Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June/Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso/mac/Text/Mac Text/1992/NB920511

Text File | 1992-05-11 | 64KB | 1,400 lines

(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00001)

Floods, Lightning Fail To Dampen HK Net 05/11/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Over the past weekend, Hong Kong
experienced catastrophic weather. Torrential rain, continual electrical
storms and massive mudslides which threatened many residential blocks and
completely flooded the central business district. At least four people
died as a result. Television news carried footage all around the world.

Almost 700 people were evacuated from one threatened block in Baguio
Villas today. Through all of this chaos the Hong Kong telecommunications
networks proved resilient and kept operating at a normal pace.

Local IT industry observers lauded the Hong Kong Telephone Company HKTEL
for its contingency planning. Peter Skerrett, director of network
engineering for HKTEL, proudly told Newsbytes: "We had planned for this
day. It was a perfect example of the civil engineer's "ten year flood."
Of course we are very fortunate that the vast majority of our network is
fiber optics and digital, but even those copper cables we still have
were laid with this type of catastrophe clearly in our minds. Cables
with 200 pairs or over are pressurized to keep water out, and all cables
carrying less than that are jelly-filled."

"This type of forethought is very expensive, but the cost of doing it
paled into insignificance on Friday and Saturday when maintaining tight
communications was vital to the territory," he continued.

Many local industry watchers have been very critical of the Hong Kong
government because of its insistence to break the HKTel network monopoly
in 1995 to entice other telecommunications companies to
install a second network. The watchers see the performance over
the weekend as evidence that HKTel is all the territory needs.

Mr Skerrett added that a couple of direct lightning strikes took out the
power supply to two or three exchanges, but the back-up generators cut
in so fast that they had not had one complaint from any subscriber. He
said that a severe landslip severed a cable in one area, but again
because of the company's contingency plans, they were able
to divert that immediately to radio.

(Brett Cameron/19920511/Press contact: Peter Skerrett, Hong Kong
Telephone Company, [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00002)

Australia: Optus Signs US$190M Deal With Nokia 05/11/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Australia's new telecom carrier
Optus has signed a AUS$250M(US$190M) deal with Finnish telecom
manufacturer Nokia. The two companies have established a partnership
to provide a GSM (global system for mobile communications or Groupe
Speciale Mobile) network throughout Australia.

The new digital mobile phone system will be installed in 1993, with
an analogue offering to attract customers in the meantime. The
temporary system will be bought from the main carrier Telecom.

Nokia is already a major supplier in Europe, and is pleased to have
made this sale into the Asia/Pacific region. It will act through local
Australian company ERG Australia to develop second generation GSM
base station technology. It is estimated that Optus will need around
600 base stations to cover its network.

Nokia has promised that its Australian-developed and manufactured
products will be sold into the region, and will earn "substantial
sums" for Australian industry.

GSM is being adopted throughout most of Europe, and will allow users
to range across country borders while maintaining their own telephone
number and call-making ability. Eventually this will carry through to
other continents so that a business person will be able to accept
calls wherever he or she is. It won't be necessary to take a phone
either, as an ID card will fit into rented units, essentially
personalizing them.

(Paul Zucker/19920511)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00003)

Australia: Telecom Conference 05/11/92
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- One obvious fact to come
from last week's communications industry conference in Australia, is
that there is a lot of money to spend, and the industry is looking for
somewhere to spend it.

AOTC (the old Telecom) announced that AUS$5B will be spent in the
state of Victoria over the next five years. It has also said that it
will spend large amounts establishing facilities in the Australian
capital Canberra.

AOTC is planning the development of a "televillage" in Canberra,
linking all organizations with broad-band networking in order to test
and approve future communications networks for use around the country
and the region as communications systems improve.

Optus also has its headquarters in Victoria, and while not able to
spend as much as AOTC in the next few years, will create 400 new jobs
for the state in the next three years.

(Paul Zucker/19920511)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00004)

New For Macintosh: SoftPolish Is Programmer's Aid 05/11/92
HERNDON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- With Apple Computer
holding its Worldwide Developer Conference in California this week,
it was a foregone conclusion that companies that make development
tools and aids for the Macintosh programming community would be
introducing new and improved tools. The first to hit the Newsbytes
news desk is the introduction of SoftPolish from Language Systems.

SoftPolish is a program that assists Macintosh developers in
ensuring that no errors creep in to the visual elements of their
programs. The program does this by relying on a spell checker from
Microlytics and a database of the Apple User Interface guidelines.

What the program does is scan through all of the resources that are
a part of the program. Each resource type has a unique four-
character identifier associated with it. The program understands
all of the resource types that have been defined by Apple as well as
a smattering of other types that have been defined by other
companies. When it reaches a resource that it understands, the
program checks its elements against its database and spell checker.
Any errors or misspellings are identified and the programmers is
encouraged to correct the errors.

If the program encounters a resource whose type it does not
understand, it will scan it for the presence of character strings,
and log information about that resource. This allows programmers
to know what was done and not done to the program.

Rich Norling, president of Language Systems, explained the need for
such a program in terms of the embarrassment caused to companies
when a problem is encountered. Those problems that are encountered
frequently are scrubbed clean of any errors, but there are always
those misspellings in dialog boxes that appear only when something
that shouldn't happen happens. Getting those mistakes out of there
is the function of SoftPolish. Another use is to check for the
program's compatibility with Apple's guidelines. Even after more
than eight years it is still possible to find companies that choose
to disregard Apple's guidelines. Since some of that may be out of
ignorance, SoftPolish will tell the developer where he/she went
wrong.

(Naor Wallach/19920511, Press Contact: Rich Norling, Language Systems,
703-478-0181)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00005)

New For Networks: Allied Telesis Micro Repeater Line 05/11/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- The Allied
Telesis line of LAN micro repeaters has grown to include 14 members
with the introduction of seven new members. The new members are
collectively known as the MR120 line. The MR120 line offers complete
repeating which is more than simple passive repeating. All of these
micro repeaters are fully IEEE 802.3 compliant.

The five models are: the MR121T which links one 10Base-T segment to
a thick wire Ethernet segment via an AUI connector; the MR122T which
links a 10Base-T segment to a 10Base-2 segment; the MR123 which
links two thick wire segments together; the MR124 which links a
10Base-2 segment to an AUI equipped segment; the MR125 which links
two 10Base-2 segments; the MR126F which links one FOIRL fiber optic
segment to a thick wire Ethernet segment; and the MR127F which links
an FOIRL fiber optic segment to a 10base-2 segment.

Followers of Allied Telesis will note that these model numbers and
functions closely approximate the MR110 family. The big difference
between the two lines is that in the MR120 the power supplies are
built into the units which consequently are slightly larger. As
with the MR110 family, the MR120 family is built around Allied
Telesis's own ASIC Ethernet chip.

All of these units are available now for the following pricing:
AT-MR121T - $495; AT-MR122T - $445; AT-MR123 - $845; AT-MR124 - $745;
AT-MR125 - $845; AT-MR126F - $995; AT-MR127F - $995.

(Naor Wallach/19920511, Press Contact: Derek Buckaloo, Allied Telesis,
4150964-2994 Extension 122)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00006)

Microdyne To Market Novell's SNA Products 05/11/92
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Microdyne and Novell
are continuing their arrangment for transferring technology from
Novell to Microdyne. Sources within Novell have confirmed to
Newsbytes that Novell management is very pleased with the kind of
support that Microdyne is providing to their customer and that they
therefore see no reason not to continue with this arrangement.

This arrangement is indeed continuing with the assumption by
Microdyne of the Novell line of SNA products. Effective immediately,
Microdyne will take over the sales and distribution of these
products and will also rename them. Microdyne will also assume the
role of the developer of these products to perform enhancements and
revisions.

The products involved are: the Netware SNA Gateway Version 1.3.01
which Microdyne will market as the EXOS SNA Gateway Version 1.3.01
for $2,995; the Netware SNA Gateway ELS version 1.3.01 which now
becomes the EXOS SNA Gateway ELS version 1.3.01 for $595; the
Netware 3270 LAN Workstation for SNA Gateway which becomes the EXOS
3270 LAN Workstation for SNA Gateway and sells for $1,495; the
Novell Coax/Mux Adapter which becomes the EXOS Coax/Mux Adapter
and sell for $1,100; the Novell SAA Synchronous Adapter for PC which
becomes the EXOS SAA Synchronous Adapter for PC and sells for $895;
and finally the Novell SAA Synchronous Adapter for PS/2 which now
becomes the EXOS SAA Synchronous Adapter for PS/2 and will sell for
$895.

The transition is in effect and product can be ordered
immediately from Microdyne now.

(Naor Wallach/19920511, Press Contact: Ralph Armstrong, Microdyne,
703-739-0500)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEL)(00007)

US Unhappy With Indo-Russian Rocket Technology Transfer 05/11/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- The successful test launch of
the surface-to-surface medium range missile Prithvi last week has
reinforced confidence in Indian defense scientists' capability,
while it has also led to diplomatic showdown between Washington,
New Delhi, and Moscow.

Prithvi (meaning the Earth, in India's ancient language, Sanscrit)
is one of the five missiles under various stages of development as
part of India's $300-million Integrated Guided Missile Development
Program, started in 1983.

It was the seventh test-launch on May 5, and first from the Interim
Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district of Orissa, since
it was first unveiled in February 1988. Prithvi is a mobile-launched
medium range missile. It has a range of 250 km with 250 kg of warhead.
Its inertial navigation system which uses advanced computers help in
hitting the target accurately and is capable of making slight
corrections in the flight to home-in onto the target.

Developed by a team of scientists led by A.P.J. Abdul Kalum at the
Defence Research Development Organization, the missile uses a liquid
propellant and is a modified version of the Augmented Satellite Launch
Vehicle. During its sixth launch last February, the missile had broken
in mid-air during a difficult manoeuvre to test the structural
strength. Last week's success proves the new design has worked.

The three other missiles which are part of the IGMDP are Akash
(medium range, surface-to-air), Nag (anti-tank four-km range) and
Trishul (short range nine-km, surface-to-air).

Prithvi's success will give impetus to the planned second test launch
of the indigenous, intermediate range (about 2,500 km) ballistic
missile Agni. The two-stage Agni incorporates Prithvi's design in the
second stage. The postponement of Agni, first test-fired two years
ago, had given rise to speculation that the US had pressured India
against going ahead with this missile development.

Prithvi's designed payload and range do not come within the domain
of the Washington-sponsored Missile Technology Control Regime. But, it
may become a thorn in Indo-US relations as Prithvi's liquid fuel
propellant serves as the second stage motor of the Agni, a missile with
a range of 1,200-2000 km. Ironically, on that eventful day, the Bush
administration reaffirmed its decision to impose penalties against the
organizations involved, Indian Space Research Organization and
Larkosmos, the Russian exporter of the cryogenic rocket engine, if
they went ahead with the Rs 750 core rocket technology transfer deal.

The US allegation is that India will use the Russian rocket for its
missile program, which India has denied, saying that it will be used
for launching civilian satellites in geostationary orbits. The cryogenic
engine, a secondary stage rocket, uses liquid hydrogen booster
technology. As per the 1990 Indo-Soviet agreement, Russia was to supply
the first cryogenic engine in 1994 and the second in 1995. A third was
to be developed in India itself.

The Russian Secretary of State, Gennadi Burbulis, who was on a visit
to India last week, ridiculed US attempts to assume the role of a
global lawmaker on the missile technology control and declared that
Russia would go ahead with its commitment to transfer rocket
technology to India, But, this would be subject to clearance from
neutral experts in view of the objections raised by US, he said. In
the post-cold war era, Russia does not want to have a tiff with US.

Not happy with the rocket engine deal, senior US officials
have warned that US support for India in the World Bank and
IMF will be diminished. Meanwhile, "Russia has neither
suspended nor cancelled the contract for the transfer of rocket
technology to India," Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao
informed the Parliament members, who were enraged at "the
arm-twisting tactics of the US."

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920511)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00008)

New For PCs: Board And Software Work With Caller ID 05/11/92
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Call SecurID, a
hardware-software combination from Icon CS Canada, lets personal
computer owners use telephone company caller ID services for
telephone security, call screening, redirecting calls, and call
logging.

Call SecurID consists of a plug-in circuit board for the PC, plus
software that works with the telephone company's caller ID service.

The software lets users specify that only calls from certain
numbers will be received. The size of the list is unlimited,
according to Glen Pearson of Icon CS Canada. Or, users can specify
that calls from certain numbers shouldn't be accepted.

The first option is useful for security purposes, for instance in
an organization with dial-up access to a local area network,
Pearson said. The device can be set to accept only calls from
authorized numbers, hanging up on all others.

The option to block out certain numbers is meant mainly for
protection against nuisance calls. For instance, Pearson said he
uses the device at home to record the numbers of telemarketers, so
that subsequent calls from the same numbers are blocked out. Call
SecurID lets the user specify that blocked-out callers will hear a
busy signal, or repeated ringing, or that the device will hang up
on them, he said.

For those who bill clients for their time on the telephone, Call
SecurID provides a way of logging calls, the company said. It can
also be used to retrieve information about clients as soon as they
call.

Finally, Pearson said, the device can be used as a voice-fax-data
switch. It supports one incoming line and three internal
connections, so the user can specify that calls from certain
numbers will be switched automatically to a data or fax modem.
Calls from unknown numbers default to the voice connection, he
said.

The standard business-version price for Call SecurID is C$795 or
US$675. Bulletin board system operators can buy the product for
C$395 or US$335. A security version, complete with a 386SX-based
PC, costs from C$3,795 or US$3,225 for one line to C$5,895 or
US$4,995 for four lines.

(Grant Buckler/19920508/Press Contact: Glen Pearson, Icon CS
Canada, 613-722-0115, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00009)

New For PC In UK: Artisoft Enhanced Sounding Board Adapter 05/11/92
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Artisoft has
announced that its Sounding Board adapter, a device to allow
digital sound to be integrated with applications software, has
been enhanced by the addition of multimedia capabilities.

The new Sounding Board adapter can be used on stand-alone PCs or
over a network. In network mode, the card can share files with
other boards.

According to Dave Ball, Artisoft's marketing manager for Europe,
Africa, and the Middle East, the Sounding Board adapter will be
available starting next month with a UKP 79 price tag for an
industry standard architecture (ISA) version, or UKP 149 for the
MCA version.

"Multimedia is one of the most exciting new areas of computing for
several years. The possibility of linking text, sound, and video
together has potential in many business areas, from presentations
to electronic mail," he said, adding that Sounding Board adapter
allows users to create voice files and include them within other
applications.

Bundled with the card is Artisoft's Artisound Recorder software,
a pop-up package that allows users to record voice files "on the
fly," embedding the resulting sound file within another Windows
application file. This facility allows for automatic playback of
a Sounding Board file when the file is loaded, for example, into
a word processor -- the Artisound playback features are triggered
automatically.

So how does it all work? In use, sound files are embedded in a
Windows document using simple menu selections on the part of the
user. The sound file then appears as an icon in the document
which, when selected (either manually or automatically) runs the
Artisound Recorder software.

On a technical note, the Sounding Board adapter converts between
audio/voice signals and a digital data stream to allow users to
record and play back sounds. The software uses the 8,000 hertz
Mulaw standard (a voice standard developed by telephone
companies) as a default, but can also be configured to read and
write other types of files working to 8, 11 or 22,000 hertz
sampling rates.

(Steve Gold/19920508/Press & Public Contact: Artisoft - Tel:
0753-554999)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00010)

Army Using Bionic Man To Test Chemical Protective Gear 05/11/92
DUGWAY PROVING GROUNDS, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Manny
will test things like protective clothing for the Army, the
Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous materials handlers, and
fire fighters.

Manny is 5-feet, 11-inches tall, and weighs 165 pounds, and when
asked, tells scientists how he feels. Manny is a $3.4 million
humanoid.

Resembling a human, Manny has an electronic voice which might remind
you of a robot you have seen in sci-fi movies. But his movements
are very lifelike, say the people at the remote test facility in
the western Utah desert.

Researchers say they wanted to start using Manny three years ago to
test military protective garments, but ran into delays because of
other chemical defense projects. Then the Persian Gulf War broke
out, and the fear of chemical attack, although it never
materialized, got funding and additional researchers to get Manny
back on track.

With the new funds, a stainless steel testing chamber was purchased,
and a civilian computer expert added some programming that lets
Manny breathe, sweat, walk, talk, and maintain a skin temperature of
98.6, which is also the average human skin temperature. One of the
programmers additions allows Manny to tell researchers about
problems he is experiencing, instead of having a light flash. "My
right leg is getting warm," Manny might say.

Manny was conceived in 1985 by Dr. Lothar Salomon, then the
scientific director at Dugway. Salomon said he was looking for
something more realistic than mannequins to test protective
garments.

Manny's "skin" is a plastic sheathing that gives him his human
appearance. Scientists are contemplating recasing it in order to
facilitate the attachment of complex instruments. There is already
a double layer of dense black rubber fitted with sensors which
officials say can detect as little as one-billionth of an ounce of
chemical or nerve gas. So, according to project manager Captain Mark
Subsinsky, Manny is about ready go to work. He can walk, squat,
sit, craw, and use tools.

As useful as Manny is, one researcher said his potential hasn't been
touched yet. But right now the Army said its main concern is to
secure the safety of soldiers who could face lethal chemical agents
on the battlefield. "Ultimately, it's good for the troops," said
Captain Tim Moore.

(Jim Mallory/19920508)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00011)

Intel Awarded For Financial Management 05/11/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Intel has been
awarded the In-Stat Kachina Award, an award given to the best
financially managed semiconductor company that is publicly held each
year at the In-Stat Semiconductor Forum. In the six years the awards
have been presented, this is the first time Intel has won, In-Stat
said.

In-Stat representative Christie Jones told Newsbytes two awards are
given, one for manufacturing and one for non-manufacturing companies.
The judging for the awards is based on comparisons of the financial
reports of the 22 semiconductor companies represented, Jones added.
The company with the lowest number of points in the comparison is
ranked number one and In-Stat said the points ranged from Intel's 40
up to a high of 162.

There are nine qualification criteria: net income as a percent of sales;
cost of sales as a percent of sales; research and development
expenditures as a percent of sales; return on investment; inventory
turnover; sales per employee; long-term debt to equity; net operating
profit as percent of sales; and the quick ration are looked at in the
awarding of points, In-Stat maintains.

On the non-manufacturing side, Campbell, California-based Xilinx
received the non-manufacturing award, which is presented to companies
without manufacturing facilities. This is its second consecutive win,
according to In-Stat, and it ranked number one with a total of 27
points.

Santa Clara, California-based Intel is the manufacturer of the
microprocessor chips which predominantly used in IBM and compatible
personal computers (PCs).

(Linda Rohrbough/19920508/Press Contact: Christie Jones, In-Stat, tel
602-860-8515, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00012)

 ****Add-On Kit Brings Pen Capabilities To Zeos Notebooks 05/11/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- For notebook users
who are starting to think the "pen revolution" is passing them by,
the first product release from Arthur Dent Associates, Inc. could
come as timely relief.

In announcing Writeaway at the Pen-Based Computing Conference
last week, the company said the add-on kit lets a user transform a
Zeos 386-based notebook into a pen/notebook "convertible" in about
five minutes, for a price of just $595.

The converted notebook can be used in two ways. In landscape
mode, the screen rests in perpendicular relationship with the
keyboard, following the traditional desktop style. In horizontal
mode, the screen is rotated 90% backward and the unit is held like
a book, from either a standing or seated position.

Future versions of Writeaway will support Compaq, Toshiba, and
other notebook platforms, said Patricia A. Martin, president of
Arthur Dent, a Tewksbury, MA-based startup built by eight former
members of Wang's pen computer team.

Writeaway consists of a glass-topped digitizer, a tethered pen,
a controller card, and a 3.5-inch floppy disk. The disk contains
Windows for Pen Computing 1.0, a pen driver, a calibration program,
and a utility that lets the keyboard be disabled, if desired, to
prevent accidental typing.

Installing the kit is a four-step process that involves
attaching the digitizer to the LCD with adhesive strips, stringing
a wire from the digitizer to the controller, popping the card into
the modem slot, loading the software, and last, calibrating the
digitizer to the screen.

In the calibration stage, the user runs the calibration
program, first converting the cursor on the display to a cross
hair, and then touching the pen to the cross hair four times, in
accordance with on-screen instructions.

Writeaway is available direct and through distributors.
Arthur Dent Associates is also piloting the product for inventory
control application at all 24 branches of Rich's Department Stores,
a Massachusetts retail chain.

Arthur Dent, the new firm's namesake, is not a real person.
Instead, he's one of the main characters in Douglas Adams'
electronic book A Hitchhikers' Guide to the Universe, Martin told
Newsbytes. The same novel was also the inspiration for The Guide,
a pen computer with voice recognition features that Martin and her
colleagues were developing at Wang, she added.

"A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe is available to anyone,
cheaply. And at Arthur Dent, our goals are similar: to offer
inexpensive and accessible technology," explained Vincent
Dovydaitis III, director of marketing.

When used together with an entry-level Zeos 386+ computer,
priced at $1,795, the first edition of Writeaway will provide the
user with pen and notebook capabilities for under $2,400, said
Theodore T. Fligor, director of sales. In comparison, computers that
come with both sets of features cost in the $3,600 to $3,900 range,
emphasized Fligor, who came on board about a month ago as the
company's ninth employee.

Arthur Dent was formed last November, after Wang canceled
plans to introduce The Guide and opted to try to sell its pen
business unit, stated Martin. "Eight of us looked around at the
industry, witnessed the pen software development going on, and
determined there had to be a way to put hardware out there more
quickly," she told Newsbytes.

Work on Writeaway started 90 days ago, according to Martin.
Several design issues had to be quickly resolved, said Dovydaitis,
the first involving the choice of a digitizer. The team opted for
the Scriptel product because it is lighter than older,
electromagnetic technologies, and also supplies extra protection of
electronic circuitry, he noted.

In contrast to electromagnetic technologies, in which the
circuitry is on top, Scriptel places the electronics in back, away
from the user, he maintained. Writeaway adds ten or 11 ounces to
the weight of the computer, with the digitizer accounting for six
to eight ounces, he added.

After the Scriptel digitizer is in place, it can be taken off.
But to keep the adhesive strong, the company doesn't recommend
affixing and removing the device more than two or three times, said
Martin.

In another design challenge, the developers wanted to provide
the user with a sense of writing on paper. "Nobody likes to write
on glass," remarked Dovydaitis. "So we've roughened the surface of
the glass a bit." In the future, the company might be replacing
its plastic-tipped pen with a brass-tipped device, thereby
fortifying the paper-like effect, disclosed Martin.

The outcome of another decision, involving the location of the
controller, makes it impossible right now to use an
internal modem on a converted notebook. But, said Martin, a pocket
modem can easily be implemented by using the serial port.
Ultimately, she stressed, pen computers will come with PC-MIA
slots, providing a standard form factor across portable platforms
for controllers and other add-on boards.

At this point, Wang owns the rights to The Guide, and is
seeking a buyer, she told Newsbytes. "To me, The Guide seems kind
of dated by now," she commented.

In its own upcoming products, Arthur Dent Associates intends
to incorporate pen computing with voice recognition as well as
wireless communications, added Martin.

"Integrating these technologies will be no easy task," chimed
in Fligor, "but at Arthur Dent, we have the human factors and
technical skills to bring them all together."

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920511)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00013)

Computerized Sports & Academic Scholarship Locator 05/11/92
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- If you have a
child nearing college age, you probably already know that tuition
costs get higher each year at many college. So what's a parent to
do?

If your son or daughter is an athlete or got good grades in high
school, you could contact Sports-Tech. This Florida-based company
has announced its Collegiate Counselor, a service which uses a
computerized database to match up good athletes or students with
academic and sports scholarships.

Sports-Tech Chairman Mike Levy told Newsbytes that his company has
identified 250,000 scholarship openings worth more than $400
million. Levy said of the 17,000 college coaches in various sports,
his company has listed sports scholarships from about 13,000 of
them.

In order to get matched up with a scholarship for which they
qualify, the student fills out an extensive questionnaire.
Sports-Tech then uses the information on the questionnaire to produce
a list of colleges which meet the student's academic, financial, and
interest profile. Levy said sources of financial aid are also
identified.

In order to get the list, the student (or his or her family) will
pay from $99 or $199. The $99 basic package, said Levy, gets you
the list while the $199 gets you the list and a toll-free number
for unlimited access to a scholastic counselor employed at
Sports-Tech.

Levy told Newsbytes that the company uses an IBM RS6000 computer,
and has developed its own relational database using Informix' 4GL
software. According to Levy, there are already about 500 college
hopefuls who have registered looking for sports scholarships. The
academic matching service has just gotten off the ground.

(Jim Mallory/19920508/Press and reader contact: Mike Levy,
Sports-Tech, 305-772-9155)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00014)

Australia: Sex Chat Lines Reined In 05/11/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Dial-up sex-fantasy lines have
been removed from general access on Australia's phone service. The
soft (and sometimes not so soft) core porn and associated fantasy and
titillation services had been the subject of thousands of complaints
as they were available to callers of any age, from just about any
phone.

Since their introduction a few years ago, Australia's fee-per call
recorded message lines have attracted many satisfied users, but
seemingly almost as many complainers. The complaints have been based
around three aspects: sexually explicit services were available to
all callers, including children; many service providers had
transferred previously free calls to the service (such as cinema
schedules) without emphasizing to potential callers that they could
pay up to a few dollars for the previously free information;
many companies have been staging so-called contests which required
the callers to listen to long (and expensive) messages before being
able to enter the contest.

While the latter two are still being investigated, the R-rated
messages have been moved to a new service which is only available to
telephone subscribers who request it. Even then, they will need to use
a personal identification number as part of each call. The general
service has a prefix of 0055 while the restricted service has a prefix
of 0051.

Its interesting to note that the carrier Telecom originally had a ban
on sexually explicit services, but after submissions from potential
service providers (perhaps pointing out how much money Telecom could
make) this restriction was dropped.

The Film Censorship Board (under the chairmanship of Mr. Dickey) will
classify each dial-up service.

A UK service that has attracted interest recently, uses a novel
approach to make money. It starts with a message being left for
someone to ring a number and ask for a particular person. While the
caller only gets a recorded message, it sounds like a live
conversation. Each time the caller asks for the person who supposedly
left the message, they are shunted around from department to
department (sort of like real life?).

This can go on for minutes, with different people telling the caller
(and this is still just a recording, remember) that the sought person
has just gone into a different room, or will take the call on another
extension and so on. If the caller is persistent enough, they finally
hear the sought person answer the phone, only to say something like
"Look, I'm sorry but this is a reserved line they've switched you
through on. Could you dial back in please?"

(Paul Zucker/19920508)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00015)

 ****Japan: 5th Generation Computer Prototype Due June 1 05/11/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- The Institute for New Generation
Computer Technology (ICOT), a non-profit organization set up
to develop a fifth generation computer, will conclude its ten-year
project next month when it unveils a prototype parallel processor.
The venue is its last conference, which will be held at Tokyo Price
Hotel between June 1 and 5.

At the free conference which is open to the public, ICOT will
show the prototype, called PIM, which is said to have 1,000
processors working in parallel. The PIM is said to offer
a powerful new operating system designed specifically to support
parallel processing. The machine will feature some 20 applications
including the processing of gene data and natural language,
inference of legal issues, analysis of proteins, and
chip circuit design.

ICOT previously demonstrated this parallel processor on May 8.
In the experiment, the machine presented a criminal judgment after
having been fed a sample criminal case. After going through
about 200 laws and 115 court judgments on previous crimes, the
computer issued a logical judgment on the sample crime.

ICOT is backed by the Japanese government which started the
project in 1982 with a total budget of 54 billion yen ($400 million).
At the last conference, 82 researchers from 17 countries will
introduce their studies on a fifth generation computer.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920511/Press Contact: ICOT, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00016)

Fujitsu & Taiwan Firm Produce Memory Chips 05/11/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Fujitsu and Taiwan-based Mos
Electric have agreed to work together on the production of one and
4-megabit computer memory chips.

Mos Electric will manufacture Fujitsu's 4 megabit dynamic random
access memory (DRAM). According to Mosel Japan, a subsidiary of Mos
Electric Taiwan, Fujitsu has already started supplying half-completed
1- and 4-megabit memory chips to Mos Electric. Mos Electric will
complete these chips and sell them under its own brand name in Taiwan,
Japan, Canada, and the US. By the end of this year, Mos Electric
expects to ship 3 million units of the chips per month.

These chips will be completed under Fujitsu's direction. The
agreement also calls for Fujitsu to provide technology assistance
on the manufacturing of memory chips.

The relationship between Mos Electric and Fujitsu has been
cozy in the past. Both firms have cooperated in the development of
static RAMs.

Mos Electric, which is also called Mosel, acquired California-
based DRAM maker Vitelic in early this year.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920511/Press Contact: Mosel Japan, +81-44-
812-4397)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00017)

Olympus Boasts World's Smallest Cassette Tape Recorder 05/11/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Japan's Olympus has developed
what it calls the smallest cassette tape recorder in the world.
The "Pearlcorder L400" measures only 7.3 x 5.2 x 2.0 cm, and is
slightly smaller than a regular cigarette case. It weighs only
90 grams.

This gadget operates with removable batteries. It can also be
connected to a wall socket through an adaptor. The cassette tape
recorder is equipped with a small LCD (liquid crystal display).

Olympus, which specializes in manufacturing cameras, reports it has
applied minute precision technology to this cassette
tape recorder. The firm claims reports that an original material
called "flexible board" is being used as the cover of this
cassette tape recorder, making it resistant to external noise
and impact.

The retail price will be 38,800 yen ($290) when it is released
in Japan on June 1.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920511/Press Contact: Olympus, +81-3-3340-
2121)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00018)

Minitel Japan Due In Fall 05/11/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- French Telecom Japan and Japanese
firms say they will set up a Japanese office of Minitel this fall
to market a Japanese version of Minitel.

French Telecom and 10 Japanese firms created the Japanese Minitel
Association in July 1991 to study the feasibility of a Japanese
version of Minitel. The study now complete, the team has decided
to set up a joint venture this fall.

The actual participants in this joint venture firm have not been
announced but it is expected that many of the association member
firms will be joining. They include ASCII, Orient Corporation,
Kinki-Nippon Tourist, Daiei, Tomen, Recruit, Kokurensha and Mitsui
Jyoho Kaihatsu.

Actual Japanese Minitel service is expected to include a telephone
directory, home banking, and various ticket reservation services.
About six million Minitel terminals are used in France and the
European market. Although it is successful in these regions, it
might be a different story in Japan. Japan's NTT has been marketing
Captain videotex terminals, but has had difficulty gaining users.

Currently, French Telecom and Mitsui Jyoho Kaihatsu are
providing a gateway service to the original Minitel in France.
Registered users can access Minitel in France from Japan.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920511/Press Contact: Minitel Association,
 [phone], Mitsui Jyoho Kaihatsu, [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00019)

Japan: PC Product News Online 05/11/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Research Institute
(MRI) has started providing personal computers news on its dial-in
network. The information, Mitsubishi Research says, will be
regularly updated in cooperation with major personal computer makers
in Japan.

MRI's personal computer network, called Dialine, is presenting
information on new personal computers and peripheral equipment. Actual
market prices and specific features of the products can also be
accessed. This information is supported by 14 major firms including
IBM, Apple, Fujitsu, NEC, Toshiba, Sony and Mitsubishi.

The network is currently providing various daily news services, including
NHK and Nikkei, book reviews, governmental economic reports, and
corporate information.

Dialine can be accessed through NIFTY-Serve and PC-VAN networks
via a gateway in each network.

The monthly basic fee is 3,000 yen ($22), and the online usage
fee is between 150 yen ($1.10) to 290 yen ($2.15) per news report or
item.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920511/Press Contact: Dialine, +81-3-3270-
9211)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00020)

 ****Apple Backs Mac-To-PowerPC Conversion Software From Echo Logic 05/11/92
HOLMDEL, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Apple
and IBM's proposed PowerPC architecture may still be on the
drawing board, but Apple has already signed a cooperative deal with
Echo Logic to develop porting software that will allow the translation
of current binary shrink-wrapped Macintosh applications to run on
the new platform.

Binary versions of applications that run on PowerPC-based Macintosh
platform, will be possible in a matter of days, using Echo Logic's
FlashPort, so say the companies.

Echo Logic's President Brad Burnham: "This first use of FlashPort will
accelerate the availability of current Macintosh applications so that
the future PowerPC-based Macintosh will have a full suite of software
available at product introduction."

According to Echo Logic, recent advances in data flow analysis and
compiler technology allowed for the development of FlashPort. The
translation tool will require "minimal human intervention," claimed the
company in a press release, and "will generate an identical application
for the PowerPC-based Macintosh that is competitive with hand-ported
code in performance and size."

Chris Macey, Echo Logic's chief scientist, said: "FlashPort can
translate any Macintosh program written in any language, from
assembler to C, so developers can continue to work with their
current software development tools."

According to Echo Logic, FlashPort allows an "experienced" software
to translate the executable or relocatable object code version of an
application. It is the translation of the object code which allows for
the translation of any application written in any language, or
combination of languages, from assembler to C. According to the
company, source code is not required.

Echo Logic Inc., based in Holmdel, New Jersey, is an AT&T venture
company. Its technology is based on advanced compiler research
conducted at AT&T Bell Laboratories. The company intends to
license its translation tools to computer manufacturers and software
developers.

(Ian Stokell/19920511/Press Contact: Pam Karmazsin, Echo Logic Inc.,
908-946-1130; Nancy Morrison, Apple Computer Inc., 408-862-6200)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00021)

Ardis Partners Plan Major Investment 05/11/92
LINCOLNSHIRE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Hoping to
stay ahead of a host of rivals, the Ardis radio data network is
getting a $150 million facelift.

Ardis, a joint venture between IBM and Motorola, runs a 4,800
bit/second radio data network in the 800 MHz frequency range.
The network was originally crafted by IBM in the 1980s to link
its salesmen -- Motorola added technology and its own network
when the two companies formed Ardis in 1990.

Key to the improvement is a protocol Motorola now calls DataTac,
which will increase the network's speed to 19,200 bits/second. It
will also increase its capacity 10-fold in some metropolitan
areas, the company said. The main focus of the expansion is in 30
large metropolitan areas where voice-data SMR channels are
filling up, and where RAM Mobile Data, another data-only carrier,
is claiming to control more frequencies. In addition, Ardis must
compete with cellular modem operators and will likely face some
type of cellular packet network. IBM and a number of cellular
carriers announced plans for such a network in April.

In addition to the urban upgrades, automatic nationwide roaming
support is being implemented so that ARDIS users can travel from
city to city and maintain communication with their peers or
company information systems. That is a standard feature on the
RAM network.

Phase one of network expansion includes adding more than 900 new base
stations, increasing their number by 70 percent. Subscriber
modems will be capable of communicating at either 4,800
bits/second or, if their equipment can handle it, the new 19,200
bit/second speed. The devices will automatically locate an
available ARDIS channel and establish communications without any
action by the user, as the Ericsson-GE Mobidem does on the RAM
network. As a result, users will be able to travel across the 400
metropolitan areas served by ARDIS and maintain instant
communication to and from peers and critical company information
systems.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920511/Press Contact: Dean Davison, for
Ardis, 913-432-2600)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00022)

Storage Technology "Iceberg" Delayed Until 4Q 05/11/92
LOUISVILLE, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- In the Form 10-Q
filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Storage
Technology said it won't be able to begin shipments of
"Iceberg" until the fourth quarter.

Iceberg is a redundant disk array device which stores large amounts
of computer data across a number of 5-1/4 inch disks in order to
minimize the loss of critical data. Storagetek had estimated that
it would ship $50 million worth of Iceberg units during the
remainder of 1992.

In Mid-March Storage Technology stock dropped 1-1/2 points on
reports that the company's customer site (beta) testing would be
delayed by one month. However, a Storagetek spokesperson told
Newsbytes, "We're not running into any delays, it's coming according to
schedule." The spokesperson said the coding for Iceberg was 90
percent complete at that time.

Storagetek's David Reid told Newsbytes that the delay was caused by
that last ten percent of the microcode, but declined to characterize
the delay as a problem. Rather, Reid stressed that Iceberg is a
complex product. "There's a heck of a big job to do," said Reid. He
told Newsbytes that the company is confident of meeting the new
delivery schedule. "The company believes the revised schedule is
achievable, however, there can be no guarantee of completion in the
contemplated time frame."

Storagetek had planned to product about 200 Iceberg units in 1992
with the number rising to 1,000 in 1993. Chairman Ryal Poppa had
predicted "it will be substantially more in 1994."

Reid declined to make a revised prediction about Iceberg revenues
for 1992. Asked about the results of the announcement on Storagetek
stock, Reid said, "It's been a lousy day." Storagetek dropped 6-1/8
Friday, closing at 39.25. It was the third highest trading stock on
the New York Stock Exchange, with 2 million shares traded. The
stock has been as high as $78 in the past few months.

(Jim Mallory/19920511/Press contact: David Reid, Storage Technology,
303-673-4815)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00023)

Record Micrografx Revenues, Income For Year 05/11/92
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Micrografx has
reported record revenues and net income for the fiscal year and the
quarter ending March 31, 1992.

The company said sales rose 60 percent, to $47.3 million, and net
income was up 24 percent to $5.1 million, or $0.65 per share.
Slightly more than one third of the years sales came in the fourth
quarter, with sales for the quarter up 92 percent from the same
period last year to $16.1 million. The quarter's net income rose
63 percent to $2 million, or $0.25 per share. Micrografx said per
share results have been restated to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split
which was effective April 15, 1992.

During the period, Micrografx introduced two new products, Windows
Draw 3.0 and Picture Publisher 3.0. Windows Draw was introduced at
last year's Comdex trade show in Las Vegas. Picture Publisher, a
photographic image editing product which comes with a hand-held
scanner, was introduced in February. The company said more than
75,000 copies of Draw have been sold.

Micrografx Chairman Paul Grayson said acceptance of the company's
products in overseas markets also contributed to the successful year.
According to Grayson, international sales accounted for about 53
percent of the totals, up from 48 percent last year.

Last week Micrografx completed the acquisition of Roykore, the
developer of ABC Flowcharter and Instant ORGcharting, both for
Microsoft Windows. Micrografx acquired all of Roykore's outstanding
stock in exchange for 645,000 shares of Micrografx common stock.
The company said the acquisition of Roykore was not expected to
be dilutive in the future except for about $300,000 in one-time
charges associated with the acquisition. That's about $0.04 per
share.

(Jim Mallory/19920511/Press contact: David Henkel, Micrografx,
214-497-6284)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00024)

IBM Canada Pre-installs OS/2 On 7 PS/2 Models 05/11/92
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- IBM Canada is going
even farther than its American parent company in pre-installing the
OS/2 operating system on its PS/2 personal computers. After IBM
announced it would package OS/2 with PS/2 Model 56 and Model 57
machines in the United States, IBM Canada announced plans to put
OS/2 on all Model 55, 56, 57, 70, 80, 90, and 95 PS/2s.

As in the US, Canadian prices for the machines equipped with OS/2
will not change.

All of these machines have an Intel 386SX or higher processor, at
least four megabytes of memory, and at least a 60-megabyte hard
disk, IBM Canada said. For six weeks, a special promotion will
offer added memory and a mouse with some models. The mouse is
standard equipment with some of the models.

IBM Canada is pursuing a slightly different marketing strategy than
its US parent by pre-installing OS/2 on all models that can
support it right away, company spokeswoman Martha Terdik said. In
the long run, she said, IBM will do the same in the United States,
but IBM Canada has chosen to move faster.

Commenting earlier on the American announcement, IBM spokeswoman
Deborah Siegel said that in time, IBM plans to add OS/2 as the
standard operating system to all the PS/2 models that have 386 or
486 processors, the minimum hardware needed to run the operating
system.

OS/2 can run DOS and Windows applications unchanged.

Machines with OS/2 pre-installed will start reaching customers May
15, Terdik said.

(Grant Buckler/19920511/Press Contact: Martha Terdik, IBM Canada,
800-563-2139 or 416-474-3900)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00025)

 ****Apple QuickRing Architecture For High-Speed Data Transfers 05/11/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- In an effort
to provide high-speed data transfer support for NuBus-based Macintosh
computers, Apple Computer has announced the QuickRing architecture.

John Cook, spokesman for Apple, told Newsbytes that the architecture
is still in the development stage, although the company has "finalized
specifications for it" and has "been able to produce some of the
connectors" on a prototyping basis.

According to the company, connecting specialized NuBus cards
together is critical to the development of high-end video applications,
high-speed networking, multiprocessing, and graphics acceleration.
Cook told Newsbytes that the new architecture can be looked at as
a "new way of linking expansion cards together so they can act as
a single card."

The QuickRing technology was jointly developed by Apple's Advance
Technology Group, National Semiconductor, Molex Inc., and Beta
Phase, Inc.

The company claims that QuickRing provides data transfer rates in
excess of 200 megabytes/second, which is many times faster than the
speeds currently possible using conventional expansion bus
technologies.

"We see QuickRing as the equivalent of a super data pathway with
a PC's price tag," said Shane Robison, director of systems technologies,
in Apple's Advanced Technology Group. "It lets our developers design
next-generation multimedia systems that are compatible with today's
Macintosh. QuickRing represents two breakthroughs. First, it overcomes
the limits of today's busses by using point-to-point signal transmission.
Second, QuickRing is a price/performance breakthrough: developers
can implement QuickRing for just one-tenth the cost of conventional
solutions at the same performance level."

Apple claims that, to enable its developers to exploit the QuickRing
architecture, it is working with other companies to supply the key
hardware components. The controller chip was designed and
manufactured by National Semiconductor, and a new interconnect
system was specially designed for QuickRing by Beta Phase. The
connector system will be manufactured by Beta Phase and Molex.

Cook told Newsbytes that the "actual components are expected in
early 1993."

(Ian Stokell/19920511/Press Contact: John Cook, Apple Computer
Inc., 408-974-3145, Margaret Mehling, National Semiconductor,
408-721-2639; Susan Armitage, Molex Inc., 708-969-4747; Chuck
Byer, Beta Phase Inc., 415-853-3800)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00026)

 ****Apple Macintosh To Offer Worldwide Language Support 05/11/92
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- In an
effort to assist international program designers working in languages
other than English, Apple Computer is offering a new technology
called WorldScript.

Apple claims that its new WorldScript technology is intended to
transform the Macintosh computer into the first international PC
through worldwide language support. According to Apple, WorldScript
includes support for text input and display, as well as for incorporating
language attributes, such as date and time formats, for most written
languages.

Apple is claiming that with WorldScript, it provides built-in support
to handle the complexities of non-Roman languages, which includes
system-level support of both two-byte languages such as Japanese,
Chinese, and Korean, and one-byte languages such as Arabic and
Hebrew.

Apple maintains that, integrating this enabling technology into
System 7 allows the Macintosh computer to be quickly localized
for any language. In addition, claims Apple, the integration of language
support will enable third-party software developers to quickly develop
and localize applications for markets throughout the world.

"WorldScript will enable Apple and our third-party developers
to offer simultaneous delivery of products worldwide," said
Roger Heinen, Apple's senior vice president and general manager
of the Macintosh Software Architecture Division. "Previously,
localization of software for customers in many countries such
as Japan has been a difficult and time-intensive effort."

Apple maintains, WorldScript technology will allow for both the use
of multiple languages on a single Macintosh, and for customization of
the Macintosh interface for specific language needs.

Apple maintains that WorldScript will be part of Macintosh System 7,
release 7.1, which Apple expects to be available during the fall of 1992.

(Ian Stokell/19920511/Press Contact: Nancy Morrison, 408-862-6200,
or Brooke Cohan, 408-974-3019, both of Apple Computer Inc.)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00027)

National Semiconductor Boosts UK Operations 05/11/92
GREENOCK, SCOTLAND, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- National Semiconductor
Corporation has announced plans to invest $90 million in
expanding its factory at Greenock. The expansion, work on which
is already under way, Natsemi officials said, will add a further
250 staff to the company payroll, boosting total numbers to
1,500.

Announcing the expansion in London, Chris Ladas, the managing
director of the Greenock facility, said that hiring and training
the extra staff was also already under way. "This addition to our
plant will make Greenock an Analog Center of Excellence for
National Semiconductor," he said.

Natsemi's plant specializes in the production of bipolar silicon
wafers. According to Ladas, it was the staff expertise that
allowed the plant to secure the expansion plans. The final
decision, made earlier this year by the company, was made after
Locate in Scotland, the UK government-controlled body charged
with persuading businesses to site their offices and plants in
Scotland, helped convince Natsemi's US executives that Greenock
was a prime choice.

"National Semiconductor has been one of the most important
companies in Scotland's electronics industry for many years,"
explained Martin Togneri, director of Locate In Scotland, North
America.

"Around 20 percent of European wafer fabrication capacity is
located in 'Silicon Glen' due in part to the availability and
concentration of educational, technical and infrastructural
support," he added.

Plans call for the new addition to the plant to allow Natsemi
Greenock to produce six inch wafers for use in chips. Currently,
the site produces four inch chips for use in the company's
products.

(Steve Gold/19920511/Press & Public Contact: Natsemi U.K. - Tel:
0475-33733)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00028)

Upgradable PCs Seen As Hit In Asia 05/11/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- In an exclusive interview
with Newsbytes, respected Hong Kong-based researcher Graham Mead
said that the latest trend of PC manufacturers to produce field
upgradable PCs should prove very popular in the Asian region.

Mead, who is about to publish his latest PC user report, said, "Taiwanese
manufacturers Acer and ALR were the first to come up with the idea, I
think, but now they are followed by AST and most recently by DEC.
The ease by which one chip can be removed and a more powerful one simply
snapped in place makes an impressive demonstration."

Mr Mead was referring to a recent demonstration by Digital Equipment
Corporation (DEC) of its new family of high performance, industry
standard deskside personal computers and network servers based on Intel
Corporation's top-of-the-line i486 microprocessor chip and modular,
scalable Xpress architecture. The DECpc 400ST Xpress supports snap-in
upgrades of processors, memory and disk drives to tap the full power of
Intel's forthcoming P5 chip and later microprocessors.

Lionel Pang, regional marketing manager, Intel Products Group, at Intel
Asia Pacific, said, "The DECpc 400ST takes full advantage of Xpress
scalability. Customers who buy this family now can benefit from later
advances in Intel chip technology without replacing their personal
computers. They can upgrade systems on the spot in the workplace, and
they can use their parts inventories with later systems."

According to Mr Mead, while this is an impressive product, it is top
of the line in terms of desktop computing and may therefore have a
limited impact on the regional market. "It is the small user in this
part of the world who will find field upgradability attractive," he
told Newsbytes, "but we believe that the Asian customer will not pay
a significant premium in price to gain the benefit. Those suppliers
like AST and Acer who maintain their competitive prices but offer
the new upgradability will surely sell more machines."

Alan McMillan, Digital's regional PC marketing manager said
the 400ST family is especially targeted at customers who intend to
integrate new and existing personal computers into office networks.
"These organizations want industry standard desktops, and they want
to share the compute, file and application resources that are
available beyond the desktop."

(Brett Cameron/19920511/Press contact: Graham Mead, Graham Mead
Associates, [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00029)

Asians Sought To Join Australian ICSE Engineering Conf 05/11/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- More Asians are sought
for next week's Conference On Software Engineering (ICSE) in
Melbourne.

Professor Tony Montgomery, head of information technology at
the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), the largest
technical tertiary educational institution in Australia, made a
late call for more Asian participation in next week's International
Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), in Melbourne.

Speaking with Newsbytes, he said that the response from the
Asian region has been disappointing for this important
conference which, in 1991, was staged in Austin, Texas and the
previous year in Nice, France. Prof Montgomery would like to
see more Asian involvement, even at this late stage. "We see a
fast evolving role for Australia to play in the information
technology field in the region, and international conferences
such as ICSE provide an excellent forum for serious
professionals to meet and discuss projects and concepts with
their peers from around the globe," he told Newsbytes.

Prof Montgomery described the conference by drawing parallels
with the old days: "People laugh at me when I say that I wrote
my first program in 1962 in binary machine code, hand punched,
one hole at a time into paper tape. The inefficiency, cost,
error proneness and lack of any maintainability makes the idea
laughable in this day and age.

"But the interesting point is that those people who produce
software these days using modern software engineering tools are
laughing in the same way at those others who are still
developing software using techniques in vogue in the eighties."

The conference is not without a touch of humour itself. Papers
about the "leading edge" of practical developments and the
"bleeding edge" of research will be presented by luminaries of
the IT world.

The week-long conference also has "Birds of a Feather" sessions
which are designed to allow professionals with common interests
to come together.

Alongside the conference, there will be a Tools Fair at which
the absolute latest in computer-aided software engineering will
be demonstrated, organizers say.

Prof Montgomery has long been involved with information
technology education in the Asia region, having guest-lectured
in Macau and Hong Kong. The department at RMIT involves around
65 specialist teaching and research academics so it makes a
large contribution to the information technology resources in
the region.

On a tour of the campus with Prof Montgomery, the high
percentage of students of Asian origin was very noticeable.
The majority of those students were Chinese from PRC, Hong
Kong and Singapore but about one third hailed from India,
Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia. "About 50 percent of our
enrolled students in this department are Asian, " he told
Newsbytes.

(Keith Cameron/19920510/Press contact: Tony Montgomery, c/-
Newsbytes, Fax [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00030)

New For Macintosh: Mindlink Problem Solver 05/11/92
NORTH POMRET, VERMONT, U.S.A., 1992 MAY 11 (NB) -- Mindlink has
released its Mindlink Problem Solver software for the Apple
Macintosh and for PCs running Microsoft Windows. The Macintosh
version is shipping, a spokeswoman for the company said, and the
Windows version is due to begin shipping within days.

Based on research in innovation and problem solving by the
Synectics Corporation, which does consulting for corporations such
as Apple, Reebok, Citibank, CBS, and Gillette, Mindlink Problem
Solver stimulates the user's mind and natural creative processes
with self-paced exercises and triggers based on proven techniques,
the vendor said.

The software has four independent parts: The Gym, Idea Generation,
Guided Problem Solving, and Problem Solving.

The Gym helps the user learn to think more creatively through
self-paced exercises using techniques such as mental imaging,
improvisation, connecting divergent ideas, and discouraging the
natural tendency to censor ideas.

Idea Generation enables the user to identify a problem and generate
ideas about solving it. Triggers, each with 12 to several hundred
permutations, are built into the program to help the user look at
the problem in a new way.

Guided Problem Solving provides a step-by-step approach to problem
solving which takes the user automatically along a path from
defining the problem to generating wishful and speculative ideas,
to refining those ideas into an action plan with next steps.

Problem Solving contains the complete problem solving process, with
idea generation triggers designed at each stage to match the type
of thinking needed at that stage.

The software is expected to appeal to a wide range of users, the
spokeswoman said. Initial sales have not been concentrated in any
one area, although research and development, marketing, and
advertising appear to be popular applications.

Mindlink Problem Solver runs on any Macintosh with at least one
megabyte of memory, or on any PC with four megabytes of memory and
Microsoft Windows 3.1. Both versions cost $299.

(Grant Buckler/19920511/Press Contact: Joan Casey, Joan Kelleher
Casey Communications for Mindlink, 617-325-7209)