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Silicon Times Report Issue 1242
Silicon Times Report
The Original Independent OnLine Magazine"
(Since 1987)
October 18, 1996 No.1242
Silicon Times Report International OnLine Magazine
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10/18/96 STR 1242 The Original Independent OnLine Magazine!
- CPU Industry Report - Corel Draw 7 - WinFax 7.5
- USR 512kbd ISDN - USR x2 57.6bps - Dream 3D
- Mac Spkr Fone Ships - Cisco buys NetSys - Java Office
- Win95 T2K Ships! - People Talking - Dana's Tidbits
POLITICS HOT ONLINE
SONY FILES RICO SUITS
APPLE POSTS SURPRISING RESULTS
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Florida Lotto - LottoMan v1.35
Results: 10/12/96: 1 of 6 numbers, no matches
From the Editor's Desk...
So begins the procession of goodies. in this issue, you'll find some
astounding news about modems and superfast devices from US Robotics. You'll
also discover a great deal about the new Corel Draw 7 and the new WinFax 7.5
that faxes conventionally and on the `Net. This is just the tip of the
Iceberg. there is so much more to come both hardware and software it'll keep
us busy right through the New Year.
At times like this. when we, as a nation and a civilization, are about
to embark upon a journey into the next century, what do we find? A
Presidential Election Campaign that make the Watergate and Teapot Dome
affairs look like child's play. Clinton cannot escape his own tracks and
Dole is busy trying to bury him in those tracks. Its amazing how Dole and
Kemp cannot seen to address the issues with any detailed illustration but
they can find all the time in the world to sensationalize in their vain
attempts at garnering badly needed votes. Clinton may not be perfect but
then, who is? At least he's brought this nation closer to balanced budget
than any other administration. In fact, its almost halfway there. Imagine,
if you will where it will be in another four years. I doubt we'll see it
anywhere near where it should be Dole (the KING of MuckRaking) gets in
office. Please, take a look at your disposable income and compare it to
when Ronnie or Georgie were in office. you have more to spend today. Why?
Because the Nation's wealth is where it should be. in circulation not in
some fatcat corporation's stash.
The nation's schools and health care are well on the way to being the
best this nation has seen in at least three decades. Dole wanted to
eradicate Medicaid and the Department of Education. You think we have
homelessness now? Dole will show you exactly what homeless really is.
He doesn't believe Tobacco is addictive. could not possibly be because the
tobacco interests contributed heavily to his campaign fund.. Could it? I
firmly believe we need to see Clinton's goals through with him. If anybody
can withstand it Clinton can. Clinton has shown he is more than capable.
He has withstood every vicious onslaught the Republicans and arch-
Conservatives have attempted to do him in with. From sliming his daughter's
education to his wife's support.. they've tried it all and failed. Get the
picture?? Not even "tough old Bird" Lyndon Johnson was able to withstand
the broadsides like Clinton has. Amazing how Clinton is standing tall
through it all. That debate the other night was his best yet. Dole looked
sad. generated little or no charisma and certainly lacked an aura of self
confidence. Please get out and vote. It could be your vote that makes the
difference.
Ralph.....
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Ralph F. Mariano, Publisher - Editor
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PC Section Mac Section Beginner's Section
R.F. Mariano J. Deegan Lloyd E. Pulley
Gaming & Entertainment Kid's Computing Corner
Dana P. Jacobson Frank Sereno
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Doyle Helms John Duckworth Jeff Coe
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Jay Levy Jeff Kovach Marty Mankins
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STReport Headline News
LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Clinton Offers Three-Step Net Plan
A three-pronged strategy to make Internet access universal has been unveiled
by President Bill Clinton during a re-election campaign swing through
Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio.
As reported earlier, the initiative is part of a five-year, $500 million
program to install more advanced Internet access. Reporting from the
Knoxville, Tennessee, campaign stop, Steve Holland of the Reuter News
Service says the three steps of Clinton's new Net plan include:
ú Urging the Federal Communications Commission to approve at a Nov. 8
meeting a proposal that schools and libraries be given basic Internet
services free. Telecommunications companies would pay for this by putting
money into a fund, much as they currently subsidize poor and rural phone
users, Reuters said.
ú Persuading industry leaders to help raise money to match government
technology-literacy grants to buy computers for schools and ensure that
teachers are properly trained.
ú Launching a $100 million Internet upgrade project to "help develop a
new generation of the information superhighway that would be 100 to 1,000
times faster than the existing computer system that is rapidly reaching
capacity," the wire service said.
The president told his Democratic supporters in Knoxville, "Let us reach for
a goal in the 21st Century of every home connected to the Internet and let
us be brought closer together as a community through that connection,"
adding he wants to see the day "when computers are as much a part of
classrooms as blackboards." In his first major technology speech on the
stump, Clinton added, "Like any other piece of critical infrastructure, it
has to be repaired and upgraded to meet all of our education, medical and
national security needs. It is now time to invest in the next generation of
Internet."
Reuters quotes Greg Simon, technology adviser to Vice President Al Gore, as
saying the initial $100 million of the project would be included in the
budget for the 1998 fiscal year and would be paid for with $70 million from
the defense budget and $30 million from domestic discretionary funding.
Clinton said the improvements envisioned would enable the Internet to
transmit the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica in less than a second, allow
the Defense Department to send intelligence to troops anywhere in the world
and let doctors scan patients for cancer by tapping into supercomputers.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones news service notes the president seemed to want the
new initiative dubbed "Internet II," telling the partisan crowd, "America
must have an Internet that keeps pace with our future. So let's give America
Internet II, the next-generation Internet." He added, "I know it is hard to
imagine that the Internet is getting too old... but believe it or not
everything ages and the internet is straining under its growing popularity.
Like any other piece of critical infrastructure, it has to be repaired and
upgraded to meet all our education, medical and national security needs."
Law Outlaws Online Mischief
A bill outlawing various forms of computer mischief and increasing penalties
on repeat offenders has been signed into law by President Clinton.
Reporting from Washington, the Reuter News Service says the new National
Information Infrastructure Protection Act:
ú Creates federal penalties for theft of computer information across
state lines.
ú Outlaws the transmission of threats against computer networks across
state or international boundaries.
ú Makes it a felony to trespass in a computer system and use computer
time worth more than $5,000.
Reuter's Aaron Pressman quotes Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), a sponsor of the
measure, as saying, "This law is very good news for American businesses and
our national security. It brings the law up to speed with technology." He
introduced the measure along with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Sen.
Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). As reported, online vandals recently have broken
into government Internet sites, replacing official data with protests
against the Communications Decency Act. Last month, the Central Intelligence
Agency's World Wide Web page was defaced and renamed the "Central Stupidity
Agency" home page.
Judge Restrains Net Threats
A temporary restraining order has been issued against a man accused of using
the Internet to harass and threaten a Texas couple. Writing in The Wall
Street Journal this morning, reporter Jared Sandberg says the case is seen
as "underscoring the coming clash between First Amendment protections of
online communication and the need to prohibit electronic 'stalking.'"
Computer consultant Kevin Massey has been ordered by Judge Joe B. Brown in
the district of Dallas County, Texas, to stop posting messages about Robert
and Teresa Maynard, who operate the Dallas-based Internet America Inc.
access service.
The paper says the order directs Massey to stop posting any messages
alleging vulgar and obscene conduct by the Maynards and "embarrassing
private information" about them. "The judge's order comes at a time when
broad First Amendment protections have been afforded to the Internet by
three federal judges in Philadelphia," Sandberg notes. "But it also comes
when states have taken measures to prohibit comments that go too far and
enter the realm of threat." As reported earlier, some states have broadened
their efforts to prohibit harassment or stalking to include statements that
don't constitute an immediate physical threat.
For instance, last June, Connecticut passed a bill that makes it a crime for
sending an online message "with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another
person." Legal experts tell the Journal they worry that the Texas judge may
have gone too far. Ann Beeson, staff counsel for the American Civil
Liberties Union, told Sandberg, "If the judge went much broader in the legal
definition of harassment in his order, then he has violated this person's
First Amendment rights," adding not all "vulgar or embarrassing" statements
constitute libel or stalking.
This particular dispute began last month when Maynard said he began to see
messages from Massey suggesting that Maynard's wife slept with company
employees and had cosmetic surgery. Mrs. Maynard asked Massey to stop making
vulgar statements. However, says the Journal, "when the Maynards saw a tag
line on Mr. Massey's messages, they decided to take action. It read: 'Lord,
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change ... and the
wisdom to hide the bodies of the people I had to kill ...'"
Maynard told the paper, "This is now turning into a stalking case." He added
he spent $20,000 on security measures and to investigate the incident.
Massey, 30, denies he ever stalked the Maynards or threatened them. He said
that he was frustrated with Internet America's lack of service but that the
rewritten prayer in his messages wasn't intended as a threat. Reporting
from Dallas, Associated Press writer Melissa Williams says Judge Brown's
order also prohibits Massey from coming within 500 yards of Robert and
Teresa Maynard's home or business. Williams said Massey was never served
with the order in person and that as of last night, he still had not been
served.
Massey told AP he was left with "a bad taste in my mouth" after trying to
reach the company to price its services. Then he said, he made the postings
about Mrs. Maynard, but said he "wholeheartedly, 100 percent" disputes that
there was anything threatening about the messages. He claims he was just
responding to others online with the same kind of sarcastic language that is
used on the Internet all the time.
Meanwhile, legal counsel David Sobel of the Washington-based Electronic
Privacy Information Center, told AP the case is ironic because Internet
service providers -- such as the Maynards -- have been the ones leading the
fight against efforts to regulate content. Said Sobel, "If you establish
the legal precedent that certain content can be restrained, in most cases
those orders are going to be directed against the Internet service provider.
This opens the door to holding ISPs liable for information that's
transmitted through them -- which would put a pretty big burden on them of
policing everything that goes through their system."
Poll Finds Politics Hot Online
Nearly a third of those logging on the Internet's World Wide Web these days
are using it to get political information, says a new poll by Louis Harris
and Associates. According to United Press International, the survey of
1,005 adults nationwide found that 14 percent of the people surveyed have
used the World Wide Web, up from 7 percent a year ago. That translates into
21.5 million Americans. Of that group, says the pollsters, 28 percent -- or
the equivalent of 8 million people -- said they use the Web to get
information about politics.
"The progress of the presidential campaign is apparently boosting usage,"
UPI comments. "Users said they sought out political information five times
last month, compared to once in August." However, Harris officials found
the Web is not considered the pre-eminent source of political news. Instead,
half those questioned said TV is the most important source, followed by
radio with 21 percent, newspapers with 15 percent and the Web with 8
percent.
Other findings in the poll -- which was conducted Sept. 26-30 and has a
margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points -- were:
ú Web users are voters, with 69 percent of those who use it and 76
percent who use it for politics likely to vote in next month's general
election.
ú There were more Republicans (36 percent) and Independents (30 percent)
than Democrats (28 percent) among the Web users group.
ú Americans ages 18 to 49 are more likely to use the Web than those 50
years or older.
ú The more educated an American, the more likely he or she will use the
Web for political reasons.
ú Men appear to use the web politically slightly more than women.
Netscape, Others Form Media Pact
A proposed open standard governing delivery of real-time multimedia
information over the Internet is being advanced by Netscape Communications
Corp., RealAudio producer Progressive Networks Inc. and 40 other companies.
Microsoft Corp. is conspicuously absent from the group of backers, which
includes such industry giants such as Apple Computer Inc., Autodesk Inc.'s
Kinetix unit, Cisco Systems Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM, Silicon Graphics
Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Macromedia Inc.
The Reuter News Service says the new standard -- known as the Real Time
Streaming Protocol, or RTSP -- is a communications protocol for control and
delivery of real-time media. "Its backers compare development of the
standard to similar standards efforts in other broadcast media such as FM,
or Frequency Modulation, in radio and the NTSC, or National Television
Standards Committee, which is the U.S. and Canadian television industry
standard broadcast quality video," Reuters adds.
The wire service says widespread support for this unified standard "is
considered crucial to ensure interoperability and give software developers
more flexibility in developing multimedia programs." Editor Jerry Michalski
of the Release 1.0 industry newsletter told the wire service, "Until now,
each vendor of Internet multimedia systems had a different approach, which
has led to confusion. This, combined with the impressive group of industry-
leading companies that support RTSP, should catalyze streaming media
development on the Web."
Reuters says RTSP, which evolved from work done at Progressive Networks and
Netscape, incorporates aspects of the International Telecommunications
Unions H.323 videoconferencing standard and is designed to minimize the
amount of data necessary to produce high quality sound and pictures over the
Internet. "The standard anticipates the convergence of telephones,
videoconferencing and multimedia broadcasting over the Internet," the wire
service added. About Microsoft? It has not commented on whether it plans to
support the industry standards-setting effort.
Firms Seek to Curb Web Abuse
On the heels of a survey that suggests employees from IBM, Apple and AT&T
together spent the equivalent of 1,631 eight-hour days visiting the
Penthouse World Wide Web site in one month, companies are taking steps to
restrict office Net surfing. In San Francisco, United Press International
quotes officials with Nielsen Media Research as finding corporate America is
cracking down on employees caught spending too much time on Web sites
unrelated to work.
As reported earlier, more than a dozen Compaq Computer Corp. workers in
Houston were fired after registering more than 1,000 visits each on sex
sites from work, and, says UPI, Microsoft Corp. denies temporary workers
access to the Web. But a Nielsen spokesman says that, while the Internet
can take time from work, restricting employee access to the Web may be
hasty. Jack Loftus says companies are finding the Internet and e-mail
beneficial, and abuse by the minority should not result in decreased access.
He added, "The more employees use the Web, the more they can use it for
business applications. There will always be a segment who use it for
entertainment while they're working -- in that sense it is like the
telephone -- but the business application is great with opportunity."
The alternative, said Loftus, is to turn the computer off, which could be
disastrous. And the amount of time people spend at Web sites can also be
misleading, he said. People can stay at a site for hours while never looking
at the page. Loftus told the wire service, "You cannot automatically jump
to conclusions. If the purpose is to make a case against having access to
the Internet for business use then you end up shooting yourself in the
foot."
'Euthanasia' Kit Coming to Net
And you thought online porn was controversial? An Australian doctor says he
plans to bring to the Internet computer software and an instruction kit for
building "the death machine" he used in the world's first legal mercy
killing. In Melbourne, Dr. Philip Nitschke -- who last month connected
cancer sufferer Bob Dent to the machine in Australia's outback Northern
Territory -- has told reporter Mark Bendeich of the Reuter News Service that
Internet users will be able to copy the software and instructions from a
home page now being developed, adding, "We see no reason in restricting it
in any way."
Reuters notes Nitschke is to display the machine at an euthanasia conference
this week in Melbourne. Says the wire service, "The death machine used in
the Northern Territory, which has the world's only voluntary euthanasia
law, enables people to give themselves lethal injections with the tap of
computer keys." Last Sept. 22, Nitschke hooked the machine by an
intravenous tube to Dent, a 66-year-old former carpenter and one-time
Christian missionary, who then started the flow of lethal drugs by entering
three computer commands.
Nitschke commented, "Once the intravenous line is put into the patient...
then it's a simple matter of the patient pressing the response to the
questions on the screen." The computer program asks three times if the
patient wishes to go ahead, he said. The doctor said the idea of an
euthanasia home page on the Internet's World Wide Web was a response to
strong interest in Dent's death and the new law (though he said he was
having some logistical problems getting the page up and running).
"It's to let people know and give them some idea of the way this is being
done in a responsible fashion in the Northern Territory," he said, adding he
already has sent how-to-do-it kits overseas and around Australia using
electronic mail. Nitschke dismisses suggestions he could face criminal
charges if a machine built from material supplied on the Internet was used
in mercy killings outside the remote outback jurisdiction. Said the doctor,
"I feel very safe as far as giving the details of the equipment and as far
as providing the software and the like," adding the software is a "trivial"
part of the device.
Intel Has Rosy Third Quarter
Intel Corp. says its third quarter was a record setter, surprising Wall
Street analysts and the company itself. The chip maker reports that third
quarter revenue and earnings per share set new records, rising 23 percent
to $5.14 billion and 41 percent to $1.48 from the year earlier period,
respectively. The quarter marks the first time in the company's history
that quarterly revenue surpassed $5 billion.
"We are delighted with the excellent acceptance of Pentium and Pentium Pro
processor-based PCs and servers, which has produced a stronger third quarter
than we had originally expected," says Andrew S. Grove, Intel's president
and CEO. Revenue for the first nine months of 1996 rose 24 percent to
$14.41 billion from $11.62 billion a year ago, and net income grew 20
percent to $3.25 billion from $2.70 billion. Earnings per share in the first
nine months increased 20 percent to $3.67 from $3.06.
Apple Posts Surprising Results
Apple Computer Inc. has posted unexpectedly upbeat fourth fiscal quarter
financial results. After three consecutive losing quarters, the computer
maker returned to profitability in the period ended Sept. 27. Net income
for the fourth quarter was $25 million, or $0.20 per share, compared with
$60 million, or $0.48 a share, in the same period last year.
The profit included a special gain -- resulting from fewer layoffs than
expected -- but even without it, the company would have earned $8 million.
Apple's revenues were $2.321 billion, a decrease of $682 million from the
fourth quarter a year ago, but an increase of $142 million from the third
fiscal quarter. For the company's fiscal year, revenues were $9.833
billion, an 11 percent decrease from the prior year. The net loss for the
year was $816 million, or a loss of $6.59 per share, compared with net
income of $424 million or $3.45 per share in fiscal 1995.
Five Days at Computer = $7.5 Mil.
An Australian says he spent only five days writing a program that now has
earned about $7.5 million, sold primarily through the Internet. The program
is Hot Dog, which simplifies the process of putting information on the World
Wide Web. It is distributed through the World Wide Web site of Sausage
Software (http://www.sausage.com). Company founder/programmer Steve
Outtrim, 23, has told the Dominion Daily in Wellington he wrote Hot Dog
while unemployed last year and now has sold 100,000 copies. In fact,
according to the French Agence France-Press International News Service, Hot
Dog is said to be currently the third-most frequently downloaded software
application on the Web. Outtrim, a management student, now has seen shares
in Sausage Software listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Outtrim floated
20 percent of the shares of the company, holding on to the rest.
Sun Unveils JavaChip Technology
Sun Microsystems Inc. has revealed details surrounding its JavaChip
technology, which will be used to power Internet- connected smart phones,
Net computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and set-top boxes
beginning in the second half of 1997. Sun says its JavaChip picoJava I
microprocessor core is a highly efficient Java execution unit design that is
expected to deliver up to 20-times the Java performance of X86 and other
general-purpose processor architectures, as well as up to five times the
performance obtained by just-in-time (JIT) compilers.
LG Semiconductor, Mitsubishi Electronics, NEC, Samsung and Sun have all
previously expressed their intent to build products with the picoJava I
technology, says Sun. "The proliferation of Java technology has created a
demand for hardware platforms optimized for network-centric applications,"
says Chet Silvestri, president of Sun Microelectronics. "Our picoJava I
processor core will optimize Java performance and deliver the industry's
smallest system footprint -- critical for go-anywhere Internet appliances in
communications, enterprise and consumer applications."
Kit Includes 12X CD-ROM Drive
Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. has expanded its multimedia upgrade line to
include a kit with a 12-speed CD- ROM drive. "Diamond is one of the first
companies to introduce a twelve-speed kit," says Paul Nahi, director of
product marketing for Diamond Multimedia. "Users can greatly benefit from
the increased throughput of the 12X Multimedia Kit to perform common tasks
such as installing software and running applications from disc. In addition
to the 12-speed CD-ROM drive, the $399 kit includes a Windows 95 Plug- and-
Play wavetable sound card, nine software titles and amplified stereo
speakers.
Toshiba Launches Slimmer Drive
A new super-slim CD-ROM drive for notebook computers that is said to bring
performance into line with desktops has been launched in Tokyo by Toshiba
Corp, which also has unveiled two other CD-ROM drives for desktop computers.
According to the Reuter News Service, the super-slim drive, with an average
10-times rotational speed, is 0.5 inch thick and can read an average of
1,500 kilobytes of data a second while using little electric power.
Toshiba said the compact, high-speed drive brings to portable computers a
level of CD-ROM performance previously limited to desktop personal
computers. The two other new drives are 1.6 inches thick, offering a
maximum 12-times rotational speed and a data transfer rate of 1,800
kilobytes per second, providing desktop computers with increased levels of
performance, Toshiba said. Toshiba has started selling the new drives in
Japan and the United States.
Microsoft Offers Publisher Trial
Microsoft Corp. is offering a free 60-day trial version of its Microsoft
Publisher 97 desktop publishing program to home office and small business
users. The software giant says the trial edition is designed to show
potential buyers how they can create professional-looking newsletters,
brochures, business cards, fliers and Web sites economically.
The Microsoft Publisher 97 trial version can be obtained by calling
Microsoft at 800-426-9400 or by downloading the software from the Microsoft
Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/publisher/. Microsoft also says it's
donating one copy of Microsoft Publisher 97 to each of the 950 Small
Business Development Centers (SBDCs) around the country. SBDCs provide free
counseling, training and resources to more than a half-million small
businesses each year. Microsoft Publisher 97, priced at $79.95, is
available on 3.5-inch diskettes or a CD-ROM.
Fast Mac Modem-Speakerphone Ships
Global Village Communication Inc. has introduced Teleport Speakerphone
Edition, the first 33.6K bps Macintosh modem that doubles as a standalone
speakerphone. The Sunnyvale, California, company notes that the $269 unit
continues to work as a speakerphone, even after the computer has been turned
off. Microphone mute, speaker volume and answer/hang-up buttons are
available on the product's exterior case. The device also comes with Global
Village-developed telephone and fax software.
"If you think about how people expect a speakerphone to work, they would
expect to be able to answer the phone whether the computer is on or off,"
says Charlie Oppenheimer, vice president and general manager of Global
Village's communication systems division. "The TelePort Speakerphone Edition
gives customers the highest possible modem speed with high-quality
speakerphone features to make this product a tool people can easily use and
appreciate."
EFF to Launch Privacy System
Working with CommerceNet, online civil liberties group the Electronic
Frontier Foundation plans early next year to launch a service to protect the
privacy of Internet surfers. Reporting from San Francisco, the Reuter News
Service says, "Aiming to ease consumer concerns about Web sites collecting
their names and other vital information and marketing it, the two groups set
up a system to discourage commercial firms from tracking someone's online
travels."
The system involves a "voluntary accredidating system" for businesses with
commercial Web sites, under which accredited companies would disclose on
their Web site how much of a visitor's information is being collected.
"Currently," notes Reuters, "people surfing the Net with even casual visits
to different sites are leaving an electronic trail of their visits, often
including many details beyond their name." EFF has been working on the
privacy system, dubbed eTRUST, for months, with plans to commercialize it in
early 1997.
Canon Ships Digital Camera
Canon Computer Systems Inc. has started shipping its first "point-and-shoot"
digital camera. The $949 PowerShot 600 features the look and feel of a
traditional camera while offering an 832- by 608-dot digital resolution. The
camera's 570,000-dot CCD sensor produces a 24-bit image in up to 16.7
million colors. The PowerShot 600 ships with 1MB of internal memory to
store up to 18 images. The camera can also store up to 72 images with an
optional 4MB flash memory PCMCIA card. Additionally, an optional 170MB hard
disk drive PCMCIA card makes it possible for users to store up to 900 high-
resolution images and more than 3,000 compressed images. Canon, based in
Cost Mesa, California, says the PowerShot 600 is the only digital camera
priced under $1,000 that allows users to attach voice recordings or comments
to images as sound files.
Intuit Updates Quicken Software
Intuit Inc. is offering new versions of its Quicken and Quicken Deluxe
personal finance management programs for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95
computers. The Mountain View, California, company says the updated programs
feature a streamlined interface and new technologies that significantly
improve the day-to-day user experience. Among the new features are enhanced
audio and video support and improved Internet connectivity.
"Our absolute priority this year was to knock down the barriers that people
encounter when using personal finance software for the first time," says
Scott Cook, Intuit's chairman and co-founder. "This new design keeps the
best of what our customers know and love about Quicken but makes accessing
Quicken's features dramatically faster and more efficient. This is without a
doubt the easiest Quicken ever." Quicken and Quicken Deluxe are priced at
$29.95 and $59.95, respectively. Upgraders are eligible for a rebate ($10
for Quicken, $20 for Quicken Deluxe).
U.S. Robotics Offers New Modem
A new superfast modem intended to allow users to get online at speeds nearly
double those currently available over regular phone lines has been unveiled
by market leader U.S. Robotics. Reporting from Skokie, Illinois, United
Press International says the firm's new x2 technology boosts the top speed
of a standard modem to 56 kilobytes per second from the current standard of
28.8 or 33.6 Kbps, adding field trials of the new equipment begin next
month. Steve Tabaska, executive director, MCI data services engineering,
told the wire service, "As the Internet continues to evolve from a novelty
into an important business tool, customers are demanding faster and more
reliable service."
And U.S. Robotics Chairman Casey Cowell predicted x2 technology will have a
widespread impact because most Internet access continues to take place over
regular telephone lines. "The x2 uses an asymmetrical technology," says
UPI, "and takes advantage of a special network configuration commonly
encountered when an analog subscriber connects to a digital network. Data,
especially images, can be transmitted over less bandwidth than current
modems require." The company added that since the technology is software-
based, consumers will be able to upgrade their current U.S. Robotics
equipment without having to invest in new hardware. "Initially, at least,
U.S. Robotics said the technology will not be applicable to modems
manufactured by other companies," UPI added.
Sony Enters Data Backup Market
Sony Electronics is moving into the PC data backup market with the
StorStation, its first-ever tape drive system. Developed in association
with Iomega Corp., the StorStation is a 1GB native, 2GB compressed tape
drive for home and small office users. The system offers 10MB per minute
backup performance via Travan-1 and QIC-WIDE technology. The unit will be
bundled with a tape cartridge, backup software and CompuServe Sprynet
software with the Netscape Navigator Web browser.
"Our marketing research has shown that while a majority of PC users have
experienced a data loss due to a hard drive crash only a minority backup
regularly," says Bob Striano, senior vice president of sales and marketing
for Sony Electronics' recording media and energy group. "PC users' average
hard drive capacities have increased. What these customers need is a high
capacity, easy-to-use and affordable backup solution to prevent data loss.
With 2GB of capacity, 'one step' backup software and a suggested retail
price below $200, the StorStation fulfills these PC users' needs."
Microsoft Overhauls Network
A radical overhaul of Microsoft Network switches to using TV-like
programming among its new features to attempt to attract
viewers/users/surfers. Writing in The Wall Street Journal this morning,
reporter Don Clark notes, "The long-awaited makeover of the Microsoft
Network, based on World Wide Web technology, includes special software to
make it easier to navigate through MSN's original information content. It
also offers six content 'channels' and 20 so-called shows that are
structured like TV fare and designed to present new material to consumers,
rather than waiting for them to explore on their own."
MSN Vice President Laura Jennings told the paper, the changes reflect
Microsoft's new effort to transform the Web into a true mass medium from
only about 10 million regular users today. She said Microsoft will spend
$100 million on promotion in the next 12 months, and has no plans to make
money for three years. Clark said the strategy "adds a potent weapon to the
arsenal Microsoft has aimed at Netscape Communications Corp. and other
Internet competitors."
The Journal adds, "Most of the most compelling new features of MSN, such as
animation and news feeds, unlike typical Web material only will be available
to PC users running Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.0 browser and its
Windows 95 operating system. Both are pivotal products in Microsoft's
attempts to set Internet standards." This prompted analyst Tim Bajarin of
Creative Strategies Inc. in San Jose, California, to comment, "It's the
hooks to move everybody to their world."
Nonetheless, Clark sees "significant risk" in the move, because "Netscape
and most Web and online services are catering to the broader audience that
uses earlier versions of Windows or other operating systems."
Jennings and others said the browser and Windows 95 were essential to create
cutting-edge content. The new MSN pricing includes a $19.95 package for
unlimited monthly Internet access as well as the service's content.
Information access alone costs $6.95 for people who use another Internet
service.
As reported, MSN was launched along with the Windows 95 operating system in
August 1995 and became the third-largest online service with 1.6 million
subscribers. "But," as Clark observed, "just four months after launch,
Microsoft junked its original format as part of a companywide shift toward
the Internet. MSN originally used proprietary technology and was open to any
entrepreneur who wanted to contribute content and services. But that
approach couldn't hope to match the endless variety of the Internet,
executives concluded. So the company reversed course and said it would
create a Web-based service that was based on content it developed or
selected."
Prodigy Reinvents Itself on Web
Starting next week, the struggling Prodigy online computer service will
remake itself as an Internet service provider on the World Wide Web.
Reporting from Prodigy's White Plains, New York, headquarters, The
Associated Press says users will reach Prodigy's services directly through
the Web and that the company will charge $19.95 a month for unlimited use of
its new service, which will offer live chat, discussion groups and
electronic mail.
President Paul DeLacey told the wire service all the material currently
available on Prodigy will be accessible to Prodigy Internet subscribers by
the end of the year. Added Prodigy Chairman Gregory Carr, "As of today we
are a new animal. We are a value-added Internet service and no longer an
online service." Prodigy was the third-largest online service a year ago,
behind CompuServe and America Online, but growth has stagnated and now
observers say Prodigy, with a million subscribers, has fallen behind
newcomer Microsoft Network, which signed up 1.5 million subscribers in its
first year.
Last May, International Wireless Inc. bought Prodigy from co-owners IBM and
Sears for $250 million. Commenting in The Wall Street Journal this
morning, reporter Jared Sandberg noted, "Some industry watchers think
Prodigy's efforts may be too little, too late." He added, "As an
Internet-service provider, Prodigy is entering hostile terrain.
The market is extremely price competitive and is expected to rapidly
consolidate into a handful of huge service providers that have the financial
muscle and marketing might to wage a global battle for customers." Sandberg
quoted people close to the company as saying Prodigy plans to move onto the
Web with a new $100 million ad budget to be spent during the next year on
radio and print ads, though Carr declined to comment.
Cisco Buys Netsys Technologies
For $79 million in stock, Cisco Systems Inc. has agreed to buy closely held
Netsys Technologies in what observers say is an effort to acquire software
that helps technicians design complex computer networks. The Reuter News
Service reports Cisco, the world's biggest maker of computer networking
equipment, also is canceling plans to repurchase 16.8 million of its own
shares because of uncertainty over a recent interpretation of an accounting
rule by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Cisco officials told the wire service the company could be liable for more
taxes if the interpretation is applied to its practices. Netsys makes
software that simulates the operations of a computer network, enabling
technicians to build a model of a planned network on a computer to see how
well the network can handle the flow of computer information. Since
February 1995, Cisco has had a minority stake in Netsys, which has about 50
employees and now will becomes part of Cisco's central engineering unit.
Reuters notes that since 1993, Cisco, based in San Jose, Calif., has bought
14 networking and software companies "to plug holes in its product lines and
to acquire technology that makes it easier for customers to use its
networking devices."
Lotus Plans Rent-a-Site Software
Lotus Development Corp. says it will develop a family of collaborative Web
applications, called Domino SPA (Service Provider Applications), that will
allow users to rent their own Web site. According to the IBM Corp.
subsidiary, Domino SPA will allow users with little or no technical
expertise to create their own secure, interactive and collaborative Web site
by using a Web browser. Domino SPA will be hosted by Lotus Notes Public
Networks (LNPNs) and Internet service providers and rented by small and
medium size companies, home office users and consumers.
Lotus states that Domino SPA will allow users to create a Web site without
purchasing and installing a server, hiring a Webmaster and investing time to
create and manage Web content. "With these ready-to-use applications, users
in a matter of minutes can create a Web presence that ranges from an
interactive home page to a virtual private community that enables
collaboration among partners, customers and suppliers or even family and
friends," says a statement issued by the software publisher. Domino SPA is
slated to become available in early 1997, says Lotus. Pricing will be set
individually by the service providers.
Sony Files Property Rights Suit
In a move designed to protect intellectual property rights of its
PlayStation game console and software, Sony Interactive Entertainment has
filed several lawsuits against companies that allegedly are selling
counterfeit and grey market PlayStation games. In a coordinated litigation
effort, the firm has sued companies based in New York, Toronto, Miami and
Orange County, Calif. The suits were filed under the Racketeering Influenced
and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), as well as trademark and copyright
laws.
One of the suits charges that National Console Support and other companies
have marketed a device that enables counterfeit and grey market games to
operate on the PlayStation game console. Companion suits filed
simultaneously charge Super Collector and Video Games Plus with unlawfully
selling and distributing counterfeit games in the U.S. The companies are
accused of marketing and selling games via the Internet, e-mail and the U.S.
Mail.
"On behalf of the consumers that purchase the PlayStation and its games, we
will go to any length to protect the integrity of our products," says Riley
Russell, director of legal and business affairs for Sony Computer
Entertainment America. "We hope this suit sends a clear message that Sony
will not tolerate illegal actions as they relate to our products and that we
will vigorously prosecute all infringements to the greatest extent of the
law."
Sony Interactive Entertainment's actions take advantage of an amendment to
the RICO act recently signed into law by President Clinton. The reach of the
act was expanded to permit suits against organizations dealing in pirated
intellectual property, particularly counterfeit goods or goods bearing
counterfeit marks. The suits seek to impound infringing products in addition
to recovery of damages. "We believe that these actions may be the first of
their kind since the Congress amended the RICO act to include counterfeiting
as a predicate offense to protect intellectual property," says Joel Linzner,
an attorney with the Townsend and Townsend law firm in San Francisco.
USR DATABURST STR Focus U.S. Robotics continues to lead the way
U.S. ROBOTICS ANNOUNCES DATABURST ISDN 128K
External Terminal Adapter Provides Parallel Port Connectivity Over ISDN
& Enhanced Throughput With Turbo PPPT Feature Set
SKOKIE, Ill., -- September 1996 -- U.S. Robotics (NASDAQ: USRX) announced
the new DataBurst ISDN 128K, a desktop parallel port terminal adapter (TA)
providing a cost effective, high-performance solution for ISDN-only
connectivity. The product allows U.S. Robotics to provide a solution for
users who have applications that require a higher bandwidth of ISDN through
parallel port technology. The DataBurst lSDN 128K will be available in
October, 1996.
"The DataBurst gives users high speed access to the Internet and on-line
services," said Jennifer Schuster, product marketing manager for client
products, U.S. Robotics Network Systems Division. "It will provide
telecommuters and employees working from home direct access to the corporate
LAN, and enable the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) user with a single PC to
reap the advantages of ISDN bandwidth."
Advanced Parallel Port Performance
The DataBurst will enable users to reach the full potential of ISDN at 128
Kbps plus compression for higher transfer rates up to 512 Kbps. Parallel
port connectivity has no speed restrictions and with the multiple types of
compression available, it is possible to achieve a faster transfer rate.
This is in comparison to external serial port devices, which are limited to
115.2 Kbps.
TurboPPP: Enhanced Throughput
A key component of DataBurst is TurboPPP, a set of capabilities developed by
U.S. Robotics to maximize performance over ISDN. TurboPPP is a collection of
features designed to work with industry standards that gives users maximum
ISDN performance on every call no matter what device they're connecting to.
Multilink PPP
TurboPPP includes Multilink PPP, allowing two 64 Kbps B channels to be
aggregated for total uncompressed throughput up to 128 Kbps' achieving
faster transmission of graphics, large files and LAN-based data.
Compression
TurboPPP enhances the data transmission by supporting multiple forms of data
compression software for ISDN transmissions (including Stac, Microsoft,
Ascend). TurboPPP enables the DataBurst to adjust the compression type based
on the device on the other end of the call with potential throughput up to
512 Kbps. Other devices execute compression in hardware which is limited to
supporting a single type of compression.
Windows 95 Enhancements
The addition of TurboPPP to the DataBurst also opens up the potential of
ISDN to Windows 95 based applications that do not support Multilink PPP or
data compression. TurboPPP enhancements provide the benefits of Multilink
PPP and multiple compression types up to 512 Kbps, even when the application
supports only single link PPP (64 Kbps).
"For Internet access, Telecommuting, and remote applications requiring
higher-performance ISDN connectivity, DataBurst provides excellent
throughput, taking the best advantage of any available compression
standard," said Schuster. "As part of our full line of ISDN access
solutions, the DataBurst allows U.S. Robotics to put in place complete,
end-to-end solutions for the fastest access to information."
Additional Features: Integrated NT-1, Multiple Interfaces, Security
With the integrated NT- 1 version, the DataBurst provides a complete
solution for a direct connection to the ISDN wall jack, saving the space and
the cost of an external NT- 1. The product also supports Windows 95 Dial Up
Networking and Win ISDN interfaces for use with popular Internet, remote LAN
access and data communications software packages. Security features support
PAP and CHAP protocols through PPP.
Diagnostics & Logging Features
Features include D-Channel protocol monitoring, line diagnostics and call
logging for quick resolution of telephone service provider problems. The
protocol monitor translates network signaling messages for interpretation of
the interface to the public network. ISDN line diagnostics and self-tests
will determine if the Basic Rate Interface (BRI) line is configured
correctly. The call logging function enables users to view activity
histories and trace potential problems.
Availability
The DataBurst ISDN 128K will be available in two versions. Integrated NT-1
version, list priced at $279, provides a direct connection to the ISDN wall
jack. S/T version, list priced at $239, is designed for use with a
standalone NT-1 or PBX's that support S/T interfaces.
What is the DataBurst ISDN 128K?
The DataBurst ISDN 128K is a parallel port terminal adapter (TA) designed to
connect to an Integrated Digital Service Digital Network (ISDN) Basic Rate
Interface (BRI) access line. It is a passive device, in that, it uses the
processing power of the PC to communicate over end-to-end PPP or Multilink
PPP connections.
What is a BRI access line?
BRI stands for Basic Rate Interface. A BRI access line typically consists of
two B-Channels and one D Channel. The B-Channels are 64 Kbps and the
D-Channel is 16 Kbps. The B-Channels send or receive the data traffic while
the D-Channel is used for call control to setup or bring down a connection.
The DataBurst supports two B-Channels and one D-Channel.
Why is ISDN important?
ISDN is a digital technology that provides end-to-end digital service over
the public switched network. It works over the same twisted pairs that have
already been installed in offices or homes. Some of ISDN's main advantages
over the analog public switched telephone network (PSTN) are as follows:
ú ISDN is a totally digital network. The transmission is inherently more
accurate and reliable than analog.
ú The ISDN network is capable of increased transmission speeds, up to 64
Kbps per channel, 128 Kbps with Multilink PPP or higher with compression.
ú The increased accuracy, reliability and transmission speed translates
into increased bandwidth, fewer errors and faster connects and
disconnects of calls.
What are the key features of the DataBurst?
ú Integrated NT-I - no external device needed. Simplifies installation
and reduces cost of ownership.
ú Multi-Vendor Interoperability - supports a variety of ISDN standards
(V. I 10, V. 120, Asynchronous to Synchronous PPP, Multilink PPP,
multiple compression types).
ú TurboPPP - for high performance, including Multilink PPP and multiple
forms of compression.
ú Windows 95 Enhancements - opens ISDN to applications that do not
support Multilink PPP or compression, even when the application supports
only PPP (64K).
ú Multiple Interfaces - supports Windows 95 Dial up Networking and
WinlSDN interfaces.
ú GUI Interface - graphical interface that displays B and D-Channel
connections for easy configuration.
ú Security Features - supports PAP and CHAP protocols through PPP.
ú Diagnostics and Logging Features - for quick resolution of telephone
service provider problems.
ú Simple installation and configuration.
Why is an integrated NT-1 important?
The NT-1 allows the DataBurst to be connected directly to the U-interface
jack provided by the telephone company. It combines the S/T interface, the
NT-I, and a power supply for the NT-I into a single connection on the back
of the DataBurst. An external NT-I can cost up to $600 if purchased
separately. The integrated NT-1 interface saves money and simplifies
installation.
Does the DataBurst support PPP?
Yes. DataBurst will support PPP in the form of Asynchronous to Synchronous
PPP. The DataBurst converts the asynchronous data from the computer to
synchronous data so it can be sent across the TCP/IP network.
What is Turbo PPP?
TurboPPP consists of three major features designed by U.S. Robotics to
maximize performance over ISDN.
1.Multilink PPP - allows two 64 Kbps B-Channels to be aggregated for an
uncompressed throughput up to 128 Kbps.
2.Compression - supports multiple forms of compression (includes Stac,
Microsoft and Ascend) with a potential throughput up to 512 Kbps.
3.Windows 95 Enhancements - opens up the potential of ISDN to Windows 95
applications that do not support Multilink PPP or compression.
What is the main benefit of the DataBurst?
The main benefit of the DataBurst is pure, raw speed!
What are other benefits of using the DataBurst?
ú Allows users to connect a PC to a remote computer network using a
standard parallel port on a computer.
ú The remote network can be the Internet or, if the user is a
telecommuter, the office network.
ú If the user is connecting to the Internet. they will be able to utilize
all the features offered by the ISP. This includes browsing, uploading
and downloading files, electronic mail, World Wide Web sites and chat
rooms.
ú Permits the Windows 95 telecommuter access to the of rice network just
as if they were at work. This allows access to the office network for
file retrieval/storage and email over the LAN at work from the home site.
ú Allows the Windows 95 user to connect to a single, remote PC using
another DataBurst. This allows peerto-peer network programs for file
sharing between two PCs.
What types of users will benefit from using the DataBurst? Users who wish to
increase bandwidth for high-speed data transfer, remote access and Internet
browsing over ISDN with improved reliability and quicker setup times.
What are the key applications to target for the Databurst?
ú High-speed file transfer
ú Telecommuting
ú Remote LAN Access
ú Internet Access
What are the minimum requirements for the DataBurst?
First of all, you need an ISDN BRI phone line which is available through
the local telephone company. Secondly, your PC must be configured to meet
the following minimum system requirements:
- PC 486 CPU-based or higher
- Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 operating system
- DB-25 Parallel port Connector on PC
- 4 MB RAM (8 MB RAM for Windows 95)
Why use a parallel port instead of a more common serial port connection?
When a conventional serial port connection is made, data is transferred to a
PC one bit at a time. Once data reaches the serial port, it is stored in the
system's Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (WART) until it is
processed into the main memory. Common buffer capacity in a serial port's
UART is one or 16 bytes.
When a DataBurst-to-PC connection is made through the parallel port, data is
transferred eight bits at a time instead of one bit as in serial mode. This
results in increased performance because the parallel port uses eight data
pins while the serial port uses one. The parallel port has an internal
buffer size up to 64 bytes to store data compared to the one or 16 bytes in
a serial port's buffer.
What is the price of a DataBurst?
Description List Price Part Number
DataBurst ISDN 128K NT-I U Interface $279.00 001280-0
DataBurst ISDN 128K S/T Interface $239.00 001281-0
What support is available for the DataBurst?
(general Tech Support - 800-550-7800
I-Team - Offered through a new toll free number: 1-888-USR-ISDN.
I-Team: Complete ISDN Support
Since June 1995, U.S. Robotics has ensured complete interoperability with
the I-Team for ISDN support; now offered through a new toll free number:
1-888-USR-ISDN. The I-Team is a customer service group focused on providing
end-users with area specific information regarding ISDN availability,
installation charges services contact information, tariffing and support for
ISDN products. The service is designed to make obtaining and installing ISDN
products and services as simple as possible.
Please refer DataBurst inquiries to U.S. Robotics at 800-USR-CORP.
Parallel Port Technology:
Terminal Adapter-To-PC Connection
through the parallel port
The high speeds that can now be reached by today's communication devices
have increased the demand for bandwidth to support mass data transfer for
Internet, remote access and Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) applications at
an affordable cost.
Today's users need devices that deliver higher performance to the desktop
utilizing existing technology. Expanding the use of the parallel port for
higher connection speeds between external devices and PCs exploits the
advantages of ISDN's higher bandwidth. This white paper explains the
advantages of parallel port connections and how they can increase the data
transfer rate.
Differences Between Parallel & Serial Port Connections
When a conventional terminal adapter (TA)-to-PC connection is made, it is
done through a serial port interface. Data is transferred to a PC one bit at
a time. Once data reaches the serial port. it is stored in the system's
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART). The DART receives the
data and stores it in its own internal buffer until processed into the main
memory. Common buffer capacity in a serial port's DART is either one or 16
bytes.
When a TA-to-PC connection is made through a parallel port interface, data
is transferred eight bits at a time instead of one bit at a tinge, as in
serial mode. This results in increased performance because the parallel port
uses eight data pins, while the serial port uses one. The parallel port has
an internal buffer size up
to 64 bytes to store data compared to the one or
16 bytes in a serial port's buffer.
Advantages of Parallel Port Connectivity
Using the parallel port solves the frequently encountered serial port
bottleneck. Since TAs provide connection speeds of 128 Kbps and higher with
compression, the ability to transfer megabytes of data increases, as does
the chance of losing data when transferred through a serial port interface.
In a majority of PCs, the serial port does not have the ability to process
data at the high speeds required by TAs. As data is transferred one bit at a
time in serial mode through one data pin, it is collected in the WART's
internal buffer. Once the buffer is full, files cannot be transferred at the
maximum rate. This can result in frequent retransmissions, increased line
charges, damaged files and lost data.
Transfer errors occur because the serial port buffer is unable to handle the
data arriving at such a high speed. The data stored in the WART's buffer is
then overwritten by the new data before it is stored in the computer's
memory. Once the data is overwritten, error-correction protocols signal the
transmission failure and request that the information be resent. The problem
is not just that lost information is resent. The entire chunk of data is
resent, which takes time and increases transmission costs.
What does Parallel Port Connectivity Mean to U.S. Robotics Customers?
With a parallel port connection, data transmission and increased buffer
capacity unite to transfer data faster with less interruption, This in turn
utilizes less of the computer's system resources to transfer data at higher
speeds, which allows the user to perfornn other functions while sending or
receiving data. For example, over ISDN, the parallel interface allows the
system to reach speeds of 128 Kbps (up to 512 Kbps with compression) without
interruption.
Compression
As defined in Newton's Telecom Dictionary, compression is "reducing the
representation of the information without reducing the information without
reducing the information itself."
Compression refers to the compacting of information before it is transmitted
over a communications link. With compression, it is possible to achieve
effective data transfer rates 2-4 times the actual rate over analog and
digital lines. There are several different compression methods that can be
supported between two communicating devices.
A majority of manufacturers implement hardware based compression, which
limits them to supporting one type of compression. Devices implementing
compression through software al ow multiple types of compression to be
available, insuring maximum performance. The major forms of compression used
today over ISDN include Microsoft, Stac, and Ascend.
Applications
The greatest demand for parallel port connectivity comes from telecommuters
and corporate users working from home that require access to the Internet
and/or the corporate LAN. It also provides SOHO users without LANs, as well
as consumers, faster access to the Internet and online services. As the use
of these applications increase, so does the need for more bandwidth and
decreased line charges.
Internet and Online Access
Parallel port connectivity provides high-speed access to the Internet and
online services with fewer interruptions. With the increase of content on
the Internet, users can improve performance by utilizing ISDN for faster
World Wide Web transfers. Less time is spent waiting for graphics, documents
and large files to download.
Telecommuting and Corporate LAN Access
Users working from home will always require access to a LAN at the corporate
office. Telecommuters can establish high-speed connections to their
corporate LAN with immediate access to applications such as email, database
access, image and graphics transfer. All benefit from the high bandwidth
provided by a parallel port connection.
SOHO [Small Office/Home Office)
With parallel ports already available on every PC, the potential home-based
uses include access to the Internet and connections to the office after
hours. Parallel port connection also provides small branch offices of a
corporation and home-based sites faster access to information.
DataBurst ISDN 128K
With these applications in mind, U.S. Robotics offers the DataBurst ISDN
128K. The DataBurst is a external, parallel port TA that provides a
cost-effective, high performance solution for ISDN. Since DataBurst contains
an integrated NT-1 device, users can connect directly to a digital line,
with no additional devices neccessary. Use of the parallel port eliminates
the loss of performance associated with existing external serial
port-attached devices. The DataBurst enables users to reach the full
potential of ISDN at 128 Kbps plus compression for a higher transfer rate,
up to 512 Kbps.
TurboPPP, a unique set of capabilities developed by U.S. Robotics to
maximize ISDN performance, is a key component of DataBurst. TurboPPP
includes Multilink PPP, which combines two 64 Kbps B-channels, achieving
throughput of 128 Kbps. Databurst also opens the potential of ISDN to
software that does not support Multilink PPP or data compression. Turbo PPP
brings multiple forms of compression over ISDN Stac, Microsoft and Ascend)
to the DataBurst, for data transfer up to 512 Kbps.
A Parallel Thought
Always remember that when mass amounts of data are transferred, the chance
of losing data increases. Parallel port technology is a convenient and
inexpensive solution for those searching for improved communications.
Parallel connectivity is readily available on any PC. It doesn't require
disassembly of existing hardware and no extra interface devices are needed.
Plugging in one cable connects informational resources within the corporate
network for improved access for the small office/home office and the
Internet.
U.S. ROBOTICS SHATTERS SPEED BARRIER:
DELIVERS 56 Kbps OVER
STANDARD TELEPHONE LINES
Internet Service Providers Embrace New x2 Technology; Plan Field Trials &
Roll-Out
Skokie, Ill., October 16, 1996 -- U.S. Robotics (NASDAQ:USRX) today
announced a key breakthrough in modem technology that provides Internet and
on-line connections at speeds nearly twice as fast as those currently
available over standard telephone lines. U.S. Robotics' new x2 increases
the top speed of a standard modem for downloading data from 28.8 or 33.6
Kbps to 56 Kbps -- equivalent to many Integrated Services Digital Network
(ISDN) connections, but without the need for expensive new central office
equipment required by other high-speed technologies.
Service Providers Sign Up for x2
U.S. Robotics also announced that the world's leading Internet and on-line
service providers support x2. To date, more than 30 service providers
worldwide have agreed to participate in field trials with broad roll-out
plans to follow. "As the worldwide leader in providing consumer Internet on-
line services, America Online is excited about the x2 technology that will
provide our more than 6.2 million members the ability to access AOL at even
faster speeds," said Matt Korn, vice president, operations, America Online.
"We will continue to work with innovative technology, like x2, which will
expand our members' experience and enable them to use a variety of
multimedia services on AOL." "We plan to aggressively deploy this new high-
speed modem technology across the IBM Global Network's more than 500 local
calling points in the U.S.," said Gary Weis, general manager, worldwide
operations, IBM Global Network. "As soon as this new feature becomes
available, the IBM Global Network will implement x2 via our automated
software download process that enables customers to obtain network
enhancements like this easily and quickly," he said. In the near term, IBM
Global Network will use x2 technology in the U.S., Canada and 14 other
countries.
"If you'd said a year ago that an average home user could be on the Net at
56 Kbps, people would probably have accused you of being mad -- but the
future seems to keep arriving ahead of schedule," said Paul Rivers,
technical director at UUNET PIPEX, a leading Internet Service Provider in
the United Kingdom. "U.S. Robotics has 'come up trumps' again, and UUNET
PIPEX will upgrade its network to the fastest speed possible the instant
the technology becomes available." These service providers already use U.S.
Robotics' Total Control Enterprise Network Hub, a remote access server,
which will enable them to quickly and easily upgrade their networks and
offer x2 service to millions of existing subscribers.
With the introduction of x2, U.S. Robotics will deliver the industry's only
immediate, end-to-end higher speed solution for both individuals and
service providers. "No other company has both the market presence and
systems architecture to immediately provide on-line and Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) with a significantly faster and better Internet
experience," said Casey Cowell, chairman, chief executive officer and
president of U.S. Robotics. U.S. Robotics submitted a proposal for 56
Kbps modem speeds to the ITU-T in September. As a key contributor to many
past standards, the company plans to lead the effort to standardize 56 Kbps
technology worldwide. However, because of the typically lengthy time to
bring a standard to fruition, U.S. Robotics is bringing x2, a proprietary
technology, to market immediately.
"The unique combination of USR's market leadership in modems and Texas
Instruments' market leadership in DSP (Digital Signal Processor) solutions
will set a new standard in Internet access for the networked society," said
Rich Templeton, SemiConductor Group president for Texas Instruments. "USR's
new x2 technology enables solutions for a wide variety of communications
products, and TI is pleased to be part of this innovative technology."
Why Faster is Better
Surfing the World Wide Web has become immensely popular, but the increase in
complex graphical content on web sites has slowed the downloading process.
x2 substantially speeds up the delivery of information and reduces time
wasted waiting for information, thereby increasing productivity for users.
"As the Internet continues to evolve from a novelty into an important
business tool, customers are demanding faster and more reliable service,"
said Steve Tabaska, executive director, MCI data services engineering.
"Through the use of .S. Robotics' x2 technology, MCI will be able to
offer our dial-up Internet customers faster connectivity without the added
expense of an ISDN line."
Most Internet access continues to take place over regular telephone lines,
so x2 technology is expected to have a widespread impact. "Increasing the
speed at which data can be delivered will dramatically improve service for
those already using the Internet, and it will encourage more people to get
connected," Cowell said.
x2 Enhances Corporate Remote Access
Any corporation can easily add x2 to existing Total Control systems through
a software upgrade. This flexible pgrade path is unmatched in the
industry and is the reason many major corporations have standardized on
Total Control. The system was designed with "investment protection," which
allows customers to easily take advantage of new technologies without
completely changing to new hardware in their networks.
U.S. Robotics' corporate and smaller ISP customers also will benefit from
the company's other remote access products that will offer x2.
"Corporate applications are fueling tremendous growth in remote access,"
Cowell said. "As the top remote access provider, U.S. Robotics will be the
company that delivers multiple higher-speed solutions," he said.
x2 Technology Boosts "Downstream" Data Delivery
U.S. Robotics develops its own modem technology, unlike competitors who
purchase "chipsets" from third parties. By using DSPs, which are
programmable modem engines, U.S. Robotics has the flexibility to innovate
new capabilities, unlike most other companies. x2 is an asymmetrical
technology that supplies 56 Kbps "downstream" for transmissions from
service providers. It takes advantage of a special network configuration
commonly encountered when an analog subscriber establishes a connection with
a data server that is digitally connected to the Digital Telephone Network
(DTN). This new transmission technique differs fundamentally from the
modulation techniques used for high speed modems.
This model is ideal for Internet or remote access because information sent
to the individual desktop is typically graphics-based and requires a high-
performance channel. User requests, such as http commands, require less
bandwidth and can be transmitted quickly "upstream" at conventional 28.8 or
33.6 Kbps speeds. Because of U.S. Robotics' flexible software-based modem
architecture, the company also has the capability to add both proprietary
protocols and standards to its products, ensuring compatibility and
connections with other products at the highest speeds available.
It's Easy to Upgrade to x2
In many cases, individuals will be able to obtain a simple, inexpensive
upgrade for their U.S. Robotics modems. U.S. Robotics Sportster modems now
on retail shelves worldwide can be upgraded to x2; Sportster x2 upgrades
will be available in January 1997. The vast majority of homes and offices
will be able to take advantage of x2, although some locations may not be
able to achieve these speeds because the configuration of the local
telephone loop will not accommodate the service. The connection at those
locations will fall back to the highest standard modem speed available on
that line.
U.S. Robotics will conduct field trials in November and begin shipping x2 to
Internet and on-line service providers as well as end users during the
firstcalendar quarter of 1997.
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS WORLDWIDE
SUPPORTING U.S. ROBOTICS x2 TECHNOLOGY
North American and Global Providers
America Online
ANS
Commonwealth Telephone
CompuServe
CyberGate
HookUp (Canada)
IBM Global Network
Netcom
MCI
Mindspring
Prodigy
TDS Telecom
U S West
Web America
Australia
Microplex
Netexpress
Austria
Netway
France
Grolier Interactive Europe
Germany
Bertelsmann ZI/MediaWays
metronet
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Star Internet
Hong Kong Telecom
Japan
ASCII
Business Network Telecom
Global Online
Toyko Internet
Norway
Telenor Online
Taiwan
New Silkera Network
WowNet
United Kingdom
Cable Online
UUNET Pipex
U. S. Robotics and the U.S. Robotics logo are registered trademarks of U.S.
Robotics. DataBurst is a registered trademark of U.S. Robotics. TurboPPP is
a trademark of US. Robotics. Microsoft is a registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corporation. Ascend is a registered trademark of Ascend Communications. Stac
is a registered trademark of Stac Electronics. US. Robotics' World Wide Web
page may be accessed at www.usr.com.
U.S. Robotics is one of the world's leading suppliers of products and
systems that provide access to information. The company designs,
manufactures, markets and supports remote access servers, enterprise
communications systems, desktop/mobile client products and modems and
telephony products that connect computers and other equipment over analog,
digital and switched cellular networks, enabling users to gain access to,
manage and share data, fax and voice information. Its customers include
Internet service providers, regional Bell operating companies,
inter-exchange carriers and a wide range of other large and small
businesses, institutions and individuals. The company's fiscal 1995 sales
were $889.3 million; sales for the first nine months of fiscal 1996 were
$1.37 billion.
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STReport International Online Magazine
Symantec and NetCentric Announce Alliance to Deliver
Internet Fax Solution to Millions of Users
Internet Expo, Boston, Mass.-October 16, 1996-Symantec Corporation
(Nasdaq:SYMC), the worldwide leader in communications software, and
NetCentric Corporation, the leading provider of software for the Internet
Infrastructure, today announced an alliance to develop, co-market and
deliver a comprehensive Internet fax solution later this month. By working
with NetCentric, Symantec is offering its millions of WinFax PRO users
access to the Internet as a reliable, inexpensive network for worldwide
transmission of their faxes. WinFax PRO 7.5, the latest upgrade of
Symantec's leading desktop faxing technology, will include seamless
connectivity to high-performance NetCentric servers inside the Internet,
enabling WinFax PRO users to easily send secure, point-to-point faxes over
the Internet to any fax machine in the world Hat exists off the Internet.
"By working with NetCentric, Symantec is helping to make Internet fax an
everyday business tool rather than a hobbyist toy," said fax industry
analyst Peter Davidson of Davidson Consulting. "The millions of WinFax PRO
customers understand the power of desktop faxing and are the people most
likely to embrace Internet faxing as a logical extension to their current
business activities. The Internet will profoundly impact fax technology and
drive it to the level of rapid technological change that is coming from the
Internet."
Benefits to Users Faxing constitutes 40% of a company's telecommunications
bill, with the average Fortune 500 company spending almost $15 million
annually on fax-related transmission charges, according to a 1996 Gallup/
Pitney Bowes Survey. The Internet infrastructure provides a more cost
effective network than the existing public phone network to carry major
segments of this faxing traffic. Users can send multiple faxes at once
directly through their Internet connection and save up to 80% of the cost of
sending a fax over the long distance telephone network. In addition to
reducing transmission costs, WinFax PRO and NetCentric can eliminate the
need for individuals and organizations to invest in dedicated fax lines, fax
machines or expensive LAN fax servers.
WinFax PRO is a powerful productivity tool for Small-Off'ce/Home Office
(SOHO) users, but they will also find additional benefits using Internet fax
services. These users tend to communicate by fax on a regional basis, and
often face higher long-distance charges as a result. They often cannot
benefit from the deep discounts offered on interstate long distance. With
Internet fax they gain the benefit of consistent competitive rates. "With
over 10 million copies shipped, WinFax PRO has clearly become the standard
for desktop faxing," said Christopher Calisi, vice president of Symantec's
Communications Product Group. `'This new offering dramatically raises the
bar in the faxing industry. By potentially eliminating the need for
dedicated phone lines and fax servers, while reducing telecommunications
charges, WinFax PRO users can see dramatic savings in their fax costs using
the Internet.
How It Works
Faxing over the Internet is very easy using the new WinFax PRO 7.5. Once
users have established an Internet account with NetCentric through the
WinFax PRO setup wizard, they have the option of sending desktop faxes
either over the telephone lines or through the Internet. Once a user has
selected to send a fax over the Internet, WinFax PRO 7.5 compresses and
encrypts the fax and sends it through a NetCentric server, which then uses
intelligent routing algorithms to route the fax over the Internet, at the
lowest cost possible, to the recipient. Throughout the entire process,
WinFax PRO 7.5 provides real-time status to the user. "The Internet is
clearly the telecommunications architecture of the future," said Sean
O'Sullivan, co-founder and CEO of NetCentric. "With this release of WinFax
PRO, Symantec is leveraging their strength on the desktop with NetCentric's
presence and capabilities inside the Internet to advance the
state-of-the-art of fax and telecommunications at large." NetCentric
develops POPware network software located inside the Internet at the points
of presence (POPs) where the phone network and the Internet meet. POPware
enables communications such as faxes to be delivered over the Internet to
computer users and through phone lines to everyone else. It allows business
communications to be shifted from the legacy telecommunications
infrastructure to the Internet.
Symantec Upgrades WinFax PRO 7.5 To Embrace Internet Fax
Version 7.5 Also Includes TalkWorks Telephony
Internet Expo, Boston, Mass.-October 16,1996-Symantec Corporation
(Nasdaq:SYMC), the worldwide leader in communications software, today
announced WinFax PRO 7.5, the latest version of its award-winning fax
software for Windows 95. WinFax PRO 7.5 delivers all the traditional
productivity benefits of computer based faxing, plus the ability to send
faxes through the Internet to fax machines that exist off the Internet.
WinFax PRO 7.5 becomes the first major computer fax application to embrace
the emerging technology of Internet fax. TalkWorks, the WinFax telephony
option, is now included with WinFax PRO 7.5, giving users with supported
voice modems' voice answering and telephony capabilities, along with a
full-featured fax program in one box.
"The best way for us to keep in touch with our clients is by fax and this
contributes substantially to our long distance telephone bills," said Thilo
T. Newman, President of Newman & Lord Enterprises Inc., "The ability to fax
over the Internet is the kind of cost saving technology we have been looking
for. All our employees have direct access to the Internet through our
computer network, which means they can now start faxing right from their
desktop's without incurring additional hardware expenses such as installing
dedicated telephone lines and purchasing modems. It is great to finally be
given an opportunity to lower our overheads." Newman Lord has 1,000
employees worldwide, and is involved in T.V, Film and Television Production,
as well as Medical and Real Estate Droducts and services.
How Fax Embraces The Net
WinFax PRO 7.5 takes advantage of the Internet infrastructure and gives
users a low-cost alternative to the traditional telephone network for long
distance faxing. WinFax PRO 7.S uses the Internet as a medium to transport
faxes to traditional fax machines or computers equipped with a fax modem
that are not directly connected to the Internet.
Together with NetCentric, the leading provider of software for the Internet
Infrastructure, WinFax PRO 7.5 delivers point-to-point faxing from the
user's desktop to any fax machine or device worldwide. This is done through
an Internet connection, thus eliminating the need for a separate, dedicated
fax line or fax machine. Internet fax is secure,with RSA's encryption engine
employed. Faxes can also be sent through the Internet, even if a corporation
uses fire wall technology.
How Internet Fax Works
To the user, the process of sending a fax through the Internet is the same
as sending a fax through the telephone network. Once the user has enabled
the Internet fax service through the setup wizard, sending a fax over the
Internet is easy. After preparing their document for faxing, the user is
given a choice in which method of delivery-through a normal phone line or
through the Internet-they would prefer to use. To the user, transmitting a
fax appears to be the same for either method, however, behind the scenes the
process differs. Once a user has selected to send a fax over the Internet,
WinFax PRO 7.5 compresses and encrypts the fax and sends it through a
NetCentric server, which then uses intelligent routing algorithms to route
the fax over the Internet, at the lowest cost possible, to the recipient.
Throughout the entire process, WinFax PRO 7.5 provides real-time status to
the user.
Internet Fax Service Pricing
The cost of sending an Internet fax from anywhere in the world to a
destination within the United States is 15 cents per minute. A user can also
submit a fax from anywhere in the world and have the U.S. based server fax
it to any fax machine or device outside of the U.S. for substantially less
than a direct phone call. For faxes sent to destinations outside the United
States, the price varies depending on the actual destination, with a
discount up to 80% off standard long distance telephone rates being offered.
A comprehensive rate list will be posted on the Internet to help users
determine their savings when using Internet fax.
TalkWorks
TalkWorks, the WinFax telephony option, is now included in the box with
WinFax PRO 7.5. TalkWorks offers users a number of enhanced features and
capabilities, including enabling a computer equipped with a voice-capable
fax modem to answer the telephone, and record and store voice messages.
TalkWorks automatically discriminates between fax and voice calls so that
users are also able to share a single analog phone line for both fax and
voice. TalkWorks also includes telephony features such as speed dialing,
conference calling, and hands-free operation through a full duplex
speakerphone. In addition, TalkWorks supports multimedia PCs by enabling
users to record greetings or play back messages through their .WAV-based
sound boards.
Pricing and System Requirements General availability of WinFax PRO 7.5 in
distribution and retail channels is expected in late October 1996. The
product has an estimated street price of US$99 (Can $139) and includes a
60-day money back guarantee. WinFax PRO 7.0 users can upgrade to version 7.5
for US$19.95 (Can $29.95), however, users who purchased or upgraded to
WinFax PRO 7.0 on or after August I, 1996 can call Symantec to get a free
up&race. Users of WinFax PRO 4.0 or earlier versions can upgrade for
US$49.95 (Can $69.95). Users of WinFax LITE and any other Symantec product
can upgrade/crossgrade for a cost of US$59.95 (Can $79.95). Upgrade prices
do not include shipping and handling fees.
WinFax PRO 7.5 requires a minimum 486-based PC running Microsoft Windows 95,
a Class I or Class 2 fax modem, 16 MB RAM and 28 MB hard disk space for a
full install. A voice-enabled fax modem is required to use the functionality
of TalkWorks.
About NetCentric Corporation
NetCentric (:orp., headquartered m Cambridge, Mass., was founded in January
1995 with the mission of providing extended network communications services
by leveraging the capabilities of the Internet imtrastructure. NetCentric
has developed a new technology category called POPware that provides
Internet-based telephony and computer services to organizations and
individuals. Privately-held, NetCentric was recently identified by Upside
magazine as one of the "fifty hottest" Internet companies. You can reach
NetCentric on the World Wide Web at http:// www.netcentric.com or by calling
1-888-POPWARE toll free, or (617) 720-5200.
About Symantec Corporation
Symantec Corporation develops, markets and supports a complete line of
application and system software products designed to enhance individual and
workgroup productivity as well as manage networked computing environments.
Platforms supported include IBM personal computers and compatibles, Apple
Macintosh computers as well as all major network operating systems. Founded
in 1982, the company's global operations span North America, Europe and
several fast growing markets throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Information on the company and its products can be obtained by calling (800)
441-7234 toll free or (541) 334-6054. Brand and product references herein
are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
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EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
Edupage
Contents
Internet Users Value Their Privacy
Consortium To Develop Net Privacy Principles
Microsoft Overhauls MSN
AT&T Offers New Wireless Twist
Laptops Built To Take A Lickin'
Kleiner Investment Approach? "Keiretsu"
Interactive Shopping
Court Says Microsoft Contractors Are Really Employees
Coalition Announces New Data Standard
Voicemail Over The Net
Motorola's M-Star Reaches For The Sky
Forget The Home PC -- Now It's The "Information Furnace"
New Groupware Products From Network
New Twist On Web Advertising
The Evolution Of Web Law
New York Cable Channel Warfare
Network Vandals
Truth-In-Silliness
Prodigy Reinvents Itself As Web Service
"Key Recovery" Replaces "Key Escrow" In Encryption Plan
Lotus Notes For Rent
Specialized Search Engines Needed For Research
Some Provisions Of New FCC Phone Regs Put On Hold
Scientology Copyright Decision Reaffirmed
Inmarsat's New Global Phone
Postal Service E-Mail Plans
McGraw-Hill Plans E-Journals
Tellers As Sellers At Bank Of Montreal
Judge Orders Dallas Man To Cease Harassment On Net
INTERNET USERS VALUE THEIR PRIVACY
The 1996 Equifax/Harris Consumer Privacy Survey for the Internet reveals
that Internet users place a high premium on their online privacy, relative
to non-Internet users. Sixty percent of the Internet users interviewed
said their anonymity shouldn't be compromised when they visit a Web site or
use e-mail. Only 45% of non- Internet users were sympathetic to the desire
for online anonymity. About half (49%) of the Internet users who
participated felt that the federal government should be restricted in its
ability to scan Internet messages, compared to only a third (34%) of non-
users. Seventy-one percent of Internet users did not want online service
providers to track their Web surfing patterns for marketing purposes, while
63% of non-users felt this activity was intrusive. The telephone survey of
36 million people also found that Internet users tended on average to be
better educated, earn more money and have a somewhat more liberal outlook
than non-users. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 10 Oct 96 A24)
CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP NET PRIVACY PRINCIPLES
A group of companies involved in electronic commerce via the Internet have
banded together to develop a set of privacy principles for doing business
over the Net. The Privacy Assured group includes WorldPages, Inc., Four11,
I/PRO, Match.Com and NetAngels.Com, and was sparked by recent reports of
database services such as Nexis/Lexis providing sensitive information to
paying customers. Privacy Assured, which is a pilot program of the
Electronic Frontier Foundation's eTrust project, will post its blue PA logo
on Web sites that adhere to its standards. These standards include: not
knowingly listing information about individuals that has not been
volunteered for publication; not allowing reverse searches to determine
individuals' names from e- mail addresses, phone numbers or other
information; releasing only aggregated usage statistics, not individual
information; and giving individuals the option to delete personal
information from lists. (Broadcasting & Cable 7 Oct 96 p87)
MICROSOFT OVERHAULS MSN
Microsoft is taking a new tack to boost the popularity of its online
service, switching to a television-like line- up of six "channels" and 20
"shows" that are structured to deliver new material to consumers, rather
than wait for them to explore on their own. The company plans to pour some
$100 million into promotional efforts over the next 12 months, and doesn't
expect the service to begin making money for three years. The restructured
Microsoft Network will require a combination of Windows 95 and Microsoft
Explorer browser software to access the most compelling content, such as
animation and news feeds. "It's the hooks to move everybody to their
world," says an analyst at Creative Strategies, Inc. (Wall Street Journal
11 Oct 96 B5)
AT&T OFFERS NEW WIRELESS TWIST
AT&T 's new Wireless Office Service allows corporate customers to use
wireless phones internally, via a private wireless network, as well as
outside, via AT&T's digital cellular network. The service will be jointly
marketed with Nortel, and will cost between $700 and $1,000 per user to
install the on-site micro-cells necessary for receiving and transmitting
phone calls. For internal calls, any cellular handset may be used, and
external calls require AT&T's new Digital PCS handsets. Saint Agnes Medical
Center in Fresno, Calif. has found the new system improves patient care:
"Nurses can be reached immediately," says the hospital's information
technology director. (Information Week 7 Oct 96 p30)
LAPTOPS BUILT TO TAKE A LICKIN'
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. is selling an accident-resistant laptop
designed for the worst-case scenario. Sold under the Panasonic brand name,
the machine is encased in a magnesium alloy cabinet, the disk drive is
mounted in a shock-absorbing gel, and the liquid crystal display is
protected by internal dampers. The super- rugged model, reputed to be
coffee- and drop-proof, has been available in North America and Europe for
about a month, and will begin selling in Japan on Oct. 20. (Investor's
Business Daily 14 Oct 96 A8)
KLEINER INVESTMENT APPROACH? "KEIRETSU"
Kleiner Perkins, the venture capital firm that has distributed $880 million
in start-up funds over 24 years to support the incubation of more than 260
companies (including AOL, Compaq, Genentech, Lotus, and Netscape) says its
mission is to found industries, not just companies. Kleiner partner John
Doerr developed what he calls the "Kleiner keiretsu" -- using the Japanese
word keiretsu to describe a network of companies that share experiences,
knowledge and connections. (Washington Post 13 Oct 96 HO1)
INTERACTIVE SHOPPING
Discussing the fact that the Home Shopping Network (HSN) had a 1995
operating loss of $80 million, an article in The Economist says that one
reason TV shopping has not prospered more is that it favors impulse buying
rather than a conscious search for a particular product, and therefore
attracts only people who have time to sit watching television for hours.
In contrast, shopping on the Net rewards the efforts of active searchers,
such as those who order books from a service such as <www.amazon.com >.
(The Economist 12 Oct 96)
COURT SAYS MICROSOFT CONTRACTORS
ARE REALLY EMPLOYEES
A Federal appeals court in San Francisco has ruled that hundreds of
individual workers hired by Microsoft as "independent contractors" (and
therefore not eligible to receive such employee benefits such as
participation in 401(k) or stock option plans) must be reclassified as
regular employees because they worked under close company supervision and
were provided work spaces inside Microsoft facilities. Microsoft will
appeal the decision. A company spokesman says: "Throughout the software
industry, companies use temporary workers and independent contractors
because our industry is so cyclical and the demand for product development
is cyclical and often drops off. The alternative is something along the
lines of typical manufacturing where you hire and lay off, hire and lay
off." (New York Times 12 Oct 96 p17)
COALITION ANNOUNCES NEW DATA STANDARD
A coalition of 38 companies led by Netscape and Progressive Networks is
proposing a new Internet data standard (called RTSP, or Real Time Streaming
Protocol) that will allow the transmission of streams of digital
information so that systems on the Net will be able to receive TV-like as
well as 3D graphics. The acceptance of this new standard is likely to
speed the introduction of stripped-down, low-cost "network computers" that
will rely on the Internet as a file server for downloading software and data
for just-in-time use. The coalition includes IBM, Apple, Sun, Digital
Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, Silicon Graphics, and other large companies,
but does not include Microsoft. (New York Times 14 Oct 96 C3)
VOICEMAIL OVER THE NET
Several voice-messaging companies, including Lucent Technologies, Northern
Telecom and Siemens Rolm Communications, are working with the Electronic
Messaging Association to set standards for sending voicemail and fax
attachments over IP networks. The group will submit its Voice Profile for
Internet messaging draft specification to the Internet Engineering Task
Force before the end of the year. The technology would allow companies
save money by moving their voicemail systems to the Internet or private IP
wide area networks, thus consolidating information traffic on one network,
says a Nortel standards engineer. (Information Week 7 Oct 96 p89)
MOTOROLA'S M-STAR REACHES FOR THE SKY
Motorola has a new $6.1-billion satellite project on the drawing board,
comprising 72 low-orbit satellites capable of transmitting voice, video and
data worldwide. The M-Star project is separate from Motorola's Iridium
project, in which it's a 30% owner. M-Star is expected to take four years
to complete from the time it receives FCC approval and lines up investors.
The network will offer speeds of up to one gigabit for satellite-to-
satellite laser communications and 155 megabits for satellite-to-earth
transmissions. (Wall Street Journal 14 Oct 96 B4)
FORGET THE HOME PC
NOW IT'S THE "INFORMATION FURNACE"
As computer companies and industry analysts look toward the future of home
computing, they're predicting that standalone desktop units will give way
to a micro version of a client-server network, with one central server
computer connected to several home-based clients. Compaq and IBM are both
working toward this vision -- IBM has introduced a new line of Aptiva
computers featuring a minitower that can be positioned separately from the
compact console that houses the CD-ROM and floppy drives and their power
controls. Compaq is working on a wireless network solution so that
homeowners don't have to worry about pulling cable through their walls.
Hewlett-Packard has dubbed the concept an "information furnace" that runs
the rest of the household. "All of these devices will one day be
interconnected using a high bandwidth home network that is easy to install,
maintain and expand," says HP's senior VP for R&D. "Many of the
technologies needed to realize the vision of a home information furnace and
its attendant network are available today." (Investor's Business Daily 15
Oct 96 A8)
NEW GROUPWARE PRODUCTS FROM NETWORK
In addition to announcing the new 4.0 version of its Navigator browser
software, Netscape is introducing new group aimed at the corporate market
and featuring enhanced e-mail, group scheduling, filing sharing, and audio
software. The audio software will support two-way phone calls over the
Internet. (Wall Street Journal 15 Oct 96 B7)
NEW TWIST ON WEB ADVERTISING
Nissan is trying an unconventional method to lure Net surfers to its Web
site. It will pay somewhere around $1 to Internet visitors who click into
its Nissan Pathfinder ad. The ad requires viewers to go on a techno- safari
ride through a jungle setting and then answer a question about the ad. The
novel approach underscores advertisers' frustrations with the new medium:
"Web advertising is a very sexy thing to claim to do," says a Harvard
business professor. "It's like, 'I have a Web site. I am hip.' But
personally I don't know anyone who is an advertiser who is happy with the
return on the money they are spending." Ad spending on the Web is
estimated at $43-million in 1995 and $72-million this year. Projections
call for spending in the $2-billion range by the year 2000. (St.
Petersburg Times 14 Oct 96 p13)
THE EVOLUTION OF WEB LAW
Lawsuits over alleged occurrences of trademark infringement or defamation on
the Web are expanding the traditional notion of legal jurisdictions and
causing headaches for companies that use the Internet to advertise or sell
their products. One recent lawsuit filed in California was decided in favor
of the Vermont-based plaintiffs who claimed that a negative comment about
their company sent by e-mail to an employee of Pacific Northwest Bell in
Washington amounted to defamation because the message could be read by
anyone on the system. "While modern technology has made nationwide
commercial transactions simpler and more feasible, even for small
businesses, it must broaden correspondingly the permissible scope of
jurisdiction exercisable by the courts," reasoned the California court.
The outcome of many of these jurisdictional disputes may hinge on the way
that federal appeals courts interpret a 1984 Supreme Court decision in which
a woman residing in New York State sued Ohio-based Hustler magazine in a
New Hampshire court for libel. The court decided that the magazine company
"continuously and deliberately exploited the New Hampshire market," thus
making it possible to be sued there. If the courts follow this precedent,
presumably anyone who operates a Web page could be sued in any jurisdiction
in which that page can be accessed. (Investor's Business Daily 15 Oct 96
A4)
NEW YORK CABLE CHANNEL WARFARE
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing New York
City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani from allowing Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel
to use one of the five cable channels allotted to the city on the Time
Warner cable service to transmit its programs (without commercials) to New
York cable subscribers. Time Warner says its First Amendment rights would
be violated if it is forced to use one of its channels to transmit
information it doesn't want to; the Mayor, who thinks the Fox News Channel
would provide a welcome relief from what he regards as the liberal bias of
the general media, says that the First Amendment rights being violated are
those of New York City -- which should be able to choose what it transmits
on its own channels; and Fox argues that Time Warner is giving unfair
advantage to its own products, such as those offered by Time Warner-owned
CNN. Stay tuned for further developments ... but check for local listings,
especially in New York. (Wall Street Journal 14 Oct 9 B3)
NETWORK VANDALS
An unidentified person or persons used bogus, anonymous e-mail messages in
mid-September to overwhelm network routers in the Northwest, preventing
legitimate e-mail messages from reaching their destinations for nearly six
hours. Carnegie Mellon professor Daniel Sleator says the perpetrators
shouldn't be called hackers: "Call them vandals. 'Hacker' implies
somebody sophisticated." Computer Security Institute analyst Richard Power
says the Internet service providers "and the Microsofts, Lotuses, and
Netscapes" are "throwing this stuff on the marketplace. They're making
fortunes with software, but they're not building security in a way that is
appropriate to the threat out there." (Seattle Times 11 Oct 96 A1)
TRUTH-IN-SILLINESS
AT&T has been offering "True USA Savings" and "True Rewards" long-distance
phone service plans ... but now rival MCI has introduced a competitive
offering called "True Rate." AT&T considers MCI's use of the phrase "True
Rate" to amount to a truly false marketing ploy, and is suing to stop MCI
from using the word "True" MCI regards the AT&T lawsuit as truly "silly."
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution 15 Oct 96 B3)
PRODIGY REINVENTS ITSELF AS WEB SERVICE
Prodigy Inc. has decided what it wants to be when it grows up - another
Internet service provider. The company is scrapping its proprietary online
service and relaunching itself as a route to the World Wide Web. "As of
today, we are a new animal. We are a value-added Internet service and no
longer an online service," says Prodigy's chairman. The company plans a
$100 million ad campaign over the next year to build its new image. (Wall
Street Journal 17 Oct 96 B11)
"KEY RECOVERY" REPLACES "KEY ESCROW"
IN ENCRYPTION PLAN
The latest government proposal for encryption software controls touts a new
approach called "key recovery." This provision would allow law enforcement
officials to rebuild, or "recover" the mathematical key to encoded messages
with the help of third-party code-breakers. The new policy reflects
suggestions made in a National Research Council report released earlier
this year. Under the Clinton plan, encryption keys would be expanded from
40 bits to 56 bits in products to be exported, provided the company agrees
to the key recovery process. In addition, authority to issue licenses for
overseas sales of such products would move from the State Department, where
they're handled as "munitions," over to the Commerce Department. The
Business Software Alliance, however, is still not completely happy with the
compromise. "We expect to go back to Congress," says a BSA spokeswoman.
"Although the announcement was clearly a step in the right direction, it's
not at all what the industry was looking for in its entirety." (Investor's
Business Daily 17 Oct 96 A4)
LOTUS NOTES FOR RENT
Lotus Development Corp. plans to allow PC users to "rent" a new version of
its Lotus Notes program called Domino, allowing users to create their own
Web pages at bargain prices compared to those charged by outside Web
consultants. The Domino software will be housed on servers at Internet
service providers and other networking entities. (Wall Street Journal 16
Oct 96 B8)
SPECIALIZED SEARCH ENGINES NEEDED FOR RESEARCH
Most scholars are agreeing that the average, run-of-the-mill Internet search
engine doesn't produce much of value to their academic research efforts.
One philosophy professor at the University of Evansville has taken matters
into his own hands and created a search engine for his area of expertise,
the ancient world. His engine, called Argos, filters out unwanted
information by limiting searches to preselected Web sites deemed by a group
of editors to be scholarly and topical. "We're imagining a whole series of
these search engines to serve academe," he says. The Argos search engine
can be found at < http://argos.evansville.edu/ >. (Chronicle of Higher
Education 18 Oct 96 A23)
SOME PROVISIONS OF NEW FCC PHONE REGS PUT ON HOLD
A panel of federal judges in St. Louis has extended a temporary restraining
order on regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission to
determine how much a local phone service provider can charge a competitor
for access to the provider's networks. The case will be reviewed on its
merits in January. In the meantime, the FCC is appealing the ruling to the
Supreme Court. (New York Times 16 Oct 96 C1)
SCIENTOLOGY COPYRIGHT DECISION REAFFIRMED
A federal judge in Virginia reaffirmed her earlier ruling that an individual
who used the Internet to republish, without permission, copyrighted
material of the Church of Scientology, was liable for damages; however, the
judge indicated that she will probably award only the minimal $2,500 sought
in the lawsuit brought by the Church. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 17 Oct
96 D3)
INMARSAT'S NEW GLOBAL PHONE
The International Maritime Satellite Organization is selling a new, slimmed-
down version of its mobile phone that can be used anywhere in the world,
even in the remotest areas. The new laptop-size phone weighs about 4-and-a-
half pounds and costs $3,000 -- far less than its predecessor. Inmarsat's
global phone is used by about 66,000 customers and currently has little
competition, although ventures such as Motorola's Iridium project
hope to cut into that market significantly. (Wall Street Journal 16 Oct 96
B9)
POSTAL SERVICE E-MAIL PLANS
The U.S. Postal Service has signed agreements with three California
companies (Cylink, Sun and Enterprise Productivity) as part of its
expanding activities in electronic mail services. Cylink will provide a
system for electronically postmarking and encrypting messages; Sun and
Enterprise Productivity will provide software that will let bulk mailers
calculate the price of mail shipments on the Internet. (Washington Post 17
Oct 96 A21)
McGRAW-HILL PLANS E-JOURNALS
McGraw-Hill, the information company that publishes numerous books and
periodicals, has developed several electronic journals called McGraw-Hill
Science Online, and will begin to test them early in 1997. The journals,
which will have full academic peer-review to ensure quality of the
scientific information, are expected to speed up the information
dissemination process as well as make it considerably more economical.
(Financial Times 17 Oct 96)
TELLERS AS SELLERS AT BANK OF MONTREAL
The Bank of Montreal is in the middle of a $300-million revolution that uses
computers to build branches into sales sites, not just transaction points.
The bank is redesigning older branches and developing new sites with more
bank machines and special terminals that let customer service
representatives open accounts and market products. (Toronto Star 16 Oct 96
B1)
JUDGE ORDERS DALLAS MAN TO CEASE HARASSMENT ON NET
A district judge in Texas has issued a restraining order against a Dallas
man who was using the Internet to post sexually derogatory remarks about
the wife of a couple who run an Internet service (and saying in a message:
"By the way, I have a .45 too."). The man said he had developed "a bad
taste in (his) mouth" after trying unsuccessfully to reach the company to
price its services; however, he now "wholeheartedly, 100 percent" denies
that his messages were threatening and insists that they merely adopted the
sarcastic language typically found on the Internet. (Atlanta Journal-
Constitution 17 Oct 96 D3)
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For Immediate Release
Corel Office for JavaT Preview Available for Live Access
OTTAWA, Canada - October 16, 1996 - Corel Corporation has announced that
a preview of the upcoming Corelr Office for JavaT is now available for live
access from its Web site at http://officeforjava.corel.com. The office
suite preview, which includes Corelr WordPerfectr for JavaT, Corelr Quattror
Pro for JavaT and CorelCHARTT for JavaT, is the first suite of office
applications ever written for the Java platform and gives users an
opportunity to experience the concept and interface of the applications
first hand. The full beta version is scheduled for December 1996 and will
include the initial applications along with a personal information manager
and a presentation application.
"Corel Office for Java is revolutionary because it offers users the benefits
of full cross-platform compatibility. Its small size and extensible feature
set make it the ideal office productivity environment for the emerging
server-centric thin client architecture, " said Dr. Michael Cowpland,
president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "Corel Office
for Java demonstrates the power and flexibility of the Java programming
environment."
"Corel Office for Java is the obvious application to run on the new class of
network terminals, bringing productivity tools to the entire enterprise,"
said Dr. Lew Tucker, director of corporate and ISV relations at JavaSoft, a
division of Sun Microsystems, Inc. "The write-once, run-everywhere benefit
to software developers means no one will be excluded from the power and
productivity of Corel Office for Java."
Corel Office for Java meets the needs for full featured, portable
productivity applications in the new thin client computing environment. In
addition to the client software, Corel Office for Java features a Java
implementation of LDAP (Light-weight directory access protocol) for server
side administration of users, applications and documents.
"This complete suite of office productivity applications offers a modern GUI
interface that users will find immediately recognizable and is built on
component architecture that is light-weight, robust and portable," said
Chris Biber, Corel's Technology Evangelist. "Java enables a new era in
office applications and Corel is the first developer to take full advantage
of this new paradigm."
"Corel has taken advantage of the strengths of Java to meet the demands of a
rapidly-growing market for Intranet applications," said Donna Simonides,
director of developer relations at Netscape Communications Corporation.
"Netscape has made a similar commitment through Netscape One, Open Network
Environment. Netscape One unifies into a single platform the standards of
the Internet, such as HTTP, HTML, LDAP and Java, and a tool chest of open,
cross-platform software and technologies for creating rich, distributed
applications on the Internet and Intranets."
Corel Corporation Announces the Launch of CorelDRAW 7
OTTAWA, Canada - October 8, 1996 - Corel Corporation and its subsidiaries
celebrated the launch of CorelDRAWT 7 today at the Ottawa Congress Centre.
Scheduled to begin shipping by mid- November, CorelDRAW 7 will carry a
suggested list price of $695 US. Designed for Windowsr 95 and Windows NTT
4.0, the latest version of Corel's award-winning graphics package is feature-
enriched and optimized for productivity, power and precision. The three
main applications - CorelDRAWT, Corel PHOTO-PAINTT and CorelDREAM 3D - all
rank in the top of their categories and together make a complete graphics
solution.
"By creating a revolutionary user interface that provides intuitive access
to unparalleled power, along with improved memory handling and faster file
open, save, import and redraw, the development team has produced an elite
package for any discerning graphic designer," said Dr. Michael Cowpland,
president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "New Internet
graphics support, including the ability to create image maps and publish to
HTML, round out the package like no other."
"I've been working at Corel since version 1.2 and this is the most excited
I've be
en about releasing our flagship graphics product," said Leah Hayman,
product manager for CorelDRAW. "This is, without a doubt, the biggest leap
ahead of any CorelDRAW upgrade."
Aside from the three main applications, CorelDRAW 7 also includes the
following supporting utilities:
ú Corel MULTIMEDIA MANAGERT 7: a visual file manager utility that helps
users to easily organize and manage graphics files.
ú Corel OCR-TRACET 7: an enhanced optical character recognition/raster to
vector conversion utility.
ú Corel TEXTURET: a procedural texture generation program that allows the
creation of simulated natural textures like marbles, woods, stones,
clouds and metals.
ú CorelSCANT: a wizard-driven scanning utility which includes preset
processing options.
ú CorelDEPTH: an easy-to-use utility that facilitates the creation of 3D
logos and text.
ú Corel CAPTURET 7: an advanced screen capture utility used to capture
all or custom areas of a screen.
ú Corel SCRIPT EditorT and Corel SCRIPT Dialog EditorT: scripting
utilities that facilitate the creation of add-on utilities for
CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT through OLE 2 Automation.
ú CorelMEMOT: an OLE compliant utility that allows users to attach notes
to their drawings or documents without altering the original graphics
or text.
ú Plug-Ins: PhotoShopr-compatible plug-in filters, including Kai's Power
Tools 3.0 SE, Extensis Intellihance 2.0, Cytopia PhotoLab, Digimarc
PictureMarc, and AutoF/X's Photo/Graphic EdgesT can be used in
conjunction with either CorelDRAW or Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
ú Kodak Digital ScienceT Color Management System: a system to ensure
accurate color representation during scanning, display and printing.
32,000 clipart images and symbols
1,000 Type 1 and TrueTyper fonts
1,000 + high resolution photos
250 + 3D models
400 + CorelDRAW and PaperDirectT templates
floating objects, tiling textures and more
CorelDRAW 7
The draw component of CorelDRAW 7 has been fully optimized for speed with
faster file open, save, import, export and redraw capabilities. An
innovative and context-sensitive Property Bar is the key to the streamlined
interface and changes depending on the tool and objects that the user
selects.
Extensive drag & drop, right mouse button support and interactive cursors
have all been added - all in the name of convenience and increased
productivity. A careful streamlining of menus, dialog boxes, toolbars and
the Toolbox have also provided a more intuitive interface. Now, for
example, text formatting options can be found in one dialog as opposed to
three.
This comprehensive vector-based drawing application contains the following
new features:
1. Interactive Tools: Fills, transparencies and blends have been made
completely interactive and corresponding functionality may be accessed
directly from the Property Bar. Simply click and drag on the object
with the tool selected to perform any of these activities quickly and
easily.
2. Internet: CorelDRAW 7 now allows users to assign URLs to any object
and publish documents to HTML, GIF, JPEG or Corel BaristaT. Barista
is the technology Corel has developed which allows users to create
documents based entirely on the JavaT Language without any programming
requirements. Netscape NavigatorT and Microsoftr Internet Explorer
color palettes are included to provide the user with accurate color
selections for the Web. There is also a direct link within the Help
menu in CorelDRAW 7 to Corel's home page.
3. Drawing and Editing Tools: The pan tool allows users to display while
panning by simply clicking and dragging to move about the design. The
Natural Pen tool can be used with a pressure-sensitive tablet to
create curves of varying thicknesses and smooth calligraphic effects,
which is great for artistic sketching. Spirals can now be drawn
logarithmically, allowing users to draw them more naturally.
4. Text Controls: A Single Text tool for creating both artistic and
paragraph text provides the user with greater productivity. With the
text tool selected, the user can click on any path and automatically
fit text to that path. New writing tools from Corelr WordPerfectr,
including a spell checker, a thesaurus and a grammar checker, have
also been included, as has Bitstream's TrueDoc font embedding
technology. This allows users to maintain the visual integrity of
their documents.
5. Document Management Tools: Color Styles allows the user to create
linked color relationships to provide quick editing of illustrations.
Document Info, Object Manager, and Find and Replace are excellent
tools for managing work or troubleshooting problems.
6. Effects and Enhancements: New effects that will help produce creative
illustrations include accelerated blending, beveled extrusions (both
depth and angle can be affected), color adjustment of bitmaps and
vectors, built-in bitmap effects, and support for Adobe
PhotoShop-compatible plug-ins.
7. Improved Connectivity and Enhanced Color Support: Import and export
filters have been improved upon, and the ColorSync 2.0-standard color
management system has been licensed from Kodak to ensure accurate
color representation during scanning, display and printing.
8. Ease of Use: A Scrapbook enables quick and easy access to CorelDRAW
clipart, photos, user designs, favorite fills and outlines.
Professionally designed templates, many from PaperDirectT, are
ready-made and just a click away. CorelTUTOR offers step by
step instructions on completing 50 CorelDRAW tasks and a reference
manual provides information on all applications and utilities in the
box.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT 7
This paint and photo retouching application also benefits from the CorelDRAW
7 team's focus on streamlining the user interface. The Property Bar is key
and a new, totally customizable Status Bar has been added. Additions to the
Options dialog such as virtual memory management, Super Nudge and Backup
setting improve the functionality of the application. New internal memory
management has also been added for fast loading, saving and editing of large
image files.
New enhancements include an Object Transparency tool which allows
interactive on-screen adjusters to change the transparency of an object, and
a repeat stroke tool to paint images with a saved brush stroke. An
Interactive Gradient Fill tool provides on-screen drag and adjust to apply
gradient fills to any image, while an image sprayer can paint a series of
realistic images, such as leaves, butterflies and various types of fruit,
onto any Corel PHOTO-PAINT document.
More power is obtained through such enhanced operations as transformations,
a new methodology that significantly improves the rendering of objects
during multiple transformations. Tag WWW URL, found in the Object menu,
adds to the power by allowing users to hyperlink objects for Web images.
Other new/enhanced features include:
ú New transparent layer mode allows for more flexible image compositing
and new bitmap creation.
ú Improved Image Editing tools such as Enhanced Level Equalization ,
Sample/Target Balance, Tone Curve, Read-only Histogram, Enhanced
Effects Preview, Lighting Effects and full support of the Adobe
Format, Acquire, Filter and Export plug-in standards. All help to
further enhance images.
ú More control over the creation of masks with the new Color Mask for
previewing multiple mask overlays, and the Scissors Mask tool for
masking areas of significant tonal/color change.
Corel DREAM 3D
This 3D modeling and rendering application allows users to easily create 3D
illustrations with predefined models and surface textures. A new Scene
Wizard and object links have been incorporated into this version, along with
improved rendering capabilities, camera navigating and object deformation
tools, and better Internet connectivity. A new Corel Default workspace
includes different views of the 3D scene, while the improved Hierarchy View
contains an Effects tab for easier management of the effects. New
interactive Dolly, Pan, and Track tools also help make it easier for users
to navigate through scenes.
New object links including lock, slider, axis, shaft, ball joint, 2D plane
and custom, as well as deformation tools such as Stretch, Shatter, Bend and
Twist, and Scale XYZ, allow users to better manage and modify 3D objects.
Improvements to rendering include preset render settings, more control over
ambient light, new Cloudy Fog Atmosphere and Backdrop. As rendering reduces
files from a 3D computer scene to a 2D image, these new features allow users
to significantly improve their output. To achieve more realistic rendering
effects, reflected backgrounds have also been included.
System Requirements
Users will require a minimum of a Pentium 60 (Pentium 120 recommended), 16
MB of RAM (32 MB recommended), 40 MB of hard disk space to install
CorelDRAW, Help, filters and fonts, a CD-ROM player (double-speed or higher
recommended), a Mouse or Tablet, VGA display (SVGA recommended) and Windows
95 or Windows NT 4.0. Users may customize the installation to suit their
purposes by choosing options such as minimum or custom install.
Pricing and Availability
Scheduled to begin shipping by mid-November, CorelDRAW 7 will be available
for a suggested list price of $695 US, with an upgrade price of $249 US for
users of any version of CorelDRAW from either the Windows or Macintosh
platform. Corel VENTURAT and Corelr Office Professional 7 users will also
be able to take advantage of this upgrade price.
Technical Support Policy
Corel will offer 90 days of free support on a toll line from the official
release date of the product. Thereafter, customers, who do not call within
the first 90 days, will be offered 30 days of free support on a toll line
from the date of their first technical support call.
Corel provides these additional support options:
ú IVAN: Corel's Interactive Voice Answering Network that provides
customers with rapid access to the most current product information.
Customers can obtain this service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on
a toll line by calling 613-728-7070.
ú Bulletin Board Service (BBS): A 24-hour information resource that lets
customers access product information and helpful program files. To
contact the BBS, customers may dial 613-728-4752.
ú Automated Fax System: Customers may obtain faxes of technical
information by dialing 613-728-0826 ext. 3080 and requesting
document number 2000 for a catalogue of available documents.
ú CompuServe Information Services: CompuServer subscribers can access the
Corel Technical Support forum by typing GO COREL.
ú Corel's Home Page: An Internet World Wide Web site with product and
technical information. Customers may access Corel's site at
http://www.corel.com.
Corel Announces 1996 Design Contest Winners
International Panel of Judges Honor Computer Artists from Europe, the United
States and Canada
Ottawa, Canada - October 9, 1996 - Eight international artists collected
top honors in Corel's $3 million World Design Contest, held at the Corel
Center in Ottawa, Canada on October 8, 1996. The seventh annual event drew
more than 5000 entries (by 1800 individuals) from over 60 countries
worldwide.
The "Best of Show" prize was awarded to John Corkery of the United States
for his design entitled "Hedy Lamarr." The "Best of Show" prize package is
valued at $250,000 US, including cash and prizes from Corel, Lexmark, RICOH,
Hewlett Packard, Steelcase, Canon, Technics and Montage Graphics. Nasser
Sharif of the United Kingdom won in the Goodwill Poster Category with his
entry entitled "Peace - Who Gives a Damn?"
"This gala awards night showcases some of the best digital artwork in the
industry," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer
of Corel Corporation. "With $3 million in prizes and $250,000 awarded to
the overall winner, the Corel World Design Contest is the largest of its
kind in the world."
Of the finalists, the following Grand Prize winners were selected in the
following 8 categories:
People, Plants and Animals John Corkery, USA
Landscapes and Landmarks Antonio De Leo, Italy
Page Layout Tomasz Wawrzyczek, Poland
Corporate Identification Ron Richey, Canada
Specialty Silvio Martins Alegre, Brazil
Goodwill Poster Nasser Sharif, United Kingdon
Technical Huan Le Tran, Canada
Abstracts Giovanni Re, Italy
All images are available for download at
http://www.corel.com/contests/worlddesign/.
Grand Prize packages are valued at $30,000 US and consist of cash and prizes
from Corel, Lexmark, Micron, Sony, Intel, Kodak, Hewlett Packard, NEC,
Wacom, Panasonic and Diamond. Corel also offered round-trip airfare and
accommodation, along with $1,000 in spending money, as part of each
finalist's prize package.
Corel will publish the designs from the 1996 $3 million World Design Contest
in Corel ArtShowT 7, a full-color coffee-table book with a companion
multimedia CD-ROM to be available by late November 1996.
Corel Corporation
Incorporated in 1985, Corel Corporation is recognized internationally as an
award-winning developer and marketer of productivity applications, graphics
and multimedia software. Corel's product line includes CorelDRAWT, Corelr
WordPerfectr Suite 7, Corelr Office Professional, CorelCADT, CorelVIDEOT and
over 30 multimedia software titles. Corel's products run on most operating
systems, including: Windows, Macintoshr, UNIX, MS-DOS and OS/2 and are
consistently rated among the strongest in the industry. The company ships
its products in over 17 languages through a network of more than 160
distributors in 70 countries world-wide. Corel is traded on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (symbol: COS) and on NASDAQ-National Market System
(symbol:COSFF). For more information visit Corel's home page on the Internet
at http://www.corel.com. Corel and WordPerfect are registered trademarks
and CorelDRAW, CorelVIDEO and CorelCAD are trademarks of Corel Corporation
or Corel Corporation Limited. Java and other Java-based names are
trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. and refer to Sun's Java technologies.
Netscape and Netscape Communications are trademarks of Netscape
Communications Corporation. All products mentioned are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Kids Computing Corner
Frank Sereno, Editor
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ARCADE HITS OF ALL
TIMES SHOOTS ON TO WIN 95, MAC AND SATURN
Irvine, California -- Interplay Productions announced today that one of the
all-time favorite arcade hits, Tempest 2000 T will be coming to Win 95, Mac
and SEGA, SaturnT. Tempest 2000 revives the legend with enemies, bonus
levels, awesome weapons, dazzling visual effects and a techno-rave
soundtrack.
The popularity of this classic arcade mega-hit perpetuates Tempest 2000 to
garners who can now play it-on their home systems. Gamers will be able to
play three new versions of the arcade legend: Tempest 2000, Tempest Plus,
and Tempest Duel, plus the original. High-resolution graphics with
cycle-shading and polygons are used to give the creatures and web a 3D feel.
The psychedelic web and stunning explosions that transform into large
geometric formations deliver compelling visuals. Over ninety levels with
awesome enemies, weapons and power-ups will keep garners addicted to this
arcade hit.
"Tempest 2000 was the definitive arcade shooter game that drove the sales of
the Jaguar console system and kept it alive," said Trish Wright, Interplay's
vice president of Tempest 2000 is coming to new home systems with
enhancements that sets it apart from the graphic styles typical of today's
games." Along with strong classic game play, Tempest 2000 has two player
modes that include cooperative and competitive play. Players can enlist the
help of an AI droid when the going gets tough, and there are bonus warp
worlds that add new dimensions to the game. CD-quality techno-rave music
keeps up with the fast-paced action of Tempest 2000.
"The simple controls, fast-paced action and 3D perspectives make Tempest
2000, intense, addicting and fresh," said Rob Pardo, Interplay's producer.
"The improvements over the original puts Tempest 2000 steps ahead of other
arcade classics that have been converted for home systems."
The concept of Tempest 2000 is simple: gamers play the blaster at the end of
a web, and the mission is to keep the enemy from reaching the end of the
web. Once garners start, they will remember why this was one of the most
popular arcade hits of all time. Tempest 2000 is developed by High Voltage
and published by Interplay for the SEGA Saturn and Mac. The Win 95 version
is developed by Imagitec Design, Inc. and published by Interplay. The Win 95
and Mac versions will be available October 22, 1996. The SEGA Saturn version
will be available November 19, 1996.
Founded in 1983, Interplay Productions is a company dedicated to
manufacturing and distributing a wide range of award-winning entertainment
and educational software designed by gainers, for gainers. Interplay
releases products through Interplay, Brainstorm, MacPlay, VR Sports and
Shiny Entertainment and its affiliated labels for personal computers as well
as leading console game platforms. In addition, the company's OEM division
represents a wide variety of publishers software to the OEM community for
hardware bundling. More comprehensive information on Interplay and its
products is available through the company's worldwide web site at
http://www.interplay.com.
Gaming & Entertainment Section
with Atari User Support
Editor Dana P. Jacobson
From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
It's about mid-week as I sit here putting together most of this week's
column. Alas, I just don't have anything that's newsworthy to report to you
this week. There are a few things that we're working on but I can't talk
about them yet; I don't want to say we'll have some info and then have it
fall through!
I do want to take a second to apologize to you, as readers, as well as Matt
Norcross from Floating Fish Studios regarding our "Bird of Prey" CD review.
Matt generously supplied us with a CD for review and I still haven't found
the time to complete the review. While I could rush and get a review out, I
don't feel that this would be fair to you, or Matt's product. I feel that
it's responsible to really thoroughly check out the product and do a good
job. That, I intend to do. I just feel bad that it's taking so long.
For those of you concerned that Joe Mirando's "People Are Talking" column
might have disappeared forever - rest assured that it's been missing due to
the fact that Joe has been ill for a few weeks and it's been difficult for
him to work on a column. Nothing serious, but enough to incapacitate him in
that endeavor. I can certainly relate and sympathize with him after my bout
with double pneumonia a few years ago. Being that sick is certainly no
picnic. We hope to see Joe's column again shortly - maybe even this week.
Until next time...
Entertainment Section
Sony Files Suit!
Reaction to Don Thomas's 'Did Anyone Hear A Goodbye' Letter!
From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
Things have quieted down on the Nintendo 64 front, although I must say that
I've seen a couple of N64 commercials on television that are really
terrible! If the shots that were included is any indication of the N64's
power and excitement, I'm glad I own my Jaguars! And why is Nintendo
advertising a product that no one can find? Excess marketing monies? Atari
should have been so fortunate...
Don Thomas' public letter last week has caused a LOT of feedback, 99% of it
was very positive and created an atmosphere of nostalgia. I think I've only
seen one or two messages that were negative (one appears below). A number
of the messages were solicited from Don and I've received permission to re-
print them. I believe that these messages really convey a deep
appreciation for the Atari hardware that many of us continue to enjoy using;
they also show the appreciation for what Don Thomas tried to accomplish
while at Atari. It's only fitting that these thoughts be brought out into
the public for everyone to see. Although I conveyed my thanks to Don and
those whose messages I'll be re-printing, in private - I wish to do the same
here.
The messages that I received were all sent to Don in private e-mail. For
most people, e-mail is used to convey personal thoughts that may not be said
in the same manner if they were public. I can appreciate that and I'm
grateful to all who gave their permission to relate their thoughts. For the
record, I didn't receive a single response asking me to not print their
mail.
Those responses make up the bulk of this week's issue. Not because of the
number of letters, but because it's been an extremely quiet week for gaming
entertainment news. I'm still waiting to hear more from Sony and Nintendo
to start getting on their regular mailing distribution as well as their
product review system. On the Jaguar front, I am still trying to get in
touch with Telegames regarding the games that they're publishing in the next
couple of months. The Jaguar isn't dead yet, regardless of what Atari's
"status" is these days. It might not be a lot, but you have to appreciate
Telegames' chutzpah!
Until next time...
Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News!
Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Files Suit
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Oct. 11) BUSINESS WIRE -Oct. 11, 1996--In an effort to
strongly protect its intellectual property rights related to the PlayStation
game console and PlayStation software, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)
has filed several lawsuits under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt
Organization Act (RICO), as well as the trademark and copyright laws,
against companies that allegedly are selling counterfeit and grey market
PlayStation games.
In a coordinated litigation effort, SIE has sued companies based in New
York, Toronto, Miami and Orange County, Calif. One of the lawsuits charges
that National Console Support and other companies have marketed a device
which enables counterfeit and grey market games to operate on the
PlayStation game console and therefore contributes to the infringement of
copyrights and trademarks controlled by SIE.
Companion suits filed simultaneously charge Super Collector and Video Games
Plus with unlawfully selling and distributing counterfeit games in the
United States. The companies are accused of marketing and selling these
games via the Internet, e-mail, and the U.S. Mail.
"On behalf of the consumers that purchase the PlayStation and its games, we
will go to any length to protect the integrity of our products," said Riley
Russell, director, legal and business affairs, Sony Computer Entertainment
America. "We hope this suit sends a clear message that Sony will not
tolerate illegal actions as they relate to our products and that we will
vigorously prosecute all infringements to the greatest extent of the law."
Sony Interactive Entertainment's actions take advantage of an amendment to
the RICO act recently signed into law by President Clinton. The reach of
the act was expanded to permit suits against organizations dealing in
pirated intellectual property, particularly counterfeit goods or goods
bearing counterfeit marks. The lawsuits seek to impound infringing products
in addition to recovery of damages.
"We believe that these actions may be the first of their kind since the
Congress amended the RICO act to include counterfeiting as a predicate
offense to protect intellectual property," said Joel Linzner, attorney,
Townsend and Townsend of San Francisco. "The amendments not only allow Sony
Interactive Entertainment to recover damages for the sale of counterfeit
games developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, but also counterfeit
versions of PlayStation games developed by licensed third-party publishers."
Counterfeit and grey market copies of PlayStation games will not run on the
U.S. version of the PlayStation game console and typically do not have a
game manual, or include a manual in Japanese. In addition, counterfeit
PlayStation software may cause unnecessary damage to the hardware unit.
Genuine approved PlayStation software goes through several stages of
rigorous quality assurance testing to ensure hardware compatibility and
reliability. Counterfeit software could incorporate changes to the content
on the CD which can cause a game to repeatedly attempt to seek to a non-
existent file, which could cause failure of the user's PlayStation.
"Sony Computer Entertainment has developed a unique process to color the
disc black," Russell added. "To date, counterfeiters have been unable to
duplicate this process. If a consumer has a question about the legitimacy
of a game, they should flip the disc over and look for the black back."
Consumers who find counterfeit games should call Sony Computer Entertainment
America's hotline at 800/345-SONY.
Sony Computer Entertainment America, a division of Sony Interactive
Entertainment Inc., is based in Foster City, Calif. The company markets the
PlayStation game console for distribution in North America, publishes
software for the PlayStation game console for the North American market, and
manages the U.S. third party licensing program. Sony Interactive
Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.
Jaguar Online STR InfoFile - Online Users Growl & Purr!
A Rebuttal to Don Thomas
From: Mike Farren <farren@shore.net>
>Atari enjoyed moderate success with the Jaguar system and managed to lure
shallow promises from third-party companies to support the system. Hardly
shallow. What Atari didn't provide to third-party companies was, very
simply, sales. It barely made sense to develop for the Jaguar at all. Add
on the fact that if you did, you wouldn't make anything like the money you
could on any of a number of other systems, and do you wonder why most big
names stayed far, far away from a time and money suck?
>Jack's introduction of the 16-bit computer was initially hearty in the
United States but it went extremely well in Europe. <
For a while. Then, the limitations of the ST became clear, the advantages
of the Amiga even clearer, and Atari's sales in Europe plummeted.
>On a technical level, Atari 16-bit computers were designed beyond their
time.<
On a technical level, Atari STs were crap. Limited, badly built, with
capabilities considerably less than the competition offered and never
significantly enhanced. The only thing they had going for them was the fact
they were cheap.
>For less than $1,000, consumers could enjoy "multimedia" before the phrase
was ever really widely used.
>"Multimedia" predated the ST by more than a decade.
The icon-based working environment proceeded Windows popularity although the
essential attributes of the two environments were very similar. Yep. They
both worked badly. TOS/GEM was a joke. MIDI was built-in and became an
instant hit in the high-end music industry. It became an instant hit in the
*low* end music industry. The high end used, and uses, Macs.
>Clearly, Jack's experience with the world beating a path to the door of a
company making a better mousetrap no longer applied. <
Jack Tramiel wouldn't know a better mousetrap if it snapped shut on his
d***. What he built were *cheaper* mousetraps. Too bad that "cheaper" mean
cheaper in every sense of the word.
>Apple Computer was born in a garage by ex-Atari employees. Only one of
them.<
Woz never worked as an Atari employee, only a consultant/contractor on a
very low level. And Jobs wasn't exactly their shining star, either.
>Why has no company stepped forward to adopt the remaining attributes Atari
has to offer?<
Because those attributes are confined to debt, a very small market, and a
completely obsolete product. Not the best of things to go out and buy,
IMHO, unless the price were *really* cheap. Like $10,000.
>I'd spend money for a thorough retrospect on Atari. Wouldn't you?<
Only if it were honest. That'd be enough to provide a laugh or two. Be sure
and include the number of times Atari has been refused credit by components
suppliers (they're legendary), the number of times they announced products
which never shipped, the number of times they had breakthrough technology in
their hands and let it slip away, their unique view of what "developer
support" meant, and their inability to manufacture a decent, reliable
product regardless of cost. And don't forget to tell the story of what
happened to the *original* 16-bit 68000 computer, and why the only thing
left of it after Tramiel got finished gutting the project was the image of
J.R. "Bob" Dobbs in the ST's character set ROM...
Don Thomas replies:
Mike Farren,
A message of your was recently forwarded to me and I am delighted to reply.
>Atari enjoyed moderate success with the Jaguar system and managed to lure
shallow promises from third-party companies to support the system. Hardly
shallow. What Atari didn't provide to third-party companies was, very
simply, sales. It barely made sense to develop for the Jaguar at all. Add
on the fact that if you did, you wouldn't make anything like the money you
could on any of a number of other systems, and
do you wonder why most big names stayed far, far away from a time and money
suck?<
I apologize for offending you and I can see how my choice of words may not
have been the best. However, my summary is pretty factual, so I'll be happy
to explain my position to your reaction. You are correct that it "barely
made sense to develop for the Jaguar at all". I think the majority of my
article emphasized over and over that Atari never came close to critical
mass. When I referred to "shallow" promises, I am speaking of the fact that
a great number of huge companies indicated early support with promises to
convert their already successful titles on other systems to the Jaguar.
I don't blame them for not following through considering how weak the Jaguar
was in the marketplace, but that doesn't change the fact that they virtually
"promised" support by publishing Jaguar titles and they didn't follow
through. Regardless of the reasons why, such promises were "shallow". I do
not wish to pick on any one of the companies because it's not my role to
single any out, but it does apply to several of the large companies.
>For a while. Then, the limitations of the ST became clear, the advantages
of the Amiga even clearer, and Atari's sales in Europe plummeted.<
Yes, I pointed out how Atari lost any footing in Europe, however, the Amiga
suffered the same history as did the Atari computers and for much the same
reasons. In fact, Commodore closed shop long before Atari did.
>>On a technical level, Atari STs were crap...
I don't recall using foul words in my article. Furthermore, such an
expression is an opinion. I have learned long ago that it is pointless to
argue opinions. If you post your opinion in Commodore support forums,
everyone will agree. If you post it in an Atari support area, everyone will
disagree. Personally, I think it's silly to argue which of two obsolete
machines made by defunct companies may have had a few more features over
another when either had no relevance to purpose of my vigil to Atari and
both are largely based on personal preferences.
>For less than $1,000, consumers could enjoy "multimedia" before the phrase
was ever really widely used. "Multimedia" predated the ST by more than a
decade.<
If you were to make your statement to argue with me accurately, you would
have to say:
"'Multimedia' was a phrase which was widely used by the home computer
industry since the mid 70's; more than a decade before Atari launched the
520 ST". In fact, as you and I both know, the term "multimedia" was *not* a
catch phrase within the home computer industry in the seventies and most of
the eighties.
>Yep. They both worked badly. TOS/GEM was a joke.<
Again, a personal opinion.
>MIDI was built-in and became an instant hit in the high-end music
industry. It became an instant hit in the *low* end music industry. The
high end used, and uses, Macs.<
I apologize. How in the world did I conclude that Fleetwood Mac, the Pointer
Sister's Band, Arsenio Hall's Posse and hundreds others were part of the
high-end industry? My mistake.
>Jack Tramiel wouldn't know a better mousetrap if it snapped shut on his
@#$%.<
End of conversation. Your inclination to use foul expressions is indicative
of what kind of person you must be. I have no desire to communicate with you
any further.
--Don Thomas
And on a more positive note...
FR: Dana Jacobson 10/5/96 71051,3327
Don,
Very nice article. Let's hope people "take to the streets" to try and find
some answers. I will certainly do my part! <g>
Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
FR: Mario Perdue 10/5/96 71524,207
Don, Great letter. Thanks for copying me on it. As you know, things are a
bit different for me. I'm still a Jaguar developer. (I guess I the last of a
dying breed.) So Atari/JTS is still a company I do business with (they need
me to help unload the warehouse.) But you're right, their passing is really
sad. BTW, rumor has it that Breakout 2000 will actually be released soon.
The official announcement should come any time now.
Mario
PS: How's it going at Sony? Tell Bill, Mike and everyone else I know there,
I said "Hi."
Sender: mgrove@ridgecrest.ca.us
As I walk through the local thrift shop with my 13 year old son, we both
jump with excitement as we find a 1040ST and SC1224 for only $10.00. We both
run to gather the hardware. It looks almost new. A lady across from us
notices the outburst and then points to an old XT keyboard and says "here's
another over here." We hardly noticed her. It took a few minutes to set in.
Then, at almost the same instant, we both remembered. Atari died. As it is
with most children, when their parents pass on to early, they feel betrayed.
No good bye's, no last words.
It's the only emotion left of the Atari Corporations name that I have.
Betrayed. After a good game of AVP or Primal Rage, or a trip with Apex
Media we both look at each other and wonder how this could happen. However,
this IS hardware were talking about. The rest of the family is still here. I
talk to one of them everyday. There was a movie called Short Circuit. In
this movie, "Johnny Five", a robot of sorts, was brought back to life. It
seems so simple. Just like in Never Ending Story. All you have to do it to
give it a new name. Wizztronics was willing to do this. All they needed
was the right to include TOS in their operating system.
Something that many others have done in the past, and some are currently
doing. It's just that their out of reach of the American Patent laws. Never
the less, Wizztronics is bound to United States law, and the whims of the
former Atari CEO. What made this system so desirable was that it is based on
probably the most advanced "outdated" machine of this time, the Atari Falcon
030. If this was the future, and Jack had the money to live on as a clone,
do you think he would not do this for himself? As one last great gesture
Jack, let the world you created live on. You don't have to give it away, but
for TOS's sake, make them a reasonable offer. We don't need another set-top-
box. Thank you Don, for the Atari Warehouse sales. I felt that I recovered
the $250.00 I paid on our first Jaguar:)
With Respect, (and please excuse the spelling)
Michael and Son, Jason Grove.
3 Atari Falcons
1 MegaSTE
1 MegaST
4 1040ST's
1 TT 030
6 SC1224's
1 SC1435
1 800
1 800XL
1 800XE
2 Jaguars
1 Jag CD Rom
2 2600's
1 7800
No Saturn
No Playstation
No Nintendo 64
accessories upon accessories
and finally, Pong.........
Sender: mbrent@awinc.com
Thank you for writing that, Don... if nobody else ever does a tribute, that
was a touching and fitting tribute to Atari... and I dare say it had me
dreaming back to the days when Atari was the "big" one... when I swore I
would one day make games for Atari. :)
I came close, I think... myself and a few friends worked very hard to try
and do work for the Jaguar... we had our design, our team, our time and
motivation.. we needed only a devkit.. we kept hitting walls,
unfortunately... eventually the experience left myself and my main partner
rather soured. My partner wrote a rather tongue-in-cheek timeline of our
experience at his web page, if you have time to check it out, at
http://www2.awinc.com/users/ghaddrell
... it's not glamourous... but it's sometimes amusing.. and sadly true.
Perhaps... we tried to push a bit too hard... a company that was already
pushed on all sides. Anyway... I have taken enough of your time. I hope all
is well for you at your new job... and I'm forwarding your mail to the main
"local" paper, anyway. (Vancouver Province). I also sent a note to dateline
as you suggested... I suspect they'll get a "few" notes. :)
Sender: cb541@piglet.ins.cwru.edu
Don. Thanks for the article. Have you seen the article about Atari in Oct.
'Wired' mag? It has a flow chart of dozens of people and developments of
Atari over the years. So, I can't figure how to get an article about Atari
from dateline@nbc.com. I www.nbc.com, but there was no dateline I could see
with my Lynx browser. How do I get this 'Goodbye' article about Atari from
the e-mail address?
Thanks, and good luck.
Sender: beancity@newport.ntcnet.com
Don,
I have owned the 2600, 7800, Jaguar, Lynx, 400, 1200XL, 128 (I think it was
called), 512 & 1040ST. I have supported Atari and enjoyed their
hardware/software through the years. I'm sorry to see them go. If you hear
of any deals to purchase Lynx products from the one warehouse you mentioned,
let me know. Good Luck with Playstation. The King is dead, long live the
King.
--
MikeJ
Sender: j.trautschol@genie.geis.com
Goodbye Atari...
And thanks for the retrospective Don. Great job. It truly is a sad
ending... :-(
John
Sender: cudabert@magicnet.net
Donald,
Thanks for your email! I'm sure you have plenty of responses to wade
through, so I'll keep this short. I've been a regular on
rec.games.video.classic for over two years now, and I'm an avid (read:
rabid) 2600 collector. I have over 300 distinct 2600 games in my
collection, and although my wall unit is hardly a 'vault', I do keep all my
equipment in great condition and it includes many items still in shrinkwrap.
I also have a 7800, a Lynx (thanks to your Wacky sales), and I've used/owned
Atari computers since 1979. I show my collection to everyone who visits,
and the reaction is almost always the same. Usually the conversation goes
like this:
Bud: "Uh-huh...I think I had an Atari. I had *all* the games for it!" Me:
"Oh, then you'll probably recognize all of these..."
Bud: "Oh...my....gawd!"
Then we'll sit and handle a number of the cartridges, picking out old
favorites and some of the more unusual ones, usually playing some of them.
I've had people go home afterward and pull their Atari out of the closet and
start messing with it all over again.
Anyway, my point is that of the collectors on RGVC, my collection is
probably pretty unremarkable. Some people have tons of stuff. But each of us
does help remind others that Atari was *the* company to compete against at
one time, and Atari had some great products. In fact, some RGVC members have
produced new games for the Atari. So, rest assured, Atari is missed by some
and isn't likely to be forgotten as long as we're still around.
In closing, I'd like to ask you something. Some members of RGVC are
interested in writing games for the 7800, but without knowing more about the
numbers used in the 7800 checksum scheme, there is no way to write a game
without distributing a set of custom ROMs. I am aware that the information
about the checksum has not been publicly released, and I was wondering if
you knew who held the rights to it now?
Thanks, and good luck to you.
Bert Whetstone
Sender: dbush@aldus.northnet.org
Hey Don,
How's things at SONY????? I tried out Crash Bandicoot at the local Toys R
Us. I have to agree with an article I read in the local newspaper .it beats
the hell out of Sega's Knights and the new Mario game. At the moment
I'd buy a Sony system over all others.
Obviously that isn't the reason I'm writing. I found your article very
interesting. I too have questions, and have written nbc as requested. A
copy of my letter is below for your reading enjoyment. I'm lucky that I
have a good electronics knowledge. I had a 3rd lynx that I picked up from
someone on the net. Well this guy always used an ac adapter and the thing
had -OLD- corroded batteries inside. I can't exactly send it to Atari for
repair, so I ended up disassembling the thing and cleaning it up. It was
horrible! One of the springs was totally gone! I ended up using a spring
from a pen to fix it. Not exactly a direct replacement, but it worked. Now
my 4 year old son has "his own Lynx" which will keep him happy.
I hope everything works out with a story on Atari. I hope you will keep us
all informed if there is a story so we can make sure we watch it.
Keep in touch,
- Dave Bush
I was contacted by a former representative of Atari that wanted Atari fans
to send a letter expressing how we feel. I own 3 Atari Lynx systems, and
previously owned one of their computing marvels of the 1980's - the 520 ST.
I still use my Lynx systems quite regularly. I have a 4 year old son with a
heart condition and the Lynx is excellent for keeping him amused at the
doctor's office.
I first became familiar with the Lynx in 1990 while working for Electronics
Boutique. At the time there were three handheld systems on the market (Turbo
Graphics hand held the Turbo Express, Nintendo's game boy, and Atari's Lynx
- a fourth was released within the following year, the Sega Game Gear). The
Atari Lynx was by far and large the best of the four. The main problem with
the Lynx is that Atari owned it. Epyx originally designed it and sold it's
rights to Atari, so this excellent system went from one economically doomed
company to another.
Atari never had the funds or the marketing ability to properly market the
Lynx. As such, I sold Game Boy and Game Gear systems by the dozens for every
couple of Lynx systems I sold at Electronics Boutique. (The Turbo Express,
while an excellent system, was very overpriced as well as being in very
short supply. As such - people got upset that they couldn't find the system,
so they gave up on it.)
So now I have 3 Lynx units with a full complement of games, and would like
to find additional games that were manufactured. No retailer wants to
dedicate space to these systems because they are "dead". I cannot find any
access to where I can buy these games through whatever happened to Atari. I
understand that there is a warehouse of equipment out there, but I as well
as a bunch of other Lynx enthusiasts all wonder what will ever happen to it
all. Naturally we'd love to get our hands on it.
Surely Atari has left over debts from the Lynx and Jaguar systems that were
passed to Atari's new owners. Wouldn't these owners like our cash for those
games to help pay some of this debt? Maybe I'm rambling, but it seems very
strange to me that an entire company - a former industry mover and shaker no
less - can just disappear one day without a trace. Surely there is a story
in there some where.
Please feel free to contact me. My personal information is as follows:
Dave Bush
[Info deleted]
dbush@aldus.northnet.org
Thank you,- Dave Bush
Sender: mkudd@aol.com
Hello Don,
I just received a copy of your Atari article. I would have paid for it if I
had to, it was that good. Maybe you should write the book yourself? I'm 29
years old, and played Pong as an 8 year old. I saved $$ from a paper route
at the age of 11 to buy a 2600. I was constantly fascinated by Atari's
arcade games - I feel they made the best, and that they were the true
innovators. Atari was the arcade. I currently own a mint Gravitar, Space
Duel, Major Havoc, and Black Widow. I restored them to pristine condition -
they are like classic cars to me. I got to go to Sunnyvale in 1982 to play
in the national Gravitar tournament, representing the northeast US... I will
never forget this.
It is really sad to think that the company is gone. I think there should be
a documentary on PBS or something. They were the fastest growing company in
the history of the U.S., and possibly the world. It was Atari that created a
nationwide shortage of quarters, and tried to cure the problem with
lobbyists who brought us the SBA dollar coin. I feel Atari has had the
greatest assembly of talent in the world within a 15 year period, the only
rival would be NASA between 1962-1972. Thanks again, and please feel free
to message me back if you want to talk more.
Michael Kelley
Sender: d.fangmann@genie.geis.com
Don -
Thanks for the info, very interesting. Atari's computers are brilliant
examples of 'ahead of its time' technology. They never got the widespread
coverage they surely deserved. I myself have been using Atari Computers
since 1985. Still use the MEGA STE + a Pentium machine. Also have the Lynx
and Jaguar. It's a real shame what happened to Atari and now the same thing
is going on at Genie at the ST Roundtable. Soon, it to, I believe will be a
thing of the past. Thanks for your 'Internet Deals' and for the info on
Atari. Keep in touch.
Daniel Fangmann
dfangmann@worldnet.att.net
Sender: d.iacovelli1@genie.geis.com
Don,
That letter was very well said. And to put your mind to rest I too also did
a special article in my Fanzine (Which should be mailed out by next week)
called "The end of an era, or Is it". It goes to the video game wars from
the 8-bit years till today and it explained how Atari was the king of games
and how it fell. At the end of article It states the Jaguar may be dead but
the Spirit of Atari still lives on.
dan
ps. I don't know if you knew about this but there's a petition on the net to
have telegames produce all the unfinished games Atari did not to mention a
underground group of programmers are working on making shareware games for
the Jag also. (I'll post your letter in my next issue)
Sender: fxites@aol.com
Hi Don,
I'll make this quick, I'm sure you've been flooded with mail, but I just
needed to thank you for the very moving and inspirational letter of yours
which I just read. I'm sure that I speak for those who have not written you,
we appreciate all you've done for the Atari loving public, and will always
associate your name with the best Atari ever had to offer.
Sincerely,
Jon Savory
Sender: gonzalez@lainet.com
Don,
Good to hear from you once again....I thought that you would be lost in Sony
land and not heard from anymore! :-) I read your letter on saying
goodbye...I personally think its 'bull **** that everyone has passed on the
passing of Atari without saying a word. I have posted your letter on my
home page (the first page that comes up) and hopefully we'll get some people
to honor this unfortunate thing in the correct way that it should be done.
Talk to ya later!
juan
p.s. got any crash bandicoot stuffed animals that you wanna get rid of?
hehee He's a funny character!!
Sender: robert.coleman@ncal.kaiperm.org
Don,
Thanks for all the time and effort that went in to composing this letter. It
is a poignant epitaph to Atari's rise and slow burnout into computer
oblivion. I don't know how many Atarians are still out there. I still keep
in contact with friends through GEnie (my current on-line network) and there
is still a large database of topics and categories on GEnie that caters to
those of us who still use our Atari computers. Though the amount of activity
has certainly dwindled down over the past years. It wouldn't surprise me if
GEnie decided one day to archive the whole Atari section and free up their
hard drive space :(
I certainly have a wealth of Atari history to fall back on. I still have
the complete collection of STart magazines and 90% of ST Informer magazines.
I also have a very large collection of the European mags, ST Action
(primarily a gaming mag) and ST Format (of which I discontinued my
subscription last year when I realized they were becoming redundant in their
articles and there was just nothing more they could say that was new or
unique).
Our family now lives in 3 computer worlds. My wife is a teacher and uses a
grading program on the Macintosh almost exclusively. She composes handouts
and posters on the ST for her classroom. We have 4 ST's still: two at home,
one at school and one stored away for future use or backup. Then there's the
Toshiba laptop I recently purchased for work and "real games" that never
came out on the ST. Windoz 95 + a fast processor + color graphics and sound
+ CD ROM drive = computer bliss. Our kids still use the ST for report
writing and my son is a heavy game addict. He uses the Toshiba almost
exclusively now; wouldn't you after seeing what is out there for the PC?
I still enjoy using the ST and do not plan to switch (yet). I've got too
much money invested in software and hardware! :o
I'll pass your message along to other present and past Atarians. If there
is any historical documentation you might be looking for, keep in touch, I
may have some materials that would be of interest to you. Hey, there might
even be another Sacramento Atari Show next year!!
Best regards,
Bob Coleman
Sender: abaggs@beta.is.tcu.edu
Don:
Thank you for your recent E-mail. I will send an E-mail to Dateline. Maybe
we will see a story. Did you see the detailed story on the history of Atari
in the recent addition of Wired Magazine? You might want to pick it up.
I am curious as to the status of all the Jaguar games that were completed or
near completion. John Scruch (sp?) insists that they are still working on
new games. How could that be with such a small staff? Also, I believe their
was a lawsuit filed in the mid-1980's against Mattel for not releasing an
advertised keyboard add-on for the Intellivision. I wonder if anyone would
have a case against Atari for the slew of unreleased products.
I saw a VR system by Virtuality at Six Flags recently. It was playing
Missile Command 2000. I assume this was the system planned for home use by
Atari and Virtuality.
Thanks again for the message, Don.
Adam Baggs
FR: Jon D. Sanford 73223,3243
>The disappearance of Atari should rate up there with a lot of big news
events. Why isn't anyone in the mainstream media doing anything? <
IMHO the Mainstream Media doesn't do anything it doesn't get paid for. To
quote a journalist i know "There is no censorship but. You learn not to
write anything that wont be accepted" We need to get used to the idea that
news is advertising.
Sender: stuart@hal.com
Just a note to say Thanks:
I'm sure that you'll get some very annoyed responses from your mailing,
stuff to the effect of "That was Last Week! Atari is History. Don't Waste
Bandwidth." Here's my 2 cents: Thanks for writing. I'm not a History major,
but I've always been fascinated with the "stories behind the technology." As
"History is written by the victors," Apple, H-P, Microsoft, and (recently)
even Intel folks have written "how the miracle happened" books. History
helps us understand who we are, and how we got this way; for example, I've
always marvelled at how many standards came about by accident.
Atari's sorry ending doesn't make its story any less compelling; we just
need somebody to write it down. I'm not at all sure the best party to do
this is MSNBC, either. I would suggest a book. My first thought was "He's
interested, he's articulate, he's knows all the stories, so Mr. Thomas
should write it." Then it occurred to me that you may not feel adequate to
the task.
Well, maybe you just need a nudge, or some advice. Don't ask me; I know
nothing of book authoring or publishing, and "anything is easy for the man
who doesn't have to do it." However, there are many successful authors of
similar books that you could talk to. While writing this, several names
occurred to me:
Michael Malone Author of "The Big Score," (I haven't read it yet) and many
other works chronicling the growth of the Valley. Occasionally writes an
article in the Mercury News.
Leigh Weimers (sp?)
Regular column in the Mercury. Wrote a short "Guide to the Silicon Valley,"
including a self-guided tour of the original sites of many important Valley
institutions. Atari's former HQ is on the tour.
? Kaplan Former CEO of GO, recently profiled as the CEO of www.onsale.com .
I understand he wrote a book about his experience at GO (I haven't read it).
You may think of many others, possibly better qualified than my list. Mr.
Kaplan merits mention as someone that has written a book similar to what
seems to be needed, yet he has no incentive to write Atari's story himself.
Some questions for you: Who knows all the stories? The Actors? The Places? I
know nothing of any of these, except that you clearly know a great deal.
Even if you don't write the book yourself, you could at least work with a
"Ghost Writer." (In my opinion, your command of english is more than
sufficient to write such a book.)
I would meekly suggest you speak with these folks, and (especially) their
publishers. The folks that print and sell such books probably have a good
idea of what works (and sells). (You already know the frustration of
crafting a superior product that doesn't
sender.nelson48@genie.geis.com
Don ~
What a wonderful article. How strange to feel nostalgia so strongly in so
short a time!
Because of you and your wacky warehouse sale I own a TT that I could never
otherwise afford. It is a great machine and I will use it for years to come
while the IBM clones laugh at me. But I turn out product as fine and as
quickly as they do, so who has the best laugh?
Sure, someday Atari will no longer compete, maybe in two years, maybe less
the desire to get on the net in full color with a good browser or use a CD
ROM with proper software will make me break down, but in a year or two won't
those IBM machines have grown ever so much more like our basic ATARI? U
know, User friendly. Maybe they will even allow you to remove and insert
disks without telling them first that you are about to do it.
Anyway, thanks for posting. It made my night!
(:{ Grouch.
Sender: jsb@fkq.com
Great piece. I'm not an Atari person, but I've always respected the
technology and innovation.
Signed - A Mac fanatic
Sender: stuart.ewen@barrhead.wwquaker.quakereurope.gb.sprint.com
Don
I enjoyed your article, and I too would like to know what exactly happened
to the once giant of the video games industry. Especially after splashing
out on a Jaguar and now feeling the squeeze of software availability. It
seems to me it's only ever the connoisseurs of computers that appreciate the
best tool for the job, or the best system for the game, and sadly there just
ain't enough connoisseurs. I'll definitely miss those bassy overtones that
seem to be deliberately programmed into each and every Atari product.
Sigh...
Anyway, before I go mailing dateline@nbc.com, what/who is it?
Thanks.
Rgds
Stuart
Sender: layne@sonic.net
Dear Don,
You've done a good retrospective of Atari here. I am happy to be able to
read this....
We are proud owners of an Atari Falcon which we just purchased and will be
using for hard disc recording (using CuBase and the Steinberg system). We
have two good musician friends here in Santa Rosa who are recording with the
same setup. So, you might say, we have our own little Atari music users
group.
We also are proud owners of an Amiga 1200 which is also fabulous. We're not
giving up on the Amiga yet. There is still some hope there....
And, sure, we have a pentium for all the mainstream uses....
And we used to have a bedroom too! <G>
I appreciate time, energy, and devotion you put into your well written
article. If I see a place to send it, I will. I will make sure our two
Atari musician friends see it.
A tip of the hat....
Layne & James Russell
Santa Rosa, CA
layne@sonic.net
Sender: dooley@infomatch.com
Man... I agree with you 100% that was a great letter..! I sent it to about
45 people.. (everyone in my address book) hehe They have jumped ship and
let us go down with it! Give the remaining product to whoever wants it..
what's tramiel going to do with it..! Keep it in case Atari products become
antiques! <- (did I spell that right) Damn we have to find his personal e-
mail address and have all the remaining Atari users e-mail him with their
opinions..! NOT flame him, but let him know there is quite a few people out
there that still support it!! Gee... we almost deserve the remaining stock
for FREE for the Circus ride we've been on! Oh well... it's been a fun
ride.. To bad it over!
Just a question.. Please don't flame me for this.. but I just gotta ask! And
I feel I have good reason to feel this way! Now that Atari is no-more..
Just about all the Programmers are no-more (Companies I mean) Is it almost
Legal to copy what was once commercial software?? I mean.. there is almost
NO software coming out for the ST platform.. a few Independant prgs. but not
really any Commercial stuff! So were have virtually no software support! I
think the people that have hung around this long almost deserve the right to
experience the Atari the way it was meant to be! I know there is only 1
STore in Western Canada that still caters to the ST and it is only about a
10% of his store that he dedicates to ST Software + hardware. I know there
is Toad in the States.. but for me who has spent probably over close to
$15000 over the last 10 years..
(Believe me that is a loose estimate! It is probably a lot more!)
supporting Atari.. I'm not really wanting to spend say $50.00 on a new game
anymore! Especially since Atari don't even support Atari anymore! I
dunno!!! I'm so confused!! hehe. I just feel if people can use some of the
software that they could never afford.. it might prolong the real death of
Atari and we might be able to keep it alive for a few more years! But then
there is the guy who wrote the game and spent a good year of his life
working like a dog..! He deserves the money for all his hard work! But ya
know what's really weird.? .
People post in comp.sys.atari.st to trade stuff through e-mail and nobody
even flames them anymore! I guess they've all accepted the dead in a way!
Hmmm... The memories! That's all they are now... Well except for the
1040STe, 4megs, TOS 2.06 computer that sits upon my desk, which I might
add.. gets about -42 hours use outta me a day. And my 2600, 400, 800xl that
is packed up in boxes in the closet that get pulled out about once or twice
a year..! Hmm... yup some very good memories! Thanks for your letter and
your time to read this one!
John Dooley
Sender: amsler@nevada.edu
> Did you hear anyone say "Goodbye"?
> by Donald A. Thomas, Jr. (10/4/96)
>
[snip]
>But for some pathetic reason Atari's final days came and went with no
fanfare and no dignified farewells. Why? Where did all the talent are all
the archives? Where are the vaults? Where are the unpublished where are the
originals of those that were? Why has no company stepped to adopt the
remaining attributes Atari has to offer? Didn't a German company do that
in 1995, enhancing the TT and Falcon to Motorola 68040/68060 variants
("Eagles" and "Medusas") ?<
>Where are the creditors? What has happened to all the properties and
sites? Where are the warranty cards, promotional items, notes on meetings,
unanswered mail? > P.O. Box 61657? Who goes to work in Atari's old offices?
Where do their systems fixed? <
Now, *that* is a critical question for non-Las Vegas people. (Here, Dave
Wiser has stuck with and provided outstanding service to the Atari user base
through thick and thin ... mostly thin.)
>Who is publishing new games? Who still sells Atari products? Why are there
still a lot of people talking about Atari on-line?<
The company might be dead (and as far as the "management" goes, good
riddance!!), but the users and fans of the technology aren't! Our loyalty -
- and appreciation of what the expression "easy to set up and use" *really*
means -- remains largely intact. (Recall the pithy T-shirts from August
1995: "Win95 = MAC85!")
>I'm an ex-Atari employee and proud to have been. I'm still an Atari proud
to be.
So am I!!!! I'm typing this on an Atari MegaSTe ... for which much of the
"ancient" applications software (e.g., PageSTream, STeno, STalker,
Arabesque, MegaPaint, EasyDraw, STipple, Silhouette, Zoomracks, etc. etc.)
is *still* much easier to load and use than the inefficient, disk-hogging
garbage on Wintel machines!
Considering that there are used TTs "floating around" out there in the
secondary market, not to mention (looking ahead) used Medusas and Eagles, I
expect to be using Atari computers for a *long* time to come!
Oddly enough -- or perhaps *not* oddly enough! -- the current issue of
"Wired" magazine has an article entitled "Atari's Amazing Alumni."
If you can get a copy, read it! The Tramiel-era demise of Atari -- which
numbers among its early employees two Steves surnamed "Wozniak" and "Jobs"
(!) -- is both horrible and heart-rending. When I really get down to
pondering this dissolution, I may just shed a tear or two.
>To me, these are questions which all deserve an answer, but who will ask
them?<
>The best people to ask these questions are those who have exposure to the
public. If you believe Atari left us without saying goodbye, contact
dateline@nbc.com. If you REALLY believe,
then send this article to 10
friends in e-mail. AND if YOU REALLY, REALLY believe, mail a few to or other
news programs. A letter in your own words would be great!<
>I'd spend money for a thorough retrospect on Atari. Wouldn't you? Wouldn't
it at least be nice to say "Goodbye"?<
Considering the contempt with which the post-Warner "management" treated the
user base (not to mention the shoddy treatment of their own developers,
retailers, and dealers!), did anyone really expect such a courtesy under
these (admittedly, trying) circumstances?! <
- John J. Amsler
amsler@nevada.edu
Motorola Inside!
Sender: tlschwie@oakland.edu
Dear Don,
As a longtime Atari devotee, I have for several years had a very positive
and respectful view of yourself (as well as my beloved Atari) your recent
statements about Atari and it's demise have touched me a great deal and I
want to Thank you for putting into words a great many of the feelings I have
experienced since "The Fall". It seems as if History has been abandoned and
betrayed, it's like a death without a funeral. Today's my birthday and I
turn 24, for 19 of those 24, Atari played a deep and personal role in my
life. The demise of Atari is more than just a death in the family, it feels
more like a murder. But thank you for doing all that you have for as long as
you have, your hard work and devotion to a just cause was not in vain, you
are one of the great heros of Atari History, a sincere soldier. You will be
remembered.
Thanks again
Sincerely,
Rodney Sochocki
Atari 2600 May 5 1977
Atari 5200 Dec.25 1982
Atari 800XL Dec.25 1984
Atari 1040st Aug.29 1986
Atari 7800 June 15 1987
Atari Lynx Dec.25 1991
Atari Jaguar Oct.4 1995
ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
On CompuServe
compiled by
Joe Mirando
73637,2262
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. It's been a couple of weeks since we've
talked and I apologize for that. I've been sick with "the infection that
wouldn't die". I'm now on another antibiotic which seems to be working,
but I'm not completely recovered yet. I really hope that this is not a sign
of the way things are going to be this winter.
On the brighter side, next week our friend Alejandro Aguilar will be
bringing us a comparison of three software-only Atari ST emulators for use
on a PC. Look for Emulator Wars next week.
Now let's get to the reason for this column in the first place... all the
great news, hints, tips, and info available every week right here on
CompuServe.
From the Atari Computing Forums
Let's drop in on a conversation in progress about calculating a person's age
using Superbase Professional 2. David James posts:
"I haven't been able to find a direct formula to return a person's age
however the DAYS expression should work. The format of the expression is
varaible = DAYS (datefield). It should therefore be possible to work out
somebody's age age = DAYS(TODAY) - DAYS(birthdate). I haven't tried this so
I don't know exactly what you will get. It may even be much simpler, have
you tried age = TODAY - birthdate?"
Bob Ledbetter tells David:
"Thanx for the idea. I have tried age = TODAY - birthdate. Didn't work.
I'll let you know about your suggestion.... Back again. age = ( DAYS (TODAY)
- DAYS (birthdate)) / 364.25 is actually the formula. This calculates leap
years also. Thanx for the jump start!!"
Bob Ledbetter also posts:
"I'm thinking about getting a color printer and would like to know if has
any experience using color printers with PageStream 2.2"
Unka Dana himself, Dana Jacobson, tells Bob:
"I got an HP DeskJet 540 for my wife's use and use Pagestream to do some
color work. It works just fine. My only "problem" is the program doesn't
have an immense assortment of colors to select from. Overall, I can't
really complain (and my wife is happy with the results!)."
Nathan Potechin of MGI (formerly DMC) tells Bob:
"You might consider using Calamus SL. It works just fine with most printers
out there. There are no limits in the color output except the actual
physical limit of the printer itself. I don't know if this was an option for
you but I thought I'd mention it regardless."
Eric Hall adds:
"I have an HP DeskJet 660 and it works great with PageStream. I especially
like its ability to print color GIFs and other clipart on documents. Even
low-res Degas pictures turn out well, and it includes about a million other
graphic formats that the printer can handle when printing a PS document."
Stewart Taylor asks for help for a friend:
"A friend wants to get on-line but has no idea if or how he can with what
he's got now. I've shown him CIS and the Web using my PC and he's now
interested in both.
His present computer is a 520stfm. What he would like to know is,
1. is it possible
2. what hardware upgrades would be needed
3. what software would be needed."
Dana Jacobson tells Stewart:
"Regarding your friend's questions:
1. is it possible??
Absolutely! Most of us here are using Atari computers to log on to CIS.
However, the Web is more of a challenge, but it _is_ possible.
2. what hardware upgrades would be needed??
Hardware _upgrades? None. However, your friend will need an external modem
attached to his 520 (and a telephone line).
3. what software would be needed??
Any Atari telecomm program should work fine. I prefer Flash II; there's a
demo of it here in the libraries. It works extremely well and is still
supported (Missionware Software, CIS member also)."
Albert Dayes adds:
"He can log onto CIS with any terminal program that supports emulations like
VT-100 or VT-52. You can try commercial software for telecommunications
such as Flash II v3.x or STalker v3.x or some of the shareware software you
can find in the library. An external modem is also needed of course ... stay
clear of RPI modems and Winmodems."
And in the continuing conversation on the true identity of TOS Error #35,
Mike Fulton posts:
"TOS error #35 is a general error message given when the values found in the
program header do not make sense for some reason. Since these values are
used to determine where the various portions of the program will go into
memory, and low large they are, the OS cannot proceed if they don't make
sense. Typically this means the file is corrupted in some way. Note that
it does NOT mean the disk is bad, as a general rule. As a very reliable
rule, physical disk errors don't make it past the BIOS (meaning you would
see the BIOS error alert saying "The disk in drive A (or B) may be
damaged..."
Duane McCullough asks:
"Does anybody know how to translate the sequence animation files created by
Cyber Studio or Cyber Paint into animations readable by a PC or MAC? I've
heard that the Adobe Acrobat Reader program on a PC can play SEQuence files
created on an Atari - is this true?"
Albert Dayes tells Duane:
"I never heard of Acrobat Reader having that capability. Of course I have
not looked into Adobe Acrobat very such either. Have you asked in the (GO
ADOBE) forum about it?
There is a book called Encyclopedia of Graphic File Formats, 2nd Edition by
O'Reilly, 1116 pages that covers quite a bit in that area. Conversion of
file formats with example code and I know it includes some Atari file
formats. It might be a good book to take a look at. The book also includes a
CD-ROM with software tools, links to the web and a complete hypertext
version of the book. You can also look at O'Reilly's web site ...
http://www.ora.com
They have a special page dedicated to book and anything graphic file format
related. You can also send e-mail to the address. info@ora.com"
Carl Barron adds:
"There was some seq reader source code on 'the other network'. All frames
are ST Low [320x200x16] when expanded. Does a few possible compressions,
may be delta'd or indivual frame, etc. 'Fairly messy' EGFF is a very good
book, If the questioner is not a programmer, can he read PI1 files. Might
beable to get gifs by a round about method... readseq author, Jim Kent,
does compile under Lattice. Have not figured out where to dump the screen
images.:) Might just rewrite it as it is K&R and aztec C I believe. The
problem is solvable, if its not here I can upload the readseq.arc [Yes its
that old;)] See also CyberPaint docs, if available."
Duane tells Carl and Albert:
"Thank you for your informative answer - I'll try to do what you suggested.
Someone I know suggested that I should also try the Quick-Time animation
program reader. The problem is that I am very comfortable with the
SEQuence animation format on the TOS system - and most other computers
cannot run TOS software, thus most people cannot see my annimation work.
I have access to several PC's and some Mac machines, but the simplicity of
the Atari TOS system and several "dated" programs like the Cyber series
programs keeps me happy for now when creating 3D animation sequences.
I understand that Tom Hudson, the main author of many early Atari based
software graphic programs, has since created the 3D-Studio program on the
PC. This program is used in many popular computer animation sequences that
have been seen in the movies and on TV. Perhaps the 3D- Studio program is
capable of playing the TOS SEQuence files... CAD 3D, together with Cyber
Sculpt and Cyber Paint are, in my opinion, still viable programs in
creative animation sequences. The ST low resolution may be "chunky" when
compared to the many new higher resolutions available nowadays, but when
animated on a standard TV format, it still can be effective art in
presenting important information.
The Chronos and Pheonix programs are equally good in generating 3D sequence
animation files, but sharing the animation files with the "greater public"
- i.e. the PC and Mac machines, is the problem. The popular solution would
be just get a PC or a Mac and learn the newer animation formats and abandon
the Atari programs. However, it seems wrong to give up a perfectly good
method of creating 3D animations just to be able to share my animation work
with the greater public. When you get a chance, check out my SEQuence
files in Library 19. Also, my ATLANST2.TXT file in Library 23 - and my
HyperGEM program in Library 10."
Steve Norman asks for help from Tom at ICD:
"A few weeks back I asked you about some problems I was having getting ICD
BOOT to run on my Falcon. I have now tried ICD BOOT version 6.5.5 about a
billion ways, but in every conceivable combination of events, ICDBOOT
REFUSES to recognize by Quantum lighting 520 meg SCSI drive, or my Syquest
EZ drive. It is quite beyond me why Atari utilities would have no trouble
with these devices. but ICD can't see them. Please reply and let me know
what I might do about this. I bought the pro package in good faith a
couple of months ago, and so far have not been able to do anything at all
with them."
Tom tells Steve:
"You need to be more specific. A billion ways are too many ways to try
something and isolate the problem. How many SCSI devices are in the SCSI
chain? What are they? How is it terminated? Etc. If Atari HDX has no
problems then why are you trying to change to ICD SCSI Pro? You are using
6.5.5 SCSI Pro and not AdSCSI or Link software right? We can solve the
problem but you need to get specific."
Richard Rives jumps in and suggests:
"Maybe if you run ICDBOOT from the floppy, then run the utilities prg or
desktop prg. I think one can install a bootable version from one of those
prgs."
Steve tells Richard:
"I installed ICDBOOT from the floppy to the hard drive, and the Falcon will
now boot from the hard drive using ICD, but again, only if I have no SCSI
devices powered up. I even used the utilities to scan the SCSI chain by
powering up the SCSI devices after booting the system and it found nothing.
I think I really need help from ICD on this one."
Sven Bauer asks for help with his keyboard:
"The [Control] key on my Mega Ste keyboard doesn't work. Any ideas what
could be wrong? ... Am I out of CONTROL?"
Having just cleaned my keyboard, I tell Sven:
"Usually this is caused by one of two things. Either there is a bit of
dust, dirt, ash, or whatever that is keeping the key switch from connecting
to the trace on the mylar circuit film underneath it, or you have a broken
connection on the mylar film itself. It's probably only a speck of dust
because, if it was a bad trace, you'd be seeing other keys not functioning
properly.
What you need to do is this:
1) Print this message out.
2) Shut off your computer an disconnect the Keyboard cable.
3) Remove the three screws from the back of the keyboard cover.
4) Flip the keyboard over and CAREFULLY remove the top of the cover.
5) Disconnect the grounding wire in the upper right-hand corner.
6) Carefully slide the keyboard unit toward the back of the case until
it clears the little tabs that hold the front of it down.
7) Now, you'll see two little mylar circuit strips that connect the
keyboard to the circuit board which is attached to the bottom of
the casing. GENTLY pull them straight out from their connectors on
the circuit board.
8) You can now remove the keyboard assembly from the case.
9) Flip the keyboard assembly keys-down and you'll see a lot of little
black tabs holding the metal cover on. Gently push them while
lifting ever-so slightly on the metal cover. Continue to do this
until none of them are holding the cover on.
10) You'll now see the mylar circuit film. Gently lift it off, being
careful not to bend, crease, or tear it.
11) Examine the mylar and the keyswitch (the little black rubber "horse
shoe" looking thing under the control key.
12) Gently wipe both the mylar and the keyswitch with a no-lint pad or
cloth and a small amount of alcohol.
13) Re-assemble the unit in reverse order and don't forget to re-attach
the mylar strips to the circuit board.
Can you tell I just cleaned my keyboard over the weekend? <grin> If it is a
broken trace on the mylar film, don't bother trying to fix it. It's more
trouble than it's worth. Just call Best Computers and purchase a "Best"
MegaSTE keyboard mylar. They are thicker than the originals and are as
easy to install as re-installing the original mylar up in step 13. Good
luck and let us know how it turns out."
Well folks, that's about it for this week, tune in again next time, same
time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
EDITORIAL QUICKIES
CLINTON & GORE
GOOD FOR FOUR MORE!
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