home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Media Share 9
/
MEDIASHARE_09.ISO
/
mag&info
/
dpanew13.zip
/
DPANEWS1.DET
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-02-27
|
20KB
|
353 lines
18, 78, 8, 2, 240, 1, 25
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Remember to press F6 to move to the first newsletter file. │
│ F1 gets you a list of scrolling and printing options. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Digital Publishing Association News
Volume 2, Number 3 - March, 1992
Copyright (C) 1993 Ron Albright
This, and all, issue of the "Digital Publishing Association News" is
sponsored by the Digital Publishing Association and its member publications.
"Digital News" features news, product developments, and other information of
interest to authors, distributors, and readers of electronic publications.
Items presented here serve to inform the public of the electronic publishing
industry, that industry being the authorship and publication of reading
materials in electronic format, rather than traditional, paper publishing.
Back issues may be found on the Digital Publishing BBS at 205-854-1660.
ATTENTION: Please note the name change of our organization. The name
"Disktop" was dropped effective March 1, 1993 due to a conflict with an
existing software product that had trademarked the name. CE Software (P.O.
Box 65580, West Des Moines, IA 50265; 515- 224-1995) offers two fine products
- one for the Macintosh and a new release for Windows 3.1 on the IBM - that
are called "Disktop." They enhance the GUI interface of both the Mac and
Windows systems. After contacting the folks at CE Software, it was mutually
agreed that our organization needed to change our name. We have chosen the
"Digital Publishing Association." Digital will resolve the continued conflict
with those confusing us with "desktop" publishing (I still get letters from
people asking for help with PageMaker or Ventura Publisher) as well as better
defining what we do with publishing. When referring to the DPA in the future,
please use the "Digital Publishing Association" name to avoid confusion in
the marketplace.
I want to also thank the nice people at CE Software for their patience and
understanding about our faux pas. Richard Skeie, President, and John Kirk,
Treasurer, were both most understanding and cordial in discussing the whole
matter of the name conflict. I was prepared for an ugly fight but Richard,
John and CE Software certainly reaffirmed my faith in the basic goodness and
understanding in not only mankind but the business world as well. CE
Software deserves our support and thanks for turning what could have been an
ugly situation with a lesser company into a painless process of simply
changing our name. I want to publicly express my appreciation to CE Software
for their handling of this situation. So, welcome the "Digital Publishing
Association!"
Speaking of trademarks and such, I see where Microsoft was denied a trademark
for the word "Windows." Strange world.
DPA BBS Woes Resolved...
I am also happy to report that the DPA BBS (205-854-1660) is now back up to
speed. I sprang for a new hard disk drive and now all the files - at least
most of them - have been restored to their rightful places on the system. We
are ready to accept uploads and, of course, offer a wealth of downloads for
digital publishing publishers and readers. Check us out and see what had been
newly added.
Hitting the big time...
For those of you who might have missed it, the March 16 issue of PC Magazine
(Page 31) carried a nice article on digital publishing. The thrust of the
piece is just what the DPA has been saying all along; namely, that all the
activity and quality publications are not confined to CDROM. Disk-based
publishing is also prominent. Written by Robert Kendall, the half-page
article not only mentions the DPA BBS, but also makes note of the publishing
activities of several DPA members, including Paul Peacock's "FloppyBack
Publishing" and Paul Levinson's "Connected Editions." I am not sure any of
you in the computer world are not already reading PC Magazine, but if you
don't, be sure to get a copy of this one. The DPA and its members are clearly
on the "cutting edge" now. The DPA BBS has been ringing off the hook every
since. When you make PC Magazine, you have clearly "arrived." Feel proud that
you are part of the new wave of publishing and are, clearly, on the advancing
fringe of the publishing world. We congratulate PC Magazine and Robert
Kendall for bringing the news of digital publishing to the computer world.
We also got a significant "leg up" in the Apple/Macintosh world from the
"Apple Library Users Group" Newsletter (Winter, 1993; page 21). Thanks to
their reprinting our "call for members," ALUG has brought in numerous
requests for more information from members of the Macintosh world. Thanks to
this single announcement, we now have picked up members in Stockholm, Sweden
and Dublin, Ireland! How's that for coverage of a newsletter? We look
forward to welcoming more of the Apple and Macintosh community into the DPA.
We all know that digital publishing is certainly not limited to the DOS
world.
We would also like to recognize DPA member and noted columnist David
Batterson for his nice write up of the DPA in the "Portland Computer Bits"
newspaper. The column centers on David's premise that "the days of paper and
ink are not quite over, but books on disks are a growing phenomenon." He
includes information on how to contact the DPA and mentions a number of the
winners of the First Annual "Digital Quill" Awards for excellence in
electronic publishing, including DART and Harvey Wheeler's "Virtual Society."
"Ruby's Joint" Online...
Del and David Freeman, publishers of the immensely successful "Ruby's Pearls"
electronic literary magazine report that they now have their own BBS for
readers and contributors. The "Ruby's Joint" BBS went online February 20 and
can be reached at 305-856-4897. If you are a contributor to Ruby's, uploading
directly to their BBS is probably the fastest way to get the process started.
For the loyal readership who hate to wait for Ruby's to filter down to the
DPA BBS or their local BBS, calling in there will allow you to download the
latest issue as soon as it hits the electronic streets. Congratulations to
Del and David for fulfilling one of their long- time publishing goals.
Kudos to REXXCOM Systems...
You may be reading this issue of Digital Publishing News in simple ASCII.
But, if you have an IBM or compatible, you should look for the new reading
interface conjured up for us by the talented programmers at REXXCOM Systems.
Headed by Charles Weidemann, REXXCOM has a number of products for the
electronic publishing market. Their XL2000 interface for us and our DOS
readers is superb.
XL2000, customized specifically for the DPA News, requires an EGA or VGA
monitor and displays ASCII text on a wonderful, bright white background. The
crystal-clear display is a special new feature, previously impossible in a
text file. Also, XL2000 features "hands free" reading with a unique
autoscroll feature whose scrolling rate can be adjusted by the reader. You
can link files together, jump from document to document and back again,
adjust colors of text and background, and many other innovative features.
Look for other shareware programs published by Rexxcom. These are found in
various IBM Forums on GENIE and CompuServe. Use Rexxcom as a keyword to
search for programs. Rexxcom shareware is also available on many community
BBSs (including the DPA BBS) and in shareware catalogs. Popular Rexxcom
programs are AUTODOC, AUTOFONT, and FONT MANIA. Find them in compressed
files named A-DOC, AUFONT, and FMAN23. A limited Shareware version of the
XL2000 custom interface is available on the DPA BBS as "XL100.EXE." This
self-extracting file will unfurl on any DOS machine to present a
demonstration of the XL100 software. Try it out and see how easy Rexxcom
makes digital publishing. Registration ($19.95; $50 for commercial license of
up to three publications; customization available) will include a copy of
XL2000 and instruction on its use along with some beautiful fonts and other
graphic enhancements.
If you have specific questions about creating an electronic publication like
this, write directly to Charles L. Wiedemann, President, Rexxcom Systems,
P.O. Box 111, Schooleys Mtn., NJ 07870, or leave Charles a message on
CompuServe. His CIS ID is 72656,2764. Charles is one of the "FOUNDING
MEMBERS" of the Digital Publishing Association.
SPECIAL OFFER: Members of the Digital Publishing Association may obtain a
free starter disk from Rexxcom Systems. Contact Charles and identify yourself
as a member; let him know which size disk to send.
A Good Idea Arrives...
I will let the originator, Ed Brzezowski, tell you about his new BBS that
takes advantage of the instant delivery of digital information and
publications.
"Last week [Jan 10, 1993] I opened a new system called InfoMarket Express
that allows callers to buy and sell information online. The concept behind
this project included electronic books and newsletters and would allow the
author to directly market his/her work.
"InfoMarket Express is an electronic publishing and distribution system that
anyone with a IBM or MAC PC can access without special front-end software. We
also have a request section that allows callers to request new information
categories and information not found on the system from other users.
"Based on what I have read in the DPA documents, this would be a natural for
your members. They would be able to upload a file that contains a abstract
and then the system would prompt them for their actual electronic document.
This electronic document is then immediately available for sale around the
world.
"Another important feature that we have built into the design is the ability
to allow the author (i.e. Provider) to change their price to reflect the
current market. We have had some uploads this week in the humor and legal
areas. My experience as a professional engineer has allowed be to post the
files in the facility category.
"We have another area for utilities which would be a natural for hypertext
engines and electronic publication authoring and viewing utilities. The
minimum file price is $1.00. Arrangements can be made for posting utility
programs with a $0.00 price on prior agreement if necessary.
"Users can access the system for free, no connect charges, subscription or
storage charges. The only costs involved is when a file is sold. This usually
would be accomplished via "real time" credit card authorization on the
system. After the sale is approved the Buyer would then be able to download
their files.
"Another interesting feature is that Providers have access to files that tell
them of their upload history, and also sales history including the name and
address of the buyer. This is a feature that no conventional publishing
arrangement has ever offered to the author.
"I'm currently looking into using the Microsoft multimedia viewer as a
standard for users of the system to distribute their electronic newsletters
based on a common platform. This allows Windows users to view the documents
without special hardware or software.
"Please call the system at (908) 879-7209, 14.4k v32bis. I look forward to
any constructive comments and suggestions that you may have and also any
uploads. The system will be expanded to meet the needs of the Providers and
Buyers as it takes off."
In my hypertext disk/book, "Publishing in the 21st Century: Electronic
Publishing for Authors, Publishers, and Entrepreneurs" ($9.95 from the DPA;
include monitor type and disk size), I discuss the possibility of delivering
and selling information on a system like Ed's. It's really an idea whose time
has come. Ed is a member of the DPA and an active user of GEnie's LAMP
RoundTable, where the DPA has opened its national doors.
For more information, you can contact Ed Brzezowski at the
addresses below:
Edward Brzezowski
InfoMarket, Inc.
P.O. Box 815
Chester, NJ 07930
(908) 879-8900 voice
(908) 879-2532 fax
(908) 879-7209 data, 14.4k v32bis
CompuServe: 75160, 3165
GEnie: E.BRZEZOWSKI
"TurboBooks"...
According to a report carried by NewsBytes, the premier online news service
for the computer industry, Barry Cinnamon has announced the Allegro New Media
company. Allegro is a publishing venture from Cinnamon, the founder of The
Bureau of Electronic Development, a popular CDROM distribution and publishing
company. According to Cinnamon, Allegro aims to put everything from computer
and travel reference books to business information and science fiction novels
on the growing number of Windows-based computers.
According to John McCormick's article, Allegro introduced Allegro's new
TurboBooks, a set of compressed files on standard floppy diskettes which
install with a special access program into any computer running Windows and
provide the full text of books along with bookmark and search tools.
McCormick reports that TurboBooks offer two sizes of display text in an
attractive Windows font and provide a number of ways to navigate through the
text, including a timed automatic page-at-a-time jump which can be easily
adjusted to move through the text at a comfortable reading speed for each
individual user. TurboBooks, which may contain more than one book in a
single package, are priced between $20 and $50.
TurboBooks are not multimedia and do not contain graphics. However, according
to McCormick, they do provide enhancements over paper versions, including the
ability to search for words and topics; keep place with automatic bookmarks;
browse page by page using cursor keys, create personal notes and annotations,
display in user-selectable margins and two type sizes. NewsBytes lists the
following titles as immediately available:
From Baen Publishing Enterprises: Fallen Angels, by Niven/Pournelle/Flynn,
and Go Tell The Spartans, by Pournelle/Stirling; both for $30. If I Pay Thee
not in Gold, by P. Anthony, and Born to Run, by M. Lackey/L. Dixon; both for
$30. The Ship Who Fought, by A. McCaffrey/S. M. Stirling, and The Ship Who
Searched, by A. McCaffrey/M. Lackey; both for $33.
Published by CBC, Inc.: The Complete Guide to MS-DOS 5.0; $24. The Complete
Guide to Windows 3.1; $24.
Published by NTC Publishing Group: Career Book, by Kennedy/Laramore; $24.
International Herald Tribune Guide to Business Travel EUROPE, by R.
Beardwood/Alan Tillier; $24. International Herald Tribune Doing Business in
Today's Western Europe, by Alan Tillier; $26. New Product Development, by G.
Gruenwald; $36. Successful Direct Marketing Methods, by B. Stone; $36.
Published by Prentice Hall: On the Road The Portable Computing Bible, by Jim
Seymour; $33. Winn Rosch Hardware Bible, by Winn L. Rosch; $36.
Published by Simon & Schuster: Den of Thieves, by J.B. Stewart; $24. The
Japan That Can Say No, by S. Ishihara; $24. The Right College; $48.
Published by Allegro New Media: The Last of the Mohicans, by J.F. Cooper,
and The Deerslayer, by J.F. Cooper; both for $30.
According to the article, Allegro has a marketing agreement with Waldensoft
to stock TurboBooks beginning in March.
For more information, contact Barry Cinnamon, Allegro New Media, at
201-808-1992. The prices may be a bit much, but it sure sounds like Allegro
is going places! We wish them well.
Small is Where the Action is...
Did you know that the sales of laptop and palmtop computers make up over 25
percent of the total computer market share? That constitutes, at least to our
reasoning at the DPA, the biggest potential market for digital publications.
These are people "on the move" who, when not working with their computers on
the road, would love to have reading and instructional material available to
them in computer-readable form. It is here that we should be concentrating
our efforts.
You always know that an industry or new technology has "arrived" when they
have their own conference. Well, small computers have "arrived," as witnessed
by the "LAP & PALMTOP '93" show, scheduled for March 15-16, at the New York
Hilton. The show, already in its sixth year, is the first and only one of its
kind. Since its inception in 1988, attendance has grown from a mere 500
enthusiasts to more than 15,000 end-users.
The show features over 150 exhibitors and their laptops, palmtops (PDAs),
notebooks, subnotebooks, pen and tablet systems, modems, portable printers,
cellular phones and PCMCIA cards which are making the "tetherless" office a
reality. Exhibitors include Apple, AST, Dell, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, IBM,
Lotus, Motorola, NEC, Sharp, Toshiba and Zenith.
Highlights of New York's LAP & PALMTOP '93 include the keynote address,
"Intel's Vision of Mobile Computing," by Mike Aymar, vice president and
general manager of Intel Corporation's Mobile Computing Group.
Contact Peter O'Connor of Laptop Expositions, at 212-682-7968 for more
information.
Member news and updates...
That wonderful hypertext authoring software for the IBM and compatibles,
ORPHEUS, is already up to version 1.41. Rod Willmot (Hyperion Softword, 535
DuVernay, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1l 1Y8; 819-566-6296) fired us the latest
version. It's now available on the DPA BBS (205-854-1660) as the files
ORPH141A.ZIP, ORPH141B.ZIP, and ORPH141C.ZIP. Congratulations to Thomas
Hudock of Systemax Computer Graphics (201 East 87th Street, Suite 24E, New
York 10128; 212-348-8756) for a nice write up in the March issue of
CompuServe Magazine. "Multimedia Production," Tom and Systemax's specialty,
was listed as one of the "Ten Best Bets" for businesses in the 90s. Nice
going, Tom! Ernie Deel of EFD Systems (304 Smokerise Circle SE, Marietta, GA
30067) has put out terrific new updates of his TXTBook and GRFBook authoring
tools. TXTBook is for simply publishing ASCII-based materials; GRFBook is for
graphics and multimedia presentations. These neat programs are small and
really make use of every byte to offer some amazing capabilities for programs
requiring so little disk overhead. Both are on the DPA BBS. Look for
TXTBK.ZIP and GRFBK.ZIP from EFD Systems. John Peters, Sysop of the GEnie
LAMP roundtable, the national home for the DPA, will be attending the GEnie
Sysops conference the first week in March and beating the drums for the
future of electronic publishing. John, an energetic supporter of the DPA and
its activities, already has convinced GEnie of the benefits of making their
bimonthly magazine available in electronic format. I am sure he will convince
the bosses that the future lies not in paper, but on disk.
Stay tuned...
Next month I will finally be able to release the news that has been eating
away at me for several months. It is a development from the DPA that will
really put us on the map and bring more computer users into the fold as
electronic publishers. I wish I could tell you more, but it will have to wait
for now. It's something really special that has been in the planning stages
for several months. It will be a product we can all look to with pride and
excitement. We will need your help in getting the news out, so stay tuned and
keep working on the "non-believers." Digital publishing is an idea whose time
has truly come and the world is primed. You are on the crest of the wave so
be proud, be vocal, and keep watching this space for more news. See you next
month.
Re-read with HOME Exit with ESC