizing the full potential of next generation mobile services."
In addition to providing the common use of Time Warner's Full Service Network cable plant and Qualcomm's PCS technology to homes, workplaces and cars, wireless connections were also made to the America Online online network.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940607/Press Contact: Dennis Patrick Time Warner Telecommunications, 202/331-7478; Irwin Jacobs Qualcomm, 619/658-4800)
331-7478; Irwin Jacobs Qualcomm, 619/658-4800)
6/7/94
Time Warner Completes PCS Test With Qualcomm
TELECOM
CDPD Interoperability Tests Comp
KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- McCaw Cellular has announced that it has completed tests of compatibility and interoperability among makers of equipment implementing the Cellular Digital Packet Data, or CDPD, protocol.
CDPD is a packet data protocol first developed by IBM, which can turn unused cellular calling channels into packet networks running data at 19,200 bits-per-second (bps).
McCaw has been closely identified with CDPD, and some observers claim has been embarrassed by the slow speed with which it is being implemented throughout the industry. One reason cited by critics has been the fact that different brands of CDPD equipment did not work together, or interoperate. The latest announcement is intended to dispel that concern.
Among the vendors who demonstrated their equipment working together were Cincinnati Microwave Inc., Cirrus Logic's Pacific Communication Sciences Inc., or PCSI unit, Retix, Sierra Wireless and Steinbrecher.
In the tests each company's protocol stacks for the CDPD architecture and application layer were examined using a protocol analyzer developed by AirLink Communications Inc. The CDPD architecture supports multiple network protocols, such as the Internet Protocol and OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) CLNP.
Customer pilot programs employing McCaw's AirData network, along with periodic testing of the network's architecture, consistently demonstrated that wireless devices by Cincinnati Microwave, PCSI and Sierra Wireless can successfully interwork with mobile database stations made by PCSI and Steinbrecher, said McCaw.
Successful interoperability was also consistently demonstrated between the mobile database stations and Retix's mobile data intermediate system, which provides a critical link to the application servers. American Airlines is also testing wireless SABRE terminals over AirData Network for passenger ticketing and terminal services.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Motorola says a line of parallel processing, supercomputing-class hardware accelerators being developed by a Canadian company will utilize Motorola's PowerPC 601 microprocessor.
The PowerPC 601, developed by Motorola and IBM, uses reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) technology to execute multiple instructions simultaneously. ISG Technologies, based in Toronto Canada will take advantage of that capability to produce its Pulsus line of symmetrical multi-processing (SMP) hardware accelerators scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter.
ISG Technologies specializes in the development and manufacture of visual data processing applications and imaging systems. The company says Pulsus is designed and optimized for visual data processing and is best suited for systems where there are computation and visualization intensive requirements such as medical imaging.
ISG says the ability to do both the computing and the visualization on a single platform results in lower development and maintenance cost, faster system response and less resource management at the system level. Reuven Soraya, ISG Pulsus product manager, says the technology is well suited for applications such as three-dimensional (3-D) seismology as well as medical imaging.
The entry-level Pulsus, with eight processors, delivers about five times the performance of the typical midrange workstation according to the company. Pulsus uses Posix Parallel Threads allowing compiled applications to be run on Pulsus or other workstations using a single CPU (central processing unit) or an SMP architecture.
The PowerPC 601 uses 2.8 million transistors and is manufactured using a .6 micron complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The chip includes an advanced bus interface that supports a range of computer systems from handheld, portable and desktop computers to midrange workstations and servers.
(Jim Mallory/19940607/Press contact: Dean Mosley, Motorola 512-891-2839 or Reuven Soraya, ISG Technologies, 905-672-2100 ext 254; Reader contact: Motorola RISC Microprocessor Division 800-845-6686 or Reuven Soraya, ISG Technologies, 905-672-2100 ext 254)
PC Supercomputing Accelerator To Use PowerPC 601 Chip
TRENDS
Blockbuster/Davis Video Launch P
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Blockbuster and Davis Video Enterprises have announced a new interactive entertainment company, called Catapult.
Catapult has designed modems for Sega and Nintendo home gaming systems and is offering a video game network so players can compete with each other over standard telephone lines.
Video game publisher T-HQ is the exclusive distributor of the modems, which it claims will support all the popular multiplayer games without modification to the game machine or the software.
The modems, being demonstrated at the Digital World show in Beverly Hills this week, are expected to be in retail stores by Christmas as add-ons to the more than 30,000 Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo units expected in the market by then.
The modem works in 16-bit game platforms and will also work with future 32-bit and 64-bit CD-ROM-based platforms. Pre-programmed with Catapult's 800 number, there is a modem designed to fit into the game cartridge slot of either the Sega Genesis or the Super Nintendo, then the game cartridges plug into the top of the modem. Consisting of a printed circuit board, signal processing hardware, and a phone line interface, the modem draws its power from the game machine and only requires a modular telephone line connection.
Blockbuster said its research indicates players buy games for their competitive aspects, so competing via the phone lines is expected to be popular. In the Catapult network, players will have "handles" to protect their privacy and can receive game playing tips, scores, rankings compared to others, and competitions for prizes.
It is expected to cost $5 to $10 per month to play, which can be paid by check, credit card, or cash using a rechargeable Smartcard which functions like a debit card. The card is charged at a retail outlet and then debited when inserted into the Catapult modem. All calls will be local, Catapult added.
Each player has to have the same game cartridge in order to play. The modem also confirms the user's telephone number, lets the user enable long-distance or disable the call-waiting feature (which could interrupt game play and possibly cause disconnection) and asks how long the user is willing to wait for a compatible competitor or even a specific competitor. Three responses is all that is necessary to get connected to the network, Catapult added.
Once connected, the network finds a match for the user, the players telephone numbers are exchanged invisibly to the players the modem hangs up on each end and one modem then calls the other users modem again. Neither user is aware this is happening Catapult said, and since players' machines call each other to actually play, the network capacity of 2,000 simultaneous users is enough for millions of games a week. Each system exchanges the information each player has decided to share with the other including each player's "handle."
Then players begin play, in real time, and during play can send pre-recorded messages to each other, such as brags or taunts, by making special moves with the controller. At the end of the game players can continue to play with the same player or disconnect and log back on to find another competitor or a new game.
If a competitor cannot be found immediately, i.e. in less than one minute, the modem sends the particular game and skill level to the network and then disconnects. While waiting for a match the player can look at game tips or play in single-player mode. Since Catapult handles all the calls first, no game-play calls are made without the permission of the person being called, the company said. In addition, Catapult can keep up-to-date records from the management of the log-ons concerning rankings.
Also, all calls are local calls unless the player specifically indicates otherwise. Catapult also maintains that parents can control game play as spending limits can be set on the account or on the Smartcard.
The company also said it plans to work in cooperation with game developers to offer extensions to their games that can be downloaded into the system via the network. In this way, new characters, soundtracks, moves, or other enhancements can be made to games.
Catapult is not the only company with this idea. AT&T announced The Edge, a modem for the Sega system over a year ago. The device was to cost between $100 to $150 and was aimed at distribution this summer. The Sega Channel, a game network formed by a deal between Sega Enterprises and Time Warner, offering interactive game play over cable is expected to begin in US test markets month.
Catapult is being headed by Adam Grosser, former vice president of new media for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Steve Roskowski former manager of hardware for General Magic, is executive vice president and Steve Perlman, General Magic's former managing director of advanced products is chief technology officer. Lynn Heublein, former vice president of marketing and operations at T-HA is executive vice president and chief operating officer.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940607/Press Contact: Katrina Sutton Killerapp Communications, tel 213-939-5991; Steve Perlman Catapult Entertainment, tel 408-366-1735, fax 408-366 1729/CATAPULT940607/PHOTO)
Blockbuster/Davis Video Launch Phone-Based Game Co
TRENDS
MS-DOS Equivalent OS For Handhel
ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Datalight has announced the release of ROM-DOS 6, an MS-DOS 6.2-equivalent operating system designed for use in personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held terminals and other types of embedded computers.
According to the company, version 6 has greater compatibility with MS-DOS than did version 5. The new release supports Microsoft Windows 3.1 and provides better local area network (LAN) support.
Other features include advanced power management (APM) for low power systems that have APM BIOS (basic input/output system) support. An extended memory manager and multiple system configuration options have been added to help developers save memory overhead or load different device drivers for users of multi-purpose terminals.
Datalight says it has also added foreign country keyboard and display support for 26 countries. Double byte characters for Asian languages are also supported, but require third party drivers to output characters to the screen.
ROM-DOS is intended for sale to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and Datalight has signed an agreement with Stac Electronics to include Stacker 3.0 data compression software with ROM-DOS. Datalight says the cost of Stacker will run from $3 to $10 per copy, depending on quantity. Stacker licensing is being offered as an option, so only OEMs who want to include data compression will be charged for it.
Datalight's ROM-DOS Software Developer's Kit includes a developer's guide and a user's guide, along with the development software Stacker 3.0 and a certificate for 20 licenses. The kit sells for $495, with additional ROM-DOS licenses available for $2 to $25 depending on quantity, plus additional Stacker license fees if applicable. Registered owners of the software developer's kit can get a free upgrade to ROM-DOS 6.
Other features include utilities for placing ROM-DOS in ROM and one for placing applications in ROM, and the ability to execute applications directly from ROM. "You load the applications into a sub-directory on your hard drive, run the utilities and make your choices, then burn it into a PROM (programmable read-only memory). The whole process takes only about 15 minutes," according to Datalight President Roy Sherrill.
ROM-DOS 6 has a 45 kilobyte (KB) kernel and a 27KB command processor. The company says it takes up about half the space in ROM as MS-DOS 6.x.
Datalight says ROM-DOS is also used in public pay phones, credit card terminals, flight data collection and medical equipment barcode readers, and industrial control equipment.
(Jim Mallory/19940607/Press and reader contact: Tim Gillman, Datalight, 206-435-8086 or 800-221-6630 fax 206-435-0253/ROMDOS940607/PHOTO)
r 800-221-6630 fax 206-435-0253/ROMDOS940607/PHOTO)
6/7/94
MS-DOS Equivalent OS For Handheld Devices Intro'd
Conference On Virtual Office Set
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Business Week magazine and computer reseller MicroAge Inc. plan to sponsor a conference on new office technology in New York June 28 and 29.
The conference is entitled "The Virtual Office -- Implementing the New Computer and Communications Technology." Its focus will be on working away from the office and at home, something the organizers said represents one of the fastest-growing segments of the computer market.
MicroAge officials said more than 37 million people work away from their offices part of the time and another 27 million are on the road full-time.
Speakers at the conference are to include: Patricia Seybold, a well-known industry commentator and president of Patricia Seybold's Office Computing Group; Jay Chiat, chief executive of advertising agency Chiat/Day; David Tierno of consulting firm Ernst & Young; Dr. Michael Joroff, director of research and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); and Alan Hald, vice-chairman and co-founder of MicroAge.
Along with MicroAge and Business Week, AT&T Global Information Solutions (formerly NCR Corp.), IBM, NEC Technologies Inc., Nynex Mobile Communications, Xircom, and Zenith Data Systems are sponsoring the conference.
Jay O'Callahan, a marketing executive with MicroAge, told Newsbytes that while the sponsoring vendors will be represented by speakers on panels during the conference, most presentations will be given by independent industry experts and consultants lined up by Business Week. There will be "no sales pitches from the podium," he claimed. The sponsors will have small displays to promote their products. Registration for the conference costs $575.
Tempe, Ariz.-based MicroAge is organizing the event through its MicoAge Infosystems Services unit, a network of owner-managed MicroAge branches.
(Grant Buckler/19940607/Press Contact: Ann Videan, MicroAge, tel 602-968-3168 ext 2362; Public Contact: Pina Del Genio, Business Week Executive Programs, 800-821-1329)
o, Business Week Executive Programs, 800-821-1329)
6/7/94
Conference On Virtual Office Set For Late June
TRENDS
Do-It-Yourself High-Capacity HD
SofNet Bundles Fax Software, Mod
Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2
Rogers Cable To Harness Microsof
Australia - Color Scanner/Fax/Co
FBI Picks Teams For Fingerprint
IBM Signs Agreement With Excalib
Star Trek Next Generation CD-ROM
Online Shopping To Grow, Forrest
Danish Firm Distributes Teletext
UK - Mercury Announces Follow Me
Loral To Lay Off 500, Bid For GO
UK - Lotus Ships 1-2-3 Release 4
IBM Puts DSP Subsystem On Single
FISHKILL, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- IBM said it has put a complete digital signal processor (DSP) subsystem on a single microprocessor. The new chip is part of IBM's Mwave line of products.
The chip includes 32-voice wave table synthesis and Sound Blaster hardware registers on a single chip, which IBM claims is an industry first. According to the company, this cuts costs and saves board space, and also will give original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) more flexibility in designing the IBM chip into their products.
Known as the MDSP2780, the new processor has a 16-bit central processing unit (CPU) that IBM said can process 33 million instructions-per-second (MIPS). It also has high-speed facsimile and data communications capabilities, including support for the new 28.8 kilobit-per-second V.34 modem standard, scheduled to be ratified later this year. Power management features, including a sleep mode and the ability to control attached peripherals, are also built in.
The chip's features include a suite of multimedia interfaces high-speed analog and digital communications functions, a 32-voice wave table synthesizer, extended audio and voice coder-decoder (CODEC) support, and hardware-level support for industry standard games, including Sound Blaster applications.
The MDSP2780 can be used in personal computer sound systems games, and telephony applications, IBM said. Mwave technology integrates audio, voice, fax, graphics, modem, and video and image capabilities. Existing Mwave chips are used in IBM's ThinkPad 750 notebook computer and in a series of expansion boards from the IBM Personal Computer Co., as well as in products from third parties, company spokesman Jim Smith told Newsbytes.
IBM said the addition of Sound Blaster hardware registers to the chip does away with the need to use software emulation of hardware or buy separate chips, and because the 16-bit DSP does the audio processing, the games feature delivers higher-quality sound. With integrated hardware support for games, IBM added developers can add special effects such as reverb and Qsound, or use the Mwave sample sound synthesizer. IBM added that it independent tests have verified that the MDSP2780 runs top-selling games successfully.
The MDSP2780 works with Windows Sound Systems 2.0 applications, IBM said, and will support the Microsoft Resource Manager Interface when it becomes available.
The MDSP2780's full suite of CODEC interfaces work with Crystal Semiconductor's line of 16-bit stereo audio CODECs (CS4215 CS4216, CS4231A), as well as other CODECs. The processor also has integrated UART ports and a time division multiplex (TDM) interface for connecting to Siemens' integrated services digital network (ISDN) chipsets. It also has an integrated Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus master interface with high-speed direct memory access, which company officials said will enable high-speed data transfers.
The MDSP2780 is being manufactured at an IBM plant in Yasu Japan, and will be sold worldwide, Smith said. It is sampling now, with general availability expected in the third quarter, IBM said. It costs $19 per unit in OEM quantities of 100,000, and will be sold through IBM Microelectronics' distribution channels.
IBM's Microelectronics unit also announced a new line of one-megabit static random access memory (SRAM) chips that the company said are among the fastest available with operating frequencies of as much as 167 megahertz (MHz). They are available in sample quantities now, in eight-, nine-, 10-, and 12-nanosecond versions, the company said. Volume production is planned for the fourth quarter and the SRAMs will cost $58 in quantities of 1,000.
(Grant Buckler/19940606/Press Contact: Jim Smith, IBM, tel 914-892-5389; Joanne Marlin, Thomas Associates for IBM 415-325-6236, MCI Mail 463-0708; Public Contact: IBM Microelectronics, tel 800-IBM-0181 ext 500)
oelectronics, tel 800-IBM-0181 ext 500)
6/7/94
IBM Puts DSP Subsystem On Single Chip
Trace Family History With Window
NCTA - FCC Chairman Insists On R
Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated
GTE, HP Plan Interactive Cable
Totally Wireless Store Opens In
Japan - Windows Language Transla
Brussels WordPerfect/ODA Confere
Senate Looks At Schools And The
Motif & Asahi Promote Active Add
IBM Shuffle Aims To Speed Workpl
eWorld Bucks Online Anonymity Tr
FAA Slashes Computer Control; La
Metricom Announces Low-Cost Wire
Automatic Dialers Banned For Mos
IBM Working On Another PowerPC C
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- IBM developers are working on another version of the PowerPC microprocessor that the company developed with Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Corp.
The next generation of the PowerPC, which some are calling the PowerPC 630 chip and which IBM has referred to as the Power3 architecture in the past, is under development, company spokesman Greg Golden confirmed.
He said it is too early to give a date when the chip might be available. The 630 name is not official, Golden added.
Golden told Newsbytes the new PowerPC chip will be used in IBM's RISC System/6000 workstations and servers. He would not comment on its possible use in the AS/400 line of midrange computers or in parallel processing systems. However, IBM has publicly stated that PowerPC chips -- though not necessarily the 630 -- will be incorporated in the AS/400 line, which currently uses proprietary processors.
Responding to reports that the PowerPC 630 will be packaged in a module with an external cache and cache controller, Golden told Newsbytes it is too early for IBM to comment. He said a report in the trade newspaper PC Week, which said another IBM spokesman had confirmed this report, was incorrect.
There are three existing versions of the PowerPC chip, and another due to begin production this year. The most widely used PowerPC chip today is the 601, used in the PowerPC computers currently available from IBM and Apple. The PowerPC 603 is a power-saving version of the 601, and the 604, due for volume production by the end of this year, is a more powerful model.
The PowerPC 620, which is due to begin limited production late this year, will be designed for high-performance workstations and servers. The 630 chip is expected to offer roughly double the performance of the 620, and might become available around 1997 according to some analysts.
(Grant Buckler/19940607/Press Contact: Greg Golden, tel 914-642-5463; Steven Malkiewicz, IBM, tel 914-765-4916)
en Malkiewicz, IBM, tel 914-765-4916)
6/7/94
IBM Working On Another PowerPC Chip
, V t
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On
Comdex - Motorola's Pres Defends
Hands On Learning Intros New Tra
UK - AST Unveils New Retail Sale
Japan - Hitachi ATM Cleans Money
Cisco Offers Point & Click Inter
FCC Revising Spectrum Rules For
Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac
Legent Buys Lachman Technology
Blockbuster/Davis Video Launch P
EC & Canada Close To High-Tech T
UK - Psion Dacom PCMCIA Modem Sa
UK - Mercury Cuts Pricing, Intro
Olivetti Italy Intros Over 60 Ne
Justice Department Wants More Mi
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Apparently the wheels of justice may be ready to turn one more revolution in the US Justice Department's probe into possible anti-trust activities on the part of Microsoft Corporation.
The Justice Department is reportedly preparing to take depositions from Microsoft executives, and has asked for more documentation from the software company. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told the Wall Street Journal, "They are just learning about our business. We've only sent them like a million pieces of paper. They need a million more."
The federal crimebusters got involved in the Microsoft case after the Federal Trade Commission decided their was some evidence that some Microsoft business practices violated anti-trust laws.
However, after more than three years of investigation the FTC was unable to decide if it should take action, reportedly in part because one commissioner exempted himself from voting. The allegations were reportedly based in part on complaints from Microsoft competitors that the software company controls the personal computer operating system market.
At one point reports circulated that the FTC was ready to seek an injunction against Microsoft, but that action never took place. The Justice Department took over the investigation last July. With its greater powers, the agency could seek to pursue either a civil or a criminal case if it feels there is sufficient cause.
Microsoft shares were traded heavily in after-hours trading yesterday, closing down 1/2. In regular trading earlier in the day Microsoft shares ended up 1-5/8 at 54-1/2.
In other Microsoft business news Standard & Poor's announced that Microsoft has replaced Syntex in the Standard & Poor's 500 index. The removal of Syntex from the index reflects its pending acquisition by Roche Holding AG, according to S&P officials.
(Jim Mallory/19940607/Press contact: Microsoft Corporation 206-882-8080)
s contact: Microsoft Corporation 206-882-8080)
6/7/94
Justice Department Wants More Microsoft Info
@ ^
Microsoft Summit - More Touchdow
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- At the Information Exchange Conference later this month, Microsoft will spell out more specifics on the messaging strategy outlined by Bill Gates at the Electronic Messaging Association (EMA) Conference in April, including information on the client and server components codenamed "touchdown," Newsbytes has learned.
In a talk at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston, Craig Davis regional systems marketing manager, presented a general overview of Microsoft's messaging strategy which portrayed Microsoft's upcoming "universal client" as part of a third-generation, "client-server" approach that follows in the footsteps of earlier "host-based" and "LAN (local area network)-based" industry technologies.
Microsoft will highlight the "universal client" and other elements of Gates' "Information at Your Fingertips" messaging strategy at Information Exchange, a conference to be held by Microsoft June 20 to 23 in Seattle, Davis added.
A company spokesperson later told Newsbytes that discussions at the Information Exchange Conference will provide more details on Microsoft's Enterprise Messaging Server (EMS) and an upcoming revision of its Microsoft Mail client. Both of these technologies are codenamed "touchdown," according to the spokesperson.
Contrary to industry reports that the first release of EMS will work with Microsoft Mail 4.0 clients, Microsoft has not yet designated a Microsoft Mail version number for the "universal client," she told Newsbytes.
Although Microsoft will discuss EMS and the "universal client" at Information Exchange, the company will not be releasing specific "product information or pricing" at that time, Newsbytes was told. The Information Exchange conference will be a renamed edition of the annual Microsoft Mail Conference, she added.
At the Microsoft Envision Summit, Davis differentiated Microsoft's "universal client" from "host-based" systems, such as Profs and All-in-1, as well as from later "LAN-based" systems.
The host-based systems were text-based, and also "push-based," meaning that "you could push data out to your employees," Davis told the group.
"Then came LAN-based (systems). The greatest benefit of these was that you could include data of all kinds based on object linking and embedding. You could embed multimedia, charts, spreadsheets or anything in these rich documents," he said.
"Around this, workgroups evolved. Workers could now receive and send data throughout the enterprise, as well as get (documents) off of local servers that (became) available. But this created two different infrastructures: one for sending data around, or 'pushing' it around, and the other for 'pulling' it off the server."
But today, in the emerging client-server world, Microsoft's strategy is to offer a "universal client" that offers "one point of interface for all the data within an organization, whether it be servers, for pulling down documents, or (for) the mail system," Davis reported.
The "universal client" will enable "integrated forms" and "very rich documents" through object linking and embedding (OLE) 2.0, he noted. OLE 2.0, he added, will be "the method that links all our applications together."
Microsoft's new messaging technology will also be much more "scalable" than either host- or most LAN-based systems, according to Davis.
In an April keynote at the EMA Conference in Anaheim, Gates said that Microsoft's "universal client" that will serve as a "universal inbox" and "universal address book," integrating mail forms, "information sharing" and "time management" capabilities according to the Microsoft spokesperson.
Microsoft's "universal client" will be built on "standard APIs (application programming interfaces), Gates said. The "Information Exchange Server," another component of the messaging strategy will provide directory, "information store," and message transfer capabilities, as well as Internet access, according to Gates.
Microsoft's Information Exchange Conference in Seattle will be aimed at "current and future users" of Microsoft's messaging products, as well as at software and hardware vendors, "business decision makers," and business and industry press, according to Microsoft.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940607/Reader Contact: Information Exchange Conference Registration, 800-421-2499; Microsoft, 206-882-8080; Press Contact: Beth Herrell, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft 206-637-9097)
rell, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft 206-637-9097)
6/7/94
Microsoft Summit - More Touchdown Details Soon
GENERAL
LSI Components Supplier Says Exc
MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- In a survey of 300 system designers, LSI Logic was rated "gate array supplier of the year," according to market research firm Dataquest. The low level logic components supplier says it is involved in vertical product development it feels will change the world of electronic and computer products.
The company was voted number one in the first four of five categories surveyed, beating competitors Motorola, Texas Instruments, VLSI Technology, and Toshiba. The five categories were: technology, service, turnaround time, overall supplier, and the cell-based application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) category. In the fifth category, LSI Logic came in second with system designers.
However, LSI officials claim the story is more than just a company being popular with its customers. LSI had been on a long financial losing streak up until two years ago, when its stock prices started to climb. Now the company's stock has quadrupled going from about $8 a share two years ago to current levels of around $24 a share. Analysts at Montgomery Securities are saying the stock will reach $30 a share by the end of the year, and LSI expects to break the $1 billion mark in revenues in 1994.
What happened? Marc Koltun of LSI said the entire market is changing due to the company's technology licensing which is allowing it to offer systems designers one-stop shopping for specific components. Koltun said process technologies have gone to the submicron level with the ability to put nine million transistors on a single chip. "A workstation in your pocket" is what Koltun terms the technology, which LSI has licensed from several sources, including MIPS, makers of the workstation-based reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) processing chips.
The Milpitas, California-based company claims it has focused on a major product development effort in the cell-based market over the past two years. The technology has gotten too complex and too small for systems designers to take gate arrays and make their own ASIC. Designers can handle 20,000 undefined gates, but not nine million. "It's like offering a jet airplane to a toddler. They can't do anything with it," Koltun added.
"It is no longer possible for companies like ourselves to be generalists without any concept or concern for the vertical markets we support. We must be actively participating in those markets so that we can allow them to take advantage of the densities and performance we have achieved."
In addition, LSI has licensed the necessary technology, so designers don't even have to buy CPU (central processing unit) chips anymore -- the company has already got them designed and can integrate the processing power right into a single chip along with whatever other capacity is necessary. The bottom line for designers is totally new levels of price/performance and time-to-market.
Currently, the most exciting areas LSI says it is working on are in digital video and communications. The company has licensed intellectual properties from Zenith and General Instrument to create devices for data compression and communications. LSI also manufacturers and markets customer-specific integrated circuits (CSICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs).
(Linda Rohrbough/19940607/Press Contact: Marc Koltun, LSI Logic tel 408-433-7736, fax 408-433-8572; Paul Wheaton, Dataquest 408-437-8312)
ax 408-433-8572; Paul Wheaton, Dataquest 408-437-8312)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Matav, the Hungarian Telecoms Company, has announced it will increase the number of phone lines in Budapest over the next three years by around 60 percent, or 400,000 lines.
According to Imre Purger, director of Matav, the development forms part of a $400 million plan for the next seven years in which virtually all of the country's mostly electro-mechanical exchanges will be replaced by computerized units. The 60 percent boost in the number of lines in Budapest is necessary to service the blossoming number of new companies springing up in the area.
Like Poland and Czechoslovakia, waiting lists for a phone line in many areas of Hungary are extremely long. Six or seven year waiting lists are not being uncommon.
Purger admitted that the speed of installation of the new lines should be a lot faster, but Matav must first finance the entire operation as well as design the telecoms infrastructure around the exchanges themselves.
A classic case of this is Poland, which is in the middle of a telecoms revolution, with new exchanges being built and commissioned on a weekly basis. The problem is that many new exchange dialing codes are being created in the process, with the expected result that information operators are overloaded and, in some areas of the country, trunk dialing is actually suspended for several weeks at a time while a new trunk exchange is, quite literally, built while the customers wait.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940607)
t while the customers wait.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940607)
6/7/94
Hungarian Telecom Outlines Phone Net Development Plans
TELECOM
Interleaf Adds SGML Object Manag
Radius Buys Into Supermac
NCTA - Prodigy In Cable Deal Wit
Wordperfect Renames Office 4.0a
HP Intros Aptrex X Terminals To
Japan's NEC To Increase Chip Pro
UK - Microsoft Previews Windows
New Add-Ons For Pagemaker 5.0
BellSouth Renews Opposition To A
IBM To Ask For Removal Of Servic
Governor & Boston Mayor At OEC O
Microsoft/World Wildlife Fund Co
CD-ROM Training To Control Emoti
No Sex Please, We're Comdex
Sony's New Playstation Uses LSI'
TI Chip Opens Way To Video CDs
HP France In PC Plus Deal
GRENOBLE, FRANCE, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard's (HP) telecoms systems business unit (TSBU) of Grenoble has announced a marketing deal with PC Plus Informatik of Munich in Germany. Terms of the deal call for HP to market PC Plus' international telephone enquiry system for HP Unix networks on a worldwide basis.
PC Plus' system is known as IDIS and allows gateway access to a variety of directory assistance databases, either online or via a CD-ROM system, for the HP 9000 series of computers. Plans are in hand to extend the software's domain to run under most flavors of Unix.
In use, IDIS allows routing requests to be carried out across a Unix wide area network, linking to a variety of data resources. A classic application of the system is where a national telecoms company uses software such as IDIS to link to other national telecoms' administration's databases.
Plans are already under way to install an IDIS system running over HP 9000 computers at Deutsches Bundespost Telekom in Germany. Both companies intend to adapt the technology for use in other languages and operating system environments, with HP doing the international marketing.
"This partnership gives PC Plus broader access to the international telecoms market and offers HP additional market opportunities," explained Guenther Baierl, managing partner with PC Plus Informatik. "Our customers will profit from our expertise in open and flexible telecom solutions and from HP's leadership in scalable Unix systems computers. Additionally, they will benefit from reliable service and support from two well-established companies."
Andre Meyer, general manager of HP's TSBU in Grenoble, said that international and national directory assistance technologies were key missing parts of HP's range of telecoms systems for its clients. "We have teamed up with PC Plus to build up the HP product portfolio and work with our new value added partner to offer customers powerful solutions," he said.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940607/Press & Reader Contact: Hewlett-Packard (Switz), tel 41-22-780-4111, fax 41-22-780-4770; PC Plus Informatik, 49-89-620-300)
Informatik, 49-89-620-300)
6/7/94
HP France In PC Plus Deal
BUSINESS
UK - Psion Dacom PCMCIA Modem Sa
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Psion Dacom says that sales of its Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) modem, first announced in March of last year, have topped the 100,000 sales mark
According to Gareth Hughes, sales director with the company, the success of the modem is down to two factors: "Firstly, our unique mechanical design; and secondly, our guarantee of compatibility."
According to Hughes, the PCMCIA card modem is made from an aluminum case with six strong pins. This, he said, makes the modem suitable for up to 10,000 card insertions before wear and tear sets in.
Psion Dacom also guarantees compatibility with all notebooks that conform to the PCMCIA 2.0 or 2.1 standard, as well as PCMCIA type II and III slots. The company claims that not all PCMCIA devices will work in all PCMCIA-compatible PCs.
The reason is due to the fact that, while many notebooks are now shipped with card and socket services, the PCMCIA-specified software interface, the Psion Dacom Gold card modem works with all types of card and socket services, as well as slightly non-standard PCMCIA compliant notebooks. This is made possible, the company notes, by the use of a software enabler that comes with the card modem.
WINDSOR, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Excalibur Technologies, the multimedia retrieval and document image management software company, has signed an agreement with IBM. Terms of the agreement call for IBM to offer its customers information retrieval technology using the Excalibur TRS text retrieval server.
According to Big Blue, the deal makes IBM responsible for the sales marketing and distribution of SearchManager for AIX and OS/2 workstations.
"IBM has entered into this agreement because it recognizes Excalibur's TRS as a leading technology of text fuzzy search in the information systems industry," commented Steve Mills, general manager of IBM's software solutions division.
So what is Excalibur? According to IBM, the system uses a technique known as adaptive pattern recognition processing (APRP) to search through data on a free form basis, The software has a number of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow third party software to be customized for use with the Excalibur system.
In use, users key in a few details on what they are searching for and the software carries out a series of "fuzzy logic" searches on a variety of data files. As a by-product of the search, the software also auto-indexes the entire contents of every document.
MIke Kennedy, president of Excalibur, said: "IBM customers require a search system that not only tolerates mis-spellings and other errors that result in no hits in other text retrieval products, but also an extensible and scalable architecture which provides the gateway to managing multimedia information."
(Steve Gold/19940607/Press & Reader Contact: John Townsend Excalibur Technologies, 44-344-893444)
n Townsend Excalibur Technologies, 44-344-893444)
6/7/94
IBM Signs Agreement With Excalibur Technologies
BUSINESS
UK - Apricot Extends Relationshi
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Apricot has announced an extension of its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Novell. Under the extension, Apricot can now sell the full range of Novell operating systems, upgrades and utilities with its PC hardware, through all types of distribution channels.
The previous agreement with Novell saw Apricot only selling new NetWare network operating systems, with customers having to turn to Novell for updates and utilities.
James Blackledge, of Apricot, said that the company has always enjoyed a close relationship with Novell over the years. "The extension of the OEM agreement ensures we can provide our resellers with innovative and market leading software to support our range of network ready PCs and services," he said.
According to Blackledge, the deal also allows Apricot to offer a 25 percent discount on NetWare upgrades, providing the customer orders the upgrade before the end of July.
Apricot claims that the deal is a lot more than a simple marketing agreement, pointing to the fact that it was one of the first companies to sign a formal technical support agreement (TSA) with Novell and now has its own engineer in residence at Novell's Utah headquarters in the US.
Apricot officials also pointed out to Newsbytes that they are authorized to self-certify products for use with NetWare and that Apricot is also a member of the Novell technical support alliance.
(Steve Gold/19940607/Press & Reader Contact: tel 44-21-717-7171, fax 44-21-717-0132)
ontact: tel 44-21-717-7171, fax 44-21-717-0132)
6/7/94
UK - Apricot Extends Relationship With Novell
BUSINESS
UK - Canon Intros New Flagship P
WALLINGTON, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Canon UK has announced the UK availability of the BN32, it latest "Printbook" portable PCs with an integrated bubble jet printer.
The BN32 is based around a 50 megahertz (MHz) 80486SL2 chipset with four megabytes (MB) or memory, expandable to 12MB internally. A choice of 130MB or 260MB hard disks are available, with most systems supporting PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) type II and III cards with twin II and a single III card slots.
The screen on the new machine is a 10.3-inch 256 color liquid crystal display (LCD) capable of working in 256 colors at any one time. The bubblejet printer, meanwhile, can print at 360 dots-per-inch (dpi) at 116 characters-per-second (cps). There is also an automatic cut sheer feeder.
All of the above comes in a compact casing measuring 310 by 254 by 63 millimeters, and tips the scale at 3.9 kilograms. According to Simon Hill, marketing manager for Canon's text and data products the inclusion of a built-in pointing device removes the need for a separate trackball or mouse.
"We've identified an application for which there is growing demand The BN32 provides a solution for the business user requiring desktop power and functionality on the move. It also represents a unique proposition for financial service advisors or sales staff who need to produce hard copy on the customer site," he explained.
The BN32 is available immediately with a UKP2,899 price tag for the 130MB hard disk version. Including 260MB data storage pushes the price to UKP3,299.
(Steve Gold/19940607/Press & Reader Contact: Canon UK tel 44-21-666-6262, fax 44-21-622-2732)
UK tel 44-21-666-6262, fax 44-21-622-2732)
6/7/94
UK - Canon Intros New Flagship Printbook
Internet In A Box Debuts At Inte
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- With all the talk about Internet and the information superhighway, a user might think getting on this great wave of the future is just a matter of making a phone call and taking-off to "surf the Net." It has not been quite that easy.
At Internet World '94, the booth with lines around it belonged to Internet In A Box, which was developed by O'Reilly & Associates a leading publisher of Internet books, and Spry Inc., developer of Windows Internet applications.
Internet In A Box offers: an automatic connection; Global Network Navigator, an interactive guide to the Internet, which uses AIR Mosaic; Air Series Internet Applications for Windows, which includes electronic mail, USENET news reader; drag-and-drop file transfer; telnet; Gopher; and the Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog.
The online package is for Windows users. A local area network (LAN) version is available, and a Mac version is in the planning stage.
Online services have been growing at a phenomenal rate with new Internet users signing on at a rate of approximately 150,000 per month, according to O'Reilly & Associates.
At the same time, CompuServe has been adding 80,000 users per month and America Online has been increasing by at least 30,000 per month. The number of users joining "monthly fee plus pay as-you-go" services, such as the latter two, may be indicative of the difficulties users may have with connecting to, and navigating the Internet. These other online services offer an easier and more organized connection and service.
With a special introductory offer of $149, Internet In A Box agents were taking orders for a product that is expected to ship sometime in the second quarter of 1994.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Gina Blaber, product manager for Internet In A Box, said, "We expect to ship in August or September and we are pleased and surprised at the number of new users who are ordering our product. We knew there was a specific problem to address with the difficulties beginners have on 'The Net' and trying to navigate the volume of information that becomes available. It can be daunting for a novice."
Addressing the same problems, is The Internet Membership Kit currently in the retail channel for less than $70. It is offered in both Macintosh and Windows versions by Ventana Press.
Internet users are estimated to be about 20 million by MecklerMedia.
(Patrick McKenna/19940607/Press Contact: Ron Pernick, Niehaus Ryan Haller Public Relations, tel 415-615-7905)
n Haller Public Relations, tel 415-615-7905)
6/7/94
Internet In A Box Debuts At Internet World
GENERAL
eWorld Bucks Online Anonymity Tr
^ CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- Newspapers over the past year have covered a number of abuses that occur on online services because of the anonymity of users' identifications. However, Apple's new eWorld is planning to virtually remove such user anonymity.
While online service providers always have the power to admonish or disconnect a user who is reported to violate the terms of agreement or "netiquette," the administrators of Apple's new eWorld have decided that members will choose between the use of their first name and last name, or first name initial and last name.
The use of anonymous names will still be possible online, but any member may click on a profile and read a person's registered name. According to the company, real online identities will encourage responsible behavior and be "more conducive to the business environment that eWorld is designed for."
Online abuses identified by Apple include such behavior as: "flaming," which involves aggressive, hateful, abusive and/or libelous electronic-mail and online postings to groups; "mail bombs," which include mass mailings and flooding of mail centers and individual mailboxes; "stalking" which includes following and tracking the comings and goings of a specific individual; and "any unwanted and suggestive advances of a sexual nature or harassment of any sort.
These complaints have long been a problem for all online providers most of whom have specific procedures to deal with it. Internet is the most difficult to control, because one can easily change identities and sign-on with other providers. As these electronic communities grow, the identifying and shunning of abusive individuals is claimed to be a strong self-policing technique.
eWorld users who feel they need their identity protected can appeal to online administrators or limit their identification by using broader geographical locations for registration.
A spokesperson for Apple, told Newsbytes, "It is a concern for us that all of our users feel they may travel through eWorld and be completely comfortable and operate in a business-like fashion without having to endure the consequences of irresponsible behavior. We may not be able to control it 100%, but we are striving to create a different environment."
(Patrick McKenna/19940606/Press Contact: Amy Bonetti, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-1333)
ti, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-1333)
6/7/94
eWorld Bucks Online Anonymity Trend
TELECOM
Dow Chemical Opts For Green PCs
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) --Digital Equipment Asia is to provide personal computers (PCs) for Dow Chemical's workforce in 13 countries in the Pacific region under a comprehensive agreement signed recently.
Environmental concerns are a high priority for both companies, so Digital will provide Dow Chemical Pacific Ltd., with its low-power "green" PC, the 486-based Digital PC LPv+. The configuration will include eight megabytes (MB) of RAM and a 170MB hard disk drive. Digital will also provide delivery and support services throughout the Pacific region. The contract is worth approximately US$1 million a year.
The agreement was signed by Richard Jones, area purchasing director and Werner Baer, area information systems director, for Dow Chemical Pacific Ltd, and Alan McMillan, PC business unit director and Bennett Lo, PC corporate sales manager, for Digital Asia.
Werner Baer said: "After a one-year trial period, we are very encouraged by the progress of our initial study to implement a standardized configuration to serve the PC needs of our staff in our Pacific area operations. This strategy will free up our systems personnel for planning and implementation of other, more critical information systems services."
Dow Chemical Pacific says that its information systems and purchasing staff wanted to find a "single company source for PCs that provides quality, geographic coverage, field support, cost savings and a standard platform for easy training and maintenance."
"We are building a lasting partnership with Dow Chemical Pacific to provide their staff with competitive but consistently priced PCs," said Digital's Alan McMillan.
SINGAPORE, 1994 JUN 7 (NB) --Digital Equipment Corp.'s new Asia Pacific headquarters was officially opened in Singapore recently by Philip Yeo, Chairman of the republic's Economic Development Board.
The opening is claimed to be in line with the company's plan to focus more closely on key markets, customers and field operations in Asia Pacific. The headquarters was previously located in the US.
The new headquarters is headed by Bobby Choonavala, Digital's president for Asia Pacific, who reports to Enrico Pesatori, corporate vice president and general manager of the PC and Systems Business Units at Digital Equipment Corporation. Many of the US-based managers have moved to Singapore to establish the new headquarters operations.
The new Asia Pacific unit will cover Japan, South Pacific region (Australia and New Zealand), Korea, Greater China, Asean Indochina, India and other countries in South Asia.
"The burgeoning economies in Asia Pacific will continue to fuel growth in the regional IT (information technology) industry," said Choonavala. "With Digital's Asia Pacific management based in Singapore, we will be closer to the market and it will allow us to be more responsive to changes in the marketplace. Singapore, with its central location, places our Asia Pacific headquarters closer in time and traveling distance to our customers in one of the world's most dynamic regions."
As Singapore plays a key role in Digital's Asia Pacific operations the company has been accorded operational headquarters (OHQ) status by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Digital has been awarded OHQ status because it manages a sizeable network of overseas companies in the region and undertakes a range of headquarters activities, including general management and corporate finance, in Singapore, says the company. With OHQ status, Digital Asia Pacific will be eligible for concessionary tax relief.
"Digital has long been a good technology partner of Singapore and shares our vision of IT 2000," said Yeo. "The company has built a strong presence here, with its regional headquarters, a local sales and marketing subsidiary, as well as a manufacturing plant. In addition, Digital has also formed major strategic alliances with local institutions to facilitate technology transfer to the industry."
Apart from its 17 direct subsidiaries in Asia Pacific, Digital has manufacturing plants in Taiwan, Singapore, and India. The company has announced that it was opening a disk drive factory in Penang Malaysia, and a plant in Batam, Indonesia, this year.
"Digital experienced a 25 percent growth in revenues in Asia Pacific in 1993, and we expect equally strong growth in 1994," said Choonavala. "We will therefore continue to increase our investments using Singapore and our twin HQ operations in Hong Kong as springboards to penetrate emerging markets in this region."
Digital employs over 900 people in manufacturing, sales and services in Singapore.
(Keith Cameron/19940607/Press Contact: Bonnie Engel, DEC 852-805-3510)
Bonnie Engel, DEC 852-805-3510)
6/7/94
DEC Opens New Asia Pacific HQ
BUSINESS
Newsbytes Daily Summary
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 7 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac 06/07/94 Aldus Corporation has announced Aldus Chartmaker, a software program that lets the user incorporate charts into files created in any standard Macintosh application, including those published by companies other than Aldus.
2 -> OrCAD Intros New DOS/Windows EDA Products 06/07/94 OrCAD, a leading supplier of personal computer (PC)-based electronic design automation (EDA) software, says it is releasing three upgraded products for DOS, a new product for the Microsoft Windows graphical environment, and a new direct sales and distribution arm.
3 -> DoE & Cray Launch Industrial Computing Initiative 06/07/94 The Department of Energy and Cray Research, along with 16 other firms are launching a $52 million program to push supercomputing.
4 -> AP's Video News Service Targeted At "Media Companies" 06/07/94 The Associated Press will market APTV, its upcoming video news service, to newspapers and radio stations as well as TV stations said Jim Williams, VP and director of AP's Broadcast Division, in an interview with Newsbytes.
5 -> Canadian Product Launch Update 06/07/94 This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: Claris Organizer for the Apple Macintosh.
6 -> Internet's Virtual Computer Store 06/07/94 The Internet Shopping Network (ISN) computer shopping center is up and running on the Internet, presenting some 15,000 software and hardware products from both large and small companies.
7 -> Hong Kong Welcomes Compuserve's Video Game Forums 06/07/94 Video game players in Hong Kong now have a direct connection to fellow players and game publishers all over the world through Compuserve Hong Kong's Video Games Forum and Video Game Publishers Forum.
8 -> Legent Buys Lachman Technology 06/07/94 Legent Corp., a supplier of distributed computing software and services, has bought privately-held Lachman Technology Inc., of Naperville, Ill., for about $15 million.
9 -> Windows Business Process Reengineering Prgm Intro'd 06/07/94 Knowledgeware Inc., has announced a software tool for personal computers (PCs) that graphically maps how work flows through a company and how organizational units relate to one another.
10 -> Time Warner Completes PCS Test With Qualcomm 06/07/94 Time Warner and Qualcomm said they have managed to integrate personal communications services, or PCS, with Time Warner's Full Service Network cable plant.
11 -> CDPD Interoperability Tests Completed 06/07/94 McCaw Cellular has announced that it has completed tests of compatibility and interoperability among makers of equipment implementing the Cellular Digital Packet Data, or CDPD, protocol.
12 -> PC Supercomputing Accelerator To Use PowerPC 601 Chip 06/07/94 Motorola says a line of parallel processing supercomputing-class hardware accelerators being developed by a Canadian company will utilize Motorola's PowerPC 601 microprocessor.
13 -> ****Blockbuster/Davis Video Launch Phone-Based Game Co 06/07/94 Blockbuster and Davis Video Enterprises have announced a new interactive entertainment company, called Catapult.
14 -> MS-DOS Equivalent OS For Handheld Devices Intro'd 06/07/94 Datalight has announced the release of ROM-DOS 6, an MS-DOS 6.2-equivalent operating system designed for use in personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held terminals and other types of embedded computers.
15 -> Conference On "Virtual Office" Set For Late June 06/07/94 Business Week magazine and computer reseller MicroAge Inc. plan to sponsor a conference on new office technology in New York June 28 and 29.
16 -> IBM Puts DSP Subsystem On Single Chip 06/07/94 IBM said it has put a complete digital signal processor (DSP) subsystem on a single microprocessor. The new chip is part of IBM's Mwave line of products.
17 -> ****IBM Working On Another PowerPC Chip 06/07/94 IBM developers are working on another version of the PowerPC microprocessor that the company developed with Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Corp.
18 -> Justice Department Wants More Microsoft Info 06/07/94 Apparently the wheels of justice may be ready to turn one more revolution in the US Justice Department's probe into possible anti-trust activities on the part of Microsoft Corporation.
19 -> Microsoft Summit - More "Touchdown" Details Soon 06/07/94 At the Information Exchange Conference later this month, Microsoft will spell out more specifics on the messaging strategy outlined by Bill Gates at the Electronic Messaging Association (EMA) Conference in April, including information on the client and server components codenamed "touchdown," Newsbytes has learned.
20 -> LSI Components Supplier Says Exciting Changes Coming 06/07/94 In a survey of 300 system designers, LSI Logic was rated "gate array supplier of the year," according to market research firm Dataquest. The low- level logic components supplier says it is involved in vertical product development it feels will change the world of electronic and computer products.
21 -> Hungarian Telecom Outlines Phone Net Development Plans 06/07/94 Matav, the Hungarian Telecoms Company, has announced it will increase the number of phone lines in Budapest over the next three years by around 60 percent, or 400,000 lines.
22 -> HP France In PC Plus Deal 06/07/94 Hewlett-Packard's (HP) telecoms systems business unit (TSBU) of Grenoble has announced a marketing deal with PC Plus Informatik of Munich in Germany. Terms of the deal call for HP to market PC Plus' international telephone enquiry system for HP Unix networks on a worldwide basis.
23 -> UK - Psion Dacom PCMCIA Modem Sales Top 100,000 06/07/94 Psion Dacom says that sales of its Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) modem, first announced in March of last year, have topped the 100,000 sales mark
24 -> IBM Signs Agreement With Excalibur Technologies 06/07/94 Excalibur Technologies, the multimedia retrieval and document image management software company, has signed an agreement with IBM. Terms of the agreement call for IBM to offer its customers information retrieval technology using the Excalibur TRS text retrieval server.
25 -> UK - Apricot Extends Relationship With Novell 06/07/94 Apricot has announced an extension of its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Novell. Under the extension Apricot can now sell the full range of Novell operating systems upgrades and utilities with its PC hardware, through all types of distribution channels.
26 -> UK - Canon Intros New Flagship Printbook 06/07/94 Canon UK has announced the UK availability of the BN32, it latest "Printbook" portable PCs with an integrated bubble jet printer.
27 -> Internet In A Box Debuts At Internet World 06/07/94 With all the talk about Internet and the information superhighway, a user might think getting on this great wave of the future is just a matter of making a phone call and taking-off to "surf the Net." It has not been quite that easy.
28 -> eWorld Bucks Online Anonymity Trend 06/07/94 Newspapers over the past year have covered a number of abuses that occur on online services because of the anonymity of users' identifications. However, Apple's new eWorld is planning to virtually remove such user anonymity.
29 -> Dow Chemical Opts For Green PCs In Pacific Rim 06/07/94 igital Equipment Asia is to provide personal computers (PCs) for Dow Chemical's workforce in 13 countries in the Pacific region under a comprehensive agreement signed recently.
30 -> DEC Opens New Asia Pacific HQ 06/07/94 igital Equipment Corp.'s new Asia Pacific headquarters was officially opened in Singapore recently by Philip Yeo, Chairman of the republic's Economic Development Board.
(Ian Stokell/19940607)
Ian Stokell/19940607)
6/7/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Electronic Commerce On The Inter
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- CommerceNet operated by non-profit CommerceNet Consortium, is a group of Silicon Valley companies and organizations working to provide commercial, business-to-business transactions over the Internet.
Operating with funds from the US Government's Technology Reinvestment Project and the State of California, as well as the $35,000 annual fee for participating sponsors, CommerceNet brought together such companies as Amdahl, Sun Microsystems Intel, Santa Cruz Operation, Silicon Graphics, Hewlett-Packard and Wells Fargo Bank. CommerceNet is one of fifty-five companies out of 2,800 competing companies who were selected by the Reinvestment Project.
From Internet World '94, CommerceNet demonstrated live access to its new service and announced availability for a new level of subscriber who is now able to be listed on CommerceNet as part of the "storefront." This allows smaller companies to participate for a fee of $1,250.
Cathy Medich, executive director of Commerce, told Newsbytes "The demand of smaller companies to be involved has lead us to create a means of broader participation. We feel it is equally important for these companies to have access to commercial transactions on CommerceNet. We are not just a means of doing business for large companies. Rather, it is our intention to establish standards for conducting business on Internet through a wide range of companies. This new subscription level allows these companies to have a global presence with industry leaders."
It is the intention of CommerceNet to act as a single source in providing easy access, affordable and high quality connections software tools for subscribers, a simple point-and-click command using an enhanced version of Mosaic, special directories and security mechanisms.
According the Medich, "We are currently investigating encryption technology and hope to see a method of payment transaction that is secure and private."
CommerceNet has also announced its participation in MecklerWeb, the newly announced business service from Alan Meckler's MecklerMedia. At the same time, MecklerWeb has become a member of CommerceNet.
Speaking at the press conference to announce MecklerWeb at the show, Medich said, "CommerceNet sees joining MecklerWeb as a matter of complimenting services as opposed to competing. It is the spirit of the Internet to cooperate and foster its growth through these kinds of interactions."
(Patrick McKenna/19940606/Press Contact: Nancy Teater Edelman Technology Communications, tel 415-968-4033)
ogy Communications, tel 415-968-4033)
6/8/94
Electronic Commerce On The Internet
TELECOM
Japan - Fujitsu & Microsoft Link
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Japan's Fujitsu has signed an agreement with Microsoft, Tokyo, which calls for the joint development of application programs and local area network (LAN) systems for Fujitsu's customers.
Under the agreement, Fujitsu and Microsoft will create a joint team consisting of both firms' engineers and sales personnel. About 10 personnel from Fujitsu will reportedly join the team, which will reside in Microsoft's Tokyo office, and will jointly develop client/server-type personal computer (PC) network systems for financial companies such as banks and securities firms. The team will also develop PC application programs for financial businesses.
In addition to allowing Fujitsu to provide systems and support services to its customers, the deal will also allow the company to gain Windows 3.1 and NT technical information in a timely manner.
Another advantage for Fujitsu is to facilitate a smooth transition into the PC market. Fujitsu used to provide large scale computers including mainframes, to financial firms. However, due to the slow business and the continued downsizing computing trend, many of its customers are asking for PC-based systems.
Microsoft's Tokyo unit will also be able to strengthen sales of Windows 3.1 and the NT. The firm is particularly happy about support of Windows NT, which is still selling slowly in Japan.
In order to sell more Windows NT programs , Microsoft has recently created a joint venture firm with Japan's ASCII involving the sales and support of NT in Japan.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940606/Press Contact: Fujitsu, tel 81-3-3215-5236, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
ct: Fujitsu, tel 81-3-3215-5236, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
6/8/94
Japan - Fujitsu & Microsoft Link On PC LAN Systems
BUSINESS
Adobe Dimensions 2.0 For Power M
Dell Reduces Derivatives Portfol
Correction - IBM Continues OS/2
BroadBand Delayed In New Jersey
Amsterdam Telecoms User Panel Me
SunWorld '94 Invites FBI To Disc
UK - Elonex Offers Removable Dri
Review of - Quality Software Man
UMax Intros $145 And $295 Scanne
ACTV In Education Deal With Turn
UK - HP Intros Trio Of MultiMedi
Oracle Plans World Support Super
Percussion Intros 2 Prgms For Lo
Alias To Develop 3-D Nintendo Gr
owerPC C
Japan - Mitsui Bussan To Buy Int
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Japan's Mitsui Bussan Trading will participate in the amusement game market in Taiwan. To begin with, the firm will purchase part of the equity at Sega Amusement Taiwan, which is Sega Enterprises' Taiwanese joint venture firm.
Mitsui Bussan also plans to create arcade game facilities jointly with a Taiwanese firm in Taiwan.
Concerning Mitsui Bussan's participation on Sega's joint venture in Taiwan, Mitsui Bussan and Sega Enterprises have already reached a basic agreement, a Mitsui Bussan spokesman told Newsbytes. Both firms are currently hammering out the deal at Sega's Taiwanese firm, called Sega Amusement Taiwan. The spokesman said Mitsui Bussan is thinking of purchasing 12 percent of the joint venture firm's stake, around the end of this month.
It is said Sega Amusement Taiwan is planning to list its stock on Taiwan's stock exchange market in 1997. In order to do this, Sega will double the total capitalization of the firm to 770 million yen ($7.70 million) this month. So far, Sega Taiwan is doing well in Taiwan, mainly by selling arcade game machines.
Meanwhile, Mitsui Bussan Trading is preparing to set up a joint venture firm with Taiwan's conglomerate Quanta group involving amusement facilities in Taiwan. Both firms will take an equal share in the firm, with a total capitalization of around 120 million yen ($1.20 million).
The joint venture firm will mainly begin with arcade game centers. It is also expected that the firm will open restaurants and bowling alleys later. Quanta is specialized in the fast food business. The firm is currently operating McDonald's hamburger franchises in Taiwan.
san Trading, tel 81-3-3285-7554, fax 81-3-3285-9819)
6/8/94
Japan - Mitsui Bussan To Buy Into Sega's Taiwan JV
BUSINESS
Dell, Aurora Electronics PC Trad
ICL Plans NetWare NLM Version Of
COMDEX - Singapore Company Relea
UK - Mercury Reveals 1st Subscri
Toshiba Multimedia Car Navigatio
Massively Parallel Processing Co
Delrina Signs Deals On Internet,
Japan - Computer News Briefs
Gateway 2000 PCs Bundle Software
Miros Intros Computer Face Recog
IBM Launches Wireless Networking
AT&T Announces WorldWorx Video S
IBM Offers Cyrix Chips In Its Bl
NECC - Educational Prgms Cross O
Slovak Republic Prepares For Sta
Broadband Wins OEM Deal With Alc
Japan - Low-Cost Color Notebook
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Fujitsu has released a low-cost color notebook personal computer (PC), called the FMV-433N/S1. Priced at only 298,000 yen ($2,980), it is reportedly about $1,000 cheaper than existing models.
Fujitsu's latest color notebook is equipped with a relatively large LCD (liquid crystal display). It has a 9.4-inch DSTN (double super twisted nematic) color screen. It also has a 33 megahertz 80486SX processor, a 32-bit local bus or VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) local bus, and a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association)-standard PC card socket.
With the local bus, the PC will reportedly be able to handle graphics processing more efficiently. In addition, the PC comes equipped with a SCSI (small computer system interface) card, a sound card, and the mouse. As for software, it comes equipped with Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS 6.2V. Its also has a power management feature that helps reduce electricity consumption. This color notebook can also be equipped with a CD-ROM.
Fujitsu has also released a high-end version of the color notebook, with a 10.4-inch TFT (thin film transistor) LCD. The 170 megabyte (MB) hard disk version is priced at 598,000 yen ($5,980).
Other models are monochrome versions. They are also equipped with a 486 processor and a 9.4-inch LCD. The 170MB hard disk version is sold for 348,000 yen ($3,480).
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940606/Press Contact: Fujitsu tel 81-3-3213-4160, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
itsu tel 81-3-3213-4160, fax 81-3-3216-9365)
6/8/94
Japan - Low-Cost Color Notebook PC Intro'd
Japan - Multimedia TV PC & Penti
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Fujitsu has announced that it is set to release a multimedia personal computer (PC) with a built-in TV tuner or receiver. Called the FM Towns II Fresh TV the price will be 388,000 yen ($3,880).
Meanwhile, Seiko-Epson and Japan Digital Equipment have jointly developed a Pentium-based desktop PC, called the DEC pcLPx, priced at 498,000 yen ($4,980).
Fujitsu's PC with a TV set is based on its best-selling multimedia PC, called the FM Towns. Besides a TV receiver the new PC comes equipped with a video input/output socket so it can be connected with a video cassette player and a video game machine.
The PC comes with a 33 megahertz (MHz) 486SX, six megabytes (MB) of RAM, a 170MB hard disk, and a CD-ROM drive. Interestingly the new PC has three kinds of operating environment, including Microsoft's Windows 3.1 and Fujitsu's original multimedia operating system. Also, the PC reportedly operates CD-ROM-based Macintosh software.
TV-based PCs are becoming popular in Japan. Other PC firms such as Matsushita and IBM Japan have also recently announced similar products.
Meanwhile, Seiko-Epson and Japan Digital Equipment's high-end model is equipped with a 66 MHz Pentium, a 32-bit PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) local bus, a graphics accelerator, and a maximum 128MB of memory. It can also come equipped with a 525MB hard disk.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940531/Press Contact: Japan Digital Equipment, tel 81-3-5349-7293, fax 81-3-5349-7403)
ipment, tel 81-3-5349-7293, fax 81-3-5349-7403)
6/8/94
Japan - Multimedia TV PC & Pentium PC Intro'd
TRENDS
Correction - LSI Components Supp
MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- In the story "LSI Components Supplier Says Exciting Changes Coming" that ran June 7, 1994, Newsbytes said LSI had licensed technology from Zenith and General Instruments. That is incorrect -- Zenith and General Instruments licensed LSI's technology.
It is correct, however, that LSI licensed reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) technology from MIPS. In addition, LSI stock quadrupled, but its price two years ago was about $4 a share not $8.
Newsbytes apologizes for any inconvenience.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940608/Press Contact: Marc Koltun, LSI Logic, tel 408-433-7736, fax 408-433-8572)
ltun, LSI Logic, tel 408-433-7736, fax 408-433-8572)
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Rockwell International has launched a range of modem chipsets in Asia that work with both conventional telephone networks and cellular networks, enabling users to send and receive data by linking portable PCs to their mobile phones.
Making their Asian debut at Computex '94 in Taipei this week, the new line of Rockwell modem chipsets -- the RC96V24AC, RC144ACL and RC288ACL/VFC -- support standards ranging from V.22bis, at 2400 bits-per-second (bps), up to V.Fast Class at 28,800 bps.
"These chipsets will help modem manufacturers in Asia to compete with their overseas rivals by offering a choice of wired and wireless communications to support both desktop and laptop PCs," said Edwin Chen, Asia Pacific marketing manager with Rockwell International. "A major advantage of this technology is that it works with familiar PC communications programs and eliminates the need for new applications software."
The new modem chipsets, which are designed for use with analog cellular networks based on the widely used AMPS system, are packaged in low profile form-factors and feature low power consumption, making them best-suited for use in notebook or sub-notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or on PCMCIA (Personal Computer memory Card International Association) cards."
Mobile users can communicate over the cellular network using their existing fax and data applications and can send or receive information wherever their cellular phones are serviced by an AMPS network, claims the company.
Rockwell's cellular activatable chipsets incorporate the MNP10 protocol, which, according to the company, is ideally suited for data communications over circuit-switched cellular networks. The protocol monitors the channel consistently, adjusting the communications parameters to take advantage of the cellular channel characteristics during a communications session and optimizing the performance of data communications over the cellular link.
Each cellular phone has its own connector and programming model. Rockwell's activatable chipsets have the capability to support installed and new phones simply by downloading the specific "phone personality driver." The architecture reportedly enables end users to readily switch or upgrade cellular phones with a Rockwell cellular modem.
"Cellular networks are becoming more and more important in Asia," said Chen. "In places like Hong Kong, there is a large, mature user base looking for new ways to exploit its investment in mobile communications. In other parts of the region, cellular networks are being implemented as a quick and relatively low-cost way alternative to the wired network. We're sure there will be a growing demand for sophisticated mobile data communications."
Hong Kong - Rockwell Launches Mobile Modem Chipset
TRENDS
Hong Kong - Maruda Claims Smalle
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) --Maruda (HK) Ltd., a leading notebook PC vendor in Hong Kong, has introduced, what the company claims, is the world's smallest PC-to-TV video converter. Called the Geni, the new device is built around the VIP video interlace processor chip developed by Display Research Laboratory.
The Geni, which makes its public debut at Computex '94 in Taipei this week, measures just 113 millimeters (mm) by 50mm by 27mm and weighs 99 grams. However, it is capable of supporting resolutions of up to 640 by 480, in an unlimited range of colors and supports both the DOS and Windows environments.
"When connected to the video port of a PC, the Geni displays sharp stable images on virtually any standard PAL or NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) television," said Manager Lewis Ng. "It can even produce composite video, S-Video and non-interlaced VGA output simultaneously. This makes it ideal for delivering executive presentations during conferences or for use as an inexpensive auxiliary monitor when color or a larger screen are required."
The Geni is Maruda's second assault on the PC-to-TV market. The company launched a larger, less powerful device in 1992, which met with limited success. "We have really been waiting for a technology to appear that would allow us to pack the performance we originally envisioned into a very small and reliable package," said Ng. "With the introduction of Display Research's VIP chip, that time has come."
Maruda has used its expertise in the design and manufacture of small compact notebook PCs to maximize the component density of the Geni. The company's engineers have succeeded in integrating the VIP chip with six integrated circuits and some 130 discrete SMT (surface mount technology) components on to two four-layer circuit boards which are stacked on top of each other.
"In addition to providing sharp, flicker free images, the Geni can draw its power from the keyboard port on a notebook or standard desktop PC," said Ng. "It is the perfect companion for notebook users on the move."
S.C. Mok, founder and President of Display Research, believes Maruda's new notebook PC-to-TV converter will be a winner. "The notebook market has already overtaken desktops as the major PC market. The Geni is the right product at the right time by combining quality PC-to-TV displays, size and convenience at a competitive price," said Mok.
He stressed that, by taking advantage of the low power consumption of the VIP chip, Maruda was able to eliminate the external power source which is required for a larger video converter.
"I am very impressed by Maruda's rapid response to the opportunity offered by the VIP chip," said Mok. "With this initiative, the company has gained a head start on its competitors in the global market.
Maruda (HK) Ltd was founded in 1992 to distribute notebook computers to the local and overseas market. The company has started to develop multimedia hardware as a new product line and is set. The company will debut its CD-ROM drives and multimedia TV PCs later this month at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.
a 852-4191186; S.C. Mok, Display Research, 852-4021121)
6/8/94
Hong Kong - Maruda Claims Smallest PC-To-TV Converter
TRENDS
SW Bell Announces Broadband Upgr
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Southwestern Bell has selected Broadband Technologies as one of its vendors as it upgrades part of its network in the Dallas suburbs for video quality service.
Southwestern Bell wants to use the new network to compete with local cable operators, and is challenging the 1984 Cable Act's provision against phone company entry into that business on First Amendment grounds. A Virginia court allowed Bell Atlantic into the market on the same grounds last year.
The deal may be even more important for BroadBand Technologies however, best known for its Fiber Loop Architecture or FLX system, which runs fiber along individual streets instead of just to neighborhoods, as with hybrid fiber-coax systems.
While Broadband was selected for some work in New Jersey, after Bell Atlantic won new rate-making procedures, other regional Bell companies like US West and Pacific Telesis have opted for the hybrid fiber-coax approach.
BroadBand insists, however, that in the long run its system costs less and offers more in terms of service. Since the Bell Atlantic upgrade is being held-up by legal challenges from cable operators the Southwestern Bell upgrade may be the first of its kind to be installed.
Southwestern Bell said it intends to provide telephone service via the new network by the end of 1994 with video transport capability established in 1995, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Up to 47,000 Richardson households may be linked to the upgraded network by the end of 1996.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940608/Press Contact: Southwestern Bell N. Paul Dusseault, 314/982-9168)
hwestern Bell N. Paul Dusseault, 314/982-9168)
6/8/94
SW Bell Announces Broadband Upgrade In Texas
TELECOM
ZiffNet Offers Cookbook For Char
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Hoping to help the family of a member killed last year during an attempted robbery, ZiffNet is offering a cookbook.
The ZiffNet Cookbook: Recipes from the Digital Diner, was compiled by ZiffNet staff members, headed by Katherine Prouty. It includes 140 recipes including contributions from top Ziff officials including Ziff Communications Chairman Eric Hippeau. Also included are anecdotes on why recipes were contributed to the collection.
The cookbook was created to raise funds for the family of David Alsberg, a ZiffNet member who was killed in December by a stray bullet during a robbery in New York City. Just prior to his death, Alsberg was involved in online discussions where he passionately argued for gun control. Alsberg had no life insurance and left a three-year old son, Mark.
The ZiffNet Cookbook is available to ZiffNet and CompuServe members in Windows Help format and ASCII by typing "go cookbook" at any major prompt. The cookbook is offered as shareware and carries a $5 registration fee if used. Downloading the WinHelp version of the cookbook will cost about $1 at 9,600 bits-per-second (bps) and about $2 at 2,400 bps.
ZiffNet and CompuServe are donating all connect-time and shareware proceeds to the fund for Alsberg's son. ZiffNet is also encouraging the distribution of the ZiffNet Cookbook to local bulletin board systems, other online services and Internet sites.
Further contributions can be made by writing to: "The David Alsberg Trust," Peter Alsberg, c/o James V. O'Gara, Kelley Drye & Warren, 101 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10178.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940608/Press Contact: Ziff-Davis Interactive, Jennifer Christensen, 617-252-5477)
, Jennifer Christensen, 617-252-5477)
6/8/94
ZiffNet Offers Cookbook For Charity
TELECOM
BellSouth Renews Opposition To A
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- BellSouth has renewed its opposition to AT&T's purchase of McCaw Cellular this time filing a petition urging that the Federal Communications Commission reject the purchase.
BellSouth has also filed a lawsuit asking Judge Harold Greene who oversees the 1982 Bell break-up decree, to block the transaction. BellSouth argues that the deal would let AT&T back into the local phone business in violation of the decree.
Company officials have said in the past, however, that they would drop their opposition if regional Bell companies were allowed to compete in long distance.
Bills before Congress to open competition and supersede the 1982 decree are currently being opposed by the Bells, which claim they will not allow them into long distance quickly enough.
A BellSouth counsel, William Barfield, issued a press statement dismissing AT&T's six-page brief in favor of the merger. "It's clear that AT&T's strategy is to avoid meaningful review of the McCaw acquisition," he wrote. "Its tactic is to file six pages of nothing, declare victory and ask for immediate approval."
AT&T's position is that it has complied with all FCC requests for documents, and dismisses BellSouth's concerns as being "without merit."
Most stock buyers still believe the AT&T-McCaw deal will go through, as prices for the two companies' shares track very closely on major exchanges. In addition to Judge Greene and the FCC, the deal must also be approved by the Justice Department.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940608/Press Contact: John Schneidawind BellSouth, 202-463-4183)
ontact: John Schneidawind BellSouth, 202-463-4183)
6/8/94
BellSouth Renews Opposition To AT&T-McCaw Merger
TELECOM
RAM Mobile Data Links With Sprin
WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- RAM Mobile Data has announced direct links to the SprintNet packet network.
The deal means that RAM customers can make wireless packet data calls that link directly to wired computers over the packet network just as they now link to major online services like America OnLine over the packet network, without having a separate packet network account.
RAM is one of two wireless packet data networks -- the other is ARDIS, a joint venture between Motorola and IBM. The networks were established with great fanfare a few years ago but have had some trouble getting customers, in part because of the difficulty prospects found integrating wireless and wired data services, and in part due to costs.
RAM has responded to the cost issue with a $395 bundle that includes a Mobitex wireless packet modem and use of the RadioMail electronic-mail gateway, but regular service charges on RAM still amount to $75 per month. Sprint packet charges will be additional.
In other news from Sprint, the company confirmed reports from a week ago that it was talking to French and German PTTs about taking major stakes in the company. The Deutsche Bundespost and France Telecom could wind up buying 15 percent of Sprint for up to $4 billion in a deal similar to one that MCI signed with British Telecom last year.
Sprint confirmed the talks a day after announcing it would no longer consider a merger with General Motors' EDS unit. Shares of Sprint rose on the news.
While the MCI deal has won favor from the Clinton Administration any French-German link with Sprint may prove more controversial since those markets are still mainly closed to US telecommunication service providers, in contrast to the British market, and Trade Representative Mickey Kantor has been aggressive in demanding reciprocal market access. But the French and German markets are due to be liberalized by 1998 under European Union rules.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940608/Press Contact: Lisa Kurtz, for RAM 212-995-5690; Sprint, Susan Krauss, 202-828-7422)
0; Sprint, Susan Krauss, 202-828-7422)
6/8/94
RAM Mobile Data Links With SprintNet
TELECOM
AOL To Offer MTV This Summer
VIENNA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- MTV has signed a deal with America OnLine to create a section on the service this summer. America OnLine has about 800,000 members, behind Prodigy and CompuServe among consumer online services.
"The MTV Beach House" is geared around MTV's Lollapalooza tour, a traveling music show, and will feature an "OJ," or online jockey who will travel with the tour and provide online news and information.
An MTV spokesman told Newsbytes that nothing is set beyond the summer, however. Lollapalooza is an annual rock tour by musical groups who have some popularity, but not enough to sustain the costs of a big tour on their own.
MTV is a unit of MTV Networks, which also runs VH-1, Nickelodeon and its companion re-run service, Nick at Night. The company is a unit of Viacom, which is in the process of acquiring Paramount.
In other news from the nation's third-largest consumer online service, AOL said it will join The Writers Guild and Seybold Seminars in hosting interactive events from the Digital World show in Los Angeles. The events will take place in Center Stage an online chat service on America OnLine organized in the form of an auditorium.
After a series of short presentations, speakers will descend from the stage and be filtered into the audience to lead informal animated discussions. After that, selected panelists will be linked online to take questions about the events from America OnLine members.
Past events on the service have been hosted by such people as the Reverend Billy Graham, the music group Depeche Mode, and HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- MCI has launched two new prepaid calling cards, or debit cards, which can be used through a special toll-free number.
Such calling cards are popular in Asia and Europe, where phones are designed specifically to handle them. They have magnetic stripes on their back, and the special phones deduct their values automatically.
The US has very few of those phones, however, so to sell debit cards MCI had to create a system under which its computers would manage the accounts and a computerized voice would tell callers how much value remained on their cards.
The two new cards are called MCI Promotional and MCI PrePaid. The first is designed as a premium that companies can give to clients and prospects, imprinted with their name, logo or other creative graphics. Similar cards in Asia are often offered to commemorate special meetings or other events.
In the MCI version, companies which buy the promotional cards can get special greetings read to callers when they use them. For instance Flowers Direct, a floral delivery service, offered three minute prepaid cards with each Mothers' Day arrangement sold by its 600 members last month.
The promotional cards can also use a feature called "single number termination," which routes all calls with them to a pre-determined phone number -- that feature could be important for technical assistance applications, a spokesman said.
The PrePaid card is designed for companies which want to manage the calling costs of traveling employees or temporary workers. It eliminates the cost of reconciling monthly statements and limits costs. The use of the cards can also reduce losses when a card is stolen, MCI said. The cards are available in specific calling-time amounts like 15 minutes or an hour, and can be used in any phone.
The company's first debit card was called PhoneCash, and was aimed at consumers, offering things like travel assistance restaurant referrals, and weather reports.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940608/Press Contact: MCI Business Markets, David Sutton, 404/668-6234)
Markets, David Sutton, 404/668-6234)
6/8/94
MCI Announces Prepaid Calling Cards
TELECOM
DEC Cuts Alpha Chip Prices
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corp. has cut prices on its Alpha AXP line of microprocessors. In addition to using the Alpha reduced instruction-set computer (RISC) chips in its own systems Digital sells them to other manufacturers for use in their systems.
The following new US list prices, per chip in quantities of 5,000, will be effective July 3, 1994: $186 for the 66 megahertz (MHz) Alpha AXP 21068; $347 for the 166 MHz Alpha AXP 21066; $404 for the 166 MHz Alpha AXP 21064; $544 for the 200 MHz Alpha AXP 21064; $788 for the 233 MHz Alpha AXP 21064A; and $1,083 for the 275 MHz Alpha AXP 21064A.
The 233 MHz 21064A is a newly introduced chip, replacing the 225 MHz version. According to DEC, the higher clock rate optimizes performance with the 33 MHz 21071 and 21072 system logic chips, based on the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus, that the company introduced in January.
In an address to Digital employees in early May, President and Chief Executive Robert Palmer said revenues from DEC's Alpha products roughly doubled in the company's third fiscal quarter compared to the previous quarter, and Alpha products now account for about 27 percent of DEC's system sales.
DEC officials said the market focus for Alpha AXP microprocessors is on high-performance client and server applications using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT operating system. Likely applications include electronic and mechanical computer-aided design (CAD) computer-aided software engineering (CASE), multimedia, imaging and graphics, publishing, and database management, according to the vendor.
The company claims its Alpha processors are the industry's fastest, outperforming rival chips from Intel Corp. and from the alliance of IBM, Motorola Corp., and Apple Computer Inc.
(Grant Buckler/19940608/Press Contact: Patricia McGloin Digital Equipment, tel 508-568-5102)
Equipment, tel 508-568-5102)
6/8/94
DEC Cuts Alpha Chip Prices
TRENDS
Low-Priced RAID Software For OS/
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Pro Engineering hopes to find a broader market for its redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) software with the launch of EZRaid Lite, a scaled-down version of its disk management software for personal computers (PCs) running OS/2.
Founded in 1992, Pro Engineering already offers EZRaid, software that supports RAID levels 0, 1, 4, and 5 on OS/2 systems, company spokeswoman Sheilagh Firstbrook told Newsbytes.
EZRaid Lite is limited to disk mirroring, spanning, and striping but works with OS/2 for Windows, as well as OS/2 2.1, and has a list price of US$195, instead of US$795.
Firstbrook said the company hopes EZRaid Lite will sell to small business and even home users who have a lot of data to manage and back up.
The software is due to begin shipping in mid-July. It supports any disk interface, including Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) small computer systems interface (SCSI), and Enhanced System Device interface (ESDI).
EZRaid Lite stripes or spans data across any two disks creating a single logical drive. By mirroring an existing logical drive without reformatting, it also provides real-time backups of all files.
The company has no definite plans to offer EZRaid or EZRaid Lite for other platforms, such as Microsoft's Windows or Windows NT but will consider doing so if there appears to be enough demand Firstbrook said.
Pro has distributors in the United States and Germany, she said and has attracted some interest in Japan.
(Grant Buckler/19940608/Press Contact: Sheilagh Firstbrook Pro Engineering, tel 613-738-3864, fax 613-738-3871)
eering, tel 613-738-3864, fax 613-738-3871)
6/8/94
Low-Priced RAID Software For OS/2 Intro'd
SynOptics Ships 10 Millionth Int
Newsbytes Daily Summary
Cyrix Asks $750 Million In TI La
OneSource Pleased Over Lotus/Mer
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7
HK Telecom Picks Microsoft Mail
Radio Shack To Carry IBM PCs, Be
Live From New York, It's The Sat
Soros To Fund Radio Free Europe
Symantec & Central Point Complet
Japan - Preview Of Windows World
Dell Australia Gets New Boss
HarperCollins Moving Into CD-ROM
UK - Optech Unveils PFS:Window W
DoE & Cray Launch Industrial Com
Microsoft Summit - Lexis/Microso
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Does your idea of the "typical law firm" still involve images of dusty law libraries and endless typing and Xeroxing? If so, a glimpse at a demo given at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston will fill you in on how the legal world is becoming different these days.
Presented during one of a series of sessions on Windows-based "vertical applications," the demo depicts how a mythical lawyer named Chris Carter uses Mead Data Central's Lexis-Nexis online services and Microsoft applications like Word, Excel and Powerpoint to research and prepare an entire law case in a matter of days.
At the start of the demo, a memo from one of the fictional firm's partners, Amanda Holt, appears in Clark's Microsoft Mail in-basket marked "urgent."
"Amanda is an avid skier, and over the weekend had a conversation with Bill Bowers, the president of Timperland, a nearby ski resort," says Robyn C. Clark, manager of technical education for Miamisburg, Ohio-based Mead Data Central, who alternated in the role of "Carter" with Michael B. Hatcher. Hatcher is Mead Data's business development manager for Legal Information Services.
"It seems there may be some potential litigation work concerning power surge suppressors that have not lived up to the vendor's claim that they would reduce the resort's energy consumption. She wants you to handle the matter, and contact Bill this morning," she continues.
For Carter's reference, Holt forwards a news item on "Timperland," to the law associate as a Word document via Microsoft Mail. Holt had retrieved the article on Timperland through a Nexis Eclipse search.
"After reviewing Amanda's note, I decided to gather some background information on this promising client," says Hatcher taking on the role of Carter.
"A search in the Lexis/Nexis Company Library provides me with useful information, including the fact that Timperland is a private company. Also, because I know virtually nothing about skiing, I'd like to brief myself with some items of information about Timperland and the skiing industry in general; a quick, simple search in the Lexis/Nexis News Library provides just what I need."
Armed with this data, Carter is able to kick off a phone conversation with Bowers by congratulating him on the selection of his resort as the site of the US Alpine Ski Championships, and by making ingratiating comments about Timperland's children's ski programs.
Bowers then explains the problem to Carter. It seems that a company called "Solar Saving" has sold "transient surge suppressors" to Timperland, guaranteeing a minimum savings of 15 percent on energy bills within the first six months.
Nearly a year later, though, Timperland has still not realized any savings, according to Bowers. Solar Savings refuses to return Timperland's phone calls, so Timperland is considering filing suit against Solar Savings.
As the demo continues, Carter speaks with Matt Burke, Timperland's in-house counsel. Burke agrees to send Carter some supporting documents, including a proposal from Solar Savings to Timperland a purchase contract, a certification of guarantee, and a spreadsheet showing Timperland's power usage data for the past two years.
Carter then uses the Lexis/Nexis Incorp Library, Access Macro Jurisoft Legal Toolbox, and Freestyle "plain English" querying capability to complete the legal legwork. Documents marked for downloading in Freestyle are added to Carter's personal Folio Views infobase with the Lexis file filter for Views.
"Based on my research results, this appears to be a fraud case," says Clark, back again in the role of Carter. Carter next uses Microsoft Word to draft a complaint seeking punitive damages employing Microsoft Mail to route the document to Holt, along with attachments, for her review.
"In the past, I would have made photocopies and taken the folder of related faxes, case law and notes to her for her comments. But because my related documents for this matter are all easily accessible through the computer, I'll just draft a quick memo and send the attachments via Microsoft Mail," explains "Carter."
One of the attachments is an Excel spreadsheet, sent to Carter from Burke via Lexis Counsel Connect. Carter "highlights the spreadsheet cells and clicks on the Charting Wizard button" in Excel to "make Timperland's lack of energy savings evident at a glance."
Carter next uses the Nexis/Lexis Finder Library to locate the addresses of Solar's directors, Michael and Mary Mann. Then "Checking my MS-Mail in-basket, I see that I have a note from the partner; she is extremely pleased with the Timperland work, and she has indicated some changes to the complaint," says Hatcher as Carter.
"She'd like the complaint filed and served, and a copy sent to Timperland's in-house counsel today. Also, she has spoken with the Timperland president. He has asked that we attend and present an update at Timperland's next meeting."
Within minutes, according to Carter, "I have reviewed and incorporated Amanda's changes, I have sent the documents to Timperland's in-house counsel via Lexis Counsel Connect, and have printed off the hard copies to be served."
Finally, the attorney uses PowerPoint's Presentation Wizard to pull in the chart created in Excel for a slide to be used in the presentation to Timperland's board of directors.
PC Docs also presented a demo in the session on legal applications. Aside from legal, other vertical application areas covered by the show in Boston included health care, manufacturing, financial services, accounting, and insurance.
The Microsoft Envision Summit has just moved on to Dallas, where the event is taking place June 8 through 10. The summit is also slated to be held soon in several other cities in the US. For information on conference dates, call 800-754-8300.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940607/Reader Contacts: Microsoft Conference Registration, 800-754-8300; Microsoft, 206-882-8080; Mead Data Central, 513-865-6800; Press Contacts: Judi Schultz, Mead Data Central, 513-865-7466; Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 206-637 9097)
13-865-7466; Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 206-637 9097)
6/8/94
Microsoft Summit - Lexis/Microsoft Used In Law Firm Demo
GENERAL
Microsoft Summit - Adaptive's Pr
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- At the Microsoft Envision Summit, Adaptive Strategies introduced a multi-dimensional database called Protege, in addition to MobileSync, a system for updating databases between mobile PCs and a central Windows NTAS (New Technology Advanced Server).
On the show floor, Adaptive's two new custom database "solutions" were displayed alongside products from dozens of other vendors.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Bruce D. Godfrey, director of marketing for the Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based company, said that Protege offers a Windows-based drag-and-drop interface that lets end users "drill down" through layers of information stored on multivendor databases without having knowledge of SQL (structured query language).
Pennsylvania Power and Light is using Protege for a cost control system that allows finance department staff to quickly view "capital and revenue expenditures versus budget" from a variety of perspectives, according to Godfrey.
Rohrer Pharmaceutical is using the new multi-dimensional database for a sales and marketing executive information system (EIS) that has already saved the company $1 million, he maintained.
Godfrey told Newsbytes that Protege consists of a drag-and-drop interface called the "POV (point-of-view) generator," layered over a program component called "the navigator" that "processes POV queries," generates SQL, performs joins, and maps Protege to enterprisewide databases.
The navigator is comprised of "conceptual" and "physical" schema residing on top of a data dictionary, the marketing director explained.
The POV generator permits point-and-click queries from a variety of points of view, he added. Sales statistics, for example, might be viewed by region or by period of time. Drilling further into the "time" dimension, the user might view sales statistics for a particular region by quarter, month, and day.
Protege can be operated on any 33 megahertz (MHz) 486-based or above IBM-compatible PC with eight megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), Godrey said.
Protege can be used with any database that has an ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) driver or is able accept RPCs (remote procedural calls). The data sources can reside in any hardware or operating system environment, anywhere in the organization. An application server is not required.
MobileSync, on the other hand, requires an NTAS server, Godfrey said. The program consists of two components, one running on the server and the other on a Windows-based mobile PC.
Each component includes an "automated attendant" that logs changes to the database and uses Microsoft's MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface) to upload the "change log." The attendant is also able to compare the change log to the existing database, and to make any needed updates.
The server component of MobileSync also allows the system administrator to set up permissions and boundaries, and to designate "who will receive priority to update," according to Godrey.
Adaptive's custom "solutions" are quite expensive, with the cost of Protege ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. "But within a single month, you can regain what you've spent," Godfrey asserted.
Rohrer Pharmaceutical, for example, has achieved cost savings by "not needing to have people write SQL," and "not having to ship out queries," he told Newsbytes.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940608/Reader and Press Contacts: Protege: Bruce Godfrey, Adaptive Strategies, 609-482-7886; MobileSync: Paul Bland, Adaptive Strategies, 609-482-7886; Reader Contact: Microsoft, 206-882-8080; Press Contact: Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 206-637-9097)
ntact: Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 206-637-9097)
6/8/94
Microsoft Summit - Adaptive's Protege & MobileSync
GEnieNav 2.5 For Mac Microphone
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Mac users who access the GEnie online service with the Microphone communications software have been able to download GEnieNav Lite as freeware to navigate the system's RoundTables and other services.
Now Raven Systems, producer of GEnieNav, has announced the release of GEnieNav 2.5, which allows users to automatically browse all marked topics in as many as ten RoundTable bulletin boards with a new "friendly Macintosh" interface.
Erik Thauvin, founder of Raven Systems, told Newsbytes, "We wanted to create a tool that would interact with Microphone allow Mac users on GEnie to do as much as possible offline and when they are online, to have a Mac-like interface that is icon driven."
Version 2.5 features a Sessions Manager which will automatically post messages that have been created or edited offline. A Magic Tool is used for marking topics and reviewing bulletin boards and software library listings. Additionally, it assists users in capturing and downloading offerings from GEnieLamp and LiveWire. GEnieNav also provides tools for easier communication on Chatlines and real-time conferences.
Continued Thauvin to Newsbytes, "One of the reasons we created this new version was to get more users on GEnie, by providing a better interface to attract Mac users. GEnie is currently beta-testing GEnie for Mac which will be an online interface. Our product is designed as a compliment to that product and will offer users offline capabilities."
The company plans for more developments in the near future and with the modular design of Magic Tool, new modular items may easily be designed and inserted, it claims.
GEnieNav Lite is currently bundled with Microphone and all users of GEnieNav Lite or other versions of GEnieNav may upgrade to version 2.5 by electronic-mailing Raven Systems (check a Macintosh RoundTable) and mailing a check for $20.
A registration code, which unlocks a private library holding the file will be electronic-mailed to the user. GEnieNav 2.5 is designed for MicroPhone Pro version 1.x/2.x, MicroPhone II 4.x/5.x and MicroPhone LT 1.x/2.x.
(Patrick McKenna/19940607/Press Contact: Erik Thauvin, Raven Systems, tel 408-859-5222)
Contact: Erik Thauvin, Raven Systems, tel 408-859-5222)
6/8/94
GEnieNav 2.5 For Mac Microphone Users On GEnie Intro'd
APPLE
Do-It-Yourself High-Capacity HD
SofNet Bundles Fax Software, Mod
Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2
Rogers Cable To Harness Microsof
Australia - Color Scanner/Fax/Co
FBI Picks Teams For Fingerprint
IBM Signs Agreement With Excalib
Star Trek Next Generation CD-ROM
Online Shopping To Grow, Forrest
Danish Firm Distributes Teletext
UK - Mercury Announces Follow Me
Loral To Lay Off 500, Bid For GO
Jeteye - Fast, Wireless PC/Omnib
UK - Lotus Ships 1-2-3 Release 4
India's Telecom Policy Opens To
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japane
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Workstation maker Silicon Graphics Inc (SGI) and Japanese telephone company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) have announced that the two companies will work together on the building of an interactive multimedia service in Japan.
SGI is the first systems company to be named by NTT in this part of its 45 trillion yen ($410 billion) Joint Utilization Test of Multimedia Communications project.
Japan's largest telecommunications firm, NTT announced early this year its plans for a Japan-wide network that will support services such as telephone, cable TV broadcasting, and video-on-demand.
The 64-bit MIPS microprocessor architecture, digital media servers, and object-oriented network software, and the MIPS Technologies multimedia engine are the components SGI is adding to the interactive system, scheduled for initial deployment in the fourth quarter of 1995.
SGI's Japanese subsidiary, Nihon Silicon Graphics, KK, will play a key role in supporting the day-to-day effort, working closely with NTT and providing further localization of SGI's software and interfaces, according to Forest Baskett, SGI's chief technology officer.
The companies said they hope to promote an open standard that will be adopted globally. When asked how SGI and NTT planned to nurture openness of the system, Baskett told Newsbytes the major interfaces will be carefully designed to keep abreast of the changing face of technology. The system will use a fiber optic network using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology and will offer a visual software interface, SGI said.
The two companies added that a definitive agreement is still in the works following further negotiation, though a memorandum of understanding has been signed. Other companies are expected to be involved as well, though no other players have been named yet.
i Kasai Nihon Silicon Graphics K.K., 81-3-5420-7114)
6/8/94
NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japanese Multimedia Deal
BUSINESS
Micrografx's Free Business Graph
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Micrografx Inc., says it will give away, "absolutely free," a copy of its business graphics package ABC Snapgraphics to anyone who want one.
ABC Snapgraphics 1.0 is a Windows product that lets users create graphics then paste them into documents created by other software.
Micrografx spokesperson Greg Peters told Newsbytes Snapgraphics comes with a selection of templates that allows the user to easily insert graphics such as organizational charts, time lines, bar graphs, flow charts, and other graphics into a document created with an object linking and embedding (OLE)-compliant application. "The real key is its ease of use," said Peters.
Peters said the templates can be modified to meet the user's needs and saved for future use. Diagrams can be optimized for color or black-and-white output with a click of your mouse. There is also a "fit to page" feature that makes it easy to scale the diagrams up or down to fit the printed page.
The software is part of the company's new ABC family and will be available free except for an $8.95 shipping and handling charge direct from Micrografx through the end of September, 1994.
Peters told Newsbytes a Snapgraphics upgrade is scheduled to ship in the fall. He declined to reveal the additional features that would be included in the next version of Snapgraphics.
In addition to Snapgraphics the ABC product line also includes ABC Flowcharter for creating flow charts and ABC Toolkit for documenting and improving business processes.
Micrografx's Free Business Graphics WIndows Software
Dell Dumps Investment Derivative
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- A Dell Computer Corporation spokesperson told Newsbytes that the company has closed all of its remaining investment derivatives and short term investments with principal exposure.
Derivatives are investments whose value is derived from an underlying security such as stocks, bonds, or currency. Companies sometimes use them to limit risks against sudden moves in interest rates or currency values.
Until recently Dell had about a $355 million position in derivative instruments. In late May Newsbytes reported the company reduced its derivatives portfolio by more than 50 percent.
The issue of Dell derivatives first came to public notice in April 1994, when a cable television program report suggested that Dell's derivatives dealings could mean a loss of as much as $350 million and Dell stock dropped nearly $3 per share.
Dell spokesperson Michele Moore told Newsbytes the TV report was revised after she spoke with the network. Moore said derivatives was not a new program at Dell since several of the company's 10-K forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission over time have contained information about the program.
Dell Chief Financial Officer Tom Meredith said the company will also renew two backup financing sources -- its revolving credit facility with a group of domestic and international banks led by Citibank and a $100 million asset securitization program with Barclays Bank.
Dell expects its revolving credit line to be increased from $75 million to $90 million. At the close of the first fiscal quarter which ended May 1, 1994, Dell reported available cash and credit facilities of $487 million.
Dell expects to take an after-tax charge of about $6.9 million for the second fiscal quarter as a result of the investment derivatives divestiture. It took a $15.6 million after-tax charge related to derivatives in the first quarter.
(Jim Mallory/19940608/Press contact: Roger Rydell, Dell Computer Corp., 512-728-4100; Reader contact: Dell Computer, 800-289-3355 or 512-338-4400)
uter, 800-289-3355 or 512-338-4400)
6/8/94
Dell Dumps Investment Derivatives
BUSINESS
Korea - Computer News Roundup
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- In this week's computer news from Korea: exports of home appliances to the former USSR are up, Samsung develops multi-bit 16M DRAM, China is becoming Korea's rival in electronics, advanced technologies are no easy buy anymore, foreign game makers rush to Korea.
Home Appliance Exports To CIS
Exports to CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), which Have been down since the latter half of last year because of political and economic problems, are recovering as the results through April show. Samsung Electronics exported $67 million, more than double the same period last year. GoldStar exported $55 million, up 57.2%. Daewoo Electronics, which established a sales company in Moscow and Petersburg last year exported $39.1 million, up 59.6%. By product, color TV exports were $73.9 million, up 58.3%. VCR exports increased from $19.72 million to $29.81 million and refrigerators from $11.46 million to $30.96 million, up 51.2% and 170%, respectively. The related industries expect exports will grow more during the latter half of this year as the economic cooperation loan exchange problem might be solved by President Kim Yong-sam's visit to Russia.
Samsung Develops Multi-bit 16M DRAM
Samsung Electronics developed and started selling a multi-bit 16M DRAM to promote the use of 16M DRAMs for PC memory. The 16-bit 16M DRAM has various functions including past page mode and is available in SOJ (small outline package J-leaded) and TSOP2 (thin small outline package 2) which are suitable for portable or desktop PCs. Now, only a few companies including NEC and Toshiba of Japan are producing 16-bit 16M DRAMs. Reportedly, the real introduction of the product will be around the latter half of next year. As efforts to minimize PC size and weight reach a limit with existing 4M DRAMs, 16M DRAMs will be easily accepted despite high prices, the related industries said.
China Becoming Korea's Rival In Electronics
As Chinese electronics exports have grown over the past three years to $10 billion last year, the gap in volume and technology of electronics exports is getting narrower between Korea and China. Keen competition is expected between the two countries in home appliances, audio and communication equipment, auxiliary computer equipment, color TVs, and VCRs. A report by KIEP (Korea Institute for International Economic Policy) surveyed the two countries' market share in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) market from 1988 to 1991 and found China's market share in 13 fields including office equipment and communication sound equipment increased across the board while Korea's share declined in seven fields and grew in none. The report attributes it to multi-national companies in China starting production during the past two or three years. To improve Korea's competitiveness it suggests a band-wagon policy, stronger cooperation with China and Japan, increased R&D by domestic companies and electronics industry cooperation with China.
Advanced Technologies, No Easy Buy Anymore
According to the Korean Patent Administration and related industries, advanced countries led by Japan, are showing increasing reluctance to transfer state-of-the-art technology. The same thing happened to Korean companies in the field of laser beam printers and LCDs (liquid crystal displays), although Korean companies offered sufficient royalties. Goldstar was recently turned down by Canon, to use the Japanese company's patent for A4 size laser beam printer technology. Following the refusal Goldstar cannot export its product to the US and other countries where Canon is protected by the patent. Goldstar also failed to obtain patented technology of Hitachi for large-size TV tubes. Samsung Electron Device had the same experience with Sharp of Japan, asking for a patent license on LCDs. Advanced countries, especially Japan, are more and more reluctant to transfer high-tech know how and rather give up high royalties, than to find themselves competing against Korean companies in their home markets later on. Refusing to transfer related technologies finally leads to Korean companies giving up production of corresponding products.
Foreign Game Makers Rush To Korea
Electronic Arts Victor of Japan and other US game makers are advancing into Korea. Also, major US film companies including Fox Video Korea and Walt Disney Korea, will directly supply game software in addition to videos. Ninety percent of the domestic game market is already held by foreign products. Domestic game makers with their smaller capital and inferior technology are presumed to decline as foreign makers move in. Electronic Arts Victor is working on cooperation with SKC. Fox Video Korea plans video games made from popular films later this year. Walt Disney Korea plans to participate in the domestic PC game market.
(Terry Silveria/19940607)
(Terry Silveria/19940607)
6/8/94
Korea - Computer News Roundup
GENERAL
Korea, Japan In LCD Production R
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- The world LCD (liquid crystal display) market is expected to reach $15 billion by the year 2000, as LCDs, already in use for notebook PCs and portable TVs are gaining more importance for use in various other monitors and wall-type TVs.
Goldstar Company Ltd., Samsung Electron Company Ltd., Orion Electric Company Ltd. and Hyundai Electronics Ind. Co. plan to invest each 400-500 billion won to develop LCD core technology and set up large productions, while Japan has been no slouch at the task either.
In June, Orion will have an opening ceremony for an LCD plant with 70 billion won investment since 1992. It is equipped with facilities taken over from former Handok and 9.5-inch color LCD facilities for notebook PCs, with a total annual output of 720,000 units. The company will start mass production of TNs (twisted nematic) and STN (super twisted nematic) LCDs first, and invest additional 350 billion won in 1995 for TFT (thin film transistor) LCD production facilities.
Samsung, now producing TNs and STN-LCDs and planning TFT LCD production, will integrate its LCD business next year. The company developed a TFT-LCD for a 9.4-inch notebook PC and started plant construction last year. Samsung will invest 500 billion won by 1998 to expand capacities and expects to have a 7-8% world market share by then.
Goldstar, designating TFT-LCD as a major product, developed a color TFT-LCD for 9.5-inch notebook PCs and 5.6-inch portable TVs and also plans to set up production facilities. The company will invest an additional 200 billion won from 1996-97, to reach an annual manufacturing capacity of one million units from 1998.
Hyundai plans to establish medium and small color STN-LCD production lines within this year and set up an investment plan for larger products. The company will enter test production next year, setting up a TFT-LCD production line and invest 460 billion won from 1995-1998.
In Japan, Tottori Sanyo Electric plans to more than double super-twisted nematic color LCD output to 180,000 units (10-inch) per month by April, 1995. The company, which has invested 20-25 billion yen ($190.5-238.1 million) in LCD production over the last two years and eight months, now produces 85,000 units per month and plans to expand output to 135,000 units by year's end by installing a line capable of making four panels from a single substrate.
Tottori Sanyo, which supplies STN color LCDs mainly to US PC makers, also plans to build a thin-film transistor LCD color filter production line and begin sales to other LCD makers in August.
Output from the new line will initially total 60,000 units per month and will be raised to 130,000 units by next spring. The company projects its LCD business will expand from 22 billion yen ($209.5 million) in fiscal 1993 to 50-55 billion yen ($476.2-523.8 million) in fiscal 1994, and intends to boost sales to 75 billion yen ($714.3 million) in fiscal 1995 and 100 billion yen ($952.4 million) in fiscal 1996.
Also in Japan, Kyocera plans to more than triple its Hayato plant's super-twisted nematic color LCD production capacity to 50,000 units (9.4-inch) by next March. The company, which has been manufacturing color filters only for its own use, will sell them in the market since supply is becoming tight.
A late comer to the LCD market, Kyocera plans to invest about 3.0 billion yen ($28.6 million) to expand STN color LCD and color filter production, and is aiming for LCD sales of 13.0 billion yen ($123.8 million) in fiscal 1994, up 225% over fiscal 1993.
(Terry Silveria/19940608)
l 1993.
(Terry Silveria/19940608)
6/8/94
Korea, Japan In LCD Production Race
TRENDS
Mexico - Telecom News Roundup
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- In today's roundup of news from Mexico, Motorola purchases cellular telephone operation, and Telecomm losses in 1993.
Motorola Purchases Cellular Telephone Operation
Motorola has purchased the cellular telephone operations of Grupo Demos and Norcel in band A in region three, in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Motorola had a small share of Norcel but is now said to be investing US$100 million for a majority. Earlier Motorola purchased 40% of Celular de Telefonia (Cedetel).
Telecomm Losses in 1993
The Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes s (SCT) Telecomm operations lost more than US$50 million in 1993. Telecomm handles ground and satellite data transmission telegraph and fax. Some of the loss is blamed on too many people in some operations. like telegraph. and deficient sales in data transmission. The organization is working on early-retirement and job training and shifting to recover.
(Terry Silveria/19940608)
(Terry Silveria/19940608)
6/8/94
Mexico - Telecom News Roundup
TELECOM
California Election Results Post
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- The State of California is claiming to be the first state to post election results on the Internet.
The state primary election results were posted on the Internet through Advantis Global Network Services to the California Election Server.
A spokesperson from the office of the Acting Secretary of State told Newsbytes, "The reporting of election results to the Internet appears to have been accomplished without any problems. At this time, we do not have any responses from Internet users that indicate a problem. This office will be able to provide more information about the number of users who accessed the service to determine what future plans might be developed for other elections."
This publication of election results only carries statewide races and propositions. At the top of the list of election results are the predicted victories of Kathleen Brown, Democratic nominee for Governor of the state, and incumbent Republican Governor, Pete Wilson.
Tony Miller, acting secretary of state, stated that he is "committed to making election processes more available to more citizens in any way possible."
The state's main computer facility, Teale Data Center, will tabulate incoming data from 58 counties, half of whom report directly by computer and then feed results to the California Server.
Miller admits that the level of interest across Internet in these results is an unknown, but claims that the low cost of providing information to a large audience is in keeping with the goals of his office.
An instruction sheet with directions for Internet users to access the results is available from the state's legislative and constituent services by calling 916-445-6375. Users can "gopher" directly by typing: gopher caelections.advantis.com or locate Advantis Global Network Services to find the California Server.
Posting of information began June 7 at 11:00 am Pacific Standard Time and the election closed at 8:00 pm on the same day.
(Patrick McKenna/19940608/Press Contact: Shirley Washington Office of Secretary of State, tel 916-445-6375)
Office of Secretary of State, tel 916-445-6375)
6/8/94
California Election Results Posted On Internet
IBM To Ask For Removal Of Servic
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- IBM is apparently about to ask for the lifting of the US Justice Department's 1956 consent decree that constrains its computer services activities.
"We met with the judge yesterday and discussed the consent decree," company spokesman Scott Brooks told Newsbytes, "but have not at this point filed any motion." Brooks went on to say that a motion to lift the decree is a possibility, although, "I have no timetable."
Under the consent decree, IBM's computer services business must pay the company's product units full price for equipment and software the services business buys for resale to customers. The ruling arose from a government investigation into IBM's alleged monopoly of the tabulating card business, begun in 1952.
Brooks said this requirement has hurt IBM's customers by stopping the company from passing on to them the benefits of its integrated operations.
International Data Corp., a Framingham, Mass., computer industry researcher, has forecast that computer services will be the largest segment of the industry by 1995.
IDC rated IBM as the largest provider of systems integration in 1993, with revenues from this business of $2,825 million. Andersen Consulting came in second with about $1,725 million in systems integration revenues, and Digital Equipment Corp. was close behind in third place, with a number of other computer vendors and consulting firms well behind.
IDC also rated IBM as the second-largest provider of information technology consulting worldwide, slightly behind Andersen. In computer systems outsourcing, IDC said IBM is also in second place, but with less than half the outsourcing revenue of market leader Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS).
(Grant Buckler/19940608/Press Contact: Scott Brooks, IBM tel 914-765-6242)
8/Press Contact: Scott Brooks, IBM tel 914-765-6242)
6/8/94
IBM To Ask For Removal Of Services Consent Decree?
EC & Canada Close To High-Tech T
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- The European Commission (EC) has announced it is discussing a science and technology trade accord with Canada, but is doubtful that any agreement will be worked out before the summer recess due at the end of this month.
Earlier this month, Roy MacLaren, the international trade minister for Canada, met with Leon Brittan, the EC trade commissioner, to discuss a possible high-tech trade accord, which officials of Canada and the EC have been working for several months.
According to the EC, although the meeting had been scheduled for some time, a trade accord between the two ministers was not signed, as there are several issues to be resolved, notably in the field of telecommunications, a particularly difficult subject for the EC.
In a prepared statement from Brittan's office in Brussels, the two ministers said that a trade accord between Canada and the EC is a highly desirable goal, now that the economies of Canada and the member states in the EC are recovering from the recession.
"The economic recovery in the EU and Canada is gathering momentum NAFTA and the Single Market are in full and effective operation, the GATT Uruguay Round has successfully been concluded, and all these create an environment conducive to trade and investment expansion," the statement said.
While relations between Canada and the EC have been cordial, they have been governed by the now long in the tooth EC-Canadian Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (FACE) agreement dating back to 1976. Because this agreement does not embrace the arrival of the PC and other consequent technologies trade between Canada and EC has been subject to external EC levies to date, which Canadian companies claim leaves them at a disadvantage.
Like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that was thrashed out between the US and EC earlier this year, a high tech agreement between Canada and the EC would allow most of these levies to be waived, so increasing Canada's high tech exports. EC officials, meanwhile, say that the EC's massive farming surplus could then be offered at advantageous prices.
According to a report on BBC TV yesterday, the situation with the EC farm surplus and the massive subsidies paid to EC farmers when market prices do not reach minimum levels, it would be cheaper for the EC to carpet over the millions of acres in the best wool carpeting available, than to pay the annual subsidies out.
EC officials revealed to Newsbytes that a high tech agreement with Canada should be in place by the end of the year and will cover several strategic areas, such as research and development cooperation, as well as the removal of technical barriers to high tech trading that date back to the 1970s.
"We are planning to hold a technology conference in Toronto this coming October to work out all these issues with Canadian industry. Both Mr MacLaren and Mr Brittan will be speaking at this event details of which are currently being finalized," a spokesman for the EC's external affairs press office, told Newsbytes.
(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940608/Press & Reader Contact: EC 32-2-299-1111)
608/Press & Reader Contact: EC 32-2-299-1111)
6/8/94
EC & Canada Close To High-Tech Trade Accord
New Italian Online Service Ready
IVREA, ITALY, 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- Olivetti has announced plans to set up a new company, Italia Online, in which it intends to have a majority stake. As the name implies, the new company, which is already operational, will carry an Italian language online service.
While other parts of Europe have had a number of online services see the light of day, Italy has been relatively barren in terms of public access services. Companies such as the European Space Agency have their own bibliographic database services available in Italy, but at great expense. An Italian equivalent to BT's Prestel in the UK France's Minitel and Germany's Bildschirmtext, known as Lasernet meanwhile, has never taken off properly, owing to the high costs of data transmission.
According to Elserino Piol, head of Olivetti, Italia Online should be up and running on a limited basis by the end of July and will operate along the same lines as Minitel -- i.e. acting as a common carrier with various information providers (IPs) loading their information on the system.
Interestingly, Piol said that, once the Italian network gets up and running, he plans to set up other online services -- all under the main Olivetti umbrella -- across Europe. This, he said, will involve Olivetti setting a second company with partners in each European country.
"We plan to begin with Italy but anticipate similar on-line companies for other European countries," he said, adding that the interface to Italia Online will be a graphical user interface (GUI) running under PC-Windows in a fashion similar to America Online (AOL).
As with the Prodigy service in the US, Olivetti plans to offer Italia Online free of charge to get the service established. The question of what to charge, if at all, will be raised at a later date.
Newsbytes spoke with Martin Turner, managing director with CompuServe UK, the UK division of CompuServe in the US, to enquire whether he had heard of Olivetti's plans.
"No, I haven't heard about this, but I can't say I'm surprised," he told Newsbytes, adding that he had just returned from a Software Publishers Association meeting in Cannes, France, where the issue of multimedia and online services generally was a hot topic.
"Although we have two million subscribers to CompuServe, 45,000 of whom are in the UK, we expect to see several new companies coming into the market. It's the logical thing, given the interest in matters online and, of course, the current interest in the Internet," he told Newsbytes.
How does CompuServe view new services such as Italian Online? Turner replied that the market is still very young and there is room for all players.
"What I would point out is that we've been in the UK for around four years officially, but started out with an existing user base then. It's only now that we've hit the expansion button and are signing up around a 1,000 new subscribers every week in the UK. We expect to have around 85 to 90,000 UK subscribers in a year's time and 250,000 for Europe as a whole," he said.
"Bearing that in mind, it's not going to be that easy for the new Italian service. The major problem is handling your growth in an orderly manner," he told Newsbytes.
FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- With three weeks to go before the June 28 start of PC Expo '94, Bruno Blenheim's annual three-day corporate computing extravaganza in New York City, attendee preregistration is double the figure for the same time period last year, said Mark Dineen, PC Expo director, in an interview with Newsbytes.
The number of PC Expo exhibitors lined up so far is at a par with 1993, when the total reached 728. Dineen added. "But bigger players like IBM and Intel are taking out more space this year, and we've added new sections for portable computing and fax communications," he added.
Dr. Andy Grove, Intel's president and CEO, will be delivering this year's keynote, on "The Ubiquitous PC." Just afterward, Intel will hold a briefing with Grove for members of the press.
WordPerfect, Lotus, Xerox, Sony, Merisel, and Datapro are a few of the 17 other vendors that are scheduled to hold press conferences so far, according to Dineen, who was promoted to his current position from last year's "show manager" post after taking over the reins of Blenheim's PC Expo/Chicago, as well.
Exhibitors at this year's New York show will also include the likes of Microsoft, Apple, Lotus, Panasonic, Adobe, Aldus, Samsung Borland, Claris, Compaq, Sharp, Motorola, Toshiba, Dell, DEC Epson, Software Publishing Corporation, and Zenith.
On June 29, the second day of the show, Andy Seybold's Portable Computer & Communications Association (PCCA) will sponsor a luncheon meeting open to all attendees.
Intel and the Professional Chess Association (PCA) plan to present the Intel World Chess Grand Prix at the Javits Center from June 27 to 30, in conjunction with the computer conference.
Also on the conference agenda are: the PC Expo debut of training sessions by the Certified Netware Engineer Professional Association (CNEPA); the addition of new Portable and Financial conference tracks; an expansion in multimedia exhibitors; and a preview of Interactive Information Expo, a new Blenheim show that will be held in "full-blown" form in New York City from December 6 to 8, 1994.
Sessions in PC Expo's new "Portable" track will include: "The Role of PDAs (personal digital assistants) in the Office;" "Wireless Technology in Mobile Computing;" "Remote & Field Applications for Mobile Computing;" and "Next Generation Portables."
The "Financial" track will provide a series of three sessions on "The Real-Time Trading Desk," plus separate offerings on "Distributed Real-Time Financial Market Data Systems" and "Restructuring Your Technology/Business Environment to Remain Competitive in Financial Services."
The "Portable" and "Financial" seminars will join almost 50 other conference sessions, in tracks that include Software, Multimedia Networking, Windows, and Management.
Although the number of multimedia booths will remain the same this year, at about 40, the number of multimedia exhibitors has jumped to 60, since smaller exhibitors are sharing booths explained Dineen.
"Ruggles Multimedia, which is affiliated with NYU (New York University), will be bringing in some multimedia start-ups to exhibit in that booth," he told Newsbytes.
PC Expo's new portable computing area has already been expanded three times, and is now set to contain about 50 exhibitors, Dineen said. The new fax communications section will feature another 10 to 15 vendors.
Last year's attendance at PC Expo equalled 98,634, according to Dineen. When asked why preregistration has risen this year by 100 percent, the director responded that, although "new products" and the current "industry turnaround" each play a part, there could be a third reason, as well.
"After standing in the long lines at PC Expo last year, people have 'gotten smart' and decided to preregister this year," speculated Dineen.
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 8 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Electronic Commerce On The Internet 06/08/94 CommerceNet operated by non-profit CommerceNet Consortium, is a group of Silicon Valley companies and organizations working to provide commercial business-to-business transactions over the Internet.
2 -> Japan - Fujitsu & Microsoft Link On PC LAN Systems 06/08/94 Japan's Fujitsu has signed an agreement with Microsoft, Tokyo, which calls for the joint development of application programs and local area network (LAN) systems for Fujitsu's customers.
3 -> Japan - Mitsui Bussan To Buy Into Sega's Taiwan JV 06/08/94 Japan's Mitsui Bussan Trading will participate in the amusement game market in Taiwan. To begin with, the firm will purchase part of the equity at Sega Amusement Taiwan, which is Sega Enterprises' Taiwanese joint venture firm.
4 -> Japan - Low-Cost Color Notebook PC Intro'd 06/08/94 Fujitsu has released a low-cost color notebook personal computer (PC), called the FMV-433N/S1. Priced at only 298,000 yen ($2,980), it is reportedly about $1,000 cheaper than existing models.
5 -> Japan - Multimedia TV PC & Pentium PC Intro'd 06/08/94 Fujitsu has announced that it is set to release a multimedia personal computer (PC) with a built-in TV tuner or receiver. Called the FM Towns II Fresh TV, the price will be 388,000 yen ($3,880).
6 -> Hong Kong - Rockwell Launches Mobile Modem Chipset 06/08/94 Rockwell International has launched a range of modem chipsets in Asia that work with both conventional telephone networks and cellular networks, enabling users to send and receive data by linking portable PCs to their mobile phones.
7 -> Hong Kong - Maruda Claims Smallest PC-To-TV Converter 06/08/94 aruda (HK) Ltd., a leading notebook PC vendor in Hong Kong, has introduced, what the company claims, is the world's smallest PC-to-TV video converter. Called the Geni, the new device is built around the VIP video interlace processor chip developed by Display Research Laboratory.
8 -> SW Bell Announces Broadband Upgrade In Texas 06/08/94 Southwestern Bell has selected Broadband Technologies as one of its vendors as it upgrades part of its network in the Dallas suburbs for video- quality service.
9 -> ZiffNet Offers Cookbook For Charity 06/08/94 Hoping to help the family of a member killed last year during an attempted robbery, ZiffNet is offering a cookbook.
10 -> BellSouth Renews Opposition To AT&T-McCaw Merger 06/08/94 BellSouth has renewed its opposition to AT&T's purchase of McCaw Cellular, this time filing a petition urging that the Federal Communications Commission reject the purchase.
11 -> RAM Mobile Data Links With SprintNet 06/08/94 RAM Mobile Data has announced direct links to the SprintNet packet network.
12 -> AOL To Offer MTV This Summer 06/08/94 MTV has signed a deal with America OnLine to create a section on the service this summer. America OnLine has about 800,000 members, behind Prodigy and CompuServe among consumer online services.
13 -> MCI Announces Prepaid Calling Cards 06/08/94 MCI has launched two new prepaid calling cards, or debit cards, which can be used through a special toll-free number.
14 -> DEC Cuts Alpha Chip Prices 06/08/94 Digital Equipment Corp. has cut prices on its Alpha AXP line of microprocessors. In addition to using the Alpha reduced instruction-set computer (RISC) chips in its own systems, Digital sells them to other manufacturers for use in their systems.
15 -> Low-Priced RAID Software For OS/2 Intro'd 06/08/94 Pro Engineering hopes to find a broader market for its redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) software with the launch of EZRaid Lite a scaled-down version of its disk management software for personal computers (PCs) running OS/2.
16 -> Correction - LSI Components Supplier Says Exciting 06/08/94 In the story, "LSI Components Supplier Says Exciting Changes Coming" that ran June 7, 1994, Newsbytes said LSI had licensed technology from Zenith and General Instruments. That is incorrect -- Zenith and General Instruments licensed LSI's technology.
17 -> Microsoft Summit - Lexis/Microsoft Used In Law Firm Demo 06/08/94 Does your idea of the "typical law firm" still involve images of dusty law libraries and endless typing and Xeroxing? If so, a glimpse at a demo given at the Microsoft Envision Summit in Boston will fill you in on how the legal world is becoming different these days.
18 -> Microsoft Summit - Adaptive's Protege & MobileSync 06/08/94 At the Microsoft Envision Summit, Adaptive Strategies introduced a multi-dimensional database called Protege, in addition to MobileSync, a system for updating databases between mobile PCs and a central Windows NTAS (New Technology Advanced Server).
19 -> GEnieNav 2.5 For Mac Microphone Users On GEnie Intro'd 06/08/94 Mac users who access the GEnie online service with the Microphone communications software have been able to download GEnieNav Lite as freeware to navigate the system's RoundTables and other services.
20 -> ****NTT & Silicon Graphics In Japanese Multimedia Deal 06/08/94 Workstation maker Silicon Graphics Inc (SGI) and Japanese telephone company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) have announced that the two companies will work together on the building of an interactive multimedia service in Japan.
21 -> Micrografx's Free Business Graphics WIndows Software 06/08/94 Micrografx Inc., says it will give away, "absolutely free," a copy of its business graphics package ABC Snapgraphics to anyone who want one.
22 -> Dell Dumps Investment Derivatives 06/08/94 A Dell Computer Corporation spokesperson told Newsbytes that the company has closed all of its remaining investment derivatives and short term investments with principal exposure.
23 -> Korea - Computer News Roundup 06/08/94 In this week's computer news from Korea: exports of home appliances to the former USSR are up, Samsung develops multi-bit 16M DRAM, China is becoming Korea's rival in electronics, advanced technologies are no easy buy anymore, foreign game makers rush to Korea.
24 -> Korea, Japan In LCD Production Race 06/08/94 The world LCD (liquid crystal display) market is expected to reach $15 billion by the year 2000, as LCDs, already in use for notebook PCs and portable TVs, are gaining more importance for use in various other monitors and wall-type TVs.
25 -> Mexico - Telecom News Roundup 06/08/94 In today's roundup of news from Mexico, Motorola purchases cellular telephone operation and Telecomm losses in 1993.
26 -> California Election Results Posted On Internet 06/08/94 The State of California is claiming to be the first state to post election results on the Internet.
27 -> ****IBM To Ask For Removal Of Services Consent Decree? 06/08/94 IBM is apparently about to ask for the lifting of the US Justice Department's 1956 consent decree that constrains its computer services activities.
28 -> EC & Canada Close To High-Tech Trade Accord 06/08/94 The European Commission (EC) has announced it is discussing a science and technology trade accord with Canada, but is doubtful that any agreement will be worked out before the summer recess due at the end of this month.
29 -> ****New Italian Online Service Ready To Launch 06/08/94 Olivetti has announced plans to set up a new company, Italia Online, in which it intends to have a majority stake. As the name implies, the new company, which is already operational, will carry an Italian language online service.
30 -> PC Expo '94 Set For NYC, June 28 - 30 06/08/94 With three weeks to go before the June 28 start of PC Expo '94, Bruno Blenheim's annual three-day corporate computing extravaganza in New York City, attendee preregistration is double the figure for the same time period last year, said Mark Dineen, PC Expo director, in an interview with Newsbytes.
(Ian Stokell/19940608)
(Ian Stokell/19940608)
6/8/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
SPA Says Computers Help In Schoo
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Information technology can make a big difference on how well kids learn in school, according to a new study by the Software Publishers Association.
Commissioned by the SPA and conducted by Interactive Education Systems Design, a technology consulting firm, the study found that computing and communications technology helps students of all ages and skill levels, from preschool to college. The report is the third of its kind SPA has released in the last three years.
"It's most dramatic with low-achievers and students with special needs," Sue Kamp, SPA's education expert, told Newsbytes.
According to the study, students respond more effectively to software that offers "a sense of control over the learning environment, arouses curiosity, offers multiple levels of difficulty and challenge, provides feedback, and incudes an element of fantasy and animation."
Teachers are the key, said Kamp, and teachers are also a problem. "There's not nearly enough professional development for teachers in this area and we are hearing from them about that. We are seeing a lot of computers sitting idle."
While most educators did not get any exposure to computers when they were in school, that is now changing. "Computers are being incorporated into audio-visual classes at the college level," said Kamp, "as well as into the curriculum in other classes."
For the future, Kamp sees schools connected to the Internet and the information highway. "SPA's members will be the content providers for that," she says, "but we don't know what it will look like yet."
The net is still a distance away for most schools, notes Kamp. "Only three percent of classrooms have a phone jack," she says.
(Kennedy Maize/19940608/Contact: Sue Kamp, 202-452-1600)
608/Contact: Sue Kamp, 202-452-1600)
6/9/94
SPA Says Computers Help In Schools
GENERAL
MCI Aids Eastern European Enviro
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Through a grant from MCI, 22 librarians from six Central European countries will learn some of the intricacies of the Internet at the Internet Society's INET 1994 conference in Prague this month.
The group from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland Slovakia, and Hungary will be the nucleus of a new organization the International Organization for Information Specialists (IOIS) to promote international collaboration and training with support from the US Agency for International Development.
"The program's mission is to provide training and assistance to Central Europe's libraries to use the power of the Internet for access and retrieval of environmental information on-line," said Barbara Rodes, a founder of IOIS and a librarian for the US World Wildlife Fund.
"Many of these Central European librarians are already very sophisticated Internet users," Pam Small of MCI told Newsbytes. "They will be looking at things like multimedia on the Internet, and taking part in the INET conference."
MCI has provided a US-wide backbone network for the Internet since 1987 and is a major sponsor of the Prague meeting. The Washington-based company, along with British Telecom and Czech Telecom International, are putting the largest Internet link ever into Eastern Europe for the Prague meeting. The fiber optic link will support interactive video broadcast of the conference proceedings to 500 sites in 14 countries.
"As the explosive growth of the Internet continues," says Vinton Cerf, MCI senior vice president and president of the Internet Society, "it is critical that we introduce the unique capabilities of this global network to those parts of the world who need a jump start to get on the superhighway."
The $13,500 MCI grant to the librarians will fund their travel and expenses at the conference. The conference is sponsored by the Internet Society and the Reseaux Associes pour la Recherche Europeenne's joint European networking conference.
MCI Aids Eastern European Environmental Librarians
TELECOM
Microsoft/World Wildlife Fund Co
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Conservationist and world traveler Sir Edmund Hillary has endorsed the work of Microsoft Corporation and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to develop computer software about endangered species of our planet.
Hillary, 74, and the first person to ascend to the summit of Mt. Everest, told a standing room only crowd of Microsoft employees such efforts are "vital to the future of conservation." Hillary said the global environment is severely stressed and something has to be done to save it. "We have to do something. We cannot leave it to other people."
The joint product between Microsoft and the WWF will produce a Windows-based software program, called Dangerous Creatures, as one of nine new Microsoft products this year for the home computer market. Dangerous Creatures includes 1,000 articles and 250 pictures of natural habitats. The WWF served as technical adviser and fact-checker for the program.
In addition to the text and pictures, the software includes sound effects, narrations and pronunciations. It takes users on a tour of various wild areas of the globe to demonstrate the "delicate balance of the ecosystem" that surrounds the world's wildlife.
Hillary described Dangerous Creatures as "great for the young who learn so quickly and visually." He added that he personally does not use computers.
The WWF is a 30-year old international organization dedicated to the preservation of the world's endangered wildlife and natural habitats.
Microsoft spokesperson Michelle Dollarhide told Newsbytes that Dangerous Creatures is scheduled to ship in late June with a suggested retail price of $79.95. She was uncertain if there will be a Macintosh version of the program, but said if there is it will not be in the near future.
(Jim Mallory/19940608/Press contact: Michelle Dollarhide, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft Corporation, 503-245-0905; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
icrosoft Corporation, 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
6/9/94
Microsoft/World Wildlife Fund Combine On Software
SunWorld '94 Invites FBI To Disc
FARMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- In December, 1993, Dr. William Tafoya, special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), became the first law enforcement officer to make investigative use of the Internet. He will be taking part in SunWorld '94.
During investigation of the "UNABOMB" mail-bombing case, whose victims were all individuals or organizations who participated on Internet, Tafoya was able to carry out investigative procedures pertinent to the case.
As part of SunWorld '94, he will be joined by Philip Moyer, security engineer for Arca Systems and Matt Bishop, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of California at Davis, for a June 16 conference entitled: "Security: Tough Decisions for Distributed Systems and Heterogeneous Environments." Internet security, the limitations of investigative work, and how to improve system security, will be conference subjects for this panel.
SunWorld '94 tutorials will begin on June 13 and the exposition will run through June 14-18. The event, produced by IDG World Expo will offer educational forums and technical information about Sun Microsystems, other open systems trends, technology and new enterprise developments.
More than 250 companies will fill the trade show floor to greet the estimated 12,000 attendees.
Andrew Rodger, vice president of open systems for IDG World Expo told Newsbytes, "This conference is focused on advanced enterprise solutions and security and international communication. We attract and audience that is concerned with the application of technology across local and global networks."
SunWorld '94 will also offer a large educational area for developers and special highlights will feature a keynote speech by Bill Alaoglu from the World Cup Association and a panel of race car giants including Penske, Ferrari, and McLaren International, who will speak on design and communication systems in auto racing.
(Patrick McKenna/19940608/Press Contact: Rachel Winett, IDG World Expo, tel 508-820-8608)
ntact: Rachel Winett, IDG World Expo, tel 508-820-8608)
6/9/94
SunWorld '94 Invites FBI To Discuss Internet Security
GENERAL
Japan - Computer News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, Fujitsu develops 64Mbit synchronous DRAM, NEC to increase GaAs IC production, Japan's government to draft five-year computerization plan, Sega, four trading firms to establish CATV-based game broadcasting company Car navigation system price war intensifying
Fujitsu Develops 64Mbit Synchronous DRAM
Fujitsu has developed a 64Mbit synchronous DRAM and will begin shipping samples in August. Designed using 0.35 double-metal CMOS (complimentary metal oxide semiconductor) processes 140 million elements are integrated on a 232 square-millimeter chip, about the same size as a 64Mbit DRAM chip. The synchronous DRAM, which comes in two types -- the MB81164440 configured 16Mword x 4bit x 4bank and the MB81164840 configured 8Mword x 8bit x 4bank -- has a three-step pipeline structure and operates at a clock speed of 100 megahertz (MHz) on 3.3volts. The chip also uses the company's proprietary interface, Terminated Lvttl, for data transfer between memory and a CPU (central processing unit). The 8bit model achieves a data transfer rate of 100 megabytes per-second, the equivalent of sending 260 newspaper pages in 1/12 of a second, and an access time of six nanoseconds (ns). Sample prices will be set at 150,000- 200,000 yen ($1,429-1,905). The chip maker's Mie plant will initially produce 64Mbit synchronous DRAMs, but Fujitsu will install 8-inch wafer processing equipment for volume production at its Iwate plant to begin production at one million units per month three years from now.
NEC To Increase GaAs IC Production
NEC will increase GaAs (gallium arsenide) production in response to growing demand from makers of mobile phones and overseas satellite broadcasting antennas. The company plans to raise three-inch wafer output at its subsidiary NEC Kansai's Otsu plant by 50% to 1,500 units per month by September and 2,000 units by 1995. The plant currently manufactures 500 types of GaAs ICs (integrated circuits), but the product line will be cut by 60% to 200 types. In order to expand production, the plant will also use a pilot line for volume production. NEC intends to boost GaAs IC shipments from an estimated 20 billion yen ($190.5 million) in fiscal 1993 to about 30 billion yen ($285.7 million) in fiscal 1994.
Government To Draft Five-Year Computerization Plan
Japan's government will, in fiscal 1994, draft its first-ever five-year plan aimed at computerizing the nation's bureaucracy. The government will draft a basic plan covering overall methodology and plans for cooperation and coordination among different ministries, while each ministry will create its own action plan. A project committee spanning four ministries has been formed and is now at work. Among other things, the plan calls for the installation of one PC per ministry employee and conversion to an electronic paperless system for official documents by 1999.
Sega, 4 Others, To Establish CATV-Based Game Broadcasting Firm
Sega Enterprises, Itochu, Sumitomo Corp., Nissho Iwai, and Mitsubishi Corp. will cooperatively establish SEGA Digital Communications, a new corporation which will use cable television to distribute game software to homes, hotels, and other commercial establishments. To be capitalized at 200 million yen ($1.9 million), the new firm, in which SEGA will have a majority stake, will supply CATV companies with game uplink equipment and software. Games are widely regarded as one menu item which will hold the promise of spurring CATV usage, and SEGA has begun a series of experimental game uplink services in both Japan and the US since May.
Car Navigation System Price War Intensifying
The price war in the car navigation system field is intensifying. On July 1, Matsushita Communication Industrial will release the first hybrid-type system costing below 200,000 yen ($1,905). The Cn-v500dj system integrates the GPS (global positioning system) with a location gyro and a speed sensor. Priced at 198,000 yen ($1,886), the hybrid system offers improved position accuracy over systems utilizing only the GPS. At the retail level price discount competition is continuing, and makers will now be competing by coming out with systems that are more affordable for users.
(Terry Silveria/19940608)
(Terry Silveria/19940608)
6/9/94
Japan - Computer News Briefs
GENERAL
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Pr
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- By John Hastings. Computer users have demanded an upgradable computer for many years. The idea is good but the implementations have been flawed.
Apple promises a PowerPC upgrade for most Macintosh computers soon. This may be the first program to work because Apple has so much riding on it. On the other hand, two years ago Intel promised a P24T Pentium upgrade for most 486 computers. This chip is like the abominable snowman. While there is great discussion about it, no one has seen it in captivity.
The price of color LCD (liquid crystal display) screens will spiral downward for the next two years. New technology and volume production will make color screens so inexpensive, they will become the standard for most notebook and subnotebook computers. In addition, large color LCD screens will then replace monitors for desktop computers. Some predict a large folded screen will be available for portable computers. These screens will unfold to allow 17- to 20-inch viewing. However, the big payoff for the manufacturers has nothing to do with computers. The ultimate market is television. When the appropriate price point is reached, the LCD manufacturers will own the television market. This incentive is fueling the current research and development.
Apple's new notebook computers are receiving rave reviews. The PowerBook 500's include many new and innovative features. The most prominent is the replacement of the trackball with a trackpad. This touch sensitive pad causes the cursor to move with any finger movement on the pad. As with many innovative ideas from Apple, the trackpad will certainly be copied by most other manufacturers. Other features include a CPU (central processing unit) that is three times faster than previous PowerBooks, function keys on the keyboard, and two battery bays. These bays can utilize two batteries for 5 to 8 hours of usage, or one battery can be removed revealing the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slots for expansion cards. Built-in Ethernet networking is also included. The 9.5-inch screen allows a full 640 by 480 viewing. The low-end PowerBook 520 in a 4/160 configuration is expected to sell for less than $2200. This price should have a depressing effect on the prices of most used PowerBooks.
Sales of Apple's Power Macs may get a shot in the arm later this year when Apple releases a new version of the Macintosh operating system. The current version of the operating system was designed for compatibility and stability. The next version will emphasize performance. In running older Macintosh software in emulation mode, the new system is said to be twice as fast. In addition, native Power Mac software is expected to see improvements of 20% to 30%.
Apple cut prices up to 27% on a dozen models of PowerBooks and Quadras last week. Since several of these models will be discontinued, this inventory clearing move may have little long term effect on used computer prices.
The following prices are for June 3, 1994.
Average Average
Buyer's Seller's
Machine Bid Ask Close Change
IBM PS/2 Model 30/286 20MB $250 $450 $275 ..
IBM PS/2 Model 70 60MB 400 700 550 -25
IBM ThinkPad 350 800 1450 975 -25
IBM ThinkPad 700 1000 1700 1250 -50
IBM ThinkPad 720 1600 2000 1650 ..
AST 386/20, 80MB 450 850 550 +50
Dell 325SX,60MB 400 800 475 ..
Dell 386/20, 120MB 600 900 600 ..
Gateway 386SX/20, 80MB 400 850 475 -25
Gateway 386/25, 80MB 500 800 550 -25
Gateway 486/33 120MB 900 1300 950 ..
Clone Notebook 286, 40 MB 350 700 425 -50
Clone Notebook 386SX, 40 MB 500 900 700 -25
Clone 386/25 80MB, VGA 450 850 650 ..
Clone 386/33 80MB, VGA 550 950 700 -25
Clone 486/25120MB, VGA 800 1250 900 ..
Compaq SLT/286 20MB 250 500 400 ..
Compaq LTE 286 40MB 300 675 525 +25
Compaq Deskpro 386/20e 100MB 500 800 650 +25
Compaq Contura 320 60MB 500 1000 775 ..
Macintosh Classic 40MB 350 600 350 -25
Macintosh SE/30 40MB 375 800 550 ..
Macintosh II 40MB 350 650 475 ..
Macintosh IIcx 80MB 400 700 525 -25
Macintosh IIci 80MB 700 1000 775 ..
Macintosh IIfx 80MB 800 1400 950 -25
PowerBook 100 20MB 525 900 600 -25
PowerBook 140 40MB 900 1400 1025 -25
PowerBook 170 40MB 1200 1700 1275 -25
PowerBook 180 80MB 1400 1800 1425 -50
LaserWriter IINT 700 1000 725 ..
Toshiba 1200XE 300 650 525 -25
Toshiba 1900 120M 1000 1700 1025 -50
Toshiba 3200SX 40MB 400 800 575 ..
Toshiba 5200 100MB 850 1250 1075 +25
HP LaserJet II 400 850 800 ..
HP LaserJet IIIP 375 950 525 ..
HP LaserJet III 750 1100 975 +25
HP LaserJet IV 1000 1300 1175 ..
John Hastings is the president of the American Computer Exchange Corporation. The American Computer Exchange matches buyers and sellers of used microcomputer equipment. For more information contact the American Computer Exchange Corporation at (800) 786-0717.
(AmCoEx/19940608)
(800) 786-0717.
(AmCoEx/19940608)
6/9/94
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices
GENERAL
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Virtual Mark Twain, who resides in a 16 cube, 11 foot by 11 foot wall, will preside over INFOCOMM International trade show at the Anaheim Convention Center on June 9-11.
The International Communications Industries Association (ICIA) a group of 1,400 companies comprising of system integrators manufacturers, rental firms, producers and dealers will hold its annual INFOCOMM International to bring together major sound contractors and manufacturers to demonstrate audio-visual and sound technology.
Working in conjunction with ICIA, the International Television Association (ITVA), a group of 8,000 video professionals, has agreed to jointly present the event of 400 exhibitors to an estimated 18,000 attendees.
The show will feature virtual reality displays, a multimedia classroom, the ultimate electronic classroom, teleconferencing and a video gallery of 150 videotapes from the ITVA Video Festival.
Color Concepts & Images' Virtual Mark Twain is a product of high speed computer wizardry which combines three-dimensional (3-D) computer graphics, real-time animation, a highly visual computer screen-wall and the wisdom of Mr. Twain. This creation of Gary Jesch, founder of Color Concepts & Images, brings together the "ComputerWall" of Moving Pictures Inc. and RGB Spectrum and SimGraphics' "VActor" software.
Behind the scenes, San Francisco actor, Bruce Parry will be wired to the computer with "Waldo," special headgear for tracking his head movements, including eyes and mouth. With hidden cameras Parry will be able to see and interact with conference attendees, as his voice and motions are transmitted to the "ComputerWall" Twain with virtually no time delay.
Gary Jesch, told Newsbytes, "We want to prove that this technology is commercially viable. That has not been done yet. Once it is established, we will be able to present any number of historical mythical or current-day heroes to special events anywhere in the world."
According to Jesch, the current cost of Virtual Mark Twain is somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 per day. Moving Pictures of Los Angeles is sponsoring the appearance of Virtual Mark Twain who will offer wisdom to the audience while he learns of historical events and technological advances of the twentieth century.
(Patrick McKenna/19940608/Press Contact: Gary Jesch, Color Concepts & Images, 800-892-4687, International, 702-831-7451)
800-892-4687, International, 702-831-7451)
6/9/94
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At INFOCOMM
GENERAL
Rival Anti-Piracy Groups Expand
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Washington's two rival software piracy groups--Software Publishers Association and Business Software Alliance--are both moving in new directions, and possibly into a further turf battle.
BSA has created a new in-house policy organization, headed by a veteran Washington lobbyist. SPA is beefing up its litigation and international anti-piracy efforts, an area where BSA has been strong.
BSA is the "new kid on the block," begun two years ago when eight of SPA's most important members essentially quit the older more traditional trade association to form a new organization focused more narrowly on piracy and especially piracy outside the United States. The eight renegades were Aldus, Apple Autodesk, Intergraph, Lotus, Microsoft, Novell, and WordPerfect.
SPA is a full-service trade association, offering conferences training, a range of member services, lobbying in Congress and the executive branch, and anti-piracy campaigns. Its anti-piracy efforts have been financed out of a separate pot of member money, donated for that purpose alone.
BSA has been an aggressive anti-pirate agent, especially abroad, with intellectual property programs in 55 countries. In the past, it has done its lobbying through outside law firms in Washington.
But now BSA has hired Rebecca Gould as policy director, a new position, and launched an expanded in-house shop. Gould comes from the well-connected Washington law firm of Verner Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. Before that, she was Republican counsel on the House Energy and Commerce Committee where she was a key staff player in the 1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act.
Lobbying Congress and the executive branch will get greater attention at BSA, says President Robert Holleyman. "With the advent of the global information highway--which will intimately link computer users from all parts of the world," he says "important privacy and security issues have surfaced that require the software industry's involvement and input."
Just a few blocks away, SPA has hired Sandra Sellers as director of litigation. She has been a partner and specialist in international intellectual property issues at the Washington firm of Willian, Brinks, Hofer, Bilson & Lione and, before that, an attorney at the US International Trade Commission.
In making the announcement, SPA said that it "will expand its presence against software pirates internationally under Sellers' direction."
"I think we are seeing both organizations evolving," said a long-term observer who requested anonymity to preserve ties to the rival organizations. "BSA will never be like SPA, but it is broadening its services. And SPA looks like it is moving in on BSA's territory, as well. There's bad blood between the groups."
(Kennedy Maize/19950609/Contact: Christopher Hopkins, SPA 202-452-1600; Kim Willard, BSA, 202-872-5500)
-452-1600; Kim Willard, BSA, 202-872-5500)
6/9/94
Rival Anti-Piracy Groups Expand Services
GENERAL
European Counterfeit Legislation
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- According to a report by the European Association of Industries of Branded Products (AIM), anti counterfeiting legislation varies widely from one European country to another and is only effective in a few, notably France and Germany.
According to AIM, all the countries examined (the EC Twelve plus Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, and Turkey) have set up legal systems enabling authorities to take measures to control counterfeit goods, but they have proved truly effective and sufficiently binding only in France and Germany.
The UK is heavily criticized in the BF 800 report for the cost of taking civil legal action through the courts. Benelux, meanwhile, is slated for ineffective criminal and customs provisions, while Italy is criticized for having a system that "is generally unsatisfactory in all areas."
AIM is calling for the harmonization of anti-counterfeiting laws at the higher standards prevailing and for closer judicial cooperation between the EC member states. The report suggest that improvements must be made at three different levels: national and European criminal law; national and European civil law; and customs controls at EC external borders.
Concerning national and European criminal law, the bodies responsible for monitoring application of laws must be given greater powers of investigation and action, additional financial resources and personnel, and the power to impose dissuasive sanctions (fines corresponding to the gravity of the fraud, the destruction of counterfeit goods, for example).
At a European level, the import, transit or export of counterfeit goods must be considered an offence, European trademark legislation must be applicable through criminal law and a European network of national anti counterfeiting coordinators established
Concerning national and European civil law: authorities must be authorized to seize counterfeit goods more quickly and without warning the owners; owners should be required to provide information about the origin of counterfeit goods; the destruction of seized goods should be allowed; intellectual property legislation should be strengthened; and existing provisions in the different EC member states should be harmonized.
In addition, a specific European court should be established to deal with problems of counterfeiting and its decisions should be directly applicable in all the member states.
Concerning customs controls at EC external borders, trade in counterfeit goods should be considered a violation of customs legislation, and information sharing by customs officials should be facilitated and stepped up.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940609/Press & Reader Contact: AIM tel +32-2-736-0305, fax +32-2-734-6702)
: AIM tel +32-2-736-0305, fax +32-2-734-6702)
6/9/94
European Counterfeit Legislation Criticized
Visa Germany Unveils Secure Paym
BONN, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- German members of the Visa credit and debit card network have been introduced to Payment 2000 a paperless transaction network that Visa claims is the most secure of its type in the world.
Visa officials unveiled the system at the second administrative meeting of the newly established Visa Deutschland, a credit card pressure group, which took place earlier this month. At the meeting held in early June, members agreed to connect all the German Visa banks to the new Visa network.
According to Visa, Germany is the first country where the Payment 2000 system has been introduced. The advantages of the system are that it will reduce the extent of fraud and credit losses, according to the company.
Visa officials added that, because of the security against fraud, it can now introduce a new charging structure at locations accepting the Visa brand card.
From the card users' point of view, transactions can be completed more quickly and, since transaction dates are routed to the cardholders' statement, better reconciliation can be completed especially with cross-currency transactions.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940609)
currency transactions.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940609)
6/9/94
Visa Germany Unveils Secure Payment 2000 System
GENERAL
UK - Optech Unveils PFS:Window W
FARNHAM, SURREY, 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Optech has announced the availability of version 2.0 of PFS:Window Works on CD-ROM.
According to the multimedia specialist, the package is ideal for the small office/home office (SOHO) market, since it is a low-cost integrated suite of applications for small businesses.
Why go for a CD-ROM edition over floppy disk-based? Officials with the company claim that CD-ROM makes the package much easier to install, as well as allowing extra features to be made available. Despite the extra features, the package costs just UKP49.
PFS:Window Works 2.0 is actually eight packages in one. The company claims that, by grouping together a full feature word processor spreadsheet, database, chartmaker, address book, terminal, and label maker, the software meets all home and small business needs.
The eighth module, which is standalone, is the Winfax Ultralite application from Delrina. The package allows faxes to be received automatically and routed to the print menu without the user leaving a Windows application in the foreground.
Not surprisingly, the whole ensemble uses around 10.3 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space, hence the use of a CD-ROM to supply the applications on. The additional space on the CD-ROM is taken up by a multimedia demonstration tutorial that covers all aspects of the package modules, as well as Windows functions.
"The use of CD-ROM has also allowed is the expand the help functions of the package. We now have fully context sensitive help, along with onscreen dialog boxes," explained a spokesman for Optech.
Optech claims that the package is made easier to use by the addition of a new customizable Quick Button palette. This facility allows users to define the facilities most frequently used in an onscreen "tool box" that allows functions to quickly addressed. The facility Newsbytes notes, is similar to the Mac alias feature native to System, the Apple Mac's graphical user interface (GUI) operating system.
The use of CD-ROM has allowed PFS to include object linking and embedding (OLE) functions with the package. The facility allows the user to created objects from the spreadsheet or chartmaker modules which can then be inserted into other Windows documents. This could be used, company officials note, to incorporate charts and diagrams within the text of a file in the word processor. Because the data is held in the charts file in this example, any changes to that data will auto-update the "version" in the word processor.
(Steve Gold/19940609/Press & Reader Contact: Optech tel +44-252-714340, fax +252-711121)
Contact: Optech tel +44-252-714340, fax +252-711121)
6/9/94
UK - Optech Unveils PFS:Window Works 2.0 On CD-ROM
UK - Elonex Offers Removable Dri
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Elonex, the direct sell PC manufacturer, has announced that its "My Drive" removable and interchangeable hard disk system is being made available to all PC users, including those using non-Elonex PCs.
Previously, the My Drive system was only seen on the NB4000 series of modular notebook machines from the company. The system, which is available in 120, 200. 250, 340 and 520 megabyte (MB) formats, was designed by the company's research and development division, Oakleigh Systems of California.
Each disk is in a 2.5-inch form factor and measures 76 millimeters (mm) by 22 mm by 120 mm. A drive mount assembly is available for a half-height drive bay and links to the PC bus via a 16 bit ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slot. The drive bay system is known as the My Drive Inn and costs UKP40. Drives range in cost form UKP250 for the 120MB unit to UKP405 for the 340MB cartridge. Pricing on the 520MB unit has yet to be decided, company officials told Newsbytes.
Demetre Cheras, Elonex's systems director, said that removable mass storage is nothing new. "But we believe that the My Drive system is the only affordable way for uses to swap hard disks between desktops and notebook PCs," he said.
"If you're using a My Drive module as a secondary drive, users can even remove and replace it without powering down the PC. This effectively gives PC users the easy portability of a standard 1.44MB floppy disks, but with up to 350 times the capacity," he added.
(Steve Gold/19940609/Press & Reader Contact: Elonex tel +44-81-452-4444, fax +44-81-452-6422)
ntact: Elonex tel +44-81-452-4444, fax +44-81-452-6422)
6/9/94
UK - Elonex Offers Removable Drive Technology For PCs
Lotus Offers SmartSuite Upgrade
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- For users who already have a Lotus package, the company is now offering an upgrade to its Smartsuite integrated software suite, for just UKP199. The package usually costs UKP545.
The special promotion runs until September of this year. To keep its resellers happy, as well as offering instant buy facilities to end users, the upgrade pack is available through dealers.
The slightly odd condition to this is that the upgrade pack only contains a voucher which has to be returned to Lotus' customer services for what the company calls "immediate fulfillment."
Lotus reckons the deal is a good one, but is offering customers its usual money back guarantee on the product, if the customer is not happy with the software, for any reason.
The summer promo will incorporate three months of extensive advertising. Andrew Wyatt, brand manager for SmartSuite, said that pricing is the result of Lotus' research into how customers look at pricing in the mainstream marketplace.
"Our own pricing research showed that the upgrade price is a very attractive option. It dramatically increases the numbers of customers upgrading," Wyatt explained.
(Steve Gold/19940609/Press Contact: Richard Bailey, Lotus UK 44-784-455445)
act: Richard Bailey, Lotus UK 44-784-455445)
6/9/94
Lotus Offers SmartSuite Upgrade For UKP199
Correction - Sidekick For Window
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- In a story on Sidekick for Windows that ran June 21 in Newsbytes, the name of Borland's new "slimware" software line was erroneously identified as "Simplicity." Instead, "Simplify" is the correct name of the new product family.
Newsbytes regrets the error.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940623/Press Contacts: Knox Richardson Borland, 408-431-1000; Pam Erickson or Anne Marie Clark Cunningham Communication for Ambra, 617-494-8202; Reader Contacts: Borland, 408-431-1000; Ambra, 800-25-AMBRA)
der Contacts: Borland, 408-431-1000; Ambra, 800-25-AMBRA)
6/23/94
Correction - Sidekick For Windows 1st App In Slimline
CORRECTION
Star Trek Next Generation CD-ROM
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- The television series may be over, but multimedia personal computer (MPC) users can begin a Star Trek: Next Generation adventure with a new interactive CD-ROM from Spectrum Holobyte beginning this October. Spectrum says it has signed up eight of the principle actors from the popular science-fiction series for the title.
Company representatives told Newsbytes the title, "Star Trek: The Next Generation 'A Final Unity,'" will have an originally written and produced story. The interactivity comes in with the ability for players to choose to be any of the main characters, including the computer. The title is to feature three-dimensional (3-D) graphics and compact disc (CD) quality sound.
Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathon Frakes (Commander William Riker), Gates McFadden (Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beverly Crusher), Levar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), and Majel Barrett (voice of the computer) will all contribute their voices to the game.
Spectrum has a license from Paramount to produce a specific number of computer and video games from the series and has already released a Nintendo Star Trek: The Next Generation video game. The company also has the right to produce games from the "Generations" Star Trek movie Paramount is working on and representatives said further CD-ROM titles are in the planning stages.
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Deluxe Corp. says it has entered into an agreement to purchase all of the capital stock of T/Maker Company of Mountain View, California.
T/Maker produces the ClickArt series of images that can be inserted into documents created in other applications. It also develops and publishes the VroomBooks series of children's multimedia software on CD-ROM for early learning. The electronic books are available on Apple Computer's Macintosh platform as well as Windows-based multimedia personal computers.
Stuart Alexander, VP of Corporate Public Relations at Deluxe, told Newsbytes all of the T/Maker employees and the company's management, including CEO Heidi Roizen, will be retained. The company will be part of the Deluxe Business Systems Division.
Deluxe Corporation is a 79-year old Fortune 500 company perhaps best known to consumers for its check printing functions. It also owns direct mail market greeting card company Current Inc., in Colorado and more than 30 other companies in the US and the UK.
Other functions include electronic payment and benefits processing accounts receivables management and collections, and business forms printing. The company is currently bringing to market an environmentally friendly lithographic printing system that eliminates solvents from the printing process.
Alexander said the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of June. T/Maker is a privately held company, but its shareholders will have to approve the deal. Alexander declined to disclose the purchase price or terms of the sale.
(Jim Mallory/19940608/Press contact: Stuart Alexander, Deluxe Corporation, 612-483-7358 or Heidi Roizen, T/Maker Company 415-962-0195)
n, T/Maker Company 415-962-0195)
6/9/94
Deluxe Corp To Acquire T/Maker
BUSINESS
GTSI Moves On California Governm
Samsung To Make PDAs
Japan - Kyocera Develops Set-Top
Review of - The Telescan System,
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
IDB Hopes The Bad News Is Past
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
Control Data Gets Russian Automa
UK - School Computer Porn Scare
Survey - Backbone Demand Rising
Compton's Migrates Wholly To CD-
Apple Newton Launched In France
Lotus 2 Qtr Revenues $20M Lower
Xerox & Sun Create $500 Million
Dell Ships 100MHz Pentium PC, In
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Dell Computer Corp. says it is now shipping 100 megahertz (MHz) Intel Pentium-based PCs. The company claims that it is the first to ship these types of systems on a commercial basis.
The Dell desktop servers being shipped include the Poweredge SP 5100, which starts at $11,047, and the Poweredge XE 5100 which begins at $12,731.
Both models include Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus technology, Dell's small computer system interface (SCSI) disk array subsystem, a thermal monitoring card which monitors temperature and operation of the key components, hot-swappable disk drives, and error checking and correcting memory.
The term hot-swappable refers to the ability to change that component while the computer is running.
Dell has also announced its Network Setup program, a partnership with Novell Inc.'s Netware Ready program. Network setup is Dell-developed software code that enables PCs with factory installed network interface cards and Netware workstation drivers to be "quickly" connected to a network.
Network Setup works in conjunction with Dell's LANsolve, a program that includes a feature called Login-Ready. A user connects the hardware to the network cabling, turns on the power and types a few keystrokes. The system then automatically identifies the network type and configures itself, says the firm.
According to Novell Senior Director of Marketing Toby Corey Network Setup works flawlessly. "Customers can be assured that Dell's factory installation of Netware is outstanding," said Corey.
That may be because of Novell and Dell's close ties. Dell is a Novell original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a member of its Strategic Engineering Support and Technical Support Alliance programs that test, certify, and support Dell networking products.
(Jim Mallory/19940609/Press contact: Dean Kline, Dell Computer Corp., 512-728-4100; Reader contact: Dell Computer, 800-289 3355 or 512-338-4400)
ontact: Dell Computer, 800-289 3355 or 512-338-4400)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Named after the famous Bryce Canyon in Utah, HSC is demonstrating KPT Bryce 1.0 for the Macintosh at the Digital World show in Los Angeles, a product for the design and rendering of landscapes.
The company claims computer users can now design skies, surreal landscapes, and never-before-seen-worlds and even use the designs as a 360-degree panoramic screen saver.
The product comes with a CD-ROM with hundreds of preset images so beginning users can simply take or redesign a landscape with the product. Landscapes can be created by combining the dozens of skies, grounds, and terrains provided in varying ways. KPT Bryce also ships with a 360-degree panoramic plug-in module that scans the landscape over and over for use with the popular After Dark screen saver from Berkeley Systems.
The company claims professionals will appreciate the controls provided, such as surface contour definition, bumpiness translucency, reflectivity, color, humidity, cloud attributes and alpha channels.
The company claims that Bryce approaches photorealism with the ability to produce natural cloud formations, humidity and light refraction and landscapes with realistic surfaces, reflections shadows, and complex textures. The textures are more than just pictures wrapped around polygons, says HSC, as the textures can behave in different ways depending on variables such as orientation, slope, and altitude.
Every item in a scene can be modified, including the textures themselves, by a point-and-click process, since each item is an object. Resizing and rotation tools are available as well as a "Terrain Editor" where surfaces of terrain objects can be filtered with real-time erosion and smoothing.
A "Materials Editor" allows users to design and assign three dimensional (3-D) and attributes to Bryce terrains and objects either by choosing from scores of presets, such as water, waves vapor, clouds, sand marble, class, ice, and precious metals, or by creating new materials from scratch.
Scene rendering takes some time, according to Rob Sonner of NSC technical support. Sonner said users can start a render at night and wake up to a new world in the morning.
KFP Bryce is expected to ship this month for the Macintosh II family, LC, Performa, Centris, or Quadra family. A floating point unit (math coprocessor), System 7 or later, minimum six megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), and a high density floppy disk drive are all required. HSC says 8MB of RAM is better, as is a 24-bit color display.
The retail price is $199, but registered users of Kai's Power Tools can get the product for $79.95, plus $10 shipping and handling.
A Power Macintosh version is expected to ship by August. A Windows version is also planned, but no definitive release time frame has been laid out, company officials told Newsbytes. An animation version of the product will also be released at a future date that will allow Macintosh users to make Quicktime movies of landscape "fly-throughs," Sonner told Newsbytes.
EDISON, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Users of Apple Macintosh computers who want to include Hebrew text in documents may want to take a look at TypeRight, a utility that can be used on its own or from within other Macintosh programs to enter and edit Hebrew text.
There are two main problems with typing in Hebrew on a computer: the font, and the fact that the text runs from right to left.
According to Kabbalah Software, the maker of TypeRight, while Hebrew fonts are available, using them in mainstream word processors means typing each line in reverse, from left to right.
There are also Hebrew word processing programs that enter text from right to left, Kabbalah said, but they are usually less powerful than the big-name word processors.
Hebrew fonts are also tricky because most vowels in Hebrew are represented with diacritical marks that have to be added underneath the letters.
Barbara Lustiger of Kabbalah Software told Newsbytes that TypeRight can be called up from within any Macintosh application and used to insert Hebrew text. It lets the user type from right to left, she said, and the resulting text can be output on any Macintosh printer.
Users who want to insert Hebrew text in other documents can use the word processors of their choice, calling up TypeRight only when needed for entering Hebrew, according to Kabbalah.
The software can also import and export text, save commonly used phrases, insert micro-spaces between Hebrew letters, and support most popular Hebrew fonts, though Kabbalah said its own fonts are needed for vowels to work properly. One font is included with the software.
TypeRight works with both English and Hebrew versions of the Macintosh operating system, the company said.
TypeRight has a regular list price of $129, but will be offered at $89 until the end of Chanukah (December 5). Kabbalah sells the software worldwide, directly and through distributors, Lustiger said.
(Grant Buckler/19940609/Press Contact: Barbara Lustiger, Kabbalah Software, tel 908-572-0891, fax 908-572-0869; Public Contact: Kabbalah Software, 908-572-0891)
Kabbalah Software, 908-572-0891)
6/9/94
Mac Utility Handles Hebrew Text
APPLE
NexGen, IBM In Chip Manufacturin
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- IBM has signed another agreement to manufacture microprocessors, this time for Milpitas, California-based NexGen Inc., the first chipmaker to develop clones of Intel Corp.'s Pentium processors.
The deal further distances IBM from Intel, the dominant supplier of microprocessors for IBM and compatible personal computers. This agreement, however, is not in the same category as one signed with Cyrix Corp., another maker of Intel-compatible chips.
While the Cyrix deal gives IBM the right to make that company's chips for its own use and sell them to other computer makers, IBM spokesman Jim Smith told Newsbytes the NexGen agreement is "primarily a customer-supplier relationship."
IBM is to supply all of NexGen's Nx586 and Nx587 microprocessors NexGen Director of Marketing David Kulbarsh told Newsbytes.
Neither NexGen nor IBM would say whether IBM might use NexGen's chips in its own PCs. For the time being, it appears, IBM will simply make chips for NexGen. However, officials also did not rule out the possibility of NexGen chips being used in IBM hardware in future.
Though this arrangement probably will not give NexGen the kind of credibility boost that Cyrix received from the announcement that IBM had obtained the right to make the Richardson, Texas company's designs for use in its own products, the IBM connection will not hurt NexGen. "PC manufacturer want to know who manufactures your product," Kulbarsh said, and when they know it is IBM "they feel much better about committing to us."
NexGen will benefit from IBM's large manufacturing capacity and sophisticated production systems, Kulbarsh said. The chips will use IBM's "flip-chip" packaging technology, in which the silicon die is attached using solder bumps within the die. IBM said this makes for reliable chips at low cost.
(Grant Buckler/19940609/Press Contact: David Kulbarsh, NexGen tel 408-435-0202; Jim Smith, IBM Microelectronics, tel 914-892-5389; Public Contact: NexGen, tel 800-863-9436 or 408-435-0202)
exGen, tel 800-863-9436 or 408-435-0202)
6/9/94
NexGen, IBM In Chip Manufacturing Deal
Multimedia LCD Display Panel Mem
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Sharp is releasing a color new liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that is smart enough to record slides, then play back the slides by itself -- without connection of a computer or other input device.
The QA-1500 weighs 5.5 pounds and uses a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card to store the images. Sharp says it is aimed at users who only want to carry one device for on-the-road presentations.
The QA-1500 is being unveiled this week for the first time at the Infocomm International show in Anaheim, California. Sharp officials told Newsbytes the unit has its own microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a slot for PCMCIA Type III storage cards with capacities of up to 40 megabytes (MB).
The way it works is the user develops the presentation on the computer, connects the QA-1500, and then runs the presentation. The panel records the images. A video camera can be used to input images as well, though the unit will only accept still-frame images, not moving video, Sharp officials said. The QA-1500 also offers a loop-through mode for simultaneous viewing of an image on the panel and on a computer monitor.
Up to 80 images can be stored, Sharp said, and special transitional effects can be added. Both IBM-compatible personal computers (PCs) or Macintosh computers can be used for recording the images. Playback is in up to 1.7 million colors using either the unit's own backlighting or on an overhead projector.
A wireless remote control handles playback of the images, with forward, reverse, freeze, as well as offering image enlarge, and switching between input sources. In addition, the infrared remote can be programmed to "learn" up to five functions from another remote control unit, such as a video cassette recorder (VCR) laser disc, or Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I) player. The unit can also be used for wireless control of a computer mouse via a "track-stick" -- a hybrid of joystick and trackball.
The panel also offers a built-in speaker enabling audio recording from both computer and video sources. Stereo audio line output connectors can support larger sound systems and the audio levels can be controlled from the remote.
The QA-1500 is expected to be available in July of this year for a suggested retail price of $5,795. Sharp offers optional accessories such as PCMCIA cards, carrying bags, screens, and the QA-BL2 backlight unit. The unit can also be ordered with the backlight at a retail price of $5,995.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940609/Press Contact: Frannie Gillin, Dorf & Stanton for Sharp, tel 202-625-6930, fax 202-625-6576; Public Contact: Sharp, 201-529-8731, fax 201-529-9636/ SHARP940609/PHOTO)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- The Telecommunications Industry Association has approved a Panasonic technology as an industry standard, allowing cellular phones to use standard private branch exchanges, or PBXs.
The protocol, developed by Matsushita in Japan, integrates low power cellular telephone service as an extension to existing PBXs, which act as corporate phone switches.
"It will enable you to take the phone and use it in an office over the PBX, then take it outside and use it as a cellular phone," explained TIA spokesman Kathy Hammond to Newsbytes. "Other companies can now follow this standard so all their phones will be compatible with one another. Panasonic is agreeing to license it."
The protocol is already in use with two products manufactured by Panasonic. One it sells directly as BusinessLink, the other is sold by Southwestern Bell as FreedomLink.
The same handset can be used as a standard cellular phone when out of the coverage area of the PBX. Through call-forwarding subscribers can have the same mobile and office phone number receiving calls automatically no matter where they are.
"Panasonic's aim is to spur development of cellular technology as the technology of choice for personal communications," said Panasonic executive Steve Yuhas in a press release.
The protocol will formally be known as IS-94, "Mobile Station Land Station Compatibility Specification for Analog Cellular Auxiliary Personal Communications Services."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940609/Press Contact: J.A. Frazer, for Panasonic, 212/887-8075; Kathy Hammond, TIA, 202/457-4935)
2/887-8075; Kathy Hammond, TIA, 202/457-4935)
6/9/94
Panasonic Wireless PBX Approved As Standard
TELECOM
Gateway 2000 PCs Bundle Software
NORTH SIOUX CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) Gateway 2000 has announced that is pre-loading the Microsoft Office Professional version 4.3 software suite on all of its Pentium-based PCs and some Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-bus 486 systems.
Microsoft Office Pro integrates four fully functional software applications: word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics and database. The specific Microsoft programs included are Word 6.0, Excel 5.0, Powerpoint 4.0, and Access 2.0 respectively.
Gateway Pentium-based systems that will include Microsoft Office Pro include its P5-90, P5-66 and P5-60, and the P4D-66 and P4D PCI-based 486 models.
Gateway entry-level PCs now include the Microsoft Works Multimedia Edition 3.0, a collection of word processing spreadsheet, and database software.
The company's Family line of computers ships with a package of five titles on a CD-ROM disk including: Microsoft Encarta 1994 Multimedia Encyclopedia; Microsoft Money, a personal finance management program; Microsoft Works Multimedia Edition 3.0; Corel Professional Photo CD Sampler; and the Microsoft Golf game. Called the Home Bundle, the software is included at no extra cost with Family model PCs, and is available as an option with other Gateway desktop systems.
The company also says it is including a double-speed CD-ROM drive as standard equipment with each of its desktop systems.
Speaking of the bundled software and the CD-ROM drive, Gateway President Ted Waitt said, "Instead of making customers buy one application at a time, we're including the most comprehensive productivity suite available. You'll see more software distributed on CD-ROM, just like Office Professional."
Gateway also sells a Multimedia Starter Pack for $139 that includes a 20-disk storage rack, two CD jewel cases, a CD cleaner and a variety of software. Starter Pack titles including: Lawnmower Man; Mad Dog McCree; Tuneland; the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book; the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook; Sitting on the Farm; and CD Deluxe. The latter includes: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing; Chessmaster 3000; and a US and World Atlas.
Gateway spokesperson Wendell Watson told Newsbytes that Tuneland is an animated interactive cartoon with tunes you can sing along with, and some puzzles and related adventures. Mad Dog McCree is a wild west arcade game that features live movie action. Lawnmower man is based on the movie of the same name, as the user battles the evil character in a virtual reality world. Sitting on the Farm is a collection of sounds and animation designed to help improve reading skills and build a French-English vocabulary. Children can record their own voice and sing along with a variety of instruments. They can also write and print your own stories that include the program's illustrations.
(Jim Mallory/19940609/Press contact: Wendell Watson Gateway 2000, 605-232-2723; Reader contact: Gateway 2000 tel 605-232-2000 or 800-846-2000, fax 605-232-2023)
605-232-2000 or 800-846-2000, fax 605-232-2023)
6/9/94
Gateway 2000 PCs Bundle Software, CD-ROM Drive
Italian Telecom Firms Merge To C
DB/Expo - IBM Intros Products
H/R Pack Employee Tracking Softw
Sony Signs Multimillion Deal For
OneSource Adds Windows Support
Toronto Free-Net To Open Soon
McCaw Links With PageNet, While
HP France In PC Plus Deal
DEC Cuts Alpha Chip Prices
Microsoft Summit - Lexis/Microso
Education Technology Newsletter
EIA Technology Used For Remote E
Hong Kong - NetAsia Networking S
Art Teco '94 Presented By Morph'
Editorial - Audio News Conferenc
Lotus Acquires SoftSwitch For $6
OneSource To Offer American Bank
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- OneSource Information Services Inc., has announced a deal to put American Banker, a daily banking publication, on a CD-ROM disk.
OneSource will offer American Banker Full Text, the electronic edition of the banking daily, as an addition to its CD/Notes line of CD-ROM databases that work with Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes groupware. The company also plans, before the end of the year, to put out the banking database in a form that can be used with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows.
OneSource's U.S. Banks information product is currently available for PCs running the DOS operating system, company spokesman Michael Bailey told Newsbytes, but a Windows version is planned for the fourth quarter of the year. The Windows version of American Banker Full Text will be part of that offering, he said.
OneSource previewed its Windows offering in late May. The Windows version of American Banker Full Text will use OneSource's own search and retrieval engine, giving it some capabilities not available with the Notes version, Bailey said.
Like other CD/Notes titles, the American Banker database will be usable with Corporate Monitor, a client/server research tool that integrates numeric and text information from various Notes-based sources.
The OneSource version of American Banker will be updated monthly company officials said. The CD/Notes version will start at around $2,000 for a single-user, one-year subscription, according to Reilly Cobb, marketing manager for the banking industry at OneSource. Prices will be higher for distribution to more users. Prices for the Windows version have not been determined, Cobb told Newsbytes.
American Banker has previously offered the electronic version online and through other electronic media.
(Grant Buckler/19940608/Press Contact: Michael Bailey, OneSource tel 617-441-7239; Gregory Barrett, American Banker, tel 212-943-6304; Public Contact: OneSource, tel 800-554-5501 in US, +0784 445186 in UK)
e, tel 800-554-5501 in US, +0784 445186 in UK)
6/9/94
OneSource To Offer American Banker On CD-ROM
SynOptics Ships 10 Millionth Int
Newsbytes Daily Summary
Cyrix Asks $750 Million In TI La
OneSource Pleased Over Lotus/Mer
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7
HK Telecom Picks Microsoft Mail
Radio Shack To Carry IBM PCs, Be
Live From New York, It's The Sat
Soros To Fund Radio Free Europe
Symantec & Central Point Complet
Japan - Preview Of Windows World
Dell Australia Gets New Boss
HarperCollins Moving Into CD-ROM
UK - Optech Unveils PFS:Window W
DoE & Cray Launch Industrial Com
Federal Express Changing Logo
Governor & Boston Mayor At OEC O
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- "I don't know how you managed to get OEC (Open Environment Corporation) to move from Cambridge to Boston," joked Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to Massachusetts Governor William Weld. What brought these two dignitaries together? An Open House for the software company's new headquarters at 25 Travis Street in the Boston neighborhood of Brighton.
Speaking to a group that included OEC staffers, plus guests from other Bay State computer companies, the governor, mayor, and OEC officials described how their organizations worked together, with assistance from Boston Edison, to turn the renovated schoolhouse on Travis Street into the new home of the quickly growing start-up.
Nathan Morton, who joined OEC as president and chief executive officer (CEO) eight weeks ago, explained that the 18-month-old enterprise has expanded over the past year from $3.5 million in revenues to $10 million, and from about 30 employees to 125.
"We hope to build OEC to a $100 million company over the next few years," added Morton, who was previously chairman and CEO of CompUSA.
Governor Weld noted that OEC, which launched its flagship OEC Toolkit product last fall, represents many other Massachusetts based high tech firms that have started out small, but have then grown quickly, sometimes into giants the size of DEC.
Weld told the audience that these are the kinds of companies his administration is trying to foster in Massachusetts. "We are not 'rolling over and playing dead,' and just seeing what economic influences will wash over Massachusetts this year, or the next year, or the year after that," the governor added.
"I do not really believe in 'industrial policy' along the lines of the Japanese or Korean model. But I do believe that you can help to make it possible for those who are 'doing the winning' to win even more."
Since 1991, when he took office, the number of software companies in Massachusetts has soared from 1,200 to nearly 2,000, according to Weld.
Although companies like Wang, Raytheon, and Digital have experienced losses, the total number of jobs in Massachusetts has increased more than 150,000 over the past three years, the Republican said. "You don't read about 'company X adds new 64 jobs' in the paper, but it happens all the time."
Aside from software development, other types of enterprises his administration is encouraging include telecommunications artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and forms of manufacturing like textiles and millworking that "are much more 'high tech' than they have been in the past," he said.
This economic strategy, he added, is "avowedly high-wage." Massachusetts is currently third in the country in net income per capita, behind Connecticut and New Jersey. "Now they're going down and we're going up. I want to catch them by 1998."
Mayor Menino, a Democrat, observed that the state and the city are united in the pursuit of economic development. "We may have our differences at times, but the common good is to create jobs for the people who live in our city and our state. That's the bottom line," he said.
After an economic downturn, the city of Boston is now on a rebound according to the city administrator. "We've come back," asserted Menino, who became acting mayor of Boston when President Bill Clinton named long-time Mayor Raymond Flynn to the job of US ambassador to the Vatican. Menino was then elected to the post of mayor.
Menino noted that just last week, he announced the establishment of three new companies in Boston, including a computer company.
"OEC is on the threshold of something great in the computer field," he told the OEC employees. OEC says it is the first vendor to have introduced the "three-tier architecture," a new technology, now being adopted by major players like Microsoft, in which distributed computing operations are separated into user interface (client) applications logic (server), and data access components.
The company's OEC Toolkit is a set of tools for developing applications in which users can access multiple databases from simple graphical user interfaces (GUIs). OEC also offers executive and technical education courses in the use of client/server technology.
The company opened an expansion office in San Francisco California, last fall, and recently launched international offices in Tokyo, London, and Shannon in Ireland.
Another speaker at the Open House, Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Affairs Gloria Larson, said that OEC "showcases" three assets that Massachusetts offers to employers: intellectual resources, "leading edge technology capability," and "international accessibility."
"By offering an exciting new technology, OEC is clearly positioned to become one of our most significant employers in Massachusetts," the state cabinet officer said.
Larson added that she is pleased that staff from the mayor's office, the state's Office of Business Development, and Boston Edison "have been helpful to you in the site selection process, as well as in other matters."
She continued: "We have every confidence that OEC will continue to prove its ingenuity and its strength in the world market. I can think of no company that better matches the strengths of the Commonwealth, and I wanted to come here today to personally thank you for continuing to grow with us."
John Donovan, company co-founder and financier, and the final speaker at the Open House, thanked Weld, Menino and Larson for their attendance at the event. "It's a real honor for us to have you come to such a small organization. But we will expand it," he pledged.
Speaking with Newsbytes at the close of the ceremony, Boston Edison officials explained their company maintains a database of available real estate properties in Massachusetts, and works with the state and various municipalities to help match interested companies to these sites.
The database contains information on 1,700 parcels of land, each offering more than 10,000 square feet of space, said Donald A. Walsh, director of economic development for Boston Edison.
Steve Driscoll, executive assistant to Boston Edison's president and CEO, told Newsbytes that the intent of these efforts is two fold: to attract new businesses, and to help keep existing businesses within Massachusetts.
An OEC spokesperson told Newsbytes that the 30,000-square-foot building at 25 Travis Street, Brighton, offers facilities the company was unable to find in Cambridge, including a large parking lot and a layout that provides classroom, as well as office, space.
A local development company converted the building, which was originally a school, into mixed-use space during the 1980s, she added. OEC is using the classroom space to hold executive and technical training courses for customers. OEC was previously located at 219 Vassar Street in Cambridge.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940508/Reader Contact: Open Environment Corporation, 617-562-0900; Press Contacts: Brenda Harrison OEC, 617-562-5856; Laura Desmarais, Beaupre & Company Public Relations for OEC, 603-436-6690)
any Public Relations for OEC, 603-436-6690)
6/9/94
Governor & Boston Mayor At OEC Open House
GENERAL
Miros Intros Computer Face Recog
WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Miros Inc. has unveiled Face-to-Face, a new technology, based on neural networking, that is aimed at automatically checking out people's identities by comparing their faces to previously taken photos.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Michael Kuperstein, president of Wellesley, Massachusetts-based Miros, said that the new "computer face recognition technology" is both easier-to-use and less intrusive than "hand geometry" or voiceprints, two other new approaches that corporations and governments are now delving into for fraud prevention.
"There's a lot of fraud going on with card transactions, whether it be ATM (automated teller machine) cards, credit cards, or 'green cards.' But if you're going to use technology to prevent fraud, you want to do it in a way that doesn't turn away potentially valuable customers," he told Newsbytes.
Many people are opposed to being fingerprinted, due to the long time association between fingerprinting and "criminality," Kuperstein explained. As a result, alternative approaches are arising.
In the "hand geometry" approach, a print is taken of the entire hand, and compared through neural networking against a previous print for elements such as "length of finger" or "where the knuckle is." In voiceprinting, another neural networking technology, a print is made of an "utterance," such as "hello," or the individual's name.
In "hand geometry," though, the hand must be touched to a piece of metal that "thousands of other people may have touched already," Newsbytes was told. This situation brings up issues of cleanliness and hygiene, Kuperstein maintained. Voice printing, he added cannot be used in noisy environments, and its accuracy can be affected by factors such as temporary hoarseness.
Face-to-Face, in contrast, has been "shown to be correctly verify over 99 percent of faces," said the company president. For situations involving "human back-up," such as passport verification, the "face recognition" technology is correct at catching imposters over 95 percent of the time. "Human back-up" is used when an application requires double-checking of people rejected through computer face recognition.
"We're the first in the market to be announcing face recognition technology that can be delivered today," Kuperstein told Newsbytes. The MIT Media Lab, he asserted, "has a technology, but no product."
Face-to-Face is now being evaluated by a Fortune 100 firm for use in a country that intends to issue 40 million smart cards for use in functions such as voting, food stamps, and driver's licenses, he said. "We've been told by the company that we're at the top of the list."
Face-to-Face, he reported, is able to recognize patterns in facial features. Like other neural networking technologies, the product also "learns from experience."
The system can correctly identify people even in situations where the person's appearance is altered through a suntan, the addition of glasses, or a new hairstyle, according to Kuperstein. Face recognition can be stymied by cosmetic surgery, though, and a new picture should be taken for comparison's sake every two to three years, he acknowledged.
"People can understand uncertainties, vagaries, and highly varying aspects of the world around them. Now, it's time for machines to do the same," said Kuperstein, who has been involved with neural networking since the 1980s.
In 1988, Kuperstein co-authored a book on the subject called Neural Dynamics of Adaptive-Sensory Motor Control. The same year, a neural network-driven robot developed by Kuperstein was written up in a front page article in the New York Times.
Kuperstein then co-founded a company called Symbus Technology that produces InScript, a neural networking product for forms based automatic data entry. In-Script users include Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and Consolidated Edison of New York, he told Newsbytes. Kuperstein is also a contributing editor to Neural Networks magazine.
In the future, Kuperstein is interested in extending neural networking technologies to such areas as multimedia pharmaceutical, and medical imaging applications.
The Face-to-Face product line consists of three offerings: the Face-to-Face Engine, for locating a face in an image and "verifying the level of match between two face images;" the Face-to-Face System, for "managing the enrollment and verification processes;" and the Face-to-Face Development Kit.
The Face-to-Face Development Kit comprises: the Face-to-Face Engine; the Face-to-Face System; a "complete hardware setup" that includes a camera and card reader; source code for device driver integration; and a two-day training program at Miros. Pricing starts at $24,900.
The Face-to-Face System includes both the Face-to-Face Engine and a "Miros designed application program." The Face-to-Face System and Face-to-Face Engine are each priced independently of hardware. Pricing begins at $8,950 for the system and $2,950 for the engine.
heroff, Sheroff & Associates for Miros, 508-429-4870)
6/9/94
Miros Intros Computer Face Recognition Technology
TRENDS
Virtual Reality & Persons With D
BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- The second annual Virtual Reality (VR) and Persons with Disabilities Conference is being held this week at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, in California.
Dr. Harry J. Murphy, founder and director of Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge, told Newsbytes, "There is really something exciting going on in the world of technology and it is just around the corner."
he continued: "For several years now I have wanted to bring the disabled community and the virtual reality community together so that disabled persons are a part of the leading edge in this research and development. Often, the disabled community is the last group to get the benefits of technology and we spend a lot of time and money adapting it to our needs. What we want to do is be at the beginning of technology and be an integral part of it."
The first day of conference sessions brought together educators members of the disabled community and various local, state and federal government employees to hear presentations from speakers representing the VR community and other related technologies.
Among the subjects addressed: medical applications of VR; VR on the personal computer (PC); VR and movement disorders; VR as related to therapy and rehabilitation; the virtual wheelchair; and VR applications for traumatic head injury.
In attending a number of the conference sessions, Newsbytes learned that many attendees were here to get their first exposure to VR technology.
With the aid of a signing interpreter, Newsbytes interviewed Ed Rogers, assistant deputy director, Northern Region Field Operations Division of the Department of Rehabilitation.
Rogers told Newsbytes, "My first experience with VR was probably one of my most striking. The VR environment duplicated the field of vision of a person who was visually impaired. When I put the headgear on, she told me, 'Now you know what it is like for me to see the world!' I think this is just one example of what VR can offer. We can help people understand what the environment it like for a disabled person. In VR, a person can sit in a wheel chair and learn how difficult it is to get around and what kind of obstacles there are that only a person confined to a wheelchair will know."
Rogers went on to point out the advantages for the disabled in VR technology with examples of replicating environments that will allow disabled persons to determine the practical architectural design requirements of their environment, to learn how to operate a wheelchair in a safe environment, to examine the requirements of a job or to view the medical model of their particular disability.
At today's session, Ray Bradbury, noted science-fiction writer, will present the keynote address.
Dr. Murphy said, "We are so pleased to have Ray Bradbury because so many people who are in the technology fields have been stimulated by Bradbury's works to enter into what might have seemed futuristic careers. It is only fitting that he is here to address these two communities. We think we are in the right place to bring these people together to let them interact and find out if that special chemistry and excitement is there to contribute to both worlds and ultimately to the public at large."
(Patrick McKenna/19940609/Press Contact: Michael Evans Sentient Design, tel 415-359-6444)
ontact: Michael Evans Sentient Design, tel 415-359-6444)
6/9/94
Virtual Reality & Persons With Disabilities Conf Opens
GENERAL
New Firm To Develop Multimedia I
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- A newly formed company says it will focus on the development of multimedia-based technology for interactive catalogs.
Craig Danuloff, president of Interactive Catalog Corporation (ICC) says one of the firm's two main business units will develop and market the Know-it-All catalog series for consumer use, while the other will create custom catalogs for companies by licensing the same Know-it-All data engine and offer data management and graphic services.
Each CD-ROM based catalog will contain comprehensive product information in a specific category. The disk contains both IBM-compatible and Mac versions of the catalog. The catalogs use what Danuloff describes as a simple user interface to access the relational database and the multimedia effects. Icons, pictures and sound accompany the catalog text, photos and news to guide the customer through the information as they browse, view and compare products.
ICC's first Know-it-All catalog will contain information about computer hardware and software and will be titled Multimedia Know-it-All. The company says the catalog will include information on thousands of Macintosh and IBM-compatible multimedia products.
ICC spokesperson Elaine Rickman said many of the news items about products listed in the Multimedia catalog will be come from the worldwide coverage provided by Newsbytes global network of reporters.
In addition to the information provided in the catalog manufacturers can purchase space for brochures, video, demonstrations and other promotional material.
Multimedia Know-it-All will have a suggested retail price of $14.95 for a single issue or you can get quarterly updates for one year for $29.95. ICC will distribute 500,000 copies of the premiere edition through Egghead software, InfoWorld magazine and other sources to selected addressees at no charge.
The company says it plans support for game systems and interactive television at a later date.
New Firm To Develop Multimedia Interactive Catalogs
TRENDS
Entertainment Drive On CompuServ
ASTORIA, QUEENS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- Producer Michael Bolanos has 25,000 members on his Entertainment Drive service with CompuServe, and plans to continue live coverage of major industry events.
He and a typist will be covering the Tony Award ceremonies this week, and Newsbytes got a chance to talk with him.
Bolanos said his live coverage will be held in the CompuServe Convention Center area, reached by typing "go convention" at any prompt, from 9-11 Eastern Time Sunday, June 12. Transcripts and other files, including digitized drawings by entertainment cartoonist Hirschfeld, are available by typing "go edrive" at any prompt.
"Rather than trying to do live coverage of what's happening on stage, which is on CBS, we try to cover the atmosphere, the comments backstage," he told Newsbytes. "That material isn't released until the following day, when reporters have filed stories. It's a direct source to get new answers from new winners."
We asked Bolanos what got him online. "I've produced concerts and represent Broadway people," he said, but he first got a taste for the technology's power when a personal friend, actor Ben Vereen was in a car accident. "We logged into CompuServe and that's how we found out what was going on at UCLA Medical Center," where he was taken. "His family was in New Jersey, I was in New York, and we weren't able to get through by phone, so we used CompuServe and found out there what was going on, from reporters at the hospital. That stopped me cold, and made me realize this was an extraordinary technology."
This is Bolanos' fifth industry event since he brought his area online in March, and he has learned a lot about how to cover online events. "We had four reporters at the Oscars, on their own laptops," he said. "What we ultimately did was put it all together and rotate" typing. "At the Sports Emmys we tried to do all the typing ourselves, and that was a big problem. We had a lot of access to the talent there -- they'd step off the photo stage and wait in line to talk with us. To try to listen to what they were saying and try to type at the same time was more than enough. Then we brought a typist for the Daytime Emmys," and it worked well. "There I co-hosted with Jonathan Reiner of 'Soap Opera Weekly' magazine, and he has an encyclopedic knowledge of the field. We were also lucky at both events when Tom O'Neil, who has written books on the Emmys, came along. He was able to give some analysis. The consumers get the benefit of a lot of information."
Bolanos has not just done award shows, either. "We also did 'The Big Picture' conference at the Pierre, which Wertheim Schroeder and Variety put together. That was a whole-day event. We had the head of the FCC, and talked a lot about the future of the industry," as well as information heavy-hitters talking about the information Highway. "It was the first time this was covered live online."
In addition to the public area, Bolanos maintains an Industry Canteen that only industry players are allowed into. Those who want in apply and are admitted based on their status in the industry. "It's a private place where they can interact and exchange ideas.
Next for Bolanos is the regular Emmys this September, and he will work with Marilyn Beck, a syndicated columnist who's on E!'s gossip show. Beck writes a daily column for CompuServe called Hollywood Exclusive. The Tony show will also be Bolanos' first using a wireless modem, giving more flexibility to the coverage.
Newsbytes asked Bolanos what he has been proudest of with his new service. "We've been able to link people with specific projects with people who have specific interests. We had people in Spain ask about an Oscar winner from there. Someone asked Tom Hanks about how AIDS affected him, doing the movie 'Philadelphia,' and how individuals could practice the tolerance he was encouraging. He ended up giving an extremely passionate, emotional answer."
Background information about the Tony Awards is available on Edrive in Library 11, Theatre Row. Photographs are in Library 15 The Photo Gallery. Other arts-related contributors to the service include Music Theatre International, the Margo Feiden Galleries, which has the Hirschfeld illustrations, Cameron Mackintosh Inc., and Theatre Direct Inc.
"Our goal is 100,000 active members by the end of this year," he added. "We want to be established in terms of credentials and credibility as an accredited media outlet. Like E! Entertainment Television, or Showbiz Today, but in the electronic sense."
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- In the story "VMark Intros Vantage Services," which ran May 24, Newsbytes incorrectly listed "617" as the area code for VMark Software, a Framingham, Massachusetts-based producer of "post-relational databases" and object-oriented client-server software. The story also gave an incorrect telephone extension number for Paula Levis Suita, press contact at VMark.
The story concerned the launch of VMark's Vantage Services, a suite of support, education, and consulting services for customers and distributors.
Readers and members of the press who would like more information can contact VMark and Suita at 508-879-3311.
Newsbytes apologizes for the errors.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940608/Reader Contact: VMark Software, 508-879 3311; Press Contacts: Paula Levis Suita, VMark, 508-879-3311; Jeff Aubin or Ann Hawkins, Brodeur & Partners for VMark, 617-894-0003)
Brodeur & Partners for VMark, 617-894-0003)
6/9/94
Correction - VMark Intros Vantage Services
CORRECTION
GENERAL
Newsbytes Daily Summary
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 9 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> SPA Says Computers Help In Schools 06/09/94 Information technology can make a big difference on how well kids learn in school, according to a new study by the Software Publishers Association.
2 -> MCI Aids Eastern European Environmental Librarians 06/09/94 Through a grant from MCI, 22 librarians from six Central European countries will learn some of the intricacies of the Internet at the Internet Society's INET 1994 conference in Prague this month.
3 -> Microsoft/World Wildlife Fund Combine On Software 06/09/94 Conservationist and world traveler Sir Edmund Hillary has endorsed the work of Microsoft Corporation and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to develop computer software about endangered species of our planet.
4 -> SunWorld '94 Invites FBI To Discuss Internet Security 06/09/94 In December, 1993, Dr. William Tafoya, special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), became the first law enforcement officer to make investigative use of the Internet. He will be taking part in SunWorld '94.
5 -> Japan - Computer News Briefs 06/09/94 In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, Fujitsu develops 64Mbit synchronous DRAM, NEC to increase GaAs IC production, Japan's government to draft five-year computerization plan, Sega, four trading firms to establish CATV-based game broadcasting company, Car navigation system price war intensifying
6 -> AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices 06/09/94 By John Hastings. Computer users have demanded an upgradable computer for many years. The idea is good but the implementations have been flawed.
7 -> Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At INFOCOMM 06/09/94 Virtual Mark Twain, who resides in a 16 cube, 11 foot by 11 foot wall, will preside over INFOCOMM International trade show at the Anaheim Convention Center on June 9-11.
8 -> Correction - Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacity By 1996 06/09/94 In the article "Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacity By 1996, Says Survey" that ran June 3, 1994, Newsbytes quoted market research firm Frost & Sullivan as saying that, by 1996 most file servers will have an average storage capacity of over 20 megabytes. Of course that should have read over 20 gigabytes.
9 -> Rival Anti-Piracy Groups Expand Services 06/09/94 Washington's two rival software piracy groups--Software Publishers Association and Business Software Alliance--are both moving in new directions and possibly into a further turf battle.
10 -> European Counterfeit Legislation Criticized 06/09/94 According to a report by the European Association of Industries of Branded Products (AIM), anti- counterfeiting legislation varies widely from one European country to another and is only effective in a few notably France and Germany.
11 -> Visa Germany Unveils "Secure" Payment 2000 System 06/09/94 German members of the Visa credit and debit card network have been introduced to Payment 2000, a paperless transaction network that Visa claims is the most secure of its type in the world.
12 -> UK - Optech Unveils PFS:Window Works 2.0 On CD-ROM 06/09/94 Optech has announced the availability of version 2.0 of PFS:Window Works on CD-ROM.
13 -> UK - Elonex Offers Removable Drive Technology For PCs 06/09/94 Elonex, the direct sell PC manufacturer, has announced that its "My Drive" removable and interchangeable hard disk system is being made available to all PC users, including those using non-Elonex PCs.
14 -> Lotus Offers SmartSuite Upgrade For UKP199 06/09/94 For users who already have a Lotus package, the company is now offering an upgrade to its Smartsuite integrated software suite, for just UKP199. The package usually costs UKP545.
15 -> Star Trek Next Generation CD-ROM For MPC 06/09/94 The television series may be over, but multimedia personal computer (MPC) users can begin a Star Trek: Next Generation adventure with a new interactive CD-ROM from Spectrum Holobyte beginning this October. Spectrum says it has signed up eight of the principle actors from the popular science-fiction series for the title.
16 -> Deluxe Corp To Acquire T/Maker 06/09/94 Deluxe Corp., says it has entered into an agreement to purchase all of the capital stock of T/Maker Company of Mountain View, California.
17 -> Dell Ships 100MHz Pentium PC, Intros Network Setup 06/09/94 Dell Computer Corp., says it is now shipping 100 megahertz (MHz) Intel Pentium-based PCs. The company claims that it is the first to ship these types of systems on a commercial basis.
18 -> HSC Intros Bryce Landscape Designer For Mac 06/09/94 Named after the famous Bryce Canyon in Utah, HSC is demonstrating KPT Bryce 1.0 for the Macintosh at the Digital World show in Los Angeles, a product for the design and rendering of landscapes.
19 -> Mac Utility Handles Hebrew Text 06/09/94 Users of Apple Macintosh computers who want to include Hebrew text in documents may want to take a look at TypeRight, a utility that can be used on its own or from within other Macintosh programs to enter and edit Hebrew text.
20 -> ****NexGen, IBM In Chip Manufacturing Deal 06/09/94 IBM has signed another agreement to manufacture microprocessors, this time for Milpitas, California-based NexGen Inc., the first chipmaker to develop clones of Intel Corp.'s Pentium processors.
21 -> Multimedia LCD Display Panel Memorizes Slide Shows 06/09/94 Sharp is releasing a color new liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that is smart enough to record slides, then play back the slides by itself -- without connection of a computer or other input device.
22 -> Panasonic Wireless PBX Approved As Standard 06/09/94 The Telecommunications Industry Association has approved a Panasonic technology as an industry standard, allowing cellular phones to use standard private branch exchanges, or PBXs.
23 -> Gateway 2000 PCs Bundle Software, CD-ROM Drive 06/09/94 Gateway 2000 has announced that is pre-loading the Microsoft Office Professional version 4.3 software suite on all of its Pentium-based PCs and some Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-bus 486 systems.
24 -> OneSource To Offer American Banker On CD-ROM 06/09/94 OneSource Information Services Inc., has announced a deal to put American Banker, a daily banking publication, on a CD-ROM disk.
25 -> Governor & Boston Mayor At OEC Open House 06/09/94 "I don't know how you managed to get OEC (Open Environment Corporation) to move from Cambridge to Boston," joked Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to Massachusetts Governor William Weld. What brought these two dignitaries together? An Open House for the software company's new headquarters at 25 Travis Street in the Boston neighborhood of Brighton.
26 -> Miros Intros "Computer Face Recognition" Technology 06/09/94 Miros Inc. has unveiled Face-to-Face, a new technology, based on neural networking, that is aimed at automatically checking out people's identities by comparing their faces to previously taken photos.
27 -> Virtual Reality & Persons With Disabilities Conf Opens 06/09/94 The second annual Virtual Reality (VR) and Persons with Disabilities Conference is being held this week at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, in California.
28 -> New Firm To Develop Multimedia Interactive Catalogs 06/09/94 A newly formed company says it will focus on the development of multimedia-based technology for interactive catalogs.
29 -> Entertainment Drive On CompuServe 06/09/94 Producer Michael Bolanos has 25,000 members on his Entertainment Drive service with CompuServe, and plans to continue live coverage of major industry events.
30 -> Correction - VMark Intros Vantage Services 06/09/94 In the story "VMark Intros Vantage Services," which ran May 24, Newsbytes incorrectly listed "617" as the area code for VMark Software, a Framingham, Massachusetts-based producer of "post-relational databases" and object-oriented client-server software. The story also gave an incorrect telephone extension number for Paula Levis Suita, press contact at VMark.
(Ian Stokell/19940609)
(Ian Stokell/19940609)
6/9/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
!J!.!
Japan - Computer News Roundup
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- In the top news from Japan microprocessor (MPU) prices are plunging, NEC will start volume production of 200mhz RISC MPUs in October, Zuken to acquire Racal Redac.
MPU Prices Plunging
Microprocessor prices are plunging on the Japanese market. Industry leader Intel is making strategic price cuts both in Japan and the U.S. as competition with rival Motorola intensifies over the latest models released by the two firms. Amid rapidly falling PC prices, demands from PC makers for lower MPU prices is also having an effect. Average MPU prices range from 6,000 57.69) to 7,000 yen ($67.31) per unit, down some 24% compared to the beginning of the year. In contrast, firm prices and tight supplies continue in the memory sector due to strong PC sales in the U.S.
NEC To Start Volume Production Of 200mhz RISC MPUs In October
NEC will start volume production of 200mhz RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microprocessors in October. The company began sampling the RISC chip which it developed using MIPS TECHNOLOGY's architecture and is designed using a 0.35-micron process. NEC plans to raise output to 10,000 units per month from January 1995. It is expected to develop a next-generation chip T5, in August and to start production within the year. The company intends to increase RISC MPU shipments to 100,000 units per month in fiscal 1995.
Zuken To Acquire Racal Redac
Zuken will acquire U.K. electronic CAD/CAM system maker Racal Redac. Zuken has reached an agreement with Racal Electronics of the U.K., Racal REDAC's parent company, to purchase the entire shares of Racal Redac for about 2.1 billion yen ($20.2 mil). Leading printed circuit board CAD system makers, Zuken and Racal Redac have 11.8% and 5.5%, respectively, of the world's market. They have design staff of 150 and 90, respectively, and will initially support each firm's products, but Zuken intends to merge both firms' software technologies spending three years.
(Terry Silveria/19940610)
(Terry Silveria/19940610)
6/10/94
Japan - Computer News Roundup
GENERAL
& P 4
Online Shopping To Grow, Forrest
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Shopping through online services, CD-ROMs, and television is rare today but online shopping in particular will grow rapidly in the next few years, according to Forrester Research Inc.
Online shopping will do better than selling via CD-ROM, Forrester predicts, and interactive television will stagnate at least for the next five years. The conclusions appear in the first of a new People and Technology series of reports, entitled Interactive Shopping. By that Forrester means interactive electronic shopping, as opposed to actually going to stores, which is also interactive sometimes.
According to Forrester, anything can be sold electronically although at present computers and electronics seem to do particularly well. Most merchants trying out the idea today are doing so because of "raw vision" rather than because they are making much money at it, and to be successful, merchants need to design their interactive stores from scratch. Where they do succeed, Forrester said, technology can cut out the middleman. To survive, retailers will have to be either specialists or aggressive discounters.
After interviewing 35 merchants who had sold online, via CD-ROM or through television, Forrester concluded that CD-ROM catalogs are producing few sales, but merchants are excited about the medium's potential. The main problem with CD-ROMs, the researchers reported, is that they are not live, so customers have to pick up the phone to order rather than just clicking on an on-screen icon. Also, merchants can't update prices instantly as they can with online and television services.
Also, most experience to date has been with CD-ROMs listing merchandise from multiple vendors, and experience showed that consumers order about the same amount as from a single vendor's paper catalog but spread it over several merchants, so each merchant sells less.
"The low cost of the disk, and the fact that the average order size was lower on CD-ROM than for paper, led several merchants to conclude that shared CD-ROM catalogs would evolve into a 'lead-generating tool,' while paper, and eventually their own disks, would be sent to established customers who are more likely to buy."
Sales volumes online were also fairly low, Forrester said, but the online stores were profitable. Problems with this medium are ugly online stores, with few pictures and little interactivity and the demographics of most online services -- most subscribers are middle-aged men. However, Forrester said, merchants who do all their selling online seem to be quite successful, partly because their services tend to be more interactive than those of merchants just dabbling in this area.
Only four of the merchants Forrester interviewed had sold through TV home shopping, but the research firm said many are preparing to move into this field. However, Forrester said those that have already tried TV have not done well with it, partly because QVC and Home Shopping Network, the two services available in the United States, control content too strictly.
Over all, Forrester found interactive shopping has sold less than $200 million in goods in the past year. At the moment, the firm said, "on-line is a freak show." But Forrester is predicting online sales will grow to nearly $5 billion as personal computer costs drop, online sales presentations improve, and more products become available online.
Meanwhile, TV home shopping will stagnate, with "limited potential beyond the current crop of couch potatoes," and interactive television will not take off until after the year 2000. CD-ROMs will become companions to online shops, the researchers said, and the retail and paper catalog business will remain largely unchanged, with electronic sales techniques serving as an adjunct to the traditional ways of parting customers from their money.
(Grant Buckler/19940609/Press Contact: Marenghi and Howlett for Forrester Research, tel 617-239-0057; Mary Modahl, Forrester Research, tel 617-497-7090; Public Contact: Ruth Habbe, Forrester Research, tel 617-497-7090)
be, Forrester Research, tel 617-497-7090)
6/10/94
Online Shopping To Grow, Forrester Says
TRENDS
No Sex Please, We're Comdex
NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Sexy multimedia titles, which caused some controversy at last fall's Comdex trade show in Las Vegas, won't be allowed at future Comdexes. Nor will any other display of nudity or sexually explicit material, either on the show floor or in show publications, show organizer The Interface Group has announced.
There was already a clause in The Interface Group's contract with exhibitors, allowing the trade-show company to exclude from display any material it considered offensive or contrary to the show's best interests, company spokeswoman Cheryl Delgreco told Newsbytes. That clause was not applied to racy software in the past, but The Interface Group now plans to enforce it and to reword it to make clear that it does cover nudity and depictions of sex, she said.
Delgreco said the show organizer had many complaints after last fall's Comdex, when the growing number of multimedia displays started to include a fair bit of material looking a lot like what you might find in an adult bookstore. A number of exhibitors and visitors to the show were offended, she said, and companies with booths next to those showing the material were unhappy about the voyeuristic crowds hanging around their booths. "It was very difficult to sell product," Delgreco said.
Exhibitors already registered for upcoming Comdex shows have received letters explaining the new policy, Delgreco said. Those whose displays consist mainly of the excluded material may cancel their bookings without paying a penalty, she added, and those with a mixture of sex-oriented and other material are still welcome to exhibit their other products.
(Grant Buckler/19940610/Press Contact: Cheryl Delgreco, The Interface Group, tel 617-449-6600 ext. 4277)
, tel 617-449-6600 ext. 4277)
6/10/94
No Sex Please, We're Comdex
GENERAL
Review of - Quality Software Man
From: Dorset House Publishing, 353 West 12th Street, New York NY10014
Price: $49.00
PUMA Rating: 4.0 on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest
Reviewed by: Naor Wallach
Summary: This is a book that is a must-read for anyone either currently managing or planning to manage a software development process. It covers the concepts and ideas in the measurement of performance and suggests mechanisms and techniques for accomplishing this task. Highly recommended.
=======
REVIEW
=======
Gerald Weinberg's basic assumption that underlies this book is contained in Lord Kelvin's famous quote which starts off the preface. "When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind."
This book is the second in a series that is directed at the manager actively managing a software development process. Gerry Weinberg has authored close to 40 books on software development and related topics in his close to 40 years of working in this field. Of late, he's been working as a consultant on software development and has recognized the need to share his insights.
According to Gerry Weinberg, "there are three fundamental abilities needed to do a quality job of managing software engineering: 1.the ability to understand complex situations so you can plan a project and then observe and act in order to keep the project going according to plan, or modify the plan; 2.the ability to observe what's happening and to understand the significance of your observations in terms of effective adaptive actions; 3.the ability to act appropriately in difficult interpersonal situations, even though you may be confused, or angry, or so afraid you want to run away and hide."
Each book in Gerry Weinberg's Quality Software Management series addresses one of these three abilities. This book addresses the second fundamental ability. The first ability was covered in Volume 1 which was reviewed here some months ago.
Gerry Weinberg first introduces us to the Satir Interaction Model which was developed by Virginia Satir. Ms. Satir is a family therapist who used her experiences in observing people to develop this model of how they truly interact. There are four parts to the model: Intake, Meaning, Significance, and Response. It follows logically from this that the book's five sections are called: Intake Meaning, Significance, Response, and Zeroth-Order Measurement.
The book is laid out in a very symmetrical and visually appealing manner. Each section (and indeed each chapter) is preceded by a quote that is mostly humorous but often poignant and always appropriate. One of my favorites is from Mark Twain: "Get you facts first ... then you can distort 'em as much as you please."
Appealing features of the book are the use of large quantities of diagrams to help illustrate the concepts and the highlighting of important points in bold text.
Gerry Weinberg's writing style is breezy and light. However, don't let that mislead you. The content and ideas behind his writing are sound and in some cases profound.
This book is definitely for the practicing manager. The examples are real, the remedies can and do work, and the explanation and exposition of the ideas are cleverly and well done. This book, and indeed, this series, are becoming indispensable volumes in my attempts to improve the quality of my work. I recommend it to my colleagues and use it as assigned reading with those whom I am training to become managers. It is rare that a technical book of this magnitude can be said to be a pleasure to read. However, I can certainly make that statement about this book, and indeed about the series as a whole. I highly recommend that you get this book and use the insights contained within it.
(Naor Wallach/19940401/David McClintock, Editor, Dorset House Publishing, 353 West 12th St., New York, NY10014)
ishing, 353 West 12th St., New York, NY10014)
6/10/94
Review of - Quality Software Management V2,
REVIEW
GENERAL
Review of - Big Anthony's Mixed-
Runs on: Windows under the MPC specification, a minimum 386-SX chip, MS Windows 3.1, a VGA monitor, a Windows-compatible sound card, 4 megabytes of memory and a mouse, as well as a CD-ROM drive.
From: Putnam New Media, 11490 Commerce Park Drive, Ste 130 Reston, Virginia 22091, 703/860-3375; FAX: 703-860-3620
Price: $49.95
PUMA rating: 4.0 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Dana & Robin Blankenhorn
Summary: An excellent CD-ROM which offers educational games as well as fun for elementary school kids.
=======
REVIEW
=======
"Big Anthony's Mixed-Up Magic" came to our door soon after our reviewer, 6-year old Robin, had mastered Tuneland, another CD-ROM for Windows. This shares many of those elements. But Robin liked it even more, because as she said, there's more here to do.
The disk is easy to start from Windows. Just pull-down Run from the File menu, enter "d:/install" or the letter of your own CD ROM drive, and enter a path for program files created on your hard drive by the program -- you'll need just under 2 megabytes of space. Once that's done you'll have a new program group for Big Anthony, and an icon for your child to click. We had no problems with the config.sys or autoexec.bat files on our test machine, a 486-66 with a triple-speed CD-ROM drive. That is impressive because our regular memory manager is QEMM, not Windows' standard. The same CD-ROM user guide also works with a version of the product that works on the Macintosh -- it loads simply onto the Mac desktop.
Big Anthony is based on the "Strega Nona" books of Tomie dePaola and takes place in Calabria, a fanciful part of medieval Italy where magic happens, and everyone is clean. You can start the disk and sit back if you want, allowing the author to read the story aloud to your child, while you click electronic pages. There's also an interactive Calabria much like Tuneland -- click on anything and watch things happen. The animation here isn't up to Tuneland's standards, but Robin wasn't troubled at all by that. It may in fact be a strength -- smaller animation files mean more room for other things.
And there are lots of other things. There's a section which plays music, a section where Big Anthony demonstrates magic tricks and explains them, and such things as matching games, games where you can find the missing letters in words, and games where you help Big Anthony find things Strega Nona asks for. While Tuneland can get boring once all its scenes are explored, Big Anthony continues to enthrall because it offers so many different activities.
While the CD is designed for children 5-10, I'd have to say it's more likely to interest children on the lower end of that range assuming they've learned to use a mouse. The games require little prior knowledge of reading -- Robin is just starting to sight read words and had no problems navigating it alone.
Her dad had just two minor concerns. Big Anthony wants you to have a 16-bit or 32-bit color card, and my machine is set up for 24-bit color. This is no big deal -- the only problems we had were with spiders that are purple on a black background. But each time the CD-ROM boots it reminds you if you haven't changed your video drivers. There's also an ad on the disk for another Putnam CD-ROM, "Anno's Math Games," but that may just be on the review copies of the disk.
Big Anthony won the highest medal in the children's game division of the New York Festival's Interactive Multimedia Competition last year, according to the company's press material, and has the Parents' Choice Seal of Approval. Both awards are well-deserved.
=============
PUMA RATINGS
=============
PERFORMANCE: 4.0 Easy to install, easy to use. A 6-year-old can be left alone with this for hours.
USEFULNESS: 4.0 Big Anthony offers a number of different activities, all of which offer fun and learning for early elementary school age children.
MANUAL: 4.0 There is a manual, which can help you if you have problems with your CD-ROM drive, your video card, or your audio card, by helping you locate the manufacturers. The manual also explains all the games on the disk.
AVAILABILITY: 4.0 Available at major stores like Egghead Computer City, and some children specialty stores.
(Robin & Dana Blankenhorn/19940303/Press Contact: Stacy Mosely Putnam New Media, 703-860-3375x226)
act: Stacy Mosely Putnam New Media, 703-860-3375x226)
6/10/94
Review of - Big Anthony's Mixed-Up Magic, a CD-ROM,
REVIEW
Italian Telecom Firms Merge To C
DB/Expo - IBM Intros Products
H/R Pack Employee Tracking Softw
Sony Signs Multimillion Deal For
OneSource Adds Windows Support
Toronto Free-Net To Open Soon
McCaw Links With PageNet, While
HP France In PC Plus Deal
DEC Cuts Alpha Chip Prices
Microsoft Summit - Lexis/Microso
Education Technology Newsletter
EIA Technology Used For Remote E
Hong Kong - NetAsia Networking S
Art Teco '94 Presented By Morph'
Editorial - Audio News Conferenc
Lotus Acquires SoftSwitch For $6
Southern Bell Files Price Cap Pl
Sidekick For Windows 1st App In
UK - ICL/Fujitsu To Collaborate
PCC Show - Wireless Vision Of Th
FCC Carves Up Spectrum For PCS
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- As expected, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a compromise plan for carving up the radio spectrum for personal communications systems (PCS), setting the stage for a fierce auction of the licenses later this summer. The FCC says the auction could bring in much as $10 billion.
With Chairman Reed Hundt demonstrating a tiny, Dick Tracy-type wrist radio from AT&T Bell Labs, the FCC agreed to auction three big licenses, each totaling 30 megahertz or slightly more than a cellular phone license. Two of those will go to each of 51 US market regions.
One 30 MHz license and three 10 MHz licenses will go to each of 492 smaller areas of the country, meaning that any community could be served by as many as six companies.
"This is the first time that any country has committed itself to vigorous competition in a communications industry from Day One," said Hundt. "This means there will very likely be winners and losers, and lots of mixed results. But the guarantee I would give is that the economy will be the winner, and the consumers will be the winner."
Telecommunications industry response was mixed, as the FCC plan was a compromise. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, for example, said it was pleased the FCC rejected calls by rivals that the cellular industry be blocked from competing for licenses. But CTIA said it was disappointed at the restrictions the FCC adopted for the cell phone companies. Under the FCC plan, cellular companies that serve more than 10 percent of a market may bid on no more than one 10 MHz license in that market. If they agree to sell portions of their cellular business, they could bid for more.
"CTIA is pleased that the FCC rejected the efforts of others to prohibit cellular companies from competing in both the spectrum auction and in the marketplace," said Thomas Wheeler, CTIA president. "We are very disappointed, however, at some of the details of the decision, such as the attribution and overlap rules to determine how cellular carriers can grow in areas adjacent to their markets."
AT&T was tickled that Hundt chose to exhibit its prototype wrist phone, while stressing that it had no plans to market the device. AT&T said that once its controversial merger with McCaw Cellular is complete, "AT&T and McCaw plan to quickly get on with the business of how to best reach the 63 percent of the US population that is not covered by McCaw's service today. AT&T/McCaw will consider using cellular and PCS licenses or purchasing air time" to reach its market.
Apple Computer, which is interested in creating "nomadic" unlicensed data devices that follow a user around, said it was pleased with the 10 MHz the FCC authorized for unlicensed data although it was initially going after 20 MHz.
The lost 10 MHz, said Apple General Counsel Ed Stead, "was unlikely to be usable, due to the large number of current microwave occupants of those frequencies, and the FCC has indicated that it will move quickly to identify a comparable amount of usable spectrum for wireless data communication."
Northern Telecom, one of the regional Bell operating companies praised the FCC. David Twyver, chief of the company's wireless division, said the commission has "taken a giant step toward creating thousands of jobs in the US. We believe the new band plan for PCS, which the commission has adopted today, will expedite the availability of PCS equipment in the marketplace bringing the service to the public sooner and at a reasonable cost.
(Kennedy Maize/19940610/Contact: Mike Houghton, CTIA, tel 202-736-3207; Herb Linnen, AT&T, tel 202-457-3933; Betty Taylor, Apple, tel 408-974-3983; Frank McNally, Northern Telecom, tel 703-712-8374)
thern Telecom, tel 703-712-8374)
6/10/94
FCC Carves Up Spectrum For PCS
Windows Macromedia Director
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) Macromedia, known for its multimedia authoring tools for the Macintosh, announced the Windows version of its popular Director 4.0 product. The company says the Macintosh and Windows versions are so compatible that applications created on one platform can be seamlessly run on the other.
Director 4.0 for Windows offers the same ability to integrate media elements (or cast members), such as text, graphics, digital video, sound, and animations. Interactivity is offered by Lingo the product's object-oriented scripting language.
The 4.0 version of Director for the Macintosh was announced in March and is now shipping. Improvements in the Macintosh version that have been carried over to the new Windows version include: faster Lingo script execution and improved memory management unlimited file size, and increased capacity for cast members within Director movies.
Multimedia scripts created with the Director product are now royalty-free, as opposed to the one percent royalty the company was charging for title creation with some of its products.
Macromedia Director 4.0 for Windows requires at least a 486-based personal computer (PC) with 8 megabytes (MB) or more of random access memory (RAM), Windows 3.1, and DOS 5.0 or higher. To playback files created with Director a 386-based PC with 4 MB RAM, Windows 3.1, and DOS 5.0 or higher is needed. The product is slated for late summer availability with a suggested retail price of $1,195. Registered users of the company's previously released Director Player for Windows product upgrade for $299 through September 15, 1994, and $349 thereafter.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940610/Press Contact: Mary Leong, Macromedia tel 415-252-2118, fax 415-626-0554; Carol McGarry, Schwartz Communications for Macromedia, 617-431-0770)
for Macromedia, 617-431-0770)
6/10/94
Windows Macromedia Director
Australia - Home Computer Show
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- The second Home Computer Show opened today in Sydney - this time in the up-market Darling Harbour exhibition center in the heart of Sydney. Unlike traditional business computer shows, this one runs on just one weekday and two weekend days.
Although the booth layout is exactly the same as other computer shows held at Darling Harbour, these booths are all selling something, and most on a cash-and-carry basis. In fact, one retailer, Harvey Norman Discount, has created a complete computer store on the show floor - and it's probably the biggest computer store in the country at the moment.
New to the show is Singapore-based IPC which is set to revolutionize the Australian retail computer market by establishing 70 stores around the country in just 12 months.
Multimedia is still the flavor of the month, but prices continue to drop. While 16-bit sound cards still cost more than $120 (around US$90), complete multimedia upgrade kits are available for as low as $260 (US$190). CD software has also dropped dramatically with many retailers openly selling inexpensive versions of disks that are meant to be sold only with multimedia upgrade kits. For example, while the suggested retail price of an encyclopedia may be $300, the street price is $175 and the price of the "bundle" version is as low as $40 (around US$30). And this applies to Microsoft and other name-brand product as well as the lesser-known titles.
Of course, there is much "shovelware" around the show, with CDs cheaper than US$4. Some disks contain as little as a couple of megabytes of mediocre shareware.
The World of Commodore show was rolled into this year's Home Show for obvious reasons following Commodore's troubles, and the Amiga was well represented at around 20 percent of the stands. A few stands specialized in console and hand-held machines but this was a small part of the overall show.
Acorn once again had an excellent display including a complete school classroom running Acorn computers. Microsoft also ran a continuous class of around 20 machines, but this was for show visitors.
WordPerfect used the show to launch its Main Street line of 19 products.
(Paul Zucker/19940610/Contact: Australian Exhibition Services 61-3-867 4500 fax +61-3-867-7981)
1-3-867 4500 fax +61-3-867-7981)
6/10/94
Australia - Home Computer Show
GENERAL
Telecom Australia Intros Message
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Telecom Mobilenet, the largest of the three cellular phone carriers in Australia, has introduced a new messaging service called Telecom MessageBank.
Users have the option of having voice messages taken when their phone is not answering or unattainable (turned off, busy or out-of-area). The caller first hears a short message saying the call is being diverted, then the personalized message of the subscriber inviting the caller to leave a message. So far this sounds like any other message service but the "extra" that MessageBank has over its competitors is that as soon as the mobile phone becomes accessible again it rings and a message informs the subscriber that voice mail is available for immediate review.
The cost of this service is AUS$6.90 a month (around US$5) and 5 cents per 30-second unit for listening to the messages. The 5c charge is applicable regardless of where in Australia the user is situated. Each message can be re-heard, stored or discarded. The service can only be activated from the designated cellular phone, but once active it can be controlled from any other phone by the use of password.
Telecom Mobilenet covers all main population centers in Australia - 85 percent of the population.
(Paul Zucker/19940610)
- 85 percent of the population.
(Paul Zucker/19940610)
6/10/94
Telecom Australia Intros MessageBank Cellular Voice Mail
TELECOM
3Com Superstack Network Integrat
Airline Schedules Preloaded On I
UK Distributor Swallows Up Frenc
Systems Support Expo - AT&T Take
Compaq Grabs Top Spot For 1st Qu
UK Distributor Intros New Range
Unisys Unveils Its SolutionVisio
Swiss Firm Readies Personal Mess
Cray Claims New Software Saves E
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Ava
SPSS Intros Upgraded Stats Softw
UK - Apricot Extends Relationshi
Korean Semiconductor Equipment S
Rock Videos Part Of CD-Interacti
Virtual Mall Opens In Cyberspace
Magic Quest's New Math, Reading
CES - Private Sector Should Deve
Microsoft Intros Exchange E-Mail
India - Independent Telecom Auth
Clinton Admin Gives Supercompute
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- The federal Department of Energy (DOE) and a 17-member industry consortium have forged a $52 million partnership to develop commercial software for parallel processing computers, said US Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary and officials of Thinking Machines, a consortium member, in a news conference at Thinking Machines in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The new program, called the Industrial Computing Initiative, stems from a decision by the Clinton Administration to "marry" the long-time use of supercomputers for national security with new applications in environmental modeling, oil exploration, and medicine, Secretary O'Leary explained at the press conference which was attended by Newsbytes.
Costs of the three-year effort will be shared among all of the parties, with about half of the funds coming from the DOE and half from the industry consortium. Cray Research Inc., which is heading the consortium, will provide a Cray T3D massively parallel computer for use at each of two DOE national laboratories: Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore.
The two supercomputers will be linked by a high-speed interconnect for collaborative software development on 15 different projects by partners in the pact. In addition to Cray and Thinking Machines consortium members include AT&T Bell Laboratories; Xerox; International Technology Corp.; Schlumberger-Doll Research; Boeing; Amoco Oil; Exxon; Hughes Aircraft; General Motors; Biosym Technologies; Arete Associates; Halliburton Corp.; Berea Inc.; Aluminum Company of America; and Rocket Research Company.
In an interview with Newsbytes during the event, Richard Fishman president of Thinking Machines, said that software previously developed for Thinking Machines' Connection Machine (CM)-5 supercomputers will serve as the basis for some of the initiative's applications. "What we have conceived of will now be available to others," the company president noted.
"Parallel Ocean Program," a global ocean circulation model built for use on CM-5 computers at Los Alamos, has just won first prize in the Science category of the 1994 Computerworld Smithsonian awards program, Fishman added. For the future, Thinking Machines is interested in taking an expanded role in partnerships with the federal government, to include use of the company's CM-5 machines he told Newsbytes.
At the start of the briefing, Newsbytes and other members of the press accompanied O'Leary and Thinking Machines officials on a tour of Thinking Machines facilities that included demos of two CM-5 environmental modeling applications used at Los Alamos, plus a stop at the company's "CM-5 room."
While viewing one of Thinking Machines' CM-5 massively parallel computers, O'Leary chatted with Fishman and Danny Hillis, founding scientist at Thinking Machines, about how the latest generation of supercomputers can be used to support the kinds of applications the initiative will develop.
O'Leary asked Hillis about Thinking Machines' involvement with software development. "Many of the people here develop software," he responded. One CM-5 application, he added, is being employed by a petroleum company to conduct "what-if" scenarios on the likelihood of finding oil at specific sites.
The oil company made up for the entire cost of the application in the first month alone, when the program showed no petroleum existed at a location where the company had planned to drill, according to Hillis.
Similar simulations can be conducted in many other areas, the scientist told the cabinet secretary. For example, pharmaceutical firms can gauge the potential impact of changing the chemical components of prescription drugs.
Fishman and Hillis also suggested that the capabilities of massively parallel computers are becoming increasingly well known by the public at large. Thinking Machines' CM-5 supercomputers played a lead role in the hit movie "Jurassic Park," the officials said. In one bit of dialogue from the film, advice is given to "call Cambridge" for technical support.
In a sit-down session after the tour, O'Leary, Fishman and Hillis elaborated on the powers of the current generation of supercomputers, which divide a problem among thousands of simple processors running in parallel, in contrast to the traditional vector method of using complex processors to handle problems one instruction at a time.
O'Leary said that Vice President Al Gore has likened massively parallel processing to "a 1000-voice choir singing `The Messiah'" as opposed to a lone voice singing "a capella."
The applications to be generated by the Industrial Computing Initiative will benefit "every American" by ultimately cutting costs in the areas of environmental management, oil exploration and medicine, she reported.
Through the environmental management applications, for example, the DOE will be able to establish well formulated plans before conducting clean-up efforts, according to O'Leary.
Although the supercomputer software will originate with the 17 consortium members, the Clinton/Gore Administration anticipates that the applications will later trickle down to smaller and mid-sized enterprises, all the way to "Ma and Pop" oil companies she said.
O'Leary added that most individuals who run companies today are members of her own generation. Unlike younger people, the company chiefs did not grow up alongside computers, she explained. As a result, many of these top executives are uncomfortable about investing in new technologies until they have seen the kinds of "proven results" the $52 million public/private initiative is expected to show.
Fishman and Hillis each congratulated O'Leary on the computer savvy of the current presidential administration. "This administration is putting together a very rational policy," Fishman remarked.
From Thinking Machine headquarters, the Secretary of Energy moved on to Harvard University, to deliver the commencement address at the Harvard School of Public Health.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Ziff Communications, one of the world's largest publishers of computer magazines and owner of various trade show and electronic publishing interests, is up for sale.
Daniel, Dirk, and Robert Ziff, the three sons of former company Chairman William B. Ziff, Jr., who built the family's computer-publishing business, own about 90 percent of the operation directly or through trusts, while various relatives own the rest. They have announced that because they aren't personally interested in the publishing business, they will put Ziff-Davis Publishing and related companies on the block so they can concentrate on Ziff Brothers Investments, which Dirk Ziff founded in 1992 along with Daniel A. Stern.
The family hopes to sell the entire media business as one unit Ziff-Davis spokesman Greg Jarboe told Newsbytes. Lazard Freres & Co. has been engaged as financial advisor for the sale.
Jarboe would not comment on what sort of price the business might bring, but did confirm that the Ziff family's various media interests bring in annual revenues of about $1 billion.
The Ziff publishing interests are having a record year at present, company officials said. However, Jarboe said the sale was not timed to take advantage of that, but the timing was simply "fortuitous."
Ziff-Davis Publishing produces PC Week, PC Magazine PC/Computing, Computer Shopper, MacUser, MacWeek, and Windows Sources. Company officials quoted figures from Adscope, which tracks magazine advertising revenues, saying Ziff-Davis captured 40 percent of ad revenues among 97 computer and telecommunications titles in the United States last year. The company also publishes various titles in Europe.
Ziff's other interests include the Ziffnet online information service, the Networld+Interop and Seybold computer trade shows and the Information Access Co., a publisher of online databases including the widely used Computer Library. Ziff is preparing to launch another online information service, called Interchange.
Ziff-Davis Publishing started in 1927. William Ziff Jr., took over the firm from his father, William Ziff Sr., in 1955, and built it into a major publisher of special-interest consumer magazines and aviation and travel trade publications. He sold most of the family's holdings in 1984 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, but then regained his health and rebuilt the company around personal computer magazines.
(Grant Buckler/19940610/Press Contact: Gregory Jarboe, Ziff-Davis Publishing, tel 212-503-5684)
s Publishing, tel 212-503-5684)
6/10/94
Ziff Media Interests For Sale
BUSINESS
HarperCollins Moving Into CD-ROM
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- HarperCollins one of the biggest book publishers and a part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire, has announced a move into CD-ROM publishing. The company has created a new HarperCollins Interactive advanced media group and unveiled an initial list of eight CD-ROM titles.
HarperCollins' first CD-ROM titles are a mixture of reference works, special-interest titles, and children's fiction. They include George Shrinks and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, both interactive children's titles based on best-selling printed storybooks. The other titles are: HealthDesk, a home medical reference; All About Me, a children's program; Cyber Tarot, an "electronic divination system;" American Sign Language, a reference tool; and BibleSource and MacBible, two religious titles.
These eight titles will be HarperCollins' total CD-ROM output for this year, company spokeswoman Sharon Miller told Newsbytes, but next year the company plans 15 to 20 CD-ROM titles, and in 1996 a further increase is planned.
The company plans to concentrate on titles where it can use the multimedia capabilities of CD-ROM disks to do things that could not be done with a paper book. While children's stories and certain kinds of reference works seem to be obvious examples HarperCollins isn't ruling out other categories such as mainstream fiction.
The company has the world's largest backlist, Miller said, and "all of the titles are under consideration." She added that authors published by HarperCollins -- such as best-selling thriller-writer Tom Clancy, for example -- can now think in terms of what can be done on a CD-ROM rather than limiting themselves to plain text.
The HarperCollins CD-ROMs will be distributed worldwide generally in formats that can be used with either IBM-compatible PCs or Apple Macintoshes, Miller said.
The new HarperCollins Interactive unit will work on multimedia development of the parent company's titles, and will not limit itself to any single technology or computer platform, officials said.
(Grant Buckler/19940610/Press Contact: Sharon Miller, Access Public Relations for HarperCollins, tel 415-904-7070 ext. 272; Robin Rootenberg, Access Public Relations for HarperCollins, tel 415-904-7070 ext. 282)
for HarperCollins, tel 415-904-7070 ext. 282)
6/10/94
HarperCollins Moving Into CD-ROM Publishing
TRENDS
EIA Technology Used For Remote E
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Technology developed by the Electronics Industries Association will be the platform for new systems that allow electric utilities to read meters remotely and offer variable electric prices based on the time of day.
The technology is the Consumer Electronics Bus (EIA-60), or CEBus, the North American standard for communications and control devices in the home.
Integrated Communications Systems, Inc., of Atlanta is contracting with Intellon of Ocala, Fla., for CEBus compliant products used in its Transtext remote metering and pricing system. The products will be supplied through ABB Power T&D, a subsidiary of the Swedish electrical and electronics giant Asea Brown Boveri.
ABB owns part of the privately held ICS, along with the Southern Company, Atlanta's electric utility holding company. The third party behind ICS is Johnson Controls of Milwaukee. Southern developed the system software for Transtext, while ABB provides the integrated modem and other communications gear. Johnson Controls makes the thermostat/controller.
American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio, one of the largest utility systems in the nation, is deploying the Transtext technology throughout its system in Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee.
The system will allow homeowners to respond to changing price signals reflecting varying costs of producing power by automatically changing their use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), water heaters and other home appliances. Using the system, the homeowner could instruct it to keep the air conditioner set at 72 degrees if the price is low, 74 degrees if the price is medium and 76 if the price is critical. Setpoints inside the thermostat/controller of the system talk to the utility computer for price information.
Intellon's CEBus compliant components will be incorporated into a CEBus electric meter, a CEBus interface to the HVAC, and in major appliance relays.
"Transtext is currently the only advanced energy management system available that is capable of supporting this innovative energy pricing strategy," ICS Vice President Thomas Parker told Newsbytes.
(Kennedy Maize/19940610/Contact: Thomas Parker, tel 404-436-1165)
19940610/Contact: Thomas Parker, tel 404-436-1165)
6/10/94
EIA Technology Used For Remote Electric Metering
TELECOM
CD-ROM Training To Control Emoti
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Wilson Learning Corporation has announced two new additions to its line of CD-ROM based learning programs. The new titles, "Keep Your Cool" and "No Trust? No Sale!" have a suggested retail price of $69.95 and are available for the Macintosh and Windows platforms.
Keep your Cool is designed for people who want to break destructive emotional habits such as anger, frustration, or anxiety. It also teaches how to manage one's feelings and situations that trigger negative reactions and keep one from performing at one's best.
No Trust? No Sale! is a guide for establishing credibility and gaining customer trust. The program is designed for sales professionals and other who use sales skills in their jobs, says the company. Skills such as reducing customer tension, ensuring customer satisfaction and expanding sales opportunities are included.
Wilson says it uses interactive simulations in both programs to make the learning fun while still being effective. "We like to think of these programs as serious fun, providing users with engaging, real-life situations that draw them into the learning process," says Wilson Learning CEO Dave Ehlen.
According to Ehlen studies show that computer-based multimedia training programs can enhance learning by as much as 35 percent and are less expensive than interactive video discs.
In January the company started shipping "Connect for Success; Connect With Others and Influence Them," "Sell to Needs: Sell the Way People Like to Buy," "Relate with Ease: Build and Keep Interpersonal Relationships," and "Decide for Sure: Add Certainty to Your Decision Making."
Wilson plans to release a total of 10 titles in a joint project with Sony Electronic Publishing Company in addition to the titles the company is developing independently. Wilson spokesperson Denise Maynard told Newsbytes "Keep Your Cool" and "No Trust? No Sale!" as well as a brand new title yet to be released will be demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show opening in Chicago later this month.
(Jim Mallory/19940610/Press contact: Denise Maynard, Kovak-Thomas Inc for Wilson Learning Corporation, 212-246-0540; Reader contact: Wilson Learning Corporation, 612-944-2880 or 800-328-7937 extension 8866)
on, 612-944-2880 or 800-328-7937 extension 8866)
6/10/94
CD-ROM Training To Control Emotions, Sell More
APPLE
Dummies On The Net
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) Dummies can be found everywhere from DOS to AutoCad to C programming -- at least that's the impression IDG is giving with its series of "For Dummies" titles, the latest being "More Internet for Dummies." This is a sequel to last year's hit by Internet guru John R. Levine called "Internet for Dummies."
Taking the approach that users should be able to learn about the Net, easily access the Net and navigate it with elementary abilities, Levine has said that he does not expect readers to sit down and read the entire book, but only to read it long enough to figure out how to get online and consult the book when they run into problems. The tongue-in-cheek style does advise that it makes great bathroom reading.
This latest version does not vary from the "dummy" style, while it elaborates on some of the latest issues of privacy, government influence and possible legislation and commerce and advertising on the Net. Also included in this new issue is detailed information on how to expand one's more advanced interests.
The IDG "Dummies" series covers operating systems, applications Macintosh topics, and general computing subjects. The company also announced the upcoming release of "Multimedia & CD ROMs for Dummies" which will include a CD called "The Guided Tour of Multimedia." According to the company, the book, including the CD, will be released in June with a suggested retail price of $29.95.
"Internet for Dummies" and "More Internet for Dummies" are usually priced between $15 and $20. A spokesperson for IDG, told Newsbytes, "Our series is best described as 'what to do when bad things happen' but it also is a great primer for both beginners and intermediate users. The Internet series is a result of the great changes that are occurring on the Net as so many people join."
Newsbytes has reported estimates that 150,000 new users are entering the Net each month. As quickly, the Net, defined by its users, is changing on a daily basis. And according to different users, these changes are the lament of some purists and the leading edge of communication, education and commerce to others. Kurt Baumann, CEO of InterCon recently told Newsbytes, "The Internet is an advancement not unlike the building of the railroad across the United States. What we see here is the building of a new means of conducting our personal lives, our business life, and our education. That building is going on right now and to be a part of it, is like being on the frontier."
(Patrick McKenna/19940610/Press Contact: Linda Garcia, Brodeur & Partners, tel 408-562-6108)
s, tel 408-562-6108)
6/10/94
Dummies On The Net
TELECOM
OIS To Develop Active Matrix LCD
TROY, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- OIS Optical Imaging Systems (OIS) has announced a cooperative development deal with Apple Computer Inc., that calls for it to develop high performance active matrix color liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) for Big Red's next generation of notebook computers.
OIS says the first phase of the deal calls for development and manufacture of advanced prototype displays, which will be built at a manufacturing facility currently under construction on 30 acres about 20 miles west of its current site in Troy, Michigan.
OIS Executive Vice President Charles Wilson told Newsbytes the plant under construction will have a capacity of about 40,000 10.4-inch laptop display units annually. The current site is scheduled to close in 1995. OIS is also considering the feasibility of constructing a new plant that would have the capacity to handle contracts with the production volume of the one that could develop if Apple is happy with the prototypes OIS will turn out.
Active matrix screens, also called thin-film-transistor screens use a separate transistor to control each of the three colors (red blue, green) for each pixel. They are more expensive to produce and require more power but produce brighter colors at higher contrast.
Wilson declined to discuss specifics of the Apple agreement during an interview with Newsbytes. He said he didn't know for which Apple computer the prototype displays are being built and wouldn't specify the project milestones. He did say that typically development programs last about one year. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
OIS is no stranger to the production of AMLCDs. The 10-year-old company is currently developing display for use in the "glass cockpits" of leading edge military aircraft such as the Air Force F-22 advanced tactical fighter and the McDonnell Douglas F-18EF.It also provides displays to Rogerson Aircraft for instruments that are being retrofitted into Federal Express 727 aircraft and is developing displays for the space shuttle program.
OIS is a publicly held company that currently employs 186 people.
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- UMax has announced the MiniLook G and MiniLook C, a pair of entry-level handheld grayscale and 24-bit color scanners priced respectively at $145 and $295, along with BizCard Reader, a $249 product billed as the first business card scanner to operate in a background mode.
A company spokesperson told Newsbytes that the three new Windows based scanning products represent a departure for Fremont California-based UMax, a vendor that has traditionally been best known for its "high-end flatbed scanners."
The new BizCard Reader is designed to save time for business users by letting them work in other applications while business cards are being scanned continuously in the background, she added.
The one-pound business card scanning unit comes with a parallel interface for quick connectivity to a standard PC port. The unit is also designed to scan in either portrait or landscape orientation without readjustment by the user.
BizCard Reader comes with its own "database manager" for easy storage and retrieval of contact information, according to the spokesperson. Users can create multiple contact files based on various categories. The product uses artificial intelligence for functions such as custom word lists, context checking, and size and position of characters.
BizCard reader also scans directly to ACT!, PackRat, and other widely used PIMs (personal information managers), preventing the need to manually export a scanned business card database into a PIM, the spokesperson said.
The new MiniLook Scanners, which are the first handheld scanners to be offered by UMax, will be bundled with the ProImage Plus image editing application as well as Perceive OCR (optical character recognition) software, according to the spokesperson.
ProImage Plus provides an "auto stitching" feature that "allows users to scan a large image and produce one seamless image from multiple scans."
Each MiniLook scanner supplies an optical resolution of 400 dpi (dots per inch) and a maximum resolution of 800 dpi. The MiniLook G scans 256 shades of gray at 8-bits per pixel. The MiniLook C scans 24-bit "true color" at 16.8 million colors.
The MiniLook scanners are slated to ship at the end of June, and the BizCard Reader earlier this month. All three products require a 386-or-higher IBM-compatible PC, Windows 30 or higher, 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), and 10 MB of free disk space. The MiniLook scanners also require a VGA graphic display card and a pointing device.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940610/Reader Contact: UMax Technologies, 510 651-8883; Press Contacts: Tsai-ling Shyu, Paula Fujimoto, or Marissa Verson, InterActive Public Relations, Inc. for UMax, 415 703-0400)
rActive Public Relations, Inc. for UMax, 415 703-0400)
6/10/94
UMax Intros $145 And $295 Scanners, $249 Card Reader
GENERAL
Knowledgeware Acquires Database
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Knowledgeware Inc., has has acquired assets from ClearAccess Corporation and its subsidiary Fairfield Software Inc., that expands Knowledgeware's database tools product line.
The company has announced that it has acquired ClearAccess, a set of graphical tools to produce end-user database queries and reports, and ClearManager, a client/server management tool for monitoring, controlling, and supporting enterprise-wide data access activities. Both programs are available on the Macintosh and Windows platforms.
Knowledgeware says the acquisition allows it to provide users developers and administrators with database query and reporting tools for nearly 75 databases for PCs, servers and mainframe computers. Knowledgeware spokesperson Denese Van Dyne told Newsbytes supported databases include Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2 dBase, VSAM. "That allows you to manage queries by many hundreds of users without experiencing network problems and without tying up the databases," Van Dyne said.
"It has been predicted that by the end of the decade ad hoc query tools will be as pervasive as spreadsheets are today," according to Donald Addington, Knowledgeware president and chief operating officer.
Newsbytes recently reported the release by Knowledgeware of Maxim a Windows-based business process reengineering tool. The company also publishes Objectview Desktop, a visual development tool for desktop developers that includes the Gupta's SQLBase database program and drivers and connections for numerous databases and servers.
ClearAccess has a suggested retail price of $460, while the price tag on ClearManager reads 44,500. ClearAccess is also available as an add-on to ObjectView Desktop for $50. ObjectView Desktop is being offered at the introductory price of $199. ClearAccess is also included at no additional cost when you purchase the $3,200 ObjectView Enterprise.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- British Telecom has announced the creation of an electronic data interchange (EDI) network to service the motor industry. The network is a joint venture project involving BT, the Retail Motor Industry federation (RMI) and the Automotive Transaction Federation (ADF).
According to John Sharp, BT's market manager for automotive operations, the service gives motor dealers, their suppliers, and customers access to a cost-effective electronic datacomms network.
"Motor retailers using the Automotive Transaction Highway (as the system is called) will be able to gain a competitive edge by offering their major customers the option to trade electronically. This not only reduces costs, but avoids the errors and delays of paper-based systems," he explained.
According to BT, the ATH aims to provide a "single socket" set-up to the multiplicity of data connections required for trading within the retail motor industry. The software was jointly developed by BT, RMI and Perwill Business Management Consultants.
The first modules on the system -- Partlink and Fleetlink -- are based on BT's existing EDI network, EDI*Net. BT claims that the sheer potential of the service has persuaded Cowies, Lex, PHH and Eurodollar, four leading players in the motor industry, to take part in technology trials of the service.
Bill Pugsley, Perwill's managing director, said that the key consideration when developing the ATH was "to provide users with a single point through which all external electronic communications could be relayed."
Startup prices on the network cost UKP 300, with monthly bills starting from UKP 50. Data is passed over users existing phone lines with transaction charges ranging from 10 to 50 pence.
(Steve Gold/19940610/Press Contact: Christine Ott, JBA: +81-394-2515; Fax: +44-372-727578)
Christine Ott, JBA: +81-394-2515; Fax: +44-372-727578)
6/10/94
BT Electronic Data Interchange Net For Motor Industry
TELECOM
UK - Half-Price International Ph
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Swiftcall has announced the UK's first direct-dial telephone multiplex service where calls to the US and Canada are around half of the normal British Telecom rate.
The service is made possible by SwiftCall renting BT digital circuits to the US and linking the lines into the domestic US phone network. According to Graham Milne, the company's sales manager, a 2 megabits per second link can have several voice calls digitized, compressed and multiplexed on it at any given time.
"Pre-payment starts at UKP 20 for personal customers and UKP 500 for companies, who get itemized billing. VAT is chargeable and call charges are deducted at the appropriate rate," Milne told Newsbytes adding that, after a year of operations, the service has between 6,000 and 7,000 customers in the UK," he said.
"Our service is a lot better and easier to use than some of the remote callback services, where you have a dial a US number and the system calls you back. This locks you into a single `call back' line, and is too fiddly for most people," he told Newsbytes.
Modem calls are not fully supported by the SwiftCall service although modems of up to 9,600 bits per second are available to city areas of the US.
The call savings also accrue on mobile phones, where one-minute unit call charges are not uncommon. And, since some mobile phone companies do not allow international calls without a reference and deposit SwiftCall offers a low-cost alternative.
UK - Half-Price International Phone Calls Available
TELECOM
Networking Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Auspex Systems Inc., VocalTec Inc. Ross Systems Inc., SynOptics Communications Inc., Novell Inc. 3Com Corp.
Auspex Systems Inc., (408-986-2288), introduced a "highly scalable" seven-model family of Unix Network File System (NFS) servers. The new NS 7000 NetServer family meets customers' needs for consolidated data access and storage in demanding real-world production environments -- from workgroups and departments to the entire enterprise, according to the company. The NS 7000 NetServer family is comprised of two product series, the Series 200, designed to meet the requirements of large workgroups and departments, and the Series 500, designed to meet the requirements of the enterprise. The high-end of the family, the NS 7000 Series 500, expands Auspex's network connectivity dramatically to 24 Ethernets and up to four FDDI (fiber distributed data interface) or MLT-3 connections. The family includes a new entry-level server line, the NS 7000 Series 200 which is now available for under $85,000 and includes Auspex's system software. The NS 7000 line features new dual-CPU (central processing unit) SPARC network processor boards. One CPU is used for network processing, the other for file processing. The processors run Auspex's lightweight microkernel, called Functional Multiprocessing Kernel (FMK). The NS 7000 family is available in seven models. The NS 7000 Model 500 high-end system is priced at less than $113,000 for a base unit; the Model 502, which includes the base unit with redundant power supplies is priced at less than $138,000; the Model 510, which features the base unit and one expansion cabinet, is priced at less than $145,000; and the Model 512, which features base and expansion cabinet both with redundant power supplies, is priced at less than $186,000.
VocalTec Inc., (Northvale, N.J.), introduced VocalChat Version 2.0 software, which reportedly gives networked workgroups the combined capabilities of a full-featured intra-office voice mail system, an advanced network dictation system and a real-time audio conference service in a single software package. Available immediately and priced at $239 per 10-user license, VocalChat 2.0 runs on any Windows 3.1-compatible, audio-equipped PC connected to NetWare 2.X, 3.X or 4.X networks, Windows for Workgroups networks, or networks supporting the IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) , NetBIOS or TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet protocol) protocols. Users of earlier versions of VocalChat may upgrade for $140 for a 10-user license. Site licenses are also available.
Ross Systems Inc., (404-851-1872) began shipping Unix versions of its Renaissance CS client/server product line for Digital Equipment's Alpha AXP Systems. The client/server product line includes Renaissance CS Financial, Renaissance CS Manufacturing Renaissance CS Distribution and Renaissance CS Human Resource this month. Said Ross Systems Chairman and CEO Dennis Vohs "Demand for Alpha AXP Unix versions of our client/server applications is building. Much of this demand is for applications that will run on an Oracle Alpha AXP Unix platform."
SynOptics Communications Inc., (408-764-1180), announced new network management capabilities for its intelligent hub line that. The company claims that, combined with Network General's Distributed Sniffer System (DSS), give customers a comprehensive system for gathering and analyzing information critical to the operation of corporate networks. The Advanced Analyzer agent software and related hardware reportedly provide troubleshooting and problem resolution more efficiently than traditional stand alone RMON (remote monitoring) probes at a claimed cost savings. With the Advanced Analyzer agent in an intelligent hub, customers can determine the cause of a problem on the network, along with its physical location, network address, and fault and performance information, down to the port-level. The Advanced Analyzer agents can be deployed throughout the network in SynOptics' Lattis System 2000, 3000 and 5000 intelligent hubs and managed with SynOptics' Optivity network management system. When Optivity 5.0 ships in July, customers will get a subset of Network General's Distributed Sniffer System application, to display RMON packets using capture and filter groups.
Meanwhile, Novell Inc., (800-336-3892), says that, in response to customer requests to make printed documentation more easily available, it has lowered the price of printed documentation for NetWare 4.01 and NetWare 3.12. Novell also reduced the price of backup media. The new price for NetWare 4.01 documentation is $200, reduced from $345. The new price for NetWare 3.12 documentation is also $200, reduced from $395. Additionally documentation for NetWare for Macintosh 4.01 is now $25, reduced from $55. The new prices are effective immediately. NetWare 4.01 and the CD version of NetWare 3.12 currently include online documentation, with printed documentation being sold separately. The new price for backup media is $35 for the CD version of either NetWare 4.01 or NetWare 3.12, reduced from $70; or $100 for the diskette version of NetWare 4.01 or NetWare 3.12, reduced from $150. Backup media is alternative set of media used for installation. It does not include a product license.
3Com Corp., (408-764-5137) announced a set of ISDN (integrated services digital network) products for connecting the remote and personal office. The company says that the new ISDN offerings including routers/bridges, adapters and remote-access servers are a key deliverable in the company's High Performance Scalable Networking (HPSN) strategy, which according to 3Com, allows individuals, remote users and large corporations to build networks spanning multiple connectivity environments, offering customers a logical migration path to a high-bandwidth environment. These new products are planned for emerging major international standards, including support in Europe (Euro ISDN or ETSI), Japan (INS-64) and the US (National ISDN 1 or ISDN 1). The company's internetworking product line includes the central site NETBuilder II router featuring dual ISDN PRI ports and the remote site NETBuilder Remote Office bridge/router with one ISDN BRI port.
(Ian Stokell/19940610)
an Stokell/19940610)
6/10/94
Networking Roundup
GENERAL
Company Results Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: CompUSA Inc., Newbridge Networks Corp., and Egghead Software.
While computer superstore retailer CompUSA says that its sales for the last quarter are not as high as expected, networking company Newbridge Networks says its sales were up 63 percent. Meanwhile, another retailer, Egghead, reported a minor loss for its most recent fiscal year.
Computer superstore retailer CompUSA Inc., (214-383-4404) announced that its sales for the quarter ending June 25, 1994, are expected to be lower than anticipated, and that its margins are not expected to improve from the levels experienced in the preceding two fiscal quarters. The firm also said that if its sales and margin trends for the first two periods of the quarter continue it will not be profitable during the fourth quarter, although it is too early to make any specific forecast for the quarter.
Newbridge Networks Corporation, (613-591-3600) announced financial results for the firm's fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 30, 1994. Sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1994 were $164.1 million, an increase of 63% over the corresponding quarter of fiscal year 1993. Net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1994 were $47.3 million (59 cents per share basic and 57 cents per share fully diluted - Canadian GAAP) compared to $25.5 million (32 cents per share basic and 31 cents per share fully diluted - Canadian GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1993. Revenues for fiscal year 1994 were $552.5 million, up 80% over fiscal year 1993 revenue of $307.6 million. For the 1994 fiscal year the Company recorded net earnings of $157.8 million ($1.98 per share basic and $1.89 per share fully diluted - Canadian GAAP) versus 1993 fiscal year net earnings of $60.0 million (81 cents per share basic and 77 cents per share fully diluted - Canadian GAAP).
Egghead Software, (206-391-6191), announced operating results and sales for its fiscal-year,1994. During the year which ended April 2, 1994, Egghead reported a loss of $0.5 million, or 3 cents per share, on sales of $778.3 million. Fiscal 1993 earnings were $6.9 million, or 41 cents per share, on sales of $725.4 million. Sales of $778.3 million in fiscal 1994 increased $52.9 million, or 7 percent, compared to $725.4 million in fiscal 1993. Fiscal 1993 had 53 weeks, whereas fiscal 1994 had 52 weeks. Excluding the extra week in fiscal 1993, sales in fiscal 1994 increased 10 percent.
(Ian Stokell/19940610)
(Ian Stokell/19940610)
6/10/94
Company Results Roundup
BUSINESS
Personnel Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: PictureTel Corp., Spectrum HoloByte Inc., Adaptec, Netrix Corp., Broderbund Software Inc.
PictureTel Corporation, (508-762-5178), announced that Ian S. Bell has been named vice president of operations. In the position he is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of operations, quality, and purchasing. Also, the company announced that Robert F. Mitro, senior vice president and general manager of worldwide sales and service has resigned. Mitro, joined the company in September, 1988. He is leaving to become president of a start-up company in Philadelphia. Both changes are effective immediately. Prior to joining PictureTel, Bell worked at Sun Microsystems where he held a number of senior positions. He helped establish Sun's east coast operations division, and formulated and implemented a European operations strategy as well as Sun's operations strategy in the Far East. Prior to joining Sun, Bell worked at Digital from 1976 to 1986 in both domestic and international assignments. He also worked in engineering and manufacturing with NCR and Timex Corporation.
Interactive entertainment software publisher Spectrum HoloByte Inc., (510-814-6336), appointed Greg Kennedy to the newly created position of vice president, general counsel. Kennedy, 32, will oversee all corporate legal matters. Most recently, Kennedy was an attorney at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, where he represented Spectrum HoloByte in connection with its 1992 reorganization, two subsequent venture financings, the acquisition of Bullet-Proof Software, the merger of Spectrum HoloByte and MicroProse, and the recent public offering of Spectrum HoloByte stock. Kennedy received his J.D., cum laude from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Adaptec, (408-957-4893), announced the creation of three new senior management positions and the appointment of a corporate controller. Robert Beckwith is now vice president of IC (integrated circuit) quality and reliability. Dolores Marciel moves to vice president of corporate procurement. Sassan Teymouri is the director of hardware engineering for the newly established enterprise computing business unit. Additionally, Andrew Brown was named corporate controller, filling a recently vacated position. All four were promoted from within Adaptec's management ranks. Beckwith 53, started with Adaptec almost four years ago. He was previously director of IC quality and reliability. Marciel, 37, spent 10 years with Adaptec. Before her promotion, she was director of procurement. Teymouri, 35, started at Adaptec two years ago as an engineering manager, coming to the company from AMD, where he worked as a design manager for seven years. Brown, 34, joined the company six years ago and most recently was Adaptec's operations controller.
Netrix Corp., (303-530-8761), has named Jean-Paul Garodel to the new post of director of sales for its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Garodel previously was Netrix' country manager in France and the Benelux nations. In his new position Garodel takes on responsibility for all of Netrix' sales, marketing service, and support activities throughout the EMEA region. Garodel will divide his time between Netrix' facilities in Paris and its UK headquarters in Reading, Berkshire.
Broderbund Software Inc., (415-382-4637), says that, in a move to keep abreast of the rapidly growing consumer software industry, it has made several corporate and management related announcements designed to streamline operations and take advantage of changes in the emerging consumer software market. Harry Wilker, former vice president of publishing at Broderbund, has been promoted to senior vice president of Broderbund Studios. Additionally, a newly-formed business development department has been established to pursue strategic partnerships and other corporate alliances. In his new role Wilker directs all product development efforts for the company. The newly established Broderbund Studios integrates all aspects of the software product development cycle, including programming sound engineering, graphics and animation, and product management. In a related announcement, Steve Dunphy's role has been expanded to director, Business Development, and includes business development and licensing responsibilities in addition to his existing role as manager of the Affiliated Label programs and international sales.
(Ian Stokell/19940610)
n Stokell/19940610)
6/10/94
Personnel Roundup
GENERAL
Political Action On Internet Ove
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard has implemented a drug testing program for anyone to whom it offers employment, including independent contractors that do not work on-site. One technical writer that the company has used before has refused to undergo urine testing and has started a political campaign against the practice using the Internet.
Bill Knutson, a San Francisco-based technical writer, said he's worked for HP and enjoyed his contact with the company in doing three projects over the last nine months. However, upon being offered a fourth project, Knutson discovered he would have to go down to a health facility and donate urine for drug testing.
Knutson, who works off-site with his own equipment, felt as though the request was coercive and demeaning. "I now look like I can't stay off drugs long enough to pass a urine test because I feel like this is wrong and an invasion of my privacy," Knutson told Newsbytes. HP has always had a reputation for having enlightened management and for treating their employees with the utmost respect, until this, Knutson maintains.
When asked why HP implemented the policy, HP public relations official Mary Lou Simmermacher, said it was with much discussion and reluctance that the company decided to follow the lead of other companies and implement a drug testing policy for any applicant who received a job offer beginning January 1, 1994. "It was a business decision we made to provide our employees with a safe and productive work place. We know not everyone agrees with the decision," Simmermacher stated.
Until this January HP was in a small minority of companies not doing the testing routinely. Simmermacher did add that HP did test some employees on occasion for sensitive situations where HP was providing service or support at the other company's request.
Knutson and others on the online network feel differently and are concerned about the implications of drug testing. "There's so much that can be done with urine," Knutson quipped. Knutson said he has a female friend, an executive, who had to take a urine test in order to be offered partnership in her firm. "I told her 'good thing you weren't pregnant,'" quipped Knutson.
Besides, those who want to get around drug testing can easily do so, Knutson added, including buying drug-free urine or just staying clean until after the testing is over. While adding he agrees with the testing if done with cause and thinks that a drug-free environment should be promoted, he added, "I have proven my ability -- why should I have to submit to this?"
While not aiming to start a crusade, Knutson says he is encouraging others who feel strongly to write to HP and express their feelings on the issue and is using the Internet for that purpose. He started a discussion on The Well which is connected to the Internet, and is now preparing a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for distribution on the subject. Over 300 responses have been made to the subject, once Knutson started it, on The Well in News - Topic 1558.
"I hope HP will reconsider," he said. Newsbytes asked Simmermacher if HP was considering changing the policy in the light of the simmering protest, but Simmermacher said she couldn't answer that. "All I can do is tell you what the policy is now."
(Linda Rohrbough/19940610/Press Contact: Bill Knutson, Internet address, wknutson@well.com; Mary Lou Simmermacher Hewlett-Packard, tel 415-857-7794)
u Simmermacher Hewlett-Packard, tel 415-857-7794)
6/10/94
Political Action On Internet Over HP Drug Tests
TRENDS
Steven Spielberg Buys Into Knowl
LA CRESCENTA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Director Steven Spielberg will get into the multimedia business through an equity investment in Knowledge Adventure, which is best-known for its "3-D Bug Adventure" CD-ROM.
Terms of the investment were not disclosed in a conference call held by Knowledge Adventure President Bill Gross for analysts. Knowledge Adventure is privately held. Spielberg did say he was impressed with the company's work, however.
Spielberg is just the latest of a host of entertainment figures to have entered the CD-ROM business in the last year. The rush began at last Fall's Comdex show with the launch of Tuneland a cartoon disk for kids. A debut party for the disk looked like a Hollywood premiere with stars like Shelley Duvall, Quincy Jones, and Linda Ronstadt in attendance. The company producing Tuneland, 7th Level, has since announced a Monty Python title. It's headed by Micrografx co-founder George Grayson and music producer Bob Ezrin and backed by Michael Milken.
Also at the last Spring Comdex show, a number of movie production companies including Turner Broadcasting announced their first entries into the market, mainly games and screen-savers.
In addition to his equity investment, Spielberg will work with Knowledge Adventure on educational software titles.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940609/Press Contact: Samantha Rubin, for Knowledge Adventure, 212-995-2200)
ha Rubin, for Knowledge Adventure, 212-995-2200)
6/10/94
Steven Spielberg Buys Into Knowledge Adventure
GENERAL
ACTV In Education Deal With Turn
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- A company called ACTV is working closely with Turner Broadcasting to create an interactive television system teachers can program themselves.
The system, called REACT, will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. It was demonstrated, in conjunction with TCI before Vice President Al Gore and TCI Chairman John Malone earlier this month.
Newsbytes discussed the new distance learning technology with ACTV President William Samuels. "In the last 18 months ACTV has introduced 130 interactive television titles in reading, math and vocational education," he said. All the titles are in grades K-12, and can be distributed via videotape, cable television or satellite.
"Our new announcement allows live interactivity to be developed by teachers themselves, so that our authoring language will be very friendly to the users," Samuels continued. "They won't be dependent on buying pre-recorded units from publishers. It's an advantage over CD-I and CD-ROM, the authoring language is easy enough for live multimedia development.
"The development package will be PC-based," he continued although he couldn't say whether the IBM PC, Macintosh or both will be supported first. "The package is slated for delivery in the 4th quarter. We already prototyped it, and announced it three weeks ago, with TCI in Denver. We produced an interactive CNN segment, uplinked it with Vice President Gore and Dr. Malone downlinked it to the TCI cable system in Washington, and had live two-way interactivity with a school that had 20 students. Teachers received a print-out at the end to know, by student what was learned, and the teacher at the head-end in Denver got an instantaneous survey of learning so they could modify the lessons.
"It's very teacher friendly. We're going to allow schools to create their own programming," he concluded. He said the company will concentrate its marketing on schools receiving federal money under Chapter One of HR 6, which was passed recently, and on states offering distance learning like Georgia. The REACT system is available to schools at $5000 per classroom. ACTV's objective is to build a $50 million distance learning business over the next three to five years.
In a press statement Glenn Kessler, chairman of the board of the United States Distance Learning Association, noted that while in 1989 only five states had distance learning initiatives, today all 50 states have initiated these programs with participation in over 15,000 school districts. Georgia, for example, has a $50 million budget for interactive distance learning projects, and is placing downlinks in 1700 of its schools. There are over 1 million classrooms in the US.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940610/Press Contact: William C. Samuels ACTV, 212-262-2570)
lliam C. Samuels ACTV, 212-262-2570)
6/10/94
ACTV In Education Deal With Turner
TELECOM
MCI Takes Stake In In-Flight
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Pressed hard by McCaw's AirOne in the battle for airline contracts, In-Flight Phone agreed to an investment from MCI that could turn into a majority stake.
The deal, $20 million now and an option to pay $44.2 million later for a controlling interest, puts In-Flight founder Jack Goeken back in harness with the company he first founded as Microwave Communication Inc., in 1963. Goeken, who was sometimes called disorganized, left the company in 1975 in a dispute over corporate direction with his co-founder, the late William McGowan, and later started such companies as FTD and Airfone another airplane phone company later bought by GTE.
In-Flight is currently engaged in litigation with McCaw, claiming that company violated agreements with it when it started AirOne after seeing In-Flight's business plan while considering an investment in the company. But of greater concern has been McCaw's ability to secure exclusive arrangements with major airlines like Air France and American Airlines, in part by offering larger royalties to airlines for installing its phones in their cabins. In-Flight says it has a broader mix of services including pay-per-call, games and data services, and an all digital network.
For MCI, the deal marks its entry into a new business, airplane telephony. MCI will be the exclusive long distance provider on In-Flight, which offers both a telephone hand-set and viewing screen at each airline seat. Also, the MCI logo will appear on all In-Flight phones, increasing its marketing presence even among passengers who don't use the service. Passengers can make phone calls, receive paging messages, send faxes, access stock quotes, view airport maps, play video games and order gifts and flowers. FlightLink even connects laptop computers to the ground at 9,60 bits/second. In-Flight is also developing new services like FlightLink On-The-Air, a multichannel audio service with live television broadcasts.
In another story from In-Flight, Continental selected its FlightLink system in a 10-year deal under which 470 aircraft will be transferred to the system, including planes run by Continental Express and Continental Micronesia. The system will also be installed in future aircraft now on order. In-Flight spokesman Darren Leno said the Continental and MCI announcements were not directly related. The Continental deal nearly doubles the number of planes served by In-Flight, which now number about 1,000. In comparison, GTE Airfone has contracts for about 2,000 planes and McCaw's AirOne has about 1,600 planes under contract.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940610/Press Contact: Kevin Inda, MCI, 202 887-3325; Darren Leno, In-Flight Phone, 708-574-1237)
In-Flight Phone, 708-574-1237)
6/10/94
MCI Takes Stake In In-Flight
TELECOM
Scholastic Adds Internet Service
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- Scholastic, the educational publisher which already has a section on America OnLine, has added its own service on the Internet.
Scholastic Internet Services is designed as a comprehensive information resource center for K-12 teachers and students. It's available to all of the estimated 29 million Internet users including about 100,000 US teachers and students.
Included are Scholastic Internet Libraries, which four electronic curriculum libraries with a myriad of resources and over 5,000 full-text articles offered for site licenses. There's also the Scholastic Internet Center, a free Internet site offering information, lesson plans, and electronic newsletters. Also available is the Ultimate Education Store, a searchable online catalog of educational books, magazines, software, curriculum kits and more.
"All the Scholastic divisions contributed to this effort," said Susan Mernit, director of network development at Scholastic, in a press statement. The press statement also contained a quote from Linda Roberts, advisor on technology for US Department of Education, and someone closely associated with the Administration's efforts to get educators online.
Wide Area Information Services or WAIS was Scholastic's technology partner in the Internet effort. Consumers and educators can order information and materials directly from the company using credit cards and school purchase orders online. The WAIS technology allows Scholastic Internet Services users to browse and search without typing long commands.
Scholastic apparently kept the new service quiet. America OnLine spokesmen were unaware of it when asked about it by Newsbytes. At the National Educational Computer Conference in Boston next week Scholastic officials plan an event to demonstrate the new service, which also works with the Mosaic graphical front-end.
VIENNA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- The New York Times launched a service on America Online.
The new service, called @Times, or "at Times," will feature an entertainment guide that includes reviews of all current movies plays, and cultural events going on in the city. Subscribers also will be able to read the current day's top stories.
Spokesman Bill Adler said all e-mail going to @Times will go through Elliott Rehbun, a Times employee who has been designated "editor" for the new effort. Some Times employees may appear later in the AOL "auditorium" section, so readers can ask questions. The service came online at 11 AM Eastern Time on June 9, and hundreds of messages were left the first day, he added. Some were quite useful -- a number of people asked when the Times' famous crossword puzzle would come online, and Adler said the company is considering that.
The Times joins a number of other newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune and San Jose Mercury News, with services on America Online, which is currently the nation's third largest consumer online service behind Prodigy and CompuServe. In addition the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a service on Prodigy, with other Cox newspapers expected to follow, and Ziff Interactive has a deal with the Washington Post to create a version of that newspaper on its pending service Interchange. In addition, Delphi has a deal with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. So far, none of the local online services have local competition, but that is expected to change eventually.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940610/Press Contact: William Adler, The New York Times, 212-556-7077; Pam McGraw, America Online, 703-556 3746)
ne, 703-556 3746)
6/10/94
NY Times On AOL
TELECOM
3Com Superstack Network Integrat
Airline Schedules Preloaded On I
UK Distributor Swallows Up Frenc
Systems Support Expo - AT&T Take
Compaq Grabs Top Spot For 1st Qu
UK Distributor Intros New Range
Unisys Unveils Its SolutionVisio
Swiss Firm Readies Personal Mess
Cray Claims New Software Saves E
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Ava
SPSS Intros Upgraded Stats Softw
UK - Apricot Extends Relationshi
Korean Semiconductor Equipment S
Rock Videos Part Of CD-Interacti
Virtual Mall Opens In Cyberspace
Magic Quest's New Math, Reading
CES - Private Sector Should Deve
Microsoft Intros Exchange E-Mail
AST & Creative Technology To Dev
India - Independent Telecom Auth
Court Issues Permanent Injunctio
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- A Federal District Judge has issued a permanent injunction directing Microsoft Corporation to stop making, using, or selling its MS-DOS operating system or any other Microsoft product that contains Stac Electronics' patented data compression technology.
The permanent injunction follows the February jury decision that Microsoft's Doublespace technology infringes on patents owned by Carlsbad, California-based Stac. After four weeks of hearing evidence that included testimony of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates the jury deliberated for six days before awarding Stac $120 million in compensatory damages.
Individual users of MS-DOS 6 and 6.2 aren't affected. Judge Edward Rafeedie's order directs Microsoft to recall any Microsoft product which includes Doublespace except products already in the hands of end users. Section G of the ruling states in part, "Defendants shall not be required to recall, erase, or destroy any Enjoined Products possessed by end users, nor shall this injunction in any way be interpreted to apply to such end users or consumers." Microsoft senior VP of systems Paul Maritz agrees. "It's important that end users understand that they may continue to user their previous MS-DOS products," he said.
That directed recall could be a further problem for Microsoft. Gary Clow, Stac Electronics president, told Newsbytes his company has been monitoring systems available for sale in retail outlets and found many of those PCs still have MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 installed. The wording of the injunction seems to make it clear Microsoft and the OEMs will have to remedy that situation and Clow agrees. "As of today we consider that any retailers that have not removed MS-DOS 6 or 6.2 from their systems are in non-compliance," he told Newsbytes.
The injunction requires Microsoft to ensure the recall, erase or destruction of MS-DOS 6 by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Some of the companies that build personal computers, such as Compaq and IBM, and license Stacker and aren't affected. Companies who don't license the technology shouldn't be shipping PCs with those versions of MS-DOS. Several PC makers told Newsbytes they are shipping their systems with MS-DOS 6.21 loaded. Dell Computer Corporation spokesperson Dean Kline said Dell has MS-DOS 6.22 in hand but hasn't started shipping it yet.
Microsoft spokesperson Mich Matthews told Newsbytes the company still maintains it did not infringe on the Stac patents, and intends to appeal and request a stay of the injunction.
Asked by Newsbytes if Microsoft has a responsibility to remove the infringing MS-DOS versions currently in the distribution channel Matthews said Microsoft forwarded in February to over 1500 OEMs version MS-DOS 6.21 and urged them to convert to that product. "We have made every step that we could in immediately issuing a non-infringing product. Microsoft feels it has taken reasonable measures to minimize the impact on OEMs and resellers."
Microsoft withdrew the offending MS-DOS version when the jury announced its verdict and began shipping version 6.21 of the operating system software. That version does not contain any data compression. MS-DOS 6.22 with a new version of data compression is currently shiping, said Matthews. First shipments will go to OEMs.
In addition to MS-DOS 6 and 6.2 the ruling affected Microsoft's Flash File system, Microsoft Windows NT Remote Access Server, and Vertisoft's Doubledisk Gold.
Court Issues Permanent Injunction Against MS-DOS 6
Newsbytes Daily Summary
` / MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 10 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Japan - Computer News Roundup 06/10/94 In the top news from Japan, microprocessor (MPU) prices are plunging, NEC will start volume production of 200mhz RISC MPUs in October, Zuken to acquire Racal Redac.
2 -> Online Shopping To Grow, Forrester Says 06/10/94 Shopping through online services, CD-ROMs, and television is rare today, but online shopping in particular will grow rapidly in the next few years according to Forrester Research Inc.
3 -> No Sex Please, We're Comdex 06/10/94 Sexy multimedia titles which caused some controversy at last fall's Comdex trade show in Las Vegas, won't be allowed at future Comdexes. Nor will any other display of nudity or sexually explicit material, either on the show floor or in show publications, show organizer The Interface Group has announced.
4 -> Review of - Quality Software Management V2, 06/10/94 From: Dorset House Publishing, 353 West 12th Street, New York, NY10014
5 -> Review of - Big Anthony's Mixed-Up Magic, a CD-ROM, 06/10/94 Runs on: Windows under the MPC specification, a minimum 386-SX chip, MS Windows 3.1, a VGA monitor, a Windows-compatible sound card, 4 megabytes of memory and a mouse, as well as a CD-ROM drive.
6 -> ****FCC Carves Up Spectrum For PCS 06/10/94 As expected, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a compromise plan for carving up the radio spectrum for personal communications systems (PCS), setting the stage for a fierce auction of the licenses later this summer. The FCC says the auction could bring in much as $10 billion.
7 -> Windows Macromedia Director 06/10/94 Macromedia, known for its multimedia authoring tools for the Macintosh, announced the Windows version of its popular Director 4.0 product. The company says the Macintosh and Windows versions are so compatible that applications created on one platform can be seamlessly run on the other.
8 -> Australia - Home Computer Show 06/10/94 The second Home Computer Show opened today in Sydney - this time in the up-market Darling Harbour exhibition center in the heart of Sydney. Unlike traditional business computer shows, this one runs on just one weekday and two weekend days.
9 -> Telecom Australia Intros MessageBank Cellular Voice Mail 06/10/94 Telecom Mobilenet, the largest of the three cellular phone carriers in Australia, has introduced a new messaging service called Telecom MessageBank.
10 -> ****Clinton Admin Gives Supercomputers New Life 06/10/94 The federal Department of Energy (DOE) and a 17-member industry consortium have forged a $52 million partnership to develop commercial software for parallel processing computers, said US Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary and officials of Thinking Machines, a consortium member, in a news conference at Thinking Machines in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
11 -> ****Ziff Media Interests For Sale 06/10/94 Ziff Communications one of the world's largest publishers of computer magazines and owner of various trade show and electronic publishing interests, is up for sale.
12 -> HarperCollins Moving Into CD-ROM Publishing 06/10/94 HarperCollins, one of the biggest book publishers and a part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire, has announced a move into CD-ROM publishing. The company has created a new HarperCollins Interactive advanced media group and unveiled an initial list of eight CD-ROM titles.
13 -> EIA Technology Used For Remote Electric Metering 06/10/94 Technology developed by the Electronics Industries Association will be the platform for new systems that allow electric utilities to read meters remotely and offer variable electric prices based on the time of day.
14 -> CD-ROM Training To Control Emotions, Sell More 06/10/94 Wilson Learning Corporation has announced two new additions to its line of CD-ROM- based learning programs. The new titles, "Keep Your Cool" and "No Trust? No Sale!" have a suggested retail price of $69.95 and are available for the Macintosh and Windows platforms.
15 -> Dummies On The Net 06/10/94 Dummies can be found everywhere from DOS to AutoCad to C programming -- at least that's the impression IDG is giving with its series of "For Dummies" titles, the latest being "More Internet for Dummies." This is a sequel to last year's hit by Internet guru John R. Levine called "Internet for Dummies."
16 -> OIS To Develop Active Matrix LCDs For Apple 06/10/94 OIS Optical Imaging Systems (OIS) has announced a cooperative development deal with Apple Computer Inc., that calls for it to develop high performance active matrix color liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) for Big Red's next generation of notebook computers.
17 -> UMax Intros $145 And $295 Scanners, $249 Card Reader 06/10/94 UMax has announced the MiniLook G and MiniLook C, a pair of entry-level handheld grayscale and 24-bit color scanners priced respectively at $145 and $295, along with BizCard Reader, a $249 product billed as the first business card scanner to operate in a background mode.
18 -> Knowledgeware Acquires Database Tools 06/10/94 Knowledgeware Inc., has has acquired assets from ClearAccess Corporation and its subsidiary Fairfield Software Inc., that expands Knowledgeware's database tools product line.
19 -> BT Electronic Data Interchange Net For Motor Industry 06/10/94 British Telecom has announced the creation of an electronic data interchange (EDI) network to service the motor industry. The network is a joint venture project involving BT, the Retail Motor Industry federation (RMI) and the Automotive Transaction Federation (ADF).
20 -> UK - Half-Price International Phone Calls Available 06/10/94 Swiftcall has announced the UK's first direct-dial telephone multiplex service where calls to the US and Canada are around half of the normal British Telecom rate.
21 -> Networking Roundup 06/10/94 This is a regular feature summarizing networking news not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: Auspex Systems Inc., VocalTec Inc., Ross Systems Inc., SynOptics Communications Inc., Novell Inc., 3Com Corp.
22 -> Company Results Roundup 06/10/94 This is a regular feature summarizing company results not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: CompUSA Inc., Newbridge Networks Corp., and Egghead Software.
23 -> Personnel Roundup 06/10/94 This is a regular feature summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: PictureTel Corp., Spectrum HoloByte Inc., Adaptec, Netrix Corp. Broderbund Software Inc.
24 -> ****Political Action On Internet Over HP Drug Tests 06/10/94 Hewlett- Packard has implemented a drug testing program for anyone to whom it offers employment, including independent contractors that do not work on-site. One technical writer that the company has used before has refused to undergo urine testing and has started a political campaign against the practice using the Internet.
25 -> Steven Spielberg Buys Into Knowledge Adventure 06/10/94 Director Steven Spielberg will get into the multimedia business through an equity investment in Knowledge Adventure, which is best-known for its "3-D Bug Adventure" CD-ROM.
26 -> ACTV In Education Deal With Turner 06/10/94 A company called ACTV is working closely with Turner Broadcasting to create an interactive television system teachers can program themselves.
27 -> MCI Takes Stake In In-Flight 06/10/94 Pressed hard by McCaw's AirOne in the battle for airline contracts, In-Flight Phone agreed to an investment from MCI that could turn into a majority stake.
28 -> Scholastic Adds Internet Service 06/10/94 Scholastic, the educational publisher which already has a section on America OnLine has added its own service on the Internet.
29 -> NY Times On AOL 06/10/94 The New York Times launched a service on America Online.
30 -> ****Court Issues Permanent Injunction Against MS-DOS 6 06/10/94 A Federal District Judge has issued a permanent injunction directing Microsoft Corporation to stop making, using, or selling its MS-DOS operating system or any other Microsoft product that contains Stac Electronics' patented data compression technology.
(Wendy Woods/19940610)
(Wendy Woods/19940610)
6/10/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
UK - EBG OS/2-Based FaxServer Li
FAREHAM. HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 (NB) -- The European Business Group (EBG) has announced FaxServer Light, a "light" version of FaxServer 3.5, the company's network fax system.
The light version costs UKP 795 for the software only or UKP 1,325 for the software and a fax modem card. Users of the light edition can upgrade to v3.5 for an extra UKP 1,495.
FaxServer is a multiline network fax system for Microsoft LAN (local area network) Manager, LAN Server and Novell NetWare-compliant networks. According to the company, the software transforms every laser printer on the network into a plain paper fax receiver and every workstation into a send and receive fax terminal. Faxes are "sent" by printing from any application.
"Light is a single line system for up to 25 users which gives smaller sites managing a low volume of fax traffic the opportunity to use the power of FaxServer at a considerably reduced price," explained Paul Smith, EBG's chief executive.
"The decision to launch FaxServer Light only strengthens our belief that FaxServer is a product which clearly defines the needs of today's network fax users and further emphasizes our leadership in this field," he said.
EBG claims that, unlike a number of products in the marketplace FaxServer is a real client-server application. According to the company, the drivers supplied with most network fax "solutions" do little more than pass along fax transactions to the file server or convert the paper image to a fax at the workstation. FaxServer, in contrast, merely "prints" the fax image on the local terminal and routes the image to the fax server.
Since the fax server is OS/2-based, EBG claims that the preemptive multitasking facilities of the OS/2-based environment allows the package to seamlessly link to DOS and Windows environments at the same time as faxes are being sent or received.
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Books could face competition from computers as the preferred method of teaching according to a survey commissioned and just released by WordPerfect UK's Main Street division.
According to the survey, a hefty 80 percent of parents think that their children would benefit from using educational computer packages in the home. Of those who already use their home PC for educational purposes, 78 percent consider that educational software is at least as effective as books as a teaching tool, while 35 percent feel that they are more effective than books.
This opinion seems to be backed up by the educational profession in general. The report quotes Dave Thomson, information technology (IT) advisor to the Hereford and Worcester local education authority, as saying that children love to learn with computers.
"Software packages that allow the children to interact with the screen not only develop specific skills, such as reading and counting, but also encourage free thinking and a sense of control," he said.
"The view that computers are insular and non-communicative is also patently false. Watching children at work with their computers, it is clear that the excitement of operating the programs stimulates enthusiastic discussion with other children. The arrival of ever more sophisticated educational packages on the market is making computers an educational tool to be reckoned with," he added.
The survey found that 27 percent of UK homes own a personal computer (as distinct to a games console). In homes with children aged between 5 and 14, this figure rose to 47 percent. The telling story WordPerfect notes, however, is that 69 percent of adults claim they know little or nothing about computers and their uses.
Simon Palmer, consumer products manager with WordPerfect UK, said that the survey was commissioned to confirm that the company's Main Street packages have good market potential.
"Main Street makes computing accessible to all of the family. And of course, there's the added bonus that children are becoming familiar with computers and their operation -- a valuable skill for the future," he said.
According to Palmer, the view that computer literacy is a valuable skill is borne out by the findings of the survey -- while the majority of those questioned may not personally understand computers and their uses well, they are convinced of the importance of computers for getting ahead in the world.
The report shows that 62 percent of those surveyed rate computer literacy as important in getting ahead, second only to academic qualifications. Interestingly, computer literacy is rated as more important than both professional business training and a knowledge of foreign languages.
act: WordPerfect UK +44-932 850500; Fax: +44-932-843497)
6/13/94
UK Survey Finds Computers Educational Tool Of Future
TRENDS
Ungermann-Bass Changes Name
BERLIN, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Ungermann-Bass has changed its name to UB Networks, while at the same time announced details of its new Access/Workgroup Series.
Speaking about the name change, Roel Pieper, president and chief executive officer of the company, said: "The selection of UB Networks played off our desire to have a name that reflected a respect for the past and a vision for the future."
UB says that its Access product family is based on "an evolutionary not revolutionary implementation, which minimizes the cost of ownership through investment protection, reliable operation" and network management functionality.
According to the company, the Access/Workgroup Series delivers on its commitment to provide customers with "end-to-end connectivity across the enterprise." The line includes a family of stackable products.
The company says that the Access/Workgroup Series is the workgroup component of UB's Access/Anywhere Universal Network Framework and is designed to provide "cost-effective solutions for department or branch offices and a scalable, managed solution that can be integrated into the enterprise-wide network."
The Series reportedly offers users greater flexibility through a combination of "highly functional, feature-rich" stackable hubs desktop adapters and protocol stacks, as well as scalable network management.
The Series includes: the Access/Stax 16- and 24-port Ethernet hubs; the 24-port Access/TRax for Token Ring networks; MicroHub, a low-cost low-port 10Base-T repeater hub; Token Ring and Ethernet adapters from SMC; the MasterLAN FT dual-port Ethernet adapter; TCP Pro Protocol Stacks; the Windows-based NetAssistant network management; or the more powerful OS/2 or Unix-based NetDirector.
Said Norm Goldberg, UB Networks' senior vice president and general manager, Network Products Division: "The addition of the 16-port Access/Stax and 24-port Access/TRax products expands UB's reach in two directions: it completes our offering from desktop to enterprise, and it offers the workgroup environment high scalability to support varied numbers of users," he added.
The key elements of the series include: the Access/Stax 16, a low-cost hub for departmental 10Base-T Ethernet networks, equipped with 16 10Base-T ports, with up to 10 hubs being stacked together; the Access/Stax 24 Ethernet stackable hub with 24 ports that adds such features as load balancing and segmentation; the Access/TRax Token Ring stackable hub, with features including error elimination, beacon avoidance and jitter bypass, with each unit supporting 22 ports; and the MicroHub low cost, low port density, 10Base-T repeater hub. Two models of the MicroHub are offered: one with nine RJ-45 ports and one with eight 10Base-T ports and one BNC port for thin coax connection to an existing Ethernet LAN.
Other elements of the series include: SMC Ethernet and Token Ring adapter cards; the MasterLAN FT is a dual-port Ethernet adapter designed to provide nonstop access for networking to the desktop;TCP Pro, an implementation of the full TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), IP (Internet protocol), UDP (User Datagram Protocol), ARP (Address Resolution Protocol), ICMP and SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) protocol stack; NetAssistant Windows-based SNMP network management software; and the NetDirector OS/2 or Unix-based network management platform.
Pricing and availability for the products is as follows: the Access/Stax 16 will be available in 30 days for $1,295; the Access/Stax 24 is available now for $1,995; the Access/TRax is available now $3,795; the MicroHub is available now for $525; SMC Adapters will be available in 30 days starting at $129 for Ethernet and $299 for Token Ring; the MasterLAN FT will be available in 30 days, priced at $219; TCP Pro is available now starting at $299; NetAssistant is available now for $795; and NetDirector is available now, with prices starting at $4,500.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Supermac has unveiled an Apple Computer Power Mac version of its budget video editing card, the Videospigot. The existing (68xxx-based) Videospigot is acclaimed as a useful device by the Mac user community, mainly owning to power and price -- Supermac intends the Spigotpower card to achieve similar success in the Power Mac user community.
According to Supermac, the new Spigotpower card offers the ability to create Quicktime videos and CD-ROM titles in-house, all for under $1,000. Mac users got a chance to get a hands on with the Power Mac card at last week's Digital World, held in Beverly Hills, California.
The Spigotpower AV offers Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) video compression at the television-quality playback of 30 frames per second (also known as 60 fields per second). The card can also capture detailed images at 24-bits per on-screen picture element (pixel).
While the Power Macintosh AV also offers video playback on board in several models, the playback is much slower at only at 2 to 3 frames per second. However, once installed, the card does take advantage of the audio capability of the Power Mac or Quadra AVs, Supermac officials said.
In use, the card supports Quicktime 1.6 as well as the new 2.0 version, and popular Quicktime video applications such as Avid Videoshop, Adobe Premier, and Cosa Afterimage. The card will play the US/Japanese NTSC video format in full-screen at 640 by 480 pixels resolution at up to 30 frames per second. Support is also offered for the European PAL video standard at 768 by 576 pixels resolution at up to 25 frames per second.
The Spigotpower AV comes as a seven-inch Nubus card that will work in the Macintosh Quadra 660AV and 840AV as well as the Power Macintosh 7100AV and 8100AV models. According to Supermac, the card does not work in the Power Macintosh 6100AV, because Apple installed a video card in that model in the only available Nubus slot. The video card in the 7100AV and 8100AV models is built-in to the unit, leaving the Nubus slot free.
Spigotpower retails for under $1,000 in the US. In addition Supermac's Japanese development partner, BUG, is offering the card in the Japanese market only under the Desktop Studio name tag.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940613/Press Contact: Louise Ledeen, Supermac Technology 408-541-6100; Jill Ryan, McLean Public Relations for Supermac 415-513-8800; fax: 415-513-8810/SUPERMAC940610/PHOTO)
-513-8810/SUPERMAC940610/PHOTO)
6/13/94
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
APPLE
Microsoft Multimedia Baseball Gu
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Microsoft has just announced shipment of Microsoft Complete Baseball, a multimedia CD-ROM program that includes facts and figures about the nation's national pastime.
Complete Baseball details the sport's history and provides information about players, teams, season summaries and statistics. It also includes video and sound clips and thousands of photos and other images. In addition to current data, the historical information goes back to the 1800s. Data searches can be conducted using player names and other criteria.
Users with modem-equipped PCs can subscribe to the Microsoft Baseball Daily, an online service that provides daily downloads of official scores and statistics for every 1994 major league game.
The statistics are updated daily at 9AM. The information is automatically downloaded to the user's hard disk and can then be read offline. Microsoft spokesperson John Uppendahl told Newsbytes the that cost for the service is $1.25 per call in the US and $2.25 in Canada. Charges are billed to the user's credit card. All calls are toll-free.
Microsoft says that the program is shipping now and should be in retail outlets in time for Father's Day. Baseball is the first offering from the Microsoft Home Complete Sports product line that will offer CD-ROM programs on a variety of sports.
To promote Microsoft Baseball, the company is launching a tour of baseball parks across the country that will feature kiosks where fans can sample the software. The tour kicks off June 15th with the New York Mets game and then moves to San Francisco for the Giants' home game June 17. Additional dates will be announced later.
(Jim Mallory/19940613/Press contact: John Uppendahl, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft Corporation, 206-637-9097; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400/BASEBALL940610/PHOTO)
or 800-426-9400/BASEBALL940610/PHOTO)
6/13/94
Microsoft Multimedia Baseball Guide
Rasterops' Free Upgrades For Pow
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- One of the biggest hurdles facing users of existing 68xxx-based Macs wanting to migrate to the Power Mac environment is the cost of replacing and/or upgrading peripherals and add-ins to work with the Mac. Now Rasterops is offering upgraders the chance to upgrade the company's Nubus multimedia product free of charge.
Rasterops' products in the upgrade plan include display adapter and digital video hardware and software such as the company's Moviepak product line and television (TV) display adapters. The Video Installer 3.0 upgrade offers improved Quicktime 2.0 multimedia extensions support including 30 frames-per-second (fps) video capture and playback.
The upgrade also offers editing, searching, and interaction with video compressed using the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard. Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) compression, aimed at high quality still photos, is also supported at the full-motion 30 fps with the standard 2 fields per frame.
The company said that its Video Installer 3.0 upgrade offers Apple Quicktime 2.0 support and compatibility with the all the new Power Macintosh computers -- the 6100, 7100, and 8100 series. All users have to do is ask. Specific products affected by the upgrade are the 24STV 24MxTV, 24XLTV, Mediatime multimedia TV display adapters, Moviepak Moviepak Presenter, Moviepak Presented with Sound, Moviepak2, and Moviepak2 Pro Suite digital video products.
Users who require a software-only upgrade can obtain the software from the company's own bulletin board service, or from America Online Applelink, Compuserve, or on the Internet. Upgrades can also be requested by phone, fax, e-mail, and US mail. Some products, such as the 24MxTV and the 24XLTV and their related product bundles, may also require that the user change a chip, called a read-only memory (ROM) upgrade. Rasterops said that in those cases it will supply the ROM upgrade and installation instructions as well.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940613/Press Contact: Anne-Lise Stannard Rasterops, tel 408-496-4035, fax 408-562-4065)
ops, tel 408-496-4035, fax 408-562-4065)
6/13/94
Rasterops' Free Upgrades For Power Mac
APPLE
France - Cheyenne Tech Support F
PARIS, FRANCE, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Cheyenne Software has announced it is expanding its European technical support capacity with the opening of a dedicated multi-lingual facility in its European headquarters in Paris.
According to Paul Dunford, regional manager with the company customers throughout Europe now have access to a hotline support number, five days a week. He said that the Paris facility was prompted by the company's rapid expansion in Europe. Last year saw company turnover in Europe increase by 400 percent.
Languages supported by the hotline include English, French, German Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Greek. Plans call for extra languages to be added at a later time this year.
The opening of the new Paris facility follows hard on the heels of the opening of a technical support facility in San Diego last month. Dunford said that the technical support expansions in Europe and the US "have already provided a significant increase in our customer service capacity worldwide, as well as substantially reducing our average call queue time."
(Steve Gold/19940613/Press & Reader Contact: Paul Dunford, Cheyenne 44-737-775500)
eader Contact: Paul Dunford, Cheyenne 44-737-775500)
6/13/94
France - Cheyenne Tech Support Facility For Europe
GENERAL
Oracle Plans World Support Super
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Information management software specialist Oracle Corporation has announced plans to set up a major worldwide support center in Sydney with staff levels eventually reaching more than 120. The company is restructuring its support around the world.
This will be one of three sites which will offer 24-hour support to Oracle customers around the globe. Most staff will need to speak multiple languages to deal with the calls. The center will open with 40 operatives and will grow to full strength in the 12 to 18 months after that. Oracle will then have grown from 300 to 500 staff in Australia once the center is fully operational.
The plans are part of a fundamental new strategy in which Oracle will move from a conglomerate of 95 international subsidiaries to a closely knit structure of just four regions: Asia/Pacific, Japan, Europe, and the Americas. Sydney will assume major significance in the new global plans and will be the site of one of 15 "Global Business Centers" that Oracle is setting up around the globe to handle pre- and post-sales support, design, and migration services, localization, and translation plus support.
John Darraugh, Oracle Australia national technology manager, is currently searching Sydney for a suitable site for the support supercenter and could well end up heading it, according to insiders. One possible site under investigation is the old NEC facility at Frenchs Forest, nearby to Apple, and other computer companies in Sydney's leafy northern suburbs.
Neil Weston, an Australian working with Oracle in Britain, and a former Rank Xerox executive, will return home on August 1 to become managing director in Australia. He fills the hole created when John Thompson was promoted to VP for divisional development and human resources at Oracle Asia Pacific.
Oracle has a new suite of more than 25 modules called the Oracle Cooperative Applications, claimed to be the world's first open and distributed software packages, designed to automate business operations from small workgroups to global enterprises. Oracle described the new applications as "BPR-ware" -- supporting business process engineering.
(David Frith and Computer Daily News/19940613)
ering.
(David Frith and Computer Daily News/19940613)
6/13/94
Oracle Plans World Support Super Center For Australia
GENERAL
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Pub
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently.
The photos are online on the Newsbytes menu on GEnie, eWorld, and the Newsbytes private bulletin board system in Minneapolis in the US, as well as in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100.
All photos are in JPEG format with PICT files for thumbnails. The photo 'tag' numbers: title/year/month/day. The JPEG and PICT indicators are 'jpg' and 'pct.'
APPLE PHOTO POLICY: An `Apple Computers' courtesy, along with the photographer's name, is to be printed when an Apple Computer photo is used. The bulletin will indicate this. Unless otherwise noted, all Apple product shots are courtesy Apple.
Week of JUNE 13 - JUNE 17,1994
INFOCOMM940609 - Color from digital / head shot of the virtual Mark Twain, who held sway at the recent INFOCOMM (June 9-11).
VideoConf940603 - B&W from photo / shot of a video conference, with group at table looking towards monitors in background. This is in regards to a California State project to save money and commute time.
GAMETEK940531 - B&W from photo / group shot of the original 'Not Ready for Prime Time Players' of Saturday Night Live. (Bonus fact: Bill Murray is co-owner of the St. Paul Saints baseball team.)
SHARP940609 - Color from photo / group shot of people looking at the new Sharp LCD projection panel.
ADOBE940524 - Color from slide / screen shot of Illustrator 5.5.
Epson940517 - Color from slide / view of the new Epson Stylus color printer, based on piezo technology.
LOGAN940526 - B&W from print / shot of 'Number Nine' the hit robot of the recent DB/Expo.
MEDIOa940531 - Color from slide / screen shot from the interactive cd rom 'Medio Magazine' by Medio.
MEDIOb940531 - Color from slide / screen shot from the interactive cd rom 'World Beat' by Medio.
SKBOSSES940518 - B%W from photo / shot of SoftKey execs surrounded by software. (left) Kevin O'Leary president = (right) David Patrick vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.
R'SHACK940527 - B&W from photo / shot of service tech working on camcorder.
Amdahl940527 - B&W from photo / shot of Xplorer 2000 Model 100 database server.
NuPBook940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook Duo 280.
NuPBook*940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook 540.
PYRAMID940526 - Color from transparency / the Pyramid 'Nile' server.
MAXIS940523 - Color from slide / screen shot of PrintArtist work.
ECLIPSE940509 - B&W from photo / shot of Eclipse FAX package.
ADOBE940523 - Color from slide / shot of Dimensions program at work.
IDENTITY940523 - Color from slide / view of the liquid proof keyboard with, OH NO!!, coffee being spilled onto the keyboard.
PHOENIX940426 - B&W from photo / view of the CD Essentials package.
PHONE940510 - Color from slide / view of man (frame right) on phone set attached to PC, using the InterActive Communicator.
NOTEFLEX940518 - B&W from photo / view of the Zenith Data NoteFlex notebook computer. For scale; a cell phone, pen & coins frame left.
FtrTel940511 - Color from photo / shot of 'PrimeView' card.
DECPC940517 - B&W from photo / shot of the DECpc LPx+ 400 one of the new 'Green Line' pcs meeting EPA 'Energy Star' guidelines.
ALDUS940517 - Color from slide / screenshot of TypeTwister at work.
P'Tel940512 - B&W from photo / shot of presenter at the PictureTel podium, where screen can be seen.
Prince940506 - Color from artwork / The 'glyph' which now serves as Prince's nom de plum.
(Newsbytes/19940613)
e's nom de plum.
(Newsbytes/19940613)
6/13/94
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers
GENERAL
Motorola Adds To Diner's Delight
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Motorola has rounded out its plate of "Diner's Delight" paging services with two new applications -- CourtesyCall and ServerCall.
According to Motorola, CourtesyCall alerts a roving restaurant customer that a table is available. ServerCall tells the waiter or waitress that an order is ready to be served.
"With the addition of CourtesyCall and ServerCall, our `Diner's Delight' program now has three components. I like to call them `meet greet, and eat,'" explained Steve Spiro, director of Motorola's Customer Owned Paging Services, in an interview with Newsbytes.
TableCall, the first portion of the restaurant paging program, was dished up by Motorola last winter, he noted. As previously reported in Newsbytes, TableCall uses a sugar/salt/pepper caddy to let patrons discreetly call for a waiter or waitress' attention.
Spiro told Newsbytes that the Motorola's new CourtesyCall service allows patrons to roam a mile or two away -- around a shopping mall or downtown shopping area, for example -- instead of remaining stuck in the restaurant's reception area while waiting to be seated.
ServerCall, on the other hand, tells the busy waitress or waiter that the time has come to go to the chef's station to pick up an order.
CourtesyCall and ServerCall were each unveiled at the recent National Restaurant Association Show to enthusiastic response, according to the Motorola executive. "We've received hundreds of inquiries," Spiro told Newsbytes.
Like TableCall, the new CourtesyCall and ServerCall incorporate restaurant-specific technology from ServiceAlert, a manufacturer and system integrator of call system products, he said.
Motorola is the only vendor on the market to be supplying a "full range" of restaurant paging services, Spiro said. The services are now being deployed commercially across the entire nationwide TGIF ("Thank God It's Friday") restaurant chain.
"TGIF is calling (the services) `the best thing since sliced bread,'" Newsbytes was told. Meanwhile, three or four other chains are in the middle of beta testing.
Restaurant staff find that the applications not only step up table turnaround time but raise customer satisfaction, increasing the total of tips along with the number of customers served per shift, Spiro said.
Like Shopper's Delight, another recently introduced Motorola paging service, Diner's Delight eliminates the "customer frustration that comes from having to wait for an indeterminate period of time," he added.
Now under commercial implementation in Super Kmart Centers, Shopper's Delight lets customers in retail stores page salespersons from wireless callboxes on the sales floor.
The new CourtesyCall alerts customers to "come to dinner" by causing their pagers to silently vibrate, Spiro told Newsbytes. "In a crowded restaurant, it's hard to hear your name being called, in any event. And this way, you don't even have to be on the (restaurant) premises to find out that your table is ready."
Similarly, TableCall summons a waiter or waitress to the table when an already seated customer depresses a button, according to the exec. ServerCall signals the "waitperson" to come to the kitchen when the chef pushes a "silent buzzer" on a nearby transmitter panel.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940613/Reader Contact: Rosalie Wyatt, Motorola Customer Owned Paging Services, 800-382-9336; Eileen Smith or Marianne Radwan, Hi-Tech Communications for Motorola, 415-904-7000)
, Hi-Tech Communications for Motorola, 415-904-7000)
6/13/94
Motorola Adds To Diner's Delight Paging Services
TRENDS
Software AG, SAP Team On Financi
RESTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Software AG and SAP AG, two German-based software vendors with over 20 years experience each in the mainframe world, are teaming up on a financial system for Windows NT. The new client-server version of SAP's R/3 system is also being offered for Unix.
In an interview with Newsbytes, William Alexander, Software AG's VP of business alliances, said that Software AG has agreed to integrate its Adabas relational database management system (RDBMS) with R/3, a system with modules for financial, managerial and cost accounting; manufacturing and logistics; sales and distribution; and human resources.
The new Unix and Windows NT versions of R/3 were shown at the SAP Symposium in New York City, and will also be exhibited to symposium attendees in Chicago, Atlanta, Mexico City, and Canada in coming weeks, according to Alexander.
Also under the new pact, the two vendors will jointly establish their first North American "Competence Center" this summer. Modeled after a smaller center set up last summer in Walldorf, Germany, the Competence Center in Denver will bring together sales, marketing and technical support from both companies under a single roof.
The pact between Software AG and SAP comes just when the customer base for each vendor is migrating to Unix, Alexander explained. "Particularly among big accounts, financial systems have traditionally been mainframe applications," he said.
"Up to now, Unix has been most popular with medium-sized companies. But today, Unix is being embraced by large enterprises, the area where both our companies have historically been very strong."
The two vendors also plan to market their new application to smaller Unix sites, as well as to "the whole new market of Windows NT," the VP told Newsbytes.
Software AG announced a port of Adabas from the mainframe to Unix in March. In another recent move, the company integrated its SQL-DB (Structured Query Language - Database) Server RDBMS into Adabas.
In the Unix arena, SAP's R/3 client-server financial system will compete against the likes of Informix and Oracle, Alexander explained.
The enhanced R/3 system dominated over other players at the recent SAP Symposium in New York City, with about 30 to 40 percent of attendees stopping by to view the product, he said.
By making R/3 available for Windows NT, the vendors are building alliances with Microsoft as well as with AT&T (formerly NCR), a company that is making a "strong commitment" to NT, the VP told Newsbytes.
Microsoft, he added, is "very anxious" to use R/3 for penetrating new markets. "It's our sense that we'll probably have the Windows NT (client-server financial) market exclusively to ourselves for the next nine to 12 months," he contended.
The newly announced pact between Software AG has deep roots suggested Alexander. The original mainframe version of Software AG's Adabas has long been used at a "fairly substantial number" of sites installed with SAP's R/3 financial application for mainframes, he said.
Software AG is 25 years old now, while SAP is 22. Each company has its worldwide headquarters in Germany -- Software AG in Darmstadt, and SAP AG in Walldorf -- with offices in North America, as well. Software AG and SAP AG constitute the two largest software companies in Germany he asserted.
SAP America is based in Philadelphia, and SAP Canada in Toronto according to Alexander. Software AG's North American operations are headquartered in Reston, Virginia.
The two vendors' year-old joint Competence Center in Walldorf Germany employs eight professionals in the areas of sales marketing, and technical support.
The new center in Denver will add eight to ten sales and marketing specialists to a Software AG building in Denver that now houses Software AG's 250-person telephone support crew. The sales and marketing specialists will oversee a large direct sales force.
The new Unix version of R/3 is shipping now, Alexander said. The Windows NT edition is expected to be available at the end of the third quarter. Pricing is based on hardware platform and specific modules purchased.
The SAP Symposium is being repeated June 13 in Chicago, June 23 in Atlanta, June 27 in Los Angeles, and in Mexico City in the first week in July, Newsbytes was told. "Then, the symposium will be held across Canada."
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940613/Reader Contact: Software AG, 703-860 5050; Press Contacts: Tina Bosse, Software AG, 703-391-6720; Peg Culotta, SAP America, 215-595-4753; Pat Arcand or Leahanne Hobson Copithorne & Bellows, 617-252-0606)
d or Leahanne Hobson Copithorne & Bellows, 617-252-0606)
6/13/94
Software AG, SAP Team On Financial System For NT, Unix
Maxis Enters Home Productivity M
Comdex - Open Standards Waiting
US-Japan Trade Talks To Resume
NCTA - FCC Rollbacks Causing Pro
Amdahl's First Massively Paralle
Editorial - Lessons From Spring
DEC Unveils Interactive Video Co
Popkin Software Intros New Schem
Symantec's Peter Tippett Looks A
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
Internet World '94 - DEC To Prov
Proteon Launches Nationwide Seri
IBM Puts DSP Subsystem On Single
Experts Debate Canada's Informat
Online Services Compete For Atte
Correction - Average Hard Disk 1
Wordperfect Ships Version 6.0 fo
Pentium, Chicago, PowerPC Drivin
Sculley Freelancing At Kodak
UK - Novell Extends NetWare 4 Pr
G, SAP Team On Financi
Aldus Paint Program For Older Ch
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Aldus Corporation has announced an Apple Mac painting and drawing program designed for kids aged from nine to 14 years of age.
Aldus Art Explorer is the company's first software package designed specifically for children and is based on its SuperPaint program. "Art Explorer is for kids who have outgrown programs like Kid Pix," said Melissa Dyrdahl, Explore's product marketing manager.
Superpaint version 3.5 shipped in July 1993. Following its introduction at $199, the program's cost was lowered to $149. Superpaint supports Quicktime, images stored using Kodak's Photo CD technology, and TWAIN scanned images. Aldus says it has combined the Superpaint technology with "kid testing" to come up with Art Explorer.
Art Explorer comes with stamps, stencils and clip art for the young artists that include background scenes with human, animal superhero, alien, and even plant characters. The scenes can be customized by the user. Explorer tools include hundreds of colors special blends, textures, and techniques such as charcoal, airbrush markets, pencils and calligraphy pens.
In a section called Art Worlds, users can mix and match graphic elements, performing such original design work as putting a cowboy in a moonscape or a desert animal in a submarine. Some of the clip art is accompanied by sound clips.
To run Art Explorer you need a color capable Mac IIs, SE/30, Performa Centris, Quadra, or Power Mac running the System 7.0 or higher operating system. You also need a hard disk, a high density floppy drive and at least four megabytes (MB) of system memory and a 13-inch or larger color monitor.
According to the Software Industry Fact Book published by the Digital Information Group the home educational software market is expected to grow at the rate of 30 percent annually.
Aldus does not release suggested retail pricing, but the company says it expects Explorer will have a street price of about $49.95 when it ships mid-July. It will be sold through retail channels and direct to schools.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has revamped its personnel system by installing PC-based network routers and remote access cards around the country.
Sluggish dumb terminals and multiplexers were replaced with PCs, LANS and routers and new application software was developed. The new system has to provide for increased numbers of remote users, but the existing 9.6 kilobits/sec interconnecting lines had to stay put until the new system could be implemented.
"It was a Catch 22 situation -- we had to provide a fast service to the users without increasing the speed of the data pipe connecting them," explained squadron leader Paul Pappas, leader for the project. "We looked at a number of products to make best use of the bandwidth available."
The products used are the LAN2LAN full-blown data compression router and the LAN2PC LAN node access card which allow full LAN access over virtually any communication line speed or type, according to supplier Lan Systems. Eight sites from Townsville to Adelaide are now connected on X.25 connections over the RAAF's wide area network (WAN) running to a central outer connected to an IBM RS6000 system in Canberra. Protocols used are TCP/IP and IPX.
"Remote users log on to the RISC host via the SBSNET X.25 `cloud' from their standalone PCs. They can print Unix reports to their `local' printer using the same data line. The router lets us centrally manage all our remote users," Pappas explained to Newsbytes.
Data compression increases the 9.6 kilobit/sec lines to 48K throughput giving users a comfortable keyboard response time, said Pappas. "We're getting around 0.31 second character return echo times between Canberra and Sydney. That's as fast as a non-networked PC with Microsoft Word 6.0 will display to its screen direct from the keyboard."
(Paul Zucker/19940613)
ct from the keyboard."
(Paul Zucker/19940613)
6/13/94
Australian Air Force Buys Into Routers Big Time
Canadian Product Launch Update
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: Compaq price cuts and MS-DOS 6.22.
Compaq Canada, of Markham, Ontario, cut prices on several notebook and desktop personal computers as well as servers (Newsbytes, June 1). Highlights include: a 10-percent reduction in the base price of the Contura Aero subnotebook PC to C$1,899; a 10-percent cut in selected Contura notebook prices to start at C$3,279; reductions in Presario CDS prices, now starting at C$2,199; and cuts of as much as 23 percent in the prices of all ProSignia and ProLiant 1000 network servers.
The ProSignia network server line is priced from C$4,400 to C$11,600 after the price cuts, and the Proliant network server line ranges from C$8,300 to C$14,300. Compaq Canada also cut prices on hard drives and memory modules for the servers.
Microsoft Canada of Mississauga, Ontario, announced Version 6.22 of the MS-DOS operating system (Newsbytes, June 6). This release replaces DoubleSpace, the file-compression technology that got Microsoft into copyright trouble with Stac Electronics, with a new file-compression feature called DriveSpace.
Now shipping to computer makers and expected to be available from resellers by late June, the new release costs C$93.95 for a full upgrade from MS-DOS 2.11 or higher, or C$12.95 for the Step-Up from Version 6.0 or 6.2, which doesn't include documentation.
(Grant Buckler/19940613/Press Contact: Julie Rusciolelli, Cohn & Wolfe for Compaq Canada 416-924-5700; John Boyle, Compaq Canada 416-733 7876; Eliot Katz, Microsoft Canada 905-568-0434 ext. 4080; Andrew Berthoff, Hill & Knowlton for Microsoft Canada 416-480-7325; Public Contact: Compaq Canada 416-733-7876, fax 416-229-8898; Microsoft Canada 905-568-0434; fax 905-568-1527)
905-568-0434; fax 905-568-1527)
6/13/94
Canadian Product Launch Update
GENERAL
Magic School Bus Books Go High-T
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation says it has teamed up with Scholastic to develop children's multimedia products.
The companies say that the first joint project, marketed as part of the Microsoft Home software line, will be a series of science adventures "that transport young children on the most magical `rides' of their lives," as a means of introducing them to science and technology.
The software was inspired by Scholastic's Magic School Bus line, which includes a book series and an animated television series to debut on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) this fall that will show children using technology to explore science.
Scholastic, based in New York City, publishes children's books magazines, and educational materials and family-oriented video and television programming.
The Microsoft software will feature the fictional science teacher Ms. Frizzle and her students who explore the world in their magical school bus. The company says the bus may cruise the solar system, travel to the center of the earth or the ocean floor, or even explore inside the human body.
To promote the relationship, Microsoft will participate in a three-year Magic School Bus museum collaborative funded by the National Science Foundation. It will provide computer hardware and software for a traveling exhibit of "activity trunks" that will visit more than 100 museums across the country.
Microsoft says it expects to publish about 100 products as part of the Home line by mid-1995. Specific features, pricing, and shipping dates for the Magic School Bus software will be announced later this year.
(Jim Mallory/19940613/Press contact: Microsoft Press Relations 206-882-8080 or Mary Sadeghy, Scholastic 212-529-6300)
ary Sadeghy, Scholastic 212-529-6300)
6/13/94
Magic School Bus Books Go High-Tech
TRENDS
SynOptics Ships 10 Millionth Int
Newsbytes Daily Summary
Cyrix Asks $750 Million In TI La
OneSource Pleased Over Lotus/Mer
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7
HK Telecom Picks Microsoft Mail
Radio Shack To Carry IBM PCs, Be
Live From New York, It's The Sat
Soros To Fund Radio Free Europe
Symantec & Central Point Complet
Japan - Preview Of Windows World
Dell Australia Gets New Boss
HarperCollins Moving Into CD-ROM
UK - Optech Unveils PFS:Window W
DoE & Cray Launch Industrial Com
Federal Express Changing Logo
Microsoft Chairman's Mother Pass
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Mary Gates, the mother of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer.
Mrs. Gates, 64, was active in numerous civic and community organizations for 20 years and was named the 1994 recipient of the Municipal League of King County"s Citizen of the Year award for her efforts. League spokesperson Eileen Quigley described her as "one of the strongest people in this community for getting things done."
Mrs. Gates served on the board of directors of several companies including US West and Seattle TV station KIRO-TV. She was the first female director of First Interstate Bank and the first woman to serve as president of King County's United Way. She was later named to the national United Way committee and in 1983 became the first woman to chair that group. She has been a regent at the University of Washington since 1975.
Mrs. Gates was also the founder of Leadership Tomorrow, an organization that trains young people for future service in the Seattle area. Additionally she led Washington Gives, a program that asks people to contribute five percent of their income or five hours of volunteer time each week for community improvement.
She is survived by son Bill; husband William H. Gates Jr., an attorney; and daughters Kristianne Blake and Elizabeth Armintrout. Private funeral services are scheduled for Thursday.
(Jim Mallory/19940613)
or Thursday.
(Jim Mallory/19940613)
6/13/94
Microsoft Chairman's Mother Passes On
GENERAL
NY Times Slams Clipper, FBI Tele
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- In a Sunday editorial the influential New York Times has criticized both the Clinton administration's Clipper encryption scheme and the digital telephony legislation backed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Facing new encryption systems and telephone technology that makes wiretaps difficult, the "Clinton administration is running scared," the newspaper said. "But before tampering with existing arrangements the administration must show that its proposals are workable and will not trample on existing rights to conduct private phone conversations. So far it has cleared neither hurdle."
Clipper, the Times said, probably won't work "because Clipper phones are unlikely to dominate the market - leaving Washington the choice of admitting defeat or turning Big Brotherish and outlawing non-Clipper encryption systems....There are easy-to-use encryption systems that require no special phones, no shared secret passwords," says the editorial.
"And, unlike Clipper, they cannot be intercepted by the government. Because un-tappable systems will prove attractive, the private market is likely to make them as readily available as Clipper."
The newspaper was also critical of the key escrow feature of the Clipper technology, with two pieces of the key held by two federal agencies, and releasable to the FBI with a court order.
"A better way to protect against government abuse," said the newspaper, "would be to entrust passwords to the courts or designated non-government organizations."
The FBI's approach to technological barriers -- requiring phone companies to offer it ways to tap phones -- is also a bad idea, said the paper, because "its sweeping prohibitions threaten to stop telecommunication innovations before anyone calculates the consequences."
This approach "raises the unsettling image of forcing a phone company to design its 'home' so that the police can easily enter."
"The administration is right to worry about its ability to tap phones for legitimate law enforcement," the editorial concludes. "So far, its suggestions for safeguarding that ability seem unworkable and potentially intrusive."
(Kennedy Maize/19940613)
lly intrusive."
(Kennedy Maize/19940613)
6/13/94
NY Times Slams Clipper, FBI Telephone Plan
Court Hands Bells Victory On Com
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- A federal appeals court has handed the regional Bell telephone companies a victory overturning a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rule designed to foster competition with the Bells.
A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered the FCC to re-examine its rules that make it easier for competitors to connect into Bell company networks in order to compete effectively.
The court said that the FCC's 1992 regulation requiring the Bell's to allow competitors to install equipment in the Bell companies central switching offices exceeded the agency's authority. This practice is called "physical co-location."
"The commission's power to order `physical connections,' undoubtedly broad in scope, does not supply a clear warrant to grant third parties a license to exclusive occupation of a section of the (local carrier's) central offices," said the opinion written by Judge David Sentelle.
"It's truly a setback to efforts to get competition in the local telephone markets," said Kathleen Levitz, deputy chief of the FCC's common carrier bureau.
MCI Communications, which is investing $2 billion in its own local telephone networks, said the decision was a setback. "We consider it an unfortunate decision," MCI spokesman Dave Thompson told Newsbytes. He said the Bells "are using a technicality in the law to deny consumers the benefits of competition."
But the Baby Bell's were jubilant. "We're delighted with this court ruling," said James Young, general counsel of Bell Atlantic. "Instead of a flash cut to a completely competitive environment, there is now the opportunity to take a more deliberate approach. Friday's decision prevents our competitors from setting up shop in our central offices."
Most analysts said that the chief effect of the court's decision is to give the Bell operating companies more time before they face head-to head competition, chiefly by sowing uncertainties for federal and state regulators. Congress could also step in, but currently the Communications Act rewrite is stalled, in part because of opposition from the Bells.
One immediate effect of the decision was a sharp drop in the stock of MFS Communications, which is competing to serve corporate customers in a score of cities. The Omaha-based company's stock dropped $3.75 a share to $24.875 on the news of the court's ruling.
Royce Holland, president of MFS, downplayed the damage, noting that his company has voluntary, contractual agreements for physical co location with several local phone companies, including Nynex and Ameritech.
"It does not impact us on the bottom line," Holland said. "It does not prevent us from continuing to aggressively expand our networks, and it does not impact our ability to interconnect" with local exchange carriers.
(Kennedy Maize/19940613/Contact: Audrey Spivak, FCC 202-418-0500; Dave Thompson, MCI, tel 202-887-2442)
500; Dave Thompson, MCI, tel 202-887-2442)
6/13/94
Court Hands Bells Victory On Competition
TELECOM
Apple Newton Launched In France
PARIS, FRANCE, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Apple Computer France has formally launched the Apple Newton in France, almost a year after unveiling the original specification unit elsewhere in Europe.
Apple France claims that the delay was caused by difficulties in converting the Newton's operating system into French. French industry watchers suggest that the real reason for the delay was caused by the criticism the original Newton drew in the US soon after its launch.
This "new" Newton is basically the same version as is sold in the US, but with a French operating system.
According to Apple, by the end of this year, more than 50 French software applications for the machine will have been released. The Newton sells for FF5,490 in France.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940623)
nce.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940623)
6/24/94
Apple Newton Launched In France
APPLE
Interleaf Updates WorldView Docu
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Interleaf has begun shipping WorldView 2, an update of its document distribution and retrieval software for a variety of computer hardware platforms.
Interleaf said that the new release includes number of changes including more complete support for the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), a sizeable boost in performance, and a command language interpreter and application program interface (API) to let users extend the software and build their own interfaces.
WorldView could read SGML documents before, company spokeswoman Anna Morbelli told Newsbytes, but did not take full advantage of the way SGML structures documents and could not output documents as SGML files. Now, WorldView users can take advantage of SGML's structure to see the overall structure of a document and navigate through it. The software can also print to an SGML file.
According to Interleaf, the new release processes multiple document collections as much as 50 percent faster than the previous version. It also adds the ability to update existing document collections incrementally, doing away with the need to rebuild a collection from scratch when a document is replaced.
A new feature called meta-collections lets users create several smaller collections of documents that appear to the user as one big collection. The smaller collections are easier to manage and avoid problems with disk size and system memory, the vendor said.
Interleaf said it has also redesigned the full-text interface to WorldView, improved the display quality, and added a graphical browser to help users navigate through the outline structure of any document.
WorldView has two parts. WorldView Press takes documents from word processors, desktop publishing packages, computer-aided design programs, and other document-creation software, as well as scanned-in documents, and prepares them for online viewing. WorldView Press 2 is now available for Sun SPARC and Digital Equipment OSF/1 AXP systems. Versions for Microsoft Windows 3.1 and NT, Hewlett-Packard 700, IBM RISC System/6000, and Digital NT AXP and OpenVMS AXP systems are planned during the summer and fall. Unix versions of WorldView Press 2 cost $9,995, and Windows versions cost $4,995.
WorldViewer is the software that resides on users' computers, letting them view and search through documents and print copies. WorldViewer 2 is now available for Windows 3.1 and NT, Sun SPARC, and DEC OSF/1 AXP OpenVMS AXP, OpenVMS VAX, and Ultrix systems. Versions for the Apple Macintosh, Hewlett-Packard 700, IBM RISC/System 6000, DEC NT AXP OS/2, Data General Aviion, Silicon Graphics, and IBM MVS and VM mainframes, are planned for the summer and fall. WorldViewer 2 costs $195 per user, with quantity pricing deals available.
To ensure document integrity, WorldViewer will not let users modify documents. WorldPress, however, includes a word processing facility for updating documents, Morbelli said. Users can attach electronic notes to documents, and can copy text from WorldView documents into other files such as word processing documents.
(Grant Buckler/19940613/Press Contact: Anna Morbelli, Interleaf 617 290-0710 ext. 6392; fax 617-2904943, Internet amorbelli@hq.ileaf.com; Public Contact: Interleaf, 617-290-0710/WRLDVIEW940613/PHOTO)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- AT&T has donated labs filled with networked multimedia computers, worth $100,000 each, to 35 colleges and universities in the US, Brazil, Nicaragua, Russia and Taiwan. The awards were made through a 10-year program which has contributed over $290 million in gear over the years. All the equipment was made by AT&T's Global Information Solutions unit formerly known as NCR.
Andrew Meyers of AT&T told Newsbytes that applications for donations were solicited from 100 campuses, and decisions were based on need and the colleges' descriptions of what the equipment would be used for. "Collaborations between colleges and K-12 were among the projects selected," he added. In addition to its equipment awards, AT&T annually provides $14 million in cash grants for higher education.
AT&T gave some examples of how the new units will be used. Students at the University of California at Davis will gather and analyze environmental data from around the world. South Carolina State University will create an interactive voice-video network linked to nearby Claflin College and local public schools.
For the first time, all the new workstations will be multimedia-ready with CD-ROM drives and capabilities in music, sound, image and motion. All the systems will also be able to access the Internet, and they meet the Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary Energy Star guidelines for energy conservation.
The winners and their applications cover a broad spectrum. Lima Technical College in Ohio will start a distance learning project with a nearby automotive training center. Arizona State University will offer interactive training for both education and nursing students. Mesa State College in Colorado will try to enhance the basic writing skills of freshmen, especially Hispanic and Native-American students. Paul Quinn College, a historically black college in Dallas, will integrate the computers throughout its program.
In other countries, the Aeronautical Institute of Technology of San Jose Dos Campos in Brazil will develop a computer-aided instruction system; the National University of Engineering in Managua, Nicaragua will teach faculty members to use computers as classroom tools; the Bonch-Breuvich State University of Telecommunications in St. Petersburg, Russia will update its equipment for teaching telecommunications technology; and the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan will establish an Advanced Digital Logic Laboratory.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940613/Press Contact: Andrew Myers, AT&T 908-221-2737)
Contact: Andrew Myers, AT&T 908-221-2737)
6/13/94
AT&T Donates Multimedia Labs To Colleges
GENERAL
Fore ATM Video Adapter
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUNE 13 (NB) -- Fore has announced new video products for its switches based on the emerging asynchronous transfer mode, or ATM standard. ATM is a system for running data at speeds from 1.5 million to 655 million bits per second and faster.
The AVA-200 ATM Video Adapter comes with AVA Real-Time Display Software and is designed for point-to-multipoint video broadcasting applications, like sending CNN to corporate desktops. In conjunction with FORE Systems ForeRunner ATM switches' Intelligent Multicast capability, video can now be multicast to a virtually unlimited number of ATM-connected desktops.
The unit is a foot high, eight inches wide and 3 inches deep, capable of handling three real-time inputs and sending them as ATM data streams on a single 100 megabits-per-second fiber. Users receive AVA video on their ATM-equipped workstations without any specialized hardware. The AVA Real-Time Display Software sells for only $99 per user and is all that's required to display AVA video on most desktop systems.
The AVA-200 lists for $12,995. The Real-Time Display Software license is $495 plus $99 per user. NASA was one of the first customers to test the AVA-200 in a wide area configuration, the company said.
The company's director of marketing for vertical markets, David Nelson, discussed the new product with Newsbytes. "They'd sit where the video sources are located," he said. "You might have a laser disk player, a camcorder, or VCR. The AVA is physically co-located with it."
While not designed for the information highway, "It would be potentially applicable for cable head-ends," he said. "You might have video material, laserdisks, and you could put them at the head-end."
Nelson also discussed his target markets. "We're looking for companies that are already implementing ATM, or those who might because of this product. In the financial market, CNN to the desktop is a perfect application. There are many medical applications -- anything with NTSC output. We're also looking at corporate communications -- the ability to do corporate training remotely."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940613/Press Contact: Fore, Don Reckles, 412-772 8681)
n Reckles, 412-772 8681)
6/13/94
Fore ATM Video Adapter
TELECOM
Xerox Offers Low-Cost Color Lase
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Xerox Corporation has announced a color laser printer that the company said will sell for less than $8,000. Xerox also said it will begin selling the new model and other printers through dealers and value-added resellers (VARs) breaking with its long-standing practice of selling direct to users.
The Xerox 4900 can print full color at up to three pages per minute and black and white pages at up to 12 pages per minute, Xerox officials said. It can deliver print resolution of as much as 1,200 by 300 dots per inch (dpi).
This resolution is obtained by speeding up the laser on a 300-by-300 dpi print engine to print four times as many dots across the page company spokeswoman Phyllis Rinaldis told Newsbytes. Squeezing greater resolution out of this engine, rather than using a higher-resolution engine, is one way Xerox keeps the cost of the printer down, she said.
The 4900 also uses a technique called quad-dot technology to enhance image quality. This works by varying the patterns of color dots in adjacent color cells to produce smoother tone reproduction, Xerox said.
The suggested list price of the basic 4900 will be $8,495. Company officials said they expect the machine will actually sell for less than $8,000, with resellers setting their own prices. Worldwide shipments are to being in early July.
Xerox said it is shifting to selling through distributors, dealers and VARs because of research indicating customers prefer to buy through these channels. To ensure quality, Rinaldis said, the company will continue providing support to users itself, and will offer resellers the same training and support available to its own direct sales force.
Xerox printers also come with a three-year Total Satisfaction Guarantee, promising that if a customer is not satisfied with the equipment Xerox will replace it at no charge with an identical model or a machine with comparable features and capabilities.
(Grant Buckler/19940613/Press Contact: Edward Gala, Xerox, tel 716-264-5715; Phyllis Rinaldis, Hutchins Y&R for Xerox, tel 716-325-0288; Public Contact: Xerox, tel 800-275-9376 ext. WT4900)
Public Contact: Xerox, tel 800-275-9376 ext. WT4900)
6/13/94
Xerox Offers Low-Cost Color Laser, Changes Channels
GENERAL
UK - Borland Intros PowerPack Fo
Ditek Launches PC Design Package
Reuters Announces Two New Media
Pennsylvania Network Offers Free
Software AG Launches Insight Con
Accessing Internet For Afro-Amer
Prodigy's D-Day Bulletin Board G
Micrografx's Free Business Graph
Virtual Mark Twain To Appear At
GEnie Now Does Windows
US Multimedia Quadruples, Contin
UK - Dataquest Places US Robotic
Microsoft, Stac Settle Patent Di
Correction - Sidekick For Window
CES - Digital Technology Creates
CES - Video Industry & 20's Holl
Microsoft Offers Chicago Informa
Telecommunication Bills Move Ahe
on Of Th
World's Largest Monitor, New Gra
CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Electronics says it is offering the world's largest mass produced presentation monitor, the 42-inch AM4201R, as well as a new high resolution graphics projector, the VS-1280.
The AM4201R offers 40 inches of viewing and is the largest mass produced cathode ray tube (CRT), Mitsubishi said. Craig Sloss, product marketing manager for the company's Display Products group, asserts that the image quality is as impressive as the screen size.
"This is because we incorporated our proprietary Dynamic Beam Forming feature, which provides... center-to-corner focus and edge-to-edge pixel delineation, into this new high-contrast, wide-aperture tube," he said.
The monitor has a microprocessor controlling the image scanning and supports US and European video formats such as S-VHS, 16:9 Aspect HDTV, NTSC, M-NTSC, PAL and SECAM. It will also connect to a variety of computers including the Apple Macintosh II, LC, Centris and Quadra at a maximum of 832 by 624 picture elements (pixels) and the IBM compatible personal computer (PC) Video Local Bus Extended Standard Architecture Video Graphics Array (VESA VGA), Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) and Extended Graphics Array-2 (XGA-2) as well as many Unix graphics standards.
The display offers a maximum resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels non interlaced with a 60 hertz (Hz) refresh rate or the lower 1024 by 768 pixel resolution at the higher 76 Hz rate.
For operation anywhere in the world, the company has equipped the monitor with an all-world power supply. Additional features include: multiple inputs for analog red green and blue (RGB), S- HS, composite video, and stereo audio sources; removable front-facing stereo speakers; and external speaker outputs; a wireless, multifunction remote control; and on-screen displays of all set-up functions.
A 90-day parts and labor warranty includes on-site service and an additional one-year warranty is available. However, Newsbytes notes that this monitor isn't for everyone as the suggested retail price is $13,000.
Announced for October availability, the VS-1280 high-resolution graphics projector offers new features such as Digital Convergence and Flexible Optical Coupling in a new modular chassis design, Mitsubishi maintains.
Digital Convergence permits quicker and more accurate set-up while the Flexible Optical Coupling allows for precise switching between screen sizes while maintaining the benefits of an optically coupled and liquid-cooled CRT and lens system. The VS-1280 supports the same video formats and computers as the AM4201R monitor.
The projector also offers modularity of design, with all major components being either located in "pull-out" sub-structures or accessible through hinged panels. This unit also offers a multi function remote control and two RGB inputs as well as S-VHS, and composite video source inputs. Pricing and warranty details for the new monitor have not been announced.
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Cyrix Corporation has announced two 3-volt 486DX2 microprocessors for desktop and portable personal computers that include power management features. Steve Domenik, Cyrix marketing VP, says the chips are the first under the company's new relationship with IBM.
Cyrix claims that its new 3-volt 486DX2-V66 outperforms and has lower voltage requirements than the earlier DX4-75. The company claims a performance increase of up to 10 percent over the older chip.
The second new chip is the 486DX2-V80, which reportedly improves performance by 10 to 20 percent over 486DX2-66 CPUs (central processing units) by using an integrated write-back cache. "Because cache miss penalties increase considerably at high clock speeds, write-back cache technology becomes essential in systems at 66 megahertz (MHz) or above," said Cyrix VP of Engineering Kevin McDonough.
Cyrix says that increased performance and reduced power requirements are available through the use of 8-kilobyte write-back cache, an enhanced floating point unit, and its system Management Mode (SMM), a power management technology. SMM wakes up the system when there is any input/output (I/O) activity including voice commands and incoming faxes. The cache performs memory writes within the cache, without accessing main memory. According to Cyrix that cuts unnecessary external memory writes by as much as 98 percent.
Cyrix has also integrated its FastMath coprocessor into the 486DX2 family, which includes power-down capability.
The 486DX2-V66 is currently shipping to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in quantities of 1,000 for $249 each. The 486DX2 V80 is scheduled to ship in the third quarter with a 1,000 quantity unit price of $294. Cyrix first introduced its 486 chips in September of last year.
TEMPE, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Motorola's Computer Group has announced what it claims are the first single-slot VMEbus computer boards based on PowerPC microprocessors.
The company has introduced its MVME1603 and MVME1604 products. The 1603 is based on the PowerPC 603 chip and operates at 66 megahertz (MHz). The 1604 is based on the PowerPC 604 and runs at 100MHz.
Motorola says that the market for the 160x family is primarily high end embedded monitoring and control applications but can be used in just about any industrial requirement that requires the modularity and durability of the VMEbus.
Jerry Gipper, director of VME components for the group, says that the boards are the first of its PowerPC-based boards to be offered. They are modular in design and allow customers to select a module with either a 603 or 604 processor and from eight to 128 megabytes (MB) of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The module can be added to a base board with peripheral controllers. The memory is modular and allows for user expansion and upgrades of memory capacity.
The base boards can include peripherals such as Ethernet, Wide SCSI-2 (small computer system interface), Super VGA (SVGA) graphics, a mouse port, keyboard, IEEE 1284 parallel port, four serial ports and VME64.
Motorola says that the boards use the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus as a local bus between the processor/memory array and the system peripheral controllers. That's designed to minimize system level bottlenecks in moving data between memory and the peripheral controllers.
Additional functions such as graphics, FDDI, ATM, SCSI, Ethernet and other high-performance input/output can be added via PMC modules. Peak bandwidth of up to 132 MB per second is possible on the 33MHz PCI local bus.
The MVME1603 is scheduled to ship in September. Pricing starts at $3,575 with an 8MB DRAM configuration. A similarly configured 1604 starts at $4,575. The 1604 is scheduled to ship in November. Both boards come with a five-year parts and labor warranty when returned to the factory.
(Jim Mallory/19940613/Press contact: Bill Wittman, Motorola Computer Group 602-438-3481; Reader contact: Motorola Computer Group 800-759-1107)
eader contact: Motorola Computer Group 800-759-1107)
6/13/94
Motorola's PowerPC-based Single Slot VMEbus Boards
GENERAL
AST Ascentia 900N Notebook
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- AST has unveiled the Ascentia 900N, a new notebook that it is targeting at high-end notebook users as a successor to its existing PowerExec series.
According to the company, the new machines come pre-loaded with business software, and feature communications capabilities, a 500 gigabyte (GB) removable hard drive, Intel's DX4 75 megahertz (MHz) or DX2 50MHz processor, new energy-saving technology, a choice of screen size and color technology, Personal Computing Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) capability, a SmartPoint track stick pointing device and advanced multiple-level security.
The Ascentia 900N is priced at an estimated entry-level price of $3,399. While many notebook manufacturers are convinced that the public is willing to accept less performance and power for the sake of lighter weight found in subnotebooks, AST claims to deliver Ascentia 900N at 6.4 to 6.9 pounds with all of the high-end features required by a mobile computer-using executive.
AST says it is taking the position that, as technology becomes increasingly more sophisticated, users are both expecting more performance and power and beginning to use notebooks as a primary desktop computer as well as a mobile computer. The 900N allows a user to run a presentation on its notebook display and a monitor simultaneously and it may be customized to adapt to a PowerStation docking station.
Bret Berg, brand manager for the Ascentia family of notebook computers, told Newsbytes: "We have been planning this generation of the Ascentia line for some time and we are really trying to meet the needs of mobile computing users by offering as much of a desktop environment as we possibly can.
"This will allow them to have on the road what they have on the desktop. What users have been asking for is a mobile equivalent to their desktop. With the Ascentia 900N, it is no longer a compromise to be in the field with a notebook."
Attempting to meet the needs of mobile business notebook users, the 900N is packaged with Lotus Organizer, ConnectSoft's E-mail Connection, Delrina WinFax lite and COMit LITE, Traveling Software's Laplink Remote Access software, Star Software B-tools and online software from CompuServe, America Online and Prodigy, as well as DOS and Windows.
Placed between the G H and B keys on the 900N is AST's SmartPoint track stick, which allows users to open and close applications, move objects and keep their hands on the keyboard. AST claims that this technology allows users more economical use of hand movements and reduces the problems of hooking up clip-on pointing devices.
This new implementation to its notebook line is similar to the stick control of IBM's ThinkPad. Users have an option of choosing a 10.4 or 9.5-inch active color matrix display or a 10.3-inch Dual Scan STN color display with 640 x 480 resolution and 256 colors. Sixteen million WinMarks may be achieved through its 32-bit local bus graphics and video hardware.
AST is highlighting its new power management technology, which the company claims will offer users enough power for a coast-to-coast flight without a second battery or recharge while delivering four to eight hours of computing time, based on the user's need for sound communications, memory use, and number of applications.
Battery configuration by users is unnecessary and a warning icon and bell inform one of low charge conditions. Early volume shipments of Ascentia 900N have begun to major distributors and AST expects full retail superstore availability by late summer.
(Patrick McKenna/19940613/Press Contact: Donna Kathler, 714-727 7943; Public Information, 800-876-4278)
c Information, 800-876-4278)
6/13/94
AST Ascentia 900N Notebook
Do-It-Yourself High-Capacity HD
SofNet Bundles Fax Software, Mod
Comdex - IBM Continues Its OS/2
Rogers Cable To Harness Microsof
Australia - Color Scanner/Fax/Co
FBI Picks Teams For Fingerprint
IBM Signs Agreement With Excalib
Star Trek Next Generation CD-ROM
Online Shopping To Grow, Forrest
Danish Firm Distributes Teletext
UK - Mercury Announces Follow Me
Loral To Lay Off 500, Bid For GO
Jeteye - Fast, Wireless PC/Omnib
UK - Lotus Ships 1-2-3 Release 4
British Telecom Intros EDI Billi
India's Telecom Policy Opens To
AT&T, SGI Form New Interactive D
WordPerfect UK Intros 24-Hour Gl
StrataCom Gets 2 Networking Pate
t SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Connecting up multiple computers is only the first stage in the implementation of a corporate network. The generally more difficult phase is optimizing the network for maximum performance and avoiding congestion that can slow data transmission. Now StrataCom says that the US Patent Office has issued the company two new patents covering network congestion and optimizing network performance.
The company says that the new patents -- 5,317,562 and 5,313,454 are incorporated in StrataCom's cell switch networking systems.
Randy Feigin, spokesperson for StrataCom, told Newsbytes that patents are important ones for the company as "it differentiates us. Now we have the patent on Foresight, and we've got the patent to optimize route selection."
Patent 5,313,454 involves ForeSight, a bandwidth optimization and congestion avoidance algorithm that the company says it has been marketing since 1992.
ForeSight is a rate-based, closed loop traffic control mechanism that manages bandwidth and improves the quality and efficiency of ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) wide area networks (WANs).
The technology continuously monitors ATM trunk utilization and "adjusts the rate of each ATM connection to avoid trunk congestion and make maximum use of network resources." ForeSight is also meant to enhance the performance of frame relay and all other variable bit rate (VBR) services on StrataCom ATM networks.
Said Charles Corbalis, StrataCom's vice president of engineering: "As a pioneer in the commercialization of cell switching, StrataCom has had to find solutions to make ATM technology more efficient and cost effective for end-users."
Patent 5,317,562 reportedly covers the optimization of internode route selection in networks, which it does by "searching network connections for candidate routes and then validating the selected route delays against maximum allowable delays."
The company maintains that this capability is a "key technology" for deploying ATM networks supporting a "wide range of traffic classes and service qualities."
StrataCom also says that it has 15 patents that cover aspects of cell switching, including voice packetization, voice compression, queuing buffering congestion management and avoidance, and cell delineation.
(Ian Stokell/19940613/Press Contact: Randy Feigin 408-294-7600 StrataCom)
Randy Feigin 408-294-7600 StrataCom)
6/13/94
StrataCom Gets 2 Networking Patents
GENERAL
LANNET, Olivetti In Network Mark
MILAN, ITALY, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Networked computer environments are a huge market around the globe, and will only increase as more and more businesses recognize the enormous benefits of shared corporate resources and interconnectivity between users. Now European computer giant Olivetti and LANNET Data Communications Ltd., a supplier of intelligent, fault-tolerant switching hubs, have announced a worldwide marketing, distribution, and service deal.
The companies maintain that the agreement is aimed at enterprise network planners, and provides "complete networking design and technical support services." Under the terms of the distribution agreement, LANNET will serve as a worldwide supplier of LAN equipment to Olivetti.
Announcing the deal, Benny Hanigal, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of LANNET, said: "With this move, LANNET and Olivetti are setting up a relationship as providers of complete networking solutions to customers around the world. For the end-user, this agreement provides turn-key solutions for virtually any enterprise networking challenge."
Speaking about the benefits for his company, he added: "For LANNET this means greater exposure for our products in markets where Olivetti has an established presence, and the ability to market our leading edge technology to an expanded set of potential users."
Olivetti's Oliservice unit will be responsible for the implementation of the agreement, and claims "over 250,000 clients served by over 400 service centers across the globe."
Said Claudio Montagner, Olivetti senior VP, Oliservice department: "Olivetti is continuing its tradition of providing the best equipment and the best service to our clients throughout the world. We've built our reputation on the quality of our service: with LANNET, we are adding a new dimension to our comprehensive offering of networking solutions to the enterprise."
Olivetti said it is providing support for virtually all corporate information needs, including maintenance and support; professional services; and systems operations. In 1993 those activities generated over 2,416 billion Italian lire (approximately $1.5 billion) in revenues. LANNET Data Communications makes and markets fault-tolerant intelligent hubs and platform-based graphical network management software.
Earlier this year Newsbytes reported that LANNET had introduced the LANstack hubs, designed for departmental Ethernet and Token Ring networks. At the time, the company said that the new 8- and 16-port LANstack hubs delivered a list price of $86 per managed Ethernet port plug-and-play design, and graphical management running on HP OpenView for Windows open-systems platform.
LANstack reportedly gives departmental LAN managers port redundancy to set up fault-tolerant server and backbone links for mission-critical data. A LANstack can be segmented into up to five LANs, and offers a plug-in SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) management modules. Fiber backbone upgrades are possible with a slide-in card.
As previously reported, LANNET is a member of the Fast Ethernet Alliance, formed in August 1993, and designed to implement networking technologies that will transmit data over Ethernet at speeds of up 100 megabits-per-second.
(Ian Stokell/19940613/Press Contact: Aryeh Green, LANNET tel +972-3-645-9123, fax +972-3-648-7146; Laura Sipala Olivetti, tel +39-2-4836-2972, fax +39-2-4836-2974)
i, tel +39-2-4836-2972, fax +39-2-4836-2974)
6/13/94
LANNET, Olivetti In Network Marketing Deal
BUSINESS
Cliffs Expands Software Line
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Cliffs Notes, best known for its "condensations" of required reading for high school students, has expanded its software line. The company has been working to get more heavily into software since buying a software company a few years ago, a company spokesman told Newsbytes.
The line, called Cliffs StudyWare, runs on virtually any PC -- even a PC with just 256,000 of memory, or an early Apple Mac with 1 megabyte of RAM. All the software is disk-based, and while there is some graphics on it, it's mostly text.
The new announcements complete the company's line of math review software. To its Cliffs StudyWare for Calculus and Cliffs StudyWare for Statistics, the company has introduced Cliffs StudyWare software for Algebra I, Geometry, and Trigonometry. The company now has software and study guides on more than 20 topics. Both network and site license versions are available.
The software includes a module that can diagnose a student's performance and suggest a plan of further study. The diagnostic reports can be printed. Most of the programs consist of practice drills and full-length practice tests, which are scored.
In addition to the course review products in mathematics, Cliffs StudyWare also offers course review programs in biology, chemistry economics and physics, and test preparation software for the ACT CBEST, GMAT, GRE, SAT I and LSAT exams. The programs retail for just $39.95 to $49.95.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940613/Press Contact: Greg Smith, for Cliff's Notes, 612/851-2555)
r Cliff's Notes, 612/851-2555)
6/13/94
Cliffs Expands Software Line
GENERAL
Stern Leaves Apple After Only Si
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- Newly appointed director Paul G. Stern has joined the ranks of executives in Apple Computer's seeming revolving door policy -- Stern announced his resignation from Apple late on Friday (June 10) night.
Serving on the Apple board of directors for only six months, Michael Spindler announced the appointment of the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Northern Telecom at the company shareholder's meeting in January of this year.
Stern was added as a Class 1 director and was eligible for re-election in a year. The company said he would be involved with Apple's development of the new reduced instruction set computing (RISC)-based PowerPC into the small and medium business markets.
Stern's reason for resigning, according to Apple, is to avoid any perception of conflict of interest arising from his other affiliations in the computer, telecommunications, and cable industries.
Just last month, Northern Telecom announced a deal with GTE and Pacific Bell for Meridian Homelink, a hardware and services package to encourage telecommuters. The company said its first product in the Meridian HomeLink portfolio is designed for "information workers" who use multiple applications on IBM PC- compatible office computers and allows these workers to access their own office computer from home.
Apple, which is currently trying to carve out a niche in the IBM compatible PC world, may not have taken kindly to the announcement. However, Mike Markkula, chairman of the board at Apple, said in a public statement: "We understand Paul's desire to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. He has our best wishes."
(Linda Rohrbough/19940613/Press Contact: Betty Taylor, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-2042, fax 408-972-2885)
puter, tel 408-974-2042, fax 408-972-2885)
6/13/94
Stern Leaves Apple After Only Six Months
APPLE
Newsbytes Daily Summary
!LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 13 (NB) -- These are the capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> UK - EBG Unveils FaxServer Light Network Fax Technology 06/13/94 The European Business group (EBG) has announced FaxServer Light, a "light" version of FaxServer 3.5, the company's network fax system.
2 -> UK Survey Finds Computers "Educational Tool Of Future" 06/13/94 Books could face competition from computers as the preferred method teaching according to the results of a survey commissioned and just released by WordPerfect UK's Main Street division.
3 -> All Change At Ungermann-Bass - New Name; New Technologies 06/13/94 Ungermann-Bass has changed its name to UB Networks, while at the same time announcing details of its new Access/Workgroup Series.
4 -> Supermac Unveils Power Mac Video Card Technology 06/13/94 Supermac has unveiled a Power Mac version of its budget video editing card, the Videospigot.
Press <RETURN> or <S>croll?s The existing (68xxx-based) Videospigot is acclaimed as a useful device by the Mac user community, mainly owning to power and price -- Supermac intends the Spigotpower card to achieve similar success in the Power Mac user community.
5 -> Hut Down! Microsoft Intros Multimedia Baseball Guide 06/13/94 Not so good at baseball, but what to teach your kids/wife/girlfriend/next door neighbor about the game? Help is now at hand, as Microsoft has just announced shipment of Microsoft Complete Baseball, a multimedia CD-ROM program that includes facts and figures about the nation's national pastime.
6 -> Rasterops Offers Free Upgrades For Power Mac 06/13/94 One of the biggest hurdles facing users of existing 68xxx-based Macs wanting to migrate to the Power Mac environment is the cost of replacing and/or upgrading peripherals and add-ins to work with the Mac. Now Rasterops is offering upgraders the chance to upgrade the company's Nubus multimedia product free of charge.
7 -> Cheyenne Expands European Technical Support 06/13/94 Cheyenne Software has announced it is expanding its European technical support capacity with the opening of a dedicated multi-lingual facility in its European headquarters in Paris.
8 -> Oracle Plans "World Support Super Center" For Australia 06/13/94 Information management software specialist Oracle Corporation has announced plans to set up a major worldwide support center in Sydney with staff levels eventually reaching more than 120. The company is restructuring its support around the world.
9 -> NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers 06/13/94 These are the photos that have been digitized and correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently.
10 -> Motorola Adds To "Diner's Delight" Paging Services 06/13/94 Motorola has rounded out its plate of "Diner's Delight" paging services with two new applications -- CourtesyCall and ServerCall.
11 -> Software AG And SAP Team On Financial System For NT 06/13/94 Software AG and SAP AG, two German-based software vendors with over 20 years experience each in the mainframe world, are teaming up on a financial system for Windows NT. The new client-server version of SAP's R/3 system is also being offered for Unix.
12 -> Aldus Intros Mac Paint, Draw Program For Children 06/13/94 Aldus Corporation has announced an Apple Mac painting and drawing program designed for kids aged from nine to 14 years of age.
13 -> Australian Air Force Buys Into Routers Big Time 06/13/94 The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has revamped its personnel system by installing PC-based network routers and remote access cards around the country.
14 -> Canadian Product Launch Update 06/13/94 This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: Compaq price cuts and MS-DOS 6.22.
15 -> Microsoft, Scholastic To Develop Children's Multimedia 06/13/94 Microsoft Corporation says it has teamed up with Scholastic to develop children's multimedia products.
16 -> Microsoft Chairman's Mother Passes On 06/13/94 Mary Gates, the mother of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer.
17 -> NY Times Slams Clipper, FBI Telephone Plan 06/13/94 In a Sunday editorial, the influential New York Times has criticized both the Clinton administration's Clipper encryption scheme and the digital telephony legislation backed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
18 -> Court Hands Bells Victory On Competition 06/13/94 A federal appeals court has handed the regional Bell telephone companies a victory, overturning a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rule designed to foster competition with the Bells.
19 -> Interleaf Updates WorldView Document Distribution 06/13/94 Interleaf has begun shipping WorldView 2, an update of its document distribution and retrieval software for a variety of computer hardware platforms.
20 -> AT&T Donates Multimedia Labs To Colleges 06/13/94 AT&T has donated labs filled with networked multimedia computers, worth $100,000 each, to 35 colleges and universities in the US, Brazil Nicaragua, Russia and Taiwan. The awards were made through a 10-year program which has contributed over $290 million in gear over the years. All the equipment was made by AT&T's Global Information Solutions unit, formerly known as NCR.
21 -> Fore Announces ATM Video Adapter 06/13/94 Fore has announced new video products for its switches based on the emerging Asynchronous Transfer Mode, or ATM standard. ATM is a system for running data at speeds from 1.5 million to 655 million bits per second and faster.
22 -> Xerox Offers Low-Cost Color Laser, Changes Channels 06/13/94 Xerox Corporation has announced a color laser printer that the company said will sell for less than $8,000. Xerox also said it will begin selling the new model and other printers through dealers and value added resellers (VARs), breaking with its long-standing practice of selling direct to users.
23 -> World's Largest Monitor, New Graphics Projector, Debut 06/13/94 Mitsubishi Electronics says it is offering the world's largest mass produced presentation monitor, the 42-inch AM4201R, as well as a new high- resolution graphics projector, the VS-1280.
24 -> Cyrix Shipping "Green" 486DX2 Chips 06/13/94 Cyrix Coproration has announced two 3-volt 486DX2 microprocessors for desktop and portable personal computers that include power management features. Steve Domenik, Cyrix marketing VP, says the chips are the first under the company's new relationship with IBM.
25 -> Motorola Intros PowerPC-based Single Slot VMEbus Boards 06/13/94 Motorola's Computer Group has announced what it claims are the first single-slot VMEbus computer boards based on PowerPC microprocessors.
26 -> AST Announces Ascentia 900N Notebook 06/13/94 AST has unveiled the Ascentia 900N, a new notebook that it is targeting at high end notebook users as a successor to its existing PowerExec series.
27 -> StrataCom Granted Two New Networking Patents 06/13/94 Connecting up multiple computers is only the first stage in the implementation of a corporate network. The generally more difficult phase is optimizing the network for maximum performance and avoiding congestion that can slow data transmission. Now StrataCom says that the US Patent Office has issued the company two new patents covering network congestion and optimizing network performance.
28 -> LANNET & Olivetti In Networking Marketing Deal 06/13/94 Networked computer environments are a huge market around the globe and will only increase as more and more businesses recognize the enormous benefits of shared corporate resources and interconnectivity between users. Now European computer giant Olivetti, and LANNET Data Communications Ltd., a supplier of intelligent, fault-tolerant switching hubs, have announced a worldwide marketing, distribution and service deal.
29 -> Cliffs Expands Software Line 06/13/94 Cliffs Notes, best-known for its "condensations" of required reading for high school students has expanded its software line. The company has been working to get more heavily into software since buying a software company a few years ago, a company spokesman told Newsbytes.
30 -> Stern Leaves Apple After Only Six Months 06/13/94 Newly appointed director Paul G. Stern has joined the ranks of executives in Apple Computer's seeming revolving door policy -- Stern announced his resignation from Apple late on Friday (June 10) night.
(Steve Gold/19940613)
(Steve Gold/19940613)
6/13/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
#~"5#
GENERAL
3Com Intros Hub Enhancements
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Network hubs are becoming increasingly sophisticated as vendors continue to add high-end features. Now 3Com Corp., has introduced enhancements for its LANplex switching hub, its fault-tolerant LinkBuilder MSH chassis hub, and its low-cost FDDI (fiber distributed data interface) hub -- the LinkBuilder FDDI system.
The enhancements include the ability to utilize IP (Internet Protocol) routing in a switching hub, the addition of RMON (remote monitoring) analysis to the multiservices hub, and simplified backbone connectivity for FDDI users.
In announcing the enhancement, Tom Medrek, director of marketing for 3Com's Switching Division, said: "We listened to our customers' needs and fine-tuned functionalities in our switching hubs that address real-life issues for the network manager, such as IP routing and simplified backbone connectivity,"
LANplex Ethernet switching hubs offer switched 10 megabits per-second (Mbps) Ethernet connections to shared LAN (local area network) segments, servers or individual workstations on client/server "production networks." New features and functions for the LANplex hubs include: IP routing software;10Base-2 Ethernet Switching module which provides LANplex connections for thin wire coaxial Ethernet via BNC -- priced at $12,500; and HP OpenView Support.
The LinkBuilder MSH, a wiring-closet, chassis hub, supports Ethernet Token Ring, FDDI, switching and bridging. It features a high-speed passive bus to maximize flexibility, performance and reliability in mixed LAN environments. New features for the hub include: RMON capabilities; the LinkBuilder MSH Fiber RingBuilder module, which reportedly provides either STP (signal transfer point) or fiber Ring In/Ring Out for Token Ring workgroups within the LinkBuilder MSH chassis hub, priced at $1,995; and the LinkBuilder MSH 7-Port 10Base-T module, priced at $1,595.
The LinkBuilder FDDI hub adds simplified backbone connectivity and a SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) agent. One of the new features is the LinkBuilder FDDI Fiber/UTP port module which combines two fiber optic ports with five RJ-45 UTP (unshielded twisted pair) ports to create a unit that attaches to the backbone network and services up to five stations. The module is priced at $3,895 and provides 21 UTP ports and two fiber ports in the same chassis for $599 per port. Another new feature is SNMP agent support, which is priced at $495, and can be down loaded and only needs to be installed on one device on the ring.
(Ian Stokell/19940613/Press Contact: David J. Bouffard 408-764-5297, 3Com)
. Bouffard 408-764-5297, 3Com)
6/14/94
3Com Intros Hub Enhancements
GENERAL
Digital Funhouse Caricature Arti
INCLINE VILLAGE, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Symsoft, the company that produced Hotshot Graphics for DOS, has announced an "electronic caricature artist" software package, called Digital Funhouse for Windows. The program allows manipulation and retouching of digitized photos and is aimed at the home market.
Like the mirrors in a Funhouse, the program can warp the facial features, such as eyes, nose and mouth, of digitized images. A list of 26 visual-effects tools are available, including: funhouse effects, which simulate distortions of flexible funhouse mirrors; a virtual rubber lens offering bulge, "squinch," and swirl; diffusion effects such as stipple, "raggedy," and melt; a "charcoal" effect that simulates a caricature; sizing, such as fat, skinny, stretch, squash, and shear; and artistic effects like pixelate, oil painting, and negative.
Image-enhancement capability is also part of the program so users can add effects such as sharpening, spot removal, and color correction.
To apply an effect, the user first selects an area with a shape such as a circle, ellipse, or rectangle. An "infinite undo" command lets the user take off layers of effects one at a time in the order the effects were applied, and is only limited by the amount of system memory, Symsoft said.
The images must be scanned. The product supports the Windows TWAIN file scanning standard, and any scanner that supports TWAIN. Users may be able to contact their scanner vendors to obtain a TWAIN driver if one is not available.
Digital Funhouse supports 15 major file formats and can accept images from a wide variety of scanners, digital cameras, bulletin board systems, and other sources.
In addition, the scanning can be done at a publishing bureau, or the images can be taken from photos digitized on to a Kodak PhotoCD and read by the computer via a CD-ROM drive.
Digital Funhouse will also print to all color printers monochrome printers, and monitors supported by Microsoft Windows. The company also said images created in Digital Funhouse may be exported to desktop publishing, word processing, and multimedia programs.
Digital Funhouse requires only 640 kilobytes (KB) of random access memory (RAM), 1 megabyte (MB) of hard disk space, and will run on any 386 or better IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) computer with Windows 3.1. Symsoft does recommend a math coprocessor for faster performance and a way to digitize the photos required for use by the program. The retail price is $79.95.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940613/Press Contact: Michael Cuthbertson, Symsoft, tel 702-832-4300, fax 702-832 4310/SYMSOFT940613/PHOTO)
l 702-832-4300, fax 702-832 4310/SYMSOFT940613/PHOTO)
6/14/94
Digital Funhouse Caricature Artist Prgm For Windows
More On Ziff Selling Decision
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- More details have come to light concerning the Ziff family's decision to sell off its computer publishing company, Ziff Communications. The firm has about $1 billion in annual revenues.
At a press conference held with Steven Rattner, one of their investment bankers with the firm of Lazard Freres and Ziff President Eric Hippeau, Dirk Ziff discussed what led to the decision. "Our family has always placed an emphasis on generational changes. Our father always told me and my brothers we should only own the business if we'd commit to it as he did and he retired in the fall. After a great deal of discussion Robert and I, with Daniel and my father, decided that publishing wasn't how we wanted to spend our careers."
Instead, "We have decided to be partners in an investment business, Ziff Brothers Investments. That firm will be a "principal investor," taking stakes in a broad range of areas where capital has fled, hoping to make big profits on turnarounds. "We don't have constraints on our actions, no need for income and a willingness to risk, so we can be in a variety of areas," Ziff explained.
He said the operations will be based on those of the Bass Brothers President Dan Stern is an alumnus of that group. Stern also trained with Richard Rainwater, who Ziff said, "has defined the most attractive model of family investments. It's natural we'd hope to be compared to them some day."
But what of the Ziff holdings, which include PC Magazine, PC Week, an exposition unit and the Ziffnet online service, among other things. Rattner ducked all questions on valuing the holdings, saying only "the market and interests of buyers will determine the price.
"From what we've heard, it appears they'll be a great deal of interest," the investment banker continued. "The objectives we have been asked to follow are to do as few transactions as possible consistent with maximizing value. If we can sell this to a single buyer without sacrificing proceeds to the family, that's the priority. Preserving what's been built is important to the family."
However, he added, "We also recognize that while there are inter-relationships between the businesses, they're separable into 3-4 basic pieces -- magazines, information access, and online being the principle ones. If it turns out specific interest of buyers is more focused on specific businesses, we're open to it."
Rattner added he will discuss a sale to almost any interested party in the US or overseas, with just two exceptions, Ziff nemeses CMP Publications and IDG. Why? "We're several times their size and think it unlikely they'd be able to launch a credible effort," Ziff explained.
"Given the amount of proprietary information that would be given out in the purchase process, we don't think it would be worthwhile to give them that information on the remote chance" they might come up with a bid.
An employee buy-out is also unlikely, added Rattner. "In such a transaction, price and financing are critical ingredients. If past history is a guide, it becomes quite difficult to put together something equivalent to what a strategic buyer will pay."
What kind of strategic buyer? The first mentioned is KIII Communications, a publishing conglomerate put together by Kohlberg, Kravis & Roberts. Its most recent deal was to buy the "Parents Magazine" line of toys from Gruner + Jahr of Germany.
Another possible buyer is the Los Angeles Times, flush with cash after selling most of its cable operations to Cox Enterprises. Cox itself might be a buyer, and since it is private, that might keep the value of the Ziff holdings a secret for years to come. Other media buyers who might want to take a flier on the Ziff empire would be News Corp., the Tribune Co. and Dow Jones publishers of "The Wall Street Journal."
"We won't sell to just anyone," Ziff insisted. "While we'll canvass the world for the best buyer, we'll be careful to find people who'll treat these assets as well as Ziff has." They hope to get the deal done by the end of the year, maybe sooner.
Hippeau was asked about how the employees learned of all this and their reaction. "I became aware of this a few weeks ago and we've had quite a few conversations. I have to say I have come to fully understand the reasons leading the family to do this. They feel very strongly that owners should be very active. Since their interests lie elsewhere, and if they were to keep the company they'd become inactive owners, it makes sense to me. They'd have grown increasingly unhappy, all of us would have. It's an honest and courageous decision.
"The way we feel at the company is surprised and saddened. The Ziff family has been very good to our business, for two generations. But we have a strong management team, people with exceptional skills. I've talked to dozens of employees since yesterday, when this story leaked."
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Security issues involving the Internet, networks, wireless communications and storage media, have been hot issues in the computer industry recently. Now Semaphore Communications Corp., a supplier of local and wide area network security products, has announced its "cipher path processor" integrated circuit.
The new chip -- ROADRunner284 -- incorporates reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) technology and integrated direct memory access (DMA) and runs at 284 megabits-per second (Mbps) with an I/O (input/output) bandwidth of 640 which Semaphore claims is almost five times faster than any competing device.
The company maintains that the ROADRunner284 will be "the key building block" for many security products. According to Semaphore it will meet industry demands for a high speed, single chip encryption technology. Priced at $75 in 10,000 unit quantities, and due out in early 1995, the new chip will be used in the development of new networks, network card and multimedia set-top box security products.
Bill Ferguson, spokesperson for Semaphore, told Newsbytes, "Our ROADRunner284 has combined what was previously done on one encryption chip and 20 support chips and placed it into one chip. This technology creates a situation where you can now build a comprehensive security system for a network, so that you will see it in applications like movies-on-demand."
He continued: "As well, global companies which typically have research and development in different locations around the world are very concerned about securely communicating trade secrets between their different locations. Pharmaceutical companies are also perfect customers for high-end security technology, as are large companies who need to protect personnel files that contain stock information, lifestyle information and work performance records that could cause damage to the company if made publicly available or somehow used incorrectly."
Semaphore will bring to market a new system-level product in early 1995 and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will be developing a wide range of applications using the new chip.
Ferguson went on to say, "We are confident from our laboratory tests and talking with systems integrators around the world that our technology will produce a new level of high-end security at the architectural level for the entire industry. The key and the future is to get encryption and key management on one chip. That has not happened yet, but by late 1995, we should see some samples of that technology."
He concluded: "While sophisticated encryption technology is available today, we predict that by 1999, every information technology product, including televisions, notebooks and desktop computers will have some kind of encryption chip in combination with its microprocessor."
(Patrick McKenna/19940613/Press Contact: Bill Ferguson Semaphore Communications, 408-980-7751)
emaphore Communications, 408-980-7751)
6/14/94
Semaphore Intros New Encryption Chip
TRENDS
Dell Intros Mini-tower PCs, Dime
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Dell Computer Corp. has announced availability of its first mini-tower PCs, and says it is reducing the price of its Dimension desktop systems by an average of $200.
The new mini-tower systems are the Dimension XPS MT and the Precision MT powered by a 66 megahertz (MHz) Intel DX2, a 90MHZ Pentium or a 100MHz Intel DX4 microprocessor. Pricing for the XPS 66MHz version starts at $2,149, while the 90MHz and 100MHz versions start at $2,649 and $2,249 respectively.
Precision systems are available through retail outlets such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Price/Costco, and Sams Club. Prices for the line are set by the individual retailers.
Mini-tower systems are vertically oriented and are designed to sit next to the user's desk rather than on it. Both of the new units use a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus, 64-bit local bus graphics, an enhanced IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller that allows multiple high-performance devices to be installed in the system and a second-level write-back cache.
Options include a triple-speed NEC CD-ROM drive and a graphics accelerator video board that lets users zoom and pan within a choice of virtual screen sizes.
A Dell spokesperson told Newsbytes the company does not have a particular standard configuration, since each PC is customized to the user's needs. However, she said the quoted starting prices generally include eight megabytes (MB) of memory, a 256 kilobyte (KB) cache, a 540MB hard drive, one 3.5-inch floppy drive and a 15-inch color monitor. All systems come with DOS, Microsoft Windows and a mouse.
The Dell Dimension desktop price cuts puts the cost of a Dimension XPS P90 with 8MB of memory, a 540MB hard drive, double-speed CD-ROM drive, 15-inch monitor, DOS 6.21, Windows 3.1 and a mouse at $2,799.
The company says the reductions are possible due to lower component costs and manufacturing and procurement efficiencies.
er 800-289-3355 or 512-338-4400/TOWER940614/PHOTO)
6/14/94
Dell Intros Mini-tower PCs, Dimension Price Cuts
SPSS Intros Upgraded Stats Softw
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- SPSS Inc., has announced it will ship a new version of its statistical package SPSS for Windows later this month.
SPSS 6.1 for Windows is the third release of the Windows product and uses Microsoft's Win32s technology. The company claims the new release has an easier-to-use toolbar, expanded on-screen help and supports additional graphic file formats.
More statistical features, including case identification of individual points in scatterplots and boxplots, display of censored cases in Kaplan-Meier plots, one-sample t-tests and a new GLM based loglinear procedure, have been added.
SPSS for Windows supports dynamic data exchange (DDE), object linking and embedding (OLE) 1.0 and 2.0, and open database connectivity (ODBC) 2.0.
The company says the use of Microsoft's 32-bit architecture (Win32s) steps up performance by as much as three times for some functions. Win32s allows a 16-bit Windows operating environment to run 32-bit programs. SPSS for Windows purchasers get Win32s at no additional cost.
According to SPSS, the improved toolbar cuts analysis time significantly by giving users instant access to frequently used functions. Hot buttons are provided on the toolbar for "open," "save," "print," "go to chart/output/case," "page up" and "page down," and "insert case/variable." There is also a dialog recall button which displays the last 12 dialog boxes a user accessed on a drop-down menu. Once displayed, the procedures can be re-used without going through the menus again.
The improved on-screen help includes task-oriented help that explains how to perform an analysis with step-by-step instructions for common tasks. There are also more pop-up definitions, improved keyword searching and a "frequently asked questions" section.
SPSS has improved the readability and navigation of the program by increasing line spacing and margins, essential instructions are indicated by an arrow-shaped bullet character, and jumps to related topics are grouped at the bottom of each topic.
A tutorial offers an overview of the data analysis process and teaches the basic operation of SPSS for Windows, walking users through common procedures.
SPSS 6.1 for Windows graphs can be moved into other graphics packages for editing or inclusion in a presentation in WMF, CGM TIFF, PICT, EPS or BMP format. An automatic workspace allocation feature eliminates the need to size the workspace manually and improves the efficiency of system resource use.
SPSS 6.1 for Windows has a suggested retail price of $695 for the base system. Option prices range from $395 to $495. Current users can upgrade for $199 for the base system and $39 to $69 for options. The company also offers bundle pricing for the base system plus modules, academic and GSA (government) schedule pricing, and various other licensing options.
System requirements include an IBM-compatible PC running on a 386 or higher chip, four megabytes (MB) of memory (8MB is recommended), Windows 3.1, 30MB of hard drive space, a math coprocessor chip, and a mouse.
(Jim Mallory/19940614/Press contact: Randolph Pitzer, SPSS Inc. 312-329-2400; Reader contact: SPSS, tel 312-329-2400 or 800-543-2185, fax 312-329-3668)
l 312-329-2400 or 800-543-2185, fax 312-329-3668)
6/14/94
SPSS Intros Upgraded Stats Software For Windows
Automatic Dialers Banned For Mos
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Machines that call telephone numbers and play recorded messages are now illegal for all but a handful of uses in most of Canada. The ruling had been expected since last fall when federal regulators began considering the issue.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which has jurisdiction over telephone services everywhere in the country except the province of Saskatchewan, has ruled that automatic dialing and announcing devices (ADADs) can be used by emergency services, for conducting surveys and for safety-related product recalls, but not for telemarketing or other solicitation, even by charities.
Retailers can also use them to notify their customers when an order is ready to be picked up. This last use appeared not to be allowed in the rules the CRTC originally proposed last fall.
Except for emergency services, the ruling also imposes other restrictions. Calls must be made between 9:30 am and 8:00 pm on weekdays, between 10:30 am and 5:00 pm on Saturday, or between noon and 5:00 pm on Sunday. Provincial rules on calling hours may override these rules in some parts of the country.
Every call must begin by identifying the calling organization with a free call-back phone number and a mailing address. If the call is longer than 60 seconds, this information must be repeated at the end of the call. Blocking caller ID services from displaying the calling number, or an alternate number where the calling organization can be reached, is prohibited.
Sequential dialing, in which a machine works its way through available phone numbers in order, is outlawed. However, the CRTC said it would allow dialing numbers at random provided the dialling system is prevented from calling the numbers of health-care facilities and emergency services.
Finally, users of ADADs must make all reasonable efforts to make sure their devices disconnect quickly when the called party hangs up the phone.
Those who violate the rules can have their telephone service disconnected after two days' notice, the regulators said.
ADADs have made themselves unpopular, not just through their obvious nuisance value, but because of calls at unreasonable hours, calls to hospital emergency wards and other inappropriate numbers, and the reported failure of some machines to disconnect as soon as the called party hangs up the phone, thus tying up the called party's line.
They seemed to have few defenders, even among telemarketers. When the CRTC first hinted at a ban last fall, Scott McLellan communications manager for the Canadian Direct Marketers' Association, told Newsbytes his group felt "ADADs are an inappropriate form of commercial solicitation and we are happy to see the CRTC take measures to get rid of them." Also, Rosalie Todd of the Consumers' Association of Canada said her organization was "very pleased" with the proposal.
CRTC officials said the number of complaints they received about ADADs has roughly doubled every year since 1987, representing a quarter of all complaints to the commission in 1992 and close to 40 percent of complaints in the first half of 1993.
The CRTC also announced other restrictions on live telephone solicitation in Ontario and Quebec, the provinces served by Bell Canada. In those provinces, anyone who receives a telephone solicitation by voice or fax can ask not to be called again and the caller must comply with this request for three years.
Blocking caller identification is outlawed, and sequential dialling is banned. As with the ADAD rules, violators can have their phone service cut off on two days' notice.
The rules on live calls apply only in Bell Canada territory because Bell proposed them.
(Grant Buckler/19940614/Press Contact: Bill Allen, CRTC tel 819-997-0313, fax 819-994-0218)
ll Allen, CRTC tel 819-997-0313, fax 819-994-0218)
6/14/94
Automatic Dialers Banned For Most Uses In Canada
Lotus Announces Product Globaliz
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Starting with the shipment of its newly announced Approach 3.0 for Windows database software, Lotus Development Corp. plans to ship all new software in seven languages simultaneously.
Under its new product globalization program, Lotus will ship all future releases of all its products in English, Spanish, German French, Italian, Japanese, and traditional Chinese at the same time, a spokeswoman for the company told Newsbytes. These seven languages will grow to 20 or more fairly quickly, she added.
Lotus is doing this by developing products simultaneously in all of the languages, with developers around the world working together using the company's own Notes workgroup software officials said.
Lotus said that when it released a version of its 1-2-3 for Windows spreadsheet software simultaneously in English French, German, and Japanese in 1993, it cut its international spreadsheet development costs by 35 percent.
That was because "the international development requirements (were) addressed early in the development cycle," the spokeswoman said.
Lotus has development centers in Dublin, Tokyo, Singapore, and Beijing, as well as at its world headquarters in Cambridge. Local quality assurance and documentation operations in seven other locations will also take part in the simultaneous development efforts, the company said.
Even the core code common to all languages will be developed through cooperation among the different centers, the spokeswoman said. Lotus noted that localization involves more than translating documentation and on-screen text. It also means that features of the software may be changed to conform to local practices, links to popular local programs may be built in, and such things as file formats and fonts may be different.
Besides the seven languages covered in the initial globalization program, Lotus currently ships its software in simplified Chinese, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian Finnish, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Russian, Thai, Arabic, Hebrew Greek, and Turkish.
(Grant Buckler/19940614/Press Contact: Carrie Snyder, Lotus Development, tel 617-693-1279; Paul Kidwell, Lois Paul & Partners for Lotus, tel 617-862-4514)
is Paul & Partners for Lotus, tel 617-862-4514)
6/14/94
Lotus Announces Product Globalization Program
GENERAL
Maxis Enters Home Productivity M
Comdex - Open Standards Waiting
US-Japan Trade Talks To Resume
NCTA - FCC Rollbacks Causing Pro
Amdahl's First Massively Paralle
Editorial - Lessons From Spring
DEC Unveils Interactive Video Co
Popkin Software Intros New Schem
Symantec's Peter Tippett Looks A
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
Internet World '94 - DEC To Prov
Proteon Launches Nationwide Seri
IBM Puts DSP Subsystem On Single
Experts Debate Canada's Informat
Online Services Compete For Atte
Correction - Average Hard Disk 1
Wordperfect Ships Version 6.0 fo
Pentium, Chicago, PowerPC Drivin
UK - Novell Extends NetWare 4 Pr
IBM Applies To End 1956 Consent
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- IBM has formally applied for the removal of the 1956 consent decree that requires its computer services business to operate separately from the rest of the company.
IBM spokesman Scott Brooks told Newsbytes that IBM filed a motion with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to end the decree. It is now up to the court to set the date for further action on the matter, he added.
Under the consent decree, imposed by the United States Justice Department in 1956, IBM's computer services business must pay the company's product units full price for equipment and software it buys for resale to customers. The ruling arose from a government investigation into IBM's alleged monopoly of the tabulating card business, begun in 1952.
Brooks said this requirement has hurt IBM's customers by stopping the company from passing on to them the benefits of its integrated operations.
International Data Corp., a Framingham, Mass., computer industry researcher, has forecast that computer services will be the largest segment of the industry by 1995.
IDC rated IBM as the largest provider of system integration in 1993, with revenues from this business of $2,825 million. IDC also rated IBM as the second-largest provider of information technology consulting worldwide, slightly behind Andersen Consulting. In computer systems outsourcing, IDC said IBM is also in second place, but with less than half the outsourcing revenue of market leader Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS).
(Grant Buckler/19940614/Press Contact: Scott Brooks, IBM tel 914-765-6242)
act: Scott Brooks, IBM tel 914-765-6242)
6/14/94
IBM Applies To End 1956 Consent Decree
USENIX Conf - AT&T's Blaze Detai
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Matt Blaze a researcher at AT&T Bell Labs, recently made headlines by uncovering a problem with the system designed to allow law enforcement access to communications secured by the Skipjack encryption system, commonly known as the "Clipper chip." He presented a paper on the subject revealing the technical details at the 1994 Summer USENIX conference in Boston on June 10.
Under the key escrow system proposed by the Clinton Administration secure encryption hardware is made available to the public, but all encryption keys are stored with special key escrow agencies that will allow their use by law enforcement personnel and others authorized to make wiretaps in execution of a warrant.
The Clipper chip system requires that all transmissions include a law enforcement access field (LEAF) which encodes the secret key and the serial number of the chip making a transmission. The receiving Clipper chip refuses to decode a transmission unless the LEAF is present.
In order to ensure that the receiving chip gets a valid LEAF which contains enough information for police to attempt decoding in the event of a wiretap, the designers of the system included a "checksum" in the LEAF. This "checksum" is intended to assure the integrity of the LEAF.
Blaze discovered that this checksum is only 16 bits in length. This is enough to assure data integrity (the detection of accidental errors in the data or random data) and will only fail 1 out of 65,536 times. However, this is not nearly enough to prevent deliberate tampering.
Blaze discovered that it is possible to generate random LEAFs which have the right checksum by trying a sequence of numbers and using standard "Clipper" hardware to test them for validity. After trying a sequence of only 65,000 different LEAFS, chances are that one that matches the pattern will be found, and then can be used. The communications are then secure, and contain a LEAF which is valueless to law enforcement, since it is just random data which happens to meet the checksum test.
Generating such a valid LEAF takes about 42 minutes with one chip, which is not suitable for phone conversations but is suitable for data transmissions of which there is advance warning. By using multiple chips in parallel, it is possible to reduce the time as needed.
This defect allows one to build a "Clipper" type device which will allow one to transmit or store data that can be decoded by any other Clipper device which has the private keys, but which cannot be unscrambled by law enforcement computers.
This defeats the purpose of this program, which is to provide readily available secure encryption that cannot escape wiretapping. The government's hope is that, if the technology becomes a standard, all will use it because other methods that cannot be wiretapped will be too inconvenient. In particular non-tappable methods would generally require that both parties use the same type of private encryption, meaning one could only have secure communications with people following the same standards as one's own.
Blaze's team has been able to set up test transmissions storing files and recovering them even though they have a meaningless LEAF, he reported.
With the hole discovered by Blaze, one can make a chip which would talk with any Clipper phone and still not be decodable by the police. With the hole uncovered, National Security Agency cryptographers are reportedly examining the problem and they may need to re-design the entire system, discarding the already manufactured equipment.
The "Clipper" chip system is highly controversial, and there is wide opposition to the entire key escrow concept in the technical community, and according to polls, among the general public. Some see this flaw as a valuable nail in derailing the government's plans for key escrow.
AT&T is in a particularly ambivalent position, since it plans to manufacture phones based on the Clipper chip system, but is also proud that its researchers were able to uncover the problems with the initial design. A long battle is expected to rage over the entire key escrow system.
Newsbytes notes that the name "Clipper" is unlikely to be the final name for this system, though it is the name that has been presented to the public. The correct name for the encryption system is "Skipjack." "Clipper" is already a trademark for an unrelated product, as is "Tessera" the code-name for the higher-level chip Blaze tested which implements this system.
(Brad Templeton and Clarinet/19940614)
system.
(Brad Templeton and Clarinet/19940614)
6/14/94
USENIX Conf - AT&T's Blaze Details Clipper Flaw
USENIX Conf - Penn Jillette Expo
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Penn Jillette the talking half of the comedy/magic team of Penn and Teller said the most common question he got asked before delivering the keynote address at the Summer 1994 USENIX conference was "Why the hell are you giving the keynote at a technical conference?" Jillette's message, it turned out, was very appropriate for the audience present in Boston last week for the only general technical conference devoted to the Unix operating system.
Jillette was there because of his long association with AT&T Bell Labs researcher Rob Pike, who was on the USENIX program committee. Most USENIX keynote speakers have been technical innovators or industry leaders. As the first magician, he delivered a surprising report about the growing intersection of show business and technology.
Jillette feels that Hollywood is desperate to do things with the new technology developed by the attendees of USENIX, but they are misguided. As one of the few from show business to show any knowledge of the network world (as Jillette put it, he was the only guest in years on the David Letterman show to wear a Casio Data Bank watch), he has been approached by entertainment producers asking how to take advantage of the coming data highways and interactive entertainment technologies, he said.
The most common goal of entertainment executives is to achieve "branching," or the production of interactive entertainment that follows different paths depending on the desires of the user.
"Interactive branching was possible 100,000 years ago with the first storytellers," said Jillette. "We tried it. It sucked."
Today, he said, "There are perhaps three movies a year with really good endings," and Jillette sees it as unlikely that Hollywood can produce quality interactive entertainment with thousands of possible endings. "Think of another good ending for Psycho," he challenged the audience.
Penn Jillette sees a bad trend in entertainment, from the days when Shakespeare and his company would work a year to make a play, through film, TV, talk shows and the new generation of shock talk shows, which need to produce an hour every day.
Jillette congratulated the audience for having built the technology of the Internet, but suggested that it was they, the builders, who would come up with the real applications, not Hollywood. He related his recent experiences where a Hollywood starlet invited him to her home to ask, "Can you get me online?"
He elaborated: "A beautiful Hollywood starlet will now allow a 275-pound man known for being crazy into her home so she can type dirty to you," said Jillette. He challenged the audience to come up with the new information age, saying that "we (in show business) have nothing whatsoever to add."
Jillette's talk was well received, but the Boston conference marks the last summer conference for USENIX. The USENIX organization is now conducting so many specialized conferences that it has decided not to run two general conferences per year. The next conference will be the winter session in New Orleans in January.
Usenix, which took place June 6-10, also featured sessions by Phil Zimmerman, author of the PGP encryption program and general encryption advocate, a general session where experts presented short updates on the latest developments in various important technologies, and panels on the 25-year history of Unix and the 25 year-history of the Arpanet/Internet.
(Brad Templeton and Clarinet/19940614)
anet/Internet.
(Brad Templeton and Clarinet/19940614)
6/14/94
USENIX Conf - Penn Jillette Exposes Info Superhypeway
Editorial - Mary Gates Obit
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- By Linda Rohrbough. Married less than a year, hit with a major lawsuit that'll cost millions, and then his mother dies -- that would put anyone up near the top of the stress-o-meter, even young and savvy Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. As Gates gains America's curiosity as the country's richest citizen and probably the most powerful person in the worldwide computer industry, rumors are again surfacing that his mother is the one that helped make it happen.
Mary Gates lost her fight with cancer last Friday, June 10 at the age of 64. While widely rumored to have been the one who put the bug in then-IBM president John Opel's ear about her son writing the programming language BASIC, it just isn't so according to Stephen Manes, co-author of the biography "Gates how Microsoft's mogul reinvented an industry -- and made himself the richest man in America" (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, 1994).
Manes said Mary knew Opel through their mutual involvement on the national board of the United Way, but Philip "Don" Estridge had Bill in mind in September of 1980 before any word reached Opel that Bill was interested.
Estridge mentioned Microsoft to Opel in a conversation about buying software, and Opel reportedly said, "Oh, that's run by Bill Gates, Mary Gates' son." This occurred after earlier meetings between Estridge and Bill. While the connection didn't hurt Bill, Manes said it is not at all like the stories of IBM's sudden shift to Microsoft because Opel knew Mary. The story of how it really happened came from Mary herself in an interview for Manes' book over two years ago.
As parents, William H. Gates, Jr., Bill's father, and Mary were supportive of their son, but had their doubts about his business venture. When Bill was taking long leaves from his studies at Harvard to nurture fledgling Microsoft, his parents sent out their 1975 Christmas card with a group portrait of their kids on the cover. Inside they wrote a poem about each one and here's how they described Bill, nicknamed "Trey":
"Trey took time off this fall
in old Albuquerque
His own software business
We hope not a turkey.
(The prophets are murky.)"
Later, Bill dropped out of Harvard altogether to devote his efforts to Microsoft.
His mother was present in the background. She was there during software demonstrations in the family living room and there at Manhattan's Center City Theater in May 22, 1990 when Windows 3.0 was introduced to the world. She told a reporter that evening, "This is the happiest day of Bill's life."
A leader in her own right, Mary Gates was a director at US West First Interstate Bancorp, and a Seattle Television station as well as serving as president of the board of regents at the University of Washington. She obviously cared about the future of children as evidenced in her work for the United Way and her start of Leadership Tomorrow, a program to train youngsters.
Her 38 year-old-son, whose net worth is listed at $6 billion married a Microsoft employee, Melinda French just six months ago. Microsoft has also been hit with a court injunction favoring Stac Electronics of Carlsbad, California, which claims Microsoft took intellectual property to build the DOS 6.0 operating system. DOS 6.0 and 6.2 must be pulled from retail distribution in the case which is sure to cost millions.
Mary Gates is survived by her attorney husband, William H. Gates Jr., her son Bill, and two daughters, Kristianne Blake and Elizabeth Armintrout.
On a more human note, Bill, whatever differences exist between you and the computer industry, we want you to know we can put them aside long enough to express our sorrow at the loss of someone so important both to you and to others. Please accept our condolences.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940613)
(Linda Rohrbough/19940613)
6/14/94
Editorial - Mary Gates Obit
EDITORIAL
GENERAL
DOE Funds Technology Transfer Ne
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- The US Department of Energy is giving Knowledge Express Data Systems $4 million to subsidize access by 400 university and federal laboratory employees and 2,000 small- to medium-sized technology companies to more than a dozen of Knowledge Express's on line databases.
Those who get the subsidizes will save thousands of dollars in charges for signing up with Knowledge Express and access to its collections of data. They will pay only an online charge of $12 per hour, Cathi Stahlbaum, Knowledge Express vice president told Newsbytes.
Among the databases that will be available for free are the Comtex business news, the Commerce Business Daily, reports from a host of federal research programs at DOE, the Defense Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, National Institute of Technology and Standards and the Public Health Service.
Coming in the future for those who sign up for the program are technology transfer and dual use roundtables and forums, and databases of company capabilities, according to Stahlbaum.
Knowledge Express, located in Wayne, Pa., is a subsidiary of Houston-based Telescan, which develops and operates on line networks.
Funds for the program come from the "technology reinvestment project," a collaboration of DOD's Advanced Research Projects Agency, DOE's atomic weapons program, NIST, NASA and the National Science Foundation. Congress established the project recently to help defense-related companies make the transition to a civilian economy.
According to Knowledge Express, "Subsidies will be distributed to qualified participants on a first-come, first-served basis as long as subsidies remain available."
(Kennedy Maize/19940614/Contact: Cathi Stahlbaum, tel 610-293-9712)
act: Cathi Stahlbaum, tel 610-293-9712)
6/14/94
DOE Funds Technology Transfer Network
AT&T Offers Encryption For Fax
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- AT&T is offering a new device to provide security for the ubiquitous fax machine, at a price of $1,995.
"At most companies, faxes are used for sending every kind of information, the most sensitive as well as the most ordinary," says Joe Murawski, product manager for AT&T. "Faxes are as easy to intercept as phone calls, but when a confidential fax is intercepted, you may use a much greater amount of very detailed information.
In some countries, according to AT&T, governments routinely monitor in-coming faxes.
AT&T's Surity 3700 connects to standard fax machines and automatically encrypts when sending to another machine with the Surity device, allowing users to set up a closed fax network. The device uses the digital encryption standard, implemented in hardware in an embedded PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card, AT&T spokesman David Arneke told Newsbytes.
Would AT&T offer the Clipper chip instead of its own technology? "If there is interest in the market, we will do it," said Arneke. "This product was in an advanced state of development when the Clipper initiative was announced."
AT&T began deliveries in March. Early adopters have been major corporations in aerospace, agriculture, automobiles, banking and finance, computers, defense, oil and telecommunications according to AT&T.
"Corporate customers have been telling us that fax security is a high priority," said Murawski.
(Kennedy Maize/19940614/Contact: David Arneke, 910-279-7680)
act: David Arneke, 910-279-7680)
6/14/94
AT&T Offers Encryption For Fax
TELECOM
GTSI Gets NASA Contract For Powe
CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Government Technology Services Inc. has picked up a one-year, $2.1 million contract to supply some 500 Apple Power Macintoshes to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The Johnson Space Center is the third largest government installed base of Macs, with 4,200, according to GTSI spokesman Carter Cromley.
The largest is NASA's Ames center in California with 5,000 Macs, and the Navy's China Lake naval air facility, also in California, is in second place with 4,700 machines.
GTSI already holds the NASA scientific engineering and workstation contract to provide Unix workstations and peripherals agency-wide.
GTSI expects big things from the new Power Mac, GTSI President Frank Slovenec told Newsbytes. "Because of its power and versatility, it's a very strong entrant" into the government market, he said. "Apple will no longer be a niche player but can be in the mainstream."
Slovenec said GTSI made its first agreement to sell Apple products a year ago and "had a good year" with the Apple products. "We believe the Power Mac is going places that Apple hasn't been before," Slovenec said.
Apple is part of GTSI cross-platform strategy, Slovenec said. "Apple, PC, Unix, what the customer needs, we can provide," he said
GTSI is the leading reseller to the federal government market and is making inroads on other governments. The company offers more than 38,000 products from approximately 350 manufacturers.
(Kennedy Maize/19940614/Contact: Carter Cromley tel 703-502-2035)
ontact: Carter Cromley tel 703-502-2035)
6/14/94
GTSI Gets NASA Contract For Power Macs
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Pub
AT&T Intros PCs Communications-R
UK - Compaq Number One In Comput
Watermark To Image-Enable Fax An
Tadpole 1st 1GB Notebook, Plans
UK PCMCIA Specialist Intros Netw
Aldus UK Unveils IntelliDraw 2.0
MecklerWeb Business Web On Inter
Ontime Scheduler Adds Phone Inte
AP's Video News Service Targeted
Hong Kong - Maruda Claims Smalle
USENIX Conf - AT&T's Blaze Detai
NY Times Slams Clipper, FBI Tele
Health Care Software Makes House
Survey Says Pen Computers Taking
Germany's Computer 2000 Acquires
Mexico - Computer & Telecom News
Disney Characters Join Microsoft
NEC, Toshiba Boost 16 Mb DRAM Ou
UK - High-Tech Fraud On The Incr
Danish Firm Distributes Teletext
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- According to HyperCast the British division of the small Danish high-tech firm HyperCom a Danish teletext concept is now being tried out in Atlanta, Georgia.
HyperCom has successfully marketed teletext services, of which the best-known is Reuter 1000, transmitted in Europe via the television signals of CNN International. HyperCom now wants to exploit this concept worldwide.
"Our trials in Atlanta are going rather well, and we are at the moment negotiating with CNN in order to spread our service, not only in Europe, but all over the world," says Christopher Anthony of HyperCast in London.
Distributing teletext services via television signals is an exclusively European phenomenon, completely unknown to American consumers, says Anthony. But HyperCom is counting on the increasing use of television tuner cards in PCs to bring the concept to the States.
HyperCast sees the recent agreement between Intel and CNN as an advantage in that field. "When we first heard about the agreement between Intel and CNN, we were a bit confused. As we understand that it does not affect our agreement with CNN, we now regard it as an advantage. Actually we are in negotiations with Intel at this moment, trying to reach an agreement to our mutual benefit," added Christopher Anthony.
HyperCom is regarded as one of the fastest expanding Danish high-tech companies.
(Allan Thestrup/19940613)
h high-tech companies.
(Allan Thestrup/19940613)
6/14/94
Danish Firm Distributes Teletext Via PCs Worldwide
TELECOM
Denmark - Olicom Intros ATM Card
DENMARK, 1994 JUN 14 (NB) - Olicom, the leading Danish supplier of Token Ring and Ethernet adapters, has unveiled its first ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)-products. The Olicom ATM EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) Network Interface Card can communicate at rates up to 155 Mbps (megabits-per-second).
The Danish supplier, who has the Italian giant Olivetti among its shareholders, will initially provide customers with a complete family of ATM cards. Later Olicom will announce a number of ATM backbone components including bridges, routers and switches.
"We view ATM as the future of networking. ATM will rapidly become the technology of choice for implementing broadband local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs)," says Lars Stig Nielsen, president and CEO of Olicom.
Olicom has partnered with Japan's Fujitsu to develop software drivers and silicon technology to a series of 25 Mbps, IBM compatible ATM-cards. They will address desktop PC customers while the first EISA-based cards are targeted at high-end workstation users.
The entire family of adapters, or network interface cards (NICs) will include support for bus architectures such as ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), EISA, PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), and PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association). All Olicom NICs will be offered with native ARM-drivers for Novell NetWare, Microsoft, and IBM LAN Manager.
The first ATM-product from the Danish supplier uses multimode fiber and can be used to provide direct connection requiring high bandwidth such as multimedia and imaging. It can also serve as a link between classic LAN operating systems and ATM backbones using router software.
Olicom is a leading independent supplier of net adapters to the Token Ring market, and is second only to IBM, according to the company.
" COLORADO CITY, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- A Colorado company has introduced a device it claims provides continual protection from static electricity.
Ultrastat Inc., offers Ultrastat, a computer accessory that installs on your personal computer (PC) and continually drains potentially deadly static electricity from both the system and the user.
Static electricity can scramble data and even destroy chips. Many computer systems utilize static mats, rubber pads with an attached wire that is grounded to dissipate static, or touchpads that require the user to touch them before touching the PC.
Ultrastat uses patented technology that incorporates a synchronized dual resistance circuit card and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The LCD lets the user see a customized figure named "Ernie" get zapped instead of the computer.
Ultrastat President Kevin Cooter told Newsbytes that Ultrastat resembles a tiny PC monitor and is designed to sit on top of the monitor. A flexible antenna is positioned to touch the user's screen to dissipate static. A wire goes from the device to a touch strip placed on or near the keyboard.
Cooter says he developed Ultrastat after he had static problems in his recording studio. "Our synthesizers and computers were scrambling for no apparent reason. We also noticed a lot of dust collecting on the digital equipment, another sign of static." Cooter said the sprays, grounded mousepads and other techniques he tried did not seem to alleviate the problem.
Cooter, who worked with his brother Steve to develop the device says Ultrastat reduces the static electricity buildup from the typical 10-20,000 volts emitted from the computer screen to less than 50 volts.
Static electricity causes dust to collect on the monitor, can scramble data or blow chips, and according to some experts even aggravate eye strain and fatigue.
The company says Ultrastat also works with printers, plotters fax, audio devices, phone equipment and television sets.
Ultrastat has a suggested retail price of $59.95 and is available direct from the company with a free 30-day trial and a five-year warranty.
(Jim Mallory/19940614/Press contact: Erica Swerdlow, EBS Public Relations, 708-520-3300; Reader contact: Ultrastat Inc. 800-460-7828 or 719-676-4010/ERNIE940610/PHOTO)
at Inc. 800-460-7828 or 719-676-4010/ERNIE940610/PHOTO)
6/14/94
PC Device For Continual Static Electricity Protection
Sprint/France Telecom/Deutsche T
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Sprint has signed an affiliation deal with French and German PTTs similar to one MCI signed with British Telecom last year, adding that talks on an alliance with EDS, short of a merger, are continuing. The company called it a "global partnership."
Sprint Chairman William Esrey added that Asian telecommunications companies are also being sought to join the partnership, as well as other PTTs covering specific countries. The deal will let Esrey and his management team retain operating control of Sprint while bringing in badly-needed capital so it can compete with MCI and AT&T. Esrey said that maintaining control of Sprint and providing value to Sprint shareholders were key goals in the agreement. He insisted that the 20 percent holding by foreign companies will meet regulatory approval.
Under the deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, France Telecom and the Deutsche Telekom will buy 20 percent of Sprint in a two-step process, at prices ranging from $47.25-$51 per share. The total cash infusion amounts to about $4.2 billion. That is a huge premium over Sprint's recent trading range of $35 per share. For their investment, the two companies will win representation on Sprint's 15-member board, a minimum of two directors as long as they each hold their 10 percent stakes.
On a global basis, however, the three partners will have an equal voice on strategic direction. Sprint will own half of the global backbone network, France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom 25 percent each. The operating group serving Europe will be one third owned by Sprint, two-thirds owned by the Europeans. The goal is to offer multi-national companies integrated global telecommunications, and compete as a "carrier's carrier" with AT&T, British Telecom, and IDB Communications, among others. The alliance will also result in the creation of a global calling card, with added services.
The deal is quite different from MCI's with BT, which is still awaiting final regulatory approval, in this sense. BT is a public company, and the United Kingdom's telecommunications market is among the most open in the world. By contrast, both France Telecom and DT are state-owned, and both countries have been criticized for keeping their markets closed, although a European Union agreement to open the continent's telecommunications markets is due to take effect in 1998.
A press conference held by Sprint to announce the deal demonstrated some of the advantages and disadvantages of the new technology. Reporters were allowed to call-into the conference and ask questions of Sprint officials. Officials of France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom were brought-in by video, and answered some questions from reporters at the New York site. But only in writing. It was impossible to query the European officials over the phone.
At the press conference, Esrey said, "I believe this partnership is the most comprehensive and far-reaching ever formed in the international telecommunications marketplace," a market now worth $500 billion a year.
He said the key ingredient to the group's success will be "one-stop" shopping for global customers, a goal also held by AT&T and MCI-British Telecom's Syncordia unit.
The combined assets of the partners comes to $155 billion he added, the combined revenues are $70 billion, "more than any other telecommunications partnerships in existence." He noted that the French and German companies are the second and third largest international carriers in the world. "Sprint will have a major equity investment in the partnership and an equal voice in its decisions worldwide," Esrey insisted.
"The three countries represented by the partners are home to half the world's multi-nationals, giving us a strong base," he added and the firm will also market its services to smaller businesses and consumers. "We envision the partnership will create additional opportunities," like building long distance networks within other countries, Esrey added.
Asked about the closed European markets, Esrey said, "I suspect AT&T and other competitors may well protest. But this is a global alliance dealing with global services," not a national deal. "Our regulators have also been supportive of companies becoming more active internationally, and this strengthens Sprint's international stature. We hope and expect that will be their attitude."
Asked if there had been any contact with regulators on the deal Esrey claimed the French and German telecommunication markets are open to foreign investment, pointing to a joint venture Sprint has with Alcatel. "But we've apprised the FCC and EU on this, and they must do their own determination. We think the meetings were quite positive."
He added that European markets will clearly be deregulated by 1998, maybe sooner. A top official of France Telecom added that the French and German markets are "more open than many other European markets," which could help the deal clear regulatory hurdles.
An executive with the Deutsche Telekom also claimed his market is not closed, saying nearly-half of its supplies come from other countries, and that it has a good supplier relationship with AT&T. "We're an open market in terms of procurement," he added.
"I would not confuse the BT-MCI arrangement with ours," he added. "It's different. Their agreement set-up geographic areas, where partners can't operate. These are the kinds of things that get regulators' attention. This venture is quite different, in that we're setting up global companies we're actively participating in to compete all over the world. They're both global alliances, but they're different in terms of their structure." He speculated the BT-MCI deal may be getting held up by the Department of Justice because of that structural difference.
On EDS, Esrey said, "The only difference was on value. The strategic reasons for getting together are still in place, and we're in discussions on how to get those strategic advantages short of a merger, and I'm hopeful we can reach an agreement." He would not rule out an equity arrangement. "What form it takes we can't say, because those discussions have just begun."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940614/Press Contact: Sue Kraus, Sprint 202-828-7410)
4/Press Contact: Sue Kraus, Sprint 202-828-7410)
6/14/94
Sprint/France Telecom/Deutsche Telekom In Deal
TELECOM
IDB Says Deloitte Auditors Confi
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- IDB Communications has issued a press release stating that, in a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, auditors Deloitte & Touche confirmed its version of a dispute between the company and the auditing firm, which caused Deloitte to resign the account last month.
According to IDB, Deloitte stated that it resigned as IDB Communications Group Inc.'s auditors over the recording of items in the company's 1994 first quarter which in aggregate totaled $5.4 million in pre-tax income or $.04 per share.
In its letter, Deloitte cited no irregularities in IDB's financial statements and expressed no limitation or withdrawal of its previous reports. Deloitte's letter, in its entirety, was included in a Form 8-K filed by IDB with the SEC.
Deloitte's decision to resign the IDB account caused the price of IDB common to drop by half within days, and it has only recently begun recovering. The latest press release must be seen as part of IDB's attempt to undo that damage.
Chairman Jeffrey P. Sudikoff also said that company has taken steps to deal with the problems identified by Deloitte. "On June 9 we announced that the outside members of our audit committee have been given the responsibility for the retention of our new auditors. They will also, with the help of outside consultants review our accounting systems and controls. Both of these processes are underway."
He added, "Even though we believe that Deloitte's letter validates our view that the market over-reacted to our auditor's resignation we are taking seriously the credibility issues raised by the recent decline in the value of our stock."
An IDB spokesman told Newsbytes, "We filed the 8-K on their resignation May 31. They had 10 business days to respond to us. Their letter, dated June 13, was their response to us. We then today, filed with the SEC a new 8-K plus their letter as an appendix and our press release."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940614/Press Contact: IDB Communications Group, Peter Hartz, 213/240-3721)
mmunications Group, Peter Hartz, 213/240-3721)
6/14/94
IDB Says Deloitte Auditors Confirm Its Story
TELECOM
Trace Family History With Window
NCTA - FCC Chairman Insists On R
Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated
GTE, HP Plan Interactive Cable
Totally Wireless Store Opens In
Japan - Windows Language Transla
Brussels WordPerfect/ODA Confere
Senate Looks At Schools And The
Motif & Asahi Promote Active Add
IBM Shuffle Aims To Speed Workpl
eWorld Bucks Online Anonymity Tr
FAA Slashes Computer Control; La
Metricom Announces Low-Cost Wire
Automatic Dialers Banned For Mos
Ambra Bundles Borland Apps, Lowe
BellSouth Chooses TDMA Cellular
Parsons Offers Car, Home Buying
Technical Problems Challenge Cab
Special Notice To All Readers/Re
Microsoft Will No Longer Market
Vancouver-Area BBS Charged With
Metricom Announces Low-Cost Wire
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Metricom said it is offering the first wireless wide area network (WAN) whose costs are practical for the delivery of graphics and large data files.
The network, called the Ricochet Micro Cellular Data Network will open at the end of this month in Silicon Valley, and will be extended to Seattle, Houston, and Boston by the end of 1994.
Metricom expects to have Ricochet networks operating as subscriber services in some 30 major cities, effectively achieving nationwide coverage, by late 1996.
Ricochet will consist of a web of regional data networks that transmit data wirelessly within a business campus or metropolitan area and, for long-distance communication, into any public or private wired network, including corporate (local area networks) LANs and electronic-mail systems, on-line services, and the global Internet.
Ricochet will transmit data at 77,000 bits-per-second (bps) using spread spectrum radio technology which does not require FCC licensing. Cellular digital packet data (CDPD), the packet cellular network being built by McCaw Cellular and others, would transmit data at 19,200 bps.
Ricochet would operate in the portion of the radio spectrum set aside for license-free use, from 902-928 megahertz (MHz), which subscribers will access through a wireless modem the size of a TV remote control, which can be attached to any portable computer or personal digital assistant (PDA).
In a press statement Brian Salisbury, president of Metricom's Wireless Services Division, said, "Vendors have justified their high prices by telling users the convenience of wireless makes it worth the money. But Ricochet proves that users needn't pay a premium for wireless. By operating over frequencies in the unlicensed band of the radio spectrum, and by taking advantage of a unique mesh technology proven by Metricom in the electric utility market over the past seven years, we can offer a much more broadly applicable, yet less expensive, product."
Ricochet users will have a choice of three interfaces. In addition to the industry-standard AT command set used on dial-up modems, Ricochet will also support the Point-to-Point Protocol for direct access to the Internet or to any private TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)-based LAN. This support permits "seamless" operation of such applications as Mosaic, allowing users to navigate the Internet easier. A StarMode interface will also be offered so software developers can use it in their applications.
Creating the network will require that Ricochet install toaster sized packet radios in a mesh pattern throughout a service area. The radios can be installed on buildings or on telephone poles simplifying maintenance and eliminating costly "towers" used in cellular telephone networks. The network of radios can also be quickly reconfigured. And the radio mesh will provide multiple routing of messages.
Users will pay a fixed monthly charge based on the speed of their transmissions, ranging from $2.95 per month for 4,800 bps service to $29.95 per month for 38,400 bPS service. The radio modems will list at $495 each. The company said additional price plans, including flat-rate access to the Internet, long distance surcharges for inter-regional communications, and bundled prices for modems and service contracts, will be announced as the service expands.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940614/Press Contact: Metricom Inc. Brian Salisbury, 408/399-8200; for Metricom, William Orrange 415/329-1590)
0; for Metricom, William Orrange 415/329-1590)
6/14/94
Metricom Announces Low-Cost Wireless Network
TELECOM
DCA Adds Internet Helper & Cross
"NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- At a press conference in a Greater Boston television studio, DCA unveiled new Windows-based versions of the Crosstalk communications package that add "point-and-click" Internet access and fax modem functionality. The Alpharetta, Georgia-based software vendor also outlined general directions for expanded remote access in the future.
DCA's new Crosstalk for Windows 2.2 features a new "Internet Helper" for quick access to Internet mail, Netnews, telnet, file transfer protocol (ftp), Archie, and Gopher, said Ian Pennell director of business development for DCA's Remote Access Division, at the press event, which was attended by Newsbytes.
A separate package, Crosstalk for Windows 2.2 with Crossfax, offers Internet Helper, along with full fax capabilities, added Pennell talking to a group of journalists and analysts who were seated in directors' chairs in the air conditioned comfort of the WCVB-TV (Channel 5) studio in Needham, Massachusetts.
Crossfax fulfills the "send-and-receive fax" requirement of DCA's five-pronged remote computing strategy, and Internet Helper meets the strategic requirement for access to "non-corporate information," according to Pennell. DCA's existing RLAN (remote local area network) product already fills the bill for "corporate information," he noted.
"PC-to-PC connectivity," a fourth prong in DCA's strategy, will be met by a combination of Crosstalk and an upcoming product from DCA, he said. Also on the future agenda is "integration with video," Pennell told the press.
The main "driving factors" behind DCA's move into remote computing include portable computing, "corporate workgroup" applications such as Lotus Notes, and information services like the Internet CompuServe, and America Online, Pennell explained.
For the present, at least, DCA will focus its remote computing products on the corporate market, as opposed to the SOHO (small office/home office) segment, he added.
In an interview with Newsbytes at the close of the presentation Pennell pointed out that remote access is a relatively new addition to DCA's product portfolio. DCA can afford to diversify into this emerging "high growth area" because of the profitability of its core businesses in IBM mainframe, Unisys, and file transfer software, he said.
Maria A. Forrest, another speaker at the press conference delivered demos of Internet Helper as well as DCA's new fax-modem functionality.
Forrest, who is Crosstalk product manager for DCA, showed the press conference attendees a panel of "QuickPads," or icons, in Internet Helper that are used for "basic services," (electronic mail and Netnews) "remote services," (telnet and ftp) "navigation," (Archie and Gopher) and "etc." (logging out of sessions and changing settings).
Internet Helper requires the user to have access to a Unix host with an Internet connection. This can be supplied through a shell account with an "Internet provider" such as Netcom or Portal which is "available for about $17 a month," she said.
Another feature of Internet Helper is a built-in log-in script aimed at letting the user create a "permanent profile session" for the Internet provider by quickly entering information one time only. After the profile is established, the user can connect to the Internet automatically simply by clicking on "Internet," according to Forrest.
The electronic mail QuickPad lets users exchange electronic mail with users on either the Internet or outside services, she said using her own mail from a Porsche newsgroup as an example.
By clicking on a "camera" icon, one of a series of buttons at the top of the screen, the user can capture electronic mail for downloading, Forrest said.
The Netnews QuickPad is designed to make it easier to search for newsgroups, and to look at or list articles, added the product manager, showing the group a list of Netnews articles in a Crosstalk window.
In contrast, the QuickPads for "remote services" automate the use of telnet, a remote login facility for accessing mainframes on the Internet, and ftp, a protocol used for transferring files between multivendor systems on the network, she said.
The "navigation" QuickPads are meant to make it easier to use Archie for locating files on the Internet, and Gopher for fetching these files, according to Forrest. Crosstalk/Crossfax users can navigate around in Gopher, for instance, by choosing options from a numbered list.
The product manager also demonstrated such Crossfax capabilities as a built-in "phone book," send-and-receive log, viewer, and editor as well as the ability to access the Windows Paintbrush or a third-party graphics packages from directly within Crossfax to edit a fax in the Crossfax viewer.
The built-in viewer allows the user to pan and zoom on inbound and outbound faxes, invert the faxes, and rotate the documents by 90 180 and 270 degrees, she said. The built-in editor lets the user write "notes," or comments, on a fax before printing the document or forwarding the fax to another user.
In a Q&A session, the two DCA officials said that ProCom Plus is Crosstalk's closest competitor, and Delrina's WinFax will be the major rival to the new Crossfax.
But Crossfax contains a more powerful OCR (optical character recognition) engine than competing fax software, and also offers features such as "serial port sharing" and "printer bins" that are unavailable in other programs, contended the executives.
Serial port sharing permits the fax and data communications components of "Crosstalk with Crossfax" to detect and notify one another when the modem is in use, according to Pennell. The goal is to prevent the interruption in service that can occur, for example when a user tries to fax a document while the modem is otherwise occupied.
The "printer bins" are prepared graphics that the user can include as background pictures on each page of the fax. Crossfax also includes cover logos, or graphics for the cover page of the document, the officials said.
But the new Internet Helper puts both of the remote computing products from DCA in a league of their own, Pennell maintained.
In response to wide ranging questions from reporters and analysts about future intentions, Pennell said that DCA has no plans at present to add ISDN (integrated services digital network) access to Crosstalk, or to support either Microsoft's MAPI (messaging application programming interface) or Lotus' VIM (vendor independent messaging) mail standard. ISDN access is already provided by DCA's RLAN, he noted.
But DCA is "looking carefully" at the prospect of providing access to Worldwide Web, the business development director acknowledged. The possibility of creating a "universal client," along the lines of Microsoft's new concept, is also "something we might keep in mind," Pennell said.
Ultimately, he added, DCA sees "a lot of growth in the ability to bring (DCA's) corporate capability to the SOHO market."
Later, in the interview with Newsbytes, Pennell said DCA already has "video integration capability" on the client side. "We're now 'OEM (original equipment manufacturing)-ing' it," he told Newsbytes.
The company is also considering the possibility of integrating outside electronic mail into the corporate LAN (local area network), Pennell reported. This could "potentially be done through TAPI (telephony application programming interface)," an upcoming API from Microsoft which is widely expected by industry observers to be incorporated in Chicago.
Another potential enhancement for the future is the addition of "smart" capabilities that would automatically recognize whether a document should be printed or faxed, for example, Pennell added.
Ultimately, the company is contemplating an entire suite of remote computing products, which might possibly allow the interchange of various document types through TAPI, Newsbytes was told.
The two new Crosstalk releases for Windows are slated for release at the end of this month. The Crosstalk 2.2 will also be available for Macintosh and DOS, but Crosstalk 2.2 with Crossfax will not be offered for other operating environments at this time, according to Pennell.
Crosstalk for Windows 2.2 is priced at $179, and Crossfax for Windows 2.0 at $195. Current users of Crosstalk for Windows 2.x can upgrade to Crosstalk for Windows 2.2 for $25, and to Crosstalk 2.2 with Crossfax for $45. Current users of Crosstalk for Windows 1.x can upgrade for $45 to Crosstalk for Windows 2.2, and for $69 to Crosstalk 2.2 with Crossfax.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940613/Reader Contact: Digital Communications Associates, 404-442-4000; Press Contacts: Meg Owens, DCA, 404 442-4521; JoAnn Anderson or Lisa Spellman, Copithorne & Bellows for DCA, 617-252-0606)
Spellman, Copithorne & Bellows for DCA, 617-252-0606)
6/14/94
DCA Adds Internet Helper & Crossfax To Crosstalk
$D$b$
Electronic & Chip Markets To Gro
Comdex - Monty Python CD-ROM Lau
DEC Names Auer To Head PC Unit
Claris Intros Organizer PIM For
Australia - Apple Offers Video E
FTC Asks For More Info On Aldus-
Struggling CIC Cuts Employees, S
NexGen, IBM In Chip Manufacturin
Correction - VMark Intros Vantag
Rasterops' Free Upgrades For Pow
Motorola's PowerPC-based Single
Interleaf Updates WorldView Docu
Fault Tolerance Software For Win
Packard Bell Spectria Designer P
NECC - Schools Thank Apple By Sh
Bell Atlantic Makes Net Improvem
Canon Intros Workstation For Nex
Motorola Invests US$40M In Hong
IBM Adds Color Subnotebook To Th
Scholastic's High-Tech Education
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Scholastic Inc. is hoping that alliances can help it maintain the lead in education materials as the market moves to new media like CD-ROMs and online service.
Newsbytes discussed the company's strategy with Deborah Forte who in addition to heading the company's new media efforts is also an executive vice president of the parent company.
Newsbytes asked first about the relationship with Microsoft under which the software giant will create software based on Scholastic's "Magic School Bus" franchise.
"It's a complementary relationship," she said. "They certainly are a very powerful company in their world, and Scholastic is very powerful in its world. Together our expertise at reaching children and making learning fun for children, and their technology being married together is a very powerful combination."
Forte's division, called Scholastic Productions, does all the company's TV and video production, feature films, merchandising and specialty productions. "We've done 'The Babysitters Club,' which ran on HBO, we were the producers of 'Charles in Charge,' and 'My Secret Identity,' a syndicated show." This however, is Scholastic's first Public Television show. "It's also Public TV's first animated show," she added. "We have done some animated specials in the past, but this is our first series."
"We took this show to Public Television because we felt it was the right environment for this program," she added. "This program is educational as well as entertaining, and we felt the public TV line up and climate was the best atmosphere for it to succeed." The company has not discussed time slots on the show yet, but it should start around September, aimed at 6-10 year olds.
Forte said the company's policy is to align itself with high-tech industry leaders. "We are going to be working with Sega on some things. That's also a very exciting relationship," she said. "We have a very important fun and powerful message we want to communicate. It's our intention to use every form of media to communicate it, especially that which are appealing to children. As our advisory board says, this is not a Monopoly playing generation, it's a Sega-playing generation."
We asked about the differences between producing TV shows and computer software. "TV and software aren't entirely different," she insisted. "Creatively it can be very similar. The same elements are still very important elements in both."
How, then, does the Microsoft-Scholastic collaboration work in practice? "We develop together. We don't allow people to develop what they want. We co-develop with them. We're involved in every aspect of it. We form a new team with them, and it's been a very exciting and mutually-gratifying experience on both ends."
There's growing competition in science shows, from Disney's "Bill Nye, the Science Guy" and "Beakman's World," which is also being syndicated following it's debut on The Learning Channel. And there's high-tech competition coming, through a disk called "The World of Virgil Reality," from 7th Level, due around Christmas.
Most of the competitors are aimed at older children, Forte said. "We don't regard them as competition. First because we chose to produce this in animation -- that makes it a different viewing experience.
"Second, we chose not to go the stereotypical route of the 'male' mad scientist, which the National Science Foundation was very supportive of. We are unique in that we have a female teacher hero-star here, who's knowledgeable about science and enthusiastic about it. We've also taken the approach that science is to be experienced as a part of life, rather than as an experiment in the lab."
She continued: "We hope that message will motivate kids as they approach science in school. Our feeling is kids are interested in the world around them when they're toddlers and pre-schoolers, and it isn't until science education becomes formal, in second grade, that they start to say it's boring. The subject isn't boring, it's the way it's presented they don't understand how it deals with their lives. We've tried hard to tell stories of how exciting it is to interact with their world."
And the Scholastic series uses an existing, valuable franchise. "The books have been out for years-- they've been best sellers. This is an extremely successful publishing franchise.
"We're a publishing company," Forte added. "It was a natural extension to do this as a book series and develop it in other media. Also it allows you to retain a certain amount of integrity as the project grows. A book is concrete -- it doesn't change."
We then asked what will drive the market. "I feel that, with any new media, it's going to be the kids who drive the market. The only way parents are driving that marketplace is through the home-school connection, when a child experiences a piece of software they like, and they buy it.
"With Microsoft our goal has been to develop interactive media that will be so appealing the kids will be motivated to ask for it, and so good in education," she concluded.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940614/Press Contact: Pat Higgins, for Microsoft 312/263-2135; Scholastic, Mary Sadeghy 212/529-6300)
135; Scholastic, Mary Sadeghy 212/529-6300)
6/14/94
Scholastic's High-Tech Education Strategy
GENERAL
ATI Graphics Xpression Accelerat
Adobe Intros Illustrator 5.5 For
Microsoft/Creative Tech In Sound
Compaq UK Unveils Two More Presa
Toshiba/IBM/Siemens To Develop 6
Ameritech Begins Job Cuts
Borland UK Announces C++ 4.0 Upd
Power Mac Success Over Intel Dep
CompuServe Releases CD
Japan - Telecom News Roundup
VTEL Distance Learning Sale To M
California Can Save Millions Usi
Australia - Home Computer Show
Mac Utility Handles Hebrew Text
Microsoft Multimedia Baseball Gu
Ziff Media Interests For Sale
Kodak Intros New Digital Camera
Fore ATM Video Adapter
Lotus LCS To Provide Interoperab
Picasso Paints Again On Hong Kon
WTI Signs Master Agreement With
OverNet Offers Low-Cost Wireless
CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- A new service called OverNET is offering a daily news briefing on the wireless industries at $259 per year.
Scott Goldman of OverNET said his "Daily Wireless Update" can be delivered to any Internet-addressable mailbox, including all major commercial online services. The updates will include a summary of every major story posted on OverNET's own bulletin board, descriptions of news conferences and events, and summaries of federal contract announces.
Also included is a daily FCC Digest describing the commission's activities, plus closing stock prices for over 50 public companies involved in the wireless businesses, and a list of new information added to the OverNET archives.
In addition to the Daily Wireless Update, subscribers get unlimited access to OverNET Online, the company's bulletin board system which includes discussion areas about wireless topics archives of thousands of news stories, support from industry associations, classified advertising and much more. That bulletin board can be accessed through either a Macintosh or a PC with Microsoft Windows. Is uses SoftArc's First Class software package, based on an Apple Macintosh. The bulletin board came online commercially in January.
"The daily will be about 25,000 bytes," said Goldman. "We post 15-20 stories a day. We subscribe to major wires," like Newsbytes, and the FCC's own digests. "Our task is to make things easy for the wireless communication industry. They need information, and they need it in one place." Goldman got into industry 18 years ago, and has been a salesman, consultant and is closely associated with the industry's trade groups.
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Sanctuary Woods has announced two new titles, one part of its new joint venture with Addison-Wesley.
The new title done with the book-publishing firm is "Adventures in Flight," the first title in Addison-Wesley's Real World Math Series. The program covers math concepts such as operations, measurement, numeracy, geometry, and graphing. Also included is cross-curriculum content in the areas of weather career exploration and more.
Correlations to Addison-Wesley textbooks will be outlined in an included booklet. Currently the software correlates to the textbook series "Quest 2000," "Addison-Wesley Math," and "Addison-Wesley MathQuest."
It is designed for grades 4-6. Students will apply math concepts by helping airport workers in their daily work. The product will ship in September, with Addison-Wesley handling the school version and Sanctuary Woods distributing the home version through its affiliate relationship with Electronic Arts. "Adventures in Flight" marks the first program developed by Sanctuary Woods that correlates with a textbook.
Sanctuary Woods also announced release of "The Cat Came Back," a musical storybook in English, French, and Spanish for children 7-11. It said the title was recently awarded the 1994 National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval for early learning products.
Using it, children will build their language skills not only in English, but in European languages, simply by reading the original story. More than 100 words are presented through color animation and pictorial definitions in each language.
Children can also record and playback their voices to try out new words or sing along to the story's songtrack. This reinforces learning by making the education process fun, as well as active and participatory, Sanctuary Woods said. There are also printing capabilities, which will include children's own illustrations, allowing them to "publish" their own stories related to the title.
The CD is available in both Macintosh and MPC formats at $39.95 for consumers, $59.95 for a teacher's version, which includes a guide, and $119 for a 5-disk "lab pack."
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- In a press briefing at this year's National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), Apple has announced the addition of Internet access school-and-home communications, and business education offerings to the Apple Education Series, a hardware-and-software bundling program first launched at last year's NECC show in Orlando, Florida.
Also at the early morning press event, which was attended by Newsbytes, Apple unveiled a set of software, brochures, videotapes and other materials for planning and supporting educational computer networks, along with a new computer leasing program for schools.
Apple's new Communications Bundle allows for modem comms between schools and parents calling in to check homework assignments, or teachers working at home, explained Jennifer House PhD, in a general overview at the start of the briefing on NECC's exhibition floor. The Communications Bundle, which is available now, also provides Internet access, she said.
The new AppleSearch Bundle for the Internet, which is slated to ship in July, provides Internet access which is even more "sophisticated," she added.
Apple's third new bundle, Business Education, focuses on "practical business skills," including: accounting; information processing access and management; "cooperative learning;" visual and auditory communications; and project and resource management.
The new package for computer network assistance is called the Network Assistance Planning Kit, according to House. "At many schools, the person who manages the computer network is a teacher rather than a professional network administrator," she noted.
Apple's new leasing program, AppleMax, gives schools the option of either buying the leased computers after the completion of the three-year leasing program, or extending the lease on new Macintosh models, she said.
After House's overview, members of the press viewed individual and group demos of the three new bundles, in addition to other members of the Apple Education Series that were announced in Orlando or during the subsequent year.
Previously introduced members of the Apple Education Series include Early Language Connections and Spanish Language Connections, two packages for grades K-2; Math Bundle (Grades 5-8); and a pair of offerings for teachers.
Teacher Solution Bundle offers a grading and attendance package with word processing, graphics and presentations software. Educator Advantage Bundle, designed for use by educators at home, supplies "productivity software" in addition to a collection of CD-ROM titles for teaching, reference, and home entertainment.
Educator Advantage also includes four Macintosh Performa home computers, House told Newsbytes, in an interview after the presentation. The other bundles in the Apple Presentation Series come with LC 575 hardware, she added.
In a stop at the AppleSearch for Internet Bundle demo, Newsbytes saw how the package can be used to let teachers and students search and retrieve files from WAIS servers on the Internet.
The bundle includes the Apple Workgroup Server 95, a Unix-based server with A/UX, along with AppleSearch, according to Jacob K. Kandathil, manager, business planning and operations, Apple's Education Division.
The teacher can control which files can be searched and retrieved by students, said Kandathil. Teachers can also determine whether searches will be conducted "live" in real time or during specified predetermined times, added Susan Gladwin, product manager for AppleSearch.
The bundle comes with a teacher reference guide that shows how to carry out classroom activities like compiling a newspaper from downloaded articles and putting together a classroom "weather map," said Kandathil.
Also during the briefing, Dallas Kachan, manager of sales and marketing for SoftArc Inc., told Newsbytes that Apple's new Communications Bundle includes SoftArc's FirstClass software for electronic mail, group conferencing, and remote access.
Also available now from SoftArc is a "Telnet class server with UUCP" for Internet access from FirstClass, he said. Coming in September is an SMTP (Simple Message Transport Protocol) gateway that will allow for Internet file transfer over Ethernet LANs (local area networks).
Roger Knight, manager of Vocational/Technology Education for Apple's K-12 Education Group, told Newsbytes that Apple's new Business Education bundle combines "basic capabilities" like databases and spreadsheets with features that "push the envelope a bit," such as multimedia and Claris' new ClarisImpact presentation package.
Newsbytes also took a look at earlier releases in the Apple Education Series. Maurilia J. Flores, education marketing representative, explained that Early Childhood Connections permits children to participate in preschool activities, such as "painting" and "reading," that are "traditional" yet computer-based.
All bundles in the Apple Education Series except for Business Education and AppleSearch Bundle for the Internet are shipping from Apple now. The new Network Assistance Planning Kit is also available now.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940614/Reader Contacts: 800-800-APPL; For AppleSearch, 408-974-9327; Press Contacts: Stacy Byrnes, Apple 408-974-6076; JoAnn Johnston, Regis McKenna for Apple, 415-354 4496; For AppleSearch, John McCreadie, Apple, 408-974-4398)
ppleSearch, John McCreadie, Apple, 408-974-4398)
6/14/94
NECC - Apple Announces New Bundles For Schools
APPLE
Packard Bell Spectria Designer P
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Westlake Village California-based Packard Bell has announced its new line of Spectria "designer" personal computers (PCs). The models come with a two-tone sculpted, wave-patterned chassis and detachable color accent panels available in teal, azure or sahara.
The company has announced the line offers either Intel 486- or Pentium-based machines, as many as 27 software titles, and includes All-in-One multimedia models that even have a radio.
The Spectria models come with speakers that mount directly on the sides of the monitor, though users can opt for upgraded speaker systems that even include a sub-woofer system. The Navigator 2.0 software is included with the system and on start-up guides the user through a tutorial.
Multimedia models in the line meet the multimedia personal computer (MPC) level 2 specification with a double-speed CD-ROM drive that is XA compatible, so it can play back audio, video and computer data as well as PhotoCD compatibility. A 16-bit sound card is also included and some units offer Packard Bell's PBTV television/video add-on card.
The 486 systems are available with a 486SX at either 25 or 33 megahertz (MHz), a 486SX2 operating at 50MHz, or a 486DX2 operating at 50 or 66MHz. Either 4 or 8 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) is offered expandable to 64MB, along with 8 kilobytes (KB) of cache memory with level 2 cache upgradable to 512MB, and 1MB of video memory which can be doubled to 2MB. Packard Bell claims the systems can be can be upgraded to the Intel Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus standard for faster video performance.
Pentium-based Spectria systems come in 60, 90 or 100MHz models with 8MB of RAM standard expandable to 72MB. These offer double the cache memory at 16KB and have 256KB of Level 2 secondary cache. PCI local bus video, PCI Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard drive interfaces, and PCI expansion slots come standard.
The units come in either desktop or mini-tower cases. The Pentium units offer either four drive cavities and four expansion slots, or a tower casing with five drive cavities and six expansion slots.
All the Spectria models offer a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket for easy microprocessor upgrades and are Intel Verified for the Pentium Overdrive processor, Packard Bell added. In addition, the models include: a 3.5-inch floppy drive; serial, parallel and mouse ports; and a fax modem which supports Packard Bell's telephone answering system with call monitoring and fax on demand.
Support for extended video graphics array (VGA) resolution up to 1280 by 1024 picture elements (pixels) is included, if the monitor the user chooses is capable of resolution that high. In addition the models are EPA Energy Star-compliant, meaning a power management feature will power down the monitor and the hard disk drive while not in use.
Non-multimedia models come with business and productivity software such as: Microsoft (MS) Works, MS Money and MS Productivity Pack. In addition these systems come loaded with MS-DOS, MS Windows for Workgroups and eight games from the Microsoft Entertainment Pack.
Multimedia models come with CD-ROM software such as Software Toolworks' New Grolier Encyclopedia, World Atlas and US Atlas Sports Illustrated 1994 Multimedia Sports Almanac, multimedia presentation software Macromedia Action! with ClipMedia, Software Toolworks' Megarace entertainment software, Knowledge Adventure's 3-D Body Adventure, 3-D Dinosaur Adventure, Space Adventure Undersea Adventure, Speed, and Kids' Zoo. All the models also include the Prodigy Start-up Kit and models with fax/modems add Windows-based fax software. Some models also include Packard Bell's telephone answering system software.
The new line carries a one-year limited warranty and one year of on-site service. Toll-free, person-to-person technical support is available round the clock and an automated technical support system, Infinitech, is available for common questions and answers. The computers are also color-coded on the back so cables and the slots they attach to have the same color so users can more easily set up the new computer. A bulletin board system (BBS) is also available to users with a modem, as well as through Prodigy and Compuserve.
A special All-in-One system includes a built-in monitor, CD-ROM radio, television, stereo, fax machine, and telephone answering machine. The company maintains the small footprint of the unit will make it attractive to those with limited space requirements who need to move things often, such as college students.
The All-in-One model are available with 486 or Pentium processors as is the rest of the product line, but include a 14-inch super video graphics array (SVGA) monitor with a maximum resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. Packard Bell offers the full complement of 27 titles with the All-in-One models including software interfaces for controlling the radio and television with the mouse.
Spectria systems will be available in August, Packard Bell representatives told Newsbytes. Suggested retail pricing is between $999 and $2,999 depending on the model and configuration.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940614/Press Contact: Ted Kamionek, The Bohle Company for Packard Bell, tel 310-785-0515, fax 310-785 0459/PACKBELL940614/PHOTO)
5-0515, fax 310-785 0459/PACKBELL940614/PHOTO)
6/14/94
Packard Bell Spectria Designer PCs Intro'd
Olivetti Italy Intros Over 60 Ne
IVREA, ITALY, 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Olivetti's Italian headquarters has taken the wraps of more than 60 new products. The idea behind the new computers and peripherals is to fill the gaps in the company's existing product ranges, making Olivetti -- and its dealers -- a one-stop shop for products.
The real interest lies in the M6 Suprema series of workstations. Olivetti has fleshed out its M6 series to offer, it claims, just about any configuration possible. The new flagship machine is the M6-640, a 90 megahertz (MHz) Pentium processor-driven system with a high speed PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) local bus.
The M6-640 can be installed with up to 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM plus a hard disk up to 1 gigabyte (GB) in size. Further downscale, the other new M6's, the 750, 760 and 770, are based around varying versions of the 80486DX2 processor. All four new M6s use a module approach to chassis design, which Olivetti says will allow it to "mix'n'match" to order for the customers.
Despite the advanced performance of the new M6's, Olivetti is clearly pushing hard in this segment of the market. The new M6's start at around UKP2,000 and rise to UKP2,500 for the Pentium based version.
On the desktop front, Olivetti has launched 18 new M4 Modulo desktop PCs. These are what Olivetti calls "the budget range," and have 486DX2 or Pentium processors. VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) and PCI local bus is standard on the new Modulos, as is the modular mix'n'match approach to its design. Pricing starts at UKP1,000 and ranges up to UKP2,800.
Three new Philos notebooks join the existing Philos range. The new flagship features a 75MHz 80486DX4 processor, making the machine the most powerful mainstream notebook on the market, Italian Olivetti staff claim. Pricing starts at UKP1,870.
Olivetti seems to have taken a leaf out of Canon's book when it comes to integrating its bubblejet technology with computers. Olivetti's answer to this is the Jetwriter series of word processors -- a custom PC with an integral bubblejet printer. Two models of the Jetwriter are initially available, the Linea 910 and the standard 910. Both units print in 300 by 300 dots-per-inch (dpi) printed output and come with a relatively modest 64,000 byte battery-backed memory. Data can also be spooled to a 1.44MB floppy disk. Pricing starts at UKP400.
Back in notebook land, Olivetti has unveiled the Echos notebook, a budget portable that costs UKP1,300. For the money you get a 4.5 pound 25MHz 80486SX-based notebook with mono display, the Echos 42. Further upscale is a 33MHz version, the Echos 43, while the Echos 44 adds 44MHz and a color display. All three notebooks, which come with 4MB of memory and local bus graphic, have hard disk capacities of up to 240MB and twin Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slots.
(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940614/Press & Reader Contact: Eugenio Paccheli, Olivetti Italy, tel +39-125-523733; fax +39-125-522377)
aly, tel +39-125-523733; fax +39-125-522377)
6/14/94
Olivetti Italy Intros Over 60 New Products
GENERAL
UK - HP Intros Trio Of MultiMedi
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard has taken the wraps off three new multimedia PCs known as the Multimedia Vectra series.
According to the company, they have been designed for major companies who are looking at implementing early mainstream multimedia applications such as computer-based training professional (multimedia-based) presentations, and information access from diverse sources, including CD-ROM and local area networks (LANs).
Stuart Jones, HP's PC program manager, reckons that the three new machines are an evolution of the Vectra VL2 family of PCs for standard users, and the recently launched Vectra M2 line of "network aware" systems. The systems, he said, have been redesigned and re-engineered to fully integrate key multimedia features.
"HP's approach has been to think of multimedia in terms of an emerging PC standard for mainstream business use," he said adding that the systems are aimed at "corporate users who want application-ready PCs to implement practical multimedia applications now."
"With our new PCs we've done the integration for the users, pre-tested the PCs and preconfigured them so they plug and play with the LAN cards of choice. I believe these new PCs lead the industry in terms of `network awareness,' integrated multimedia features and ergonomics," he said.
The Vectra Multimedia PC Series consists of three models: the HP Vectra VL2 4/33se PC, claimed to be well-suited for information access work; the more powerful HP Vectra VL2 4/66 PC has the "power and graphics quality to create arresting multimedia presentations;" and the HP Vectra M2 4/50 PC, which allows processor upgrades up to an Intel Pentium, has accelerated local bus video easily upgradable and offers DMI-compatible remote network management capabilities.
Other features of the new machines include: an audio front panel; pre installed multimedia card with digital signal processor (DSP) 16-bit audio facilities; a small computer systems interface (SCSI) CD-ROM drive; and pre-installed Voyetra multimedia software.
According to HP, these new PCs meet the MPC2 (Multimedia PC type 2) standards, and are also compatible with Microsoft Sound for Windows AdLib, SoundBlaster and MIDI standards. The SCSI CD-ROM drive is double-speed and is XA-ready, which means it supports simultaneous transmission of sound and image. The CD-ROM is also multisession which allows access to CD-ROMs that contain Kodak PhotoCD images.
(Steve Gold/19940614/Press Contact: Gail Noble, HP head of public relations +344-361263; Reader Contact: HP Customer Center +0344 369222)
ntact: HP Customer Center +0344 369222)
6/14/94
UK - HP Intros Trio Of MultiMedia PCs
Ericsson & SAT Of France Team On
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- Ericsson, the Swedish telecoms giant, has agreed to work with Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications (SAT) on jointly offering business communications networks and technology within France.
As part of the liason, both companies will form a joint venture operation, financial details of which have yet to be confirmed. According to Ericsson, the link-up is a confirmation of talks between the two companies that have been taking place since the beginning of the year.
The joint venture operation will be called Eritelcom and will be split 50/50 percent in capital terms. Ericsson officials told Newsbytes that the company will initially handle products ranging from Ericsson's private automatic branch exchanges (PABX) systems and digital cordless telephones to hook into the PABX.
Plans call for Eritelcom to staff up with 160 staff initially, working from a new headquarters near Paris. Ericsson said it expects the new company will have a first year turnover of around FF 200 million.
The move is seen as the first real effect of the general opening up of the French telecoms marketplace, following loud noises earlier this year from the direction of the European Commission (EC) in Brussels.
EC ministers had suggested that, unless France open its telecoms marketplace up to external competition, it would legislate forcibly to open the markets up. The Ericsson deal is seen very much as appeasement measure, although it does mean that a new market will be opened up in France, Newsbytes notes.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940614/Press & Reader Contact: Ericsson tel +46-8-719-0000, fax +46-8-450722)
t: Ericsson tel +46-8-719-0000, fax +46-8-450722)
6/14/94
Ericsson & SAT Of France Team On Business Comms
BUSINESS
Compuserve Heads For 2 Million M
MCI, Stentor Join Forces On Conf
Nokia To Supply Trunked Mobile R
Motorola Paging System Quiets Re
Creative 3DO PC Add-on Cards, Wi
Proposed Rating System Blasted B
Analysts Downplay DEC Cash Probl
CDPD Interoperability Tests Comp
Internet In A Box Debuts At Inte
Entertainment Drive On CompuServ
Panasonic Wireless PBX Approved
Dell Intros Mini-tower PCs, Dime
FCC Carves Up Spectrum For PCS
NECC - IBM & BBN Intro Internet
100 Power Mac Apps Now Available
WinDev '94 Developers' Conferenc
IBM Storage Products Use PCMCIA
EA Founder Trip Hawkins To Resig
Windows 4.0 Released To Beta Use
UK - Gateway 2000 Intros Standar
UK - MPC MIDI-Compatible Home Mu
Newsbytes Daily Summary
#PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 14 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> 3Com Intros Hub Enhancements 06/14/94 Network hubs are becoming increasingly sophisticated as vendors continue to add high-end features. Now 3Com Corp., has introduced enhancements for its LANplex switching hub, its fault-tolerant LinkBuilder MSH chassis hub, and its low-cost FDDI (fiber distributed data interface) hub -- the LinkBuilder FDDI system.
2 -> Digital Funhouse Caricature Artist Prgm For Windows 06/14/94 Symsoft, the company that produced Hotshot Graphics for DOS, has announced an "electronic caricature artist" software package, called Digital Funhouse for Windows. The program allows manipulation and retouching of digitized photos and is aimed at the home market.
3 -> More On Ziff Selling Decision 06/14/94 More details have come to light concerning the Ziff family's decision to sell off its computer publishing company, Ziff Communications. The firm has about $1 billion in annual revenues.
4 -> Semaphore Intros New Encryption Chip 06/14/94 Security issues involving the Internet, networks, wireless communications, and storage media, have been hot issues in the computer industry recently. Now Semaphore Communications Corp., a supplier of local and wide area network security products, has announced its "cipher path processor" integrated circuit.
5 -> Dell Intros Mini-tower PCs, Dimension Price Cuts 06/14/94 Dell Computer Corp., has announced availability of its first mini-tower PCs, and says it is reducing the price of its Dimension desktop systems by an average of $200.
6 -> SPSS Intros Upgraded Stats Software For Windows 06/14/94 SPSS Inc., has announced it will ship a new version of its statistical package SPSS for Windows later this month.
7 -> ****Automatic Dialers Banned For Most Uses In Canada 06/14/94 Machines that call telephone numbers and play recorded messages are now illegal for all but a handful of uses in most of Canada. The ruling had been expected since last fall when federal regulators began considering the issue.
8 -> Lotus Announces Product Globalization Program 06/14/94 Starting with the shipment of its newly announced Approach 3.0 for Windows database software, Lotus Development Corp. plans to ship all new software in seven languages simultaneously.
9 -> IBM Applies To End 1956 Consent Decree 06/14/94 IBM has formally applied for the removal of the 1956 consent decree that requires its computer services business to operate separately from the rest of the company.
10 -> ****USENIX Conf - AT&T's Blaze Details "Clipper" Flaw 06/14/94 Matt Blaze, a researcher at AT&T Bell Labs, recently made headlines by uncovering a problem with the system designed to allow law enforcement access to communications secured by the Skipjack encryption system, commonly known as the "Clipper chip." He presented a paper on the subject revealing the technical details at the 1994 Summer USENIX conference in Boston on June 10.
11 -> USENIX Conf - Penn Jillette Exposes Info "Superhypeway" 06/14/94 Penn Jillette, the talking half of the comedy/magic team of Penn and Teller, said the most common question he got asked before delivering the keynote address at the Summer 1994 USENIX conference was "Why the hell are you giving the keynote at a technical conference?" Jillette's message, it turned out, was very appropriate for the audience present in Boston last week for the only general technical conference devoted to the Unix operating system.
12 -> Editorial - Mary Gates Obit 06/14/94 By Linda Rohrbough. Married less than a year, hit with a major lawsuit that'll cost millions, and then his mother dies -- that would put anyone up near the top of the stress-o-meter, even young and savvy Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. As Gates gains America's curiosity as the country's richest citizen and probably the most powerful person in the worldwide computer industry, rumors are again surfacing that his mother is the one that helped make it happen.
13 -> DOE Funds Technology Transfer Network 06/14/94 The US Department of Energy is giving Knowledge Express Data Systems $4 million to subsidize access by 400 university and federal laboratory employees and 2,000 small- to medium-sized technology companies to more than a dozen of Knowledge Express's on line databases.
14 -> ****AT&T Offers Encryption For Fax 06/14/94 AT&T is offering a new device to provide security for the ubiquitous fax machine, at a price of $1,995.
15 -> GTSI Gets NASA Contract For Power Macs 06/14/94 Government Technology Services Inc. has picked up a one-year, $2.1 million contract to supply some 500 Apple Power Macintoshes to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
16 -> Danish Firm Distributes Teletext Via PCs Worldwide 06/14/94 According to HyperCast, the British division of the small Danish high-tech firm HyperCom, a Danish teletext concept is now being tried out in Atlanta, Georgia.
17 -> Denmark - Olicom Intros ATM Cards For EISA Bus 06/14/94 licom the leading Danish supplier of Token Ring and Ethernet adapters, has unveiled its first ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)-products. The Olicom ATM EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) Network Interface Card can communicate at rates up to 155 Mbps (megabits-per-second).
18 -> PC Device For Continual Static Electricity Protection 06/14/94 A Colorado company has introduced a device it claims provides continual protection from static electricity.
19 -> ****Sprint/France Telecom/Deutsche Telekom In Deal 06/14/94 Sprint has signed an affiliation deal with French and German PTTs similar to one MCI signed with British Telecom last year, adding that talks on an alliance with EDS, short of a merger, are continuing. The company called it a "global partnership."
20 -> IDB Says Deloitte Auditors Confirm Its Story 06/14/94 IDB Communications has issued a press release stating that, in a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, auditors Deloitte & Touche confirmed its version of a dispute between the company and the auditing firm, which caused Deloitte to resign the account last month.
21 -> Metricom Announces Low-Cost Wireless Network 06/14/94 Metricom said it is offering the first wireless wide area network (WAN) whose costs are practical for the delivery of graphics and large data files. The network, called the Ricochet Micro Cellular Data Network, will open at the end of this month in Silicon Valley, and will be extended to Seattle, Houston, and Boston by the end of 1994.
22 -> DCA Adds "Internet Helper" & "Crossfax" To Crosstalk 06/14/94 At a press conference in a Greater Boston television studio, DCA unveiled new Windows-based versions of the Crosstalk communications package that add "point-and-click" Internet access and fax modem functionality. The Alpharetta, Georgia-based software vendor also outlined general directions for expanded remote access in the future.
23 -> Scholastic's High-Tech Education Strategy 06/14/94 Scholastic Inc., is hoping that alliances can help it maintain the lead in education materials as the market moves to new media like CD-ROMs and online service.
24 -> OverNet Offers Low-Cost Wireless News 06/14/94 A new service called OverNET is offering a daily news briefing on the wireless industries at $259 per year.
25 -> Sanctuary Woods Intros New Education Products 06/14/94 Sanctuary Woods has announced two new titles, one part of its new joint- venture with Addison-Wesley.
26 -> ****NECC - Apple Announces New Bundles For Schools 06/14/94 In a press briefing at this year's National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), Apple has announced the addition of Internet access, school-and-home communications, and business education offerings to the Apple Education Series, a hardware-and-software bundling program first launched at last year's NECC show in Orlando Florida.
27 -> Packard Bell Spectria "Designer" PCs Intro'd 06/14/94 Westlake Village, California-based Packard Bell has announced its new line of Spectria "designer" personal computers (PCs). The models come with a two-tone sculpted, wave-patterned chassis and detachable color accent panels available in teal, azure or sahara.
28 -> Olivetti Italy Intros Over 60 New Products 06/14/94 Olivetti's Italian headquarters has taken the wraps of more than 60 new products. The idea behind the new computers and peripherals is to fill the gaps in the company's existing product ranges, making Olivetti -- and its dealers -- a one-stop shop for products.
29 -> UK - HP Intros Trio Of MultiMedia PCs 06/14/94 Hewlett- Packard has taken the wraps off three new multimedia PCs, known as the Multimedia Vectra series.
30 -> Ericsson & SAT Of France Team On Business Comms 06/14/94 Ericsson, the Swedish telecoms giant, has agreed to work with Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications (SAT) on jointly offering business communications networks and technology within France.
(Ian Stokell/19940614)
(Ian Stokell/19940614)
6/14/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
%~$5%
GENERAL
TI Chip Opens Way To Video CDs
h DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has announced a new set of chips it says will help make video CDs as commonplace in home entertainment as audio CDs are today.
TI says the three-chip set can produce VHS-quality video and CD-quality sound for video CD applications such as movies and music video playback from one or two five-inch compact disks video games and karaoke. The video CD players will also be able to play existing audio CDs.
According to multimedia industry research firm Thorka-TRIMM just about every home that has a CD player or a VCR today will have a video CD player by the end of the century.
A TI spokesperson told Newsbytes the industry expects to produce as many as three million video CD players annually by 1997.
TI says the video CD technology standard developed jointly by JVC Matsushita, Philips and Sony has a bigger future than just home video. Several movie makers and record companies have already announced plans to offer their products on video CD.
The technology is based on the compression standards developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG). TI's chipset synchronizes and decompresses audio and video data encoded using MPEG, then outputs a video signal to your television set encoded in the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) format used for broadcast TV.
The players will have "fast-forward," "freeze frame," and "reverse" features similar to today's VCR systems. "Our new chipset provides all the playback features that consumers are accustomed to in their VCRs," says Ron Slaymaker, TI's Semiconductor Group manager of digital compression products.
TI says the chipset will be sampled to TI customers worldwide this summer. Production quantities are expected to be available in the fourth quarter. TI says systems based on its chipset should be in the marketplace by early 1995. Matsushita already markets a video CD player using a competitive chipset as part of a $1,500 home entertainment center.
Slaymaker says systems based on the TI chipset will physically resemble current audio CD players. "It will be another feature added onto the existing CD player." He expects pricing to be about twice the cost of a standard CD player, or $200 to $400.
(Jim Mallory/19940614/Press contact: Dave Nieland, Texas Instruments, 214-997-5470)
Texas Instruments, 214-997-5470)
6/15/94
TI Chip Opens Way To Video CDs
TRENDS
Alias To Develop 3-D Nintendo Gr
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Video game maker Nintendo of America Inc., has announced a deal with Alias Research Inc., to develop customized three-dimensional (3-D) graphics development tools for Nintendo's new 64-bit Project Reality home video game systems.
Project Reality hardware is being developed for Nintendo by Silicon Graphics Inc., and is expected to be available in stores in North America and Japan in the fall of 1995. Nintendo says the home version of Project Reality will have a suggested retail price of less than $250.
The company will preview three new games, one for Project Reality at this month's Summer consumer electronics Show in Chicago. The other new titles being shown at CES are designed to demonstrate what Nintendo calls "a dramatic increase" in the graphics and audio performance of its 16-bit Super NES home system.
The deal calls for Toronto-based Alias to develop customized tools that will form the core of the Project Reality development system to be used by authorized Nintendo third-party publishers. Nintendo has purchased a large number of Alias PowerAnimator licenses for in-house use. alias will incorporate Nintendo feedback into next-generation tools for game developers.
Previously announced partners in Project Reality include Silicon Graphics, WMS Industries Inc., Rate Limited, and DMA Design. Nintendo claims that more than 40 percent of all homes in the US own a Nintendo system.
(Jim Mallory/19940614/Press contact: Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo 206-882-2040 or Franca Miraglia, Alias Research Inc. 416-362-9181)
ca Miraglia, Alias Research Inc. 416-362-9181)
6/15/94
Alias To Develop 3-D Nintendo Graphics Tools
BUSINESS
Rock Videos Part Of CD-Interacti
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Geffen Records, whose recording label includes Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith and Peter Gabriel, has joined with Jasmine Multimedia to produce an interactive game called Vid Grid, and described as a "Rubik's Cube" of rock n roll.
The Vid Grid interactive game includes rock videos from such bands as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen Jimi Hendrix and Soundgarden. The user has to unscramble the screen by the end of the chosen video.
Jasmine claims Vid Grid is the first consumer product to take advantage of Microsoft's new Video for Windows 1.1 software, which provides a 320 by 240 aspect ratio, and the first time users are able to manipulate moving videos.
The game can have as few as nine pieces of video or as many as 36 as the game progresses in difficulty. Pieces can be upside-down or inverted. Players must also pick the video to play as part of the game strategy.
The product will retail for $34.95 at record, video, computer and book stores beginning mid-September. The minimum system requirements are of special interest as the CD product requires a 486SX 25 megahertz processor, four megabytes of RAM, a mouse a dual speed CD-ROM drive, an 8-bit SoundBlaster-compatible audio board and the ability to deliver 256 colors at 640 by 480 resolution.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Norman Beil, head of new media for Geffen said, "Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden, was 'totally blown away.' Once we get people to play, they find it very addictive. Many people are highly impressed by the quality of the video, but the real strong response comes when they begin to play the game itself and feel the rush that accompanies the effort to complete the puzzle."
(Patrick McKenna/19940614/Press Contact: Bryn Bridenthal Geffen, tel 310- 285-2701)
ryn Bridenthal Geffen, tel 310- 285-2701)
6/15/94
Rock Videos Part Of CD-Interactive Game
GENERAL
Micronics To Merge With Orchid T
j FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Motherboards are expected to include audio chips by 1995. As a result, audio board companies have been redirecting their efforts to brace themselves against a predicted slow market, which in the past has been filled with dramatic rises. Now, Orchid Technology has announced a merger with Micronics, a producer of system boards for personal computers (PCs) and workstations.
Under the agreement, Orchid will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Micronics. In return, Micronics has agreed to issue shares of its common stock in exchange for all the equity interests in Orchid.
The companies maintain that there will be no major changes in executive levels, staffing or corporate locations. Completion of the merger is expected by the end of July.
Steve Kitrosser, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Micronics, told Newsbytes, "This is a great merger for us. These two companies have two distinct roles in different markets. We have a very strong position in the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) market and Orchid is very strong on the retail side. We are really excited about the new dimension that this merger provides Micronics."
He continued: "As well, it gives Micronics a stronger and more competitive position as a systems board producer who is now able to offer OEMs a wider and more complete line of products. Down the road, we plan to include audio chips on our systems boards."
Orchid has traditionally been strong in retail channels such as CompUSA and with distributors, Ingram Micro and Merisel. According to Orchid, they have been wanting to expand their role in the OEM market and now, with the backing of Micronics this should come about rapidly.
Further developments in motherboard technology will offer OEMs a more integrated board which will include a number of peripherals. Kitrosser went on to say, "In 1993, we began to look into adding peripherals onto systems boards. We have already included video chips and we will soon offer systems boards with audio. Modems are another peripheral that we have discussed as an inclusion on systems boards."
According to both companies, the merger began with negotiations earlier in the year. Neither party is anticipating any delay in stockholder approval.
(Patrick McKenna/19940614/Press Contact: Robert Cambell Micronics, tel 510-651-2300)
Robert Cambell Micronics, tel 510-651-2300)
6/15/94
Micronics To Merge With Orchid Technology
BUSINESS
Wiretaps Up, Efficiency Down, Sa
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Fueled by the drug war, the number of federal, state and local legal wiretaps increased six percent last year, according to a study by the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington.
But the percentage of relevant communication intercepted by the taps fell to below 20 percent for federal investigations continuing a long decline, the group said.
EPIC's report said federal and state courts approved 939 requests for wiretaps in 1993, "The highest number since electronic surveillance was legalized in 1968." Federal orders were up 13 percent, while state orders dropped by nine percents.
"No surveillance requests were rejected or amended," said the privacy watchdog group. "In 25 years, only 27 requests have ever been rejected, two most recently in 1988."
Narcotics investigations was the main source of wiretaps accounting for 74 percent of federal investigations and 69 percent of state wiretap orders. EPIC says use of electronic surveillance has increased 240 percent since 1980.
Of the federal district courts, the Southern District of New York, which includes New York city, and the Eastern District of Michigan, which includes Detroit, were the areas with the highest numbers of orders.
The study says, "As the use of electronic surveillance has increased, its efficiency as a law enforcement tool has substantially declined. The majority of conversations overhead are determined by prosecutors to be irrelevant to any investigation."
What accounts for this? "There are lots of different spins on that," David Sobel of EPIC told Newsbytes. "At bottom, we don't really know. It may be that they are casting a wider net rather than focusing on narrower intercepts, but that's speculation."
Sobel said the data in the report come from the administrative office of the US Courts, which is required by law to collect information on wiretaps.
EPIC was created earlier this year by the Fund for Constitutional Government and Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. The organization works on issues such as the Clipper chip, the administration's digital telephony bill, medical record privacy and the sale of consumer data.
(Kennedy Maize/19940615/Contact: David Sobel tel 202-544-9240, fax 202-547-5482)
ct: David Sobel tel 202-544-9240, fax 202-547-5482)
6/15/94
Wiretaps Up, Efficiency Down, Says Watchdog Group
Storagetek's Iceberg Realizes Fi
Comdex - More On IBM Objects
Identity To Introduce Notebook P
CoSA Ships Mac Special Effects P
Reprogrammable Sega Game Cartrid
IBM Offers 1 Gigabyte AT Drive F
Blaze Stoked On Clipper Criticis
Try Before You Buy Software Offe
Sprint-EDS Merger Off - It's Off
OIS To Develop Active Matrix LCD
More On Ziff Selling Decision
AT&T Donates Multimedia Labs To
PC Device For Continual Static E
IBM Applies To End 1956 Consent
Judge Says Microsoft & Stac Must
NECC - Apple Announces New Bundl
UK - Microsoft Sharpens Access D
Rock Group Jefferson Airplane Su
KSI Signs American Chamber Of Co
Korea - IBM/Novell/Microsoft Com
Focus Enhancements Acquires Inli
Loral To Lay Off 500, Bid For GO
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Loral Corp. says it will lay off 450 employees in suburban Maryland and another 40 at a technical center in New Jersey as a result of the decision by the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel a portion of a multi-billion dollar computer contract for the air traffic control system.
Loral said that it will cancel contracts with a number of its subcontractors on the project, leading to another cut of some 700 jobs.
Loral's federal systems division, which it bought from IBM earlier this year, employs about 3,200 in the Washington area with about 1,600 of those working at least in part on the FAA contract.
Some of those losing jobs will probably get picked up when FAA bids out portions of the project, which was suffering major cost overruns and delays. Bidders are expected to include BDM International, Hughes Aircraft, Unisys, and Raytheon.
The layoffs have left the Loral employees, many former long-time IBMers, despondent. "Morale is in the toilet," one former employee of Big Blue told Newsbytes, requesting anonymity.
In a related matter, Loral is leading a team that is bidding on a $1 billion Defense Department contract for a global, cross service electronic-mail system, designed to provide electronic communications "from the foxhole to the Pentagon."
The Loral team, which includes BBN, Boeing, GTE, and Xerox, has submitted its technical proposal, spokesman Simon Reubens told Newsbytes. The cost proposal is due later this month.
The communications system is called the "defense message system government open system interconnection profile" project. Characteristically, the Pentagon has turned this into an acronym DMS-GOSIP -- which Reubens confirms is known around the agency as "DMS-gossip."
While it may contain gossip, the new system will be secure. It will provide the first-ever classified and top-secret messaging capability across all the military services and introduce terminal-to-terminal communications to replace paper.
According to Loral, the system will use commercial, off-the shelf products to replaces various messaging systems now in use to spread electronic information. The Pentagon says it will award the contract in December.
(Kennedy Maize/19940615/Contact: Simon Reubens tel 703-367-4440)
tact: Simon Reubens tel 703-367-4440)
6/15/94
Loral To Lay Off 500, Bid For GOSIP
BUSINESS
Canada's SaskTel Offers New Tele
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- SaskTel, the company that provides local and long-distance telephone service in Saskatchewan, is the first member of the national Stentor consortium to offer a new long-distance savings plan, called REAL to its residential customers.
Other Stentor members, which provide local and long-distance service in most of Canada, are awaiting federal regulatory approval to offer the REAL plan, said SaskTel spokesman Don Savaria. SaskTel is regulated by the provincial government, which also owns it.
All residential phone customers in Saskatchewan are eligible for the REAL plan, Savaria told Newsbytes. To benefit from it though, a subscriber needs to be spending at least C$15 per month on long-distance calling.
The plan includes: a 15 percent discount on all direct-dialed and calling-card calls; 20 percent savings each month on calls to the three most-called long-distance numbers; an extension of the 35 percent discount calling period to begin at 5:00 pm rather than 6:00 pm on weeknights and to include all day Saturday; an extension of the 60 percent discount period to begin at 11:00 pm rather than midnight; and a flat rate of 19 cents per minute for all long-distance calls within a 40-mile radius of the customer's home exchange.
Subscribers to the REAL plan can also accumulate points based on long-distance usage, which they can redeem and apply to their long-distance bills.
Some provisions of the REAL plan are already available from other Stentor companies under other discount plans, such as Bell Canada's Bell Rewards and the Teleplus programs.
There is no charge to participate in REAL as long as the customer uses at least C$15 worth of long-distance service each month. In any month when the long-distance bill is less than C$15, SaskTel will levy a C$2 service charge for REAL, Savaria said. The plan is available now.
(Grant Buckler/19940614/Press Contact: Ron Podbielski, SaskTel tel 306-777-4476; Don Savaria, SaskTel, tel 306-777-4105)
-777-4476; Don Savaria, SaskTel, tel 306-777-4105)
6/15/94
Canada's SaskTel Offers New Telecom Savings Plan
TELECOM
IBM Cuts Prices On MCA Servers
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- IBM has reduced prices on its Server 85 and Server 95 systems, roughly three weeks after introducing its first server using the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) system bus. The 85 and 95 models use IBM's own Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus design.
According to company spokeswoman Nancy Meyers, the EISA-based IBM PC Server is aimed at small business customers and those constructing local area networks (LANs) for workgroups.
customer surveys by the company found that those customers wanted compatibility with the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, which EISA offers and MCA does not.
IBM still views MCA as the better choice for interconnected networks and those with more sophisticated requirements, Meyers said, and will continue to sell its MCA models to that market. However, there has been more than usual speculation in recent weeks about IBM's commitment to MCA.
The price reductions on some sample configurations are: the Server 85 433 with 33 megahertz (MHz) 486DX processor, eight megabytes (MB) of error-correcting memory, and 540MB hard disk is reduced from $5,010 to $4,260; the Server 85 466 with 66MHz 486DX2 chip, 8MB of memory, and 540MB hard disk is cut from $5,675 to $4,925; the Server 95 466 with 66MHz 486DX2, 16MB of memory, and one gigabyte (GB) hard drive goes from $9,335 to $7,535.
Additional examples include: the Server 95 560 with a 60MHz Pentium processor, 16MB of memory, and 1GB hard disk is reduced from $11,335 to $8,870; and the Server 95 Array 566, with a 66MHz Pentium chip, three 1GB hard drives, and 16MB of memory drops from $19,270 to $16,700.
IBM also said the EISA-based IBM PC Server is now shipping in volume. Its list price, with a 66MHz 486DX2 chip, 8MB of memory, and a 728MB hard disk, is $3,099. A model with a 60MHz Pentium chip, 16MB of memory, and a 1GB drive, is $4,999. The prices do not include monitors.
(Grant Buckler/19940614/Press Contact: Nancy Meyers, IBM tel 914-766-1027)
cy Meyers, IBM tel 914-766-1027)
6/15/94
IBM Cuts Prices On MCA Servers
H r
Percussion Intros 2 Prgms For Lo
b BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Six-month old Percussion Software Inc. has introduced its first products. The company says that the two software packages will help users of Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes groupware handle large Notes databases and retrieve information from databases that are not compatible with Notes.
Percussion's Notrix is a programming tool for manipulating large Notes databases and building work-flow applications. It is meant to be used by professional developers, Notes administrators, or database designers, to manipulate data in ways they cannot currently, said Audrey Augun, vice-president of product marketing.
The second package, Notrix Composer, is a tool that lets Notes users view and manipulate data from more than 50 different databases. End-users will use Composer, though it will require some initial setup by information systems people, Augun told Newsbytes.
Both packages include a program called Notrix Event Manager which can automatically trigger events in Notes or other applications in response to events in Notes databases, documents and document fields, Percussion said. For example, a brokerage firm could use this to develop a Notrix program that updates a corporate database right away when a broker enters key information into a customer form in Notes.
Notrix and Notrix Composer are available initially for network servers that use the OS/2 operating system. Notrix costs $3,495 and is available directly from Percussion Software. A Notrix Applications Developer's Kit costs $995 from Percussion. Both require OS/2 2.1 or later, OS/2 REXX, and Lotus Notes 3.0 or later.
Notrix Composer lists at $4,995 and is available from Percussion Software and from Information Builders Inc. of New York. It requires Information Builders' EDA/SQL Server 1.3 or later, the appropriate EDA/Data Drivers, OS/2 2.1 or later, OS/2 REXX, and Notes 3.0.
Versions of Notrix and Notrix Composer for Novell's NetWare Microsoft's Windows NT, and Unix will be released in late 1994 and early 1995, Percussion said, and the company is talking with other database and tools providers to provide further options that link Notes directly with other databases.
(Grant Buckler/19940614/Press Contact: Audrey Augun Percussion Software, tel 617-267-6700, fax 617-266-2810; Public Contact: Percussion Software, tel 617-267-6700)
c Contact: Percussion Software, tel 617-267-6700)
6/15/94
Percussion Intros 2 Prgms For Lotus Notes Users
NECC - Scholastic's Internet Edu
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Scholastic Network's new Scholastic Internet Services will give students and teachers a place for "one-stop educational shopping," said Eadie Adamson, manager of network development, in an interview with Newsbytes at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Boston.
Launched at the show, Scholastic's new Internet services include a series of academic subject-specific on-line "libraries;" a special area that will supply electronic newsletters, lessons plans and other information free of charge; and the Ultimate Education Store, an online catalog of Scholastic products.
Each of the new Internet services is fully searchable, equipped with digitized graphics, and outfitted with a Mosaic graphical user interface (GUI), according to Adamson. The services are based on technology developed by Wide Area Information Services (WAIS), a partner of New York City-based Scholastic Inc.
The new Internet services represent Scholastic's second foray into the online world, said the manager of network development. The publisher's experiences with "Scholastic Network on America Online (AOL)" -- which was rolled out at NECC '93 in Orlando, Florida are proving the power and potential of online services in education, she added.
"People are contributing a wealth of information to the Scholastic Network," Adamson told Newsbytes. Right after the recent Los Angeles earthquake, for instance, a bulletin board was started on Scholastic's AOL service that let students in California and New York communicate about the quake by electronic mail. "New York kids could ask questions, and California kids received an outlet."
Other bulletin boards that have sprung up on Scholastic's AOL service include a "grants center" and a folklore area, she illustrated. Members of the Scholastic Network on AOL will have full access to Scholastic's new Internet services.
With the Internet services, Scholastic "will be able to offer the same kinds of services over the Internet as we do in print, and more," Adamson maintained. The Internet's electronic mail services are becoming increasingly important to educators everywhere Newsbytes was told. "But the Internet is a lot more than e-mail."
Scholastic is hand-selecting all the items included in its Internet services, a move that will save teachers as well as students from "bouncing around from one gopher to another to find everything they need," Adamson said. Many teachers are not experts in computer technology, and for most educators, time is at a premium, she explained.
The first three libraries in the Scholastic Internet Libraries which deal with "reading and language arts," "middle-school science," and "integrating technology" -- are already up and running. A fourth library, featuring "seasonal" classroom activities and calendars, is slated to go online by the end of next week.
The first four libraries will contain more than 50,000 full-text articles, according to Adamson. "And there will be more libraries," she pledged. Scholastic is now looking into possible subject areas and will announce more libraries in another month or so, she noted.
The science library already has sections for kids as well as instructors, Adamson said. The reading/language arts and technology libraries are currently for teachers only. But all of the subject libraries will ultimately be geared to both groups of users.
The Scholastic Internet Libraries are available to state education networks, as well as to regional phone companies and internet providers for site license to schools and other account holders she said.
Several organizations are now evaluating the libraries, including the New York City Board of Education; the Texas State Network Telecommunication Service (TENET); the Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN); Big Sky Telegraph of Montana; and the Mississippi Libraries Statewide Information Network Task Force.
The new Scholastic Internet Center, in contrast, is available to all 29 million Internet users free of charge, according to Adamson. An estimated 100,000 of all Internet users are US teachers and students in grades K-12, Scholastic estimates.
Scholastic's new Ultimate Education Store is designed to let users browse through magazines, software kits, curriculum kits educational kits, and other materials available for sale from Scholastic, the network development manager told Newsbytes.
Also available in the online store is an "electronic order form" that can be downloaded, filled in, and then uploaded for online buying of instructional materials, she said.
d Friedman, 212-343-6878, e-mail toddotodd@aol.com)
6/15/94
NECC - Scholastic's Internet Educational Services
GENERAL
Cray Computer Gets Temporary Fin
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Cray Computer Corporation, the supercomputer company that has been hemorrhaging buckets of money while it seeks its first system sale, has gotten a transfusion in the form of a $17.5 million line of credit.
Cray says it has arranged the loan with a New York finance company. However, at the current rate of expenditure just to keep the doors open - about $11 million a quarter - the money is only expected to last through the end of the year.
The loan is secured. Cray had to mortgage just about everything it owns and company founder Seymour Cray had to put up $5 million of his own money as collateral in order to convince Congress Financial Corporation to get the backing.
Cray real estate and equipment assets are reportedly carried on the books at about $25 million, but Congress would only loan $11.5 million unless Seymour Cray pledged the additional $5 million.
The end of the year, the end of the money and the hoped-for debut of the Cray-4 will all arrive at about the same time. The company says the Cray-4 will offer about twice the performance at half the price of the never-sold Cray-3 system.
Cray President Terry Willkom told the Gazette Telegraph newspaper the company might consider selling some of its technology to stay alive. He said Cray's gallium arsenide semiconductor and printed circuit board designs and its manufacturing processes all could be sold to other high-tech companies.
Cray got past a similar crisis about a year ago when it sold $30 million in stock to institutional and private investors. The company lost nearly $48 million last year.
Cray stock is now hovering just pennies above $1 per share closing unchanged the past two days at $1.09.
(Jim Mallory/19940615/Press and reader contact: Cray Computer Corporation, 719-579-6464)
contact: Cray Computer Corporation, 719-579-6464)
6/15/94
Cray Computer Gets Temporary Financial Reprieve
BUSINESS
Survey Says Pen Computers Taking
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Contrary to the industry picture only a year ago, pen computing is finally "taking off," with numerous commercial deployments actually in place, above and beyond mere market trials, according to a new survey by New Futures World Marketing.
The top three application areas for pen computing today are "sales," "medical," and a category called "on-site inspection" that covers everything from field engineering to athletic recruitment said Ken Roberts, president of the Menlo, California-based market research firm, in an interview with Newsbytes.
Due to the greater availability of pen hardware and software together with "the accumulation of a critical mass of experience with pen computing," the tentative pilots of a year or two ago have coalesced into company-wide regional or nationwide implementations, according to Roberts.
Users are finding they do not need handwriting recognition, a long standing technical bugaboo, to reap the rewards that pen computing can bring in terms of mobility and keyboardless communications the market researcher said.
"In 85 to 95 percent of applications, pen computing does not depend on handwriting recognition. Handwriting recognition does have a place, but the technology is still evolving," he told Newsbytes.
Companies are getting around the need for handwriting recognition by using checklists, Roberts explained. Where handwriting recognition is used, it tends to be restricted to numbers, which are much easier than letters for the computer to detect, he said.
In an application within the "on-site inspection" category, the US Department of Agriculture is using pen computing for biological surveys, according to Roberts. The biologists fill in numbers by hand. ("Ten feet, two inches" for "height of plant," for example.)
In another "on-site inspection" application, he added, basketball scouts are toting pen computers on to the court, where they jot down statistics on the numbers and distances of shots completed by players. These numbers can then be calculated and analyzed in any number of ways for recruitment purposes.
In more "traditional" kind of application, the city of Englewood New Jersey, is using pen computers to check off hazardous materials and other fire hazards observed on fire inspection tours, Roberts said.
Field Resources Group, Roslyn Height, New York, has developed an environmental engineering application that is "going like gangbusters," he added. Used at outdoor Superfund clean-up sites the pen computing application prevents the wind and rain damage that used to afflict inspection reports back in the days when they were done on paper.
Most of the new commercial pen deployments, Roberts said, are being performed on larger machines -- such as pads, tablets, and convertibles -- although "many people who are doing prototypes are looking at the Newton and Zoomer."
Also over the past year, computer makers have addressed the long-standing problem of pen hardware scarcity, according to Roberts.
Fujitsu, Grid, AST, Toshiba, and NEC have all come out with "reliable" pen models, the researcher maintained. "I've also heard a lot of enthusiasm over the IBM units."
Most pen applications are still DOS-based, due to the larger memory and hard disk space requirements of Windows applications, the need for longer battery life, and "the fact that Windows applications don't tend to look as good on a small form factor screen," he said.
Other applications have been developed for proprietary systems such as Go and Geos, he noted. "The Go system didn't work out, but the jury's still out on Geos," Newsbytes was told. Aside from low power consumption, the "rationale" for the small-kerneled Geos is that "it will run very quickly on a small platform."
Roberts predicted that personal digital assistants (PDAs) will soon join larger pen computers in commercial deployment, as their processing and battery power -- and their ability to run standard graphical applications -- continue to move ahead in the future.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940615/Reader and Press Contact: Ken Roberts, New Futures World Marketing Group, 415-324-9296)
res World Marketing Group, 415-324-9296)
6/15/94
Survey Says Pen Computers Taking Off
TRENDS
Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- The new high-end processing platforms are particularly attractive to users of processor-intensive applications. Now Virtus Corp. has begun shipping a Power Macintosh version of its Virtus VR program, which allows users to "build and explore three dimensional (3-D) virtual worlds."
According to the company, the software features construction and navigation tools, galleries of 3-D objects, and six pre-built scenes "that illustrate the program's modeling, texture-mapping and real-time 'walkthrough' capabilities."
Virtus says both Apple and Motorola demonstrated Virtus VR for the Power Macintosh at this year's Spring Comdex in Atlanta because the software highlights the speed and power of the PowerPC microprocessor.
In announcing the product, Frank Boosman, general manager of Virtus Corp., said: "The speed of the Power Macintosh brings Virtus' vision of virtual worlds for the personal computer closer to reality. The Power Macintosh allows Virtus software to fluidly render complex scenes and -- in the future -- will make it possible to offer specialized shading techniques and animation."
Virtus VR is shipping with the 68000-based and PowerPC-based versions in the same package. A "smart installer" reportedly installs the appropriate version.
The software is priced at $99. Current registered users of Virtus VR can upgrade to the Power Macintosh version for $20, including shipping and handling.
Founded in 1990, the company is privately held, but is also backed by Motorola's New Enterprises Division. Virtus software has been employed in the development of major motion pictures, including "The Abyss" and "The Firm."
(Ian Stokell/19940615/Press Contact: Frank Boosman or Ashley W. Sharp, Virtus Corp., tel 919-467-9700, fax 919-460-4530)
919-467-9700, fax 919-460-4530)
6/15/94
Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships
APPLE
Fault Tolerance Software For Win
CHALFONT, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- P&W Technologies has announced the availability of a software package it says provides real-time data fault tolerance software for Microsoft Windows NT.
The program, called Octopus, uses "electronic vaulting" technology to ensure "virtually continuous" operations without loss of data in the event of electrical failure, natural disaster, or accidental human error, according to P&W. The term "electronic vaulting" refers to the secure storage of data and has its roots in the mainframe community.
Octopus works on a file-by-file basis, allowing the user to designate the files they want to protect. That keeps the system overhead lower than the use of disk mirroring, a technique that makes an exact duplicate of an entire computer disk for use in case of disaster. Using Octopus, the user selects the files to be mirrored from a selection screen. The company says files are current up to the last transaction prior to a system failure.
Once a file is designated for protection, any changes made to it are captured in real-time by Octopus and routed to what P&W calls a "guarded file repository," which can be any storage device connected to a personal computer, workstation or server running Windows NT. It can be a LAN (local area network) or WAN (wide area network) connected via Ethernet, Token Ring, X.25 or other standard networking configurations that are supported by Windows NT.
Octopus can operate in a "one-to-one," "one-to-many," or "many-to one" mode. In the one-to-many mode, users can send a single set of files to multiple locations on the LAN or WAN. That allows data to be stored both on- and off-site. In the many-to-one mode, files from various locations can be sent to a single location.
Octopus is shipping now. P&W spokesperson Wayne Fluri told Newsbytes pricing is server-based, ranging from $3,795 for the first server license with up to 100 users to $4,975 for a server with unlimited clients. Quantity discounts apply, and one year of maintenance is included.
Fluri said P&W is developing a version of Octopus for Microsoft's "Chicago" software, and if sufficient beta testing can be accomplished in time, will ship the same time Chicago does. He said the company is also considering versions for Novell and OS/2. No Unix version is anticipated due to the manner in which that operating system handles files.
(Jim Mallory/19940615/Press contact: Wayne Fluri, P&W Technologies, 215-822-8075; Reader contact: P&W Technologies 800-919-1009 or 215-822-8075)
echnologies 800-919-1009 or 215-822-8075)
6/15/94
Fault Tolerance Software For Windows NT
Difficulties For Korean Computer
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Domestic computer makers are having difficulties from foreign companies' low-priced products and an extreme depression in exports.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the related industries, foreign companies, including IBM and Compaq, lowered their overall PC prices twice last year by 30-40% and are offering 486 computers at 20% off this year.
Domestic PC makers like Samsung, Trigem, Hyundai, GoldStar and Daewoo are inevitably following suit, while competing against low-priced products from small PC assemblers.
The PC market share of foreign makers increased from below one percent to three percent last year and will be over five percent this year, the Ministry said.
Domestic companies are paying royalties of 12 percent of sales to TI, IBM and MicroSoft of the US. However, IBM decided to raise its royalty to five percent next year from four percent.
On the other hand, computer exports for November and December last year decreased 10 percent and 26.8 percent from the same period of 1992 and decreased 13.3 percent during the first four months of this year.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
this year.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
6/15/94
Difficulties For Korean Computer Makers
BUSINESS
Korean Semiconductor Equipment S
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- According to a survey by the Korea Semiconductor Association of 29 domestic semiconductor equipment makers, sales of domestically produced semiconductor products are projected to be 162.886 billion won this year, a 95.4 percent increase from last year owing to a 100-200 percent growth of process and assembly equipment.
Inspection equipment increased 196.7 percent from last year to 44.99 billion won and process equipment increased 104.8 percent to 40.975 billion won. Utility and assembly equipment are also expected to show 72.5 percent and 38 percent increases to 51.98 billion won and 24.941 billion won respectively.
If the companies achieve their sales plans this year, the ratios of inspection and process equipment in the entire equipment manufacturing volume are estimated to increase 9.4 percent and 1.2 percent, from 18.2 percent and 24 percent last year respectively, while utility and assembly equipment are expected to decrease 6.4 percent and 4.2 percent from 21.7 percent and 36.1 percent, respectively.
Domestic market growth last year was led by assembly and process equipment with 18.071 billion won, a 50.2 percent increase and 20.002 billion won, a 25.8 percent increase respectively.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
respectively.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
6/15/94
Korean Semiconductor Equipment Sales Rise
TRENDS
Korea - Computer News Roundup
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- In this week's computer news from Korea: boomerang effect of electronic products from China, distribution network expansion for multimedia market, development of PCS system started, Samsung to create telecommunication, satellite business in Russia.
Boomerang Effect Of Electronic Products From China
Imports of electronic products and parts produced by Korean companies in China are sharply increasing. According to the Electronic Industries Association of Korea, such imports from China reached $95.16 million during January-April this year, up 58.9% from the same period last year. Imports of electronic parts totaled $53.13 million, a 69.1% increase, leading the import boom. The industry explains that Korean companies have established a low-cost Chinese manufacturing base since 1990. In a dual manufacturing system, they produce high priced advanced products in Korea and low priced products in China. Imports from China will continuously grow as investments in finished goods plants are increasing.
Distribution Network Expansion For Multimedia Market
According to the related industries on June 1, software distribution companies including Korea Soft, Myungje, Soft Town and Dong-a Family are expanding their distribution networks by adding outlets in anticipation of rapid growth of the multimedia market including CD-ROMs within one or two years. Korea Soft signed contracts with 40 stores nationwide and plans to keep increasing outlets. Soft Town plans to open a large multimedia shop next month and operate a multimedia business department in the company to expand outlets. Myungje Ltd. importing and selling CD-ROM titles from the US, opened three multimedia stores in downtown areas. Dong-a Family Ltd. is trying to secure branches. Builtin CD, developer of CD-ROM titles, signed a contract with "CD Generation", a store in Inchon.
Development Of PCS System Started
Korea Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.(KMC) announced a joint development plan on June 7 for a PCS (personal communications system) together with six mobile communications-related companies (GoldStar, Daewoo, Samsung, Hyundai, Optical Electronics, and Mirae Mobile Communications). The plan aims at developing domestic equipment for commercial use by '97, which comply with international CDMA (code division multiple access) standards. As a first stage for national standardization technicians from each company will be sent to KMC's central research institute. According to the plan, a portable terminal will be priced at around 100,000 won and a general terminal with extensive features at around 200,000 won.
Samsung To Do Telecommunication, Satellite Business In Russia
Samsung Electronics is entering Russia's telecommunication and satellite market by forming a $200 million joint venture with a state-run electronics company. They agreed to build a plant this year to produce TDXs and satellites. President Yeltsin plans to support the project as a national one and will ask Korea's President, who is now visiting the country, to provide economic support. Prior to this, Samsung established a joint venture with ATE, also a Russian state-run company, to produce TDXs, but operation has yet to begin because of a shortage of funds on the Russian side. TDX demand in Russia is steadily increasing as the country is expanding its infrastructure.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
6/15/94
Korea - Computer News Roundup
GENERAL
Korea - Foreign Info Comms Equip
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- The Korean information communication market is being led by foreign products in the early stage, as domestic companies failed to anticipate the timing for commercial services, and have not sufficiently improved product quality.
According to the related industries, advanced information communication equipment, including cable TV transmission equipment, mobile communication systems, and optical transmission systems, are being developed by domestic companies, but are far behind foreign products in commercialization.
Large companies like Samsung and GoldStar won orders with foreign products, assuming the $100 billion domestic market will be dominated by foreign products for coaxial optical transmission, AM and FM optical transmission equipment.
Also, foreign companies are being selected as suppliers for optical transmission systems purchase by Korea Telecom Corp., (KT), making it difficult for the Korean optical transmission system jointly developed by domestic communications companies including ETRI (Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute) with a 20 billion won investment.
Mobile communication facilities have recently been localized, but are finding no entry into the domestic market, which is already dominated by foreign products.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
foreign products.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
6/15/94
Korea - Foreign Info Comms Equipment Dominates
TRENDS
Japan - Telecom News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- In today's roundup of telecom news in Japan: NTT to reduce F-Net fax service rates by year end, KDD and AT&T to begin connectivity application tests with ATM switches, JAL to develop next-generation communications network which will use frame relay switching system, JCM to expand Teleterminal service area, MPT lab to conduct terrestrial digital broadcast tests.
NTT To Reduce F-Net Fax Service Rates By Year End
NTT is considering reducing the rates for its F-Net facsimile communications network service by the end of the year. The cut is expected to be in the region of 10% and is aimed at strengthening NTT's lead in this market in the face of competition from rival Recruit. Recruit's rates are currently up to 10% cheaper than NTT's. F-Net, which offers such functions as store-and-forward and multi-destination delivery, was launched in fall 1981, and NTT had gained about 61,000 subscribers as of the end of last year.
KDD, AT&T Begin Connectivity Application Tests With ATM Switches
KDD and At&t, which have been conducting joint ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switch connectivity tests since July 1993, will shortly begin full-scale application tests. Tests will cover use of LANs (local area networks), phones, and teleconferencing and database systems, and they will run for six months to a year. The tests are being carried out using the Trans-Pacific Cable 4 (tpc- 4) linking KDD's headquarters with AT&T's Bell Labs in New Jersey at a transmission rate of 4.5Mbit/s. This fall, KDD will also begin connectivity tests with other major overseas carriers, including Deutsche Telekom.
JAL Developing Comms Network Using Frame Relay Switching
Japan Airlines will develop a next-generation communications network which will use a frame relay switching system consisting of 31 Fujitsu-made frame relay switches, 180 PADs (packet assembler/disassemblers), and monitors. The airline company will invest 3.5 billion yen ($33.7 million) in network construction which it estimates will be recovered in about two years, since line operating costs will be substantially lowered compared to the packet network it uses.
JCM To Expand Teleterminal Service Area
Japan City Media (JCM) will expand the service area for its Teleterminal digital data communications service. The service is currently offered primarily in Tokyo's 23 wards, but JCM plans to invest about 1.0 billion yen ($9.6 million) over the next two years to add 10 radio base stations and expand coverage into Kanagawa Ibaraki, and Chiba Prefectures. JCM adopted fixed service rates and started selling personal communications terminals in April and together with the service area expansion hopes to boost its subscribership approximately tenfold to 30,000-40,000 subscribers in fiscal 1995.
MPT Lab To Conduct Terrestrial Digital Broadcast Tests
MPT's Communications Research Laboratory will shortly begin terrestrial digital broadcast tests which are expected to begin in fiscal 1995. It will construct a prototype OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) device in order to conduct lab transmission tests. The field tests are expected to use a vehicle to test reception of digital images outdoors. Used to transmit images and audio, OFDM supports the international MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) compression standard. The ministry plans to set technical standards for digital broadcasting by 1996.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
6/15/94
Japan - Telecom News Briefs
TELECOM
Japan - Computer News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- In today's roundup of items making news in Japan: Matsushita Electric develops 200MHz 16Mbit synchronous DRAM, Micromachine market forecast to balloon to 1.9 trillion yen ($18.27 billion) by 2010 Fujitsu and Sun To negotiate workstation development plans Matsushita Electric Works develops virtual reality system NEC to double CD-ROM drive sales to 2.5 million units in fiscal 1994, Matsushita Electric to market page printer priced below 90,000 yen ($865) and Oki Electric to shift some fax and printer production to Thailand.
Matsushita Electric Develops 200MHz 16Mbit Synchronous DRAM
Matsushita Electric has developed a 16Mbit synchronous DRAM which operates at a clock speed of 200 megahertz (MHz). Sample shipment is slated for April 1995. Designed using a 0.3-micron process, a 64Mbit DRAM production process, the chip measures 5.82x14.26 millimeters (mm), about 20% smaller than conventional synchronous DRAMs. The stacked memory cell is 1.7 microns square. The company claims that the 1Mword x 16-bit chip can transfer data at 3.2Gbit/s, about 10 times faster than conventional DRAMs. Featuring a block access mode, the chip is suited for processing video images at high speed. Matsushita Electronics will start volume production at a new plant it is building in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, in the fall of 1995.
Micromachine Market Worth 1.9 Trillion Yen By 2010
Japan's market for micromachines is likely to balloon to 1.9 trillion yen ($18.27 billion) by 2010, according to estimates by the Micro- machine Center. The estimate, which represents a 14-fold increase in size over the current market, is based on an anticipated huge growth in the multimedia market. The technology for micromachines is still in its infancy, the center said. The center added that it hopes the new report, which was commissioned as part of a study by the Japan Machinery Federation, will serve as a guide for companies and research institutes.
Fujitsu, Sun To Negotiate Workstation Development Plans
Fujitsu and Sun Microsystems will in September start a negotiation in which they will discuss integrating their engineering workstation development plans. Fujitsu, which OEM (original equipment manufacturer)-procures Sparc workstations from Sun, plans to release in the fall a Sun-compatible model based on the Hypersparc a 32-bit RISC (reduced instruction-set computer) processor. The Japanese company wants to clearly identify development responsibilities in order to avoid competition with Sun which recently introduced new models.
Matsushita Electric Works Develops Virtual Reality System
Matsushita Electric Works has developed a low-cost, PC-based virtual reality system which simulates kitchen interiors. In contrast to conventional virtual reality systems which use a workstation connected to an expensive head-mounted display Matsushita's system uses a 32-bit IBM- compatible PC and low cost three-dimensional (3-D) glasses. Matsushita claims the system, which can be built for about 2 million yen ($19,231) is the world's first full-fledged virtual reality system to be based on a PC. It will display the system at Osaka and Tokyo showrooms later this month.
NEC-HE To Double CD-ROM Drive Sales To 2.5 Million Units
NEC HOME Electronics plans to nearly double sales of its CD-ROM drives in fiscal 1994 to 2.5 million units. Demand for CD-ROM drives for use with PCs, particularly in the US, has been climbing sharply. The company aims to boost sales in the North American market more than two-fold to 1.5 million units and for the Japanese and other markets by at least 60% to one million units. The company, which has been suffering from pre-tax losses, has designated CD-ROM drives as a strategic product that should help earnings recover. The company's sales of the product in fiscal 1993 came to 1.3 million units, up more than three-fold from the previous fiscal year.
Matsushita Electric Page Printer Priced Below 90,000 Yen
On July 1, Matsushita Electric will begin marketing a compact page printer priced at 89,800 yen ($856). The KXI PN300W is reportedly the first printer of this type to be priced below the 100,000 yen ($962) level, and is the company's first to use an LED (light emitting diode) printing method. The printer, which is used with Windows PCs, requires no cooling fan and is about 40% more compact than products from other makers on the market. The company also plans to release a Macintosh version the Pn300m, on September 1. The price of the PN300M has yet to be determined, but is expected to be about the same as the Pn300w.
Oki To shift Some Fax And Printer Production To Thailand
Oki Electric plans to reorganize its facsimile and printer production operations. It will start producing half of its domestically made faxes and printers to its parts factory in Thailand after doubling the plant's output capacity. The move which will result in 55% of the output of the two products being made abroad, up from the current 10%, is aimed at improving the earnings of the division, which is now suffering losses due to the appreciation of the yen. Oki managed to post pre-tax gains for fiscal 1993, ended March.
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
(Terry Silveria/19940615)
6/15/94
Japan - Computer News Briefs
GENERAL
UK - Mercury Cuts Pricing, Intro
BOREHAMWOOD, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Mercury One-2-One, one of the two GSM-1800 (global system for mobile communications - 1,800 megahertz) digital phone networks in the UK has revamped its service pricing for business customers. Personal customers are unaffected by the changes, which begin on June 20.
Under the changes, call charges are reduced and there are new options for flat-rate off-peak local calls, plus discounted international calls, which Mercury claims are cheaper than those of British Telecom.
The monthly line rental falls from UKP20 to UKP17.50, while peak rate calls fall from 16pence (p) to 14p a minute. Off-peak calls remain at 8p a minute, but the off-peak time rate has been extended to include all day at the weekend.
The flat rate local calls option costs UKP10 a month. After 9pm and before 7am weekdays, as well as all weekends, customers get their local calls free of any extra charges. The real savings are for international calls. In return for UKP 2.99 per month extra, calls to international destinations are guaranteed to be at least 10 percent cheaper than British Telecom charges on an equivalent per minute basis.
Announcing the new business customer charges, Richard Goswell One-2-One's managing director, said that he is determined that One-2-One will offer its customers the best value for money "and to introduce appealing new ideas that show we are different."
He continued: "For weekday mobile phone users that means the best weekday value, coupled with the chance to make free off-peak local calls at evenings and weekends. It's the best of both worlds. What's more, if they have our new international calls option Mercury One-2-One customers can call abroad at very attractive rates and without the fear of sky-high charges."
_ WEYBRIDGE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Figures released by several market research companies in the UK have confirmed that sales of notebook computers are really starting to take-off.
During March of this year (the latest month the figures are available for), the highest ever volume of notebook PCs were sold. According to Toshiba, which came first with 44.2 percent of the market in March this is because the majority of government and government information technology (IT) departments go on their end of year "annual spending spree" during this month.
Romtec's figures show Toshiba ahead of Compaq (19.1 percent) and IBM (9.1 percent), closely followed by AST and Apple Computer with respectively, 7.1 and 6.1 percent of notebook computer sales. The rest of the notebook market had a 14.4 percent market share Newsbytes notes.
According to Toshiba, this trend is not just confined to the UK. Toshiba cites the Dataquest and IDC figures from France and Germany for March 1994 as showing the company ahead in sales terms.
"With Toshiba being the market leader in both the major mainland European markets, as well as in the UK, we have gained a triple win and the crown of being number one in notebooks," Andy Bass Toshiba's UK marketing manager told Newsbytes.
Interestingly, Bass claims that Toshiba's own figures show that color notebooks are starting to take off as never before, moving from being a minority sales item to securing 50 percent of the installed base as of March.
The trend towards color notebooks has been another reason why Toshiba has done well in sales terms, despite the price differences with other machines. Bass said that, customers have now abandoned many of the lesser-known brands in favor of Toshiba, which has a proven track record in color notebook sales.
Bass cites the annual readership survey by Banner & Co, a London based company, which investigated the buying habits of IT specifiers and decision markets. The findings, Bass said, confirm Toshiba' position in the market -- of the companies questioned, more than 60 percent were already using portable PCs, while in companies with 200 or more staff, that figure rose to 70 percent. Toshiba he said, accounted for the bulk of these notebooks.
(Steve Gold/19940615/Press & Public Contact: Toshiba Information Systems (UK) tel +44-932-841600, fax: +44-932-845606)
-932-841600, fax: +44-932-845606)
6/15/94
Notebook PC Sales Soaring In UK
Sydney Home Computer Show Attrac
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- The Home Computer Show in Sydney attracted more visitors than last year, but it also attracted unwelcome attention from the press. Two stands that were selling CD-ROM disks had devoted large display areas to their X-rated disks, and much of the showgoing audience was school-age.
After many protests from the public and other exhibitors the show organizers AES asked the offending stands to remove the items, although an AES spokesman said he was unsure that they could force the issue. Part of the problem stems from the fact that laws have not caught up with this technology. Film and videotape versions of X-rated movies are only available for sale in the Australian Capital and not in any of the states.
A glance through many Australian computer magazines shows mail-order companies offering these disks, from as low as AUS$20 (around US$15). These disks are mostly manufactured in the US and range from what appear from the titles to be swimsuit parades to well-known X-rated movies.
(Paul Zucker/19940616)
l-known X-rated movies.
(Paul Zucker/19940616)
6/17/94
Sydney Home Computer Show Attracts Bad Publicity
GENERAL
UK - Mercury Announces Follow Me
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Mercury Communications has unveiled a computerized call intercept service known as Mercury One Call. The idea is that callers to a business person dial one number and have the exchange track down the called party.
"The flexibility of One Call will appeal to businesses whose staff travel frequently yet need to stay in touch," explained Ian Lunn, One Call's product manager. "It eliminates the hassle of managing a hat-full of different phone numbers -- such as office, home, fax pager and mobile -- for users and callers alike.
According to Lunn, One Call can be highly customized to meet the needs of major companies, at whom the service is pitched at. "For example, we can tailor One Call to integrate with existing voice mail systems, specific computer applications, or to route calls over private networks -- and as a network-based service, all users benefit from upgrades and investments in the core platform," he said.
Initially, One Call is only available on new 071, 081, Freecall 0500 and Localcall 0645 numbers. Service will be rolled out in line with customer demand. "Obviously, if a national company wanted service across the UK, we'd do our best to accommodate them," Emma Tarring of the Mercury press office told Newsbytes.
"We're concentrating on the London area in the main at the moment as that is where the bulk of our business will be initially," she said.
No upfront call charges are payable with One Call. According to Mercury, "it expects" call revenue of between UKP40 and UKP90 per mobile professional on the service. In use, callers dial the One Call number and it tries all the available numbers programmed into its memory banks, before routing calls to voice-mail.
From the users' perspective, a dedicated One Call number is given and the user dials this number to retrieve voice-mail and fax messages. Outgoing calls from any location can also be charged to the user's account, regardless of where the calls starts from. The service can even "call back" the user to avoid high hotel bill surcharges.
The system is based around Mercury's existing network infrastructure and services, supplemented by software developed by Prairie Systems in the US. Mercury claims that flexibility of the service allows the company to digest any feedback from the customer and develop the service further to meet customer needs.
According to Tarring, the One Call service is aimed at medium to large businesses. A smaller user service, suitable for one-man businesses and the like, will be launch in the fall of this year she told Newsbytes.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Sony's new Sony Computer Entertainment division says LSI Logic is manufacturing a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that has three high-performance subsystems, including a MIPS central processing unit (CPU), to do the work inside its new CD Playstation home gaming system.
LSI claims the Playstation will offer performance of up to 500 million instructions-per-second (MIPS), roughly twice as fast as any gaming system currently on the market.
Also called Playstation, the LSI ASIC for the game system is part of a vertical marketing strategy the company calls "computer-on a-chip." The miniaturization of components in a sub-micron manufacturing process coupled with the previous licensing of RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) technology from MIPS makes it possible for LSI to put workstation capability on a chip small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, claims the companies.
Playstation actually offers three processors: a built-in 32-bit MIPS RISC processor that software developers will write to; a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) decompression processor; and a graphics transformation engine for doing the calculations necessary for two- and three-dimensional images.
The MIPS processor alone is capable of speeds up to 200 MIPS. The graphics engine, or graphics processing unit (GPU) can generate images up to 360,000 polygons-per-second and can move up to 4,000 two-dimensional images, also known as "spites," in a field.
Sony officials said JPEG was chosen instead of the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compression standard because it is easier to use for computer graphics. No plans are in the works to make the unit MPEG-compatible so it can play movies, although the unit will play audio CDs, company officials said.
The system is expected to be available in Japan this year at a retail price of 50,000 yen, or about $500. About 170 licensees are working on titles in Japan, and while there are US licensees company officials could not say how many. Sony is planning release of the system in the US in 1995.
Surprisingly, company officials said they do not feel the Playstation is a competitor with the RISC-based 3DO Real CD Multiplayer game system, built and marketed by Panasonic and designed by 3DO.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940615/Press Contact: Jeffrey Fox, Sony Electronic Publishing Company, tel 310-449-2371, fax 310-449 2412; S. Fujishima, Sony Computer Entertainment, 011-81-3 3475-7309, Bruce Entin, LSI Logic, Bruce Entin, 408-433-4067)
09, Bruce Entin, LSI Logic, Bruce Entin, 408-433-4067)
6/15/94
Sony's New Playstation Uses LSI's Computer-On-A-Chip
TRENDS
India - Independent Telecom Auth
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- The Government proposes to set up a regulatory authority to provide a "fair and level playing field" for all service providers in telecommunications sector. The entire exercise will be finalized within a month, says the Minister of State for Communications, Sukh Ram.
The authority will be independent and would not be headed by the director general or chairman of the Department of Telecommunications, he said.
The minister has already visited Denmark and Sweden to study the pattern of telecom authorities in those countries and proposes to visit a few more.
While proposals to set up the regulatory body were made in a telecom policy submitted to the cabinet, its implementation did not find mention in the subsequent policy announcement made before the Prime minister's visit to the United State recently.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940624)
ited State recently.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940624)
6/24/94
India - Independent Telecom Authority Coming Soon
TELECOM
Davidson Demos Multimedia Worksh
MCI-BT Deal Cleared By US Justic
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- The US Justice Department gave conditional approval to MCI's proposed joint venture with British Telecom, under which BT will buy 20 percent of MCI for $4.3 billion. The joint venture between the two companies, called Concert, immediately opened for business.
According to BT and MCI, Concert is now the world's most far reaching advanced network, linking more than 5,000 network access points in 55 countries by next spring. Chris Earnshaw of BT is the group's chief executive officer.
The companies are establishing five Global Customer Support Centers in London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo and Cary, North Carolina. They will all offer multi-currency billing support and 24-hour customer support, in multiple languages. The Paris center, for instance, will accommodate customer queries in 15 European languages and dialects.
Among the company's offerings are virtual network services videoconferencing, electronic data interchange (EDI) electronic invoicing, and customer management services, including facilities and network management, under the Syncordia brand.
Both MCI and BT will distribute the company's products and services. Some 20 initial customers were announced, including Holiday Inn Worldwide, First Data Corporation, Glaxo, and British Petroleum. The management services company is based in Reston Virginia.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940615/Press Contact: MCI, 202-887-3000; James Barron, British Telecommunications, 212-297-2724)
ritish Telecommunications, 212-297-2724)
6/15/94
MCI-BT Deal Cleared By US Justice Dept
TELECOM
Spill-Resistant Keyboard
New Group Focuses On Cybertrespa
UK - Vodafone GSM Net Gets Voice
Bookworm Multimedia Dev't Tool L
COMDEX - MindPath Offers New Pre
UK - Optech Handles BT Directory
Medio Intros New PC Multimedia T
Court Says Micrografx Shareholde
Canadian News Service Based On L
Electronic Commerce On The Inter
Ungermann-Bass Changes Name
Knowledgeware Acquires Database
Sprint/France Telecom/Deutsche T
Digital Funhouse Caricature Arti
Lotus Scores Major Danish SmartS
Denmark - Olicom Boosts Token Ri
Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Onl
Hongkong - 3Com, Novell's Integr
CES - Recording Industry Exec Ca
More On Ziff Interchange & Star
CES - Compton's Intros Multiple
UK - Wall Data Announces Salsa B
Sprint Deal With Int'l Firms Dra
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- When MCI announced its tie-up with British Telecom, its stock shot-up in price. Sprint's announcement that it will link with France Telecom and Deutsche Bundespost Telekom actually sent its stock tumbling nearly 10 percent in price.
The fall in Sprint's price is based on skepticism about whether the deal will go through, and how long it might take if it does. DBT and France Telekom agreed to pay prices of $47-50 per share for their stakes, amounting to 20 percent of Sprint's current equity, but currently you can buy the stock for about $37.
Bond-rating agencies were far more enthusiastic. Standard & Poor's, Duff & Phelps, and Fitch all put the stock on "alert" for a possible rating upgrade. But the upgrade would be from low levels. Sprint already has $5 billion in debt, and S&P would only consider raising its rating to single-A from BBB, Duff & Phelps is considering a rise from BBB+, and Fitch is thinking of a rise from the same level.
The big problem remains the fact that the French and German telephone service markets remain closed to foreign competition. Their equipment markets are somewhat open, a point the two firms made repeatedly at a June 14 teleconference, and the services market is due for opening in 1998.
Officials also asserted the French and German markets are more open than other European markets. This was a point made by Helmut Ricke, chairman of the management board at Deutsche Telekom, in Sprint's teleconference. Marcel Roulet, chairman of France Telecom, said much the same thing.
AT&T has already said it will formally object to the Sprint deal saying the French and German markets remain locked "tighter than a drum." French unions are also objecting to the deal, fearing US competition and job cut-backs. MCI's reaction was more laid back.
There was no press statement issued, and a spokesman told Newsbytes that the company would welcome the competition. The call from Newsbytes came just moments before MCI issued a press statement noting that the Justice Department had approved its deal with British Telecom.
Sprint will argue that the US needs this deal, since the French and German networks, combined with Sprint's own, carry more international traffic than either AT&T or BT-MCI.
The deal is still preliminary, and will not be fully negotiated until the end of this year. After that the Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department would both have to approve it from the US side, as would European authorities. Some states might get involved as Sprint owns both local and cellular networks.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940615/Press Contact: Sprint, Sue Kraus 212-554-2420)
0615/Press Contact: Sprint, Sue Kraus 212-554-2420)
6/15/94
Sprint Deal With Int'l Firms Draws Muted Reaction
TELECOM
Education Technology Newsletter
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Jupiter Communications, best known for its coverage of telecommunications, has launched a newsletter on education technology.
The letter, Learning On Demand (LOD), will be edited by Denver based writer Mary McFall. It made its debut at the National Educational Computer Conference in Boston.
Jupiter has been actively soliciting help in putting LOD together, and said in a press statement the publication will feature regular articles from Jeanne Hayes, president of Quality Education Data, a leading resource for educational technology deployment data.
Citing QED reports, Jupiter estimated the education technology market at $220 billion, adding the publication will cover technology trends, software development, interactive CD-ROM computer hardware, edutainment, cable in the classroom, online services, interactive television, school-home links, educational research, homework assistance, university initiatives, advanced degrees, vocational education, curriculum needs, school funding and government policy.
CD-ROM is of special interest, as the number of schools using the technology doubled in the last year, according to QED.
Newsbytes discussed the start-up with Jupiter's Gene DeRose. McFall, he said, "has written articles in places like New Media and other publications. She's also done work for people like QED. It seemed a logical move," to base the new letter in Denver, he added.
"The fact that many people like QED, Express," a company working with TCI on cable-in-the-classroom, "and others are in Denver makes that location appealing. Mostly we found her as a writer who, as we'd been planning this, sold us on her." He added that McFall also has another company all her own, called Rodeo ROM, which makes educational CD-ROMs.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940615/Press Contact: Jupiter Communications, Gene DeRose, 212-941-9252; editorial contact: Mary McFall, 303-758-7136; customer contact: 594 Broadway Suite 1003, NY, NY 10012, tel 212-941-9252, fax: 212-941-7376)
0012, tel 212-941-9252, fax: 212-941-7376)
6/15/94
Education Technology Newsletter Launched
GENERAL
BellSouth Chooses TDMA Cellular
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- In a mild surprise BellSouth said it would upgrade its cellular phone systems to time division multiple access (TDMA) technology, instead of the competing code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme.
BellSouth Cellular has 2.2 million customers in 190 cities in 15 states. It operates under the name BellSouth Mobility in the Southeast, and American Cellular Communications outside BellSouth's service region.
The estimated cost of the upgrade is $100 million over what it would have spent on its analog network, all spent over the next 12-18 months, after which costs will stabilize, BellSouth officials said. The company indicated the number of customers the industry has will grow 45 percent this year, as much as 30 percent next year.
TDMA and CDMA have been competing for the US cellular market for a few years. Present TDMA schemes offer three times the capacity of analog cellular systems, CDMA 10 times the capacity. But a GM-Hughes offering, Enhanced TDMA, would offer 15 times analog capacity. TDMA is related to the groupe speciale mobile or GSM, scheme used in Europe and elsewhere.
BellSouth said last November it would convert over 50 markets to use Hughes' GMH 2000 switches. Deployment of those switches should be completed by the middle of next year. BellSouth also buys cellular switches from AT&T and Ericsson.
Users of analog cellular phones will not be left out in the cold BellSouth said. Following the policy of their trade group, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the new system will be "dual-standard," allowing analog and digital phones to co-exist. The new network will also have support for cellular digital packet data (CDPD), a packet system that turns unused calling channels into 19,200 bits-per-second (bps) digital systems. BellSouth said it is still negotiating on handsets.
Ben Holcomb, executive vice president for BellSouth Cellular said at a press conference attended by Newsbytes that the change-over will take 18-24 months, starting this winter. "TDMA will give us adequate capacity for the foreseeable future," with greater privacy and better sound, he said.
Eric Ensor, president of BellSouth Wireless Inc., which develops the company's wireless strategies including PCS and paging talked about the technology decision. He said the company will deploy the newest version of TDMA, IS-54C, which includes a "sleep mode" that improves phone battery life, and messaging support features.
In response to a question, Holcomb noted that, "Two years ago BS decided not to decide on a digital technology, and to study both CDMA and TDMA. Today we're announcing TDMA as the ultimate solution." He added that the company tested both E-TDMA and CDMA before making its decision. Ensor said there will be few differences between technologies deployed for PCS and cellular.
Asked about pricing, Ensor said, "The big issue is providing capacity, features and functions the customer will want. There's been an awful lot of talk about PCS pricing generally, but it's only when they get in the marketplace that we'll see what pricing they will have and how cellular will relate to that."
Newsbytes pressed the question of capacity with Ensor, noting that CDMA advocates claim they offer more capacity than TDMA. "The capacity issue isn't that straight-forward," he said. "Current forms of TDMA get three times analog capacity, but you have the ability to deploy micro-cells, do dynamic channel allocation, and use smart antennas to get even more capacity. We think TDMA can get us to eight times analog capacity plus without too many new breakthroughs."
On the other hand, "The CDMA issue seems to be one of shrinking expectations, from 20 times to 15 times to 10 times, and now we're told seven is the more likely range. We see it as comparable in capacity. Couple that with the fact you can deploy TDMA now, that supplies of handsets are certain, and that CDMA will still take 24 months to wring out its system once it's done."
Newsbytes then asked about comparisons between TDMA and GSM. "It is true the IS-54 standard is TDMA, and the GSM standard is also digital, but they have different bandwidths," noted Ensor. "They're not identical. We think it will be tough going forward to blend them. We did not make this decision based on the similarities between TDMA and GSM."
Finally, Holcomb addressed the question of E-TDMA. "We have spent time with Hughes, doing the only trial of E-TDMA. We think the ultimate capacity of E-TDMA would be a straightforward upgrade. But there are a number of things we'll do in the meantime" to increase TDMA capacity before considering E-TDMA.
ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- Control Data Systems Inc., says it has been awarded a systems integration contract with one of Russia's largest oil producing districts, to assist in the creation of an energy resource infrastructure.
The one-year $7.1 million deal is with the Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous district in Western Siberia. The district, about the size of the state of Texas, produces four to five million barrels of oil per day.
Acting as the project integrator, CDC will assemble a group of technology and administrative suppliers to help the district create an energy resource administration and a resource information management system. On the administrative side, the CDC team will advise on the preparation of legislation and regulations for resource management and help establish a government agency to administer oil exploration and petroleum production.
The team will also design, install, and assist in the management of a computer network that will collect, process, and distribute exploration and production data. CDC says that study showed that a lack of updated equipment and technology has been a contributing factor in the 11 percent decline in oil production in the area over the past couple of year.
CDC will provide system design and engineering, hardware software, and services. The network will utilize 39 Sun systems and 139 personal computers, as well as plotters, printers, digitizers and scanners. Application software will include Wellscan, Prodscan Rescan, Oracle, and Arcinfo, as well as other petroleum and network management programs.
Jim Ousley, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of CDC said the project will help bring Western world investment money to the region once standard data is available on the computer network.
He added that it will be the first time accurate and complete data on gas and oil resources and production levels for the area will be available. "Such data is essential as the petroleum industry seeks to increase production, reduce environmental damage, attract investment, and move toward privatization."
The resource management system will be modeled after a system currently in use in Alberta, Canada. Four Canadian firms will work on the Russian project to provide consulting services and systems.
The project is the result of a $1 million 1993 CDC study funded by CDC, the US Trade and Development Agency, and the Canadian Task Force for the Reconstruction of Eastern Europe, to assess the potential benefits of introducing information technology to Western Siberia's petroleum sector.
(Jim Mallory/19940615/Press contact: Pat Kelly, Control Data Systems Inc., 612-482-4444; Reader contact: Control Data Systems, tel 612-482-4857, fax 612-482-4876)
ta Systems, tel 612-482-4857, fax 612-482-4876)
6/15/94
Control Data Gets Russian Automation Contract
BUSINESS
Newsbytes Daily Summary
$PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 15 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> TI Chip Opens Way To Video CDs 06/15/94 Texas Instruments has announced a new set of chips it says will help make video CDs as commonplace in home entertainment as audio CDs are today.
2 -> Alias To Develop 3-D Nintendo Graphics Tools 06/15/94 Video game maker Nintendo of America Inc., has announced a deal with Alias Research Inc., to develop customized three-dimensional (3-D) graphics development tools for Nintendo's new 64-bit Project Reality home video game systems.
3 -> Rock Videos Part Of CD-Interactive Game 06/15/94 Geffen Records whose recording label includes Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith and Peter Gabriel, has joined with Jasmine Multimedia to produce an interactive game called Vid Grid, and described as a "Rubik's Cube" of rock n roll.
4 -> Micronics To Merge With Orchid Technology 06/15/94 Motherboards are expected to include audio chips by 1995. As a result, audio board companies have been redirecting their efforts to brace themselves against a predicted slow market, which in the past has been filled with dramatic rises. Now, Orchid Technology has announced a merger with Micronics, a producer of system boards for personal computers (PCs) and workstations.
5 -> ****Wiretaps Up, Efficiency Down, Says Watchdog Group 06/15/94 Fueled by the drug war, the number of federal, state and local legal wiretaps increased six percent last year, according to a study by the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington.
6 -> Loral To Lay Off 500, Bid For GOSIP 06/15/94 Loral Corp. says it will lay off 450 employees in suburban Maryland and another 40 at a technical center in New Jersey as a result of the decision by the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel a portion of a multi-billion dollar computer contract for the air traffic control system.
7 -> Canada's SaskTel Offers New Telecom Savings Plan 06/15/94 SaskTel, the company that provides local and long-distance telephone service in Saskatchewan, is the first member of the national Stentor consortium to offer a new long-distance savings plan, called REAL, to its residential customers.
8 -> IBM Cuts Prices On MCA Servers 06/15/94 IBM has reduced prices on its Server 85 and Server 95 systems, roughly three weeks after introducing its first server using the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) system bus. The 85 and 95 models use IBM's own Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus design.
9 -> Percussion Intros 2 Prgms For Lotus Notes Users 06/15/94 Six-month- old Percussion Software Inc. has introduced its first products. The company says that the two software packages will help users of Lotus Development Corp.'s Notes groupware handle large Notes databases and retrieve information from databases that are not compatible with Notes.
10 -> NECC - Scholastic's Internet Educational Services 06/15/94 Scholastic Network's new Scholastic Internet Services will give students and teachers a place for "one-stop educational shopping," said Eadie Adamson, manager of network development, in an interview with Newsbytes at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Boston.
11 -> Cray Computer Gets Temporary Financial Reprieve 06/15/94 Cray Computer Corporation, the supercomputer company that has been hemorrhaging buckets of money while it seeks its first system sale has gotten a transfusion in the form of a $17.5 million line of credit.
12 -> ****Survey Says Pen Computers "Taking Off" 06/15/94 Contrary to the industry picture only a year ago, pen computing is finally "taking off," with numerous commercial deployments actually in place, above and beyond mere market trials, according to a new survey by New Futures World Marketing.
13 -> Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships 06/15/94 The new high-end processing platforms are particularly attractive to users of processor-intensive applications. Now Virtus Corp., has begun shipping a Power Macintosh version of its Virtus VR program, which allows users to "build and explore three- dimensional (3-D) virtual worlds."
14 -> Fault Tolerance Software For Windows NT 06/15/94 P&W Technologies has announced the availability of a software package it says provides real-time data fault tolerance software for Microsoft Windows NT.
15 -> Difficulties For Korean Computer Makers 06/15/94 Domestic computer makers are having difficulties from foreign companies' low-priced products and an extreme depression in exports.
16 -> Korean Semiconductor Equipment Sales Rise 06/15/94 According to a survey by the Korea Semiconductor Association of 29 domestic semiconductor equipment makers, sales of domestically produced semiconductor products are projected to be 162.886 billion won this year, a 95.4 percent increase from last year owing to a 100-200 percent growth of process and assembly equipment.
17 -> Korea - Computer News Roundup 06/15/94 In this week's computer news from Korea: boomerang effect of electronic products from China distribution network expansion for multimedia market, development of PCS system started, Samsung to create telecommunication, satellite business in Russia.
18 -> Korea - Foreign Info Comms Equipment Dominates 06/15/94 The Korean information communication market is being led by foreign products in the early stage, as domestic companies failed to anticipate the timing for commercial services, and have not sufficiently improved product quality.
19 -> Japan - Telecom News Briefs 06/15/94 In today's roundup of telecom news in Japan: NTT to reduce F-Net fax service rates by year end, KDD and AT&T to begin connectivity application tests with ATM switches, JAL to develop next-generation communications network which will use frame relay switching system, JCM to expand Teleterminal service area, MPT lab to conduct terrestrial digital broadcast tests.
20 -> Japan - Computer News Briefs 06/15/94 In today's roundup of items making news in Japan: Matsushita Electric develops 200MHz 16Mbit synchronous DRAM, Micromachine market forecast to balloon to 1.9 trillion yen ($18.27 billion) by 2010, Fujitsu and Sun To negotiate workstation development plans, Matsushita Electric Works develops virtual reality system, NEC to double CD-ROM drive sales to 2.5 million units in fiscal 1994, Matsushita Electric to market page printer priced below 90,000 yen ($865) and Oki Electric to shift some fax and printer production to Thailand.
21 -> UK - Mercury Cuts Pricing, Intros One-2-One Offer 06/15/94 Mercury One-2-One, one of the two GSM-1800 (global system for mobile communications - 1,800 megahertz) digital phone networks in the UK has revamped its service pricing for business customers. Personal customers are unaffected by the changes, which begin on June 20.
22 -> Notebook PC Sales Soaring In UK 06/15/94 Figures released by several market research companies in the UK have confirmed that sales of notebook computers are really starting to take-off.
23 -> UK - Mercury Announces "Follow Me" Call Service 06/15/94 Mercury Communications has unveiled a computerized call intercept service known as Mercury One Call. The idea is that callers to a business person dial one number and have the exchange track down the called party.
24 -> Sony's New Playstation Uses LSI's Computer-On-A-Chip 06/15/94 Sony's new Sony Computer Entertainment division says LSI Logic is manufacturing a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that has three high-performance subsystems, including a MIPS central processing unit (CPU), to do the work inside its new CD Playstation home gaming system.
25 -> Correction - AST Ascentia 900N Notebook 06/15/94 In a story of this title which ran June 13 on the Newsbytes wire, the AST AST Ascentia 900N notebook computer was described as having a 500 gigabyte (GB) removable hard drive. In fact, the drive is 500 megabytes in size.
26 -> ****MCI-BT Deal Cleared By US Justice Dept 06/15/94 The US Justice Department gave conditional approval to MCI's proposed joint venture with British Telecom, under which BT will buy 20 percent of MCI for $4.3 billion. The joint venture between the two companies called Concert, immediately opened for business.
27 -> Sprint Deal With Int'l Firms Draws Muted Reaction 06/15/94 When MCI announced its tie-up with British Telecom, its stock shot-up in price. Sprint's announcement that it will link with France Telecom and Deutsche Bundespost Telekom actually sent its stock tumbling nearly 10 percent in price.
28 -> Education Technology Newsletter Launched 06/15/94 Jupiter Communications, best known for its coverage of telecommunications has launched a newsletter on education technology.
29 -> ****BellSouth Chooses TDMA Cellular Technology 06/15/94 In a mild surprise, BellSouth said it would upgrade its cellular phone systems to time division multiple access (TDMA) technology, instead of the competing code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme.
30 -> Control Data Gets Russian Automation Contract 06/15/94 Control Data Systems Inc., says it has been awarded a systems integration contract with one of Russia's largest oil producing districts, to assist in the creation of an energy resource infrastructure.
(Ian Stokell/19940615)
(Ian Stokell/19940615)
6/15/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Health Care Software Makes House
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- While your doctor may not come to your house any more to diagnose your ailments, there is a software package that will. Applied Medical Informatics' (AMI) HouseCall is a medical reference guide and symptom analysis tool that the company says is designed to help the "average person" become a more informed consumer of medical care.
AMI VP of Sales and Marketing Elaine Bailey says no matter what form the nation's health care industry takes in the future, experts agree that the best thing individuals can do is to become more informed and more involved. "An informed patient is a powerful person," according to Bailey. She says HouseCall is a potential source of that empowerment.
AMI said a team of more than 40 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and computer experts worked together to create HouseCall. The team graduates of such prestigious institutions as The Mayo Clinic Johns Hopkins University, Duke, and Columbia meets weekly to keep the software current.
Users can look up any combination of symptoms using the HouseCall search engine. A medical encyclopedia provides information about possible diseases or ailments that may cause the symptoms. The software asks the user questions which become more specific as more information is provided about the symptoms. A listing of possible causes can be printed. The database contains 6,000 medical findings and 1,100 diseases ranging from AIDS and Alzheimer's Disease to influenza and chicken pox.
Users can enter symptoms by clicking on body part icons or by typing the symptom. HouseCall provides a definition of the disease, causes incidence, risk factors, prevention, symptoms, signs and tests treatment, expectations and complications, and a "call your health care provider if..." feature.
There is also information about drugs, their use, possible side effects, and how they interact. A medical records section lets users keep track of their medical treatment, immunizations, allergy history, surgical history, and other information. There is also a section on poisons and their antidotes and the phone numbers of regional poison control centers.
HouseCall has a suggested retail price of $99.95 and is available from AMI or through computer stores and mail order catalogs. AMI says the average street price is about $60. AMI also markets Iliad a medical diagnosis and treatment assistance tool for physicians.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- AT&T has announced AT&T WorldWorx Solutions, a video dial-tone service based on the H.320 standard used by existing digital video systems like those made by PictureTel.
Using the WorldWorx network, an AT&T press conference hosted by Alex Mandl, who heads the company's communications services group, was seen by reporters in Washington, San Francisco and London via satellite, which was switched to the WorldWorx service for the question-and-answer session.
Picture quality on WorldWorx was not as good as on the satellite because WorldWorx uses compressed video, but the cost is much lower, AT&T noted.
"In many ways the medium today is the message," he said. "Video as well as data, are finally heading down the path voice has been on for a century -- toward ubiquitous connectivity. These capabilities will bring people together in ways not possible before, allowing them to see one another, talk to one another and use data at the same time."
The video dial-tone AT&T is rolling out sounds just like the dial tone heard when using AT&T for a calling card call, with the addition of the words "AT&T WorldWorx service."
In New York Mandl was joined by executives with Apple, Novell PictureTel, Sun Microsystems, Video Server, and Xerox, who all said they would support the technology.
"IBM and Lotus are also part of the group," Mandl said, but representatives were not at the press conference. The alliances are key, he added. "Interoperability is a key to generating a video and data dial-tone. It's vital that everyone be on the same page."
About H.320, which requires home customers to have ISDN (integrated services digital networks) digital services or "switched 56" business lines, Mandl said, "AT&T's building its equipment on H.320, but we're committed to offering choices. Eventually we're confident that common approaches will emerge. Not many customers will invest in equipment that will run into a speed limit.
"People will be able to make video calls as easily as they make phone calls now," he said. "I find it very valuable already. I can call up files on my computer, show it to colleagues, edit it and click on a button to give them the entire file. As reporters fighting deadlines, I'm sure you appreciate this." Mandl then demonstrated the system with a video call to Peoria, where a representative of Caterpiller put the service through its paces.
"WorldWorx places multimedia communication squarely at the user's fingertips," Mandl added. "The desktop computer screen will become a virtual meeting room. And the application doesn't stop at our borders -- it will be available to 22 nations across Asia, Europe, and South America. We believe in time it will change the way the world works."
"We plan to make it easy to use. We're packaging products and services that will be easy to install and activate. The first is the WorldWorx Desktop Solution, a PC with the system that links with the service. WorldWorx Personal Conferencing service is available now only point-to-point. Multi-point service will be available in the first quarter. The ability to display cable TV channels through a call will also be enabled through a PC video port," Mandl said.
In addition to certifying equipment and software for operating with its network service, AT&T will also develop a directory of registered users.
In response to questions from reporters, Mandl said the company's goal is to make the service compatible with Intel's ProShare technology, adding that is unlikely to take place before the end of 1995.
Pressed on the question of prices, spokesmen said that while they could not release a price list, and there will be a range of services offered, costs should run from 50 cents to $1.50 per minute depending on the level of service.
As to when the price might reach consumer product ranges, a spokesman said it may take just two-three years. "It's not too far away before this gets to the consumer level. The real issue however, will be the ability to access the network services via ISDN or switched 56."
ORINDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Focusing on the technical aspects of multimedia and presented by the magazine "Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier," the first annual United Developers Summit, Art Teco '94, will begin June 16 in San Francisco, California. The conference will be held in the Cowell Theater at the Fort Mason Center and features exhibits from Creative Labs, Apple Computer, Compton's Newmedia, and Intel.
The unconventional publication, purposely designed after Rolling Stone magazine and aimed at multimedia software developers, was first released at the Boston, Massachusetts Software Development show in August of last year. The first Art Teco show is expected to be unconventional as well, according to the Doug Millison editor-in-chief of "Morph's Outpost."
The discussion format is planned to be like a television talk show. A moderator is to control the flow of the conversation and take questions from the attendees. Audience members will be encouraged to challenge the speakers on the issues at hand in discussions on topics such as "Financing Your Multimedia Production," "Choosing the Right Authoring System," and "Legal Issues for the Multimedia Developer."
"We are planning some very intense, technical sessions that address the state of interactive development, from platforms and standards to tools and resources. Our readers know the issues and have definite ideas on where the industry is headed. There will be no shameless self-promotion, no podiums, just three days of work and a couple of great parties," Millison maintains.
The conference will also be a platform for the first annual "Golden Lobes Awards" to recognize innovative multimedia development tools.
Viewing the exhibits is free. A $495 registration fee, payable on arrival at the conference, is required to attend the conference sessions or the parties.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940615/Press Contact: Tim Bigoness, Morph's Outpost, tel 510-238-4547)
ct: Tim Bigoness, Morph's Outpost, tel 510-238-4547)
6/16/94
Art Teco '94 Presented By Morph's Outpost Magazine
GENERAL
< f J
UK - Texas Instruments Intros Ne
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has announced a new family of notebooks that it claims have a combination of features and performance "never previously offered in a single portable configuration" in the UK.
Known as the TravelMate 4000M series, the machines are billed as "multimedia ready" and are based around a 486 processor running at speeds of up to 75 megahertz (MHz). Standard features include a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card slot, fast small computer systems interface (SCSI) II interface nickel metal hydride batteries, and a portable CD-ROM docking station.
Four models in 4000M series are initially available, ranging in price from UKP1,799 to UKP4,499. The range includes three 25MHz 486SL chip-based systems, plus a superfast 486DX4 75MHz processor system. Screen options range from monochrome through advanced color, or active matrix color.
"The 4000M is another breakthrough product from TI," commented Colin Day, TI's marketing manager for the company's personal productivity products.
"We are continuing to expand the boundaries of notebook computing. With the uniquely designed portable CD-ROM docking system, TI now provides an integrated, totally portable multimedia system with processing power up to 75MHz," he said.
Other features of the new notebooks include fast 60 nanosecond (ns) memory in a four megabyte (MB) standard configuration. An extra 16MB of memory can be added internally by the user.
One interesting feature of the new machines is that Intel's Indeo video software comes pre-installed on the hard disks. This new software is billed as the de facto standard for full-motion video playback, which TI claims is complemented by the inclusion of a 16-bit "Vision Jazz" sound card that is compatible with Sound Blaster Pro and other sound cards.
The PCMCIA card slot, meanwhile, can take one Type III card or two type I or II cards at the same time. The machine supports 3-, 5-, and 12-volt PCMCIA cards.
(Steve Gold/19940615/Press & Public Contact: Texas Instruments, +44-234-223122)
Public Contact: Texas Instruments, +44-234-223122)
6/16/94
UK - Texas Instruments Intros New Notebook Range
UK - IBM Intros Low-Cost Server-
PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- IBM UK has taken the wraps off LAN FirstStep, a new product that it claims is aimed at users who do not already have local area networks (LANs), as well as at users of peer-to-peer networks (e.g. Artisoft LANtastic) who want the improved performance and facilities of a server-based LAN.
LAN FirstStep combines OS/2 2.1, IBM LAN Server Entry 3.01 and support for six users running a combination of OS/2, Windows, and DOS applications. More users can be added through the purchase of additional LAN Server requesters.
"LAN FirstStep is aimed primarily at users who do not have the technical expertise or the need to run highly sophisticated network operating systems," explained Mike Collins, LAN Server product manager for IBM UK Software. "They now have access to a full function LAN operating system at a fraction of the cost and complexity," he added.
According to Big Blue, over the next five years, more than 40 percent of all PCs shipped will be installed in environments suited to LAN FirstStep. The installation facility of the system is billed as providing an "easy to understand" installation process from which to operate all the required LAN Server components, integrating the various installation processes into one.
LAN FirstStep will be available from the middle of July onwards in the UK at UKP531.
(Steve Gold/19940615/Press & Public Contact: IBM UK 44-329-242728)
/Press & Public Contact: IBM UK 44-329-242728)
6/16/94
UK - IBM Intros Low-Cost Server-Based LANs
Germany Buys Into Spanish Mobile
BONN, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Deutsches Bundespost Telekom (DBT) has taken a 9.9 percent stake in Cometa, the Spanish mobile telecommunications consortium. The extra funding, details of which have not been announced, will allow Cometa to create the technology required to support its planned digital (global system for mobile) phone network.
Cometa is a group of seven Spanish investment companies plus a 20 percent stake from GTE, the US telecoms company. The group is currently working with DeTeMobile, the German GSM operator, to install GSM technology on the Spanish telecoms network.
DeTeMobile is the DBT company behind the D1 GSM network in Germany, which covers around 95 percent of the country. According to Cometa, the experienced gained from the commissioning of the D1 network by DeTeMobil will assist Cometa greatly.
It is still a long way to Cometa getting a license to operate a GSM network in Spain, Newsbytes notes. Cometa and other bidders for the contract will have to wait until November of this year at the earliest before Elena Salgado, the Spanish Secretariat for Communications, will announce the first private mobile phone network licenses. Other licenses are expected to be announced early next year.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940615/Press & Reader Contact; DBT tel +49-228-1820, fax +49-228-182-9822)
act; DBT tel +49-228-1820, fax +49-228-182-9822)
6/16/94
Germany Buys Into Spanish Mobile Phone Network
TELECOM
Consultant Says Open Systems Com
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Open systems security may sound like an oxymoron, Mark Dennison admits. How can something be open and secure at the same time? However, the Ottawa-based consultant with CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc. explained in a presentation to reporters this week that while open systems are complicating computer security, they are not making it impossible.
Dennison used the analogy of an art gallery, where the public may enter freely and look at the works on display, and yet there are alarms and security guards and other provisions to protect the goods.
Today, he said, computer users need open information to get their jobs done, but they still assume their data will somehow be protected.
Proper open systems security needs to ensure confidentiality of data, integrity or accuracy of the data, and availability of the systems, all without getting in the way of the users and at minimum cost.
Computer systems today are threatened by insiders with access to the data who may use that access improperly. They also face threats from outside "hackers" with more and more technical knowledge, from viruses, and from a growing incidence of industrial espionage, Dennison said.
He added that not only weaknesses in system design, but a simple failure to think enough about security, can make organizations vulnerable to those threats.
Dennison advised a three-pronged approach to open systems security. The first step is assessing the risks. Dennison said the old rule-based approach to security, in which "you could almost look up in a checklist and determine what to do" must give way to a risk-based approach today because technology has become much more diverse. "You really want to address the key vulnerabilities of the system."
The risk assessment needs to be followed up with a life-cycle approach to security, in which a security plan is designed based on the risk assessment, and then re-evaluated regularly to make sure it still addresses current threats. Third, Dennison urged a reliance on industry standards, such as the security standards established by the United States and other governments.
He added, though, that the US government's current effort to require use of the Clipper encryption technology -- which has a built-in opening for law-enforcement officials to decode transmissions -- is likely to fail because of strong industry opposition.
(Grant Buckler/19940616/Press Contact: CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants, tel 416-862-0430, fax 416-862-2321)
t Consultants, tel 416-862-0430, fax 416-862-2321)
6/16/94
Consultant Says Open Systems Complicate Security
TRENDS
Hong Kong Hospital Authority Imp
SHATIN, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- The Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin has become the first site to implement a sophisticated software development by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA). The system provides an integrated workstation designed to give medical staff access, from the ward, to patient records and clinical information drawn from a range of underlying information systems.
The HA Clinical Workstation was developed using Powersoft Corp.'s PowerBuilder, an open, object-oriented development environment for client-server applications. It will be implemented at the HA's other major hospitals over the coming three years.
"The Clinical Workstation is a breakthrough for us because it is the first manifestation of the application architecture we have defined for the Authority's Integrated Health Information System," said John Tse, local IT (information technology) veteran and head of IT at the Hospital Authority.
"Our ultimate goal is to make all aspects of patient records totally electronic by the year 2,000. To realize this goal, we need to have a repository to store the data, an information highway to deliver the information where it is needed, and good graphical user interface to display it when it gets there.
"In using PowerBuilder to develop the HA Clinical Workstation we have created a prototype of the standard graphical user interface. Over the next few years this interface will be refined and enhanced and spread across the full spectrum of the Integrated Health Information System," said Tse.
"The client side of the HA Clinical Workstation, which is currently running on a network of 85 Windows/486 PCs at the Prince of Wales Hospital, handles data validation and presentation logic. The server side, implemented on a Sybase relational database management system (RDBMS), takes care of database access and updates," he said.
Underlining both the power and complexity of the HA's information technology architecture, the new Clinical Workstation displays data from four separate and geographically dispersed information systems: the Patient Master Index System, running on an IBM mainframe at the HA's data center in Kwai Chung; the Hospital Admission/Discharge/Transfer System, running on an IBM RS/6000 and Sybase RDBMS platform also at the HA data center; the local Laboratory Information System running on another IBM RS/6000 and Oracle RDBMS platform; and a local Outpatient Management System, running on a PC-based Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server and Clipper database platform.
As well as being able to retrieve, display and update information in the underlying systems, the Clinical Workstation framework has also been designed to allow medical services to be ordered directly from the ward.
Outpatient appointment bookings can already be made on-line and according to Tse, a laboratory and ward order entry -- based on Medical EDI (electronic data interchange) specifications -- will be integrated into the system by the end of 1995.
"The Hong Kong Hospital Authority is probably the most advanced user of client-server computing in Asia at the moment. Its Clinical Workstation is an excellent example of PowerBuilder's ability to deliver an elegant solution to the problem of access, delivery and presentation of data from diverse and distributed system that are typical of today's enterprise information environments," said Francis Ng, general manager of Powersoft Hong Kong Ltd.
Using PowerBuilder 3.0, the HA Information Technology Department completed development and testing of the Clinical Workstation software in two months following analysis of user requirements. Another two months was spent on user acceptance testing and training of over 1,500 nurses, doctors and laboratory staff at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
(Keith Cameron/19940616/Press Contact: Francis Ng, Powersoft Hong Kong, 852-576 3638)
Contact: Francis Ng, Powersoft Hong Kong, 852-576 3638)
6/16/94
Hong Kong Hospital Authority Implements Patient System
GENERAL
IBM Australia Wins Regional Data
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- The mainframe-infested bunker underneath IBM Australia's Cumberland Forest headquarters will get a workout following a deal which will see the company handle data processing for subsidiaries in Singapore, Malaysia Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
IBM's Doug Elix announced the deal along with Australian Federal Industry Minister Senator Peter Cook. The new regional Computing Services Center means significant "merit points" under IBM's Partnerships for Development obligations with the government, as well as 190 new jobs and export earnings of AUS$30 million over the next five years. Set-up costs are estimated at AUS$30 million also.
Elix said the Department of Industry had provided "moral support," help on the business plan, help with establishing a communications deal with Australian carrier Telstra, and a financial "sweetener" in the form of a waiver on wholesale tax for any second-hand equipment IBM Australia imports for the center. As well as being the internal information technology (IT) engine for IBM's South East Asian operations, IBM will outsource IT power to SE Asian customers.
There could be more work for the center inside the next two months. IBM Australia is now in competition with IBM Japan to win the second half of the internal outsourcing deal. At issue is which outfit can better handle the double-byte computing required for Chinese and other Asian language systems. If successful, IBM Australia will handle computing for Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Korea. While Cumberland Forest is the initial site, the company is scouting for one or more additional sites to handle the outsourcing deal.
(Stuart Kennedy and Computer Daily News/19940616)
(Stuart Kennedy and Computer Daily News/19940616)
6/16/94
IBM Australia Wins Regional Data Processing Contract
Hong Kong - NetAsia Networking S
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- NetAsia, an international networking show, is to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wanchai from June 29 to July 1.
Participants in the show will include ALR, Anixter, AST, Automated Systems, Cheyenne, Compaq, DaVinci, Digital, Hewlett Packard LANNET, Lotus, Oracle, Symantec, Synoptics, and WordPerfect.
According to Andrew Lai, regional director of Novell, which has taken on the task of organizing the event, the show is in response to a huge user demand, and business interest, in network computing in Hong Kong.
"NetAsia will be Hong Kong's premier networking show. It has been created to bring together users, business people and network technology providers in a friendly and open atmosphere," said Lai. "The show allows the public to view the latest developments in network computing from a wide range of vendors -- from networked-based office automation software to high-end hardware."
In addition to the exhibition, NetAsia also has a three-day seminar series with technical and business networking experts speaking a wide range of issues. The program includes presentations on Novell technologies, NetWare and Unix integration, managing networks implementation of directory services, NetWare 4.x theory of operations, optimizing NetWare wide area networks (WANs) AppWare, and the business benefit of enterprise computing.
"The industry support for NetAsia has been extremely encouraging. We mentioned the concept of a network show early in the year and many vendors agreed to participate even before formal dates and venues had been set. The strong vendor support for NetAsia indicates that the market is more than ready for such an event," said Lai.
(Keith Cameron/19940616/Press Contact: Joseph Sweeney tel 852-8041338; fax 852-8041303)
: Joseph Sweeney tel 852-8041338; fax 852-8041303)
6/16/94
Hong Kong - NetAsia Networking Show Set For June
GENERAL
Software Publishers To Rate Comp
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Attempting to ward off game standards set by large video game makers, a coalition that includes the Software Publishers Association and four smaller software trade groups say they will develop their own voluntary sex and violence ratings system for computer games.
The new coalition represents about 3,100 computer software developers and, in addition to SPA, includes Association of Shareware Professions, the Educational Software Cooperative the Shareware Trade Association and Resources, and the Association of Shareware Authors and Distributors.
ASP, ECS, STAR and ASAD are enthusiastic about this joint project with SPA," says Karen Crowther, a personal computer game developer and representative of the four smaller groups. "By working with SPA, our groups now represent the majority of software publishers in the US."
The software publishers are fearful that a rating scheme by the Interactive Digital Software Association, a new group consisting of video-game makers such as Sega and Nintendo, would use the ratings to create a competitive advantage for the video game companies. Crowther said the groups are "concerned about placing control of any ratings program in the hands of an association controlled by a handful of very large video game companies."
According to SPA, the video game industry has combined annual sales of $5 billion, while annual sales of computer games amount to only about $200 million. "We hope that our joint work underscores that the developers and publishers of personal computer software compete in an industry very different from that of the manufacturers of video games," says Mark Traphagen SPA counsel.
The shareware publishers were also concerned about proposed fees of as much as $500 per title by the ISDA in its voluntary ratings proposal. Many shareware game publishers make very little on each game, but make their profits by having many titles.
But Doug Lowenstein of ISDA rejects the computer game publishers' analysis. The differences between the two technologies are "immaterial," he says. He says the computer game publishers do not want their games reviewed by an independent group.
Under the ISDA plan, the publishers would initially rate the games and if there were complaints by consumers, the rating would be reviewed by an independent panel.
What is driving the move toward voluntary ratings is the threat of Congress passing laws imposing ratings. During the holiday season, Acclaim Entertainment's "Mortal Kombat," a video game that includes a decapitation, became an instant best-seller and triggered a series of lurid Senate hearings in which several Senators threatened federal standards if the industry could not get together voluntarily.
(Kennedy Maize/19940616/Contact: Mark Traphagen, SPA, tel 202-452-1600; Karen Crowther, Redwood Games, tel 707-937 3320; Doug Lowenstein, ISDA, tel 202-457-6372)
20; Doug Lowenstein, ISDA, tel 202-457-6372)
6/16/94
Software Publishers To Rate Computer Games
TRENDS
IBM Licenses OpenMail From HP Fo
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- IBM has announced a licensing agreement with Hewlett-Packard Co. that will put HP's OpenMail messaging software on IBM's RISC System/6000 workstations and servers running the AIX variant of Unix.
It will be the first comprehensive messaging system IBM has offered for AIX, company spokesman Greg Golden told Newsbytes although AIX does include a mail-sending feature and there are third-party mail products available for the system.
OpenMail is meant for enterprise-wide messaging on client/server computing systems, according to Hewlett-Packard. It complies with mail standards including the Messaging Applications Programming Interface (MAPI) backed by Microsoft Corp., Lotus Development Corp.'s Vendor-Independent Messaging (VIM), and the X.400 Application Programming Interface Association's (XAPIA) Common Messaging Calls (CMC) specification.
OpenMail will allow connections to existing messaging software on other IBM hardware, Golden said.
The vendors said that, with OpenMail server software running on an RS/6000 server, users will be able to share messaging services on a variety of computer platforms using various messaging systems and applications.
Details of IBM's plans for OpenMail remain sketchy. The company said it will reveal more about pricing, availability, and support plans late this year. Golden said he could not give even a rough idea when the product is likely to be available to users.
(Grant Buckler/19940616/Press Contact: Greg Golden, IBM tel 914-642-5463; Rebecca Landry, HP, tel 408-447-5333)
5463; Rebecca Landry, HP, tel 408-447-5333)
6/16/94
IBM Licenses OpenMail From HP For RS/6000
Junkie Virus Spreading Worldwide
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- A potentially damaging virus, named "Junkie," is reportedly spreading across the world.
Earlier this month Newsbytes reported the discovery of Junkie during a demonstration of anti-virus software in Ann Arbor Michigan. There is also a report that Junkie first appeared in the Netherlands. Now reports of Junkie are coming in from other parts of the US and may have even shown up in London's financial district.
Engineers at Reflex Inc., studying the virus say it is particularly dangerous due to its characteristics. It is encrypted, making it difficult to spot. Also, it changes each time it replicates, and it infects both the drive's boot sector and executable files on the disk.
Reflex says Junkie was originally discovered on shrink-wrapped software, unlike many viruses that are spread through downloaded files or disks shared among users. The latter was reportedly the source of Junkie in the Netherlands. Reflex says it can even be spread by anti-virus software.
Reflex says its Disknet product does recognize Junkie and renders it ineffective. So does The Norton AntiVirus 3.0 for Windows according to its publisher, Symantec Corporation.
Reflex spokesperson Ann Revell-Pechar told Newsbytes some of the reports about Junkie's appearance may in fact be referring to another virus, called "Smeg," which has similar characteristics. According to Revell-Pechar, Smeg appeared about two weeks before Junkie.
Junkie does not give its victims any warning when it strikes. The only known cure so far is to re-format the affected hard disk. Smeg completely erases the user's hard disk between 4pm and 5pm local time each Monday.
The destruction caused by a virus program is proof that it is essential to backup your data every day. However, experts caution that you should not make a backup of a hard disk that you suspect may be infected.
(Jim Mallory/19940616/Press contact: Ann Revell-Pechar, Reed Revell-Pechar for Reflex Inc., 206-462-4777; Reader contact: Reflex, 206-776-2524 or 800-673-3539; Symantec, 503-334 6054 or 800-441-7234)
antec, 503-334 6054 or 800-441-7234)
6/16/94
Junkie Virus Spreading Worldwide
Networking Roundup
Systems Support Expo - Fujitsu's
UK - Silica's Stores-Within-Stor
Bell Atlantic Expands AirBridge
Michigan Man Charged With Electr
Government Encryption Plans Hit
Editorial - Clipper And The Mark
Japan - Low-Cost Color Notebook
MCI Announces Prepaid Calling Ca
Dell Dumps Investment Derivative
Mexico - Telecom News Roundup
Korea, Japan In LCD Production R
MCI Aids Eastern European Enviro
California Election Results Post
Deluxe Corp To Acquire T/Maker
Lotus Offers SmartSuite Upgrade
Court Issues Permanent Injunctio
OneSource To Offer American Bank
Lotus Unveils 1-2-3 Release 5 Fo
Denmark - Olicom Intros ATM Card
X Terminals From HDS Integrate P
Creative Intros Video/Conferenci
Nanao To Show Monitors & Chicago
Judge Says Microsoft & Stac Must
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., JUN 16 (NB) -- A federal judge has ordered Microsoft Corporation and Stac Electronics to pay the money each company owes the other.
A jury recently awarded Microsoft $13.7 million for trade secret misappropriation by Stac. Stac got $120 million for patent infringement by Microsoft of Stac's data compression technology. So far the checks are not in the mail.
Stac attorney Mark Flagel says Stac will file a motion asking the judge to overturn the verdict against it, on the grounds that legal and factual errors were made by the jury. Microsoft says it will also file a motion to have the jury verdict reversed.
Meantime, an appellate court in Washington, DC, has granted a Microsoft request for an emergency delay of the product recall that was part of the court's ruling in the patent infringement case. That stay will be in effect until at least the end of the week.
Microsoft was told to stop distributing copies of its MS-DOS version 6.0 and 6.2 operating system software and other products that contained Microsoft's Doublespace data compression technology. The company has done that, and shipped an interim version of MS-DOS without data compression. It recently began shipping MS-DOS version 6.22 which contains a data compression technology that allegedly does not infringe on Stac patents.
The problem is the copies of MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.2 already installed on personal computers that are in the distribution pipeline.
Microsoft spokesperson Mich Matthews told Newsbytes plans are being developed to correct the problem. "We will develop a disk that will erase the hard disk and immediately install a non-infringing product," she said. Whether that disk would be used by the manufacturer, the retailer, or the end user is still to be decided.
The injunction prohibiting distribution of software containing Doublespace clearly states that end users who have either version of MS-DOS are not affected by the recall and can contain to use the product legally.
(Jim Mallory/19940616/Press contact: Microsoft Public Relations 206-882-8080)
: Microsoft Public Relations 206-882-8080)
6/16/94
Judge Says Microsoft & Stac Must Pay Up!
100 Power Mac Apps Now Available
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Analysts have said the availability of applications are what will make or break the new Power Macintosh computer, so the announcement of 100 software titles now ready for the unit is good news for Apple Computer.
While the Power Macintosh will already run existing Macintosh apps, in addition to Windows and DOS when necessary software is installed, the increased processing power of the PowerPC-based Macintosh is only seen with "native" applications -- meaning those developed especially for the Power Mac.
The most important new applications are those that could appeal to users outside the traditional installed Macintosh user base and applications that are not aimed at graphics or publishing. The main contributor in the mainstream software category is Wordperfect, who has translated its popular word processing program to the Power Mac environment.
Apple claims many vendors will allow users with previous product versions to get the Power Macintosh version free or at a discounted price. Newsbytes called Wordperfect and discovered Wordperfect users may upgrade to the Power Macintosh Wordperfect 3.0a for $89, if they have their registration number handy.
By late summer Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Dimensions, Adobe Type Manager, Claris MacWrite Pro, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Quark XPress are expected to be available. Of these titles, the two outside the desktop publishing/ graphics applications are Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
In addition, of the 100 titles shipping now, four are shareware available on a try-before-you-buy basis, 16 are networking applications, and two are emulation programs so users can run DOS or Windows applications.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940616/Press Contact: Brooke Cohan, Stirling & Cohan for Apple Computer, tel 415-513-0973; Eric Wee, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-2042, fax 408-974-2885)
el 408-974-2042, fax 408-974-2885)
6/16/94
100 Power Mac Apps Now Available
APPLE
More On Metricom's Frequency-Hop
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Hedy Lamarr Southern California Edison, and an innovative "mesh" network design, are combining to give Silicon Valley wireless data users a choice of networks. Newsbytes discussed that choice, called Ricochet, with Metricom chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Dilworth.
The network uses a version of spread-spectrum technology called frequency-hopping, in contrast to the direct sequence schemes used by Qualcomm for its digital cellular system, code division multiple access (CDMA).
"Hedy Lamarr," a Hollywood star from the 1940s, actually "invented frequency hopping spread spectrum," Dilworth revealed. "She was married to a military guy and came up with the idea. That's why no one holds the patent -- it's an old technology."
Metricom developed its wireless mesh technology, which is also different from what cellular networks deploy, on behalf of utilities "which wanted low-cost, high capacity wireless for management of power distribution," Dilworth continued.
"Southern California Edison was the first customer" of a service now called UtiliNet, which is also used by wastewater treatment facilities. The network works on unlicensed frequencies around 900-930 megahertz (MHz), which are also used by cordless phones.
"we've found the band to be quite empty and discovered that spread-spectrum really works -- you can build a robust network that's not impacted by cross-talk," Dilworth said. "By increasing the speed, changing some characteristics, and selling a portable modem, that could form the basis of a service. We've put our network up with hundreds of other devices and it's amazing how much you can pack in. A good data network is probably the last thing to be affected" by crosstalk, he added "You can move data reliably over a piece of spectrum that sends very scratchy voice."
About that mesh network. "There are three kinds of networks you can build. One is a bus network, like Ethernet -- everyone is on a shared line. Another is a star network, like wireless telephones. In a star you have a master-slave where everyone goes through the master." The mesh is something new. "All our intelligence is equally distributed -- every node is equal. It's a giant flat network, and we've developed automatic routing systems," he said.
He continued: "We hang a radio every square mile. When we hang it we give each radio a geographic address, longitude and latitude. When that radio turns on it looks for neighbors, and exchanges geographic data. Now it knows where all nearby radios are. When you're sending a message across the city, since we can only use one watt of power" on those unlicensed frequencies, "that has to hop several times to get where it wants to go. The first guy who gets it sees it's for a distant address, and sends it in that direction. It moves across the city, hopping radios- -- we have a patent on that concept."
Dilworth says an average city could have as many as 30-40 access points where the wireless radio network hands-off calls to wired networks. "We'd expect you to go on a wireless network and hop 3 4 times, then drop to a wired access point. We'd interface those wired access points at the frame relay level," using digital lines that start at 56,000 bits-per-second (bps) and run as fast as 1.544 million bps.
Where can you get service? "It's up now in parts of Silicon Valley. We started at Apple Computer, and have nets installed at Compaq, MS, Lotus, Stanford U, HP, Visa corporate headquarters." And watch this space, he concluded. "We have about $110 million in cash, so we can handle the roll out ourselves. You want to watch closely the people who talk about partnering with us. Expect a number of partnerships. Metricom is a public company."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940616/Press Contact: Metricom Inc. Brian Salisbury, 408/399-8200)
: Metricom Inc. Brian Salisbury, 408/399-8200)
6/16/94
More On Metricom's Frequency-Hopping Network
TELECOM
More On BT-MCI Deal
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- MCI and British Telecom have approved conditions the US Justice Department tied to their joint-venture, called Concert. Meanwhile, AT&T argued that the conditions do not go far enough.
The Justice Department is essentially requiring that British Telecom reveal publicly what it charges Concert for access to its network. No big deal, said BT spokesman James Barron. "The conditions aren't very different from what we proposed originally," he told NEwsbytes. "BT must disclose terms under which Concert takes services from BT in the UK. It's a disclosure regime."
Not enough, according to a statement AT&T spokesman Jim McGann faxed to Newsbytes. "We feel the consent decree does not address the critical issue of above-cost accounting rates nor does it recognize the fact that US carriers can never have a level playing field to compete in the UK without the ability to own international facilities." AT&T has been seeking a UK operating license for some time, but it says it has been rebuffed.
"Because BT and MCI will be paying each other for traffic between their US and UK networks, they will always have a competitive advantage over other US carriers so long as the international accounting rates are above costs. To them it becomes a transfer payment, while it is an actual out-of-pocket expense to other carriers."
AT&T fears that Concert and Atlas, a proposed venture between Sprint and the major carriers in France and Germany, "have the potential to severely disadvantage US carriers by denying them comparable access to overseas markets."
For BT, there is even a silver lining to the added condition, and to the Justice Department's expressed hope of making market access equal as a condition for approving such deals. It raises the hurdles on Atlas, because the French and German service markets are closed to US operators. Even if the deal should get approved, that will take time, while Concert is already in business.
Assuming the Atlas deal does get done, it would give AT&T, MCI and Sprint operations roughly equal shares of international traffic, with the Sprint group holding a slight edge.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940616/Press Contact: James Barron British Telecommunications, 212-297-2724; Mike Granieri AT&T, 908-221-7611)
i AT&T, 908-221-7611)
6/16/94
More On BT-MCI Deal
TELECOM
Online Services Compete For Atte
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Prodigy has a more aggressive publicity shop, America OnLine may be signing alliances more quickly, but CompuServe is suddenly getting a lot more attention from the mainstream press.
A fairly simple release from the service saying that a new song by the rock group Aerosmith, in digital format, would be posted on one of its forums drew an incredible response, CompuServe spokesman Debra Young told Newsbytes.
First the Associated Press, then UPI, then the San Francisco Chronicle, and finally the major news networks, including CNN and CNBC, picked up the story.
Geffen Records said a digital version of "Head First," recorded for their album "Get A Grip" but not released, will be available to users typing "go aerosmith" at any prompt, without royalty to the producer or connect-time charges to CompuServe.
The move was to generate publicity for both Aerosmith and Geffen Records, which announced a venture with Jasmine Multimedia to produce "Vid Grid," an interactive CD-ROM game built around music videos and slated for a September release.
CNN may have had a motive to pick up the story, because its "Larry King Live" show hosted Vice President Gore and other information highway experts on June 15, and used CompuServe as a discussion forum for key issues. It was Gore's second public use of the service in just six months.
America OnLine and Prodigy have not been silent. AOL opened new forums for NBC programming, while Prodigy said its service would be the electronic-mail and chat backbone for CNBC's new network America's Talking. The launch of America's Talking next month will coincide with the launch of Prodigy's own chat service, something users have been asking for.
Josh Grotstein, director of business development of CNBC, told Newsbytes, "NBC corporate has tried to figure out what's the best strategy for getting into online," under vice president Alan Cohen. "We want to maximize attention for the brand names, and we did deals for the short-term. We have an exclusive deal with Prodigy and they'll be our exclusive provider for a period of time. After that time the strategy is for Alan and myself to sit down and evaluate where all the services are and how they've been working so we can figure out what we should do. Each division maximizes resources, and we get a lot of knowledge."
Finally, CompuServe has added three international newswires as it continues to lead the "big three" in international membership and content. The new wires are the UK's Press Association wire Associated Press France en Ligne from France, and Australian Associated Press Online wire.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940616/Press Contact: Debra Young CompuServe, 614-538-4553 or 614-538-3497)
mpuServe, 614-538-4553 or 614-538-3497)
6/16/94
Online Services Compete For Attention
TELECOM
Bell Atlantic Makes Net Improvem
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Bell Atlantic has filed papers on its Full Service Networks, insisting it will not engage in the "electronic redlining" critics fear.
The filings with the Federal Communication Commission are called "Section 214" applications, and they are essentially high-tech building permits.
The Bell Atlantic applications cover parts of its entire mid-Atlantic service territories. They include a "will carry" proposal, which the company hopes will meet public interest concerns, under which it will offer its network without charge to local broadcast and public education and government programmers. Customers would not need a separate set-top box to receive these channels if they have a cable-ready TV set, the company said.
About three million households and businesses would be covered by the upgrades, two-thirds of them getting a hybrid fiber-coax network similar to those proposed by US West and Pacific Telesis.
Spokesman Joan Rasmussen also emphasized to Newsbytes the diversity of the areas being upgraded. Not only are the areas racially diverse, more diverse than the Bell Atlantic service territory as a whole, but they are economically diverse. "The Washington upgrade area includes areas like Anacostia and Southeast Washington," she noted, both low-income areas. "It does include households across economic lines."
In addition to delivering telephone service and video programming, the new Bell Atlantic networks will be able to offer on-demand services like movies, and advanced interactive services such as home shopping, education and health care services.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940616/Press Contact: Joan Rasmussen Bell Atlantic, 703-974-8815)
: Joan Rasmussen Bell Atlantic, 703-974-8815)
6/16/94
Bell Atlantic Makes Net Improvement Filings
TELECOM
Rock Group Jefferson Airplane Su
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Sixties rock group The Jefferson Airplane has filed a lawsuit against software developer Berkeley Systems over the winged flying toasters used in its After Dark screen saver product. The toasters are similar to those used in the music groups cover art from its final album "30 Seconds Over Winterland," released in 1973.
Berkeley President Wes Boyd said in a prepared statement that the flying toasters were created in 1989 completely independent of The Jefferson Airplane album cover. "We were completely unaware of the album at the time." Screen saver programs originally were designed to prevent "burn-in" of computer monitors. However newer monitors have eliminated the burn-in effect and now the products are simply for entertainment.
Berkeley Systems has several screen saver products, but the toasters are the most famous. In fact, the company has claimed the toasters as a trademark and says it has a copyright on the symbol.
Last year the company went as far as to get a temporary court injunction against Delrina, a Canadian-based competitor. The injunction was part of a suit against Delrina and prevented the marketing of an "Opus N' Bill Screen Saver" which depicts the penguin character from the comic strip "Outland" shooting at a flock of flying toasters.
In its defense, Delrina pointed out The Jefferson Airplane album "30 Seconds Over Winterland," where seven flying toasters with Michelangelo wings are depicted as well as a cartoon in the October 1993 issue of PC Magazine depicting hunters shooting at flying toasters. The Berkeley/Delrina suit was recently settled out of court, with terms not disclosed.
Now music group The Jefferson Airplane followed a letter to Berkeley with a lawsuit in which it has asked a judge to prevent Berkeley from using the toasters any more in addition to payment for alleged illegal use of the images. The main difference between the album-cover toasters and Berkeley's is the album cover toasters also feature clock faces.
Rock Group Jefferson Airplane Sues Berkeley Systems
Denmark - Olicom Boosts Token Ri
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Olicom, the networking manufacturer, has introduced the Remote MultiPort Bridge, a linker bridge that routes up to four Token Ring data pathways into a single data channel to E1 or T1 telecoms standards.
According to Olicom, each of the Token Ring channels can be up to 2,048,000 bits-per-second (bps) fast and all four of the channels can be compressed in real time using the Lempel-Ziv algorithm to squeeze all four channels into the space normally occupied by one.
The compression rate of 4:1 and speed is achieved by a combination of keeping the compression technology in the firmware of the bridge, as well as by using a new version of the company's PowerMach software driver.
Using the new driver means that the UKP4,500 bridge can be configured to handle multiple network management protocols, such as IBM LAN Manager and Novell NetWare, as well as Olicom's modules. This flexibility extends to the type of Token Ring Adapters that can be used with the bridge, such as both 4 and 16 megabits-per-second (Mbps) in PC-AT, Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) and Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) formats.
The new bridge will ship through Olicom's reseller channel throughout Europe from the end of this month onwards. Local country pricing varies slightly, depending on packaged support services.
BRENTWOOD, ESSEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Amstrad has confirmed that it intends to buy Viglen, the number two "off the page" PC supplier in the UK. The deal is worth up to UKP60 million.
The move has been greeted with surprise from the City, which had read Amstrad Chairman Alan Sugar's tales of woe over decreasing profits margins on computer hardware in recent times as suggesting that a possible pull-out from PC manufacturing was on the cards.
The deal will cost Amstrad UKP30 million in cash, plus up to the same again on a profit-earning basis. Viglen is a privately-owned company that has been trading since the mid-1970s, when it handled a variety of computer hardware, before moving into PCs in the mid-1980s. Today Viglen is a highly popular direct-sell company that operates along the lines of Dell Computer.
According to Alan Sugar, the move into Viglen is a major one for Amstrad, which has always traditionally offered a limited number of PC configurations to its buyers, rather than Viglen's policy of taking a customer's order and configuring the system to meet the customer's needs.
This could be just the move that Amstrad needs, Newsbytes notes as Viglen has carved out a successful niche for itself in the public sector, with the company popping up on the preferred list of suppliers for several government agencies and departments.
According to Sugar, moving into direct sales of PCs will give Amstrad some of the profit margins lost to distributors and dealers.
Despite a relatively low key presence in the PC marketplace in the UK Viglen generated profits of UKP9 million on sales of UKP72 million in the 1993/94 financial year. Currently, the London-based company has around 180 staff, but Sugar suggested that he will invest new money into the operation to expand production.
Although precise details of the profit-driven nature of the second section of Amstrad's buyout offer for Viglen have yet to be revealed press sources have indicated that the proportion of the UKP30 million payable depends on the profit levels achieved by Viglen that are in excess of UKP4.5 million over the next three years.
According to City analysts in London, Viglen is highly thought of in what is, Newsbytes notes, a cut-throat industry. The PC mail order business has few loyal customers. But Viglen has experienced dynamic growth in the last few years, clocking up an average 12.5 percent pre tax profit level over the last three years.
The UKP30 million payable initially by Amstrad will not require a rights issue. Sugar has revealed that cash in hand in the group is around the UKP135 million mark and describes the Viglen acquisition as "the start of a new direction" for Amstrad.
"We are delighted that Viglen and its senior management team are joining the Amstrad Group. We have looked carefully at many acquisition opportunities and consider that Viglen provides an exciting new dimension to Amstrad's existing businesses," he said.
Over at Viglen, meanwhile, Vig Boyd, the company's managing director, said that he looks forward to becoming a part of the Amstrad group. "We look forward to becoming a wholly owned, but nevertheless independent, subsidiary of one of the largest British electronics companies," he said. "Viglen will continue to develop manufacture and directly sell high-quality, innovative PCs."
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced the availability of two add-ons to its popular Access database package -- a software development kit (SDK) and a low cost Solutions Pack that includes four ready-coded applications.
Andrew Gerrard, senior database product manager with Microsoft, told Newsbytes that the SDK will cost the same as the main Access package with a typical street price of between the UKP230 and UKP240 mark. The Solutions Pack, meanwhile, will sell for UKP35.
"The days when SDKs cost a lot more than the original package are long gone. These days, we want to positively encourage users to experiment and create new custom applications. That's why we're selling the SDK through our dealers as, quite literally, a shrink-wrapped product," he explained.
Gerrard said that he expects to see good sales of the SDKs into the user base of Access, rather than the data processing (DP) managers and software development community. "Sure, we want to sell into those areas, but we see the SDK as appealing to a wide spectrum of users who are willing to experiment, especially at this price point," he told Newsbytes.
The four applications supplied with the Solution Pack are: Sales Manager, Asset Tracker, Service Desk and Registration Desk. These four modules, Gerrard said, enhance the appeal of Access which, although it ships with three sample databases itself, users waste a lot of time customizing the samples to produce specific application modules. The Solutions Pack meets these needs, he said.
(Steve Gold/19940616/Press & Reader Contact: Microsoft 44-734-270001)
19940616/Press & Reader Contact: Microsoft 44-734-270001)
6/16/94
UK - Microsoft Sharpens Access Database With Budget SDK
Olivetti Deal With Retix On Rout
GUILDFORD, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Retix has announced a channel partnership with Olivetti, terms of which call for Olivetti and its dealers to sell and support Retix's range of routers and bridges in the UK.
The agreement is with Olivetti's Network Solutions Division and according to Retix, virtually completes Retix's plan to establish the UK's best router distributor infrastructure with systems integrators value-added resellers (VARs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) selling and supporting the company's products .
"Unlike our competitors, who are adopting a more direct approach our channel strategy is to establish and develop close working relationships with like-minded companies," explained Spencer Lawes, channel manager with Retix.
"All of our partners have exceptional expertise and presence in their own market sectors and are therefore the best place to understand the individual needs of their customers. Olivetti is a perfect example. With a large national support infrastructure and many blue chip companies as major accounts, we have an extremely high profile in the corporate sector," he said.
Lawes' comments were echoed by John Hope, manager of Olivetti's network solutions division, who said that, by offering Retix's inter networking products as part of Olivetti's portfolio, it was in line with "our own open system philosophy."
"In addition, Retix already works closely with SynOptics, another of our partners, which means we will be able to present a comprehensive offer to end users based on complementary products and mutual understanding between us and our partners," he said.
(Steve Gold/19940616/Press Contact: John Coulston, DPA (for Retix) tel +44-483-456666, fax +44-483-444444; Paul Francis, Retix tel +44-483-300600, fax +44-483-300333; Kate Moore, Olivetti UK, +44-81-780-8232)
0333; Kate Moore, Olivetti UK, +44-81-780-8232)
6/16/94
Olivetti Deal With Retix On Router Technology
BUSINESS
UK - Saber's LAN Workstation 5.0
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Saber Software Corporation has announced that LAN (local area network) Workstation 5.0 has started shipping. This, the latest version of Saber's LAN administration package, includes technology licensed from Ocean Isle Software in the US, to allow the package to remotely control workstations.
"This package represents another step forward in LAN administration," commented Jeff Barnes, European managing director with Saber UK. According to Barnes, this latest version "is an important product that reflects the requirement of today's network administrator, by consolidating Saber's expertise into one single product."
Other new features of the package include integral support for Novell's NetWare Directory Services (NDS), improved alarm notification, quick launch facilities for commonly accessed network utilities, a new text editor for Windows, and a much improved disk monitor.
Saber is pricing the product at UKP149 for media and documentation for a single server package, plus UKP39 per node license. Existing customers can upgrade for reduced costs depending on which version they are upgrading from.
Version 5.0 of LAN Workstation is also being made available through Saber's Dallas, Texas office in the US, and through the company office in St Quentin en Yvelines in France, Newsbytes was told.
(Steve Gold/19940616/Press & Public Contact: Saber Software UK, tel +44-344-304730, fax +44-344-306902)
are UK, tel +44-344-304730, fax +44-344-306902)
6/16/94
UK - Saber's LAN Workstation 5.0 Now Shipping
GENERAL
UK - Unix OSL Messaging Service
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Mercury Communications has announced OSL Message, a service by which Unix application users can message to and from a variety of other computing and operating system platforms, without the need for specialized hardware devices. The new service is being offered by Mercury value-added reseller (VAR) Occam Solutions Limited (OSL)
The OSL Message facility links in with Mercury's MultiMessage and X.400 integrated electronic mail, fax plus telex bureau services effectively gatewaying into and out of a customer's Unix computer.
"Unix sites no longer need multiple black boxes and proprietary applications to message in multiple formats," said Allan Davies, OSL's marketing manager. "With OSL message, a single open solution, does it all."
This is the second product from Mercury that draws together the company's range of telecoms services under a single product portfolio driven by a single "black box" front end. Earlier this week, Mercury took the wraps off One Call, a one-call "follow me" numbering system for faxes, voice-mail and voice communications. According to Mercury other products of this type are scheduled for launch later this year.
"OSL's products enable Unix customers to exploit the power of Multimessage directly from their applications," explained Nick Velissarides, Mercury Messaging's marketing manager, who added that he welcomes OSL into the Mercury authorized agent fold.
In use, OSL message accepts files for outbound transmission using a modified form of the Unix print command. Files can be sent in ASCII Postscript and PCL formats. Text messages can be ASCII only.
Pricing on the software, which runs on most Unix platforms from Data General, HP, IBM, ICL, Motorola, Sequent, Sun Unix and Intel/Unix systems, ranges from UKP2,000 to UKP10,000, depending on site license conditions.
(Steve Gold/19940616/Press Contact: Glen Goldsmith, DPA for Mercury tel +44-483-456666, fax +44-483-456555; Reader Contact: Occam Solutions Limited, tel +44-584-877-491 fax +44-584-877-499)
ited, tel +44-584-877-491 fax +44-584-877-499)
6/16/94
UK - Unix OSL Messaging Service From Mercury
NECC - IBM & BBN Intro Internet
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- The list of Internet products and servers keeps growing longer every day. With a pair of new Internet server systems for schools, IBM and BBN have joined Apple, Scholastic Network, and DCA among vendors making various kinds of Internet-related announcements this week.
"IBM School Internet" and "BBN Internet Server" were rolled out at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC), as were Scholastic Networks' new academic information service for the Internet, and Apple's Communications Bundle and AppleSearch Bundle for the Internet, two hardware-and-software bundles providing Internet access.
In an interview with Newsbytes at NECC, Denis Newman, a division scientist for BBN, described the new BBN Internet Server as a turnkey hardware-and-software server designed to allow a non expert, such as a teacher or school administrator, to manage on Internet access on-site without having to call in outside help.
BBN's new server consists of a 486 PC running Berkeley Unix and special software, modified with an Ethernet controller and tape drive, according to Newman.
Essentially, he said, BBN Internet Server adds a layer of client server software called Internet Server Manager to Copernicus, a server BBN has developed within the National School Network Testbed, a partnership partially funded by the National Science Foundation to develop new technologies for the National Information Infrastructure (NIIS).
The new Internet Server Manager software is aimed at allowing server functionality to be accessed and managed from a Macintosh client anywhere on the network, he explained.
"Nobody else is providing the same level of Internet access, in so simple a way. The server is bundled with everything you need. All you have to do is take it out of the box," he told Newsbytes.
The new server's Internet functionality includes electronic mail Network News bulletin boards, a file transfer protocol (FTP) server for file retrieval, and Gopher and Worldwide Web (WWW) database servers, according to Newman.
The server also supports Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) transport over Ethernet or serial line, in addition to serial line internet protocol (SLIP) with up to two ports for outbound calls to Internet providers and inbound calls from remote dial-in users.
In a separate interview, conducted with Newsbytes in the IBM booth Calvin B. Swart, staff programmer in IBM's Computer Science Department, said that IBM's new system provides OS/2 2.1 server software as well as Windows-based client applications.
The client applications include electronic mail, Network News, FTP Gopher, Telnet terminal emulation software, and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) for online discussions, he said.
The OS/2 2.1 Internet server software is used for connecting a Novell Netware local area network (LAN) to an Internet service provider through TCP/IP. A Novell server running NetWare 3.11 or 3.12 is required.
In a demo, Swart showed Newsbytes how PC users can access Read Mail, Send Mail, News, Gopher, Chat, FTP, Telnet, Help, and Quit functions by clicking on icons in the Windows-based client interface. The icon for Gopher depicts the face of a gopher animal while the icon for News is a rolled up newspaper, for instance.
Accessing the Gopher function, Swart showed Newsbytes a menu that organizes worldwide Gopher servers by country. When Swart clicked on South Africa, for example, a long list of Gophers appeared that included the universities of Rhodes, Natal, and Pretoria. A click on "Pretoria" supplied information such as the electronic mail addresses of students.
IBM is encouraging its beta testers to become Gophers on the Internet, said Swart. Several of the testers, including high schools and middle schools, have acquiesced, preparing text and graphical materials that can be accessed by others on the Internet. In at least one middle school, students are actually managing the school's Internet server themselves, he added.
IBM School Internet is slated for release at the end of July. Eventually, IBM will probably add a desktop server management capability, similar to BBN's Internet Server Manager, in addition to wide area information server (WAIS) search capabilities like those included in the upcoming AppleSearch, said Swart. For now though, the IBM product is using the Veronica search function in Gopher.
Pricing for the IBM School Internet software is $5,000 for 10 simultaneous users, including one day of training, one day of installation and system preparation, and three months of telephone support. Licenses are also available for 50 simultaneous users. The system requires a 486-based server and 386-based or above client workstations.
Scheduled for release in August, the BBN Internet Server is priced at $9695, plus a $1,450 annual maintenance fee. The server license covers server hardware and software, along with unlimited copies of the client application.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940616/Reader and Press Contact: Thomas J. Watson Research Center, IBM, 914-945-3000; Reader Contact: BBN 617-873-4000; Press Contact: Donna M. Lane, BBN, 617-873-2559)
000; Press Contact: Donna M. Lane, BBN, 617-873-2559)
6/16/94
NECC - IBM & BBN Intro Internet Servers For Schools
TELECOM
NECC - Schools Thank Apple By Sh
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Apple announced 11 new project grants to schools and affiliated teacher training organizations at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC). Also at the show, 14 other "education grantees" paid Apple a favor in return, holding a three-day series of presentations and demos called "The Boston Teach Party."
"We wanted to do something to thank Apple for all the help they've given us. The difference it's made at my school is like night and day," explained Joyce Campbell, a teacher at Brighton High School in Boston, and a Teach Party organizer, during an interview with Newsbytes at the show.
Apple's support has allowed the urban high school to establish an interactive learning center program called "Discovery - The Big Dig for Facts," according to Campbell. In a presentation at the Teach Party, Campbell explained that the program includes five "satellite research centers" in subject area classrooms.
Each satellite center is decked out with Macintosh LC IIIs, video laser disc players, CD-ROM players, modems, and access to the Dialog online information retrieval service. Working independently and in small groups, students use the equipment to conduct research, and to deliver their findings through video presentations, panel discussions, debates, and lengthy term papers.
"Today, the students at Brighton High are reading, writing editing, and learning about technology," Campbell told Newsbytes after her talk.
Also during the Teach Party, Susan Abdulezer, coordinator at the JHS 47 School for the Deaf in New York City, presented an Apple-funded "video signing" CD-ROM disk she is creating for the hearing impaired, using deaf students at the school as "actor/signers."
In a demo for Newsbytes, the teacher showed how "StreetSigns CD" provides an "American Sign Language (ASL) dictionary" that is divided into categories like Phones, News Stand, Wall Street, and Subway, under an overriding urban motif.
Newsbytes saw how, by clicking on "Phones" in the main menu you can access a video clip showing a pay phone. Abdulezer said that when the CD-ROM disk is complete, additional clicks on the telephone dialing pad will bring up videos for users depicting the "signs" to use for various numbers.
Similarly, the "News Stand" section shows the "signs of inquiry," or "questions," while "Subway" consists of "signs for asking directions." Asking directions is particularly difficult in ASL because directions involve extensive use of prepositions, she explained.
Deaf students will be able to learn signs through the "ASL dictionary," and to improve the quality of their schoolwork by adding the signs as "comments" to math problems and other lessons they prepare online and then submit to their teachers. The ASL video clips can be exported from the CD-ROM disk and embedded into any Macintosh application, she said.
In a third presentation, teacher Richard Goldsworthy of Woodbridge Academy, Lexington, Kentucky, described how K-12 students with attention deficit disorders, learning disabilities and dyslexia have used Apple technology in a project to stamp out "sinkhole pollution."
In the first year of the project, the special needs students formed "Sink Teams," conducted research on groundwater pollution analyzed water runoff samples, and even presented a report to the state legislature.
Since then, the students have been performing "mock trials" on pollution, and also acting as "mentors" to a local elementary school that is following in their pollution-fighting footsteps.
In another Apple-funded project outlined at the Teach Party children in Nebraska are learning about word processing, databases and other computer applications while providing services to nearby farmers, ranchers and businesses.
In a fourth project, "Legends," students in South Dakota Indianapolis, Arizona and Florida are using networks such as the Internet to express and compare regional cultural and social differences within collaborative multimedia presentations.
In contrast, one of Apple's newly announced set of project grants goes to Frank Porter Elementary School and the University of North Carolina for activities designed to let students combine nature trail experiences, "interdisciplinary studies," and collaborative work with retired citizens in multimedia productions.
Another new grant has been awarded to Watkins Elementary School and Hampton University in Virginia to "integrate various academic subjects including art and culture, taking advantage of visiting artists and professors from the university." Plans call for showcasing the results of this project at the university's Museum of African, Asian and Native American Art.
Other new award recipients include: Unalakleet Schools/University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Waimea Canyon Elementary School/University of Hawaii at Manoa; Manzanit Elementary and University of California Santa Cruz; Camptonville Elementary School/University of California, Davis; and Yolo County Court High School, also with the University of California, Davis. Yolo County Court is a school for teenagers who are incarcerated or on probation.
Also on Apple's list of new grantees are: the Bilingual/Bicultural Mini Elementary School/New York University; Public School 279 Technology/Center for Children; Briscoe Elementary School District Oregon/Jackson Education Service; and H.D. Hilley Elementary School/University of Texas at El Paso.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940616/Reader Contact: Apple Computer 408-996-1010; Press Contacts: Stacey Byrnes, Apple, 408-974 6076; JoAnn Johnston, Regis McKenna for Apple, 415-354-4496)
ohnston, Regis McKenna for Apple, 415-354-4496)
6/16/94
NECC - Schools Thank Apple By Showcasing Apps
APPLE
SunWorld '94 Opens In San Franci
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- IDG World Expo brought Sun, SPARC and Solaris-based hardware and software developers and suppliers and other complementary open system technologies to San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center and offered demonstrations of World Cup and Formula 1 Racing computer applications based on Sun technology.
Opening remarks by Michael McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Advanced Systems, preceded keynote addresses by Dr. Eric E. Schmidt, chief technology officer with Sun, and Scott McNealy, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sun, which outlined the direction of network technology and the role of audio, video, data and graphics in the corporate environment.
William Alaoglu, director of technology for World Cup USA 1994 discussed the ultimate test for a computer network that will provide information on 25,000 staffers, 5,000 players and 75,000 press members worldwide to more than 1,000 workstations with 15 Sun servers in three separate headquarters.
This new system reportedly reflects a time of increased high-level security measures that are directed towards the prevention of security breaks similar to the incidents of harm and violence carried-out on Nancy Kerrigan and Monica Seles.
Dr. Charles Clark, consultant for Random Consulting, moderated a panel discussion on the importance of high-end graphics, simulation and other computer technologies used in Formula 1 racing.
Dr. Clark told Newsbytes, "Few people realize that the difference in qualifying times from the first car at the start race to the last car is only six seconds and the technology advantages range from millions of dollars to minimal investments in technology. With a sophisticated computer system, a race car, traveling over 200 miles per hour, can transmit as much a 15 megabytes (MB) of data in a few seconds as it passes through the line of sight of the receiving computer."
Dr.Clark was joined by Nigel Hobden, managing director of Random Consulting; Nick Goozee, managing director of Penske Cars; Dieter Gundel, head of systems engineering at McLaren International; Andy Willard, computer systems manager for Ferrari; and Joe Mares senior design engineer with Rohr, Inc. who rounded out the panel with aerospace design and development information.
On the trade show floor, more than 250 companies displayed their hardware, software and peripherals. Digital Equipment Corp. presented juggling knives and network chatter, while Genicom offered "yardstick walking sticks" in brilliant neon colors to passers-by. Cray displayed its SuperServer 6400 with Super SPARC chips and more than 50 companies presented new products.
Andrew Rodger, vice president and general manager Open Systems for IDG, told Newsbytes, " This show is very focused, so that attendees can go from vendor to vendor and know that integrated solutions are part of the creation of this show. We work for over a year with analysts, industry leaders and users to create a show that is organized and directed towards solutions that are available today, as well as new developments and trends."
Rodger also pointed out other highlights that included: a FBI attended network security conference; a financial roundtable featuring Dwight Koop, senior vice president, executive director of Information Technology for Swiss Bank Corporation; Pat Kerpan, director of information technology at Swiss Bank Corporation; Ed Zander, president of SunSoft; and Steven Jobs chairman and CEO of Next; and various Sun workshops and user group meetings.
(Patrick McKenna/19940616/Press Contact: Rachel Winett, IDG World Expo, tel 508-820-8608)
tt, IDG World Expo, tel 508-820-8608)
6/16/94
SunWorld '94 Opens In San Francisco
GENERAL
UK - Novell Extends NetWare 4 Pr
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Novell has has extended its NetWare 4.xx sales promotion to the end of the year. Under the promotion customers buying copies of the high-end network operating system (NOS) qualify for free updates for a further six months.
Chris Solomon, brand marketing specialist with the NetWare Systems Group, said that the promotion, "Benefits those customers who will invest in NetWare 4.01 or even 4.02. Because the upgrades are free, there is a tangible advantage in installing NetWare 4 now and introducing later versions when appropriate."
In parallel with the free updates promo, Novell has announced it is migrating to supplying NetWare 4.xx installation and update program modules on CD-ROM as a standard option. By using CD-ROM instead of floppy disks, Novell claims it can offer enhanced modules and utilities, such as extra operating system patches for unusual system configurations.
(Steve Gold/19940633/Press & Reader Contact: Novell UK 44-344-724301)
Reader Contact: Novell UK 44-344-724301)
6/22/94
UK - Novell Extends NetWare 4 Promotion
GENERAL
Lotus Acquires SoftSwitch For $6
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- In a move envisioned as boosting Lotus' competitive standing versus Microsoft, Lotus has announced plans to acquire SoftSwitch, a major provider of electronic mail switches and directory synchronization technology.
In a teleconference attended by Newsbytes, Lotus and SoftSwitch officials said that Lotus will acquire Wayne, Pennsylvania-based SoftSwitch for about 1.3 million shares of Lotus stock, equivalent in value to $64 to $73 million.
In conjunction with the deal, Lotus also announced the establishment of the new Inter-Enterprise Computing Group (IECG) to be jointly headed by Michael Zisman, president of SoftSwitch and Larry Moore, VP of Lotus' Telecommunications Servers Group. IECG is aimed at bringing together SoftSwitch with Lotus' recently announced AT&T Network Notes.
"We're very excited," said Jim Manzi, president and CEO of Lotus speaking to reporters and analysts over the phone lines from the UK. SoftSwitch, he said, is a "world leader in messaging switching and directory synchronization" that will "broaden and deepen our strategy."
SoftSwitch, which will continue to operate from its headquarters in Wayne, Pennsylvania, produces two messaging switches. SoftSwitch Central, the company's first product, runs on IBM mainframes under MVS and VM.
EMX, first introduced in 1992, is a Unix-based multi-protocol message switch for client-server environments which contains an X.400 message transport service and X.500-model director services as well as message management capabilities. Lotus has been a reseller of SoftSwitch products.
Zisman, another speaker in the press conference, said that the merger will bring together Lotus' user agents and messaging servers with backbone switches and legacy system connectivity from SoftSwitch. "Together, we bring tremendous capabilities for our customers," he said. "We have a shared vision that bodes well for us, for our customers, and for the entire industry."
At the same time, though, SoftSwitch will honor a commitment made in an April agreement with Microsoft for interoperability between EMX and Microsoft's upcoming EMS (Enterprise Messaging Service), he said.
"As you are evolving from a desktop mindset to an enterprise mindset, you have to facilitate interoperability, not just accommodate it," according to Zisman. "And you are willing to do that if you believe you have the best of breed products."
Zisman acknowledged that SoftSwitch has been talking to other companies about a possible acquisition deal, but declined to say whether Microsoft had been one of these other parties.
Also during the teleconference, Jeff Papows of Lotus said that Lotus will stick to its plans of releasing LCS (Lotus Communications Server) in the first half of 1995.
The first release of LCS will include some capabilities, such as directory synchronization, adopted from SoftSwitch, he said. After that, Lotus will incorporate greater capabilities from the SoftSwitch products, including an SMTP (Simple Message Transport Protocol) MTA (Message Transport Agent) from EMX that "is superior to the gateway to transport we currently have."
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940616/Press Contacts: Richard Eckel, Lotus 617-693-1284; Lois Paul Associates for Lotus, 617-862-4514; Betsy Chapman, SoftSwitch, 610-640-9600)
4; Betsy Chapman, SoftSwitch, 610-640-9600)
6/16/94
Lotus Acquires SoftSwitch For $64 Million
BUSINESS
Newsbytes Daily Summary
`$$$PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Health Care Software Makes House Calls 06/16/94 While your doctor may not come to your house any more to diagnose your ailments, there is a software package that will. Applied Medical Informatics' (AMI) HouseCall is a medical reference guide and symptom analysis tool that the company says is designed to help the "average person" become a more informed consumer of medical care.
2 -> AT&T Announces WorldWorx Video Service 06/16/94 AT&T has announced AT&T WorldWorx Solutions, a video dial-tone service based on the H.320 standard used by existing digital video systems like those made by PictureTel.
3 -> Art Teco '94 Presented By Morph's Outpost Magazine 06/16/94 Focusing on the technical aspects of multimedia and presented by the magazine "Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier," the first annual United Developers Summit, Art Teco '94, will begin June 16 in San Francisco, California. The conference will be held in the Cowell Theater at the Fort Mason Center and features exhibits from Creative Labs, Apple Computer, Compton's Newmedia, and Intel.
4 -> UK - Texas Instruments Intros New Notebook Range 06/16/94 Texas Instruments has announced a new family of notebooks that it claims have a combination of features and performance "never previously offered in a single portable configuration" in the UK.
5 -> UK - IBM Intros "Low-Cost" Server-Based LANs 06/16/94 IBM UK has taken the wraps off LAN FirstStep, a new product that it claims is aimed at users who do not already have local area networks (LANs), as well as at users of peer-to-peer networks (e.g. Artisoft LANtastic) who want the improved performance and facilities of a server-based LAN.
6 -> Germany Buys Into Spanish Mobile Phone Network 06/16/94 Deutsches Bundespost Telekom (DBT) has taken a 9.9 percent stake in Cometa, the Spanish mobile telecommunications consortium. The extra funding details of which have not been announced, will allow Cometa to create the technology required to support its planned digital (global system for mobile) phone network.
7 -> Consultant Says Open Systems Complicate Security 06/16/94 Open systems security may sound like an oxymoron, Mark Dennison admits. How can something be open and secure at the same time? However, the Ottawa-based consultant with CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc. explained in a presentation to reporters this week that while open systems are complicating computer security, they are not making it impossible.
8 -> Hong Kong Hospital Authority Implements Patient System 06/16/94 The Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin has become the first site to implement a sophisticated software development by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA). The system provides an integrated workstation designed to give medical staff access, from the ward, to patient records and clinical information drawn from a range of underlying information systems.
9 -> IBM Australia Wins Regional Data Processing Contract 06/16/94 The mainframe-infested bunker underneath IBM Australia's Cumberland Forest headquarters will get a workout following a deal which will see the company handle data processing for subsidiaries in Singapore Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
10 -> Hong Kong - NetAsia Networking Show Set For June 06/16/94 NetAsia, an international networking show, is to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wanchai from June 29 to July 1.
11 -> ****Software Publishers To Rate Computer Games 06/16/94 Attempting to ward off game standards set by large video game makers a coalition that includes the Software Publishers Association and four smaller software trade groups say they will develop their own voluntary sex and violence ratings system for computer games.
12 -> IBM Licenses OpenMail From HP For RS/6000 06/16/94 IBM has announced a licensing agreement with Hewlett-Packard Co. that will put HP's OpenMail messaging software on IBM's RISC System/6000 workstations and servers running the AIX variant of Unix.
13 -> "Junkie" Virus Spreading Worldwide 06/16/94 A potentially damaging virus, named "Junkie," is reportedly spreading across the world.
14 -> Judge Says Microsoft & Stac Must Pay Up! 06/16/94 A federal judge has ordered Microsoft Corporation and Stac Electronics to pay the money each company owes the other.
15 -> 100 Power Mac Apps Now Available 06/16/94 Analysts have said the availability of applications are what will make or break the new Power Macintosh computer, so the announcement of 100 software titles now ready for the unit is good news for Apple Computer.
16 -> More On Metricom's Frequency-Hopping Network 06/16/94 Hedy Lamarr, Southern California Edison, and an innovative "mesh" network design, are combining to give Silicon Valley wireless data users a choice of networks. Newsbytes discussed that choice, called Ricochet with Metricom chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Dilworth.
17 -> More On BT-MCI Deal 06/16/94 MCI and British Telecom have approved conditions the US Justice Department tied to their joint-venture, called Concert. Meanwhile, AT&T argued that the conditions do not go far enough.
18 -> Online Services Compete For Attention 06/16/94 Prodigy has a more aggressive publicity shop, America OnLine may be signing alliances more quickly, but CompuServe is suddenly getting a lot more attention from the mainstream press.
19 -> Bell Atlantic Makes Net Improvement Filings 06/16/94 Bell Atlantic has filed papers on its Full Service Networks, insisting it will not engage in the "electronic redlining" critics fear.
20 -> Rock Group Jefferson Airplane Sues Berkeley Systems 06/16/94 Sixties rock group The Jefferson Airplane has filed a lawsuit against software developer Berkeley Systems over the winged flying toasters used in its After Dark screen saver product. The toasters are similar to those used in the music groups cover art from its final album "30 Seconds Over Winterland," released in 1973.
21 -> Denmark - Olicom Boosts Token Ring Technology 06/16/94 Olicom the networking manufacturer, has introduced the Remote MultiPort Bridge, a linker bridge that routes up to four Token Ring data pathways into a single data channel to E1 or T1 telecoms standards.
22 -> UK - Amstrad Acquires Viglen 06/16/94 Amstrad has confirmed that it intends to buy Viglen, the number two "off the page" PC supplier in the UK. The deal is worth up to UKP60 million.
23 -> UK - Microsoft Sharpens Access Database With Budget SDK 06/16/94 Microsoft has announced the availability of two add-ons to its popular Access database package -- a software development kit (SDK) and a low cost Solutions Pack that includes four ready-coded applications.
24 -> Olivetti Deal With Retix On Router Technology 06/16/94 Retix has announced a channel partnership with Olivetti, terms of which call for Olivetti and its dealers to sell and support Retix's range of routers and bridges in the UK.
25 -> UK - Saber's LAN Workstation 5.0 Now Shipping 06/16/94 Saber Software Corporation has announced that LAN (local area network) Workstation 5.0 has started shipping. This, the latest version of Saber's LAN administration package, includes technology licensed from Ocean Isle Software in the US, to allow the package to remotely control workstations.
26 -> UK - Unix OSL Messaging Service From Mercury 06/16/94 Mercury Communications has announced OSL Message, a service by which Unix application users can message to and from a variety of other computing and operating system platforms, without the need for specialized hardware devices. The new service is being offered by Mercury value-added reseller (VAR) Occam Solutions Limited (OSL)
27 -> ****NECC - IBM & BBN Intro Internet Servers For Schools 06/16/94 The list of Internet products and servers keeps growing longer every day. With a pair of new Internet server systems for schools, IBM and BBN have joined Apple, Scholastic Network, and DCA among vendors making various kinds of Internet-related announcements this week.
28 -> NECC - Schools Thank Apple By Showcasing Apps 06/16/94 Apple announced 11 new project grants to schools and affiliated teacher training organizations at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC). Also at the show, 14 other "education grantees" paid Apple a favor in return, holding a three-day series of presentations and demos called "The Boston Teach Party."
29 -> SunWorld '94 Opens In San Francisco 06/16/94 IDG World Expo brought Sun, SPARC and Solaris-based hardware and software developers and suppliers and other complementary open system technologies to San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center and offered demonstrations of World Cup and Formula 1 Racing computer applications based on Sun technology.
30 -> ****Lotus Acquires SoftSwitch For $64 Million 06/16/94 In a move envisioned as boosting Lotus' competitive standing versus Microsoft, Lotus has announced plans to acquire SoftSwitch, a major provider of electronic mail switches and directory synchronization technology.
(Ian Stokell/19940616)
(Ian Stokell/19940616)
6/16/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Pentium, Chicago, PowerPC Drivin
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Dataquest says it anticipates a short-term shortage of 16-megabyte (MB) dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips by the end of this year and early in 1995. The push of the Pentium by Intel, the introduction of Chicago, and the Power Macintosh by Apple Computer, without a corresponding increase in the supply of 16 MB DRAM, will drive up prices, Dataquest predicted.
Demand for the larger DRAM chips is driven by the design of IBM compatible personal computers (PCs) which have slots for single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). The slots will accommodate SIMMs which have DRAM chips on a small circuit board that plugs into the slot, but the SIMMs must all be the same capacity. In other words, a computer with 4 SIMM slots capable of supporting 64 MB of RAM needs four 16 MB SIMMs to fill those slots to get to 64 MB. If it already has two 4 MB SIMMs, the user has the option of adding two more 4 MB SIMMs for a total of 16 MB or taking out the 4 MB SIMMs and replacing them with 16 MB SIMMs.
Part of what is driving the increased need for more memory is the Pentium processor, which won't run with any less than 8 MB of DRAM. In order to have memory for applications, users add to the 8 MB.
Intel is pushing the Pentium and Ronald Bohn, senior industry analyst at Dataquest's Memories Worldwide, told Newsbytes the market research firm is predicting demand will increase to 5.5 million Pentium PCs shipping in 1994 and 18 million shipments in 1995.
In addition, Chicago, the big brother of Microsoft Windows 3.1 without DOS underneath, is also expected to ship in the first quarter of 1995. Microsoft says Chicago will run in 4 MB, but Bohn said 8 MB is a more practical minimum and users will want even more memory.
The PowerPC-based Power Macintosh could also be a factor, as it requires significant quantities of memory as well, Bohn added.
Dataquest said the PC market overall will grow. The market research firm said it is assuming IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) shipments worldwide will grow at a rate of 15 percent in 1994, and US shipments will grow even faster at 16 percent in the same period. The company is also noting the average amount of memory in a PC will increase from the 5.5 MB average of 1993 to 8 MB average in 1994.
Looking from an original equipment manufacturer's (OEM's) perspective, 16 MB DRAM at lower prices is what OEMs want, but it is also something they're not likely to get. Despite the growth Dataquest doesn't see a corresponding increase in the supply of 16 MB DRAM. In addition, 16 MB SIMMS are expensive, so that's sure to create conflict in the price sensitive, slim-profit margin PC OEM market, according to Bohn.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940616/Press Contact: Olaf Vlieks, Dataquest tel 408/437-8312, fax 408-437-0292)
ks, Dataquest tel 408/437-8312, fax 408-437-0292)
6/17/94
Pentium, Chicago, PowerPC Driving DRAM Shortage
TRENDS
Kodak Intros New Digital Camera
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Eastman Kodak Company has introduced a new professional digital camera that stores its images for use on an Apple Computer Macintosh or a PC.
The new Kodak Professional DCS 420 Digital Camera is the next generation of Kodak's DCS 200. The 420 uses a full frame imager that has a total resolution of 1.5 million pixels (picture elements) and 12 bits per RGB (red-blue-green) color for 36-bit color designed to produce greater highlight and shadow detail.
The new system stores its images on removable PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) hard disk and memory cards. Kodak says the high-power battery can provide at least 1,000 images per charge. Recharge time is rated at about one hour.
Kodak has also built in a microphone that lets the user record sound clips or other information before or after exposing the image.
The company says the DCS 420 is designed for use in desktop publishing, presentation development, catalog publishing scientific research and other "on location" uses. Kodak also developed the Associated Press NC 2000 digital camera for use by photojournalists.
The new system is the first in Kodak's DCS 400 series. It's a combination of a camera back and a Nikon N90 camera body that accepts all F-mount Nikon lenses. The N90 first came to market in 1992. It has a top shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second. The motor drive can advance film up to 3.5 frames per second in continuous mode. Autoloading and power rewind are provided. Metering is by eight-segment matrix, 75 percent centerweighted and one percent spotmetering. A lightable top deck displays shutter speed, f-stop exposure mode, metering pattern, ISO, and other necessary information. By itself the N90 carries Nikon's suggested retail price of $1,190 without lens.
DCS 420 users can choose exposures equivalent to ISOs from 50 to 400 in color and from 100 to 800 in black and white. It takes about 1/4 of one second for the camera to be ready to shoot once it's turned on. If the user holds down the shutter release it can fire off a five-image burst in 2.25 seconds.
The DCS 420 serves as a PCMCIA card reader once the user is ready to move the images to a computer. A standard SCSI (small computer system interface) cable connects the camera to a Macintosh PC. A host adapter is provided if you want to connect to an IBM-compatible system.
Kodak ships software with the camera that lets Mac users move the images directly into Adobe Photoshop. Separate software interfaces work with Aldus Photostyler or other TWAIN-compliant applications.
The DCS 420 is available in three models: a 420c for color, 420m for black and white, and a 420IR for infrared images. All three ship with the camera, an AC adapter/charger, MAC and PC cables, driver software and manuals. Lenses and PCMCIA storage cards are sold separately.
Kodak says the suggested retail price for the DCS 420 is $10,995.
(Jim Mallory/19940616/Press contact: Paul Allen, Eastman Kodak 716-724-5802; Reader contact: Eastman Kodak 800-242-2424 or your local Kodak dealer)
-2424 or your local Kodak dealer)
6/17/94
Kodak Intros New Digital Camera
APPLE
Symantec Software Give-away To S
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- As one of the sponsors of the National Computer Ethics and Responsibilities Campaign (NCERC), Symantec has announced it will give away a free copy of The Norton Utilities 8.0 or The Norton AntiVirus 3.0 to the first 500 bulletin board system (BBS) operators or sysops who help get the word out about computer ethics.
The requirement is the sysops must post one of several available ethics codes so users will see it as part of the normal use of the BBS for a period of four months.
Several ethics statements are available for posting including: "The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics" or "The Basic Tenets of Computer Ethics," both developed by the Computer Ethics Institute (CEI); "The Five Considerations for Computer Conduct," developed by SRI; "Six Unacceptable Internet Activities," by the Internet Activities Board; or EDUCOM's "Basic Statement of Computing Ethics." Here is one of the codes.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF COMPUTER ETHICS
1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.
8. Thou shalt not use other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing.
10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways to demonstrate consideration and respect for your fellow humans.
The ethics statements have been made available electronically from the NCERC Compuserve forum (GO CETHICS or on the Software Creations Bulletin Board.
Sysops who post an ethics statement in the manner the NCERC requests may contact Symantec before September 30, 1994 with their choice of which one of the two software packages offered. The requests must include a statement of compliance with the conditions or evidence of compliance and can be mailed or sent electronically.
The promotion is part of the launch of the NCERC planned for June 21, 1994, in Washington, D.C on Capital Hill. Launch sponsors are: Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance; George E. Brown Jr., Chairman Committee on Space, Science and Technology; Charlie Rose Chairman of House Administration.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940615/Press Contact: Ana Thorne, Symantec tel 310-449-4140, fax 310-453-0636; Mike Volpe, Volpe Communications, tel 703-534-5022; Public Contact: NCERC Compuserve forum, GO CIS:CETHICS; Software Creations Bulletin Board, tel 508-368-7139; Mail Requests, BBS Ethics Software Request, c/o Peter Tippett, Symantec Corporation, 2500 Broadway Santa Monica, CA 90404-3063; E-Mail requests, Internet ptippett@symantec.com; CompuServe 72350,750; MCI ptippett or 429 5370; Note -- subject field should be: BBS Ethics Software Request)
e -- subject field should be: BBS Ethics Software Request)
6/17/94
Symantec Software Give-away To Sysops Who Support Ethics
GENERAL
Lotus Scores Major Danish SmartS
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) - Lotus Development Corporation has received one of its largest SmartSuite orders ever. The company's Danish subsidiary has announced that terms of the contract call for its to deliver 7,500 copies of the OS/2 version to customers in the Danish financial sector.
The Danish contract, which is worth about $2 million, involves the supply of SmartSuite for OS/2 to FinansSupport, a purchasing cooperative with members from all levels of the Danish banking world including several mutual savings banks.
The goal of the bankers is to provide their customers with a quick service in financial calculations, easy to understand graphics and high levels of personal consultancy.
Henrik Mo'rck, who manages the Danish Lotus subsidiary, said that he is more than satisfied with the deal, which is Lotus' second largest in Denmark. Lotus claims it has been working closely with IBM in preparing the way for the deal.
Lotus Scores Major Danish SmartSuite For OS/2 Order
Symantec Software Give-away To S
Picasso Paints Again On Hong Kon
TAI KOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Hongkong Telecom CSL has introduced Picasso, an innovative still image video phone system that offers a simple means of exchanging full-color, high-quality images using ordinary telephone lines.
Images are captured by a video camera and transmitted; at the destination they can either be displayed on a TV or a PC monitor, saved in the Picasso's on-board memory, copied straight to videotape or output as hard copy using a video printer.
"Hongkong Telecom CSL introduced the first videophones to Hong Kong in 1992," said Richard Yu, general manager, telecom products at Telecom CSL. "Now, with Picasso, we are expanding the possibilities of desktop video communications to meet the needs of the territory's dynamic business community."
One of the key advantages of the Picasso Still Image Phone is that it supports simultaneous voice and image transmission. A real-time annotation function enables users at both ends of the line to highlight any area of the displayed image using a standard mouse.
All of the annotations can be stored with the image, so users have a complete record of their call. The unit has an internal storage capacity of 32 images, any or all of which can be stored or saved to videotape. "This will make Picasso very attractive to users in the electronics textiles, manufacturing or trading companies where the ability to discuss changes to products in a visual manner is of extreme value," said Yu.
"We see Picasso being used by manufacturers, traders and designers to present their concepts and models," said Yu. "By actually seeing what is under discussion, the two parties on the phone will be able to communicate their ideas far more effectively than if they were simply looking at a photo or a drawing."
The device's Image Enhancement Controls enable users to perform enhancements on a per-image basis. A jitter-free option is available to reduce the effects of interlacing and a text enhancement feature can be utilized to sharpen the readability of text-based images.
A built-in, high-speed modem operating at 14.4 Kbps the highest data rate available for a standards based dial-up modem, allows images to be transmitted in as little as five seconds. However, if the quality of the phone connection deteriorates, Picasso can automatically fall back to a slower transmission mode, ensuring that sent images are received perfectly.
From: Microsoft Corp., One Microsoft Way, Redmond WA 98052-6399
Price: $9.95
PUMA Rating: 4.0 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Ian Stokell 06/17/94
Summary: Excellent series of handy books covering many Microsoft products.
======
REVIEW
======
You have to look long and hard these days to find a computer book for under the $10 mark. And to find one that actually contains plenty of useful information is even more difficult. So it is a pleasant surprise to find that Microsoft has a complete series of them for that low price.
I read through six of them for this review: Windows 3.1; MS-DOS 6.2; Access 2 For Windows; Excel 5 For Windows; Word 6 For Windows, and Works 3 For Windows.
They are all offered at the compact size of 4.75-inches by eight-inches. The number of pages in the books I read ranged from 169 for the Access 2 book, to 198 for the Works 3 book.
The layout of the books is very pleasant and easy to read, and the screen shots are clean and informative. There are plenty of menus examples, and screen shots to make things easier to understand. Also, there are some fun additional graphics to lighten things up and to provide access to more information.
Each book follows a set format involving an introduction; a short chapter on the "Environment" pertaining to the specific product the book is about; a lengthy alphabetical listing of commands tasks, terms, and procedures; a Troubleshooting section; a Quick Reference section; and an Index.
The Environment section sets out the "lay of the land" relating to whatever product the book covers. Double-page screen shots and examples have many paragraphs of information around them with arrows pointing to the corresponding details.
A small "paw-print" (three prints left by an animals foot) graphic throughout the book refers the user to cross-referenced additional subjects in the A to Z section. For example, at the end of the Batch Programs section in the MS-DOS 6.2 book, "paw prints" indicate more information is available in Call; Choice; Echo; For; Go To; If; Pause; Rem; and Shift sections. In another example, in the Startup Dialog Box double-page screen shot in the Works 3 book, paw-prints at the end of the short paragraph explaining the Open An Existing Document button refer the reader to more information in Exporting Documents; Filenames; and Opening Documents.
A small picture of a "guide" in a safari helmet appears from time to time during the book. The text accompanying the graphic gives an additional tip on the subject matter just covered in the main text.
The A to Z section, typically around 120-pages long, depending on the book, covers many subjects, tasks, and procedures the user is likely to need while running the program. In the Windows 3.1 book for example, subjects range from Copying Files and Dialog Boxes to Multitasking and Wildcard Characters. In contrast, the Excel 5 For Windows book covers such subjects as Default Directory and Default Font, to What-If-Tables and Relative Cell Address.
Explanations of each subject listed are concise and not over technical, although they cover the necessary information perfectly well. The book is designed to help out beginners, but is also intended as a quick reference for experienced users. And it does both jobs pretty well.
The Field Guide series does not claim to be a definitive desktop reference. It is designed as a....well.....a field guide! The books offer plenty of useful and accessible information, in an easy to understand format. They are also well written. All in all, a great buy for under $10 each.
======
PUMA RATING
======
PERFORMANCE: 4.0 Very pleasant format, easy to read, good graphics and screen shots.
USEFULNESS: 4.0 Highly useful as a quick reference source for beginners and experienced users alike.
AVAILABILITY: 4.0 As Microsoft Press books, they are available nationwide, or direct from the company.
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
m the company.
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
6/17/94
Review of - Field Guide Series Of Books
REVIEW
GENERAL
UniversityWorks Automates Colleg
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Syntellect Inc., has introduced a software package that automates college and university student services such as registration, grade inquiry fee payment and other functions.
UniversityWorks is the latest addition to Syntellect's ApplicationWorks series of modular voice-processing packages targeted at specific markets.
Students can access UniversityWorks via telephone or a personal computers, reducing long waiting lines and waiting times as well as cutting down on the amount and cost of paperwork.
The UniversityWorks package comes with a graphical user interface that lets the institution design caller menu layouts, prompting and system parameters. The package can be tailored to each school's specific needs.
The basic UniversityWorks includes the grades/GPA inquiry and registration modules. There are optional modules for a bulletin board service and for fee payment and financial assistance. The fee payment module includes the ability to obtain credit card verification while the student is connected to UniversityWorks. It also interfaces with the school's main computer system to capture fee information for each student, and marks the record paid once the credit card charge is approved.
Syntellect Director of Application Programs Rita Dearing told Newsbytes the basic system has a suggested retail price of $31,500 for a four-line system. The fee module sells for $4,500 and the bulletin board can be added for $1,500.
The standard system is a turnkey package that contains the necessary hardware, software, voice recordings, and installation services. UniversityWorks runs on a 33 megahertz 486 PC built by Intel Corporation.
(Jim Mallory/19940616/Press and reader contact: Tricia Lester Syntellect Inc, 602-789-2804)
act: Tricia Lester Syntellect Inc, 602-789-2804)
6/17/94
UniversityWorks Automates College Registration
Ambra Bundles Borland Apps, Lowe
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Ambra has started bundling the newly introduced Sidekick for Windows, in addition to Borland Office 2.0, with all subnotebooks and two of its notebook models. At the same time, prices have been reduced to $1799 for each of the two notebooks, and to between $899 and $1599 for the three subnotebooks.
The first Windows edition of Borland's Sidekick will also be sold separately in retail stores, at an expected street price of $30, a Borland spokesperson told Newsbytes. The new PIM (personal information manager) began shipping this week to selected resellers, he added.
On Monday, June 20, Borland will officially announce the establishment of a new Consumer Products Division, with Sidekick for Windows as the division's first product, according to the spokesman.
Ambra products that are bundling the Borland software include the SN425-80, SN425-170, and SN425C-170 subnotebooks and the NC425SL and N433C notebooks. Ambra is also including an external 1.44 megabyte (MB) 3.5-inch diskette drive and a carrying case with all the subnotebooks.
Software bundles are a rarity among portable PCs, an Ambra spokeswoman told Newsbytes. Ambra, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based wholly owned IBM subsidiary, selected Sidekick for Windows and Borland Office 2.0 for the bundling deal because of the wide ranging functionality the products represent, she said.
The Borland Office 2.0 productivity suite incorporates the WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows word processor, the Quattro Pro 5.0 Workgroup Edition spreadsheet, and the Paradox 4.5 Workgroup Edition database, along with Desktop Application Director (DAD), a customizable navigation tool.
The newly launched Sidekick for Windows offers a series of integrated components that include a calendar, calculator, card file, contact manager, plus a freeform "notes" section, according to the Ambra spokesman.
With the first Windows edition of the long-standing PIM, Borland is "recapturing the flavor and feel" of the earliest version for DOS a product that was "small, fast, flexible, and always there when you needed it," he maintained.
The new Sidekick for Windows is a "well behaved Windows application" which consumes only 3.1 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space, he reported. The PIM provides considerable "surface functionality," meaning that most features can be accessed through one-click menu bars, Newsbytes was told.
Each of the three subnotebooks in Ambra's SN line offer a 25 megahertz (MHz) 486SX-SL processor, 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), a removable hard disk drive (HDD), a 3.5-inch floppy drive, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) Type II slot, and an 86-key keyboard integrated with a 16-millimeter (mm) trackball. The subnotebooks weigh in at four pounds apiece, including battery.
The SN425C, which has been lowered in price to $1599, provides a 7.8-inch color display and removable 170 MB HDD. The SN425-170 which is now $1199, includes an 8.2-inch LCD display and removable 170 MB HDD. The SN425-80, now $899, has an 8.2-inch LCD display and removable 60 MB HDD.
A port replicator is optionally available for the subnotebooks. Also on an optional basis, Ambra offers two "special packages" for the SN425 models. "Road Warrior" provides a PCMCIA 2.4/9.6 kilobit-per-second (kbps) data/fax modem, carrying case, battery and battery charger for $376. "Quick Dock" sports a port replicator, a 14-inch SVGA monitor, and a full-size desktop keyboard for $404.
Ambra also provides an optional docking station that can accommodate two 16-bit expansion cards (subnotebook models) or four 16-bit expansion cards (433C notebook).
Ambra's NC425SL and N433C notebooks, now priced at $1799, each include a 9.5-inch DSTN dual-scan color display, 4 MB of RAM, a removable 120 MB HDD, and a 3.5-inch diskette drive. The NC425SL has a 25 MHz 486SX-SL processor, an 85-key keyboard with integrated trackball, and an integrated fax/modem.
The N433C comes with a 33 MHz 486SX processor, two Type II PCMCIA slots, and an 86-key keyboard with integrated 16mm trackball. Two "special packages" are available for the N433C. "Instant Office" incorporates a docking station, a 15-inch flat square monitor and a full-size desktop keyboard for $927. "Traveler" offers a PCMCIA 2.4/9.6 Kbps data/fax modem and battery for $278.
Orders for Ambra systems can be placed through the company's toll free number, 800-25-AMBRA. All system purchases are protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee as well as a one-year limited warranty. Toll-free technical support is provided through IBM 24 hours a day seven days a week.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940616/Reader Contacts: Ambra, 800-25-AMBRA; Borland, 408-431-1000; Press Contacts: Craig Conrad, Ambra, 919 713-1550; Pam Erickson or Anne Marie Clark, Cunningham Communication for Ambra, 617-494-8202; Knox Richardson, Borland 408-431-1000)
Ambra Bundles Borland Apps, Lowers Prices On Portables
Editorial - Audio News Conferenc
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- By Dana Blankenhorn. It's the best thing to happen to reporters since the Model 100. It's the audio press conference. Using the latest telephone technology, reporters can, from the comfort of their offices or home, listen to top executives dispense news and even (sometimes) query them.
The services have greatly improved in just the last year. At some early conferences, it was impossible to type notes because typing could be heard over the link. At others, it was impossible to ask questions -- the traffic was all one-way. Lately they've become more standardized. Reporters are given a chance to queue up for questions by pressing the 1, or 1, keys on their touchtone keypads. Distant reporters have been brought into meetings held in large halls, rather than be relegated to full interactivity only in conferences held via speakerphone in cramped offices.
But there are some improvements that still should be made. As a public service, I'm listing some:
Music. Some of the music while on hold is atrocious. Give me the option of muting it, then ring a buzzer when you're ready to usher me in the door. That's what you'd do if I came to your office.
Spelling. At most audio news conferences none of the speakers spell their names for the audience. This can cause mistakes in finished copy.
Identification. Especially in the early stages of a conference, it's hard to tell which of several industry speakers is speaking. Reporters are asked to identify themselves when they start speaking. Sources should do the same, at least until we all have video.
AT&T claims it has a solution in WorldWorx, a video dialtone service announced this week. But there are still a few bugs in the system. For one, the press conference announcing WorldWorx allowed callers linked to that system to ask questions, but didn't allow those with plain telephone connections to ask questions. More important, WorldWorx, and other fast-data services, rely on local availability of the needed circuits. Such services as "Switched 56" data services are becoming common in many office parks, where there are large services requiring them so PBXs can access them. But they're very rare in residential neighborhoods, where millions of home-based businesses are located. For them, the solution is the integrated services digital network, or ISDN. Trouble is, local companies are still not pushing ISDN, and where it is offered on a residential tariff, as in Georgia, it costs more to get from home than from work.
All this means that audio news conferences will remain common for years to come. They're an innovation. It's fun covering the news in shorts and a t-shirt. But things can always be better.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940616)
ter.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940616)
6/17/94
Editorial - Audio News Conferences
EDITORIAL
TELECOM
Baltimore Dispute on School Tech
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Baltimore City Schools and Education Alternatives, a private company managing eight of the city's schools, claimed victory in releasing new test score results, but critics called the claim nonsense.
Education Alternatives pushes a program called Tesseract, which uses technology heavily both for learning and administration. The company is seeking contracts to run public schools across the country, and the Baltimore situation is being watched closely not only as a model for technology implementation, but as a model for privatizing schools. The word Tesseract is from the book "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle and is copyrighted by Education Alternatives.
According to the city's school superintendent, Walter Amprey, a preliminary analysis of scores on the California Test of Basic Schools shows that results in schools managed by Education Alternatives went up, not only from last fall but from a year ago as well. Scores were up for both reading and math, and Amprey called himself "pleased with these early indicators, saying the program is moving in the right direction."
Amprey also addressed critics of the program in his statement. "While many people expected to see dramatic and unrealistic increases in test scores in the early stages of the program, we expected student gains to be relatively small immediately following implementation because there were so many major adjustments for students and teachers to make."
In a statement issued in response to the Baltimore release the American Federation of Teachers claimed officials are "trying hard to turn a defeat into a victory." The AFT noted that three years into the contract with Education Alternatives, reading scores are still lower in its schools than they were before the company took over. The AFT also noted that scores are going up in other Baltimore schools as well, and those results weren't released so valid comparisons could be made.
Newsbytes discussed that charge with Donna Franks, a spokesman for the Baltimore City Schools. "We don't have the scores" in the other schools "ready," she acknowledged. "We would have liked to have had them. We were under pressure to get these out because of interest in the Tesseract program. We hope to get the other results out in a couple of weeks." She said the district gets pages of scores from the testing centers, which must be analyzed and put in perspective before they're released." William Caritj the school official who heads the district's educational accountability office, said the AFT's claims of poor performance were exaggerated, and it's not unusual for scores to drop slightly in the first year of a major reform effort.
Baltimore added it plans to select a third-party to evaluate the second year of the Education Alternatives program, looking at material resources, instructional technology, staff development parent involvement and the institutional program as well as test scores. The city also asked that each Tesseract school be matched to a similar city school for comparison.
The AFT opposes Education Alternatives because of fears it will lose membership as schools are privatized. In Baltimore Education Alternatives has worked with union teachers, but has added non-union teacher aides to the classrooms and replaced maintenance staffs with its own crews.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940617/Press Contact: Baltimore City Schools, Donna Franks, 410-396-8577; Lory Sutton, Education Alternatives, 612-832-0092; Donna Fowler, American Federation of Teachers, 202-879-4482)
owler, American Federation of Teachers, 202-879-4482)
6/17/94
Baltimore Dispute on School Technology, Test Scores
UK - Cheyenne Enterpriseware
Comdex - Plantronics Promotes Au
VMark Software Intros Vantage Se
Northern Telecom To Pull Out Of
UK - Psion-Dacom Intros Low-Cost
Comdex - Plantronics Pushes Mini
Epoch Forms Client/Server Servic
Court Computers Offer Near-Realt
NY Times On AOL
Sale Of Mobile Devices To Double
Software Moves From Floppy Disks
Denmark - Computer News Roundup
Correction - WTI RadioMail Bundl
Microsoft Summit - SMS (Hermes)
UK - Hardware Distrib Aashima Ha
Japan - Mitsui Bussan To Buy Int
Dow Chemical Opts For Green PCs
Low-Priced RAID Software For OS/
Japan - Multimedia TV PC & Penti
Telecom Australia Intros Message
Review of - Big Anthony's Mixed-
MCI-BT Deal Cleared By US Justic
Software AG, SAP Team On Financi
IDB Says Deloitte Auditors Confi
HP Adds High-End X Terminals To
UK - Visionware Intros Fast X Se
Royal Bank of Canada Boosts High
IBM Storage Products Use PCMCIA
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- IBM has announced an assortment of new storage devices, including several that use the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) expansion slot specification.
The PCMCIA devices include a handful of wallet-sized flash-memory cards that fit in PCMCIA slots and do the job of small hard disks, plus an adapter to allow an external Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard drive to be attached to a computer through its PCMCIA slot.
PCMCIA slots have become quite popular as expansion facilities for notebook computers, and some PC makers, including IBM, have begun including PCMCIA slots in desktop computers as well. The slots accept expansion devices, including memory cards, modems and hard disks, that are about the size of a credit card.
IBM's new devices, which will be sold under the company's Options by IBM brand, include flash memory cards with capacities of five 10, 20, 30, and 40 megabytes (MB). These cards are used like hard disks, but instead of rotating magnetic disks, they use memory chips which do not lose their contents when power is shut off. IBM said they resist shock better than regular disks and use less power.
IBM's PCMCIA-to-IDE Adapter provides all the circuitry needed to attach an external IDE hard drive to a computer via the PCMCIA slot. Company spokesman Kevin Bourke told Newsbytes this will appeal to computer users who need extra disk space for special projects, whether they work with portable or desktop machines. It could also be a way to attach a portable computer to a larger hard disk when using it at the office.
All the user has to do is plug the adapter into the PCMCIA slot and attach the external drive to it and the drive is ready for use, Bourke said.
The PCMCIA flash-memory cards range in prices from $339 for the five-MB to $1,599 for the 40-MB model. The PCMCIA-to-IDE Adapter is sold with a 364-MB IDE drive for $569 or with a 527-MB drive for $685.
IBM also announced a one-gigabyte (GB) IDE hard disk drive for $785, an $1,185 hot-swap enclosure that accepts as many as seven drives and allows them to be replaced while the system is running, a $949 one-GB hot-swappable hard disk using the Fast and Wide Small Computer Systems Interface 2 (SCSI-2), and a 3.5-inch 2.88-MB diskette drive for some IBM personal computers priced at $89.
On the optical front, the company unveiled a 127-MB external rewritable optical drive for $829, and internal and external 1.3-GB 5.25-inch optical drives for $2,589 and $2,995 respectively.
All the new storage products are available now except the hot-swap enclosure and hot-swappable disk drive, which are due to ship in August, IBM said.
(Grant Buckler/19940617/Press Contact: Kevin Bourke, Brodeur & Partners for IBM, tel 617-894-0003; Tim O'Malley, IBM, tel 914-766-1855)
O'Malley, IBM, tel 914-766-1855)
6/17/94
IBM Storage Products Use PCMCIA
On-Demand Debuts Digital Video S
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- On-Demand Technologies has announced it will ship a second generation digital video server for the interactive telecommunications market later this month.
The Digital RAIS (Random Access Interactive System) Video Server Model 1040 stores and delivers interactive video applications such as movies, TV programs, shopping catalogs, video games and news programs using an integrated Unix-based software-hardware combination.
ODT President Marc Hafner says the scalable design of the 1040 allows information and service providers such as telephone companies, cable TV operators, and hospitality businesses to field interactive systems ranging from 40 interactive data streams to tens of thousands of streams. Director of Sales Charles Leadford told Newsbytes the scalability of the Model 1040 allows it to be used in existing markets as well as future, larger markets as the industry develops.
Leadford said the pricing for the system can range from $100,000 to millions of dollars depending on how it is configured.
ODT has demonstrated the system at several trade shows recently. The video server was integrated with a digital T1 switch to deliver video to a typical local loop configuration through both asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) and hybrid-fiber coax cable at last month's SuperComm show.
RAIS includes an operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning package that provides telephone companies and cable operators with the tools to manage the system. The video server runs on Unix System V, Release 4. Since industry standards are still being determined, RAIS provides an open interface to integrate with set-top boxes.
ODT says the system performs transparently with digital video storage devices such as magnetic disk, RAM, CD-ROM and digital tape. It supports MPEG-1, JPEG, CD-I and DVI compression. Storage elements and network interface assemblies are hot-pluggable. The current version supports network interfaces T1/DS1 and E1, and ODT says it plans to migrate RAIS to OC-3, OC-12 and ATM networks at a later date.
(Jim Mallory/19940617/Press contact: John Pope, GTT Communications for On-Demand Technologies, 512-219-6337; Reader contact: On-Demand Technologies, 512-834-9551, fax 512-834-9706)
logies, 512-834-9551, fax 512-834-9706)
6/17/94
On-Demand Debuts Digital Video Server
Technical Problems Challenge Cab
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S.A., JUN 17 (NB) -- In preparing its infrastructure for the handling of telephony, the cable television industry will have to address several, highly specific return-path requirements.
That was the major focus of an address by Charles A. Merk vice-president of engineering, Philips Broadband Networks, Inc. Manlius, N.Y., at the annual Engineering Conference of the Society of Cable Television Engineers (SCTE), which is holding its annual convention in St. Louis through Saturday.
"The cable television industry has announced trials of the full service network concept, which includes voice and videophones over the hybrid fiber/coaxial cable network," Merk said. Merk then added that the cable industry has some experience with two-way, send and return path data streams but nowhere near the track record of the telcos -- who, presumably, cable would compete against if system operators decide to get into telephony.
"The customer interaction with the cable company is mostly now as a passive recipient. The signals are delivered from a central source to all local customers simultaneously. Some limited switching does occur, such as in pay per view switches on the requested signal for the customer," said Merk, but the lack of transmission symmetry cannot represent this distribution as something similar to to the telephone network.
Merk then described cable's present limitations in this regard. "Cable television distribution of video in the downstream direction greatly exceeds the return, or upstream, signal transmission today. While some cable television distribution systems do employ cable return today, that return is generally limited to a very low capacity, digital signal from the set-top converter to the head-end. It is important to remember that in contrast to the network of telephony, cable TV has traditionally been a bus architecture."
To plan to overcome these limitations, Merk said that cable television will have to define parameters for at least four return path requirements. He named these as increasing the return path bandwidth, reducing the number of subscribers per path, tie sharing of the existing bandwidth for telephone service rather than allocating dedicated bandwidth per home passed, and increasing the spectrum utilization through more sophisticated modulation techniques.
To satisfy these criteria, Merk proposed several measures including an allocation of the 850 MHz to 1 GHz spectrum for future return systems; reduction of subscribers per return path by building additional fiber optic transmitters, receivers, and output bridgers, that will lower homes served per fiber node to 480 or less, while cutting down on noise and increasing and broadening available bandwidth.
"Through the end of the first decade of the next century," said Merk, a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable system can deliver more total capacity to the subscriber than a telephone distribution plant which is limited by the copper-pair drop at the subscriber's site.
"The 480-home fiber node provides an optimum starting point for the evolution of video and telephony for the future," Merk added. A node size of 480 homes passed would combine with recommended modulation techniques and good maintenance procedures to allow 240 dedicated telephone circuits in today's 5-30 MHz return band or 480 telephone circuits using newly available 5-42 MgZ return equipment."
Merk closed with one caveat. "In the final say, it will be the customer requirements that ultimately drive the nature of the network's evolution," he said.
(Russell Shaw/19940617)
rk's evolution," he said.
(Russell Shaw/19940617)
6/17/94
Technical Problems Challenge Cable TV Of The Future
TELECOM
LANNET Module For Multinet Hub
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- LANNET is adding an enhanced eight-port 10BaseT module to its fault-tolerant ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)-ready MultiNet modular intelligent hub products family.
The LE-80XTN is an eight-port Ethernet 10BaseT plug-in module. Designed for use with LANNET's MultiNet modular smart hubs, it provides standard unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or shielded twisted pair (STP) connectivity. Individual link lengths may extend to 180 meters.
The LE-80XTN has two user-selectable modes of operation. In standard mode, it provides connection to one of two internal Ethernet LANs (local area networks) in the MultiNet hub. In stand-alone mode, it functions independently as an eight-port repeater.
The module is fully manageable by MultiMan, LANNET's SNMP-based network management system. This provides control, monitoring and administration from the remote management console. MultiMan offers performance and event reporting as well as module analysis down to the port level.
The LE-80XTN provides port redundancy. Ports may function individually or may be switched to redundant operation through hardware control or through the management system. Automatic switch-over from one port to the other is triggered in case of a partition or link failure.
Disruption of network operation is prevented through automatic partitioning of faulty segments. When normal operation resumes reconnection also takes place automatically.
The module preserves network integrity by providing collision detection as well as automatic correction of reversed polarity in data packets which are caused by wiring errors.
While the LE-80XTN is an asynchronous module, it may be used in conjunction with LANNET's synchronous modules through the hub's unique synchronous backbone. This provides repeaterless backbones and accommodates a large number of cascaded hubs. Thus, an all twisted pair Ethernet may extend to diameters of over 2.5 kilometers.
LANNET also unveiled a new family of Integrated Token Ring Repeater and Remote Extender modules - LTR-108F, ITRE-1 and ITRE-2 to expand its existing range of Token Ring inter-networking products for MultiNet hubs.
The eight-port LTR-108F is a hybrid twisted-pair/optical fiber Token Ring repeater module for use with MultiNet modular smart hubs. Combining six twisted pair ports and two configurable fiber optic ports, the LTR-108F supports local Token Rings over twisted pair to the desktop while providing fiber links to larger Token Ring network structures.
The ITRE-1 and ITRE-2 are both integrated Token Ring remote extender modules for LANNET's MultiNet family of intelligent hubs. All three new products can be fully managed by MultiMan, LANNET's SNMP-based Network Management Systems.
LANNET Data Communications is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- Rockwell Telecommunications claims it has introduced the world's fastest digital to analog converter (DAC) in a bid to establish a strong foothold in the data conversion business.
The new 10-bit DAC, designed and manufactured by Rockwell's Microelectronics Technology Center (MTC), operates at clock and data speeds greater than 1200 MHz, while consuming less than 800mW of operating power.
"This new DAC targets the growing fiber-to-the-curb, and eventually fiber-to-the-home data communications market," said Edwin Chen Rockwell's Asia Pacific Marketing Manager. "This market is gaining momentum in certain regions in Asia where large infrastructure investments are being made to upgrade communications systems to fiber optics," he added.
The DAC converts digital data from the fiber to analog signals that can be received by existing television sets, enabling consumers to access hundreds of television channels, as well as providing them with voice, data, and multimedia capabilities.
Another potential application is direct digital synthesis. When coupled with a digital Sine-ROM accumulator, the DAC can be used to replace phase locked loop (PLL)-based synthesizer circuitry in digital radio frequency (RF) transceivers, lowering total system costs of spread spectrum technologies, such as cellular phones, for end users.
The product, the first in a family of Rockwell-designed data converter products based on 50 GHz HBT technology, is available now at prices of US$15.95 for 100K quantities.
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 16 (NB) -- DiagSoft's Electronic Technical Support Center (ETSC) may be the answer to troubled personal computer users who have waited hours on long distance calls with technical support providers only to be told to call another software company.
"When software packages that were selling for $395 started selling for $99, many users thought they were getting the buy of a lifetime. They were about to learn that free technical support, which used to define the software industry, became a precious commodity that required a membership and credit card and was delivered by technicians on a time-per-call schedule," said Jeffrey Kraft, general manager, retail division for DiagSoft.
Determined to provide users with a tool which can eliminate hours of long distance calling and frustration, DiagSoft announced QAPlus/Win 6.0 and Piece of Mind (for the Mac, to be released later) as desktop and notebook diagnostic tools which will perform system analysis by using a system's modem to call into one of DiagSoft's ETSC centers. Technicians then receive the diagnostic report including the user's problem. The ETSC will report necessary corrections back to the user within one hour or make the changes.
Kraft told Newsbytes, "With many new programs requiring involved changes to autoexec.bat and config.sys files, as well as IRQ and COM port assignments, users need a fast and reliable means to identify problems and make the necessary corrections. With ETSC, we eliminate the need for lengthy and often technical conversations with tech support people. From our software, our technicians have a complete systems analysis right in front of them, so that users do not need to have technical skills to solve specific problems. The software allows our technician to access the user's computer and make the necessary corrections whenever possible."
According to the company, installation problems are only a beginning of possible diagnostics performed by the software. QAPlus/Win is capable of detecting problems before a user does. It can check the system board, video, multimedia devices, hard drives, memory, COM ports, printer, keyboard, pointing devices, local area networks and configurations of DOS, Windows and CMOS parameters.
To have access to the service, users need only enter the nature of the problem they are having and click on the necessary Full or Quick tests required, either on the entire system or on single components.
QAPlus/WIN 6.0 requires a 386 or higher processor, 2 megabytes (MB) of random access memory, Windows 3.1 or higher, a 2400 bits per second modem and approximately 4MB of hard drive space. Included with QAPlus/WIN is one free call to ETSC. ETSC support is offered in a gold and a platinum support package. The Gold support package includes toll-free personal computer or Mac hardware trouble shooting for up to 30 minutes, free product updates via CompuServe or an electronic bulletin board, and discounts on DiagSoft products and upgrades, for an annual membership of $85.00. The Platinum package differs by offering both software and hardware diagnostics and corrections with an additional 30 minutes (60 minutes total) of time for an annual fee of $180. For customers who find neither package fitting to their needs, DiagSoft offers a flat credit card fee of $2 per minute. QAPlus/WIN 6.0 will ship the second week of July and ETSC versions of Piece of Mind and a QAPlus for DOS will ship late in the year.
(Patrick McKenna/19940616/Press Contact: Roland Going, The Terpin Group, tel 310-798-7875 )
, The Terpin Group, tel 310-798-7875 )
6/16/94
DiagSoft Offers Diagnostics, Service
GENERAL
Westcott Going Slow on ACTV Dist
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Westcott Communications told Newsbytes it will move slowly on putting ACTV's interactive technology into its distance learning programs.
ACTV offers a PC-based program called REACT which it says can make any programming interactive, whether delivered by tape satellite, or cable television. In the last 18 months the company has introduced 130 interactive television titles in reading, math, and vocational education. Westcott owns 21 specialized education networks, eight of which provide specialized training via satellite to about 12,000 downlink sights in the US.
Newsbytes discussed the ACTV contract with Mike Mooney Westcott's vice president-broadcast services, who called it a "market test." There's no exclusivity on either side in the contract, he noted, and no relation between his deal with ACTV and another deal ACTV recently signed with Turner Broadcasting.
"Westcott is a distance learning provider. We provide programming to individuals in the workplace, as well as in public schools. We train with continuing education everyday, and educate about 6,500 kids in rural schools. It's all delivered via satellite, and we would still deliver the programming in that way. But ACTV will provide us with an interactive response mechanism for the learners to be able to get immediate feedback to choices they might make in the course of instruction, like a multiple-choice test."
So Westcott will set-up a total of 8 sites, in two different networks, with the ACTV technology. One is a tie-in network aimed at kids in grades K-12, which currently has about 1,700 subscribing schools. It's used to bring advanced lessons to rural school children. The other test is with Westcott's Long Term Care Network, which has about 800 sites and helps train nurses and others to work in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
"The question is how well will potential markets adapt to use of the technology," he continued. "That's what we're hoping to prove with the test mentioned in the release. This is a really slick new technology, but what we've learned over the years is that customers don't always adopt new technologies as fast as providers want them to. So we want to do a test with a few sites and see how they respond, so we understand that if we deploy the technology it will be productive."
A year from now, Mooney concluded, his company will look at the results of its tests and decide whether, and how, to expand its work with ACTV. The cost to Westcott of the tests was estimated at $50,000, and the tests will be done this fall.
ACTV drew extensive publicity recently when it unveiled its interactive distance learning technology at the dedication of TCI's new J.C. Sparkman Center for Educational Technology, in a ceremony in which vice president Al Gore participated.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940617/Press Contact: Annemarie Marek Westcott Communications, 214-716-5234)
ie Marek Westcott Communications, 214-716-5234)
6/17/94
Westcott Going Slow on ACTV Distance Learning
TELECOM
Parsons Offers Car, Home Buying
` ! HIAWATHA, IOWA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Parsons Technology is now shipping two software titles that help the user buy a car or a home.
The Windows-based programs are called The Car Buyer's Companion and The Home Buyer's Companion. You can get both products for a total of $19.
The Home Buyer's Companion leads you step-by-step through an interview that asks questions about your gross income, savings and debt and some other information. A feature called Dream Solver uses that information to let you know the largest mortgage for which you can qualify.
There's also a Closing Estimator that calculates how much the closing costs like escrow, taxes and insurance will be based on the price of the home you are considering. To the first time home buyer the amount of money needed for closing costs can be a surprise if they are not prepared.
Other features of The Home Buyer's Companion include a refinancing module that calculates how much one can save in interest and how soon the proposed mortgage would be paid off if one refinances a current home.
There's also a Loan Viewer that calculates the monthly payments for a loan, a Tax Saver that estimates the taxes before and after assuming a mortgage, and a Living Index feature that compares the cost of living and other expenses for various areas across the country.
The Car Buyer's Companion comes with a database of nearly two hundred 1994 cars, trucks, and vans. The user selects the price range they want and preferences like foreign or domestic manufacturer and front or rear wheel drive. One can even select a specific make and model. The software offers information about vehicles that meet one's specifications, including a price range and fuel economy.
A Payment Estimator calculates payments based on price, down payment, and interest rates. It will also evaluate purchase options such as cash, loan or lease.
You need an IBM-compatible PC running Windows 3.1 or higher and four megabytes of memory to run either program. Home Buyer's Companion requires 1.5 megabytes of available disk space, while Car Buyer's Companion needs 2.5 meg of disk space.
(Jim Mallory/19940617/Press contact: Joan Dyal, Parsons Technology, 319-395-9626, ext 1198; Reader contact: Parsons Technology, 800-223-6925 or 319-395-9626, fax 319-395-7449)
800-223-6925 or 319-395-9626, fax 319-395-7449)
6/17/94
Parsons Offers Car, Home Buying Software Help
Palmer Claims Board Backing For
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Management at Digital Equipment Corp. remains tight-lipped about exactly what will be done to reorganize the money-losing company, but in a letter to senior managers this week, the company's president and chief executive said DEC's board of directors supports his plans.
The letter from Robert Palmer to senior DEC managers was made available to reporters, but in doing so DEC officials revealed no secrets. The letter simply confirms that Palmer reviewed reorganization plans with the company's board on Thursday and the board "unanimously supports our direction and progress."
The letter also says that DEC management "will make announcements when we are ready to do so" and will "head off or respond to speculation that is misleading."
Under the "misleading" heading, according to company spokesman Joe Codispoti, falls a report that DEC will turn itself into a holding company with five business units covering storage personal computers, peripherals, supplies and consulting, and other services. Codispoti flatly denied this, and told Newsbytes the report was "wild speculation."
However, industry analyst Chris Christiansen, of International Data Corp., said the holding company idea is plausible, and would simply be an extension of DEC's existing structure.
According to a report in the industry weekly PC Week this week analysts believe the holding company move would make it easier for DEC to sell off some of its business units. The company's intention to dispose of some of its operations is well known and DEC is not denying it, though Codispoti said the firm is not ready to provide more specifics.
Newsbytes has also learned that DEC will announce greater autonomy for at least one of its existing business units next week.
In a speech to employees in early May, a transcript of which was obtained by Newsbytes, Palmer said DEC's revenue per employee was too low compared to major competitors and the company needed to cut its payroll -- then roughly 92,000 -- to about 65,000 in the next couple of years.
The company is making rapid progress toward that goal. All temporary employees who were on the payroll are already gone, and 6,000 jobs have been cut from European operations along with at least 3,000 in the US. DEC may well end the current quarter with fewer than 80,000 employees, Christiansen said.
A sizeable number of the lost jobs will be in the company's sales force, Christiansen added. He said the company needs to reduce its direct sales force and rely more on indirect channels.
DEC also needs better cost controls and financial forecasting Christiansen said, but most importantly, the company needs to develop a comprehensive plan and then communicate this to its customers, prospects, and investors.
In the company's third quarter, sales stopped falling after two quarters of decline, but overall revenues took another drop after five consecutive quarters of growth, and DEC lost $183 million.
(Grant Buckler/19940617/Press Contact: Joe Codispoti, Digital Equipment, tel 508-493-6767)
Joe Codispoti, Digital Equipment, tel 508-493-6767)
6/17/94
Palmer Claims Board Backing For DEC Reorganization
BUSINESS
Korea - IBM/Novell/Microsoft Com
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- IBM Korea and Novell Korea have entered the domestic DOS market which has been monopolized by Microsoft. IBM Korea announced its Korean version "PC DOS 6.3" last week.
The product will be introduced for its own "Value Point" series and five or six domestic computer makers as well. The company also plans to expand sales to users of other company products, like MS-DOS, through upgrades.
Novell Korea presented "Novell-DOS 7" on May 17 and is working on licensing contracts with five or six companies. Many small- and medium-sized Korean companies, including Aproman, have already started selling PCs introducing the products. Novell Korea has also started selling upgrades for MS-DOS users at a 20-30 percent discount and plans to advance the network market.
On the other hand, Microsoft plans to keep its existing customers and users by substituting the Windows "Chicago" for MS-DOS 6. The company is believed to have modified its DOS strategy because of a decision by a US Court for patent infringement on a disk compression program previously included with MS-DOS.
Analysts say the DOS environment will continue for at least four or five years and that the three companies will keenly compete for the market.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
ompete for the market.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
6/21/94
Korea - IBM/Novell/Microsoft Compete For DOS Users
lmer Claims Board Backing For
IBM Canada To Do Service For Wel
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- IBM Canada Ltd. will provide technical support and maintenance for Wellfleet Communications Canada's products across the country. The two companies announced a cooperative service deal that parallels an arrangement between their respective parent firms in the United States.
Wellfleet said its Canadian customers will still call Wellfleet when they have equipment problems. A Wellfleet engineer will do a diagnosis, and if the vendor believes there is a hardware problem with its equipment it will dispatch an IBM Canada representative to the site. IBM will carry an inventory of parts and will manage their deployment.
A variety of on-site response plans are available depending on the customer's location, Wellfleet said. The deal is effective right away and IBM support is available to Wellfleet Canada customers now, officials said.
Wellfleet said it will provide IBM Canada staff with full training on its product line.
IBM's service organization provides on-site hardware support technical help, and maintenance to Wellfleet users in the United States.
Wellfleet opened its first Canadian office in Mississauga in July, 1992, and formally announced the creation of the Canadian subsidiary in April, 1993.
(Grant Buckler/19940617/Press Contact: Sheryl Schultz, Wellfleet tel 508-436-3636; Sharon Mackay, IBM Canada, tel 905-316-2264; Public Contact: Wellfleet Canada, tel 905-819-1077, fax 905-819-1221)
ada, tel 905-819-1077, fax 905-819-1221)
6/17/94
IBM Canada To Do Service For Wellfleet
Syquest Reluctantly Settles With
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- While it seems Syquest cannot resist a few parting barbs, it has announced the out-of-court settlement of litigations with French competitor Nomai and Nomai's US distributor Iomega. Syquest originally claimed Nomai had no right to make the removable, Winchester type hard disk cartridges for Syquest drives.
Syquest, whose largest market segment is with Macintosh users has made every move possible to discourage purchase of cartridges, from claiming industrial espionage to releasing a statement that it will void the warranty on a drive if it can be discovered that a Nomai cartridges was used. When the binding memorandum of understanding was signed in April between the three companies, Syquest released a statement that there was still some possibility the companies might not settle. In its latest statement, the company admits the settlement will bring in revenue and cut legal costs, but is still making attacks claiming poor quality of the compatible cartridges and deceptive marketing practices on the part of retailers.
Syquest is claiming the Nomai and Iomega refused its help in "improving the quality of their cartridges" and it will only honor warranties on its SQ555 and SQ5110 drives where compatible cartridges have been used if Iomega and Nomai pay for the cost of repairs. However, Iomega said the compatible cartridges have been certified for use in Syquest drives by leading compatibility testing company XXCAL and have media designed for removability by IBM. In addition, the Iomega-branded cartridges come with a five year "no questions asked" warranty and free data recovery services.
In addition, Nomai was awarded an ISO 9002 rating for its compatible cartridges. Meeting the tough European ISO standard is another sign of quality, Iomega officials told Newsbytes.
Syquest asserted the compatible cartridges are being sold as Syquest cartridges by some retailers. However, Iomega said beginning in May the compatible cartridges are being sold under its own brand and label.
The settlement includes unnamed royalty payments from Nomai and Iomega for a two-year period retroactive to January 1, 1994. In exchange, the companies receive the intellectual property rights to the 5.25-inch 44-megabyte (MB) and 88 MB removable cartridges.
The day after the settlement was announced, Syquest lowered the prices of its 5.25-inch 88 MB cartridges as well as prices on its 5.25-inch 200 MB and 3.5-inch 270 MB cartridges. The company claims its lower production costs allowed the price cuts of up to 25 percent. The company said expected street pricing for the Syquest 5.25-inch 88 MB cartridge is $69, the 200 MB is $79, and the new 3.5-inch 270 MB cartridge is $59. The 200 MB and 270 MB cartridges each require the purchase of a separate drive, though the 200 MB drive will read the 44 MB and 88 MB cartridges.
The Iomega branded cartridges carry a suggested retail price of $56 for the 44 MB and $67 for the 88 MB. Iomega representatives told Newsbytes over 400,000 Nomai cartridges have been sold since their introduction in 1993.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940617/Press Contact: Michael Perez, Syquest tel 510-226-4000, fax 510-226-4114; A. Cory Maloy, Iomega, tel 801-778-3712, fax 801-778-3190)
aloy, Iomega, tel 801-778-3712, fax 801-778-3190)
6/17/94
Syquest Reluctantly Settles With Nomai & Iomega
Personnel Changes Roundup
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- This is a regular feature, summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: FOCUS Enhancements Inc., PR Newswire Apple Computer Inc., Weitek Corp., and AT&T.
Robert Kavner, AT&T's (908-221-6900) executive vice president and chief executive officer for its Multimedia Products and Services Group and the communications company's former chief financial officer, will join the Los Angeles-based literary and talent representatives, Creative Artists Agency, in a senior executive capacity, effective July 1, 1994. Kavner is one of four AT&T executive vice presidents and group CEOs responsible for AT&T's business units. He reports directly to AT&T's chairman Robert E. Allen. Kavner will reportedly "lead in the identification and development of opportunities for the agency's clients in the merging digital, interactive and networked media."
William B. Coldrick has been appointed executive vice president responsible for worldwide sales and marketing by FOCUS Enhancements Inc., (617-938-8088). Coldrick was an initial investor in FOCUS and has served on the board of directors since January 1993. Coldrick joined Apple Computer as regional manager in 1982. During his nine-year career at Apple he held a number of senior sales and marketing positions. As senior vice president of US sales he was responsible for leading all sales, support, service distribution and channel activity for the US market. He retired from Apple in 1991. FOCUS is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of software products for the Macintosh.
Susan McPherson has been named PR Newswire's (800-832-5522) national market manager, High Technology, with responsibility for national sales, marketing and media relations. Also, Tom Beyer has been appointed manager, Fax-on-Demand, for the high tech industry. Beyer will market PRN's advanced fax-on-demand applications to clients on a national basis. McPherson began her PRN career in 1989 as an account executive in Los Angeles and later opened a satellite bureau in Orange County. She was named Seattle bureau manager in 1992. Previously, McPherson held marketing and public relations positions with USA Today and the Discovery Channel. Beyer joined PRN's Seattle bureau as an account executive in 1991 and was promoted to senior account executive in 1992. He was named Seattle sales manager in 1993. Previously, Beyer served as PR manager for a major medical center in Seattle and as an account executive with Hill & Knowlton.
Paul G. Stern has resigned from Apple Computer Inc.'s (408-974-3983) board of directors, effective immediately. Stern resigned from the board in order to avoid any perception of conflict of interest arising from his other affiliations in the converging computer, telecommunications, and cable industries where Apple's business interests are expanding, according to the company. Dr. Stern is a limited partner with the private investment firm of Forstmann Little & Co. He joined Apple's board in January, 1994.
Paul K. Kidman has been promoted from corporate controller to director of finance at Weitek Corp., (408-738-8400). The company has also announced that Earl E. Fry, Weitek's vice president finance is leaving the company to join a privately held software company. Paul K. Kidman joined Weitek as assistant controller in 1990 from Ampex Corp. He holds an MBA from UCLA and is a CPA. Weitek makes processors and controllers designed to enhance the performance of standard operating systems, user interfaces and application software.
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
6/17/94
Personnel Changes Roundup
GENERAL
Danish Bankers Follow OS/2 Flag
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- IBM seems to have scored something of a success in the Danish financial services sector as the company has revealed that around 8,000 financial services staff in Denmark are to undergo intensive training in the OS/2 operating system.
Why the sudden surge of interest in matters OS/2? It seems that the Central SDC (Sparkassernes DataCenter), the cornerstone of the highly automated Danish banking industry, has decreed that banks should make the move away from their dedicated terminals and workstations, and move on up to the networked PC environment.
As with the British banking sector, the Danish financial services marketplace is dominated by OS/2 applications, making OS/2 flavor of the month as far as banking services are concerned.
The transition from workstations to a PC local area network (LAN) environment is a major one, however, and one that will require quite intensive training for the staff concerned. The training of the 8,000 staff has been assigned to BFC Data, a Copenhagen-based company, and the mammoth task will take three years to complete.
According to BFC, the contract will require a total of 4,000 person days of training. That may sound like a lot of training, but BFC claims to have trained up some 60,000 PC users over the last five or six years.
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- IDEA expands IDEA Concert architecture, DaVinci ships eMail Remote 2.5, Optus Software to Intro FacSys fax server for Windows NT and LXE acquires wireless wide area network product line.
IDEA Expands IDEA Concert Architecture
IDEA, (508-670-8512), has announced Telnet and Ethernet software modules for its IDEA Concert family of communication processors, adding additional access and network integration flexibility for SNA (Systems Network Architecture) environments that require support for "open systems" computing. The Telnet software is reportedly designed for environments requiring Telnet Client, Telnet Server, and TN3270 Server "solutions." Support for these TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) applications is frequently a requirement for organizations that want to either consolidate a variety of network protocols or provide concurrent access to SNA applications and new client/ server applications on Unix hosts. The new software modules available with IDEA Concert Version 3.0 are: IDEA Concert Telnet Client ($495), IDEA Concert Telnet Async Server ($795), and IDEA Concert TN3270 Server (ranging from $995 to $8,345), all for mainframe and TCP/IP environments; and IDEA Concert SNA Over Ethernet for SNA and Ethernet environments ($495).
DaVinci Ships eMail Remote Version 2.5
DaVinci Systems Corp., (919-881-4320), is shipping version 2.5 of remote eMAIL for DOS and Windows. DaVinci eMAIL Remote 2.5 supports the enhanced functionality provided by Novell's new NetWare Remote MHS and offers mobile users a rich feature set fully compatible with the LAN (local area network)-based version of DaVinci eMAIL. It supports NetWare Remote MHS' part-time remote user mode which reportedly provides traveling professionals the flexibility to operate their portable computers as a desktop or remote PC. This feature allows users to send and receive mail remotely via a modem or by connecting to a network via a LAN adapter. Version 2.5 features a graphical user interface (GUI) administrative interface. Other enhancements are several improved addressing features including an updated address book viewer which allows users to automatically update the public address book, an address take feature which allows a user to automatically add a sender's address to the personal address book, and an automatic address settings feature which allows users to set default characters in the message header. DaVinci eMAIL Remote is currently available for the suggested retail price of $199 for a DOS\Windows single user license and $169 for a DOS single user license. Remote and Personal MHS must be purchased separately.
Optus Software To Intro FacSys Fax Server For Windows NT
Optus Software, (908-271-9568), plans to announce a new version of its FACSys fax server for Windows NT at Microsoft's Information Exchange Conference next week. FACSys for Windows NT will support leading network operating systems desktop clients, electronic-mail packages and fax hardware clients, as well as Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft At Work communications platforms. Optus says it has developed its own Named Pipes interface between Windows NT and NetWare, along with bindery import facilities for FACSys to ease administration. Other key fax server administration features include remote management, native NT services, and customizable control over user rights and system parameters. The Windows NT version of FACSys will be available in September
LXE Acquires Wireless Wide Area Network Product Line
LXE Inc., (404-447-4224), has announced an agreement in principle to acquire the Comm-Rad mobile wide-area data communications product line of ModemsPlus, Inc., a privately owned Atlanta-based company. Comm-Rad hardware and software enable real-time connectivity of computers on wide-area, radio-linked networks that include both central host computers and mobile client computers, such as laptops. These products are marketed to major utility and public safety customers within the US. The president and founder of ModemsPlus, H. Thomas Thorsen, will join LXE to manage the Comm-Rad business area. Specific terms were not disclosed, but LXE says that "the proposed purchase agreement is not expected to have a significant effect" on its financial position.
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
an Stokell/19940617)
6/17/94
Networking Roundup
GENERAL
Company Results Roundup
g PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- While computing giant Unisys says that its European operation is dragging it down, Spectrum HoloByte reported a huge yearly loss as the result of its acquisition of MicroProse Inc.
Unisys Blames Europe For Slowdown
Unisys Corp., (215-986-6948) said that, due principally to continued weakness in its European business, earnings per share in the second quarter will likely be less than the 17 cents per share reported in the first quarter of 1994. Said Unisys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James A. Unruh, "Unisys financial results are being negatively affected by our European business which remains under pressure from a combination of economic and operational weakness." However, the company said revenue from services and systems integration grew at a double digit rate in the first quarter and will likely do the same again this quarter, both worldwide and in Europe. Unisys added that, while total European revenue is down, revenue from its commercial business in both the US and in its Pacific/Asia/Americas group appears to be on track to exceed year-ago figures for the second quarter and six month periods. The company is also expecting commercial orders for the second quarter to be up, year over year for all three geographic sales groups, with total worldwide commercial orders also up for the first six months.
MicroProse Acquisition Results In Spectrum Losses
Spectrum HoloByte, (510-522-3584), a developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software, has released financial results for its fiscal year ending March 31, 1994. In it, the company reported net revenues of $40,887,000 and a net loss of $58,460,000 for the year. For the prior fiscal year, net revenues were $13,682,000 with a net loss of $4,059,000. The loss for fiscal 1994 reportedly reflects non-cash write-offs associated with the acquisition of MicroProse, Inc. including about $45,634,000 of in-process research and development and $1,475,000 of amortization of purchased software and goodwill. The company's reported financial results only include the results of MicroProse since the December 14, 1993 date of the merger. On a fully combined proforma basis, the aggregate revenues for Spectrum HoloByte and MicroProse would have been $68,216,000 for fiscal 1994 compared to $59,877,000 for fiscal 1993.
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
(Ian Stokell/19940617)
6/17/94
Company Results Roundup
BUSINESS
CompuServe Covers World Cup And
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- With the opening of the first World Cup on June 17, CompuServe users should be well versed on game schedules, players profiles, the latest news and last minute stories. A special World Cup area, under GO WCUP, is being offered to CompuServe users around the world while the games are being played, June 17 to July 17.
Reuters News Pictures Forum (GO NEWSPIX) will carry photo images of games and CompuServe's Sports Forum (GO FANS) will provide a communication area for members' opinions and ideas. The special World Cup area will carry the latest Associated Press (AP) stories as well as clips from French and German news wires.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Daphne Kent, spokesperson for CompuServe said, "We want to provide our members with a complete and immediate coverage of all the different games that are beginning to take place. As an international event, the World Cup is the perfect event for CompuServe which has members in more than 140 countries."
CompuServe also announced the inclusion of news wires from the United Kingdom (UK), France, and Australia to broaden its news coverage of specific areas. The UK service, Press Association, is listed under the GO PAO command; the French service, Associated Press France en Ligne is accessed with the GO APFRANCE command and is published in French; the Australian Associated Press Online may be reached through the GO AAPONLINE command. These news wires are being added as part of CompuServe's basic service package. CompuServe had previously announced a German service, Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
Calling it a first for online service, CompuServe and Geffen Records announced the capability to download Aerosmith's new hit, "Head First" (GO AEROSMITH). Geffen and CompuServe have been offering 30-second samples of various Geffen artists and have now decided to
offer an entire song. To mark this event Aerosmith has waived all royalties and CompuServe is offering free connect time for this limited offer. Users should keep in mind that downloading a file of an entire song will take more than an hour with a high speed modem and even longer at speeds of 2400 bits-per-second or less.
(Patrick McKenna/19940617/Press Contact: Michelle Moran CompuServe, tel 614-538-3497)
ct: Michelle Moran CompuServe, tel 614-538-3497)
6/17/94
CompuServe Covers World Cup And Aerosmith Song
TELECOM
UK - School Computer Porn Scare
PRESTON, LANCS, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- The University of Central Lancashire has announced the results of a study into the awareness and circulation of computer pornography in British schools.
According to the study, which polled more than 7,500 replies from the headmasters of 28,800 schools in England and Wales almost a third of boys in UK secondary schools (for ages 12 to 18) admitted they were aware of the existence of computer porn.
In primary schools (for ages 8 to 11), this percentage fell to just two percent, while for both primary and secondary schools, the awareness of girls was just one percent.
Do the findings surprise the police? Not according to Sergeant Philip Stockford, head of the Greater Manchester Police Obscene Publications Squad, who said the real extent of the problem is likely to be much worse.
"While computers are freely available in schools, disks can and will be copied, just as they are for pirated computer games," he said, adding that much more effective policing and education in this area is needed if the problem is to be tackled.
Stockford, one of a small band of police officers dealing with the obscene publications, said that the UK has only two police forces with a squad specializing in this area of crime -- Manchester and London.
According to Vicki Merchant, a special officer with Central Lancs University that deals with cases involving sexual and racial harassment, and a driving force behind the report, it highlights a problem that teachers were well aware of, but were not trained to handle, nor had they the resources to tackle the problem.
Merchant revealed that, while the bulk of the computer pornography circulated in the school playground was relatively soft in nature some was hard core. The problem stems, she said, from the ease with which a porn magazine or video can be scanned into a computer.
Perhaps the most damning aspect of the report was that some teachers said they had discovered porn involving some of their own pupils Worse still, some of the porn depicted clearly illegal topics such as domination, children, and bestiality, most of which appeared to originate from videotapes.
"Computer pornography is a very powerful technology and children are very impressionable. Computing is addictive to some children, so if you can put all these factors together it is good news for pornographers because they have a rapid, high-quality, cheap way of spreading pornography," Merchant said.
Most damning of all, the report highlighted the fact that the primary sources of the material, other from within the school itself, was from the home, in particular from the father's place of work. It appears from the report that many adults are actively seeking out and hoarding computer porn.
One computer security consultant who has been investigating the problem of computer porn over the last few weeks for a national newspaper told Newsbytes that computer porn, in particular hard core material, was freely available online as well.
"I think that what surprised me most of all was the fact that, while many of the major online services had the usual run of `top shelf' magazine-style pictures, it was the ease with which I could find very hard core pictures on servers linked to the Internet," he told Newsbytes on agreement that his name was withheld.
"I know I haven't led a particularly sheltered background, but some of this stuff opened even my eyes," he added.
So how does the computer porn get into circulation in the school environment? The report seems to show that, as well as sourcing disks through parents, pupils exchanged or bought disks at computer clubs downloaded files from bulletin board systems (BBSs) and even bought them by mail order.
Back the University of Central Lancashire, Merchant said that the problem was immense and one that teachers were clearly worried about. It is important, she said, for people to realize that 30 percent of porn circulating amongst kids as young as eight was hard core and not the type of material that can legally be bought in a magazine, even by adults, in the UK.
(Steve Gold/19940617/Press & Public Contact: University of Central Lancs +44-772-201201)
versity of Central Lancs +44-772-201201)
6/17/94
UK - School Computer Porn Scare Raised
TRENDS
Greece - Former Prime Minister T
ATHENS, GREECE, 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- The long-running saga over Greece's former Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who is alleged to have instructed various staff during his term of office to carry out wiretaps outside the scope of the Greek legal system, has come to a head. Members of the Greek Parliament have now voted to bring Mitsotakis to trial for his alleged misdemeanors on a 163 to six majority.
The move is a first for Greece and, indeed, for most Western Democracies other than the US, where Watergate springs to mind. Most ex-Presidents have always enjoy immunity from all but the most severe of crimes, on an informal basis of "needs must."
What appears to have soured this informal arrangement is that during his tenure in the early 1990s, Mitsotakis allegedly asked several aides to arrange the illegal wiretapping of journalists and senior opposition MPs. This appears to have upset the press, resulting in a tide of reporting against the former President.
The turning point in the Mitsotakis case came last September when Nikos Gryllakis, a senior advisor to Constantine Mitsotakis Greece's Prime Minister, was suspended from his duties.
Gryllakis, a retired general, was suspended after being summoned to testify before prosecutors to discuss his role in the scandal. The prosecution has alleged that he was the central figure in a plot to tap the phones of all the senior opposition MPs in Greece.
Gryllakis and Mitsotakis were surrounded by the scandal in April of last year when Christos Mavrikas, an ex-engineer with the Greek state telecoms company, sold his story on the bugging to the Greek press. Mavrikas claimed that he was instructed by persons unknown to tap the phones of Andreas Papandreou, the popular Socialist Prime Minister, as well as Mitaiades Evert, the former conservative minister, and several other leading political figures.
Under pressure, he claimed that Gryllakis had instructed him to bug various phone lines. Later investigation revealed that the bugging scandal was not a one-off, with Mavrikas carrying out a series of wiretaps in the period 1988 to 1990.
OTE, the Greek telecoms company, subsequently revealed that its investigations had turned up evidence that Mavrikas' story was true. This was in June of last year, when a formal investigation into the affair began.
As the investigation ground on, Gryllakis started to defend himself and Mitsotakis. In press reports of a year ago, he said that the whole affair had been trumped up to discredit his leader. "It is a plot to destroy me because I am Mitsotakis' shield. I am at peace with my conscience," he said.
It now seems that, despite Gryllakis' best efforts, Mitsotakis must now stand trial in a case that, for Greece, could be as earth shattering as Watergate in the US.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940617)
ttering as Watergate in the US.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940617)
6/17/94
Greece - Former Prime Minister To Be Tried For Wiretapping
Wordperfect Ships Version 6.0 fo
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation has announced it is now shipping graphical user interface (GUI) Unix versions of Wordperfect 6.0 for SunOS and Solaris 2.
While the Unix operating system has never approached the popularity of DOS and later Windows, Wordperfect is optimistic about the market for the Unix-based word processor. "With an increasing Unix presence in the commercial business computing sector, there is an increasing demand for Unix users to manage compound documents with carrying data types," according to Brent McKinley, director of Wordperfect Unix product marketing.
Users of Wordperfect for Unix can share files across the Unix Windows, DOS and OpenVMS platforms using the software's binary file compatibility. Version 6.0 for Unix also includes WPPRINT, which performs batch mode command line printing and merging in the Unix environment.
Many of the features available in Wordperfect 6.0 for Windows are also included in the Unix version. Users can customize the Button Bar, Power Bar, Ruler Bar, status bar and keyboards. An ExpressDocs feature provides more than 70 document templates for fax forms, memos, invoices, newsletters, expense reports and other common documents.
The Tables feature lets users create multi-column, multi-line mini-spreadsheets that can not only contain information but can perform mathematical calculations and data fills and accept various numerical formatting attributes. The included Wordperfect draw module can create charts and graphs direct from the spreadsheet data.
There is also a File Management feature that lets the use copy. move, rename, delete and change attributes of files. The QuickList lets users assign descriptive names to any directory or group of files, while QuickFinder performs indexing and text retrieval.
Like its Windows counterpart, Wordperfect 6.0 for Unix includes Grammatik, the grammar and spelling checker. Graphics editing tools are also provided that allow the user to move, rotate and size an image within a box, wrap text on both side of the image and contour text around irregularly shaped objects. A variety of borders and fill patterns can be assigned to paragraphs, pages columns, table cells and graphics images.
Wordperfect version 6.0 for Unix has a suggested retail price of $495. When the character-based Unix version of the software becomes available later this year, users get both the GUI and the character-based versions in the package.
On systems running SunOS you need up to 81 megabytes (MB) of disk space, 9MB of memory for the initial user and 2MB for each additional user. On the Sun Solaris platform a full install takes up to 82MB of disk space. The memory requirements are the same as for the SunOS system. Wordperfect lists a range for the required disk space because it varies depending on the number of printers selected during installation.
The company says it will release Wordperfect 6.0 for SCO Unix, SVR4 Intel, IBM RS/6000, HP 9000 and MIPS ABI during the fourth quarter. International versions of each will also be supported.
Wordperfect spokesperson Dan Cook told Newsbytes current users of earlier versions can upgrade to version 6.0 for $129, with additional license upgrades available for $89. If you purchased Wordperfect 5.1 for Unix after May 1, 1994 you can upgrade for the cost of the materials, about $40.
(Jim Mallory/19940617/Press contact: Dan Cook, wordperfect Corporation, 801-228-5014; Reader contact; Wordperfect Corp 801-225-5000 or 800-451-5151, fax 801-228-5077)
rp 801-225-5000 or 800-451-5151, fax 801-228-5077)
6/17/94
Wordperfect Ships Version 6.0 for Unix Platforms
Lotus LCS To Provide Interoperab
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- In acquiring SoftSwitch, Lotus will raise its competitive standing versus Microsoft, while at the same time providing interoperability between the forthcoming LCS (Lotus Communications Server) and Microsoft products, Lotus and SoftSwitch officials said in a teleconference yesterday.
As reported in Newsbytes, Lotus and SoftSwitch officials said in the teleconference that Lotus will acquire SoftSwitch, a major provider of electronic mail switches and directory synchronization services, for about 1.3 million shares of Lotus stock, equivalent in value to $64 to $73 million.
In a separate interview with Newsbytes, Greg Loux, product marketing manager for SoftSwitch, said that Lotus and SoftSwitch had kept plans for the proposed deal "very quiet," to the point of not pre-briefing any analysts.
Journalists and analysts listened intently during the one-hour teleconference, which was attended by Newsbytes, as the acquisition and its anticipated effects were outlined by Jim Manzi, CEO and president of Lotus; Jeff Papows, VP of the Lotus Notes Products Division; Michael Zisman, president of SoftSwtich.
Manzi told the teleconference participants that Lotus has been in discussions with SoftSwitch "for some time." He described the Wayne, Pennsylvania-based company as "world leaders in messaging switching technology, in terms of converting one messaging protocol or structure to another, and in terms of synchronizing directories which is more and more a bigger issue for large corporate accounts."
The SoftSwitch technology will contribute the "scalability" needed to "connect LAN (local area network) systems with each other...but also LAN systems with legacy systems, legacy mail systems with public systems..and also connection to EDI systems."
"There's no company better positioned...in that business than SoftSwitch," Manzi added. "The big opportunity for us is (building) our presence in the enterprise marketplace and dealing with these scalability requirements that our customers keep talking about."
SoftSwitch products already connect 3 million electronic mail products, many of them Lotus customers, with legacy systems, Manzi noted. "We're excited about that, and about the ability to migrate many of the SoftSwitch customers to Lotus on a continuing basis," he said.
"Finally, I think this `universal switching technology' will be a big piece in the kind of business we're trying to create in terms of inter-enterprise computing."
Manzi then announced that, in conjunction with the deal, Lotus has established the new Inter-Enterprise Computing Group (IECG), to be co-headed by Zisman and Larry Moore, VP of Lotus' Telecommunications Server Group, which is overseeing the upcoming AT&T Notes.
"We believe that there is extraordinary connection between what Mike's products and Larry's products...in companies connecting with their customers, or their vendors, or their buyers in electronic links to try to improve their business," he said.
SoftSwitch also has a "very strong presence" with public telephone companies (PTTs) and value-added network providers VANs worldwide Manzi explained.
Zisman told participants that the merger is a strong "fit" because of the "similarity in cultures" between Lotus and SoftSwitch, in addition to technological factors. A large percentage of SoftSwitch customers are already using Lotus Notes or cc:Mail, he pointed out.
"Scalability will be achieved ultimately through backbone switches. We've always been exclusively focused on the backbone tier, and have carved out a very large part of that market segment. Lotus has emerged as the clear leader in user agents and messaging servers both for basic mail and for workgroup computing through Notes," Zisman said.
"By bringing together the Notes replication capability with the multiprotocol capability of SoftSwitch, we have the capability, the technology, the expertise and the people to evolve towards an enterprise server that can provide both database replication and multiprotocol mail switching, and we'll be evolving that capability over time by moving together the capabilities of EMX and LCS (Lotus Communications Server)," he said.
In the integration of Lotus' upcoming LCS (Lotus Communications Server) with SoftSwitch's EMX, SoftSwitch will also contribute connectivity to legacy systems, "very broad" directory synchronization and "some very exciting administrative and management capabilities," according to Zisman.
Ed Gillis, CFO for Lotus, explained that the purchase price for SoftSwtich is approximately equal to the combined annual revenues for SoftSwitch during 1993 and 1994, which amounted to about $35 million per year. The acquisition is expected to be completed in 90 days, he added.
"We would expect the impact on our 1994 earnings to be immaterial slightly dilutive. For the full year, we are not altering our perspective on earnings guidance as a result of the transaction," according to Gillis.
In a Q&A session that followed, Manzi was asked how the merger will affect Lotus' competitive standing versus Microsoft. "Obviously we're hoping it will improve it," Manzi said. "What we're getting is capability in terms of technology but also in terms of customer presence in large customer accounts."
Another teleconference participant asked Zisman: "Were there other bidders for your company?" Zisman replied that there had been discussions with other bidders, but that these had tapered off as discussions had become "serious with Lotus."
Zisman declined comment on speculation that Microsoft had been the "other important bidder," and that SoftSwitch decided to go with Lotus "for reasons of strategy and technology and not for price."
Also in the A&A, Zisman said that a deal between Microsoft and SoftSwitch, jointly announced at the EMA Conference in April, will not be affected in terms of the agreed upon interoperability between EMX and Microsoft's EMS.
"SoftSwitch and Microsoft have important, loyal customers. I believe it is Microsoft's responsibility and SoftSwitch's responsibility to continue to meet the needs of those customers," he said.
Papows reported that Lotus will take an "evolutionary" approach toward integrating EMX into LCS. The first release of LCS, which is scheduled to ship in the first half of 1995, will include some EMX capabilities, such as directory synchronization, he said. After that, Lotus will incorporate greater capabilities from EMX including an SMTP (Simple Transport Protocol) MTA (Message Transport Agent, he added.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940617/Press Contacts: Richard Eckel, Lotus 617-693-1284; Lauren Lampinen, Lois Paul & Associates for Lotus 617-862-4514; Betsy Chapman, SoftSwitch, 610-640-9600)
Lotus LCS To Provide Interoperability With Microsoft
Rasterops' New Graphics Cards, B
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Rasterops and its subsidiary Truevision announced new graphics accelerator cards for the IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) market as well as a new 17-inch multi-frequency monitor. The companies are hoping the aggressive pricing of the new products will make a big splash in the PC market.
For $999 PC users can get the 17-inch PC Color Productivity Graphics Display Bundle which includes the 1 megabyte (MB) dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) version of the Truevision Colorimpact 100 graphics card with the Rasterops Clearvuecolor monitor. The card supports 16.7 million colors at 640 by 480 picture element (pixel) resolution.
A bundle including the 17-inch Rasterops monitor and the 2 MB video random access memory (VRAM), video local bus (VLB) version of the Truevision Colorimpact Pro 1000 graphics card retails for $1,299. The extra memory allows this graphics card to support 16.7 million colors at a resolution of 800 by 600 or 65,000 colors at the higher resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels.
Both of the Truevision graphics cards incorporate 64-bit graphics chips from Cirrus Logic and Weitek and provide 24-bit, 16.7 million color support. The graphics cards are also available in a configuration aimed at the Intel Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) standard as well as ISA and VLB versions. One MB of memory can be added to the Colorimpact 100 graphics card for a total of 2 MB using industry-standard dynamic random access memory (DRAM) single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). An additional 2 MB of memory may be added to the Colorimpact Pro 1000 card for a total of 4 MB, but the card uses video random access memory (VRAM) double in-line memory modules (DIMMs).
The Colorimpact graphics cards may be purchased separately. The Colorimpact 100 is $139 with 1 MB of RAM and $219 with 2 MB of RAM. The Colorimpact Pro 1000 retails for $319 with 2 MB of RAM and $569 with 4 MB of RAM.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940617/Press Contact: Anne-Lise Stannard Rasterops, tel 408-496-4035, fax 408-562 4065; Public Contact: Rasterops, Customer Info, 800-729 2056/RASTEROPS940617/PHOTO)
stomer Info, 800-729 2056/RASTEROPS940617/PHOTO)
6/17/94
Rasterops' New Graphics Cards, Bundles For PCs
Newsbytes Daily Summary
"MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> ****Pentium, Chicago, PowerPC Driving DRAM Shortage 06/17/94 Dataquest says it anticipates a short-term shortage of 16-megabyte (MB) dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips by the end of this year and early in 1995. The push of the Pentium by Intel, the introduction of Chicago, and the Power Macintosh by Apple Computer, without a corresponding increase in the supply of 16 MB DRAM, will drive up prices, Dataquest predicted.
2 -> Kodak Intros New Digital Camera 06/17/94 Eastman Kodak Company has introduced a new professional digital camera that stores its images for use on an Apple Computer Macintosh or a PC.
3 -> Symantec Software Give-away To Sysops Who Support Ethics 06/17/94 As one of the sponsors of the National Computer Ethics and Responsibilities Campaign (NCERC), Symantec has announced it will give away a free copy of The Norton Utilities 8.0 or The Norton AntiVirus 3.0 to the first 500 bulletin board system (BBS) operators or sysops who help get the word out about computer ethics.
4 -> Picasso Paints Again On Hong Kong Telecom 06/17/94 Hongkong Telecom CSL has introduced Picasso, an innovative still image video phone system that offers a simple means of exchanging full-color high-quality images using ordinary telephone lines.
5 -> Sydney Home Computer Show Attracts Bad Publicity 06/17/94 The Home Computer Show in Sydney attracted more visitors than last year, but it also attracted unwelcome attention from the press. Two stands that were selling CD-ROM disks had devoted large display areas to their X-rated disks, and much of the showgoing audience was school-age.
6 -> Review of - Field Guide Series Of Books 06/17/94 From: Microsoft Corp., One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
7 -> UniversityWorks Automates College Registration 06/17/94 Syntellect Inc., has introduced a software package that automates college and university student services such as registration, grade inquiry, fee payment and other functions.
8 -> Ambra Bundles Borland Apps, Lowers Prices On Portables 06/17/94 Ambra has started bundling the newly introduced Sidekick for Windows, in addition to Borland Office 2.0, with all subnotebooks and two of its notebook models. At the same time, prices have been reduced to $1799 for each of the two notebooks, and to between $899 and $1599 for the three subnotebooks.
9 -> Editorial - Audio News Conferences 06/17/94 By Dana Blankenhorn. It's the best thing to happen to reporters since the Model 100. It's the audio press conference. Using the latest telephone technology reporters can, from the comfort of their offices or home, listen to top executives dispense news and even (sometimes) query them.
10 -> Baltimore Dispute on School Technology, Test Scores 06/17/94 Baltimore City Schools and Education Alternatives, a private company managing eight of the city's schools, claimed victory in releasing new test score results, but critics called the claim nonsense.
11 -> IBM Storage Products Use PCMCIA 06/17/94 IBM has announced an assortment of new storage devices, including several that use the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) expansion slot specification.
12 -> On-Demand Debuts Digital Video Server 06/17/94 On-Demand Technologies has announced it will ship a second generation digital video server for the interactive telecommunications market later this month.
13 -> ****Technical Problems Challenge Cable TV Of The Future 06/17/94 In preparing its infrastructure for the handling of telephony, the cable television industry will have to address several, highly specific return-path requirements.
14 -> LANNET Module For Multinet Hub 06/17/94 LANNET is adding an enhanced eight-port 10BaseT module to its fault-tolerant, ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)-ready MultiNet modular intelligent hub products family.
15 -> Hongkong - Rockwell Digital-To-Analog Converter Unveiled 06/16/94 Rockwell Telecommunications claims it has introduced the world's fastest digital to analog converter (DAC) in a bid to establish a strong foothold in the data conversion business. The new 10-bit DAC designed and manufactured by Rockwell's Microelectronics Technology Center (MTC), operates at clock and data speeds greater than 1200 MHz while consuming less than 800mW of operating power.
16 -> DiagSoft Offers Diagnostics, Service 06/16/94 DiagSoft's Electronic Technical Support Center (ETSC) may be the answer to troubled personal computer users who have waited hours on long distance calls with technical support providers only to be told to call another software company.
17 -> Westcott Going Slow on ACTV Distance Learning 06/17/94 Westcott Communications told Newsbytes it will move slowly on putting ACTV's interactive technology into its distance learning programs.
18 -> Parsons Offers Car, Home Buying Software Help 06/17/94 Parsons Technology is now shipping two software titles that help the user buy a car or a home.
19 -> ****Palmer Claims Board Backing For DEC Reorganization 06/17/94 Management at Digital Equipment Corp. remains tight-lipped about exactly what will be done to reorganize the money-losing company, but in a letter to senior managers this week, the company's president and chief executive said DEC's board of directors supports his plans.
20 -> IBM Canada To Do Service For Wellfleet 06/17/94 IBM Canada Ltd. will provide technical support and maintenance for Wellfleet Communications Canada's products across the country. The two companies announced a cooperative service deal that parallels an arrangement between their respective parent firms in the United States.
21 -> Syquest Reluctantly Settles With Nomai & Iomega 06/17/94 While it seems Syquest cannot resist a few parting barbs, it has announced the out-of-court settlement of litigations with French competitor Nomai and Nomai's US distributor Iomega. Syquest originally claimed Nomai had no right to make the removable, Winchester- type hard disk cartridges for Syquest drives.
22 -> Personnel Changes Roundup 06/17/94 This is a regular feature summarizing personnel changes not covered elsewhere by Newsbytes: FOCUS Enhancements Inc., PR Newswire, Apple Computer Inc., Weitek Corp., and AT&T.
23 -> Networking Roundup 06/17/94 IDEA expands IDEA Concert architecture, DaVinci ships eMail Remote 2.5, Optus Software to Intro FacSys fax server for Windows NT, and LXE acquires wireless wide area network product line.
24 -> Company Results Roundup 06/17/94 While computing giant Unisys says that its European operation is dragging it down, Spectrum HoloByte reported a huge yearly loss as the result of its acquisition of MicroProse Inc.
25 -> CompuServe Covers World Cup And Aerosmith Song 06/17/94 With the opening of the first World Cup on June 17, CompuServe users should be well versed on game schedules, players profiles, the latest news and last minute stories. A special World Cup area, under GO WCUP, is being offered to CompuServe users around the world while the games are being played, June 17 to July 17.
26 -> UK - School Computer Porn Scare Raised 06/17/94 The University of Central Lancashire has announced the results of a study into the awareness and circulation of computer pornography in British schools.
27 -> Greece - Former Prime Minister To Be Tried For Wiretapping 06/17/94 The long-running saga over Greece's former Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who is alleged to have instructed various staff during his term of office to carry out wiretaps outside the scope of the Greek legal system, has come to a head. Members of the Greek Parliament have now voted to bring Mitsotakis to trial for his alleged misdemeanors on a 163 to six majority.
28 -> Wordperfect Ships Version 6.0 for Unix Platforms 06/17/94 Wordperfect Corporation has announced it is now shipping graphical user interface (GUI) Unix versions of Wordperfect 6.0 for SunOS and Solaris 2.
29 -> ****Lotus LCS To Provide Interoperability With Microsoft 06/17/94 In acquiring SoftSwitch, Lotus will raise its competitive standing versus Microsoft, while at the same time providing interoperability between the forthcoming LCS (Lotus Communications Server) and Microsoft products, Lotus and SoftSwitch officials said in a teleconference yesterday.
30 -> Rasterops' New Graphics Cards, Bundles For PCs 06/17/94 Rasterops and its subsidiary Truevision announced new graphics accelerator cards for the IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) market as well as a new 17-inch multi-frequency monitor. The companies are hoping the aggressive pricing of the new products will make a big splash in the PC market.
(Wendy Woods/19940617)
(Wendy Woods/19940617)
6/17/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Software For Windows Captures Bi
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Carpe Diem is Latin for "seize the day." It's also the name of a computer program that captures the user's billable day, and ProSoft Corporation, the package's publisher, has added a feature that it claims makes that data capture a lot easier.
The new feature in this latest version of Carpe Diem for Windows is known as the SmarTimer toolbar. According to the company, the user customizable toolbar is a palette of several icons and timer buttons that remain on top of any currently running Windows application. When a billable call or meeting starts, the user just clicks on a timer button to start the clock.
If the user is interrupted, billing time can be suspended with another click. You can suspend the first clock and start a new one for a second customer. Each capture can be annotated so you will know what the subject of that particular billing was.
The buttons that start, stop and suspend tracking can be given distinctive names by the user. Clients can also be assigned their own buttons. "Drag-and-drop" moves billable hours from CDTracker into any Windows application.
Other features of SmarTimer include the ability to add or delete timer buttons, trash unnecessary information and customize the toolbar look by displaying it horizontally or vertically and making it wider or thinner. The captured time can be viewed and edited in CDTracker.
Carpe Diem has three primary functions: CDTracker tracks time as the user works. CDEntry is intended to track clerical time entry, enabling the company to bill administrative functions to the client. CDAdmin is the system administration utility for maintaining CDTracker and CDEntry.
Carpe Diem can send time and service data electronically over most local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) to a computer-based time and billing package that can import data in ASCII format.
Prosoft spokesperson Melinda Conkling told Newsbytes that the company also publishes a DOS version of the program but it doesn't include the SmarTimer toolbar. Data can be exchanged between the DOS and Windows versions.
Carpe Diem has a suggested retail price of $3,000 for a 10-user license. Discounts are available for larger numbers of users, Conkling told Newsbytes.
(Jim Mallory/19940620/Press contact: Melinda Conkling, Springbok Technologies for ProSoft Corporation, 214-480-9458; Reader contact: ProSoft Corp, 800-477-6763 or 214-386-7769, fax 214-386-4491/TRACKER940620/PHOTO)
6-7769, fax 214-386-4491/TRACKER940620/PHOTO)
6/20/94
Software For Windows Captures Billable Time
Hongkong - 3Com, Novell's Integr
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- 3Com Corporation and Novell have announced a strategic partnership to help their worldwide customers build "tightly integrated branch office networks that are reliable, manageable and scalable."
According to both companies, this joint effort is designed to enable customers to seamlessly mix 3Com and Novell technologies to build a computing environment of their choice.
The partnership includes enhanced interoperability in network management, routing, and desktop technologies. "Users can now implement a complete branch office solution utilizing combined technology from two major network vendors," explained Roy Johnson managing director of 3Com Asia.
"As a result, our joint customers gain a simply implemented set of products including adapters, hubs, routers, communications and file services as well as a unified network management," he said.
Andrew Lai, regional director of Novell Asia, said that NetWare has become an important element of Hong Kong's business environment, while 3Com has been widely respected for several years.
"This strategic partnership should give local users the assurance that existing investments will be protected as they expand their computing facilities to keep pace with the territory's growth," he said.
(Keith Cameron/19940620/Press Contact: Roy Johnson, 3Com +852-501 1100; Andrew Lai, Novell +852-827-2223)
3Com +852-501 1100; Andrew Lai, Novell +852-827-2223)
LEAMINGTON SPA, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Recognition Systems has unveiled CNAPS/PC, which it claims is the only commercially available massively parallel microprocessor board for the PC. The card is designed to provide PC users with a low-cost system for pattern recognition analysis, as well as a general increase in speed and capability on a machine.
According to Recognition Systems, the PC card was designed in the US by Adaptive Solutions and works in tandem with a PC's main processor such as a Pentium, by accelerating high volume pattern recognition applications, including real time optical character recognition (OCR) forms processing, image processing, signal processing and neural networks.
Announcing the CNAPS/PC card, Paul Gregory, Recognition Systems' managing director, said that the device "will break open the market to a new class of operations -- those tasks which humans traditionally perform, but which have been difficult for even the most powerful computer, such as reading handwritten text, recognizing an individual's face, or quickly understanding patterns within complex data such as a manufacturing process.
"Until now, the solutions offered to PC users were in most cases unworkable. Typically, performance was too slow or the cost too high. With CNAPS/PC, billions of operations per second are now available on the desktop to solve this type of problem at an affordable cost," he said.
The new card is based on the CNAPS 1064 parallel processor, a massively parallel microprocessor containing either 16 or 64 processors on a single chip. The full length PC card can be configured with one or two CNAPS chips (16, 32 or 128 processors), on-chip memory and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) unit.
The result of this processing power is that data can be piped in and out at an impressive 80 megabytes per second. With its mezzanine board facility, the card can be expanded to handle 384 processors.
Pricing on the card depends on processor and memory requirements. Recognition Systems is offering the card in the UK with prices starting from UKP 3,970, with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) deals available.
(Steve Gold/19940620/Press & Public Contact: Recognition Systems +44 61-449-8628; Fax: +44-61-440-0561)
61-449-8628; Fax: +44-61-440-0561)
6/20/94
Parallel Processing Card For PCs
32,000 London Streets On CD-ROM
ASHFORD, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- NextBase, the publishers of the popular AutoRoute PC map software, has announced MapVision Plus, a mapping system of London, on a CD-ROM for the Apple Computer Macintosh and PCs.
The package is billed as a computerized street atlas for London based on Nicholson's London Guide, and covering 32,000 streets. According to NextBase, with the data and programs on CD-ROM the user is available to hop freely around London on the map and pan, zoom, as well as search through all available data, including topographical maps and street indexes.
All items on the maps, including museums, underground stations, pubs and hotels, can be interactively searched, as can the street names. The map covers a rectangle spanning Chigwell to Richmond and Edgware to Sidcup. There is also a database editor, allowing users to add their own names and items to the database.
Nick Berry, marketing director with NextBase, said that an extensive range of extra database information -- on youth hostels, schools theaters, fire stations, hospitals, leisure centers, post offices and the like -- is also shipped with the CD-ROM.
"MapVision Plus will prove to be an invaluable aid for any organization or individual requiring geographical information on London quickly and easily. Unlike its paper-based counterparts, maps can be centered on any point and streets can be found in seconds. The database editor will enable organizations to mark their own offices and customers sites," he said.
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Lotus Development Corporation UK has announced the availability of 1-2-3 Release 4 for DOS, which it claims is a keystone upgrade to the "world's most popular spreadsheet."
According to Lotus, the package has been enhanced in four main areas: new features make the product easier to use, there is a highly graphical user interface, a powerful Version Manager, and integrated mail enabling. The retail price remains unchanged at UKP 455.
Other enhancements of the package include a QuickStart tutorial, a cell notepad (which allows users to attach notes to any cell), and a "column fit widest" system for auto-adjusting to fit cell data entered. A context sensitive help file systems rounds off the list of new features.
"With 1-2-3 Release 4 for DOS, Lotus has delivered valuable and innovative new features to our 1-2-3 DOS users by focusing on performance, usability and compatibility," commented Andrew Wyatt Lotus UK brand manager for spreadsheets.
"The package was designed with a great amount of input from users who have chosen to stay in the DOS operating environment, but are interested in a spreadsheet that allows them to perform their tasks more easily and efficiently," he said.
Lotus officials are stressing that Release 4 is not a replacement for Release 2.4, which continues to be available. Release 4 is pitched at users of 286 or better PCs, while Release 2.4 runs on less powerful systems (8088-based, with 384K of memory and DOS 2.1 or better).
Release 4 of 1-2-3, meanwhile, needs a 286-based PC with EGA graphics or better, two megabytes (MB) of memory and 6MB of hard disk space. As a special offer, Lotus is allowing users of competing spreadsheets to upgrade to Release 4 of 1-2-3 for UKP 99.
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Compton's Newmedia has moved exclusively to CD-ROM titles and is planning to release its math educational title, The Human Calculator, and the first of a new category of self-help titles, Focus for Success, in the laser disc format.
The Human Calculator is based on work by Scott Flansburg, known for his unique work in teaching children arithmetic skills. Flansburg covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and offers less traditional techniques such as teaching students to carry numbers from left to right in the same way children in the US learn to read.
Flansburg contends that math skills are not hard, but are poorly presented. Norman J. Bastin, executive vice president and general manager of Compton's NewMedia, said: "Many children are convinced that they don't possess the capability or intelligence to be skilled at math.
"Later in life they often choose educational courses and careers that avoid math because they feel uncomfortable with the subject. Flansburg shows children that they can successfully accomplish what they once thought was impossible," he explained.
Clever skills, such as calculating cube roots or figuring out the day of the week of any date in the past, present, or future is covered in the "Cool Tricks" section of the program.
The Human Calculator had been released on floppy disk, but Compton's sold off its entire floppy disk software division to Troy, Michigan based Softprime, a division of Handleman Company.
Like the personality assessment tests used for career placement, Focus for Success is a self-help title designed to help users focus on skills and improve concentration as well. Compton's says the title provides a task, and then distractions, to determine if the user is patient or tends to jump the gun. Using games and exercises, the program attempts to access the users concentration, and then suggests job choices, vocations, and entertainment.
In addition, exercises are available to help concentration ability by simulating real-life situations. The CD-ROM is based on the Attention Control Training System developed by Robert M. Nideffer, Ph.D Compton's officials said.
Retail priced at $39.95, "The Human Calculator" CD-ROM for DOS requires an 80386SX-based or better PC, running at 25 megahertz (MHz) or faster, 640 kilobytes (KB) memory, DOS 5.0 or higher, a minimum of two megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), a 256-color super video graphics array (SVGA) card and monitor, a sound card, plus a CD ROM drive. While not required, a mouse is recommended.
Focus for Success will be available in the US in September of this year and is retail priced at $49.95. The CD-ROM will be dual-format playable on multimedia personal computers (MPCs) or on the Macintosh.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940620/Press Contact: Pat Meier, Pat Meier Associates for Compton's, tel 415-957-5999, fax 415-957-1733; Christina Germscheid, Compton's Newmedia, tel 619-929 2500/CALCULATOR940617/PHOTO)
ia, tel 619-929 2500/CALCULATOR940617/PHOTO)
6/20/94
Compton's Migrates Wholly To CD-ROM Format
GENERAL
Jeteye - Fast, Wireless PC/Omnib
BOISE, IDAHO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- For fast, painless transfers and information updates between a PC and a Hewlett-Packard Omnibook Extended Systems has announced Jeteye PC. The unit, which looks like a mouse in both size and appearance, connects to the PC's serial port and uses the infrared data transfer capability built into the Omnibook.
The unit works with any HP product that supports the serial infrared (SIR) standard, which excludes the HP 100 LX palmtop computer. The Laplink Remote Access software included in the Omnibook allows the user to take advantage of the wireless connection. The user can access local floppy and hard drives as well as printers, and if the PC is connected to a network, the user can have network access as well.
Jeteye PC can transfer files at up to 115.2 kilobytes per second (kbps), which is the maximum data transfer speed for most serial PC ports, and is six to 12 times faster than normal 9,600 or 19,200 bits per second (bps) serial communications. No outside power source is needed as Jeteye uses power from the PC's serial port.
Many portable computing devices, such as Apple Computer's Newton personal digital assistant (PDA) and Tandy's Zoomer PDA, use infrared for wireless data transfer, but won't talk to each other because each infrared standard is different. However, Apple Computer officials told Newsbytes that the HP SIR standard appears to be the one the industry will adopt.
Fred Roehm of Extended Systems said that the company also believes that the HP standard will become dominant and told Newsbytes that the Jeteye PC will work with any IR device that meets the HP standard. However, software is needed to handle the data transactions, such as the commercially available Laplink Remote Access application.
Jeteye PC ESI-9610A retails for $139 and is available directly from Extended Systems or through computer hardware retailers. The unit carries a 30-day warranty and a three-year money-back guarantee.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940617/Press Contact: Fred Roehm, Extended Systems tel 208-322-7575, fax 208-377-1906; Public Contact: Extended Systems Jeteye Orders, US and Canada 800-235-7576, Outside US and Canada 406 587-7575/JETEYE940620/PHOTO)
side US and Canada 406 587-7575/JETEYE940620/PHOTO)
6/20/94
Jeteye - Fast, Wireless PC/Omnibook Data Transfer
Labor Law Online With Pillsbury,
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Labor Law Online is a CD which delivers up-to-date information about labor and employment issues through articles, cases, statutes, codes and regulations for existing and eligible clients of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro.
According to William Gaus, a spokesperson for the company, the Windows CD also ties into a centrally located server allowing users to file email directly with the firm.
"Our CD is actually a small law library with more than one thousand full-text cases. With sophisticated search abilities and hypertext users are able to go directly to the area in question. Given the requirements of labor law counsel and human resources professionals the ability to offer immediate and authoritative information is crucial," he told Newsbytes.
According to the company, the CD has been designed so that users can easily search, browse and communicate with simple point and click movements. Labor Law Online includes the communication commands to access users' modems and connect to the firm's central server. Weekly updates are available through the modem connection and quarterly updates will be produced on an entire CD.
Newsbytes was told that the company plans to add a hotline feature in the near future. "We want to offer this service to all potential Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro clients as well as our existing clients. Conflict of interest concerns prevent us from offering the service to any point of delivery that would be adverse to any of our clients' interests," said Gaus.
This CD and service have an annual fee of $5,000 and include an allowance of attorney hours.
(Patrick McKenna/19940620/Press Contact: William Gaus, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro 415-983-1327)
liam Gaus, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro 415-983-1327)
6/20/94
Labor Law Online With Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro
IBM PS/2 Model 76 And 77 Finally
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Faster PS/2 models 76 and 77, promised to select IBM customers last year, have finally made it out of the door.
IBM has announced this week that it is shipping the new models, which add faster processors and a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local-bus graphics chip on the system board.
Some of the new PS/2 77 models are meant for multimedia applications. They come with a feature IBM calls MediaBurst Movie, which uses circuitry on the main system board to deliver full-screen, full-motion video.
IBM embarrassed itself by telling a number of major customers about the new models last year and then was unable to meet the October shipment date it had first planned. The machines were further delayed in December. The delays were caused by the failure of chip sets used in the machines to pass testing, company spokesman Mike DeMeo told Newsbytes in December.
In an effort to keep customers from jumping ship and buying other vendors' PCs, IBM scrambled to boost production of the old Model 76 and 77 machines in December and tried to get customers to accept other models.
The new models use Intel 486 processors, ranging from a 33-megahertz (MHz) 486SX chip to a 100-MHz 486DX4. They have Pentium Overdrive upgrade connectors so performance can be increased with a Pentium chip. A range of hard disk drives are available, from 170 to 540 megabytes (MB). The machines are divided into "i" models with Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard drives and "s" models with drives using the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), DeMeo said today.
All the models use IBM's Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) system bus. They also come with Vital Product Data (VPD), a system record that makes the computer's serial number, machine type, and other asset management information for remote access by systems-management software. DeMeo could not say immediately whether this feature is compatible with the Desktop Management Interface (DMI), an emerging standard for PC asset management.
S3's Vision928 graphics chip is installed on the system board providing SuperVGA local-bus graphics at resolutions up to 1,280 by 1,024 and 16 million colors. IBM claimed performance of up to 31 million WinMarks for the chip.
A server model comes standard with Error Checking and Correcting (ECC) memory, which is available as an option on the other models. IBM also said the PCs are "Plug and Play ready," meaning peripherals and adapter cards are configured automatically on installation.
Prices range upward from $2,365 for a PS/2 Model 76 with 170MB hard drive. A system board upgrade is available for existing Model 76 and 77 PS/2s and for Model 56 and 57 machines.
(Grant Buckler/19940620/Press Contact: Mike DeMeo, IBM 914-766-1802)
ss Contact: Mike DeMeo, IBM 914-766-1802)
6/20/94
IBM PS/2 Model 76 And 77 Finally Arrive
Canadian Product Launch Update
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: IBM's new PS/2 models 76 and 77 and Microsoft's Complete Baseball CD-ROM.
IBM Canada of Markham, Ontario, has announced new PS/2 Model 76 and Model 77 machines (Newsbytes, June 20). Model 76 prices range from C$3,385 for a unit with a 33 megahertz (MHz) 486SX processor and a 170 megabyte (MB) Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard drive to C$5,435 for a model with a 100MHz 486DX4 processor and a 270MB Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) hard drive. Model 77 prices range from C$3,770 for a 33MHz 486SX with 270MB IDE drive to C$7,490 for a 100MHz 486DX4 model with 540MB SCSI drive.
Microsoft Canada of Mississauga, Ontario, has announced that its Complete Baseball CD-ROM (Newsbytes, June 13) is now available in Canada. The CD-ROM comes with access to Baseball Daily Online, a service that updates current baseball statistics. Suggested retail price for the disk is C$99.95, and calls to the online service cost C$2.25 each plus applicable taxes.
(Grant Buckler/19940619/Press Contact: Kate Dennis, IBM Canada 905-316-2191; Anne McKeon, Microsoft Canada, 905-568-0434 ext. 2204 fax 905-568-1527; Public Contact: IBM Canada, 905-316-9000; Microsoft Canada, 905-568-0434)
Microsoft Canada, 905-568-0434)
6/20/94
Canadian Product Launch Update
GENERAL
Royal Bank of Canada Boosts High
] TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Building on limited loan programs already in place, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has set up a nationwide program to address the special banking needs of knowledge-based industries, including information technology (IT) entertainment software, and biotechnology.
According to the RBC, one of the key points of the Banking Program for Knowledge-Based Industries is to improve the traditionally uncomfortable relationship between banks and businesses whose assets are intangible. The second phase of the program, due to begin later this year, will include efforts to find new ways of recognizing a company's intellectual assets.
In the first phase, the bank means to focus on the short-term cash requirements of customers, such as investment tax credits, financial guarantees for large contracts, and financing pre-sold inventory.
Susan Smith, senior market manager for knowledge-based industries and head of the program, told Newsbytes that the bank expects to increase its lending to knowledge-based companies as a result of the program. Though the new group has only just been announced publicly, it began operations in early May and has already approved more than C$150 million in new loans, bank officials said.
The Royal Bank has had a special group dealing with information technology customers, based in Ottawa, for about 10 years, and a group dealing with entertainment software -- which includes recorded music and television and video production as well as video games and educational software for computers -- in Toronto for about 12 years.
Now, the bank has appointed 42 specialized account managers in more than 20 locations across Canada to serve those areas as well as life sciences, which is defines as including biotechnology pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
"By understanding the industry better," Smith said, "we're trying to find how we can be better bankers to them."
For years, entrepreneurs in the Canadian information technology sector, and particularly software firms, have complained that lenders were frightened off by the fact that many of their key assets were not physical objects but intellectual property.
(Grant Buckler/19940620/Press Contact: Shelley Sunohara, Royal Bank of Canada, tel 416-974-3180, fax 416-974-6023; Susan Smith, Royal Bank of Canada, tel 416-974-0574)
Smith, Royal Bank of Canada, tel 416-974-0574)
6/20/94
Royal Bank of Canada Boosts High-Tech Lending
BUSINESS
Miniscribe CFO Convicted, Faces
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- The chief financial officer of the now defunct Miniscribe Corporation has been found guilty of filing false financial statements and profiting through insider trading. He faces up to 10 years in a federal prison and $500,000 in fines.
A Denver, Colorado federal court jury found Patrick J. Schleibaum guilty of the charges after being convinced by prosecutors that Schleibaum personally took part in what US Attorney Vincent Oliva called "the brick packing party."
That term refers to allegations that Miniscribe officials shipped bricks instead of the disk drives the company manufactured, as part of an inventory inflation scheme allegedly designed to conceal a $15 million shortage in the company's 1987 inventory.
US Attorney Vincent Oliva also charged that Schleibaum instructed Miniscribe employees to break into the locked records of independent company auditors so he could decide how company records could best be altered to cover the shortages. Miniscribe declared bankruptcy in 1990.
The insider trading charge alleged that Schleibaum used his inside knowledge of the company's deteriorating financial condition to profit on the sale of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of company stock before share prices plummeted.
Former Miniscribe Chairman Q.T. Wiles is scheduled to go to trial next month on fraud charges. He is alleged to have approved the inventory inflation practices. Wiles was present at much of Schleibaum's trial. Schleibaum is free on his own recognizance pending sentencing. No date for that action has not yet been set.
(Jim Mallory/19940620)
t yet been set.
(Jim Mallory/19940620)
6/20/94
Miniscribe CFO Convicted, Faces 10 Years
Magic Quest's New Math, Reading
` ! PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Educational software developer Magic Quest has announced two new titles: Math Ace Jr., and Word City for the Windows PC and for the Apple Computer Macintosh.
Like its successful predecessor, Math Ace, the new math is aimed at drilling arithmetic skills to a younger audience, while Word City focuses on reading skills in older children.
In Math Ace Jr. kids get to put together their own aquarium by correctly answering math problems. They can earn fish and even money which can be used to buy things at an electronic fish store. For ages 4 to 8, the product takes three-dimensional graphics and music to entice children to stay involved working problems from kindergarten level to about third grade, Magic Quest said.
Word City, designed for ages 7 to 14, offers vocabulary building spelling, and reading comprehension. Children are encouraged to pick reading material from subjects that interest them such as sports amazing stories, favorite tales, and science facts. Magic Quest officers told Newsbytes that one of the favorite activities in the beta testing of the game has been the speed-reading portion.
The programs retail for $49.95 each and will be available this month. An Apple Computer Macintosh version of Math Ace Jr. is already available and a Mac version of Word City is expected in September. The Mac versions require system 6.07 or higher, a hard disk drive and 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM).
Math Ace Jr. requires a multimedia personal computer (MPC), versions require DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.1 or higher, a 256 color video graphics array (VGA), 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) a hard disk drive, a mouse, and a Sound Blaster or compatible sound card. A super VGA (SVGA) monitor is recommended.
Word City will run under DOS on a 286-based or better PC with 640 kilobytes (KB) of RAM, a mouse, and a hard disk drive. The program supports VGA or better resolution and a Sound blaster or compatible sound card.
Magic Quest is in the process of being acquired by Canadian-based CD-ROM software developer Sanctuary Woods in a merger estimated to be worth $5.6 million.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940620/Press Contact: Sarah Weaver, Magic Quest tel 415-321-5838, fax 415-321-8560/MAGICQUEST940620/PHOTO)
Magic Quest's New Math, Reading Titles For Mac, PC
WinDev '94 Developers' Conferenc
TYNGSBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- WinDev '94, this year's edition of an annual international developers' conference for Windows, opens today at the Boston University (BU) Corporate Education Center in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.
Sponsored by BU, the four-day event features keynote talks by Jesse Berst, executive editor and publisher of Windows Watcher, and J.D. Hildebrand, editor of Windows Tech Journal and editorial director of NT Developer, in addition to 50 conference sessions in six separate tracks.
Aimed at accommodating Windows developers with almost any level of expertise, the conference tracks include General Windows Programming C++ Windows Programming, Win32 Programming, OLE (object-linking-and embedding) 2.0 Programming, The Designer's Workshop, and Advanced Windows Programming.
Activities begin June 20 with a round of full-day sessions, presenting a choice between "Fundamentals of Windows Programming," "The Chicago User Interface/Getting Ready for Chicago," "OLE2: A View from Orbit," "C++ as a Second Language," and "Practical User Interface Design."
A large slate of one-hour and half-day sessions is in store for Tuesday through Thursday, on topics ranging from "Painting in Windows" to "Implementing Container Applications," and from "All about Messaging" to "Writing Great Network-Aware Applications."
On Tuesday from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, Berst will deliver a keynote called "Windows of Opportunity." Topics to be addressed in the hour long talk include the top ten opportunities in the Windows market, the "five new technologies every developer must know in 1994," and "where Windows is really headed."
On Wednesday during the 11:15 am to 12:15 pm time slot, Hildebrand will present "New Models for Windows Development," a keynote providing an outlook on C++ and application frameworks; "pure" object-oriented programming systems; databases and client-server tools; reusable components; cross-platform development; and "component-integration environments" such as Visual Basics, Parts, and PowerBuilder.
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm, attendees will be able to talk informally with session leaders in "The Chalk Talk Sessions," an event to revolve around a Q&A format.
Session leaders for WinDev '94 will include such Windows notables as Alan Cooper, widely regarded as "the father of Visual Basic;" Kim Crouse, technical director at Synaptix and author of the Windows Programming Puzzle Book; and Kraig Brockschmidt and Douglas Hodges software engineers who are credited with pioneering in OLE at Microsoft.
On Wednesday from 4 to 5 pm, ten authors of Windows programming books will be on hand at the show to sign their books. The books will be available for sale at reduced prices.
Participating authors will include Brockschmidt and Crouse, along with Mike Blaszczak, Paul Cilwa, Martin Heller, Bruce Krell, Charles Petzold, Matt Pietrek, Keith Pleas, Jeffrey Richter, and Alok Sinha.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940620/Reader Contact: 800-218-4194; Press Contact: Laura Robinson, Boston University Metropolitan College Center for Information Technology, 508-649-9731, ext 285)
Information Technology, 508-649-9731, ext 285)
6/20/94
WinDev '94 Developers' Conference Opens Today
Motorola Invests US$40M In Hong
NORTH POINT, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Motorola has announced that it is investing US$40 million in Hong Kong to develop a high speed wireless computing network for the territory based on the latest microcellular packet switched technology. It is the first such venture by Motorola anywhere in the world.
One local information technology (IT) industry watcher, who preferred not to be identified, told Newsbytes that he thought this would be a forerunner of even more intensified Motorola activity in the region.
"The telecoms giant is one of the pioneers in this part of the world and as such commands considerable respect throughout. It is expected that Australia, because of its wide geographical spread, will be observing this move with more than a passing interest as well," he said.
The network will be built and operated by a new Motorola subsidiary Motorola AirCommunications Ltd. It will give users of notebook computers, personal organizers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) access to information and messaging services wherever and whenever they need it, freeing them from the constraints of the wired telephone network.
"Motorola AirComms is the newest and most exciting communications company in Hong Kong," said Robert Growney, executive vice president of Motorola and president and general manager of the company's Messaging, Information and Media Sector (MIMS). "To us it's more than an investment - it's a chance for Hong Kong to become the world's showcase for a whole new concept in personal communications."
Growney adds that Hong Kong was chosen as the ideal city in which to pioneer such a network because of its "dynamic economic environment" and its proven acceptance of advanced mobile communication services such as cellular telephones and CT2. "Motorola will draw on the experience we gain with this venture to extend our wireless network operations to other parts of the world."
Operating at 19,200 bits per second (bps), the Motorola AirComms network will be operational in trial mode by the end of the year. Unlike other networks it will primarily offer a range of messaging and public information services specifically designed for consumers.
"We are investing in a service that will offer four times the speed of the previous wireless data network, together with greatly improved geographical coverage and a much wider range of applications," said Pam Thompson, managing director of Motorola AirComms. "By exploiting microcellular technology, we will provide comprehensive, uninterrupted coverage throughout the urban areas and in many parts of the New Territories.
The new network is expected to be the platform for a host of new services including wireless fax and email, scribble-and-send messaging through PDAs, and mobile access to information sources such as CompuServe Hong Kong, Thompson said. Looking a little into the future, she added, "we foresee that mobile banking and shopping will become important applications, together with remote access to office local area networks."
The Motorola AirComms network will be compatible with similar networks, also using Motorola technology, which are currently under development in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. Together with Motorola, the carriers involved in these networks have formed a consortium called AsiaPAC Radio Data Net and intend to offer their customers a transparent "roaming" service throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
"Our first priority is to provide our customers with top-quality service and support. While we invest in the new network, we will simultaneously be investing in people - skilled technical staff who will be able to understand our customers' needs and help them to easily make use of the many services available," said Thompson.
Motorola Invests US$40M In Hong Kong Wireless Network
TELECOM
IBM Launches Wireless Networking
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- IBM has announced its wireless local area network. The IBM Wireless LAN provides adapters that fit in Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), or Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) expansion slots and link computers using spread-spectrum radio transmissions.
According to IBM, the system will work with the firm's own OS/2 operating system or with Novell's NetWare, and can be used with Token Ring, Ethernet, and PC Network LANs.
Like all wireless networks, the system is slower than most wired systems. It runs at one megabit per second (Mbps), one tenth the speed of Ethernet. Despite the lower speed, some organizations find wireless LANs useful for adding machines to networks quickly, for hooking portable computers to LANs, and for avoiding the need to lay cable in difficult locations.
Michel Mayer, product manager, told Newsbytes that installation is simple. The customer needs a wireless adapter for each computer to be added to the network. Attaching to a wired network requires that a wireless adapter be installed in a PC that also has a wired connection, he said.
The user chooses one of the adapters to act as a base station. This does not prevent normal use of the PC containing that adapter, Mayer said. Nor is the base station a special device; every adapter is capable of serving this function.
The Wireless LAN adapters come in two models. One is a PCMCIA card while the other is a two-sided card with an ISA connector on one side and an MCA connector on the other, so it can be used with either bus. IBM's price for either type of card is $795, Mayer said. The cards are to be available in the fourth quarter.
The wireless network hardware comes with software for network administration and management, including the ability for the base station card to act as a proxy agent for the rest of the wireless network under the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This means the operation of the wireless network can be monitored remotely using network management tools that support SNMP.
The spread-spectrum technology used for the network was developed for military use but has turned into a popular way of moving data locally without wires. It hops across a variety of frequencies. IBM's system uses an intelligent interference management system that keeps track of frequencies where interference is common and avoids them in future. The system operates in the unlicensed 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) frequency band.
(Grant Buckler/19940620/Press Contact: Zenna Santiago, Makovsky & Co. for IBM, tel 212-532-6300)
y & Co. for IBM, tel 212-532-6300)
6/20/94
IBM Launches Wireless Networking
IBM Forms Network Applications U
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- IBM has announced a new unit, the Network Application Services Division, that will focus on what is widely known as the information highway. A variety of existing operations, including Fireworks Partners and other multimedia and communications groups, will be part of the new division.
The division will be based in Thornwood, New York, IBM spokesman David Harrah told Newsbytes. At its head will be Fernand Sarrat, former head of IBM's failed desktop software operation and most recently assistant group executive in charge of market development. Sarrat will report to James Cannavino, senior vice-president of strategy and development.
According to an IBM memo, a copy of which was provided to Newsbytes Networked Application Services will develop services that work on the Advantis network and Prodigy consumer online service the company operates with Sears, Roebuck & Co., as well as other IBM networks worldwide. It will also tailor these services to specific businesses around the world.
It will also take charge of Intelligent Communications, a strategy for personal communications products meant to let customers keep in touch from anywhere using a variety of devices. IBM has discussed these plans in general terms and said it will be releasing products through various alliances over the coming year.
Interactive television, collaborative computing, electronic publishing, kiosks, and services related to the Internet will be part of the new group's mandate, IBM said. The focus is expected to be on services rather than hardware.
Between 300 and 400 people will be working in the new business unit initially, Harrah said.
(Grant Buckler/19940620/Press Contact: David Harrah, IBM, tel 914-765-6666, fax 914-765-5099)
, tel 914-765-6666, fax 914-765-5099)
6/20/94
IBM Forms Network Applications Unit
India - Software Exports Up 50%
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- According to the National Association of Software Companies in India (NASSCOM), the value of software exports from India have grown by more than 50 percent in the year to date. NASSCOM officials say that export revenues came to 1,020 crore ($330 million) in 1993/94, compared with 675 crore during 1994/93.
While sales for the domestic software industry touched Rs 695 crore up 42 percent, overall sales for the software industry reached Rs 1,715 crore ($553 million). The overall turnover moved up by 47 percent form Rs 1,165 crore ($375 million) in 1992-93.
The study estimates that more than 100 companies exported Rs 1 crore ($0.32 million) or more during 1993-94, against just five companies in this category five years ago. Moreover, this last year saw 15 companies registering exports of more than Rs 15 crore compared to three during the 1991-92 financial year.
The study predicts, that by the time 1997 rolls around, the export performance of the Indian software industry will surpass the $1 billion, while the domestic sales would reach the same level by the year 2000.
As well as recognizing of the overall cost and quality advantages of Indian software, the study attributes increased use of 64,000 bits per second (bps) data communication links as the main reasons for growth.
The report also notes that 1994 was the year that the government sponsored Software Technology Parks (STPs) came of age, recording an annual growth rate of more than 100 percent. Exports from the STPs were worth Rs 116 crore ($37 million), compared to Rs 56 crore ($18 million) in 1992-93.
One interesting finding of the study was the noticeable shift in software exports from on-site to off-shore services, due to the increased use of high speed links provided by the STPs. Indian software companies have at least 72 leased high-speed data communications links that operate at 64,000 bps.
(C T Mahabharat/19940620)
(C T Mahabharat/19940620)
6/20/94
India - Software Exports Up 50%
TRENDS
Virtual Mall Opens In Cyberspace
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 17 (NB) -- Two entrepreneurs have launched an Internet service on the World Wide Web called "Downtown Anywhere," which they describe as the first virtual shopping mall.
Laid out like a city, the service's museums, libraries, and newsstands provide free access to global Internet resources. The mall itself is called Main Street, and allows visitors to browse goods and services which can be purchased with a few keystrokes. Downtown Anywhere claims to have the first real-time consumer-oriented credit card processing on the Internet, and its payment systems eliminate the need for transmitting credit card numbers over the net.
Co-founder Jonathan Schull told Newsbytes, "Physically it's a web server. Virtually it's a city in cyberspace."
"We're using Mosaic, although it's browsable through Lynx. That's the big secret in World Wide Web. It's a text-based Web browser available for Unix and DOS computers, and it's very fast, because it leaves the graphics behind. You do readers a service if you make it clear that anyone with a Unix shell account or a VAX can travel the Web as fast as they'd like without Mosaic or a high-speed connection. The reason is the client runs on the Unix shell, then documents move at Internet speeds from the server to your host, and all that needs to come over your screen is a page of text," he explained.
"When you log into our home page, graphically you'll see a city skyline, and everyone -- even text-based people -- will see words including `conveniently located in downtown cyberspace.'"
But the service's use as a shopping mall will be the key to its success, Schull said. "In 'Downtown Anywhere,' we can let people spend money. We have our own currency, which is based on proxy credit cards and SoftLock passwords.
"At one point we need to store a credit card," or some other payment method. "We can do that through an automated phone system, where they can give us the credit card and get a password." This service is called The Registry. "You fill in a form, online, and that will show up" on the screen.
He said the form doesn't include the credit card number. At that point one must dial 800-31-DAWWW, and give the number to an automated system to get a password. "You can then enter the password when you want to buy something. You can also fax us your credit card number to 617-522 5734, sending your name, address, telephone number, the credit card number and expiration date." That costs $2, "and we want an e-mail address because when anyone makes a purchase using that account number we'll e-mail a receipt."
Once the account's set up, here's how purchases work. "You see something you'd like, like a book. And you want to buy it. You're asked to enter an account number and password, and we'll ship it. We can debit that credit card in 60 seconds, and often do before we hand over the product. It's a completely automated system which results in the credit card payment being approved or debited in 60 seconds. We dial-up to the credit card processor and the money's taken out of the account instantly."
That's a faster, lower-cost method of payment than even regular mall merchants have, Schull notes, because they have to send receipts through the mail, causing delays in collections. "In a card swipe you usually just show that the money is there," in the automated transaction. "In our case we can have the customer pay immediately. We have a patent pending on several aspects of this technology, including some of the payment aspects."
Visa has begun working on a system called Payment System 2000, which has just been unveiled in Germany. The system authenticates credit cards by using imperfections in how they're created. We asked Schull about any other security procedures he may have.
"If someone sees you typing in your 'Downtown Anywhere' password, they can type it in and make a payment. But within minutes you'll get an e mail informing you a purchase was just made on your account password,'" limiting potential losses.
"We're meant to be open to all, including people without credit cards," he added. "You can also deposit cash, or a check, and we'll put it in your account. That is a prepaid debit. We call that Internet Pocket Money, because all you can lose is what you put in the account. You can also go to a Virtual Teller Machine at the First Virtual Bank of Downtown Anywhere and get a withdrawal into your account, from a credit card, which works just like using a credit card at a teller machine."
The technology comes from Schull's company, SoftLock Services, and has been available for a few years now. Schull's partner, Sanford Bendremer, has been working on Internet services for years. Schull said Downtown Anywhere has been under development for six months.
"On the one hand we have a whole suite of solutions to offer, not just the issue of an online economy," Schull continued. "But many people want to just rent an office or set up a storefront in Cyberspace, and when they look into what's involved they're told about bricks and mortar. With our system they rent an office and get in business in a few days. We also have removed financial barriers to entry -- we're willing to work on commission. So people who have products who might enrich our environment are invited to set up shop and we'll make money when they make money. We also speak English instead of techie."
We asked about the systems' competition. "It's hard to know how to define competition. But since we began leaking press releases there have been a few other enterprises describing themselves as we do. And there are some very big projects, like CommerceNet, which are promising to accomplish the kind of thing we've already accomplished. I guess they're either allies or competitors depending on the mood. I think we'll bring more casual users to our store. Everyone on CompuServe and Prodigy, after all is paying admission. You don't have to pay admission to go to a mall."
The SoftLock technology also addresses intellectual property issues Schull said. "The technology provides a way through which your articles can be made freely available, but parts of them are unreadable in the absence of a password. You dial our 800 number and get a password, which will unlock all your prose on a particular computer, so it can't be forwarded either."
Among the merchants who have already committed to offering products on Downtown Anywhere are Kroch's and Brentano's Bookstores, Nomad Press and The Interactive Yellow Pages.
Downtown Anywhere is owned by SoftLock Services and AnyWare Associates. It can be accessed at http://www.awa.com/ on the World Wide Web using a browser such as Mosaic, Lynx, or Cello. The World Wide Web is an Internet-based global hypertext network.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940617/Press Contact: Downtown Anywhere Inc. Jonathan Schull, 716/242-0348; Sanford Bendremer, 617/522-8102; Customer Contact: 32 Woodland Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02130-3018; FAX: 617-522-5734; e-mail: downtown@awa.com schull@awa.com or sandy@awa.com)
m schull@awa.com or sandy@awa.com)
6/20/94
Virtual Mall Opens In Cyberspace
TELECOM
US Multimedia Quadruples, Contin
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- The multimedia market in the US is expected to multiply by four times between now and the year 2000, according to market research firm Frost & Sullivan.
According to F&S, factors encouraging the take-off of the US multimedia market include increasing end-user awareness and lower prices, which will eventually make multimedia the dominate form of computing.
F&S' report predicts that the market is expected to go from $4.9 billion in 1993 to $22 billion by the end of the decade. Hardware and software vendors are also investing more into research and development in this arena, resulting in technical advances that make sound, video and CD-ROM increasingly available at affordable prices. This trend is already increasing as computers with CD-ROM capabilities and stand alone CD-ROM drives continue to drop in price as well as sound and graphic add-on hardware.
Products for authoring of titles and video products will lead the growth curve, going from eight and nine percent in 1993 to 13 and 21 percent by the year 2000 while the dominant share going to computing platforms dips from 69 to 57 percent in the same period.
Projected growth is expected to accelerate from 26 percent in 1993 to a projected peak of 44 percent by 1996, the market research firm says.
According to the report, further development in the area of standards is needed to help assure users that their multimedia purchases will work with most available software. While some standards have been implemented, the industry needs to back up the commitment to integrating true color, sound and CD-ROM onto the main circuit board of the personal computer (PC) also known as the "motherboard."
Making standardized video digitizers an upgrade allowing users to access multimedia from the desktop is also needed, Frost & Sullivan's report added.
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Following hard on the heels of its "strategic relationship" with market leader Creative Labs to share technology for audio and digital signal processing (DSP) Microsoft has announced it will no longer market the sound hardware it introduced in October of 1992. While the company is saying it is responsible for promoting sound hardware in the PC market, some say that may be an exaggeration.
The company said that, instead of pushing its own sound card, it will push its software, which Creative has agreed to include with a number of sound hardware bundles for personal computers (PCs). In fact Creative Labs will be announcing a new product tomorrow (Tuesday, June 21), that includes the Microsoft sound software.
At the introduction of Windows 3.1, Microsoft appeared to have chosen Creative Labs as the leading sound hardware vendor and supported the company's product line with drivers in the multimedia Windows. But in a move that surprised the industry, Microsoft introduced its own sound product line.
According to Microsoft, if you want something done right sometimes you just have to do it yourself. Company officials told Newsbytes that Microsoft wanted the PC industry headed in the 16-bit sound direction and the PC sound hardware vendors weren't moving that direction fast enough.
Microsoft said it began shipping the first low-cost, 16-bit, voice recognition-capable audio card in October 1992 as part of the Windows Sound System version 1.0 combination hardware and software product. Further, it even published the design in November of 1992 and implied that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vendors followed its designs.
In publishing the design, the Microsoft claims it is responsible for accelerating the market adoption of audio on PC systems to the current levels, which are about of 10 million units per year according to the market research group Dataquest.
Microsoft went further to say: "Market acceptance of the Windows Sound System audio card has been exceptional, and the device has received industry awards for ease of use. Microsoft plans to maintain a leadership role in the audio market with continued support of the Windows Sound System software and development of future audio products."
However, Newsbytes talked with Joan Carol Brigham, an analyst with International Data Corporation (IDC), who said Microsoft was making brash statements about its success in the sound card market. He told Newsbytes that Microsoft may simply be covering up for the fact that the sound card was not as a successful as it had hoped it would be.
Publishing a board design is like arranging furniture, Brigham suggested. Just because you come up with an arrangement, doesn't mean you designed the furniture. So on a board design, just because you published where the chips are doesn't mean you designed the technology behind the chips.
"They're pulling the board off the market. What does that tell you?" Brigham said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940620/Press Contact: Sue Barnes, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, tel 408-986-1140, fax 408-968-1390; Steffanee Foster Creative Labs, 408-428-6600 ext 6430; Public Contact: Microsoft, Sales and Product Info, 800-426-9400)
ontact: Microsoft, Sales and Product Info, 800-426-9400)
6/20/94
Microsoft Will No Longer Market Sound Hardware For PCs
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Pub
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- These are the digitized photos that correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. The photos are online in the Newsbytes menu on GEnie eWorld, and the Newsbytes' private bulletin board systems in Minneapolis and in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100 or write to administrator@newsbytes.com on the Internet.
All photos are JPEG format with PICT files for thumbnails. The photos are titled with name/year/month/day. The JPEG and PICT indicators are 'jpg' and 'pct.'
Week of JUNE 20 - JUNE 24,1994
MITSUBISHI940613 - Color from slide / the AM4201R screen at work in a conference scenario.
BERKELEY940616 - B&W from photo / the Berkeley Flying Toaster mascot, which is at the center of a lawsuit filed by the San Francisco music group Jefferson Starship.
TOWER940614 - Color from transparency / straight on view of the Dell Dimension XPS 4100V mini-tower computer.
BASEBALL940610 - Color from tiff / The 'contents' screen from Microsoft's Complete Baseball interactive cd-rom - online product.
SYMSOFTb940614 - B&W from tiff / 'b' is for 'before'. The before shot of Mike, before Symsoft's Digital Funhouse for Windows alters it with various visual effects.
SYMSOFTa940614 - B&W from tiff / 'a' is for 'after'. The after shot of Mike, with various distortions applied by Symsoft's Digital Funhouse for Windows.
INFOCOMM940609 - Color from digital / head shot of the virtual Mark Twain, who held sway at the recent INFOCOMM (June 9-11).
VideoConf940603 - B&W from photo / shot of a video conference, with group at table looking towards monitors in background. This is in regards to a California State project to save money and commute time.
GAMETEK940531 - B&W from photo / group shot of the original 'Not Ready for Prime Time Players' of Saturday Night Live. (Bonus fact: Bill Murray is co-owner of the St. Paul Saints baseball team.)
SHARP940609 - Color from photo / group shot of people looking at the new Sharp LCD projection panel.
ADOBE940524 - Color from slide / screen shot of Illustrator 5.5.
Epson940517 - Color from slide / view of the new Epson Stylus color printer, based on piezo technology.
LOGAN940526 - B&W from print / shot of 'Number Nine' the hit robot of the recent DB/Expo.
MEDIOa940531 - Color from slide / screen shot from the interactive cd rom 'Medio Magazine' by Medio.
MEDIOb940531 - Color from slide / screen shot from the interactive cd rom 'World Beat' by Medio.
SKBOSSES940518 - B%W from photo / shot of SoftKey execs surrounded by software. (left) Kevin O'Leary president = (right) David Patrick vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.
R'SHACK940527 - B&W from photo / shot of service tech working on camcorder.
Amdahl940527 - B&W from photo / shot of Xplorer 2000 Model 100 database server.
NuPBook940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook Duo 280.
NuPBook*940516 - B&W from print / Apple PowerBook 540.
PYRAMID940526 - Color from transparency / the Pyramid 'Nile' server.
MAXIS940523 - Color from slide / screen shot of PrintArtist work.
ECLIPSE940509 - B&W from photo / shot of Eclipse FAX package.
ADOBE940523 - Color from slide / shot of Dimensions program at work.
IDENTITY940523 - Color from slide / view of the liquid proof keyboard with, OH NO!!, coffee being spilled onto the keyboard.
PHOENIX940426 - B&W from photo / view of the CD Essentials package.
PHONE940510 - Color from slide / view of man (frame right) on phone set attached to PC, using the InterActive Communicator.
NOTEFLEX940518 - B&W from photo / view of the Zenith Data NoteFlex notebook computer. For scale; a cell phone, pen & coins frame left.
(Newsbytes/19940620)
oins frame left.
(Newsbytes/19940620)
6/20/94
NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers
GENERAL
Security Dynamics & Cisco Offer
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- As more companies implement remote access to their corporate networks, the possibility of unauthorized access to vital information increases. As a result, computer security company Security Dynamics Inc., says that an enhanced version of its ACE/Server and SecurID security products will be integrated into Cisco Systems' network routers and communications servers.
The companies say that they have entered into a "technology relationship" that will provide Cisco product users with "crackproof," two-factor authentication for accessing corporate networks.
Steve Artick, spokesman for Security Dynamics, told Newsbytes that an important thing to realize is that, "There is no modification required in the Cisco products themselves, as long as they use Cisco's own TACACS (Terminal Access Controller Access System) protocol."
The company says it will also work with Cisco on future developments with the TACACS protocol.
Artick told Newsbytes that his company has made enhancements to its ACE/Server network security product to support TACACS, and that it "integrated TACACS security code directly into our security product."
Security Dynamics' SecurID card is a patented, credit-card sized smartcard that displays a randomly generated access code that changes every 60 seconds. Combined with a secret personal identification number (PIN), the system provides a "two-factor" authentication to prevent unauthorized users gaining access to a protected system.
All TACACS-based Cisco routers and communications servers are compatible with the new version of the ACE/Server. The new version will be available in the third quarter of 1994. SDI ACE/Server network security software is already available on such operating systems as AIX, SunOS, Solaris, HP-UX, Ultrix, and IRIX. ACE/Server offerings start at $1,950, while the SecurID Card starts at $34.
According to the company, the National Center for Computer Crime Data of Santa Cruz, California, reports that computer-related crime accounts for annual US business losses of over $550 million. The Yankee Group estimates that this number is closer to $5 billion annually.
Artick told Newsbytes that, while the bundled products should be available early in the third quarter, beta testing will begin in a couple of weeks.
(Ian Stokell/19940620/Press Contact: David Hammond, 617-547-7820 Security Dynamics; Randy Sutherland, 415-526-8847)
-7820 Security Dynamics; Randy Sutherland, 415-526-8847)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- According to a survey conducted by Infonetics Research, Token Ring local area network (LAN) switches are being used increasingly at companies that already use Token-Ring distributed backbone networks.
The study, entitled: "The High Speed LAN Race: Winners and Losers," found that 65 percent of such companies are likely to buy Token-Ring LAN switches "in order to increase bandwidth and relieve congestion in their Token-Ring networks."
Announcing the results, Michael Howard, president of Infonetics Research, said: "Buying Token-Ring LAN switches for Token-Ring environments is just like buying Ethernet switches for Ethernet environments -- it will be a 'no-brainer' decision. They are the most cost effective means to increase the bandwidth to desktops and servers."
There are obviously far more Ethernet installations than Token-Ring installations, but the company says that the "Token-Ring market is nevertheless a very healthy market."
In Token-Ring networks, Token-Ring switches can be used to increase bandwidth without having to make such drastic changes as upgrading the network to fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technologies. Such a device switches network traffic among different Token-Rings. This can then increase network bandwidth.
According to the study, those responding said that they will use Token-Ring LAN switches primarily for desktop and server connection with some backbone and data center use.
The company says that the 191-page survey is the result of a telephone survey of 104 organizations that use or plan to use high speed LANs by 1997. Those that responded are "responsible for planning and designing high speed networks and have direct influence on the purchase decision at their companies.
The survey also includes a worldwide forecast of selected high speed LAN technologies as well as strategic marketing recommendations for high speed LAN manufacturers.
(Ian Stokell/19940620/Press Contact: Michael Howard 408-298-7999, Madge Networks Inc.)
ss Contact: Michael Howard 408-298-7999, Madge Networks Inc.)
6/20/94
Survey - Backbone Demand Rising For Token-Ring LAN Switches
TRENDS
> Y
Korean Firms Fight For Place In
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- The big three multimedia companies GoldStar, Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Electronics, are cooperating with advanced world-class companies on development of multimedia equipment and software to prepare for the sharply growing multimedia market.
GoldStar has decided to invest $10 million for a 3.04% share in 3DO of the US, a joint company which also includes AT&T,Time Warner and Matsushita. GoldStar will jointly develop multimedia equipment including "next-generation game tools and multiplayers."
LG Media, an affiliate of GoldStar, has also signed a contract with MTI of the US to jointly develop CD titles. Samsung Electronics is seeking joint development of CD-I and next generation game tools with Philips and 3DO and is cooperating with USA Video on VOD (video on demand).
To enlarge the multimedia market through communications, it is jointly developing a "radio pen PC," a portable information machine, with Motorola, and CD-I titles with Interlight.
In semiconductors, the company started development of memories for the multimedia video environment with Micron Tech and purchased shares in Array of the US to develop DSP (digital signal processing) chips.
Hyundai, focusing on communications, decided to participate in the Global Star Plan by Loral of the US and is cooperating on development of set-top box for VOD with Bescom. For MPEG chip development, it is cooperating with DVS of the US, and is working in cooperation with Paramount in the film business.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
in the film business.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
6/20/94
Korean Firms Fight For Place In Multimedia Market
BUSINESS
Korea - Computer News Roundup
SEOUL, KOREA, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- In this week's computer news from Korea: Apple PowerPC market heats up, Samsung shifts overseas production of semiconductors for transistors and watches to the former Soviet Union, Hyundai to set up ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) design centers in the US and Taiwan, GoldStar and GoldStar Electron to merge.
Apple PowerPC Market Heats Up
According to the related industries on June 11, Kodeck System Engineering recently announced that it will start selling Power Macintosh computers as much as 900,000 won below Elex Computer Industrial, which has dominated the domestic Apple Mac market
Elex has imported the Power Mac from France and Southeast Asia and has sold around 40 units so far. It is hoping to sell 2,000, 10 percent of the market, by the end of this year. Several companies are planning to begin sales following Kodeck's move and large companies like Samsung and GoldStar are looking into cooperation with Apple; so, sharp competition is expected in the market.
Samsung Shifts Some Production To Soviet Union, China
Samsung Electronics is transferring production overseas for products like semiconductors for transistors and watches, which are low in value and have large production volumes. The company has been transferring low value-added products to the former Communist areas by ordering integrated circuits for watches from a Russian company and transistors from a company in China. It transferred its transistor production equipment by lease or sale to China.
Hyundai To Set Up ASIC Design Centers In US And Taiwan
Hyundai Electronics announced on June 9 that it will invest $3 million to set up ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) design centers in San Jose and Boston of the US and Taiwan and these centers will start operation next month. The company said it will also set up local marketing to gain orders for high valued-added products through the design centers. Hyundai also plans to set up design centers in Europe, Hong Kong and Japan.
GoldStar And GoldStar Electron To Merge
Lucky GoldStar is reportedly proceeding with a merger of GoldStar and GoldStar Electron for business efficiency. The merger is expected to create the largest sales volume in the Korean stock market.
GoldStar's sales last year were 300 billion won with 65.6 billion won in profits. GoldStar Electron, as one of world's top 10 DRAM (dynamic random access memory) semiconductor makers, had sales of 598 billion won and profits of 56.8 billion won in 1992 and sales of 877 billion won and profits of 91 billion won last year.
A Group source confirmed the merger with a comment that it is in keeping with the Group's CU (culture unit) establishment and a source at a GoldStar Electron supplier said the merger will be outlined in September.
GoldStar is denying any merger plan. On the other hand, Samsung Electronics' merger of Samsung Semiconductor Communication in 1988 is estimated to have been a big success as the company has grown into a market share leader in memory and is seventh in the world semiconductor market.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
6/20/94
Korea - Computer News Roundup
GENERAL
Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Onl
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Apple Computer Macintosh users in the United States are being invited by Apple Computer to join its new online service, eWorld, which begins service today with close to 12,000 members already online.
According to Apple, eWorld will be a fully global online service offering local access numbers and local content for specific international areas within six months. As part of its continuing cross-platform commitment, Apple will welcome DOS/Windows users to eWorld sometime in 1995. Apple claims that the eWorld software is already included in most Apple computers being shipped this summer.
Officially billed as "eWorld for Macintosh and NewtonMail, an eWorld messaging center for Newtons," Apple's eWorld opens to a village of buildings, each labeled with a name to identify its content and a mail delivery truck to indicate the presence of e-mail.
The village consists of a computer center, learning center, arts and leisure center, a marketplace, community center, newsstand, business & finance plaza, e-mail center and info booth. Primarily, created as a business to business service, eWorld also offers online instant communication and entertainment features. Point-and-click commands eliminate any need for the slash (/) commands used in earlier online services.
More than one hundred partners have joined Apple's eWorld to provide a host of news, information, service and communication. The Computer Center offers news, editorials, reviews and features from award winning news wire services such as Newsbytes, as well as from MacWeek MacUser, Ziff/Net Mac, Macworld and others. A 24-hour Apple Customer Center support area offers guidance, problem-solving, information and the latest resources to assist customers.
From the first eWorld online press conference, Michael Spindler president and CEO of Apple, typed to the audience, "This launch of eWorld underscores our commitment to online services as a new global growth market and one in which we plan to be a major player. We believe we have a headstart because this industry needs to make technology easy and more meaningful for people and that is at the center of what Apple does," he told the `audience.'
"eWorld is a touchstone for the business model we are creating, where different businesses are linked by technology, services and market leverage," he added.
NewtonMail is eWorld's messaging service built into every Newton MessagePad. This service allows Newton users to take advantage of mail and test exchange services with other Newton users. An Internet gateway is provided for both Mac and Newton users.
US Mac users may obtain the software directly through Apple at (800) 775-4556. The monthly fee is $8.95 per month and includes two free hours of evening or weekend usage. Each additional hour is billed at $4.95 with an hourly surcharge of $2.95 during the business hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. There are no additional charges for Internet mail or 9600 baud access.
(Patrick McKenna/19940620/Press Contact: Amy Bonetti, Apple 408-974 1333)
act: Amy Bonetti, Apple 408-974 1333)
6/20/94
Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Online
APPLE
Special Notice To All Readers/Re
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- As part of Newsbytes' continual improvement to its service, we are implementing enhanced routing lines for our reports from July 1.
Additional routing lines will be added to the (URGENCY) and (SUBJECT) lines. For many of our republishers and readers, the enhanced routing lines will be the most significant changes.
The new routing lines (the set of four parenthesis at the top of each story) reflect the following configuration:
We hope that these new routing lines will allow Newsbytes to offer an enhanced and improved service to all readers of the service. If you have any queries on the new routing lines, please do not hesitate to contact:
Wendy Woods, Editor In Chief, 406 West Olive St, Stillwater MN 55082, ph: 612-430-1100, fax: 612-430-0441, Genie: NEWSBYTES Internet: administrator@newsbytes.com, Compuserve: 72241,337 MCI Mail: Newsbytes, America Online: Newsbytes or Steve Gold European Bureau Chief 9 Watt Lane, Sheffield S10 5RA, England ph: +44-860-703855, fax: +44-742-686900, Genie: NB.LON Internet: sgold@cix.compulink.co.uk, CompuServe: 76004,3451
(Steve Gold/19940620)
.co.uk, CompuServe: 76004,3451
(Steve Gold/19940620)
6/20/94
Special Notice To All Readers/Republishers Of Newsbytes
GENERAL
Newsbytes Daily Summary
`$<$LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- These are the capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Software For Windows Captures Billable Time 06/20/94 Carpe Diem is Latin for "seize the day." It's also the name of a computer program that captures the user's billable day, and ProSoft Corporation, the package's publisher, has added a feature that it claims makes that data capture a lot easier.
2 -> Parallel Processing Card For PCs Debuts 06/20/94 Recognition Systems has unveiled CNAPS/PC, which it claims is the only commercially available massively-parallel microprocessor board for the PC. The card is designed to provide PC users with low cost solutions for pattern recognition analysis, as well as a general increase in speed and capability on a machine.
3 -> NextBase Ships London Mapping Package On CD-ROM 06/20/94 NextBase, the publishers of the popular AutoRoute PC map software has announced MapVision Plus, a mapping system of London, on a CD-ROM.
4 - > Lotus UK Ships 1-2-3 Release 4 For DOS 06/20/94 Lotus Development Corporation UK has announced the availability of 1- 2-3 Release 4 for DOS, which it claims is a keystone upgrade to the "world's most popular spreadsheet."
5 -> Lotus Scores Major Danish SmartSuite For OS/2 Order 06/20/94 Lotus Development Corporation has received one of its largest SmartSuite orders ever. The company's Danish subsidiary has announced that terms of the contract call for its to deliver 7,500 copies of the OS/2 version to customers in the Danish financial sector.
6 -> Danish Bankers Follow The OS/2 Flag 06/20/94 IBM seems to have scored something of a success in the Danish financial services sector as the company has revealed that around 8,000 financial services staff in Denmark are to undergo intensive training in the OS/2 operating system.
7 - > 3Com & Novell Announce Integrated Branch Office Networking 06/20/94 3Com Corporation and Novell have announced a strategic partnership to help their worldwide customers build "tightly integrated branch office networks that are reliable, manageable and scalable."
8 -> Compton's Migrates Wholly To CD-ROM Format 06/20/94 Compton's Newmedia has moved exclusively to CD-ROM titles and is planning to release its math educational title, The Human Calculator, and the first of a new category of self-help titles, Focus for Success, in the laser disc format.
9 -> Jeteye - Fast, Wireless PC/Omnibook Data Transfer 06/20/94 For fast, painless transfers and information updates between a PC and a Hewlett-Packard Omnibook, Extended Systems has announced Jeteye PC. The unit, which looks like a mouse in both size and appearance connects to the PC's serial port and uses the infrared data transfer capability built into the Omnibook.
10 -> Labor Law Online With Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro 06/20/94 Labor Law Online is a CD which delivers up-to-date information about labor and employment issues through articles, cases, statutes, codes and regulations for existing and eligible clients of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro.
11 -> New IBM PS/2 Model 76 And 77 Finally Arrive 06/20/94 Faster PS/2 models 76 and 77, promised to select IBM customers last year have finally made it out of the door.
12 -> Canadian Product Launch Update 06/20/94 This regular feature appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the Canadian market on announcements by international companies that Newsbytes has already covered. This week: IBM's new PS/2 models 76 and 77 and Microsoft's Complete Baseball CD- ROM.
13 -> Royal Bank of Canada Boosts High-Tech Lending 06/20/94 Building on limited loan programs already in place, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has set up a nationwide program to address the special banking needs of knowledge-based industries, including information technology (IT), entertainment software, and biotechnology.
14 -> ****Miniscribe CFO Convicted, Faces 10 Years 06/20/94 The chief financial officer of the now defunct Miniscribe Corporation has been found guilty of filing false financial statements and profiting through insider trading. He faces up to 10 years in a federal prison and $500,000 in fines.
15 -> Magic Quest Intros New Math, Reading Titles 06/20/94 Educational software developer Magic Quest has announced two new titles: Math Ace Jr. and Word City.
16 -> WinDev '94 Developers' Conference Opens Today 06/20/94 WinDev '94, this year's edition of an annual international developers' conference for Windows, opens today at the Boston University (BU) Corporate Education Center in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.
17 -> ****Motorola Invests US$40M In Hong Kong Wireless Network 06/20/94 Motorola has announced that it is investing US$40 million in Hong Kong to develop a high speed wireless computing network for the territory based on the latest microcellular packet switched technology. It is the first such venture by Motorola anywhere in the world.
18 -> ****IBM Launches Wireless Networking 06/20/94 IBM has announced its wireless local-area network. The IBM Wireless LAN provides adapters that fit in Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), or Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) expansion slots and link computers using spread-spectrum radio transmissions.
19 _> ****IBM Forms Network Applications Unit 06/20/94 IBM has announced a new unit, the Network Application Services Division that will focus on what is widely known as the information highway. A variety of existing operations, including Fireworks Partners and other multimedia and communications groups, will be part of the new division.
20 -> Indian Software Exports Up 50 PerCent 06/20/94 According to the National Association of Software Companies in India (NASSCOM) the value of software exports from India have grown by more than 50 percent in the year to date. NASSCOM officials say that export revenues came to 1,020 crore ($330 million) in 1993/94, compared with 675 crore during 1994/93.
21 -> ****Virtual Mall Opens In Cyberspace 06/20/94 Two entrepreneurs have launched an Internet service on the World-Wide Web called "Downtown Anywhere," which they describe as the first virtual shopping mall.
22 -> US Multimedia Quadruples, Yet Continues To Dominate 06/20/94 The multimedia market in the US is expected to multiply by four times between now and the year 2000, according to market research firm Frost & Sullivan.
23 -> Microsoft Will No Longer Market Sound Hardware For PCs 06/20/94 Following hard on the heels of its "strategic relationship" with market leader Creative Labs to share technology for audio and digital signal processing (DSP), Microsoft has announced it will no longer market the sound hardware it introduced in October of 1992. While the company is saying it is responsible for promoting sound hardware in the PC market, some say that may be an exaggeration.
24 -> NewsPix Images For Newsbytes Publishers 06/20/94 These are the digitized photos that correspond to stories Newsbytes has reported recently. The photos are online in the Newsbytes menu on GEnie eWorld, and the Newsbytes' private bulletin board systems in Minneapolis and in the UK. For information on how to become a licensed Newsbytes publisher in any medium call Newsbytes at 612-430-1100 or write to administrator@newsbytes.com on the Internet.
25 -> Security Dynamics & Cisco Offer "Crackerproof" Routers 06/20/94 As more companies implement remote access to their corporate networks, the possibility of unauthorized access to vital information increases. As a result, computer security company Security Dynamics Inc., says that an enhanced version of its ACE/Server and SecurID security products will be integrated into Cisco Systems' network routers and communications servers.
26 -> Survey - Backbone Demand Rising For Token-Ring LAN Switches 06/20/94 According to a survey conducted by Infonetics Research Token Ring local area network (LAN) switches are being used increasingly at companies that already use Token-Ring distributed backbone networks.
27 -> Korean Firms Fight For Place In Multimedia Market 06/20/94 The big three multimedia companies, GoldStar, Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Electronics, are cooperating with advanced world-class companies on development of multimedia equipment and software to prepare for the sharply growing multimedia market.
28 -> Korea - Computer News Roundup 06/20/94 In this week's computer news from Korea: Apple PowerPC market heats up, Samsung shifts overseas production of semiconductors for transistors and watches to the former Soviet Union, Hyundai to set up ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) design centers in the US and Taiwan GoldStar and GoldStar Electron to merge.
29 -> ****Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Online 06/20/94 Apple Mac users in the United States are being invited by Apple Computer to join its new online service, eWorld, which begins service today with close to 12,000 members already online.
30 -> Special Notice To All Readers/Republishers Of Newsbytes 06/20/94 As part of Newsbytes' continual improvement to its service we are implementing enhanced routing lines for our reports from July 1.
(Steve Gold/19940630)
(Steve Gold/19940630)
6/20/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Truckstops Get Radio Shack Mini-
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Radio Shack and National/Auto Truckstops Inc. have teamed up to put Radio Shack consumer products in about 100 truckstops across the country.
Called Radio Shack Travel Centers, the collection includes about 250 of the company's products, including handheld and mounted CB (citizen's band) radios, AC/DC televisions, portable and short-wave radios, scanners, portable stereos and tape recorders, walkie talkies, antennas, tools, flashlights, batteries, travel-related 12-volt accessories, and electronic toys.
Travelers will also be able to get stereo headphones, cassette recorders, calculators, TV remote controls, power meters, LCD (liquid crystal display) clocks, and pillow speakers.
Radio Shack officials declined to estimate the market potential value, but National/Auto Truckstops reportedly believes the deal is worth about $20 million. Radio Shack is not flooring the products, but wholesales them to National, which sets the selling price.
A Radio Shack spokesperson told Newsbytes the concept was tested in about half a dozen selected markets earlier this year before the program was expanded nationwide. The company is also exploring other types of outlets in which the mini-stores or kiosks might be placed.
(Jim Mallory/19940620/Press contact: Ron Trumbla, Radio Shack 817-878-4969/TRUCK940620/PHOTO)
io Shack 817-878-4969/TRUCK940620/PHOTO)
6/21/94
Truckstops Get Radio Shack Mini-stores
BUSINESS
Apple's Digital Camera Available
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Apple Computer has announced the immediate availability of its Quicktake 100 digital color camera for Power Macintosh and Windows computers.
Newsbytes reported the announcement of the one-pound Quicktake a camera that uses no film and downloads pictures to either Mac or Windows PCs, in February 1994. The standard Macintosh version shipped in March.
Quicktake is a point-and-shoot type camera with built-in flash that performs most functions automatically. It has an autofocus range from four feet to infinity, f2.8 to f16 lens openings, auto exposure, and shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/75th of a second.
If you bought your Quicktake 100 to use with your Macintosh computer and now have a Power Mac, you can get the necessary software and cables by calling toll-free to Apple's Order Center.
The Power Mac software includes a PowerPC "native" image compressor/decompressor which speeds up image opening time on a Power Mac by more than 100 percent over a comparably equipped 68K-based Mac, according to Apple.
Apple is also shipping several accessories for the camera, including a $79 travel case, a three-inch by five-inch $49 external battery booster pack that uses eight AA lithium batteries, a $65 AC adapter and Mac or Windows connection kit for $99. The kit allows a Quicktake owner to use the system with either computer platform. A protective carrying case that can be worn around the waist or over the shoulder is included.
Newsbytes reported recently that BIS Strategic Relations expects the digital camera market to reach 600,000 units annually by 1998
Toshiba introduced a more sophisticated $12,000 digital camera in 1990. Fuji has also introduced a digital system at about the same price, which includes a digital image processor and an image transmitter and zoom lens. Fuji says that unit can take three pictures per minute.
Earlier this month Eastman Kodak Company introduced its $10,995 DCS 420, a digital camera designed for capturing images for desktop publishing, scientific research, and law enforcement purposes. Unlike the Apple offering, the DCS 420 uses a conventional film camera body , the Nikon N90, for its picture taking. Images are stored on a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card.
Apple says the Quicktake 100 has a suggested retail price of $749.
(Jim Mallory/19940620/Press contact: Natalie Barreiro, Apple Computer Inc., 408-974-3118; Reader contact: Apple Computer Inc. 800-769-2775 (for Power Mac upgrade) or 800-538-9696)
nc. 800-769-2775 (for Power Mac upgrade) or 800-538-9696)
6/21/94
Apple's Digital Camera Available For Power Mac, Windows
APPLE
Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Adobe Systems Inc. says version 3.0 of its Photoshop software for the Macintosh, Power Mac and Windows platforms will ship in the third quarter.
Adobe will formally introduce and demonstrate Photoshop 3.0 at the PC Expo trade show that opens its three-day run in the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York on June 28, 1994.
According to Adobe, the most significant new features in the new release are support for multiple layers and new color correction tools. Support for multiple layers allows users to manipulate elements on an image on separate layers as if the elements were on separate transparent sheets. Each layer can be edited and special effects and filters can be applied individually. A "what-if" feature lets the user try different combinations of graphics, text and effects without discarding the existing image.
Users can also attach a single 8-bit alpha channel mask, called a Layer Mask, to any layer to apply effects to that layer, vary the opaqueness of the layer and use channels calculation commands on a layer without destroying layer data.
The new color correction controls improve the process of getting color fidelity when adjusting images for CMYK (cyan, magenta yellow and black) output. Those colors are mixed in printing to produce other colors. A user can specify precisely the amount of ink in a given color plate.
The Replace Color feature lets users create masks based on specific colors and correct the color by adjusting hue, saturation, and brightness. CMYK Preview provides a preview of the color mixing before making the selections permanent.
The user interface has also been enhanced with redesigned floating palettes, a new Commands palette and a new drag-and-drop feature. Adobe says the new interface is also more intuitive to use.
The floating palettes can be combined and arranged in any order while the Commands palette lets the user create a palette that contains buttons for the most frequently performed tasks.
Adobe has also provided a Dust and Scratch plug-in that allows users to remove dust and scratches from scanned images. The Filter Factory lets users create and name new Adobe Photoshop plug-ins.
Registered owners of earlier Photoshop versions can upgrade for $149, plus a "small handling fee." If you bought Photoshop version 2.5 after June 15, 1994, the upgrade is free. Adobe Photoshop LE users can upgrade for $199 plus handling.
(Jim Mallory/19940620/Press contact: Lavon Peck, Adobe Systems Inc., 415-962-4430)
eck, Adobe Systems Inc., 415-962-4430)
6/21/94
Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For Mac
APPLE
HP Adds High-End X Terminals To
.BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard has unveiled new high-end additions to HP Envisex and HP Entria, two families of X terminals first introduced in September 1993, and January, 1994, respectively.
In a pre-briefing with Newsbytes in Boston, Mukund Ghangurde marketing program manager, said that the new HP Envisex model 20CaS is aimed at "performance-oriented technical users" who previously might have turned to more costly workstations, while the new HP Entria models 17Ch and 19Ch represent the "ultimate upgrade" for terminal users wishing to move beyond a text-based interface to a windowed graphical environment.
The three new X terminals from HP offer 1280 by 1024 high resolution monitors, with 72 hertz (Hz) refresh rates, at prices either at, or near, the bottom of their market segments, he maintained. The 20CaS performs at 154,000 Xstones. The 17Ch and 19Ch each perform at 133,000 Xstones.
The official rollout of HP's latest X terminals was made at the Xhibition trade show in San Jose, California, in conjunction with the announcement of Release 5.2 of HP's Enware, an X station software environment that supports the HP Vue graphical user interface (GUI).
During the pre-briefing with Newsbytes, Ghangurde said that Release 5.2 adds new features for enhanced security, such as "local xlock" and "local xclock," in addition to new management capabilities that permit the systems administrator to launch selected clients automatically at boot time, to choose from a variety of startup modes, and to reprogram flash ROM (read only memory).
Release 5.2 is required for the 17Ch and 19Ch, which fill in the upper end of HP's entry-level Entria line. Even before Entria's debut early this year, HP had already taken the lead in both the total US X terminal market and the color market, said Ghangurde citing figures from both International Data Corporation (IDC) Framingham, Massachusetts, and the Fremont, California-based X Business Group.
IDC gives HP a 22.4 percent share of a $643 million total market for 1993, and a 26.2 percent share of a color market consisting of 189,200 units, with HP's nearest competitor, NCD, finishing at 21 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively, in these markets according to Ghangurde.
Similarly, the X Business Group grants HP a 23.4 percent share of a $615 million total X terminal market and 25.7 percent of a color market made up of 192,921 units, with runner-up NCD obtaining 21.9 percent and 22.1 percent of these markets.
HP's X station families are aimed at customers "who need high resolution or ease-of-use, and/or are price sensitive," Ghangurde explained.
Among the latest Entria models, the 17Ch, which features a 17-inch color monitor, is priced at $3,895 with four megabytes (MB) of memory and $4,190 with 8MB of memory, he said. The 19Ch, with a 19-inch color monitor, is $4,395 with 4MB of memory, or $4,690 with 8MB of memory.
In the 4MB configurations, the 19Ch is priced lower than either the NCD MCX, Tektronix XP35x, IBM 140, or DEC VXT2000+, and provides faster performance than all but the Tektronix machine Newsbytes was told.
"The 19-inch high resolution is probably the best selling product within the X terminal marketplace. So we feel that by offering the best price on that, we're bringing value to a large number of potential customers," the program manager told Newsbytes.
The 17Ch is less costly than any of the competing models aside from the DEC VXT2000+, which costs $3,795, Ghangurde said. HP's 17-inch model offers greater performance than either the DEC Tektronix, NCD, and IBM equivalents or the Sun 4/10FGX-8, he added.
Like previously released Entria X terminals, the new 17Ch and 19Ch offer "an easy-to-use, icon-based desktop environment," along with Energy Star compliance, silent operation, two PS/2 ports, one serial port, one parallel port, and "a small footprint, about the size of a small pizza box," Ghangurde said.
Other features shared by the new Entrias and their predecessors include: built-in ThinLAN and 10Base-T support for local area network (LAN) connections; "dynamic keyboard mapping" for switching between an industry-standard PC 101 keyboard and an IBM 3270 terminal emulation keyboard; and "plug-and-play functionality" through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
DHCP simplifies installation by automatically assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the X terminal when the terminal is connected to the network, Ghangurde contended.
On-board memory is expandable to 68MB, and an audio kit is optionally available. The kit features a microphone for voice annotation of electronic mail or documents, he said.
The program manager added that HP envisions its new 20Ca X terminal as a cost-effective alternative to workstations for applications like CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing), GIS (geographic information systems), and CASE (computer-aided software engineering).
One user that is currently employing Envizex stations for this kind of purpose, he said, is a global telecom manufacturer. The manufacturer is linking together 15 sites in North America, Europe and Asia for collaborative design and manufacturing, and is also looking into new technologies for connecting home-based employees as telecommuters.
In the company's new client-server system, HP 9000 Series 700 workstations are being used as general service servers, he said. The clients are other HP workstations as well as Envizex X stations, running Shared X, an application that "allows you to share an X Window across the network, so that other users will have 'read' and 'write' privileges as well as view privileges."
The manufacturer has experienced "significant productivity improvements in collaborative activities," according to Ghangurde. "They're also finding that their factory workers have better online access to worldwide documentation."
The Envizex stations are also aimed at other image-intensive and multimedia applications, he reported. For its latest TV "ratings sweep," he illustrated, Nielsen Media Research traded in its character terminals for a client-server architecture that includes HP 9000 Model 735 database servers and 144 HP Envizex stations. The database contains information on TV viewing patterns and demographics.
"I've heard that Nielsen saw something like a 46 percent productivity gain through our easy-to-use GUI with multiple windows. This time around, everything was done in an accurate and timely fashion. They didn't have to hire any new workers or pay anybody overtime," Ghangurde told Newsbytes.
Other users are attracted to HP's X terminals by cost considerations, he reiterated. For example, a division of Northrop that is the only manufacturer of fuselages for Boeing 747 jets has off-loaded some of its applications from the mainframe to a "three-tiered" client-server architecture, after being mandated to reduce data processing costs by 60 percent over 18 months.
The new architecture at Northrop includes 115 HP 9000 Model 7XX and 10 Model 8XX database and application servers, plus some 150 Envizex stations, 300 HP Vectra PCs, and Apple Macintoshes. "The benefits they've seen have been substantial cost savings, as well as enterprise-wide access to data," he said.
Ghangurde added that, like earlier releases in the Envizex line the 20Ca offers options that include "not just an audio kit," but several for external connectivity: a floppy drive for transfer of diskettes Unix, PC and Macintosh environments; Type 2 and Type 3 PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slots; and a SCSI (small computer systems interface) interface that supports a ScanJet IIc scanner.
Other options include a flash ROM (read-only memory) card and PC 101 and HP-HIL keyboards. In addition, support is provided for XShare as well as HP's MPower multimedia software. On-board memory is expandable to 132MB.
Although 20- and 21-inch X terminals from NCD and Tektronix also have audio capability, the competing terminals do not afford local scanner or local floppy functionality, or a "local user environment" along the lines of HP Vue, he said. X terminals from Sun do not supply any of these four features, he maintained.
HP's 20-inch 20Ca is priced at $5,195 with 6MB of memory and $5,795 in a 12MB configuration. HP's new high-end Envizex workstation outperforms either the Sun 4/10 GX-8, which is rated at 100,000 Xstones, or the NCD21c, which is not as fast as the Sun Ghangurde maintained to Newsbytes. Moreover, the 20Ca is less expensive than the NCD product, he said.
The newly announced Enware 5.2 X station software from HP is priced at $695. HP Enware X terminal manager, a set of X terminal network management tools that is part of the same software family, is priced at $495, with only one copy required per customer site according to Ghangurde.
The new "local xlock" feature in Release 5.2 is designed to prevent unauthorized access to local software. Local "xclock," in contrast "reduces network traffic" by providing a clock on the local workstation, according to Ghangurde.
Also with HP Enware 5.2, systems administrators will be able to reprogram the flash ROM card with either custom or HP-provided file sets, and to choose from such startup modes as XDMCP, Auto Telnet, Auto Serial, and local commands.
In addition to automatic local client launch, other new capabilities in Release 5.2 include implementation of X11R6 XIE (X Image Extension) implementation, for more efficient image display plus a "tamper-proof booting" function that prevents end users from disrupting the booting process by disabling the mouse and keyboard at that time, he said.
Newsbytes asked Ghangurde whether, given the capabilities of HP's new X terminal families, HP's workstation line is being "cannibalized" at all. "There are areas where more than one product could overlap," he acknowledged, "but we feel that our X stations will attract customers who don't need to have storage or compute power in and of itself."
"Certainly, some of those customers may have used workstations in the past. But we would prefer they use HP's workstations rather than anybody else's. Where cannibalization may be happening, it's better for HP to be the beneficiary than some other company. The bottom line is that we're much less concerned over cannibalization than for customers to get the products they need. Everything else will take care of itself," he added.
Analysts told Newsbytes that, with the 17Ch, 19Ch and 20Ca workstations and HP Enware 5.2 software, Hewlett-Packard is providing users with features they want to see in X terminals.
"HP has made a number of modifications that users would consider to be positive improvements, judging from research we've done," said Greg Blatnik, vice president of the X Business Group.
Users are looking for higher quality monitors in X terminals, as well as XIE and other software enhancements for X terminal management, Blatnik asserted.
Eileen O'Brien, director of the terminals program at IDC, pointed to the price/performance of the HP's new X terminals. "These are basically extensions to HP's existing Entria and Envizex lines with larger screens. But HP is always very savvy in providing affordable, fully featured X terminals," she told Newsbytes.
Although the 19Ch and 20Ca are less expensive than rival models "HP is giving you more," O'Brien maintained. The 17Ch is priced $100 above the DEC VXT2000+, but the HP machine also comes standard with 2MB more memory, she pointed out.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940620/Reader Contact: Hewlett-Packard 508-256-6600; Press Contacts: Tim Hurley, HP, 508-436-5042; Jim Barbagallo, HP, 508-436-5049; Roman Kichorowsky Copithorne & Bellows for HP, 617-252-0606)
orowsky Copithorne & Bellows for HP, 617-252-0606)
6/21/94
HP Adds High-End X Terminals To Envizex & Entria
$0~/M0
/$0B0~/
Mexico - Computer & Telecom News
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- In this week's computer news from Mexico: Group Technologies to buy electronics plant from Philips, IBM Introduces New PCs to Mexico, Grupo Alfa studying entry to local telephone markets, Mexican firm to operate and expand Cuban telephone system.
Group Technologies To Buy Electronics Plant From Philips
The US firm, Group Technologies (GTC), will buy a plant in Mexico City that assembles circuit boards and employs about 130. The plant has ISO 9002 quality an attraction for the US$250 million firm. The firm has been seeking to enter Mexico to add lower-cost capacity that is convenient to its US operation.
IBM Introduces New PCs To Mexico
IBM introduced new models of the PS/1, ValuePoint, and ThinkPad lines of PCs and servers. The PC Server has a 66 megahertz (MHz) 486DX2, or 60MHz, eight megabytes (MB) of memory, PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and SCSI (small computer systems interface) . The firm introduced NetFinity, an application package for client/server control. The OS/2 package support Windows clients and NetWare servers. The PS/1 line added Basic, Multimedia, and Inteligente models. The new ValuePoint Performance model has either a 100MHz 486 or a 60MHz Pentium and 64-bit graphics on the motherboard. The ThinkPad 755C includes an active-matrix color display.
Grupo Alfa Studying Entry To Local Telephone Markets
Grupo Industrial Alfa, a giant steel and diversified conglomerate, is studying entry into the local telephone markets with an investment of US$1 billion. The plan is to link with a foreign source of technology. They would enter the business when competition begins in the long distance market in 1997. Concessions are expected to be granted this fall. Other firms pursuing the concessions include: Bell Atlantic with its US$1 billion investment in Iusacell; Grupo Pulsar, that recently invested in the British wireless firm Ionica; Nextel Communications that will invest US$165 million in a Mexican wireless firm Mobilcom, and MCI and Grupo Financiero Banamex Accival.
Mexican Firm To Operate And Expand Cuban Telephone System
Grupo Domos Internacional said it will acquire 49 percent, and operating control, of the Cuban telephone system, Etec (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones en Cuba). The firm will have a 55 year concession. The total cost is US$1.442 billion, with US$724 paid now and the balance in five years. Immediately, the firm will replace 200,000 of the 450,000 installed lines (5 lines per 100 people) and will expand the system to one million lines (11 lines per 100). Etec provides the total telecommunications for Cuba except cellular, including cable TV, wireless, and data. The transaction was assisted by KPMG/Peat Marwick and Rothschild de Mexico. The firm is using its own resources and US$350 from Bancomext (the Mexican export bank). Mexico's president is expected to visit Cuba in connection following the announcement. However, the Cuban government would not confirm or deny the arrangement.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
arrangement.
(Terry Silveria/19940620)
6/21/94
Mexico - Computer & Telecom News Roundup
GENERAL
Conner Intros 4GB RAID System Fo
LAKE MARY, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- As computer storage devices increase in capacity, so does the need for reliable technology for local area networks (LANs) used in vital mission critical networking environments within companies. Now Conner Peripherals Inc.'s Conner Storage Systems division has introduced a new four gigabyte (GB) version of its CR6-RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) system designed for PC LANs.
The new version is an external, six-bay RAID system configured with four one-gigabyte Conner disk drives. It allows for the addition of up to two more one-inch high Conner SCSI (small computer systems interface) drives as their capacity requirements increase.
The new version is set to become available through distributors and value-added resellers in July. List prices begin at $8,375.
Newsbytes notes that, as more companies downsize from host-based networks, LANs are being called upon to provide increasingly complex and mission-critical operations. While a standalone PC, for example, can simply be rebooted if it crashes, this is not the case for network servers operating in client-server configurations because many clients (workstations) may be connected to them. Also, important corporate information must also be regularly backed up in order to prevent access problems in the event of some sort of network or file server problem.
In announcing the new version, Bernie Wu, vice president, product development for Conner Storage Systems, said, "The introduction of a lower-capacity Conner CR6-RAID system allows organizations to make a conservative investment in RAID at first and add storage capacity as their data management needs evolve."
The system is designed to maximize fault tolerance, and features four "hot-swappable" Conner FilePro Performance 1060 disk drives. It also reportedly provides for a "hot" on-line spare drive, redundant power supplies, and dual cooling fans.
The accompanying Conner Array Management System software features a graphical user interface (GUI) and operates remotely from a DOS or Windows client workstation. The software facilitates configuration of the RAID systems and provides centralized monitoring and reporting of multiple RAID devices on multiple servers from a single administrator workstation.
The CR6-RAID products transfer data over a FAST SCSI-2 interface at a rate of 20 MB/second. It has an average seek time of 10 milliseconds.
The company says that the CR6-RAID system has been "fully tested and certified" by Microsoft Compatibility Labs for use with Windows NT Advanced Server, and is also certified for use in Novell NetWare 3.1x and 4.0x networks.
The company adds that the system now supports Intel's new 64-bit PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) local bus architecture. EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) and Micro Channel Architecture (MCA)-based file servers are reportedly already supported by the Conner RAID systems.
All Conner RAID systems come with a three-year warranty.
(Ian Stokell/19940620/Press Contact: Jan Jahosky 407-263-3654, Conner Storage Systems)
hosky 407-263-3654, Conner Storage Systems)
6/21/94
Conner Intros 4GB RAID System For PC LANs
GENERAL
Modem Improvements Coming
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Modems are about to get much faster, putting new pressure on packet networks to compete.
V.34, also known as the V.Fast standard, took another step toward approval as a High Speed Modem Rapporteur Group completed a final draft of the recommendation. The group, chaired by Richard Stuart of Penril, will also meet next year to start work on a follow-on standard for even faster products, capable of handling video.
V.34 modems would work at 28,800 bits-per-second (bps), and the approved standard provides variable data speeds, adapting to the highest possible transmission rate on each connection. This could mean standard V.34 modems will be used on wireless connections the current 9,600 bps and 14,400 bps standards are not as adaptive as a competing scheme, MNP 10.
The standard could become official in as little as 90 days Stuart said in a press statement, but the most volatile issue before the group remains intellectual property. The group fears that patents could require V.34 modem makers to pay substantial license and royalty costs, slowing the modems' acceptance in the market. Modem makers may be unwilling to give up their rights because the increased use of digital signal processors, or DSP chips, to emulate modem functions has meant that prices for fast-modems have been falling faster-and-faster as speeds have increased, cutting profits.
Meanwhile, Hayes has released plug-in boards which represent Version 2 of its ESP serial port accelerator technology for Micro Channel connections. The boards speed-up the ability of a serial port to accept data, which has become a bottleneck as modems have gotten faster.
The new ESP boards can accept data as fast as 230,400 bps and faster, Hayes said, making them useful for remote LAN access and for communications servers as well as individual PCs. The Micro Channel version retails for $199, and uses a custom communications coprocessor chip and buffers for both sending and receiving data.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940620/Press Contact: Richard L. Stuart Penril Datability Networks, 301-921-8600, ext 8650; Hayes, Beth McElveen, tel 404-840-6816, fax 404-441-1238)
840-6816, fax 404-441-1238)
6/21/94
Modem Improvements Coming
TELECOM
Comcast To Buy Maclean Hunter Ca
PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Comcast has agreed to buy the Maclean Hunter cable systems from Rogers Communications of Toronto for $1.27 billion. The deal allows Comcast to leapfrog over Cox Enterprises and become the third largest cable operator, following Cox' announcement it would buy Times Mirrors' cable operations.
With the Maclean Hunter systems, Comcast will have 3.5 million subscribers. The largest cable operator, Tele-Communications Inc., has 10 million, while number two Time Warner has seven million. With the Times Mirror deal, Cox will have about three million. However, with the Times Mirror deal, Cox's cable operations will be spun-off into a new public company.
A spokesman for Comcast told Newsbytes the cash purchase will be financed through debt and cash on hand. Since the deal will not close for some time, Comcast has a number of options. It could negotiate directly with banks, issue short term or long term paper, or consider other arrangements.
In a press statement, Comcast President Brian Roberts noted that the Maclean Hunter acquisition raises Comcast's profile in three of the top 15 TV markets. The purchase, however, remains subject to regulatory approval.
In addition to its cable operations, Comcast provides cellular phone service to over 300,000 customers. It also has international cable investments and a piece of Teleport, one of the largest competitive access providers, as well as its own CAP company, Eastern Telelogic. The Maclean Hunter systems were purchased in March by Rogers when it bought the parent company which also publishes newspapers and engages in commercial printing.
Comcast has also made news because it was involved in the QVC bid for Paramount eventually won by Paramount, and because President Brian Roberts has been widely promoted as an "information highway" celebrity, appearing before Congress and other forums to talk about the issue.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940620/Press Contact: John R. Alchin Comcast, 215-981-7503)
John R. Alchin Comcast, 215-981-7503)
6/21/94
Comcast To Buy Maclean Hunter Cable
TELECOM
, V :
Pressure On Congress To Finish P
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Two court decisions will put more pressure on the US Congress to finish a phone deregulation bill now stalled by opposition from the regional Bells.
In one decision, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled the Federal Communications Commission cannot force local phone companies to allow rivals links with their switches and networks.
In the more recent case, before the US Supreme Court, a 5-3 ruling upheld AT&T's contention that it could not be forced to disclose details on its rates while rivals are not required to do so.
The latest decision was written by Justice Antonin Scalia, but concurred-in by Clinton appointee Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It overturns a 10-year old policy under which MCI, Sprint and other AT&T rivals were exempted from complex reporting requirements when they signed large businesses to their networks.
In a third case with information highway impact, an appeals court in Richmond, Virginia is holding-up the appeal of a decision by a US District Court, which ruled that keeping Bell Atlantic out of the cable television business is a violation of its rights under the First Amendment.
The cases, taken together, could provide new momentum for efforts in Congress to re-write the communications laws. Bills to do just that have been stalled, mainly due to opposition by regional Bells unhappy that they will be only be allowed into long distance slowly, while rivals will be able to enter the local phone business quickly.
However, some observers argue that the cases, especially the latest case, indicate that the courts will interpret the 1934 Communications Act narrowly, in the absence of new law, which could thwart efforts to create competition among cable and phone companies on the one hand, and local and long distance firms on the other.
The Clinton Administration had hoped to have a communications re-write done by the early spring, and in fact abandoned its efforts to propose a bill, supporting existing bills instead, with some amendments. The Administration has not been trying to break the log-jam since it is putting all its efforts on health care reform.
The reaction to the new Supreme Court decision shows just how tortured all of this has become. The FCC is being ordered to re-instate complex disclosure requirements on MCI, Sprint and others, while AT&T says it brought the original suit in hopes the requirements would be dropped on all competitors. AT&T will continue to push its view that the complex filings should not be required at all.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940620)
red at all.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940620)
6/21/94
Pressure On Congress To Finish Phone Bill
TELECOM
NECC - Educational Prgms Cross O
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- When a music group bridges the gap between rock and country, the phenomenon is called a "crossover." Judging from patterns in product introductions at the recent NECC show in Boston, the same kind of trend is now cropping up in the educational software market, with makers of "school" titles moving into the "home" market, and vice versa.
Computer Curriculum Corporation (CCC), a maker of classroom software for 25 years, unveiled its intentions to enter the home market with multimedia and language titles for kids. Power Industries also "crossed over" from the school to home market with "Imagination Station," a new home version of its "Delta Drawing" program used in schools.
Crossing over in the opposite direction were Soleil Software, with a classroom edition of "Zurk's Learning Safari," and Humongous Entertainment, making a similar announcement about its Junior Adventures series. Meanwhile, Claris Corporation rolled out a CD ROM version of "Amazing Animation," a kids' movie-maker which is meant to meet the needs of both markets simultaneously.
"`School to home' and 'home to school' is a trend. Absolutely," affirmed Nancy Deyo, vice president of marketing for CCC, in an interview with Newsbytes. In Deyo's view, the crossover in educational software is indicative of the computer industry's overall movement toward "any time, anywhere" communications. Products are no longer being confined by "the walls of the home, or of the school," the VP explained.
CCC's new children's titles for the home market will be distributed through Davidson & Associate's Affiliated Labels. "The Little Turtle" and "Ocean Escape," the first two titles in the series, use multimedia storytelling, songs and poetry to draw children into the storytelling experience, according to Deyo.
More specifically, the expansion of educational software into the home reflects consumers' growing demands for "quality" software Deyo maintained. "With all the software now on the market, parents are getting increasingly selective about what they put in front of their children," she told Newsbytes.
As a general rule, the new "crossover" titles are designed to teach as well as to entertain. For example, "The Little Turtle," which is based on a poem by Vachel Lindsay, takes kids on a journey with a "friendly snapping turtle" through puddles, over rocks, and into a field. "Ocean Escape" stars a boy named Gabriel who turns bath time into an imaginary deep sea adventure that includes encounters with dolphins and sharks.
But both of the new home titles from CCC also incorporate activities for developing reading comprehension, vocabulary language, memory, and listening skills, according to Deyo. In addition, "The Little Turtle" lets kids learn more about "real turtles" by clicking on a photo glossary. They can also ask questions about the characters by means of a microphone.
And in Ocean Escape, children can click on icons for more facts on sea creatures as well as the various ways in which the creatures communicate. The two CD-ROM titles from CCC are expected to be available this fall for both Windows and the Mac, at a suggested retail price (SRP) of $49.95.
Software publishers are also adding new features for their new markets. For example, "Imagination Station," the new home version of the "Delta Drawing" software package, sports new "coloring book software," a "picture gallery" with 50 pictures for kids to customize and print out, and an Explorer's Guide manual the company says is "specially tailored to parents." Regularly priced at $39.95, the DOS-based home version is available through September 30 for $29.95.
Along similar lines, the new CD-ROM version of Claris' "Amazing Animation," aimed at "promoting cooperative learning in school and at home," has lesson plans for parents and teachers, instructional materials for children that can be printed out, and ten projects that range from creating an "animated family tree," to animating mathematical fractions, to demonstrating the process of volcanic eruption, according to a Claris spokesperson.
The Mac-based movie-maker from Claris is also being offered on floppy disk. Each edition provides three progressive skill levels geared to ages five to 14. The "Basic Level," for instance, includes "Scenes" and "Stamps & Sounds." The "Tools Level" contains "Paints," "Squish," and "Letters." The "Effects Level" offers "Buttons," "Wipes," and "Pauses." Both versions are expected to ship this summer for $59. Educational site licensing will also be available.
The Claris spokesperson concurred with CCC's Deyo that the use of software in actual classrooms lends credibility for use at home. Parents looking for "quality software" for their kids feel more comfortable when the software has been given this kind of "stamp of approval," she told Newsbytes.
That helps to explain why educational publishers are moving into the consumer market. But what about the crossovers from home to school? Representatives of companies in this segment say that, as the use of computers in schools continues to spread, educators are seeking software that will engage students' interest while at the same time meeting curriculum objectives and teaching about computers.
"Zurk's Learning Safari," for example, appeals to educators due to its multicultural, multimedia content, and also because it allows for exploration on the computer without any "right" or "wrong" answers, according to a spokesperson for Soleil.
Available for Macintosh and DOS, the new school version of the safari software package features "cooperative learning activities" that run the gamut from hide-and-seek, to puzzles, to "swimming in a bowl of alphabet soup filled with letters that morph into animals."
The package comes with a teachers' resource guide for incorporating activities into seven curricula: science, pre-reading, pre-math art, social studies, music/rhythm, and movement.
Educational objectives for science include "naming animals," "contrasting wet/dry seasons," and "noticing camouflage," for example. For social studies, the objectives encompass "counting in different languages" and "beginning geography skills," and for pre math, "comparing dimensional shapes," "creating graphs," and "verbalizing thinking skills."
A teacher's version of Zurk's is priced at $59.95 for a single copy. Student editions are $149.95 for a lab pack (up to five copies); $595 for a network version (up to 50 network stations); and $695 for a site license (up to 100 stations.)
Humongous Entertainment describes its Junior Adventures, which are scheduled for release in school versions this August, as "a series of non-violent multimedia stories" that "unfold with the child's own actions."
Intended to teach number and shape recognition, critical thinking, and problem solving skills to pre-schoolers through second graders, the stories feature click points for interacting with characters, finding puzzles, and gathering information.
Stories in the Junior Adventure series include "Putt-Putt Joins the Parade," "Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon," and "Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise." Each package includes a teacher's guide with ideas on how to incorporate the software into the curriculum, suggestions on outside reading, and blackline masters of hands-on activities.
Humongous Entertainment's Junior Adventures will be offered on floppy disk and CD-ROM for Macintosh and DOS. A single version is priced at $49.95. Site licenses are: $139.95 for schools with up to 50 computers; $249.95 for 51 to 150 computers; $359.95 for 151 to 300 computers; and $469.95 for 301 or more computers.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940617/Reader Contacts: CCC, 408-745-6270; Power Industries, 617-235-7733; Claris, 408-987-7000; Soleil Software, 415-494-0114; Humongous Entertainment, 206-485-1212; Press Contacts: Adrienne Hankin, CCC, 415-381-8446; Tristana Webster, Power Industries, 617-235-7733; Natalie Lingo, Claris 408-987-7487; Rachel Zeiph, Connors Communications for Soleil 415-771-3940; Pam Herber, Miller Communications for Humongous 206-450-9965)
munications for Humongous 206-450-9965)
6/21/94
NECC - Educational Prgms Cross Over
TRENDS
!L!v!Z!
India's Telecom Policy Opens To
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- The much-awaited national telecommunications policy has thrown open basic telephone services to the private sector on terms similar to those of value added services.
Both domestic and foreign investors have been seeking this for a long time. Now, foreign investment proposals from 21 companies worth over $4 billion are pending.
But plans to denationalize the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) has been shelved for the moment and the status of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) has been maintained.
The plan's provision for the telecom sector has been raised to R56,750 crore (over $18 billion) from R40,500 (about $13 billion) crore planned earlier. However, a shortfall in resources still amounts to R30,500 crore ($9.8 billion). In short, the success of the policy hinges on huge amounts of capital coming from the foreign and private sector. All value-added services available internationally have also been promised in the government's "Eighth plan" period.
However, some observers argue that the policy does not address a number of crucial issues, such as: the maximum permissible equity percentage in a company; the establishment of an independent regulatory authority to provide a "level playing field" for all service providers and to settle disputes between subscribers and consumers (the draft policy had suggested the creation of a regulatory body); and the amendment of the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, as outlined in the Arthreya Committee report.
The crucial policy document, which took over two years to see the light of the day, was further delayed because of the differences between the Minister of State for Communications Sukh Ram, and N. Vittal, chairman of the Telecom Commission and pressure from the powerful telecom employees union.
The policy has been finally listed only after the prime minister's intervention. The policy has introduced competition in basic services as pushed by Vittal, and opposed by Sukh Ram. The deadline for approving the policy is also believed to have been set up by the Prime Minister's visit to the US, where he is meeting heads of various telecom firms. The government, some observers argue, did not want to give "negative signals" to US and multinationals during the prime minister's visit.
The only clear cut guidelines to have been issued stipulate that private sector companies have to maintain a "balance" between rural areas and urban areas, and that private companies have to operate on agreed tariffs and revenue sharing agreement with the DOT. However, objections have been raised on DOT's role as a player, as well as regulatory body at the same time.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940621)
at the same time.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940621)
6/21/94
India's Telecom Policy Opens To Private Sector
TELECOM
Australian Survey Says MIS Has I
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Senior financial executives are getting more knowledgeable about information technology (IT), but they are heavily dependant on their MIS (management information services) managers telling them what is going on. That is the principal finding of a survey conducted by the Strategic Publishing Group and the Australian Society of CPAs.
The survey found that most of the executives get their IT knowledge from their MIS managers. Additionally, those who have MIS managers reporting to them tend to feel very uncomfortable about having to rely so heavily on their subordinates.
The survey asked 383 randomly chosen senior financial executives how they got their information about IT. The executives carried titles ranging from senior financial controller to chief executive officer. All were members of the Australian society of CPAs.
Forty-one percent of the respondents had the most senior MIS executive in the company reporting to them, either directly or through a subordinate. Fifty-nine percent had no direct report from the MIS department. Among the first group, the MIS manager was by far the most important source of information, with a ranking of 3.99 out of five. The next most important source was business magazines at 3.17 out of five.
Even where MIS does not report to senior management, the survey showed the senior executives heavily dependant on the MIS manager's advice, with a score of 3.11. Computer consultants rated low as sources of IT information with both groups of executives -- third last in companies where MIS reports to the executive and last where there was no such link.
(Computer Daily News/19940621)
was no such link.
(Computer Daily News/19940621)
6/21/94
Australian Survey Says MIS Has Increased Influence
TRENDS
Comdex - 7th Level's Grayson On
Comdex - Motorola's Pres Defends
Hands On Learning Intros New Tra
UK - AST Unveils New Retail Sale
Japan - Hitachi ATM Cleans Money
Cisco Offers Point & Click Inter
FCC Revising Spectrum Rules For
Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac
Legent Buys Lachman Technology
Blockbuster/Davis Video Launch P
EC & Canada Close To High-Tech T
UK - Psion Dacom PCMCIA Modem Sa
UK - Mercury Cuts Pricing, Intro
Olivetti Italy Intros Over 60 Ne
CompuServe Covers World Cup And
IBM Canada To Do Service For Wel
Modem Improvements Coming
IBM Forms Network Applications U
Encyclopedia Britannica To Devel
Megahertz Intros Ethernet-Modem
Germany - Deutsche Bundespost Lo
Apple Imaging Exec May Return To
Megahertz Intros Ethernet-Modem
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Megahertz Corporation has announced a new PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) combination Ethernet modem card and its first modem based on the V.34 standard.
The combo card connects a personal computer to an Ethernet based network. It also functions as a modem to transmit and receive data and faxes over a telephone line.
Ryan Ashton, Megahertz senior VP of sales and marketing, says users of PCs that have only one PCMCIA slot will appreciate the dual functionality. "This (announcement) is particularly relevant in that many portable computing devices have only one PCMCIA slot, so customers can now use that slot much more efficiently," says Ashton.
The data/fax modem function of the card can send and receive data and faxes at a speed of up to 14,400 bits-per-second (bps). It offers Ethernet 10BaseT (unshielded twisted pair) and 10Base-2 (thin coaxial) cable configurations.
Megahertz says the card will ship in the early Fall of 1994. Pricing will be announced just prior to shipment.
The company's new V.34 modem is also scheduled to ship in early Fall 1994, once the International Telecommunications Union study group ratifies the V.34 standard, which provides throughput at 28,800 bps.
The V.34 protocol allows the modem to identify itself to the telephone network equipment, then adapt to the characteristics of the connection. According to Megahertz it does that by probing the channel then setting critical parameters such as carrier frequency equalization, symbol rate, and transmitted power in order to maximize the data throughput.
The new modem, which meets the V.34 standard as currently proposed, uses an AT&T chipset which has a flash upgrade capability. That allows users to upgrade the modem remotely without returning it to the vendor should the standard change by the time it's adopted.
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation says it is developing version 3.1 of its Wordperfect for Macintosh software and expects the upgrade to ship this summer.
One of the features of version 3.1, according to Wordperfect, is QuickCorrect, which automatically corrects typing or spelling errors as they occur. The correction occurs as soon as the user presses the space bar or a punctuation character such as a period or comma. QuickCorrect also expands abbreviations and corrects words in which the first two characters only are capitalized. That is a frequent problem for some speed typists. The user can edit the abbreviation expansion list to add their own commonly used terms.
Other features include a Fat Binary Installer option that installs a universal version of the software. That version contains binaries for a standard Mac or a Power Mac. Wordperfect says that makes it easier to administer the software from a network.
New merge data file options let the user perform merges using data that has been exported from FileMaker Pro as well as data from Wordperfect tables.
Version 3.1 also supports QuickDraw GX printing that lets the user designate the order of print jobs and change paper size and orientation on a "page by page" basis.
The drag-and-drop capability will allow users to move text and graphics between documents and other applications as well as within a document. Text can also be dragged out of a document and onto the desktop where it resides as a clippings file until it is dragged back into another file.
Wordperfect 3.0 for Mac came to market in October, 1993. This past March the company shipped a Power Mac version of the program.
Wordperfect 3.1 for Macintosh will have a suggested retail price of $495. If you purchase version 3.0 during a 60-day window centered on the ship date you will get a free upgrade. For other users the upgrade will cost $89. The company says users of any competing word processor can switch for $99.
(Jim Mallory/19940621/Press contact: Dan Cook, Wordperfect Corporation, 801-228-5014; Reader contact: Wordperfect tel 800-321-4566 or 801-225-5000, fax 801-228-5077)
-4566 or 801-225-5000, fax 801-228-5077)
6/21/94
Wordperfect 3.1 For Mac In Development
APPLE
IBM Offers Cyrix Chips In Its Bl
FISHKILL, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Thanks to its agreement with Cyrix Corp., IBM is for the first time offering stand-alone microprocessors as part of its Blue Lightning chip line.
Up to now, IBM sold only subsystems built around its own versions of Intel Corp. chip designs. Its manufacturing agreement with Intel, the dominant chipmaker, did not allow IBM to sell the chips by themselves. The deal signed with Cyrix in April contains no such limit.
When that deal was announced, Ron Soicher, assistant general manager of worldwide marketing at sales at IBM Microelectronics told Newsbytes one reason IBM signed with Cyrix was that Cyrix offered IBM the right to sell individual chips on the merchant market.
IBM will sell selected versions of Cyrix's x86 chip line under the Blue Lightning name. IBM will make these chips, company spokesman Jim Smith said, but they will follow Cyrix designs exactly.
The first Cyrix designs to carry the Blue Lightning name will be five-volt 486DX2 processors running at 50 and 66 megahertz (MHz) with clock doubling, as well as three-volt versions running at 50, 66, and 80MHz with clock doubling. The five-volt chips are available in sample quantities now and are due to ship in volume in August, while the three-volt chips will be available in quantity in September, IBM said.
In quantities of 1,000, prices are $195 for the 50MHz chips $239 for the 66MHz chips, and $295 for the 80MHz chip.
IBM's agreement with Cyrix also covers the M1, Cyrix's answer to Intel's Pentium processor, which is expected late this year.
(Grant Buckler/19940621/Press Contact: Jim Smith, IBM Microelectronics, tel 914-892-5389)
Jim Smith, IBM Microelectronics, tel 914-892-5389)
6/21/94
IBM Offers Cyrix Chips In Its Blue Lightning Line
Edmonton Telephones Sale Likely,
| EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Edmonton Telephones, the city-owned utility providing phone service in Alberta's provincial capital, may be sold. And Telus Corp., whose AGT Ltd. subsidiary provides phone service in the rest of the province, wants to buy it.
Edmonton Telephones' management has told the city council it needs to spend heavily in new technology, which does not fit with the city's need for immediate returns on its investment company spokesman Stuart Adams told Newsbytes.
To prepare for a move to new high-bandwidth communications services, Adams said, Edmonton Telephones will have to spend about C$500 million over the next couple of years. "We're faced with making the transition from a telephone company to a telecommunications corporation." While doing so, he said, the utility will be able to return little or no revenue to the city.
Since the city has indicated a need for short-term returns, and since Edmonton Telephones' market value is currently high, making this a good time to sell, Adams said, management has recommended that the city find outside investors to take over its interest. The city could get as much as C$475 million from the sale, Adams said.
Telus, which was once owned by the province but is now a publicly traded company, said it is interested in buying the Edmonton company and combining it with its telco subsidiary AGT. Such a purchase would plug the only significant hole in AGT's coverage of the province. This would mean better service for customers and would give Edmonton Telephones a tie-in with the national Stentor consortium of phone companies, of which AGT is a member officials said.
Telus tried to buy Edmonton Telephones in 1992, but talks ended when Telus and the City of Edmonton could not agree on a price Telus spokesman Ron Liepert told Newsbytes. When word of the new recommendation to sell came out, he said, "We wanted to ensure that the city knew that we were still interested in talking."
Telus' overtures have already hit one snag, however. The company asked Edmonton Telephones for information relevant to a possible purchase, and Edmonton Telephones has told it to wait until a prospectus is issued. "They're asking for proprietary or competitive information," Adams said.
(Grant Buckler/19940621/Press Contact: Ron Liepert, Telus tel 403-498-7329; Stuart Adams, Edmonton Telephones, tel 403-441-2116)
Stuart Adams, Edmonton Telephones, tel 403-441-2116)
6/21/94
Edmonton Telephones Sale Likely, AGT Possible Buyer
TELECOM
Lotus Unveils 1-2-3 Release 5 Fo
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) Emphasizing tie-ins to its other products, Lotus Development Corp. has announced the latest version of its flagship spreadsheet software.
1-2-3 Release 5 for Windows, due to ship in the third quarter of this year, draws on the company's Notes software for workgroup capabilities and on its Approach database management package for some added database capabilities. In both cases, 1-2-3 users must have the other Lotus packages on their computers to take advantage of the added capabilities.
However, there are also new features wholly contained in 1-2-3 Release 5 for Windows. They include: the ability to pull selected ranges out of a worksheet and send them to other computer users for comment; changes aimed at making the program easier to use; and the ability to represent spreadsheet data on a map.
The new release works with Notes/FX 1.1, the integration technology built into Notes. This means developers can embed worksheets as Notes objects and create applications that automatically pass data between Notes fields and 1-2-3 ranges Lotus said. For instance, a sales forecast worksheet might be embedded in Notes for sharing among a number of users.
That feature requires Notes, but the new Range Routing capability works either with Notes or with any electronic mail system that supports one of the major mail-enabling interface standards Vendor-Independent Messaging (VIM) and Messaging Applications Programming Interface (MAPI).
Range Routing lets a user send a portion of a spreadsheet to other users on a network. The other users can attach comments using the electronic equivalent of sticky notes. Other spreadsheet programs allow entire worksheets to be circulated this way, but Lotus appears to be a step ahead of rivals with the ability to route selected ranges.
Those who have Approach, Lotus' database software for PCs, can draw on it for such database management functions as forms reports, and dynamic cross-tabs. The connection to Approach uses the object linking and embedding (OLE) technology built into Windows, company spokesman Peter Cohen told Newsbytes.
On the ease-of-use front, Lotus has added SmartMasters which are predefined templates with built-in intelligence for common operations, and Assistants, which are dialog boxes that walk users through frequent tasks. The concept is found in some other software packages, including Lotus' own Freelance graphics software.
Another addition is Lotus Maps, a collection of maps that can be used to show geographic data. Like a chart, the map is color-coded with a legend, Cohen said. For instance, a sales manager might show a map of the United States, with states where sales fell below $1 million in red, those with sales from $1 to $3 million in orange, those with sales from $3 to $5 million in yellow, and so on.
The initial release will ship with maps of the United States Australia, and Mexico by state, Japan by prefecture, Canada by province, Europe and the world by country, Taiwan, and 1,500 major cities.
One addition not found in 1-2-3 Release 5 for Windows is LotusScript, the company's BASIC-like cross-application scripting language, which is eventually to be included in all Lotus products. Cohen said Lotus expects to include it in the next major release.
To run on a stand-alone personal computer, 1-2-3 Release 5 for Windows needs a PC with at least a 386 processor, four megabytes (MB) of memory, and 11MB of available hard disk space. Another 2MB of memory is recommended for using Lotus Maps or Lotus Approach. The software also needs a VGA or better display adapter, DOS 3.3 or higher, and Microsoft Windows 3.1 or 3.11 in standard or enhanced mode. A mouse is recommended. Server installation takes 11MB of hard disk space, Lotus said.
The suggested retail price is $495, and upgrades from other 1-2-3 versions and qualifying competitive spreadsheets are $129.
As part of Lotus' recently announced product globalization program, Cohen said, the software will ship simultaneously in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Another 13 languages will follow within 90 days after initial shipment, the company said.
(Grant Buckler/19940621/Press Contact: Peter Cohen, Lotus 617-693-1283; Public Contact: Lotus, tel 800-343-5414)
3; Public Contact: Lotus, tel 800-343-5414)
6/21/94
Lotus Unveils 1-2-3 Release 5 For Windows
Windows 4.0 Released To Beta Use
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation says it is shipping thousands of beta versions of "Chicago," the software maker's code name for what is expected to be known officially as Windows 4.0.
Some analysts expressed surprise at the quantity of beta copies being shipped - about 20,000 - and see that as a good sign for the quality of the product. Goldman Sachs analyst Rick Sherlund told the British news service Reuters he had expected Microsoft to ship about 10,000 beta copies.
In a software life cycle the initial testing phase is known as "alpha" testing and is done by a limited number of testers on a version of the software that often does not have all its features enabled yet. Once the problems, or "bugs," reported by alpha testers have been corrected the product and all functions have been activated the software goes to a much larger sampling of "beta" testers.
After the first phase of beta testing is completed and any problems are corrected, a much larger group gets a chance to try the software before the production model is released.
Windows 4.0 is expected to have a significantly different look possibly losing the familiar File Manager and Program Manager. Instead, it will reportedly represent the file system as a series of nested folders and icons that support drag-and-drop file movement from one directory to another, bringing it closer to the Macintosh interface and that used by non-windows software Geoworks. It is also expected to allow long file names, exceeding the current DOS limitation of eight characters plus a three character extension.
"Chicago" may also resemble the proverbial "cash cow." Many users are anxious to get the latest versions of software, and analyst Steve McLellan at Merrill Lynch estimates upgrades to Windows 4.0 will bring at least $2.2 billion to Microsoft in the first two years of "Chicago's" release.
The upgrade will also allow Microsoft to ship "Chicago" versions of widely used applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and other products. McLellan estimates those upgrades can produce as much as $500 million in revenue.
Other software companies can also be expected to benefit financially by shipping "Chicago" versions of their software.
Microsoft officials have said they expect to ship "Chicago" by the end of 1994. Some analysts think the actual release date will be early 1995.
(Jim Mallory/19940621/Press and reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-8080)
Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-8080)
6/21/94
Windows 4.0 Released To Beta Users
WTI Signs Master Agreement With
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- RAM Mobile Data has signed a distribution agreement with Wireless Telecom Inc., a unit of Intelligent Electronics, under which WTI resellers will be able to develop complete "solutions" using RAM's packet radio network.
WTI and RAM had previously worked-up a low-cost bundle combining RAM services, a Mobidem radio modem, and RadioMail gateway services at a special low price. RAM said this was its first two tiered distribution agreement.
RAM's network is based on the Mobitex architecture pioneered by Ericsson but offered as an open standard. The company is owned by BellSouth and RAM Broadcasting. It has signed strategic partnerships with many electronic-mail (e-mail) services and makers of LAN (local area network)-based e-mail software packages.
However, so far the wireless data market has disappointed its boosters, because the market has turned out to be far more price sensitive than it thought, and because portable terminals like the Apple Newton have also disappointed. But focusing on resellers and resellers' resellers like WTI, RAM could win more orders in the real market, where offerings are customized by value-added resellers (VARs).
Under the WTI agreement, customers will be able to buy "total solutions," including RAM messaging, through a single source noted Janet Boudris, vice president, marketing at RAM, in a press statement.
The agreement comes shortly after William Frezza, a RAM executive who tried to create a mass market for the Mobidem left the company to return to his consulting career. RAM acknowledged in its press statement on the move that it "marks a pivotal change in the way wireless services are marketed."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940621/Press Contact: Liza Kurtz for RAM, 212/995-5680)
ct: Liza Kurtz for RAM, 212/995-5680)
6/21/94
WTI Signs Master Agreement With RAM
TELECOM
KSI Signs American Chamber Of Co
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Knowledge Systems Inc., which develops custom online services for trade groups, has won the business of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) to run its ChamberNet service.
The ACCE consists of the officers of local, regional, and state chambers of commerce, and is different from the US Chamber of Commerce. ChamberNet has been around since 1986, and KSI won the business after redesigning it to make it easier to use.
ChamberNet offers services like electronic-mail and chat, as well as databases using pull-down menus. The re-designed ChamberNet is integrated with such services as fax-on-demand broadcast fax and CD-ROM, ACCE officials told Newsbytes.
Bob Mellinger of KSI discussed the deal with Newsbytes. "We're a niche provider of information services," he explained. "We gear toward non-profits, trade associations and professional societies. We're somewhere between" consumer services like CompuServe and database services like Nexis in approach, but aimed at niche markets.
"It can be a member benefit, or a source of revenue, depending on the association's objectives. It's an affinity group." He added that KSI opened for business in 1984, got its first customer in 1985, and now runs on Stratus hardware, the same brand of hardware used by America OnLine.
Versions of ChamberNet are available under Windows, MS-DOS and the Apple Macintosh, with versions in development for OSF Motif and character-based Unix. "It's pull-down menus, with full mouse control, point-and-click on the Windows version," said Mellinger. "This is one of the more prestigious contracts since it's been around a while," he added. "In the Association world they're one of the premier networks."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940621/Press Contact: Bob Mellinger Knowledge Systems, tel 703-631-8622, fax 703-818-295; David Saddler, ACCE, tel 703-998-0072, fax 703-931-5624)
Saddler, ACCE, tel 703-998-0072, fax 703-931-5624)
6/21/94
KSI Signs American Chamber Of Commerce Executives
TELECOM
Broadband Wins OEM Deal With Alc
RESEARCH PARK, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) Alcatel has agreed to resell the BroadBand Technologies 4500 video codec on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis. Under the agreement, Broadband will supply boards implementing the 4500's designs to Alcatel, which will package them and resell them to its customers under its own brand name.
Alcatel is a world leader in telephone switch technology, so the deal could be important to Broadband in time, a spokesman told Newsbytes. Alcatel will position the 4500 as a low-cost offering in its product line.
A codec accepts an analog video signal and digitizes it, then transmits the digitized video file in a standard format. The same unit reverses the process. It is a video version of the modem most computer users are used to. A codec allows interactive video to be transmitted over telephone lines.
In a press statement Alcatel Product Director Larry Corbett said "The quality of video offered by the Broadband codec is better than any product in its price class. The full motion and high resolution offered by the Broadband codec ensures that no limitations are placed on developers working on interactive video applications."
The system could be sold for videoconferencing or distance learning systems, and would be resold by developers as part of their product line. The codec uses what is called the differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) video compression technique and offers compression ratios of approximately 3:1. This allows standard NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) signals, the kind used in the US, which now run at 140 million bits-per-second (bps), to be transmitted at 45 million bps over what are called "T-3" or "DS3" trunk lines, now widely available on public and private networks.
Broadband is best known for its Fiber Loop Access or FLX system a fiber-to-the-curb system that uses asynchronous transfer mode or ATM, switching and transport techniques.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940621/Press Contact: Beverlee Hanley BroadBand Technologies, 919/405-4816; Patrick Fetterman for BroadBand, 617/252-0606; Blake Lewis, for Alcatel 214-443-7557)
Blake Lewis, for Alcatel 214-443-7557)
6/21/94
Broadband Wins OEM Deal With Alcatel
TELECOM
GEnie Now Does Windows
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- The GEnie service can now be navigated using Microsoft Windows with the release of the GEnie Windows graphical user interface (GUI).
GEnie subscribers can now use the service by means of a series of colorful icons that guide them through GEnie's software libraries, communications services and the hundreds of RoundTables, systems that CompuServe calls Forums, which include both discussion boards, interactive chats, and software libraries.
The release of the GEnie software means that all the major online services can now be accessed through Microsoft Windows. America OnLine, CompuServe, and Prodigy previously released Windows based software, and the coming Ziff Interchange and Microsoft Marvel services are both expected to offer Windows standard.
Among the tools available in the new software are: a "to do manager," which allows users to select files for downloading and store the list for action later; a filing cabinet that allows tasks to be performed off-line; a built-in text editor; and an address book. There is also an automated locate/notify function that enables users to find other GEnie subscribers using the service.
The new software is available online or users can request a free disk and welcome kit by calling GEnie Client Services at 1-800 638-9636. Subscribers can download the GUI by typing M1465 or the keyword, FRONTEND, at any GEnie Page prompt.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940621/Press Contact: Vivian Kelly GEnie, 301/340-4494)
lly GEnie, 301/340-4494)
6/21/94
GEnie Now Does Windows
TELECOM
Electronic Book Helps Put Docume
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Electronic Book Technology (EBT) has announced DynaWeb, a World-Wide Web server for the Internet that enables publishers to distribute using the same tools and process now used for CD-ROM and LAN (local area network) publishing.
EBT's Kent Summers told Newsbytes that the technology is being made available free to current customers. "These are publishers which now distribute on CD-ROM and over a LAN. This lets them make the same information available on the Internet, through existing web clients like Mosaic." EBT's customers are typically in-house corporate publishers, handling support, maintenance and technical documentation functions.
For instance, Summers said, a company like Novell, which now distributes documents for its NetWare LAN operating system via CD-ROM, could now use the Internet to offer updates to that information. "We have big customers in computers telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals," Summers said.
The new EBT server also supports security functions, so users can "just put pointers on what they want to make available publicly and privately within the backbone, and it's available."
Summers also discussed his company's vision. "To appreciate what we're doing you have to appreciate some shortcomings of the Internet. There are hurdles preventing large publishers from putting content on the Internet," and the current software solves only one problem, moving from formats like DynaText to HTML.
"Clients won't see changes in formatting -- they'll still just have HTML web tools -- but they'll have access to content which wasn't there before," he continued. "People don't take books from Dynatext to HTML -- you can't shoe-horn them in. This server strips out all that information and just stuffs them into HTML, so publishers don't need to do that. We're adding value to the client."
Of course, Summers added, publishers have other problems with the Internet. "The most obvious is the mechanism for supporting for-profit" publishing. "That consists of two things in development: the electronic signature" which can turn ordinary electronic-mail into electronic data interchange (EDI) electronic invoices and purchase orders; as well as "the mechanism within the web protocol to support paying for content."
"The protocol itself is HTTP," he added, "and the EDI stuff is being developed in parallel. The question is what is the event that triggers the charge -- that could be a uniform resource locator. When someone requests information through that, it triggers a transaction. That mechanism, extending it to accommodate the pay-per-view, has not been put in place."
But just as important as those transaction components are the functional components and the bottlenecks there," Summers continued. "Most notable are two limitations - number one is the structure and format of the document, and the other is the size. Typically a document larger than 250,000 bytes will choke the client. Just as obvious is the limitation on format and structure. Currently HTML supports a flat structure that does not allow publishers to add value by changing the look of the document.
"What we're doing as a first step is extending the server side of this equation. We're making information currently installed at Electronic Books, in a much richer structure than that supported by current web protocols, available to the clients. Clients won't see changes in formatting -- they'll still just have HTML web tools -- but they'll have access to content which wasn't there before."
Now, all publishers need to do to make their information accessible on the Internet is set up the DynaWeb server and create a mapping file that specifies the HTML-equivalent tags for their existing SGML document element types. Everything else they currently do to publish DynaText electronic books in CD-ROM and/or on LANs remains the same.
EBT's flagship product is DynaText, introduced in August of 1990. It was the first electronic book publishing system for large scale SGML documents. DynaText accepts any valid SGML document and automatically builds a dynamic electronic book that enables users to quickly browse, search, and annotate large, highly structured documents.
The electronic books can be shared among networks or placed on standalone devices. DynaText currently runs on Microsoft Windows Apple Macintosh, and Unix workstations. The company also produces DynaTag, which converts word processing formats to SGML, and DynaBase, an SGML publishing system for managing "in process" documents, the company provides what it calls a complete electronic publishing environment.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940621/Press Contact: Electronic Book Technologies, Kent Summers, 401/421-9550)
tronic Book Technologies, Kent Summers, 401/421-9550)
6/21/94
Electronic Book Helps Put Documentation On Internet
TELECOM
Ziff Adds 2nd Newspaper To Inter
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Ziff Interactive has signed its second newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, to use its Interchange online service, which is based on Microsoft Windows, Earlier the Washington Post agreed to use Interchange for its online service.
The last year has seen a rush by large newspapers to affiliate with online services, and a rush by online services to sign-up local newspaper affiliates. The first agreements were the Chicago Tribune's deal with America OnLine and, for Prodigy, an agreement with the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Both are being extended to other papers owned by Tribune Co. and Cox Enterprises.
But AOL also has the San Jose Mercury's Mercury Center, and Delphi signed up the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The New York Times recently agreed to start an AOL service, and The Washington Post signed with Interchange.
Since daily newspapers hire more reporters in any large city than other media outlets, the online services expect no competition but that could change if TV stations, radio stations, and free weeklies see potential profits in such agreements.
The new agreement is also interesting in light of the Ziff family's decision to sell Ziff Communications, the parent company of Interchange. The Star-Tribune is owned by Cowles Media Group which has moved into computer publishing through its purchase of Mobile Computing and Simba Communications, a marketing research firm.
The Washington Post Co. also publishes Newsweek. Both firms might become contestants to buy Ziff. The family is reportedly asking $2-3 billion for the company, which they said has annual revenues of $1 billion.
Robert Schafer will be publisher of the Star Tribune Online. Schafer has been with the Star Tribune for 18 years in a variety of newsroom positions, including assistant managing editor. More recently, he headed the paper's new products team.
Features of the Interchange Online Network will include stock quotes and personal financial information, sports, TV program information and nationwide bulletin boards.
Star Tribune Online also will provide news, photos and information beyond the material that is printed in the daily newspaper. Specialized local information will include such features as an information guide about the Twin Cities, entertainment listings event calendars, and the ability to search the paper's classified advertising.
Subscribers will also have early access to news stories that will appear in the newspaper the next morning. Other services include bulletin boards, electronic-mail, and chat. Pricing has not yet been determined, but is expected to be under $15 per month.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940621/Press Contact: Stephanie Cadmus Minneapolis Star Tribune, 612-673-7672; Lisa Landa, Interchange 612-252-5211; Star Tribune Online, Robert Schafer: e-mail: roberts@startribune.com)
nline, Robert Schafer: e-mail: roberts@startribune.com)
6/21/94
Ziff Adds 2nd Newspaper To Interchange Online Service
TELECOM
NIST Announces Digital Signature
Poland Intros New Intellectual C
Australia - PC 94 Computer Show
Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For
HRB Acquires Global Positioning
Internet World '94 Opens In San
Microsoft Summit - 1600 More Alp
Intel, Telecom Australia To Co-D
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-
AOL To Offer MTV This Summer
Hong Kong - Rockwell Launches Mo
LANNET, Olivetti In Network Mark
SPA Says Computers Help In Schoo
NECC - Scholastic's Internet Edu
IBM Cuts Prices On MCA Servers
UK - IBM Intros Low-Cost Server-
Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships
UK - Amstrad Acquires Viglen
Germany Buys Into Spanish Mobile
Syquest Reluctantly Settles With
UK - Saber's LAN Workstation 5.0
Germany - PC Manufacturer Vobis
Wireless Cable Operators Form Al
EA Founder Trip Hawkins To Resig
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Citing concerns about interest conflicts, Electronic Arts (EA) founder Trip Hawkins has announced he will step down as chairman of the EA board at the annual stockholders meeting on July 17, 1994. Hawkins resigned his post as EA's president and chief executive officer three years ago to begin the entertainment technology company 3DO.
Both Electronic Arts and 3DO are involved in publishing and distributing software for the compact disc (CD)-based Real 3DO Multiplayer, licensed to Matsushita and manufactured for the US market by its subsidiary Panasonic. EA was aimed at title development for the reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) processor-based Multiplayer from the start, but Hawkins said he now feels there could be potential for a future conflict of interest between the two companies.
"I have made the difficult decision to step down as chairman of Electronic Arts, the company I founded in 1982, to focus my time and energy on 3DO. 3DO has a unique opportunity to establish its technology as the standard platform for consumer multimedia," Hawkins stated.
Hawkins is not the only one who has recently taken a giant step away from EA. Educational software developer Broderbund, which publicly announced in February it would combine with EA in a merger valued at $400 million, unexpectedly said in May it would pay $10 million to back out of the deal. The reason given was the stock of both companies fell after the announcement and no agreement could be obtained on a new price for the stock-swap merger.
Electronic Arts stock has been falling steadily since the May merger cancellation announcement, and closed Monday, June 20 at 15 1/2, half of its value a year ago. The stock was down 1/4 in today's morning trading. In its last fiscal year, the company reported earnings of about $45 million on revenues of approximately $418 million.
Of the outstanding 50 million shares, Hawkins holds about 3.5 million, EA officials told Newsbytes.
3DO has not made any money at all and has announced it does not expect to until 1996, or even 1997. The $4.2 million in black ink it reported in its last quarter was due to licensing revenue from the introduction of the Multiplayer in Japan. The company reported in May a loss of $51.4 million for its fiscal 1994 year.
New competitors are looming on the horizon as well. Sony just announced a RISC-based CD game machine, the Playstation, aimed at the home gaming market to be introduced in Japan and priced at 50,000 yen or about US$500. However, Sony officials did say in a recent press conference that the company did not feel it was entering competition with 3DO.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- After months of discussions, Europay International, the major plastic payment card issuer in Europe, has agreed to work to a common set of specifications on the next-generation of plastic payment cards so-called "smart cards."
Europay International, which designs and issues Eurochecks plus European "Plastic Cash" cards across Europe, has agreed to work to a basic set of specifications drawn up informally by Visa International and EuroCard/MasterCard. This will mean that any Visa, MasterCard and European Plastic Cash smart debit or credit card should work in just one terminal.
In Europe, because of the proliferation of currencies, most major banks issue their customers with two checkbooks. One for local currency, the other in a standard Eurocheck format. Many countries' banks now issue just a Eurocheck checkbook as standard to their customers. The last 18 months has seen the arrival of the Eurocheck's successor, the European Debit Card (EDC), a multi-currency electronic debit card for use in automated teller machines (ATMs) and in retail outlets.
The idea behind Eurochecks is that they are guaranteed up to a preset limit (typically $200) by a Eurocheck card, and can be written in most major currencies of Europe. They are extremely useful for situations where credit cards cannot be used, such as in banks for drawing money from accounts, and in shops where plastic cards are not used.
Smart cards, meanwhile, allow the card to carry a lot more information on the cardholder and his account and are generally regarded as less of a security risk than a magnetic stripe card. The chip on the smart card can carry, for example, a digitized photo of the cardholder, together with details of his/her bank accounts allowing the card to act as a passport to a person's accounts at any ATM.
This early agreement on the basic smart card data requirements is a major stepping stone in universal acceptance of uniform smart card technology. All three organizations have many thousands of member card issuers, all of whom will now work towards a new common standard for smart card payment cards.
So far, only Visa International has experimented with smart card multi-use cards, staging trials of debit/credit card combo cards in the UK and parts of the US. The idea is that, for major purchases, the card operates as a smart credit card, while for minor purchases, the cash is deducted from an on-card "electronic purse" balance which is reloaded from the users' bank account while at an appropriately equipped ATM or similar terminal.
According to Europay International, the smart card specifications agreed upon are based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) proposals outlined by Visa and MasterCard.
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- After years of struggling and failing to meet demand for new telephone lines in former Czechoslovakia, the fledgling Slovak Republic looks like admitting defeat and preparing to sell off a slice of its operation to raise much needed private investment.
According to press reports in Slovenia, the Slovak Government is preparing to sell off a 20 percent stake in Slovenske Telecomunikacie (ST) later this year, so that vital trunk and international exchanges can be upgraded and/or replaced to meet the needs of businesses and citizens of the country.
Gabriel Palacka, Slovenia's state secretary for privatization, has said that there is a good chance that ST will sold off in its second tranche of privatized companies later this year.
According to Palacka, if the deal gets the thumbs up from the government as a whole, then it will bring in as much as $150 million in share sales. Although officials are keeping quiet on a possible deal, the privatization will be handled differently to West European sales of this type.
The idea is to sell off shares in a group of companies by issuing every adult Slovak citizen with a voucher book that can be "cashed" by buying shares in a specific share or group of shares. After an initial period, the vouchers are canceled and the shares traded on a government-controlled market.
Using this method allows citizens to choose which companies the wish to invest in, without requiring the investor to pay for the shares initially. The idea is that citizens already have a share in these companies and should not have to pay for the privilege of buying shares in which they, and their state, freely own.
This situation contrasts with that in Western Europe, where the government sells off shares to the highest bidders. Critics claim that the practice means that citizens must pay for companies that they, or rather the state, still own.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940621)
her the state, still own.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940621)
6/21/94
Slovak Republic Prepares For State Telecoms Sell-Off
TELECOM
H ,
UK - Visionware Intros Fast X Se
LEEDS, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Visionware, the PC-to-Unix connectivity company, has unveiled a 32 bit version of its XVision 5.1TM PC X Server for Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Windows NT. The company claims that this is the fastest X Server currently on the market.
Visionware's XVision 5.1 software allows a standard PC to display and use Unix or VMS host applications using the X Windows graphical user interface, This facility, the company claims, creates a high performance, easy to use client/server bridge between the Unix and desktop environments.
Like earlier versions of XVision, XVision 5.1 has a number of integral "intelligent" functions that is billed as assisting in the setting up and ease-of-use of the system. The unique selling point (USP) of this latest version is that it can operate in both 16-bit or 32-bit modes.
The 32-bit version of XVision was developed using Microsoft's 32-bit compilers, using the Microsoft 32-s system. This means, the company claims, that a 32-bit version of XVision can run unchanged under Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and even Chicago when it ships.
"When displaying graphical applications intended for a Unix workstation on a Windows PC, speed is clearly of paramount importance. Visionware pioneered Windows X Servers and we understand the issues better than anyone else," said Mike Bowes Visionware's managing director.
Bowes said that speed is not everything when it comes to X Server technology. Another key factor that users look for, he said, is the overall ease-of-use. "XVision 5.1 is not only the fastest PC X Server on the market, but it's built-in intelligence ensures that it can be optimized for each PC on which it runs," he explained.
In addition to the speed and flexibility improvements, XVision 5.1 now contains a 32-bit font compiler. This compiler allows the package to be optimized for use with large fonts. Other facilities include: bi-directional file transfers; VT320 terminal emulation; graphics copy-and-paste between host and PC applications; as well as a local print driver allowing PC users to access and print locally.
Pricing on XVision 5.1 depends on site licensing conditions. The company will be unveiling the product formally at the Networks '94 show, which opens at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham on April 28.
(Steve Gold/19940621/Press & Reader Contact: Visionware tel +44-532-788858, fax +44-532-304676)
el +44-532-788858, fax +44-532-304676)
6/21/94
UK - Visionware Intros Fast X Server
Microsoft, Stac Settle Patent Di
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- Battle-weary David and Goliath met again today to settle their differences, but in a press conference room instead on the field of battle.
In the high-profile software dispute, David is represented by Stac Electronics, a Carlsbad, California company that publishes Stacker a data compression program for personal computers. Goliath is Microsoft Corporation, the software giant that a federal district court recently decided owed Stac $120 million for infringing on that company's patented technology.
The court also directed Stac to pay Microsoft $13.6 million on a counter-suit filed by Microsoft regarding its pre-load technology. The agreement effectively erases both judgements, and Microsoft will reverse the one-time $120 million non-recurring charge it took for the judgement.
The term "win-win" was used frequently as the two companies signed a cross-licensing agreement that includes an equity investment in Stac by Microsoft through the purchase of nearly $40 million worth of four percent non-voting convertible preferred stock which matures in the year 2004. That represents about 15 percent of the outstanding Stac stock. The stock has a conversion price of $9 per share and is convertible into a total of 4.44 million common shares.
Microsoft Treasurer Greg Mafei said Stac has invited Microsoft to attend Stac board meetings. "We intend to identify areas for possible future cooperation. As an equity investor in Stac, we have an economic incentive to seek opportunities that can enhance their business," said Mafei. "Sometimes it pays to raise your head from the battle and talk to the other guy," said Stac President Gary Clow.
The deal calls for cross-licensing of all the two companies existing disk compression patents as well as any future disk compression technology patents either might receive over the next five years. Disk compression can nearly double the amount of data that can be stored on a hard drive, depending of the type of data involved.
Stac also gets a license to Microsoft's preload technology used in MS-DOS 6, while Microsoft gets the right to license any of Stac's existing patents or future patents received in the next five years that do not relate to disc compression. Microsoft will pay a royalty for use of Stac's technology. Both companies declined to reveal what patent applications might be pending.
Microsoft said it will continue to offer DriveSpace, its current compression technology with MS-DOS rather than incorporating Stac into the operating system. Future Microsoft operating system software will be compatible with both Stacker and Drivespace.
Clow said the agreement ends the conflict between the two firms "and ushers in a new era of cooperation between the two companies." He said it also puts an end to "burdensome" legal fees, creates a royalty stream for Stac, and puts money in Stac's bank account. The latter comment refers to Microsoft license payments to Stac of $1 million per month for a period of 43 months beginning next month. After that period Microsoft can use Stacker technology without paying any further royalties. Clow said Stac has spent over $8 million in legal fees, and the bills are not all in yet.
Clow said Stac's licensing agreements with companies like Compaq Computer Corporation and Novell Inc. are not affected by the agreement. Clow flatly denied any possible merger between Stac and Microsoft, or a Microsoft takeover of Stac. He did hint that Stac might use the additional cash to consider acquisitions, but declined to give additional details.
Microsoft declined to comment on what effect, if any, the current anti-trust investigation into Microsoft business practices might have had on the two companies resolving their differences.
The other defendant in the Stac suit, Vertisoft Corporation, also got off the hook today, although it did not get a license to use Stac technology.
(Jim Mallory/19940621/Press contact: Mich Mathews, Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-8080 or Lois Leslie, Stac Electronics 619-431-7474)
Leslie, Stac Electronics 619-431-7474)
6/21/94
Microsoft, Stac Settle Patent Dispute
BUSINESS
Newsbytes Daily Summary
} PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.,1994 JUN 21 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Truckstops Get Radio Shack Mini-stores 06/21/94 Radio Shack and National/Auto Truckstops Inc. have teamed up to put Radio Shack consumer products in about 100 truckstops across the country.
2 -> Apple's Digital Camera Available For Power Mac, Windows 06/21/94 Apple Computer has announced the immediate availability of its Quicktake 100 digital color camera for Power Macintosh and Windows computers.
3 -> Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For Mac 06/21/94 Adobe Systems Inc. says version 3.0 of its Photoshop software for the Macintosh Power Mac and Windows platforms will ship in the third quarter.
4 -> HP Adds High-End X Terminals To Envizex & Entria 06/21/94 Hewlett- Packard has unveiled new high-end additions to HP Envisex and HP Entria, two families of X terminals first introduced in September, 1993, and January, 1994, respectively.
5 -> Korea - IBM/Novell/Microsoft Compete For DOS Users 06/21/94 IBM Korea and Novell Korea have entered the domestic DOS market which has been monopolized by Microsoft. IBM Korea announced its Korean version "PC DOS 6.3" last week.
6 -> Mexico - Computer & Telecom News Roundup 06/21/94 In this week's computer news from Mexico: Group Technologies to buy electronics plant from Philips, IBM Introduces New PCs to Mexico Grupo Alfa studying entry to local telephone markets, Mexican firm to operate and expand Cuban telephone system.
7 -> Conner Intros 4GB RAID System For PC LANs 06/21/94 As computer storage devices increase in capacity, so does the need for reliable technology for local area networks (LANs) used in vital mission critical networking environments within companies. Now Conner Peripherals Inc.'s Conner Storage Systems division has introduced a new four gigabyte (GB) version of its CR6-RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) system designed for PC LANs.
8 -> Modem Improvements Coming 06/21/94 Modems are about to get much faster, putting new pressure on packet networks to compete.
9 -> Comcast To Buy Maclean Hunter Cable 06/21/94 Comcast has agreed to buy the Maclean Hunter cable systems from Rogers Communications of Toronto for $1.27 billion. The deal allows Comcast to leapfrog over Cox Enterprises and become the third largest cable operator, following Cox' announcement it would buy Times Mirrors' cable operations.
10 -> Pressure On Congress To Finish Phone Bill 06/21/94 Two court decisions will put more pressure on the US Congress to finish a phone deregulation bill now stalled by opposition from the regional Bells.
11 -> NECC - Educational Prgms "Cross Over" 06/21/94 When a music group bridges the gap between rock and country, the phenomenon is called a "crossover." Judging from patterns in product introductions at the recent NECC show in Boston, the same kind of trend is now cropping up in the educational software market, with makers of "school" titles moving into the "home" market, and vice versa.
12 -> India's Telecom Policy Opens To Private Sector 06/21/94 The much-awaited national telecommunications policy has thrown open basic telephone services to the private sector on terms similar to those of value- added services.
13 -> Australian Survey Says MIS Has Increased Influence 06/21/94 Senior financial executives are getting more knowledgeable about information technology (IT), but they are heavily dependant on their MIS (management information services) managers telling them what is going on. That is the principal finding of a survey conducted by the Strategic Publishing Group and the Australian Society of CPAs.
14 -> Megahertz Intros Ethernet-Modem PCMCIA Card 06/21/94 Megahertz Corporation has announced a new PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) combination Ethernet- modem card and its first modem based on the V.34 standard.
15 -> Wordperfect 3.1 For Mac In Development 06/21/94 Wordperfect Corporation says it is developing version 3.1 of its Wordperfect for Macintosh software and expects the upgrade to ship this summer.
16 -> ****IBM Offers Cyrix Chips In Its Blue Lightning Line 06/21/94 Thanks to its agreement with Cyrix Corp., IBM is for the first time offering stand-alone microprocessors as part of its Blue Lightning chip line.
17 -> Edmonton Telephones Sale Likely, AGT Possible Buyer 06/21/94 Edmonton Telephones, the city-owned utility providing phone service in Alberta's provincial capital, may be sold. And Telus Corp. whose AGT Ltd. subsidiary provides phone service in the rest of the province, wants to buy it.
18 -> Lotus Unveils 1-2-3 Release 5 For Windows 06/21/94 Emphasizing tie-ins to its other products, Lotus Development Corp. has announced the latest version of its flagship spreadsheet software.
19 -> ****Windows 4.0 Released To Beta Users 06/21/94 Microsoft Corporation says it is shipping thousands of beta versions of "Chicago," the software maker's code name for what is expected to be known officially as Windows 4.0.
20 -> WTI Signs Master Agreement With RAM 06/21/94 RAM Mobile Data has signed a distribution agreement with Wireless Telecom Inc., a unit of Intelligent Electronics, under which WTI resellers will be able to develop complete "solutions" using RAM's packet radio network.
21 -> KSI Signs American Chamber Of Commerce Executives 06/21/94 Knowledge Systems Inc., which develops custom online services for trade groups, has won the business of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) to run its ChamberNet service.
22 -> Broadband Wins OEM Deal With Alcatel 06/21/94 Alcatel has agreed to resell the BroadBand Technologies 4500 video codec on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis. Under the agreement, Broadband will supply boards implementing the 4500's designs to Alcatel, which will package them and resell them to its customers under its own brand name.
23 -> GEnie Now Does Windows 06/21/94 The GEnie service can now be navigated using Microsoft Windows with the release of the GEnie Windows graphical user interface (GUI).
24 -> Electronic Book Helps Put Documentation On Internet 06/21/94 Electronic Book Technology (EBT) has announced DynaWeb, a World-Wide Web server for the Internet that enables publishers to distribute using the same tools and process now used for CD-ROM and LAN (local area network) publishing.
25 -> Ziff Adds 2nd Newspaper To Interchange Online Service 06/21/94 Ziff Interactive has signed its second newspaper, the Minneapolis Star- Tribune, to use its Interchange online service which is based on Microsoft Windows, Earlier the Washington Post agreed to use Interchange for its online service.
26 -> ****EA Founder Trip Hawkins To Resign 06/21/94 Citing concerns about interest conflicts, Electronic Arts (EA) founder Trip Hawkins has announced he will step down as chairman of the EA board at the annual stockholders meeting on July 17, 1994. Hawkins resigned his post as EA's president and chief executive officer three years ago to begin the entertainment technology company 3DO.
27 -> Europay International Pushes Smart Card "Standard" 06/21/94 After months of discussions, Europay International, the major plastic payment card issuer in Europe, has agreed to work to a common set of specifications on the next-generation of plastic payment cards, so-called "smart cards."
28 -> Slovak Republic Prepares For State Telecoms Sell-Off 06/21/94 After years of struggling and failing to meet demand for new telephone lines in former Czechoslovakia, the fledgling Slovak Republic looks like admitting defeat and preparing to sell off a slice of its operation to raise much needed private investment.
29 -> UK - Visionware Intros Fast X Server 06/21/94 Visionware, the PC-to-Unix connectivity company, has unveiled a 32 bit version of its XVision 5.1TM PC X Server for Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Windows NT. The company claims that this is the fastest X Server currently on the market.
30 -> ****Microsoft, Stac Settle Patent Dispute 06/21/94 Battle-weary David and Goliath met again today to settle their differences, but in a press conference room instead on the field of battle.
(Ian Stokell/19940621)
(Ian Stokell/19940621)
6/21/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Creative Intros Video/Conferenci
SINGAPORE, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Creative Technology has announced new video and videoconferencing products, as well as those designed to bring multimedia into the small office/home office (SOHO) market. The new products are the Video Blaster RT300 video capture card, the Sharevision PC300 and Sharevision PC3000 desktop video products for the personal computer (PC) platform, and the Sound Blaster Multimedia Office.
The Video Blaster RT300 is the company's newest video capture technology, based on the 82750PE video processor and Indeo video software technology, both from Intel. The card offers real-time capture and compression of composite and S-Video analog video in NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) and the European PAL formats at 30 frames-per-second (fps).
The company claims the RT300 is unique in that it offers the capture and compression in one-step, instead of storing the video to the computer's memory and then compressing it off-line. However, the video card can capture at full-motion video a screen size of only 320 by 240 picture elements (pixels), compressing the 200 megabytes (MB)-per-minute raw data down to 30 MB-per minute.
The compressed video has the advantage of playback on any Indeo equipped 386-, 486- or Pentium-based PC, with or without video playback hardware. Indeo adjusts the playback automatically for the processing power of the system.
The RT300 will ship in July and is also bundled with the popular video editing program Adobe Premiere, all for a suggested retail price of $499.95.
The Sharevision products, originally offered by Creative Technology's subsidiary of the same name for the Macintosh platform are available in two configurations for desktop videoconferencing on the IBM-compatible PC.
The Sharevision PC300 offers an audio compression card, an external fax/modem, application software, and a headset for $749. The PC3000 version adds a color video camera and the RT300 video capture and compression card for $1,599. Both products are scheduled to ship in August of this year.
Creative Technology says the advantage to using its Sharevision products for videoconferencing is that the cards do not require expensive integrated services digital network (ISDN), switched 56, or T1 telephone lines, but can use standard analog lines for video data.
The video capabilities allow users to communicate real-time through live, color video and audio, and users can also capture from either party's camera for on-line editing. Those who opt for the lower-priced PC300 system can also upgrade by adding the Video Blaster RT300 card and a video camera, the company said.
The Sound Blaster Multimedia Office is designed to add multimedia capability to existing computers in the SOHO market. Besides a Sound Blaster 16 with Advanced Signal Processing audio card and a Creative double speed CD-ROM drive, the package comes with a suite of Microsoft's business application software.
This suite is the first to use Microsoft's Sound System 2.0 software drivers with Creative's audio hardware, per a recent agreement between the two companies. Additional Microsoft application software includes Microsoft Office Professional 4.3 -- a bundle of word processor Microsoft Word 6.0, spreadsheet Excel 5.0, presentation package Powerpoint 4.0, database Access 2.0, and a workstation license for electronic messaging software Mail 3.2. In addition, Microsoft is offering its CD-ROM Encarta Encyclopedia.
For voice applications, Creative has included its Voiceassist, a speech recognition program, Creative Textassist, a text-to-speech system. A microphone is included so users can add their own voice messages to documents or applications using voice annotation, and stereo headphones have been added for private listening.
The Sound Blaster Multimedia Office is expected in July of 1994 at a retail price of $749.95.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940621/Press Contact: Theresa Pulido, Creative Labs subsidiary of Creative Technology, tel 408-428-6600 ext 6416, fax 408-428-6611; Karen Magill, Cunningham Communication for Creative Technology, tel 617-494-8202)
ication for Creative Technology, tel 617-494-8202)
6/22/94
Creative Intros Video/Conferencing/SOHO Products
Lotus 2 Qtr Revenues $20M Lower
$CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Lotus now expects to achieve second quarter revenues of $230 to $240 million about $20 to $25 million less than Wall Street analyst estimates company officials said in a teleconference. They attributed the shortfall mainly to shipment delays in upgrades to SmartSuite Lotus 1-2-3, Ami Pro, Freelance, and Approach.
With shipments pushed back to July or August from the initially slated June time-frame, Lotus will not see revenues and earnings from SmartSuite 3.0, Approach 3.0. Ami Pro 3.10, Freelance 2.1, 1-2-3 Release 5.0 for Windows, or 1-2-3 Release 4.0 for DOS until the third quarter, explained Ed Gillis, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and other officials during the teleconference, which was attended by Newsbytes.
"The lion's share of the revenue shortfall relates to product slippage in the desktop applications business," said Gillis. "Additionally, June sell-through is behind plan. A lot of this relates to where we are in the (product) cycle vis-a-vis Microsoft."
A "third reason" for the shortfall concerns implementation of a new volume sales program with the introduction of Lotus' Passport Program on May 2, Gillis added.
Gillis launched the teleconference by delivering a short summary of a press release issued by Lotus less than an hour before. The CFO then opened up the phone lines to questions from analysts and journalists.
"This quarter's performance is disappointing to all of us. However our communications business remains strong, and we have very high confidence that all of the products that moved into the third quarters will ship in July or August, which should contribute to a strong second-quarter performance. Despite our expectations for a strong second half performance, we are reducing our earnings forecast to $1.80 from previous guidance to $2.00 to $2.15," he said in summarizing the press release.
Lotus anticipates earnings of 20 to 25 cents per share for the second quarter ending July 2, Gillis said. The company will report its second-quarter results on 19.
Noted the CFO: "We're not changing our expectations for the second half of the year, (as) the guidance of $1.80 to $2.00 in the press release would indicate. There's going to be some combination of either sticking to our revenue plan or adjusting our spending plan."
During a lengthy Q&A period, officials were asked to elaborate on where Lotus stands in the product cycle. "We have new releases of virtually all our desktop applications coming imminently, (but) our related products in those categories are probably a year or plus old," Gillis said.
In contrast, Microsoft released the constituent parts of Microsoft Office in the fourth quarter of 1993 and the first quarter of the current year, he said. "So where we are to a certain extent at the trough of our product cycle, Microsoft is at the top (of its cycle)." During the end of a product cycle, sales demand for products drop, as customers await shipment of new releases, he explained.
Another questioner wanted to know the reasons for the shipment delays. The Windows-based SmartSuite "is a difficult thing in a development context because the products are highly integrated and therefore interdependent," said Gillis. "You don't want to get one product out too far ahead of another if you want them to work together as a suite." For the upgrade to the DOS-based version of Lotus 1-2-3, he added, the delay will be only a matter of "a couple of weeks."
Added Bob Weiler, senior VP of Lotus' North American Business Group: "The integration of the individual products (in the suite) really gets to be complex. We also have a real commitment to making sure the products will be out there at high quality, that they're not going to ship prematurely."
Other listeners asked for clarification on the role of the Passport Program in the projected shortfall. Weiler explained that particularly in the US and North America, Passport replaced previous contracts known as LSVP and RSVP, "where customers would deal with a reseller in conjunction with Lotus Direct."
Elaborated Bob Schechter, senior VP of the International Business Group: "The objective of the (Passport) program is to dramatically simplify the way customers can buy through Lotus from their dealers throughout the world. A customer can (now) have a single contract, and buy from their dealer everywhere in the world on the basis of this contract."
Noted Weiler: "For customers who had the older versions of our contracts, which were a little bit different in the US and Europe there's been an administrative process for the channel partners to go through in signing up all those customers."
Gillis reported that although channel activity levels seem to be high, Lotus "underestimated the start-up time associated with this new program." As a result, he said, "Contract volumes that would generally be expected to close at the end of the quarter appear to be behind."
By the third quarter, though, Passport will benefit Lotus and its dealers and customers by "enabling the channels to negotiate and close large, high volume contract business," according to Gillis.
The officials were also asked about current demand for desktop productivity applications. "There continues to be growth in the applications market, albeit in the five to ten percent range," responded Schechter.
"From our point of view, there is definitely an impact in terms of where we are, and where our competitors are, in the product cycle. (But) in terms of corporate accounts, we have seen zero erosion zero instances where people are moving away from our strategy to anybody else's," he added.
Another analyst wanted to know about the effect of Microsoft's move into messaging. "What is absolutely clear in our minds is that our strategy is absolutely sound. Our communication strategy continues to bring in large corporate customers. Essentially we believe we have a 'one-quarter issue' here that has really been driven by 'desktop product shifting' that is causing a shortfall in the revenue side," Weiler answered.
"I know you won't see any change in the strategy, the direction or the way we're selling it. In fact, one of the reasons we put this Passport program in is that more of the corporate accounts want to benefit from our communications products as well as our desktop products," he maintained.
Persisted the analyst: "If you feel you lost some ground in the first half of '94, and yet you didn't lose accounts, then what accounts are buying the Microsoft products at the expense of the Lotus products?
Replied Weiler: "It's pretty much the channel and the retail base. In large corporate accounts and corporate resellers, the business is quite healthy."
Another listener asked whether the upgrades to SmartSuite and the standalone applications will offer "enough new functionality" for non-Notes users. "Is there a risk that they might wait for the follow-on release for Chicago if indeed the difference is perceived as more integration than major new functionality?" he inquired.
"No, I don't think there's risk of that," said Weiler. "There's a lot of new functionality, both as individual products and as a suite." The new upgrade to 1-2-3 for Windows brings functionality for networks as well as Notes, and has just been named the "premiere workgroup spreadsheet" by PC Week, he asserted. In addition, "there are tremendous synergies between Approach and 1-2-3" in SmartSuite 3.0, he said.
"On the Chicago question," Weiler added, "Chicago will not be out until early '95 as an operating system. Corporations are looking at that. We think there will be a dual life of products for awhile: 16-bit and 32-bit."
Schechter told the analysts and journalists that "people will not just be buying upgrades. The momentum of the whole product line is also influenced by the newness of the product the currency of reviews."
Another inquiry concerned sales in Europe. Replied Schechter: "In Europe, what we've been seeing over the last several quarters was continued steady growth in our Windows application business, led by SmartSuite, which more than offset a decline in the DOS base. What happened this quarter was essentially a flattening of the Windows business and a continued decline of the DOS business." Demand for the Windows applications was temporarily lowered by the shipment delays, he added.
At the close of the briefing, Gillis was asked for further elaboration on Lotus' financial plan for the year. "We think we can deliver on plan for the second half of the year, but obviously if we see softness in revenues, we will adjust spending," he said.
"Our expectation is that, with a communications business that's doing fine and with a desktop business that will be improved with the product cycle, we should be able to close back on our plan at the revenue line in the third quarter, in which case we won't do anything different at the spending line," he concluded.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940621/Press Contacts: Richard Eckel, Lotus 617-693-1284; Lauren Lampinen, Lois Paul & Partners for Lotus 617-862-4514)
n, Lois Paul & Partners for Lotus 617-862-4514)
6/22/94
Lotus 2 Qtr Revenues $20M Lower Than Forecast
BUSINESS
UK - Dataquest Places US Robotic
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- After a lot of jostling and price repositioning over the last year, US Robotics' UK operation has reached the number one sales slot, something that Managing Director Clive Hudson has been pushing over the last few years since his appointment.
According to the latest figures from Dataquest, the market research company, US Robotics is now market leader in the UK high-speed modem marketplace with a 16.5 percent share ahead of Cray Communications with 11.4 percent.
In the total marketplace, US Robotics with 13.7 percent is on the tail of Cray, which has a 14.4 percent share. According to US Robotics, these results are interim only and are based on a full 1993 sales report expected from Dataquest in August of this year.
The report signals a major shift towards high speed modems from the low-speed -- 2,400 bits-per-second (bps) and below. In 1993, 70 percent of modem sales were 9,600 bps or faster.
Newsbytes notes that, during 1993, the 14,400 bps modem market quadruped in size from 50,000 to more than 200,000 units. This, USR claims, is due to the opening up of the home and small office/home office (SOHO) marketplaces to high speed modem technology.
Hudson is predicting that 1994 will see USR pull away from the rest of the modem pack, and top out the market on the overall market share as well. "We've gone from 15th in 1990 to number one in 1993. The figures tell their own story," he said.
Dataquest's interim report predicts that the modem market will continue to keep on growing for the next two to three years primarily as a result of the newly-ratified V.34 (V.Fast) modem standard, which allows data transmissions of 28,800 bps without recourse to data compression technology.
(Steve Gold/19940621/Press Contact: Frank Smith, Edge Partnership for US Robotics, +44-625-511966; Reader Contact: US Robotics, +44-753-811180)
25-511966; Reader Contact: US Robotics, +44-753-811180)
6/22/94
UK - Dataquest Places US Robotics Ahead Of Modem Pack
TRENDS
UK - MPC MIDI-Compatible Home Mu
FARNHAM, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Optech has launched the Cakewalk Home Studio for Windows, a Multimedia PC (MPC)-compatible multi-track MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) sequencer for Windows that it claims allows users to create, record, play back, edit and even print music all on a PC.
According to Ewan MacGregor of Optech, Cakewalk Home Studio is pitched at both novices and experts alike. The software allows users to "build" music scores layer by layer using up to 256 tracks -- each track can be recorded separately and allocated to individual song elements such as the melody line, various instruments, vocals and sound effects from Windows WAV files.
Music can be created and recorded in steps or in real-time using a MIDI instrument linked to a PC or via the on-screen music staff or piano roll grid using the PC's mouse. Likewise, music can be edited and notes deleted.
For non-musicians, the package has an online help facility that can be accessed from almost anywhere in the program. The help facility includes definitions, useful examples and a topic search function. There is also a set of "load" and "play" MIDI sequences to help absolute beginners start their music programming.
The Staff printing facility allows a composition to be printed off in true musical score mode. Up to 16 staves per page can be printed, all in selectable sizes. A print preview mode is also included.
If all this sounds old hat to users of the Atari ST or Commodore Amiga, Newsbytes readers should remember that both these machines were designed to accommodate multi-channel MIDI programming. The PC, however, was not designed with such features in mind, making Cakewalk a major breakthrough in PC music/MIDI program terms.
The UKP186.65 package needs a 10 megahertz (MHz) 80286 based PC or better running Windows 3.1 or later. Minimum memory requirements are two megabytes. In use, the package supports up to 16 MIDI ports with multimedia extensions drivers, such as the Roland MPU-40.1 or Music Quest. The package also supports Microsoft Windows MIDI Mapper.
UK - MPC MIDI-Compatible Home Music Studio Intro'd
Great Bear Offers Symptoms, Illn
Q MORAGA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Based on the best-selling book of the same name by H. Winter Griffith MD Great Bear Technology has announced the Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness & Surgery on CD.
Great Bear's HealthSoft division produces medical information for the general public and this latest product uses multimedia technology to cover more than 800 symptoms, 500 illnesses and 177 surgeries, as well as preventative medical suggestions for "better health." With the advantage of multimedia, users are provided with both medical information and color diagrams showing phases of particular surgeries.
An interesting feature is the audio pronunciation of complex medical terms that are indexed for easy location. The company claims this CD not only allow users to investigate a particular symptom or surgery, but also serve as a means of reiterating information already provided by a doctor before and after a surgery. Similar to most multimedia productions, search engines are used to make inquiries "fast and efficient."
Offering an unusual marketing strategy, Great Bear will provide the program on Windows floppy disks free of charge to purchasers of the CD when they return the enclosed registration form. Information on floppy disks reduces the audio and graphic features found on the CD.
Doug Cole, president and CEO of Great Bear, told Newsbytes "This CD completes the set of five titles we have in our medical line. We think it offers the 'lay person' a valuable tool for personal investigation and as well, an educational tool to enhance communication with medical professionals."
Addressing the offer to provide floppy disks, Cole said, "It is our goal to make our material available to as many people as possible. We think this will allow a much larger group learn about our medical information line and begin to learn about the advantages of multimedia technology."
The $49.95 program requires an IBM or compatible computer four megabytes (MB) of RAM, 1MB of hard drive space, Windows 3.1 or higher and a CD-ROM drive.
Great Bear also announced the addition of pronunciations and color photographs to its Complete Guide to Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs. Both products are currently on display at CES in Chicago.
(Patrick McKenna/19940621/Press Contact: Maria Amundson A&R Partners, tel 415-363-0982)
ct: Maria Amundson A&R Partners, tel 415-363-0982)
6/22/94
Great Bear Offers Symptoms, Illness & Surgery CD
India - Price Waterhouse Sets Up
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Price Waterhouse Associates (PWA) is setting up a software consultancy center at Saltlec, the electronic complex near Calcutta. It is slated to be operational by December 15.
The center will house three major facilities. Firstly, there will be a unit to impart training to consultants on methodologies which have been developed by Price Waterhouse World Firm (PWWF). These include PWWF's proprietary system management methodology (SMM) package implementation and information systems risk management. The center will also train PWA consultants in PWWF methodologies like 'change integration' and 'business process transformation' to assist companies in reengineering their business processes.
Secondly, the center will serve as a software sourcing point for PWA worldwide. Thirdly, the center aims to help Indian clients assess emerging technologies and the potential for using them in business.
It will be linked with PWWF's technology center in Palo Alto California, and to industry expert groups and databases in PWA in the US and Europe. The aim will be to share with clients based in India, knowledge in chosen industries like banking insurance, financial services, petroleum, and electricity.
PWA has a worldwide revenue of $4 billion, of which $750 million is consulting revenue.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940621)
n is consulting revenue.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940621)
6/22/94
India - Price Waterhouse Sets Up Software Consultancy
BUSINESS
Lotus Australia Continues As Top
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Lotus Development's subsidiary of the year, Lotus Australia, has announced record revenue growth for the year so far. This contrasts with predictions for no little growth for the organization worldwide, for this quarter.
Lotus Australia expects gross revenues for the first half of 1994 to be 36 percent up on the same period last year. Operating income is up 90 percent and revenue from sales of Notes is up 126 percent for the same period.
MD for the subsidiary, Gerhard Rumpf, said the results are due to strong sales of Lotus' desktop products, especially the integrated package SmartSuite, and the ongoing success of Lotus Notes and cc:Mail.
"Our new discount package for corporate buyers -- Lotus Passport -- has received almost immediate success. We started out this year with the clear goal of lifting awareness and sales of SmartSuite and continuing our Notes momentum and we've done better than expected," he said.
He continued: "I believe much of our success is due to the integrated marketing campaign staged over the last few months. We have also enjoyed excellent support from our business partners in the communications and retails."
(Paul Zucker/19940621)
ions and retails."
(Paul Zucker/19940621)
6/22/94
Lotus Australia Continues As Top Subsidiary
BUSINESS
JetForm, Moore Ship Electronic P
MIPS R4400 200MHz Beats Pentium
Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims A
3-D Backgrounds For Windows
Company Brings Internet To Your
UK - BT Announces Major Price Re
America Online Adds To Internet
Integrated Network Intros Multim
Internet's Virtual Computer Stor
Microsoft Summit - More Touchdow
ZiffNet Offers Cookbook For Char
UK - Canon Intros New Flagship P
Rival Anti-Piracy Groups Expand
RAM Mobile Data Links With Sprin
World's Largest Monitor, New Gra
New Firm To Develop Multimedia I
UK - Texas Instruments Intros Ne
3Com Intros Hub Enhancements
IBM Licenses OpenMail From HP Fo
Consultant Says Open Systems Com
PenMagic Offers Letter Express F
India - Software Exports Up 50%
Review of - Kid Cuts,
Australia - New Multimedia Sound
Davidson Demos Multimedia Worksh
SPSS Launches Indian Subsidiary
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- SPSS Inc., the Chicago based statistical data analysis and presentation software developer, has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in India called SPSS India Pvt. Ltd. Along with the subsidiary, the company plans to move its headquarters for South Asia to India.
Headquartered in Delhi, the new company will also be responsible for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Up to now, these had come under the UK subsidiary.
The company will have a major software development facility in India, according to Ian Durell, vice president and head of SPSS International Operations. Plans are to upgrade to Windows develop a Unix Motif version, as well as local language versions in India.
The Indian subsidiary will export software to the parent company and to customers in the South Asian region. The company has a marketing partnership with IBM for Sri Lanka and Ciproco for Bangladesh, Burma, and Pakistan, besides Wipro Systems for India.
Even though SPSS has only now set up a subsidiary, its products are claimed to have an installed-base of over 2,000 in India. Over the last five years, the company has contracted offshore software development work to Indian companies, such as Tata Consultancy Services, International Computers Indian Manufacture (ICIM), and Wipro Systems Ltd.
Starting with an investment of $100,000, it will go up to $1.5 million by 1995.
Also, following the reduction in duties on application software the company has dropped the price of a site license of its SPSS 6.0 product to R24,000 (about $800) from R250,000 (about $8,300). Apart from premier institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology, and Indian Institute of Management, educational institutions will get a 10 percent discount.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940621)
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940621)
6/22/94
SPSS Launches Indian Subsidiary
BUSINESS
Canadian Product Launch Update
NCTA - Cross-Industry Cooperatio
Lotus To Buy Notes Development F
New CD-ROM Journeys To The Plane
UK - Pinacl Products Intros Fibe
Comdex - CDs A Major Theme
Denmark - Technology Briefs
Bill Gates Awards Windows Compet
UK - Intuit Intros Quickbooks 2.
Compuserve Offers New Video Game
Mobile Data Users To Skyrocket
CA Wins Class Action Suit, Newtr
Conner Intros 4GB RAID System Fo
UK - Apricot MD Warns On Info Hi
SW Bell Announces Broadband Upgr
Japan - Fujitsu & Microsoft Link
UK Survey Finds Computers Educat
Political Action On Internet Ove
Hongkong - Rockwell Digital-To-A
More On BT-MCI Deal
Miniscribe CFO Convicted, Faces
DiagSoft Offers Diagnostics, Ser
SPSS Launches Indian Subsidiary
India - Price Waterhouse Sets Up
Lotus Australia Continues As Top
Canon Intros Workstation For Nex
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Canon's new Advanced Technologies Operation (ATO) business unit, in alliance with Next Computer, has announced its first product, an Intel 486DX4/100-based workstation called "object.station 41."
Canon, a longtime advocate of Next technology, built object.station 41 to take advantage of NextStep, Next's object oriented operating system. the company claims the new workstation is the logical successor to the NeXTstation.
A spokesperson for Canon told Newsbytes, "The ATO group was designed by Canon to expand its small office/home office (SOHO) position by developing high-end computer products and solutions that penetrate client-server technology and object-oriented systems."
According to Canon, object.station 41 will perform up to 30 percent faster than standard 486-based systems and 15 percent faster than Pentium-based systems running NextStep, based on NX benchmarks.
Canon says its proprietary video subsystem is the basis which creates the advantages found in speeding video throughput of NextStep's native resolution.
The workstation matches NextStep's designated workstation class video resolution of 1,120 by 832 pixels and has met all of the necessary standards to earn the NextStep-certified system label, which assures Next customers of compatibility and Next support.
Immediately available and priced at under $6,500, "object.station 41" is delivered with NextStep 3.2 pre-installed and a demo version of Insignia Solutions' SoftPC for running Windows and DOS applications within NextStep.
The system features two 2 megabytes (MB) of VRAM, 16MB RAM, CD-quality audio with SoundBlaster compatibility, 32-bit LAN (local area network) interface, SCSI (small computer systems interface)-2 controllers, a Canon keyboard with Next specific keycaps, keyboard-resident audio volume and monitor brightness controls, and the ability to upgrade to Pentium processing through Pentium Overdrive technology.
(Patrick McKenna/19940621/Press Contact: Christine Thomas, Hajjar/Kaufman, tel 310-305-8128)
omas, Hajjar/Kaufman, tel 310-305-8128)
6/22/94
Canon Intros Workstation For Nextstep
GENERAL
TI Intros Network Interface For
TEMPLE, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has announced a new network interface for its microLaser Pro 600 printers that simultaneously supports four of the popular network operating systems using any of three different interfaces.
TI says its new Pro Network Interface (PNI) option supports Novell Netware, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol a low level protocol standard used for non-proprietary networks such as the Internet), Microsoft LAN (local area network) Manager and IBM LANServer network protocols.
PNI allows a microLaser Pro 600 to be connected to a network using 10BaseT, 10Base2, or 10Base5 interfaces. 10BaseT is an Ethernet thin unshielded twisted cable interface that requires concentrators with a port for each connected device. 10Base2 is the designation for the Ethernet protocol running on a thin coaxial cable, while 10Base5 is for Ethernet running on a thick coaxial cable.
TI says the microLaser Pro 600 printer is designed for the high volume printing associated with workgroups. it uses a RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) processor, has a 500-sheet capacity paper tray, built-in Localtalk, six megabytes (MB) of standard memory Adobe's Postscript Level 2 software and can print at up to 600 dots-per-inch (dpi).
PNI ships with PRINTSET network management software. A feature called Automatic Protocol Sensing allows the printer to simultaneously monitor and automatically switch to the proper network protocol when a print job is executed, without any manual intervention by the operator.
Port switching and printer language switching is also automatic. TI says the port switching is done through an intelligent interfacing feature that allows all ports to remain active when more than one computer is connected to the printer. The automatic printer language switching between Hewlett-Packard and Postscript modes is done via Adobe's IntelliSelect technology.
TI offers several options for the microLaser Pro 600, including Powerstep to boost performance to the performance level of a 40 megahertz RISC workstation and provides four times the cache storage plus built-in floating point processing. Memory upgrades to 22MB and additional fonts and communications interfaces are also available.
TI spokesperson Jerry Rycaj told Newsbytes the PNI option has a suggested retail price of $599 and is shipping immediately. The microLaser Pro 600 series printers start at $1,599.
TI Intros Network Interface For MicroLaser Printers
DynaTek Launches Mac Storage Lin
BEDFORD, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Storage peripherals maker DynaTek Automation Systems Inc. has moved into the Apple Macintosh market with a line of disk drives, tape drives, and optical storage devices, all using the small computer systems interface (SCSI).
These are DynaTek's first products designed specifically for the Macintosh, company spokesman Andrew Clarke told Newsbytes.
All the new models combine DynaTek designs and software with basic assemblies from other manufacturers. The collection includes five hard drive assemblies using Quantum hard disks four removable-media drives with SyQuest cartridges, three digital audio tape (DAT) drives using Sony technology, three rewritable optical drives using Fujitsu and Sony components, and a 600 megabyte (MB) CD-ROM drive based on Toshiba equipment.
All the devices are supplied with ComPass Pro 3.0, software from DynaTek that provides diagnostics and testing as well as a SCSI code editor and an audio compact disk control program.
They also support the SCSI Manager 4.3 that comes with Apple's Power Mac models, making use of its asynchronous transfer mode to provide access to multiple SCSI buses with mirroring capability. This capability, not to be confused with the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) used in high-speed networking, allows simultaneous access to more than one SCSI drive, Clarke said.
Prices for the new models range from C$574 or US$429 for a MB hard drive assembly to C$4,789 or US$3,569 for a 1.3 gigabyte (GB) rewritable optical system. Hard drive assemblies are available in capacities up to 1GB, and removable media drives in capacities from 88MB to 270MB.
(Grant Buckler/19940622/Press Contact: Andrew Clarke DynaTek, tel 902-832-3000, fax 902-832-3010)
tel 902-832-3000, fax 902-832-3010)
6/22/94
DynaTek Launches Mac Storage Line
APPLE
Vancouver-Area BBS Charged With
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Lee Thomas Adams, system operator of the Shadow bulletin board system (BBS), has become the third Canadian sysop to be charged with software piracy, and the first west of Toronto.
Charges were laid early this month on 16 counts of copyright infringement involving software from Borland International Inc. IBM, Lotus Development Corp., Symantec Corp., and WordPerfect Corp., according to the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST), a Toronto-based piracy watchdog that helped police with the case.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Vancouver investigated the Shadow BBS over several months after receiving information about pirated software on the board, CAAST spokesman Allan Reynolds told Newsbytes.
He said court proceedings are still under way against Legion of Death, a Toronto bulletin board against which similar charges were laid a few months ago, and 90 North, a board in Montreal that was the first Canadian BBS charged with software piracy more than two years ago.
Figures from the Business Software Association, an anti-piracy group in the United States, say the software industry loses more than US$12.8 billion due to piracy each year.
(Grant Buckler/19940622/Press Contact: Michael Eisen, Morris Rose Ledgett for CAAST, tel 416-981-9322; Allan Reynolds CAAST, tel 416-598-8988, fax 416-598-3584; Public Contact: CAAST, tel 800-263-9700)
98-3584; Public Contact: CAAST, tel 800-263-9700)
6/22/94
Vancouver-Area BBS Charged With Software Piracy
Encyclopedia Britannica To Devel
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation (EBEC) has announced an agreement with the state of Florida to co-develop a cross-platform file server and software applications for the state's educational system.
EBEC says the School Year 2000 Learning Support System will provide students, faculty, administrators and parents with access to a wide array of information and data.
The project is a joint effort on the part of the Florida Department of Education, Florida School Districts, Florida Legislature, and the Center for Educational Technology at Florida State University.
It is intended to implement a "technology-supported system of schooling" its designers hope will "increase the productivity of Florida public schools and provide students with skills and competencies necessary in an increasingly technology-oriented world."
Wendy Cullar, program director for School Year 2000, told Newsbytes the system is designed to supplement, not replace the traditional school setting.
Asked if children would eventually receive all their education via computers while remaining at home, Cullar said they probably will not, although a sick student could keep up with their school work from home.
Added Cullar, "The school performs three roles. In addition to teaching children, it also has a custodial function," which allows the parents to go to work, "and a socialization one."
The School Year 2000 will offer children specific drills to perform on the computer, such as working on math problems to prepare for the afternoon math class. The students might also prepare reports on the system, which can be evaluated by the teacher online. The system will refer the student to various applicable resources for that report.
The LSS system planners will be exploring the use of an open data standard that will allow other companies to integrate new or existing software into the system. LSS will run on IBM-compatible and Macintosh platforms on school and district-wide local area networks (LANs).
EBEC gets marketing rights to the system and will work with the state to develop the 11 sub-systems that will interface with the overall system. The sub-systems include curriculum, instruction assessment, student and family services, mission, quality evaluation, management operations, human resource development logistics and research and development. EBEC says many of those will be developed in conjunction with other vendors.
The company says it expects to have a working prototype of the Learning Support System completed and tested in seven school districts by the Spring of 1995.
(Jim Mallory/19940621/Press contact: Pam Pesavento, Ogilvy Adams & Rinehart for EBEC, 312-988-2513; Reader contact: Wendy Cullar Florida State University, 904-644-7447 or Phil Stockton Encyclopedia Britannica, 312-347-7950)
47 or Phil Stockton Encyclopedia Britannica, 312-347-7950)
6/22/94
Encyclopedia Britannica To Develop Florida Education Sys
Sidekick For Windows 1st App In
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- The first Windows-based version of Sidekick, which started shipping last week, is also the first of a group of three or four applications that Borland plans to release by the end of this fall under its new "Simplicity" brand, Newsbytes has learned.
Also referred to by Borland as the "slimware" line, the Simplicity products are being produced by Borland's new Consumer Products Division, for a target market of "workgroups of one," according to a company spokesperson.
This week, Borland officially unveiled the Consumer Division, as well as the division's first product. As previously reported in Newsbytes, though, Sidekick for Windows started to be sold in retail stores last week. At about the same time, Ambra Computer began to bundle Sidekick, in addition to Borland Office 2.0, with all its subnotebooks and two of its notebook models.
Shipping a product first, and then introducing it later, is unusual practice in the software industry, the spokesperson told Newsbytes. "Usually, things are the other way around," he pointed out.
In a move just as unusual, Borland waited six months from the actual establishment of the Consumer Division before announcing the existence of the department. "We wanted to make sure we had product in our hands," he explained.
Sidekick for Windows and the new Simplicity family reflect a new two-pronged approach to software development at Borland, the spokesperson reported. "Philippe Kahn, Borland's president and chief executive officer (CEO), has written that there are two basic design methodologies," he said. "One methodology is to make software so simple that there are no obvious deficiencies. The other methodology is to fulfill a huge list of features, making the software so complex that there are no obvious deficiencies."
Although other departments within Borland will continue to develop suites and other large and complex products, the new Consumer Division has "opted for radical simplicity," according to the spokesperson.
The first commercial release of Sidekick for Windows is actually only the latest in a series of iterations that has taken place over several years, he said.
Borland was getting ready to launch a much different version, which would have shipped on seven floppy disks, when alpha testing in a new usability lab convinced the company to shift gears. The lab was established last October, after Borland moved to new headquarters in Scotts Valley, California, he said.
Alpha testers at the lab told Borland that the seven-disk version bore little resemblance to their concept of Sidekick, which was drawn from the original edition for DOS. "Users were saying things like, `This isn't the Sidekick I know.' Or, `This seems more like a suite.'"
A full 80 percent of those who tried the seven-disk prototype ended up using only 20 percent of the features, the spokesperson continued. "We decided to make it possible for 80 percent of the features to be used by 80 percent of users."
As a result, the first commercial release for Windows is a "tightly integrated" one-disk product that is "fast, flexible, and literally fun," Newsbytes was told.
Through a "quick menu" function, for instance, Sidekick users can place an icon on the menu bar of any Windows application, for "one click" access to any component within Sidekick. The components include a calendar, calculator, card file, and contact manager plus a freeform "notes" section.
The new Borland division is also making a conscious effort not to inflict "fascist software demands" on customers, the spokesperson said. "Our products will be designed to work the way people 'really work.' We will not be telling people that they must list all names with a first name, last name, and middle initial, or that they can only store four addresses. They might want to store 15 or 20."
The organizational structure of the Consumer Products Division is as "slim" as the new Simplicity line, he noted. Functions such as research and development and advertising are "outsourced," with only the most essential services being performed in-house.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940622/Press Contacts: Knox Richardson Borland, 408-431-1000; Pam Erickson or Anne Marie Clark Cunningham Communication for Ambra, 617-494-8202; Reader Contacts: Borland, 408-431-1000; Ambra, 800-25-AMBRA)
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Human Designed Systems (HDS) has announced the ViewStation Ultra Series a line of X Window terminals that is positioned primarily against PCs and Macs, and only secondarily against traditional X terminal rivals like workstations and character-based terminals.
In a pre-briefing with Newsbytes in Boston, Michael Kantrowitz, VP of marketing, said that members of the Ultra Series provide the same kind of ability to run PC, Mac, and Unix applications as an Apple Power Macintosh, but "operate ten times faster in a Unix environment," and are less costly to buy and maintain.
Being displayed this week at the Xhibition trade show in San Jose California, the six members of the new series range from the 14C a 14-inch color X terminal priced at $1,799, to the high-end Ultra CT, a 19-inch terminal costing $3,599.
Each of the new X terminals is based on an Intel i960CA RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) processor, performs at 152,000 Xstones, offers 1,280 by 1,024 resolution, and comes standard with eight megabytes (MB) of RAM, according to the VP.
Each terminal also provides an integrated 3.5-inch disk drive that allows the user to "take a floppy disk from a PC or Macintosh, plug it into the Ultra, transfer it to any computer on the network, and in conjunction with Windows or Macintosh emulation software, run PC applications right at the X terminal," he told Newsbytes.
The Ultra terminals operate HDSware 3.0, a new version of HDS' X Server software that permits users to run applications locally on their X terminals to offload existing computers, Kantrowitz said. HDSware 3.0 "runs much faster" than X server software for PCs or Macs, he maintained.
The Ultras also compete against other X terminals, but none of these rivals offer "the same level of integration to bridge the gap between the PC, the Mac, and Unix on the desktop," he contended.
The Ultra Series also offers better price/performance than competing X terminals, he said. For example, the 17-inch Ultra 17C priced at $2,399, offers twice as much RAM as the competing NCD ECX terminal and almost three times the performance, for almost $200 less. The NCD performs at 52,000 Xstones and comes standard with 4MB of RAM, according to Kantrowitz.
The new X terminals from HDS ship with full copies of: the OSF (Open Software Foundation)/Motif and Open Look window managers; emulation of DEC VT320 and IBM 3270 terminals; clocks; calculators; a screen saver with a local lock; and a PostScript display application, he said.
An optional application, HDS Video, allows viewing of 30 frames-per second video within a window. The Ultra terminals support several video compression/decompression standards, including Indeo, Sun's Cel-B, and MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group), the VP added.
PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slots are also optionally available, according to Kantrowitz.
The terminals use SoftWindows from Insignia Solutions for Microsoft Windows emulation and Apple's Macintosh Application Environment (MAE) for Macintosh emulation.
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based HDS introduced "the industry's first windowing terminals" way back in 1977, Kantrowitz noted. "We should have patented the idea," he quipped.
HDS currently produces two additional X terminal lines. Members of the Viewstation FX line, an entry-level series rolled out two years ago, perform at 100,000 Xstones, he reported.
Members of the Viewstation Dual Series, which "allow the customer to have two monitors," fulfill "niche markets" such as "financial trading, emergency dispatch, and other areas where the user needs to see more information."
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940622/Reader Contact: Human Designed Systems, 800-SDS-1551; Press Contact: Tom Harkins, HDS 610-277-8300)
Press Contact: Tom Harkins, HDS 610-277-8300)
6/22/94
X Terminals From HDS Integrate PC, Mac, Unix
GENERAL
Ethics Campaign Gets Official La
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- The National Computer Ethics & Responsibilities Campaign (NCERC) was officially launched with a press conference on Capitol Hill June 21, and the Software Publishers' Association (SPA) added its name to the list of sponsors.
NCERC was the brainchild of Dr. Peter Tippett, director of security and enterprise products for Symantec Corp. and co-chairman of NCERC. Its principal sponsor is The Computer Ethics Institute, a Washington-based group founded in 1992. A variety of companies and other organizations are also sponsors.
In adding its name to the list of sponsoring groups, the SPA emphasized its concerns about software piracy, an issue on which it has been outspoken in the past, and content ratings for video games to warn parents of violent or sexually explicit content.
Christopher Hopkins, public relations coordinator for the SPA told Newsbytes his organization's involvement in NCERC is likely to revolve around those issues for the time being.
NCERC's organizers have raised various other computer ethics issues as well, including individual privacy. NCERC's launch at the Rayburn House office building included a demonstration of online searching for supposedly private personal records and of some information systems used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
NCERC officials said they do not plan to take specific positions on ethical issues, but simply to draw attention to the concerns. The group plans various activities to do this. For instance, one sponsor of NCERC is the CompuServe online information service which has set up an ethics forum online. Symantec is giving free copies of its software to electronic bulletin board system operators who post one of the various computing codes of ethics on their sign-on screens.
Michael Volpe, a spokesman for NCERC, told Newsbytes that some of NCERC's sponsors are contributing in kind, as with Symantec's software giveaway and CompuServe's online ethics forum, while others make cash contributions of $6,000 to $10,000, depending on the size of the company, to fund NCERC.
NCERC's sponsors and affiliates include: the Atterbury Foundation, American University; the Boston Computer Society; the Business Software Alliance; CompuServe; the Computing Technology Industry Association; EDUCOM; the IEEE Computer Society; the Jefferson Circle; Merrill Lynch; Monsanto; the National Computer Security Association; the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse; Software Creations BBS; the Software Publishers Association; Symantec; the Washington Consulting Group; and Ziff-Davis Publishing.
(Grant Buckler/19940622/Press Contact: Michael Volpe, NCERC, tel 703-534-5022; Peter Tippett, NCERC, tel 310-459-9565; Public Contact: NCERC, tel 310-459-9565, fax 310-459-8513, Internet 6300836@mcimail.com)
65, fax 310-459-8513, Internet 6300836@mcimail.com)
6/22/94
Ethics Campaign Gets Official Launch, SPA Support
GENERAL
More On Ziff Interchange & Star
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- News editors at the Minneapolis Star Tribune were behind that paper's decision to affiliate with Ziff's Interchange online service, Newsbytes has learned.
Newsbytes discussed the decision with Robert Schafer, who will be the "publisher" of the new service. He identified himself, new Star Tribune Online Editor/Manager Steve Yelvington, and Star Tribune Senior Vice President Tim McGuire, as the decision makers.
"We struggled" with the decision, he admitted. "Alternatives had advantages." But in the end, "We were impressed with Ziff's technology, and saw things in the technology that would be good marketing points for our service -- its search capabilities, its multitasking, doing things in the background, the ability to do repetitive searches and have material in the in-box. These were also key marketing assets."
Money also entered into it. "We thought highly of Ziff's financial model for publishing partners," he said. "It has to do with recognizing the needs of publishing partners to have revenue flow that would cover expenses."
Schafer noted, however, that the Star Tribune itself will carry the marketing burden for the new service. "What we're thinking is our service will be a local service, and that regardless of what partner we selected, the primary responsibility would be with us. Some online services have an installed customer base here, but if it only attracted those customers, we wouldn't have a success. We must market our service to the Twin Cities area and bring new people to online services."
As to other new media operations of the Star Tribune, "We've got a real small fax service," Schafer said. In terms of voice services, the paper has a free service that gets about five million calls per year and has been in operation 2-3 years. "We don't have N11 -- our public utilities commission tabled that," so numbers similar to Cox Enterprises' 511, which like the 911 emergency number only work within a local calling area, aren't available in Minnesota."
Newsbytes asked about whose computers would host the service and what they would cost. "Ziff will be hosting everything on its service with its computers," he said. "There would be a daytime surcharge" but "we expect costs to be lower than $15 a month including five hours of use a month," in line with the costs of using America OnLine. "One beauty of the Ziff system is that because it's easy to download material, you can read it off line," reducing readers' costs.
The paper will also work to bring its advertisers onto the new service, Schafer said,. "We want to make an effort to bring in our advertisers. Some of them will be very interested in a new medium, and will want to explore the advertising possibilities." Ziff has demonstrated that capability to Star Tribune editors, he said.
Newsbytes noted that Cowles owns "Mobile Computing " magazine as well as Simba Information, a market research firm in the technology industry, and asked whether those units played a role in this decision. "We talk much more with other newspapers around the country" than with other Cowles property, he replied, "to see their reasons they went in other areas."
He found the "Kansas City Star and San Francisco paper are working on their own systems. We've talked with papers going with Prodigy and America OnLine. We spent more time talking with those people...we did have contacts with a person at Cowles' magazines. We kept in touch to let other parts of the company know what's going on, but it was not a situation where we were getting okays from corporate."
As to the background on Cowles, it is 60 percent owned by the Cowles family, and while it is mainly considered a private company, some stock in it is traded through Minneapolis brokerages.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940622/Press Contact: Stephanie Cadmus Minneapolis Star Tribune, 612-673-7672; Lisa Landa, Interchange 612-252-5211; Star Tribune Online, Robert Schafer: e-mail: roberts@startribune.com)
Schafer: e-mail: roberts@startribune.com)
6/22/94
More On Ziff Interchange & Star Tribune
TELECOM
Notable Offers Wireless Messagin
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Adapting to the wireless market "as it is," in the words of a company official Notable Technologies Inc. announced AirNote, an all-in-one wireless messaging offering using paging services.
AirNote will come complete with software, a text pager, a personal Internet address, the free activation of network and operator services, and one-call customer support, the company said. It will retail for $349. Paging services will be provided through PageNet, the nation's largest paging operator, and SkyTel, with prices ranging from $19.95 to $124.95 per month depending on message volumes and coverage areas.
Using the system, messages can be typed into any modem-equipped PC using the AirNote software. Electronic-mail messages can be sent using the AirNote pager's Internet address. Voice messages can also be sent via telephone, through a toll-free number. In those cases messages are dictated to operators. LAN (local area network) mail packages, like Lotus' cc:Mail and Microsoft Mail, can also be linked to the pager.
Newsbytes discussed this with Barry Dewey, Notable's vice president-strategic planning. "There's a set of computer users," mobile executives, that the company is aiming at, he said. "We tried to put together specific solutions for each group. For the Internet user we have a gateway to the pager, stripping out routing codes and compressing messages. We've also looked at the needs of e-mail users, developing our AutoNote software so they can develop a set of routines" incorporating the pager into corporate-wide e-mail networks.
"We've also looked at heavy voice mail users and provided a feature for sending messages through a live operator," he added.
Like many other companies that started with pen-based computing field computing and mobile computing offerings, Notable has been struggling to lift-off. Dewey said the company is not abandoning its other work, but admitted, "We're working with the market as it is today."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940622/Press Contact: Matt Kresch, Notable Technologies, 510/208-4424)
Notable Technologies, 510/208-4424)
6/22/94
Notable Offers Wireless Messaging
TELECOM
Compuadd Cuts Prices Up To 19%
Zilog Intros PC 28.8Kbps Modem C
Comdex - Galvin Keynote Pitches
Modatech Offers Sales Suite For
Hike The Rocky Mountains Virtual
Odyssey BBS Adds Internet Access
Japan - Pocket PC Debuts From Fu
Australia - Computer Associates
Hong Kong Welcomes Compuserve's
DEC Opens New Asia Pacific HQ
Virtual Reality & Persons With D
Correction - LSI Components Supp
Cliffs Expands Software Line
Aldus Paint Program For Older Ch
Cray Computer Gets Temporary Fin
OverNet Offers Low-Cost Wireless
Olivetti Deal With Retix On Rout
IBM Australia Wins Regional Data
Greece - Former Prime Minister T
Westcott Going Slow on ACTV Dist
Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For
Labor Law Online With Pillsbury,
Iona Unveils Orbix 2.1 For Windo
Europay International Pushes Sma
Pipeline On SprintNet For Nation
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- The Pipeline, an Internet service provider noted for its Windows-based interface announced it has signed an agreement to link with SprintNet. The agreement means that the service is now available via a dial-up to a local phone number from SprintNet nodes in the US and internationally.
Essentially, the agreement puts access to The Pipeline on a par with that of consumer services like America OnLine and Prodigy, which also depend on packet networks to route calls to their main systems.
The Pipeline was founded by James Gleick, a journalist best known as the author of the books "Chaos" and "Genius." He said in a recent Newsbytes interview that, in his group's excitement over the Internet's possibilities, they worked quickly to develop a Windows-based interface, expecting they would be even with the market or a bit late.
To Gleick's surprise, The Pipeline was the first to market with the interface, and as a result he is currently working full-time for his company. The number of Pipeline users has been doubling every two months, despite having to use a local New York number for access.
In addition to the SprintNet connection, the Pipeline is continuing to move ahead on new software. The company told Newsbytes a Macintosh version of the software is now in beta test, and Version 2.0 of its main package will be out shortly. That version will include a Mosaic-style browser for World Wide Web resources.
Beyond the Pipeline's standard rates of $15 per month, SprintNet customers will pay a surcharge of $5 per hour during prime-time hours, $2.50 per hour at other times. That is still much less than the cost of a long distance call, the company noted.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940622/Press Contact: Pipeline, Susan deSesa, tel 212-572-4985, fax 212-267-4380; electronic-mail: info@pipeline.com)
Pipeline On SprintNet For National Internet Access
TELECOM
Chaos Author Now Internet Servic
Comdex - Seagate Shows Faster Ac
Comdex - Shamrock Offers Documen
Action! For Windows 3.0 Intro'd,
Japan - Sumitomo Trading & TCI I
High Tech Execs Cheer Clinton Ch
Personnel Roundup
IDB Accountant Change Hurts Stoc
Hearst Opens New Media Center
Modern Media Intros Gus And The
Sega Makes Deals With Coke, Huds
Microsoft Australia Launches Sof
Borland 4Q Losses Large
Visa Germany Unveils Secure Paym
IBM Working On Another PowerPC C
Editorial - Mary Gates Obit
Motorola Adds To Diner's Delight
Sprint Deal With Int'l Firms Dra
AT&T Offers Encryption For Fax
Security Dynamics & Cisco Offer
Danish Bankers Follow OS/2 Flag
Ziff Adds 2nd Newspaper To Inter
Australian Survey Says MIS Has I
France - Groupe Bull Readies For
Block Results Up, Thanks to Comp
Notable Offers Wireless Messagin
Wireless Cable Operators Form Al
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Hoping to become closer competitors with wired cable networks, six wireless cable companies have announced a new research alliance.
Wireless cable, formerly called Microwave Multipoint Distribution Systems (MMDS), has been around for some time, but it has not been a real competitor to cable because it offers few channels and had no ability to accept data from subscribers for services like pay-per-view. Among the alliance's members is Zenith Electronics, which will offer technology in this area.
"This is over the air transmission of TV programming, but using microwave signals," explained Zenith spokesman John Taylor to Newsbytes. "To receive it you need a set-top device not unlike a set-top converter on a wired cable system. There's a lot of interest all of a sudden -- the industry's been around 20 years and it's starting to grow.
"We are offering technology in digital set-top decoders it will take to receive the signals, in transmission technology that will send bits of programming through the air, and two-way technology which we feel will be key," he continued.
"Traditionally wireless cable has been one-way, like broadcast television, but we've developed a two-way technology that allows full real-time interaction with the studio for pay-per-view activities, opinion-polling, gaming, whatever," he said. Data will go from subscribers to systems at modem speeds, however, not broadband speeds.
Members of the alliance are: American Telecasting Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is the largest service provider in the field; Andrew Corp. of Orland Park, Illinois; California Amplifier of Carmel, California; EMCEE Broadcast Products of White Haven, Pennsylvania; Microwave Filter Co. of Syracuse, New York; and Zenith. The alliance may be expanded depending on the needs of the group. The alliance was announced at the industry's trade show.
Jon Schumacher, director of engineering and technology for American Telecasting, said the alliance plans to develop wireless digital technologies that will enable consumers to receive from 150 to 300 channels, including near video-on-demand pay-per view movie offerings.
Efforts will also be directed toward wireless telephone service and interactive-based services. They will also involve working with the Federal Communications Commission in the development of rules for the application of digital equipment and transmissions using microwave technology.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940622/Press Contact: Jon Schumacher American Telecasting, 719-632-5544; John Taylor, Zenith 708-391-8181)
-5544; John Taylor, Zenith 708-391-8181)
6/22/94
Wireless Cable Operators Form Alliance
TELECOM
Polaroid Scanner Digitizes Slide
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Polaroid Corporation has introduced a new 35 millimeter (mm) slide scanner that can digitize an image in 30 seconds.
Polaroid says its SprintScan 35 can grab a slide image five- to 15-times faster than other desktop slide scanners currently available, and do it in a single pass.
The SprintScan 35 captures 10 bits-per-color at 3.0 density range and outputs the image to a computer at eight bits-per-color with a resolution of up to 2,700 dots-per-inch (dpi). It can scan color or black-and-white negative (print) or positive (slide) film, mounted or unmounted transparencies or film strips.
The scanner sends its images to a Macintosh or Windows-based personal computer via a standard SCSI-2 (small computer system interface type 2) interface. SprintScan ships with a software plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. There is also a TWAIN driver and a TWAIN-compatible scanning utility for use with Windows-based systems.
Polaroid says SprintScan is targeted at desktop publishers graphics arts professionals and pre-press service bureaus. The system reportedly automatically corrects color and sharpens the image during the scanning process.
SprintScan 35 has a suggested retail price of $2,495 and is scheduled to ship in August.
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Calling it "every bit as important as our last really big initiative, which was bringing out Microsoft Windows," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has unveiled the company's "next-generation" electronic mail and messaging product.
Microsoft's Tom Evslin said the company has been working for more than three years on Microsoft Exchange Server, a product Microsoft hopes will challenge Lotus Development Corporation's Notes. Evslin is general manager in charge of the Exchange program, which has been developed under the code name "Touchdown."
Gates introduced Exchange during his keynote address at the Information Exchange Conference (formerly the Microsoft Mail Users Conference) in Seattle's Washington State Convention and Trade Center. The presentation was broadcast live to more than 1,000 sites around the country via the Interactive Information Network to an estimated 60,000 viewers.
Exchange is expected to be the successor to Microsoft Mail and will allow users connected to a network to share files, databases and scheduling information, as well as send and receive electronic mail faxes and voice messages. Gates called Exchange "The product that's taking us into the next-generation of computing."
Microsoft spokesperson Kymra Carruthers told Newsbytes that Exchange will be compatible with current versions of Windows as well as the DOS operating system and Apple Computer Inc.'s 68000-based Macintosh line of computers. Carruthers said Microsoft has not decided yet whether it will be compatible with Apple's recently announced Power Macintosh PCs.
Evslin demonstrated Exchange for about 2,000 people at a Microsoft gathering using "Chicago," the next generation of Windows expected to ship late this year or early in 1995, as a platform. Newsbytes reported earlier this week that Chicago has entered beta testing, the second phase of product testing prior to entering production.
Evslin said Exchange will not be available until well after Chicago is launched. However, Chicago will include at least one Exchange feature, a universal "in" box that will appear graphically as a file folder icon. It will collect and sort electronic mail and other messages including online services.
Microsoft Exchange Server will run on the Windows NT Server operating system. The company declined to discuss Exchange price or predict when in 1995 it would come to market.
In Stockholm, Ericsson GE Mobile Communications has announced that its wireless Mobidem radio modem can be used with Microsoft Exchange. The modem provides two-way wireless messaging from remote locations.
More than 60 companies, including Mead Data Central, GE Information Services, Hitachi, McCaw Cellular Communications, Motorola Sequent Computer Systems, and SkyTel Corporation also announced support for Exchange.
(Jim Mallory/19940622/Press contact: Microsoft Corporation 206-882-8080)
s contact: Microsoft Corporation 206-882-8080)
6/22/94
Microsoft Intros Exchange E-Mail/Messaging
Apex Intros Cellular Direct Mode
PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Wireless mobile computing has been a hot topic in the past six months, but many mobile computer users have had to juggle modems and cellular phones looking for a match for the phone's data interface. They also have to struggle with line noise and interruption of data transmission. Now Apex Data, in alliance with Celeritas, has announced Cellular Direct, a Type II PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cellular modem.
The product features support for 23 different cellular phones, and a smart cable to the phone's data interface and Celeritas' TX-CEL technology, which reportedly improves fax and data throughput regardless of the error correction protocol used.
Interested parties may preview Cellular Direct at PC Expo, June 28-30, in New York, where Apex will also debut Audio Express.
According to Apex, Audio Express, a 16-bit input-output, audio PCMCIA Type II card, is the first PCMCIA audio card for the OS/2 platform, as well as DOS and Windows.
Ross Forman, vice president of research and development for Apex told Newsbytes, "The use of TX-CEL technology within the card actually cleans the sound and works with error correction. We call it error avoidance. The advantages it provides to users are a marked improvement over the level of existing technology."
Available on August 1, 1994, this new modem is priced at $329. Apex predicts sales to be strong in automated outside sales forces commonly found in both corporate and small business sales departments, government, utility companies, and executive travelers.
Forman said, "The creation of easier communication for mobile users allows a company to reduce the time its sales force is in the office and also allows the sales person the freedom of not using a customers phone line."
Apex claims that Audio Express delivers "true" 16-bit sound, and gives notebook, laptop and palmtop computer users the ability to record and play audio files, multimedia extensions and voice annotated documents.
Selling for $399, this Type II PCMCIA card is delivered with a detachable microphone module, miniature speakers, headphone jack, a diagnostic utility and a text-reading software application.
According to Apex, Audio Express is the first PCMCIA audio card to gain approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Glenn Cordero, director of product development for Apex, said, "We see a wide range of customers for Audio Express, as well as outside sales forces, we see this as valuable to presentation professionals, educators and people in the disabled community."
Cordero continued, "Apex wants to play a very strong role in the development of multimedia. We are company that focuses on sophisticated mobile computing products that are compatible throughout the line and backed by technical support. We have concentrated on simplicity of installation and easy of use."
(Patrick McKenna/19940621/Press Contact: Wendy Bulawa McGrath/Power, tel 408-727-0351)
Contact: Wendy Bulawa McGrath/Power, tel 408-727-0351)
6/22/94
Apex Intros Cellular Direct Modem & PCMCIA Audio Card
Germany - PC Manufacturer Vobis
AACHEN, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Theo Lieven, head of Vobis Microcomputer, the German PC manufacturer, says he expects turnover for the company to be up by more than 30 percent this year, to top the DM2,400 million mark.
The prediction comes in the wake of a similar growth increase last year, when turnover reached the DM1,850 million mark, although profits did halve to DM30 million in the year's trading. Lieven said he is unhappy with this fall in profits and has taken action to improve the situation during the current year.
Lieven said that the problem last year was that, while PC pricing was cut, along with profit margins, advertising was not. As a result, the bottom line profits were eroded.
Part of the problem with the German PC market, as with the rest of the world, he explained, was that potential buyers of PC hardware were holding back, waiting to see what will happen with new technologies such as local bus and Pentium processors.
Interestingly, Lieven views the bloodbath taking place in the no-name unbranded PC marketplace in Europe as not affecting Vobis, as the company's Highscreen PC brand name is now sufficiently established to place the company in the branded sector.
Last year Vobis sold about 330,000 Highscreen PCs in Germany and 445,000 in Europe generally, as well as around 20,000 Compaq PCs as well. These figures, Newsbytes notes, compare well with Germany's annual PC sales of around 2.5 million units, giving Vobis around 13 percent of the domestic German PC marketplace.
One interesting trend in the German PC marketplace, Vobis claims, is that the average price of a PC is actually rising. Despite dramatic discounting, users are electing to buy much higher specification machines than they did a few years ago, along with extras such as extra memory and bundled software. The end result is that the price per PC paid is growing.
Lieven said that he does not see Vobis as pitching into the discount market too hard this year. Instead, he sees local customer support as the way to extra sales and profits. Over the last year, the company has open more than 30 new stores, meaning that Vobis now has 270 outlets in Europe.
The market for local PC shops is getting saturated, however. On a recent visit to Germany for the Cebit Computer Faire, Newsbytes noted that the number of computer stores in cities such as Hamburg and Hannover had risen dramatically. Lieven seems to agree this point -- claiming that, in some cities, there are more computer stores than bakers.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940622/Press & Reader Contact: Vobis tel +49-2405-4440, fax +49-2405-444-400)
ntact: Vobis tel +49-2405-4440, fax +49-2405-444-400)
6/22/94
Germany - PC Manufacturer Vobis Predicts 30% Growth
BUSINESS
Germany's Computer 2000 Acquires
MUNICH, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Computer 2000, the Pan European computer distributor, has announced two new acquisitions in the Latin American computer marketplace. In Argentina, the company has acquired Distribucion Nacional de Informatica (DNI) of Buenos Aires and DNI's subsidiary NewLotus. In Uruguay meanwhile, it has acquired Namer of Montevideo.
According to Computer 2000, DNI and Namer are the two premier software distributors in their respective countries, generating a turnover of around DM24 million a year between them. This is a drop in the ocean against Computer 2000's European group turnover which was DM2,800 million last year, DM1,700 million of it outside its home German market.
According to Computer 2000, the two Latin America acquisitions are self-financing, meaning that little or no cash is being drawn off the European operation to finance the acquisitions.
Financial details of the acquisitions, which involved private companies, have not yet been revealed, but Newsbytes was told they are subject to regulatory approval in Latin America.
Computer 2000, tel +49-89-780400, fax +49-89-7604-0100)
6/22/94
Germany's Computer 2000 Acquires Latin American Firms
BUSINESS
British Telecom Intros EDI Billi
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- British Telecom (BT) has announced it is supplying bills for its major corporate customers in electronic data interchange (EDI) format. Initially, the service is available to customers on BT's OneBill service, a facility by which all BT bills are aggregated into a single account.
The EDI*Bill service has been introduced, BT officials said, to allow major companies to directly incorporate the billing information including the breakdown of the data, into their financial models such as database and spreadsheet applications.
Andrew Cottam, BT's EDI*Bill marketing manager, said that supplying the bills in EDI format gives customers a clear overview of network charges, without them having to consolidate or key in large amounts of data.
"EDI*Bill is a European "first" which should be viewed as a strategic tool of value not only to the information technology (IT) and communications team, but also to finance, accounts, bought ledger and other administrative functions," he said. "When the OneBill is due, it is sent automatically from BT's computers to the customer's electronic mailbox."
One of the first customers to sign up for EDI*Bill is IBM, which helped BT in the trials of the service. According to BT, Big Blue's bills totalled around 34,000 paper documents a year. Under the EDI*Bill service, IBM now gets one bill via EDI and allows all the data on a month's usage by IBM sites around the UK to be fed into IBM's financial computer system in around 30 seconds.
British Gas is another major customer of BT that is hooked into the EDI*Bill service. According to David Payne, British Gas' telecoms manager, switching to EDI for its bills has allowed the company to "streamline the internal handling of our phone billing. Payment times are reduced from over a month to between seven and 10 days. We can undertake electronic audits of regional bills and, as EDI is required in a OneBill format, we are gaining advantages from the effects of both new procedures."
Payne is enthusiastic about using EDI for billing. He claims that using EDI for BT bills has streamlined British Gas' handling of its bills and allowed the company access to data on a more timely basis. "EDI is certainly the way forward to paperless billing and payment," he said.
(Steve Gold/19940622/Press Contact: Chris Ott, Jenny Bailey Associates for BT, tel +44-81-394-2515, fax +44-372-727578)
, tel +44-81-394-2515, fax +44-372-727578)
6/22/94
British Telecom Intros EDI Billing In UK
TELECOM
WordPerfect UK Intros 24-Hour Gl
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Continuing its diversification away from its word processing software origins WordPerfect has announced the WordPerfect Telephone Access Server (TAS), a product that it claims is set to revolutionize the way people work.
According to WordPerfect, the TAS will help UK businesses to generate significant savings through new telephone-based technology. The product allows users of Symmetry 4.1 (until recently known as WordPerfect Office) to be able to access and manage electronic mail, calendar, scheduler, tasks and notes via the telephone using touch tone keypad commands to control the software remotely.
Shipment of TAS is expected worldwide during the third quarter of this year, Newsbytes was told. WP claims that the product is "set to change the way people work and in particular their relationship with the office." Pricing will be announced at the time of shipment.
WordPerfect cites recent research that shows that only 22 percent of the typical office worker's time is spent productively in the office.
Given the high cost to employers of commuting, congestion, expensive floorspace and the resulting excessive energy consumption WordPerfect argues that TAS has the potential to reduce unproductive "downtime," save on office occupancy costs and other overheads, as well as reducing energy consumption and boosting employee productivity.
Currently, most electronic mail systems only allow those working away from their offices to gain access to their mailboxes through a PC or Mac, modem and telephone line. As a result, WP argues that many people have been denied the functionality and benefits of electronic mail.
Using TAS, any telephone user will be able to: send, respond-to and forward electronic-mail messages; accept, decline, and send meeting or appointment requests; listen to and update their calendar; accept, decline, or send tasks; and listen to and send notes.
In addition, users can determine if any message they have sent was delivered, read, accepted, acted upon and/or deleted. A TAS user can also issue instructions to have any calendar item or message faxed or electronic mailed to any location in the world.
"TAS is the first stage in a new breed of technology from WordPerfect that frees people up from being tied to a computer and desk," explained David Godwin, general manager for sales and marketing at WordPerfect UK. "TAS not only allows workers to remain in touch with their desktops but also with anyone or everyone on their company's computer network, anywhere in the world, at any time of the day or night. Therefore for those who work on the move TAS turns any TouchTone telephone -- even a mobile phone - into their own personal global office."
To access Symmetry through TAS, users call a designated telephone number, then enter their ID and password to gain access to their personal mailboxes. According to WordPerfect, from the moment they dial in, users are given voice commands on how to access their information or send information to others.
To convert text messages into audio messages that can be heard over the telephone or computer speakers WordPerfect has licensed the OS/2 version of Smooth Talker from First Byte. This package allows users to listen to both audio and text messages that have been received through the electronic mail system.
"Telephone Access Server is set to fundamentally change the way many people work and in particular change the way they interact with their offices," Godwin said.
"TAS not only sees the creation for the first time of a 24-hour global office, but will also provide industry with significant benefits both in terms of ease of communication and also real cost savings. It's just one of a range of products designed to further enhance employee and workgroup efficiency that WordPerfect will be launching over the next 12 months," he added.
(Steve Gold/19940622/Press & Reader Contact: WordPerfect UK tel +44-932-850500, fax +44-932-843497)
WordPerfect UK tel +44-932-850500, fax +44-932-843497)
6/22/94
WordPerfect UK Intros 24-Hour Global Office Product
TRENDS
PCSL Opens Office In Scotland
RHYL, CLWYD, WALES, 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- Pinacl PCSL, the networking and connectivity company, has opened an office in Livingston, Scotland, an area fast becoming known as "the UK's Silicon Valley." According to the company, the move is designed to offer closer contacts with existing and potential new customers.
The new office will bring around 50 new jobs to the region over the next 12 months and will employ systems engineers, technicians sales and support staff. The office was officially opened last week by Geoff Andrews, PCSL's managing director.
"Since our management buyout of Pilkington Communications Systems from Pilkington last September, we have concentrated on a strategic plan of expansion to offer our customers more immediate access to products and services," he explained.
"Scotland is an important market for us. The emergence of new technologies and the prospect of integrating video, voice and data creates a whole host of complex issues. Customers want this closer liaison with us to help optimize their investments in information technology," he said.
"The opening of a new office represents our long term commitment to our Scottish customer base. To us, the Scottish office is more than just a provincial site, but an important and strategic step towards achieving closer contact with the market," he added.
(Steve Gold/19940622/Press & Reader Contact: Jane Harrad marketing manager with PCSL, tel +44-745-589224 fax +44-745-589258)
-745-589224 fax +44-745-589258)
6/22/94
PCSL Opens Office In Scotland
BUSINESS
AT&T, SGI Form New Interactive D
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- In another deal for interactive video, Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) has teamed up with AT&T's Network Systems group to form a joint venture company -- Interactive Digital Solutions. The new company, equally owned by both partners, is aimed at providing telephone companies cable systems and other network providers movies-on-demand as well as other interactive entertainment or information services.
SGI's contribution is its reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) MIPS microprocessor engine in the form of a media server as well as providing system software. AT&T's contributions will include high-speed switches, synchronous transport, broadband access systems, and network operations systems as well as a marketing base.
James M. Barton, former vice-president of SGI's media systems division, will assume the full-time position of president and general manager of the new Mountain View, California-based joint venture company. AT&T Switching Systems President Dan Stanzione will take the chairman spot.
"More and more telephone carriers and cable television companies are planning to upgrade or enhance their infrastructure to deliver interactive multimedia services to homes and offices," Barton said. "Interactive Digital Solutions will help them introduce those services, creating the opportunity for a wide variety of content owners to offer interactive products on a wide-scale basis."
AT&T made comments about taking advantage of SGI's expertise in "visual computing." These are references to the fact that SGI's MIPS-based workstation computers have been used by companies whose business is assisting film makers in creating special effects. Probably the most famous SGI workstation user for this type of work is Industrial Light and Magic, who created the dinosaurs for the film "Jurassic Park."
SGI has been busy forming alliances for video technology using its RISC MIPS microprocessor engine. The company announced a deal with Japanese telephone giant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) to provide its 64-bit MIPS microprocessor architecture, digital media servers, object-oriented network software, and multimedia engine for NTT's 45 trillion yen ($410 billion) Joint Utilization Test of Multimedia Communications project in Japan.
SGI also announced an agreement for a private Internet network for video developers through an agreement with telephone services provider Sprint. Last summer, SGI said it was working with Time Warner on an interactive multimedia cable system aimed at home users, to be prototyped first in Orlando, Florida. The Time Warner deal includes SGI's MIPS architecture in both the servers and the set-top boxes.
In another joint venture deal with Nintendo called Project Reality SGI's MIPS chip is to be the core of game playing systems aimed first at arcades, and then at the home market.
, Silicon Graphics tel 415-390-1516, fax 415-960-1737)
6/22/94
AT&T, SGI Form New Interactive Digital Solutions Co.
TELECOM
Newsbytes Daily Summary
$PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 22 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Creative Intros Video/Conferencing/SOHO Products 06/22/94 Creative Technology has announced new video and videoconferencing products, as well as those designed to bring multimedia into the small office/home office (SOHO) market. The new products are the Video Blaster RT300 video capture card, the Sharevision PC300 and Sharevision PC3000 desktop video products for the personal computer (PC) platform, and the Sound Blaster Multimedia Office.
2 -> Lotus 2 Qtr Revenues $20M Lower Than Forecast 06/22/94 Lotus now expects to achieve second quarter revenues of $230 to $240 million, about $20 to $25 million less than Wall Street analyst estimates, company officials said in a teleconference. They attributed the shortfall mainly to shipment delays in upgrades to SmartSuite, Lotus 1-2-3, Ami Pro, Freelance, and Approach.
3 -> UK - Dataquest Places US Robotics Ahead Of Modem Pack 06/22/94 After a lot of jostling and price repositioning over the last year US Robotics' UK operation has reached the number one sales slot something that Managing Director Clive Hudson has been pushing over the last few years since his appointment.
4 -> UK - MPC MIDI-Compatible Home Music Studio Intro'd 06/22/94 Optech has launched the Cakewalk Home Studio for Windows, a Multimedia PC (MPC)-compatible multi-track MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) sequencer for Windows that it claims allows users to create, record, play back, edit and even print music, all on a PC.
5 -> Great Bear Offers Symptoms, Illness & Surgery CD 06/22/94 Based on the best-selling book of the same name by H. Winter Griffith MD, Great Bear Technology has announced the Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness & Surgery on CD.
6 -> India - Price Waterhouse Sets Up Software Consultancy 06/22/94 Price Waterhouse Associates (PWA) is setting up a software consultancy center at Saltlec, the electronic complex near Calcutta. It is slated to be operational by December 15.
7 -> Lotus Australia Continues As Top Subsidiary 06/22/94 Lotus Development's subsidiary of the year, Lotus Australia, has announced record revenue growth for the year so far. This contrasts with predictions for no little growth for the organization worldwide, for this quarter.
8 -> SPSS Launches Indian Subsidiary 06/22/94 SPSS Inc., the Chicago- based statistical data analysis and presentation software developer, has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in India, called SPSS India Pvt. Ltd. Along with the subsidiary, the company plans to move its headquarters for South Asia to India.
9 -> Canon Intros Workstation For Nextstep 06/22/94 Canon's new Advanced Technologies Operation (ATO) business unit, in alliance with Next Computer, has announced its first product, an Intel 486DX4/100-based workstation called "object.station 41."
10 -> TI Intros Network Interface For MicroLaser Printers 06/22/94 Texas Instruments has announced a new network interface for its microLaser Pro 600 printers that simultaneously supports four of the popular network operating systems using any of three different interfaces.
11 -> DynaTek Launches Mac Storage Line 06/22/94 Storage peripherals maker DynaTek Automation Systems Inc. has moved into the Apple Macintosh market with a line of disk drives, tape drives and optical storage devices, all using the small computer systems interface (SCSI).
12 -> Vancouver-Area BBS Charged With Software Piracy 06/22/94 Lee Thomas Adams, system operator of the Shadow bulletin board system (BBS), has become the third Canadian sysop to be charged with software piracy, and the first west of Toronto.
13 -> Encyclopedia Britannica To Develop Florida Education Sys 06/22/94 Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation (EBEC) has announced an agreement with the state of Florida to co-develop a cross-platform file server and software applications for the state's educational system.
14 -> Sidekick For Windows 1st App In Borland "Slimline" 06/22/94 The first Windows-based version of Sidekick, which started shipping last week, is also the first of a group of three or four applications that Borland plans to release by the end of this fall under its new "Simplicity" brand, Newsbytes has learned.
15 -> X Terminals From HDS Integrate PC, Mac, Unix 06/22/94 Human Designed Systems (HDS) has announced the ViewStation Ultra Series a line of X Window terminals that is positioned primarily against PCs and Macs, and only secondarily against traditional X terminal rivals like workstations and character-based terminals.
16 -> Ethics Campaign Gets Official Launch, SPA Support 06/22/94 The National Computer Ethics & Responsibilities Campaign (NCERC) was officially launched with a press conference on Capitol Hill June 21, and the Software Publishers' Association (SPA) added its name to the list of sponsors.
17 -> More On Ziff Interchange & Star Tribune 06/22/94 News editors at the Minneapolis Star Tribune were behind that paper's decision to affiliate with Ziff's Interchange online service, Newsbytes has learned.
18 -> Notable Offers Wireless Messaging 06/22/94 Adapting to the wireless market "as it is," in the words of a company official Notable Technologies Inc. announced AirNote, an all-in-one wireless messaging offering using paging services.
19 -> ****Pipeline On SprintNet For National Internet Access 06/22/94 The Pipeline, an Internet service provider noted for its Windows-based interface, announced it has signed an agreement to link with SprintNet. The agreement means that the service is now available via a dial-up to a local phone number from SprintNet nodes in the US and internationally.
20 -> Wireless Cable Operators Form Alliance 06/22/94 Hoping to become closer competitors with wired cable networks, six wireless cable companies have announced a new research alliance.
21 -> Polaroid Scanner Digitizes Slides In 30 Seconds 06/22/94 Polaroid Corporation has introduced a new 35 millimeter (mm) slide scanner that can digitize an image in 30 seconds.
22 -> ****Microsoft Intros "Exchange" E-Mail/Messaging 06/22/94 Calling it "every bit as important as our last really big initiative, which was bringing out Microsoft Windows," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has unveiled the company's "next-generation" electronic mail and messaging product.
23 -> Apex Intros Cellular Direct Modem & PCMCIA Audio Card 06/22/94 Wireless mobile computing has been a hot topic in the past six months, but many mobile computer users have had to juggle modems and cellular phones looking for a match for the phone's data interface. They also have to struggle with line noise and interruption of data transmission. Now Apex Data, in alliance with Celeritas, has announced Cellular Direct, a Type II PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cellular modem.
24 -> Germany - PC Manufacturer Vobis Predicts 30% Growth 06/22/94 Theo Lieven, head of Vobis Microcomputer, the German PC manufacturer, says he expects turnover for the company to be up by more than 30 percent this year, to top the DM2,400 million mark.
25 -> Germany's Computer 2000 Acquires Latin American Firms 06/22/94 Computer 2000, the Pan- European computer distributor, has announced two new acquisitions in the Latin American computer marketplace. In Argentina, the company has acquired Distribucion Nacional de Informatica (DNI) of Buenos Aires and DNI's subsidiary NewLotus. In Uruguay, meanwhile, it has acquired Namer of Montevideo.
26 -> UK - Novell Extends NetWare 4 Promotion 06/22/94 Novell has has extended its NetWare 4.xx sales promotion to the end of the year. Under the promotion customers buying copies of the high-end network operating system (NOS) qualify for free updates for a further six months.
27 -> British Telecom Intros EDI Billing In UK 06/22/94 British Telecom (BT) has announced it is supplying bills for its major corporate customers in electronic data interchange (EDI) format. Initially, the service is available to customers on BT's OneBill service, a facility by which all BT bills are aggregated into a single account.
28 -> WordPerfect UK Intros "24-Hour Global Office" Product 06/22/94 Continuing its diversification away from its word processing software origins, WordPerfect has announced the WordPerfect Telephone Access Server (TAS), a product that it claims is set to revolutionize the way people work.
29 -> PCSL Opens Office In Scotland 06/22/94 Pinacl PCSL, the networking and connectivity company, has opened an office in Livingston, Scotland, an area fast becoming known as "the UK's Silicon Valley." According to the company, the move is designed to offer closer contacts with existing and potential new customers.
30 -> ****AT&T, SGI Form New Interactive Digital Solutions Co. 06/22/94 In another deal for interactive video, Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) has teamed up with AT&T's Network Systems group to form a joint venture company -- Interactive Digital Solutions. The new company, equally owned by both partners, is aimed at providing telephone companies, cable systems and other network providers movies-on-demand as well as other interactive entertainment or information services.
(Ian Stokell/19940622)
(Ian Stokell/19940622)
6/22/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
IBM Develops Super Sensitive Dis
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- IBM's Almaden Research Center claims it has created the world's most sensitive sensor for detecting data on magnetic hard disks. The upshot the new sensor will allow for even smaller hard disk drives with higher storage capacities, as it allows for data on hard disk drives to be stored 20 times more compactly than currently.
Called a "spin-valve" head, the new recording head sensor is five times more sensitive than the company's own best commercially available disk-drive sensor, IBM maintains. Despite the competition from flash memory storage devices, market research Frost & Sullivan claims use of magneto-resistive heads continue to offer users speed improvements as well as better data-throughput rates and capacity at decreasing prices that will keep the magnetic storage medium dominant, especially for online storage.
Recording heads read and write to hard disk platters, spinning plates coated with a rust-like material that can hold a magnetic field. Until recently, all recording heads used electrical induction to record data, meaning an electrical current was sent through a coil to induce a magnetic field within the head that was projected into a small gap on the spinning disk. Reading the data reversed the process, as the magnetic charge was picked up causing an electrical charge in the recording head.
To make smaller hard disk drives, the size of the data bit that holds the magnetic charge shrinks, making the charge weaker which generates a weaker electrical charge in the recording head and makes it tougher to read data. In 1991, IBM introduced magneto-resistive (MR) reading sensors. Over 3,000 times thinner than a human hair, the MR sensor is placed within or near the gap of the write element and gives a much stronger signal, allowing the recording of data in a smaller space.
IBM is the only company today producing disk drives with MR heads in volume and IBM claims that is why its drives claim the highest area density of 564 megabits per inch. This means an IBM 2.5 inch 270 megabyte (MB) hard disk drive requires a single spinning platter or disk, while competitors need two or more.
Less than six years ago, IBM said it discovered the giant magneto-resistive effect (GMR) and the "spin-value" head is the first recording head to take advantage of the GMR discovery.
"This achievement shows that we're on track to producing products by the year 2000 that will contain 10 billion bits of data per square inch of disk surface, or nearly 20 times the data density of today's most advanced disk drives," said Robert Scranton, manager of Storage Systems and Technology at Almaden.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940622/Press Contact: Michael Ross, IBM Almaden Research Center, tel 408-927-1283, fax 408-927-3011)
den Research Center, tel 408-927-1283, fax 408-927-3011)
6/23/94
IBM Develops Super Sensitive Disk-Drive Recording Head
TRENDS
Editorial - Any News At Comdex?
Systems Support Expo - Saving Mo
Informix Dynamic Server 6.0 On P
Diagsoft Diagnostic Prgm Adds Wi
PC Learning Companies Announce M
ADB Intros Matisse 2.3 DBMS
Compaq Reduces Some Desktop/Serv
Banyan Announces European Resell
Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacit
More Patent Problems For Clipper
OrCAD Intros New DOS/Windows EDA
Cox, Times Mirror Merge Cable Op
Clinton Admin Gives Supercompute
LSI Components Supplier Says Exc
DOE Funds Technology Transfer Ne
Stern Leaves Apple After Only Si
Sydney Home Computer Show Attrac
Canada's SaskTel Offers New Tele
IBM PS/2 Model 76 And 77 Finally
Review of - Field Guide Series O
Japan - Telecom Equipment Output
Apple's Digital Camera Available
Russia Signs Trade Deal With Eur
Motorola Mobile Division Buys $1
igitizes Slide
India's Prithvi Missile Takes Of
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- The decks were cleared for the induction of the Prithvi missile into the Indian Army with two successful trial launches of the missile from a mobile launcher inside the Interim test range (ITR).
Designed for quick maneuverability and wartime efficiency, Prithvi will now go in for mass production and will be introduced into the Army next month.
The launch has put an end to a long controversy over India's missile program following US pressure. Though the Indian Prime Minister had announced in Parliament that the program would not be abandoned, there were reports that it might have been stalled due to pressure from United States against Prithvi's induction into the army.
This was the first time that Prithvi was fired by army artillery personnel. Previously only Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) scientists had been involved. However, a DRDO team, led by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, scientific advisor to the Defense Minister, was at hand to oversee the arrangement.
Now the missile will be used in simulated battle field conditions to hit targets in an effort to gauge its accuracy and impact.
Prithvi is considered by Indian defense experts to be a real answer to any threat posed by the F-16s supplied by the US to Pakistan. According to DRDO experts, Prithvi is far more accurate than the Scud missile, made famous in the Gulf War. While the Scud reportedly follows a purely ballistic trajectory, Prithvi's flight is controlled throughout by an on-board computer.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940622)
n-board computer.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19940622)
6/23/94
India's Prithvi Missile Takes Off Successfully
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Pr
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- By John Hastings. Apple and IBM are getting closer to an agreement on what will be standard operating system features for all PowerPC equipped computers. Once this agreement is reached and implemented, the new Macs should be able to run OS/2 software and the new IBM PowerPC computers will be able to run Macintosh software.
The results of these discussions should reach the marketplace by next year.
Another option for operating systems may arrive next year from Novell. The networking company is reportedly working on an operating system that will compete with the as yet unannounced Windows 4.0. The new operating system is expected to run all Windows, DOS and Unix software. The new operating system is expected to be less proprietary than Windows and very inexpensive.
Compaq's commitment to become the largest computer maker in the world has become a reality, at least for one quarter. In terms of computers shipped, Compaq and IBM exchanged places last quarter. IBM has historically been in first place and Compaq third. Apple held onto the second place position. This was a surprisingly strong finish for Apple. Many Apple customers delayed purchases last quarter while anticipating the arrival of the new Power Macs.
Apple Computer is reinventing itself this year due to two major events. The first, the introduction of the Power Macs, is now behind them. The second lies ahead. The company will license its operating system and ROMs to allow other computer makers to manufacture Macintosh clones. Some estimate this move could double Apple's revenues, quadruple profits, and triple market share for the Macintosh. While the next version of Windows, due out next year, will take on more Mac-like qualities, some say this move is long overdue.
Each component of today's computer seems to provide greater power at less cost than ever before. CPU's (central processing units) are faster and cheaper, hard drives are larger and cheaper memory costs less than ever. This trend is important due to the interrelationships between these components. Large, powerful applications would not be economically feasible if hard drives and memory had not kept pace with CPU prices. The only component that has not participated in this "more for less" trend is the floppy drive. It seems to be stagnant in both price and capacity. Some large applications are being distributed on twenty to thirty floppy diskettes. CD-ROM's will solve the software distribution problem but most of these drives are read-only. Smaller, cheaper optical drives will soon emerge as a new standard. These 3.5-inch writeable CDs will eventually banish the floppy drives to the computer museums
The following prices are for June 17, 1994.
Average Average
Buyer's Seller's
Machine Bid Ask Close Change
IBM PS/2 Model 70 60MB 400 700 500 -25
IBM PS/1 486DX2/50 253MB 1125 1450 1375 -75
IBM PS/2 Model 90 160MB 1350 1800 1500 -100
IBM ThinkPad 350C 1900 2400 2250 -75
IBM ThinkPad 700 1000 1700 1300 +50
IBM ThinkPad 720 1600 2000 1675 ..
AST 486SX/25 170MB 900 1250 1100 -75
AST 486DX/66 340MB 1450 2100 1850 -50
Dell 386/33, 100MB 800 1100 975 -75
Dell 486DX/33 240MB 950 1500 1275 -75
Gateway 386/25, 80MB 500 800 600 +50
Gateway 486/33 120MB 900 1300 950 ..
Clone Notebook 386SX, 40 MB 500 900 675 -25
Clone 386/33 80MB, VGA 550 950 700 ..
Clone 486/25 120MB, VGA 800 1250 975 +25
Clone 486DX/33 240MB 900 1425 1225 -75
Compaq LTE 286 40MB 300 675 525 ..
Compaq Contura 320 60MB 500 1000 725 -25
Compaq Contura 4/25 120MB 1275 1650 1525 -50
Compaq Deskpro 386/20e 100MB 500 800 675 +25
Compaq Deskpro 486/33 120MB 1300 1750 1400 -75
Mac Classic II 80MB 500 825 625 -50
Mac IIsi 160MB 700 900 825 -50
Macintosh IIcx 80MB 400 700 525 ..
Macintosh IIci 80MB 700 1000 775 +50
Macintosh IIfx 80MB 800 1400 950 ..
Mac Quadra 700 230MB 1200 1650 1500 -50
Mac Quadra 800 500MB 2450 2950 2850 -75
PowerBook 140 40MB 900 1400 1025 ..
PowerBook 170 40MB 1200 1700 1275 +50
PowerBook 180 80MB 1400 1800 1450 +50
LaserWriterPro 630 1600 1975 1750 -100
Toshiba 1200XE 300 650 525 ..
Toshiba 1900 120M 1000 1700 1075 +75
Toshiba 3200 SXC, 120MB 1850 2950 2500 -100
Toshiba 3300SL 120MB 1050 1600 1400 -75
Toshiba 5200 100MB 850 1250 1125 +25
HP LaserJet II 400 850 775 ..
HP LaserJet IIIP 375 950 525 ..
HP LaserJet III 750 1100 900 -25
HP LaserJet IV 1000 1300 1125 -50
(**denotes new model)
John Hastings is the president of the American Computer Exchange Corporation. The American Computer Exchange matches buyers and sellers of used microcomputer equipment. For more information contact the American Computer Exchange Corporation at (800) 786-0717.
(AMCOEX/19940621)
(800) 786-0717.
(AMCOEX/19940621)
6/23/94
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices
GENERAL
Japan - Telecom Equipment Output
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Fiscal 1993 communications equipment production was down 0.5% to 2.47 trillion yen ($24.03 billion) worth of hardware, according to the latest survey from the Communication Industries Association of Japan.
Japan's fiscal 1993 communications equipment production was down 0.5% over fiscal 1992 to 2.47 trillion yen ($24.03 bil), a decline for the second consecutive year.
Cordless phone output slipped 1.8% to 176.2 billion yen ($1.71 bil); facsimile shipments declined 8.4% to 347.0 billion yen ($3.37 bil); radio communications equipment production fell 4.0% to 631.7 billion yen ($6.13 bil); but switch production was up 3.9% to 524.7 billion yen ($5.09 bil); and transmission equipment output increased 4.8% to 496.0 billion yen ($4.82 bil).
Exports declined 6.8% to 837.6 billion yen ($8.13 bil) while imports soared 42.0% to 142.1 billion yen ($1.38 bil). Exports to the US dropped 11.2% to 270.6 billion yen ($2.63 bil), but exports to China jumped 68.7% to 82.6 billion yen ($801.9 mil).
Exports to Europe reached 166.6 billion yen ($1.62 bil). Imports from North America, Europe, and Asia reached 71.6 billion yen ($695.1 mil), 35.4 billion yen ($343.7 mil) and 34.6 billion yen ($335.9 mil), respectively. Above all imports from Sweden, thanks to brisk sales of Ericsson-made mobile phones, surged 160 times to 32.1 billion yen ($311.7 mil).
Imports from Malaysia, where the Swedish company has a plant, expanded 265% to 16.3 billion yen ($158.3 mil).
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
lion yen ($158.3 mil).
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
6/23/94
Japan - Telecom Equipment Output, US Exports, Drop
TELECOM
Japan - Computer News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, NTT develops new character recognition technology which can recognize blurred or "designer" characters Seiko Instruments wins order for 6,000 portable terminals from Chicago commodity exchanges, and IBM Japan marketing smallest lightest notebook PC with STN color LCD.
NTT OCR Technology
NTT has developed new character recognition technology which can recognize with nearly 100% accuracy blurred characters or "designer" text such as that consisting of black-white reversal characters. The technique employs a mechanism which uses the difference between the character itself and the background portion to accurately read characters unrecognizable by conventional techniques. NTT says the new technique will pave the way for practical optical character reader applications for sales slips, facsimile messages, newspaper articles, and other difficult-to-read text.
Seiko Instruments wins order for 6,000 portable terminals from Chicago commodity exchanges
Seiko Instruments (SII) has won orders for 6,000 portable electronic transaction system terminals from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. SII has already delivered 200 terminals and is now conducting evaluation tests. The total value of the order is expected to surpass 1 billion yen ($9.7 mil). The US will make installation of electronic transaction systems obligatory for all commodities exchanges by October, 1995. SII says the orders from Chicago, the world's largest commodity exchange, will help it win business from other exchanges.
IBM Japan marketing smallest, lightest notebook PC with STN color LCD
IBM Japan has begun marketing the world's smallest and lightest notebook PC with a super-twisted nematic (STN) color LCD (liquid crystal display). The Thinkpad230cs measures 235 by 171 by 42 millimeters and weighs 1.7 kilograms, including batteries. Its built-in hardware features include a 7.8-inch STN color LCD with 640 by 480-dot resolution, a 33 megahertz (MHz) Intel SL Enhanced 486SX microprocessor, which outperforms its predecessor ThinkPad220 by a factor of more than five, four megabytes (MB) of main memory expandable to 12MB, and a 130MB hard disk drive. The new notebook PC, which runs two hours on a single recharge, also has an infrared communications function to allow data transfer over radio and a PCM (pulse code modulation) sound source to record and play stereo sounds. The price is set at 358,000 yen ($3,476). Shipment is slated for July 7. The company is aiming to sell 10,000 units monthly.
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
6/23/94
Japan - Computer News Briefs
GENERAL
NEC, Toshiba Boost 16 Mb DRAM Ou
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Both NEC and Toshiba are boosting 16 megabit (Mb) DRAM (dynamic random access memory) production. NEC will boost its 16Mb synchronous DRAM production to 400,000 units per month by year's end and Toshiba plans to increase 16Mb DRAM output to three million units per month by year's end.
NEC, which produces 10,000 units monthly, has decided to launch volume production since several US workstation makers are said to be planning to release early next year new products which will use 16Mb synchronous DRAMs for main memory and graphic buffer memory. The chips are being made at NEC's subsidiaries -- NEC Hiroshima and NEC Yamaguchi and NEC plans to start production at a new facility under construction, NEC Kyushu, which will be ready this fall.
Toshiba is to increase 16Mb DRAM output to three million units per month by year's end. In order to achieve this objective the company will move its capital investment schedule for its Yokkaichi and Oita plants forward to the first half of fiscal 1994. Concluding that the per-bit prices of 4- and 16Mb DRAMs will become about the same in the July-September period, Toshiba will speed up its plan to boost 16Mb DRAM production at the two plants. If demand picks up quickly, the company may aim for monthly production of two million units as early as September.
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
ptember.
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
6/23/94
NEC, Toshiba Boost 16 Mb DRAM Output
TRENDS
Japan - Low-Cost Printers From S
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Seiko-Epson has released a laser printer priced below 100,000 yen ($971). In addition Fujitsu plans to market a 600 dots-per-inch (dpi) page printer that hovers just above the $1,000 mark.
Seiko-Epson's laser printer is priced at 99,800 yen ($969). The LP-1000 is a 600 dpi A4-size printer loaded with three outline fonts, and its "save" mode cuts toner consumption by almost half, according to the company. It can print four A4-size sheets per minute.
The Lp-9000ps2 features 1,200 dpi resolution and comes standard with PostScript Level 2 and can print B4-size paper. It also comes with a 30 megahertz (MHz) Advanced Micro devices AM29030 microprocessor, 11 megabytes (MB) of memory, and two Japanese outline fonts, and is priced at 498,000 yen ($4,835). The company which will also introduce two other types at the same time, is aiming to expand domestic laser printer sales by 150% to 180,000 units in fiscal 1994.
In related news, Seiko-Epson has decided to produce dot-matrix printers in Indonesia. The company will establish a subsidiary to begin printer production there in April 1995. To be capitalized at $1.0 billion yen ($10.0 mil), Indonesia Epson Industry will initially employ 550 people.
Seiko-Epson will invest 2.0 billion yen ($19.4 mil) to build a 10,000-square-meter plant on a 7,000-square meter site in the East Jakarta Industrial Park in an outskirts of Jakarta starting in July. Epson's sixth overseas printer plant will have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million units. Upon completion of the plant, Epson will shift dot-matrix printer production from its Shenzhen plant in China, which will then start ink-jet printer production.
Meanwhile, Fujitsu P&S is now marketing a 600 dpi page printer. The Print Partner 4000J has a resolution of 300 dpi, but through use of 1-micron-diameter toner, printing resolution can be doubled to 600 dpi. The printer supports Japanese Windows 3.1 and comes with ESC/P emulation as standard. PostScript emulation cards are available as an option allowing it to be used with a Macintosh. The printer is priced at 118,000 yen ($1,135), and the company expects to sell 30,000 units in the first year.
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
nits in the first year.
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
6/23/94
Japan - Low-Cost Printers From Seiko-Epson, Fujitsu
GENERAL
Japan - Telecom News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, Kansai Electric Power discloses ten-year plan to install optical fiber cables to four million households domestic fax market picks up in fiscal 1993, NHK to begin digital image broadcast tests this fall.
Kansai Electric Power discloses ten-year plan to install optical fiber cables to four million households
Kansai Electric Power (KEP) has disclosed a ten-year plan beginning this year to invest approximately 160 billion yen ($1.54 bil) to install optical fiber cables to four million households, approximately 40% of all the households it currently supplies electricity to. The company's intention is to build its own communications network in preparation for the coming multimedia age. The effort represents the biggest network construction project aimed at average households ever undertaken by an electric power firm in Japan. KEP currently has a 5,300 kilometer optical fiber cable network which connects its headquarters with branch and sales offices.
Domestic fax market picks up in fiscal 1993
The domestic facsimile market which had experienced declines of 10% and 8% respectively in sales and units sold in fiscal 1992, saw sales revenue and unit sales increases of 1.5% and 18.4% in fiscal 1993 indicating that the market has come out of its slump. Actual unit sales increased on the strength of home fax sales while revenue sales rose on the strength of business sales of plain paper faxes (PPF). The increase in sales revenues was the first since fiscal 1989. Although the industry does not expect market performance in fiscal 1994 to surpass fiscal 1993 many feel that overall sales should rise by several points. Unit sales are expected to rise by around 20% in fiscal 1994 due to sales of inexpensive home faxes.
NHK to begin digital image broadcast tests this fall
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) will begin tests this fall using digital broadcasting to transmit images. NHK will use the OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) method, which MPT is considering using for terrestrial digital broadcasting and the six megahertz band. NHK's broadcasting technology labs will shortly apply for MPT approval to conduct tests using a moving vehicle to confirm reception of the images. The tests will pave the way for digital broadcasting of multimedia information services.
(Terry Silveria/19940622)
(Terry Silveria/19940622)
6/23/94
Japan - Telecom News Briefs
TELECOM
Autodesk Acquires Mediashare
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- In an effort to increase its ability to create better object-oriented Windows based authoring tools for both its two-dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) graphics and animation software tools, Autodesk has acquired full rights to Mediashare's multimedia, interactive authoring technology.
Autodesk claims this acquisition provides it with the opportunity to offer state-of-the-art tools to its more than one million registered users.
Garth Chouteau, spokesman for company, told Newsbytes, "This technology allows us to help our users present their data in a more sophisticated manner in less time to their clients, boss another department or potential buyer. This will enlarge our customer base in the entertainment, publishing, broadcast, and design automation industries."
The development of customizable, object-oriented tools with plug-in effects reduces development time and the ease-of-use allows developers to create applications without the need of complex programming skills.
According to Autodesk, such a development will allow small developers the opportunity to create high-end multimedia applications that up to now required more time and finances than many small companies could afford.
At the same time, large corporate Autodesk clients will use these time- and money-saving capabilities, which will allow for faster production from inception to product delivery, said the company.
(Patrick McKenna/19940622/Press Contact: Garth Chouteau Autodesk, tel 415-332-2344)
au Autodesk, tel 415-332-2344)
6/23/94
Autodesk Acquires Mediashare
BUSINESS
Editorial - Any News At Comdex?
Systems Support Expo - Saving Mo
Informix Dynamic Server 6.0 On P
Diagsoft Diagnostic Prgm Adds Wi
PC Learning Companies Announce M
ADB Intros Matisse 2.3 DBMS
Compaq Reduces Some Desktop/Serv
Banyan Announces European Resell
Average Hard Disk 1GB In Capacit
More Patent Problems For Clipper
OrCAD Intros New DOS/Windows EDA
Cox, Times Mirror Merge Cable Op
Clinton Admin Gives Supercompute
LSI Components Supplier Says Exc
DOE Funds Technology Transfer Ne
Stern Leaves Apple After Only Si
Sydney Home Computer Show Attrac
Canada's SaskTel Offers New Tele
IBM PS/2 Model 76 And 77 Finally
Review of - Field Guide Series O
Japan - Telecom Equipment Output
Apple's Digital Camera Available
Motorola Mobile Division Buys $1
Pipeline On SprintNet For Nation
Australia - High Speed Modem War
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Australian modem suppliers are gearing up for big sales and torrid competition as the ponderous decision-making of international standard bodies clears the way for a new generation of high-speed modems.
The new international V.34 standard set by the CCITT will allow modems to zoom along at 28,800 bits-per-second (bps) - three times faster than the common 9600 bps standard.
Local modem manufacturers such as NetComm have been supercharging their products to run at these speeds for some months under a nominal standard called V.Fast. However, rival camps such as Mike Boorne Electronics have been pushing a standard developed by AT&T called V.32terbo which, according to Boorne, exceeds the nominal standard of 19,200 bps for V.32.
Now, according to Boorne, V.34 has been approved and the way is clear for the 28,800 bps product which has waiting on the shelf for official approval. The company challenges NetComm's V.Fast equipment, saying that the Rockwell chip at its heart will not meet full V.34 standards in duplex mode. The entrepreneur claims full V.34 will need an upgrade involving a new chip, which will cost up to AUS$200 per unit.
However, Nick Verykios of NetComm denies upgrades will be needed. In practical terms, he said, V.Fast and V.34 are the same and can talk back and forth freely. However, he added that, "If people want an upgrade, we will have it available for them."
Speed must be good, however. The high-speed modems have power users reaching for their credit cards, both manufacturers claim. Boorne said he has sold "several thousand" V.32terbos modems and Verykios said he has about 1,000 outstanding orders, with the main problem being chip supply.
(John Stackhouse and Computer Daily News/19940624)
and Computer Daily News/19940624)
6/23/94
Australia - High Speed Modem War
TELECOM
CES - Digital Technology Creates
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB)- A leading US copyright attorney says that the ability to send digitized unauthorized samples of creative works across phone lines may serve to make present copyright protection obsolete.
"We know that the digital revolution has produced increased challenges for copyright owners to protect their work. The digital environment allows for the making of perfect copies. With the one hundredth copy guaranteed to be every bit as good as the first, that creates some unique problems," said Arthur Levine, of Finnegan, Hendeson, Farabow, Garret & Dunner speaking at the InfoHighway '94 Services & Developers Conference.
The conference is being held as part of the summer Consumer Electronics Show, a 600-exhibitor, 52,000-attendee convention sponsored by the Electronic Industries Association in Chicago through June 25.
Levine then went into further detail about the problems unauthorized distribution of digital data along the information highway may cause the creators and owners of intellectual property.
"Digitalization allows for sampling of work. You can take a note or two from a copyrighted work, and turn that into a new musical score simply by lifting a few notes," he said. "In a related way,scanning allows for the conversion of printed works to a digital form, altering and changing it so it does not reflect the work of the author."
New technologies can create thorny, legalistic problems. "The question is," he asked, "is the existing copyright law now defunct? Keep in mind that we've gone from the 1960s, where copyright enforcement went from unauthorized copying of complete works, to this. Some of the questions now being asked are distribution rights that have always been associated with the transfer of copies."
Levine implied that "distribution rights" may undergo a definitional change in the new, digitized online world.
"Obviously, the downloading of copyrighted material is a threat to the copyright owner," he pointed out. "But what about when you reproduce it from a downloaded copy? One of the difficulties is whether the person who has acquired the rights to using the material has also acquired electronic rights."
Several public and private organizations are studying the matter, Levine noted. But he maintained that with the right amount of "tweaking," existing laws will be more effective at combating digital piracy than a ground-up new set of statutes would.
"We are at the beginning of a burst in new issues that will strain the copyright law, but I think the law is sufficiently flexible to deal with the new technological challenges," Levine concluded.
(Russell Shaw/19940624)
enges," Levine concluded.
(Russell Shaw/19940624)
6/23/94
CES - Digital Technology Creates Copyright Problems
GENERAL
PenMagic Offers Letter Express F
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) PenMagic Software is now shipping Letter Express for Apple Computer Inc.'s Newton. The software is a new version of a letter-writing utility PenMagic originally created for Go Corp.'s PenPoint operating system in 1992.
Ron McIntyre, vice-president of sales and marketing at PenMagic said the new Letter Express follows the same basic concept as the original, but besides working on a different operating system it has been substantially rewritten.
A key concept in the new version is "snippets" which can be short segments of text or formatting commands. For instance, an address, a salutation, and a paragraph thanking someone for an order might each be a snippet. Users put together letters by stringing these snippets together, and they can create their own custom snippets as needed, McIntyre said.
Letter Express will insert an address directly into a letter when the user chooses a name from the Newton's Name file, and can also pick up information such as the writer's name and return address from the Preferences file. Formatting and page numbering are also automatic, PenMagic said.
PenMagic originally focused on Go's PenPoint system, but that failed in the market, and currently the Newton is the only available platform for which the company is developing software McIntyre said. He added that PenMagic is also working on products for systems that have not yet been announced.
The pen computing market has been growing slowly, McIntyre said with most sales today to corporate users and those in specialized vertical markets.
The suggested retail price of Letter Express is $69.95.
(Grant Buckler/19940623/Press Contact: Ron McIntyre, PenMagic tel 604-988-9982, fax 604-988-0035; Public Contact: PenMagic 800-771-6244/EXPRESS940623/PHOTO)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- In a press conference attended by Newsbytes, AT&T and Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) admitted the details of their joint venture company Interactive Digital Solutions (IDS), have not been worked out. While there were technology demonstrations, they were noticeably short and both companies dodged questions as to what the joint venture means financially to each.
IDS is aimed at offering everything needed to cable and television operators to implement interactive services, according to its new President and General Manager Jim Barton. That includes the media server, system software, and the integration services such as transmission systems and end-to-end integration including set-top boxes.
However, IDS executives made it clear its function is to implement interactive television and those set-top boxes may not necessarily be from a specific vendor. This is a significant statement in the light that SGI is manufacturing set-top boxes as well as a media server for its interactive television experiment with Time Warner in Orlando, Florida.
Software appears to be a major focus of IDS. AT&T's Switching Systems President Dan Stanzione, who is taking the chairman slot at IDS, said AT&T does not usually go outside its own walls for technology to deliver to customers, so the SGI joint venture company is a significant departure.
Three demonstrations were offered of a sample system set up for the conference consisting of an SGI Server with eight processors running at 100 million instructions-per-second (MIPS), an AT&T broadband switch, and SGI workstations. The demonstrations were a playback of a pre-recorded video, a three-way game played by SGI employees, and a health services demo with a nurse describing an injury to a doctor. Each demo lasted only seconds and AT&T officials admitted during the question and answer session that the health care example was pre-recorded.
Several assertions were made by Stanzione that the joint venture has a "huge potential for profit," but during the question and answer company officials declined repeatedly to comment on the financial commitment each company was making to the project. While photos of a building with an IDS banner were shown, it turns out the new company will be housed in the SGI headquarters in Mountain View, California.
In addition, both SGI and AT&T said the technology agreement to form the joint venture company is non-exclusive and each company will continue to pursue its earlier commitments to other partners on similar interactive projects. AT&T is involved with Viacom and Sierra Online, while SGI has commitments to Time Warner Nintendo, Japanese telephone giant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and Sprint.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- At PC Expo in New York starting June 28, Nanao USA plans to demonstrate an implementation of a proposed "plug-and-play" specification being developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) in support of Microsoft's upcoming Chicago. Nanao will also debut new 17- and 20-inch "green monitors" that feature an on-screen control panel called ScreenManager.
Known as Data Display Channel (DDC), VESA's new plug-and-play specification for Chicago describes a communications channel between a monitor and a graphics card, according to a spokesperson for Torrance, California-based Nanao.
Nanao's new monitors, named the FlexScan T2-17 and T2-20, will add wider scanning frequencies and other viewing enhancements to the company's Trinitron line, along with ScreenManager, a utility that will be built into the monitor's embedded microprocessor, the spokesperson said.
VESA's emerging "plug-and-play" specification consists of two components, Newsbytes was told. The spokesperson defined DDC 1 as "a unidirectional data channel from the display to the host continuously transmitting extended display identification (EDID)." DDC 2, he added, is a "bidirectional data channel, for communications from display to host, as well as from host to display."
Also in the Nanao booth, attendees will be able to preview the two new monitors, which are slated for release in late August. Each monitor will incorporate ScreenManager, a feature that will let users select and adjust monitor controls from a floating, resizable menu.
Users will be able to scroll through ScreenManager, make adjustments, and save the adjustments through quick clicks on the button below the monitor's "thumb-wheel," the spokesperson said.
Provided in previous Nanao monitors as well, the thumb-wheel functions somewhat like a TV dial. Users can fine-tune the image display by spinning the dial with their thumbs.
The controls in the new ScreenManager will include adjustments for PowerManager and Auto Power On/Off, Nanao's Energy Star-compliant features. Users will be able to display the control panel in five different languages: English, German, French Spanish, and Italian.
Nanao has built ScreenManager into the monitor's embedded microprocessor so the utility can work interchangeably with PCs and Macs, the spokesperson noted. Nanao released its first Trinitron monitors in 1991, and its first Trinitron monitors with embedded processors in 1992.
Despite the addition of ScreenManager, the T2-17 and T2-20 will retain some of the "push-button" hardware controls of previous models, including buttons for sizing, positioning, and brightness he said.
The T2-17, which will be based on the new SE Trinitron tube from Sony, will integrate SuperErgoCoat, a new type of coating aimed at reducing glare and reflection while lowering radiation to meet the TCO standard. The 17-inch Trinitron monitor will also comply with the requirements of MPR II and International Standard Organization (ISO) 9241-3, the spokesperson said.
The T2-20, which will use an updated version of Sony's SA Trinitron tube, will provide similar ergonomics through the use of a panel he added. The "T" in the name of the new monitors stands for "Trinitron," and the "2" for "second generation," Newsbytes was told.
For both of the new monitors, Nanao has extended the horizontal scanning frequency to 30 to 85 kilohertz (kHz), and the vertical scanning frequency to 55 to 160 hertz (Hz), for a top resolution of 1600 by 1200 at 66Hz and a recommended resolution of 1280 by 1024 at 80Hz.
A new "tilt adjustment" feature rotates the picture to compensate for the effects of strong magnetism field and produce a "level picture," according to the spokesperson. A new "moire reduction" capability is aimed at lessening video moire, a visual pattern that sometimes appears in high-end displays.
The new monitors also add the ability to turn off the "beep" used in Nanao's products to warn users that the picture size they have selected is too large or too small, the spokesperson told Newsbytes.
Pricing for the new monitors has yet to be set, according to the spokesperson. The new T2-17, however, will probably be priced "in the $1,300 to $1,400 range," he added. The T660i, the direct predecessor to the T2-20, is currently $2,143.
Nanao "will not necessarily discontinue" the predecessors to either the T2-17 or the T-20 when the new monitors ship in August, he reported. The company has not reached a decision on whether prices will be lowered on the earlier models.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940623/Reader Contact: Nanao USA 310-325-5202; Press Contact: Brian Mast, Nanao USA 310-325-5202 ext 112)
ess Contact: Brian Mast, Nanao USA 310-325-5202 ext 112)
6/23/94
Nanao To Show Monitors & Chicago Technology At PC Expo
GENERAL
CES - Recording Industry Exec Ca
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A.,1994 JUN 23 (NB)- The executive vice-president and general counsel of the largest music industry trade association calls the Internet a potential threat to the music business during a panel at the Consumer Electronic Show.
"As far as the Internet is concerned, we are very troubled about how easy it is to upload sound recordings and other information without the necessary means to monitor, track, identify and pay for those materials," said David Leibowitz of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The RIAA is comprised of nearly all the record companies in the United States. The group says it is concerned about the specter of bulletin board system (BBS) owners digitizing a CD capturing it in computer memory, and then sending it out over the BBS to anyone with Internet access who chooses to receive the material.
Leibowitz stressed that the industry would combine a get tough approach along with research to make such unauthorized transmissions tougher.
"We have been looking at a number of bulletin boards, and we know that a number of them are, today, either providing musical samples or full cuts," he said. "We are investigating them to the extent that these activities are unauthorized and violate our members' rights."
An anti-piracy task force at RIAA has been handed the ball. "They (the task force) are actively enforcing that," said Leibowitz of the anti-piracy efforts. "Anti-piracy has always dealt with the unauthorized manufacture of records and CDs and their sale in flea markets and stores. Now, we are having to adapt toward looking what is going on over the wires."
Leibowitz then uttered a comment of frustration. "The Internet may be a lost cause at this point. It seems uncontrollable," he said. "Everyone with an Internet address has a mailbox, and there must be a phone number built into that -- but the possibility of creating electronic 'Swiss banks' really is troublesome."
Leibowitz's analogy referred to the legendary impenetrability of the Swiss banking system to the efforts of investigators.
He then implied that encryption or similar technology that will block digitization by unauthorized info highway pirates is the best hope for the future.
"Our industry is building in the license plates such as international standard recording codes. Each track will have a brief digitally imbedded, alpha numeric code identifying that track. That's part of the solution," he said.
Russell Shaw/19940623)
t of the solution," he said.
Russell Shaw/19940623)
6/23/94
CES - Recording Industry Exec Calls Internet Threat
TRENDS
CES - Private Sector Should Deve
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- The Electronic Industries Association recommends that the private sector assume the lead role in the upgrading of the national information infrastructure. Subject of a discussion at the Consumer Electronics Show, the recommendations were released in a "White Paper" presented at a Washington DC news conference.
"We believe it is the goal of both industry and government to create an information environment that enables people and their information devices to connect and communicate with each other, anytime, anywhere, both reliably and cost effectively," said EIA President Peter McCloskey.
"The United States today enjoys the world's most advanced and reliable information infrastructure, thanks to a national policy based on private ownership and competition. This environment encourages and rewards timely development and deployment of innovative and competitively priced products and services which best anticipate and meet the diverse needs of others," he said.
The EIA White Paper was released in partnership with the Telecommunications Industry Association, an EIA affiliate group representing the industry after which it is named.
"I want to reemphasize the importance of fair and vigorous competition, private investment in new and emerging technologies and enhanced innovation as essential components to achieving our nation's National Information Infrastructure vision for the future."
The White Paper contains six recommendations for NII development: the private sector must play the lead role; enlightened telecommunications regulation is essential; the role of global standards is critical; universal service and access must support competitive, market-driven solutions; security and privacy are essential requirements; and intellectual property rights must support new technologies.
"We stand ready to assist in the exploration of major issues which will protect and encourage the private sector," McCloskey said. "We are also prepared to contribute to the development of national and international standards which will be necessary for achieving access to networks on a broad, consumer-friendly basis, as well as for protecting individual privacy, security and intellectual property rights."
He concluded: "Guided by the six principles outlined, we believe an exciting and a successful NII will result."
Russell Shaw/19940623/Press Contact: Mark V.Rosenker, EIA 202-457-4980)
/Press Contact: Mark V.Rosenker, EIA 202-457-4980)
6/23/94
CES - Private Sector Should Develop Info Highway
TELECOM
Microsoft Offers Chicago Informa
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation has formally announced the availability of its WinNews forum to make available online information about its next-generation Windows operating system.
Users can get detailed information about "Chicago," the code name for what is expected to be formally known as Windows 4.0, on the online subscription services America Online, GEnie, CompuServe Prodigy, and the Internet.
Microsoft calls WinNews "the largest collection of Windows "Chicago"-related information anywhere," containing more than five megabytes (MB) of text and graphics in over 30 different documents. Background material, technical documents and question-and-answer files are available. Microsoft says the forum will be updated as more Chicago information becomes available.
Available files include a reviewers guide, the text of speeches by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates to the Electronic Mail Association and other industry groups, the networking features of Chicago articles about writing games for Windows, object linking and embedding, and plug-and-play architecture.
On America Online, you can access the forum with the key word WINNEWS. On CompuServe, type GO WINNEWS. GEnie users will find the information in File Area 24 of the Windows Roundtable. On the Internet select ftp.microsoft.com in the /Peropsys/Win--News directory. On Prodigy choose the jump word WINNEWS.
Microsoft says Chicago is expected to ship by the end of 1994 although some industry watchers expect it to be early 1995 before the new software comes to market.
Chicago will reportedly include a revised graphical user interface that will be closer to the Macintosh look and will include at least one feature, an electronic in-box, of Microsoft's recently announced Microsoft Exchange electronic mail product and the successor to Microsoft Mail. Exchange is expected to ship in 1995.
(Jim Mallory/19940623/Press contact: Kathy Gill or Colleen Lacter, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905)
, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905)
6/23/94
Microsoft Offers Chicago Information Online
T ~
Wordperfect Joins Speech Recogni
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A. 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation says it has joined other developers to define a common speech recognition application programming interface (API) for Windows that could go some way to making the mouse obsolete.
Wordperfect joins Dragon Systems Inc., IBM, Kolvox Communications Inc., Kurzweil Applied Intelligence Inc., Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, Philips Dictation Systems, and Novell Inc. on the Speech Recognition API committee.
The development of an open standard API will allow developers to integrate their own speech recognition into their Windows applications and have them work with speech recognizer engines from different companies. It is analogous to all appliances being capable of plugging into any electric outlet no matter who made the appliance nor what company supplies the electricity.
"When vendors truly commit to writing to open industry standards the issues of compatibility and interoperability will disappear for end users," according to Mark Calkins, VP of product and strategic marketing at Wordperfect.
Wordperfect says the API will support both continuous and discrete command and control capabilities as well as continuous and discrete dictation capabilities for inputting text and data.
Discrete command and control allows the user to give separate individual voice commands such as "File Print." Continuous command and control allows a person to use natural language input such as "Print five copies of this document." Discrete dictation requires the user to pause briefly between each word. Continuous dictation does not require pauses between words.
Speech recognition technology, if widely accepted by consumers could go some way to replacing the mouse as the link between the user and the PC. Some developers already offer limited voice control over the PC. Digital Soup Inc., in Brattleboro, Vermont, for example markets a program called Rover for Windows. It acts like a macro automator, allowing the user to define commands and teach Rover what actions those commands perform.
Future voice recognition will be even more sophisticated. Instead of clicking on a series of menus and icons to accomplish a task you could say "Print the file," "Make five copies," or "OK."
Computers could also become sophisticated dictating machines that eliminate the transcription step as users dictate directly into the PC, with the software formatting the document and automatically correcting grammatical and spelling errors.
Wordperfect executives believe a standard that integrates speech recognition directly into application software is the key to user acceptance of the technology.
Wordperfect says it will add a speech recognition API to its PerfectFit software developers kit in the fourth quarter. The company says its in-house developed Windows software will be speech-enabled by early 1995.
(Jim Mallory/19940623/Press contact: Deborah Hendrickson Wordperfect Corporation, 801-228-5022, or Mike Henkle, Digital Soup, 802-254-7356; Reader contact: Wordperfect Corporation tel 801-225-5000 or 800-451-5151, fax 801-228-5077; or Digital Soup, tel 802-254-7356, fax 802-254-6812)
Digital Soup, tel 802-254-7356, fax 802-254-6812)
6/23/94
Wordperfect Joins Speech Recognition API Effort
Company Results Roundup
NCTA - Online Services/Cable TV
European Commission Reviews Jetp
Nanao Bundles Color Management S
Computer Associates' Revenue, In
Seagate Opens New Wafer Plant In
Firms Team To Speed Remote PC Co
Storm Takes PhotoCD To Schools
Mini-Disks Store TV Programs
Saskatchewan Reseller Fined For
Time Warner Completes PCS Test W
PCLawjr Offered For Windows
Justice Department Wants More Mi
MS-DOS Equivalent OS For Handhel
PC Expo '94 Set For NYC, June 28
Korea - Computer News Roundup
Australian Air Force Buys Into R
Multimedia LCD Display Panel Mem
StrataCom Gets 2 Networking Pate
Cyrix Shipping Green 486DX2 Chip
Hong Kong Hospital Authority Imp
Scholastic's High-Tech Education
Pressure On Congress To Finish P
More On Metricom's Frequency-Hop
IBM Develops Super Sensitive Dis
Autodesk Acquires Mediashare
Pipeline On SprintNet For Nation
Wordperfect Joins Speech Recogni
Apple Imaging Exec May Return To
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Eastman Kodak Company is reportedly trying to lure Apple Computer Inc.'s vice president of imaging and publishing back to the company.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Don Strickland has been discussing the possible move since the beginning of the year. There are also unconfirmed reports that former Apple Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Sculley is providing marketing advice to Kodak.
Eastman Kodak spokesperson Paul Allen declined to comment on the reports when contacted by Newsbytes. "It's a speculative piece and we just don't comment on speculation," said Allen.
Allen said Strickland previously served as general manager and VP of Kodak's Electronic Imaging Platform Center.
Kodak announced in March it was forming a new business unit to be called Digital and Applied Imaging. "It would include things like CD imaging and a number of other digital imaging initiatives," Allen told Newsbytes.
The March announcement also said that Kodak would be going outside the company to find someone to lead the unit. It is apparently that job that Strickland may be in the running for.
Allen declined comment on the status of the search and whether any candidates were on a "short list."
(Jim Mallory/19940623/Press contact: Paul Allen, Eastman Kodak 716-724-3057)
contact: Paul Allen, Eastman Kodak 716-724-3057)
6/23/94
Apple Imaging Exec May Return To Eastman Kodak
GENERAL
IBM Adds Color Subnotebook To Th
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- IBM has added the ThinkPad 510Cs -- a four-pound subnotebook with a supertwist passive-matrix color display -- to its ThinkPad line of portable computers. The company also added a new docking station that works with its notebook models.
The new model uses IBM's 486BL2 processor, which runs at 50 megahertz (MHz) through clock-doubling technology. The machine will run three to six hours on battery power, company spokesman Jonathan Gandal told Newsbytes.
The 510Cs has a maximum memory capacity of 20 megabytes (MB) and comes with a 200MB hard disk drive and one Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) Type I or Type II slot. Like other ThinkPad models, it uses the TrackPoint II, a pointing stick in the middle of the keyboard that substitutes for a mouse.
The subnotebook comes with a new utility called PC Card Director which IBM said gives the user visible and audible confirmation that a PCMCIA card has been inserted or removed, and automatically configures cards and launches applications.
It also has PC-DOS 6.3, Microsoft Windows 3.1, access software for the America Online and Prodigy services, Lotus cc:Mail electronic mail for IBM and Sears' Advantis network, Lotus Organizer, Lotus ScreenCam, the Official Airline Guide FlightDisk, SofNet's FaxWorks 3.0, and Triton Technologies Co-Session Host software pre-loaded, IBM said.
The 510Cs will come with Online Housecall service, which lets company technicians diagnose and sometimes repair problems via wired or wireless modem. All ThinkPad systems come with an international traveller's warranty repair service, IBM said, and in the United States the vendor will pay shipping costs for depot service. The computer has a one-year warranty.
IBM also unveiled the ThinkPad Dock II, a docking station for its ThinkPad notebooks. The new docking station works with the ThinkPad 360, 750, and 755 models, Gandal said. It does not work with the subnotebook models, including the new 510Cs. The Dock II has two expansion slots and two bays for storage devices, versus one of each in the existing ThinkPad Dock I.
IBM PC Direct catalog pricing for the new subnotebook begins at $2,399 with 4MB and a 200MB hard drive, and the machine is due to be available June 30. The ThinkPad Dock II is priced at $719 and is available now, IBM said.
(Grant Buckler/19940623/Press Contact: Jonathan Gandal, IBM tel 914-766-1425; Public Contact: IBM, tel 800-426-2968)
-1425; Public Contact: IBM, tel 800-426-2968)
6/23/94
IBM Adds Color Subnotebook To ThinkPad Line
CES - Video Industry & 20's Holl
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Howard Lincoln chairman of Nintendo of America, called upon the video game industry to learn from Hollywood in the twenties, a time when standards were needed and technology was evolving. Lincoln addressed attendees of the 50th Consumer Electronics Show taking place in Chicago.
"The video game industry now faces many challenges. In less than two decades, the video game business has rapidly grown to become one of the most significant entertainment mediums on earth," he said. Most challenging, however, is that "we stand on the threshold of new technology that may forever change the nature of what we produce."
Comparing today to Hollywood in the 1920s, Lincoln said we are entering the golden age of video games. "Right now our industry faces intense scrutiny from Congress and public interest groups, all over this issue of video game content. Hollywood's answer was to create a rating system and we at Nintendo fully support the adoption of a video game rating system that is independent and honest" and applies to all platforms, said the Nintendo chairman. The Interactive Digital Software Association of which Nintendo is a member, is creating those standards right now, he said.
Lincoln explained that the most striking similarity to the Hollywood of the twenties is the technological revolution that faces the industry. "Hollywood (in the twenties) saw the introduction of sound and color, and these innovations changed movies forever, but did not change them overnight. He said it took many more years before color found a market, with Gone With The Wind. CD-ROMs and other technologies will take time to replace 16-bit video game technology, he contended.
Lincoln also pointed to "content" as an issue for the future. "Hollywood learned that people don't go to movies for screen size. They like great stories - in the entertainment business, which includes video games, content drives technology, it's not the other way around." High technology is still not as difficult as finding the right combination of elements to make up a good story, he said.
Trip Hawkins, chief of 3DO, last year stood on the same stage at CES, he said, and claimed that the need for new titles when introducing a new technology is a myth. "Some myth," said Lincoln.
Lincoln showed on screen an image of Donkey Kong, as the character appeared on a computer screen in 1981 -- the image was a crude pixel representation of the game gorilla. Today the gorilla in Nintendo's new Donkey Kong Country is a vivid, finely rendered creature evading cliffs, leaping through realistic-looking forests, caves and other obstacles. This product runs on the Nintendo 16-bit game console.
Added Lincoln, "No matter how great this game may look and sound it will ultimately succeed because the content is right. Great story, unique characters, hours of exciting entertainment, that is what is important in hit video games."
Sega's Genesis is a solid competitor to Nintendo, he said not because of technology but because of hit games like Sonic the Hedgehog. He added that he expects Nintendo to be in the lead again in 1994, however, with a new lineup of games and "Super Gameboy has just been launched in North America. 350 unique titles now exist for this $60 device."
He is optimistic, he says, because Nintendo is "a tougher competitor than ever before, with stronger marketing, stronger advertising."
Competition, however, is fierce. Sony, Panasonic, Silicon Graphics Time Warner, AT&T, GTE, Disney, and Steven Speilberg are in the business. "Their presence is a testimony to a trend which Nintendo and Sega are both well aware of. The demographics of the video game business includes more and more adults."
With video games now rivalling Hollywood box office revenues Nintendo is a testimony to the tremendous profits of the business. Lincoln said Nintendo had one billion dollars in pretax profits for fiscal year ending March 1994 and yet has only 3,000 employees. "1994 results were good enough to rank Nintendo 6th in pretax profits, according to a June 1 survey of a leading Japanese newspaper." About the company, which Lincoln said carries no debt "All of us feel very bullish about the video game business and Nintendo's role in that business."
Within the next few months, Sony and Sega will unveil 32-bit game systems. Nintendo's 64-bit system, formerly code-named Project Reality, is "right on schedule," said Lincoln, who also announced that the first two games for the unit are called Killer Instinct, and Cruising USA. Both will debut in arcades in the next few months.
Project Reality, a proprietary 64-bit, three-dimensional (3-D) home video game system is now officially named the Nintendo Ultra 64. This coproduction of Nintendo and Silicon Graphics, of Mountain View, California, software developers Rare Ltd and DMA Design, both of the United Kingdom, and Alias Research of Toronto, will be operated by a 64-bit MIPS RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) chip. Nintendo promises a system that will deliver new levels of speed, realism, optimized audio, video, and graphic capabilities.
The machine is expected to be priced at $250 or lower when it is released in the fall of 1995.
(Wendy Woods/19940623)
in the fall of 1995.
(Wendy Woods/19940623)
6/23/94
CES - Video Industry & 20's Hollywood Compared
TRENDS
Davidson Demos Multimedia Worksh
~ CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Educational software developer Davidson & Associates has announced a Windows CD-ROM version of The Multimedia Workshop product aimed at allowing 10 year-olds to adults to create multimedia presentations and published documents. Torrance, California headquartered Davidson is demonstrating the product this week at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Chicago.
The company says The Multimedia Workshop can be used to create anything from a magazine or illustrated daily journal to a video yearbook or multimedia presentation. The product is divided into three sections for different tasks: The Video Workshop; The Writing Workshop; and The Paint Workshop.
The Video Workstop is to be used for making presentations using photos, video clips, sound, music, and narration. A Scene Maker module allows the selection of background and the insertion of multimedia elements such as video clips and pictures. The Sequencer lets users lay out scenes and transitions on a storyboard grid, where sound-effects, music, and narration can be added to complete the presentation.
The Writing Workshop portion is for desktop publishing, such as the creation of newsletters, flyers, greeting cards, illustrated reports, or magazines. Thirty-two built-in templates are available or users can create their own desktop publishing layouts, Davidson said. Clip art is available on the CD-ROM and the section offers text-to-speech capabilities so the text can be spoken aloud for easy proofreading.
For those who are creative, the Paint Workshop offers a complete paint program to make new images or customize existing images. Tools, such as a spray can, paint brushes, pencils, and an eraser are available for use. The images can be used for import into the desktop publishing portion or used in video scenes, Davidson added.
Libraries of images and sounds are also available on the CD-ROM divided by categories such as history, the family, holidays food, animals, around the world, and sports. Six hundred clip art images, 300 photographs, 100 video clips, 200 sound effects, and 40 short music clips are available for unlimited use.
The Multimedia Workshop is planned for availability later this year at a retail price of around $50.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940623/Press Contact: Linda Duttenhaver Davidson & Associates, tel 310-793-0600 ext 230, fax 310-793 0601)
tel 310-793-0600 ext 230, fax 310-793 0601)
6/23/94
Davidson Demos Multimedia Workshop CD-ROM
Focus Enhancements Acquires Inli
WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Focus Enhancements Inc., a maker of add-on products for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh, said it has bought the name, software titles, and other operating assets of Inline Software Inc., of Lakeville, Conn.
Inline will move from Lakeville to Focus' headquarters in Woburn and will be run as a division of Focus, officials said. Terms of the purchase were not announced. A spokesman for Focus told Newsbytes that senior management of Inline will remain, but some other staff members may lose their jobs.
Founded in 1989, Inline Software publishes software for the Macintosh, Windows, and DOS, including utilities such as PopupFolder and INITPicker and entertainment software such as SwampGas, Tesserae, and Deliverance.
Focus officials said the purchase was meant to help their company diversify, and the software market was attractive because of high profit margins and the possibility of bundling Inline's software with Focus' hardware products for the Macintosh. They reported that Inline Software has a gross profit margin of about 65 percent on revenues of $2.3 million in 1993.
(Grant Buckler/19940623/Press Contact: Deborah Harper, Focus Enhancements, tel 617-938-8088, fax 617-938-7741; Geoffrey Eiten, OTC Communications for Focus, tel 617-444-6100 fax 617-444-6101)
for Focus, tel 617-444-6100 fax 617-444-6101)
6/23/94
Focus Enhancements Acquires Inline Software
BUSINESS
Telescan Offers Customization Sy
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Telescan has announced a system it will seek patents on, code-named Sunflower, which will enable businesses and tradegroups to quickly customize its services and create their own networks using Telescan's databases. The announcement was made at the company's annual meeting.
The company's vice chairman, Dr. Richard Carlin, said that using the technology, its users will be able to design and build their own networks within a few hours, including forums, roundtables electronic-mail, newsletters, stands, shopping, software announcements, billing information, and other services.
They will also be able to select content from Telescan for use on their systems, such as business news and stock market information. Telescan will maintain the hardware, software communication lines, and billing functions. The company will begin marketing the Sunflower product line later this year.
Telescan is classed by "Investors Business Daily" as a software company, but its main product is a financial database sold through third parties like Fidelity and Schwab, and featuring graphics for the creation of charts.
The hallmark of the service is its ability to provide fast responses to complicated queries, and deliver them in a graphical format minimizing expensive online time. The access software is proprietary, however, running under MS-DOS with a Windows-like interface of pull-down menus and lists of functions.
With the new software, Telescan will be attempting to make greater inroads in a market it already participates in to a limited extent.
It runs AIAOnline for the American Institute of Architects Billboard Online for Billboard Magazine, Editor & Publisher Online for the Editor & Publisher Magazine, Entrepreneurs Online, Public Information Online, and most recently, Knowledge Express Online for the Licensing Executives Society and universities, federal laboratories and small technology based companies working in the technology transfer industry.
Carlin told Newsbytes, "It covers what you find in bulletin board system (BBS) packages, but it goes beyond that in a number of areas. The most obvious is you're not getting hardware. There's also communications. The third area is in billing, because we'll have billing options and we'll generate all the billing by credit cards.
"You can set up your own network with this, separate from anyone else. We also have content on this, the ability to add our existing services to your service. Theoretically you could build our whole service out of this. So there's broad content. We also have a number of searchable databases that use very sophisticated technology, boolean or relevant searching, available. They can pop that into their online searching."
Newsbytes asked about the opportunity the new announcement is addressing. "This is going to be a major opportunity, although it's not as fast-growing" as the consumer online market as a whole.
"This may change the way people look at the online industry," he added. "It will allow them to think about how they can use the online industry to aid them. They can create an online service similar to America OnLine, develop a toll-free support line, or use it for interactions between groups."
About Telescan, he said, "Although our biggest business is financial, we're broadening. We have the government database, we see a big market in associations, and we've already announced a database for Editor and Publisher, serving the newspaper industry. We have been talking with other people in that industry and it is an area we've been looking at strongly."
All of which means that, in addition to America OnLine, Prodigy Delphi and Ziff's Interchange, Telescan could seek to run online services for newspapers.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940623/Press Contact: Telescan Richard Ames, 713/952-1060)
: Telescan Richard Ames, 713/952-1060)
6/23/94
Telescan Offers Customization System
TELECOM
Southern Bell Files Price Cap Pl
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Southern Bell has filed a price cap plan for Georgia, under which it would cap basic rates for five years, then increase them only by the rate of inflation. In exchange, the company would win complete freedom to set prices on enhanced services, and to compete with such companies as MCI and MFS, which are entering the local services market.
The plan, dubbed "Georgians FIRST," was filed with the state's Public Service Commission. In a press statement Carl Swearingen president of Southern Bell operations in Georgia, said: "Our industry is clearly moving towards full competition, and we need to change the way we do business."
Southern Bell tried and failed to get the state legislature to address the question of its rates earlier this year. A bill it supported, S. 566, failed to win passage after opposition surfaced from, among others, the Georgia Cable TV Association and the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" newspapers.
The PSC's chairman, Republican Bobby Baker, also testified on behalf of his colleagues against the bill, noting that the inflation-adjustments were automatic and it would remove from PSC jurisdiction key questions over how fast Southern Bell depreciates its equipment.
Southern Bell spokesman Lynn Bress offered the company's side of the story. "We're capping rates for five years. That doesn't mean they can't come down. Once competition comes to an area, the market will determine the price. What we're saying is we want to make our customers comfortable that if we get pricing flexibility for optional services we won't raise rates in any areas. We're targeting basic service, and will cap those rates five years, then won't raise them any higher than the rate of inflation."
Newsbytes repeated Baker's assertions made to the legislature that Southern Bell's service costs are declining, so a rate cap would merely create higher profits it could use to subsidize its market battle for business customers. "There are specific rules where there's no cross-subsidy allowed. We will absolutely not take money from regulated to fund unregulated. We're prohibited from doing that," said Bress.
As in the press statement, Bress raised the spectre of competition. "MCI's announced they're spending $2 billion, and Atlanta was their first announced location. We have MFS here. There's lots of competition." And these competitors are "cherry picking," she charged, going after only the best customers. "The business customer subsidizes the residence customer. They're not going to serve those who don't give them revenue. Rate of return regulation in this environment doesn't make sense."
All states are now dealing with "price cap" proposals and similar attempts to win phone companies the regulatory flexibility they say they need to build fast-data "information highway" services on a local level. Southern Bell has filed proposals of this type in Kentucky and Louisiana. The Wisconsin legislature is working on a bill similar to S. 566. Modified price cap plans have also been approved in California, Oregon, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Rhode Island.
Newsbytes attempted to get responses to this from Southern Bell's competitors and potential competitors. Most said they had not read the filing, and could not comment until then. But given the opposition which developed to S.566, they are probably unlikely to support the plan without substantial modification.
WASHINGTON D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Hoping to meet the needs of both new commercial Internet customers and the NSFnet for which it provides backbone data transfers under the Internet Protocol, Sprint has announced Global SprintLink, which will let foreign networks link to the Internet backbone at speeds of up to 2.048 million bits-per-second (bps), known as E1.
The service will bring significant cost savings to those networks and enable intra-Asian and intra-European Internet traffic to be exchanged at competitive cost, Sprint said in a press statement.
Cities in Europe and in the Asia Pacific region will be able to obtain international and intra-regional connectivity by purchasing either leased lines to access centers in London, Paris, Stockholm and Tokyo, or by purchasing access ports from Sprint as the network is expanded in the fourth quarter of this year and through 1995. That E1 speed limit will also be increased, the company said.
Farooq Hussain, Sprint's product manager for Internet Services discussed the announcement with Newsbytes. "The capacity requirements for NSFnet are huge, and the growth has been substantial," he said.
"The other point is that the research networks have a very significant demand moving away from the way the Internet is currently connected, through leased lines. The architecture of the NSFnet is now in transition to a new architecture" using public networks available on-demand. "In order to meet these requirements we've both expanded the ability to provide high capacity connections and meet the local access port requirements that are so important," he said.
"Because it's high capacity ports this is aimed first at connecting service providers," he added. "We can reach 35 cities but the initial deployment is a high capacity backbone. We anticipate this will grow as it's done historically, and we're provisioning it in two megabit chunks. The backbone will be upgraded to meet requirements as we go along."
As to the network itself, "At the moment we have five E-1s from Europe connecting to NSFnet and four E1s coming in from Asia PAcific, mostly Japan. The E1 is obviously more appealing to the Europeans, but we're not having any problem with" differences between that speed and the 1.544 million bps, or T-1 speed, used on US networks.
"The responses I've had from the attaching networks is the architecture of this backbone allows more flexibility in inter European routing," Hussain continued. "It's sometimes more simple to go to Aberdeen from London through New York" for fast data calls, and this will change with the new network. "It's then up to network service providers to decide how they'll handle file transfer issues within their hosts," reducing multiple file requests by storing commonly asked-for files locally.
"There's a phenomenal pressure on our people overseas to provide service the way we do through SprintLink," Hussain concluded. "The drive of these research networks, the appearance of Mosaic the fact there were 2,000 commercial registrations in May. We're responding to that as well as NSF."
Hussain also noted the differences between SprintLink, an Internet Protocol network, and the SprintNet packet network under X.25. "We're not a packet network for moving IP (Internet Protocol). Sprint International has a substantial global infrastructure. If we have people in Africa who need IP and the easiest transport is X.25, they're no longer looking at that nearest node" under IP "being in the US" thanks to this announcement.
"Our relation with France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom will let us reach a much larger segment of the Internet community" once it is finalized, he added. "It may be premature to say X.25 will fade away. It continues to be heavily utilized. It's just unlikely that the capacity requirements we've seen in the developed world will be met by an underlying packet service."
PARIS, FRANCE, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Groupe Bull, the troubled French computer manufacturer, is now in the final stages of preparation for privatization, having cleared the hurdles of the European Commission as well as getting the official thumbs up from the French government for the sell off.
With a workforce of 31,700 and a 1993 loss of FF5,070 million on a turnover of FF28,250 million, the company does not look like a buyer's dream, but company officials claim that things have improved markedly during the first six months of this year.
After five consecutive years of mounting losses, the company claims that turnover in the first quarter of this year has risen by more than 20 percent to FF6,200. Losses during the first quarter were an almost respectable FF942 million.
The main reason for the turnaround in fortunes for the company according to Groupe Bull's Jean-Marie Descarpentries, is that Zenith Data Systems, its PC-producing subsidiary, has started to hit the black, which has allowed Groupe Bull's financial division to revise its projected annual loss for 1994 down to FF500 million.
According to Descarpentries, the company is on course to return to profitability some time next year and, if the company is sold off, its previous year's losses are almost certain to be written off by the French government, giving the newly privatized company a clean bill of health.
Descarpentries says he is looking forward to privatization, especially since the EC only allowed through the latest set of subsidies from the French government on the understanding that the company was privatized within a relatively short timeframe.
Preliminary plans for Groupe Bull suggest that a group of core shareholders will take a 30 percent stake in the company, with staff holdings increased from the current 10 to 20 percent. It has also been suggested that IBM and NEC, both minor shareholders in the company will increase their stake, while France Telecom, which has 17 percent stake in the company, may be persuaded to sign up further investment.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940623/Press & Reader Contact: Groupe Bull 33-1-4574-1497)
ss & Reader Contact: Groupe Bull 33-1-4574-1497)
6/23/94
France - Groupe Bull Readies For Privatization
BUSINESS
^ o
Germany - Deutsche Bundespost Lo
BONN, GERMANY, 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- Deutsche Bundespost Telekom (DBT) has revealed it is looking at investing in Bezeq Telecom, a Jerusalem-based telecoms company. According to DBT, senior officials of both companies have been in discussions in Israel for some time.
The announcement follows on from reports in the Israeli press earlier this month that DBT was interested in taking a 25 percent share in Bezeq Telecom. Officials with DBT have not said how much of a stake they may take in the Israeli company, but stressed that any offer will be subject to final approval by the German and Israeli governments.
Bezeq Telecom is a hardware telecoms supplier to the Middle East, a field that DBT has traditionally been weak in. In Germany. DBT has relied on third-party companies such as Siemens and Nokia to supply its exchange hardware. Tying in with Bezeq is a logical step for the company since it increases its source of supply of technology equipment, as well as introducing the possibility of being able to sell its products and services to the Middle East.
Because of the military conflicts constantly going on in the Middle East, Israeli technology companies are regarded as some of the best in the world, having evolved technology "solutions" to meet the hostile conditions. Increasingly, now that Israel is settling its political feuds with its neighbors, companies in the country are turning to foreign markets to market their technology, Newsbytes notes.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940623/Press & Reader Contact: DBT tel +49-228-1820, fax +49-228-182-9822)
Contact: DBT tel +49-228-1820, fax +49-228-182-9822)
6/23/94
Germany - Deutsche Bundespost Looks At Israeli Firm
TELECOM
PCC Show - Wireless Vision Of Th
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- The next wave of productivity will not come from higher capacity hard disks full-motion video and sound coming through a computer, but will come when people have tools to be productive wherever business takes them, according to Randall Battat, Motorola, formerly of Apple Computer, who addressed the PCC (Personal Communications and Computing Show), going on simultaneously with the Consumer Electronics Show at McCormick Hall in Chicago.
Battat, vice president of Motorola's Wireless Data Group showed one of the jewels in Motorola's crown -- a personal communications device called the Envoy, which will be shipped in late summer. Envoy, based on the General Magic's Magic Cap software and Telescript, was part of a demonstration for the keynote address.
Envoy allows the user to send a fax, send wireless messages to an administrator's Macintosh, or to receive a wireless message via the Internet from a PC.
Envoy presents the user with an opening screen display that looks like the surface of a desk -- there is a fax machine a calendar, a notepad, a telephone. If one taps with a stylus on various devices, functions pop up. For instance, a touch to the calendar brings up the calendar function. A touch to a full in-basket shows a series of messages waiting, which can then be received through wireless transmission with a host computer. When a pen is touched to each message, the full text is displayed.
"A lot of people will enjoy Envoys, but this is the first step in a long term project. We're where pagers were 10 years ago. But today, a lot of the pieces are there to do some incredible things right now," said Battat. "At Motorola we're extremely excited about what all these new things can do for people."
Envoy, composed of Motorola's own "Dragon" chipset and featuring a 68349 processor and special-purpose ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), will enable the user to send two-way wireless wireline, and infrared signals to other computers.
Applications coming with the unit, which is expected to retail for $1,500, will be a datebook, address book, notebook, filing system calculator tools, plus a host of other third-party applications.
Cheryl Beck Ruff, product marketer for the Envoy from Motorola's Wireless Data Group, told Newsbytes that RadioMail and AT&T Personalink Services will work with Motorola's ARDIS network to offer additional functionality to the Envoy.
The AT&T service, she added, will be especially useful since its ability to understand the Telescript language means that a "richer content" can be transmitted -- i.e., handwriting can be transmitted as well as text.
(Wendy Woods/19940623)
s well as text.
(Wendy Woods/19940623)
6/23/94
PCC Show - Wireless Vision Of The Future
TELECOM
Newsbytes Daily Summary
'V'PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.,1994 JUN 23 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> IBM Develops Super Sensitive Disk-Drive Recording Head 06/23/94 IBM's Almaden Research Center claims it has created the world's most sensitive sensor for detecting data on magnetic hard disks. The upshot the new sensor will allow for even smaller hard disk drives with higher storage capacities, as it allows for data on hard disk drives to be stored 20 times more compactly than currently.
2 -> India's Prithvi Missile Takes Off Successfully 06/23/94 The decks were cleared for the induction of the Prithvi missile into the Indian Army with two successful trial launches of the missile from a mobile launcher inside the Interim test range (ITR).
3 -> AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices 06/23/94 By John Hastings. Apple and IBM are getting closer to an agreement on what will be standard operating system features for all PowerPC equipped computers. Once this agreement is reached and implemented, the new Macs should be able to run OS/2 software, and the new IBM PowerPC computers will be able to run Macintosh software.
4 -> Japan - Telecom Equipment Output, US Exports, Drop 06/23/94 Fiscal 1993 communications equipment production was down 0.5% to 2.47 trillion yen ($24.03 billion) worth of hardware, according to the latest survey from the Communication Industries Association of Japan.
5 -> Japan - Computer News Briefs 06/23/94 In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, NTT develops new character recognition technology which can recognize blurred or "designer" characters Seiko Instruments wins order for 6,000 portable terminals from Chicago commodity exchanges, and IBM Japan marketing smallest lightest notebook PC with STN color LCD.
6 -> NEC, Toshiba Boost 16 Mb DRAM Output 06/23/94 Both NEC and Toshiba are boosting 16 megabit (Mb) DRAM (dynamic random access memory) production. NEC will boost its 16Mb synchronous DRAM production to 400,000 units per month by year's end and Toshiba plans to increase 16Mb DRAM output to three million units per month by year's end.
7 -> Japan - Low-Cost Printers From Seiko-Epson, Fujitsu 06/23/94 Seiko-Epson has released a laser printer priced below 100,000 yen ($971). In addition, Fujitsu plans to market a 600 dots-per-inch (dpi) page printer that hovers just above the $1,000 mark.
8 -> Japan - Telecom News Briefs 06/23/94 In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, Kansai Electric Power discloses ten-year plan to install optical fiber cables to four million households, domestic fax market picks up in fiscal 1993, NHK to begin digital image broadcast tests this fall.
9 -> Autodesk Acquires Mediashare 06/23/94 In an effort to increase its ability to create better object-oriented Windows- based authoring tools for both its two-dimensional (2D) and three- dimensional (3D) graphics and animation software tools, Autodesk has acquired full rights to Mediashare's multimedia, interactive authoring technology.
10 -> Australia - High Speed Modem War 06/23/94 Australian modem suppliers are gearing up for big sales and torrid competition as the ponderous decision-making of international standard bodies clears the way for a new generation of high-speed modems.
11 -> CES - Digital Technology Creates Copyright Problems 06/23/94 leading US copyright attorney says that the ability to send digitized, unauthorized samples of creative works across phone lines may serve to make present copyright protection obsolete.
12 -> PenMagic Offers Letter Express For Apple's Newton 06/23/94 PenMagic Software is now shipping Letter Express for Apple Computer Inc.'s Newton. The software is a new version of a letter-writing utility PenMagic originally created for Go Corp.'s PenPoint operating system in 1992.
13 -> More On AT&T/SGI Interactive Joint Venture 06/23/94 In a press conference attended by Newsbytes, AT&T and Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) admitted the details of their joint venture company Interactive Digital Solutions (IDS), have not been worked out. While there were technology demonstrations, they were noticeably short and both companies dodged questions as to what the joint venture means financially to each.
14 -> Nanao To Show Monitors & Chicago Technology At PC Expo 06/23/94 At PC Expo in New York starting June 28, Nanao USA plans to demonstrate an implementation of a proposed "plug-and-play" specification being developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) in support of Microsoft's upcoming Chicago. Nanao will also debut new 17- and 20-inch "green monitors" that feature an on-screen control panel called ScreenManager.
15 -> Correction - Sidekick For Windows 1st App In "Slimline" 06/23/94 In a story on Sidekick for Windows that ran June 21 in Newsbytes, the name of Borland's new "slimware" software line was erroneously identified as "Simplicity." Instead, "Simplify" is the correct name of the new product family.
16 -> ****CES - Recording Industry Exec Calls Internet "Threat" 06/23/94 he executive vice-president and general counsel of the largest music industry trade association calls the Internet a potential threat to the music business during a panel at the Consumer Electronic Show.
17 -> CES - Private Sector Should Develop Info Highway 06/23/94 The Electronic Industries Association recommends that the private sector assume the lead role in the upgrading of the national information infrastructure. Subject of a discussion at the Consumer Electronics Show, the recommendations were released in a "White Paper" presented at a Washington DC news conference.
18 -> ****Microsoft Offers "Chicago" Information Online 06/23/94 Microsoft Corporation has formally announced the availability of its WinNews forum to make available online information about its next-generation Windows operating system.
19 -> Wordperfect Joins Speech Recognition API Effort 06/23/94 Wordperfect Corporation says it has joined other developers to define a common speech recognition application programming interface (API) for Windows that could go some way to making the mouse obsolete.
20 -> Apple Imaging Exec May Return To Eastman Kodak 06/23/94 Eastman Kodak Company is reportedly trying to lure Apple Computer Inc.'s vice president of imaging and publishing back to the company.
21 -> IBM Adds Color Subnotebook To ThinkPad Line 06/23/94 IBM has added the ThinkPad 510Cs -- a four-pound subnotebook with a supertwist passive-matrix color display -- to its ThinkPad line of portable computers. The company also added a new docking station that works with its notebook models.
22 -> ****CES - Video Industry & 20's Hollywood Compared 06/23/94 Howard Lincoln, chairman of Nintendo of America, called upon the video game industry to learn from Hollywood in the twenties, a time when standards were needed and technology was evolving. Lincoln addressed attendees of the 50th Consumer Electronics Show, taking place in Chicago.
23 -> Davidson Demos Multimedia Workshop CD-ROM 06/23/94 Educational software developer Davidson & Associates has announced a Windows CD-ROM version of The Multimedia Workshop product aimed at allowing 10 year-olds to adults to create multimedia presentations and published documents. Torrance, California headquartered Davidson is demonstrating the product this week at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Chicago.
24 -> Focus Enhancements Acquires Inline Software 06/23/94 Focus Enhancements Inc., a maker of add-on products for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh, said it has bought the name, software titles, and other operating assets of Inline Software Inc., of Lakeville, Conn.
25 -> Telescan Offers Customization System 06/23/94 Telescan has announced a system it will seek patents on, code-named Sunflower which will enable businesses and tradegroups to quickly customize its services and create their own networks using Telescan's databases. The announcement was made at the company's annual meeting.
26 -> Southern Bell Files Price Cap Plan In Georgia 06/23/94 Southern Bell has filed a price cap plan for Georgia, under which it would cap basic rates for five years, then increase them only by the rate of inflation. In exchange, the company would win complete freedom to set prices on enhanced services, and to compete with such companies as MCI and MFS, which are entering the local services market.
27 -> SprintLink Goes International 06/23/94 Hoping to meet the needs of both new commercial Internet customers and the NSFnet, for which it provides backbone data transfers under the Internet Protocol, Sprint has announced Global SprintLink, which will let foreign networks link to the Internet backbone at speeds of up to 2.048 million bits-per-second (bps), known as E1.
28 -> France - Groupe Bull Readies For Privatization 06/23/94 Groupe Bull, the troubled French computer manufacturer, is now in the final stages of preparation for privatization, having cleared the hurdles of the European Commission, as well as getting the official thumbs up from the French government for the sell off.
29 -> Germany - Deutsche Bundespost Looks At Israeli Firm 06/23/94 Deutsche Bundespost Telekom (DBT) has revealed it is looking at investing in Bezeq Telecom, a Jerusalem-based telecoms company. According to DBT, senior officials of both companies have been in discussions in Israel for some time.
30 -> ****PCC Show - Wireless Vision Of The Future 06/23/94 The next wave of productivity will not come from higher capacity hard disks full-motion video and sound coming through a computer, but will come when people have tools to be productive wherever business takes them, according to Randall Battat, Motorola, formerly of Apple Computer, who addressed the PCC (Personal Communications and Computing Show), going on simultaneously with the Consumer Electronics Show at McCormick Hall in Chicago.
(Ian Stokell/19940623)
(Ian Stokell/19940623)
6/23/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
Review of - Razzle Dazzle 3D, sc
Runs on: IBM ATs under MS-DOS, Windows or Windows-NT, with sound cards, VGA graphics, and 550 kilobytes of free disk space.
PUMA rating: 1.2 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Dana Blankenhorn
Summary: An overdone screen saver which caused all kinds of havoc on our test machine.
=======
REVIEW
=======
Screen savers should be simple. As they've moved from utilities to entertainment, they've become more complex. In that complexity, you can have problems. Razzle Dazzle 3D is an example of that.
The images and sound of Razzle Dazzle are impressive. On our VGA monitor we saw curves, circles, fractals, a real kaleidoscope. There's also a self-composing music generator that makes a true multimedia experience. I guess you could say this is software a drug-user would love -- turn on the machine and let it happen. Look, colors!
For a serious computer user, however, there are lots of hassles. First, Razzle Dazzle divides itself into numerous files, and not all of them are in a Razzle Dazzle sub-directory. Crucial files are put into the Windows subdirectory. There is no "uninstall" for the program, so if you get another screen saver you can't play it without a lot of hassle. There is a "manual" mode that supposedly lets you select an effect for display. But there's no way to make a selection, and it's hard to get out of that mode.
There are also some benefits, like a "security" module that can require use of a password to turn the screen saver function off. Some publications have given this program strong reviews, so maybe we're just being picky.
But within a week, I was more than angry at this program. I finally got the help of a company representative to erase the necessary files and get rid of the program. But there is no way you can do this using the instructions that come with it.
If this weren't advertised as a screen saver, I wouldn't have as many reservations with Razzle Dazzle as I have. It's entertaining and innovative. But screen savers should be simple to load simple to use, and simple to discard. After wrestling with the program, Razzle Dazzle lost on two of three falls.
=============
PUMA RATINGS
=============
PERFORMANCE: 1.0 Easy to load, tough to get rid of. And the manual mode didn't work for me.
USEFULNESS: 1.5 As entertainment, Razzle Dazzle is fine. As a screen saver, it's not so fine.
MANUAL: 1.0 The manual lacked crucial directions for getting rid of the program.
AVAILABILITY: 4 Available at better computer bookstores and superstores.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940413/Press Contact: Dan Janal, Janal Communications, 510-831-0900; FAX: 510-831-2446)
unications, 510-831-0900; FAX: 510-831-2446)
6/24/94
Review of - Razzle Dazzle 3D, screen saver
REVIEW
Review of - Kid Cuts,
Runs on: MS-DOS machines with 640K of RAM, hard drive, printer and mouse required.
From: Broderbund, 500 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94948; (415) 382-4700
Price: $39.95
PUMA rating: 3.75 (with 1 as lowest and 4 as highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Naor Wallach
Summary: This is a crafts program for children. Best use is when there is nothing else to do in the house and you are looking for something to do to keep the kids from going crazy.
=======
REVIEW
=======
Kid Cuts is an activity kit for kids that's intended to help them use a computer in creating various craft projects. There are almost 36 different activities, and each one of those can be customized in myriad ways to yield an almost limitless number of different things to do.
Kid Cuts comes on either five 3.5" disks or three 5.25" disks. Along with the disks, the box contains an Installation Guide Instruction sheet, a 44-page User's Guide, a pair of safety scissors, and a flurry of registration cards and other offers that Broderbund would like you to have. Although reading the manual is not really needed to be able to use the program I recommend you do so anyway. There are several items discussed in the manual that are not necessarily obvious from just using the program. Discovering these things can add to your enjoyment of the program.
Installation of the program is the usual laborious process of swapping disks in and out of the drive as they are needed. However Broderbund's installation program is relatively painless and allows you to do other things while it goes about its business.
The program is relatively straightforward. Once started, and beyond the welcoming screen, you are shown the "project picker." This is a screen which contains nine different, large, icons for each of the different kinds of activities that you can do. The different activities are labeled: Masks, Hats, Animals, Shapes Dolls, Puppets, Greeting Cards, Puzzles, and Rainy Day. Each of these activities lead you to a second screen which contains four choices. For instance, should you click on the Masks activity, the next four icons will be different kinds of masks. I saw a cat face a butterfly, a tiger, and a medieval helmet. Selecting one of those leads to the work area itself.
The work area is a painting program that allows you to modify some of the elements of your creation. For instance, in the Tiger Mask you can choose from among six different styles of Tiger (from silly to fiercely growling). You can then use the tools from the accompanying tool bar to paint the mask's regions in different colors, add stamps, text, or add your own doodling with a pencil or a paint brush.
Once the mask is just right, you can the print your creation. (Some of the projects require that you have a printer attached.) If you have a color printer, then you can print out your colorful creations. Lacking that, you can print the outline of your work and then use crayons or other real life coloring tools to finish the project in an appropriate manner.
Some of the more interesting tools available are the Wacky Brushes. Ordinarily, the Wacky Brushes allow you to either add certain unusual elements to the project, or modify it in some unusual ways. But, there is an additional function that they can do. By playing with the various modifier keys on your keyboard while using the Wacky Brush, you may find that it does some totally unexpected things. For instance, one of the Wacky Brushes available is the Hand Brush. It places hand outlines wherever you click. However, hold down the Alt key and the Hand Brush will place feet on your pictures! Other such trickery abounds in this area and Broderbund encourages you to experiment and see what you can find.
The Rainy Day area is one that picks projects at random from among all the rest. The idea is that (on a rainy day) you would set the kids in front of the computer and have them do whatever pops up.
I used this program by myself, and then brought over a gang of kids to use it. First, all of the kids were anxious to use it but after a little bit of time, I noticed that they started losing interest and turned to other pursuits. Since I had a similar reaction, I started observing more closely what was happening. My conclusion is that this program is rather limited. For instance, one of the children (10 years old) wanted to create a tiger mask that looked almost like one of those present but with some unique twists of her own. The program allows one to add items, but certain key parts of each project are fixed and cannot be modified. Of course, the 10-year-old wanted to change one of those fixed items! As soon as she figured out that she could not do what she wanted, she lost interest in the program.
Other children were hoping to be given more than four activity choices within a project group.
I was also puzzled by the relatively slow performance of the program. I ran this program on a 486-based machine at 33 MHz. Other paint program operate reasonably fast on this machine. However, Kid Cuts tended to crawl along at certain times making me wonder what was going on.
Finally, you must have a printer to get full use of the program. Without a printer attached, some of the projects cannot be done at all.
My overall impression is that this program is a first attempt. I am hopeful that Broderbund is planning to make out with a series of modules that will expand the program's capabilities. If not, this program is almost a one-shot deal.
=============
PUMA RATINGS
=============
PERFORMANCE: 3 Slow at times.
USEFULNESS: 3 Not enough to do.
MANUAL: 4
AVAILABILITY: 3 Available from mail order and software stores. The company does not have a toll-free support number.
(Naor Wallach/19940525)
(Naor Wallach/19940525)
6/24/94
Review of - Kid Cuts,
REVIEW
Japan - Computer News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, LSI Logic, Sony Computer Entertainment develop game machine CPU, Ichitaro sales top two million copies Toshiba plans to develop low-cost, fault-tolerant Unix server Hitachi to boost monthly production of HDDs to 1 million units.
LSI Logic, SONY Computer Entertainment develop game machine CPU
US semiconductor maker LSI Logic and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) have jointly developed a CPU (central processing unit) chip for use in the PlayStation game machine SCE plans to release within the year. The CPU uses a 32-bit RISC (reduced instruction-set computer) microprocessor based on Silicon Graphics' MIPS architecture as its core and integrates three-dimensional (3-D) geometry engine processor and an image decompression processor on the same chip. The CPU achieves a processing speed of 200 million instructions per second (MIPS). LSI Logic will manufacture the chips at its Tokyo and Sacramento plants and supply them to Sony. Nintendo, which plans to develop a 64-bit game machine, will also use a MIPS architecture CPU in it.
Ichitaro sales top 2 million copies
Just Systems' sales of its best-selling Ichitaro Japanese word-processing program have topped two million copies since its predecessor jX Word Taro came out in February 1985. The application, which has become a synonym for word-processing software, is now up to Version 5 and comes in versions that run on DOS/v, NEC PC-98 series, and all other major Japanese PCs. A version for Windows 3.1 came out late last year. To mark the sales achievement, the company will drastically reduce the suggested retail prices of all the major versions to 25,000 yen ($243) and the price of its office suite package, which includes a spreadsheet program, to 35,000 yen ($340). Only a total of 100,000 copies of the programs will be offered at the special prices.
Toshiba plans to develop low-cost, fault-tolerant Unix server
Toshiba plans to develop, in 1995, a Unix server that can run "continuously." To be developed in response to the increase in demand for fault-tolerant servers as client-server systems become more widespread, the server will use a symmetric multi-processor construction and software and hardware methods to provide fault-tolerant operation. As price has become an issue for fault-tolerant LAN (local area network) servers, the company will keep the price of the new product low. By using two CPUs (central processing units), Toshiba intends to give it high availability. Disk drives and other I/O (input/output) devices will be shared, allowing quicker responses to malfunctions.
Hitachi to boost monthly production of HDDs to 1 million units
Hitachi will boost monthly production of hard disk drives at the company's Odawara plant in Kanagawa Prefecture. Plans call for doubling monthly output from the current 500,000 to one million units. Hitachi is anticipating increased demand for 2.5 and 1.8-inch HDDs (hard disk drives) for use in PCs and is aiming to strengthen its production system in response to this. Hitachi is increasing production capacity at the plant in anticipation of the production startup in June, 1995, at its subsidiary in the Philippines, which will be manufacturing small HDDs. Later Hitachi intends to switch to procuring small HDDs from specialty makers.
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
(Terry Silveria/19940621)
6/24/94
Japan - Computer News Briefs
GENERAL
Japan - Telecom News Briefs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, the number of NTT's ISDN lines top 300,000 in early June, Sumitomo Electric to develop corporate PC network by fiscal 1996, Deutsche Telekom & France Telecom looking to jointly establish international communications service company in Japan.
Number of NTT's ISDN lines tops 300,000 in early June
The number of NTT's ISDN (integrated services digital network) lines topped 300,000 in early June, increasing by 50% over the last year. ISDN service has been used in a growing number of different ways, including multimedia, corporate teleconferencing systems and POS (point-of-sale) systems geared toward convenience stores, delivery by local ward offices of copies of family registers, and page layout work at newspaper companies. ISDN has also been used for PC communications services targeting individuals. Even karaoke pubs have found a way to use ISDN lines. With a new "karaoke data communications" service, data for requested songs are immediately received over the lines.
Sumitomo Electric to develop corporate PC network by fiscal 1996
Sumitomo Electric plans to develop a corporate PC network by fiscal 1996. The company has 11 domestic and about 60 overseas sales subsidiaries and production plants, and connected its North Carolina-based optical fiber production subsidiary Sumitomo Electric Fiber Optics to its Japan headquarters last year. Sumitomo will link its offices and plants in Asia between fiscal 1994 and 1995 and expand the network to its centers in Europe in fiscal 1996. The number of PCs in use by the company worldwide will be increased from the current 1,000 to 3,000.
Deutsche Telekom & France Telecom looking to jointly establish international communications service company in Japan
The state-owned telecommunications companies of Germany and France are considering jointly establishing an international communications service company in Japan as early as 1995. Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom would seek to develop business amid deregulation in Japan's international telephone service market, which currently is limited to three carriers. The two firms are moving forward with joint venture plans in Europe and the US, and would seek to make Japan the base for future operations in Asia. Market entry by Europe's two leading carriers would thrust Japan into an era of truly international competition in the communications market.
(Terry Silveria/19940622)
(Terry Silveria/19940622)
6/24/94
Japan - Telecom News Briefs
TELECOM
Australia - New Multimedia Sound
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Creative Labs, maker of the Sound Blaster products, is set to move into the corporate marketplace with new offerings, including a low-cost videoconferencing product and a multimedia kit for the workplace.
Lou Schillaci, marketing manager for Creative in Australia told Newsbytes that he is flying to headquarters in Singapore over the weekend for the company launch. He said that to date multimedia add-on packs went 85 percent to home and SOHO (small office home office) users, with only 15 percent going to corporate users.
"This new product will make a huge difference to that. We've spent a lot of work finding out what users want and the way they like to use multimedia in the workplace." he said.
The product is called Sound Blaster MultiMedia Office Kit, and consists of a Sound blaster 16 sound card with advanced signal processing (ASP), double speed CD-ROM drive, headphones microphone, Microsoft Encarta, Text Assist, Voice Assist, and Windows sound system software. It also has a complete copy of version 4.3 of Microsoft Office Professional and Peter Norton's "Microsoft Office Professional Made Easy." The suggested retail price in Australia will be $1,099 (around US$800)
Schillaci said the headphones were an obvious part of the product as it was unacceptable for office workers to inflict their computer's sounds on other people. Sound is an integral part of the system, as the computer-based learning disks used it extensively, and the Text Assist program can be used to read any document.
"I use it all the time for proofing my word processing," said Schillaci. "And the microphone is an important part too because Voice Assist can be used to automate anything you do under Windows. It doesn't do voice dictation yet, but watch this space next year. We thought of using a telephone handset instead of a microphone and headphones, but users found it impractical."
The next product is due for release in a couple of months. ShareView is a point-to-point videoconferencing product. "It works via POTS (Plain Old Telephone System)." explained Schillaci. The product comes with a video card, color video camera, microphone and fast modem. It provides a quarter screen full-motion at around 15 frames-per-second. Users can see each other, hear each other, and even use the same application at either end, interactively.
"It's probably the most significant multimedia product ever invented," he claimed. Pricing in Australia will be under $2,500 (around US$1800).
(Paul Zucker/19940624)
00 (around US$1800).
(Paul Zucker/19940624)
6/24/94
Australia - New Multimedia Sound Blaster Kits
Iona Unveils Orbix 2.1 For Windo
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Iona Technologies has released a beta version of its Orbix 1.2 for Microsoft Windows 3.1 object request broker package to a limited number of its customers.
Orbix is Iona's implementation of the Object Management Group's (OMG's) Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) specification, which the company claims unleashes the power of distributed object technology. Volume shipments of the finalized product will be available from the end of August onwards.
According to Iona, CORBA is well established as the leading open "solution" that will deliver the distributed object-based applications of the future. "With this latest release IONA has extended the scope of CORBA technology from the server to the desktop," officials said.
Orbix 1.2 is already available across a wide variety of operating systems including SunSoft Solaris and SunOS, Microsoft Windows NT, Silicon Graphics IRIX, and HP/UX.
"Users of Windows applications are already familiar with OLE (object linking and embedding) on the desktop. Orbix extends the OLE paradigm across the entire enterprise. Our object request broker now operates on the most popular desktop and server platforms, enabling developers to build distributed solutions that cooperate across multiple machines and operating systems following an efficient and standards-based method," explained Chris Horn, Iona's chairman.
Orbix 1.2 for Windows 3.is billed as being the "first true" CORBA implementation for the Microsoft platform providing Windows to Windows links as well as direct access to CORBA objects on Unix and Windows NT. Iona claims that the package allows software developers to create full 32-bit front-end applications.
According to Iona, Orbix for Windows 3.1 will interoperate with SunSoft's implementation of CORBA, which is known as Project DOE. In January of this year, Iona and SunSoft announced plans to deliver fully compatible and interoperating CORBA products by the end of 1994. To cement that partnership Iona has sold a minority equity stake in the company to SunSoft.
Over the next six months Iona says it will broaden the reach of Orbix even further with versions of the object request broker for AIX, OSF 1, and OS/2. IONA recently announced plans to integrate Orbix with Isis Distributed Systems' reliable distributed computing (RDC) technology.
WATFORD, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) has announced a range of new services that it claims have been developed to meet the demands of corporate customers when it comes to business-critical server applications.
According to SCO, the new services are designed to complement the company's existing products and services, and include 24-hour customer support, consultancy services, and custom engineering.
"Our goal is to make our customers' lives as easy as possible," explained David Taylor, SCO's director of services, who added that the company has increased its presence in the major accounts marketplace to top the 40 percent mark. "These customers need services to ensure the smoothest path through their project life cycles and assure success of their solution," he said.
SCO's new service offerings include: 24-hour support for business critical SCO servers; SCO Software Enhancement Services, which is a service designed to make software upgrade budgeting easier; SCO Consultancy Services, which provides major accounts with on-site access to an experienced SCO engineer; and SCO Custom Engineering, which allows modification to SCO's standard products to be carried out to the customer's specifications.
SCO claims that, traditionally, "cradle to grave" support services have been the domain of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the file of "proprietary solutions," while open systems products have left a void as far as customers services are concerned.
The company says it intends to change that approach by offering the customer the power to choose their service package and supplier. By selecting "plug and play" services from a range of providers, SCO claims that customers can keep control of their overall service package.
(Steve Gold/19940623/Press & Reader Contact: SCO UK tel +44-923-816344, fax +44-923-817781)
el +44-923-816344, fax +44-923-817781)
6/24/94
UK - SCO Enhances Corporate Services
UK - Wall Data Announces Salsa B
SOUTHALL, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Wall Data has announced the formation of a new business division -- the Salsa unit -- to bring Dr David Kroenke's Semantic Object Modeling (SOM) technology to the marketplace.
Wall Data says that it has funded development of the database software veteran's new project since August, 1992, and now that product is starting to come to fruition, it intends to offer the technology to end users.
According to Wall Data, the SOM technology allows professional software developers, as well as end users, to structure data in the language of their business, rather than the language of a database application. This approach, the company claims, allows users to more accurately specify their applications, as well as increase development productivity.
Heading up the new division are several new staff for the company: Eileen Hicke Gittens, is business unit manager, moving up internally at Wall Data; Kris Kelsay, formerly Paradox group product manager with Borland, is the division's marketing manager; while Dr. Kroenke is the division's chief technologist.
Product from the new Salsa division of Wall Data should be available by the end of the year. According to Archie Thomas, Wall Data's vice president for Europe, business users find it difficult to effectively use the power of today's computer systems.
"Wall Data has always been focused on bridging the gap between end-users and technology. We have invested in the SOM technology as a logical extension to our Rumba connectivity software -- with Rumba software, we transparently connect end-users to enterprise data. With SOM technology, we will help them effectively use data through applications," he explained.
(Steve Gold/19940623/Press & Reader Contact: Susan Thorington Wall Data, tel +44-81-813-8188, fax +44-81-813-8693)
ll Data, tel +44-81-813-8188, fax +44-81-813-8693)
6/24/94
UK - Wall Data Announces Salsa Business Division
BUSINESS
Motorola Mobile Division Buys $1
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- In support of a corporation-wide objective to multiply "time-to-market" ten-fold Motorola's Land Mobile Products Sector has decided to upgrade from its HP Apollo-based engineering system. It has ordered $10 million in new HP 9000 Series 700 workstations, with an option to buy $20 million more over the next two years.
The Motorola division, which produces analog and digital one-way and two-way radio equipment, will use the initial slate of 600 HP Model 712, Model 715, and Model 735 workstations for designing and testing circuitry, embedded software and hardware, said Saul Marcus, Motorola headquarter account manager at HP, in an interview with Newsbytes.
Also, as part of the multimillion dollar deal, HP will provide consulting, technical support, and training through its Open Migration Program, along with software development and network management tools, Marcus added.
The Land Mobile Products Sector aims its products at organizations like police and fire departments, the Coast Guard, and security companies, the account manager said. "Their products were used at the Olympics in Norway last winter to track the activities of Nancy (Kerrigan) and Tanya (Harding)," he illustrated.
The Schaumburg, Illinois-based division opted for the Series 700 after examining a variety of upgrade options from multiple vendors according to Marcus. The corporate objective the Motorola division is pursuing is called "10X," he noted.
The RISC (reduced instruction-set computing)-based Series 700 workstations purchased in the deal will operate much faster than the five- to ten-year-old CISC (complex instruction-set computing) based Apollos previously in place, and will ultimately lower the cost of bringing products to market, according to Marcus. Through the sophistication of the software they operate, the new machines will also keep better track of defects, he contended.
"The systems we're offering today provide roughly twice the performance of systems we were selling two years ago. So the Series 700 workstations just purchased by Motorola could bring 'two-to-the-fifth power,' or 32 times, the performance of the Apollos," he maintained.
Another key selling point for Motorola was HP's Open Migration Program, which focuses on helping customers move to "open systems," he explained. "Migrating to 'open systems' is not a trivial matter. But we convinced them that we can easily lead them into their next generation of equipment."
Motorola, he added, is one of HP's 32 "global accounts," a list that also includes the likes of AT&T, Citicorp, Hughes, and General Motors. "These are accounts that are of a certain size, that do business consistently with HP, and that do business with us in more than one geographical region of the world."
(Jacqueline Emigh/19940623/Press Contacts: Tim Hurley, Hewlett Packard, 508-436-5042; Jim Barbagallo, Hewlett-Packard, 508-436 5049; Pat Schod, Motorola, 708-576-6612; Reader Contact: Hewlett Packard, 415-857-1501)
Motorola Mobile Division Buys $10M In HP Workstations
BUSINESS
Disney Characters Join Microsoft
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Mickey Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and other Disney characters will soon be drawing paychecks from Microsoft Corporation.
The characters will be the basis for three new software programs Microsoft will create that will integrate animation licensed through Disney software. The programs will be marketed under the Microsoft Home label.
The first program to reach the market will be "Mickey's Carnival," with users, expected to be children from four years of age up able to interact with the characters in a series of carnival ride activities, puzzles and games.
"Mickey's Carnival" builds on the proven appeal of Disney characters in our Disney software line. This entertainment product will let kids interact in creative new ways and is sure to keep kids engaged and having fun for hours," according to Marc Teren, VP of business development for Disney Consumer Products. Mickey's Carnival is scheduled to ship in the winter of 1994.
One of the other products will also be targeted at children, while the third will be for teens and adults. Both are scheduled to ship next year and will feature standard Disney characters as well as some from Disney television and film offerings.
A Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes details of those programs have not been worked out yet.
(Jim Mallory/19940623/Press contact: Deborah Caldwell Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft Corporation, 408-986-1140 or Debra Streicker, Disney Software, 818-543-4399; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
ion, 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
6/24/94
Disney Characters Join Microsoft
BUSINESS
CES - Compton's Intros Multiple
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Starting with The Complete Multimedia Bible, Compton's is displaying and introducing a long list of its existing, revised and new CD titles at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.
They include: Doctors Book of Home Remedies; Let's Go: The Budget Guide to Europe; version 3.0 of Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia with narration by actor, Patrick Stewart; The Human Calculator; the Berenstein Bears stories; Rescue the Scientists; and Zoo-Opolis.
Additionally, Compton's has announced its commitment to marketing and development support for Intel's Pentium Processor and Indio Video technology.
Early in the fourth quarter, it promises to introduce: Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia; The Sporting News Basketball Guide; and John Lennon: Imagine. Depending on system configuration, smooth full-screen video will be highlighted.
Compton's also announced its first "Audio-ROM" which includes audio and visual material licensed from the Rhino Records. Users may listen to the audio hits, read biographies, view album covers and hear audio interviews of particular artists. Compton's plans to launch Soul Exploration: The 1960s and Rock Exploration: The 1960s. The soul classics include "Dock of the Bay," "When a Man Loves a Woman," and other famous hits of the sixties.
The biggest hit for Compton's appears to be its new CD, Focus for Success. Designed to help users face challenges in both school and career situations, this CD develops communication skills concentration techniques and increased personal performance in areas such as business, sports, creative endeavors, family relations and educational environments. It is based on Robert M. Nideffer's Attention Control Training System.
Stan Frank, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Compton's told Newsbytes, "We think people are interested in themselves and in self-help and this title will both help them in working with problems and work to make improvements of personal potential across a broad base of social and business areas."
Frank continued "We are the visual studio for the 1990s and where we see a consumer demand, we will use our technology to meet that demand with extensive multimedia titles in whatever format we can. If you think of what a bookstore is, we want to offer a similar broad range of topics which provide the user with video, text, audio and graphics in an entertaining and educational way."
Compton's CD titles start at $29.95 and range to $149.95 for the latest version of the encyclopedia. Many of its titles are available for both the Mac and Windows platforms. It plans to produce its new titles for both platforms. The company has announced it will also produce and bundle its Interactive Encyclopedia with Phillips new CDI Player.
(Patrick McKenna/19940623/Press Contact: Pat Meier, Pat Meier Associates, tel 415-957-5999)
r, Pat Meier Associates, tel 415-957-5999)
6/24/94
CES - Compton's Intros Multiple Products
GENERAL
AST & Creative Technology To Dev
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Computer manufacturer AST and multimedia add-on developer Creative Technology have announced plans to work together to develop integrated audio, telephony, and software multimedia products.
The idea is to turn the Irvine, California-headquartered company's personal computers (PCs) into deluxe information and communications centers, AST and Creative Technology said.
AST was already headed in that direction with its AST Works software application that ships with some of its PCs. AST Works is a telephony application that combines video help, productivity tools, voice mail, and fax/modem capability into one product.
The two companies say they are not making specific product announcements, but new products aimed at expanding AST's PC telephony and video capabilities are on the drawing board.
AST said it chose Japan-headquartered Creative Technology because the company currently leads in add-on sound products with 60 percent of the sound board market. In addition, Creative just announced a new line of video capture and conferencing products.
Microsoft recently announced a cross-license agreement with Creative Technology, under which it would license the Creative hardware and Creative would license its software. As a result Microsoft also said it would be dropping production of its sound hardware, introduced in October of 1992.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940623/Press Contact: Ann Dupuis, AST, tel 714-727-8858, fax 714/727-9355; Steffanee Foster, Creative Labs for Creative Technology, tel 408-428-6600 ext 6430)
for Creative Technology, tel 408-428-6600 ext 6430)
6/24/94
AST & Creative Technology To Develop Telephony PCs
BUSINESS
UK - Gateway 2000 Intros Standar
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- The UK division of Gateway 2000 has announced it is extending its standard warranties on PC hardware from one to three years. The change takes effect immediately.
According to the company, the three year warranty is on replacement parts and is in addition to the existing one-year on-site "parts and labor" guarantee.
David Prais, European marketing manager with Gateway 2000 claims that the new warranty arrangements have been introduced to meet customer requests.
"By extending our warranty to three years and including monitors we're again demonstrating our commitment to the very best service and support programs. Most of competitors charge extra for a three year warranty, which does cover monitors beyond a year. We don't make our customers buy specific configurations or pay extra -- if they buy a Gateway 2000 desktop or tower PC, they get this new standard three-year warranty," he said.
Ted Waitt, Gateway 2000's chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) with the US parent company, commented that the new European warranty arrangements have been introduced after the company worked closely with its suppliers.
"We've made sure the products incorporate into Gateway 2000 systems meet our requirements for a three-year warranty. We're absolutely convinced of the quality of our components and this conviction is represented by the new customer warranty," he said.
way 2000 tel +353-1-797-2000; fax: +353-1-848-2000)
6/24/94
UK - Gateway 2000 Intros Standard 3-Year Warranty
BUSINESS
UK - ICL/Fujitsu To Collaborate
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- ICL has entered into a strategic collaboration arrangement with Fujitsu to offer advanced multimedia software packages on a worldwide basis.
The linkup between the two companies kicks off this week at the Object World computer show in London, where three new packages IntelligentPad, ODB-II, and GraphicsPower for Windows -- are being unveiled.
IntelligentPad is a visual application environment. The package is being billed as "a new kind of development environment that allows users of all types to create and customize multimedia applications."
The package reportedly has an "open" architecture. Applications created with it are claimed to be portable between a wide variety of platforms, including Windows, Apple Mac, Sun, and HP.
The company claims that ODB-II is the first object database with the industrial strength to hold large quantities of high-value enterprise information. Its strength, ICL asserts, is its flexibility -- the ease of making changes to the database design as requirements evolve. The package includes class libraries providing support for multimedia information and for access to external databases.
Last, but not least, GraphicsPower for Windows is a family of tools that ICL claims allow "quick and easy" development of interactive graphics for end-user applications. Previously available only in Unix the company claims that the new Windows version brings the power of structured graphics to the personal environment. The software was jointly developed by ICL and Fujitsu and can be used to create visual representations of complex data such as geographical systems, network management and process control.
Announcing the new packages and the liaison between the two companies, Tatsuzumi Furukawa, general manager of Fujitsu's Middleware Business Group, said that Fujitsu has a long and successful track record in producing high-quality middleware.
"The rapid growth in the new application areas such as multimedia and management of complex data means that the market is quickly embracing object technology to support high-value enterprise information," he said.
Michael Kay, ICL Fellow in information management, explained that the company has discovered that Fujitsu's approach to software quality "leaves the US start-up companies way behind."
"For example, ICL had been looking at object database technologies for some years now and even started developing our own at one stage. However, ODB-11 is the first product we've seen that is clearly designed to handle the needs of high-value information shared by a large community of users. The market is itching for an object database that scales up to this level," he said.
International pricing and availability of the new packages depends on the site license and support requirements.
(Steve Gold/19940623/Press & Reader Contact: Graham Goulden ICL, +44-81-788-7272)
r Contact: Graham Goulden ICL, +44-81-788-7272)
6/24/94
UK - ICL/Fujitsu To Collaborate On Multimedia
BUSINESS
ELSA Intros New Graphics Cards
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- With the graphical requirements for so many applications on the rise, the market for graphics accelerators is increasing. Now the German company, ELSA, has announced the Winner 1000Pro and Winner 2000Pro high-speed graphics boards for Windows, Windows NT Unix/X-Windows, OS/2, and NextStep.
The 1000Pro is available in two megabytes (MB) or 1MB DRAM versions for either the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) or PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) local bus at $329 or $229 respectively. It can achieve a variety of resolutions up to 800 by 600 in "true color" mode, or 1208 by 1024 in 256 colors.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Uli Theissen, ELSA's product manager for computer graphics, said, "The graphics market is changing so fast and new products are constantly coming out on the market. One of the advantages offered by ELSA is that each new product we introduce is consistent with our entire line, so that customers know that we protect their investment and support our products throughout the line."
Theissen addressed the issue of integration of graphics acceleration onto motherboards, saying: "Because of the cost and time involved in making changes to a motherboard, by the time the product reached the market, newer technology will have made the motherboards graphics acceleration obsolete."
ELSA's Winner 2000Pro is the high-end product for power-users who need display speed and accuracy, according to the company. Desktop publishing, banking, imaging, and presentation professionals are offered support up to 1,600 by 1,200 resolution with 16-bit color at high refresh rates.
The company claims the 2000Pro to be the first high-end graphics board compatible with the NextStep platform. Its VRAM (video RAM) is based on S3-Vision964 chip technology and is available in 4MB and 2MB models, for $949 and $599 respectively. The 4MB model can be equipped with a 200 megahertz color palette.
(Patrick McKenna/19940623/Press Contact: Kristine Smalley Technology Solutions, tel 415-617-4518)
ogy Solutions, tel 415-617-4518)
6/24/94
ELSA Intros New Graphics Cards
GENERAL
CES - 3DO, Atari Fight Back
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- 3DO Corporation makers of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer System, and Atari with a 64-bit game machine called Jaguar, created booths at CES that were designed to be louder, brighter, and bigger than those of Nintendo and Sega, which hold the top spots in consumer video gaming.
3DO, of Redwood City, California, now has 60 titles available for its 3DO Multiplayer, with 160 more in development worldwide, in contrast to earlier this year when there were just a handful. New titles include: Shock Wave; Road Rash; Way of the Warrior; Off World Interceptor; and Demolition Man, featuring Sylvester Stallone, who was shot against a bluescreen for the action scenes in the game. The color and cacophony of the 3DO display was meant to dispel concerns about the company's future, and employees projected an upbeat image.
Although Sony and Sega plan to unveil 32-bit game machines and Nintendo promises a 64-bit unit next year, 3DO has a 32-bit game machine now and company officers wasted no time making hay with that fact.
"We have that technology today, not in the future," said director of marketing, Janet Strauss, to Newsbytes, referring to the custom chipset that generates photorealistic graphics, fluid animation CD-quality sound and fast interactivity. The system also features a double-speed CD-ROM drive.
Although sales were slow when the units first went on sale in the US last October, and in Japan in March, they are now picking up speed, and 3DO projects that it will sell 150,000 3DO Multiplayers by year's end.
Matsushita is manufacturing the machines and selling them under the Panasonic label. A European PAL version (as opposed to the current NTSC (North American Television Standards Association) signal version) is being readied for a fall, 1994 release. The unit also accepts a variety of add-ons including modem, memory storage cards, MPEG-1 (Motion Picture Experts Group) compression video cartridges, expected to be available this year, and trackballs keyboards, flights sticks, and mice. The 3DO also plays audio CDs Photo CDs, and CD-ROMs.
The most popular game right now on the 3DO is John Madden Football she said, but the company does not have a hit as big as Super Mario Brothers nor Sonic Hedgehog, titles which have made Nintendo and Sega, respectively, forces to be reckoned with.
Regarding the price, which is stuck at $499, Strauss told Newsbytes that the company has tried to reduce its costs, but that the price cannot go any lower for now. "We are happy with the price," she said, adding that in the US, Panasonic is also bundling at least two software titles with the unit, making it a better deal.
3DO has 10,000 retail outlets for the 3DO player in Japan and 3,000 in the US at this time.
Meanwhile, Atari Corporation of Sunnyvale, CA, may have had the loudest booth on the show floor, as the company dominating the entrance to the North Hall with displays of its Jaguar game machine. This 64-bit unit, manufactured by IBM at its North Carolina plant is less expensive than 3DO's, costing $250, but has only five software titles available. Two more are coming in July, and Atari hopes for a total of 30 by December. About 150 developers have been licensed to create Jaguar software and peripherals.
Introduced last November in Northern California and the New York markets, the machine is now being launched nationwide and overseas in the UK, Germany, and France.
Ron Beltramo, vice president of marketing, told Newsbytes that some of the Jaguar's advantages over the competition are technical at this point. The system architecture is 64-bit (compared to the 3DO's 32-bit architecture); it has a faster bus bandwidth, a faster rendering speed, and more processors (five compared to four on the 3DO unit). However, a CD-ROM drive attachment, when available will cost another $200, bringing the cost perilously close to the 3DO unit. At this time, also, no CD-ROM titles are available for the Jaguar, even if the drive was.
Atari anticipates sales of 250,000 to 300,000 Jaguars this year with most of the sales coming between August and November, 1994. Beltramo declined to say how many Jaguars have been sold to date.
Atari has bet its future on the Jaguar, de-emphasizing its PC business in favor of the lucrative game market. The company plans to launch a major TV advertising campaign on MTV Nickelodeon, and other stations in the third and fourth quarters of this year to build demand.
"Third-party developers are intrigued by the power of this platform," he claimed. "Jaguar allows them to be the most creative."
(Wendy Woods/19940624/Press Contact: Bill Rehbock, Atari 408-745-2000; Diane Hunt, 3DO, tel 415-261-3214 fax 415-261-3120)
15-261-3214 fax 415-261-3120)
6/24/94
CES - 3DO, Atari Fight Back
GENERAL
CES - Wristwatch Doubles As Phon
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- The latest entrant in the Dick Tracy emulation race is MicroTalk Technologies, which promises to be the first out with a phone you can wear on your wrist.
The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based MicroTalk, showed the TeleWatch at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, which incorporates a cordless telephone, intercom, and wristwatch in one device. The unit can receive and make calls within 300 feet of a base station but plans are to have a unit that will be a cellular phone in a year or two.
The Telewatch is promised for shipping by Christmas, says Barry Voroba, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the company. He told Newsbytes that the unit will retail for $300. The FCC must first approve the device for sale, however.
The tiny watch offers a 12-digit keyboard and a liquid crystal display on which an entered number is displayed. The watch measures 0.2-inches thick, 2.2-inches high and 1.6-inches long not counting the wristband. The sound from the phone is emitted through a tiny speaker. Two batteries are provided allowing one to be charged while the other is in use. These are rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries.
For its size, the unit is also feature-rich, offering a "hold" button, security codes to restrict use, memory speed dial intercom functions, privacy scrambler circuit, battery low indicator, and 10-channel operation.
Dr. Voroba, an entrepreneur, says he created the Telewatch after successfully selling another invention, a soft hearing aid, to Bauch and Lomb. This time, he says, he wants to be the first to market a wristwatch phone, and believes he has the winning combination of technology and design, to do so.
(Wendy Woods/19940624/Press Contact: Dr. Voroba Telewatch, tel 612-545-2627, fax 612-545-1715)
tel 612-545-2627, fax 612-545-1715)
6/24/94
CES - Wristwatch Doubles As Phone
TRENDS
CES - EIA's Chairman Gives Indus
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1994, JUN 24 (NB)- Jerry Kalov the board chairman of the Electronic Industries Association's Consumer Electronic Group, painted an upbeat picture of the industry's outlook at the show.
"To my mind, we'd be better served if we referred to the business in a more appropriate term, which is 'evolutionary,' not 'revolutionary,'" said Kolov, who is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of telephony and radio manufacturer Cobra Electronics Corp. "It is evolving from a better understanding of the consumer's needs, and a continuing improvement in our ability to guide products to serve their needs."
Kalov then qualified his statements from both a marketing and financial perspective.
"Last year was a strong year for us, with over $51 billion in sales," he said. "In January, when we met in Las Vegas (at the Winter '94 CES) I offered an outlook for this year, and I want to update that outlook."
Kalov then got down to specifics. "We see our industry growing over 9.5 percent this year to over $56 billion,"he said. "We expect the electronics hardware and software markets to increase nearly 26 percent."
Multimedia will be a major driver in the continuing growth of the industry. "Multimedia has truly arrived," Kalov remarked.
He then cited a report by market research firm Link Resources saying that although sales of multimedia software, hardware and interactive services totalled $3.6 billion in 1993, the category will grow by an average 40 percent annually from 1995.
Home information systems will grow at 15 percent, home and portable audio about five percent, and accessories about ten percent.
Kalov then implied that in regard to the industry's future, the whole would be greater than the sum of its parts. "The consumer electronics industry will grow to $60 billion in 1995, and we are predicting a nine percent growth in 1996 and 1997 as current embryonic categories become full-fledged, profitable markets."
Kalovthen shed perspective on the numbers. "Given the fact that all this growth is taking place during a slow economic recovery we are extremely optimistic about the continued success of our industry," he said.
Kalov then noted some of the embryonic technologies. "The whole concept of electronic-mail will allow people to keep in touch with their offices, friends, family, their loved ones virtually instantaneously at very low cost. CD-ROM is turning out to be a whole new method of gathering reference materials. The continuing-to-evolve electronics games industry is finding new ways to wrap up thrills and excitement in a way that makes early products like Pong and Pac-Man look like something more suitable for Fred Flintstone than the twentieth century."
He also listed, "Video game programs with an unheard of 24 megabytes (MB) of memory, cartridges with 100MB of data."
To many in the consumer-electronics field, the onslaught of new products may necessitate a sea change in how the industry defines itself.
Kalov agreed. "We used to say we were in the hi-fi and television business. Now there are many different (capabilities). Who cares what the definition is? Let's just keep trying to turn out new and better products, using our electronic technology that will grow with consumer desires."
(Russell Shaw/19940624)
consumer desires."
(Russell Shaw/19940624)
6/24/94
CES - EIA's Chairman Gives Industry Overview
GENERAL
LECOM
nvision .
Home PC Buyers Largest Segment B
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Thirty percent of the personal computers (PCs) purchased in 1993 were by home users and that number is expected to climb to 42 percent by the end of 1996, claims the Dallas, Texas-based market research group Channel Marketing.
Multimedia and traditional business/accounting functions are fueling the purchases, the group said in a report released at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.
Many consumers are claimed to be as comfortable buying a PC as they are a video cassette recorder (VCR) or a camcorder, so the PC purchases are being made at stores that accommodate the need for convenience, selection, price, and availability. Home and small business purchases represent the largest growth segment in the PC industry.
Home PC use continues to surge, as 34 percent of US households already have a PC for a total of 36 million PCs in 33 million households, according to the company. Channel Marketing previously released a study asserting the number of PCs is expected to multiply eight times by the year 2000.
PCs sold for home use amounted to nine million units in 1993 and that number is expected to reach 19 million by 1996.
While the group says PCs purchased for the home are being used for educational purposes, game playing, and traditional business and accounting, other analysts are down-playing educational and game software as the single motivation for the PC purchase.
Joeann Stahel, a senior research analyst with the market research firm Computer Intelligence (CI)/Infocorp told Newsbytes computers are not being bought specifically for "edutainment" -- not yet anyway. It is the work-at-home type, who is either bringing home work from the office or has a home-based business that is currently spurring the momentum in PC sales, Stahel stated.
Channel Marketing says the home PC market is being fueled by the anticipation of multimedia -- specifically the ability to integrate voice, data, audio, and video when applications become available. A proliferation of game and education software as well as CD-ROM titles readily available at affordable prices have also helped multimedia PC sales.
Small and medium businesses accounted for the largest market share in 1993 at 35 percent. That market share is expected to grow slightly to 36 percent by 1996, but Channel Marketing expects the home market will dwarf all the other market segments by then.
Analysts do agree the role that corporate and government PC purchases play in the overall market is expected to decline. Channel Marketing is predicting a decline to about 22 percent of the overall market by 1996 from 1993 levels of 35 percent. However that does not mean the number of PCs purchased by government and corporations will decline. "The pie is simply larger," Channel Marketing representatives said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940624/Press Contact: David Goldstein Channel Marketing, tel 214-931-2420 ext 214, fax 214-931-5505)
214-931-2420 ext 214, fax 214-931-5505)
6/24/94
Home PC Buyers Largest Segment By 1996
TRENDS
NIST Announces Digital Signature
Poland Intros New Intellectual C
Australia - PC 94 Computer Show
Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For
HRB Acquires Global Positioning
Internet World '94 Opens In San
Microsoft Summit - 1600 More Alp
Intel, Telecom Australia To Co-D
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-
AOL To Offer MTV This Summer
Hong Kong - Rockwell Launches Mo
LANNET, Olivetti In Network Mark
SPA Says Computers Help In Schoo
NECC - Scholastic's Internet Edu
IBM Cuts Prices On MCA Servers
UK - IBM Intros Low-Cost Server-
Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships
UK - Amstrad Acquires Viglen
Germany Buys Into Spanish Mobile
Syquest Reluctantly Settles With
UK - Saber's LAN Workstation 5.0
Germany - PC Manufacturer Vobis
Wireless Cable Operators Form Al
Home PC Buyers Largest Segment B
Sculley Freelancing At Kodak
ROCHESTER, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Once considered for the chief executive officer (CEO) slot at Eastman Kodak, former Apple Computer CEO John Sculley has been hired as a freelance marketing advisor to look at Kodak's digital imaging and brand marketing strategies. Sculley has been self-employed since his last job as CEO of Spectrum Information Technologies.
Reports had been circulating about Sculley's involvement with Kodak in conjunction with a claim that Kodak was trying to lure back former imaging executive Don Strickland. Strickland left his job as general manager and vice president of Kodak's Electronic Imaging Platform Center to go to Apple Computer. But Kodak has been looking for someone to head up its new Digital and Applied Imaging business unit and Strickland was reportedly one of the candidates for the job.
After being forced out at Apple Computer last summer, Sculley was the focus of a campaign on the part of Kodak retailers to get him into the CEO slot vacated by Kay Whitmore, who was asked by the board of directors to step down. As one of the world's largest users of Apple hardware, the retailers felt Sculley would be a natural fit. However, George Fisher, the head of Motorola got the job in October. Motorola makes the microprocessors for Apple computers. That same month Sculley took the CEO slot at a wireless communication hardware company, Spectrum Information Technologies.
When high-profile Sculley took the CEO slot, problems became public as the press looked into the company's financial affairs, as well as the background of its executives. Sculley left Spectrum abruptly in February just before arrests were made on charges of mail fraud and conspiracy at the Paradigm Group, a company closely aligned with Spectrum. Since then, Spectrum has had a merry-go-round of leadership, with executives resigning after as little as a week on the job.
Kodak has made it clear that Sculley is a consultant and is buying 25 percent of his time. Fisher said: "John and I have worked closely together for the past ten years and I am a great admirer of his marketing and brand-building skills. I am confident John can help Kodak develop a more aggressive marketing approach."
In addition, Kodak was careful to list the former Pepsi and Apple Computer CEO's accomplishments in marketing, some over 14 years old. Sculley was named Advertising Man-of-the-Year by both Advertising Age and Adweek magazines and was selected as marketing CEO-of-the-Decade for the 1980s by the Financial News Network.
Newsbytes attempted to contact Sculley in New York to ask who his other clients are, but discovered he was traveling in Japan on business. Kodak declined to comment as to whether or not that travel was related to his work on its projects.
(Linda Rohrbough/19940624/Press Contact: Paul McAfee, Kodak tel 716-724-4513, fax 716-724-0964)
16-724-4513, fax 716-724-0964)
6/24/94
Sculley Freelancing At Kodak
GENERAL
Block Results Up, Thanks to Comp
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Thanks to its CompuServe unit, H&R Block said its net earnings rose 11 percent for the year ending in April. But analysts downgraded the stock.
CompuServe was given credit for the good numbers by Block President Thomas Bloch. The online service and packet network business had pre-tax earnings of $102.3 million, up 38.2 percent from a year earlier, on revenues of $429.8 million.
After taxes, the company earned $200.5 million. The company said its CompuServe online service had 1.9 million members at the end of the fiscal year, up 46 percent from a year earlier. And the network division also showed strong gains, adding 123 new accounts to end the year with 586.
The problems were in H&R Block Tax Services, which offers tax preparation services to consumers and businesses. Its pre-tax earnings rose just 3.9 percent, to $198.7 million, and the number of customers served by the unit actually fell slightly, which Block blamed on Canadian tax-law changes that resulted in fewer tax returns with refunds.
As a result, analysts downgraded the stock. Dean Witter cut its earnings estimates for next year by 20 cents per share due to margin concerns. Kidder Peabody also downgraded the stock, which fell about 5 percent in price on US exchanges after the results were announced.
Other analysts noted that the stock is currently trading at over 20 times earnings, a much-higher multiple than the stock market's average. That means any slowdown in CompuServe's earnings momentum could drag the stock down further. With new competition coming from Microsoft and Ziff, and with the Internet soaking up new users every day, analysts question whether that is possible.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940624/Press Contact: H&R Block Inc. 816-753-6900)
orn/19940624/Press Contact: H&R Block Inc. 816-753-6900)
6/24/94
Block Results Up, Thanks to CompuServe, But Stock Down
BUSINESS
Federal Express Changing Logo
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Federal Express which has come to dominate the overnight package-delivery business thanks to its use of mobile computing technology, said it will change its brand-name to FedEx in hopes of making more headway in international markets and to save money.
Federal Express has in the last decade become the leading example of how wireless computing can help a company grow. It equips its drivers with bar-code readers tied to its own wireless data network, which uses Specialized Mobile Radio frequencies. Package numbers are tracked from pick-up, through sorting and delivery so customers can learn the status of any package instantly either by calling the company's operators on toll-free lines or more recently, using software on personal computers.
The company's success has been increasingly frustrating to United Parcel Service Inc., which still dominates large package delivery and freight-forwarding. UPS has greatly increased its spending on automation, with new central computer systems and its own wireless terminals, called "DIADs," which van operators carry on their routes. But despite enormous effort by UPS to publicize its technology efforts, Federal Express retains its reputation as the industry's technology leader.
The new logo, which will start going onto new trucks and planes immediately, consists of the words "FedEx" in block type using the purple and red corporate colors, but on a white background. The company will retain the name Federal Express Corp.
At a conference call to announce the change, spokesmen at first refused to say how much the new colors would cost, but Chairman Frederick Smith then elaborated. "It costs less than a single TV commercial," he said. "And it's cheaper than our old livery," in part because the design is less complex, also in part because white paint, which will now be the dominant color of the company's trucks and planes, costs less than the purple paint now used. He added that the words
"Federal Express" does not always trip lightly off foreign tongues reporters said that is especially true in the Pacific Rim which the company is targeting for future growth. Smith estimates the company will report sales of about $9 billion for the fiscal year ending this past May, $2.7 billion of that for international sales.
New commercials, using the tag-line "The World on Time," and a new 1-800-GO FEDEX" customer service line, will accompany the changes, Smith added. The company, just 21-years old, now has more than 100,000 employees and handles two million packages a day in 187 countries, operating 458 aircraft and 31,000 vans.
Federal Express will use its new name and logo in a growing market battle with United Parcel Service of Atlanta for the worldwide freight business.
Smith said that, while the US is still the largest market for freight delivery services, the international market is growing faster. Federal Express will also use the new logo to get into larger packages and time-sensitive, as opposed to overnight, deliveries.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940624/Press Contact: Federal Express Inc. Tom Martin, 901-395-3490)
Inc. Tom Martin, 901-395-3490)
6/24/94
Federal Express Changing Logo
GENERAL
Telecommunication Bills Move Ahe
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- The US House of Representatives will vote next Tuesday on bills designed to change the rules of the telecommunications industry.
The bills would dramatically reduce the power of Judge Harold Greene, who oversees the 1982 decree breaking up the Bell system by writing new rules for a competitive marketplace into the law. The bill would also represent a major overhaul of the 1934 Communications Act, which covers all the nation's communication networks and is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission.
The completion of the two bills followed long negotiations between two House committee chairmen, Texas Democrat Jack Brooks and Michigan Democrat John Dingell. The bill would create rules to allow the regional Bell companies into cable television equipment manufacturing, and parts of the long distance market. The bill would also allow cable television companies to get into the telephone services business.
The Clinton Administration had hoped to complete action on the legislation by March, and even dropped plans to offer its own bills to speed the process. But the re-write was delayed by arguments over terms of competition among the Bells, long distance firms like AT&T, and cable companies. A bill less favorable to Bell interests is still before the Senate, where debate is still expected to be intense, and will begin next month.
The bills would let the Bells immediately enter the cable market something only Bell Atlantic has now, thanks to a Virginia court decision. But it would keep them out of long distance for now except for handling the long-distance end of wireless phone calls and in-state long distance. Those permissions could still be barred if the Justice Department decides it would restrain competition. The Bells would also be allowed into manufacturing immediately, and "domestic content" rules could quickly be overturned by the courts.
Once both houses of Congress pass their versions of telecommunication reform, they would still have to be reconciled by a conference committee in September before going to a final vote.
In other action impacting telecommunications, and possibly computer software, the House voted 240-169, mainly along party lines, against cutting $5.5 million from the budget of Justice Department anti-trust chief Anne Bingaman.
The anti-trust budget was cut sharply in the 1980s, but Republicans, led by New Mexico's Stephen Schiff, argued that scarce funds would best spent fighting violent crime, noting that total spending by US Attorneys in fiscal 1995 would not rise as fast as the anti-trust budget.
Democrats, led by Edward Markey, pointed to the earlier cuts and argued the anti-trust laws guarantee competition. Bingaman is presently considering bringing action against Microsoft for allegedly monopolizing computer software through its control of the Windows operating environment, and a cut in her budget might have forestalled that investigation.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940624/Press Contact: Federal Express Inc. Tom Martin, 901-395-3490)
press Inc. Tom Martin, 901-395-3490)
6/24/94
Telecommunication Bills Move Ahead
Analysts Applaud AT&T-Unisource
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Analysts applauded AT&T's agreement to link with Unisource, a European phone alliance among the Dutch, Swedish and Swiss telecommunications carriers.
Under the agreement, Unisource becomes a member of WorldPartners an alliance aimed at handling the worldwide telecommunications needs of global companies. WorldPartners was previously buoyed by the decisions of Telecom New Zealand and Australia's Telstra to link with it. KDD, and Singapore Telecom are also members of the group.
Unisource also has service agreements with SITA, the global travel network, billed as the largest private network in the world, as well as cooperation agreements with Telefonica of Spain and KDD of Japan. The agreement will allow WorldPartners to enter the European market without AT&T having to build a new infrastructure. Because Unisource is not investing directly in AT&T, the company said, legal approval may not be needed for the deal.
The announcement comes shortly after Sprint agreed to sell 20 percent of itself to France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, in a bid to build a worldwide presence in voice and data communications.
In a response to AT&T's announcement, Sprint said that AT&T should now support its European alliances, which will require legal approvals. The news also comes immediately after MCI's link with British Telecom, under which BT bought 20 percent of MCI, was approved by the US Justice Department.
Analysts praised the deal, noting that while AT&T has 60 percent of the US long distance market, it only has five percent outside the US, so it needs allies. The move also helps the European companies in their bid to build a "global grid" that can compete with similar efforts led by BT-MCI and Sprint-France Telecom Deutsche Telekom.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- According to a report from Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG), the international accounting company, fraud, and particularly high-tech fraud, is on the rise in the UK.
Last year, the accounting firm estimates that fraud cost UK companies more than UKP700 million, approximately 11 percent up on the estimated 1992 figure, Newsbytes notes.
Speaking at its international conference on fraud and money laundering in London, officials with KPMG said that accounting and related types of fraud had increased by around 300 percent over the last five years. They added that many client companies have reported having been a victim of fraud at some stage in the last few years.
Launching a company publication entitled "Fighting Fraud," the accounting firm said that the 1993 figure rose, despite the fact that 1992's level of fraud was generally high owing to the Robert Maxwell and BCCI affairs.
Speaking at the conference, David Smith, a senior fraud investigator said that even though the 1980s boom period had given way to recession, this was no reason for companies to be complacent over possible levels of fraud in their companies. "It's always a good time for fraud," he said. "People will always want to get rich quick."
KPMG officials said that, mainly because of the falling cost of technology, high-tech fraud, such as that involving state-of-the-art photocopiers, is on the increase. The relatively low cost of a color photocopier these days means that forging a complex document is now relatively easy.
One of the biggest hurdles facing would-be fraudsters are the money laundering regulations that affect cash transactions in the UK Newsbytes notes. These mandate that, if a customer pays in large amounts of cash (typically UKP10,000 or more) into his/her account the transaction must be reported to the authorities.
In practice, KPMG officials noted, such transactions are not reported as fraudsters merely split large transactions down into several smaller ones, each one being less than the laundering transaction limit.
(Steve Gold/19940624/Press & Reader Contact: KPMG tel +44-71-236-8000, fax +44-71-248-6552)
+44-71-236-8000, fax +44-71-248-6552)
6/24/94
UK - High-Tech Fraud On The Increase
TRENDS
Romanian Cellular Network Readie
T BUCHAREST, ROMANIA, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- Telefonica Romania has announced the third phase of its national expansion plans for its analog cellular phone network. At the same time, the company has halved the monthly line rental to its network, admitting that the high cost has been a factor holding back new subscribers to the service.
The cellular network, which has been in operation for a little over a year, has been restricted to the Bucharest area, mainly due to governmental regulation rather than technical reasons.
According to officials with the company, next week will see around 60 percent of Romania covered by the network, now that the government has given the thumbs up for the base stations to be switched on. The bulk of the network is run on exchanges and base stations supplied by Ericsson, the Swedish telecoms company.
According to Gabriel Petrescu, the company's technical manager, the limited coverage and UKP30 monthly line rental has held back the number of subscribers to the cellular network to around the 1,000 level. Petrescu said that he now intends to market the service in earnest, hence the reduction in line rental for UKP15 a month.
Newsbytes notes that the average monthly wage for Romania outside of the cities is around UKP20 a month, making the mobile network one of the most expensive in the world in economic relative terms. Nevertheless, the joint venture telecoms company is looking at signing up several tens of thousands of new subscribers, mostly from new businesses that are springing up in the wake of the demise of the old communist government.
Ironically, much of the reason for launching a mobile phone network in this post-Iron Curtain country, namely as an alternative to the ancient telephone networks of the Eastern Bloc, has now disappeared as Telefonica has updated many of the city exchanges and is currently embarking on a modernization project for many rural areas.
Despite this, Telefonica officials say that around 4,000 new subscribers are expected to sign up for service in Bucharest mainly because of the reduction in line rental.
Telefonica Romania is a 50/50 joint venture company between Romtelecom, the state owned telecoms company, and Telefonica Espania, the Spanish telecoms company.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940624/Press & Reader Contact: Ericsson tel +46-8-719-0000, fax +46-8-450722)
t: Ericsson tel +46-8-719-0000, fax +46-8-450722)
6/24/94
Romanian Cellular Network Readies For Expansion
TELECOM
Chinese Authorities May Execute
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Pr
Comdex - NewMedia's Envision Awa
TI Intros Color Inkjet Printer F
Apple, IBM, Sci-Atlanta Seek Int
Comdex - WordPerfect Looks Up Ma
US West Invests In Spanish Cable
Electronic Newsstand Moves To Th
Great Bear Intros Windows Family
Japan - Information Superhighway
Cadre Upgrades ObjectTeam & Team
Japan - Sun Micro/Shin-Nippon In
Review of - Razzle Dazzle 3D, sc
Another Super-Virus Discovered
Steven Spielberg Buys Into Knowl
HSC Intros Bryce Landscape Desig
Scholastic Adds Internet Service
MCI Takes Stake In In-Flight
Xerox Offers Low-Cost Color Lase
UK - EBG OS/2-Based FaxServer Li
Ericsson & SAT Of France Team On
DCA Adds Internet Helper & Cross
Electronic Book Helps Put Docume
Rasterops' New Graphics Cards, B
ELSA Intros New Graphics Cards
Polaroid Scanner Digitizes Slide
Romanian Cellular Network Readie
Xerox & Sun Create $500 Million
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- In 1987, Xerox and Sun Microsystems initiated a master agreement which including both product and service sales and exchanges. That seven-year agreement is now being revised to extend the relationship for another five years and includes both SunSoft and SunService, subsidiaries of Sun Microsystems.
Xerox says it has agreed to extend its use of Sun's SPARCstation systems and embed SPARCengine boards in current and future document products, as well as continuing to remarket Sun's SPARCstation and SPARCserver. SunService will provide support throughout the US for all Sun products at Xerox.
Speaking to Newsbytes, Judd Everhart, spokesperson for Xerox, said "We regard this as a very important agreement because of the technology exchange which allows us to provide greater document technology to our customers. Document Services Platform, our software to enhance connectivity between printers and workstations is a typical example of the benefits this type of agreement provides."
For its part, Sun will extend its use and resale of Xerox products and services, including Sun resale of printers sourced from Xerox, the continued sourcing of electronic sub-assemblies from Fuji Xerox in Japan and the appointment of Xerox as an authorized service provider by SunSoft.
Sun also agrees to the outsourcing of all Sun repro-graphics and postal services in the San Francisco Bay Area to Xerox Business Services.
The potential sales value of Sun products over the five-year contract is valued at $500 million. According to Sun Microsystems, this agreement continues a long-term working relationship that provides both technological advances as well as document processing products.
(Patrick McKenna/19940623/Press Contact: Lisa Ganier tel 415-336-5637)
40623/Press Contact: Lisa Ganier tel 415-336-5637)
6/24/94
Xerox & Sun Create $500 Million Master Agreement
BUSINESS
Russia Signs Trade Deal With Eur
CORFU, GREECE, 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- After months of wrangling Russian and European Commission (EC) officials have agreed on a trade agreement. While Russia gets certain trade guarantees, the EC gets access to valuable non-EC produce without the need for massive transport costs.
According to Boris Yeltsin, the Russian premier, the deal is the result of several months of negotiations and is being called a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Effectively, the deal gives Russia free trade access to the EC and several countries under the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) umbrella trading body. "I think it is a truly great step towards the reunion of our continent," he said.
Commenting on the deal, Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou the EC summit host and chairman, said: "I am convinced that our new partnership agreement will contribute to the peace and prosperity our peoples desire so much."
The deal effectively removes many of the tariff barriers that have made trade with Russia economically non-viable, starving Russia of much-needed external products and services, while forcing the EC to continue stockpiling products which are surplus to the EC's needs.
The big question mark over the agreement is to what extent the free trade arrangement with Russia will undermine the General Agreement on Trade & Tariffs (GATT) that has been thrashed out between the US and Europe.
Many of the quotas agreed under the GATT arrangement were based on Russia being outside of the trading ring -- introducing Russia to the mix, especially on the high-tech products front, could make some of the GATT trade deals financially unworkable, Newsbytes notes.
(Sylvia Dennis/19940624/Press & Reader Contact: European Commission, +32-2-299-1111)
ader Contact: European Commission, +32-2-299-1111)
6/24/94
Russia Signs Trade Deal With European Commission
Newsbytes Daily Summary
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 JUN 24 (NB) -- These are capsules of all today's news stories:
1 -> Review of - Razzle Dazzle 3D, screen saver 06/24/94 Runs on: IBM ATs under MS-DOS, Windows or Windows-NT, with sound cards, VGA graphics, and 550 kilobytes of free disk space.
2 -> Review of - Kid Cuts, 06/24/94 Runs on: MS-DOS machines with 640K of RAM, hard drive, printer, and mouse required.
3 -> Japan - Computer News Briefs 06/24/94 In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, LSI Logic, Sony Computer Entertainment develop game machine CPU, Ichitaro sales top two million copies Toshiba plans to develop low-cost, fault-tolerant Unix server Hitachi to boost monthly production of HDDs to 1 million units.
4 -> Japan - Telecom News Briefs 06/24/94 In today's roundup of items making news in Japan, the number of NTT's ISDN lines top 300,000 in early June, Sumitomo Electric to develop corporate PC network by fiscal 1996, Deutsche Telekom & France Telecom looking to jointly establish international communications service company in Japan.
5 -> India - Independent Telecom Authority Coming Soon 06/24/94 The Government proposes to set up a regulatory authority to provide a "fair and level playing field" for all service providers in telecommunications sector. The entire exercise will be finalized within a month, says the Minister of State for Communications, Sukh Ram.
6 -> Australia - New Multimedia Sound Blaster Kits 06/24/94 Creative Labs, maker of the Sound Blaster products, is set to move into the corporate marketplace with new offerings, including a low-cost videoconferencing product and a multimedia kit for the workplace.
7 -> Apple Newton Launched In France 06/24/94 Apple Computer France has formally launched the Apple Newton in France, almost a year after unveiling the original specification unit elsewhere in Europe.
8 -> Iona Unveils Orbix 2.1 For Windows, Ships In Beta 06/24/94 Iona Technologies has released a beta version of its Orbix 1.2 for Microsoft Windows 3.1 object request broker package to a limited number of its customers.
9 -> UK - SCO Enhances Corporate Services 06/24/94 The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) has announced a range of new services that it claims have been developed to meet the demands of corporate customers when it comes to business-critical server applications.
10 -> UK - Wall Data Announces Salsa Business Division 06/24/94 Wall Data has announced the formation of a new business division -- the Salsa unit -- to bring Dr David Kroenke's Semantic Object Modeling (SOM) technology to the marketplace.
11 -> Motorola Mobile Division Buys $10M In HP Workstations 06/24/94 In support of a corporation-wide objective to multiply "time-to-market" ten-fold, Motorola's Land Mobile Products Sector has decided to upgrade from its HP Apollo-based engineering system. It has ordered $10 million in new HP 9000 Series 700 workstations, with an option to buy $20 million more over the next two years.
12 -> Disney Characters Join Microsoft 06/24/94 Mickey, Minnie Goofy, Donald, Daisy and other Disney characters will soon be drawing paychecks from Microsoft Corporation.
13 -> CES - Compton's Intros Multiple Products 06/24/94 Starting with The Complete Multimedia Bible, Compton's is displaying and introducing a long list of its existing, revised and new CD titles at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.
14 -> AST & Creative Technology To Develop Telephony PCs 06/24/94 Computer manufacturer AST and multimedia add-on developer Creative Technology have announced plans to work together to develop integrated audio, telephony, and software multimedia products.
15 -> UK - Gateway 2000 Intros Standard 3-Year Warranty 06/24/94 The UK division of Gateway 2000 has announced it is extending its standard warranties on PC hardware from one to three years. The change takes effect immediately.
16 -> UK - ICL/Fujitsu To Collaborate On Multimedia 06/24/94 ICL has entered into a strategic collaboration arrangement with Fujitsu to offer advanced multimedia software packages on a worldwide basis.
17 -> ELSA Intros New Graphics Cards 06/24/94 With the graphical requirements for so many applications on the rise, the market for graphics accelerators is increasing. Now the German company, ELSA has announced the Winner 1000Pro and Winner 2000Pro high-speed graphics boards for Windows, Windows NT, Unix/X-Windows, OS/2, and NextStep.
18 -> ****CES - 3DO, Atari Fight Back 06/24/94 3DO Corporation makers of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer System, and Atari, with a 64-bit game machine called Jaguar, created booths at CES that were designed to be louder, brighter, and bigger than those of Nintendo and Sega, which hold the top spots in consumer video gaming.
19 -> ****CES - Wristwatch Doubles As Phone 06/24/94 The latest entrant in the Dick Tracy emulation race is MicroTalk Technologies which promises to be the first out with a phone you can wear on your wrist.
20 -> CES - EIA's Chairman Gives Industry Overview 06/24/94 erry Kalov, the board chairman of the Electronic Industries Association's Consumer Electronic Group, painted an upbeat picture of the industry's outlook at the show.
21 -> Home PC Buyers Largest Segment By 1996 06/24/94 Thirty percent of the personal computers (PCs) purchased in 1993 were by home users and that number is expected to climb to 42 percent by the end of 1996, claims the Dallas, Texas-based market research group Channel Marketing.
22 -> ****Sculley Freelancing At Kodak 06/24/94 Once considered for the chief executive officer (CEO) slot at Eastman Kodak, former Apple Computer CEO John Sculley has been hired as a freelance marketing advisor to look at Kodak's digital imaging and brand marketing strategies. Sculley has been self-employed since his last job as CEO of Spectrum Information Technologies.
23 -> Block Results Up, Thanks to CompuServe, But Stock Down 06/24/94 Thanks to its CompuServe unit, H&R Block said its net earnings rose 11 percent for the year ending in April. But analysts downgraded the stock.
24 -> Federal Express Changing Logo 06/24/94 Federal Express, which has come to dominate the overnight package-delivery business thanks to its use of mobile computing technology, said it will change its brand-name to FedEx in hopes of making more headway in international markets and to save money.
25 -> Telecommunication Bills Move Ahead 06/24/94 The US House of Representatives will vote next Tuesday on bills designed to change the rules of the telecommunications industry.
26 -> Analysts Applaud AT&T-Unisource Deal 06/24/94 Analysts applauded AT&T's agreement to link with Unisource, a European phone alliance among the Dutch, Swedish and Swiss telecommunications carriers.
27 -> UK - High-Tech Fraud On The Increase 06/24/94 According to a report from Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG), the international accounting company, fraud, and particularly high-tech fraud, is on the rise in the UK.
28 -> Romanian Cellular Network Readies For Expansion 06/24/94 Telefonica Romania has announced the third phase of its national expansion plans for its analog cellular phone network. At the same time, the company has halved the monthly line rental to its network admitting that the high cost has been a factor holding back new subscribers to the service.
29 -> Xerox & Sun Create $500 Million Master Agreement 06/24/94 In 1987, Xerox and Sun Microsystems initiated a master agreement which including both product and service sales and exchanges. That seven-year agreement is now being revised to extend the relationship for another five years and includes both SunSoft and SunService subsidiaries of Sun Microsystems.
30 -> Russia Signs Trade Deal With European Commission 06/24/94 After months of wrangling, Russian and European Commission (EC) officials have agreed on a trade agreement. While Russia gets certain trade guarantees, the EC gets access to valuable non-EC produce without the need for massive transport costs.
(Ian Stokell/19940624)
(Ian Stokell/19940624)
6/24/94
Newsbytes Daily Summary
GENERAL
!J!.!
Wxqd~b
apple
Adobe Dimensions 2.0 For Power Mac & Mac
Adobe Intros Illustrator 5.5 For Mac & Power Mac
Hike The Rocky Mountains Virtual Reality Landscape
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7.5 & Beyond
Claris Intros Organizer PIM For Mac
Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For Mac Adobe Photoshop
CoSA Ships Mac Special Effects Products
Australia - Apple Offers Video Explaining Its Computers
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch For Mac
CD-ROM Training To Control Emotions, Sell More
Knowledgeware Acquires Database Tools
OIS To Develop Active Matrix LCDs For Apple
Rasterops' Free Upgrades For Power Mac
Stern Leaves Apple After Only Six Months
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Aldus Paint Program For Older Children
NECC - Apple Announces New Bundles For Schools
Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships
NECC - Schools Thank Apple By Showcasing Apps
100 Power Mac Apps Now Available
Kodak Intros New Digital Camera
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
Power Mac Success Over Intel Depends On Apps
32,000 London Streets On CD-ROM
Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Online
Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For Mac
Apple's Digital Camera Available For Power Mac, Windows
Wordperfect 3.1 For Mac In Development
DynaTek Launches Mac Storage Line
Polaroid Scanner Digitizes Slides In 30 Seconds
PenMagic Offers Letter Express For Apple's Newton
Apple Newton Launched In France
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Available On CD-ROM
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
New Add-Ons For Pagemaker 5.0
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-In Program
Australia - Apple Intros Schools Software Licensing
Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac
GEnieNav 2.5 For Mac Microphone Users On GEnie Intro'd
Mac Utility Handles Hebrew Text
HSC Intros Bryce Landscape Designer For Mac
business
Radius Buys Into Supermac
Company Results Roundup
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices
Microsoft/Creative Tech In Sound Technology Deal
UK Distributor Swallows Up French Counterpart
UK - Silica's Stores-Within-Stores Computer Outlets
Japan - Casio/Nokia, Ricoh/LDL Forge Links
Hong Kong - HP Makes Integrated Solutions A Reseller
Japan - Sumitomo Trading & TCI In Cable TV Deal
Dell Reduces Derivatives Portfolio
Cognos/Xcellenet Alliance Aims At Data Distribution
Lotus To Buy Notes Development Firm For $84Mil
Toshiba/IBM/Siemens To Develop 64-megabit DRAM
US West Invests In Spanish Cable TV
Sony Signs Multimillion Deal For AP Video Service
AmCoEx Index Of Used Computer Prices
Seagate Opens New Wafer Plant In Northern Ireland
Samsung To Make PDAs
Analysts Downplay DEC Cash Problem, Despite CFO Change
Informix Dynamic Server 6.0 On Pyramid SMP Computers
Tadpole 1st 1GB Notebook, Plans AXP Portable
HP Intros Aptrex X Terminals To Vie With Sun
Software AG, SAP Team On Financial System For NT, Unix
Interleaf Updates WorldView Document Distribution
USENIX Conf - Penn Jillette Exposes Info Superhypeway
UK - Unix OSL Messaging Service From Mercury
IBM Licenses OpenMail From HP For RS/6000
On-Demand Debuts Digital Video Server
Wordperfect Ships Version 6.0 for Unix Platforms
UK - Visionware Intros Fast X Server
HP Adds High-End X Terminals To Envizex & Entria
UK - SCO Enhances Corporate Services
Taligent PEEK Developer Training Program
other
Newsbyte reports are copyright 1994 by Newsbytes News Network.
Republication of any portion is strictly without prior authorization.
subjects
setDisplay (
buttonUp
buttonUp
setDisplay
apple
Apple
business
Business
General
General
telecom
Telecom
trends
Trends
other
Other
proto
oselectedTextLines
goTitle
(x = keyEnter);
tonUp
keyUp
buttonUp
leaveField
buttonUp
'o,CgoTitle
keyUp
buttonUp
leaveField
Adobe Dimensions 2.0 For Power Mac & Mac
Adobe Intros Illustrator 5.5 For Mac & Power Mac
Hike The Rocky Mountains Virtual Reality Landscape
Apple UK Reveals All On System 7.5 & Beyond
Claris Intros Organizer PIM For Mac
Terrazzo Pattern-Generation For Mac Adobe Photoshop
CoSA Ships Mac Special Effects Products
Australia - Apple Offers Video Explaining Its Computers
Interealm Ships New Powerlaunch For Mac
CD-ROM Training To Control Emotions, Sell More
Knowledgeware Acquires Database Tools
OIS To Develop Active Matrix LCDs For Apple
Rasterops' Free Upgrades For Power Mac
Stern Leaves Apple After Only Six Months
Supermac Power Mac Video Card
Aldus Paint Program For Older Children
NECC - Apple Announces New Bundles For Schools
Virtus VR For Power Mac Ships
NECC - Schools Thank Apple By Showcasing Apps
100 Power Mac Apps Now Available
Kodak Intros New Digital Camera
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
Power Mac Success Over Intel Depends On Apps
32,000 London Streets On CD-ROM
Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Online
Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For Mac
Apple's Digital Camera Available For Power Mac, Windows
Wordperfect 3.1 For Mac In Development
DynaTek Launches Mac Storage Line
Polaroid Scanner Digitizes Slides In 30 Seconds
PenMagic Offers Letter Express For Apple's Newton
Apple Newton Launched In France
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Available On CD-ROM
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
New Add-Ons For Pagemaker 5.0
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-In Program
Australia - Apple Intros Schools Software Licensing
Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac
GEnieNav 2.5 For Mac Microphone Users On GEnie Intro'd
Mac Utility Handles Hebrew Text
HSC Intros Bryce Landscape Designer For Mac
NautilusCD is pleased to provide the following
industry reports from the Newsbytes News Network.
Subjects are listed on the left (Apple, Business, etc.). Click a subject button to display a list of Newsbytes for that subject. Click on any item in the list to go to that story.
s Now Available
Kodak Intros New Digital Camera
Apple Ships Power Macs To China
Power Mac Success Over Intel Depends On Apps
32,000 London Streets On CD-ROM
Apple Computer's eWorld Goes Online
Adobe Shipping Photoshop 3.0 For Mac
Apple's Digital Camera Available For Power Mac, Windows
Wordperfect 3.1 For Mac In Development
DynaTek Launches Mac Storage Line
Polaroid Scanner Digitizes Slides In 30 Seconds
PenMagic Offers Letter Express For Apple's Newton
Apple Newton Launched In France
Megabytes Of Mac Sample Code Available On CD-ROM
Review of - Castle of Dr. Brain
New Add-Ons For Pagemaker 5.0
Apple UK Dead Or Alive PC Trade-In Program
Australia - Apple Intros Schools Software Licensing
Aldus Intros Chartmaker For Mac
GEnieNav 2.5 For Mac Microphone Users On GEnie Intro'd
(.txt)