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/nb920708

Text File | 1992-07-08 | 65KB | 1,412 lines

(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00001)

Mac-Based Digital Multimedia Data Organizer Planned By Aldus 07/08/92
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Aldus, a company best
known for its Pagemaker desktop publishing software, has announced it
has bought Macintosh-based technology for a multimedia database to
sort and catalog multimedia information, even on a network. The
technology -- code named "Fetch" -- was purchased from Provident
Software of Anaheim, California.

Aldus plans to offer a retail product based on the bought-in
technology later this year. In the mean time, the company is offering
the technology for license to Macintosh developers.

The Fetch database is designed to allow the cataloging, browsing, and
retrieval of digital media in standard Mac file formats, Aldus
maintains. Digital media includes illustrations, clip art libraries,
sounds, digitized photographs, and digitized video clips.

Fetch organizes each piece of digital media, also referred to as a
file, recording it into a catalog. Aldus claims that Fetch is capable
of recording the location and vital information about any file, and
each catalog can hold up to 32,000 files.

A user can view a catalog's contents in a visual "gallery" of
thumbnail images, preview graphics at full resolution, and play sounds
plus movies to hear their contents, Aldus asserts. Users can add to a
Fetch catalog by dragging and dropping files or entire volumes over
the Fetch application icon.

Sorting and searching of files in a Fetch database can be carried out
based on a variety of criteria, including user-definable keywords,
file type, and filename. Fetch is fast, according to Aldus, and can
search a catalog of several thousand items in less than a second. The
company claims that, once located, a file can be copied, printed,
placed into a document or other electronic communication, distributed
to other users, or used to launch an application for further editing.

When used as a tool in production-oriented publishing groups working
on a network, the product's multi-user design offers over 100 users
access to shared catalogs. Fetch offers access to media stored on any
volume or network, even across a company-wide computing environment
and from volumes that are currently "off-line."

Aldus also claims that an attractive feature of the package in a
network environment is that users can retrieve a file without knowing
its specific location, file format, or originating application because
Fetch is capable of keeping track of all of this for them.

Most standard Mac and industry-wide file formats, including PICT, EPS,
TIFF, SND, Kodak Photo CD, and Quicktime files are accepted by Fetch
for cataloging as well as several proprietary formats, including Adobe
Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Multi-Ad Creator. Aldus notes that
future versions of Fetch will catalog files from its own suite of
products, including Aldus Pagemaker, Aldus Freehand, Aldus Persuasion.

Aldus officials have not revealed any of the financial arrangements
with Provident Software, nor have they announced pricing,
availability, or system requirements at this time.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920708/Press Contact: Brad Stevens, Aldus, tel 206-
628-2361, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00002)

 ****New T4 Mac Viruses Spread On Internet Via Gomoku Game 07/08/92
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- New viruses show up
frequently, but Microcom, developers of Virex Macintosh antivirus
software, claims that T4-A and T4-B viruses have been discovered in
versions 2.0 and 2.1 of the Gomoku game application, which is widely
available for download on the Internet and Usenet online services.

Microcom says that, when an application infected with the T4 is
launched from the Mac user interface, the virus attempts to alter the
system file causing changes in the Apple System 6 and System 7
operating systems.

The changes often leave the Macintosh unable to start up as the INIT
files and Systems extensions don't load. Like most viruses, the T4
strain also attempts to write viral codes over parts of application
files, damaging the files and often requiring reinstallation of the
application.

Microcom says that it has updated its Virex antivirus software to
version 3.82 to detect and eliminate the new T4 virus strains. It also
notes that the updated version of Virex -- version 3.82 -- is now
being shipped to subscribers. Registered users who are not subscribers
can be mailed update information to update their copy of Virex to
detect the T4 strain. The company notes that updates may also be
obtained from its BBS, details of which are available on request.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920708/Press Contact: Teri Bruno, White & Cromer
for Microcom, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00003)

 ****IBM Confirms Printer Development Deal With Hitachi 07/08/92
PURCHASE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- As reported previously
be Newsbytes, IBM has now confirmed that it has signed a printer
development deal between Hitachi, IBM's Pennant Systems Company,
Hitachi Inc., and Hitachi Koki Company Ltd.

Paul Neuman, spokesperson for IBM, told Newsbytes that under the
terms of the agreement, the products will be developed jointly, with
IBM marketing the final products on a world-wide basis.

Plans call for Hitachi Koki to manufacture high-, medium- and low-
speed print engines for continuous and cut-form printers, with the
controllers being produced by either Pennant or Hitachi Koki. The
software will be developed by Pennant.

The new products will use Pennant's "leading-edge" Advanced Function
Printing (AFP) architecture. According to Neuman, the AFP technology
is designed for "mainframe and mid-range computers" and allows for a
"broad range of printer capabilities."

According to IBM, AFP technology is flexible in that it allows
customers to "take information from their data bases to merge with
electronic forms, labels, and other documents for printing." Big Blue
also claims that the technology also supports nine different printers
ranging from 144 to 300 dots-per-inch (DPI).

IBM notes that Pennant is a separate IBM company responsible for IBM's
impact and non-impact printers, related software, and advanced
function printing services.

Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd., is an affiliate of Hitachi Inc., whose
responsibilities include world-wide development, manufacturing and
marketing of high-quality printer products. Terms of the agreement
were not disclosed by IBM.

Newsbytes reported last week that the first products -- so-called
"intelligent printers" -- will be produced as early as next year.

Newsbytes' Tokyo bureau reported that Hitachi predicts the printer
will evolve into a multi-million dollar business. Newsbytes' previous
story stated that Hitachi and IBM will produce high-end system
printers, which have enough computing power installed to control
software and fonts.

(Ian Stokell/19920708/Press Contact: Paul Neuman, IBM, 914-697-6537)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00004)

IBM Signs AS/400 Distrib Deal With Arrow 07/08/92
MELVILLE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- In what the companies
are claiming is "the first time IBM has used an international
commercial distributor to market its AS/400 products in the US and
Puerto Rico," IBM has signed up Arrow Electronics Inc.'s Commercial
Systems Group as an IBM Managing Industry Remarketer for the
Application System/400 (AS/400) computer system.

Arrow maintains that, under terms of the agreement, the AS/400 9402
Models E02, E04 and E06 will be distributed to authorized IBM Industry
Remarketer Affiliates through the newly-formed Application Systems
Division of Arrow's Commercial Systems Group.

Robert J. McInerney, president of Arrow's Commercial Systems Group,
told Newsbytes that "the AS/400 line brings with it over 9,000
applications."

Announcing the arrangement, Susan M. Whitney, AS/400 brand manager,
IBM United States, said: "Arrow provides added value to an enormous
number of resellers whom we consider key to expanding our market
coverage for the AS/400 family. In addition, this partnership expands
IBM's presence in two-tier distribution."

According to the companies, Arrow will introduce the AS/400 line in
its mid-Atlantic and mid-America regions this month, with distribution
to the rest of North America by the end of 1992.

"The AS/400 is the flagship of the IBM line," said McInerney. "Adding
it to our offerings is as strategic for Arrow as it is for IBM. From a
corporate standpoint, Arrow's Application Systems Division will be on
the leading edge of IBM's move into two-tier distribution of the
AS/400," he added.

"From a reseller standpoint, we are providing the opportunity to grow
with computing products from an industry leader. Resellers can now
choose to develop their own applications for the AS/400 or can benefit
from the thousands of applications which have already been developed
by IBM Business Partners," he said.

"More importantly," added McInerney, "resellers can offer their clients
something even more valuable than a computing solution -- investment
protection. IBM is constantly improving the price-performance of the
AS/400, along with the ability of an end user to expand and to
integrate advanced functions into an existing AS/400 system."

McInerney noted that resellers will be able to purchase the AS/400
from Arrow as a prepackaged offering which includes all the hardware
and preloaded software, including the Operating System/400, as well as
the training needed to operate the system.

In addition, the company maintains that selected IBM Business Partner
application software for the 9402 Models E02 and E04 is planned to be
available through Arrow under IBM's Plug'N'Go program, which come with
a 90-day customer satisfaction guarantee.

The company said that the AS/400 comes with its own online classroom
which enables users to call up system-based tutorials. In addition to
the support services available from IBM and Arrow, the AS/400 comes
with online electronic customer support (ECS) that enables users to access
answers to frequently-asked technical questions. With ECS, the AS/400
can detect and diagnose many problems by itself, the company claims.

Arrow has appointed IBM veteran Joseph Scioscia as corporate marketing
manager for the AS/400 line. Scioscia worked for IBM for 28 years,
most recently as a U.S.A. industry new-business programs marketing
manager. In his new position, he will direct marketing activities for
the new Application Systems Division.

(Ian Stokell/19920708/Press Contact: Jeff Cross, IBM Corp., 914-642-
5358; Joan Cear, Allow Electronics, 212-725-5511)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00005)

Unisys Wins Algerian Contract 07/08/92
BLUE BELL, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Unisys Corp. has
announced that it has won a contract, valued at about $3 million, from
the Algerian Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (BADR) to
provide Unix systems for a country-wide network to serve over 300
branches and agencies. Steve Holzman, spokesman for Unisys, told
Newsbytes that "it is a sizeable Unix contract."

According to the company, it won the order after a detailed evaluation
had been carried out using criteria established by the World Bank in
Washington. This was to ensure that the selected systems had the
technical capability to handle the financial services that BADR
planned to develop.

Holzman told Newsbytes that "taken as part of (the aggregate) in open
systems business... it contributes" to the overall growth.

The order includes 300 Unisys U6000/15 and U6000/35 processors, with
associated peripherals, which will be the basis of a network linking
the bank's 36 branches and 250 agencies to its Unisys A6 and B5900
mainframes.

The company says that the software will be based on SYBU, a banking
package from the French systems house SSII Steria systems house that
BADR has adapted to its own requirements. SYBU will enable all
branches and agencies to handle administrative tasks locally, enhance
customer services such as account transactions, mortgages and loans,
and deal with new services as they become available, claims Unisys.

Holzman told Newsbytes that "we want to grow in open systems,
software, and services. Europe is an area where we are growing. That's
where the market is growing."

(Ian Stokell/19920708/Press Contact: Steve Holzman, Unisys, 215-986-
5098)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00006)

More On Cellnet's Plans For Low-cost Cellular Phone Svc 07/08/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Cellnet has released further
details of its "Project Liberty" low-cost cellular phone service for
low usage subscribers, due to be launched this October.

As reported yesterday by Newsbytes, Cellnet will launch a half-price
subscription and line rental offer on its cellular phone service this
October, with usage charges ranging from 20 to 50 pence per minute,
depending on the time of day the call is made.

Full details of the Liberty service will be announced next month
(August), Newsbytes understands, with subscription sign-ups starting
before the end of the year. According to Stafford Taylor, Cellnet's
managing director, the Liberty scheme has a massive potential in sales
terms.

"Our research indicates up to ten million people are seriously
interested, with a million simply waiting for the right price before
opting to buy," he said.

Taylor claims that Cellnet is well placed to handle this extra
business, noting that, since 1983, it has invested UKP 700 million in
its network, UKP 300 million of which was invested in 1990/91
financial year alone. "An additional UKP 30 million is now being
invested to further enhance call quality for the owners of today's
smaller, lightweight mobile phones," he said.

(Steve Gold/19920708/Press & Public Contact: Cellnet: 0753-504814)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00007)

 ****Potential Chaos Over 706 Area Code Intro 07/08/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- While most area code
divisions are straightforward affairs, Georgia's move to split-off
most of northern Georgia into a new 706 code has turned into something
of a nightmare.

The problem seems to have started when Southern Bell successfully
convinced the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that its Memory
Call voice mail service could not be regulated by the state's Public
Service Commission.

This is reported to have upset the then-chairman Bob Durden. When the
company, in order to maintain a supply of new phone numbers, moved to
divide the 404 code, he pounced. Instead of putting the Atlanta local
calling area -- the nation's largest -- into 404 and moving the rest
to 706, Durden began holding public hearings on the margins of the
area, where citizens were urged to express a desire to stay in 404.

The proposed 404 area kept growing, with Southern Bell noting that the
wider the zone, and the larger the local calling area, the more it
would cost each subscriber for basic service. A split soon developed
among citizens subject to the change. Businesses still wanted to stay
in 404, but residences wanted the lower rates, or liked being
identified as outside Atlanta, and preferred 706.

The split was most evident in places like Gainesville, in Hall County,
a town 60 miles north-east of Atlanta seeking its own identity beyond
its status as the "chicken capital of the world." On top of that,
Durden's stint as chairman expired. So did the clock on the
change-over.

The result is confusion and overtime. Although the 706 code has
officially begun operation, people on the margins can still use 404
for now. The PSC is trying to survey those people to learn which code
they want to be in. But they had better work fast -- the dual-code
period expires August 3. The PSC wants to extend that until March in
areas where it's surveying.

Still left undecided, of course, are the new official margins of the
Atlanta toll-free zone. As Southern Bell has noted, the wider the
zone, the higher the local phone bills. Georgia does not have metered
local calling, thanks to PSC opposition, but the area code snafu may
change that. All this would, of course, be another victory for
Southern Bell.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920708)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00008)

NCR Releases New ISDN Adapters 07/08/92
DAYTON, OHIO, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- NCR has released four new
adapter cards that it claims make it easy to connect personal
computers to Integrated Services Digital Network, or ISDN, Basic Rate
service.

ISDN Basic Rate service offers two digital channels at 64,000
bits/second, plus a separate signaling channel at 16,000 bits/second,
usually for just 30 percent more than the cost of a business phone
line. The digital channels can be used for voice, fax, or data calls,
on demand.

In the U.K., Basic Rate service is now available over two thirds of
the country. In the U.S., owing to the introduction of the now non-
standard 56,000 bits/second ISDN service several years ago, service
availability of the 64K service is more fragmented, but growing
steadily.

While a standard form of ISDN, called National ISDN 2, has been
approved by the nation's phone switch makers, it has yet to be fully
implemented. As a result, NCR is producing four different adapter
cards, for AT&T, Northern Telecom, Ericsson, and NEC switch users.
Customers will have to learn from their local phone companies which
brand of switch they're connected to before buying a card or service
based on it. It's hoped that software changes will make the adapter
cards compatible over the next few years, as switch makers implement
National ISDN 2.

NCR is making its cards for both standard AT-style slots, and the
Micro Channel Bus used mainly in the IBM PS/2 line. The adapters also
provide X.25 packet support and an Application Programming Interface
that makes the terminal adapter features accessible for application
development. The adapters work with MS-DOS Release 3.3 and above, or
OS/2 Release 1.1 and above.

The voice-and-data NCR PC Terminal Adapter and NCR PCTA/MC for
MicroChannel architecture are priced at $1,695. The data-only NCR Data
Terminal Adapter and NCR DTA/MC for MicroChannel Architecture are
priced at $1,150. All four adapters are available today.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920708/Press Contact: NCR, Mark Feighery, 513/445-
5236)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00009)

New For PC: Artisoft Tech Support Tools 07/08/92
TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Artisoft has pulled
together a whole bunch of technical support information sources and
are now making it available to others under the Lanual brand name.

Lanual, which rhymes with manual, comes as a collection of seven 5.25-
inch or four 3.5-inch diskettes that together hold all of the Artisoft
manuals, SpecDisk Information, LANtastic compatibility guides, and all
of the current Artisoft technical bulletins.

Artisoft is targeting internal technical support and network
administration groups with this product. The company's idea was
expressed to Newsbytes in terms of putting all of the necessary
information in one place within reach of the person who needs it.

The service part of the name refers to the fact that the collection of
diskettes is updated quarterly. Should a customer choose, they can
either purchase individual issues, or via an annual subscription, get
four issues at a reduced price.

The information on the diskettes includes data that Artisoft's own
technical support department uses. This is also the information that
is supplied to Artisoft's resellers so that an information gap no
longer exists between Artisoft and its customers.

Dave Hallman, Artisoft's vice president of sales and marketing said
"Lanual allows users to access updated information in a convenient and
timely manner. It is ideal for anyone who deals with the LANtastic
network on a regular basis - from the technician who must look up
answers to technical questions, to the sales representative who needs
product information, to the MIS manager who must keep the network
running and fine-tune the system for its best performance."

Lanual is priced at $75 for a single quarter and $249 for the annual
subscription. All of the information is carried through from quarter
to quarter so you do not miss anything by not purchasing a specific
quarter's offering.

(Naor Wallach/19920708/Press Contact: Joe Stunkard, Artisoft,
602-690-3231)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00010)

Dayna Cuts Prices On Etherprint Plus 07/08/92
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Dayna Communications
has reduced the price of its EtherPrint Plus product by 25 percent.
The old price of the EtherPrint Plus was $899 -- effective
immediately, the same piece of kit can be purchased for $649.

Dayna employees stated two official reasons for the price reduction.
First, Brad Romney, Dayna's president and CEO, pointed to the trend
that Dayna has followed in the past few months in terms of
significant price reductions almost throughout the company's product
line. Other Dayna employees talked of the appearance of competition
for the first time in the form of Compatible Systems' EtherWrite
product as leading to the price decrease.

Other industry sources have told Newsbytes that there is another
reason. Dayna is readying a new product for introduction at the
upcoming Mactivity show. This new product has more features than
the EtherPrint Plus and yet Dayna would like to price it at the same
price point. Ergo, something needed to move and EtherPrint Plus
was moved due to the other two reasons.

(Naor Wallach/19920708/Press Contact: David Pascoe, Dayna,
801-531-0600)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEL)(000011)

India Gets New Science Advisor 07/08/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- The man behind the Indian missile
program, A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam, has this week been appointed as the new
Scientific Adviser to the Defense Minister. The appointment is seen as
a prestigious promotion for Kalaam, since it is one of the highest
scientific posts in the country.

Kalaam has been personally overseeing the development of several of
India's current missile systems, including the intermediate range
ballistic Agni, surface-to-surface Prithvi, surface-to-air Akash and
antitank Nag missiles.

According to the Indian defence ministry, plans call for Kalaam to
concurrently hold the position of secretary, Department of Defence
Research and Development, as well as head the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) as its director-general.

Kalaam's predecessor, V.S. Arunachalam, is taking two years
sabbatical leave to the US, where Newsbytes understands that he has
been offered a fellowship. The departure of Arunachalam to the US
has caused a stir in Indian government circles.

Arunachalam's move to the U.S. follows in the wake of another renowned
scientist, A.J. Paulraj, who directed the software design of India's
supercomputer, Param, at the Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing (CDAC). He recently left the country for a position at
Stanford University.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920708)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00012)

Can Supercomputers Solve Environmental Problems? 07/08/92
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Just a few weeks after
world leaders attended the recent highly publicized Earth Summit,
environmental researchers are meeting to see if they can help increase
the accuracy of environmental computer models.

Called the Summer Program on Mathematical Computational and
Statistical Analyses in Environmental Studies, the program offers
about 150 of the world's top environmental researchers and
mathematicians the opportunity to help increase the accuracy of the
environmental computer models used for research into areas such as
acid rain, urban pollution, and the greenhouse effect.

The scientists and mathematicians are meeting at the University of
Minnesota for a four week symposium organized by the Institute for
Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), with funding support by Cray
Research, manufacturer of supercomputers. Many of the Cray Research
supercomputers presently in use are used for environmental research.

Established in 1982 with funds provided by the National Science
Foundation, IMA attempts to improve communication between
mathematicians and other scientists in the academic community,
government research labs, and private industry.

According to IMA director Avner Friedman, the July program is the
first time the mathematics community has developed a program focused
exclusively on environmental topics.

"This program is designed to provide much needed interdisciplinary
forum for joint exploration of recent advances in and application of
mathematical models for studying such problems as ozone depletion,
global climate change, acid rain, pollution dispersion, and hazardous
waste disposal," he said.

As an example of how supercomputers can help solves environmental
problems, Cray Research said that Dr. Gregory McRae is using a
supercomputer to develop more effective air quality control
strategies. McRae developed a model of the Los Angeles basin area
which reportedly helped legislators institute controls on pollutants
from cars and other vehicles. A similar model is being used to
investigate air pollution in Mexico City.,

Another researcher is using a supercomputer to develop and enhance a
US regional acid rain model. Dr. Julius Change has developed a model
which is being adapted for regional acid rain research in Asia and
Europe.

(Jim Mallory/19920708/Press contact: Mardi Schmieder, Cray Research,
612-683-3538)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00013)

New For Macintosh: Darwin's Dilemma Upgrade 07/08/92
LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Darwin's Dilemma
is a very challenging, yet fun, game. Now InLine Design has come out
with an update that promises to make playing the game even more fun.

Version 2.0 of Darwin's Dilemma is shipping now. There are seven
improvements over the previously shipping version 1.01. The most
notable improvement is the addition of an icon editor.

In the game, your purpose is to create higher order life forms from
lower order ones. You traverse an evolutionary tree of 24 levels in
pursuit . The company would not tell Newsbytes what the final life
form is. You create a higher order life form by following the
evolution rules posted in a separate window and combining (the program
calls it "merging") lower order life forms together.

The actual merge is done by your Darwin figure who kicks the different
organisms together. Once a desired life form is reached, your are
moved into a higher level and start again with a new set of life forms
and new rules.

The icon editor lets you create your own icons to represent the life
forms. The company told Newsbytes that one of the staffers made an
icon that looked like the company president. He saw this icon, and
liked it so much that he asked about an icon editor that would allow
the creation of such ideas. Now, the icon editor is a reality. In
addition to its MacPaint-style drawing tools, the icon editor comes
with its own set of 29 pre-drawn icons for your amusement.

Other improvements include the ability to change the evolutionary
rules to your own; a "hide" function that allows you to play the game
at work; swapping of critters has been simplified; the undo command
does not detract from your point totals; running over the hero
(Darwin) no longer costs points; and the evolutionary rules screen is
movable.

Version 2.0 retains the $49.95 price of the previous versions. Current
customers can upgrade to v2.0 at a cost of $15. Anyone who has
purchased version 1.0 or 1.01 since August 1, 1991 is welcome to call
the company and receive the upgrade for free.

(Naor Wallach/19920708/Press Contact: Ruth Crowther, InLine Design,
203-435-4995)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(000014)

New For Macintosh: World Deluxe Carmen Sandiego 07/08/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Broderbund Software has
released a Deluxe Edition of its popular "Where in the World is Carmen
Sandiego?" computer game. The company claims the deluxe edition of the
game offers 256 color, sights and sounds from 45 countries, digitized
graphics, and speaking, animated characters.

Over 2,500 clues, equivalent to three regular Carmen Sandiego games,
are included in this edition. "The Chief" and four other talking
characters have been added as well as a new musical score, and photos
of exotic places, many from National Geographic Society's Image Bank.

A warrant robot, 60 animations, and a travel agent who helps players
book itineraries are new in this edition, the company said. While
technically the game could be classified as multimedia, company
representatives told Newsbytes Broderbund refrains from calling
anything but its compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) versions of
its products "multimedia."

Broderbund's success with the product is unprecedented. The
international bandit Carmen Sandiego who is the character to be caught
in the geography game started originally as a computer game. However,
Carmen Sandiego is now being chased by kids on a geography game show
broadcast on PBS; featured in an educational geography puzzle; and is
a series from Golden Books. Also, Bat Film Productions, the executive
producers of Batman and Batman Returns, has signed with Broderbund and
has a one year option that ends next March to make the Carmen
Sandiego movie.

The Macintosh "World Deluxe" edition runs on Mac LC and II computers
with 2 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) (4 MB with System
7 or higher), requires 9 MB of hard disk space, a color monitor, and
comes with a 1,000 page copy of the "World Almanac." Retail price is
$79.95, Broderbund added. The "World Deluxe" Carmen Sandiego edition
is already available for IBM compatible personal computer (PC) and
Tandy computers in a DOS version and a multimedia CD-ROM PC version.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920708/Press Contact: Kathleen Burke, Broderbund,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00015)

Hayes Appoints New Swiss Distributors 07/08/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Hayes Microcomputer Products
has appointed Computer 2000 and Merisel as authorized service
distributors in Switzerland. Terms of the distribution agreements
call for both companies to act as authorized service distributors
in what Hayes calls its "expanded (Swiss) dealer channel."

According to Hayes, the distribution deal allows the company to
distribute a number of new products to the Swiss market,
including the Smartmodem 2400 Quad, Hayes' Ultra 2400 with
Express 96 and Smartcom for Windows.

Announcing the signing of the two Swiss distributors, John Babb,
Hayes' general manager for the company's European region, said
that the company's success in the global market is built on
establishing what he calls "strong distribution channels,"
feeding dealers in the countries concerned.

"Hayes will benefit from Computer 2000's and Merisel's
distribution experience and ability to deliver a wider range of
communications solutions and maintain our position as a leading
supplier of communications solutions," he said,

Newsbytes notes that Computer 2000 and Merisel replace Hayes'
existing distributor -- Radio Schweiz -- in the Swiss market.
Interestingly, Radio Schweiz was a partner in Compuserve's push
into Europe until quite recently. The Hayes move seems to confirm
Radio Schweiz's movement away from the online services and
data communications market and back to its radio and TV origins.

Computer 2000 is the largest PC peripheral and software
distributor in Europe. The company's annual turnover is an
impressive 1,000 million Swiss Francs plus. In Switzerland, the
distributor supplies around 2,700 dealers with a range of
computer-related products.

Merisel, meanwhile, is a major name in US distribution that has
been pushing very hard this past few years in the European
market-place. The company is the world's largest distributor of
computer products, with 1991 revenues of $1,600 million. The company
has 33 sales offices and 17 warehouses dotted around the world.
Merisel has wholly-owned subsidiaries in Austria, France, Germany,
Switzerland and the U.K.

(Steve Gold/19920708/Press & Public Contact: Hayes - Tel: 081-
848-1858; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00016)

3Com Claims A First With European Support Center 07/08/92
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HERTS, ENGLAND, 192 JUL 8 (NB) -- 3Com has
opened what it claims is a first for the industry -- a European
support center located in Hemel Hempstead, a town north of London
in the UK. The networking company claims that the new centre
more than doubles 3Com's product support staff in Europe to 45 and
complements its existing support offered to customers and resellers
across Europe.

"Although our competitors have made statements about the need for
improving the level of international customer support and
service, especially with the introduction of a tariff-free
Europe, 3Com is the only one who now offers this service to its
customers," explained Richard Joyce, the company's European
president.

Europe now accounts for more than 40 percent of 3Com's income,
following the take-over earlier this year of BICC Data Networks, which
has become the company's UK-based premises distribution division.

This perhaps explains why 3Com has invested UKP 100,000 in
network and diagnostic equipment for its support centre, the bulk
of which has been spent on a new "trouble shooting laboratory."

So, what prompted 3Com to make such a major investment in Europe
during a period of recession? According to Joyce, 3Com's own
"complexity crisis" research into business communications
highlighted problems facing UK-based organizations with rapidly
growing networking requirements.

"When this complexity and rapid growth is projected onto a pan-
European scale by organizations trying to exploit the single
common market, vendor support is critical to ensure trouble-free
implementation," he said.

"The investment in our support services will help our customers
and partners build these network infrastructures and avoid the
pitfalls associated with rapid network growth," he added.

(Steve Gold/19920708/Press & Public Contact: 3Com U.K. - Tel:
071-381-4505)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00017)

New For Unix: Wordperfect Office 3.1 Ships 07/08/92
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Wordperfect UK
has announced the release of Wordperfect Office 3.1 for Unix-
based systems. The software is an electronic mail and scheduling
package that runs on Unix systems -- initial versions will run on
Unix System V 386 with SCO Unix and other systems following on
shortly.

In use, the software's electronic mail (e-mail) facilities include
folders, status checking and message retraction. It allows up to
100 attachments under Unix to be used. WPTalk, an interactive
conversation application, is bundled with the main software.

The scheduler facilities of the software now allows events,
meetings and office resources to be shared over the network,
according to Brent McKinley, who claims that the package is
pitched at any organizations who are using or considering Unix
systems, PC networks and/or a variety of multi-user platforms,
"and who would like to use global mail and scheduling across
these platforms."

Pricing on version 3.1 of the software, which is available
immediately in the UK, depends on complex site licence requirements.
As with all Wordperfect Office software, which is now available across
a variety of machines, the Unix edition includes a shell menuing
system that allows rapid movement between modules with a single
keystroke.

The shell program is capable of launching all Wordperfect
applications, as well as most third-party applications software
for Unix. In use, a clipboard remains accessible at all times.
Like the clipboard facility on the Mac or the PC under Windows,
the WP Shell clipboard allows text to be copied or moved from one
application to another.

(Steve Gold/19920708/Press & Public Contact: Wordperfect U.K. -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00018)

UK: Anti-Virus Toolkit Gets Highest Level of Certification 07/08/92
BERKHAMSTEAD, HERTS, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Dr Solomon's
anti-virus toolkit has been awarded the UK's computer virus
certification center's (UKCVCC) certificate of endorsement.
According to S&S International, the company that produces the
software, in its technical evaluation of version 5.56A, the
UKCVCC judged the software as meeting its level one standard.

Alan Solomon, the managing director of S&S International, is
pleased with the certification, since its credibility to the
package, He noted that Find Virus, the package's toolkit scanner,
received special mention when it was proven to be capable of
detecting a total of all 1,360 virus programs and their known
variants, which it claimed to do.

The UKCVCC's report said: "This is a very impressive result
indeed and one that we have never matched when evaluating any
other product."

In concluding its report, the UKCVCC found Dr Solomon's anti-
virus toolkit to be "an impressive piece of software combining
the fastest scan times to date with devastating technical
accuracy."

The UKCVCC, which is based at the University of Bradford, was set
up to offer a completely independent facility for testing and
comparing anti-virus software. According to A&S International, the
unbiased findings from the tests will prove useful to anyone
implementing an anti-virus strategy.

(Steve Gold/19920708/Press & Public Contact: S&S International -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; University of Bradford -
electrical engineering department - Tel: [phone]; Fax: 0274-
391521)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00019)

Comarco Releases Cellular Net Evaluation System 07/08/92
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Despite the
fact that cellular networks are in place throughout the US, it
can still be hard to get make an outgoing call on one, owing to
network congestion at busy times. Now a company called Comarco has
announced a system that it hopes will change that situation.

The Strategic Network Evaluation System is a mobile computerized
testing system that lets a cellular operators measure telephone
call quality throughout a service area.

The product has already been sold to 10 systems, and others are
evaluating it, according to president Don Bailey.

"Our system allows phone companies to measure network performance and
eliminate the root causes of blockage, dropped calls and noise; the
problems that cellular phone users most often complain about," he
said, adding that he expects to sell hundreds of such systems, and
that profit margins on them are greater than on any other product his
company has offered to date.

The system includes a mobile test unit and fixed station which
together act as a surrogate for the carrier's customer. The
system produces reports and electronic map overlays for defect
and diagnostic data, referenced to location based on inputs from
the Global Positioning System, a satellite-based system usually
used by trucking companies to locate vehicles.

The system is designed to be able to run complex call scenarios
repetitively under various operating conditions to determine the
probable cause of specific problems.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920708/Press Contact: Comarco, Don M. Bailey,
714/282-3813)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00020)

Spectrum Interface For Fujitsu Pocket Phone 07/08/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Spectrum Information
Technologies has announced a version of its Axsys cellular data
interface product designed for the Fujitsu Stylus pocket
cellular phone.

The Pocket Data Interface (PDI) allows connection with a portable
computer modem or facsimile machine for data communications
transmission wherever cellular service is available.

Smaller than a deck of cards, and weighing 3.5 ounces, the Pocket
Data Interface operates on a nine-volt battery, providing a
standard RJ11 connection. The product is available through
authorized Fujitsu dealers with a suggested retail price of $399.

Earlier, Spectrum had announced the Axcell, a cellular data
interface which need not be customized for specific cellular
phones. The company also sells its products through a wholly-
owned network of value added resellers called Data One, and
through a computer store chain called Computer Bay.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920708/Press Contact: Spectrum Information
Technologies, Kathy L. Bachand, 214/689-5123)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00021)

Sanyo Raises Stakes In TI Battle 07/08/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has
revealed that Sanyo Electric of Japan has filed an anti-trust
suit against it in a California federal court.

The action follows closely on the heels of a lawsuit filed in Dallas
against Sanyo by Texas Instruments. As reported last week by
Newsbytes, the TI suit asked the court to stop Sanyo from using TI's
semiconductor technology without a license.

The two companies have been at each other's throats for more than a
year over the extension of a licensing and royalty agreement which
allowed Sanyo to use TI semiconductor technology. The previous
agreement expired more than 18 months ago.

The TI announcement said that the 22-page suit filed in San
Francisco claims that TI wants royalties for using its Japanese
patent that covers the basic design of the computer chip. TI
finally won a Japanese patent after a 29-year struggle with the
Japanese patent system. The patent is known as the Kilby patent
after Jack Kilby, an engineer who is credited with inventing the
integrated circuit while a TI engineer.

Sanyo claims that it does not infringe on the Kilby patent and
consequently does not require licensing by TI. TI said Sanyo that
further claimed that TI tried to assess an exorbitant penalty to have
the Kilby patent excluded from the negotiations. TI says it still
hasn't seen the lawsuit papers, but reiterates what it told Newsbytes
last week, that Sanyo does use the Kilby patent in its technology.
The company said that TI would have to file a lawsuit in a Japanese
court to obtain legal redress on the Kilby patent.

TI is already involved in a major lawsuit in the Japanese legal
system, having sued Fujitsu Limited for what it claims is a similar
patent infringement. That suit was filed one year ago.

Texas Instruments spokesperson Terri West told Newsbytes that TI
filed its suit on June 29 after Sanyo said it would sue TI. A Sanyo
official reportedly issued a statement expressing disappointment
with TI's demands and what he called "a total lack of integrity,
which they demonstrated in our negotiations."

TI has reportedly collected more than $1 billion for allowing other
companies to use its patented technology since the mid-1980s.

(Jim Mallory/19920708/Press contact: Terri West, TI, 214-995-3481)


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

 ****New PCs Ship But Dell Execs Take Pay Cut 07/08/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- When Dell Computer
Corporation told Newsbytes recently that it was looking for ways to
reduce operating costs, it was serious -- the company has
just announced that about 100 of its top-level executives, including
Chairman Michael Dell, are having their salaries reduced by five
percent.

"Since we were asking everyone in the organization to look at means
by which the could improve operating efficiencies and screw down the
costs of operation, it was appropriate that the highest paid people
in the organization assume their proper share of cost cutting
responsibility," said Dell spokesperson Roger Rydell.

He told Newsbytes that the decision was made collectively by the
company and the senior management personnel affected. "We think the
burden for these kinds of costs reductions shouldn't be put on the
rank and file," Rydell told Newsbytes.

Rydell added that the reductions are temporary, and will be reviewed
after three months. He declined to say how much the company would
save through the pay cuts. Michael Dell's salary before the pay cut
was $327,250. He also receives other incentives.

Dell said it is also cutting back on expenses such as travel and
office space. The company recently introduced a lower-priced
personal computer line and reduced prices on its existing models.
Prices throughout the industry have been falling, and Dell is not
the only company looking for ways to reduce expenses in order to
maintain profit margins.

(Jim Mallory/19920708/Press contact: Roger Rydell, Dell Computer,
512-794-4294)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00023)

 ****DEC Unveils New Computer Family; Renames VMS 07/08/92
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- In an effort to address
falling computer sales caused by the company's new Alpha
technology announcement earlier in the year, Digital Equipment
has announced a new family of computers that can be upgraded
to the new Alpha-based systems when they become available.

According to the company, DEC computer sales have been slow since
February, when the US company announced plans for the new Alpha
microprocessor. The company says that the announcement "prompted
potential computer buyers to put off purchases, fearing the Alpha
processor would render any system they bought obsolete."

DEC claims that the new line of VAX/VMS computer systems
are designed as a "stop-gap" so computer buyers can purchase
"any of the 13 new systems and be sure they will be completely
compatible with the Alpha processor and can be easily upgraded."

Kevin Rudder, spokesman for DEC, told Newsbytes that, of the 13 new
configurations, "two of them are board upgradeable" to the new Alpha
technology, while the are others part of a program that can "lock in
the price of a future Alpha system" to safeguard the user's
"investment."

Rudder told Newsbytes that the systems are being rolled out
geographically, with the Tokyo announcement set for the 13th,
and the United States announcement slated for 15th at the
company's headquarters.

Said Rudder, at that point, the company would "release US
pricing." He did say that the announcement would involve
"a new generation of VAX systems, from top to bottom,"
ranging from the desktop to the high-end.

Peter Smith, DEC vice president for sales and market in
Europe, said: "These new VAX products out-perform nearly all
current RISC systems yet also provide unique capabilities
like total data protection and networking from local servers
to global networks. Better yet, they're designed to upgrade
easily to Alpha when the time comes, thereby protecting our
customers' significant investments in software, hardware
training, and people for decades to come."

"We call them 'Alpha-ready' OpenVMS systems, and we
believe they will be the key to the client-server networks
that are revolutionizing computing," he added.

A major part of the announcement, Rudder told Newsbytes,
is that "we've renamed the VMS operating system to 'OpenVMS'."

This, he added, is important as "the VMS operating system has received
open system 'branding' from the X/Open committee." According to
Rudder, this makes VMS "the only non-Unix commercial operating system
to receive that branding." The company has "also incorporated the
POSIX standard into VMS," said Rudder.

The company claims that, in addition to the Open VMS operating
software, the new computer line and the Alpha systems due out
later this year, will also be able to run the OSF/1 and the
yet-to-be-released Microsoft Windows NT operating systems.

(Ian Stokell/19920708)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00024)

Barcelona Olympic Computer System Based On OS/2 07/08/92
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- IBM is
hoping that the upcoming Barcelona Olympic games will lead
to a major boost in OS/2 sales and a wider acceptance of the
operating system, especially in Europe. This is because OS/2
is the operating system of the games' information system.

Rob Crawley, a spokesman for IBM, told Newsbytes that the use
of OS/2 during the Olympics "gives great credibility to the
operating system," especially as the task involved is such
an "enormous statistical undertaking."

According to IBM, the Results Information System, the
Commentator System, the Olympic Family Information and
Communication System, and the Operations Management
Information System will be based on two IBM 9021 mainframe
host computers and more than 4,400 PS/2 workstations
running OS/2.

The company claims that more than 15,000 athletes, 11,000
media representatives, 40,000 "Olympic Family" members and
30,000 volunteers will be using the systems from everything
from timetables to results.

Crawley told Newsbytes that "the computing needs of the
Olympics are as varied as the competitors themselves," and
that they "chose OS/2 for its power, reliability, and
ease-of-use."

Fernand Sarrat, IBM's assistant general manager, Personal
Systems market development, said : "An information system of
this size presents very unique challenges, including the support
of 96,000 end users with a wide range of computer literacy.
OS/2 is designed to tackle these challenges and manage
additional user requirements, such as local processing,
multitasking, and seamless connectivity among the four
primary systems."

According to IBM, the Results Information System consists
of 400 networked PS/2s installed at each sports venue.
The system allows for the manual or automatic input of
competition results and provides those results in varying
formats, such as a direct computer link to press agencies
or a TV data feed to broadcasters.

The Olympic Information and Communication System consists
of 2,000 networked PS/2s providing general information such
as event results, schedules, medal standings, press releases,
and weather reports. It also provides an electronic mail
service for Olympic family members and the press.

The Commentator System, based on 1,100 networked PS/2s,
allows broadcast commentators to access event information
or a biography of athletes via a color touch screen. IBM
claims that the event organizers maintain this is an
improvement over previous Olympics where commentators
could only access a few channels of information at a time.

The Operations Management Information System, based on an
AS/400 minicomputer with 350 networked PS/2s, is used
by Olympic employees for managing accommodations,
ticketing, transportation, and medical services.

(Ian Stokell/19920708/Press Contact: Keith Lindenburg,
IBM, 914-642-5363)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00025)

Bright Star Acquired By Sierra On-Line 07/08/92
OAKHURST, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Hoping to use
Bright Star Technology Inc.'s synchronized speech technology in
its educational software, Sierra On-Line has acquired the
company.

Bellevue, Washington-based Bright Star joins Dynamix and The Sierra
Network as wholly owned, independent business units of Sierra.
According to Sierra, Bright Star founder, Elon Gasper, and Alan J.
Higginson, president, will remain with the company in executive
positions. Anita Greene, spokesperson for Sierra, told Newsbytes that
both executives would keep their same positions within the company.

Concerning the possibility of layoffs, Greene told Newsbytes
that "they have eight employees" in their offices in Bellevue,
"and they will keep them. It will be business as usual."

Ken Williams, president and chief executive officer of Sierra
On-Line, said: "Bright Star is an excellent strategic acquisition
for Sierra because its high quality software includes the
unique feature of synchronized speech which will provide a
major advantage to our educational products. Award-winning
Bright Star products, such as Alphabet Blocks, Talking Tiles,
and other software under development, will make a major
contribution toward our goal of leadership in the education
market."

According to Sierra, of equal importance are Bright Star's
patented HyperAnimation technologies for combining patterns
of human speech and facial images into a talking face,
which Sierra plans to incorporate into future interactive
entertainment games.

Additionally, Sierra maintains that Bright Star's expertise in
Macintosh software development will be valuable as the
company seeks to expands its Apple product line-up.

Greene told Newsbytes that there are no plans to discontinue
any products, although Sierra does plan to upgrade some.
Sierra, she said, plans to "take a couple of their products
and colorize them... and get them ready for the color market."

Since November 1991, when Sierra announced that it was
targeting the education market for future growth, the
company has acquired the exclusive North American
distribution rights for the ADI educational software family,
developed by European software publisher Coktel Vision.

"The educational market represents tremendous growth potential
for Sierra," Williams noted. "Sierra will develop both home
learning and coursework titles for all grade levels on both the
PC and Macintosh."

(Ian Stokell/19920708/Press Contact: Anita Greene, Sierra
On-Line, 209-683-4468, ext 504; Alan J. Higginson, Bright
Star Technology, 206-451-3697; or Cathy Seldin, Technology
Solutions, 212-505-9900)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00026)

New For PC: Lotus Releases Symphony 3 07/08/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Lotus Development
Corporation has announced that it will ship the third major
upgrade of the company's Symphony integrated office software by
the end of this month. Major enhancements will involve publishing
controls and formatting.

The grandfather of the integrated software industry, the first
version of Symphony began shipping on June 30, 1984. The integrated
software, with the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet at its
heart, also provides communications software, word processing,
and database applications.

Symphony has undergone a major transformation with its third
major upgrade by adding Bitstream fonts to a new WYSIWYG (what
you see is what you get) word processing display and enhancing
spreadsheet publishing capabilities. Symphony is targeted at
business users as well as developers or value added resellers who
want to use the integrated software as the basis of powerful
turn-key business solutions.

Symphony Version 2.2, released in 1990, only provided bar, pie,
and other simple chart publishing features for the built-in
spreadsheet. Release 3 provides control of color, fonts, and
graphics to Symphony's applications, allowing users to add lines,
shading, drop shadows, arrows and other graphical features to
presentations.

Live graphs (graphs which are automatically changed when
underlying data are updated) are now available for inclusion in
documents created in Symphony, and the latest version adds a
graphics editor to make it easy to modify charts and graphs.

In addition to enhanced publishing control, Symphony 3 adds
sizeable windows and scroll bars, making what the company says is
"a rich and intuitive graphical environment."

To manage all the memory needed by these enhancements, Symphony 3
also adds improved memory management capabilities that let the
software access up to 32 megabytes (MB) of expanded memory or 16
MB of extended memory.

A new spreadsheet auditor utility makes it easier for developers
to follow the logic used in designing a spreadsheet template,
easing troubleshooting.

List price for Symphony Release 3 single-user is $695, with the
future network server edition priced at $995. Lotus offers
significant discounts for customers upgrading from earlier
Symphony and some 1-2-3 versions.

(John McCormick/19920708/Press Contact: McGlinchey & Paul (PR),
Toni Mattucci, 617-862-4514)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00027)

 ****Meridian Bancorp Offers Banking By TV 07/08/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- As if electronic
banking using home computers isn't enough, Reading, Pennsylvania-
based Meridian Bancorp has plans to team up with interactive
television pioneer TV Answer (Reston, Virginia) to provide cable
TV subscribers with access to banking transactions via their home
televisions.

Customers of TV Answer and a Meridian Bancorp-affiliated bank
will be able to pay bills, move money between accounts, and check
the status of their accounts using a hand control box attached to
their cable TV block converter. There will be no need for a
telephone connection or to use a home computer such as is required
by current home banking systems.

Meridian is the parent corporation for 218 branch banks and more
than 200 automated teller machines operating in Pennsylvania and
Delaware. The holding company already has arrangements for
electronic banking with Prodigy.

TV Answer and Hewlett-Packard, which supplies the necessary
interactive TV hardware, are planning to install the TV Answer
system in one and one-half million U.S. homes within one year of
the time they receive permission from the Federal Communications
Commission which has only authorized pilot test installations so
far.

Cathy Sounders, spokeswoman for Meridian, told Newsbytes, "While
we will be emphasizing marketing to our current customer region,
others who have access to TV Answer on their cable systems would
be able to take advantage of our services."

She emphasized that any cable customers would have access to all the
same interactive features whether they were in Philadelphia or Denver,
but only Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania customers would have the
convenience of back-up by local branch banks.

(John McCormick/19920708/Press Contact: Cathy Sounders, Meridian
Bancorp, 215-655-2463)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00028)

Nintendo Can't Stop Game Genie, Pays $15 Mln 07/08/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Nintendo has
announced it will continue to appeal a suit it filed against Lewis
Galoob Toys. Nintendo lost its most recent appeal of a decision made
by a San Francisco court in July 1991 and will now have to pay out $15
million.

Nintendo originally filed the suit in 1990 and got a preliminary
injunction against Galoob that kept the company from marketing its
enhancement device called the Game Genie designed for the Nintendo
Entertainment System (NES). When Nintendo lost the suit it appealed
and this May lost the appeal. The $15 million was awarded as
compensation for profits lost between June 1990 and July 1991 and will
be paid out of a bond Nintendo was required to post as part of the
lawsuit.

While the lawsuit hurt the company's business, Galoob officials say
the award will help. Galoob has sold 1.4 million units, or $50 million
Game Genie units for the NES and has also announced plans to begin
shipping a Sega version of the Game Genie this month.

Nintendo is fighting several legal battles against unlicensed
developers for its game systems, and so is its competitor Sega.
These game manufacturer battles are being watched by the entire
computer industry as precedent setting cases concerning the legality
of reverse engineering and developing interoperable systems.

Paul Liu, chairman of American Video Entertainment (AVE), told
Newsbytes that Nintendo changed the internal design of its hardware so
the machines will no longer play his company's game cartridges. Liu
is in the process of suing Nintendo for $105 million. Atari Tengen
is pursing a similar lawsuit against Nintendo.

Nintendo's arguments are it is trying to preserve the quality of the
NES system, by attempting to force developers to buy into license
agreements it controls.

Part of the license agreement limits the number of titles released in
a year so developers have to put more time into fewer titles. One of
Nintendo's arguments against the Game Genie is it makes NES games too
easy to play by instilling characters with super powers so they can
avoid dangers or fly over obstacles.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating reports of
unfair trade practices on the part of Nintendo. Last year
alone the FTC fined Nintendo $25 million for anti-trust violations.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920708/Press Contact: Carla Quan, Lewis Galoob
Toys, tel [phone], Terrin Kaplan, Nintendo, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00029)

New For PC: Borland's New Tools For Quattro 07/08/92
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- Borland has
announced two new products for its DOS spreadsheet product Quattro
Pro 4.0. One is the Financial Analyst, a set of custom functions for
financial applications, while the other the Custom Function Toolkit
for making custom spreadsheet applications.

Financial Analyst is a group of 45 custom functions for use in
analyzing problems such as generalized cash flow analysis;
amortization and annuity; date and arithmetic; business day
calculations; conversions; and general mathematics, Borland said.

The product was developed using the second product Borland is
announcing, the Custom Function Toolkit, developed by the New York-
based Tech Hackers software development firm. A manual containing
examples is included with the Analyst.

The Custom Function Toolkit is aimed at developers, especially C or
C++ programmers, who want to give special functionality to Quattro
Pro. Borland said developers can use it the toolkit to perform
functions such as interface with an external database, such as dBASE
or Paradox or perform math functions, such as the Bessel functions
or the Fourier transforms.

A tutorial guide for the programmer is included which guides the
programmer though writing a custom function, and also included are
sample functions, utilities for building functions, and reference
libraries of C functions.

While some developers might say this is backward and what they want
is a spreadsheet function to link into their application, Borland
representatives say the toolkit is designed to allow C and C++
developers to link their programs into a Quattro Pro spreadsheet as
a function. Borland says the Toolkit allows developers to create
custom spreadsheet applications for clients.

Borland says the Financial Analyst and Custom Function Toolkit are
available from the company directly. The Financial Analyst is
$49.95, the Toolkit is $99.95, the company added.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920708/Press Contact: Catherine Miller, Borland,
tel [phone], Public contact: 408-431-5505)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00030)

New For PC: Upgrade to TMS Doc Retrieval Software 07/08/92
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 8 (NB) -- TMS has announced an
upgrade to FastCab, its Windows-based software designed to store and
retrieve scanned images.

TMS spokesperson Marc McClure told Newsbytes that enhancements
included in release 2.0 include key word searching, batch scanning,
naming and filing for large quantities of documents, and the ability
to scan variable page sizes.

The keyword search feature includes the use of Boolean logic such as
"and", "or", or "not." Boolean logic allows the user to use search
criteria that includes two or more terms, searches for one text string
or another, or find matches that do not match the designated criteria.
For instance, you could tell the computer to find all documents that
do not include the word "news".

McClure told Newsbytes that FastCab uses icons, or graphic
representations, to represent cabinets, drawers, folders, and
documents. For example, to select a cabinet (the metaphor for a
drive), you would click on a picture of a filing cabinet. Drawers
represent subdirectories, and folders represent a collection of
documents.

According to McClure, FastCab includes a feature called Easyview,
which is a user interface done in Visual Basic. FastCab also allows
documents to cross-file images in an infinite number of ways, even
though the image file only exists once. For example, said McClure,
a contract could be cross-filed by date, company name, sales person,
and account number.

Once the images are scanned into the computer, the user can
manipulate them, including rotating, panning, zooming, going to a
selected page, or selecting next or previous page. FastCab stores
its images in the TIFF CCITT Group 3, Group 4, or uncompressed
standard. McClure said that the program is network compatible, and
supports Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). DDE allows the same data to
be used in different applications.

The batch scanning feature allows FastCab to accept images as they
are scanned in from a Hewlett Packard Scanjet. The batch naming
feature uses a filename prefix, provided by the user, to
automatically name the image file sequentially. McClure said a
batch previewer is included to allow the user to look at the scanned
images to make sure they are satisfactory. Batch filing places the
document in the correct cabinet, drawer, folder, and file.

McClure added that a single user version of FastCab has a suggested
list price of $299, while a 5-user LAN (local area network) pack sells
for $995.

(Jim Mallory/19920708/Press contact: Marc McClure, TMS,
405-377-0880)