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/nb930412

Text File | 1993-04-12 | 67KB | 1,428 lines

(NEWS)(APPLE)(SYD)(00001)

Apple Mac Files In Sync With FileRunner 04/12/93
MCMURRAY, PENNSYLVANIA, USA 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Today's high use of
portable computers brings a special problem -- knowing which is the
latest version of copies kept on more than one machine, and placing
that file on each machine. FileRunner for the Apple Computer
Macintosh is one way.

Perhaps you have an office, a home, and a portable Powerbook Mac, or
work in two places that can be connected by modem or even a network.
Perhaps many people need to use the one file such as a corporate price
book or procedures manual, but in the past you've found many of them
using an obsolete copy of the file. Perhaps the machines are separated
by time as well as distance (that is, they are in different time zones
or different countries).

All of these situations tax the simple method of copying what you
believe to be the latest file over all others. And that's assuming you
even try.

FileRunner from MBS Technologies claims to be the only Mac replication
program that can provide true synchronization on any number of Macs
and Powerbooks. The package builds on the success of FileRunner for
DOS that has been around since it was shown at COMDEX Fall last year.

The package can even synchronize deleted files and folders between
machines. MBS said it never allows older files to overwrite current
versions, and warns if the file is changed on more than one computer.

The transfer mechanism can be any diskette, removable cartridge, modem
connection or network. The system will transfer files in either
direction as needed, and creates a log of all activity. And to save
space on disks and time on network or modem transfers, it uses
compression where this is appropriate. It also has an optional virus
detection function using the Virex package. It not only takes time-
zone differences into account, but checks to see that clocks are
correct and warns if they aren't.

FileRunner is available from most computer chain stores in the US and
has a suggested retail of $100. Newsbytes notes that some other file
transfer packages such as LapLink also have a synchronize function.

(Paul Zucker/19930412/Contact: MBS Technologies on phone [phone]
or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00002)

Captain Crunch Video Compression 04/12/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Media Vision
has introduced "Captain Crunch" video compression technology
for PCs.

According to the company, the package allows the development of low
cost, television-quality video. It also offers real-time compression
and decompression of captured video, and delivers video in a 320 by
240 pixel window at 30 frames per second at CD-ROM data rates with 24-
bit color.

Media Vision maintains that a Captain Crunch compression/decompression
chip will require a total of about 20,000 gates. The company claims
that the technology costs approximately one-tenth as much as
comparable technologies such as MPEG (Motion Picture Experts group)
and DVI (Digital Video Interactive).

The Captain Crunch technology is scalable and is expected to become
available this quarter. The company expects to offer a video chip set
based on this technology at about $50, with an add-in board costing
under $300 later in the year.

(Ian Stokell/19930412/Press Contact: Abigail R. Johnson, Roeder-
Johnson Corp. for Media Vision)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00003)

 ****Israeli Firm Compresses Digital Info On Paper 04/12/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Israel's
Fontech Limited claims to have developed a system for compressing
digital information onto paper, capable of being transmitted by fax
and later reconstituted to its original words and numbers.

The system uses a proprietary technology that first converts the data
to a grid form that can be printed by a standard printer. The
transmitted paper can then be scanned by an optical scanner,
interpreted, and read or converted back into a computer file.

Fontech's President Dr. Oded Kafri, said the development
makes it feasible to actually print color pictures, computer
codes, text and any other kind of information on black-and-
white printers. "It eliminates the need for modems to convert
data, and enables the receipt of digital information on regular
fax machines in hard copy form on paper," he added.

The new technology is called Fax-O-File. According to the
company, with the size of its grid dots optimized for fax
communication, the amount of data that can be stored on one
sheet of paper is 20,000 bytes, and transmission time of this
grid is about two minutes.

The fax recipient scans the grid from Fax-O-File using any
scanner. The required resolution is 300 dots-per-inch (dpi)
and one bit/pixel. Fax-O-File interprets and decompresses
the grid, which can then be printed as text or picture with the
original quality.

The sending party needs a faxcard connected to a PC. The sent
computer documents are then read by a scanning device or
faxcard.

The company says that Fax-O-File also permits transmission of
files directly from faxcard to faxcard without using the
printed paper phase, which would remove the need for a scanner.
The file can also be sent directly to a printer and can be used
for storing computer files. The company claims that fifty
pages of a book can be printed to one paper page.

(Ian Stokell/19930414/Press Contact: Fontech, [Israel] Tel: +972-5-
7278679)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00004)

Mail Shots In Oz 04/12/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Just in case you need a few
choice names to which your latest offer must be mailed in Australia,
here is an extract from the latest flyer from the Mailing
List Centre in Sydney. As is usual with quality commercial
mailing lists, they are not handed out, but are given to a
mailing house together with your material, for mailing.

Computer Executives: 8000 names from the top 2000 computer sites in
Australia and New Zealand. MIS managers, financial decision makers and
two or more of the most senior computer staff. The list is selectable
by hardware type, operating system and so on. AUS$375 per thousand.

CAD Users: 18500 computer drawing software users in A&NZ. Subscribers
to CAD User magazine and CAD exhibition attendees. $250/1000.

CEOs in NSW: 1574 of the chief executive officers of the top companies
in the state of News South Wales. $180/1000.

Opportunity Seekers: Predominantly male "get rich quick" types of
people. 15000 at $180/1000.

(Paul Zucker/19930412/Contact: The Mailing List Centre on phone +61-2-
969 2922 or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00005)

Happy Days At Skytel 04/12/93
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Mobile
Telecommunication Technologies' SkyTel service continues to grow
rapidly. The company reports that it had 263,800 paging and
voice messaging units in service worldwide as of March 31, up 34
percent over a year ago.

These include 194,000 SkyPager and 23,900 SkyTalk units in the
US, 34,000 paging units in the United Kingdom and 11,900 units in
Mexico. The numbers are adjusted to reflect its 29 percent share of a
UK operation and 49 percent share of Comunicaciones Mtel in Mexico.

US growth was even faster, up 40 percent, with 15,400 new units put
into service during the quarter. Spokesman David Allan said that
growth should accelerate further after the company's Hong Kong
operations complete beta-testing.

Singapore Telecom owns and runs a Skytel-affiliated system there, but
its results are not material to the parent company. SkyTel owns 49
percent of the Hong Kong venture. Allan also said growth could expand
further as a memorandum of understanding to open the Brazilian market
is acted upon. "Look at what's happening in Latin America, with the
market surging," he said.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930412/Press Contact: David Allan, for
Mtel, 212-614-5163)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00006)

Adobe Offers Phone-In CD-ROM PC Typefaces 04/12/93
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- For anyone
wanting to spruce up their documentation and add type not bundled with
such products as PC products as Windows 3.1, Adobe Systems has
introduced the CD-ROM-based Type On Call.

Type On Call is a locked CD-ROM containing typeface packages
1 through 265 from the Adobe Type Library. Interestingly, in
order to use the typefaces, the disc owners must call up Adobe
and obtain access codes. Once the access codes have been
secured the typefaces are immediately available for installation
and use in both Windows and DOS applications.

The suggested retail price for the CD-ROM, including Adobe Type
Manager (ATM) software and two selected typeface packages, is
$99. The company says that, as part of the initial purchase, users
will be able to access any two of the following eight type
packages: Adobe Garamond; Adobe Wood Type 2; News Gothic;
Arcadia/Industria/Insignia; Bembo; Stencil/Hobo/Brush Script;
Tekton; and Utopia.

Also available on the disc at time of purchase is the Adobe Type
Manager program for Windows, which includes 13 standard Adobe
typefaces, which, according to Adobe, is a $99 value. The company
says that the total value of the product is over $400 suggested
retail.

The company also says that the Type On Call disc also enables PC
users, for the first time, to license individual typefaces from the
over 1,350 faces in the Adobe Type Library. Previously, typefaces
were available only in packages that included several typefaces
or families. Each face is available for a suggested retail price of
$50.

Type On Call disc purchasers also qualify for some special
discounts. For $299, for example, they may license the remaining
six typeface families from the original list of eight, saving over
$1,300 on the suggested retail price of buying each package
individually. The company also plans to mail out new offers to Type On
Call CD-ROM customers every few months from Adobe. Also, update discs
will be sent out on a regular basis by Adobe to all registered
customers.

(Ian Stokell/19930412/Press Contact: LaVon Peck, 415-962-2730, Adobe
Systems Inc.)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00007)

SuperMac/E-Machines Licensing Deal Complete 04/12/93
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Just over six weeks
after announcing a deal between the two companies, SuperMac Technology
says that "the transition is now complete" in the company's licensing
of "E-Machines' products, brand names, and distribution rights."

According to SuperMac, the company has begun to manufacture and
distribute the entire line of E-Machines' graphics hardware. According
to the companies, the E-Machines product line features more than a
dozen 16-inch to 19-inch color displays, 24-bit color graphics cards,
and Macintosh Duo System products, which will be sold by computer
resellers along with SuperMac's products.

Announcing the completion of the deal, SuperMac President Michael A.
McConnell, said: "E-Machines' strength in business productivity and
graphics - and the value delivered by its products -- complements
SuperMac's strengths in color publishing and digital video."

In addition, SuperMac recently began shipping the E-Machines PowerLink
Presentor, a presentation dock for the Apple PowerBook Duo which
connects directly to Macintosh and SVGA displays, LCD (liquid crystal
display) panels, and televisions for color output.

In February Newsbytes reported that under terms of the deal, SuperMac
would market, distribute and support all existing E-Machines products
under their current brand names. After a transition period, E-Machines
would then operate under the new name -- E-M Technology Inc. -- which
will focus on research and development. Its existing subsidiary,
Executive Remarketing, will continue to focus on mail order sales of
Macintosh computer systems and peripherals.

(Ian Stokell/19930412/Press Contact: Deborah Doyle,
408-773-4446, SuperMac Technology)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00008)

 ****Full-Motion MPEG Real-Time Compression Chip 04/12/93
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- The first
chip that will encode and decode Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG)
compressed video in real-time will be introduced at Spring COMDEX in
Atlanta, Georgia this May by Audio Digitalimaging. Called Apogee I,
the new chip offers 30 frames per second full motion compression and a
1.2 megabyte (MB) per second.

The Apogee chipset supports the current MPEG I standard and is a
single parallel processor chip that can operate in full duplex mode,
meaning it can simultaneously encode and decode video.

Audio digital imaging is also supported, with the chip is capable of
higher resolution data rates up to 25 megabits (Mbits) or more per
second. This, Newsbytes notes, would put it within the scope of the
proposed guidelines for the awaited MPEG II standard data rate. MPEG
II is expected to allow MPEG compressed files to be compact enough to
"crunch" a full-length movie on to a single compact disc (CD).

The Apogee I chip claims to offer real time compression for source
material from live camera, video tape, or film input. The chip is also
capable of deeper compression levels of approximately 2:1 and offers
three levels of pre-processing filtering in addition to real-time
compression.

In addition, the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) Apogee
I chip offers a double buffer dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
configuration. This configuration allows for special effects such as
text overlays with chroma keying, movable and scalable windows
placements, zooms, fades, wipes, and rotations.

Compatibility with the compact disc read-only memory interactive (CD-
ROM-I) technology means the Apogee could be used to produce still or
"freeze frame" video in addition to full motion video. Audio
digital imaging suggests this capability makes the chip a candidate
for applications such as PC or workstation authoring terminals for
multimedia applications, video camcorders, digital video cassette
recorders (VCRs) and camcorders, laser printers, color copiers, video
studio editing terminals, and consumer devices such as home and arcade
video games.

The company suggests that new applications that are not available now
could be developed based on the Apogee I such as an affordable CD-ROM
authoring workstation; a low-cost desk top, full duplex teleconference
PC board; and real-time MPEG compression for Windows applications.

These applications could produce products such as terminals used for
educational purposes as well as commercial cable TV decode boxes and
CD I video games, according to Jean Monroe, ADI chairman and chief
executive officer.

The Apogee chipset will include input/output (I/O) for all CCIR601
standard resolutions of video including NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. A stand-
alone sister chip, the Apogee-DC, is dedicated to perform decode plus
real-time simultaneous scan rate conversions from CCIR601 resolutions
to the PC super video graphics array (S-VGA) display format in
resolutions up to 1280 X 1024 pixels.

Arlington Heights, Illinois-based Audio Digitalimaging is a wholly
owned subsidiary of ADI Technologies. The company claims that the
Apogee I was designed by Jeffrey Frederiksen, one of the early
pioneers in microprocessor video games.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930412/Press Contact: Jean Monroe, Audio
Digitalimaging, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00009)

Daynastar Network Hub For Macintoshes 04/12/93
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Dayna Communications
has begun shipping its new Daynastar Hub-24 networking hub.
According to the company, the 24-port 10Base-T hub was designed to
provide easy and cost-effective Ethernet connectivity for growing
Macintosh work groups and departmental networks.

The Daynastar Hub-24 comes bundled with Dayna's Network Vital Signs
AppleTalk network management software for a retail price of $1,399.

The company claims that, with the new hub, work groups and
departmental networks can connect any 10Base-T-equipped network device
to any one of its 24 RJ-45 ports, or they can use the two RJ-21 Telco-
type connectors with a punch down block in a telephone wiring closet.

The Hub-24 has a continuously active BNC and AUI connector allowing
for connection to both thin and thick Ethernet backbones at the same
time. Also, two extra active RJ-45 connectors allow hubs to be
"cascaded" by plugging a regular 10BASE-T wire in the "out" port, and
then connecting the other end to the "in" port on a second Hub-24. The
company says that all 28 ports remain active and can be used
simultaneously.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the device provides network status
information. There are three LEDs for each port: a yellow one
indicating network activity, a green one for link status, and a red
light indicating auto-partition.

Auto-partition is an IEEE standardized safety feature designed to
automatically turn off a port when it is experiencing excessive
network traffic errors that would normally slow down the entire
network. By automatically turning off, or partitioning, the faulty
port, the rest of the network remains stable while the LED shows a
network manager which port is experiencing the problem.

Dayna is also bundling a free copy of its "Network Vital Signs"
AppleTalk monitoring software with the Daynastar Hub-24. The company
claims that the network management software normally has a $449 retail
value.

The Daynastar Hub-24 is both rack and wall mountable. The company
claims it is IEEE compliant and supports all Ethernet protocols
including AppleTalk Phase 1 and Phase 2, TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol), IPX (Internetworking Packet Exchange),
DECnet, and LAT. Also, all Ethernet capable network operating systems
are supported.

(Ian Stokell/19930412/Press Contact: A. Cory Maloy, 801-269-7273,
Dayna Communications Inc.)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00010)

Media Vision Intros Macintosh Multimedia Kit 04/12/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Media Vision has
introduced a multimedia upgrade kit for Apple Computer's
Macintosh users. The Media Vision kit offers a Sony compact disc
read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, speakers, and software.

The Media Vision CD-ROM Multimedia Kit includes a Sony CD-ROM double-
speed drive offering a 300 kilobyte per second data rate and a 295
millisecond (ms) average access time. The speakers included with the
kit are from Labtec and four software applications are included.

The applications are "Out of This World" and "Battle Chess" from
Interplay, "Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia" from Compton's New
Media, and the "CD-ROM Toolkit" from FWB. Suggested retail price of
the CD-ROM Multimedia Kit is $899.

Media Vision says that, while the other bundled software titles are
for entertainment or education, the CD-ROM Toolkit from FWB offers
specific utilities to speed CD-ROM performance on the Mac, offers
diagnostics, and allows play of CD-audio discs as well.

Headquartered in Fremont, California, Media Vision claims it was the
first to bring 16-bit sound to the Macintosh when it introduced the
Pro AudioSpectrum 16 Mac in late 1992. The company also manufactures
multimedia sound and video products for the IBM and compatible
personal computer (PC) market.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930412/Press Contact: Abigail Johnson, Roeder-
Johnson for Media Vision, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00011)

Macs, PC/Windows Connect Via Net Operating System 04/12/93
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Miramar has
introduced a network operating system (NOS), Personal Maclan Connect
for Windows, for allowing Apple Computer Macs and Windows-based
IBM and compatible personal computers (PCs) to exchange data in a
peer environment connected by Ethernet, Appletalk, or Token Ring
network hardware.

Like the Timbuktu product from Emeryville, California-based Farallon
Computing, Personal Maclan allows Macs and Windows-based PCs to
exchange data, but this product is geared as a PC connect to Macs,
rather than a Mac connect to PCs. The software is installed on the PC
and allows Macintosh users to connect and share files in their
familiar Macintosh environment.

Company representatives said the product allows Mac users to view
files in their own familiar data format, meaning Windows files appear
on the Mac desktop as separate icons. Macintosh users depend on the
Appleshare Choose interface to access Personal Maclan, so they are
shielded from unfamiliar DOS/Windows naming conventions, according to
Neal Rabin, Miramar president.

Dynamic data exchange, electronic mail, and sharing of local printers
and disk storage are all benefits of Personal Maclan Connect, Miramar
said. Macintosh products with PC equivalents are especially easy to
share data between, according to Miramar. For example, users who
created an Excel spreadsheet to share with a connected Macintosh user
would need to define the XLS extension to appear on the Mac with the
Excel icon. But once the Macintosh user clicked on the Excel icon,
Excel would launch on the Mac and Excel would translate the file to
its Macintosh format.

The Personal Maclan product will work as a print server on the PC to
direct Macintosh print jobs to shared printers that support
Postscript. However, an Appletalk print driver software utility is
required from a third party software company to print Macintosh print
jobs to non-Postscript printers.

While the hardware network connection is needed, Miramar says that
Personal Maclan will work whether or not a PC network is in place. The
product will also work with existing Macintosh services, such as
Netware NLM or Farallon's Timbuktu.

An Intel-based 386 or 486 PC with a network interface card (NIC) and
Windows 3.1 or higher is required. The product is compliant with
Appletalk Phase II and the Appletalk Filing Protocol (AFP) and can be
used with any configuration of Macintosh and PC computers on a
network. It is priced at $199 for a single PC user, $999 for a ten-PC
user license, and $1999 for a 30-PC user license.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930412/Press Contact: Michael Terpin,
Rolland Group for Miramar, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00012)

4 More Join Customer Support Consortium 04/12/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Four new members --
Candle, IBM, Legent and Knowledgeware -- have joined the 19-strong
ranks of the Customer Support Consortium (CSC).

The CSC, which was formed late last year, aims to improve the quality
and timeliness of customer support, while looking for ways of reducing
costs. Newsbytes notes that the CSC's aims have been applauded by the
computer industry generally. The joining of IBM to the consortium is a
major step in the CSC's potential for success.

The CSC does not just claim to be a "back slapping" organization
either. The past few months have seen the consortium form a committee
of members to define and build an automated, computer-based system
that acquires and disseminates technical product information.

The eventual aim of this project is to allow each CSC member to
customize the software for use with their own customer support
operations. In the short term, customer support engineers will use the
system to assist customers, although, eventually, customers may be
able to access the system themselves.

IBM's Howard Lewis, the company's director of software support
services, said he is pleased to join the CSC. "Being part of this
consortium gives IBM the opportunity to further our goal of being a
leading provider of world class software service for all
customers," he said.

The "gang of 19" who formed the CSC in November of last year include
Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Silicon Graphics and 3M. When the consortium
was launched at COMDEX Fall last year, the not-for-profit group said
it was interested in signing up new members in both the hardware and
software industries.

(Steve Gold/19930412/Press Contact: CSC - Tel: [phone])


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

Data Race Set To Enter Retail Modem Channel 04/12/93
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- At an April 19 press
conference, Data Race will announce it is entering the retail modem
market with internal products for a variety of computers.

Data Race has long been a leader in the OEM modem market, selling
modems installed into portable computers marketed by NCR and other
major vendors. In addition to selling internal modems for desktop PCs
under the names RediModem and RediCard, the company will also sell
internal modems for the IBM ThinkPad, Toshiba line of laptops, Apple
Computer Powerbook, and Compaq portables. Tech Data of
Clearwater, Florida will handle distribution.

In addition, Data Race plans to introduce "PC Card" credit-card sized
modems under the PCMCIA Type II standard, as well as Ethernet LAN
adapters which plug into the same slots. Retail prices for the
products range from $399 for either 10BaseT or 10Base2 Ethernet
LAN adapters, to $595 for the 14,400 bit/second V.32bis data
modem with fax service.

Newsbytes discussed the announcements with Garrick Colwell of
Data Race. While Tech Data is an exclusive distributor, he
acknowledged, it may not remain the only channel to all dealers.

"We will look at the alternatives down the road," for distribution, as
well as direct customers, including superstores" like the Comp USA
chain which don't use distributors, he said.

Colwell added that all the products are new products to the
company. "We don't have direct relationships with IBM, Toshiba
Apple, or Compaq," he said, meaning the RediModem family of
products has not been produced before. "The RediCard family, the
the PCMCIA family of products," is also new to Data Race, he
said.

Why enter this market? "We wanted to take the experience we'd
gained with the OEM market and leverage that with those companies
we don't have direct relationships with," Colwell said. "We've
got years of experience in OEM, years of support in technical
support, and this is a place where we can apply this."

Colwell added that Data Race does expect stiff competition. "We
have two half-card desktop modems," he noted. "I believe the
laptop-notebook market is coming into its own, and there have
been few players there until now. We may enjoy a certain grace
period, but it's such a hot market that we may see some other
competition" very soon.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930412/Press Contact: Data Race, Garrick
Colwell, 210-558-1900)


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

OCOM Heads For Greener Pastures in UK 04/12/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- OCOM has announced it
will exit the US long distance and private line market in order to
seek profits as a minority investor in a UK cable television group.

Newsbytes discussed the move with OCOM executive Stan Williams.
"We now provide long distance services and private line transmission
services, primarily in Ohio. Originally the company name stood for
Ohio Communications," but it has been better known as OCOM for some
time. "The 10-K report we released" to the Securities and Exchange
Commission "in March said the prospects in that business weren't
attractive and we'd be looking for other lines of business," Williams
added.

The UK franchise, which covers Greater Glasgow, Scotland; Cardiff
and Newport, Wales; and Guildford, Huddersfield and Dewsbury,
England, will take 4-6 years to build. But TV wasn't what made it
attractive.

"It would have telephone service from the start," Williams
said. That's what interests many US companies in the market,
especially regional Bell companies like US West. The major investor in
the OCOM group is Insight, a small US cable company. OCOM will provide
knowledge of the telephone business as well as money to the deal.

Once due diligence is completed, OCOM will own a controlling interest
in the new company, CableTel. CableTel has engaged Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation and Salomon Brothers to advise it with
regard to raising the additional money the company will need. OCOM
Chairman George S. Blumenthal will also become chairman of the new
venture. In the future, OCOM said it could be merged directly into
CableTel or its assets could be liquidated.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930412/Press Contact: Stanton N. Williams,
OCOM, 212-906-8440)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00015)

IBM Boosts Entertainment Industry Offerings 04/12/93
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- IBM Research
has announced enhancements to its Power Visualization System (PVS),
aimed at the entertainment industry.

Big Blue has added integrated digital video and audio input and
output, as well as digital video and audio compression conforming to
Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) standards. IBM has also announced
the availability of additional industry software for the PVS system,
and a software development pact with Boss Film, a Hollywood firm that
will develop software tools to perform film processing tasks on the
IBM system.

IBM Research officials said they are aiming to create an all-digital,
resolution-independent production and post-production environment for
movies, television, video, and music products.

According to Big Blue, the enhancements are aimed at meeting growing
demand in the entertainment industry for more spectacular and complex
video and film effects, and more efficient recording, delivery, and
archiving of video material.

The Power Visualization System Digital Video I/O Facility is designed
to capture and record digital video and audio in real-time for
compositing, processing, or compression. Users control the process
through an on-screen graphical interface.

The Digital Compression Facility for PVS is meant to shorten from days
to hours the encoding of digital movies for rapid decompression in
applications such as video-on-demand and CD-ROM recording. The new
compression facility can compress digital video at a rate of seven to
nine frames per second, IBM said.

This is the first result of IBM's technical collaboration with
Laser-Pacific Media Corporation, announced earlier this year.

IBM has also added support for multiple Small Computer Systems
Interface (SCSI-2) channels, giving PVS access to more disk, tape, and
other input/output devices.

Two special effects firms -- Information International and Discreet
Logic -- have created applications for the PVS. Information
International unveiled the Arkimage two-dimensional production and
post-production system and Discreet Logic announced a film and video
production system called Dante.

The PVS server is an eight- to 32-way parallel processor available
with 256 megabytes to 1.5 gigabytes of memory. IBM claims it can
perform 2.5 billion floating point operations per second (gigaFLOPS).
Company spokesman Denis Arvay told Newsbytes that the system is
comparable to a small supercomputer dedicated to visualization tasks.

IBM plans to show the new features at the National Association of
Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas April 18 to 22. Prices and
availability are to be announced there.

(Grant Buckler/19930412/Press Contact: Denis Arvay, IBM,
914-945-3471)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00016)

IBM Buys Training Firm Catapult 04/12/93
PURCHASE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- IBM has bought
Catapult, a Bellevue, Washington firm that offers training in the use
of personal computer software.

Catapult will keep its current management, employees, name, and
facilities, officials said. It will become a separate, wholly-owned
subsidiary reporting to IBM's Skill Dynamics education and training
operation. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Catapult, founded in 1990, offers services similar to those of Skill
Dynamics, which IBM created last year, but deals with software from
many vendors rather than just IBM products, said Ken Sayers, an IBM
spokesman.

The Washington company has about 170 employees, Sayers said, with
training centers in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston,
Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Skill Dynamics provides training and related offerings at 40
dedicated sites and 331 learning centers.

(Grant Buckler/19930412/Press Contact: Ken W. Sayers, IBM,
914-697-6537)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00017)

Cable vs. Phone Update 04/12/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- After years of fighting
to win higher rates so they can invest in digital services, the
nation's phone companies face a new threat -- cable companies with
money to spend.

Plans reported by Newsbytes last week by TCI, the nation's largest
cable operator, to sink $2 billion into replacing its copper-based
coaxial cable with fiber and dramatically increase capacity, is an
example of what's happening.

TCI said it will re-wire its systems in major cities over the next
five years, while most regional Bell companies claim they'll need 30
years. TCI can justify its investment with digital compression that
will let it offer up to 500 channels at once, with fast data services
piggy-backed on top of it. Phone companies are presently prohibited
from running cable services on their wires.

TCI is not alone. Time Warner, the second largest operator, will
upgrade its Orlando, Florida system with fiber early next year, which
should be a first step toward upgrading all its systems. The
Infostructure Network, as TCI executives call their new systems, could
become a prime component of the Clinton Administration plan to upgrade
the data-handling capacity of the nation's phone nets, and bring the
cable industry as a whole needed goodwill lost in the battle over
basic cable rates.

The question for phone companies is whether to compete or join the
cable outfits. Pacific Bell indicated last week it was talking to
cable operators there about forming joint ventures in the area.

The alternative is competition. Bell Atlantic has been among the most
aggressive in this area, winning new rates in New Jersey that will let
it replace that network with fiber, upgrading a Pennsylvania network
in cooperation with a local cable operator, and testing delivery of
TV signals in the Washington, DC suburbs.

Bell Atlantic Chairman Raymond Smith said that one provision of the
1992 Cable Reregulation Act, requiring that shows owned partly by
cable operators be made available to cable competitors, will help in
that area. But to get into cable officially, Bell Atlantic still needs
some restrictions removed. Until they are, the only way into the
business is the route taken by Southwestern Bell, which said it would
buy a Washington-area cable operator. The purchase is acceptable to
regulators because the operator is outside SW Bell's normal service
area, in the Midwest and Texas.

But many politicians say the Bells are poor-mouthing their finances,
citing studies showing the Bells earn as much as 20 percent per year
on their equity. The latest such study, from the Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission, covers Bell Atlantic's largest service area, and
claims a statewide wide-band network will only cost ratepayers about
30 cents per month. The study was issued in response to Senate Bill 2,
a Bell-supported move that would raise rates 25 cents per year,
indefinitely, in order to pay for improved services.

For years, the regional Bells have been fighting in state legislatures
for new rate-making ability which they say will justify the delivery
of digital services and the replacement of copper cable with fiber.
Ameritech won new powers in the Michigan legislature, but other states
have yet to act on its behalf. It's forced to watch a Wisconsin study
commission aimed at finding a way to funder a higher-capacity network,
which is supported by the state's Wisconsin State Telephone
Association. Under their plan, a major fiber trunk line will link
major cities, and other lines will feed into it.

The problem for the Bells is simple. If they fail to win the rates
they want from states, they could be by-passed by cable operators in
major cities where upgrades would otherwise be profitable. This could
leave them with low-speed monopolies only in underserved, rural areas,
and in poor financial shape.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930412)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00018)

Dell Canada In Consumers Distributing Deal 04/12/93
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Dell Computer has struck
a deal to offer two of its personal computer models through 125
Consumers Distributing stores across Canada.

Consumers Distributing will sell Dell's Dimension NL20 notebook
computer and its 486SX/25 desktop in selected Consumers Distributing
Computer Stores, and will list them in its mail-order catalog, which
is mailed to 5.2 million households across Canada.

The agreement covers Canada only, a spokesman for Dell said. Consumers
Distributing stores in the United States are run by a separate
company.

Dell officials said that the deal complements the company's agreement
with other mass-market retailers such as Business Depot and Price
Club. The company expects the deal to produce as much as C$10 million
per year in sales.

Further Dell models might be added to Consumers Distributing' line-up
in the future, the spokesman said, although no plans are definite. The
retailer views the present agreement as a sort of pilot, he said, and
is open to extending it. On the other hand, Dell would be cautious
about what models it offers through this channel, to avoid conflicts
with its other marketing channels.

Dell said the move expands a market segmentation strategy
launched in 1991.

(Grant Buckler/19930412/Press Contact: Paul Rubin, Dell,
416-882-7424; Peter Bromley, Patrick O'Neill & Associates for
Dell, 416-361-3331)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00019)

Computer Easter Eggs Offer Hidden Secrets 04/12/93
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- The term "Easter
Eggs" can apply to more than simply those sweet treats inflicted on
children in the spring. In computing, Easter Eggs are secrets,
carefully hidden away in programs that wave flags, set off fireworks,
offer editorialized animations, and are placed in hiding by the
programmers who worked on the application in question.

Sought after by computer enthusiasts, Easter Eggs are precious
commodities. Getting to an Easter Egg in a program can be involved,
however. Author of the "Voodoo" series of help books from Ventana
Press on DOS, Windows, and Macintosh computers, Kay Yarborough Nelson
has made it her business to search for and reveal Easter Eggs.

Windows offers some spectacular Easter Eggs to the computer user,
but not nearly as many as the Macintosh, Nelson told
Newsbytes. Here are a few Easter Eggs to whet your appetite.

On Macs running System 7, press the Option key and choose About The
Finder under the Apple menu. With the Option key held down, the About
This Macintosh becomes About The Finder. You'll see a mountain
landscape, and if you wait you'll see credits scroll by at the bottom
of the hill.

To see a color picture of the design team on the Macintosh IIci, set
the date to 09/02/89, set your monitor to 8-bit color, restart, and
while you do hold down the Command-Option-ci.

The Powerbook offers a balloon with the original code names of
the Powerbooks when you turn on Balloon Help, press Caps Lock
and point to the up arrow in the menu bar.

The Map control panel in System 6 or 7 is laden with Easter Eggs,
according to Nelson. If you open it with the Option key down by
double-clicking and then quickly pressing the Option key, you can get
a close-up view of the world. If you press the Shift key after you
double-click, it magnifies the map even more. If you want to see the
Middle of Nowhere, then type mid as the location and then click Find.

Windows itself as well as Windows applications offer Easter Eggs, too.
In Windows 3.1, you hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys while you open
Help in Program Manager, then double-click on the Windows icon on the
left. Nothing will happen the first time, but do it again and you'll
see a message and the Microsoft flag waving. Do it again, and an
animation listing of the names of the people who worked on Windows
will appear.

In Microsoft Word for Windows, first make sure the button with the
paragraph mark on it to the far right in the ribbon that displays and
hides special characters is not selected. Then choose Options from the
Tools menu and make sure Paragraph Marks isn't checked. Then choose
Macro from the Tools menu, enter spiff, and click Edit. Delete
everything except the paragraph marker in the dialog box you see,
Choose Close from the File menu and say Yes to saving changes. Then
Choose About from the Help menu and click once on the Windows icon.
You'll enjoy watching the little men, the Wordperfect monster, and the
fireworks.

To watch Microsoft Excel go after Lotus 1-2-3, in Excel 4.0, choose
Toolbars from the Options menu, highlight Standard, and click
Customize. Then select Custom from the Categories box and drag the
pack of cards icon representing Solitaire to an empty location on the
tool bar. Click OK under Assign to Tool and Close. Press Ctrl-Alt-
Shift and click on the Solitaire icon you added.

In Microsoft Excel 3.0, go to the last cell in the worksheet (iv16384)
and scroll so that the last row and column are the only ones visible.
Adjust their height to zero so that Select All Cells is the only
button on the screen, then the Select All Cells button and watch the
animation.

For serious Easter Egg collectors on the Macintosh, Nelson is
running a Compuserve forum (GO MACSYS) to let Mac users in on the
latest Easter Eggs. Her book, Voodoo Mac (Ventana Press, 1993) has an
entire chapter on Macintosh Easter Eggs. Her Windows book, Voodoo
Windows, only mentions the Windows Easter Egg, but Nelson promises
more Easter Egg secrets to those who contact her on Compuserve or
Ventana Press. Happy Hunting!!

(Linda Rohrbough/19930412/Press & Public Contact: Diane Lennox,
Ventana Press, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00020)

Canadian Product Launch Update 04/12/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- This regular feature,
appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the
Canadian market on announcement by international companies that
Newsbytes has already covered. This week: new models in IBM's
ValuePoint line, Claris Works 2.0, and software from Computer
Associates.

IBM Canada joined its parent company in launching a wide range of new
PS/ValuePoint computers (Newsbytes, April 7). Available immediately,
the systems range in price from C$1,679 for the Model 433SX SpaceSaver
up to C$2,909 for the Model 66DX2 MiniTower machine.

Claris Canada launched ClarisWorks 2.0 for the Apple Macintosh
(Newsbytes, March 10). The Canadian suggested retail price is C$349,
with upgrades from ClarisWorks 1.0 or competing products for C$119.
The English-language version is available now, with the French-
language version expected within 30 days.

Computer Associates Canada said it plans to put CA-Visual 20/20 on
Solaris 2.x for Sun Microsystems Inc.'s SPARC systems and the Intel
80x86 architecture (Newsbytes, March 31). The SPARC version is due to
be available in the third quarter of this year, CA said; no target
date was given for shipping the version for Intel chips. For a limited
time, customers can order the product for C$393 per user.

(Grant Buckler/19930412/Press Contact: Martha Terdik, IBM Canada,
416-474-3038; John Elias, National Public Relations for Claris
Canada, 416-586-0180; John Schoutsen, Computer Associates Canada,
416-676-6700)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00021)

IBM Software Provides Graphic Interface 04/12/93
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- IBM Programming Systems
has launched the Current OfficeVision/Multiple Virtual Storage
Workgroup program.

Running on Microsoft's Windows operating environment, the
client/server application gives personal computer users a graphical
user interface (GUI) to software running on IBM's MVS mainframe
operating system. The package is expected to be available April 16, a
company spokesman said.

The announcement is part of a strategy to provide a consistent look
and feel in IBM software across the company's several operating
systems. The Current OfficeVision Workgroup is already available on
IBM's Virtual Memory (VM) operating system, and IBM has announced
Current OfficeVision Workgroup for its AS/400 minicomputers, to be
available in August.

According to IBM, Current OV/MVS lets organizations distribute
traditional mainframe-based office functions across networked
machines in a client/server arrangement.

Current OV/MVS performs tasks such as sending electronic mail,
scheduling appointments and meetings, processing documents,
managing projects, and keeping to-do lists.

IBM claims that the Current OV/MVS Workgroup is ideal for users who
need access to mainframe-based data but cannot link their PCs to the
host permanently. While disconnected from the mainframe, users can
process downloaded mail and calendar items, documents, and PC files.
When they reconnect, the data will be synchronized on the mainframe
server.

Current OV/MVS also lets users import and export data in ASCII,
dBase, or document interchange format (DIF), and supports Dynamic
Data Exchange (DDE).

(Grant Buckler/19930412/Press Contact: Rick Bause, IBM, 914-642-3778)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00022)

Merisel To Distribute Epson Printers, Accessories 04/12/93
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Epson, probably
best known for its line of dot matrix printer products, has signed
with one of the largest distributors in the US, Merisel, to begin
national distribution of its products.

The agreement includes the Epson line of nine- and 24-pin dot matrix
printers, laser printers, color flatbed scanners, and accessory
products such as the Macintosh interface kit for dot matrix printers
called Epsontalk.

Epson claims that this is the first time it has entered into the
national distribution channel for its products, but the company is
following a lead set by several other major computer manufacturers,
such as AST and Packard Bell, who say they are finding success in the
mass market distribution channel.

Epson says that computer buyers have different purchasing habits now
based on the greater availability of products in the mass market
channel, and Epson is planning to accommodate those new habits.

"We recognize the market is changing and that a diverse distribution
strategy is essential to success. Our agreement with Merisel is a
strategic relationship that enables us to adapt to the evolving
purchasing habits of our customers," said Ron Prather, vice president
of branded products at Epson. While Epson also offers computers, no
plans were announced for Merisel to carry the Epson computer line.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930412/Press Contact: Kathleen Buczko,
Manning, Selvage & Lee for Epson, tel [phone], fax 818-
509-1972)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00023)

Sony, Toshiba Release New 32-bit PCs 04/12/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Sony and Toshiba have released new
PCs for the Japanese marketplace. The Sony offerings, a range of 32-
bit desktops, claim to better support the DOS/V environment. The
Toshiba offerings, meanwhile, include a color laptop and a
new notebook.

The Sony machines are the latest releases in the company's Quarter L
series. Known as the Quarter L/SEP PCX, the 486-based machines come in
seven flavors. The entry-level unit is a 25 megahertz (MHz) system,
while the flagship machine is a 66MHz machine. Hard disk options
on the machines range from 120 to 500 megabytes (MB).

All the new Sonys are equipped with 32-bit local bus video, which the
company claims increases the data transmission speed into video
memory by between two and six times. In addition to this, the video
graphics adapters on the new machines now support up to 16.77 million
colors, working to a resolution of 1,280 x 1.024 pixels.

Toshiba's new PCs include a color portable and notebook in the
company's Dynapad range. Both machines, which come with 4MB of memory
and a 200MB hard disk, support a VGA screen.

The laptop Dynapad is based around a 66MHz 80486DX2 microprocessor and
features a 10.4 inch color LCD screen. The notebook, which centers
around a 50MHz DX2 processor and features a 9.5-inch thin film
transistor (TFT) screen, can run for up to two hours on a single
charge.

The laptop sells for 1.398 million yen ($12,200), while the notebook
Dynapad is cheaper at 1.028 million yen ($8,900).

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930412/Press Contact: Sony, +81-3-
3448-2200, Fax, [phone], Toshiba, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00024)

 ****Seybold Opens Tomorrow In Boston 04/12/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Seybold Seminars
93, a four-day seminar and exposition for people who produce and
communicate information on paper, film video and computer monitors,
will open tomorrow in Boston.

With "New Perspectives for Power Publishers" as its theme, the
event will feature a completely revamped conference schedule, at
least 75 exhibitors, and two new offerings on the show floor, HiFi
Color Gallery and New Technology Lab.

The redesign of this year's show marks the first complete
overhaul in the 13-year history of the forum. Expansions to the
program include three full-day and four half-day workshops, along
with two new seminars, the Multimedia for Publishers Seminar and
the Quark Professionals Seminar.

Activities will kick off tomorrow morning with a series of keynote
speeches by John Warnock of Adobe Systems, Apple's David Nagel, Efi
Arazi of Electronics For Imaging, John Evans of News Electronic Data,
Ed Heresniak of McGraw-Hill, and Leaf Systems' Bob Caspe. The six
keynoters will share the approaches their companies are taking, as
well as their own views on the current and future state of the
industry.

The conference sessions will be held Tuesday afternoon through
Thursday, the workshops Wednesday through Friday, and the multimedia
and Quark seminars on Thursday and Friday. Both new seminars will set
Seybold Boston apart from its "sister" show, Seybold San Francisco.

The multimedia seminar will consist of six separate sessions:
"Technology Primer," "Players, Partners and Competitors," "What Other
Publishers and Doing," "Real-World Examples," "Intellectual Property,
Licensing and Royalties," and "Soul-Searching." The manifold offerings
in the Quark seminar will run the gamut from "Trapping" to "File
Formats for a New Generation" and from "EfiColor XTension" to
"Integrating PCs into a Mac-Based System."

The new half-day workshops at this year's Seybold will cover scanning,
color theory, output and calibration, and image processing and
manipulation.

The full-day workshops hold the following titles: "Technologies for
Books and Journals," "PostScript Troubleshooting," "HiFi Color
Workshop," and "Photoshop Tips and Tricks."

Also included on the conference agenda are dozens of traditional
sessions on color, distribution, fonts, document management,
PostScript, digital photography, and on-demand printing.

Exhibitors ranging from Adobe to Zenographics will be showing their
wares on Seybold's newly expanded show floor, scheduled to be open
Wednesday through Friday.

The new HiFi Color Laboratory in the exhibition area will explore
waterless printing, chromolithography, and other techniques of color
processing that extend beyond four-color.

The New Technology Lab will feature walk-in workshops, to be held
three or four times daily under the sponsorship of the Boston Computer
Society and the National Association of Desktop Publishers. Also in
the lab, Aldus will present a series of tutorials on PageMaker 5.0,
Fetch, and Aldus pre-press products.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930412/Press contact: Beth Sadler, Seybold,
tel [phone])


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

Breakthrough On DOS File Name Limits 04/12/93
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Above Software has
announced the release of version 2.0b of its document software for
Windows that helps users create, store, track and search for
documents, and break the eight-character DOS limitation of file
names.

Known as Golden Retriever, the program organizes electronic documents
and data files onto six on-screen file drawers, which can contain an
unlimited number of file folders, duplicating the way office workers
are used to filing paper copies of documents. Using Golden Retriever,
the user can collect in a single file folder or drawer all the related
DOS or Windows-based files that pertain to a single subject or
customer.

To work on a particular document, the user double-clicks on the file
name, and the application that was used to create the file is
automatically launched.

PC users will be particularly interested in Golden Retriever's support
for file names with up to 256 characters. No longer does your 1993
budget file for May have to use the cryptic name "93bud05," but
instead could be called "May 1993 projected budget." The program also
uses an "alias" system that allows the file to be stored once but
referenced from multiple network locations by different names when
the file is shared by several users.

Golden Retriever also offers a File Save and File Open feature that
intercepts save and open operations from Windows applications. The
intercept displays a File Record cover sheet on which the user can
enter the long file name. Optional fields include the topic,
application used to create the file, the author's name, any desired
notes, and other information. A "Fetch" command activates a search
for a file using any of the cover sheet entries. There is also a
"version control" field that creates an audit trail of document
revisions, including time and date stamps.

The company says Golden Retriever's "Desk" metaphor can be
customized to add icons that will launch any other application, and
allows the program to automatically recognize any existing program
groups installed under the Windows Program Manager, adding those
groups to the Desk. Files can be created or renamed, complete
directories can be deleted, floppy disks formatted, and files
"shredded" to prevent unauthorized recovery.

Other features include an improved ASCII file viewer, an Uninstall
option, and a Launch Program Only setting, which Above Software says
aids in the use of programs like mainframe emulation, electronic mail,
or fax-card managers. Printing is facilitated by the use of drag-and-
drop, allowing the user to select either single files or a group for
printing. Clicking on the Print button launches the application,
prints the file, then closes the application.

Golden Retriever 2.0b has a suggested retail price of $99. Registered
users can get the new edition free if they purchased after January 1,
1993. Users of software bought before that date can upgrade for $25.
System requirements include Windows 3.0 or 3.1, DOS 3 or higher, at
least 384 kilobytes of system memory, a hard drive with at least 1
megabyte of free space, a floppy drive, and a mouse.

(Jim Mallory/19930412/Press contact: Brenda Jaeck, Above Software,
714-851-2283; Reader contact: Above Software, 714-851-2283 or
800-344-0116, fax [phone], Bulletin Board: 714-851-5102)


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

Wordperfect Adds Tech Support Via Fax 04/12/93
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation has
announced that users can now receive automatic technical support via
fax by accessing the company's new InfoShare fax retrieval service.

The InfoShare service kicks off with 45 available documents that offer
technical notes and product information about Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS
and versions 5.x for Windows. The company says the documents answer
commonly asked questions, provide solutions for known problems, and
make suggestions for optimizing the word processing program's use.

To use InfoShare, the user dials the InfoShare number from a fax
machine and follows the voice prompts to obtain a faxed listing of
available documents. If it appears that one of the files on the list
addresses the user's problem, a second call gets the desired document
faxed when the caller enters the unique ID number assigned each
document.

Wordperfect's Kim Cooper, customer service VP, claims that using the
InfoShare service will speed up customer support, even if the call is
made during peak support hours, when delays are sometimes encountered
in tech support calls. "With the upcoming releases of several major
products, we want to do everything we can to make sure our customers
receive the level of service they have come to expect from us," he
said.

In addition to the two-way automated service, Wordperfect plans to use
InfoShare to support customers who phone in for help, faxing the
appropriate documents to the user while they are still on the phone.
The company thinks that will reduce the amount of time traditionally
needed for follow-up calls, and will provide users an immediate answer
to their questions. InfoShare is available 24 hours, seven days a
week.

(Jim Mallory/19930412/Press contact: Linda Linfield, Wordperfect
Corporation,801-228-5039; Reader contact: 801-225-5000, fax
801-228-5077; InfoShare fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00027)

 ****Microsoft, Compaq In Technology Sharing Deal 04/12/93
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Software giant
Microsoft Corporation and personal computer maker Compaq
Corporation are planning to announce a technology
sharing agreement this week that could significantly enhance
ties between the two companies in the area of mobile computing,
pen-based personal computers, and multiprocessor computers
and servers.

The deal will reportedly include a monetary fund for joint marketing
and development work, as well as the hiring of additional managers to
oversee the exchange of information. Industry analysts have said that
Microsoft executives are frustrated over the slow development of the
pen computer market. Microsoft sells Pen Windows, an operating system
for the pen-based systems, but hardware applications are limited so
far. Compaq has said it will market a pen-based personal computer, but
has yet to announce a ship date.

Compaq spokesperson John Sweney told Newsbytes that the two companies
are entering into a "master business agreement," which he says is the
first such deal for Compaq. "It goes beyond a lot of the technical
alliances we have had with other companies. It creates a framework for
the two companies to do a lot more together than we have been doing."

Sweney stressed that the agreement goes beyond the field of pen-based
computing, and will not drive when Compaq will announce a ship date
for that system. "This covers anything the two companies might want to
do together, including operating systems, software installation on
computer, development, and other points."

A Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes the Microsoft Chairman Bill
Gates and Compaq President Eckhard Pfeiffer will hold a news
conference in Washington, DC tomorrow afternoon, but declined to
discuss specific details. There are also rumors that Microsoft will
announce an alliance with Computer Associates, a mainframe and
minicomputer software provider, but no details are yet available.

(Jim Mallory/19930412/Press contact: Claire LaMotta, Waggener
Edstrom for Microsoft, 206-637-9097; John Sweney, Compaq
Computer - 713-374-1564)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00028)

Evslin Replaces Petre At Microsoft's Workgroup Division 04/12/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Microsoft has
announced that Tom Evslin will become the general manager of its
workgroup division effective July 1st.

Evslin, who has been the general manager of the workgroup division's
connectivity business unit, will replace Microsoft VP Daniel Petre,
who has decided to return to his native Australia, citing personal
reasons. Petre will remain with Microsoft, which says he will "take
a prominent role in Microsoft's Southeast Asia region" later this
year.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes Petre will have country
managers reporting him. The countries include Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the
Pacific Islands. Petre will report to one of Microsoft's International
vice presidents.

Evslin, 49, joined Microsoft in 1991. He was previously chairman and
CEO of Solutions Inc., a communications software company he founded in
1970. He also served as the secretary of transportation for the state
of Vermont from 1981 to 1982. Evslin is active in industry
organizations such as the Electronic Mail Association and the X.400
API Association, and has managed the development of Microsoft Mail
3.2, Microsoft Mail Remote for Windows, and the full line of Microsoft
Mail gateway and driver products.

Petrie says Evslin's experience in the division will ensure its
strategy continues without interruption. "We chose Tom for this
position because of his consistence of vision and his firm grip of the
technical issues associated with workgroup computing, combined with
his extensive management experience."

Petrie, Evslin, and Mike Maples are all scheduled to speak on the
second day of the second annual Microsoft Mail Users Conference in
Portland, Oregon. The conference runs April 18 through 21, and is
expected to draw about 500 users.

(Jim Mallory/19930412/Press contact: Shelly Julien, Waggener Edstrom
for Microsoft, 206-637-9097)


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

 ****New Performa 400 Line Comes With Modem, Software 04/12/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 (NB) -- Apple Computer is
revamping the Macintosh Performa line, geared toward the home market
and introduced last September. The company is adding software,
changing some offerings, and adding three new Performa 400 models
equipped with modems and telecommunications software.

Apple notes that the low end Macintosh Performa 200, the mid-range
Macintosh Performa 400, and the high-end Macintosh Performa 600 and
Macintosh Performa 600 CD models will remain in the product line.

However, the company is adding three new models to the mid-range
Performa 400 line: the 405, 430, 450 models. The main difference
between the Performa line and the Macintosh line is software bundled
with the computers, according to Apple representatives. The Performa
200 is a repackaged Macintosh Classic II with its built-in black and
white monitor and the 400 is the same inside as the LC II.

All the new 400 model Performas will include a special version of the
Global Village Teleport/Bronze fax/modem and to make use of the modem,
two online services will also be added: Checkfree and an Apple
edition of the graphical online service America OnLine. Apple says
Performa users will have access to the Apple Club Performa on America
OnLine which will include Apple news and product information,
education resources, software applications, a Performa user message
exchange, and online access to Apple's Customer Support Center.

Each member of the Performa line will now also come with software
including an all-in-one word processor, spreadsheet, database and
drawing application (either Clarisworks or Wordperfect Works) pre-
installed on the Performa's hard disk drive. Also pre-installed will
be a selection of the following products: The American Heritage
Dictionary and Correct Grammar from Wordstar, as well as Scrabble,
Spectre Challenger, Touchbase, Datebook, Bestbooks, and Best of
Clickart.

The three new 400 models all feature the 68030 microprocessor and an
Apple Superdrive to accommodate data exchange with 3.5-inch disks
from Macintosh, Windows, DOS and Apple II. All offer a single
processor direct slot to accommodate add-in cards, and seven expansion
ports for the connection of printers and peripherals.

The Performa 405 runs at 16 megahertz (MHz), offers built-in video for
display of 16 colors on its 14-inch display which is expandable to 256
colors. Also included is an 80 megabyte (MB) hard drive and 4 (MB)
random access memory (RAM) expandable to 10 MB.

The Performa 430 also runs at a 16 MHz but is already expanded to 256
colors for its built-in video on the 14-inch display. A 120 MB hard
disk drive which is as is 4 MB RAM expandable to 10 MB.

The fastest of the three, the Performa 450 is nearly twice as fast as
the other two new Performas, Apple said. It runs at 25 MHz, displays
256 colors expandable to 32,000 colors on its 14-inch Apple Performa
Plus Display, and includes a 120 MB hard disk with 4 MB of RAM
expandable to 36 MB.

Apple Computer will also begin including the Macintosh PC Exchange
software application for access to DOS and Windows files with the
Macintosh Performa 405, 430, 450, 600 and 600 CD models.

Retail pricing originally ranged from $1,250 for the entry-level
Performa 200 to $2,500 for the Performa 600 with a compact disc read-
only memory (CD-ROM) drive and the display was not included. Now Apple
says pricing of the new Performa line is up to retailers
themselves. The company did say it expected the new 400 models to be
priced between $1,300 and $1,850.

Apple plans to distribute the new Performas to its channel of 2,200
retail outlets nation wide, which includes Biz Mart, Circuit City,
Dayton Hudson, Good Guys, Incredible Universe, Lechmere, Office Depot,
Officemax, Silo, Staples, Tops, Montgomery Ward, Sears, and new
locations such as Brandsmart, Campo's, and Nobody Beats The Wiz.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930412/Press Contact: Constance Clark, Regis
McKenna for Apple Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00030)

 ****Grid Slashes Pricing On Convertible, Bundling Deal 04/12/93
WESTLAKE, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 APR 12 ) -- Grid Systems has announced
reduced pricing and the bundling of Slate's "Pen Essentials" software
with its Convertible pen-driven computer.

The new pricing on the Convertible is $2,499 -- roughly equivalent
with the current "street" pricing on the machine and some $500 less
than the previous retail price. Of most interest to potential buyers,
however, will be the inclusion of a Convertible-specific version of
Slate Corporation's Pen Essential software with the machine.

For the $2,499 price tag, which Grid claims is good through
until the end of May, a buyer gets a pen-driven PC equipped with 2
megabytes (MB) or memory, a 125 MB hard disk and an integral math
coprocessor. As supplied for the US market, the machine comes with MS-
DOS 6.0, Windows 3.1 and the Slate software pre-installed. A special
version of Pencel, a pen-driven spreadsheet, is also included with the
machine.

Slate's Pen Essentials suite includes four modules: mobile comms,
scheduling, word processor and business reference. The suite of
software includes several other facilities, including the ability to
edit and store hand-drawn graphical images. The software has a retail
worth of $349.

Announcing the price reductions and bundling deal, Ro Parra, Grid's
vice president and general manager, said that the machine is now
highly cost-effective when it comes to getting a mobile system into
the customer's hands.

(Steve Gold/19930412/Press Contact - Grid - Tel: [phone])