OS/2 Shareware BBS: 32 Periodic/32-Periodic.zip/ex960209.zip/ex960209.txt

Text File | 1996-02-09 | 18KB | 353 lines

                           THE OS/2 WARP WEEKLY
                ISSUE 51 - 2/9/96 (A real collector's item)
  A production of PSP World Wide Marketing Support Covering information
               relevant to OS/2 Warp and LAN Server

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The OS/2 Warp Weekly and OS/2 Warp Monthly Newsletters are available on
the Internet at http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/newsletters.html

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CONTENTS

1. THOMPSON REVEALS STRATEGY AND PLANS AT TELESEMINAR
2. WINDOWS API CONSIDERED FOR WORLDWIDE STANDARD STATUS
3. DEVCON FOR OS/2 SOON TO OFFER AUDIO TOOLS LIBRARY
4. DESKTOP MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE LOOKS AT SERVER MANAGEMENT
5. OS/2 WARP SERVER MAKES MOBILE COMPUTING MUCH EASIER
6. OS/2 WARP SERVER UPGRADE PROTECTION
7. LEAP ABOARD VOYAGER WITH ATHENA
8. PLANNED FUNCTIONS FOR UPCOMING RELEASES OF OS/2 WARP
9. WARP'D HUMOR

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1.        THOMPSON REVEALS STRATEGY AND PLANS AT TELESEMINAR

John W. Thompson, General Manager of IBM's Personal Software Products
Division, outlined his vision for OS/2 Warp and the role OS/2 will play
in IBM's network-centric computing strategy via a live TeleSeminar.
John was joined by Robert Spicer, Executive Vice President and Chief
Information Office of Chevy Chase Bank in Maryland, and Amy Wohl, of
Wohl Associates an independent consulting firm.

Mr. Thompson boiled PSP's goals for 1996 down to four simple
things.
  - Position OS/2 Warp Server as a server operating system that will
    span the range of application requirements our customers will choose --
  - Make sure that OS/2 Warp as a client operating system functions
    well with all servers -- not just OS/2, but other
    servers that will be available in customer environments.
  - Make sure that OS/2 as a client is the preferred client to an OS/2
    Server solution.
  - Position OS/2 as a product that will compete aggressively
    in the connected consumer space -- the space where people want
    to be able to migrate work between their offices and their homes.
  The strategy to meet those goals has three basic elements.
  - Protect the investment that current OS/2 customers have made and
    protect IBM's position in those enterprises while we look for
    opportunities in the marketplace to grow share.
  - Deliver technology, such as Java, that's relevant -- that customers
    can use to extend their IT capabilities to a broad range of users
    both within and outside enterprises.
  - Be crystal clear and very consistent in our communications about
    OS/2, its future direction, and its importance to the IBM company
    and to the IBM company's customers.

For more information about what was discussed at the teleseminar
visit http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/telesemi.html
off the OS/2 Warp homepage (http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/os2.html).

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2.          WINDOWS API CONSIDERED FOR WORLDWIDE STANDARD STATUS

The European standards development organization, ECMA, has submitted the
Windows API to ISO for fast-track approval as an open standard. If ISO
approves this, any changes or additions will have to be to be made
through an open, public process. Additionally, ECMA is encouraging
the creation of test suites that will verify compliance with the new
standard.

This standard has many positive implications for the software
industry. Having the Windows API public will make it much easier to
port programs written for the Windows interface to other operating
systems such as UNIX, OS/2 or MacOS. Furthermore this standard would
level the application software playing field.  Ray Noorda, former Novell
CEO and chairman, stated "This is truly an important win for the
industry.  It's a pleasure to see technology vendors working together to
achieve standards consensus, particularly in this area.  This
cooperation will help foster a healthy competition in the applications
marketplace.  This is the epitome of 'coopetition'."

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3.              DEVCON SOON TO OFFER AUDIO TOOLS LIBRARY

Human Machine Interfaces has agreed to include HMI's audio tools
libraries in the IBM Developer Connection for OS/2 (DevCon) in the first
half of 1996.

The HMI Sound Operating System (SOS) provides many tools so that  the
development community can integrate sound effects, vocals, music and
hardware compatibility into their game platforms.  It provides features
that allow games or other applications to change sound characteristics.
These features include 32 channels of real-time digital mixing,
independent volume controls, panning and pitch-shifting. The system
also provides interactive music playback that allows the music to change
according to gaming action.  The HMI SOS is expected to enhance OS/2
Warp's audio capabilities.

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4.      DESKTOP MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE LOOKS AT SERVER MANAGEMENT

The Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF) announced they have completed
the standards definition that will enable vendors to build system
manageability into their products.  The Systems Standard Groups
Definition goes beyond the original specification of desktop PC systems
to address server-specific features.  While the original specification
encompassed the basic desktop components such as motherboard, CPU,
and operating system, the new attribute group extends to server
components such as environmental monitors,  automatic system
reset/re-boot capabilities, redundant power supply capabilities
and diagnostic programs.

One of the enhancements is the availability of server structure
information, not maintained by operating systems. This information
provides the component dependencies within any server configuration.
Dependency information is useful for overall management and maintenance
of server systems.

Another standard recently finished by DMTF helps manage video monitors.
The Video Monitor Standard Groups Definition addresses elements such as
scan frequency, resolution, and identification information.

DMTF is an industry-wide task force created to develop standard
frameworks of intelligence and manageability to be built into desktop PC
products and systems.

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5.      OS/2 WARP SERVER MAKES MOBILE COMPUTING MUCH EASIER

IBM's OS/2 Warp Server operating system,currently in final testing, will
include new features to make life much easier for users who spend a lot
of time out of the office:  Mobile File Synchronization, which updates
server files with changes made to client files during remote use; and
AskPSP, an on-line technical support tool that OS/2 clients can access
remotely.

The remote access features in OS/2 Warp Server allow users to remotely
log onto the network, upload and download data and print documents to
other facilities.  Mobile File Synch builds upon these features by
synchronizing client and server files when a mobile user reconnects to
the server.

When a user on an OS/2 client machine is connected to the server and
performing normal tasks, the Mobile File Synch program stores all of the
accessed files and directories to that client machine.  This provides
the user with access to those same files and directories, even when
physically disconnected from the server, and allows them to read, update
or delete the existing files and directories, or even to create new
ones.

The user can remain disconnected from the server for any length of time
and, when reconnected, Mobile File Synch detects any conflict between
the client and server files and automatically duplicates to the server
any tasks performed at the client.  Likewise, the client user is
notified of any changes made on the server and is given the option to
have the client files updated to reflect those changes.  This ensures
that users are always working with the most current data.

AskPSP is an on-line system tool used to address technical issues with
OS/2 Warp, Warp Connect, Warp Server and LAN Server.  Now that AskPSP is
a part of Warp Server, mobile OS/2 clients can get technical support on
the road simply by accessing AskPSP when they remotely log onto the
server.  This eliminates the task of tracking down a technical support
person and provides users with their own personal help desk, no matter
where they are.

With AskPSP, the user can choose among several databases, called
"casebases," to quickly find solutions to common technical problems.
The casebases are created directly from calls coming into IBM technical
support centers, so they are always up-to-date.  <P>

The addition of AskPSP to OS/2 Warp Server will also allow system
administrators to quickly and easily obtain answers to questions
concerning their OS/2 clients.  For example, if an OS/2 client is having
trouble printing, the system administrator would simply access the
AskPSP program and type in the nature of the problem in plain English.
AskPSP picks up the descriptors (key words) in the request, performs a
search and comes up with a set of answers ranked in order of
appropriateness.  If necessary, the program will also ask a series of
questions to further narrow down the list of possible solutions to the
problem.


OS/2 Warp Server is IBM's business server solution for customers ranging
from small businesses to large enterprises.  It provides an integrated
platform for the growing application server environment as well as a
complete set of traditional file and print services by combining the
battle-tested OS/2 Warp and LAN Server with a wealth of functional
enhancements in systems management, backup, remote access and advanced
print function.  OS/2 Warp Server has been distributed to 40,000 beta
sites and is scheduled to ship this quarter.

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6.              OS/2 WARP SERVER UPGRADE PROTECTION

Upgrade Protection on existing LAN Server 3.0 and 4.0 systems
can protect LAN software investments.  With it, customers pay less money
for OS/2 Warp Server. To gain the protection for the first release of
OS/2 Warp Server, customers need to buy it before February 26, 1996.
After that, this insurance only reduces the cost of subsequent OS/2 Warp
Server releases.

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7.                  LEAP ABOARD VOYAGER WITH ATHENA

Everyone that buys the DeScribe Voyager CD package during the month of
February 1996 ("Leap Year") will be entitled to a free, full function
copy of the Mesa Spreadsheet v2.D.0 for OS/2 from Athena Design, Inc.
This version of Athena Design's spreadsheet is a modification of version
2.0.4 with cut and paste as well as DeScribe/Athena DDE enhancements.
The offer does not include printed documentation for Athena software,
however, they included extensive online help. You can buy the printed
documentation.

DeScribe's Voyager sells for less than $50. The DeScribe Voyager Leap
Year promotion adds significant value for OS/2 aficionados.  Leap on
this opportunity today]

New Voyager CD Customers:
In order to be eligible for this promotion the following conditions must
be met:

1. The customer must have purchased a new Voyager CD through a bookstore
or retail computer reseller.  No other DeScribe products are eligible.

2. The purchaser must submit proof of purchase of the Voyager Package
either from a bookstore as the DeScribe User's Guide ISBN 1-56529-885-3
or a proof of purchase from one of DeScribe's computer resellers.  The
proof of purchase must be dated within the period from February 1, 1996
through February 29, 1996.

3. The original Voyager CD with proof of purchase must be mailed or
shipped to DeScribe no later than March 5, 1996.

The latest version of the Voyager and the Athena Spreadsheet CD will be
forwarded via US Mail at no charge for US destinations or, for an
additional $10, to all non-US destinations including Canada.

There is no free support for either the Voyager CD version of DeScribe
or the Athena Spreadsheet.  Contact DeScribe via Compuserve at GO
DESCRIBE or [e-mail] for further support plans.

Current DeScribe 5 and Athena Customer Add-on:

DeScribe 5 customers and all Athena/Mesa customers who purchased
products prior to February 1, 1996 may purchase the latest single user
version of DeScribe 5 on a Voyager CD together with the single user
Athena Spreadsheet on CD for $39.  No hard copy documentation is
included.  Shipping via US Mail is included for US orders.  All other
non-US orders including Canada are $10 extra.

Add-on orders may be placed by mailing a copy or faxing the inside front
page of the DeScribe 5 User's Guide or the User Guide for Athena/Mesa 2
to DeScribe at the address listed below.  Include serial#, all shipping
data and credit card information including expiration date and billing
address of credit card if different than ship to address.  Please
include a phone or FAX number.  All Add-on orders must be postmarked or
received via FAX no later than February 29, 1996.

All above offers expire on February 29,1996.

FAX:  [phone]
Address:
DeScribe, Inc.
4820 Bayshore Dr.
Naples, FL.  33962

Payment can only be by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or a check
drawn on a US Bank. Shipment will commence the first week of March.
Checks and credit cards are processed when received.

Please visit DeScribe's Web site for more information
http://www.describe.com. CIS users can also check on the DeScribe Forum
at GO DESCRIBE.

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8.      PLANNED FUNCTIONS FOR UPCOMING RELEASES OF OS/2 WARP

John W. Thompson in the recently held PSP teleseminar spoke briefly
about the OS/2 Warp Server and the next release of the OS/2 Warp client.

On the server, he said,"... OS/2 Warp Server will be the first thing
that you will see this year." It is based on the OS/2 Warp Connect base
product shipped in 1995. It will include integrated file and print
services, advanced printer functionality, enhanced and integrated system
management capability, stronger backup and recovery functionality as
well as "much, much stronger remote access".  OS/2 Warp Server will be
"Internet-ready", which will allow it to be used as a Web server.
The principal focus of this offering is to reduce the cost of
implementation of server-based technologies.

The client product is also built on the Warp Connect base. This product
will feature an enhanced user interface that allows users to easily see
what is currently active in their systems at any given point in time.
Some other important features will be:
 .expanded plug-and-play capability
 .the capability to run extended edutainment type products
 .integrated Web Explorer capability
 .the Open Doc run-time
 .the Developer API Extensions run-time that aides developers in
  building multi-platform applications
 .improved installation and ease of use
It will also be a platform that facilitates writing expanded security
capability for OS/2.

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9.                            WARP'D HUMOR

The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by
physicists at Whatsamata U. The element, tentatively named
Administratium, has no protons or electrons and thus has an atomic
number of 0. However, it does have 1 neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, 75
vice-neutrons, and 111 assistant vice-neutrons.  This gives it an atomic
mass number of 312.  These 312 particles are held together in the
nucleus by meson-like particles called memos.  Since it has no
electrons, Administratium is inert.  However, it can be detected
chemically as it impedes every reaction it comes in contact with.

According to the discoverers, a minute amount of Administratium causes
one reaction to take 4 days to complete when it would normally take 1
second.  Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately 3 years,
at which time it does not actively decay, but instead undergoes a
reorganization in which assistant neutrons, vice-neutrons, and assistant
vice-neutrons exchange places.  Some studies have shown that atomic mass
number actually increases after reorganization.

Research at other laboratories indicates that Administratium occurs
naturally in the atmosphere.  It tends to condense and concentrate at
certain points such as government agencies and universities, and can
usually be found in the newest, best-appointed and best maintained
buildings.

Scientists point out that Administratium is known to be toxic at any
level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reaction
where it is allowed to accumulate.  Attempts are being made to determine
how Administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage.
Results to date are not promising.

Dr. William Skiba.