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/1993/NB101893

Text File | 1993-10-19 | 67KB | 1,498 lines

(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00001)

IBM Opens Office In Czechoslovakia 10/18/93
EAST BOHEMIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Continuing
its steady expansion in countries behind the former iron curtain,
IBM has opened an office in Hradec Kralove, a city in the East
Bohemian region of Czechoslovakia.

According to IBM's Czech operations, computer sales are soaring in
the country, now that capitalism has taken hold in a big way. The
influx of Western money into Czechoslovakia has meant that
companies, for the first time, have had hard currency to buy
Western computers, a trend that IBM is hoping to exploit.

Petr Ryvola, of IBM Czechoslovakia, said that plans are in hand to
open a production line in the country and that the company is now
looking for partners to supply PC components for building
machines.

If the IBM Czechoslovakian manufacturing operation takes off,
Newsbytes notes, it will join similar production lines scattered
across Europe in France, Germany, Italy, Scotland and the newly-
opened facility in Russia.

IBM's new offices (IBM Pobocka Hradec Kralove) in East Bohemia
can be contacted on [phone].

(Sylvia Dennis/19931015/Press & Public Contact: IBM Praha,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00002)

Boeder Acquires German Rights To Memorex Name 10/18/93
FLOERSHEIM, GERMANY, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- What's in a name?
Quite a lot if Boeder, the German electronics company, is to be
believed. The company has just paid an unspecified amount for
the sale rights to peripheral equipment marketed under the
Memorex title in Germany.

Rather than import hardware from Memorex Telex's factories in the
Netherlands, Boeder plans to produce the peripherals in Germany
at its own factories, but use the Memorex name to quickly carve
out a name for itself in the home marketplace.

According to Luzt Boeder, the chairman of Boeder, the long-term
aim of the deal is to establish a PC peripherals operation -- under
the Memorex name -- in those European countries (i.e. outside the
Netherlands) where Memorex does not have a presence in the
peripherals industry.

Boeder said that he planned to push turnover for the company;s
European operations from DM 237.9 million to around DM 300 million
over the next year. In anticipation of this, Boeder is planning to
build a new administration center at its existing headquarters in
Floersheim. Work on the new center should start at the beginning of
1994 and, when complete in the latter half of that year, the
possibility of Boeder going public will be discussed, he said.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931015/Press & Public Contact: Boeder,
[phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00003)

The Enabled Computer 10/18/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- The Enabled Computer
is a column devoted to providing the latest information on
computer technology which is intended for use by or is useful to
disabled individuals.

Not much has been happening recently other than the usual
conferences. The impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act is
not really being felt much yet because expected court challenges
to companies violating the anti-discrimination law have not
put much teeth into the Act, but companies are becoming more
aware of the needs of disabled workers.

Henter-Joyce has announced a new program, WordScholar, intended
as an educational tool for individuals with learning disabilities.
By adding text-to-speech to the American Heritage Dictionary's
syllable break and definition tools for any highlighted word,
WordScholar can help some learning-disabled individuals write
better sentences.

There are reports of several new continuous speech recognition
systems coming on the market, but I view these claims with
skepticism until I have actually tested the products personally.

I talked with representatives of Dragon Systems during the ADA
Expo'93 conference where I spoke this past July, and they showed
me a demo of DragonDictate, about the tenth I have seen, but once
again the word is that a hands-on evaluation unit will not be
forthcoming.

Of course, DragonDictate is not continuous speech and can take a
lot of getting used to, what with the need to speak each word
separately as if you were reading it from a list rather than
dictating, but I have used it in a company-controlled environment
and it works well enough that I can recommend it with
reservations and the reminder that I, and as far as I can
determine, no other independent reviewers, have had the
chance to set up and train the system from scratch.

As for continuous speech, I won't add to the hype by mentioning
the names of the companies which are supposed to be on the verge
of announcing practical, and reasonably priced, systems. However,
one of these systems has been promised to me for full, independent
review and I will report on it as soon as it arrives, as well as
after completing tests.

Another continuous speech system which is priced in the multi-
thousand-dollar range claims to recognize 40,000 words. The word
from some people who tell me that they have actually seen
Tarzana, California-based Speech Systems' Phonetic Engine 400 is
that it will recognize continuous speech, but only a few words at a
time!

If any of my readers are familiar with the Phonetic Engine,
please let me know, but, other than mailing me a glossy
advertising brochure which doesn't provide any useful details, so
far the company won't return my phone calls or answer my fax
messages so I can't report on how well, or even if, it works.

For office managers needing to comply with the ADA, Planix for
Windows, an office furniture and computer equipment design
program which includes an easy-to-use floor-plan CAD (computer-
aided design) system with more than 400 included design elements,
provides guidelines and plan symbols that will help meet the
physical access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities
Act.

Planix also provides complete inventory tracking of office items,
such as desks and electronic equipment, and maintains employee
records, including employment dates, salaries, and phone
extensions.

Very important for computer system designers, Planix also
calculates cable run lengths for telephones and computer
networks.

If you need to locate business-type computer hardware or software
designed for disabled individuals, my book, "Computers and the
Americans with Disabilities Act: A Manager's Guide," John A.
McCormick, August 1993, Windcrest/McGraw Hill (#4422), ISBN 0-
8306-4445-8 (paperback) $22.95, ISBN 0-8306-4444-X, is now
shipping from the publisher.

It contains extensive descriptions of many specialized products
and lists of vendors as well as information intended to help
managers fit disabled workers into their offices and to comply
with the ADA.

I haven't seen it myself, but I got a call from fellow writer Joe
Lazzaro, who has also written an ADA book, "Adaptive Technologies
For Learning And Work Environments," American Library
Association, $35.

As I say, I haven't seen Joe's book, which appears to be about
half as big as the one I compiled, but after talking with him I
am anxious to see what he has produced - he certainly seems to
know what he is talking about, and my sincere hope is that we
have covered the subject differently enough that every business
in the country will want to buy both books; certainly it is a big
enough topic to allow for two books.

(John McCormick/19931012/Press Contact: John McCormick,
814-277-6476 or day fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SYD)(00004)

Australia - "Apple Means Business" Campaign 10/18/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Apple Australia has a new
campaign to sell computers to business buyers. Until October 31,
"Apple Means Business" offers a range of hardware and software
for small business buyers.

Marketing Manager David Rigg said that this was the time for people
who had been vacillating over the choice of a system to take the
plunge. "Now is a better time to buy than ever and all of the models
on special are well-priced."

The specials (with approximate US$ equivalent prices) include:
the Mac Classic 4/40 with Claris Works for US$1,100; the Mac LCII
4/40 with Claris Works for US$1,150; the Performa 250 4/40 for
US$1,150; the Performa 400 4/40 for US$1,250; and the PowerBook
145B 4/40 for US$1,500.

The Personal LaserWriter 300 is an extra US$850, and a CD Drive
with either home education or business software pack is US$650.

Apple is supporting the promotion with a newspaper and radio
advertising campaign directing people to authorized Apple
resellers. The first three people to ask at each reseller will
receive a video tape "In business with Apple Macintosh" giving
expert advice on improving business productivity with a Mac.

(Paul Zucker/19931015/Contact: Apple Australia,
tel [phone] or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(HKG)(00005)

Hong Kong - HDS Tops Mainframe User Survey 10/18/93
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- For the third year in a
row, Hitachi Data Systems has been ranked first for overall
customer satisfaction in the Datapro Mainframe User Survey. For
the second year running, HDS finished in first place or shared the
top spot in all 12 categories.

The survey shows that HDS was the uncontested leader in 10 out
of the 12 categories: systems reliability, responsiveness of
service, ease of operation, ease of upgrade, ease of programming,
connectability, training time, price-performance, quality of
application packages, and availability of application packages.

In the other two categories - effectiveness of service and
documentation - HDS shared the top honors.

"This is a very satisfactory result that mirrors the findings of the
most recent local customer satisfaction survey," said Hong Kong
Manager Geoff Kennedy. "The Datapro survey is the best respected
assessment of mainframe user satisfaction in the US. Our strong
showing year after year demonstrates that no one else in the
industry can match HDS for product quality, reliability and breadth
of support."

Earlier this year, Hitachi Data Systems topped the annual Hong
Kong customer satisfaction survey carried out by Graham Mead
Research with an overall rating of 7.5, compared with the industry
average of 6.7. HDS was one of only two companies to score more
than 7 in the local poll, which assessed user reactions to 18
vendors in 44 categories. HDS was rated at 8 or above in 16
categories, while the highest industry average for any category
was 7.6.

In the latest Datapro survey, mainframe users were asked to
evaluate their equipment on a five-point scale from poor (1) to
excellent (5). HDS received a ranking of 4.3 or above in every
category. HDS won the highest rating for any company, 4.9, for
system reliability - the area that 77 per cent of respondents
said concerned them most.

In overall satisfaction, HDS was rated 4.5, a score that Datapro
called "impressive." Amdahl finished second, while IBM came in
third. Other vendors covered by the survey were Bull, Digital, and
Unisys.

Datapro mailed 1,872 surveys to mainframe users throughout
the US and received 685 valid responses.

(Keith Cameron/19931011/Press Contact: Geoff Kennedy,
521-6275, HDS)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00006)

India - Informatics Institute Opens Training Centers 10/18/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Singapore-based
Informatics Computer Institute is steadily making inroads in India.
The institute has recently opened a center in Madras, which is its
seventh in the country.

Informatics already has four centers in Bombay, and one each at
Pune and Cochin. Started in 1983 with one center in Singapore,
Informatics now has a network of 45 centers in eleven countries,
including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Bahrain,
Taiwan, Oman, Philippines, Hongkong, China, and India.

The institute offers a variety of courses, many of which are
recognized by Western universities. For example, the institute's
Diploma in Computer Studies (DCS) course is validated and certified
by the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate (UCLES)
UK. The courses are also approved by the Ministry of Education in
Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Informatics facilitates credit transfers to many universities in
the US, UK, and Australia.

The center is also planning to enter into software development in
the near future. Informatics plans to set up a hundred centers all
over the country within the next five years.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19931018)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00007)

Sega To Create 64-Bit Video Game Machine 10/18/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Sega Enterprises has been
developing a 64-bit video game machine, which is expected to
be released around the fall of 1994.

The video game device will be equipped with Hitachi's 64-bit
processor. Another major game machine maker -- Nintendo --
has also been developing a 64-bit video game machine.

Sega's next generation video game machine is nicknamed the
"Saturn." It is reported to be a duel processor machine,
and it will be equipped with both a 64-bit processor and a
32-bit processor. The 64-bit processor will be used to produce
high quality screen movement, as well as voice and sound
features. It is claimed that the picture can be three-dimensional
and highly realistic.

Sega has already been planning the creation of software for the
new game device. The firm will set up a software development
center, called "Creative Center," in Shibuya, Tokyo. At the center,
Sega aims to develop multimedia software with help from a
variety of people, including those in video-related businesses,
musicians, fashion designers, and professional sports players.

Sega is also planning to set up a software development studio,
called "Multimedia Studio," next April. At the studio, Sega wants
to create advanced software incorporating video and sound
technologies. Movie producers, broadcasting firms and music
companies will participate in the project. Sega has reportedly
already signed deals with movie and broadcasting firms.

Rival Nintendo is also developing a 64-bit video game machine,
which is set for release sometime in  1995.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931018/Press Contact: Sega
Enterprises, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00008)

America Online Adds Magazines 10/18/93
HERNDON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- America Online
has added new publications to its roster, and drew a higher rating
from an analyst.

America's only publicly-traded on-line service said that The
Atlantic Monthly and Windows Magazine will both become
available on the service, in full-text versions. The Atlantic has a
circulation of about 450,000. Windows is a publication of CMP
Publications, whose flagship is Computer Reseller News.

Also, America Online said in a press statement it now has 400,000
members, almost surely making it the third-largest service, after
Prodigy and CompuServe. At the beginning of the year, AOL was
the number-four service, behind GEnie. Since April, AOL claims,
150,000 people have joined AOL, which has drawn a host of new
affiliation agreements, bundling deals, and new services in that
time.

As a result of its results, the Wheat First brokerage firm raised
its earnings estimates on AOL stock, upgrading it from a "hold" to
an "accumulate," and estimating it will earn 85 cents per share
in fiscal 1994, and $1.35 per share in fiscal 1995.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931018/Press Contact: Jean Villanueva,
America Online, 703-883-1675)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009)

Latest On Bell Atlantic-TCI 10/18/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- The US government
will appeal a district court decision allowing Bell Atlantic to
run cable television operations in its home market. In the wake
of the decision the value of Bell Atlantic stock fell, and TCI
shares were still trading more than 10 percent below their
indicated value in a merger, indicating markets feel the deal is
at risk.

Judge T.S. Ellis had ruled that a provision of the 1984 Cable Act
preventing phone companies from running cable operations within
their home markets violated Bell Atlantic's rights under the
First Amendment to the Constitution. But the Justice Department
formally has given notice it will appeal that ruling to the
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bell Atlantic said it was not surprised at the Justice Department
decision, and that even a loss in the case would not impact the TCI
merger, because Bell Atlantic plans to sell TCI operations within
its region in any case. But the case, if overturned, will scuttle Bell
Atlantic's plans to offer cable services on its upgraded networks,
although it has signed agreements with other cable companies in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey to use its upgraded networks there.

The decision, and the merger, do put more urgency on moves in
Congress to re-write the 1934 Communications Act. Some in
Congress fear that events are overtaking existing regulations,
and the US Commerce Department is forming a committee which
will look at the 1934 act as part of its review of the National
Information Infrastructure.

Generally, Republicans seem to like the Bell Atlantic merger, and
want to encourage the trend, while some Democrats are fearful of
new monopolies and want to make sure competition is the result
of merger-mania through legislation.

Two bills under consideration include one from Congressman Ed
Markey's telecommunications subcommittee which would let phone
companies into cable, but also accelerate local phone competition,
mandating that states allow it, while forbidding telephone
companies from using rate-payers money on cable investments.
The Senate is considering a similar bill from Democrat Daniel
Inouye and Republican John Danforth which would allow the regional
Bells into cable in exchange for more local phone competition. The
Bells want all restrictions on their activities lifted.

In other news involving multimedia merging, QVC moved to firm-up
its bid for Paramount by winning investments of $500 million each
from Cox Enterprises and Advance Publications. Both Cox and
Advance are privately-held. Cox had at one time been reported to
be going-in with the Viacom bid for Paramount. Advance is owned by
the Newhouse family, and its publications include The New Yorker.
QVC is also reportedly looking for more backing from TCI, but
news reports indicate TCI is also interested in buying MCA from
Universal or Sony Pictures, formerly called Columbia, from Sony.

Many analysts are already speculating on TCI head John Malone's
future, assuming the merger will go through. He was recently
named the entertainment industry's most powerful figure by
Entertainment Weekly magazine. Few people expect him to "go
fishing," as he indicated he would do at a press conference
announcing the merger, and some analysts are comparing his role
at Bell Atlantic to Ross Perot's brief run as a big General
Motors' shareholder. What is clear is that both Malone and Bell
Atlantic head Raymond Smith are dedicated to improving the local
telecommunications infrastructure, and it is that meeting of the
minds on which this merger is based.

Bell Atlantic is pressing ahead with improvements, even without
approval on the TCI deal. The company renewed its contract with
DSC Communications Corp., for that company's Digital Lool Carrier
system, Litespan-2000. DSC will also begin supplying its Starspan
Fiber-in-the-Loop gear to Bell Atlantic. Financial terms were not
disclosed.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931018/Press Contact: Terry Adams, DSC
Communications, 214-519-4358; Dave Sewall, Bell Atlantic, 215-
963-6488)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00010)

Aldus Ships First Standalone Pagemaker Addition 10/18/93
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Aldus
Corp., has announced shipment of its first standalone Aldus
Addition for Pagemaker.

Infopublisher Database Addition is an application that links the
desktop publishing program to database management systems.
"Anyone who needs to produce graphically appealing information
retained in a database needs Infopublisher, especially if they
already use Pagemaker," says senior product marketing manager
Karen Howe.

The company says Infopublisher Database Addition is an upgrade to
the Aldus Pagemaker 4.0 Database Edition. Users can now place
data from Paradox 3.5, Microsoft Access, Foxpro and Excel into
documents. The importing of ASCII text files have been improved,
and Microsoft's Open Database Communication (ODBC) protocol is
supported.

Aldus says it has made a number of enhancements, including:
better control over in-line graphic images, necessary for the
production of catalogs; added automatic reflow of stories when
data or formats are changed; made the user interface easier to use;
and added a new tutorial and expanded the documentation.

Infopublisher can be launched as an Addition from within Pagemaker,
several columns can be grouped as one for use in side-by-side
paragraphs, and style and graphics compatibility has also been
improved.

Other Infopublisher Addition features include: the ability to
combine data from multiple databases into a single database
publication; conditional formatting of data to format a field
based on the content of the database; the ability to compute row
summaries and create new columns from data in existing columns;
and formatting by number, date, or time.

Aldus publishes three types of Additions: script Additions
automate specific Pagemaker tasks; loadable Additions allow the
user to write modules that perform more complex tasks than
scripts; and standalone Additions rely on application-to-
application communications.

Infopublisher Database Addition for Pagemaker 5 requires
Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later. Aldus recommends a 486-based PC
with six to eight megabytes (MB) of system memory, an 80MB hard
disk, a high resolution graphics display, and a mouse.

Infopublisher Database Addition has a suggested retail price of
$199, but Aldus is offering it at the introductory price of $129
through the end of November. Registered owners of the Database
Edition 4.0 can upgrade for $79. If you purchased Database
Edition 4.0 after June 29, 1993 the upgrade is free.

(Jim Mallory/19931018/Press contact: Barbara Burke, Aldus,
206-628-6594; Reader contact: Aldus Corporation, 800-685-3548
or 206-622-5500)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00011)

Ford Autos Get TI Anti-theft Device 10/18/93
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- There may not be a
Ford in your future if you are a car thief in Europe.

That is because some 1994 Ford models being shipped to
European dealerships this month have a special radio frequency
identification system installed that keeps the car from being
started without a special key.

Called TIRIS (Texas Instruments Registration and Identification
System), the anti-theft system will be installed on Ford Fiesta
and Escorts being shipped to Europe this year, a could appear on
some US models as early as 1995.

TIRIS uses a technology called radio frequency identification to
provide what TI says is a tamper-proof electronic link between
the driver's key and a specific vehicle's ignition system. An
electronic code is embedded in the head of the key and a radio
frequency reader is installed in the auto's steering column. When
the ignition is turned, the reader checks for its 20-digit unique
code. If it does not read the code it expects, the car's fuel
system or some other critical component depending on the model
of auto, will not work.

TI says the system is much easier to use then personal
identification number (PIN) systems which require the driver to
remember and enter a code on a dash-mounted keypad. The company
also says the system cannot be overridden, as can an infrared
system. The entire recognition process takes place in less than
one second.

TI says the special keys are no larger than present ignition keys
topped with a rubberized head. In some configurations of the
system the vehicle's owner gets a master key which can be used
only to copy duplicate keys. The duplicated keys will start the
car, but cannot be used to produce other workable keys. In other
systems, duplicate keys can be made from other duplicates.

TI says TIRIS has other automotive-based potential applications,
including: auto entry and locking; personalized seating that can
remember the position and angle of your seat; personalized
climate control; and automatic access to garages and parking
lots.

TI spokesperson Mike Bettua told Newsbytes the relationship
with Ford is expected to be worth almost $25 million to Texas
Instruments over the next three years.

(Jim Mallory/19931018/Press contact: Mike Bettua, Bridgeman
Communications for TI, 617-451-3325)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00012)

 ****Wordperfect Sues Microsoft Over Ad Claims 10/18/93
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corp., has
filed a lawsuit against Microsoft Corp., in a dispute over who has
the most popular word processing software in the world.

Wordperfect filed their suit in the US District Court of New York,
citing an independent research firm's report that Wordperfect
sells 1.67 Wordperfect packages for each Microsoft Word package.

 Wordperfect communications specialist Ken Merritt told
Newsbytes that Wordperfect is not seeking any monetary award.
"We're just asking to stop Microsoft from making their claims."

Asked why this is an important issue, Merritt told Newsbytes, "The
world's most popular word processor title influences customers,
your advertising, and what type of message your getting across.
When people perceive you have the most popular word processor,
they are more apt to buy it."

Merritt said the sales figures were provided by Massachusetts-
based International Data Corp.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes the company does not
dispute that Wordperfect has sold more DOS-based word
processing packages. However, the spokesperson said that, in the
past 18 months, Word for all platforms has outsold Wordperfect
worldwide.

Microsoft is expected to introduce an updated version of its
Microsoft Office suite of applications soon which will
include Word for Windows 6.0. Microsoft Office includes Microsoft
Word, spreadsheet Excel and graphics presentation program
Powerpoint. Wordperfect has recently released version Wordperfect
6.0 for Windows.

(Jim Mallory/19931018/Press contact: Ken Merritt, Wordperfect
Corp, 801-225-5000; Reader contact: Wordperfect Corp, tel
801-225-5000 or 800-41-5151, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00013)

Reflex Intros Disknet 2.1 Anti-Virus Disk Checker 10/18/93
BRIER, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Reflex Inc.,
has announced version 2.1 of its anti-virus software - Disknet.

The company claims that Disknet establishes a barrier between
floppy disks and the PCs they might be used on. One PC is set up
as the Administrator, and is used to verify that diskettes are
virus-free. Disknet then codes the disks so they are usable on the
client PCs.

A diskette that does not contain the electronic "stamp of approval"
signature cannot be used by a client. If a diskette is written to,
after it has been checked, it has to be re-checked before it can
be used again. Disknet is not itself a virus checker, so you will
need at least one copy of a virus scanning program.

Reflex says one of the new features in version 2.1 is a utility
that maintains an audit trail of found viruses. The audit trail
is saved in an ASCII-format file which can be viewed by most word
processors or text editors. A utility program provides password
access control and keeps a PC equipped with a hard drive from
being booted from a floppy. A lock utility keeps an unauthorized
user from removing Disknet from the PC.

Disknet is menu-driven but the latest release adds command-line
capability which allows diskettes to be virus-checked directly
from the system prompt. The company has also added network
modules that allow automatic installation on a client Pc from the
network server. The program also reports if Disknet is active
when a client PC logs onto the server, and Disknet can be locked
onto the client PC from the server.

The program also provides virus protection from incoming COM port
data transfers, and stops a virus from trying to replicate itself
onto another program. The user is alerted that an attempt was
made to infect a program.

Disknet requires less than four kilobytes (KB) of memory and is
compatible with DOS, Novell Netware, and Windows. Suggested
retail price is $95 per PC for one to five units. Discount
pricing for larger systems is available.

(Jim Mallory/19931018/Press contact: Ann Revell-Pechar, Reed,
Revell-Pechar for Reflex Inc, 206-462-4777; Reader contact:
Reflex Inc, 206-487-2798 or 800-673-3539, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00014)

 **** Ex-Apple CEO Sculley Accepts Spectrum CEO Slot 10/18/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Reports that
John Sculley may become the next head of Eastman Kodak have
been dashed as Sculley, who resigned from Apple Computer recently,
has announced he is accepting the appointment to chief executive
officer (CEO) of Manhasset, New York-based Spectrum Information
Technologies.

Spectrum, with revenues of about $100 million annually, develops
wireless data communications products, especially in the areas of
 connecting modems to cellular phones.

This could be a good fit for Sculley, who has received the
credit for Apple Computer's Newton Messagepad personal digital
assistant (PDA), which has sold over 50,000 units since its
introduction in August of this year. Wireless communications is
the next frontier for a number of computer-oriented products,
including PDA's, personal communicators, and handheld computers
that are now entering the market. Spectrum claims its patents
cover any wireless data phone-modem connectors and any wireless
error-control protocols.

Spectrum has managed to pull itself out of a five-year long
stream of red ink by licensing, in the past few months, its
patented wireless data transfer technology to AT&T, IBM, and
most recently to Rockwell International. Standard and Poors
reported the company's first quarter in fiscal 1994 showed
revenues up 32 percent with a small operating profit.

Meanwhile at Apple, Sculley is being replaced as chairman of
the board at by A.C. (Mike) Markkula. An Apple founder, 51 year-old
Markkula served as the Apple's first chairman of the board
from 1977 to 1981, and has served as vice chairman since then.
Michael Spindler will remain as Apple's CEO. Chief financial officer
(CFO), Joseph A. Graziano, has also been elected to the board to fill
the slot left vacant by Albert Eisenstat's resignation last month.

Sculley was joined by Apple USA Division Manager Robert Puette,
whose resignation was announced recently, and was also effective
October 15. Puette is being replaced by his boss, Ian Diery, who
will also continue to oversee the other two of the three
"geographies" at Apple, Apple Europe and Apple Pacific, as well
as taking over Apple USA.

There has been quite an exodus at Apple since it began its
restructuring and change of direction this summer. At least one
executive - Eisenstat, who resigned last month - a former executive
vice president and member of the board of directors, has publicly
stated he and Sculley were forced out by Spindler. Apple denies the
allegations, claiming the resignations of key officers are simply
part of the restructuring process.

Spectrum's current CEO and president, Peter Caserta, claims to
have recruited Sculley for the CEO slot, but company officials
were unwilling to talk about how long the deal has been in the
works. Caserta will step down to vice chairman, but will
continue in his role as president.

Sculley said in a prepared statement regarding Spectrum: "This
company is a gem and well positioned with unique technologies
in the booming data transmission wireless world. I am very
excited and look forward to Peter and I working together as a
team to build Spectrum into a major global leader in the future.
Peter's successful licensing negotiations with companies like
AT&T and Rockwell International are indicative of the company's
potential."

It appears Sculley's introduction has already been good for
Spectrum's stock, although its stock prices have been climbing
regularly for a year. Trading on NASDAQ under SPCL, the
company's stock has climbed from an October 16, 1992 closing
price of 1 and 5/16 to close Friday at 7 and 7/8. However, upon
today's announcement of Sculley's appointment, Spectrum's stock
has already climbed over 2 points in early morning trading.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931018/Press Contact: Peter Rosenthall,
Howard J. Rubenstein Associates for Spectrum, tel [phone],
fax [phone]; Kathy Bachand, Spectrum, 800-233-2119;
Christopher Escher, Apple Computer, tel [phone], fax
408-974-5470)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00015)

Ericsson Teams With Inmarsat On Satellite Phones 10/18/93
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Inmarsat has revealed
it has a technology-sharing agreement with Ericsson, the Swedish
electronics company, on its planned network of low earth orbit
(LEO) satellites. Plans call for the LEO network to service users
of portable phones wherever on the earth's surface they are.

Although Motorola's Iridium LEO satphone project has been in the
news a lot in recent months, Newsbytes notes that it will take
another four years for the project to get under way and for the
first phone calls to be made. In contrast, Inmarsat has gone on
record as predicting that its network could be up and running around
18 months ahead of Iridium, since it already has plans for radio
channel satellites under way.

According to Per Bengtsson, head of information with Ericsson, the
deal with Inmarsat will speed up the rate at which the project gets
under way. "We have declared our intention to participate with our
technology on the cellular side, and we see this as an excellent
complement to existing cellular networks," he said.

Inmarsat has yet to reveal precise plans for its network of LEO
satellites, Newsbytes notes. This situation contrasts with that of
the Iridium project, which was named in the late 1980s after the
atomic number of the element in the atomic tables. The number (and
name) were selected after scientists calculated that 77 satellites
were required to ring the earth to service a hand portable phone
anywhere on the planet's surface.

In the event, the scientists were slightly out in their calculations
and, by the middle of 1992, Motorola, the leading light in the
Iridium consortium, announced that only 66 low earth orbit (LEO)
satellites were actually needed to ensure global coverage for mobile
phones.

Motorola, meanwhile, having invested $150 million in the project,
and actively seeking around 20 times that amount from other
investors, did not see the point in changing the network's name to
Dysprosium, which has an atomic number of 66.

 Motorola has already achieved around a third of the required
investment funds and, with the backing of its bankers, has begun
getting the project under way. The announcement that Ericsson is
climbing on board rival Inmarsat's project bandwagon will come
as a blow to the computer and electronics giant, especially since
Ericsson has been a strong supporter of global systems for mobile
communications (GSM) digital mobile telephone technology.

(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19931018/Press & Public Contact:
AB Ericsson - Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00016)

British Telecom & Swiss Telecom In Packet Data Link 10/18/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- British
Telecommunications (BT) has signed a joint cooperation and
technology sharing agreement with Plusnet, a start-up Swiss
telecommunications company.

Terms of the deal call for both companies to pool their resources
in the field of packet data network (PDN) and other data network
technologies.

According to BT, plans call for Plusnet to service PDN needs
in Switzerland, while BT will scoop up the international side
of the business.

Rene Burgener, Plusnet's managing director, said that the
cooperation agreement was a natural evolution for the two
companies.

Newsbytes notes, however, that the Swiss deal allows both
firms to compete on a level footing with Unisource, a new
consortium of telecoms companies in the Netherlands,
Sweden and Switzerland.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931018)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00017)

Ericsson Secures Portuguese Cellphone Contract 10/18/93
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Ericsson has secured a
contract for the supply of cellular phone equipment and services
for the second stage of the Telecel project in Portugal.

According to Ericsson, the deal brings the total value of
hardware ordered from the Swedish company to K500 million.

Ericsson also says that the second stage of the contract had been
brought forward owing to unexpected growth in demand for digital
cellular phone technology in Portugal.

This situations, Newsbytes notes, mirrors that of the UK, whose
analog cellular phone networks -- Cellnet and Vodafone -- were
launched in 1985. Demand was way over what the networks
expected, resulting in a sales bonanza for cellular hardware
suppliers, a situation that now seems to be mirrored by events
in Portugal.

Ericsson claims that, despite the fact that the Telecel digital
network has only been in operation for just over 18 months, it is
already the third largest in the world.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931018/Press & Public Contact: AB Ericsson,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00018)

Computer 2000 Profits Increase 10/18/93
MUNICH, GERMANY, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Computer 2000, the
computer distributor with operations throughout Europe, has
revealed it will be announcing an impressive round of sales
and profits figures for the full year to September 30, 1993.

According to the German company, provisional figures for the year
show that sales were excellent, but that pre-tax and net profits
are way up on last year. Company officials have declined to give
precise details of the profit figures, which are expected
towards the end of this month.

Last year, Newsbytes notes, Computer 2000 generated profits of
DM 23.7 million on sales of DM 1,820 million. This year's sales
have soared 53 percent to DM 2,790 million, the company revealed.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931018/Press & Public Contact: Computer 2000,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00019)

 ****IXI Develops Win-Tif Windows-like Unix Front-End 10/18/93
CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- IXI has announced the
development of Win-tif, a Unix application that takes the graphical
user interface (GUI) of most Motif-interfaced Unix packages and
recodes it to look exactly like a Windows interface, despite the
fact that the package remains operational under Unix.

This Windows-like facility is similar to the Sunselect WABI and
Insignia Soft Windows Microsoft Windows emulation environments
for Unix, Newsbytes notes. The difference, according to IXI, is that
no use of a Windows environment -- other than mimicking the
Windows GUI -- is required, so avoiding any licensing issues.

To promote Win-tif, IXI has done a deal with parent company Santa
Cruz Operation (SCO) to incorporate Win-tif with future editions of
SCO's Open Server and Open Desktop packages.

Anil Malhotra, IXI's director of marketing, maintains that Wintif
is something of a peace offering to industry watchers who seem
polarized between Unix and Microsoft.

Malhotra told Newsbytes that a large amount of open systems
software is accessed from PC Windows "terminals" rather than
from specialized Unix desktops. This situation is complicated, he
noted, by the all-out war been Microsoft and open systems vendors
over each other's desktop operating software.

"For IXI and SCO to effect a meaningful peace, users must be able to
maximize the benefits of both Unix application environments and
Microsoft desktop PCs. With the Windows-friendly strategy,
IXI plans to lead the industry in the fulfillment of this vital
objective," he said.

So how does Win-tif work? According to Malhotra, the technology
allows users to run applications installed on Unix servers from
desktop PCs, simply by modifying the appearance and behavior of
that software to the Windows GUI.

"Many users access Unix systems with the desktop PCs. What we've
done is to give Windows users a chance to continue using their
machines to access Unix systems, but retaining the look and feel of
the Windows user interface. This is infinitely more referable than
have them run a Windows emulation window under Unix," he said.

Malhotra confirmed to Newsbytes that Win-tif, as a product, has no
retail price. "It's more of a technology that we plan to license for
inclusion with other Unix software. The SCO deal means that the
technology will be quick to penetrate the market," he said.

(Steve Gold/19931018/Press & Public Contact: IXI,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00020)

Racal Secures $1M Australian GSM Aerial Contract 10/18/93
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, 199 OCT 18 (NB) -- Racal Antennas
Ltd., has announced it has contracted to Vodafone, the Australian
digital cellular network provider, for the supply of global system
for mobile communications (GSM) base stations aerials. The
contract is worth more than AUS$1 million.

The first phase of the contract has already been completed, with
the official launch of the Vodafone GSM network in Australia having
taken place earlier this month. The Vodafone GSM network is now
live in Melbourne and Canberra.

According to Racal Antennas, even though Vodafone Australia is
linked with parent company Racal in the UK, it still had to beat off
the competition for the contract. The key to the successful bid,
the company claims, was its ability to meet the Australian
government's requirement for a high percentage of Australian
industry involvement.

To meet this requirement, Racal Antennas has set up a local
manufacturing plant in Sydney, with Interscan International Ltd.,
being licensed to produce directional and omni-directional antennas
based on Racal's existing cellular designs, using Australian-sourced
materials and labor.

Racal Antennas, based in Southampton in the UK, claims to have
been a leading manufacturer of aerials for a wide variety of
frequencies for the past 40 years. It also claims to have become
a significant supplier to the mobile communications industry
around the world for both analog and digital cellular radio
technology.

Racal Australia of Ashfield in New South Wales, meanwhile, has
been operational for the past 30 years. The company, which
represents a number of Racal group firms in Australia, specializes
in defence electronics and radio communications.

(Steve Gold/19931018/Press & Public Contact: Racal Antennas,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00021)

Digitalk Ships First 32-Bit Smalltalk For Win32 10/18/93
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Digitalk
is shipping the first 32-bit version of the Win32 edition of its
Smalltalk/V object-oriented development environment.

The new 32-bit edition lets developers deliver Smalltalk/V
applications for Windows 3.1 and Windows NT that run up to twice
as fast as those created with the previously released 16-bit
edition, according to Jim Anderson, chairman and CEO.

Smalltalk/V Version 2.0 for Win32 also provides about 25 new
features, including an events-driven user interface like the one
added to Smalltalk/Version 2.0 for Macintosh, a product released at
the end of August.

The new interface is designed to make it easier for developers to
move applications between Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh and
OS/2 platforms, the company said.

Crash protection, another new feature in the 32-bit edition for
Win32, is aimed at letting developers trap Windows protection
violations before the violations cause applications to crash.

Addition enhancements include: a new compiler interface for greater
control of the Smalltalk/V compilation process; a new facility for
partitioning Smalltalk/V class libraries into components; and
"exception handling," a capability that helps developers determine
how runtime errors are handled in applications.

Smalltalk/Version 2.0 for Win32 comes with three user manuals,
including a tutorial for learning object-oriented programming, a
reference manual, and an encyclopedia of classes.

The package lists for $995. Registered users can upgrade for $295
through October 31. Installation technical support is available by
phone and through electronic support forums on CompuServe, Bix
and Direct Connect, Digitalk's hotline product support system.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931018/Reader contact: Digitalk, tel 714-513-
3000; Press contact: Barbara Noparstak, Digitalk, tel [phone];
Donna Candelori, Franson, Hagerty & Associates for Digitalk, tel
408-453-5220)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00022)

IBM Adds Pentium, Other Models To ValuePoint Line 10/18/93
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- IBM Personal
Computer Co., has launched several new PS/ValuePoint models,
including one based on Intel Corp.'s top-of-the-line Pentium
microprocessor and new 486-based machines that meet the US
Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star guidelines for
power conservation. IBM also extended the ValuePoint MVP line
of multimedia PCs.

The new ValuePoint P60/D has a Pentium processor running at 60
megahertz (MHz), which IBM said will more than double the
performance of a 66-MHz 486-based computer. It comes with four
expansion slots and five bays for storage devices. Customers can
choose a 424 megabyte (MB) or 527MB hard disk drive. The machine
comes with 16MB of memory, expandable to 128MB, IBM said, plus
1MB of video memory, expandable to 2MB.

The system also comes with PCI local bus architecture, 256
kilobytes (KB) of Level 2 cache, and the Mach32AX graphics
accelerator chip from ATI Technologies Inc., of Markham, Ontario.
These features make the P60/D a "very balanced system," said
Jose Garcia, director of ValuePoint development at IBM.

Ozzie Osborne, general manager of value systems at IBM, said the
P60/D is aimed mainly at desktop power users who need a faster
processor for demanding applications such as computer-aided
design, desktop publishing, software development, financial
modeling, and multimedia. It is not meant to be sold as a
network server, he said, although he said some of the machines
probably will be used that way. Available now, the P60/D starts
at $4,700, IBM said.

IBM also added to its ValuePoint Si line models based on the
66-MHz 486DX2 processor. With 4MB of memory standard and a
choice of no hard drive, 120MB drive, or 212MB drive, the new
Si models start at $1,620. IBM DOS 6.1 and Microsoft Windows 3.1
are bundled with the PCs.

The new models comply with the Energy Star guidelines, IBM said,
consuming less than 30 watts of power in standby mode using
power-management software.

Garcia said IBM expects all of its ValuePoint systems will
eventually meet Energy Star guidelines. The company decided to
make its low-priced systems the first priority, he said, and will
move on to the rest of the product line in the near future.

Additions to the MVP multimedia series include the 425SX/Si, with
a 120MB hard drive, and the 433DX/Si, with a 212MB hard drive.
Both models have 4MB of memory and come with DOS and Windows.
There is also a new multimedia model using the 50-MHz 486DX2
processor. All of these come with a Panasonic double-speed
compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive and a Creative Labs
Sound Blaster 16 audio card, plus an encrypted CD-ROM disk
containing more than 80 software packages that customers try out,
then buy if they wish by calling a toll-free order number.

Finally, IBM added nine new ValuePoint models using the 50-MHz
486DX2 processor, offering a range of hard drives up to 424MB
and standard memory of 4MB or 8MB.

The new models replace the 6384 and 6387 models, said Jim
McGann, manager of value business, but customers in the midst of
corporate rollouts of the older models will still be able to get
them. Manufacturing of the older models will continue until about
the end of this year, McGann said.

McGann also said the new models are already being built and can
be ordered today. Commenting on IBM's ongoing problems meeting
demand for some models, McGann said the company is making
progress, and had cleared up 85 percent of its order backlog as
of the end of September. Even with the new introductions, he
said, IBM expects to be meeting demand for ValuePoint systems
by the end of October.

IBM has been optimistic about clearing its backlog in the past;
in July company spokeswoman Liz Arends told Newsbytes the
company was "almost there with supply and demand."

(Grant Buckler/19931018/Press Contact: Liz Arends, IBM,
914-766-1004; Dave Dasgupta, 914-766-1885)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00023)

Sharp Claims World's Smallest Copy Machine 10/18/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Sharp has developed, what
the company claims is, the world's smallest copy machine. It is
slightly larger than a notebook computer.

The machine is part of Sharp's Z-20 series. It measures 36.2 by
35.3 by 9.8 centimeters, and weighs 6.7 kilograms. According to
Sharp, the device is about 55 percent smaller that existing
small-sized copy machines, such as those offered by Canon.

The Z-20 copy machine accepts everything from postcard-size
paper to A4-size. It has an automatic system to adjust the
clearness of the copied document, and a feeder which can handle
a maximum of 20 sheets of paper.

The retail price of the entry-level version of the device is
70,000 yen ($700), and 85,000 yen ($850) for the high-end version.
The machines have a toner cartridge capable of copying about
2,000 sheets of paper.

Sharp is planning to ship the low-end machine in November and
the upper-end version in December. A total of 25,000 units are
planned to be shipped in the first year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931018/Press Contact: Sharp,
[phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00024)

Matsushita Links With AT&T On 3DO Video Player 10/18/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric has signed
an agreement with AT&T concerning a multimedia video game player
based on the 3DO technology. Matsushita and AT&T will jointly
develop the modem for the player.

Also, Matsushita will supply the player to AT&T on an OEM
(original equipment manufacturer) basis. The agreement is based
on the multimedia video game player which was jointly developed
by Matsushita and 3DO. It is reported that the modem will be
released around next summer by both Matsushita and AT&T.

To start, Matsushita will supply the video game device to AT&T
in the spring of 1994. It is expected that AT&T will sell the
device just as a game machine. Later, the firm wants to advertise
it as an educational system as well.

The video game player is equipped with a 32-bit processor and a
CD-ROM drive. It is reported that the device also supports an
interactive mode.

The machine has already been released in the US under the
Panasonic brand name, for around $700. Matsushita will also
release the device as a game machine in Japan early next year.

Matsushita sees a lot of potential in the device because it can
also be used as a PhotoCD player. The firm has already been
developing software in cooperation with printing and publishing
firms.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931018/Press Contact:
Matsushita Electric, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00025)

India - Aplab Develops Access Control System 10/18/93
BOMBAY, NEW DELHI, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Bombay-based Applied
Electronics Ltd., (Aplab) has developed an access control system
that enable organizations to monitor the movement of visitors
and employees.

The main door to the office opens only after a person has inserted
their card into a slot in the machine and the machine has approved
it. P.S. Deodhar, president of Aplab expects initial orders to come
through within this financial year.

Aplab, which spends about 15 percent of its turnover on research
and development, is also engaged in developing transaction control
systems for gasoline usage. That system enables customers to
purchase gasoline with cards which function like ATM (automated
teller machine) cards.

Aplab has sold two of its ATM and eight branch teller machines
(BTM) within five months of their launch in February, to Indian
banks. While the ATM costs Rs 12.5 lakh (around $40,000), the
BTM is priced at Rs 2.5 lakh (around $8,000). Deodhar expects
about Rs 6 crore (around $2 million) business from ATMs and
BTMs this year.

The Bombay-based company has also installed smartcard-based
payphones. The cardmate programmable PCOs, which were launched
in 1987, are priced at Rs 25,000 (around $833). The PCOs can be
used for local, trunk, international and toll-free emergency calls.

Intel Instruments & Systems Ltd., the export unit of the group,
earned Rs 3.45 crore (around $1.15 million) in 1992-93 from the
sale of Aplab systems abroad. The total income of Aplab in
1992-93 was Rs 27.88 crore (around $9.2 million), a 23.6 percent
growth from Rs 22.54 crore (around $7.5 million) of 1991-92.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19931018)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00026)

Borland Intros 32-bit dBASE Compiler 10/18/93
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Speed is the key
feature behind Borland's new dBASE Compiler 2.0 for DOS. The
compiler takes advantage of the greater processing capability of
the 386, 486, and Pentium family of Intel central processing units
(CPUs), offering faster dBASE applications by a factor of two as
well as cutting the size of the executable file by 50 percent
simply by recompiling.

Compiling is the last step in developing a stand-alone
application, turning the programmer's code into machine
readable instructions, also known as an executable application
or .EXE file. Aimed at the estimated five million database
users worldwide, Borland claims the new dBASE Compiler is
100-percent compatible with the dBASE language so existing
applications from dBASE III, dBASE III PLUS, and dBASE IV can
be recompiled and run faster without modification.

The new compiler offers 32-bit .EXE file generation, with the
option of creating 16-bit .EXE files to run on older 16- bit
IBM compatible personal computers (PCs). It also offers .EXEs
that are 50 percent smaller than those created by the 1.0
version. A new menu-driven user interface so the compiler
options may be set via pull-down menus and dialog boxes instead
of passing the parameters via one or two character codes in a
command line statement. New Autocompile and Autolink features
allow the location, compilation, and linking of specified
programs into an executable file and a Date and Time Stamp
function allows the programmer to specify the recompiling of
only the modified portions of code to speed the compiling
process.

The compiler automatically accesses up to four gigabytes (GB)
of memory via Borland's dynamic Virtual Memory Manager, offers
optional .DBO file creation for better management of object
libraries, and MAP file creation that assists developers in
documenting and modifying programs.

The dBASE Compiler 2.0 for DOS supports 16-bit .EXE generation
on all Intel 286 or higher IBM-compatible PCs running DOS 3.3,
4.01, 5.0, or 6.0. A 386 or higher CPU is required to run 32-bit
compiled applications. At least one megabyte (MB) of extended
memory is needed to run the compiler, although Borland
recommends 4MB or more of RAM.

Retail price for the dBASE Compiler 2.0 in the US and Canada is
$495, but Borland says it will offer the compiler for $195.95
until January 31, 1994. Registered dBASE Compiler version 1.0
users may upgrade for $99.95, the company added. Prices
outside the US and Canada will vary.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931018/Press Contact: Steve Curry, Borland,
tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public Contact 800-331-
0877)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00027)

Peter Norton Says Bet On Windows-NT 10/18/93
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- In a speech at
Atlanta's Apparel Mart trade mart sponsored by Symantec, which
bought his publishing company a few years ago, author and guru
Peter Norton drew over 200 members of the Atlanta PC Users
Group to a night-time speech where he held forth on the future of
operating systems. He seemed to endorse Windows NT as the best
bet for the future.

The speech was part of a full day for Norton, who earlier had
signed some of his company's latest books at the Oxford Book
Store in Atlanta, the city's biggest general-purpose book
emporium.

Norton started by saying there needs to be a single standardized
operating system for PCs. The reason for that, in a word, is
efficiency. "We can crank out only so much code which will only
be somewhat bug free," he said. When a single system is accepted
bugs can be dealt with quickly with the limited programming
talent available.

He said the three top operating systems are OS/2, Unix, and
Windows-NT. He dismissed the Apple Macintosh system, saying its
best days are behind it. He called OS/2 a dead-end operating
system, and said not many systems are running Unix. He added
that Windows-NT is where the industry is heading. But he also
said that it doesn't really matter which is the best operating
system, from a technical standpoint -- what matters is which OS
wins the marketing wars. The winner there, hands down, he
said, is Microsoft.

When questioned about why the question of operating systems
needs to be dealt with, Norton again went back to the problem of
efficiently using limited programmer resources. There needs to be
a clear winner of the operating system struggles, he said, so we
can get on with development and training. "If you look at a
diagram of the training and development funding today, it looks
like a Mickey Mouse cap," with ears representing diverse
directions on top of a main body composed of DOS-Windows users.

In closing, Norton praised his audience of users and programmers.
"We are the backroom boys of much of the technology that will run
the world in the 21st century." He won a big hand, indicating
that to those backroom boys, Peter Norton remains a hero. Even if
most of the writing work at his shop is now done by others.

(tbass/19931014/Press Contact: Atlanta PC Users Group,
BBS 404-879-5985)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00028)

Wang Prepared For New Directions in Asia Region 10/18/93
CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Unlike its parent
company, Wang Pacific has remained profitable throughout the
troubling times in the US.

The regional headquarters in Hong Kong commenced business in
1972. According to Joseph Lau, area director (Asia) of Wang Pacific,
staff had been reduced from 180 to 140, but that was minimal
compared to the worldwide reductions.

Lau said that despite the decision to shed the traditional computer
manufacturing businesses, the company would continue to support
all its regional installed base of VS systems.

"Of course, we will provide our customers with the tools with
which to migrate to open systems and we will continue to provide
hardware enhancements to the VS as long as they are needed. This
is our commitment to our customers," he said.

(Keith Cameron 19931014)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00029)

Hitachi Intros 2GB Magneto-Optical Drive 10/18/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Hitachi America has
introduced a new, higher-capacity 5.25-inch magneto-optical (MO)
drive which allows users to store as much as 2 gigabytes (GB) of
data on a single cartridge. Many MO drives with the same form
factor only store about 600 megabytes (MB) of data on a single
disc.

Hitachi's new OD152 drive is not ISO (International Standards
Organization)-compatible because there is no ISO standard for this
general capacity of 5.25-inch drives. However, it does comply
with a European standards organization, the European Computer
Manufacturing Association.

Hitachi's previous standard 5.25-inch MO drive had a capacity of
only 650MB and the new data density is made possible using zoned
constant angular velocity recording and other techniques.

This new drive has the highest capacity of any 5.25-inch MO drive
disc and the discs formatted for this drive are not compatible
with other manufacturer's drives.

Hitachi has also introduced a new OL-152 MO jukebox (or library)
system which allows users to access more than one terabyte (TB)
or 1,000GB of on-line data.

Two models are available, each of which can daisy-chained for a
total of up to three units. The smaller jukebox can store up to
121GB (363 for three), while the larger can store 388GB in a
single unit for a total of 1.16TB in a three-unit system.

Magneto-optical storage drives used with PCs and PC-based small
network file servers range in size from 3.5-inch 130MB drives to
these newly-announced 2GB drives from Hitachi. MO drives use a
combination of strong magnetic field and powerful laser beam to
record data by changing the physical structure of the recording
medium, which in turn changes the way it reflects the light from a
weaker read-only laser.

Unlike WORM (write-once, read-many) drives and discs, MO discs
can be erased and rewritten to a number of times, making them the
operational equivalent of very large, rather slow hard drives,
with removable cartridges.

Maxell, Verbatim, and 3M will all provide media for this new
1.73GB (1024 bytes per sector) or 2.022GB (512 bytes per sector)
capacity drive. The new drive can be installed in a half-height
drive bay or as an external drive.

Average access time for the new drive is 50 milliseconds (ms),
rotational speed is 3,000 revolutions-per-minute (rpm), and it is
SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface)-2 compatible.

The average access time for a particular cartridge in the jukebox
units is about eight seconds. A jukebox is, as the name implies,
similar to the familiar music systems which can store a number of
records and load them on demand into the player. An optical
storage jukebox uses from one to several drives and contains as
many as several hundred individual cartridges.

Wholesale (original equipment manufacturing) prices for the 2GB
drive are about $3,300 each, with costs for the newly announced
jukeboxes set at $24,000 for the smaller capacity unit, and
$39,000 for the larger.

Initial evaluation drives will ship in November, with the large-
capacity jukebox shipping in December and the small-capacity
(low-type) library unit shipping in January 1994.

(John McCormick/19931014/Press Contact: Dave Martin,
Hitachi America, 415-244-7847)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(BOS)(00030)

Mangia! Offers Recipe Database For Mac 10/18/93
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 18 (NB) -- Interested in
cooking, but short on time? Then you might find Mangia! made to
order. The new Mac-based package from Upstill Software can help
you store and locate recipes, prepare shopping lists, and keep
stock of your cupboards efficiently.

From an index card-inspired user interface, Mangia! offers an
extensive database, a dictionary of food terms, a recipe formatter,
a shopping list generator and editor, an editable recipe clipboard,
and a "standing kitchen pantry," among other food-related features.

Upstill Software, creator of the product, was launched by Steve
Upstill in 1991, with a mission of "marrying cooking to computers,"
a spokesperson said. Upstill had previously authored the Renderman
Companion for Pixar, and was employed there for years as product
manager of Pixar ShowPlace.

Upstill's startup is now in talks with major publishers about a
prospective series of "electronic cookbooks" that would be designed
to work with the Mangia! database, the spokesperson told Newsbytes.
Meanwhile, you can use and adapt the 300 recipes that come with
Mangia!, or insert your own.

Mangia! provides a much more powerful search engine than competing
products, the spokesperson asserted. The recipe database takes a
layered approach. To initiate a search, you start with the Recipe
Browser, which lists all the recipes in the files.

You can call up categories within the Browser's list by selecting
from a pop-up menu at bottom left. Categories include nationality
and course, along with others. Within a category, you can focus
more tightly on a particular kind of recipe by clicking on the
Match What button to open a dialog.

In the dialog, you can ask for foods with certain "ratings"
(sliding-scale evaluations for attributes like Spicy Hotness and
Kid Appeal). You can also search for foods with specific
ingredients, or "lock out" certain ingredients (meat if you're a
vegetarian, for instance, or eggs if you're allergic).

Alternatively, you can look for recipes that only use ingredients
you happen to have around the house, by asking for dishes with
ingredients from the "standing kitchen pantry."

The pantry is equipped with a long roster of possible kitchen
contents, the spokesperson said. To enter the contents of your
own kitchen, you simply click on items on the list.

The Recipe Clipboard in Mangia! is intended to let you quickly
earmark certain recipes, without interrupting the browsing process.
Recipes are sent to the clipboard by clicking on a Clipboard button
at the bottom right of the screen.

From the Clipboard, the recipes can be "rescaled" (a meal for four,
for example, can be doubled to serve eight), ordered in the list
via click-and-drag, grouped with other recipes into a meal, or sent
off to the Shopping List.

A Shopping List can be generated by clicking on the Shopping Cart
button on the selected recipe. And before you head out to the
store, you can trim off any ingredients you already have in the
kitchen. The Shopping List window marks Pantry ingredients with
an asterisk, and lets you rapidly select and delete them en masse.

To add your own recipes to Mangia!, you open a file, provide a
recipe title, and then step through a series of other windows,
including categories, ratings, description, ingredient list, yield,
cooking times, source reference, free-text notes, and free-text
instructions. All but "description" and "yield" are automatically
indexed for later searching.

The spokesperson stressed to Newsbytes that, unlike other recipe
packages, Mangia! comes with multiple fonts. Recipes and meals can
be printed out on standard paper or recipe cards, with user control
over the format, fonts, and type style and size to be used on each
part of the page.

Further, most other recipe packages are for IBM-compatible PCs,
the spokesperson stated. "But the Mac is really ideally suited to a
consumer-oriented product like this," she added. Mangia! is priced
at $49.93.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931015/Reader contact: Upstill Software, tel
510-486-0761; Press contact: Gina Rubattino, Pixel Relations for
Upstill Software, tel [phone])