'the interactive mac e-zine you can really get your teeth into'
Welcome to issue seven of CORE! The new CORE! Web Site is now online and contains news, reviews, back issues and archives from every issue of the e-zine. If you have any comments, suggestions, letters to the editor or contributions don't hesitate to send them to us …  
 
 
  In time for MacWorld Expo (see below) Apple have a beta
version of CyberDog 1.1 ready to view. Using Apple's new
technology, OpenDoc, Cyberdog provides you with the
ability to browse the World Wide Web, read and write
transfer services to share files, explore gopher-space,
and remotely login to computers via telnet. Cyberdog 1.1
beta features: 68K Mac support, AppleTalk browsing and
URLs, Netscape plug-in support, Japanese character
support (Kanji capability), and an improved mail interface.
For more info: http://cyberdog.apple.com/
 
  Version 2 of the popular Ram Doubler utility from Connectix will ship on
August 7th and will be capable of tripling your Macs RAM (Random Access
Memory). Ram Doubler now has the option for you to set the level of extra
memory and if you choose to double your RAM it will work twice as fast as
the previous version. Ram Doubler 2.0 is expected to ship for around
£70/$120. For further information - http://www.connectix.com/
 
  MACWORLD Expo/Boston, August 7-10 is one of the biggest events of the year
for Macintosh users and prmoises to deliver an explosion of technology. If
you're developing applications, custom solutions, multimedia, or scientific and
engineering solutions for the Macintosh, Developer Central is the place to head.
You'll find the latest tools and training solutions for Macintosh and Newton development, including seminars taught by the world's best Mac techies. The MacSciTech Resource Center is where you’ll be able to connect with Macintosh users in chemistry, biology, computer science, design/test engineering, physics, mathematics, and more!
For more info: http://www.mha.com/macworld/index.html/
 
In an attempt to keep up with Power Computing, who have just released a 225MHz PowerPC Mac (reviewed this issue), Apple will release a 200Mhz 604e machine based on the 9500 model, an 8500 model based on the 180-MHz PowerPC 604e and a new multiprocessor machine on August 5th, according to sources. With 32 Mb of RAM, a 2Gb hard drive and an 8x CD-ROM drive as standard equipment, the top-speed Macs are expected to cost $4,500 and $4,900, respectively. Also due in August is the Power Mac 7600/132, which will reportedly have the same price and configuration as its 120-MHz predecessor. Apple's first multiprocessor system, the 9500/180MP, will include two 180-MHz 604e chips. That system will reportedly share the memory and storage configuration of its single-processor sibling, the 9500/180, and is expected to cost about $5,700. The dual-CPU Mac will support the multiprocessing API developed by DayStar Digital Inc. Finally, sources said Apple will add the 8x CD-ROM drive in the Power Mac 7200/120 but make no other changes to that system. UK prices are yet to be announced.
 
  Apple have recently released an upgrade to Quicktime, version 2.5 features
numerous fixes and improvements including support for QuickDraw 3D, PCI
acceleration, and multi-processors. The new release also adds subtitling facilities
and improves the performance of movies played across the internet. Quicktime
2.5 can be downloaded from http://quicktime.apple.com/.
 
Apple's new QuickTime plug-in lets Web authors embed QuickTime movies in their pages. A set of HTML tags let authors specify whether movies will play automatically upon loading and whether they will loop continuously or play only once. Movie viewers can play, pause, and fast-forward movies. The plug-in also allows the browser to automatically play background music, whether it's digitized or in the form of compact MIDI information. The most noteworthy feature of Apple's QuickTime plug-in is Fast Start. It allows the plug-in to measure the speed at which movies are delivered over the Net and to start playing a movie before it's been completely downloaded. By the time the plug-in has reached the end of the movie, the file should be completely downloaded. However it is unlikely you’ll see noticable benefits, especially with a shorter movie, unless you have a fast connection.
 
Another upgrade to System 7.5 is on the way, code-named Son of Buster the revision will reportedly correct a handful of glitches in System 7.5.3, which shipped as a retail product this month. Virtual memory is said to be improved in stability along with an enhanced performance. Bugs in some PowerMacs’ SCSI Managers and Modern Memory Managers have been fixed along with problems with infrared networking and remote control. Son of Buster will also fix a problem that causes Power Mac 6100, 7100 and 8100 machines to freeze when users insert a floppy disk. The upgrade will reportedly include an Open Transport driver left out of System 7.5.3 Revision 2 and include Version 2.5 of PC Exchange.
 
The World Wide Web Consortium recently announced HTML Version 3.2, which adds a
collection of popular Web page tags, including those for tables, attaching Java applets and
designating colors by name rather than hexadecimal number. Yet the new version is far from
being a standard. As a matter of fact, HTML 2.0, which has been widely adopted by the industry, is only a proposed standard and is not expected to be finalized until later this year. HTML 3.2 is just now starting the public comment phase, in which organizations can propose additions to the standard. By the time it reaches final form, expected sometime in 1997, it may be completely different. A number of companies are also contributing their ideas. Adobe Systems Inc., Apple and several other companies have come together to propose OpenType, a font technology that will let designers embed both PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts into a page (see issue 6).
 
  Insignia Solutions have released new versions of SoftWindows (3.0.1) and
SoftWindows 95 (1.0.1). The updates fix a reported problem with Novell servers
and are available from: ftp://ftp.insignia.com/ftp/mac/SoftWin3.0/.
 
Now Software Inc. plans to ship version 6.5 of Now Utilities by the end of August. The upgrade will include a complete reworking of Now Startup Manager, along with enhancements to Now Super Boomerang and Now QuickFiler, as well as to Now AutoType, Now FolderMenus, Now Tabs and Now Shortcuts. The Super Boomerang update will allow users to resize the Open and Save dialog boxes, re-sort lists, and include a new Labels menu similar to the Finder's. QuickFiler will gain the capability to find duplicate files and will be integrated into Now Mail to facilitate the sending of files across a network. Now Utilities 6.5 will have an estimated street price of $89.95. Upgrades will be $14.95 for users of Version 6.0 and $29.95 for users of other versions. UK prices have yet to be announced. Now Utilities said Startup Manager 7.0 will be available free from its Web site during the last two weeks of August.
 
The PowerBook 5300cs has come to the end of its days as Apple will shortly discontinue the model. Apple spokeswoman Kate Paisley said no other models will be affected and although supplies remain constrained because of the PowerBook 5300 and 190 repair program, availability should improve in the coming months. After the PowerBook 5300cs is discontinued, all reseller backlog for the product will be canceled. The move will decrease Apple's total backlog of orders, which Apple Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson estimated in July at $100 million. A new PowerBook range will be introduced in the Autumn.
