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/nb930111

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(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00001)

"Honey, I Faxed The Kids," Home Fax From Sharp 01/11/93
LAS VEGAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Sharp has
introduced a home fax machine that will automatically detect if
a call is a fax, it doubles as a copier, and will log up to 300
outgoing calls even if the calls were not made on the fax
itself.

Sharp is calling the unit the NX-1 Home Fax and the unit is
geared toward the emerging home office market. Also, a growing
number of free and pay information services, such as medical
information, stock market information, and even restaurant
menus, are available on a fax-back basis.

The NX-1 can be mounted on the wall or sits on a desk and is
about 8-inches by 10-inches. The unit also has an electronic
memo pad so users can take down a number using the keypad while
on a call and then can call up the number later for the phone
to autodial or print the number out for future use.

A 20-number autodialer and an automatic redial feature are
built-in as is a clock timer that displays the date and the minutes
and seconds elapsed while on the phone. A tracking report can be
printed which lists for up to 300 calls the date, time, number,
and elapsed time of any call made on the phone line to which
the NX-1 is connected.

The unit is available now from the Mahwah, New Jersey-based
subsidiary of the Japanese Sharp Electronics Corporation. The
suggested retail price is $496.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930108/Press Contact: Gail Birnbaum, Dorf &
Stanton for Sharp Electronics, tel [phone]; Public
Contact, Sharp, 800-237-4277)


(EDITORIAL)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00002)

Editorial: Hey Buddy, Have You Gotta PDA? 01/11/93
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- By Linda Rohrbough.
It is cheap, small, portable, recognizes your sloppy handwriting,
sends a fax, receives a fax, communicates with your computer, and only
takes a few "AA" batteries. Whether you call it a PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant), Personal Information Product (PIP), or a
Personal Communicator, or something else, one thing is clear --
everyone is building one.

Apple was first to announce its version, the PDA, when
John Scully made the keynote address at the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) held last year. While the company's
presence at this year's CES is much more limited, Apple's PDA
is reflected at each press conference in the many similar products
being introduced.

However, Apple is under fire, and somewhat justifiably so. The
company has a PDA for consumers to view in its booth, but
there's only one. It is under a heavy acrylic dome at the end
of the Apple booth resting on a pile of silver paper clips. The
location is easy to spot because there's usually a crowd
gathered around it, looking with their hands behind their
backs.

Apple product manager on the Newton, Steve Rea, was minding the
PDA "shrine" when I was there and he said what I'd been hearing
all day from one person or another when asked if it worked:
"The Newton you see here has internal electronic components but
is not fully functional."

I said, "You mean it has a circuit board inside, but it doesn't
work."

"Exactly," he answered.

At least he was honest.

Rea said to me the press was not treating the Newton fairly.
"You have to think of it as an intelligent address book, as a
new way to communicate, instead of asking all these specific
questions about how it will work."

These would have been fine answers last year, but in contrast
to the specifics and demonstrations Casio and Tandy are giving
out about the PIP code named Zoomer, or IBM's demonstrations in
its booth of its Personal Communicator, Apple's dreamy
non-specific answers remind me of the way hippies in the 1960s
used to talk. "Don't get so uptight, man. Just let it flow, you
know?"

The company is showing line drawings in a Newton brochure of
other potential PDA devices. There's the Newton draw and spell
one for children that's very round with round "handles" on the
sides, the Newton 3-by-5 Notetaker, the Newton Fax/Phone and a
a larger, square version called the Newton Architect's
Sketchpad. But the PDA "under glass" in the Apple booth is the
same one the company has been showing for months now.

Rea said there were working prototypes being tested, but none
were available for the show. Apple's reputation leaves little
doubt that the device, when available, will work pretty much as
promised. It does remain to be seen, however, if they will have
PDAs to consumers by the end of 1993.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930108)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00003)

Is TV Game Harmful To Children? British Boy Dead 01/11/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- The Japanese Ministry has
created a special research committee to look into possible health
hazard caused by TV game machines. It was triggered by a British
boy's death allegedly from playing a TV-based video game.

According to a British newspaper, The Sun (January 9), a 14-year
old boy in Essex, England was playing a game and shortly thereafter
had an epileptic seizure and apparently choked to death. He was
found dead at the entrance hall of a house. The British government,
as well as the Japanese Ministry, is concerned that epileptics
are especially susceptible to seizures during the playing of video
games on television.

The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare has set up a research
committee to study the effect of the TV games on children's eyes,
and will analyze factors such as the distance, angle, and viewing
time. It will also study which parts of the body are used when
playing the games and will compare the playing of video games to
activities involved in traditional children's games.

The Japanese committee will study five or six different TV
game devices and some popular game software. It will compare
the hardware and the software to see which, if any, affect
children. The study is expected to take about a year.

A Nintendo spokesman was quoted by a Japanese television news
report as saying he has never heard of a death from the playing
of TV games. A Sega spokesman, as expected, was also quoted as
saying the same thing.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930111)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00004)

Say Goodbye To Desktop IV 01/11/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Zenith was the big
loser in a pre-Christmas decision which upheld protests against
the award of the massive Desktop IV personal computer contract to
that firm. This decision by Judge Catherine B. Hyatt, an
administrative law judge from the General Services
Administration's Board of Contract Appeals just prior to
Christmas, will push the first buys from the "fast-track"
Desktop IV procurement into the middle of 1993 at the very
earliest.

Just what is Desktop IV and why do so many people protest it?

Issues surrounding government purchases can be a confusing
quagmire, but Desktop IV's importance and the reasons for the
protests are actually fairly easy to understand and affect a
large segment of the computer industry.

Remember back in the early Spring of 1991 when the Air Force
announced a "fast-track" procurement bid process to obtain
favorable prices on 300,000 or more high performance desktop PCs?
The new contract was called Desktop IV and would replace the
fading Unisys Desktop III contract. Unfortunately, the fast-
track led through a mud hole where it is still bogged down and
now may never see the light of day.

The computers listed on Desktop III are not only slow themselves,
being 1988 or earlier vintage, according to a recent report in
Government Computer News, but some buyers have complained that it
takes as much as a year to receive a system after placing the
order. So there is an obvious need for a new contract that will
let the military buy more modern personal computers which will
show a profit to the seller who will therefore be anxious to
deliver them.

The problem from the first was that no one of importance really
wanted Desktop IV. Sure the Pentagon wanted it and what ever
company finally sold computers under it would be happy, but that
would inevitably leave a large number of unhappy campers who
would automatically protest the award.

Everything seemed on fast-track back in 1991 when the need to
dump Desktop IV with its then slightly aging systems wasn't quite
so urgent as they are today, but as time passed and nothing
happened there was a surge of purchases on the General Services
Administration's Microcomputer Schedule, a set of general
computer contracts negotiated each year and usable by almost
anyone in the federal government.

The first snag with Desktop IV came when the Air Force awarded
the $740 million contract to Sysorex and CompuADD in November,
1991. Apple, and other losing bidders promptly protested this
award and it was cancelled in January, 1992.

In the second round, the contracting authority gave the entire
contract to Zenith Data Systems.

This award was protested by Apple Computer, Electronic Data
Systems, AST Research, CompuADD, International Data Products, and
Government Technology Services, Inc. (GTSI), and those protests to
the second award are the ones which were just upheld.

These same companies, and others, are thought to be selling a lot
of computers on the GSA Microcomputer Schedule while the Air
Force is struggling to award a single major contract. That
doesn't detract from the merits of the protests, but it is an
interesting point which virtually insures that more protests
await any future winner.

Although protests are nearly automatic in large contract awards,
it is worth noting that both Desktop IV awards have been
successfully protested, something which Washington insiders
point to when suggesting that the original rational behind the
contract may well have basic flaws. Obviously this wave of
protests was not frivolous or the General Services Board of
Contract Appeals would not have upheld them.

Taxpayers may be the inadvertent winners here because the GSA
Schedule computers (commonly referred to being On Schedule) which
are being bought because of the lack of a viable Desktop contract
are usually late model systems and the top prices are set once
each year, making it likely that GSA computers are as modern and
as low priced as any which would be bought from Desktop IV. Of
course that is only theoretical because there is no sign that
Desktop IV will be awarded any time soon.

Meanwhile, Unisys still holds the Desktop III contract and there
are rumors that the troubled giant may be waking up to the fact
that it may be able to make money by offering low-priced 80486-
based systems on that old contract. If Unisys does make this move
it could cause yet another shakeup in the bidding process,
perhaps making Desktop IV appear to be so flawed that the
Pentagon will move directly to a possible Desktop V contract.

(John McCormick/19930108/)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(PAR)(00005)

French Gvt Reorganizes Electronics Holding 01/11/93
PARIS, FRANCE, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) --In a move that could herald a
privatization, the French government has shifted its share of
semiconductor manufacturer SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, away
from the troubled electronics company Thomson-CSF. The result should
bring badly needed capital to the chipmaker and that could herald
the company's partial privatization.

The French government owns 45 percent of SGS-Thomson, and the
Italian government owns 45 percent as well (the remaining 10 percent
is owned by Britain's Thorn-EMI). The Paris-based Thomson-CSF
controlled the French stake, but last week control of the Agrate
Brianza-based chipmaker shifted to two French state-owned companies:
CEA Industrie, a research laboratory for electronics and nuclear
energy, and France Telecom, the national telecommunications
monopoly.

CEA Industrie will hold 51 percent of the company, in a complex
financial structure which still includes Thomson-CSF, while France
Telecom will keep the remaining 49 percent. (Thomson-CSF will pull
out of SGS-Thomson completely by 1996).

The move could mean a partial privatization for the French share
of SGS-Thomson. The next French government almost certainly would be
controlled by the conservative opposition, political observers here
say, and the conservatives have already announced a plan to privatize
France Telecom and part of CEA Industrie.

The move will also mean a fresh influx of capital for SGS
Thomson, which has been suffering from the need to finance
a $900 million debt.

The original plan to shift SGS-Thompson was drawn up by the
previous French Socialist government, whose prime minister, Edith
Cresson, tried to create a huge electronics combine merging Thomson,
the electronics conglomerate, with CEA Industrie and France Telecom.

That plan failed, but the current Socialist has succeeded in
shifting the burden of SGS-Thomson -- a company that usually makes a
small profit, but that requires considerable investment for
semiconductor research -- away from the money-losing Thomson. The
profitable operations of the French telephone monopoly should help
to fulfill the needs of the Franco-Italian chipmaker.

(Andrew Rosenbaum/199120901/Press Contact: Maria-Grazia Prestini,
SGS-Thompson Microelectronics, Agrate Brianza, Italy. tel [phone]).


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00006)

AST's 486-Based Multimedia PC With Photo CD 01/11/93
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- AST Research
has announced a 486-based multimedia PC geared to a wide range
of purposes, including Photo CD.

Advantage! Pro will be the second multimedia PC to be released by
AST in less than a year, a company spokesperson told Newsbytes.
The first model in the AST's multimedia lineup, the 386-based
Advantage!, hit the market in June.

The 33 MHz 486SX processor that comes standard with Advantage! Pro
will run multimedia applications almost three times faster than its
25 MHz 386SX predecessor, according to AST officials. The system
can be upgraded to processing power as high as 66 MHz 486DX2 with
the use of Intel OverDrive. "The world is going to 486, and so is
AST," the spokesperson commented.

Along with 486 performance, Advantage! Pro brings a multisession
Sony CD-ROM drive that replaces the single-session Pioneer drive in
Advantage! In addition, two of the four CD-ROM titles included in
the purchase price will be user selectable, the spokesperson told
Newsbytes.

Unlike the Pioneer drive, the Sony drive is able to handle
Kodak's Photo CD, a technology that allows on-screen display of 35
mm photos, the spokesperson said. Multisession capabilities enable
the drive to store multiple rolls of film on the same CD-ROM disk,
he explained. The Sony drive works with SoundBlaster II audio card
that also comes with the unit.

"Our first multimedia PC was targeted at a very specific market,"
the spokesperson noted. In contrast, Advantage! Pro is oriented to
a general audience of small business, home office, and novice PC
users, he indicated. "As a result, we'll be offering a large
variety of software titles," he remarked.

Like Advantage!, Advantage! Pro is bundled with Microsoft
Works productivity tools and Microsoft Bookshelf, a collection of
reference programs that incorporates a dictionary, thesaurus,
atlas, and encyclopedia.

But in place of the two games and children's dictionary included
in Advantage!, Advantage! Pro comes with a card that lets
purchasers order two CD-ROM titles of their choice at no extra
charge.

Final CD-ROM selections for Advantage! Pro have yet to be set, but
about 40 to 50 options will be available, the spokesperson
revealed. The dictionary and games that shipped with the 386-
based Advantage! were McMillan's Dictionary for Children, the
children's title Mixed-Up Mother Goose, and the adult game King's
Quest V.

Advantage! Pro is also bundled with DOS 5.0. Other standard
features include a 170 MB hard drive, a 3.5-inch floppy drive,
an onboard VGA controller with 512K of memory (upgradable to 1
MB), a super VGA monitor, dual stereo speakers, a low-profile
microphone, and a mouse. Shipment is slated for the end of March.

AST does not set recommended prices for retailers, but the company
expects the new unit to sell for under $2,000, the spokesperson
told Newsbytes. The purchase price will include a one-year
warranty on on-site service, parts and labor.

Ranked number 431 on the Fortune 500 list, AST holds prominent
market shares in the desktop, file server, and notebook PC markets.
The company operates 34 international subsidiaries and sales
offices and is represented in 100 countries around the world.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920111/Press contact: Emory Epperson, AST, tel
714-727-7958)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(PAR)(00007)

France Telecom Cuts Int'l Phone Rates 01/11/93
PARIS, FRANCE, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- The French telecommunications
monopoly France Telecom last week cut its telephone rates to North
America by 9.3 percent, and its international European rates by
5.3 percent.

Calls to the US from France in prime time (2 PM to 8 PM) will
now cost FF 6.93 ($1.30) per minute, down from FF 7.66
($1.45) per minute.

Calls from France to other nations in Europe, which ordinarily cost
an average of about FF 5.5 ($1.00) per minute have dropped 5.3
percent in cost, to about FF 5.2.

The tariff outside of prime hours has not changed.

The new tariffs are closer to those offered by AT&T, MCI and Sprint,
whose offer of international calls both to the US and between some
European nations has reportedly cut into France Telecom's market share.

(Andrew Rosenbaum/19930112/Press Contact: Stephanie Barbe, France Telecom,
Immeuble Perisud, 7 Boulevard Romain Rolland, 92128 Montrouge Cedex, France,
tel 33)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00008)

ASP Expands Print Server Family, Gets Novell Certif 01/11/93
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- ASP Computer
Products has a new printer server and will announce its
Novell certification.

The new member of the print server family is known as the JetLAN 2P.
It is an expanded version of the company's JetLAN P and can
attach up to two printers directly to the network. The JetLAN 2P
can be placed apart from the network file server in a more
convenient location for users to access. Security is enhanced as
the network file server can now be placed in locked rooms.

Also, there is no need to dedicate a PC to the print server
functions as the device performs that function by itself.

ASP is making three models available. One is for Ethernet networks.
It comes with a BNC and an RJ45 connector for the network wiring. It
is officially known as the JL2P300 and will retail for $695 when it
is shipped in February. The other two models in the line will
support Token Ring with a 9-pin female connector and an RJ45
connector. It is expected to ship in early April. The Arcnet model
will have twisted pair or a BNC connector and should become available
by the end of March. Pricing on the Token Ring and Arcnet versions
will be decided closer to shipping date.

ASP has also announced that it has received certification from
Novell. The certification means that Novell has performed significant
and rigorous testing of the ASP devices and found that they work with
the Novell NetWare software under a variety of conditions that most
networks are likely to encounter.

"This latest certification increases our network users' print server
options and adds reassurance to their purchase decision," said
Amnon Even-Kesef, ASP president. "Novell Lab's Tested and Approved
Netware Compatible certification means that network administrators
can be assured that our JetLAN/P and JetLAN print server products
will work on their Netware network."

(Naor Wallach/19930111/Press Contact: Kristin Keyes, McLean PR for
ASP, 415-513-8800/Public Contact: ASP, 408-746-2965)


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

IRMA Smartscreen For Windows 01/11/93
ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- DCA has entered
into an agreement with Capella Systems of Atlanta, Georgia to create
a new product that will act as a front-end to PROFS and Office
Vision/VM for Microsoft Windows. This new product is known as IRMA
Smartscreen for Windows (ISW).

ISW is a front-end for PROFS and Office Vision/VM and it assumes
all of the functions performed by those two packages
and displays a Windows-oriented user interface. The result is
that users will not have to bother learning specific commands
and idiosyncrasies of PROFS or Office Vision/VM.

For instance, by pressing a button in a window, ISW will log into
the mainframe, retrieve all of the mail that accumulated for the
user, download the mail to the PC, and log off the mainframe. Then,
the user will be able to view and manipulate mail messages
offline using tools provided by ISW. ISW also downloads the
mail directory to the PC so that user can forward and generate mail
from the PC.

Another advantage to this approach aside from reduced training costs
and time is a reduction in connect times to the mainframe. Many
organizations have a chargeback system based on mainframe
time. With ISW, connect times are significantly reduced and
consequently so are the connect time charges.

DCA is making ISW available to IRMA Workstation for Windows v2.1
users free of charge between now and June 30, 1993. After that, DCA
will charge $125 for ISW. Users who currently have an earlier
version of IWW will be able to receive ISW for free with the paid
upgrade to IWW until June 30 as well.

(Naor Wallach/19930111/Press Contact: Kerry Stanfield, DCA, 404-
442-4519/Public contact: DCA, 800-348-3221)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00010)

 ****Defense Plant Now Makes Pizza 01/11/93
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- A start-up called
TurboChef Inc., has commissioned Texas Instruments to make a new
kind of oven which can fully cook a full-size pizza in 90
seconds.

Texas Instruments is pushing this story in part because the new
oven is being produced at one of its old defense plants, which
would otherwise be mothballed. "Some radio station said make
pizza, not war," joked TI spokesman Terri West to Newsbytes. The
final product has a plate on its back marking its origins, but
the brand name on the front is TurboChef, the spokesman
continued. "This is a commercial oven, targeting the vending
machine business, the restaurant business, and convenience
stores," she added.

The marketing man for TurboChef, Jeff Zisk, told Newsbytes that
the Dallas Morning News got wind of the story first, and
since then he's been deluged with calls from reporters. "It's not
a convection oven, and it's not a microwave. It's a process
where, under computer control and constant monitoring, we are
blowing air directly into the product to try and break the
'thermal barrier' which is around it. We do it in a closed
chamber." By quickly getting heat inside the product, pizza
crusts pop right up and all foods are cooked evenly and very
quickly, Zisk explained. Philip McKee, a Dallas entrepreneur, led
the development effort on the TurboChef. He and Jeff Bogatin, a
New York investor, own the company.

So far, two of the ovens are being used by a Pizza Hut unit
called Fastinos, in Wichita, Kansas. Zisk said the company is
open to buyers from all over the restaurant business, not just
pizza palaces. "It started with pizza because one of our first
customers was Pizza Hut. This machine was specifically built to
cook a pizza, but it also cooks other items." The shape of the
cooking chamber is not an important part of the concept, so ovens
could be produced designed for cooking any product. As
commercial ovens go, Zisk adds, "they're not that expensive.
They cost under $15,000. The chamber itself cooks one 12-inch
pizza in between 60-90 seconds."

He adds, "We haven't put together a schedule for coming up with a
home version. Right now we're working on the commercial market.
The commercial market is a huge market. The technology is in how
it cooks," he adds, including the way the hot air is controlled by
computers and how cooking performance is monitored by sensors.
"We have patents pending." He adds, "There's no restraint on
production capacity. TI has capacity around the country. Right
now we're set up in Dallas, but if it became necessary I'm sure
they can find more."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930111/Press Contact: Terri West, TI, 214-
995-3481; Jeff Zisk, TurboChef, 214-521-0071)


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

Videoconferencing Just Got Cheaper 01/11/93
DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- PictureTel
introduced the Model 150, a new entry level addition to its
System 4000 line of videoconferencing systems. The new model
costs just $18,500, and the company is leasing them for less than
$500 per month.

Before this, the lowest-cost model in the PictureTel line cost
about $39,000. That model's price has been cut to $34,000.
Ron Taylor of PictureTel told Newsbytes that the new model
"doesn't have far-end camera control of pre-sets, as other
systems do. Everything else is there, and it can be upgraded.

"What it does allow is a new way of looking at videoconferencing
-- through the low price and leasing program. It makes this a
departmental decision, since department heads can spend $500."

Economies of scale and a re-engineering of boards to use fewer
chips get credit for the lower prices, Taylor added. The new
product will go through the same distribution channels the
company is now using, and the assets created by lease contracts
will be retained by PictureTel.

Taylor said the significance of the announcement is that it
expands the videoconferencing market. "Companies that already
have networks will be more ready to expand into regional and
district offices. This also makes videoconferencing more
appealing to small and medium-sized businesses, which couldn't
afford it before." Even companies which already have other
vendors' equipment may be tempted by the new PictureTel model, he
said, because it can work with other vendors' systems under a
standard called CCITT H.320, which uses a PictureTel algorithm
called px64 to compress pictures.

The Model 150 will be available in North America and Europe
beginning in March, with worldwide availability beginning in
April. It can be ordered with either NTSC video, the type used in
North America, or the PAL video system used in Europe.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930111/Press Contact: Ron Taylor, PictureTel,
508-762-5178)


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

Locate Buys Metromedia Paging 01/11/93
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Southwestern
Bell sold Metromedia Paging, which a spokesman identified as the
second-largest US paging operation, to Locate Inc., of New York.
The price was undisclosed because Locate is privately held and
the transaction will have no material impact on SW Bell's books.

Locate is best known for providing digital microwave services on
a local basis within New York, but President Craig Roos said in
a press statement he wants to expand the company throughout the
wireless communications arena. To that end, Locate has been
working to expand into wireless telephone service using its
licensed microwave frequencies and a digital cellular technology
known as Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA. The sale is
contingent on regulatory approvals, which are thought to be
routine, and is expected to closed by mid-1993.

Metromedia Paging is based in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, and
has about 1.1 million pagers in service in 31 markets, as well
as 1,275 workers, Dale Ingram of Southwestern Bell told
Newsbytes. He added that Southwestern Bell continues to believe
that paging is an important technology, which is why it retained
the right to serve as a sales agent for Locate's services. After
the deal is completed, the company's name will be changed from
Metromedia Paging to Locate Paging. Locate had no paging
operation before.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930111/Press Contact: Southwestern Bell, Dale
Ingram, 314-235-7135; Locate, Craig Roos, 212-509-5596)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00013)

 ****Court Decision To Affect Government E-Mail 01/11/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Office workers who
have incautiously sent an e-mail message critical of their boss
only to learn later that electronic mail isn't necessarily
private, will sympathize with government workers who have just
discovered that their private electronic musings have the same
legal standing as any formally printed document. The Washington
Post reported today that US District Judge Charles Richey has
finally ruled that computer records must be preserved.

As the Bush administration winds down, there must be great
consternation at last week's ruling which blocks the outgoing
White House workers from automatically deleting computer records
generated over the past four years or more. Responding to a suit
brought by historians who contended that computer-generated
records must be preserved for future generations, Judge Richey
acted just in time to prevent the erasure of thousands if not
millions of messages.

Although the vast majority of such messages were probably of the
"Lets order a pepperoni pizza" variety, few outside the
administration itself agreed with the White House's contention
that retention of the computer records was not necessary because
staffers were instructed to print out and file all "significant"
e-mail messages.

Many people feel that Oliver North proved the inadvisability of
leaving such decisions about the significance of certain White
House papers to the staff who created them and in fact the laws
requiring the preservation of miscellaneous paper records grew
out of earlier White House record problems related to the Nixon
administration's handling of Watergate-related papers.

Some insiders predicted this decision because the copyright laws
already defined electronically stored text as coming under the
protection of copyright and this was thought to provide a
significant precedent which would lead the court to protect
electronic files the same way paper records are protected.

The ultimate effect of this decision is yet to be seen, but it
may have a chilling effect on the next administration's use of
electronic information management, just when a pair of "computer
generation" electronic literates take their places at the head of
government.

(John McCormick/19930111)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00014)

Cray Research Replaces Supercomputer That Isn't There 01/11/93
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Cray Research says it
has installed one of its Y-MP8D supercomputers at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory to replace an earlier model Cray X-MP.
According to Cray Research, the system being replaced shouldn't
have been there.

That's because the circa 1982 X-MP was replaced last year with an
IBM workstation cluster, according to an ad campaign by Big Blue
last March. Cray Research says it requested IBM to discontinue the
ads, but it refused.

"We think the fact that the older Cray X-MP system has never been
removed from service, has been fully utilized 24 hours a day, and
has now been replaced by a newer, upgraded Cray supercomputer fully
substantiates what we've been saying all along, namely that it was
never replaced before," said Cray VP of Corporate Communications
Frank Parisi. "It's unfortunate that this myth is being continued in
ongoing IBM ads."

In other Cray Research news, the company says Livermore Labs is one
of two Department of Energy (DOE) installations that is included in
a preliminary agreement to develop massively parallel processing
(MPP) software capabilities for future Cray Research computing
systems. MPP systems perform very complicated calculations by
performing different computing tasks simultaneously. That
effort is being funded jointly by the DOE and Cray in
the amount of $70 million. Cray says it installed one of its
top-of-the-line Y-MP C90 systems at Livermore's National Energy
Research Supercomputer Center last October.

(Jim Mallory/19930110/Press contact: Frank Parisi, Cray Research,
612-683-7130)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00015)

Bill Gates Likes High-Tech Dates, Says New Book 01/11/93
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Bill Gates,
chairman of Microsoft Corporation and richest man in America,
is the subject of another book, "Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul
Reinvented an Industry - and Made Himself the Richest Man in
America."

The 534-page biography was released today by Doubleday, and is
written by computer industry columnist Stephen Manes and Seattle
Times high-tech writer Paul Andrews. The two writers say they
conducted more than 1,000 hours of interviews, including 24 hours
with Gates himself. The suggested price of the book is $25.

Gates is estimated to have a personal net worth of $7 billion.
Manes describes Gates as "the most important figure in the computer
business and the richest man in America," and says Gates has become
an American icon. "It's the great American success story of our
generation," according to Manes.

"This book is complete, fully documented, has 40 pages of notes,
and is the first originally researched book on Gates," Manes
tells Newsbytes. Gates did not officially sanction the book
but gave the authors more than 24 hours of personal of
interviews, Manes says, something he has not granted other book
writers.

"There is a lot of new material that has never been reported
before about Microsoft's business practices," Manes said, when
asked if the book contains anything controversial. Microsoft
is currently under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission.

On a personal note, Gates' favorite game in elementary school,
Manes says, was "Soak 'Em," otherwise known as Dodge Ball. "A
kind of precursor to his style later in life," says the author.
Manes says Gates also had high-tech dates with his girlfriends
in the past. Each would see the same movie in different cities,
then they would both talk about the movie on their cellular
phones after they came out.

Newsbytes reported on another book about Gates, "Hard Drive,"
written by two Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporters, James Wallace
and Jim Erickson, last July. That book was an unauthorized
biography of the man many describe as a genius.

(Jim Mallory & Wendy Woods/19930110/Press contact: Steve Manes,
206-722-3219, Paul Andrews, 206-464-2360, or Anne Bentley,
Doubleday Publishing, 212-492-9787)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00016)

New For Mac: Expansion Chassis For Mac's Duo Dock 01/11/93
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Second Wave has
announced two NuBus expansion chassis for Apple Computer's
Macintosh Duo Dock.

The external expansion systems are available in four and eight-slot
models for the new Macintosh docking station designed for use with
Apple's PowerBook 210 and 230 laptop computers. The chassis connect
to the Duo Dock via an interface card and cable provided with the
Expanse NB4 and NB8.

The company says more and more applications require multiple NuBus
slot configurations, such as multimedia, data acquisition and
industrial control, image processing, and digital signal processing.

Both systems contain their own power supplies, providing 50 and 130
watts respectively, a cooling fan, a four or eight-slot motherboard,
and the electrical and mechanical hardware to internally mount a
3.5-inch half-height SCSI (small computer system interface) device.

The NB4 is smaller than a Mac IIsi, measuring 9.5 by 14 by 4
inches. The NB8 is about the size of a IIvx, 14.3 by 14 by 5.5
inches. The NB4 has a suggested retail price of $1,295, while the
8-slot model is priced at $2,295. Both systems are shipping now,
and carry a one-year warranty.

(Jim Mallory/19930110/Press contact: Lark Doley, Second Wave Inc,
512-343-9661)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00017)

 ****Tandy Closes 100 Retail Outlets 01/11/93
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Tandy Corporation
announced today that its board has decided to close about 100 of its
413 retail outlets and is also considering the possible spinoff of
all manufacturing operations.

Tandy Corporation has formed a manufacturing entity, TE Electronics,
which is expected to take a pretax charge of about $20 million as of
December 31, 1992. Tandy has changed its fiscal year end to December
31 from June 30, but TE's fiscal year will still end June 30. Change
of the fiscal year is subject to bank approval.

The company says TE Electronics will include all 25 of its
manufacturing units, including O-Sullivan Industries, Memtek
Products, Grid Systems, and Tandy Grid Europe. The units reportedly
had combined sales of about $1.5 billion for the fiscal year that
ended June 30, 1992.

Former Tandy executive vice president and CFO William Bousquette has
been named chief executive officer of TE. Robert McClure, who had
been president of Tandy Electronics, has been named chief operating
officer of TE.

The company says completion of the spinoff is subject to final board
approval, the receipt of bank and other third-party consents, and a
tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that the transaction
would be tax-free to shareholders. Operational and organizational
changes are effective immediately, but the company says it will take
about six months to issue TE Electronics stock.

Tandy Chairman John Roach says the move will allow it to focus on
retailing while the manufacturing arm moves in other directions. The
stores which will probably be affected are likely to be the McDuff
Supercenters, the Edge in Electronics outlets, and possibly some
Video Concepts stores. The restructuring is not expected to affect
the company's 7,000 Radio Shack stores. "We think this enhances the
profitability potential for both sides of our business," said Roach.

Tandy spokesperson Fran McGehee told Newsbytes that Tandy already
manufactures for other companies including reservation terminals
for United Airlines.

Asked about the possible loss of jobs for employees in the outlets
being closed, McGehee told Newsbytes, "It will affect some employees."
She said she didn't know how many employees might lose their jobs,
or what the timetable for the closings is. Tandy's Ed Juge told
Newsbytes, "Our people are being notified today." Juge said the list
of stores being closed wouldn't be available until the people
affected were notified.

"We're closing stores that are unprofitable, for whatever reason,
mostly in secondary markets," Juge told Newsbytes. "We're absolutely
not leaving most of the markets were in."

Tandy also plans to open several more Incredible University Stores
and an additional 16 Computer City stores each year over the next
two years. Retail operations during December were reported at about
$604.6 million, up seven percent from the previous year. Total
calendar year 92 sales were about $3.8 billion.

(Jim Mallory/19930110/Press contact: Fran McGehee, Tandy
Corporation, 817-390-3487)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00018)

Computer Select CD-ROM Search Engine Switched, Mac Version Due 01/11/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Ziff Desktop
Information has decided to replace the Lotus Bluefish search
engine which had originally been chosen to index and retrieve data
from the Ziff Computer Select CD-ROM database of computer-related
publications (including Newsbytes). Cambridge, Massachusetts-based
Dataware Technology, one of the world's leading CD-ROM software
developers, has been chosen to supply its popular CD Answer
software to Ziff. Meanwhile, a Macintosh version of the subscription
service is due later this quarter.

Ziff Desktop Information also announced today that future
releases of the monthly Computer Select database will include the
full text of International Data Group's weekly InfoWorld
newspaper. InfoWorld thus joins 70 other full-text publications
and 100 others whose abstracts are published each month on the
PC-compatible CD-ROM.

Each issue of Computer Select contains 80,000 articles or
abstracts and computer programs from the past year's issues of
more than 175 publications, listings of 74,000 hardware and
software products, definitions of 13,000 computer terms, and
brief profiles of another 13,000 companies working in the
computer and communications area.

The switch to CD Answer will provide more flexible and powerful
search capabilities, including the combination of Bluefish's
"word" and "field" searches into a single "find" search screen.
Searches are no longer restricted to a maximum of ten words and
may include the previously masked words such as "a", "the", and
"and" which often form part of computer terms or product names.

Ziff Desktop Information reports that Computer Select searches
will be nearly one-quarter faster on older 286-based systems, and
as much as ten times faster on 32-bit computers like 386- and
486-based units. Attachments, which are used to store computer
code files programs, and spreadsheet files, will be easier to
access under CD Answer.

The new interface, called ZDScan, is based on CD Answer but is a
customized version which will soon be used in other Ziff CD-ROM
publications such as the Support On Site database.

Macintosh and Windows versions of ZDScan are currently under
development.

Meanwhile, at Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Ziff showed a
prerelease version of its Computer Select database for the
Apple Macintosh personal computer. The product has until now only
been available for PCs. The Mac version is due to be available
later in the first quarter of 1993.

(John McCormick/19930111/Press Contact: Lisa Landa, Ziff Desktop
Information, 617-252-5211 or Kathleen Hunter, Dataware, 617-621-
0820)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00019)

Pyramid Development Becomes Mergent Int'l 01/11/93
ROCKY HILL, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Prompted by
the risk of confusion with other firms and by the imminent launch
of new products, Pyramid Development Corp., has taken a new name.
The new title, Mergent International, Inc., builds on the idea of
merging or integrating various hardware platforms, company
spokeswoman Kathy Garlasco said.

The company, best known for its Personal Computer Data Access
Control System (PC/DACS) software, plans to unveil new products
that will help maintain data security across a range of hardware
platforms and networks, Garlasco said. The new products are
expected within a few weeks.

The firm is "starting to put a lot of effort into information
security management tools," she said.

The arrival of the new products made it a good time for a name
change, Garlasco said, but another reason is the fact that the
name Pyramid is common in the computer industry. Mergent, now
privately held, may consider a public share offering within a few
years, Garlasco explained, and at that point name confusion could
be a worry.

Mergent launched PC/DACS in 1986, and now claims to number many
Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and United States
government agencies among its customers. The company has about 50
employees, Garlasco said. Mergent does not release financial
results. However, a statement from the company said it expects
sales to "approach $50 million annually" within five years.

(Grant Buckler/19930111/Press Contact: Kathy Garlasco, Mergent
International, 203-257-4233, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00020)

India: Security Imaging System 01/11/93
PUNE, INDIA, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Computer crimes are well known.
In the world banking industry alone, it is estimated that
computer crime takes care of $3.5 billion every year. The culprits
on most occasions stay far from the engaging hands of the law.
While on one side computers facilitate the thieves, on the other,
they can also work as a vigilant guards.

"Alert Vision," an imaging-based security system is an example.
Recently introduced by Pune-based Teckmen Systems, it can track
and display the intruder and his modus operandi. The system not
only stores the images, but also gives an alarm for the preventive
action. As it captures five frames per second, the frequency is
programmable depending upon the user's requirement. The option of
manual as well as automatic control is also with the user.

The images of the intruder and his activities can also be
recorded on a VHS tape to enable further detection.

An interesting feature is that, as the system uses neural networks
(which function like human brain), it is trained to ignore unwanted
images like that of moving equipment, flapping papers, or waving
trees. It is claimed to be simple to operate and has features
such as fault tolerance and mishandling. For the system's own
security, password protection is given.

As regards its applications, Alert Vision is designed to be effective
for security purposes in banks, jewelry shops, museums, sensitive
military areas, and airports.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930111)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00021)

Japan: Low-Cost HDTV Video Player 01/11/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Japan Victor Corporation (JVC)
has developed a low-cost video player for a high definition
television (HDTV) and promises to have it on the market by the
end of this year.

JVC has named this product the W-VHS, and it is compatible with
existing VHS video players and tapes. This factor, it is hoped,
may position the machine as an industry standard among HDTV
video players. The W-VHS supports both recording and playback
features.

HDTV has always carried a higher price tag than regular television
and this recorder is not expected to be an exception. The W-VHS is
to cost 600,000 yen ($4,800), which is about five times more
than existing VHS players. Still, this represents a drop from
current HDTV players which cost about $80,000 or 10 million yen.

JVC's latest video player has a new recording system. The tape
records data in three different sections on a tape. Two sections
are allocated for the picture signals and the other one
is allocated for audio signals. Under this system, the pictures
are extremely clear and the sound is crisp. JVC is preparing to
share its technology to third party developers.

Meanwhile, JVC will release a low-cost HDTV this fall at a price
tag of less than 1 million yen ($8,000). The cheapest HDTV
currently available costs 1 million yen and at this price, it is
estimated that about some 20,000 have been sold in Japan.

With a low-cost HDTV set and an HDTV video player, JVC is expecting
to leap ahead in the emerging HDTV market.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930111/Press Contact: Japan Victor
Corporation, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00022)

Multimedia Device Developed By Fujitsu 01/11/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Fujitsu says it has developed a
hand-held CD-ROM-based multimedia device compatible with the
firm's personal computer, FM-Towns. It is still a prototype,
but it is expected to be released this spring for less than
100,000 yen ($800).

Fujitsu reports that its portable multimedia device, possibly
similar to Sony's Discman, is equipped with the its latest,
powerful LSI chip which enables it to be connected with a regular
television set. The device can also share multimedia data with
the FM-Towns, a best-selling personal computer in Japan.

The actual shape of Fujitsu's multimedia device is still unknown.
However, a Fujitsu spokesman tells Newsbytes that the device
will be small enough to fit one's hand. It may look like Sony's
Data Diskman, a multimedia device which supports color pictures
and sounds.

Fujitsu's multimedia device is expected to offer an encyclopedia or
act as a game machine when connected with a television set. Users
are expected to access to more than 630 FM-Towns software titles
on this device.

Meanwhile, Fujitsu will participate in a new multimedia
project called "Hyper Network Community Research Committee," which
will be created in Oita Prefecture this April. The Committee
is backed up by the prefectural government, and major electronic
firms such as NEC, NTT, and Apple Computer are also expected to
join the project. The Committee will mainly study the usage
and the potential of multimedia devices. Total capitalization
will be 420 million yen ($3.5 million).

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930111/Press Contact: Fujitsu,
 [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00023)

India: Wipro-Tandem Alliance Likely 01/11/93
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Wipro Infotech, headquartered
in Bangalore, and Tandem, known for its fault-tolerant machines, are
considering setting up a joint venture company in India. Sources in
Wipro say the joint venture will concentrate on systems integration
and development of systems and application software. Manufacturing is
not on the cards.

Besides being Tandem's distributor in India, Wipro Infotech also
does systems software work for Tandem. Wipro has, of late, been
getting more assignments and Tandem is said to have identified Wipro
as a potential ally for software operations. But this alone does not
warrant a joint venture.

A major benefit in forming the venture would be the reduced costs
for both companies, says a Wipro executive. At present, the companies
incur high costs as jobs involve shuttling equipment and manpower
between India and the US. A joint venture would imply setting up
lab facilities locally, which spells cost-reduction.

(C. T. Mahabarat)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00024)

California Software Enters Indian Market 01/11/93
MADRAS, INDIA, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- California Software Company
Ltd. (CSL), is setting up a 100 percent export-oriented software
technology park in Madras, India. To part finance the Rs 3 crore project
(around $1 million), the firm is entering the capital market with a
public issue of Rs 1.8 crore ($0.6 million).

A subsidiary of Chemoil Corporation of US, CSL aims to provide cheap
programming services to small and medium-sized companies in the US.
The company plans to customize dBase, Foxbase, Foxpro, Paradox,
Clipper, Autocad, Btrieve and similar packages on Novell, LAN/DOS
based PC systems.

Besides, it proposes to develop specific application packages on
Unix-based minicomputer systems with relational database management
systems and on IBM AS/400 system with Synon and Case tools. It will
also offer add-on utilities and libraries developed in C, C++ and
Fortran.

While system analysis and design will be done in the US, programming
services will be provided from India with specified programs and
systems delivered via VSNL's (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd.) telecom
link.

"With this offshore development site in India, we can make use of
the large pool of software engineers and management expertise available
at significantly lower cost here than that in US," says Robert V
Chandran, president, Chemoil Corporation.

To market the services of CSL, Chemoil Corporation has set up
Technosoft, a subsidiary in the US. It will forge alliances with
firms there and has already established a software developer
relationship with Synon Inc., and an independent software vendor
relationship with IBM. "Technosoft will concentrate on markets for
rewriting existing programs to run on different platforms, which
is growing due to companies downsizing from old mainframes and
mini frames to cheaper networks and PCs," says Chandran.

The Madras-based park has a 486-based Unix system with Oracle and
two 386-based Novell LAN systems. It proposes to install an IBM
AS/400 machine with Synon 2E software and also get VSNL's 64-
kilobyte link to facilitate transfer of data between Madras and US.

CSL has already executed a personal tracking system and payroll
project for Hollywood Marine, Houston, and an inventory tracking
and costing program for Chemoil refinery at Los Angeles. Its
ongoing projects include a maintenance project on AS/400 for
Davey Tree Surgery in Livermore, California, and an oil price
forecasting software package.

(C.T. Mahabarat)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00025)

RISC-Based ARM Turns TV Into Entertainment Center 01/11/93
CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Advanced RISC machines (ARM)
has announced that the ARM60 processor had been selected by the 3DO
Company for its new Interactive Multiplayer. The system, which uses a
special graphical architecture, claims to process images at 50 times
the speed of computer games and PCs.

As covered by Newsbytes and announced at the Consumer Electronics
Show, Trip Hawkins, 3DO's president and CEO, says the Interactive
Multiplayer calls for a higher performance than is available from
current 16-bit computer technology, but there is a strong need for
lower costs.

"We were therefore looking for 32-bit performance at the price of 8-
or 16-bit to complement our custom graphics processor system
technology," he said, adding that the only product on the market that
met these requirements was the ARM chipset.

Robin Saxby, ARM's managing director, said that he is pleased that 3DO
in the US selected the ARM chipset for its multiplayer.

The ARM60 32-bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC) chipset is
one of a family of small, higher-performance, yet low-cost devices
designed by ARM for embedded control applications such as portable or
handheld instruments, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart cards
and interactive systems.

The 3DO contract is a major boost for ARM, which was formed in 1990 by
Acorn Computers, Apple Computer, and VLSI Technology. The company
concentrates on high performance, low cost, and low power-consuming
32-bit RISC chipset development.

(Steve Gold/19930111/Press & Public Contact: ARM - Tel: [phone];
Fax: [phone]; Email on the Internet: [e-mail])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00026)

UK: Dell Unveils 486-based PC Range 01/11/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Dell Computer Corporation UK has
launched 18 new Intel 80486-based machines -- the same machines as
were launched in the US before Christmas. In parallel with the 486
launches, Dell unveiled the 333s/L, a home user/first-time buyer
system and a 3.6-pound notebook PC.

The new PCs, which are available for shipment immediately, are based
around Intel 486SX, DX and DX2 chipsets running at 25, 33, 50 and 66
megahertz (MHz). They are split into four main product families:

[] The 486/L series -- five low profile PCs based on an Industry
Standard Architecture (ISA) with prices starting at UKP 1,179.

[] The 486/M series -- five mid-size ISA systems with prices starting
at UKP 1,279.

[] The 486/ME series -- another five Extended ISA (EISA) machines
starting from UKP 1,769.

[] The 486/T, a new family of Dell machines, consisting of three ISA-
based floor-standing PCs, starting with a 33MHz 486DX-based system at
UKP 1,739.

The prices of these machines include a "base" specification of 4
megabytes (MB) of memory (8MB on the 486/ME and 486/T), a 120MB hard
disk, SVGA monitor, mouse, DOS and Windows as standard.

"We've replace our entire mainstream 486 product line with our most
innovative systems yet," explained Bruce Sinclair, Dell UK's managing
director, who added that they have more built-in performance and more
user-focused features than ever before.

All four of the new systems share a number of what Dell claims are
innovative features that increase their performance and ease of use,
including an integrated local bus sub-video system that boosts video
performance when running under Microsoft Windows and other graphical
user interfaces.

The 333s/L, meanwhile, is a 33MHz 386SX-based PC aimed at home users
and first-time buyers. Prices start at UKP 859w, with the system
coming in a slimline chassis equipped with a base 4MB memory and 80MB
hard disk specification.

"We've designed this system for first-time PC customers and home
users -- those who aren't ready to spend a little more for a 486, but
who need a strong performer," said Sinclair.

Of all the new machines, the 320SLi is perhaps the most impressive.
Tipping the scales at 3.6 pounds, the notebook PC is based around a
20MHz 80386SL microprocessor. The base configuration is a 4MB
memory/80MB hard disk system with Ballpoint mouse, DOS and Windows for
UKP 1,274. Options include up to 10MB of RAM and up to a 120MB hard
disk.

"Many of our users are attracted to the concept of palmtop PCs, but
are quickly put off by their many limitations," explained David
Brooke, Dell's portable product marketing manager, who added that the
320SLI is the product they have been looking for. "At the same time,
it meets the needs of many users of standard notebooks," he added.

One of the key features of the 320SLi is a case around 40 percent
slimmer than the competition. This is made possible, Dell claims, by
using a new super-thin liquid crystal display (LCD) that uses around
75 percent less power than edgelit displays. This, in turn, cuts
down the machine's power consumption and battery requirements. The LCD
is also directly mounted into the system housing, which makes for a
slimmer casing.

(Steve Gold/19930111/Press & Public Contact: Dell UK - Tel: 0344-
860456; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00027)

 ****Apple Plans Newton Shipments By Mid-1993 01/11/93
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- The trend
towards pen-based and hand-held computers is gaining momentum
as more hardware vendors come out with products. Apple
Computer's long-awaited Newton "personal digital assistant"
will likely add to the public interest when it becomes available,
which should be in mid-1993, according to the company.

The Newton is an electronic notepad which Apple claims will
allow users to have intelligent help in capturing, organizing, and
communicating ideas and information. Apple claims that Newton
will use technology similar to handwriting recognition pen-based
computing technology.

The Newton combines pen-based computing technology with
mobile communications capabilities, and is designed as a pocket-
sized device. The Newton devices that Apple has already
discussed combine a number of features, including calculator
and automatic phone dialing capabilities.

Many of the device's crucial elements have already been developed,
including its operating system, microprocessor, development tools,
and application and system software, but a working model has yet
to be shown to the public.

Different communications technologies will allow two Newton
users to electronically exchange business cards or compare
calendars. Faxing a letter, checking electronic mail messages,
or connecting to a satellite news service are also possibilities,
Apple has previously claimed.

Newton will use Advanced RISC Machines' ARM 610 reduced
instruction-set chip (RISC). Apple has previously claimed that
Newton will have the power of a desktop computer, but use
less battery power than a flashlight. Intelligent cards will be
used for specific functions in the Newton.

Apple is not likely to get things all its own way however. In
October 1992, Newbytes reported that EO Inc., had joined up
with AT&T, Matsushita, and Marubeni, to design, build and
market their own "personal communicator" products, in direct
competition with Newton. In addition, a wide array of these devices
have been previewed by other vendors.

(Ian Stokell/19930111)


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

 ****Z-Nix Expected To File For Bankruptcy 01/11/93
POMONA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Cordless mouse
maker Z-Nix is practically dead, killed by Microsoft, according
to industry observers. The company, which has been fighting with
Microsoft over the rights to bundle Windows 3.1 with its
cordless mouse, is expected to file bankruptcy shortly.

According to Michael Terpin of The Terpin Group, the former
second in command at Z-Nix has taken the leadership at a new
company, Dynapoint, headquartered in the City of Industry,
California, which is now marketing the Z-Nix mouse under the name
the Cordless Dynamouse.

Since February of 1991 Z-Nix had offered the Super Mouse for
the IBM and compatible personal computer (PC). The Super Mouse
is two-button mouse using infrared technology for cordless
operation and powered by internal, rechargeable batteries
charged by the base/stand.

However, Microsoft and Z-Nix were fighting in court in 1990
over the mouse issue. Microsoft then claimed Z-Nix's Supermouse
II product infringed a Microsoft patent, and violated
contract conditions for the bundling of the Supermouse with
Windows 3.0. Z-Nix counterclaimed that Microsoft kept changing
the conditions and upping the royalty rate in various
generations of contracts over the course of the year.

In November of 1990 both companies agreed to drop allegations
against each other and Microsoft agreed to license Windows to
Z-Nix through the end of 1991, at which time both parties would
negotiate for renewal. That agreement ended last year.

Z-Nix also marketed a Macintosh version of the cordless mouse
and said both products have been successful, making the
company a $50 million operation.

Microsoft brought a temporary injunction against Z-Nix last
June in an attempt to prohibit the company, Z-Nix, from offering
Windows 3.1 with its mouse hardware, and charging the company
with illegally selling the software without the mouse hardware.

When Microsoft took action against Z-Nix, a Microsoft
spokesperson, Katy Ehrlich, told Newsbytes that the actual
number of copies of Windows distributed illegally was difficult
to estimate until Z-Nix records were examined, but Microsoft
was estimating the numbers could run into the "hundreds of
thousands."

Ehrlich told Newsbytes that Microsoft delivered a "cease and
desist" letter on June 8, 1992 at which time it attempted to
conduct an audit as authorized in Z-Nix's licensing agreement.
Microsoft said Z-Nix refused access to its records, and
discussions over the next 10 days failed to result in any
progress in curbing the unauthorized distribution. Microsoft
then filed suit in order to protect its copyrights.

Microsoft also named software distributors Jactech Corporation,
Max Group, and PC Man, also known as Super 10 and Super
Computer. Principals of the four companies were named in the
suit as well.

However, in July US District Court Judge David Kenyon, the
judge who originally granted the order, reversed it saying,
"[Z-Nix] has rebutted most, if not all of Microsoft's
allegation. The court thinks that the defendants have presented
too many reasonable explanations for their activities to find
that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits."

Z-Nix's claim is the Microsoft suit never was motivated by
licensing issues, but is instead over competition -- the Z-Nix
Mouse versus the Microsoft Mouse.

Chris Kitze, president of Aris Entertainment, simply told
Newsbytes: "Microsoft killed Z-Nix."

A call to Z-Nix revealed the company has a recorded message
which says the company is reorganizing and is announcing a
foreclosure on its lease site, so no one will be available
until further notice.

Z-Nix has a countersuit pending against Microsoft charging the
company with a list of violations including Violation of
Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. Section 1 says the law
against "tie-in" prohibits a company in control of one market
(in this case the Windows market) from using its position to
control another (the mouse market); and Section 2 states the
that one company cannot adopt policies or commit
actions with the intent and inevitable effect of restraining
trade, controlling prices and monopolizing the market.

The FTC is investigating Microsoft concerning charges levied by
competitors that it is engaging in illegal sales practices and
it is exercising monopolistic control in the PC operating
system software market.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the FTC is
scheduled to meet February 5 to decide what antitrust
action, if any, it would take against Microsoft. However the
FTC has said it will not confirm or deny any investigation
unless it decides to take action.

Newsbytes contacted Microsoft, but no one was available who
could comment at deadline.

As an interesting side note, the Dynapoint Cordless Dynamouse
does not come bundled with Windows 3.1.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930111/Press Contact: Michael Terpin, The
Terpin Group, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Aris
Entertainment, 310-821-0234; Frank Yeh, Dynapoint, tel 818-854-
6440, fax [phone]; Z-Nix, 818-332-1932; Katy Ehrlich,
Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00029)

Battery-Operated Portable Network 01/11/93
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- Moses
Computers, makers of the local area network Promised LAN, has
introduced an instant portable network to quickly connect two
computers it is calling Swiftlan.

The network is two connectors that can be battery operated
(using standard 9 volt batteries) or AC power and plug into the
parallel ports of each computer to be networked. A modular
telephone cord completes the connection, and the installation
of the Mosesnos 3.0 Network Operating System, makes the network
functional.

The Mosesnos 3.0 is small, requiring only a moment to install
and once installed on each machine, a fully working portable
network is in place.

Moses says users can network on airplanes or in other countries
where AC power is different using Swiftlan.

Swiftlan conforms to the Netbios, Server Message Block, and IBM
LAN Manager protocols, so each machine can share its resources
and use resources on the other machine.

Packaged in an attractive zipped case, Swiftlan easily fits in
a briefcase, requires low memory overhead, and will work even
on machines already connected to another network, Moses said.
Connections can be made as far as 150 feet apart with standard
external telephone wire or up to 500 feet apart using telephone
wire in the wall.

Operational speed is 4 megabits per second (mbps), which is
twice as fast as a printer sharing device, and about twice the
speed of data transfer from floppy disk drives.

Expected in February of 1993, Swiftlan will retail for $399,
although the street price of the product is anticipated to be
less than $299.

Moses computer also announced its peer-to-peer LAN Mosesall!
IV, is also been bumped up to 4 (mbps) in speed from its former
speed of 2 mbps. Mosesall! requires network cards, but the
cards retail for $129.95 per node, though shoppers may find the
network cards for as low as $89.95 each.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930111/Press Contact: Michael Terpin, The
Terpin Group for Moses Computers, tel [phone], fax 310-
798-7825; Moses Computers, 408-358-1550)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00030)

Low-Cost Videoconferencing For Macs 01/11/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 11 (NB) -- The ability to
combine different forms of communication on a single telephone
line holds considerable potential for the business community.
Along those lines, ShareVision Technology Inc., offers ShareView
Plus, which according to the company, allows users to
simultaneously communicate, voice, data, and documents over
a single standard telephone line.

Shipping in late January and priced at $4,499, ShareView Plus allows
NuBus Macintoshes from Apple Computer to simultaneously share
application programs, such as PageMaker or Excel, and exchange
data, while at the same time engage in a video telephone call.

The company claims that, "unlike existing video conferencing
products, ShareView Plus does not require special Switched 56
or digital telephone service such as ISDN (integrated services
digital networks)."

The company says that ShareView Plus combines two NuBus
cards, a color video camera, a Plantronics Mirage headset for
hands-free two-way audio, a telephone receiver, and ShareVision's
OnSight software. The system provides video telephone service,
real-time document and application sharing, voice and video
store-and-forward, video and still image capture, sound
digitizing, FAX software, Group 3 send and receive facsimile,
and V.32bis data modem functionality.

ShareVision's telephone management software offers an auto
dialer and visual phone directory, and automatically recognizes
and connects ordinary phone calls to and from standard
telephones.

John H. Meyer, ShareVision's president and CEO, said, "Because
we provide everything you need in one box and because it works
over a single regular phone line, you can set it up and use it at
your home, office or anywhere in the world and be up and running
in a matter of minutes. The end user, not the video conference
operator, management information systems (MIS) department, or
phone company, controls the setup, implementation and usage."

According to the company, its VATP (Vector Adaptive Transform
Processing) technology solves the problem of compressing and
processing the large amounts of data necessary to achieve
simultaneous high-quality, real-time voice, motion video and
data communications over a single standard analog telephone
line.

ShareVision says that, "using advanced compression and
decompression algorithms, plus powerful digital processing
techniques, VATP allows for low-cost machine-independent
implementations of motion color video and high-quality audio
for communications." The company also says that its VATP
hardware is programmable and supports various video and
image industry standards.

(Ian Stokell/19930111/Press Contact: Mike Jackman,
415-772-8413, ShareVision Technology Inc.)