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/nb930729

Text File | 1993-07-29 | 81KB | 1,756 lines

(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00001)

Another Syquest Suit Against Nomai Adds Iomega/Ramtek 07/29/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Syquest,
manufacturer of removable Winchester disk drives, says it has
filed another suit against the French company Nomai and the
consultant Srinivasan "Ravi" Chari and has added Nomai's US
distributors Iomega and the Sun Microsystems subsidiary Ramtek.
The suit alleges the companies are in violation of Syquest
patents by making and selling compatible removable cartridges
for the Syquest drives.

Syquest officials told Newsbytes the company would not have
even known about the compatible cartridges if Nomai had not
invited Syquest representatives to the French company's factory
and given them samples of the cartridges. Syquest filed suit
against Nomai in December of last year, before the compatible
cartridges were even available for sale. Chari, the consultant
named in the suit, had worked for Syquest before working for
Nomai and allegedly is the vehicle by which Syquest's trade
secrets were transmitted to Nomai.

Syquest claims any compatible cartridge is a violation of its
patents and therefore no other company can make the cartridges.
Nomai says Syquest is simply using US patent law in an attempt
to stifle competition. Syquest has gone as far as to announce
to users that the Nomai cartridges are faulty and those who use
the cartridges void the warranty on the Syquest drive.

A Syquest preliminary injunction against Nomai, filed in the
Santa Clara Superior Court, failed in April. However, Iomega,
known for its Bernoulli drive that also uses a type of
removable cartridge, and the Sun Subsidiary Ramtek
agreed to begin US distribution of the Nomai cartridges in June
of this year.

Syquest says the European Patent Office will grant it a patent
on features of its 5.25" disk cartridges and claims that when
issued this patent, it will cover cartridges manufactured and sold
in Europe by Nomai. Syquest says it has informed Nomai of the
European patent, which it says it can use to stop the
distribution of compatible cartridges in Europe. However,
the patent covers a lock on the cartridges that neither Nomai
nor Syquest use, and not the removable cartridge technology itself.

Nomai official Marc Frouin called the announcement of the
patent "legal marketing" on the part of Syquest. Frouin says
the Nomai has shipped 70,000 cartridges altogether by the end
of June and plans to continue to ship the cartridges.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930728/Press Contact: Michael Perez,
Syquest, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Marc Frouin,
Nomai, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00002)

Electronic Freedom Foundation Takes On Telecom 07/29/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- The Electronic
Frontier Foundation (EFF) has issued a statement clarifying its
position in relation to the groups that it has joined to form
the "Telecommunications Policy Roundtable."

The statement, posted on the Internet to the "Interesting
People List," supports the new group and pledges EFF support.
It says, "With market actions fast outpacing the public policy
process, it is critical that citizens groups articulate basic public
interest goals which can help frame the debate over information
infrastructure policy."

Organizations such as the Association of Research Libraries, the
Center for Media Education, Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility, and the Institute for Civic Networking all played
leading roles in initiating the Roundtable. "We thank these
organizations for creating the very important forum in which a
wide range of public interest organizations work together to frame
common communications policy goals." In addition to participation
in the group, EFF has agreed to focus its efforts on the public
policy and legislative strategy task force of the Roundtable.

The statement then defended past EFF positions that may
have differed from other Roundtable members. It said, "The initial
announcement of the Roundtable (posted to com-priv) contained some
suggestion that EFF's work on infrastructure policy issues over
the last year was narrow and lacking in vision. Though we have
never pretended to know, or be able to pursue, the solutions to
all communications policy problems, we do feel that we have made
a significant contribution to the infrastructure debate and to
the effort to protect free speech and privacy in new electronic
media. Some criticize our emphasis on ISDN and other affordable
digital media as too narrow. We believe that our Open Platform
policy efforts in support of ISDN have caused a major change in
the way that communications infrastructure policy is discussed."

As an example, the statement points to ISDN, and says, "We
showed that citizens do not have to wait around 20 years while
RBOCs lay fiber-to-the-home. Rather, with affordable, available
technology, those who don't own telephone networks or cable
television networks can start to create the applications and
services which will shape our experience of the information age.
Our Open Platform efforts are aimed to increasing the diversity
of information sources, expanding the notion of universal service,
increasing access to information, and protecting privacy."

The statement adds that ISDN is not its final goal, but a first
step that shows the benefits of digital networking technology
at affordable rates, and with nondiscriminatory terms.

EFF convened a meeting of 20 major public organizations on June
1, 1993 to discuss EFF's long-term policy concerns and hear the views
of other groups. A section of the paper that was prepared for that
meeting is appended to the EFF message.

"We hope that this will clarify that EFF does have a view of
communications policy goals beyond ISDN. We certainly invite
comments on this document, but hope that in the future people who write
about our positions will take the time to read our work first,"
the item concludes.

For a general perspective on EFF's communication position,
there is an article in the July/August '93 issue of Wired Magazine
by Mitch Kapor, EFF's chairman of the board, entitled, "Where Is
the Digital Highway Really Heading? A Case for a Jeffersonian
Information Policy."

EFF recently closed its former Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters
and consolidated its activities to its Washington office under
the direction of Jerry Berman, former director of the ACLU's
Technology Project. With the consolidation, EFF also moved away
from a previous direction toward a grass-roots organization with
local chapters.

EFF was founded in 1990 by Mitch Kapor, co-founder of Lotus
Development Corporation, and John Perry Barlow, writer,
songwriter and ex-cattle rancher. Among its other activities,
EFF was know for its work in sponsoring the successful lawsuit
initiated by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) against the US
Department of Justice and the Secret Service for activities
relating to the Secret Service's March 1990 raid on SJG.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19930726/Press contact:
Daniel J. Weitzner, Electronic Frontier Foundation., 202 347-5400;
[e-mail] (e-mail on the Internet)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00003)

Windows Tool Converts Files From PC-To-Mac, Mac-To-PC 07/29/93
TRUMBULL, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- DataViz is
shipping Conversions Plus for Windows, a tool designed to convert
dozens of file formats from PC-to-Mac, Mac-to-PC, and PC-to-PC
while keeping the "look and feel" of documents intact.

The new software comes with a disk mounting utility that lets the
user move files to and from a high-density Macintosh disk
inserted into a 3.5-inch high density floppy disk drive on an
IBM-compatible PC.

The package also includes a translation library that supports over
350 combinations of popular word processing and text formats, along
with conversions between the PICT (PICTure), PICT 2, and WMF
(Windows Metafile) graphical formats and binary transfers within
Excel and PageMaker.

A short series of clicks is all that is needed to translate one
file format to another, officials said. Headers, footnotes, style
sheets, paragraph attributes, and other formatting information, as
well as embedded graphics, emerge from the conversion process the
same as they were in the original document.

Conversions Plus supports translation of ASCII, RTF (Rich Text
Format) and DCA/RFT files, along with various versions of
WordPerfect, Ami Pro, Word, WordStar, Works, MacWrite, and
Multimate. Most of these translations are two-way, although Ami
Pro 1.2, Ami Pro 2.0, Multimate Advantage, and Multimate 3.2 can be
converted in one direction only.

PICT graphics files can be translated from the Macintosh to WMF.
Files can also be converted to and from PICT 2 and WMF.

Conversions Plus for Windows requires an IBM-compatible PC running
Windows 3.0 or higher. At least 2 MB of RAM is recommended.
On a standard basis, the package ships on 3.5-inch high density
floppy disks. Users can also specify 5.25-inch or 3.5-inch low
density disks, although the Macintosh disk mounting utility
operates with 3.5-inch high density PC floppy drives only.

Retail pricing is $149.00. The package is also available on an
introductory basis for $99.00, directly through DataViz.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930728/Reader contact: DataViz, tel 800-773-
0030 or 203-268-0030; Press contact: Stacey Graham, DataViz, tel
800-733-0030 or 203-268-0030)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00004)

Netherlands Open Telecom Marketplace 07/29/93
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- The Dutch Ministry
of Transport and Communications has announced plans to open up its
telecom market-place over the next five years, in line with the
free market nature of the European Commission (EC).

Unusually, the Netherlands will be one of the last of the EC member
states to open up its telecom market fully. Plans call for telecom
hardware and circuit provision to be liberalized first by 1995, with
telecom services following on by 1998.

Both of these time scales and, indeed, the entire liberalization
project must be agreed by the Dutch Parliament. The government is
also likely to liaise with Konikklijke Nederland, the state-
controlled Dutch telecom company, before it gives full approval.

Hanja Maij-Weggen, the Minister for Transport and
Telecommunications, has announced that she accepts that
telecom market liberalization as a natural progression for the
country. Last year, the Dutch Government sponsored a major study
into the country's telecom services from McKinsey & Company. The
results of that study recommended opening up the telecom market to
free competition.

The report also recommended that, as in the UK, large private
telecom users, such as the electricity companies, cable TV firms
and the state railways, be allowed to offer their own telecom
services to the public.

As in the UK, which many EC member states are using a role model for
their own liberalization, the Dutch plans call for a licensing
system to be used to control the companies which provide telecom
services.

(Steve Gold/19930729)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00005)

V.Fast Will Take At Least Another Year To Be Ratified 07/29/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Fresh from a US meeting of the
ITU-TS (formerly known as the CCITT) international telecom
regulatory body, Garry Stansfield, development manager with Dataflex
Design, the London-based modem manufacturer, has confirmed that it
will be late 1994 -- and possibly into 1995 -- when the V.Fast modem
standard is formally accepted.

The V.Fast standard was first proposed by the modem manufacturing
community almost three years ago when it became clear that the
14,400 bits per second (bps) V.32Bis standard did not make full use
of the bandwidth of the telephone network available. The original
planned date for its introduction was a year ago, but as meeting
upon meeting took place, the standard moved further and further into
the distance, prompting some people in the communications industry
to rename V.Fast as V.Slow.

In the meantime, Dataflex Design has announced it is following the
lead taken last week by Hayes, and adopting the V.Fast Class (V.FC)
unofficial standard developed by Rockwell Corporation. Rockwell is a
supplier of modem chipsets to around 70 percent of the modem
manufacturing business.

"Unfortunately, the ITU (International Telecom Union) has changed
its budgets and, as a result, increased the length of time there
will be between the V.Fast study group meetings from six to nine
months. That means that the whole ratification process is starting
to telescope out," Stansfield told Newsbytes.

According to Stansfield, there was a possibility that the V.Fast
study committee could have agreed on a formal V.Fast standard at
a meeting earlier this week in the US. Unfortunately, a group of US
modem manufacturers agreed last week that there was still some
ground work to be done on the V.Fast standard, he told Newsbytes.

Gerry O'Prey, technical director of Dataflex, called the ITU's
decision to extend the time between study group meetings to nine
months "a real disaster."

"There is now a distinct possibility that the V.FC `standard' will
become the real standard, leaving V.Fast on the sidelines. This is a
great shame, given the potential that V.Fast has," he said.

O'Prey and Stansfield said that, because of the ongoing situation
with V.Fast, Dataflex has decided to actively support V.FC, with
plans to release a number of modems supporting the "standard" later
this year.

"Rockwell has told us that the full 28,800 bps implementation of
V.FC is still 90 days away from chip sampling, so we're looking at
the end of the year before we can ship modems supporting this data
transmission rate," O'Prey told Newsbytes.

In the interim period, O'Prey added, Dataflex plans to ship modems
supporting the 19,200 bps speeds of V.FC. He confirmed, however,
that such modems would be difficult to upgrade to a 28,800 bps
version of V.FC when those chips arrived from Rockwell.

Stansfield said that, if nothing else, the ITU V.Fast study group
tried to get a standard thrashed out at this week's meeting in the
US. "There was a definite air of urgency about the meeting. There
were small working groups that went off at lunchtimes, but it just
wasn't enough," he said.

Incredibly, the V.Fast study group may take until April 1995 to
agree upon the V.Fast standard as, according to Stansfield, papers for
the August, 1994 meeting in Geneva must be in by next March, "as
they have to be translated into other languages such as French and
Spanish.

"On that time scale, it could be very difficult to get a full V.Fast
standard worked out, so we could be looking at April of 1995 before
we can all sit round a table and agree on the standard," he said.

(Steve Gold/19930729/Press & Public Contact: Dataflex Design - Tel:
081-543-6417; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00006)

Interleaf, Phoenix Sign Deal On PostScript Software 07/29/93
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Interleaf
and Phoenix Technologies Ltd., have signed a deal that will
see Interleaf add Phoenix's PhoenixPage PostScript Level 2
technology to its products, beginning with WorldView 2, a new
release of its electronic document viewer due by year-end.

Adopted by 500,000 users internationally since it began shipping
over a year ago, WorldView takes documents from all major word
processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet, graphic and CAD
software packages and reformats them for online viewing. It
currently supports PostScript Level 1, and with the addition of
Phoenix's technology WorldView 2 will work with any application
that uses PostScript Level 2 features, Interleaf said.

In future, Interleaf plans to use the Phoenix technology across
its product line, including the Interleaf 5 authoring software
package.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The PhoenixPage PostScript Level 2 software is based on a core
graphics kernel that supports the extended set of PostScript
Level 2 imaging operators, including such features as data
compression, forms and patterns caching, and the CIE color space.
It also supports Type 1 and TrueType fonts.

Phoenix spokesman Tom Spillane said some 25 vendors currently
license the PhoenixPage PostScript software, and about 15 of
those currently use the PostScript Level 2 version of the
product. It has been available for close to 18 months, he said.

WorldView 2, due to be available at the end of 1993, will add
such new functions as support for Standard Generalized Markup
Language (SGML), color, new search and navigation tools,
interface improvements, and extended support for application
program interfaces (APIs).

(Grant Buckler/19930728/Press Contact: Kathy Quirk, Interleaf,
617-290-4990 ext. 6344; Tom Spillane, Phoenix, 617-551-5030)


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

Ungermann-Bass Forms Networking Company With BBN 07/29/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Ungermann-
Bass Inc. (UB), and Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., have announced
that they have signed a letter of intent to form a new company to
develop and market networking products based upon asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) technology.

Ungermann-Bass has also announced a major realignment of its
corporate strategy and worldwide operations to respond to
"changing market requirements," which includes a reduction
in personnel. At the same time UB has also announced
the promotion of Stephen Diamond to vice president, corporate
marketing.

The new networking company - LightStream Corp. - will be based
in Massachusetts. BBN has reportedly been developing an ATM switch
for the past two years, while UB has been developing complementary
ATM products, based upon that same technology, for over a year.

Under the terms of the agreement, BBN and UB would combine these
activities, including technology, staff, and other resources, to form
LightStream. BBN would own 80 percent of the company and UB
would own 20 percent. In addition, BBN and UB would contribute
$15 million and $5 million in cash, respectively, to fund the
enterprise. BBN and UB would also sign non-exclusive OEM (original
equipment manufacturing) agreements with LightStream under
which they would distribute the company's products.

In announcing the new company, Stephen R. Levy, chairman and CEO
of BBN, said: "We see ATM as the future of telecommunications. We
believe that BBN's expertise in wide area networking, UB's expertise
in local area networking, and the technology currently under
development in both companies will be a strong combination in the
market. Establishing strategic alliances is a key aspect of BBN's
overall product strategy."

Asynchronous transfer mode is the hot topic in communications
these days. Under ATM, all information is carried in fixed length
"cells" and switched at very high speeds.

UB also announced the resignation of Ralph Ungermann as president
and CEO, effective immediately. The company says that Ungermann
has been on medical leave of absence, recuperating from major
spinal surgery. Wayne Benoit, executive vice president, will
manage the company during the search for a new CEO.

Ralph Ungermann and Charlie Bass formed UB in 1979.

UB says it will "shift its product and distribution strategies and
realign resources to broaden its presence in high-volume mainstream
network sales." Traditionally, UB has focused on providing global
network integration products and services primarily to a select
group of large high-end customers. With today's economic climate,
this focus has resulted in declining market share in the overall
network market.

The company plans to cut personnel by 200-300 people worldwide,
while redeploying others "from overhead functions into direct
revenue producing positions." According to the company, the
realignment "will yield net increases in resources devoted to new
product development and sales positions, while significantly
reducing management infrastructure and overhead costs."

According to the company, Stephen Diamond will be responsible
for UB's worldwide marketing activities including strategic
marketing, corporate communications, sales and customer
training, and marketing programs.

Diamond joined Ungermann-Bass in 1991 as director of product
planning and was later promoted to group director, corporate
strategy. Most recently, he had been group director of worldwide
field marketing.

(Ian Stokell/19930729/Press Contact: Suzan Woods,
408-562-7958, Ungermann-Bass Inc.)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00008)

Sun 4Qtr Income Doubles; Record Revenues 07/29/93
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- While
many other computer companies, both hardware and software,
feel the heat of tough economic conditions in the US and
worldwide, Sun Microsystems Inc., continues on its merry way
by reporting record fourth quarter revenues of $1.26 billion, up
30 percent from the $973 million reported for the corresponding
period of fiscal 1992.

According to the company, net income for the quarter ended June
30, 1993, more than doubled to a record $76.1 million, or 72 cents
per share, compared to $37.7 million, or 37 cents per share, for
the like period a year ago.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1993, Sun posted record revenues
of $4.31 billion, up 20 percent from the previous year. Net income
for the year was $156.7 million, or $1.49 per share, compared to
$173.3 million, or $1.71 per share, reported in the corresponding
period a year ago.

In announcing the results, Kevin C. Melia, Sun's chief financial
officer, said, "We are very pleased with these results. We are
particularly pleased with our 30 percent year-over-year revenue
growth in the fourth quarter given the difficult economic
environment in Europe. Revenue growth in the US and other
geographies more than compensated for weak growth in European
revenues."

SunSoft, the company's system software subsidiary, distributed
140,000 Solaris and Unix licenses, 117,000 of which were Solaris 2.
The company's computer systems subsidiary, Sun Microsystems
Computer Corp., shipped a record 71,000 systems and 92,000 SPARC
processors during the quarter.

"In addition to our strong fourth quarter revenue growth, we
achieved several important operational successes," said Melia. "We
are realizing the benefits of the processes we initiated more than
a year ago to control spending growth. As a percentage of revenues,
we reduced fourth quarter operating expenses more than 5.5
percentage points compared to the prior year, which more than
offset the corresponding decline in gross profit margins."

Melia concluded, "While weak economies in Europe and other
international markets pose a significant challenge for our first
fiscal quarter and could exacerbate the normal summer seasonal
weakness, our product lines are in an excellent position."

(Ian Stokell/19930729/Press Contact: Rick Van Hoesen,
415-336-0117, Sun Microsystems Inc.)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00009)

RasterOps Posts Fiscal 1993 Loss 07/29/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- While the
company has still posted large losses for the year, RasterOps
claims that restructuring has already had a beneficial financial
effect in its fourth quarter. The company posted a net loss of
$12.2 million, or $1.49 per share, for its fiscal year ended June
30, 1993.

According to the company, sales for the year were $100 million,
down 18 percent from sales of $121.7 million for fiscal 1992.
The losses compare to net income of $5.2 million, or 64 cents per
share, for the prior year. An operating loss of $17.3 million for
fiscal 1993 included restructuring and pooling costs of $9.6 million.

Sales for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 1993, were $24.5
million, down 31 percent from sales of $35.8 million reported for
the comparable period of fiscal 1992. Net loss for the fourth
quarter was $290,000, or a loss of three cents per share,
compared with net income of $1.7 million, or 21 cents per share,
for the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.

In announcing the results, Keith E. Sorenson, chief executive officer,
said, "At the end of last quarter, we announced a restructuring
program to downsize our organization to make it leaner and more
optimized to compete in today's business climate. The reduction
in operating costs of $1.6 million from the prior quarter and our
financial improvement to near break-even were gratifying."

The company says of particular significance during the fourth
quarter were the equity investment of $10 million in RasterOps
by Scitex Corp, and the naming of Paul J. Smith to the position of
president and chief operating officer.

(Ian Stokell/19930729/Press Contact: Kent Robertson,
408-562-4200, RasterOps)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00010)

Maxtor Posts Huge Loss For 1Qtr 1994 07/29/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- All is not well
in the computer disk drive market, as Maxtor Corporation has announced
a net loss of $72.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal year
1994, ended June 26, 1993.

According to the company, revenues for the first quarter of fiscal
year 1994 were $260.6 million, down 24.6 percent from $345.6
million in the fourth quarter ended March 27, 1993 and down
22.7 percent from revenues of $337.2 million for the first quarter
of fiscal year 1993.

Net loss for the quarter was $72.2 million, or $2.50 per share fully
diluted, compared to a net loss of $19.7 million or $0.69 per share
fully diluted for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1993 and net
income of $28.5 million or $0.93 per share fully diluted in the year
earlier period.

The company claims that revenues were down primarily due to
pricing pressure on lower capacity drives, lower unit demand and
a delay in ramping the MXT-540 540-megabyte (MB), one inch-high,
3.5-inch disk drive, and the 25252 250MB, 2.5-inch disk drive. The
company says that both the drives are now in volume production
with "firm" OEM (original equipment manufacturer) orders.

In announcing the losses, Larry Hootnick, president and CEO, said,
"This is a difficult period for the company. We are impacted by one
of the worst price wars that the industry has ever experienced.
We are also going through a major product transition. The transition
to volume production of new products is critical to our future
success and this requires continuing strong investment in research
and development."

Maxtor says that, to reduce losses and conserve cash, the company
plans to "maintain its focus on various cost reduction efforts by
limiting capital spending, closely managing inventory levels and
implementing other expense control measures as appropriate."

The company has already shut down its Singapore manufacturing
facility for one week in July to "bring production in balance with
the current market demand.

(Ian Stokell/19930729/Press Contact: Melonie C. Brophy,
408-432-4459, Maxtor Corp.)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00011)

Kulicke & Soffa Reports Strong Sales 07/29/93
WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Eastern
Pennsylvania-based Kulicke & Soffa, a major international
supplier of high-performance microchip assembly hardware, has
announced a turnaround from a loss of ten-cents per share for
June 30, 1992 to a 47-cents per share profit for the same quarter
this year.

K&S has also made a donation of nearly $38,000 worth of
used engineering test equipment to nearby Temple University's
School of Engineering.

Kulicke & Soffa's sales for the nine-month period ended June 30,
1993, were $96,914,000, with a net income of $6,325,000, or 78
cents per share, compared with sales of $68,241,000, with a net
loss of $5,881,000, or 74 cents per share, for the same period
last year.

In its recent earnings report, the company said that bookings
remained strong at $43 million, about the same level as last
quarter, and $16 million higher than the comparable period last
year. The company's backlog at the end of the most recent quarter
totaled $41 million.

Because of its position as a major supplier of semiconductor
assembly equipment, K&S's sales may be used as a leading
indicator of the worldwide growth in microchip production
capabilities.

Kulicke & Soffa is currently negotiating to acquire the business
of ASM-FICO Tooling B.V. (FICO), a wholly owned subsidiary af
Advanced Semiconductor Materials International N.V. (ASMI), a
Netherlands-based supplier of packaging equipment.

The K&S product line includes wafer dicing, die bonding, and wire
bonding systems.

Temple University, which announced the equipment donation, says
that the donated test equipment is "state-of-the-art, high-
quality," and will be very useful to the Engineering Department.

Dr. Richard Klafter, professor of electrical engineering, said,
"Sometimes, schools receive used equipment from companies that is
in really poor shape. But this equipment is great."

Speaking about the donation, K&S's vice president of engineering,
Walt Von Seggern, said, "Our future depends on the ability of our
engineers."

(John McCormick/19930729/Press Contact: Leon Oboler, K&S, 215-
784-6818 or Jennifer Mullen, Temple University, 215-204-7476)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEN)(00012)

US West Sells Rural Systems 07/29/93
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- US West has
apparently found a way to rid itself of its problems providing
rural phone service in the Rocky Mountain region, saying it will
sell its 45 rural service areas to Pacific Telecom Inc.

The potential buyer is based in Vancouver, Washington, and is the
16th largest telephone company in the US. It's 87 percent-owned by
PacifiCorp, an electric utility that operates Utah Power Company and
Pacific Power Co. It currently provides phone service to customers
in 11 states, and jointly owns North Pacific Cable the first direct
overseas fiber-optic system between the this country and Japan. The
company already provides service to eight exchanges with 7,600
access lines in Eagle County, Colorado.

Terms of the deal to provide service to the 48,000 customers in
northern, southern and western parts of Colorado were not disclosed.
More information is expected to be available once US West files an
application with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in about a
month. However, Pacific Telecom VP Brian Wirkkala reportedly told
The Denver Post the company expected to finance the acquisition
using proceeds from the sale of about 4.5 million shares of IDB
Communications stock that it will receive when it completes a deal
to sell its TRT Communications unit to IDB for stock. At current
market value, that stock is worth about $171 million.

As reported earlier by Newsbytes, US West has been widely
criticized for the quality of its service in rural service areas and
its failure to upgrade party lines to private service, particularly
important to rural residents who use the phone lines to access data
services and send or receive data. Earlier this month the Colorado
PUC told US West to upgrade all its existing multiparty lines in
Yuma and Washington counties located in the northeastern part of the
state by the end of the year. US West VP John Scully reportedly
told The Denver Post work would continue on those improvements and
the sale agreement would include a joint effort to complete the work
on schedule. Pacific Telecom is expected to take over most of that
work in Yuma and Eagle counties. It's also reportedly working on a
construction proposal to convert the systems it is buying to digital
switching.

Scully told the Denver newspaper that it would join with US West to
hold a series of informational meetings in the affected areas, with
participation by the PUC. The commission has seven months to decide
if it will approve the sale, which also requires federal approval
and will include public hearings.

(Jim Mallory/19930729/Press contact: US West Public Relations,
303-782-1800)


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

Adobe Type On Call 3.0 For Macintosh 07/29/93
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Adobe
Systems has introduced Type On Call version 3.0 for the
Macintosh, a CD-ROM disc containing more than 1,700 typeface
packages from the Adobe Type Library.

The disc also includes the Adobe Type Browser - an on-line font
catalog, Adobe's PostScript Level 2 Printer Driver for increased
printing capabilities - and Adobe Acrobat Reader software for
reading and printing Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

According to the company, Type On Call enables users to license
individual typefaces, or entire families, from Adobe Type Library.
Users gain access to typefaces on the locked CD-ROM by purchasing
access codes over the telephone from Adobe. The company says that
the typefaces then become immediately available for installation
and use in Macintosh applications.

The company also says that, as part of the initial purchase with
Type On Call version 3.0, registered users may immediately access
any two of the following eight type packages: AG Old Face; Concorde;
Caslon 3/Caslon 540; Berthold Script/Boulevard/Bellevue; Franklin
Gothic; Post-Antiqua; Albertus/Castellar, and Adobe Wood Type 1.

Also, Type On Call owners automatically receive Adobe Type Reunion
software, the Adobe Type Manager program with 13 standard
typefaces, the Adobe Type Browser, Adobe's PostScript Level 2
Printer Driver and Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

The suggested retail price of Type On Call 3.0 for the Macintosh is
$99 and is expected to ship in August 1993. Upgrades will be sent
automatically to registered owners of version 2.0. Type On Call
version 1.0 owners will receive a free upgrade registration card
in the mail.

Through October 30, registered owners of Type On Call version 3.0
for the Macintosh can purchase any of the 74 new typeface packages
included on the disc for $89, a savings of up to $281 off the
suggested retail price of each package.

(Ian Stokell/19930729/Press Contact: Sonya Schaefer,
415-962-2630, Adobe Systems Inc.)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00014)

UK - In-Store Radio Stations 07/29/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Asda, the UK supermarket chain,
has announced it is to use Maxat as a means of broadcasting its in-
store radio station around the UK. Maxat, a satellite TV company,
will expand the Asda radio station's coverage from its present 160
stores to all 204 stores around the British Isles.

In parallel with the move to Maxat, Asda FM, which has been
broadcasting for the last 18 months over the Astra satellite, will
be fleshed out to provide an in-store magazine-style service to
customers of the supermarket.

Asda FM is an interesting alternative to the "Muzak" played in many
supermarkets. Originally started 18 months ago, the service was
designed for supermarket shelf fillers who worked through the night
to replace stock sold during the day. Soon, the service developed
into a near 24-hour radio station, interspersing music for customers
and shelf fillers with details of in-store offers and other
information.

The appointment of Maxat, a satellite TV and radio uplinking
company, completes the evolution of what appears to be the UK's
first satellite-distributed in-store supermarket radio station. An
interesting spin-off is that anyone tuning in to the secondary audio
channels of the Astra satellites will be able to hear Asda FM in the
comfort of their own home.

Maxat handles several TV uplink services to Astra. The company is
one of two UK firms that provide these services, and currently
handles uplinks for UK Gold, The Childrens Channel, and Japan
Satellite TV.

Commenting on the choice of Maxat, Phil Hampson, managing director
of Hampson Associates, the company that manages Asda FM, said that
his company has worked with Maxat before and had been impressed by
the company's professionalism. "We will be relying very heavily on
the team to manage and maintain the network as it expands," he said.

(Steve Gold/199230729/Press & Public Contact: Maxat - Tel: 071-430-
4400)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00015)

UK - Free Guide To Tape Backup 07/29/93
STONEHOUSE, GLOS, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Cristie, the British
data recoding and security company, has announced it is issuing two
free guides to potential users of tape backup systems.

The first booklet, entitled "Why to take care," claims to explain
the basic reasons why it is necessary to make tape backups of hard
disk information. The second booklet, entitled "Taking Care," aims
to give advice on how to complete tape backups.

Robin Burton, marketing director at Cristie, said that the guides
are intended to assist computer professional educate and train PC
users on the subject of tape backups.

"Although all computer professionals carry out regular backups, a
recent survey shows that less than 15 percent of everyday corporate
PC users do them. We hope that these guides will help improve that
percentage," he said.

(Steve Gold/19930729/Press & Public Contact: Cristie Electronics -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00016)

IBM Announces New Retail Initiative 07/29/93
PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- This Saturday
sees IBM unveil its first foray into retail trading, with the
opening of its first "shop within a shop" at the UK's largest
trading estate.

The IBM PC Centre will open its doors within Office World, the
office supplies superstore, as pilot project devised by IBM and
First Stop, one its authorized resellers. The center is aimed at
home and small business users, and plans to focus heavily on the
PS/2 range of computers.

According to Big Blue, shoppers will get a chance to look at the
complete range of PS/1 machines, as well as other PCs from IBM,
including the PS/Valuepoint series, Thinkpads, notebooks and IBM
operating system software. Plans also call for the shop to sell
Lexmark printers and the complete range of Lotus application
software packages.

"The center will make buying an IBM PC easier than ever before for
the first time user and small to medium-sized businesses," explained
Steve Rowley, general manager of IBM UK's Personal Systems
operation.

"For the first time, IBM is bringing expert advice and practical
assistance on buying information technology to business people in an
easily accessible, local retail environment, seven days a week," he
added.

According to Rowley, based on the experience that Big Blue and First
Stop have acquired from speaking with customers at shows and
exhibitions, they believe that buying computers from a shop
within a shop will be popular with the target audience.

Richard Thompson, chairman of First Stop, said that the IBM PC
Centre meets a pressing need in the small business marketplace.
"Expert advice on information technology (IT) from people who
understood the needs of the smaller business isn't easy to find," he
explained.

"First Stop is in the business of offering its customers solutions
and on-the-spot advice that will help them enrich their business
processes. That means offering an on-the-spot service tailored to
their needs, including education and support," he said.

"We have many years' experience selling to first time users and
small business off the stand at shows such as Computer Shopper and
we are convinced that this IBM PC Centre will prove successful," he
added.

(Steve Gold/19930729/Press & Public Contact: IBM UK - Tel: 0705-
321212; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00017)

Digital Quill Awards Competition 07/29/93
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- The Digital
Publishing Association (formerly the Disktop Publishing
Association), the first and only trade organization for the
electronic publishing industry, has announced the opening of this
year's Digital Quill awards competition for literature and
graphic material published in computer-readable, digital format.

Entrants must be created on computers and distributed in digital
format for others to read through their computers.

The Second Annual Digital Quill Awards for Excellence in
Electronic Publishing is open to all authors and publishers,
regardless of DPA membership status.

According to DPA Founder Ron Albright, the term "digital" is
meant to include everything from plain ASCII text, which can be
read on any computer, to complex, hypertext publications that
rely on machine-specific programs to view and navigate.

The only requirement is that the materials submitted for judging
must have been previously published in electronic format.
Submitted materials must either have been uploaded to an online
system or distributed on disk for reading by computer as digital
materials. In clarifying, Albright said, "Materials that were
simply created on computer - most writers use those for
composition anyway - do not meet the criteria of having been
electronically published for reading and are ineligible."

This year's award categories include:

Serial Publication - a weekly, monthly or otherwise regularly
scheduled publication that has been issued for at least 6 months
(or at least 3 editions) available prior to July, 1993. This
category includes both fiction and non-fiction magazines and
newsletters.

New Serial Publication - a weekly, monthly or otherwise
regularly scheduled publication that has been issued for less
than 6 months but has been published at least for two issues.
This category will include both fiction and non-fiction magazines
and newsletters and is proposed to recognize and encourage new
issues.

Fiction Book - an original (not reprints of the classics)
electronically published novel. Length: 50,000 words, minimum.

Non-fiction article - a single originally article appearing
either alone or as part of a magazine and published in digital
format. This category shall exclude reprints of articles
originally published in paper. Length: 1500 words, minimum.

Publishing software - a software program (shareware or
traditionally marketed) designed for publishing text and/or
graphics and facilitating their distribution and viewing.
Nominations will be accepted from users as well as original
authors.

Miscellaneous - this niche will encompass poetry, graphic
collections, comics, and other publications outside the standard
categories.

A certificate, suitable for framing, will be awarded to first,
second, third winners in each category.

Submissions will be accepted from original authors or from the
editors of a publication in which the submitted material
appeared. Submissions must be made in digital format (via modem
or on disk) to any of the "electronic addresses" listed below.
Deadline for submissions is September 30, 1993. Winners will be
announced in conjunction with the DPA activities surrounding
"Electronic Publishing Month" which is celebrated every November.

Submit entries to the DPA at CompuServe: 75166,2473; GEnie:
RALBRIGHT; MCI Mail: 370-7474 (RALBRIGHT); PRODIGY: DXBD80A; or
directly to the DPA BBS at 205-854-1660 (1200/2400/9600).

Disk submissions should be sent to: The Digital Publishing
Association, 1160 Huffman Road, Birmingham, AL 35215.

Digital Quill Awards are not limited to publications dealing with
computers, telecommunications or other high-tech topics, it is
only the publishing media that is high-tech, the actual text can
be everything from children's stories to poetry, but computer-
related topics are also eligible.

(John McCormick/19930729/Press Contact: Ron Albright, 205-856-
9510, fax [phone], or BBS 205-854-1660)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00018)

Screen Savers Will Include Photographic Images 07/29/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Microsoft says it
will ship a new line of screen saver products in about 60 days that
will include photographic images from the worlds of nature, art and
outer space.

Called Microsoft Scenes, the product line will kick off with the
Sierra Club, Impressionists, and Outer Space collections. The Sierra
Club scenes will include photos of nature and wilderness, national
parks, pristine nature regions, and other outdoor settings. The
Impressionists Collection contains paintings from world-renowned
artists such as Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne. Outer Space is a
collection of photos that include the moon, earth, and Halley's
comet.

Each collection includes 48 color images and are accompanied by
information provided by experts in the field as well as a variety of
special effects for transitions between the various scenes. The
information in the Sierra Club collection includes passages from the
John Muir Library published by Sierra Club Books. The Impressionists
Collection contains information by Alicia Craig Faxon, professor of
art history and chairperson of the department of art and music at
Simmons College in Boston. The Outer Space collection descriptions
were prepared by Damond Benningfield, writer and producer for the
daily radio program "Star Date."

Microsoft says it will include with each a collection a coupon that
the user can use to convert up to three personal photographs into
Microsoft Scenes images. The conversion will be done by Genigraphics
Corporation. Bit-mapped images from the Microsoft Windows operating
system can also be added to Scenes using Scenes Wizards. Scenes is
compatible with Berkeley Systems' After Dark 2.0 and other screen
saver programs for Windows 3.1.

Each title sells for $29.95, and requires Windows 3.1 or higher, a
VGA display capable of displaying 256 colors, and a 386SX or better
personal computer with at least two megabytes of system memory, or
RAM. Microsoft says a portion of the price of each Sierra Club
collection sold will go to support the club's efforts to protect the
environment. An introductory membership for the Sierra Club is
also included. All three collections come in recycled packaging.

(Jim Mallory/19930729/Press contact: Beverley Flower, Microsoft,
206-882-8080, 800- 426-9400)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00019)

CompuAdd Files Reorganization Plan 07/29/93
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- In what might be world
record time, CompuAdd Corporation has filed its plan of
reorganization with the US Bankruptcy Court in Austin, Texas
just 36 days after seeking Chapter 11 protection.

The personal computer seller voluntarily filed for protection
under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code June 22, 1993 after
it had trouble settling the claims of creditors arising out of the
company's closing of all 111 of its retail outlets. CompuAdd CEO
Bill Hayden said the bankruptcy petition was filed after a three-
month effort to settle claims with creditors such as landlords and
suppliers of the retail outlets. In addition to the landlords,
creditors include Lexmark, IBM, Texas Instruments, and Samsung, a
CompuAdd spokesperson told Newsbytes.

The company's announcement said the plan provides for
reorganization through an outside investment or internal
reorganization in which unsecured creditors will receive
substantially all of the stock of the reorganized company. Hayden,
CompuAdd's founder, would remain as CEO under the plan.

(Jim Mallory/19930729/Press and Reader contact: CompuAdd
Corporation, 512-250-2000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00020)

Microsoft Quarterly Revenue Hits $1 Billion 07/29/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Microsoft
released its fourth quarter earnings this week, reporting earnings
for the period were up 26 percent. The software company also
reached the $1 billion quarterly revenue mark for the first time
in the company's history.

The earnings report is about in line with the prediction of
financial analysts. The company said its fourth quarter earnings
were $265 million, or $0.87 per share, compared to earnings of
$210 million, or $0.71 per share, for the same period last year.
Quarterly revenues reached $1.04 billion, up from $815 million for
the 1992 fourth quarter, a 27 percent increase. For the fiscal year
1993, Microsoft earned $953 million, or $3.15 per share, compared
to the $708 million ($2.41 per share) for fiscal 1992. Revenues
totaled $3.75 billion, compared to $2.76 billion in FY 92.

Microsoft stock rose sharply Wednesday in anticipation of the
financial results being released, going as high as $79.50 on
trading of more than three million shares. The stock closed up
$3.50.

The financial report, which was released after the stock market
closed Wednesday, comes just one day after Newsbytes reported
Microsoft has released its long-awaited Windows NT operating
system for manufacturing. The company said the software should be
in retail channels within three weeks. Windows was initially
expected to ship last year.

It's been a good month for Microsoft. In addition to the earnings
report, the company dodged a bullet last week as the Federal
Trade Commission still couldn't come to a decision about
Microsoft's businesses practices. The agency doesn't comment
on ongoing investigations, but Microsoft has acknowledged that
the FTC is looking into its business practices, specifically
trying to determine if the company has engaged in unfair
competition practices. It was the second time the
commission couldn't reach a final decision, although it reportedly
did agree not to issue an administrative complaint against
Microsoft.

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates says Microsoft is spending
money on the development of home and office products, but didn't
disclose further details. However, Newsbytes recently reported
that the company was working on software to link office machines
such as faxes, computers, copiers and printers, and the company is
also working on Windows-like software to control interactive
television.

"While the ongoing success of Windows, Word (the company's
word processing program), and many other products make
us confident that our current product strategies are headed in the
right direction, we're also making many other long-term
investments in key technologies for the future, including software
for office machines and personal home devices," said Gates.

Microsoft has shipped more than 30 million copies of Windows,
which is selling at the rate of one million copies each month.

(Jim Mallory/19930729/Press and reader contact: Microsoft
corporation, 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00021)

 ****Sales Of Home Fax Devices Leaped Dramatically Last Year 07/29/93
NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Sales of fax
devices for use at home leaped dramatically last year, and will
eventually overtake purchases of business fax machines, according
to a new study by BIS Strategic Decisions.

In arriving at these and related results, the Norwell, MA-based
market research firm surveyed three segments of the home market:
home offices, where revenue-generating business is generated
from the home; work-at-home households, where work is done that has
been brought home from the office; and personal fax.

"Over 47 percent of home offices and 89 percent of work-at-home fax
device owners surveyed by BIS indicated owning their fax devices
for less than one year. The home is starting to emerge as the next
important market segment for the fax industry," stated Judith
Pirani, director of BIS' Image Communication Systems Market
Advisory Service.

The boom in the home fax market is due to growing need rather than
declining prices, the study says. More than half (51
percent) of respondents with home offices bought a fax device
because they thought they were losing business without one.

About four of every ten respondents from work-at-home households
(41 percent) purchased a fax device to communicate with the office
while working at home.

In contrast, less than 5 percent of home office respondents and
less than 18 percent of work-at-homers were prompted to purchase
fax devices by lower prices. "A $100 fax machine or a $25 fax
modem is not going to automatically ignite this market," Pirani
noted.

BIS attributed the accelerating need for fax devices to changing
business patterns. More people today are telecommuting or bringing
work home in the evening, and new business startups from the home
are on the rise, the researchers explained.

In the home office segment, the company discovered that 23.7
percent of survey participants had owned their fax devices for one
to six months, and another 23.7 percent for seven to twelve months.
Exactly 28.9 percent had owned their devices for 13 to 24 months,
9.2 percent for 25 to 36 months, and 13.2 percent for over 36
months. A total of 1.3 percent of these participants responded
"don't know."

Among the work-at-homers, 69.4 percent had owned their fax devices
for one to six months, 19.5 percent for seven to 12 months, and
merely 11.1 percent for over 12 months.

BIS also determined other differences among the three segments.
For example, personal use of fax was much higher in work-at-home
households than home offices.

Distinctions were unearthed, as well, between fax machine and PC
fax owners within each segment. PC fax owners, for instance, tend
to do more research before choosing to buy a specific model than
fax machine owners, according to the results.

Detailed findings from the fax-at-home research can be purchased
from BIS in a series of three reports. Collectively entitled
User Requirements for Home Facsimile Products, the reports delve
into such topics as buying behavior, feature evaluation, price
sensitivity, and usage patterns.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930729/Public contact: Robin Osborne, BIS, tel
617-982-9500; Press contact: Martha Popoloski, BIS, tel 617-982-
9500)


(EDITORIAL)(GOVT)(NYC)(00022)

Editorial - Reflections On Hacker Sentencing 07/29/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- By John McMullen.
I sat in federal court this week and watched two young men get
sentenced to prison. It was not a pleasant experience.

The young men, Ellias Ladopoulos, known in the hacker world as "Acid
Phreak," and Paul Stira, also known as "Scorpion," were each
sentenced to six months of imprisonment, six months of home detention,
seven hundred fifty hours of community service, and given a
$50 assessment charge for conspiracy to commit computer crimes.
Both had pled guilty on March 17th on this charge so there was
not a question of guilt or innocence.

The six-month imprisonment also does not seem Draconian -- six months
doesn't seem very long unless you happen to be the one serving it.
Time is extremely relative as I found out when I spent five years
at Fort Sill, Oklahoma between January 1963 and April 1963. It is
safe to say that these young men will find the six-month loss of
freedom to be a very long period.

The penalty, however, may be reasonable. It is certainly well within
the sentencing guidelines for the infraction. (The maximum
sentence quoted for the crime is five years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.)

If I think that the sentencing may be just, or at least defensible,
then what is the problem? Well, first, I have known the young men
for over three years and like them both. I would have preferred
that they not go to prison. I also personally feel that Stira
never should have been a part of the indictment, a view shared
by some law enforcement authorities. He is only mentioned in the
papers twice and any illegal activities stopped in January 1990.
The activities involved possession a "trap door" program and a
list of user passwords to systems.

I recognize that is a personal feeling and that all people want
their friends not to bear hardship.

Another problem relates to the procedures that got the defendants
to the sentence. Stira and Ladopoulos (along with Mark Abene, also
known as "Phiber Optik") were the subjects of a search and
seizure by Secret Service agents in January 1990. Stira and
Ladopoulos' fate then languished until July 1992 when they were
indicted along with Abene and two new players, John Lee, also
known as "Corrupt," and Julio Fernandez or "Outlaw," on
conspiracy to commit computer crimes.

During the three years that have gone by, Stira and Ladopoulos have
undergone changes. They are both college students -- Stira would have
graduated had his college not pulled his computer account when he
pled guilty, an action which prevented him from completing his
last course requirement.

Both have performed community service through contacts provided by
Robert Ambrose, a director of the New York Amateur Computer Club
(NYACC). Ladopoulos is employed by a major New York broadcasting
company and has impressed his employer to the extent that the employer
wrote a letter to the judge, asking for leniency, and came to the
sentencing.

Ladopoulos' attorney, Scott Tulman, speaking at the hearing, said,
"He goes to school, works, and donates time to working with the
handicapped, teaching them to use computers. He acknowledges his
culpability and has been attempting to atone for it. His probation
officer noted his sincere efforts to rehabilitate himself. The
stupid young person, 'Acid Phreak,' who was involved with other
person's computers no longer exists. It is Elias Ladopoulos who
will be sentenced and that will cause a hardship to his family."

There are those who may say, "It doesn't matter how long ago they
did something wrong. They did it and they have to pay the piper."
They may well be right in some cases but these are not serial
killers; they are two young men who have been under tremendous
pressure for a substantial part of their lives (3 years out of
21 is significant) since the indictment. Perhaps that should
have been considered sufficient punishment.

There is, further, an overriding problem. From day one of the
case, the judge, Richard Owen, showed a complete lack of
understanding of the technology related to the case. At the
initial scheduling meeting, then-assistant US attorney Steve
Fishbein pointed out that the discovery process might take a
long time as the government had intercepted over "50 megabytes"
of electronic evidence. The judge asked what a megabyte was
and, when told it was a million characters, seemed to look
rather panicked. The judge said, "You're not going to show
all that to a jury are you?" Fishbein assured him that he would
not.

It seemed obvious to those of us in attendance that Judge Owen had
visions of 50 million pieces of paper being delivered to a jury.
He was understandably concerned.

That was only day one and a federal judge may not be computer
literate at the start of such a case. That would certainly be
a lot to expect. One might expect, however, that, a year later,
at the conclusion of the case, knowledge would have been acquired.
Sadly, that did not seem to be the case.

One of the charges made against Stira and Ladopoulos (and Abene) was
that they both pulled a prank and caused damage to a computer system
belong to WNET, the PBS television channel in New York. While Stira
and Ladopoulos admitted being on the system, both deny causing any
damage. (It is a common belief that another hacker, known for
malicious actions, was left unindicted by the federal government
because of his age, and knowingly committed the damage.)

A major part of the sentencing dialogue between Ladopoulos and
Judge Owen had to do with this incident. Newsbytes reported that
in response to questions from Judge Owen concerning his
involvement with the damage to the WNET system, Ladopoulous said,
"Another hacker whose name I have already provided to the
government was the one who took the system down. When I saw the
problem, I called the station and left my own phone number and
offered to help. If I had caused the damage, I would not have
done that. The person who caused the damage is a very deranged
person."

Judge Owen said that he could not believe that it was merely a
coincidence that the damage was done to the WNET system in the
same time frame that Ladopoulous was on the system. Ladopoulous
replied that the system log showed that he was off the system
when the damage occurred. A discussion followed on the entire
incident.

The discussion actually had knowledgeable persons in the court room
shaking their heads. The judge didn't understand. He said that
there was too much work for this mysterious hacker to have done
to copy messages from Ladopoulous, add destructive material
to it, and shut down the system all on the same day -- just
too much typing. Ladopoulous tried to explain about capture
routines, editors, and other aspects of online communication,
and then, seeming to realize the futility of it, just gave up.

Speaking later to Newsbytes about the experience, Ladopoulous said,
"It was terribly frustrating. The judge just didn't understand
about WNET. I tried to explain that I did not damage the system
but he didn't understand."

Perhaps the prosecution was satisfied because the defendants
were being punished for their illegal acts -- perhaps the
defense took it in stride because of the relative lightness of the
sentence -- perhaps it was a good sentence. However, anyone with an
understanding of computers and telecommunications had to feel that
the judge had no grasp of these issues.

What happens next? Organizations like the Electronic Frontier
Foundation (EFF), the Society for Electronic Access (SEA), and
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) are trying
to close the knowledge gap between public officials and
technologists. Congress is holding hearings on technology issues.
There is recognition at the national level on the importance of
understanding the changes that the telecommunications revolution
has brought. Progress may be made. I hope so. Can you imagine if
it were your case -- or that of a member of your family was being
sentenced? Scary, isn't it?

(John F. McMullen/19930729)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00023)

New Mac Product Roundup 07/29/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Here is a quick
look at some new Macintosh products on the market:

Fontographer 4.0

Fontographer 4.0 font creator/manipulator adds auto-spacing and
edit-in-preview features, the latter letting users edit Bezier
points in Preview mode. Also new are Advanced and Beginner levels,
Path Smoothing and floating tool palettes. $495 suggested retail.
Upgrades from all versions: $99. Free to users who purchased version
3.5 after April 1. Altsys Corp. (Richardson, Texas); 214/680-2060.

Reduced PowerBook AppleLink Rates

AppleLink rates for PowerBook users have been cut 40 percent from the
standard price. Sign-up is now $19.95 instead of $70, and the hourly
rate is $24.95 per daytime hour for 9600bps access, down from a $37
rate. Access at 2400bps is $14.95 per daytime hour with no
kilocharacter surcharge. The offer is available to existing AppleLink
subscribers, but they still must pay the $19.95 registration fee.
Call 800/877-8221 with your PowerBook serial and model numbers to
order. The offer expires Dec. 31, and the lower rates will remain in
effect indefinitely for users who sign up by then.

Digitalfilm Deluxe System & Bundle

Adobe Premiere, software for creating digital video QuickTime
Movies on the Mac, is one of several programs bundled with SuperMac's
Digitalfilm NuBus card. SuperMac's (Sunnyvale, CA) Digitalfilm
Deluxe, a video capture, editing and authoring bundle, combines the
company's Digitalfilm NuBus card with video-editing software.
Digitalfilm features real-time, full-screen capture, the
ability to output to videotape, and support for QuickTime, JPEG
compression and XCMDs. Editing software bundled with the card
includes MacroMind Director, Adobe Premiere, the Cosa After Effects
special-effects package and Diaquest's DQ-Timecoder for stamping
timecodes on video frames. Suggested retail is $5,999. Currently
available only through Tech Data, Intelligent Electronics, Falcon,
GTSI, Computerland and MicroAge. Upgrades are available to registered
users through SuperMac by contacting the company directly at
408/541-6100.

The Last Dinosaur Egg

Probably not a coincidence: Jurassic Park is out and Sanctuary
Woods (San Mateo, Calf.) has released The Last Dinosaur Egg, a
children's CD-ROM title that sets up players as museum archivists
who retro-travel backward to get the egg of the last surviving
Tyrannosaurus Rex. Features up-to-date information on the
dinosaurs and their surroundings with 100 hand-painted backgrounds,
animated characters, video clips, digitized sound effects, and
original music. Distributed by Electronic Arts, the title's
suggested retail price is $59.95. Call 604/684-8177.

PrecisionColor Pro

The Radius PrecisionColor Pro is an accelerated 24-bit display
board. Available this month with a suggested retail price of
$2,499, the 7-inch NuBus card is designed to speed up QuickDraw
tasks. It features on-the-fly switching among several resolutions.
Radius is in San Jose, CA at 408/434-1010.

Astound

Interactive presentation software uses outline and slide metaphor,
with ability to add music, narration, QuickTime movies, moving
text transitions and cel animation. Runtime player lets Windows
users run Astound presentations. Features 20 drawing tools,
charting, and interactive buttons. Suggested retail price is
$399.95. Gold Disk, Torrance, CA 310/320-5080.

(Chris Oakes/19930729)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00024)

Acrobat & Common Ground: Pathways To The Paperless Office? 07/29/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Do you
laugh when you hear the phrase "paperless office?" Well, listen up,
cynics.

No Hands' Common Ground and Adobe Acrobat, designed to let
complex electronic documents flow between two computers like
simple text does now, are both now shipping. Using this technology,
anyone can view, search and print any electronic document without
having the creating application or fonts.

No Hands Software says the key to Common Ground's promise is
"DigitalPaper," a cross-platform file format that lets a user
turn a document (via a Chooser extension) into an electronic
format that can be universally viewed and printed. Both Mac and
PC users will be able to see this "digital paper" with Common
Ground viewing software for their particular computer.
(The Windows version is scheduled to ship later this year.)

More than just inert "paper" on your display, the elements of
digital paper can be copied and pasted like any other text or
graphic. Common Ground also lets you search digital paper for
keywords, as you do now with your word processing or database
document.

Meanwhile, Adobe's Acrobat turns documents into its "Portable
Document Format" (PDF), which is also designed for compatibility
across various platforms. Whereas No Hands' DigitalPaper format
creates documents in bit-mapped form, Acrobat's PDF is tied to
Adobe Type Manager, which it uses to render the type in
electronic documents.

Acrobat also employs two other Adobe technologies: the
PostScript page description language and SuperATM's
multiple-master font substitution.

What if the receiving computer doesn't have the Acrobat or
Common Ground software to view the document? With Common Ground,
the sender can include a "Mini-Viewer," a free, stripped-down
version of Common Ground's viewing software that allows the
receiver to both view and print the document. Its small size
allows it to be embedded into any Common Ground document, so that
all the receiver need do to see the document is double-click on it.

With Acrobat, the receiving user needs Acrobat Reader, a
stripped-down version of Adobe's viewing software, Acrobat
Exchange. Reader allows users to view, navigate and print
PDF files, but it cannot generate bookmarks, thumbnails,
notes or links, all of which Acrobat Exchange is able to do.
There is no free viewer available for Acrobat documents, but
for third-party developers interested in creating one, Adobe
will make an application programming interface available.

Common Ground, which claims a smaller size and faster speed
than Acrobat, retails for $189.95. No Hands Software is in
Belmont, CA at 415/321-7340 or 800/598-3821.

Acrobat Exchange is priced according to the quantity ordered,
with a range of $146 to $195 per user. Acrobat Reader will
range from $35 to $50 per user. Documents that contain PostScript
or high-resolution color images need to be "distilled" to PDF
format with the Acrobat Distiller. A single-user version of
Acrobat Distiller will list for $695, while a version that
allows unlimited network users will list for $2,495. Adobe is
in Mountain View, CA at 415/961-4400.

(Chris Oakes/19930729)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00025)

One File Leads To Another -- LinksWare 3.0 For The Mac 07/29/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Step on
a cat's tail and a loud, high-pitched sound follows -- there is
a link between the two actions.

It can be very convenient to have the same kind of linking between
two actions on your Apple Computer Mac -- and this is the idea
behind hypertext, and now "HyperMedia." LinksWare (Monterey, CA)
has announced version 3.0 of its HyperMedia product of the same
name. LinksWare 3.0 is designed to let users link together
text, paint and image files, as well as sound and QuickTime movies.

In LinksWare, which can access a multitude of file formats, you
click on an element (the word "stomach," for example) and you
are linked to another document, be it in the form of words,
pictures, or video (perhaps an illustration detailing the
stomach in all its splendor). "Linked to" means that the linked
document is opened and displayed by LinksWare, regardless of
whether the creating application is present.

Linked files can also include those residing on CD-ROM discs --
all this is on the $99 version. An advanced version is also
available for $164. The advanced version lets users create
stand-alone hypertext documents that can create hypertext links
within itself.

A demo of version 3.0 is available on CompuServe, American
OnLine, AppleLink and GEnie. The demo version can be converted
to the full running version by calling the company. For more
information on availability, call 408/372-4155.

(Chris Oakes/19930729)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00026)

Tandem Losses Force Move To Downsized Systems 07/29/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Tandem,
known for its mainframe and supercomputers, is reporting losses
of $44 million in its third fiscal quarter. The Fortune 500
company says it will probably report a loss in its next as well
quarter and will lay off 15 percent of its workforce, or about
1,600 to 1,800 people, in the next 12 months.

This is the second restructuring in as many years for Tandem.
The company started 1992 reporting it expected to lose money
and laid off 9 percent of its workforce during the year. This
time, in addition to layoffs, a 5 percent cut in employee
compensation and a reduction in benefits is being instituted.
The company says the change in the salary structure is a
permanent one.

The current losses are being blamed on weak economic
conditions, particularly in Europe, and the company's belief
that customers are waiting on new products to buy. Analysts are
saying the market is moving away from mainframe computers to
smaller and less expensive client/server systems and Tandem,
like IBM, has been slow to follow.

However, Tandem last week announced a line of lower-priced
parallel, open systems and servers aimed at attracting buyers.
In a deal with Unix System Laboratories (USL), Tandem will
integrate the USL Tuxedo Enterprise Transaction System software
with the Tandem Nonstop Kernel operating system. The resulting
product, called Nonstop Tuxedo, will be the first open
transaction monitor for business-critical client/server
systems, Tandem claims. Applications for such systems include
intensive, transaction-based uses such as bank automated teller
processing.

But selling a higher volume of systems at lower prices means an
adjustment for Tandem. James Treybig, president and chief
executive officer said: "We are aware that becoming a low
price provider requires we adopt a new business model if we are
going to achieve our profitability goals. This requires more
than just cutting costs; it requires re-engineering the
business, changing our culture, and continuously reducing our
cost structure."

Steps have already been taken to reduce costs, according to
Treybig, who said the changes have begun at the Tandem Telecom
division, in many of Tandem's European operating subsidiaries,
and at its subsidiary Ungermann-Bass.

Revenues for the third fiscal quarter of 1993, ended June 30,
were $476 million, and for the nine month period were $1.5
billion. In the same period during fiscal 1992, Tandem reported
revenues of $503 million for the third quarter and $1.5 billion
for the nine-month period.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930729/Press Contact: Tom Waldrop, Tandem,
tel [phone], fax [phone]; Sally Smith, Tandem, tel
408-285-7515)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00027)

New for Windows - Video Wallpaper Via Romaterial CD 07/29/93
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Moon Valley
Software, known for its previous release of animated icons for
Windows called Icon Do-It, has released Romaterial, a
collection of "gadgets" for Windows on compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM). The CD includes Windows wallpaper that springs
into real video, more animated icons, more animated cursors,
and the ability to add multiple sounds to a single command.

Video Savers are video clips that springs into life full-screen
when there has been no keyboard input for a predetermined
amount of time. The videos include scenery, such as an Alaskan
cruise, or high tech stuff such as actual footage of a space
shuttle launch, Moon Valley said. Other screen saver options
include a slide show or the ability to play a favorite list of
regular screen savers. Video lists are play lists comprised of
one or more videos (Windows AVI files). Slide shows take
bitmaps (.BMP files) and display them one at a time and in
succession.

The company says the CD has 500 designer icons, 200 animated
icons, 200 cursors, 100 Backdrop wallpapers, 75 Screenbreak
screensavers, and 50 animated cursors. Its 500 sound effects
include six foreign languages, five English and American
accents, animal noises, machinery sounds, and musical instruments.

The product requires an IBM or compatible personal computer
(PC), running Microsoft Windows 3.1, at least 2 megabytes (MB)
of random access memory (RAM), 10 MB of hard disk space, a CD-
ROM drive, a mouse, and a video graphics array (VGA) monitor. A
sound card is recommended and Moon Valley boasts no special
hardware is required, as the video will work with any VGA
monitor. Retail price for Romaterial is $29.95.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930729/Press Contact: Pat Meier, Pat Meier
Associates for Moon Valley Software, tel [phone], fax 415-
957-1733; Moon Valley Software, 602-375-9502)


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

Creative Labs Revenues Up 240% For FY 93 07/29/93
MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- It appears to be
either the best of times or the worst of times for many high
tech firms. Lining up on the best side appears to be Creative
Technology which said revenue for its fourth quarter was up 248
percent from the $25.1 million reported last year to $87.4
million. For the year, revenue was up 240 percent from $85.8
million last year to $291.7 million.

The company was reporting losses in its net income in the
fourth quarter last year of $15.0 million, but says net income
is in the black this quarter at $17.8 million. For the year,
the company made $44.8 million, compared to the 0.6 million
figure last year.

The company is pointing to growth in the multimedia hardware
and software market as the cause of the growth. Competitor
Media Vision is reporting the same type of expansion.

Creative Labs went public in August of last year, purchased
Macintosh video teleconferencing products company Sharevision,
and music synthesizer company E-mu. The company
is also boasting it is the first to ship the Supermac Cinepak
video compression/decompression (codec) with its Videospigot
for Windows video capture product. The Cinepak compression
codec is expected to pick up in popularity in the multimedia
marketplace as it has been licensed from Supermac by companies
such as Microsoft and 3DO. The company also introduced two MPC
Level 2 compliant multimedia upgrade kits and its new Sound
Blaster 16 sound card during the period.

Creative Technology is headquartered in Singapore, but its
primary US subsidiary, Creative Labs, is located in Milpitas,
California. The company also boasts other subsidiaries in the
US, Europe, Taiwan, and China.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930729/Press Contact: Benita Kenn, Creative
Labs, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(MSP)(00029)

Digital, Online Video Production On a Mac 07/29/93
MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (B) -- Data Translation's
Multimedia Group announced its new product, Media 100, has been
installed in 52 beta sites across the United States and final
product ships to customers on August 31, 1993.

Media 100 is said to be the first 100 percent digital, online,
nonlinear video production system for creating high quality
(NTSC or PAL) video programs directly from a Macintosh computer.

"The initial response from our beta testers has been very favorable,"
said John Molinari, general manager of the Multimedia Group.
"The feedback has been consistent; both corporate users and video
professionals give high marks for the product's intuitive interface
and feature set and say that Media 100's video output quality
exceeds what they thought possible in a digital, nonlinear system."

Among those who have used the product, are these comments.
"From somebody who has researched the options quite thoroughly,
I'm very impressed that Media 100 is an open system. I can buy
the computer and off-the-shelf drives on my own. This means
big savings for me. We've already placed our order," David
Westerhof-Shultz Producer of video documentaries -- Veritas
International, St. Louis, says.

"The product looked superb, I was thoroughly impressed," says
Mike Backes codirector, American Film Institute, Hollywood and
computer specialist for the film Jurassic Park.

Three years in development, Media 100 lets users digitize analog
video and audio, store it in the computer, edit a complete video
program using a picture-based interface, and record the finished
program back onto videotape. Consisting of two NuBus boards and video
production software compatible with Apple System 7 and QuickTime,
Media 100 is for corporate and industrial video production,
animation, and multimedia authoring.

The system's video output is 60 fields and 30 frames per second,
meeting all broadcast NTSC standards and supports input/output of
4 independent tracks of CD-quality, stereo audio.

At Macworld and Siggraph Data Translation will simultaneously
make the first public demonstrations of Media 100's implementation
of Adobe Premiere technology for special effects. The Media 100 FX
Option allows the system to render, play, edit, and record 62 effect
types as high-quality video, not just as on-screen effects for
multimedia. Effects include standard translations like wipes and
dissolves, filtering through posterizing blurring, solarizing and
embossing video; and DVF-effects such as page turns and squeezes.

To output finished video, Media 100 requires a Macintosh Quadra 800,
840 AV, 900 or 950 with 2 NuBus slots, 24 Mbytes RAM memory
Apple System 7 & QuickTime; SCSI hard drive(s) for video/audio
storage (1 GB or higher capacity recommended), video monitor
(NTSC or PAL), videotape recorder (VTR, VCR, or camcorder) for
video program input/output. The Media 100 system is priced at
$11,995 and ships to all customers on August 31, 1993.
Beta shipments of the product have been in effect since June
11, 1993. The FX Option is priced at $995, and is also available on
August 31, 1993.

(Wendy Woods/19930729/Press Contact: Data Translation, Patrick Rafter,
508/460-1600, ext. 877)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00030)

Animated Cursor Software With Appoint Input Devices 07/29/93
PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 29 (NB) -- Input
device maker Appoint says it will include Delta Point's
"Animated Desktop" software with each Mousepen Pro, Thumbelina,
and Gulliver pointing device it sells. The software allows the
cursor in Microsoft Windows to be changed from the normal arrow
to other objects including a flying witch, a rotating "glob,"
or walking fingers.

The Animated Desktop software package offers a selection of
icons as well. Appoint says an "Animation Toolbox" utility
allows more creative users to design their own icons and
cursors.

Appoint describes its pointing devices as input device
technology designed to work on any surface and at almost any
angle -- without a mouse pad. The three input devices that will
include the Animated Desktop are part of the company's Business
Line. Mousepen Pro is described as an ergonomically designed
input device shaped like a pen and particularly suited to
graphics applications. Thumbelina, is a miniature handheld
trackball. Gulliver is described as the only mouse designed
especially for portable computers.

Appoint says the Animated Desktop is a $69 value, but will not
increase the price of the bundled pointing devices. Retail
pricing for the Mousepen and Thumbelina is $99 and Gulliver is
priced at $119.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930729/Press Contact: Michele Cimera,
Appoint, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public Contact,
800-448-1184)