CONNECT THE WORLD UPDATE #13 September 20, 1996 Dear "Connect the World with Merlin" (CtWwM) volunteers, OS/2 NEWS 1. Last Monday, September 16th, I was pleasantly surprised by IBM when I received a final "shrink wrapped" version of OS/2 Warp 4. Many thanks to our friends at IBM. I was impressed with the packaging. From the outside, the box looks like the blue OS/2 Warp Connect box we have become accustomed to. However, the box was lighter due to less sales documentation inside. There is, of course, the basic OS/2 manual and, best of all, the headset/microphone was included! There is also 3 installation diskettes and four CD-ROM's included: * OS/2 Warp 4 (with BonusPak) * Application Sampler CD-ROM * Device Driver CD-ROM * Lotus Notes Mail The installation went smoothly and quickly. It didn't take us long to get on the Internet and resume operations. In other words, we were very impressed! We think you will be as well. 2. In case you've missed the announcement for IBM's launch of OS/2 Warp 4: Where: Center for the Arts Forum 701 Mission Street at Third, adjacent to the Moscone Convention Center San Francisco, California When: September 25, 1996 Announcement event: 10 - 11 a.m. Technology showcase, lunch and interviews: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. You can see this at any one of a number of teleseminars being scheduled around the world. To enroll, call 800/365-4425 x 680; WWW: http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/telesemi.html E-mail: warptele@vnet.ibm.com By the way, if you're in the United States, keep your eye on the morning news shows for demonstrations of Merlin - such as the Today show, and Good Morning America. PROJECT STATUS 1. VOLUNTEERS We now have over 800 volunteers from 45 countries registered for the event. I have quietly withdrawn the volunteer registration sheet from the OS/2 CONNECT newsletter (the October issue was released earlier this week). Although I will not turn away any volunteer, I won't be actively soliciting more volunteers at this time. Again, I am including the latest e-mail list (EMAIL.TXT) and telephone book (PHONES.TXT) in the attached zipped file (MERL0920.ZIP). PLEASE ADVISE ME ACCORDINGLY OF ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS (particularly as we get closer to the date of the event). It's vital that we maintain our communication lines. 2. COUNTRY/REGIONAL COORDINATORS: AUSTRIA - Kianusch Sayah Karadji in Vienna (kianusch@marin.cc.ca.us) AUSTRALIA - Terry Kemp in Dandenong, Victoria, (terry@emerald.cns.net.au) BELGIUM - Alex Wyckmans (awyckma@ibm.net) BRAZIL - Angelo Klin in Sao Paulo - (aklin@ibm.net) or (aklin@embratel.net.br) DENMARK - Eric Johannesen in Hoeng (ericjohs@inet.zitech.dk) ISRAEL - Rann Glaser - (glas@post.tau.ac.il) LITHUANIA - Rimas Zdanavicius (rzdana@sc.ktu.lt) NETHERLANDS - Reinout van Schouwen - (r.m.van.schouwen@caiw.nl) NEW ZEALAND - Roger Govind (phys189@csc.canterbury.ac.nz) SOUTH AFRICA - Francois van der Merwe - (za2mhnwg@ibmmail.com) SWITZERLAND - Joelle Nebbe in Bleiken (jnebbe@ibm.net) CANADA: ALBERTA - Michael Chajkowski (mickyc@superiway.net) BRITISH COLUMBIA - John Phillips (teamos2@islandnet.com) and David Stevenson (stevenson@pacificcoast.net) ONTARIO - Robert Ensing (Robert.Ensing@x244-99.gryn.org) QUEBEC - Luc Roseberry - (lrosebe@ibm.net) or (Luc.Roseberry@ibm.net) assisted by Sylvain Tanguay (os2user@mtlserv.consulan.com). We would like to thank the Country/Regional Coordinators for their assistance in this project. If you reside in any of these areas, be sure to contact your local Coordinator at the e-mail address listed above. 3. DEMO SITES We now have over 150 demonstration sites in 25 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Mauritius, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For the complete list of registered demo sites, please see: http://www.tbos2cla.com/ctwwm/demosite.html >> DEMO SITES "SOLD OUT" Each site will get a Demonstration Kit (included OS/2 Warp 4, 3rd party software, and promotional materials - more on this later). Unfortunately, we have reached our limit in terms of supplies which as of Saturday, September 21st, are all in the hands of the packager for shipping. Please note that we have established a "standby" list of sites in the event another site cancels (but don't count on it as we approach our date). >> "BUT CAN I STILL REGISTER A SITE?" Yes but only if you are prepared to obtain a copy of Merlin yourself. If this approach interests you, please let me know and we will be happy to register your site on our web page. >> "HOW ELSE CAN I PARTICIPATE?" If you cannot participate at a registered site, we still need you for this event, particularly if you are in a remote part of the globe. As you may remember, one of our objectives of this project is to demonstrate to the press where OS/2 is used throughout the world. We therefore ask that you at least log on to our main web page and "sign-in" thereby demonstrating your support for OS/2. This will be explained in the forthcoming script. 4. ACTIVITIES A. PUBLICITY As most of you know, we issued our press release on Friday, September 6th. Consequently, activity has noticeably increased on our demosite web page. I have also seen it mentioned in the "IBM Software News Alert" and more and more people are linking to our page. I have printed over 400 copies of the press release for IBM to include in their Media Kits (to be issued to the press next week). In other words, the timing of our press release looks good. CHAIN LETTER To help get the word out, I will begin a "chain letter" next week. In the letter I will ask each person to take the letter and send it to 10 friends (preferably 5 OS/2 users and 5 non-OS/2 users). If we do this right, we can spread the word about the CtWwM project to thousands of people at Warp speed ;-) B. WELCOME BACK POLYEX Do you remember a few months ago when I talked about a special edutainment package from PolyEx Software in Sarasota? They had to drop out of the CtWwM project a few months ago due to other commitments. Well, I received a call from the principals of the company who completed their demo for us after-all. We are now in the process of testing it. But if it is half as good as I think it is, it will make for a dynamite demonstration of OS/2 (featuring audio and video)! We have given the software to IBM to test and, if all goes well, look for it in the Merlin launch! We will also try to get it out to the volunteers but, in all likelihood, it will have to be downloaded from an FTP or web site. C. HELP DESK The Tampa Bay OS/2 Users' Group (TBOUG) is still planning on hosting an on-line OS/2 Help Desk throughout the event (35 hours to accommodate all time zones). TBOUG's Help Desk will be hosted by the "At Home Cyber Cafe" at 3611-228 West Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa (next to the CompUSA who is generously providing the computer equipment for the Help Desk). And, YES, we will have a camera to talk with you "face-to-face". If you have a question about OS/2 or just want to call and say hello, please call our help desk (look for "Tim Bryce" in the InterCom telephone book (plus we'll be logged on all the time for it). D. SCRIPT We're nearing the completion of the script. Although it will not be included in the Demonstration Kits being shipped it will be made available either through e-mail or some place on the Internet (to be downloaded). We hope to complete the script next week. E. WEB SITE & WEB PAGE We have made significant progress on our world web page and hope to have the final version completed soon. We will provide details in future updates (and the script). >> Also, during the CtWwM demo, you will be asked for the >> LATITUDE and LONGITUDE coordinates for your site. This >> This will be used to plot locations on the world map. >> Please start researching the coordinates for your demo site. ACCESSING THE SITE - David Barnes has received permission for volunteers to access IBM's Global Network during the demonstration. >> PLEASE NOTE: ONLY THE REGISTERED SITES WILL BE GIVEN ACCESS PRIVILEGES TO THE NETWORK. THIS WILL BE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED BY US DURING THE DEMONSTRATION. More on this later. F. DEMONSTRATION KIT All of the demonstration materials (except the final script) are now in the hands of IBM for packing and shipping by OCTOBER 1ST. This should give us ample time to get the demo kits delivered to the volunteers (especially overseas) so they can practice with the software. There is no charge for the demo kit. The Bill of Materials for each Demo Kit includes: 1 - Copy of OS/2 Warp 4 "shrink wrapped" (less microphone) (includes Application Sampler CD, Device Driver CD, and Lotus Notes Mail CD) 1 - Andrea Electronics microphone 100 - copies of OS/2 Warp 4 brochures 100 - copies of OS/2 Warp 4 flyers 4 - CtWwM store posters (folded to 8 X 10) 1 - Lotus WordPro promotional flyer/brochure 1 - CD - SPG "ColorWorks" 1 - SPG poster 1 - SPG letter to volunteers 1 - CD or diskette - Mount Baker "Money Tree" (CD likely) 1 - Mount Baker promotional flyer/brochure 1 - diskette - Revolutionary Software's "InterCom" 1 - 8 x 10 envelope containing "Batch Manager" demo from MBA, (includes letter to volunteers and flyer) 1 - packet - CD Cleaner (chamois) from Acme Sponge >> Sorry, there isn't a cover letter included in the shipment. PLEASE TRY TO KEEP THE MATERIALS TOGETHER. >> HOWEVER, YOU WILL WANT TO PLACE THE POSTERS IN THE STORES (THE DEMO SITES) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! G. DRESS REHEARSALS As you know, the official day of the dress rehearsal is Saturday, October 19th. The purpose of the dress rehearsal is to walk through the whole demonstration and make any necessary last-minute adjustments. Where and when you wish to perform the dress rehearsal is strictly up to you: either at the demonstration site or elsewhere. The World Map at our Internet site will be available for display that day but we will have only limited access in Tampa to the Internet telephone. This means you will not necessarily be able to reach the TBOUG Help Desk that day. But you should still be able to call other sites (and should practice). H. GOING TO COLORADOS/2? If you are going to ColoradOS/2 (October 13-18), be sure to attend the closing session on Friday (the 18th) where David Barnes will walk attendees through the CtWwM demo as a prelude to the dress rehearsal. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to pick up necessary tips for conducting the demonstration. David Moskowitz will also be attending ColoradOS/2 and would be delighted to work with attending CtWwM volunteers. I. 3RD PARTY VENDORS As mentioned in prior updates, we have other 3rd party vendors with native OS/2 apps for inclusion in the demo. This includes: * SPG's ColorWorks product (v2.0). SPG is at: http://www.spg-net.com/ Included with the Demo Kit shipment is this letter from Joel Krautheim, President of SPG, with an excellent offer for CtWwM volunteers: --------------------------------------------------- September 10, 1996 Dear CTWWM Volunteer, SPG is honored to be involved in your world-wide OS/2 event. All of you will receive a demonstration version of ColorWorks V2 on CD-ROM in order to show the software during this historic event. To show our appreciation for your efforts and to give you the opportunity to get better acquainted with our software prior to the CTWWM event, we have made arrangements with J3 Computer Technologies to offer you a "real" copy of ColorWorks V2 (the full product including the large User Book) for only $99 USD, ordering details are at the bottom of this letter. This special offer is valid between now and 25 October 1996. I do hope you take advantage of this special offer -- for you have earned it, and have a spectacular event! Regards, Joel Krautheim President SPG Inc. terminator@spg-net.com Contact Information for J3 Computer Technologies: J3 has set up a special CTWWM Volunteer order form for you to get ColorWorks V2 for $99 at http://www.os2store.com/ctwwm.html You can also order ColorWorks V2 for this special price from J3 via e-mail to sales@os2store.com, by phone at +01-909-985-6786 (outside of the US) or 800-787-0930 (in the US and Canada), and by fax at +01-909-981-5423. --------------------------------------------------- * Mount Baker Software's new Money Tree product; a financial planning/management application (a la Quicken). Mount Baker is at: http://www.Mount-Baker.com * Revolutionary Software's InterCom Internet Telephone - According to Jonathan Tew, the developer of InterCom, he is working on version 3.16 which he recommends for use during the demo. If you haven't done so, you can download the InterCom product from: http://www.ixworld.com/ic/ Diskettes of the product will be included in the Demo Kit. 5. AVAILABILITY OF MERL0920.ZIP In case you have trouble downloading the attached file (MERL0920.ZIP), you can download it from: The Hobbes FTP site: ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu Look for it one of the following directories: /incoming (temporary) /os2/info MBA's BBS (the "PRIDE" Network) at: +01-813/786-4864 NOTE: CtWwM Update files are named 'MERLmmdd.ZIP' where "mm" represents the month and "dd" represents the day; for example, MERL0920.ZIP represents the September 20th update. For past updates, look for: MERL0906.ZIP MERL0823.ZIP MERL0809.ZIP MERL0724.ZIP MERL0708.ZIP ALSO, WEB PAGES PERTAINING TO THIS PROJECT: http://www.tbos2cla.com/ctwwm/demosite.html (Main Page) http://web2.spydernet.com/merlin Oliver McDonald of Victoria, BC (oliver@spydernet.com) http://www.os2ug.techpta.ac.za/OS2User/merlin_connect.html Anthony van Zyl of Gauteng, South Africa (antman@iafrica.com) http://www.caiw.nl/~rmschouw/ctwwm/ Reinout van Schouwen of the Netherlands (R.M.van.Schouwen@caiw.nl) (NOTE: page is in Dutch) http://cip.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~arwagner/merlind.html Alexander Wagner (arwagner@cip.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de) (NOTE: page is in German) http://www.os2boutique.fr/ctwwm/demo.htm Vincent Delaruelle of Paris, France (vdelarue@os2boutique.fr) (NOTE: page is in French) http://www.enjoy.it/users/~1ferlo/ctwwm.htm Marco La Ferla of Italy (ferlo@Route-pc1.enjoy.it) (NOTE: page is in Italian) http://www.agora.dk/hotel/ctwwm/ctwwm.html Eric Johannesen in Hoeng (ericjohs@inet.zitech.dk) (NOTE: page is in Danish) http://os2forum.or.at/ctwwm Kianusch Sayah Karadji of Austria (kianusch@marin.cc.ca.us) (NOTE: page is in German) http://www.tornado.be/~os2-ug/ctwwm.html Alex Wyckmans in Belgium (alex.wyckmans@its.sni.be) FEEL FREE TO ESTABLISH LINKS TO THESE PAGES (HINT, HINT). That's all for now. I'll keep you abreast of developments as they occur. *********************************************** * JUST REMEMBER: only 36 days until CtWwM! * *********************************************** If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Stay tuned! Regards, Tim Bryce Editor, OS/2 CONNECT M. Bryce & Associates, Inc. (MBA) 777 Alderman Road Palm Harbor, FL 34683 United States Tel: 813/786-4567 Fax: 813/786-4765 BBS: 813/786-4864 E-Mail: TimB1557@aol.com CompuServe: 76235,2364 WWW: http://warp.eecs.berkeley.edu/os2/connect/ Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind" MBA: Developers of the "PRIDE" Information Factory(R) and Batch Manager IBM and OS/2 are the registered trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation. All other trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies. This document has not been reviewed or approved by IBM and the contents herein are solely the responsibility of the volunteers in the "Connect the World with Merlin" project.