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Text File | 1992-07-16 | 61KB | 1,350 lines

(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00001)

Paperless "Book-of-the-Month Club" 07/16/92
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- First it was the
paperless office. File clerks probably heaved a collective
sigh of relief when optimists predicted that files stored on
computer disks would eventually replace the paper copies kept
in filing cabinets. That, of course, hasn't happened -- at least
not nearly to the degree some thought it might. Now, we are
offered paperless books. Instead of shelves filled with bound
books, our entire library can be kept on a few floppy disks.

One of the growing number of companies offering paperless books is
Advantage International, a Houston-based company that promotes its
PaperLess Readers Club. For a one-time charge of $24.95 you get the
Advantage Reader software, and four paperless books of your selection.

After that, you call Advantage International's electronic bulletin
board, select the titles of your choice, and download them. The books
are charged to your credit card, and there is no charge for on-line
time or for high speed access, but you do pay for the time the long
distance call takes to download the book.

Advantage claims that its reader software runs on any IBM compatible
PC, including portables, laptops, and notebook systems. You can read
the books with monochrome or color monitors. Advantage says you can do
anything with a paperless publication that you can with a hard copy --
read, copy, print, put bookmarks in it, or attach notes to it.

According to managing editor, Jay Phillips, vision impaired computer
users can attach a speech synthesizer to read the books. Phillips
claims that the company is presently offering 52 titles, including
Shakespeare, science fiction, literary classics, westerns, and all
time favorites such as Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Advantage released its first paperless book, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
"The Hound of the Baskervilles," in late 1991.

Book prices range from $3.95 to $8.95 -- Phillips said that three to
four new titles are added each month. If you don't have a modem, the
company will, for an extra dollar, have their selections sent on
floppy disk.

It's convenient, but doesn't it sound silly to say you're going to
curl up with a good computer?

(Jim Mallory/19920716/Press contact: Jay Phillips, Advantage
International, 713-977-1719, BBS 713-977-9595)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00002)

New For PC: Eclipse Windows-based Fax Software 07/16/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Eclipse Systems
is now shipping Eclipse Fax, a Windows-based software package.

Eclipse claims that the program displays and rotates faxes up to ten
times faster than other products currently available. The package also
includes an editing feature which allows incoming faxes to be marked
with lines, boxes, circles, arrows, and freehand drawing. Marked-up
faxes can then be retransmitted with the user's comments.

Eclipse Fax provides thumbnail views which can be deleted, swapped and
merged, and multi-page documents can be created in any sequence. An
incoming document can be viewed on a VGA or better display. A feature
called QuickRead allows you to skim through a fax one-half page at a
time without having to use a scroll bar.

Using the software, pages can be rotated horizontally, or magnified up
to 48 times, and the program will accept a description of up to 50
characters, overcoming the DOS 8-character name limitation. Reminder
notes can also be attached to the file.

In use, the software supports HP ScanJet, The Complete Page Scanner,
Fujitsu, Microtek and compatible scanners, without the use of
additional scanning software. The package will also automatically
merge your letterhead without using desktop publishing or graphics
software once it's been scanned. You can also paste in signatures,
logos, and graphics.

Like most fax programs, this one includes a phone book, and you can
generate a cover sheet from the phone book entry. Windows Dynamic Data
Exchange (DDE) is also supported, allowing the user to hotlink from
other Windows-based word processing programs by selecting a name or
phone number from within the document.

Eclipse Fax looks up that name or phone number in the address book and
sends the document. Group broadcast, the ability to send a fax to a
selected address group, is also supported, and the program generates
an activity log.

Eclipse FAX has a suggested list price of $119, and the company says a
network version will be available later this year. The company offers
free technical support to registered users, as well as a money back
guarantee if you don't like the product.

(Jim Mallory/19920716/Press contact: Jessica Chipkin, Eclipse Systems,
312-541-0260, fax [phone])


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

New PC: ALR's PowerFlex 486 Less Than $1,000 07/16/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Advanced Logic
Research (ALR) has announced that its PowerFlex Flyer 4SX/20 PC
with a 20MHz Intel 486SX CPU can be had for as little as
$995, suggested retail price.

As a member of ALR's PowerFlex Flyer family of products, the new
4SX/20 comes standard with an array of integrated features, the
company said. A built-in SuperVGA controller offers better
performance than standard VGA card, and supports graphics
resolutions up to 800 x 600 pixels.

With the optional PowerFlex Flyer Enhanced Graphics Package, the
system can support resolutions of up to 1,024 x 768 pixels or
256 colors. Like the PowerFlex Flyer 3SX/25, the 4SX/20 uses a modular
CPU design. This architecture allows easy and affordable upgrades to
higher levels of processing power, according to the company.

Additionally, the system's 20MHz i486SX module is compatible with
Intel's Overdrive single chip upgrade technology. Several hard drive
options are available. The base model carries a suggested retail price
of $995; the PowerFlex Flyer 4SX/20 with 60MB hard drive is $1,195 or
$1,249 including ALR MS-DOS 5.0, and the 80MB model is $1,295, $1,349
including ALR MS-DOS 5.0. ALR can be reached for further information
at 714/581-6770.

(Computer Currents/19920716)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00004)

 ****Japanese To Sharply Cut New Plant/Equipment Spending 07/16/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Too much capacity
and not enough demand is driving the cuts Japanese semiconductor
manufacturers plan to spend on new plants and equipment this year.

Mark FitzGerald, senior industry analyst for Dataquest Semiconductor
Equipment, Manufacturing, and Materials Service said: "Some of these
[Japanese] fabs are running at less than 50 percent capacity
utilization."

Why? A spending boom in the 1980's on new plants and equipment has
caused a large production capacity overhang, the market research firm
asserts. Coupled with slow adoption of the 4 megabyte (MB) dynamic
random access memory (DRAM) and the weakening Japanese domestic and
export markets, sharp spending cuts in the 29 percent range overall
are predicted.

However, computer manufacturers are expected to cut the least, in the
20 to 30 percent range. More cautious spending is being predicted, as
the slow adoption of the 4 MB DRAM and an anticipated slow ramp-up of
the 16 MB DRAM have caused the computer manufacturers to become
cautious on capital spending.

Dataquest is predicting consumer electronic companies will not snap
back soon, a prediction based on the shrinking profit margins and
quarterly losses seen in those companies, Dataquest said.

Japanese steel companies, which got into semiconductors late,
are expected to cut back the most. Over 50 percent cuts are
predicted.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920716/Press Contact: Mary Hand, Dataquest, tel
408-437-8312, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00005)

 ****Portable PC Market Worth $50 Billion/Yr By 1998 07/16/92
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Palm pad,
personal information appliances, hand-held computers, sub-notebooks,
personal digital assistants, and picocomputers are all names for a
computer you can carry around. If the market research reports are
correct, we should expect to see a lot of people with these small
computers, especially pen-based units, in the next five years.

Market research firm SRI International estimates this market will
grow to 17 million units annually by 1995. Market Intelligence
Research says projected growth in this market is expected to
reach $50 billion by 1998. Pen computers are expected to grow
fastest, company officers said.

Apple and Intel have both announced their intentions to enter this
market. Apple says that its machines, developed with Sharp, will be
based on a reduced instruction set chip (RISC). Intel has announced
that, in conjunction with VLSI, it will make hand-held computers
based on the 386 chip so they will be compatible with the
estimated 100 million Intel-based X86 computers already in the
market.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920716/Press Contact: Gene Soltys, Soltys
Associates for Market Intelligence Research, tel [phone], fax 213
465-5277; Pam Pollace, Intel, tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

Siemens Scores $20M German Telecom Contract 07/16/92
MUNICH, GERMANY, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Siemens has signed a
distribution contract with Hicom, the private West German telecom
company which should generate around $20 million (DM 35 million)
over the next few years.

Terms of the deal call for Siemens to distribute Hicom's range of
communications products to members of the German telecom technology
group (GFT), an informal consortium of 130 telecom companies. These
companies will then add their own expertise to the products and sell
them on to end users.

Siemens is claiming that the distribution deal is a major breakthrough
in the German telecom market-place which only recently has relaxed
its rules on who supplies what and where.

Siemens has had a distribution arrangement of some 20 years with the
GFT, though this has not specified the value of the hardware passing
through Siemens hands.

(Steve Gold/19920716)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00007)

Argentina To Raise $200M For Net Enhancements 07/16/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- So you're a state-owned telecom
company in a country financially crippled owing to a war that no one
won, yet you need to upgrade your network -- what do you do? For
Argentina Telecom, the answer is simple -- raise $200 million via a
bond issue in Europe.

Argentina Telecom will announce the placing of the Eurobond, which
will pay an amazing 3.5 percent above market (US treasury) rates
over the next five years, by the end of the week, according to
informed sources. The sponsors of the financial issue, once of the
largest of its type for the country concerned, are JP Morgan and
Banco Rio de la Plata.

The state-owned telecom company is not the only Argentina telecom
firm after European cash -- according to the Reuter news wire,
Telefonica Argentina, a private telecom company, is also looking at
raising $100 million using a Eurobond issue.

So why do firms turn to the Eurobond market? The answer is simple --
it's cheaper than a bank loan and investors frequently flock to
invest, since they know the capital sum is guaranteed by the
sponsors.

The only problem is interest rates -- the more undesirable (in
financial terms) the company issuing the bond, the higher the
interest rate payable. Most "problem" companies usually turn
to alternative sources of finance, but the current state of
the Argentinian economy leaves the country's telecom companies
with little choice.

The deal is not as strange as it might first seem. Sources suggest
that, of the bond issue is a success, then Argentina Telecom will
spend the money with European country telecom companies, rather than
look elsewhere.

(Steve Gold/19920716)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00008)

 ****Layoffs At Japan Kodak, Sanyo 07/16/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Several electronics companies in
Japan have begun laying off employees in a bid to ride the economic
slump. Among the hit list involved are such stalwarts as Japan Kodak
and Sanyo, both of which have announced plans to cut their respective
work forces.

Sanyo plans to shave around 2,000 staff from the company payroll over
the next three years -- the good news is that the company may not have
to resort to actual layoffs to meet this target, which can be achieved
using retirement and general wastage techniques to achieve the desired
result. The company can also reduce the number of graduates it
employs.

Analysts suggest that Sanyo has hired too many staff when the Japanese
economy was riding high. The company has also inherited a number of
"spare" employees as a result of acquiring Tokyo Sanyo Electronic back
in 1986.

According to the Asahi daily newspaper in Tokyo, Sanyo only has
one percent operating profits, a figure it wants to quadruple over the
next three years, hence its sudden moves to cut staffing costs.

Japan Kodak, a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak, meanwhile, has four
affiliated companies in Japan -- these include Japan Kodak, Kodak
Information Systems, Kodak Imagica and Eastman Kodak (Japan).

To allow for the cut-backs, the company is allowing all staff over the
age of 45 to take early retirement. The firm will shoulder the cost of
the early retirement program itself, since it claims that long-term
benefits outweigh the short term disadvantages involved, such as poor
cash flow and profits.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920716/Press Contact: Sanyo, [phone],
Japan Kodak, [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00009)

 ****Microsoft To Support Apple's PowerPC Computer 07/16/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Microsoft has
announced that it will produce programs that will run on Apple's
next-generation PowerPC computer.

That may not sound like big news; Microsoft has been producing
programs for the Macintosh for some time. What makes this news
is that PowerPC is a computer being jointly being developed by
Apple, Motorola, and IBM. PowerPC is expected to come to market
by the end of the year.

Microsoft and Apple said they are working together "to help ensure
a smooth and long-term evolution for customers of Microsoft
applications for the Apple Macintosh personal computer."

"Microsoft was one of the early believers in the Macintosh,"
said Apple Chairman John Sculley.

The PowerPC was announced in October of last year as a joint project
between Apple and IBM, with the microprocessor being developed by
Motorola. The PowerPC will be based on IBM's POWER (Performance
Optimization With Enhanced RISC) architecture, the design used in
IBM's RISC System 6000 line of workstations and servers using a
version of the Unix operating system. The idea between all this co-
operation is to eventually make Apple and IBM computers able to run
the same software.

The announcement should go a long way towards assuring the
industry of the potential for success of the PowerPC.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said that the publicity about Windows
sometimes obscures how much of the company's business depends on
selling to Macintosh users. "It (Macintosh application sales)
represents approximately $265 million in annual revenue world-wide
for financial year 92," said Gates. There are reportedly more
developers at Microsoft working on Macintosh applications
than ever before."

In May Apple, IBM and Motorola dedicated Somerset, a new 80,000
square-foot design and development facility in Austin, Texas
where 300 engineers from the three companies will develop the
PowerPC.

PowerPC is not the only project working on compatibility of PCs and
their software. The Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) consortium,
which originally included Microsoft, Compaq, SCO, MIPS Computer
Systems and Digital Equipment among its more than 200 members, was
also hoping to develop a series of platforms that will be able to
run the same software and the same operating systems. Several
key members of ACE have dropped out in the past few weeks,
putting the future of the organization in doubt.

"This effort is blending unparalleled design expertise and product
synergy to create these new microprocessors," said Motorola
Semiconductor Products President James Norling.

According to Bill Filip, IBM VP and president of the Advanced
Workstations Division, the three companies decided to base PowerPC
on the IBM architecture because of its capabilities and the
size of the installed base.

Apple's President Michael Spindler, noting that today's Macintosh
computer will be compatible with the new RISC-based Macs, said
Power PC will create a profound transformation in the way personal
computers are used.

Initial use of PowerPC-based systems is expected to be in embedded
control for automotive and consumer products use, portable and
desktop computers, high end fault tolerant systems, and
supercomputers.

Groupe Bull has said it will incorporate PowerPC into commercial
multiprocessor systems, and Thomson-CSF plans to utilize the chip in
real-time applications for defense and aerospace applications. The
first systems are expected to be available in 1993.

(Jim Mallory/19920716/Press Contact: Rosemary Stone, Motorola,
512- 891-4526; Brooke Cohan, Apple, 408-974-3019; Judy Radlinsky,
IBM, 914-642-4634, Karen Meredith, Microsoft, 206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00010)

New For Macintosh: Microsoft Works 3.0 07/16/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Microsoft has
announced Works 3.0, which company officials describe as a major
upgrade to Microsoft Works, an integrated application that runs
on the Macintosh computer.

Works includes word processing, database, spreadsheet, charting,
drawing, and communications modules, and was introduced in 1986.
Microsoft says it is one of the five best selling Macintosh
applications of all time.

Microsoft told Newsbytes that Works for Mac 3.0 supports System 7
with Balloon Help, the Macintosh Communications Toolbox, TrueType
fonts, 32-bit addressing, and Apple Events.

There's also a floating tool palette that provides one-click access
to most of the common commands. Multi-line headers and footers, with
automatic date-time-page numbering, are supported, as is Microsoft
Mail, character formatting, stationary document preview, workspaces to
group commonly used documents, and recorder macros. There's also a
built-in MacLink Plus Library of converters that allows files from
other programs to be used with Works.

Endnotes are now supported in the word processing module, and a larger
spell checker with custom user dictionaries has been added. Word
count, a new thesaurus, and improvements in the mail merge functions
are also new, Microsoft officers told Newsbytes.

The company said that users can now design 16 different forms per
database. That feature would allow the same database to supply the
data to invoices, business envelopes, mailing labels, and other forms.
Database records can contain up to 254 individually formatted multi-
line fields, including calculated fields.

Other new features in the database module include filters, which allow
users to extract the records which meet very specific criteria. The
database module also includes report writing capabilities.

Microsoft spokesperson Karen Frey told Newsbytes that the new version
of Works for the Mac has a suggested retail price of $249. Present
owners of release 1.0 or 2.0 can upgrade for $79, said Frey.

(Jim Mallory/19920716/Press Contact: Bev Auld, Microsoft, 206-882-
9400)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00011)

New For Macintosh: Microsoft Project 3.0 07/16/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Release 3.0 of
Microsoft's project management software for the Apple Macintosh
has made its debut.

Originally introduced last July, Microsoft Project for the Mac is used
by planners to organize, schedule, chart and summarize all aspects of
a project. Project is used for such diverse activities as software
development and building construction. The package allows users to
view and manipulate data in a variety of ways to best suit their work
style and the project they are working on.

According to Microsoft VP of desktop applications, Pete Higgins, the
company is very pleased with the success of Project. Higgins says more
than 40 percent of the user base had never used project management
software before trying Project for the Mac 1.1. Higgins said that most
of the enhancements in release 3.0 are a direct result of user
feedback. The new release is also more consistent with its Windows-
based brethren.

The package includes monthly calendar reports that can be printed to
show the responsibilities for an individual, for groups, or for the
entire project, displaying scheduled tasks as bars spanning the
appropriate dates.

There's also a multi-page print preview that allows users to view up
to 28 pages on a standard 13-inch monitor prior to printing. You can
scan horizontally and vertically through the previewed output. The
company said much of 3.0's output consists of Gantt and PERT charts,
which scan multiple pages both horizontally and vertically. A "fit to
page" print feature allows users to print single page Gantt charts on
PostScript printers. Microsoft said that was a frequently requested
feature.

Resource graphs, which can display information for individuals or
groups, allow the user to view resource work, cumulative work, over
allocation, percent allocation, availability, cost, cumulative cost,
and peak resource allocation in customizable graphic formats,
according to Microsoft.

Project's suggested retail price is $695. Microsoft's Julie Larkin
told Newsbytes that present owners of Project for Mac could upgrade
for $149. If you bought Project for the Mac after July 1 of this year,
the upgrade will be free, said Larkin.

Larkin added that Microsoft jumped from Release 1.1 to Release 3.0
because of a name conflict with a mainframe program called Project
2.0. The program code is now frozen, said Larkin, and the program was
released to manufacturing yesterday. Larkin added that Project 3.0 for
the Mac will be on retailer's shelves by early August.

(Jim Mallory/19920716/Press contact: Julie Larkin, Microsoft, 206-939-
4974)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00012)

FCC To Allocate PCN Frequencies Soon 07/16/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- The Federal
Communications Commission is expected to vote soon on rules for
microwave-based PCN (personal communications network) mobile phones.
The phones will work at higher frequencies than current models,
allowing them to be smaller and use less power. The licenses
aren't expected to be given out until next year.

Over the last few years, a number of companies have been experimenting
with PCN, and asking for preferences in licensing. Millicom of New
York caused a stir last year by claiming that, by spreading its signal
over a wide spectrum, it could provide the service without interfering
with licensed frequency users. That claim was dismissed by Motorola
and the licensed users themselves, mainly utility companies, and the
FCC appears to have rejected the notion as well.

Press reports prior to the meeting have indicated that Chairman Al
Sikes lost a bid to bar cellular telephone companies -- a group
dominated by wired phone monopolies -- from the business. The FCC may
also be weighing plans to give out two nationwide licenses and 47
regional licenses, taking away frequencies now used by railroads,
police and fire agencies, as well as the utilities. But, since any
plan will not be put in place for years, it's also possible this could
become a political issue. Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate
Albert Gore has been a leader on technology issues in the US Senate,
and may put the issue in play this fall.

Still unclear at this writing is what role existing wire line phone
companies will have in PCN. These companies, mainly the seven regional
Bells and GTE, have a monopoly on local service, and a stranglehold on
regular cellular service. US West is among those asking to be put in
line for PCN licensing, based on its experience using cable TV lines
in the United Kingdom to handle the calls. But Bell critics have urged
that participation by the majors be ruled out so that true local
competition can emerge. The FCC has called for open competition among
cellular, telephone, and cable television as a replacement for rate
regulation.

Cable television companies are also expected to be interested in PCN.
Local cable companies could place PCN radio transmitters on the
telephone polls they share with phone companies, then run those calls
on their wires, delivering them in central locations for either
transmission by the local phone company or a long distance firm.

In its own market study on PCN, BellSouth claimed that many customers
are willing to pay more for the added convenience. BellSouth has been
simulating the service in Orlando for 750 customers who are paying for
three different levels of service. The study said customers are most
concerned about three critical areas of service -- transmission
quality, coverage and equipment battery life.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920716/Press Contact: Tim Klein, BellSouth
Enterprises, 404-249-4135; FCC Press Office, 202-632-5050)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00013)

FCC To Call for Phone-Cable Competition 07/16/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to support a proposal
allowing telephone phone companies to transmit cable TV signals, a
first step toward allowing cable companies into the telephone business
marketplace.

The move will take the form of easing regulations which now prohibit
phone companies from carrying TV signals. The issue is a favorite of
FCC Chairman Al Sikes, who nevertheless has had a difficult time
persuading a majority of commissioners to his point of view on the
issue.

Cable television providers still oppose the move, although some
providers, like Cox Cable and Comcast, have made moves in recent years
to get into the telephone business through so-called PCN microwave-
based cellular services.

The cable industry worries that phone companies aren't being required
to get local franchises to enter their business, and wonder if the
phone companies could subsidize their entry into cable with regulated
phone profits. However, the phone companies have expressed little
interest in getting into direct competition with cable companies,
preferring instead to offer video telephone services.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920716/Press Contact: FCC Press Office, 202-632-
5050)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00014)

Southern Bell Starts Florida Price Cap Drive 07/16/92
MIAMI, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Southern Bell has begun a
move in Florida to win the kind of price-cap regulation that Ameritech
and other Bell companies have been winning from other states. But the
move is clouded by the state's recent entry into suits against the
company, charging it bilked customers by charging them with services
they didn't order.

Southern Bell claims its new rate structure would cut 1993 rates by
$60.8 million, rising to $85 million a year later, with profits over
14 percent shared with ratepayers. But the Price Regulation Plan, as
it's called, would also allow the company to set ceilings on prices
instead of going through complex rate-of-return calculations with
regulators. Price caps were first instituted during the Reagan
Administration on an interstate basis. Since they have been pushed by
phone companies, and accepted by many regulators, on an intra-state
basis.

Southern Bell's proposal, like any good political proposal, is laden
with goodies for specific interests. For cities, it proposes lower
rates in existing state "economic zones." For the elderly, it proposes
"LifeLine rates" with reduced charges for those who agree to pay for
all local calls. For heavy callers, it proposes discounts on calls
made within a 40 mile band from local switches. Charges for custom
calling features and long distance access are also to be cut under the
plan.

What's in it for Southern Bell? Prices would be set annually based on
inflation rate, a set productivity factor and extra costs created by
tax laws or judicial decisions. The company could, in fact, raise
rates every year without complex regulation proceedings. Under the
present political system, Florida's base rates haven't been raised in
a decade. GTE, whose system covers the Tampa area, recently filed for
a rate increase before the Florida Public Service Commission.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920716/Press Contact: Spero Canton, Southern Bell,
305-530-5455)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015)

Syntellect Joins TV Answer Team 07/16/92
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Syntellect, which
supplies interactive voice response equipment under the trade name
Infobot, has announced a marketing and product development deal with
TV Answer of Reston, Virginia, which is trying to put together
licenses for interactive television.

TV Answer won on the idea of interactive television earlier this year
before the FCC, but that agency then decided to award service licenses
in local markets based on a lottery. Under the agreement, the two
companies will create the Syntellect TV Answer Module, a link between
TV Answer's interactive television network and Syntellect's
interactive voice response systems in 6,000 sites including banks,
insurance companies, government agencies and educational institutions.

The module will be marketed to Syntellect's installed base, as well as
other service providers for TV Answer. So far, TV Answer has service
provider contracts with JCPenney, 800 Spirits, 800 Flowers, Comp-U-
Card and Bose Music Express to offer their products to consumers via
interactive television. It also has contracts with Meridian Bancorp
and CheckFree, which sells electronic payment services, so customers
can use their televisions to pay bills.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920716/Press Contact: TV Answer, Bill Stern,
703/715-8076)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00016)

ASK To Relocate; Secures $50M Credit 07/16/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- In an effort to
reduce the company's leasing expenses and provide expansion
capabilities, the ASK group of companies has decided to move its
headquarters from Mountain View to Santa Clara, California.

At the same time the group is expanding its leasing options at its
Alameda, California, site where its Ingres business unit is located.
The company has also managed to secure a new $50 million credit line
after paying off early, the debt it incurred by purchasing Ingres.

Company officials said that ASK has signed a 15-year lease with South
Bay Construction and Development Co., in joint venture with Copley
Real Estate Partners, for a building at the corner of Scott Boulevard
and Central Expressway in Santa Clara. The new building will
accommodate corporate headquarters and the ASK Computer Systems
business unit. The company expects to occupy the 200,000 square foot
building in the second half of 1993.

The new expanded leases with Vintage Properties in its Marina Village
development in Alameda, are for 12.5 years and, according to the
company, significantly reduce the rent on the three buildings Ingres
currently occupies.

As part of a multi-year expansion plan, Ingres' headquarters building
will be renovated and two additional buildings, totalling
approximately 85,000 square feet, will be built. Additionally, the
company says that Ingres also has the rights to two proposed new
buildings to be constructed. This expansion would bring the site to a
seven building campus covering 510,000 square feet compared to the
230,000 square feet currently leased.

As well as requiring South Bay to remodel an existing building, the
South Bay agreement also gives the company the option of leasing a
proposed 50,000-75,000 square foot building to be constructed on the
same site.

The ASK group of companies and ASK Computer Systems currently occupy a
133,500 square foot facility in Mountain View.

ASK also says that it has paid off, ahead of schedule, borrowings
incurred in 1990 to acquire the shares of Ingres Corp. At the same
time, it said it has procured a new, unsecured $50 million line of
credit.

The $110 million purchase of Ingres, a relational database and
application development tools supplier, was financed in part by a $60
million equity investment by EDS Corp. and Hewlett-Packard, and in
part by a secured bank loan.

One of the main reasons given for the early repayment has been the
company's "excellent cash flow."

The new three-year $50 million unsecured revolving line of credit has
been granted by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and the
First National Bank of Boston.

According to a prepared statement by ASK, "the unsecured line of
credit significantly reduces borrowing costs and reflects a lower risk
assessment by the two financial institutions." The company release
also says that it will, "use this new line of credit for working
capital and to finance further company growth."

(Ian Stokell/19920716/Press Contact: Karen Marvin, The ASK Companies,
415-335-5527)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00017)

New For Macintosh: Cabletron FDDI Card 07/16/92
ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Citing an ever
increasing need to move more and more data faster and faster,
Cabletron is showing a fiber based FDDI card at the Mactivity Trade
Show held in Santa Clara this week.

At the show, Cabletron officials were telling Newsbytes that they have
customers who are pushing the Ethernet envelope with the multimedia
applications who are becoming increasingly vocal in requesting FDDI on
the Macintosh. Cabletron, being a complete networking company, is
hearing these pleas and has decided to respond and help drive the
Macintosh high performance network market with this introduction.

The card is being called the F6069. Cabletron explained the naming
conventions to Newsbytes as follows: F stands for Fiber. Series 6000
products are those aimed at the NuBus. And 69 just happened to be the
available number at the time that the product was conceived.

The F6069 supports Apple's System 6, 7 and A/UX version 3.0. The
interface card includes the Motorola FDDI chip set along with a
Motorola 68020 processor for on-board management capabilities. The
board supports FDDI Station Management (SMT) version 6.2. In addition,
the F6069 has an SNMP agent on board which allows it to be managed by
any SNMP manager on the network. Cabletron's LANview diagnostic
software is included on the card as well.

The F6069 will begin shipping in early September. Cabletron is
planning to display it at the MacWorld Expo show that will be held
in Boston in a few weeks. A copper version of the card is in the
planning stages at Cabletron and is really only waiting for the copper
FDDI standards (CDDI) to make it through the standardization committee
before introduction. The F6069 will sell for $2995.

(Naor Wallach/19920716/Press Contact: Darren Orzechowski, Cabletron,
603-332-9400 Extension 1282)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00018)

New For Networks: AG Group's TokenPeek For Mac 07/16/92
WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- The AG Group is
using the venue of the Mactivity show being held in Santa Clara this
week to introduce the newest member of its network analysis programs -
TokenPeek. TokenPeek is a similar product to LocalPeek and EtherPeek.
What it does is allow a network administrator to monitor a Token Ring
network from his Macintosh.

TokenPeek can display statistics about the network and its operations
in bar graph form. TokenPeek can decode packets that come in various
protocols like TCP/IP, SNMP, ARP, RARP, IPX, Vines, DECnet, XNS, IP
Talk, AURP, and more. Filters and Triggers can be set by the operator
to make sure that only those events that are of interest are captured
and displayed. TokenPeek can even generate traffic on the network so
that network administrators can see what happens to it and play other
"what if" type games when debugging the network or trying to optimize
its performance.

TokenPeek also supports the setting of Triggers for Alarms so that the
network administrator can be notified immediately upon the occurrence
of certain events. Finally, TokenPeek does not require a dedicated
machine. The Macintosh can be used for other tasks in addition to its
network analysis mode. There can be two network interface cards
attached to the machine where one would be used by TokenPeek and the
other for the normal network interactions.

TokenPeek is expected to be available in the third quarter of this
year. The software will sell for $995. TokenPeek will also become a
part of the AG Group's NetPatrol Pack 4 which will include it as well
as EtherPeek, LocalPeek, and Net Watchman for $2295. The AG Group
offers service contracts on all of their products and expect to offer
the same sort of program on TokenPeek. Holders of an AG Group service
contract can expect to receive telephone, fax, and e-mail support;
free product upgrades; free bug fixes; and priority treatment by the
company.

(Naor Wallach/19920716/Press Contact: David Burk, AG Group, 510-937-
7900)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00019)

Fifth Generation Programs Revised For Unix 07/16/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- The Institute for new
generation Computer Technology (ICOT) has announced plans to develop
Unix versions of its various programs, which currently run only on
ICOT's prototype fifth generation computer.

ICOT is a not-for-profit organization backed by the Japanese
Ministry of International Trade and Industry; it aims to develop a
fifth generation computer and the software. ICOT recently ended its 10-
year research and development project, despite the fact that it had
developed 70 application programs for its prototype fifth
generation computer.

While these programs operate in a parallel processing environment,
ICOT is rewriting them to run under Unix. Unix versions of the
software are expected to be completed within a year.

The actual rewriting of the program code is being carried out by
ICOT researchers, as well as the engineers from firms such as
Fujitsu and NEC. The application programs range from gene data
processing, an analogy of legal cases, natural language processing, a
basic parallel processing program called PIMOS and a parallel
processing logic language known as KL1.

ICOT plans to provide as many opportunities as possible for researchers
and engineers to test the software, which will eventually be released
on a commercial basis.

Although ICOT's ten-year project has been completed, plans call for
the research institute to continue with its work, particularly in the
field of supplying information to researchers, companies and other
interested organizations, usually on a free of charge basis.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920716/Press Contact: ICOT, [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00020)

Cypress Chalks Up Patent Win Against TI 07/16/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Texas Instruments seems to
be spending most of its time involved in patent suits these days.
But in the latest round, it seems that the company has lost out
to fellow chipmaker Cypress Semiconductor.

In this latest case a federal district court jury ruled that a
Texas Instruments patent covering a method for testing
programmable logic devices is not valid.

The trial was part of an ongoing patent dispute between the
giant computer chip manufacturer and five other companies.
At issue was Cypress Semiconductor's use of a TI invention
that makes it possible for a programmable logic device, a
type of semiconductor, to be tested.

TI was issued a patent for the invention. The company filed
a patent infringement lawsuit against Cypress in July, 1990.

TI general counsel Richard J. Agnich, said: "We are
disappointed in and disagree with the decision. We will
review the decision carefully to decide whether to appeal."

According to a TI press release: "The main dispute is
awaiting trial in Dallas. Only one of the defendants, Cypress
Semiconductor, was charged with infringing the test patent."

The other companies named in a separate patent infringement
case, filed in 1990, that is still outstanding, are Analog
Devices, VLSI Technology, LSI Logic, and Integrated Device
Technology.

(Ian Stokell/19920716)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00021)

Adobe Developing Japanese Windows Products 07/16/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Hoping
cash in on the increasing popularity of Microsoft's Windows
graphical user interface, Adobe Systems is developing a family
of Japanese type products for the operating environment. The
products are: Adobe Type Manager-Japanese Version for
Windows (ATM-J for Windows); the Adobe Type Library; and
Adobe Plus Pack-Japanese Version for Windows (Adobe Plus
Pack-J for Windows).

The company claims that these new products represent the
first PostScript language Japanese outline fonts developed
specifically for the Windows market in Japan.

According to Adobe, PostScript language fonts use scalable
outlines, instead of the bitmaps common on current Japanese
PCs. The company maintains that Adobe Type Manager-Japanese
Version software provides high quality, PostScript language
outline type for use on computers and a variety of printers.

The Adobe Type Library, for use on PostScript software devices and
with ATM-J for Windows, contains typefaces from Morisawa & Company
Ltd. and many Roman type foundries, as well as Adobe Original font
software designs. TypeBank Company Ltd. and the Font Development and
Production Center are also developing Japanese typefaces for the Adobe
Type Library.

Pricing for the new products will be announced at a later date.
The company maintains that ATM-J for Windows will include two
Japanese typefaces -- Ryumin L-KL and Gothic Medium BBB --
along with 13 Roman typefaces. The Adobe Plus Pack-J for
Windows will include three Japanese typefaces -- Futo Min
A101, Futo Go B101, and Jun 101 -- and 22 Roman typefaces.

Adobe hopes to begin shipping ATM-J for Windows
by the end of the year. Adobe maintains that it has been
shipping Japanese type products for the Macintosh since
July 1991.

Newsbytes reported in March of this year that Adobe Systems
Japan, a subsidiary of Adobe, has developed two new Japanese
fonts jointly with Japan's major printing maker Morisawa.

In November of 1991 Newsbytes reported that Adobe had
begun shipping a Japanese version for the Macintosh of its
Adobe Type Manager (ATM) version 2.0.3.

(Ian Stokell/19920716/Press Contact: Sharon Wienbar,
Adobe Systems Inc., 415-961-4400)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00022)

New Fast Chip Can Talk To Analog Devices 07/16/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Moving to a
digital world requires conversion of the analog "real-world"
input to numerical (or digital) information that can be read
and manipulated by a computer. Micro Linear announced a fast
analog peripheral chip that can talk to analog devices and is
designed for use with microprocessors, microcontrollers, and
digital signal processors.

The new chip can talk both ways, converting analog signals to
digital and digital to analog. In this way, the chip cannot
only facilitate the input of analog data, but can convert the
data back to its native format so a computer can control
actions such as sliding solenoids, moving actuators turn
valves, or creating communication waveforms. However, David
Wong of Micro Linear told Newsbytes the chip was initially
designed for use in hard disk drives.

The analog peripheral chip, the ML2377, has the equivalent of
four analog chips. It includes a 10-bit analog to digital (A/D)
converter, two digital to analog (D/A) converters (10-bit and
8-bit resolution), 6-channel input multiplexer, and two
simultaneous sample and hold channels.

The company says that the chip's A/D converter and D/A converters
have a conversion time of 2 microseconds, which means they can do
half a million conversions in one second. This speed makes the chip
fast enough to work with wide-bandwidth digital signal processing
systems, the company said.

The conversion speed of the chip makes it fast enough for use
in telecommunications equipment, high-speed modems, medical
instruments, disk drives, robots, milling machines and large
scale control systems which brew beer, refine oil, process
steel, run paper mills, and pilot aircraft. Micro Linear said
all these products use feedback loops, which require fast
analog electronics that can read multiple sensors, convert
sensor readings to digital form, and then convert the processed
digital data back to analog control signals.

A 6-channel multiplexer allows the ML2377 to switch up to six
different input signals to its two sample-and-holds. The
sample-and-holds are unusual because they can simultaneously
sample two input signals while maintaining zero skew between
the signals, the company said. The sample-and-hold also has a
circuit which calculates the difference between any two
multiplexer inputs and passes it onto the A/D converter.

The unusual capabilities of the 6-channel multiplexer make the
chip useful in capacities such as controlling the hard servo
loops which keep disk drive heads following the tiny "lanes" of
data on a whirling disk platter. The method, known as
quadrature servo processing, forms the difference between an
error signal to the right and an error signal to the left,
which in a sense is the way one keeps a car centered, by
comparing the distance between the right and left edges of the
lane.

The company said in hard disk servo control example, the built-
in 10-bit D/A converter would be used to control the head
positioning voice coil motor which steers the head into the
proper position in the lane. The other four channels of the
multiplexer could be used to do the general supervisory
functions required in most disk servo systems.

The A/D's 2 u-seconds conversion time is fast enough to be used in the
design of pipelined area detection based servos, which are becoming
popular in 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch disk drives, the company
added.

Micro Linear says the 6-channel ML2377 and a 4-channel version
called the ML2375 can be obtained in sample quantities now with
full production expected in September of this year. Packaged in
a 28-pin shrink small outline package (SSOP), Micro Linear says
the 4-channel ML2375 chips are priced at $5.95 and the 6-
channel ML2377 is priced at $6.75, both in quantities of 1,000.

Micro Linear specializes in analog and mixed-signal integrated
circuits for high-technology markets that require highly integrated
systems-level solutions. These segments include hard-disk drives,
local-area networks, voiceband telecommunications products, power and
motion controllers, and data converters.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920716/Press Contact: David Wong, Micro
Linear, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00023)

New Product: Monitor Filter Eliminates 99% Of Glare 07/16/92
JAFFREY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- An
antiglare filter for computer monitors that absorbs up to 99
percent of reflected glare to relieve eye strain and 98 percent
of the electro magnetic radiation was announced by Curtis
Manufacturing of Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

Curtis claims that the hinge design on the screen is patented. The
screen is unique as it allows the screen to fit any monitor by
attaching to the top supporting the screen slightly away from the
front of the monitor. The hinge design also allows for the screen to
flip up for easy cleaning.

Curtis says the glass filters are made of distortion free glass
coated with scratch and abrasion resistant multiple film layers
and will work on both monochrome and color monitors. The layers
control flicker, increase resolution, and improve contrast with the
goal of making images sharper and clearer, text easier to read, and
graphics easier to view.

While most of the electro magnetic radiation from a monitor
comes from the back and sides, Curtis claims its Glass Filter
Plus does eliminate the electrical component of the radiation
that attempts to come from the front. The product has a
grounding cord that goes from the shield to a grounded
electrical outlet and dissipates the electrically charged
particles.

An added benefit is the Glass Filter Plus product also helps eliminate
the dust build up from static electricity.

The Glass Filter is retail priced at $59.95, while the Glass
Filter Plus with the grounding cord is $99.95. Curtis says both
products carry a lifetime warranty.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920716/Press Contact: Lori Parent, Curtis
Manufacturing, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00024)

UK: Ansell Communications Opens In UK 07/16/92
LEATHERHEAD, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Ansel
Communications, the US Novell value-added supplier, has opened an
office in the UK. All of Ansel's range of Novell hardware add-ons, as
well as the company's supporting software and videotapes, are
available in the UK.

Dick Dennys, one of the co-founders of the company's UK operation,
told Newsbytes that he has just set up offices in Leatherhead, Surrey,
and is offering two sets of products in the UK -- a series of "all
in one" bundles of software/hardware packs and a range of hardware-
only products.

"The idea is to allow resellers to sell our hardware alongside Netware
Lite as a form of instant networking kit, as well as supporting those
value added resellers who want to supply their own solutions
to clients," he said.

Three kits comprise Ansel's initial "shrink wrapped" network kits:
the 2500 starter kit for two PCs; the 2600 single PC add-on kits; and
the 2700 kit for portable PCs. Pricing on the 2500 kit is UKP 599,
with the add-on 2600 kits selling for UKP 239. The 2700 portable kit will
sell for UKP 289. Dennys told Newsbytes that he expects street pricing
to be around 15 to 20 percent below these prices.

All the kits include Netware Lite, which is prominently flagged on the
packaging, as well as the company's network cards, plus installation
software. An instructional video for the user completes the DIY kits.

Dennys claimed that Ansel's range of LAN adapters are highly price-
competitive when compared with the competition. Although UK end user
pricing on individual kit has yet to be fully agreed, the company's'
EISA 32-bit card currently sells in the US for $595 -- between $200
and $400 cheaper than comparable cards from Intel, Novell and Racal.

(Steve Gold/19920716/Press & Public Contact: Ansel Communications -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00025)

UK: Computer Leasing Firm's Expansion Plans 07/16/92
READING, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- The Alliance of
Computer Leasing (ACL) is being bought out by a London financier who
plans to turn the company into the largest computer leasing company in
the country.

Adrian Clarke, finance director with the Reading-based firm, said that
details of the buy out are still being finalized, but should be
complete within a few weeks. "Until the deal is complete, I can't tell
you how much the deal is worth, or who the buyer is yet," he told
Newsbytes.

Despite the anonymity, Clarke said that plans are in hand to double
the company's sales and marketing staff. Currently, ACL has 12 staff
at its headquarters.

According to Clarke, the cash injection from the un-named financier
will allow ACL to start its own lease book, permitting the company to
underwrite its own leases, rather than having to turn to leasing
companies such as Bowmaker or Lombard.

"This will be good, as some of the leasing companies have all but
pulled out of the computer leasing business. Leasing companies are
very cagey about computers, after getting their fingers burned as a
result of the recession," he said.

Clarke cited the example of Lloyds Bowmaker, the finance company,
which no longer touches computer leasing deals. Until recently,
Bowmaker only took on leasing arrangements with companies with a five
years trading record and where the deal was for more than UKP 20,000.

"Having our own underwriter will free us from leasing restrictions,
especially since we're now able to do our own company searches," he
said.

Since launching its Convertalease package at the Which Computer? Show
earlier this year, ACL reports that business is brisk from companies
who find leasing more tax-efficient and better for cash flow than
straight purchasing deals.

(Steve Gold/19920716/Press & Public Contact: ACL - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00026)

UK: Banyan Offers 24-Hour Online Customer Support 07/16/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Banyan is offering its dealers
and end users 24-hour technical support backup, using a bulletin board
system (BBS) called Banyan Online Access (BOA). The BBS offers an
alternative to the company's X.25-connected Banyan Information Gateway
(BIG) service, which is currently offered to major resellers.

James Ringrose, Banyan's European marketing manager, said that a trial
of the BBS, lasting four months with around 15 of the company's
dealers has been very successful. As a result of this, the company is
now rolling out the full BOA service to all European resellers and
selected end users.

"Our major dealers are connected to the BIG service, which is X.25
only. The BOA BBS offers all resellers and end users a chance to
access our online technical support service," he said, adding that
many resellers and end users prefer the online aspect of technical
rather than voice telephone support, as it allows them to operate at
any time.

As well as providing the standard online fare of support programs and
information, the BOA BBS encourages callers to make their technical
queries public, so that everyone can gain rapid updates of any
potential problems with Banyan Vines and other products.

The UK BOA system is linked to a similar BBS in the US. Plans call for
details of the system, including number, IDs and passwords, to be sent
to those UK resellers and major users requesting information from the
company's head office.

(Steve Gold/19920716/Press & Public Contact: Banyan Systems - Tel:
0293-612284)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00027)

New For PC In UK: Advanced Hardware/Software Security System 07/16/92
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- PC Secure, an
advanced hardware/software security system for PCs, has been unveiled
by Secura Technologies. According to the company, unauthorized users
cannot penetrate the system.

Each key used with the system has its own eight byte read only memory
(ROM) number laser-etched into a silicon chip and used to encrypt the
data stored on the hard disk. Each signature is a unique combination
of the more-than 281,000,000 million available combinations. The key
sensor, a dongle that works through your PC's parallel port, contains
a pass-through connector and the encrypted key sensor

The software in the $179 system reads the Touchkey, using it as
an encryption device to decode data as you read it and encode it
as you write it.

PC Secure's software includes the company's antiviral Virustop
program. If a virus program tries to attach itself to an
executable file, Virustop restricts it and notifies the user that
a write was attempted, the company claims.

Also included with the software is Syslock, a package that locks
the PC keyboard and mouse, as well as blanking out the screen
while the computer is unattended.

(Steve Gold/19920716/Press & Public Contact: Secura Technologies Tel:
714-963-3230)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00028)

Anti-Virus Software Is "Future Proof" Claims Firm 07/16/92
HIAWATHA, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Parsons Technology has
unveiled Virucide Plus, an anti-virus package that it claims will
protect users from future virus attacks. The $69 package features two
software programs -- Virucide and Virucide Shield -- that when used
together can detect and remove both known and unknown computer
viruses.

According to the company, Virucide Shield uses artificial intelligence
techniques to determine whether a virus is present and active.
Whenever the memory-resident program detects virus activity, it warns
users to shut down their system before infection occurs. The user
should then runs ViruCide to remove the virus from the system.

Virucide Plus includes the option to specify a list of files to
be excluded from scanning when users are modifying files during
programming or other activities. Other customization features
include a user designed warning message that displays upon virus
detection.

The two programs require an IBM or compatible personal computer,
512K of RAM, Dos 3.0 or higher and two floppy drives or a hard
disk.

(Steve Gold/19920716/Press & Public Contact: Parsons Technology - Tel:
319-395-9626


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00029)

Annual Macintosh Summit At UCSB In August 07/16/92
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- The
Annual Macintosh Summit Conference, scheduled for August 27-29
at the University of California at Santa Barbara is targeted
toward experienced and high-end Mac users who want to learn to
use their machines more productively, conference organizers
said. The conference will be hosted by Guy Kawasaki, former
director of software product management at Apple who is now an
author and columnist.

Topics for discussion this year include:

Photography and Publishing featuring Rick Smolan, photographer
for "Time," "Life," and "National Geographic;"

Interactive Design using Macromind taught by Marney Morris
president of Animatrix, the company that produces the tour
disks that ship with the Macintosh;

Creative Digital Imaging taught by Adobe's Senior Art Director
Russell Brown;

Scripts for Macintosh;

Design with Type taught by Robin Williams author of "The Mac is
not a Typewriter," "The Little Mac Book," and font columnist
for Desktop Communications Magazine;

The Next Generation of Spreadsheets introducing Spreadbase, a
new product expected to ship this summer;

Music Publishing on the Macintosh using Composer's Mosaic
software and taught by ken Gruberman an Emmy award nominee;

Quarkxpress Power Tips taught by Olav Kvern author of "Real
World Freehand 3" and "Real World Pagemaker 4;"

Pressure Sensitive Graphics, using the Macintosh to simulate
traditional media such as watercolor taught by animator Lynda
Weinman;

Rated G: Kid Pix, the adult use of the Kid Pix paint program
taught by Tracy Tandy, product manager of Broderbund Software;

and Networking and Communications.

The conference sessions are all included in the $490 fee that
also includes hands-on teaching labs, course materials,
lunches, and snacks. Four-hour optional courses on Saturday,
August 29 are available for $100 each.

All sessions will be conducted in Campbell Hall at the
University of California at Santa Barbara campus. More
conference information is available from SEM Dept., UCSB
Extension, 6550 Hollister Ave., Goleta, CA 93117.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920716/Press Contact: name, company, tel
805-893-4143, fax [phone], Public Contact: America Online:
Mac Summit, CompuServe 76703,3031)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00030)

Visualization Software Planned For Intel Supercomputers 07/16/92
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 16 (NB) -- Visual
output from Supercomputers is the focus of the latest deal
between Intel's Supercomputer Systems Division and Advanced
Visual Systems (AVS).

The two companies have announced a co-operative project to implement
the AVS environment on Intel's massively parallel processing (MPP)
supercomputers for the management, analysis, and display of data and
images.

While Intel isn't the first supercomputer company AVS has
worked with, Intel has the largest installed base of
supercomputers with over 300 systems world-wide, the company
said.

AVS says that its visual development environment is used
currently on workstation and supercomputer platforms from Sun
Microsystems, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment
Corporation, Silicon Graphics, Evans and Sutherland, Convex
Computer, Kubota Pacific Computer, Set Technologies,
Wavetracer, and Cray Research.

Ian Reid, of AVS told Newsbytes visual systems on
supercomputers are used mostly for scientific simulation.
Supercomputers generate an enormous amount of information and
the only way to understand it is to present it in a visual way.

Reid gave the example of air flow past a wing, that is
difficult to understand from numbers on paper, but is easily
understood when visualized. Everything from climate modeling to
fluid flow are the possible applications for the AVS system on
a supercomputer, Reid added.

Reid said the AVS is a visualization application that can also
be used as an application development environment.

Waltham, Massachusetts-based AVS became in independent,
privately held company in January of this year, but the
software has been around since 1988.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920716/Press Contact: Ian Reid, AVS, tel
617-890-4300, fax [phone])