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/nb920608

Text File | 1992-06-08 | 81KB | 1,728 lines

(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00001)

Speed Isn't Everything, Says Supercomputer Designer 06/08/92
BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Steve Chen
says his new supercomputer will be faster than anything available
from Cray Research. However, Chen says speed is no longer a good
measure of a supercomputer's usefulness.

"Speed is an old fashioned measurement," said Chen. Previously a
designer at Cray Research, he dropped out of sight when he left his
job at Cray in 1987 and founded Supercomputer Systems, Inc (SSI).
Chen reportedly left Cray Research after a clash with Cray founder
Seymour Cray. Cray subsequently left Cray Research to form Cray
Computer and develop the Cray-3. That effort has met problems
recently after the company lost its only customer when testing of
the Cray-3 was delayed.

Since then Chen has maintained a low profile said he has been busy
raising money, forming a team, and designing a computer. Chen also
forged a partnership with IBM, who has provided major financial
support for SSI.

"That is a long journey," said Chen. "We want to be very careful
that we don't disrupt ourselves. I want to make sure I can believe
then go tell people," he said.

Chen said speed was no longer a good measurement of a
supercomputer's usefulness because his new machine, the SS-1, while
using the same basic computation method as supercomputers from Cray
Research, would be connected to other computers in a different way.
Chen believes the future lies in building different software tools
to inspire creativity on the part of scientists and engineers who
use the supercomputers.

Chen says there's no need to continually upgrade your computer
system. "If you can solve the problem you have today with your
present computer, don't bother to get a supercomputer," he told
attendees at a symposium in Bloomfield. Instead, he recommends users
wait for the next generation of supercomputers, which he believes
will drastically reduce the time it takes to design products and
master problems that currently defy solution.

That advice, while it might benefit computer users, would also
benefit Chen, since his first product probably won't reach the
market for several years. SSI recently displayed a prototype of the
SS-1's central processing unit (CPU), a four-foot cube.

(Jim Mallory/19920604/Press contact: Steve Chen, SSI,715-839-8484)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00002)

Computers Used For TV Closed Captioning 06/08/92
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Skwraeu Hrepb
Tphoe - that's how Amy Bowlen spells the name of Jay Leno, the new
host of the Tonight TV show.

Amy is one of the people who create the closed captions for
television shows, using a computer and a special 25 key steno
machine. Amy debuted in her job the same night Leno did, and is
usually only three seconds or less behind the lips of the person who
is speaking.

The Tonight show didn't use closed captions while Johnny Carson was
the host - the company Bowlen works for was hired to caption the
shows when Leno took over.

Some TV shows have used captions for more than 12 years, with
sitcoms making the widest use of the service. Now, just about every
prime-time program and most commercials carried on NBC, ABC, and CBS
use them, according to National Captioning Institute spokesperson
Morgan Bramlet.

The Institute manufactures and markets the special decoders which
can be connected to any television receiver. Presently about
320,000 homes have decoders attached to their TVs. Users can turn
the captioning on or off at will.

According to Terri Zuckerman, sales manager for CaptionAmerica, the
Pittsburgh-based company that hires Amy Bowlen, one in three people
over the age of 60 suffers from some degree of hearing loss.
However, Zuckerman says captioning is also popular in noisy places
like bars, as well as for immigrants learning English, in hospitals
to avoid disturbing roommates, and for children who are learning to
read. Zuckerman said about 40,000 decoders were sold to immigrants
last year.

Soon it won't be necessary to buy a separate decoder. By federal
law, all television sets with screens 13 inches or greater sold in
the US after July 1, 1993 will have the decoders built in. Decoders
cost less than $200, with several models available.

The PC used in the captioning system is able to store electronic
dictionaries, so that the operator can use certain phonetic
combinations to represent standard phrases and keep the number of
errors down. That helps to reduce to possibility of error, since on
occasion the system has jumbled words, putting them in a nonsensical
order.

National Captioning Institute's Morgan Bramlet told Newsbytes that
captioners are usually graduates of court reporting schools or have
experience in court reporting. The training to become a captioner
takes several months, with both men and women making good
captioners.

Asked how captioners handle statement made that the captioners
didn't understand, Bramlet said on live shows there are usually
three people working in the booth on captioning. Usually one of
them will have heard what was said. Bramlet said if the remark
couldn't be understood, the captioner might type "unintelligible,"
or just not type anything. It would depend on how important the
remark was to the content of the show.

CaptionAmerica says news shows are the hardest to caption, because
they have to be scripted as they air. A staff of six steno
captioners writes for all of NBC's news shows, but say the toughest
is probably "Meet The Press" because of its fast pace, and the
limited number of commercial breaks.

Last week for Bowlen was the toughest, since the first week of
Leno's show was broadcast live. From now on, it will be taped
earlier in the day, as it was when Carson hosted it. That will give
the captioners a chance to write a rough draft. An editor will add
things like applause and audience reaction as the show is taped.

(Jim Mallory/19920603/Press contact: Morgan Bramlet, National
Captioning Institute, 800-533-9673, Reader TTD contact:
800-321-8337)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00003)

New Product: Telecoupler II Acoustic Coupler 06/08/92
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- After reselling 16,000
acoustic couplers under the Telecoupler I brand name, Computer
Products Plus Inc. (CP+) has come out with the new and upgraded
Telecoupler II, a product of its own design.

The Telecoupler is used to connect the modem of a portable computer
to a phone line in cases where an RJ11 jack is difficult or
impossible to find. A streamlined version of the bulky acoustic
couplers of the past, the product converts text or fax data into
audio tones. Similar in size to a phone receiver, it attaches to
the receiver via a velcro strap, and plugs into the modem with an
RJ 11 cord.

Telecoupler II, announced this week at the Los Angeles Lap &
Palmtop '92 show, retains the underlying traits of the hugely
successful Telecoupler I, but adds faster speed and longer battery
life, said Stephanie Kelly, corporate sales representative.

The new product supports a modem speed of 9600 bps, instead of the
2400 bps supported by Telecoupler I, and employs a 9-volt battery,
a power supply nearly twice as strong as the battery used in the
first release.

As in the initial product, weight has been kept to about 10 ounces,
added Kelly. The coupler continues to be made of ABS, the material
used in football helmets, and to feature a coiled cord.

The tough material and coiled cord ruggedizes the coupler, a
capability necessary because of the type of use the product gets,
said Kelly. Not only is the coupler brought out into the field by
maintenance personnel, it also goes along on worldwide tours with
business executives.

Kelly said she wasn't sure who had manufactured Telecoupler I,
except that the company was Japanese. But CP+ has designed
Telecoupler II itself, and has also gained control over product
marketing and distribution, she maintained. "This way, we'll be
able to be more price competitive," she commented. With
Telecoupler II, the company is raising the retail price slightly,
from $144.95 to $159.95, while making wholesale pricing more
attractive to distributors, she told Newsbytes.

Telecoupler II is shipping.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920603/Press contact: Valinda Cornejo, Hill
and Knowlton, tel [phone]; Public contact, Stephanie Kelly,
Computer Products Plus, tel [phone])


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

New For Macintosh: Davidson's Headline Harry 06/08/92
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- The field of
computer programs that teach as they let you play a fun game is
expanding rapidly these days. Key to this market has been the
phenomenal success of Broderbund's "Where in ... is Carmen Sandiego"
series which has even reached that exalted plateau of having a TV
show dedicated to it.

Davidson and Associates are also participants in this market. Their
entry teaches the player about recent US history and geography.
In "Headline Harry and the Great Paper Race," you represent a
reporter who is trying to get to the bottom of important stories
before your competitors from the Diabolical Daily publish a
completely wrong and inaccurate story of their own.

To get your stories you must travel within the US and collect
clues. Some of the clues take the form of Macintosh QuickTime movies
and represent real news footage. So, for instance, a clip is shown
of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. This is an unique
capability in this new Macintosh version of the program that
Davidson has just released. An MS-DOS version has been selling
for several months now.

Game play is similar between the two versions. However, there are
significant enhancements (like QuickTime support) in the Macintosh
version making it an essentially new program. The Macintosh
version runs only on Macintoshes that support color and comes on
eight double-sided diskette. The data on the diskettes is
compressed!

The new Macintosh version is shipping now. Both the Macintosh and
the MS-DOS versions retail for $59.95.

(Naor Wallach/19920603, Press Contact: Liz Rich-Reardon, Davidson,
310-793-0600 Extension 230)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(HKG)(00005)

Hongkong: 3 Firms Get Govt Training Contracts 06/08/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- As a result of an open tender
exercise, the Hong Kong Government has awarded System-Pro
Training Centre, Computer Power Educational Services, and Swire
Systems contracts to provide computer training services.

The training service is open to civil servants who are or will be
users of microcomputer systems and software acquired by the Hong
Kong Government through bulk contracts. Mr K H Lau, assistant
director of Information Technology Services Department, said that
all government departments were eligible for this service. He
said the Government expected to buy close to 2,000 PCs
within the next two years and that more than 20,000 student days
of training would be required.

According Mr Lau, in selecting the successful contractors, the
Government took into consideration industrial track records of
the companies in organizing large scale training service,
teaching quality, training environment and facilities as well as
availability of courseware meeting the Government's
requirements. The progress of the courses will be monitored
closely through course-end evaluation and appraisal.

This is the first time that the Hong Kong Government has
separated the provision of PC training services from its bulk
purchase of PC hardware and software.

"We were actually the catalyst," Naill Rigby of Computer Power
told Newsbytes. "We approached them with the idea, worked with
them to develop it and later put in our bid. Instead of purchasing
all the hardware and training from one supplier, we convinced them
that there would be more value in contracting out the training."

System-Pro's computer professionals are said to already be
conducting classes at its training centre in North Point and at
the Chinese YMCA. Teaching aids include advanced PCs set up for
each student, and reference materials modified from updated
courseware packages. Each trainee will be awarded a certificate
upon completion of their course.

Mr Stephen Ip, assistant general manager of System-Pro, said the
program would include a wide range of microcomputer software
from elementary to advanced levels to meet the varying
requirements of the trainees. Their curriculum covers Chinese
and English word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing,
programing, etc.

"While constantly revising the curriculum to incorporate new PC
software packages, we have also developed specialized programs
for the managerial, accounting and secretarial professions," said
Mr Ip.

Mr Michael Hayes, general manager of Computer Power Educational
Services, told Newsbytes that they will hold 28 classes on the
use of spreadsheets, database management, and word processing.
"Classes are due to start in the second half of June," he said.

(Brett Cameron/19920605/Press Contact: Mr K.H. Lau, Hong Kong
Government, Tel [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00006)

New For Networks: 3Com Integrated Mgt 06/08/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- 3Com has introduced
ViewBuilder/UNIX, a family of graphical network management
software that provides comprehensive, integrated management of
3Com's hub and bridge/router products.

The software runs on SunNet Manager, the industry's most
popular open network management platform.

"Customers with enterprise networks need to manage
multivendor devices from a central location," said Doug
Dennerline, general manager of 3Com Asia Ltd. "ViewBuilder/UNIX
provides comprehensive management of 3Com products in a multivendor
environment from a single management station."

According to Sun Microsystems, the SunNet Manager Solutions
Portfolio is now supported by over 70 vendors. The addition
of ViewBuilder/UNIX means that customers can combine
hardware, software and networking products from 3Com and
other sources to create custom-tailored integrated network management
systems.

The ViewBuilder/UNIX includes three new products: NETBuilder
Management for 3Com's NETBuilder family of bridge/routers;
LinkBuilder 3GH Management for 3Com's third generation hub;
and Remote Boot and Configuration Services for
internetworking devices and terminal servers.

Dennerline noted that 3Com's network management systems
address some of the most critical issues facing network
administrators today. Complexity due to the growth in LANs and
interconnected networks requires better insight into network
 operations. Management applications, rather than general-purpose
management tools, are required to provide comprehensive
management for today's complex network devices. Network management
tools must be scalable to keep administration and training costs
low as more devices are added to the network.

The ViewBuilder/UNIX applications, running on SunNet
Manager, provide an easy-to-use graphical interface and
share a common "look and feel," reducing costs for
administering 3Com devices on the network. The administrator
can cost-effectively scale the performance requirements of
the management platform, a Sun SPARCstation, as the network
grows, the company maintains.

LinkBuilder 3GH Management includes the most comprehensive
hub and FDDI management tools on the market, 3Com claims. All facets
of managing a third-generation hub are mapped to the
appropriate graphical view of hub operation.

Automatic, real-time mapping of the FDDI network provides
"complete insight" into a dynamic FDDI environment, freeing
the administrator from the tedious mapping of an FDDI ring
which could reconfigure itself at any time, the company says.
Management information is conveniently displayed alongside mapped
FDDI objects.

Setting up a new client involves selecting a predefined template
and entering the client's address. A configuration editor facility
lets administrators create configurations once and apply them to
multiple networked objects. Hot standby features ensure uptime, with
a secondary RBCS server ready to honor client boot
requests.

NETBuilder Management is shipping now and 3Com expects
LinkBuilder Management to be available by the beginning of
July. Remote Boot and Configuration Services 2.0 will be
available in the fourth quarter 1992. These products are
available from 3Com resellers and systems integrators
worldwide.

(Brett Cameron/19920605/Press contact: Fergus O'Rorke, Euan Barty
Associates Tel [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00007)

Hongkong: CASE User Group Formed 06/08/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Asia's first independent Synon
User Group held its inaugural meeting on Friday 29 May at the Pacific
Club, World Wide House. The meeting, attended by 35 delegates, was
addressed by Synon's US-based President Chris Herron.

The Synon Asia User Group, Hong Kong Branch is a response to
rapid growth in the use of Synon CASE tools for IBM mid-
range systems which are now installed in 32 sites in Hong
Kong. "Synon CASE tools are playing a critical role in
enabling Hong Kong companies to build systems that deliver a
real competitive edge," said Chairman George Elledge,
director, Jardine Fleming Management Services Ltd.

"The user group will provide an independent forum for both
technical and managerial users to share ideas, experience
and expertise. It will also be a vehicle to give feedback on
product development, support, and education to Synon and its
distributors."

Synon Corporation, which last week opened its Asian
headquarters in Hong Kong, welcomed the user group launch.
"User groups are valuable in promoting communications
between customers and suppliers," said Hong Kong-based
technical specialist Guy Riddle. "Good customer service
comes from staying in close touch with user needs and views
and this group will help us to do just that."

Synon's Hong Kong distributor, CSSL, also applauded the
launch. "The group will play an important role in building
a community of experienced developers," said Division
Manager, Ian Pawlik. "This is especially important in Hong
Kong where developer skills are at a premium."

Apart from its role in supporting developers with technical
workshops and presentations, the group will also focus on
educating senior management. "The decision to implement CASE
is made at a strategic level and it is critical that
management understand the key issues," said Elledge.

Once fully established, the group hopes to meet every month,
with membership open to all Synon users including
consultants and software houses which use the software as a
development platform. The group will be run by a committee
of officers, with additional representatives from the
financial, manufacturing, and distribution and commercial
sectors.

The committee elected at the inaugural meeting comprises
Chairman George Elledge; Secretary/Treasurer Raymond Yeung
from South China Morning Post Publishers Limited;
manufacturing and distribution representative Vincent Yeung
from Alfred Dunhill (HK) Ltd; and finance representative Tom
Dighton of Standard Chartered Equitor Group.

(Brett Cameron/19920605/Press contact: Sharon Williams, Synon,
Tel [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(IBM)(HKG)(00008)

New For PC: Digital Desktop Manager For Windows, Navigator 06/08/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corporation
announced the introduction of Vivace for Windows, a customizable
desktop manager that helps Microsoft Windows users to work more
easily with multiple applications, network services and large
numbers of documents. Vivace runs on stand-alone personal
computers and on any PC LAN.

Digital also announced an enhanced version of Browser for
Windows, an information navigator that helps users locate
information on any PC LAN or wide-area network. The two
products help users to achieve "network transparency" -- the
ability to focus on the right information to make more
informed, faster decisions instead of having to waste time
on the underlying technology.

Vivace, named after the musical direction for "in a lively
or vivacious manner," creates a customized representation of
the user's personal work environment. The desktop manager
includes icons to depict file cabinet levels, documents,
applications, network services, printers, fax machines, CD-
ROM drives and other peripherals.

Vivace users can organize their PC desktops to mirror their
physical offices. The new desktop manager is designed to
function the way people work and think, enabling a user to
focus on the document rather than the application.

For example, without Vivace, a Windows user must FIND an
application, load it into memory, click on FILE, click on
OPEN, look for the right file name and finally click on the
file name to load it into memory. With Vivace, a user simply
clicks on the meaningful document name; Vivace handles the
rest, Digital says.

When a user cannot remember the name or place of a document,
Vivace's search capability helps him find the document easily, on the
PC or PC LAN, regardless of which application produced the document.
All documents found are immediately available for editing. If the user
simply clicks on the icon, Vivace starts the right application, with the
right document, and the appropriate templates.

Vivace automatically recognizes and integrates 40 popular PC
applications. Additional applications can be integrated
through a scripting capability. Vivace enables users
to "drag-and-drop" documents to multiple devices such as
printers, fax machines, CD-ROM drives, and floppy disk
drives, and allows users to integrate new peripherals or
network services with ease. It also enables users to assign
meaningful names to documents and to file documents in
archives under multiple storage levels.

"Vivace picks up where Windows leaves off," said Carlo Choi,
Digital's regional marketing manager for business and office
Systems. "With its powerful search capabilities and its
ability to integrate with popular electronic mail packages
and other network services, Vivace helps users make sense
out of the multitude of files created by dozens of desktop
applications. Vivace is going to be a great help to the
growing population of Windows users and to the teams of
people who share documents on LANs."

Vivace for Windows Version 1.0 runs on top of Microsoft
Windows version 3.0 and 3.1. Vivace works with, rather than
replaces, the Windows Program Manager. Support is planned
for other platforms, such as Microsoft Windows NT and IBM's
Presentation Manager for OS/2. Version 1.0 supports Novell
NetWare, Microsoft LAN Manager, Banyan Vines, and Digital
Pathworks; cc:Mail for Windows, DaVinci for Windows,
Microsoft Mail for Windows and All-In-1 Mail for Windows.
Vivace is the first Digital application to support third-
party mail services.

Vivace will run on any Intel 80286, 80386, or 80486 based
PC. It requires a minimum one megabyte of RAM (2 MB
recommended), a 40MB hard disk or network disk with 1.5 MB
free, a 720KB diskette drive and a mouse or other Windows
pointing device. In a PC LAN, at least one base system must
have a 720KB diskette drive; in an asynchronous network
environment, every base system must have one 720KB diskette
drive and 1.5 MB of free hard disk.

In addition to Vivace, Digital announced version 2.0 of
Browser for Windows, an information navigator announced last
November. Browser V1.0 provided the user with network
navigation, including the ability to find, view and convert
files. The new version enables Browser users to find
information located in mail folders, conferences, and
documents. Browser works with Novell NetWare, Microsoft LAN
Manager, Banyan Vines, and Digital Pathworks. It enables
users to find and use documents, spreadsheets, and graphics
anywhere on a PC, PC LAN, or wide-area network.

A new feature is the extension of global search to enable
users to employ multiple search-result windows and apply
actions to items in each window. In addition, a new DDE
interface will allow other Windows applications to be
integrated with Browser. This integration gives those
applications access to information that Browser finds,
including mail and notes.

(Brett Cameron/19920605/Press contact: Walter Cheung, Digital,
Tel [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00009)

Hongkong: Oracle Used In Development Of Imaging Resource 06/08/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- The Hong Kong Polytechnic
library has used software from Oracle to develop a pioneering imaging
application in which more than 44,000 slides have been
transferred onto laserdisc.

The application was jointly devised by Hong Kong Polytechnic
library staff and specialist multimedia consultant Ian Fueggle,
managing director of Advanced Media Systems. It will enable the
library's 50,000 active users to search, retrieve, display and
present slide images from the laserdisc without ever having to
physically locate the original slide.

"The system is certainly the most advanced of its kind
in Asia," said Barry Burton, the Polytechnic Librarian. "It
is an exceptional resource which will give Hong Kong
students the ability to search and browse the world's great
collections without leaving their desks."

The slides are part of the Polytechnic's audio-visual software and
hardware collection which currently comprises some 160,000 items.
The collection, one of the largest in Hong Kong, focuses on fashion,
design, art and architecture and is used by students, staff and
researchers.

The system comprises a Sony interactive videodisc system with a 21-inch
screen, specially developed Oracle front-end software, and Oracle's
relational database. This runs on a Porro 386 PC33 with a one gigabyte
hard disk and a Videologic digital video overlay board.

Using a simple point and click mouse or touchscreen interface,
users can search the disc by author, title, the library's call
number system, date of work, subject and a range of subdivisions.
Users enter their first key word and use Boolean "and, or, not"
operators to define other search criteria.

The system then displays its "hits" selected images, in frames
of 16 at a time, allowing users to select and blow up a
particular image, program a sequence of images for a
presentation, or browse through the collection.

According to Burton, the key innovation is the software which
links the library's extensive cataloguing system to the frame
numbers of individual images. This was developed by Ian Fueggle
using Oracle application tools, and uses Oracle's relational
database to provide the textual index to the slide collection.

"Each of the 160,000 slides has a full catalogue description of
its contents, source and date plus at least six to eight key
words for retrieval," explained Fueggle.

"As we eventually hope to include all slides on the system, it
was essential to choose powerful software that could cope with
the large amount of data. Oracle offered the necessary
functionality as well as the portability across computer
platforms which will allow us to easily port the application to
other organizations."

Apart from portability, speed of access, security and storage
were all key objectives in the development process.

"The application means that users need never access the slides
themselves, saving enormous amounts of time in physical searching
and filing as well as saving storage costs for ranks of filing
cabinets," said Burton. "Another important advantage is that the
slides are protected from damage or loss."

Another benefit of the system is the ability to add new images to
the database in near real-time. Up to 5000 additional images can
be stored on the one gigabyte hard drive, thereby overcoming the
"write once" problems of laser vision technology.

For both the Polytechnic and Advanced Media Systems, successful
implementation this February could be just the start of a long
term process.

"Adding other disciplines such as medicine, networking
the system and implementing it in other institutions are
just some of the possibilities," said Burton. "Multimedia
is a key resource for Hong Kong's educational future and we
are firmly committed to leading the way."

(Brett Cameron/19920604/Press Contact: Karen Wan, Oracle Hong
Kong, Tel: + 852-824 0118; HK time is GMT +8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00010)

Tandem Software Documentation On A Compact Disc 06/08/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Tandem Computers announced the
availability of Guardian operating system software manuals on a
single compact disc. This offers users of Tandem Nonstop systems
fast and easy access to information.

Guardian operating systems, the framework for Tandem's Nonstop
systems, are designed for high volume on-line transaction
processing requiring a high level of performance in fault
tolerance, data integrity, linear expandability, networking and
distributed data capability.

A single Tandem CD Read is equivalent to more than 250 Guardian
C30 software paper manuals and it conserves space for storage in
the office.

"The benefits of transferring software manuals onto laser disc
are apparently the speed and flexibility that it can provide.
Users can access information by the press of a button and keep
their documentation up-to-date simply by using a new disc," said
Rick Teeuwsen, area director of support for Tandem Computers.

Information search becomes easy with a menu-driven graphical user
interface, a key-word searching technique, and integrated text
and graphics. The CD Read looks the same as a printed manual
while retaining the speed of personal computers.

Tandem CD Read is compatible with a variety of workstations,
including IBM PCs and Macintosh computers. It can also be
connected to popular local area networks (LANs), allowing
simultaneous multi-user access to a single disc. It supports
industry standard networking products for IBM PCs and the
Macintosh, including Appletalk, MS-NET and Tandem Multilan
hardware and software.

"The introduction of laser disc software manuals for Guardian
system is another step in our continued efforts to provide users
with high performance products to increase their operational
efficiency," Mr Teeuwsen said.

(Brett Cameron/19920605/Press contact: Donough Foley, Media
Dynamics Ltd, tel [phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

NETO Enters Satellite Instruction Market 06/08/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Continuing a trend
toward special-interest satellite networks, the National
Education Telecommunications Organization and its subsidiary,
EDSAT, said they'll enter the market for instructional education,
teleconferencing and special event programming for schools,
colleges, universities, libraries and other distant learning
centers, via satellite, starting in August.

The two companies will use GE American Communications as their
service provider. The idea is to allow more satellite collocations
to take place, giving schools access to more choices in
programming. Thousands of schools already have satellite dishes,
many installed free to pick up the controversial "Channel One"
service from Whittle Communications. Thousands of schools also
use "CNN Newsroom," a special daily newscast for kids broadcast
at 3 AM each morning and videotaped for use the next day.

IBM is giving NETO a C-Band Uplink and related equipment in
Crystal City, Virginia to help provide low-cost service for
its affiliates. The company expects up to 35 to 40 education
programmers to use its satellite services during the next six
months. Their number is expected to reach over 75 by the 1993
school year. NETO/EDSAT satellite services will reach hundreds
of thousands of students in schools, colleges and universities
and an equal number of students located in their workplaces.

The American Community Services Network Foundation is also
working out details on an agreement to assist NETO in operating
its system. ACSN is the founder of The Learning Channel, now a
unit of Discovery Networks.

EDSAT Chairman Brian Thompson tried to explain the meaning of
all this in a press statement. "When all the cable programmers
collocated on one satellite it meant the consumers could get up
to 40 or 50 channels in their home with the flip of a TV switch.
Collocation to one satellite means that schools, teachers in
classrooms, and students have multiple choices of live interactive
video, voice and data programming." Financial and in-kind support
for EDSAT has also come through Westinghouse Communications,
Westinghouse Electric Foundation, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, COMSAT, Scientific Atlanta, Black College
Satellite Network, Oklahoma State University and others.
NETO/EDSAT are non-profit, voluntary "education users"
organizations established to govern, purchase and manage
affordable and equitable satellite and other telecommunications
services on behalf of all America's schools, colleges,
universities, libraries and other educational institutions.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920605/Press Contact: Bill Stern, National
Education Telecommunications Organization, 202-508-4484)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00012)

Red Cross Goes Hi-Tech 06/08/92
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- It used to be
donuts, coffee, and bandages. Now its satellite phones, chemical
heat packets, and communications systems in suitcases. It's the
American Red Cross.

The agency is going high tech as part of a $12 million program set
up to cope with the approximately 55,000 emergencies the Red Cross
faces each year, according to Elizabeth Dole, the agency's
president.

"It's not just the earthquakes, the tornadoes and the hurricanes,"
said Dole at the agency's annual convention last week. "It's the
single family fire, or the chemical spill on the highway, or the
airplane crash. It's the violence in Los Angeles; we're there for
all of them," Dole said.

To kick off the four-year upgrade program, the Red Cross opened a 24-hour
command center in Alexandria, Virginia to monitor disaster
threats around the country, and to coordinate rescue efforts with
local chapters.

The agency is also buying sophisticated 75-pound communications
systems packed into suitcase-sized packages. The packages,
containing a fax machine, a phone and a portable computer, can
communicate via satellite when local communications are disrupted.
Similar packages were used extensively in the Persian Gulf War. A
more sophisticated version called a flyaway, packed in about 20
cases, can give a television crew the capability to beam pictures and
sound from anywhere on the globe without depending on local TV
facilities.

The Red Cross emergency response vehicles, introduced in 1982, now
number around 400 located throughout the nation. They can feed 400
meals before restocking, and are stocked with flood clean-up kits,
personal hygiene kits, blankets, and first aid supplies, according
to Gonzalo Hernandez, Emergency Response Coordinator for the Central
Maryland Chapter.

Hernandez said that during the recent LA riots, they fed the police
and the rescuers, and many reporters and news photographers have
been grateful for a cup of coffee or a sandwich from the big white
van, after covering a story for hours or days on end without a
break.

All that new equipment requires money, and the private fundraising
campaign is being aided by Marilyn Quayle, wife of the vice
president and a long time Red Cross volunteer.

(Jim Mallory/19920603)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00013)

Info Tech Spending to Rebound This Year, Survey Says 06/08/92
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Global spending on
information technology will bounce back slightly during 1992,
according to survey results released this week by International
Data Corporation (IDC).

Within the top five national markets worldwide, internal
organizational spending will upturn 5% this year - in contrast to
just 2% last year - and the outlook for vendors is even brighter,
the study found.

"IDC projects a steady shift away from internal spending,
especially, on information systems (IS) staff, toward external
spending with information technology (IT) suppliers. This will
allow 1992 vendor revenue growth to exceed that of total customer
spending, particularly in the areas of software, services, and
networking," explained David C. Moschella, senior vice president of
research.

The study, "1992 Worldwide Customer Directions and Spending
Strategies," is based on input from 7,000 IS professionals in the
US, the UK, Japan, Germany, and France, nations that together
account for more than 75% of global IT spending.

In breaking out the results by country, IDC concluded that in 1992:
IS budgets will rise 5 to 6% in the US, France and the UK;
budgets will climb 8% in Japan and Germany; budget growth will
be stronger than in 1991 for each of the nations except Germany.

Further, about a third of respondents in the US, the UK and
France cited cost control and justification as their chief focus
for 1992, while only 13 to 14% of those in Japan and Germany
pointed to these factors as the key concern.

Other issues explored included such vertical criteria as:
current and future usage patterns for PCs, workstations, LANs,
operating systems, network topologies, image processing, electronic
data interchange (EDI), and CD/ROM; decision factors and
implementation strategies in the areas of client/server architectures,
open systems, outsourcing, systems integration, and acceptance of Unix.

The vertical criteria were also analyzed by country. IDC
determined, for example, that France and Germany have emerged as
world leaders in open systems, outsourcing, and adoption of new
technologies, Moschella stated.

IDC has been conducting market research studies ever since its
founding in 1964, a public relations spokesperson noted. About two
years ago, the company began to consolidate vertical surveys into
industry-wide global reports, she added.

(Jacqueline Emigh, 19920605/Press contact: Nancy Findley, IDC, tel
508-935-4489.)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00014)

 ****More Is Less, New Small Form Factor Hard Disk Drives 06/08/92
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Two disk drive
manufacturers, Quantum and Seagate, have announced higher
capacity, small form factor disk drives. Quantum says it's the first
to offer 2.5-inch 80+ megabyte (MB) drives, while Seagate says it is
the first major drive manufacturer ship to 1.8-inch form factor
drives.

Quantum says its Go Drive Series of 2.5-inch hard disk drives now
includes an 84 MB single disk drive and a 169 MB dual disk hard
drive. Quantum is proud of its 84 MB drive on a single disk, which
the company says is more reliable and cost-effective than other
drives on the market that require two disks to get an 80 MB capacity.

The Go Drives are fast as well, Quantum says, with 17 millisecond
(ms) access times and sustained data transfer rates of up to 2.2
MB/second. Both drives have are available with a small computer
systems interface (SCSI)/SCSI-2 or an integrated drive electronics
(IDE) interface. Evaluation units are available to original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) at $395 for the Go Drive GRS 80 product and $595
for the Go Drive GRS 160 product, Quantum said.

Seagate is shipping evaluation units of its ST7000 line of 1.8-inch
drives in 40, 65, and 80 MB formatted capacities. The company says
the drives have high areal density, high shock and vibration
resistance, and low power consumption.

The ST7000 family of drives vary in size, but Seagate says the 65 MB
ST7075 drive has 2 discs and an average seek time of 16 ms. The
ST7075 is priced at $495 in OEM evaluation quantities, the company
added.

Both companies are showing off their new drives at the Computex trade
show held in Taipei, Taiwan, June 5-9. Seagate is headquartered in
Scotts Valley, California, while Quantum is based in Milpitas,
California.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920605/Press Contact: Julie Still, Seagate, 408-
439-2276; Catherine Hartsog, Quantum, 408-894-4000)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00015)

New For PC: 3 Math Instruction Programs 06/08/92
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Wicat Systems has announced
that it will release three new math instructional software
products in the 60 days. The company said the programs are designed
to help math teachers better focus instruction and provide practice
on student skill deficiencies.

Exam-In-A-Can Plus was developed by California-based ips Publishing
and sold by Wicat under a recently announced marketing agreement.
Wicat describes it as an algorithm-driven math test and worksheet
generator, which teachers can use to create drill and practice
worksheets, quizzes, practice tests, and exams.

Exam-In-A-Can Plus automatically produces student answer sheets and
answer keys once the teacher has selected the objectives. Wicat said
it will offer nine versions of Exam-In-A-Can Plus, addressing
objectives from basic math facts through high school calculus. The
program is expected to start shipping later this month.

The Wicat Math Toolkit lets teachers create their own on-line math
exercises and tests, even if they don't have any programming skills,
according to the company. Exercises can address math skills from
basic facts through multi-digit while numbers for students in
kindergarten through the eighth grade.

Wicat said the on-line exercises can be integrated with other
on-line math curriculum and assignments by using Wicat's AIMS
software. Math Toolkit is scheduled to ship in August of this year.

Jean Herre, Wicat's assistant director for math product development,
said that teachers using the two programs can target the student's
individual weaknesses. "This can be done either on-line with Math
Toolkit or in printed homework and quizzes with Exam-In-A-Can Plus,"
said Herre.

All math learning doesn't have to be dull. Wicat is also releasing
a set of computer math games. Mental Math includes 15 different
types of math games, designed to give the students practice in
solving basic math problems in their heads. The game imposes a time
limit for each problem. Mental Math uses color graphics and
animations to keep the student's attention. Like Exam-In-A-Can Plus,
Mental Math is scheduled to ship later this month. Mental Math was
developed by Provo, Utah-based Waterford Institute.

Wicat said all three programs comply with the appropriate National
Council of Teaching Mathematics curriculum standards.

(Jim Mallory/19920605/Press contact: Kirk Tanner, Wicat Systems,
801-223-3381)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00016)

Fujitsu Launches Products At Quiet Montreal Show 06/08/92
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- The Montreal
International Computer and Office Exhibition, or Salon
international de l'informatique et du bureau de Montreal (SIIM),
had about 120 exhibitors this year, compared to roughly 200 last
year. Few new products were announced at the show, with Fujitsu
topping the list of product introductions.

Fujitsu launched what it said is the world's first 3.5-inch
magneto-optical disk drive in a one-inch-high enclosure. Fujitsu
said the smaller drive is possible because of a spindle-loading
technique that means the disk cartridge does not have to drop into
position when loading. Fujitsu said the smaller size of the drive
will make it easier to use as a replacement for conventional disk
drives in personal computers and workstations. The drive holds 128
megabytes of data.

Fujitsu also announced a new eight-page-per-minute compact laser
printer, the VM800. The company claimed the new unit offers faster
image and font processing than other printers in its class, as well
as superior print quality and a multilingual control panel. The
VM800 is designed to print an average of 4,000 pages per month. It
has a 150-sheet paper tray, with a second as an option, as well as
seven bit-mapped fonts and eight scalable typefaces built in. Due
to be available in Canada in July, it will carry a suggested list
price of C$1,995.

Third, Fujitsu launched what it said will be an aggressive campaign
to recruit resellers in the province of Quebec. Fujitsu wants the
resellers to handle its line of image scanners, as well as Norick's
image scanning software and the Dunord I2000 PC-to-scanner
interface card.

Also at SIIM, Quarterdeck Canada launched the French-language
version of its QEMM 386 6.0 memory management software. The new
release has French manuals and French text in certain display
screens.

(Grant Buckler/19920606/Press Contact: Dianne Laporte, SIIM,
514-288-8811, fax [phone]; Gwen Lannaman, Fujitsu Canada,
416-602-5454 or 800-263-8716, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00017)

Panel Discusses "Women And Computers" 06/08/92
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Female
participation is still disproportionately low in the computer
industry, according to a panel of academics, participating in a 2-day
conference entitled "Scholarship on Women and Society," held at Marist
College on June 5th and 6th.

The panel's moderator, Randy Goldberg of Marist College, exhibited a
Toolbook-based presentation of the history of computing. She bemoaned
the fact that only two women, Lady Ada Lovelace and Admiral Grace
Murray Hopper, fit well into her history (which included Babbage,
Hollerith, Eckert, and Mauchly) which she said had been "abbreviated
because the lack of women was embarrassing."

Goldberg's demonstration also served to show and describe a delivery
system for providing courseware to remote students. With the procedure
pioneered by Goldberg, instructional material designed using Toolbook
is disseminated to remote students by means of Marist's IBM 3090
computer facility. Under the system, which Goldberg calls "Distance
Education with Multimedia," enrolled students are given
telecommunications access to a special conference on Marist's mainframe.
They download a run-time version of Toolbook and the prepared
courseware; they then work on their local personal computers with the
provided material. Questions and quiz responses are submitted to
Goldberg via electronic mail.

Michael Berger of Santa Cruz University in his presentation, "The
Quest for Power through Modulation Culminating in the Computer Age,"
discussed what he referred to as "the human quest for freedom from
the limitation of physical existence."

Berger described the process by which humans move from one medium
of existence or modality to another as modulation and described
modulations which raised percepts to concepts and then concepts to
speech and finally speech to writing, radio and television. He then
describes computers as the "ultimate modality," explaining that through
the use of the new technology, "we are putting a piece of our own mind
into the computer."

Berger concluded by saying that he sees danger in the ultimate
unbounding that technology provides as it frees us from limits of space
and local law. He called on women to be the force of restraint in this
area, saying, "Women's liberation has introduced their gender to realms,
both technological and governmental, that have always been creations
and fortresses of men. I believe it is in the capacity of women alone to
stop or at least slow the dismantling of the ecosystem -- by introducing
moderation to technological advancement."

Barbara McMullen of Marist's Computer Science Dept., began her talk,
"Women In Cyberspace: A Virtual Odyssey," by picking up on Berger's
use of the word "modulation" and pointing out that it is also the root
(with "demodulation") of the word "modem" -- "the entry into
cyberspace which is the subject of this talk."

McMullen began her presentation by explaining the concept of
cyberspace, "where two people meet when they have a telephone
conversation" and then went into the many types of information that
may be found in cyberspace. She then explained how over twenty
million people are connected through the Internet and described the
tools of the Internet: e-mail, file transfer protocol (FTP) and "telnet"
capability.

McMullen concluded her presentation by describing the less-than-
proportionate use of telecommunications and conferencing systems by
women. Citing statistics from the WELL's (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link)
Nancy Rhine that only 16% of the subscribers are female, McMullen
summarized comments received from Rhine and Stacy Horn, moderator of
the Woman's OnLine Network (WON). She described both the low
participation of women in telecommunications and what appears to be a
difference in the method and tone of on-line communications between the
sexes.

Jan Harrington, also of Marist's Computer Science Dept., in her talk,
"Women in Computing - The Promise and The Reality," discussed the
low penetration of women into the higher echelons of corporate data
processing management. Harrington pointed to statistics showing a level
of female interest in science and mathematics that diminishes from a 9%
interest concentration entering high school to a 2% female college
graduation with a computer science major.

Harrington said that studies of this subject lead her to believe that the
low penetration level of women into the heights of corporate MIS
management does not appear to be the result of job bias. It rather
seems to be the result of factors going all the way back to grammar
school that cause females to veer away from computer study.

Harrington called for concentrated effort to reverse this condition. She
said that insistence on equal access to computers for both sexes at a
young age and the development of educational software that will interest
both sexes will be an important help in beginning the reversal.
"Encouragement in high school of females through science fairs,
conferences and special projects," she said, will continue the effort.
She added that, for college level females, there should be mentoring
from either faculty members or upperclasspersons with MIS
concentrations and that there should be easy access to terminals and
computers in an around-the-clock safe environment.

Harrington also called for the establishment of corporate re-entry
programs for women who return to the workplace after having children.

The ensuing audience discussion period concentrated mainly on the
difficulties that will be faced by women if computer technology continues
to expand without women's proportionate participation. McMullen
responded to a question on opportunities in the MIS field by mentioning
those positions which report and analyze technological happenings. She
said, "Female entrepreneurs have done very well in these positions by
staking out areas of expertise and capitalizing on them. Wendy Woods of
Newsbytes and Esther Dyson of EDventure Holdings are examples of
females who have become the undistributed tops in their respective
niches."

Other panels at the conference dealt with "Women's Rhetoric," "Women
In Academe," "Cultural Backlash," "Women and Theater," Voice and
Women in Literature," "Women, Illness and Death," "Women and
Poverty," "Feminism in a Liberal State," and "Women and History."
Participants included representatives from Marist, University of
Virginia, Brandies University, Potsdam College, Penn State, Villanova,
Kiev University, Case Western Reserve, Wesleyan, Rochester Institute
of Technology, University of Washington, U.S. Military Academy at West
Point, University of Massachusetts, Penn, Rutgers, Pace and University
of Nebraska.

Dennis J. Murray, president of Marist College, told Newsbytes, "I am
particularly happy that this year's conference had a discussion panel on
women and computers. I see technology as a great equalizer in society
and those who know how to make use of these new tools will the ones
who succeed in the future."

Murray also commented on the entire conference, saying "Marist is
extremely pleased to host this conference. We welcome the opportunity
to bring together many voices of scholarship to discuss these important
issues."

(John F. McMullen/Press Contact: Randy Goldberg, Marist College, 914-
575-3000 x2523/19920608)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00018)

Australia: Microsoft Accuses PC Maker Of Piracy 06/08/92
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Microsoft Australia has
revealed that it is taking legal proceedings against a local PC
manufacturer for alleged piracy. The company accused is Profound
Computers, ranked approximately number 15th on the Australian PC
market in terms of sales volume.

While details are unclear, and neither party is talking
specifics, this appears to be the case. Microsoft organized a
raid on Profound last month, and seized what it called extremely
large quantities of its software, much of it pirated. Profound said
if it had pirated software, it had purchased it innocently.
Microsoft said in a press release (though this may be exaggerated) that
this was the largest pirate seizure it had ever made.

Recent Microsoft seizures have been in Asia where fake holograms were
added to the product, making it almost indistinguishable from the real
thing. It is unclear whether the product seized from Profound was
manufactured in Australia or imported.

(Paul Zucker/19920608)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00019)

Claris Intros FileMaker Pro 2.0 For Windows/Mac 06/08/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- In an
effort to provide cross-platform compatibility and cash in on the
potentially lucrative Windows database market, Apple's Claris
Corp. has introduced FileMaker Pro 2.0 software for Windows and
Macintosh.

The company is claiming that the new Windows version provides
"power without programming to database users," and is the
"first database product to deliver the graphical user interface
(GUI) benefits of Windows."

Ines Anderson, spokesperson for the company, told Newsbytes
that the Windows product is "not intended as a replacement" for
mainstream programmable database products such as dBASE.
The products, she said, are primarily designed for "people in
corporate workgroups and small businesses" where there is
a mix of Macintoshes and Windows systems. Both products,
Anderson told Newsbytes, "share the same file formats" and
therefore provide "seamless" file sharing capabilities.

The company also claims that the new Macintosh version adds
more than 50 new features, including more powerful scripting,
extensive System 7 capabilities, and multimedia support.

Anderson told Newsbytes that, while the product does not offer
programming capabilities in the "traditional sense," it does
offer a "script maker" feature that allows for "point-and-click
programming."

Interestingly, the company claims that the product is the
second Windows application from Claris, the software subsidiary
of Apple Computer, and the first one developed internally.

Daniel L. Eilers, president and CEO of Claris, claims that Claris
will follow the announcement of FileMaker Pro 2.0 with an
aggressive marketing and sales campaign that will begin with
its biggest ever ad campaign ever at PC Expo this month. The
campaign will increase when the new products ship this fall.
Anderson told Newsbytes that version 2.0 "doesn't access
dBASE directly" although "there are products" on the market
that allow for FileMaker Pro to access dBASE data.

According to Anderson, FileMaker Pro offers Windows
users accessibility and ease-of-use, which is what, according
to Claris corporate research, Windows users are looking for.

Both products, to be available in the fall of 1992 according
to Anderson, will carry a suggested retail price of $399.

(Ian Stokell/19920608/Press Contact: Ines Anderson, 408-987-
7154; Steve Ruddock, 408-987-7202; or Kevin Mallon,
408-987-7227, all of Claris Corp.)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00020)

Fujitsu Enters India Through ICIM 06/08/92
BOMBAY, INDIA, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- International Computers Indian
Manufacture Ltd. (ICIM), the Indian affiliate of ICL of the UK,
has signed with Fujitsu of Japan for a strategic alliance in several
key areas of information technology. The four areas which have been
identified for collaboration are software exports from India, systems
integration, manufacture of peripherals and marketing.

The details of the deal are expected to be finalized later this
month. A high-level Fujitsu team visited the ICIM facilities in
March this year, when Fujitsu was eager to extend its reach to
India. It is likely that ICIM may manufacture some products of
Fujitsu for sale in the domestic market.

ICIM is the Indian associate of the British computer giant ICL,
which in turn is held by Fujitsu. The oldest Indian computer
company is now part of the RPG group, one of the top ten industrial
houses of India. ICIM manufactures and markets a wide range of
computer systems from mainframes, Series 39 of ICL, Krypton
DRS 6000 also of ICL, and microcomputers and peripherals.

According to Computers Today magazine (India), it polled as
the seventh largest computer company in the country with Rs
105.6 crore ($35 million), during the last financial year
(Apr 91 - Mar 92). ICIM president, Ashok Jain, said the
company's hardware and software exports were expected to touch
$10 million in this year. He also disclosed that the company
received Rs 10 crore (about $3.3 million) order for hardware
from Germany.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920605)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00021)

 ****Motorola Boosts 68040 Chip to 33 MHz; Set For Quadra 950 06/08/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- The Microprocessor and
Memory Technologies Group of Motorola has boosted the speed of its
68040 microprocessor from 25 MHz processor to 33 MHz, and the
faster chip is already being used in several products. For instance,
the 68040-based Apple Quadra operates up to 20 percent faster than
comparable 50-MHz Intel-based systems, Motorola says.

According to the company, products incorporating the 33 MHz chip
include Apple Computer's Macintosh Quadra 950, Bull HN Informations
Systems' DPX/2 model 380 multiprocessor system, the Rocket33
accelerator board from Radius Inc., the TokaMacII FAX acclerator
board from Fusion Data Systems, an upcoming line of Turbo products
from Next Computer Inc., and Texas Instruments' recently announced
1500 MP (multiprocessor) Unix computer line.

In announcing the upgrade, Motorola also released the results of
benchmark studies on performance of the product in the Bull NH, TI,
and Apple systems.

The company said that Bull NH's DPX/model 380, a multiprocessor
system based on the 33-MHz 68040, proved to be one of the fastest
symmetric multiprocessing Unix systems available. The product
comes in one- to four-processor configurations and provides
scalable performance from 24 to 95 MIPs.

According to TPC-A (Transaction Processing Council) benchmarks, a
quad-CPU configured Bull DPX/2 384 with 1 MB of external cache
measured 63.9 transactions per second (tpsA) throughput, with
$9,902 per tps in price/performance. The price/performance figure
is determined by the total price of the system (cost of ownership,
hardware, software and five-year hardware/software maintenance
charges), divided by transactions per second, Motorola noted.

The company added that TPC-B benchmarks showed the new 1545 model
of TI's 1500 TP to deliver more than three times the CPU power of
previous MP models, providing significant advantages over
comparable RISC- and CISC-based systems. The 1500 MP achieved
48.8 tpsB throughput, with a price/performance figure
of $2,609.43.

Benchmarks also indicated strong performance enhancement for the
Quadra over previous Macintosh systems. According to Motorola, the
Quadra 950 measured 9.7 on benchmark tests by Ingram Labs, meaning
that it ran 9.7 times faster than the slowest machine tested, the
IBM PS/1. Based on these benchmarks, the company said, the 68040-
based Quadra operates up to 20 percent faster than comparable 50-
MHz Intel-based systems.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920608; Public Contact: Kristin Houseman,
Motorola, 512-891-2386; Press Contact: Heather Premru,
Cunningham Communication Inc., tel [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00022)

IBM Japan Creates Software Joint Venture 06/08/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- IBM Japan has announced that it
will set up a joint software venture firm with 13 other software
companies in Japan. The new firm will develop computer programs for
the distribution industry, shops and restaurants. It will also provide
management consultation and computer system implementation.

The new firm will be called IBM Distribution Service Solution
and is capitalized with 134 million yen ($1 million), 78.4 percent
of which will come from IBM Japan. The rest comes from 13 firms
including Kanebo, Komatsu Software, Toppan, Sumitomo Computer, Japan
Data Communication and Japan Distribution Service Systems.

IBM Japan's Takayuki Yamauchi will assume the presidency of the
new firm. 220 employees will be dispatched by IBM Japan, and 19
software engineers will be dispatched by the participating software
firms.

The joint venture firm will be created on June 25, and will start
business on July 1. The new firm will be located in IBM Japan's
building. The firm has a goal of making 5 billion yen ($40 million)
in sales by the end of this year -- without a sales force. This
is because IBM Japan expects to be the sales force - referring
its own customers to the joint venture.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920608/Press Contact: IBM Japan, +81-3-3586-
1111)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00023)

KDD And AT&T Develops World's Fastest Fiber Cable 06/08/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Two telecommunication giants in
Japan and the U.S. have developed what they call the world's fastest
and longest telecommunication cable. KDD and AT&T report having
successfully transmitted data through the longest undersea optical
fiber cable between Japan and the US. The 9,000-km cable is said
to have transmitted data at a world-record speed of five gigabits
per second.

This optical fiber was jointly developed and laid by KDD and
AT&T. Both firms laid out a 4,500-km chunk of cable and interconnected
it in the middle.

The data transmission speed of this cable is 10 times faster than
the existing optical cable, according to the companies. Amazingly,
it is said to be capable of transmitting 30 volumes of the
Encyclopedia Britannica in six seconds.

KDD and AT&T are expected to jointly lay out and link optical
fiber cables in the US in the future. In fact, both firms
linked their cables in New Jersey last week.

By the end of 1995, KDD and AT&T expect to build telecom
cable networks which will accept 500,000 simultaneous telephone
calls. This is about six times greater than possible today, the
companies say.

KDD and AT&T claim their success in the longest and fastest cable
transmission project is due to both firms' advanced amplifier
technology. AT&T's Executive Director William Carter told a news
conference, "This is an historic event."

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920608/Press Contact: KDD, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00024)

 ****NBI, McData Announce Job Cuts; Legacy Discontinued 06/08/92
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Two Colorado computer
companies have announced job cuts which combined will put about 100
people out of work.

NBI, Inc., publisher of word processing program Legacy, said it will
lay off 34 people because of what it described as "disappointing"
sales of Legacy for Windows. This is the second layoff at NBI in
18 months. In December 1990 Newsbytes reported that the company was
reducing its staff by 73.

The company said it was ceasing development of Legacy 2.1, the next
version of the program. The update to Legacy was announced in early
April, when the company said it expected to ship in mid-June.

According to NBI spokesperson Nancy Hamilton, most of the layoffs
will be in the software division, with the systems integration and
service divisions remaining unscathed.

"It is extremely difficult for a single product software company to
have an impact in the viciously competitive market for PC word
processors. Our lack of Legacy sales means that we have to let many
very talented people go," said NBI Chairman and CEO Ronald Erickson.

NBI licensed Legacy to WordStar International, giving that company a
basis for its Windows-compatible word processor.

Erickson has only recently assumed the leadership of NBI, replacing
Stephen Jerritts. NBI has recently completed a successful
reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Code.

Boulder-based McData Corporation said it will eliminate about 65
positions due to a sharp downturn in shipments of the company's
controllers. McData said it will also reduce executive salaries,
reduce the hours of some workers, and look at job-sharing.

McData spokesperson Kimberly Rosengren told Newsbytes that employees
were told last Thursday that layoffs were imminent. Rosengren said
that some of the affected employees have already been told their jobs
are being cut, while the remainder are still to be told. The layoffs
are effective over the next week, said Rosengren.

McData introduced its Linkmaster 7100 network controller family one
year ago.

(Jim Mallory/19920605/Press contact: Nancy Hamilton, NBI,
303-938-2808)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00025)

 ****Compaq Cuts Prices, Releases New Systempro Server 06/08/92
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Compaq Computer
Corporation made a series of announcements today including a new
Systempro unit, price cuts in existing Systempro systems, and
a new scheme for network software resellers.

Compaq announced an enhanced version of its Systempro file server.
The company said the new version, identified by the letter "e" in
its model number, can improve server performance by up to 70
percent.

Compaq said the increased performance is made possible due to the
performance boost made possible by the development of its next-
generation intelligent drive array controller, the IDA-2, a bus master
that uses a faster processor and a 4MB (megabyte) array accelerator
write cache.

List prices for the enhanced Systempro models range from $11,799 to
$22,999 depending on configuration. At the same time the company
said it has reduced the price of the current Systempro models by as
much as 21 percent. For example, the new price or an entry level
Systempro, using a 33 megahertz 386 microprocessor and configured
with 240MB of memory is $10,999. Prices for the Systempro/LT now
start at $4,999.

This is the third time Compaq has reduced the suggested
retail price of Systempro units. In February last year Systempro
prices were cut 10 percent. Eight months later, in October, the
company announced a $1,000 reduction on 386-based Systempro servers,
while the 486-based units were reduced $3,000.

Compaq also announced it will resell Novell Netware together with
its own network management products.

(Jim Mallory/19920608/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq,
713-374-0484)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00026)

Ramtron Shipping 4Kb FRAM Chips 06/08/92
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Ramtron
International says it is now shipping production quantity lots of
its 4 Kb (kilobit) ferroelectric random access memory chip, the FM
1208.

The FM 1208 is a non-volatile chip, allowing information stored to
be retained when power is turned off. Ramtron said the chip
provides high-speed read/write capabilities without battery back-up.
It's intended for applications such as cellular phones, electronic
games, and copiers.

The FM 1208 is the first member of the non-volatile chip family
developed by Ramtron. The company is also working on 16Kb and 64Kb
chips.

The FM 1208 is available in 24-lead 300 and 600 mil plastic dual
in-line (DIP) packages as well as a 300 mil small outline package,
and carries a $2.95 price tag in 1000-piece lots. It uses a single
+5 volt power supply.

Ramtron, a majority-owned subsidiary of Ramtron Holdings of Sydney,
Australia, first announced its FRAM product line in January of 1991.
In September that year, they announced the 16Kb chip. The company
has said that it is also working on higher capacity chips.

The smaller chips presently available or in development are more
suitable for product such as cellular phones and electronic games.
However, with the technology for a non-volatile chip now in hand, it
seems inevitable that chips with a much greater capacity will
eventually replace the volatile memory presently used in desktop and
laptop computers.

(Jim Mallory/19920608/Press contact: Lee Brown, Ramtron,
719-481-7000; Reader contact: Ramtron, 800-545-3726 or 719-481-7000
or FAX [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00027)

Sierra Online Speaks French 06/08/92
COARSEGOLD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Sierra Online
says it has signed an exclusive agreement with one of the top French
educational software companies, Coktel Vision, to translate and
distribute its educational and game software for the US market.

Ken Williams, president of Sierra said the agreement with Coktel is
part of the company's five-year goal announced last fall to become
number one in the educational market. The software developed by
Coktel is the ADI software family of products, which Sierra says has
more than half of the French educational market.

ADI has three distinct levels of curriculum, ADI for preschoolers,
ADI Bou for K-12, and ADI Bac for pre-college students. Adventure
oriented entertainment products for adults is also part of the Coktel
agreement, Sierra representative Anita Greene told Newsbytes.

Despite the fact that the Coktel products are in French, a fact that
creates a challenging problem in converting them to an English
educational market, Williams asserts the products have a better
system than anything available in the US market now. Sierra did say
it expects to spend considerable time and money in the conversion of
the French products.

Sierra has already spent over $1 million on development of
educational software titles. The company has released "The Castle of
Dr. Brain," an engaging, animated exploration game that masks
educational tasks in the form of challenging puzzles that must be
solved to gain access to different parts of Dr. Brain's castle.
"EcoQuest," an educational environment-oriented ocean adventure game,
is also available.

Greene estimated the English versions of the Coktel educational
titles will be available in the first part of 1993. Sierra's products
are designed to operate on IBM and compatible personal computers
(PCs), Apple Macintosh, and Commodore Amiga computers.

Sierra is making several changes. The company offers a graphical
online service that includes an amusement park that is still
under construction, and another in the works. Sierra most recently
announced a $12.95 flat rate for up to 30 hours of online time nation
wide. Previously the service was billed hourly in some parts of the
US.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920608/Press Contact: Anita Greene, Sierra Online,
tel [phone] ext. 504, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00028)

 ****Adobe And Hayden Form Book Publishing Firm 06/08/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) --
Hoping to cash in on the lucrative world of instructional and
general computer books, Adobe Systems has signed an
agreement with Hayden, a division of Prentice Hall Computer
Publishing, to create Adobe Press, a joint book-publishing
venture.

The two companies will produce and distribute both traditional
paper and alternate formats. The companies maintain that
topics to be covered will include graphic arts, Adobe computer
applications, and advanced technologies. The books will also
encompass "the role, function and art of typography, as well as
how best to use Adobe's technology in the graphics arts and
printing industry."

Both companies plan to collaborate on Adobe Press books,
with Adobe engineers, designers, art directors, and typographers
providing technical guidance. The resulting books will be
published and distributed by Hayden.

Clinton Nage, spokesman for Adobe, told Newsbytes that "we
have done books before with a different publisher." He added that
"We will continue to publish the Adobe PostScript Reference
Manual and other (technical books) with" the other publisher,
(Addison Welsley).

Nage told Newsbytes that a book called "Design Essentials," with
Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, will be the first title in the
Professional Studio Techniques series to be published. He said it
would be released sometime this year, although he was not sure
when.

Another Adobe spokesman told Newsbytes that the venture will
not be a separate company but will exist "within one of the
existing divisions."

The companies maintain that books from Adobe Press will be
available through Prentice Hall's distribution channels, including
bookstores throughout the country, as well as through direct mail.
Foreign language translations will be available in select markets
in Europe and the Pacific Rim, and all books will be published
simultaneously in the United States and Canada.

Nage told Newsbytes that the deal with Hayden "seemed a good
fit" because of the company's experience with producing high
quality books using desktop publishing methods.

(Ian Stokell/19920608/Press Contact: Patricia J. Pane, Adobe
Systems Inc., 415-962-3967; Beth Silcox, Hayden, 317-573-2500)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00029)

Merisel Spends $10M, Moves Into Latin America 06/08/92
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Distributor
Merisel has acquired Dinamia S.A., a Mexico City-based distributor
and consequently is one of several companies moving in a strong way
into the blossoming Latin American computer market.

Merisel says Dinamia is one of the three largest distributors in
Mexico. The deal cost Merisel over $10 million, Merisel
representatives said, so Merisel maintains it doesn't expect the
acquisition to boost its bottom line this year. The company said it
did expect the acquisition to enhance its ability, with its Miami-
based distribution location, to form a pan-Latin American
distribution network which includes Latin America and the Caribbean.

Merisel is not the only company taking serious steps in the Latin
American market. AST announced last year it was opening a warehouse
distribution center to facilitate its product distribution in Latin
America, and Citizen's representative Bob Adam told Newsbytes is also
moving into the Latin American market. AST makes IBM compatible
computers and accessories, while Citizen is known for its desktop and
portable printer product.

Dinamia was established in 1985 and has offices in Mexico City,
Guadalajara, and Merida. The company's founder, Miguel Lascurain, is
staying on as its general manager, and partners Gonzalo de Velasco
and Eduardo Lascurain will remain as executives, Merisel said.

Merisel says it is the world's largest publicly held distributor of
microcomputer hardware and software. Its closest competitor is Ingram
Micro, the world's largest distribution company. Merisel says it
currently stocks products from 700 manufacturers for sale to 50,000
resellers worldwide. The company says it has 20 distribution centers
that serve North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920608/Press Contact: Cathy Quattrocchi, Merisel,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00030)

 ****Tandon Intros 486's Based On Cyrix Chip 06/08/92
MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- Tandon says it is
offering 486 personal computers at 386SX prices. Two of the three new
486 computers are based on the significantly less expensive Cyrix
chips, Intel-compatible chips which Intel is currently suing Cyrix
over.

The company says it has added three new 486 computers in its "PC
Brand" product line and is offering the new additions for prices
starting at $1,395. Tandon says the new models come with 4 megabytes
(MB) of random access memory (RAM), expandable to 32MB; a 105 MB
Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk drive, a 1.44 MB 3.5-
inch drive, a 1.2 MB 5.25-inch drive; a 16-bit Super video graphics
array (VGA) card and color monitor; one parallel and two serial
ports; 101-key enhanced keyboard; a serial mouse; MS-DOS 5.0; and
Windows 3.1 software.

Tandon is comparing the new 486's with brand name PCs of the same
speed and processing power, but based on Intel chips. The 486/SLC-25,
a 25 megahertz 486 is priced at $1,395, 32 percent lower than
Gateway's 25 MHz 486SX at $2,045, and 39 percent lower than Dell's
486P/25 i486SX at $2,299, Tandon said. The PC Brand 486/33 Cache is
$1,695 and Tandon says it is 28 percent lower than Gateway's 33 MHz
486DX at $2,345, and 32 percent lower than Dell's 486P/33 i486 at
$2,499.

Tandon says its top of the line PC Brand uses the Intel 486/DX2-50
Cache, the new speed doubling chip from Intel. The 486/DX2-50 is
priced at $2,195, 17 percent lower than Gateway's 50 MHz 486DX2 at
$2,645, and 42 percent lower than Dell's 450DE/2 i486DX2 at $3,799,
Tandon said.

The DX2-50 chips from Intel run on a 25 MHz system, however, the chip
runs internally at 50 MHz. The upshot, according to Matt Thomas, an
engineer at Tandon, is the user will get 40 to 70 percent faster
performance than a straight 25 MHz system and the manufacturer can
use existing 25 MHz motherboards for the new chip. However, the
performance will not be as fast as a 50 MHz designed 486 system with
a 50 MHz motherboard and a 50 MHz 486 chip.

While Intel has tried to legally block Cyrix from marketing its
compatible chips during the litigation, it has been unsuccessful.
Tandon was one of the first companies to announce the availability of
PCs based on the Cyrix chip.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920608/Press Contact: Mike Sanders or Matt Thomas,
Tandon, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public Contact, 800-PC
BRAND)


(CORRECTION)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00031)

Correction: PC Magazine - Russian Edition Update 06/08/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 JUN 8 (NB) -- SK Verlag, the publisher of the PC
Magazine Russian edition, has issued a statement that the information
published by Newsbytes in a March 27, 1992 story entitled "PC
Magazine Russian Edition Scandal" needs to be corrected.

SK Verlag said that 100,000 copies of the magazine had been published
monthly since the first issue and provided documents to back this up.
Those documents include the letter dated 30 April 1992 from the
printer, the Kaliningradskaya Pravda publishing house, stating
that it has agreed to "print 100,000 copies of the magazine, 8
issues annually, starting from number one, on the customer's paper.
Another included orders from wholesale book and magazine buyers
indicating they actually received the claimed number of copies.

Newsbytes was unable to collect any additional, independent
information about the first three issues of the magazine, which in the
earlier report, two anonymous Newsbytes sources had said
amounted to no more than 3,000 issues published monthly.
The Kaliningrad printing factory chief, Mr Moiseev, who
dealt with the magazine's publication, recently changed his workplace
and could not be reached by Newsbytes. The new manager, Mr Anatoly
Makhlov, does not have information about the magazine's business
deals during the past year, he said.

Makhlov said, "The magazine says their circulation is stated at 100,000
copies, and we have no problems publishing as much copies as the supplied
amount of paper permits -- 50 thousand, 100 thousand. As I have just
started in this position I cannot supply exact figures immediately."

He also refused to comment anything about the magazine's past circulation
figures.

The former general manager of the publication, Mr Chvirtko, who
Newsbytes sources had said was responsible for a small, initial
circulation, resigned under pressure from the publication two months
ago and was not available for comment.

Ziff-Davis, which publishes PC Magazine in the US, has licensed
the right to use the name, logo, and editorial materials to publishers
of the PC Magazine - Russian edition, but Ziff-Davis does not publish
the magazine itself.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920604/Press Contact: Alexander Kahn, PC Magazine
Russian edition, phone [phone]; fax [phone])