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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 03 Issue 42
Volume 3, Issue 42 Atari Online News, Etc. October 19, 2001
Published and Copyright (c) 1999 - 2001
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Rob Mahlert, Associate Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- "CC: Classic Chips"
Rob Mahlert -- Web site
Thomas J. Andrews -- "Keeper of the Flame"
With Contributions by:
Kevin Savetz
Ullrich von Bassewitz
David Ormand
To subscribe to A-ONE, change e-mail addresses, or unsubscribe,
log on to our website at: www.atarinews.org
and click on "Subscriptions".
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To download A-ONE, set your browser bookmarks to one of the
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http://a1mag.atari.org
Now available:
http://www.atarinews.org
Visit the Atari Advantage Forum on Delphi!
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=atari
=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0342 10/19/01
~ Web Tax Ban To Expire? ~ People Are Talking! ~ MegaPOV/Eureka!
~ Yahoo Sells WebRing! ~ Viruses Fizzle Out! ~ New MSN Offer!
~ A-ONE Reader Feedback! ~ Privacy Plan Bad? ~ New 8-bit Site!
~ Atari Phoenix EZine! ~ AOL 7.0 Released! ~ cc65 Updated!
-* Atari Scene Genealogy Site! *-
-* New Apple Digital Device, Not A Mac *-
-* Atari International Formed, Needs New Name *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Well, it's certainly fall here in New England. The leaves are close to peak
color and I'm sure the leaf-peepers will be out in full force this weekend.
Me, I'll likely be out in the yard getting a jump on cleaning the leaves up!
It's a nice time of year, and the temperatures are nice - not hot or cold.
I don't have much to say in this editorial this week, but I will say that
further on in this issue, I had a lot more to say pertaining to my editorial
a couple of weeks ago. As I mentioned last week, we did receive some
feedback to that editorial and I did respond. And, other than the events
affecting us here and abroad, it's been difficult to focus on much else
regardless of how much we try and go on with "normalcy" in our lives.
So let's get on with this week's issue as we have a lot of interesting stuff
included this week.
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
Atari International Group Formed
Atari community goes international with new organization to promote Atari
computers
October 4, 2001 -- A group of users and programmers from around the world
have collected their skills and resources to create Atari International, a
global, Internet based organization dedicated to supporting the users and
developers of Atari hardware and software, as well as to promote the
platform.
The new organization seeks to show the world that its perception of the
Atari as "The bygone days of" or as "outdated" or "retro", is a
misconception. Thousands of people across the globe regularly use Atari
machines, emulators, or modernized clones for everyday computer uses, and
even some business ones. They see that, while most of the hardware may be
outdated by today's specifications, Atari machines where built so well,
and the programs written so efficiently, that you don't need today's
super-powerful machines to get the same work done.
Atari International (A.I.) exists to serve several needs. One is that
existing Atari users are frequently at a loss when it came to getting
answers, parts, or programs for their Atari computers or game systems.
Another is that computer companies like Milan Computers and Medusa do not
make it easy for people outside their respective countries (Germany and
Switzerland) to obtain their Atari related products, which is of concern
to Atari users everywhere since these companies make the most advanced
Atari-clone computers available today.
The third need, and possibly the most important, is Atari's public image.
Most people see the Atari world as being nothing more than some fond
memories of Pac Man or Pong. In truth, not only do people use these
computers for modern uses (Internet, business, etc), but that there are
also companies (like the ones previously mentioned) that are continuing to
develop the Atari architecture and operating systems, or clones thereof.
The members of A.I. believe that with sufficient support, these companies
could produce exceptional machines that could satisfy most if not all the
needs of most home computer users, and many business ones as well.
A.I. seeks to perform many tasks to these ends. They will provide
informative articles directed at the common computer user telling them
about the current state of Atari computer systems, what they are capable
of, and how to get them. There will be information connecting existing
Atari users to the resources they require to use and update their systems.
Also, dialogues will be established with Atari related companies
(including the current owner of the Atari name, Infogrames), encouraging
them to continue to develop and support their products, and to broaden
their marketing to outside their native counties, if that appears to be a
problem with them. There will also be workshops and tutorials for those
wishing to learn how use Atari computers, or even program for them.
The primary contact point for Atari International is their web page:
www.atari-international.org
They can be reached via e-mail at ai@atari-international.org.
"Atari International is a non-profit organization working to educate the
public about the Atari platform as a feasible alternative for many
computer needs, as well as be a resource for those interested in acquiring
Atari hardware, software, and support."
http://www.atari-international.org
AI Needs A New Name
After receiving an email from infogrames, the AI organization needs to
change their name. So if you want to suggest one (that doesn't make use of
the word Atari), go to the AI (now called NONAME) site.
http://atari-users.net/atariinternational/
ST/Falcon Scene Genealogy
This website tries to gather information about crews working on the
ST/Falcon since 1987.
http://www.st.scene.free.fr
MegaPOV v.0.7 and Eureka rev.1.10
As you probably know, my homepage contains POV 3.1g and Eureka. I generally
compile latest version of POV, and Eureka is my own software, a 2D Graph
Describer and 3D Modeller.
A few days ago, POV 3.5 was binary released, so there's no source for the
moment. We can't play with it on ATARI platforms, it's beta ... But the
main improvement was that a big extension called MegaPOV was included in
the source of POV 3.1g.
POV 3.1g + MegaPOV 0.7 is nearly POV 3.5. Well, almost. But waiting for
3.5, it's possible to play with MegaPOV. You will find it on my page,
coming with the latest release of my Eureka software. This software export
POV, VRML (this is interactive), 3D2, EB_Model etc ... I strongly recommend
both to you, if you are interested by image synthesis.
Have great fun,
Regards,
-- Francois LE COAT
http://eureka.atari.org
mailto:lecoat@atari.org
cc65 v2.7.0 Released
I'm proud to announce version 2.7.0 of CC65, a C cross-compiler /
cross-assembler combo for 6502 systems.
CC65 has C and runtime library support for many of the old 6502 machines,
including
- The Commodore C64, C128 and the C16, C116, Plus/4 machines.
- The CBM 510 (aka P500), a quite rare Commodore machine (programs
run in bank 0).
- The CBM 600/700 family (programs run in bank 1).
- Newer PET machines (not 2001)
- The Apple ][ (library support by Kevin Ruland <kevin@rodin.wustl.edu>)
- The Atari 8 bit machines (thanks to the Atari team: Christian Groessler
<cpg@aladdin.de>, Mark Keates <markk@dendrite.co.uk>, Freddy Offenga
<taf_offenga@yahoo.com> and David Lloyd, <dmlloyd@atari-central.com>).
- GEOS for the C64 and C128 (GEOSLib by Maciej Witkowiak
<ytm@elysium.pl>)
The libraries are fairly portable, so creating a version for other 6502s
shouldn't be too much work.
Version 2.7 has a real lot of changes, including a completely rewritten
backend. Here is a short list:
- New compiler option --create-dep to create a dependency list for a
makefile.
- Option and pragma to generate stack overflow checks (both, parameter
and CPU stack).
- Transparent and efficient handling of fixed params in variadic
functions.
- Build parameter frames when calling other functions by adjusting
the stack once and then storing into this frame instead of pushing
each parameter separately.
- More flexible .INCBIN command for the assembler.
- Compiler generates line info for the assembler. The assembler passes
this to the linker, which is able to generate files containing this
information.
- New, much improved compiler backend.
- The literal pool works now without a hardcoded limit.
- C functions may now be declared as __fastcall__.
- New #elif preprocessor directive
- Boolean and and or in preprocessor #if clauses does now work.
- New, improved __asm__ syntax for the inline assembler.
- New code generation for the switch statement.
- Optimizations. Please note that some of the optimizations of the
old backend are no longer there, so in rare cases, code may be slower
when compiled with this version.
- Symbols may now be defined in the linker config file. This is used for
most platforms to define the size of the stack.
- Updated the cc65 utility with all the new command line switches.
- C64 startup code no longer uses fixed stack top.
- Several changed/added runtime functions for better performance.
- CBM BASIC compatible file I/O functions by Marc Rintsch.
- Support for the Commodore 510.
- Mouse routines completed! Mouse support is available for the following
systems: Atari, C64, C128, CBM 510 and GEOS.
- Command line response files are now supported to aid those people
working with "operating systems" that have a serious command line
length limit.
- A new plasma graphics demo written in pure C (by groepaz/hitmen).
- And lots of other minor changes...
There is still no support for the following features:
* Floats and bit fields.
* studio file routines on most systems. The 8 bit Ataris are the first
machines that do have full file I/O support. Please note that the
complete CBM family doesn't have studio file support!
* The 80 column mode on the C128 is not supported by the conio library.
Available packages:
As usual I will provide the complete sources and several binary packages,
including RPMs for RedHat Linux. Linux is the primary development platform,
so the sources do compile out of the box on Linux machines.
Please note that there are now separate RPMs for the compiler proper and
the target specific libraries. To develop for one of the predefined target
systems you need the compiler RPM package *and* one of the target machine
packages.
Binaries for DOS and and Windows will follow or may already be available at
the time you read this. OS/2 packages will again be available, but since
there are almost no downloads for OS/2, so the host platform may get
dropped in the near future (again). As with the RPM packages, you need the
package for the development system (Windows, etc.) *and* one of the target
machine packages.
Download:
More information information and a download link, please visit the cc65 web
page at
http://www.cc65.org/
Thanks to all who sent feedback and suggestions and of course to anyone who
helped developing cc65!
--
Ullrich von Bassewitz uz@musoftware.de
New German Site for the XL/XE-Series
A new Site is born!
The aim is to have almost all information of programming the XL/XE and
have a contact list to all active users.
Of course there is a download area and we will have tips & tricks for
gaming and so on.
Have a look!
cu, PP´s of Starsoft Berlin
http://www.xl-project.de
The Atari Phoenix Project EZine
Available for an early preview is a "sampler edition" of the upcoming
EZine which will feature articles dealing exclusively with the Atari 8-bit
line of microcomputers. The full issue is tentatively slated for online
release on November 10, 2001, so if you have suggestions or critique or
know something you would like to see incorporated, there is still enough
time to contact me. Adobe Reader (free from http://www.adobe.com) is
needed to view the sampler edition. You can find the EZine here:
http://atariphoenix.com
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE Feedback! - A-ONE Readers' Opinion Forum!
"""""""""""""""
[Editor's note: A couple of weeks ago, my editorial included comments
praising a recent decision by the San Francisco libraries to risk losing
federal funding by eliminating filters on library computers. These filters
were designed and used to help keep pornography from being viewed by
children. You may read those comments in their entirety in A-ONE issue
number 03-40. I received a few letters regarding that editorial, but only
two - both from David Ormand - really addressed the issue. Here are David's
letters - I'll make some additional comments afterward.]
Reader response to A-ONE editorial
I must respond to your editorial in the latest AONE, in which you
applaud the City of San Francisco for banning filters on public library
internet computers.
First, I quite agree with the statement of fact that filters are an
imperfect solution to the problem. Parents or officials who install a
browser filter and walk away thinking the job's done are fooling
themselves. Or course, you might expect this of most government
officials.
Second, I agree that parents need to monitor their children's use of the
internet. Parents are certainly responsible for their children's
development and actions. Of course, anyone who thinks parents have
complete control over their children at all times and all circumstances
is in the same class of people as those who think browser filters solve
the problem.
Third, I agree that parents, schools, and society in general need to
reinforce values including why pornography is harmful. However, in our
society as it is right now, particularly when the supreme values are
"tolerance" and "free speech", I think it is unrealistic to hope that
schools, libraries, and local governments will reinforce
anti-pornography values while at the same time banning anti-pornography
internet filters.
However, I want you to understand that the issue of "children's access
to internet pornography" is only part of the question, and merely the
most simplistic and easily attacked part of the question. After having
my ears filled with the cries against filtering - cries made by the
American Library Association and various civil liberties organizations -
I was pretty much of the same mind as you. Then I read a magazine
article about the librarians themselves, who nominally fall behind the
lead of the ALA, but found themselves coming into sharp disagreement
over this very issue. The problem they face is NOT children surfing
harmful sites by themselves, but rather adult male pornography addicts.
These guys use the internet computers in the public library exclusively
for their habit. They leave the images up on the screen when they are
finished. They print out images and leave them laying about. They
entice children to look at the images. They stand in front of the
screens and masturbate. They make lewd and suggestive remarks to the
librarians, or become threatening or violent when their time on the
computer is up and are asked to leave. The librarians should not be
forced to work in such an environment; they are public library
employees, not workers in an adult entertainment shop. The general
public, adults and children alike, should be able to enjoy a public
library, not be discouraged from visiting an adult entertainment shop.
The government, particularly state and city governments who fund and
operate the public libraries, have a responsibility to protect their own
employees and their citizens from both pornography and those addicted to
pornography. This is not a censorship issue; nothing is preventing these
guys from getting their own computers at home to feed their habit. The
real question is, should public libraries be required to provide access
to pornography? I think not. And, granted that filters are not perfect,
and that they also block useful sites along with the harmful ones, if
they discourage the porn addicts from doing their thing at public
libraries, filters will do until something better comes along. Sure
seems better than some alternatives, such as taking the computers out
altogether, or paying police officers to hang about in libraries to
control the porn addicts as they enjoy their right to unfettered access
to everything and anything.
While we're making suggestions, how about leaving the cruddy filters on,
get our evil government money, and let the people doing legitimate
research inform the librarian when they get blocked. The librarian can
then disable the filter for the duration of the patron's visit, maybe
even assist with the research. Or, since you bring up special library
cards (presumably magnetic cards which can be swiped on the computer to
permit access), let's up the technology to disabling the filter
automatically for these specially qualified children accompanied by
their parents with a certified need to do research on breast cancer.
Re: Filtering Editorial
Hi, Dana,
The letter I sent you just a bit ago was my letter to you the editor.
I've responded to your promptings for letters before, and pretty much
got raked, because my perspective is very different than yours. Well,
I can accept that, because you're the editor, and I can choose to cancel
my subscription or continue to put up with your editorials. I choose
the latter, because I love the mag! Keep up the good work! I don't
care that much about all the game console news, but I really appreciate
the notices of new developments, the excerpts from c.s.a.s. traffic
(often I find the edited version to be more useful than the raw traffic),
and the news articles, particularly the saga of Microsoft vs. DOJ and
the latest bit about the anti-terrorism legislation. Just to say so,
I (along with many others) don't care that much about Carnivore; I am
much more concerned about attempts by the government to enforce a
"back-door" to personal encryption technologies. I didn't see any of
that explicitly in the articles in the last A-ONE; please keep us
notified of developments in this area so Atarians can call/write/email
their representatives at opportune times.
As a journalist, you might be interested in the source article I
mentioned in my letter. This came from World Magazine, which is
(so I understand) an up-and-coming competitor to the likes of Newsweek
and USN&WR that approaches the subject from a Christian point of view.
That may not thrill you, but perhaps you can read the attached article
from a professional point of view and judge it on its own merits.
Whether or not San Francisco did the right thing or internet filters are
good or bad is mostly a matter of opinion. The articles in World, however,
bring news (factual?) topics to the table that are often omitted or
ignored by the mainstream media.
Regards,
David Ormand
===========================================
World Magazine (www.worldmag.com)
ARCHIVE FROM:
June 16, 2001
Volume 16
Number 23
Faltering over filtering
Public libraries' resistance to Internet filtering
to screen out pornography draws a seedy new
clientele and drives away good librarians.
Now, they're fighting back
By Lynn Vincent
Warning: Contains graphic material
Heidi Borton loved being a librarian. She enjoyed helping
patrons at the Seattle-area Woodinville Public Library
pursue knowledge, and found it satisfying to create a safe,
enriching haven for visiting children. But when the Internet
exploded onto the information science scene, a new kind of
library offering - pornography - radically changed her job.
As King County's flagship technical library, Woodinville
adopted Web access in 1996. Immediately, Ms. Borton
said, the library's clientele changed as a steady stream of
new patrons - mostly male adults but also teens and young
children - began regularly using the library's computers to
access hard-core sex sites. Woodinville staffers soon were
forced to take on new duties: closing out computer screens
left open to scenes of orgies and child sex, calming
porn-addicted patrons who raged when all the unfiltered
computer terminals were in use, and fielding questions from
children about how to view pornography in the library. Ms.
Borton watched her once-peaceful library transformed into a
tax-funded peep show - and into a hostile and degrading
work environment.
Woodinville wasn't the only library so changed. Library
workers in all 50 states have complained without effect to
the American Library Association (ALA) about hostile work
conditions fostered by the group's endorsement of unfiltered
Web access in public libraries. But a May finding by the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may
represent a ray of hope for Ms. Borton and others hoping to
recapture the nation's libraries from patrons surfing for porn.
Last month, the EEOC announced a finding of "probable
cause" that 12 Minneapolis librarians were subjected to a
sexually hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when they were exposed to
pornography on the Internet. The librarians, employees of
the Minneapolis Central Library, filed their complaint with
the EEOC in April, citing hard-core pornographic websites
left visible on vacated terminals, explicit printouts left on
tables, and children captivated by Internet porn.
In view of the EEOC's finding, the complainants now will
barter a new workplace policy with Minneapolis library
officials. But if negotiations fall flat, the U.S. Justice
Department may file suit against the city's library system,
according to the librarians' attorney Bob Halagan.
The ALA, a 58,000-member trade organization that exerts
tremendous influence over library policies, opposed the
Minneapolis librarians - and others with similar complaints.
According to Ms. Borton, who resigned from the
Woodinville library and now speaks publicly against
library-based Web porn, librarians who grumble about ALA
policy are labeled "censors" - an epithet akin to "Nazi"
among librarians - and blackballed by administrators who
toe the ALA line. The ALA's official policy on access to
electronic materials is that libraries "must support access to
information on all subjects that serve the needs or interests
of each user, regardless of the user's age or the content of
the material." Thus, while nearly three-quarters of public
libraries offer Internet access, only about 15 percent use
some type of blocking technology on at least some public
workstations. To keep it that way, the ALA has joined with
the American Civil Liberties Union and other "free-speech"
activists in opposing any legislative attempts to block or filter
Internet porn.
How big is the impact on libraries and library workers of
free access to Internet porn? A study last year by Oregon
librarian David Burt of less than one-third of American
public libraries revealed 2,062 documented incidents of
porn-viewing and related problems. Using Freedom of
Information Act requests to obtain written reports from
libraries, Mr. Burt cataloged hundreds of complaints from
librarians. One in Ft. Vancouver, Wash., reported a pattern
of Internet use by two brothers, followed by library workers'
repeated discovery of semen on the library's restroom floor.
Many library staffers reported enduring the sight of men and
children fondling themselves. Other reports included 106
incidents of adults deliberately exposing children to
pornography, five incidents of attempted child molestation,
and 25 occasions on which patrons harassed library staff
with sexually explicit material. In almost all cases, librarians
reported that they were powerless to stop such behavior
because of local library policies that conformed to those of
the ALA.
The EEOC decision may help change that. The Family
Research Council hailed the finding as a crucial counterpoint
to previous judicial rulings, which have held that filtering
graphic sex sites violates pornographers' First Amendment
rights. In finding "probable cause" for the Minneapolis
librarians, the EEOC acknowledged that people who don't
want to be exposed to pornography have rights,
too - despite the free-speech activism of the ALA. Notes
Jan LaRue, the Family Research Council's senior director of
legal studies, "The ALA has resisted doing what's
constitutional and common sense: Don't bring into the library
through cyberspace what would never be stocked on the
bookshelves."
Meanwhile the battle for common sense continues. In
December, Congress passed the Children's Internet
Protection Act (CIPA), which denies federal funding to
public libraries and schools that fail to install filtering
software on computer terminals purchased with federal
money. In March, the ALA filed suit to block enforcement
of the new law, explaining, "Librarians care deeply about
children."
A-ONE Editor's Response!
David,
I always enjoy receiving feedback to articles contained within A-ONE, as
well as responses to our editorial comments. Readers are always welcomed to
respond whether they agree or not. I'm sorry if you felt "raked" by some
comments I made in response to one of your earlier letters. I assure you
that that was not my intent. There are topics that will certainly get me in
a "feisty" mood when I strongly disagree! <grin>
Firstly, I appreciate your comments pertaining to A-ONE. Our goal has
always been to keep our readers informed about what is happening in the
Atari scene, as well as the rest of the computing world. Your comments
provide feedback that tells us that we are providing the type of service
that we set out to accomplish.
Second, I think that we're in agreement that filters on library computers,
as a mechanism to deter children from viewing pornography, are not the
solution. However, I'm not sure how you feel about how federal funding
being used as leverage for filtering use plays into the scheme of things.
Third, your letters and subsequent supporting article brings up a point that
I didn't mention in my editorial nor was it something that I even
considered. And that deals with adults using these computers to feed their
pornography habit. And, how that use affects library workers.
The only comment that you made, and it wasn't necessarily your opinion, that
didn't "thrill" me was in reference to the magazine article: "This came from
World Magazine, which ... approaches the subject from a Christian point of
view." In my opinion, this is not a religious issue and I resent a magazine
making it one, if that is their stance. I believe that this is a cultural
issue, as well as one of morality; it's one dealing with choices and
personal rights. I believe that government and religion should stay out of
it other than to protect the legal rights of all involved.
However, you make some valid points and they are supported by that article.
What about the rights of library workers? What rights do they have in
protecting themselves from being in a "hostile work environment"? Being in
a management position, I understand the significance of such an issue.
While the article described that there were over two thousand documented
cases of problems, how does that equate to the total number of computer use?
In essence, how large, or small, is this issue? The article doesn't give is
the whole picture, not that I'm surprised. Any statistic can be manipulated
to prove a point. However, I am not saying that this is not a problem that
should be ignored.
I believe that we have two separate issues here: children and adults viewing
pornography on library computers. Can they be resolved simultaneously? I
honestly don't know. Perhaps. I believe that technology, something other
than filters, can help accomplish this. While not insurmountable, it will
be a difficult task. One potential obstacle that instantly comes to mind
because it's a major topic in today's news, is privacy. Does a library
patron have the right to privacy while using library computers? By that I
mean does a library have the right to monitor how a computer is being used
by a patron? There are a number of software monitoring programs that can be
used to see what a user is doing; companies use them all the time to monitor
employees - rightly so or not, actively used or not. Can such devices be
used in libraries and "abusers" such as described in the article be banned
from future computer use in the library? I don't know, I'm just thinking
out loud. I'm sure that most libraries have rules, that when broken, end up
with patrons having privileges revoked.
Would this monitoring fall on library workers? Probably. Those that would
be offended by such a responsibility should not be made to do so. Some
libraries have security guards - maybe they can be utilized.
As I mentioned early on, this is really more than one issue: kids and
adults. The suggestion I made in my original editorial seems plausible:
provide special ID cards for computer use. Let the parents determine what
kind of access their children should have, and program the cards
accordingly (filtered versus non-filtered access). Abusers would be dealt
with accordingly. As to adults, if they abuse their privileges by actions
such as mentioned in the above article, revoke their privileges. Adults
viewing pornography using library computers is not something I'm concerned
about. However, if by doing so disrupts or harms other patrons or employees,
it's a problem much like other ones. Then it needs to be handled
accordingly.
I think both problems need to be addressed while maintaining everyone's
rights - whether it be to access information using these computers
regardless of what it is - to protecting the employees (and general public
for that matter) from having to be subjected to offensive material or
actions by the users. Applying filters to library computers is not the
answer. And using funding as a means to apply leverage to libraries to use
filters is also not right. My original stance supporting San Francisco
stands. But I do agree that there needs to be more work done. Thanks for
bringing another viewpoint to my attention.
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
joe@atarinews.org
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Well, time is no longer marching toward
autumn, it's running double-time straight through it.
For those who take pleasure in such things, the fall foliage is now at
its peak here in Connecticut. The colors of the falling leaves really
are amazing. I've lived here all my life and it still catches my eye
every year. It seems that nature continues to amaze and enthrall me,
even after all these years.
It's not so much that I'm simple-minded (although that HAS been said on
more than one occasion), but that I usually look at things and ask, "how
would you make that happen".
Where nature is concerned, it seems that we take a back seat every time.
Sure, we've succeeded in making little enclosures for ourselves where we
can regulate temperature, humidity and lighting, but the cost in
resources and required energy input is huge, and the effects are
fleeting.
Mother Nature, on the other hand, uses everything to its best advantage.
Using sunlight, plant life creates products that feed animal life which
produces products that feeds plant life, etc., etc., etc.
Nature takes its time with what it does. We, on the other hand, tend to
jump in without fully understanding... or even caring about... the
consequences.
I know that I probably sound like one of those "tree-hugging,
sit-in-having, technology-hating" weirdos, but that's really not the
case. I'm familiar enough with both sides of the equation (nature and
technology) to be amazed at how complex simplicity can be. And vice
versa.
I also know that this has absolutely nothing to do with Atari computers.
But I think it's important that we all put things in perspective once in
a while. And who knows? Perhaps sometime in the near future we'll
finally be able to manufacture biological processors. Mark my words...
when it DOES happen, someone will notice that this design that took
millions of man-hours and billions of dollars to create is "almost
exactly" like one already found in nature.
Now let's get to the UseNet stuff.
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================
Derek Hunt asks about inverted screen colors:
"A small thing that has been "bugging" me for a while which
I know some one out there knows the answer too. I`m sure I have
read it myself somewhere but this old brainbox is getting well
past its sell by date.
I have a small programme (4.7.11 in fact) as a ACC which helps
while away the time during the middle of the night, I being well
beyond normal nighttime activities !! When closing the prog down
the screen is inverted.ie white becomes black and black is
white. This means having to reboot to use my normal setup,a pain
at times."
Charles Stanley tells Derek:
"Have you tried to go ControlPanel/ColorSetUp [1] and click Reload
(at bottom right of panel, if you can't see it yet)? That should do it.
[1] Or whatever name it has: mine is COLORVDI.CPX v 2.10."
Derek tells Charles:
"Thanks for that Charles. Yes I have tried that amd clicking on
Reload does indeed return to the original colour BUT the next page
brought up is again reverted. In other words the only way for me
to have my original setup is to completely reboot."
Don Wolfe asks about using his JAZ drive with HD Driver:
"I have 4 partitions on a JAZ 2GB removable disk (GHIJ) H was giving me
some write errors so I moved all wanted files from the disk to other
disks. I checked the drive H: with HD and it showed bad sectors, so I
decided to let HD reformat the plater.
The program said the process could be several hours, so I started the
formatting and left the room for 2 hours, when I next checked the disk
there was a message that it could not format the disk, so now when I
try to partition this disk the message is: Couldn't Read Root Sector
of G:
Question, is there any Utilities for repairing the Root Sector as
before the formatting partitions G,I,J where all good... Any Ideas ??"
Dr. Uwe Seimet, author of HD Driver tells Don:
"No, there isn't. With most drives the root sector is only accessible
after the drive could correctly terminate the format process. This was
not possible in your case, i. e. the damage on the cartridge is so bad
that the JAZ was not able to format it. Try to format it a second time.
If you're lucky, this will work. If not the cartridge is simply damaged
and cannot be used anymore."
Dennis van der Burg asks for help with his new MagnumST card:
"Yesterday I installed a MagnumST card into my Mega ST1. This
is a board that goes on top of the MC68000 and upgrades the
system to TOS 2.06 and also expands the memory with 4/8/11
MB, depending on the size of the SIMM you put onto the
board.
Now I have the following problem: the TOS 2.06 upgrade works
fine, but if I put in a 4 or 8 MB SIMM, the driver
MAGNUMST.PRG recognizes only 512kB :-(
What might be wrong here?
By the way, I got the driver from http://www.uweschneider.de/"
Michael Schwingen tells Dennis:
"Provided the card is OK (I know some which were manufactured by a
sub-contractor had soldering problems, especially at the PS/2 socket), it
might be you got a SIMM with asymmetric (unequal # rows/columns) DRAMs.
The MagnumST does not support these - although they were not very common
in PS/2 style.
Do you have a chance to try a different SIMM?
If the TOS on the Magnum works, then the installation is most probably
correct."
Dennis replies:
"Thank you for your advice!
I checked the MagnumST card's connectivity from the PS/2 socket to the
card (with an ohmmeter) and that seems to be OK. The TOS on the Magnum
still works fine, too.
I also tried 5 different SIMMS (4 and 8 MB types) which I got from a
friend, in all cases only 512kB of it is found (but I can load programs
in that 512 kB without problems!)..."
Alan Hourihane asks about the TT's LAN port:
"Has anyone got the pinouts for the LAN port on the TT030 ?
Or has anyone connected it to a PC successfully to zmodem things
around and can show the cable they're using ?"
Lyndon Amsdon tells Alan:
"I converted my Falcon LAN port to a standard RS232 port. It was a
simple task and I really must put the info on my website but I feel I
forgot where I put the wiring I devised."
Martin-Eric Racine adds:
"The cable is a rather standard one, usually sold under the name "Mac
modem cable". It's traditionally used to plug a standard modem into a
Mac.
Another alternative, if connecting to a Mac or Sun computer equipped with
an RS-422 interface, is the "Mac printer cable" which can be used as a
null modem cable."
Don Wolfe, after messing about with his JAZ drive, posts:
"Thanks for all the great information.. I reformatted the 2GB platter
the second time with the same results (Can't format this Disk). I
decided to try it one more time, well the third time it worked like a
charm the disk came out clean and checked out with no bad sectors.:)
I may have been doing it wrong the first 2 times, the third time I
clicked on the Box "Ignore Current Defect List" which maybe should have
been done the first 2 tries ??
Now the big Question is: What caused the write errors in the first
place is it a Bug in the operating system or is it just Murphy's Law ??"
Uwe Seimet tells Don:
"This [checking the "Ignore Current Defect List" box] should not really
have been necessary.
This problem had nothing to do with the OS or any other software. SCSI
drives do formatting completely on their own, as soon as they get the
SCSI FORMAT command. So if something goes wrong like in your case the
drive itself had problems with the cartridge."
James Alexander adds his thoughts on a related subject:
"This may be a bit of topic drift but I've always liked the Syquest
removables. I find it a bit odd that they never became more widespread.
They were and are quite usable on atari systems at that."
Bill Freeman tells James:
"I had good service from two Syquest EZ135 drives, but don't waste your
money on the SyJet drives. I had three of them, all three turned to
junk in very short order. They could never be relied on to read or
write a cart. SyJets were a complete waste of money and probably what
drove the last nail into Syquest's coffin.
I'm still using the Syquest EZ135s, along with a Yamaha CD-R drive now."
Well folks, that's it for this time around. Now turn of the computer for
a little while, and go take a look at those autumn leaves. Of course if
you're in the southern hemisphere, you can go outside and admire the new
shoots and buds of springtime.
Tune in again next week, same time, same station, and be ready to listen
to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
=~=~=~=
->In This Week's Gaming Section - Xbox Debut At X01! Wreckless!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Spiderman and X-Men! Kinetica!
Shrek On Xbox! Tony Hawk!
And much more!
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Activision Acquires Worldwide Rights to
WRECKLESS - First Mission-Based
Driving Game for Xbox
Activision, Inc. announced it has acquired the worldwide publishing rights,
excluding Japan, for WRECKLESS, the first mission-based driving game for
the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Developed by Bunkasha
Publishing, WRECKLESS has been selected by Microsoft as a premier title for
first quarter 2002 and will be released to coincide with the European
launch of Xbox. WRECKLESS is currently rated ``RP" (Rating Pending) by the
ESRB and is expected to ship in both North America and Europe in early
2002.
``We are thrilled that Microsoft has selected WRECKLESS as a lead game for
the first quarter of 2002 and that the game will be among the first wave of
titles for the Xbox European launch," said Larry Goldberg, executive vice
president, worldwide studios for Activision. ``WRECKLESS takes advantage of
the sophisticated graphics, audio and multiplayer capabilities available
from Xbox and will deliver an incredible new experience for fans of
mission-based driving games. The game lets players explore the mean streets
of Hong Kong as they engage in non-stop full throttle action."
``With its outstanding graphics and compelling gameplay, WRECKLESS is set
to revolutionize the mission-based driving genre," said J Allard, general
manager Xbox platform and third-party relations. ``As one of the premier
titles for Xbox, we are putting full marketing muscle behind WRECKLESS to
build consumer awareness for what we believe to be one of this winter's
most anticipated releases."
A high suspense, fast-paced, no-holds-barred driving game, WRECKLESS
immerses players into the unpredictable underworld of Hong Kong. Gamers can
choose from two distinct storylines -- to be part of an elite task force
assigned to take down the Hong Kong mafia or to become a high-level
government agent trying to uncover links between the mafia and the police.
WRECKLESS lets players take full control of the action as they pursue thugs
and gang members in 20 hair-raising missions. Gamers choose from 10
different vehicles as they race through an interactive city and maneuver
real traffic patterns, tear through parks and drive on sidewalks to
complete their mission. However, players have to be careful, as real-time
damage modeling will hinder their vehicle's performance.
The Future of Video Games Makes European Debut at X01
Xbox Makes European Debut, Showcases 40 Playable Games
Amid the breathtaking cliff tops of Theole-Sur-Mer overlooking the Cote
d'Azur, in an inspirational and stylish mansion designed by Pierre Cardin
and populated with nearly a thousand video game industry guests, the Xbox
video game system made its European debut.
The event, called X01 and hosted by Xbox, provided more details on one of
the most eagerly awaited video game launches ever. As green light rose into
the sky and dry ice wafted over the crowd, European price, availability and
planned shipment quantities were revealed, ending months of speculation by
the Xbox faithful.
Xbox will be available at retail outlets in 16 major European markets
beginning 14th March 2002 for an anticipated retail price of euro
479/(pound)299. The majority of Xbox titles are expected to launch at an
anticipated retail price of euro 69/(pound)44.99. A total of 1.5 million
Xbox consoles are planned for shipment in Europe for its first three months
on sale (to the end of June 2002), which includes weekly replenishments
from the Xbox manufacturing facility in Hungary.
The Games
It's all about the games, and the range revealed at X01 demonstrated the
large amount of support that Xbox enjoys from 3rd party developers, as well
as a stellar line-up of 1st party games. In total there were 40 playable
games at X01, with many more being announced for the first time or shown on
video.
Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios announced his second Xbox-exclusive
game, BC, an exciting new title being developed by Lionhead satellite
Intrepid Games. In addition Molyneux ran a demonstration of his previously
under-wraps Xbox RPG, Project Ego, in which players control a character who
ages from childhood to death, whose skin tans from the sunlight over time,
and with graphics and gameplay that take advantage of many of the advanced
capabilities of Xbox. Both titles will be published by Microsoft Games.
Microsoft announced more titles from its first-party game development
division including Brute Force, a futuristic squad-based, tactical shooter
played from a third person perspective and with stunning graphics, and
Rallisport Challenge, a unique rally racing game with four different types
of rally competition.
Other major announcements from third-party publishers included:
* Electronic Arts: Announced and demonstrated an Xbox-exclusive version
of F1 2002 which will include the new season's course and driver data
* Activision: Announced and had a playable version of Wreckless, an
Xbox-exclusive mission-based driving game
* Tecmo: First European playable version of the highly anticipated and
Xbox-exclusive fighting game Dead Or Alive 3
* Sega: Debut of playable demos in Europe of Xbox firsts Jet Set Radio
Future, GunValkyrie and Sega GT 2002
* Eidos: Announced and demoed an Xbox version of Championship Manager,
the highly successful football management game now on a console for
the first time
* Infogrames: Playable Atari title Transworld Surfing - the first
unveiling of an Xbox game under the Atari brand
* Ubi Soft: Announced Ghost Recon as an Xbox exclusive; first showing of
Batman Vengeance and Rayman M on Xbox
* THQ: First European playable version of the Xbox-exclusive motorcycle
racer Moto GP
X01- The Xbox Experience
X01 is the result of months of planning by the European Xbox team at
Microsoft, who wanted to create an event that was more than a press
conference or a trade show. The team wanted an experience, and it had to
reflect the excitement that Xbox has brought to Europe.
``Xbox is something special," said Sandy Duncan, Vice President, Xbox
Europe, ``and we needed to create an experience that would do it justice.
We wanted our guests to go away not with just an update on games progress,
but with a real feeling for what Xbox stands for in Europe and a glimpse of
the future."
The location, Maison Bulles (bubble house), is owned by legendary French
designer Pierre Cardin, who designed it almost 30 years ago. With
breathtaking views across the Cote d'Azur from almost every part of the
house, Maison Bulles is still at the cutting edge of style, blending 70s
chic and space age elegance. X01 guests got to explore its bubble-shaped
rooms, elliptical portholes, sculpted pools, underwater living room and
400-seater, open-air amphitheatre over the event's two days.
``Clearly we needed a special venue for such a special event," said
Duncan. ``Maison Bulles is in close parallel with Xbox - stylish,
futuristic and unique, with global appeal."
Nearly one thousand journalists and representatives from the video game
industry, from all over Europe as well as North America and Asia, packed
the modern cliff-top amphitheatre of the house as the sun set. The event
kicked off with Sandy Duncan announcing price and availability, and
continued on to offer demonstrations and announcements of games launching
with Xbox and beyond.
After the announcements, guests were allowed to explore the rest of the
house, where each publisher-themed room featured demos of the games Europe
will be playing on 14th March and beyond. Guests were free to wander around
and take in the experience at their leisure.
The evening concluded with a live set by Carl Cox, internationally renowned
DJ, who entertained the crowd until the small hours.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 Set to Ship October 30th
Gamers get ready to nose slide and pull 900's with the speed and agility of
Tony Hawk when Activision, Inc. releases one of the most anticipated games
of the holiday season, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, on October 30, 2001. The
title, which is currently in manufacturing, will be available for the
PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and PlayStation game console and
will carry suggested retail prices of $49.99 and $39.99 respectively.
Developed by Neversoft Entertainment, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 is the
revolutionary sequel to the best-selling sports game of 2000. Offering
eight massive levels filled with people, traffic, and other interactive
elements, the environments are brought to life with richer graphics and
advanced special effects. Smoother life-like animations and significantly
improved tricks capture the style of 13 of the world's best skateboarding
pros.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 will be the first online game for the PlayStation
2 computer entertainment system. Console gamers can log onto the Internet
and skate in virtual skateparks with their friends from around the world.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 has received the following ratings by the ESRB:
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system - ``T" (Teen - with blood,
mild lyrics and suggestive themes), PlayStation game console - ``E"
(Everyone - with mild lyrics and violence).
Spider-Man and the X-Men Bring
Electrifying Adventures And Advanced
Mutant Moves to the Holiday Season
Some of the world's most celebrated crime fighters are back in full force
with the release of Activision, Inc.'s Spider-Man 2 Enter: Electro and
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 for the PlayStation game console. Both titles are
currently available on North American retail shelves and carry a suggested
retail price of $39.99.
``Both Spider-Man 2 Enter: Electro and X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 bring to
life all of the amazing abilities of Marvel's greatest Super Heroes," said
Larry Goldberg, executive vice president, Activision Worldwide Studios.
``These games feature advanced gameplay and an expanded cast of characters
who give players more Super Hero action than ever before. "
Spider-Man 2 Enter: Electro is the highly anticipated sequel to last year's
blockbuster game. Once again, players are Spider-Man, swinging and webbing
their way across New York in a whole new 3D fast-paced, action- adventure.
This time around, Spider-Man's trademark skills, as well as all-new web
attacks, costumes and fighting combos, are needed to thwart new
super-villains and the powerful Electro's evil plans. Add in a Parker's
Portfolio of battle snapshots and the world of Spider-Man comes alive like
never before on the PlayStation. The title is rated ``E" (``Everyone" --
Violence -- content suitable for persons ages 6 and older) by the ESRB.
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 is the sequel to the action-packed favorite X-Men:
Mutant Academy. The game features stunning new aerial combat, six new X-Men
characters, including Rogue, Nightcrawler, Havok and Forge, six new arenas
and costumes, set sketches and conceptual art sketches from ``X-Men: The
Movie." Set against classic comic book locales, X-Men: Mutant Academy 2
lets players take on the unique personalities and moves of their favorite
X-Men characters and a choice of four different modes of play: Academy
Training, Arcade, Survival and Versus (classic two-player fighter mode),
where players are able to battle foes with improved combat options, new
aerial combinations, new aerial combinations, hard hitting recoils and a
``get up quick" feature. The title is rated ``T" (``Teen" -- Violence --
content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB.
Kinetica Brings the Ultimate Evolution in Racing to the PlayStation2
Merging of Man and Machine Provides Maximum Agility, Insane
Stunts And Terminal Speed in Unique Racing Experience
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced the release of Kinetica,
exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Focusing on
the thrill of intense competition, Kinetica provides pure arcade-style
racing and incorporates intricate track design, aggressive opposition and
futuristic speed and maneuverability to deliver a unique adrenaline-filled
racing experience. The first fully internally developed title by Sony
Computer Entertainment America, Santa Monica, Kinetica showcases the
capabilities of the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, with
superior graphics and animations, intense gameplay and detailed racing
atmospheres. Complex track designs and carefully tuned artificial
intelligence combine to create a fast and competitive racing experience
that will captivate gamers for hours.
Kinetica captures the spirit and competition of arcade-style futuristic
racing, as players integrate into one of nine Kinetic suits, scientifically
advanced exoskeletons, each engineered for racing in diverse, extreme
environments. Moreover, the maneuverability of the Kinetic Suits allows
racers to adhere to almost any surface, perform insane aerial stunts, and
draft behind opponents to create an unparalleled competitive environment.
Intense competition will keep racers on the edge of their seats as each
opponent contains an individually tuned artificial intelligence that
adjusts and adapts its driving over the course of the race, paving the way
for intense competitive races.
``Kinetica allows the spirited nature of racing to assert itself in the
most dramatic ways possible. Opponents create an intense rider-to-rider
interaction, showcasing the extreme essence of racing. We are thrilled to
bring Kinetica to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system," said
Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. ``Through a winning combination of some of the most
imaginative people in the industry, Kinetica delivers a one-of-a-kind
arcade-style racing experience that is poised to take the racing genre to
the next level."
With more than 12 futuristic tracks that have their own distinctive
personality, design tempo, and challenging obstacles, Kinetica provides a
truly unique racing experience. Kinetica tracks are specifically designed
to allow gamers to take full advantage of all conceivable maneuvers,
including multiple line corners, alternative crossover pathways and
maintaining stability at terminal speeds. Players can explore alternative
routes not only in the form of multiple paths, but wall also through riding
and gravity defying ceiling runs that give the competitive edge to players
with imagination and intestinal fortitude.
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated
Kinetica ``T" for Teen.
EA SPORTS Ships NASCAR Thunder 2002
for the PlayStation 2
Get ready to start your engines with Electronic Arts' (EA) newest release,
NASCAR Thunder 2002 for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system.
This is the first NASCAR console video game to feature a full pack of 43
cars, bringing a new level of depth, realism and authenticity for NASCAR
video gaming.
EA SPORTS, in its fifth year of involvement with NASCAR, has created a
game with more cars and traffic to navigate and draft off of, for more
bumper-to-bumper racing throughout. Game players can choose from more than
50 drivers including, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Bobby
Labonte, Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett and Michael Waltrip.
``EA SPORTS has raised the bar for NASCAR video gaming," said Jeff Gordon,
NASCAR Winston Cup Series star. ``This game has got all the tracks, cars
and drivers that make the sport great and with 43 cars on the track it's
just like a Sunday afternoon at the track. NASCAR Thunder 2002 looks great
and is a lot of fun to play!" NASCAR Thunder 2002 features all 23 tracks
found in the NASCAR Winston Cup® Series including the new, Chicagoland and
Kansas Speedways.
The new career mode allows gamers the chance to go after ``The King,"
Richard Petty's record tying seven NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships
while developing a personal NASCAR Team from scratch. Players can choose a
manufacturer, create their own unique paint scheme for the car, and earn
offers and decals from new sponsors based on performance. Race winnings can
be applied to equip players' crews and vehicles, increasing horsepower,
handling and pit crew performance, even earning the right to race for an
existing NASCAR team.
``I am thrilled with the game we created this year," said Ed Martin,
director of NASCAR production, EA SPORTS. ``We had an aggressive plan at
the start of this project and have clearly delivered the deepest, richest
NASCAR console racing experience on the market. The team is passionate
about motor sports and this is reflected in the depth of NASCAR Thunder
2002."
Developed at Electronic Arts - Tiburon, the makers of the Madden NFL
franchise, NASCAR Thunder 2002 features a huge pack of stunning cars in the
richest EA SPORTS NASCAR environments. The graphic engine's horsepower
allows the team to incorporate an accurate damage model, with cars that
dent and crumple and lose auto parts as they collide with other cars and
track barriers. When car damage is repaired the cars morph back to its
original state. Other damage effects include tire donuts on body panels,
tire smoke, dislodged car parts and contained oil fires.
In addition to the PlayStation 2 version, NASCAR Thunder 2002 is currently
available for the PlayStation, and due out this fall for the Xbox video
game system from Microsoft. The PlayStation version features a field of 16
cars, all 23 NASCAR tracks found in the Winston Cup Series and five fantasy
tracks. Now players can blast along the beach that started it all, Daytona
Beach. Over 30 NASCAR stars are in this version as well as Thunder Cards
which allow users to unlock cars and tracks, as well as offensive and
defensive power-ups that increase horsepower, mileage, tire and brake
durability.
One of the tracks featured in NASCAR Thunder 2002 is the prestigious
Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. Last month, EA SPORTS
announced a three-year deal with Talladega, naming the legendary NASCAR
Winston Cup Series fall race the EA SPORTS 500, which will air nationally
on NBC October 21. EA SPORTS becomes just the third NASCAR Winston Cup
Series sponsor in Talladega's 32-year racing history. The EA SPORTS
sponsorship of the race was the inspiration for including the classic
southern rock song, ``Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, in the game.
TDK Mediactive's "Shrek" to Premiere On Xbox
TDK Mediactive, Inc. announced that ``Shrek" for the Xbox video game
system from Microsoft, is scheduled to be on the shelves on Xbox launch
day, November 15, 2001.
The much-anticipated Xbox title ships on the heels of the VHS and DVD
release of the computer-animated feature film ``Shrek" from DreamWorks
Pictures, which will launch on November 2, 2001 nationwide. With beautiful,
eye-catching graphics inspired by the movie, ``Shrek" for the Xbox is well
positioned to be a breakout game title for the upcoming holiday season.
Suggested retail price for ``Shrek" for Xbox is $49.99.
``We are very excited to be a part of the Xbox launch. TDK, Digital
Illusions and Microsoft pulled out all the stops for the product
development effort of Shrek," said Vincent Bitetti, chief executive
officer of TDK Mediactive. ``With the added support of DreamWorks, `Shrek'
for Xbox has the rapid momentum and broad appeal to make it a top-selling
title for this breakthrough system."
``The `Shrek' Xbox game creates whole new worlds for `Shrek'," said Brad
Globe, head of DreamWorks Consumer Products. ``TDK has delivered a terrific
combination of original, action-packed gameplay and Shrek-style humor."
``Shrek" for Xbox is being featured in the Xbox retail demo disk and
brochure, and on Xbox point of purchase displays which will be in stores
through holiday. The game will also be featured in the Xbox Odyssey, a
mobile gaming experience that will travel around the country and promote
the system and games to consumers.
``People really respond to `Shrek' for Xbox. Its humor, fast-paced, quirky
gameplay and cinema-like graphics make it one of the ground-breaking Xbox
launch titles," said J Allard, General Manager, Xbox Platform. ``'Shrek'
is a great example of how the Xbox allows us to draw images at the same
level of quality of feature films. This will completely change the way
that
people view video games."
Exclusive hints and tips for the ``Shrek" Xbox game will be featured on
all units of the ``Shrek" DVD. Also part of DreamWorks' home video launch
is an instant-win game in which consumers can win an Xbox video game system
with a ``Shrek" Xbox video game, a Nintendo Gameboy Advance system with
Shrek Fairy Tale FreakDown Game Boy game, along with other featured
prizes. The launch of the home video and the instant win game is being
supported by a massive print, radio, and television advertising campaign.
The Magic Mirror has an important message for Shrek. You see, it seems that
the evil sorcerer, Merlin, has captured the lovely Princess Fiona and has
her locked in his Dark Tower Fortress of Pure Evil...Wha ha ha ha!
In order to face off with Merlin, Shrek must travel to the Dark Tower
Fortress of Pure Evil (...Wha ha ha ha!), but a thick and foul fog
surrounds it. The only way to clear the fog and gain access is to perform
Good Deeds across the Fairy Tale Lands. To help him out, the Magic Mirror
gives Shrek a Book of Good Deeds and offers to teleport Shrek to places
where Good Deeds are required...
``Shrek" for the Xbox features the following:
* Eight never-before-seen worlds with six missions per level
* Beautifully bump-mapped environments, real-time shadows, and detailed
characters, taking full advantage of the outstanding graphics
capabilities of Xbox
* Sarcastic and twisted humor throughout
* Whimsical game play populated with new original characters as well as
characters from the film
Capcom Releases Devil May Cry
Capcom released Devil May Cry, an incredible ``gothic action" game for the
PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. A PlayStation 2 exclusive,
Devil May Cry launches with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign that
includes National television advertising and features in numerous
PlayStation 2 promotions such as demo disks and box. Devil May Cry was
ranked as one of the run-away hits at the annual Electronic Entertainment
Expo and is described by the trade, press and consumer as a destined-to-be
blockbuster.
Devil May Cry is designed by Resident Evil creator and mastermind, Shinji
Mikami. This action thriller tells the story of Dante, the descendent of a
legendary swordsman who has wages a one-man battle against the demon world
in order to carry out a 2000 year-old revenge. A playable demo of Devil May
Cry was included in the August release of Resident Evil Code: Veronica X.
Devil May Cry carries an ``M" rating for mature audiences from the
Entertainment Software Rating Board. Strategy Guides are available from
BradyGames, Prima Publishing and Versus.
Devil May Cry is backed with impressive features:
* Stunning game graphics and animation are instantly recognized as far
and above all other PlayStation 2 titles.
* Possesses an incredibly dark and gothic tone with an artistically
crafted art style.
* Unsurpassed particle effects and light-sourcing set a new standard in
video game realism.
* Introduces an all-new level of character control allowing amazing
depth of character movement.
* Fluid game play with fast action sword and gun-play combat
* Shinji Mikami, the original producer and Hideki Kamiya, the original
director of Resident Evil 2 are reunited for the first time since the
creation of the massive Resident Evil 2 blockbuster.
As the lead character in Devil May Cry, Dante is a dark figure shrouded in
mystery. Legend has it that 2000 years ago, in the depths of hell, a demon
swordsman, awoke to justice and rebelled against the devil, to wage a
one-man war in support of the human world. Now, 2000 years later, Dante, a
private investigator of the supernatural, realizes that the devil is
rallying to rise again against mankind. How does Dante fit into this gothic
puzzle? Deep within Dante's blood lies the power of ancient demons. As his
power builds he transforms into a demon state where he can inflict
unearthly powers on the retched souls he encounters. As Dante continues his
adventure he will find powerful weaponry including his dual-pistols and
shotguns. Dante will also discover powerful swords, each possessing various
elemental powers. This devil hunter will lead players into the fantastic
dark world as Dante's destiny is played out in a gothic battle of good
against evil.
As he seeks revenge for the past, Dante will face many evil beings,
including:
* Demonic marionettes -- These low-class demons put their souls into
emotionless marionettes. These creatures normally are slow but can
move surprisingly fast when attacking humans.
* Death Beings -- These beings encompass death and are similar to grim
reapers. Death beings can hover in the air and travel through walls.
They use over-sized scissors or a scythe as their weapons of choice.
* Phantom -- These high level demons rule all other demons in the old
castle. They are huge, ugly creatures that resemble spiders with a
dark aura. These creatures are more intelligent than humans and are
capable of fierce magic using fire or ground-shaking power.
``Devil May Cry is a revolutionary game that will light up the
marketplace," says Todd Thorson, director of marketing, Capcom
Entertainment. ``The game has an incredible story and Dante has as much
attitude and swagger as a rock 'n roll superstar. Devil May Cry surpasses
the previous technical advancements of the PlayStation 2 by showcasing
stunning graphics and tight gameplay that immerses gamers into a dark
fantasy world. Capcom Executive Producer, Shinji Mikami has created another
masterpiece."
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Judge Appoints Mediator in Microsoft Case
The U.S. District Court judge overseeing the Microsoft antitrust case has
chosen a mediator to preside over settlement talks.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued an order late Friday appointing Boston
University law professor Eric Green to mediate for the two sides. The
judge noted that both parties had suggested Green for the job.
Judge Kollar-Kotelly has warned both sides that if they fail to reach a
settlement by November 2nd, she will set hearings in March to determine
sanctions against Microsoft for its antitrust violations.
But Kollar-Kotelly seemed cautiously optimistic about the chances for a
settlement in the four-year-old case.
"Based upon the parties' representations, the Court is satisfied at this
point that the parties have been diligent in their efforts to comply with
the Court's previous order," Judge Kollar-Kotelly wrote in Friday's order.
"However, as the importance of these negotiations cannot be
overemphasized, the Court urges the parties to remain steadfast in their
efforts to reach a mutually agreeable resolution."
Although neither side has indicated why Green was chosen to mediate a
potential settlement, the Boston University law professor, who specializes
in negotiating and mediating legal disagreements, appears eminently
well-suited to the role. Green also founded two mediation concerns:
Resolutions, LLC and JAMS/Endispute, Inc.
Rob Enderle, vice president and research fellow for Giga Information
Group, told NewsFactor Network that a judge presiding over this sort of
case will typically present the parties with a shortlist of candidates
from which to choose a mediator, and that the parties agree on whom they
perceive to be the most moderate choice.
Enderle declined to comment on why the two sides settled on Green. He did
note, however, that Green will probably wield more power than the average
mediator.
"Whatever this mediator decides will likely be what the judge affirms,"
Enderle said.
Microsoft, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the 18 states that have
joined with the DOJ have attempted settlement talks on three previous
occasions, and all have ended in failure. The most recent attempt, over
which Appeals Court Judge Richard Posner presided during a four-month
stretch, ended in April 2000.
However, David Smith, vice-president and research director for Internet
strategies at Gartner Inc., told NewsFactor that Green's chances for
mediating a successful settlement are significantly higher than those of
his predecessors, because all sides now have more incentive to settle than
they did in the past.
"The last time a serious settlement was attempted occurred several years
ago," and the present political climate has changed since that time, Smith
noted.
Smith said political realities, ranging from Bush administration
assurances that Microsoft would not be broken up, to the events of
September 11th, have changed the playing field.
Moreover, the terms for settlement are edging more in Microsoft's favor.
"There's been a continued lessening of the ultimate remedy until Microsoft
can stomach it," Smith said. "Microsoft will never give in, while the
government continues to give in more and more over time."
Microsoft Aims at AOL with New MSN, Broadband Offer
Microsoft on Monday said it will revamp its MSN online offerings later this
month and has signed new deals with major telephone companies to offer
high-speed Internet access as the software giant goes head to head with
rival AOL Time Warner Inc.
Microsoft will offer MSN over digital subscriber lines (DSL) through
partnerships with Verizon Communications, BellSouth Corp. and SBC
Communications Inc., Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told a conference call.
The new deals will offer high-speed access to 90 percent of DSL-capable
U.S. homes by early next year, Ballmer said.
MSN is in a race with AOL, a unit of AOL Time Warner Inc., to sign up users
to fast Internet services, like DSL, that can deliver features like quality
video and audio. MSN, with about 7 million subscribers, is dwarfed by No. 1
AOL, with 31 million subscribers.
AOL declined to comment on the MSN moves. It has focused on using an
extensive cable television network for fast service, but also has the same
DSL phone deals as Microsoft.
Microsoft said high-speed MSN will cost less than $50 a month, and new
subscribers will receive two months free, a free DSL modem and free
installation.
``Literally every subscriber will become up for grabs as they move from
narrowband to broadband," Ballmer said.
MSN Vice President Yusuf Mehdi said the charge into DSL did not mean
Microsoft was ignoring other fast Internet options, like cable or
satellite.
``The DSL market was the easiest set of partnerships for us to put
together. On cable, we're hoping that open-access cable really comes to
bear," Mehdi told Reuters.
MSN already offers high-speed access through a partnership with Qwest
Communications International Inc.
The MSN update, called MSN 7, becomes effective Oct. 25, the same day
Microsoft launches its new Windows XP operating system, and will include
changes to Web sites like the MSN.com portal and services like its free
Hotmail electronic mail.
``We know we're the No. 2 guy in the market, but we're working hard and
working harder," Ballmer said. ``We're able to level competitive heat on
AOL Time Warner."
The biggest new feature will be support for a new Microsoft service called
.NET Alerts, which sends information, like traffic conditions and travel
itineraries, to an e-mail account, instant messenger, or mobile telephone.
``MSN is really a pillar on which we are building the next generation, if
you will, of Microsoft. In some ways, MSN represents the consumer
productivity application for the 21st century," Ballmer said.
Other changes to MSN include giving a new look to MSN.com and beefing it up
to run 30 percent faster.
Additional content will include news clips, music videos, and 3-D tours of
houses that are for sale, optimized for fast Internet access, MSN product
manager Lisa Gurry said in an interview.
MSN Explorer -- essentially a custom browser with bright, cartoon-like
controls, built-in links to Microsoft services and an integrated digital
media player -- will feature easier setup, a more organized look and new
sections for games and horoscopes.
Hotmail will let users compose mail offline, offer better junk mail filters
and editing tools.
Microsoft's messaging software, called MSN Messenger, will also get a
makeover to include Internet telephone calls and .NET Alerts.
Alerts let users sign up to receive information through MSN Messenger,
e-mail or a mobile phone. Initially most Alerts will be offered by
Microsoft and include traffic reports through its Carpoint auto buying
site. Other companies like auctioneer eBay Inc. are also creating Alerts.
AOL Releases Latest Net Access Update
As Microsoft's MSN continued to up the online ante, America Online Inc.
Tuesday released its latest Internet service software, AOL 7.0. This
version adds access to more music, local content and high-speed features.
AOL, a unit of AOL Time Warner, for the most part enhanced existing
services, such as e-mail, instant messaging, its "buddy list" feature and
media player, and made software downloading faster. The Dulles, Va.-based
ISP built-in radio and ticket services for consumer short cuts to
entertainment. AOL, the world's largest ISP with 31 million subscribers,
charges $23.95 monthly for unlimited access.
However, AOL said its latest software would focus on bringing local
content first and faster to the consumer. Its "welcome" screen will
automatically feature news, weather, sports and events tied to the user's
zipcode, instead of forcing users to type in a zipcode.
Microsoft, in a distant second place with 7 million paid members,
announced on Monday the MSN 7 update to coincide with its Windows XP
release on Oct. 25. Microsoft charges $21.95 for unlimited access.
Microsoft also said it would expand its high-speed Internet services over
digital subscriber lines through agreements with regional phone companies.
AOL and Microsoft are vying for the loyalty of consumers in engaging in
transactions, communicating with other users, accessing account data and
universal sign-on services. AOL 7.0 continues to use Microsoft's Internet
Explorer as its default browser.
Microsoft-AOL Face Off Over Win XP
With the coming of Windows XP and .Net, Microsoft and AOL are primed to
step up their battle for control of Internet--and it won't be pretty.
At an America Online staff meeting in 1994, then-President Ted Leonsis
wheeled out a wooden cutout of a bare-fanged Tyrannosaurus rex meant to
symbolize the company's most menacing enemy: Microsoft.
Leonsis' representation was both right and wrong. The software giant
indeed presented a major threat at the time--the eve of the launch of its
Microsoft Network--but its battle form would come to resemble a
multiheaded Hydra more than a prehistoric monster. Rather than
full-frontal assaults, Microsoft would attack from many directions
simultaneously and regenerate appendages whenever they were severed.
"That's the way you win a war; you don't do it with monster battles unless
you're sure you can win them," said Carl Howe, an analyst at Forrester
Research. "You do it by finding weaknesses in the enemy's lines before you
mount your big attack."
Although shorter-sighted thinkers initially viewed the companies as
disparate media and software businesses, executives at AOL, now a division
of AOL Time Warner, have long known that their counterparts ensconced in
Redmond, Wash., had the same goal: to "own" the Internet user, absorbing
his or her identity into a virtual world where cybercitizens travel,
purchase, communicate and plan their daily lives. That concept became
increasingly important as companies and Web sites began charging for
content and services to survive.
AOL's route to this destination has involved drawing in consumers with
dial-up Internet access, then guiding them through the rest of its
features. Now Microsoft, with vaguely defined .Net strategies that will
launch with its Windows XP operating system, is pursuing a similar kind of
recruitment and retention, with services offered for monthly subscriptions
rather than through the traditional one-time purchase of its software
either directly or via computers already loaded with its products.
Windows XP and .Net are "clearly an effort by Microsoft to emulate the
subscription model that has been quite successful for AOL Time Warner in
all of its component parts," said John Buckley, an AOL Time Warner
spokesman. "But the question is--even with their monopoly--whether they'll
be more successful in their effort than they have been previously. We have
a significant advantage in this space."
Another question, though, is how long that upper hand can be held.
It is true that AOL is the clear leader in dial-up Internet service, with
31 million subscribers--a total more than four times greater than that of
second-place MSN. But Microsoft has managed to make significant inroads
with popular technologies such as instant messaging. Windows XP promises
to escalate the competition with more services in communications,
multimedia and other areas that will challenge AOL on several fronts.
Moreover, for all the controversy over Microsoft's technology monopolies,
AOL has been cast in the unusual role of media bully to the software
company. Ever since it blocked MSN Messenger subscribers from
communicating with its own IM network, AOL has been accused of thwarting
efforts to devise an industry standard that would allow all chat
technologies to work together.
That domineering image apparently does not sit well with the public. A
survey by research company Gartner released in August indicated that
consumers distrust AOL more than they do Microsoft in the handling of
personal and financial information. This kind of credibility gap could
become a crucial factor in the next major confrontation between the two
online superpowers: the fight over so-called authentication technologies.
Far more significant than any single feature of Windows XP is the broader
technological architecture it will begin to test--Microsoft's .Net My
Services project, formerly known as HailStorm. The "foundation service" is
designed to organize all manner of personal information, from calendars to
credit card numbers, while easing such online transactions as banking and
shopping.
A cornerstone of .Net My Services is an authentication key called
Passport, a kind of universal identification tool. It allows people to
sign in to multiple sites with the same password and store such personal
information as credit card numbers for online purchases at stores that
agree to use Microsoft's security technology.
"Passport represents a critical control point of the Internet of the
future, the place where identity will be managed on the Internet," said
David Smith, a Gartner analyst. "Identity leads to all kinds of
information about people. It's the keys to the candy store."
AOL is combating Passport with a similar ID mechanism called Screen Name
Service. Both companies are racing to sign up leading Web sites and
companies to use their respective technologies.
Some analysts say Microsoft could benefit in this area from a hesitation
among many content companies to partner with AOL Time Warner. Some
companies fear the media conglomerate already has too much control of
distribution and could dictate absolute terms.
"Now that AOL owns Time Warner and many properties in its various vertical
genres, I think media companies are far more likely to look for an
agnostic distribution partner that's not invested in vertical content,"
said Mark Mooradian, an analyst at research firm Jupiter Media Metrix.
"Microsoft can use to its advantage the fact that AOL is in every respect
a media company and downplay their own 'medianess' to position themselves
much more as a technology enabler and a software company."
In some ways, the campaign to strike content partnerships brings Microsoft
full circle to its strategy to secure exclusive access to popular Web
sites. Five years ago, the company struck deals with Walt Disney, Viacom's
Paramount Pictures, Dow Jones and other media companies for content
accessible only through its Internet Explorer browser or MSN, only to back
away from many of those arrangements under antitrust scrutiny.
Microsoft also retreated from many high-profile experiments with its own
content, including the Sidewalk chain of city guides, the Expedia travel
site and various MSN sites such as MoneyCentral.
Ironically, the move from content may end up helping Microsoft against AOL
by returning the software company to its roots: the long-held philosophy
of owning the underlying architecture needed to use applications, services
and content, allowing the company to collect the equivalent of toll fees
for access.
"Applications are Microsoft's greatest strength," Mooradian said. "When it
started getting involved in Expedia and MoneyCentral and CarPoint, it
realized that."
While AOL Time Warner hopes to attract and maintain subscribers with its
family of publications and other properties, Microsoft is focusing on the
convenience of its technologies. Microsoft says .Net My Services and
Passport can be used through any device with access to the Web, whether it
be a desktop PC or a cell phone, in direct competition with the "AOL
Anywhere" initiative.
"Windows XP is an end point for .Net services," said Jim Cullinan, a
Microsoft spokesman. "Windows XP is the first offering that will at the
base level show a twinkle of what Web services might look like in the
future."
That future, as defined by Microsoft, could bode ill for AOL's ability to
expand its subscriber ranks. If Microsoft links all its software and
services through .Net, it could gain a significant advantage over AOL's
exposure to potential new customers.
AOL walked away from negotiations to package its service's software with
Windows XP this summer, maintaining that the PC desktop offers only
limited opportunity to acquire new subscribers. That means AOL must rely
more heavily on alternative marketing strategies such as the mass-mailing
of CDs--tactics whose success is anything but guaranteed, even with the
vast cross-marketing power of the Time Warner division's magazines, books,
music and TV programming.
For now, Microsoft and AOL are battling one deal at a time. Each company
is trying to piece together its own version of the Internet based on its
authentication technology, presumably for a regular fee to subscribers.
In July, AOL invested $100 million in Amazon.com, a deal that required the
online retailer to use Screen Name as its e-wallet technology instead of
Microsoft's Passport. The arrangement was considered a major coup for AOL
because a partnership with the Web's largest retail company could plant a
significant stake in the ground against Microsoft's advances.
The software giant has responded with its own high-profile partnership.
This month, it struck a deal with Disney's ESPN.com that gives MSN
exclusive rights to the sports site's content in exchange for a toolbar
link on ESPN's home page to other Web services. ESPN will eventually
incorporate Windows Media streaming technology and adopt Passport as one
authentication option.
The arrangement is reminiscent of deals in years past that have drawn
antitrust objections from competitors.
"It's nothing new for Microsoft to leverage off its monopoly into other
businesses," AOL Time Warner's Buckley said. "It's at the heart of the
antitrust problems they have and the core of the prosecution of Microsoft
by antitrust regulators in the United States and Brussels and beyond. It's
also nothing new for Microsoft to desire to play in AOL's space."
Yet AOL Time Warner faces antitrust questions of its own, a concern that
Microsoft has raised repeatedly. During the federal government's review of
the AOL-Time Warner merger last year, Microsoft pointed to its adversary's
previous moves to keep other chat networks from working with AOL Instant
Messenger.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates himself met William Kennard, then chairman
of the Federal Communications Commission, to complain about AOL's
dominance and the need for interoperability. Instant messaging will remain
a major point of conflict between the two companies after the launch of
Windows XP, which will offer a new version of the technology that has
audio, video and text collaboration features embedded in the operating
system.
Still, AOL is well aware that two can play the antitrust game, and it is
more than willing to turn the tables on Microsoft. Already, sources on
Capitol Hill say AOL lobbyists have begun analyzing .Net and .Net My
Services for possible competitive concerns.
In addition, some in the industry believe Microsoft might face a backlash
in charging subscribers, developers and Web sites for use of .Net My
Services--a possibility that could tip the scales in AOL's favor.
"Microsoft is kind of breaking the rules and saying, 'We're going to
charge everybody for everything,'" Howe said. "AOL's opportunity is to use
a pure media business model for their services, to do a pure subscription
model for other services, and not to go do the
charge-everyone-for-everything pass."
Report: U.S. Privacy Plan Bad for Business
Nearly two weeks ago, Timothy Muris, chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), outlined a new "ambitious, positive, pro-privacy agenda"
for the United States that focused on three areas: 1) increased
enforcement of existing privacy provisions; 2) new initiatives such as
controlling spam and creating a national "Do Not Call" list for people to
opt out of telemarketing calls; and 3) a retreat from previous moves to
establish legislation to protect online privacy.
In a new brief, Forrester Research made its feelings about the FTC's new
agenda clear: It "pours gasoline on the fires of the privacy debate ... a
company that thinks that the FTC's backing off of legislation means that
the issue will go away is sadly mistaken. Instead, addressing privacy one
technology or business practice at a time only adds to the confusion."
Forrester did not hold back in its criticism of the FTC. The commission's
new approach, the consulting firm said, will backfire in a number of ways.
First, instead of keeping the privacy debate limited to the Web, the new
agenda will expand the debate to firms' offline practices. "By taking on
telemarketing in this new agenda, the FTC has expanded the scope of the
privacy debate to include existing offline practices," Forrester said.
Second, as the FTC launches its new agenda, it has failed to present an
overarching framework. "This means that businesses are left out in the
cold with no clear guidelines for what is acceptable," Forrester said.
Finally, Forrester concluded, the FTC's new direction will only embolden
privacy advocates and, worse, will give them even more ammunition by
expanding the debate to offline telemarketing. "By putting this much
emphasis on privacy, the FTC has only validated the claims of watchdogs
... [and] advocates will continue to highlight companies' errant practices
in their press releases and news conferences."
For companies fearful of being accused of playing fast and loose with
customer information, Forrester did offer some guidelines for protecting
themselves from "what easily could be a multimillion-dollar PR nightmare."
This risk, coupled with the new uncertainty in policy, "makes it even more
important for companies to clearly assess the risks and costs of their
data practices and systematically update and enforce their privacy
policies."
The Forrester brief recommended the following: Anoint a chief privacy
officer. The CPO will serve as the focal point for developing systems and
best practices in customer information handling. This is not to say that a
company must develop a whole new level of bureaucracy to accompany the new
position, Forrester said. "Successful CPOs at companies like IBM and
Microsoft have leveraged existing systems and personnel."
Assess exposure. Audit and document online and offline privacy practices
to create an enterprise-wide view of how data is used and shared.
Regularly review privacy policies. "Many firms have policies that were
thrown up in the late 1990s and have been collecting dust since then,"
Forrester said. Clearly, this is not the best tack to follow.
Develop a PR action plan. Companies need to assume a worst-case scenario
about possible privacy violations being made public, then plan how to
address subsequent PR fallout. "The strategy should include a clear
escalation process, an accurate statement on the privacy practices of the
organization and an education plan for the executives involved," Forrester
said.
Internet Tax Moratorium Set to Lapse Sunday
A contested federal moratorium of Internet-related taxes is set to expire
on October 21st, despite recent passage of a two-year extension in the
U.S. House of Representatives.
The ban, which was imposed in 1998, prevents state and local agencies from
imposing any new taxes on Internet service providers (ISPs) and other
e-commerce sites.
Although two different extension bills were introduced in the Senate early
this month -- one calling for a two-year extension and another calling for
an extension only through June 30, 2002 -- neither has yet achieved
passage.
Many experts guessed that passage was thwarted before Sunday's deadline
because of the anthrax scare that has effectively shut down Congressional
activity over the last several days.
Jeremy Sharrard, associate analyst of online taxation for Forrester
Research, told NewsFactor Network that he expects the Senate will pass
some version of an extension on the ban within the next couple of weeks.
Unlike the House, "there are stronger personalities in the Senate,"
Sharrard told NewsFactor. "There were a couple of different plans
circulated, and [the Senate] was unable to reach a consensus" in time.
But Sharrard said that the likelihood of federal, state, or local
authorities attempting to pass new taxes anytime soon is remote.
According to Sharrard, two U.S. senators, Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Byron
Dorgan (D-North Dakota) each have a strong vision of what the future
Internet tax structure should be.
Wyden sponsored the bill calling for a two-year extension and for "states
to simplify their sales and use taxes," while Dorgan, a former tax
administrator, sponsored the bill calling for the shorter extension.
Wyden and Dorgan have debated the issue for the last one-and-a-half to two
years, and Wyden told news sources that although he didn't think
civilization would collapse if the moratorium were not extended right
away, he contended that "starting Monday, there's an opportunity for
considerable economic mischief."
Meanwhile, Dorgan told sources that he would object to Wyden's proposal
for a two-year moratorium because it "doesn't address the second problem"
of how to handle the Internet sales tax issue.
Although both politicians and the public often confuse the two issues, the
current ban has no bearing on the issue of sales tax on e-commerce.
Presently, consumers purchasing products and services online are obligated
to pay a tax to their own state even if the Web site from where they made
these purposes does not have a presence in their own state. However, that
law has not been uniformly enforced.
Nevertheless, the Internet tax debate has been a peculiar one because
people often don't understand what they are debating, Sharrard said.
But, added Sharrard, "everything about the debate is intended to confuse."
Even the title of one of the bills, Sharrad pointed out -- the "Internet
Tax Freedom Act" -- leads people to believe it covers freedom from having
to pay sales tax on e-commerce purchases.
But many politicians, like Senator Dorgan, would like to bundle the tax
issues together because certain states, including Dorgan's home state of
North Dakota, do not have income tax and depend heavily on sales tax to
boost their coffers, Sharrard noted.
Code Errors Stall Spread of Computer Worms
Score two for computer users this week, zero for the cyber-criminals.
The "anthrax worm," which exploits the current, international anthrax
scare in an attempt to infect e-mail, has too many errors in the code that
have prevented it from spreading, several Internet security companies
said.
And the SirCam worm comeback that was supposed to emerge Tuesday failed
for the same reason -- its author made errors in the worm's code that
prevented it from reactivating its payload as promised.
The bad news is that it appears there are more hackers, virus writers and
other cyber-criminals out there than ever before. The Computer Emergency
Response Team (CERT) said Tuesday that "security incidents" worldwide are
on track to double last year's tally. The numbers reflect an increase in
reporting as well as security breaches.
"There are more people who are security aware -- not just as a result of
the activities of September 11, but before," Lawrence Rogers of CERT told
NewsFactor Network on Wednesday. "There are also more people doing things
worthy of being reported."
The anthrax worm emerged Tuesday. It pretends to be a bulletin, released
into Internet e-mail systems, that offers information on the disease of
the same name, which has caused widespread fears across the globe in the
wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the U.S. and the
subsequent war in Afghanistan.
It is a self-propagating worm, written in Spanish, that was apparently
coded in the widely available Visual Basic Script (VBS) Worm Generator,
the same toolkit used to unleash the Anna Kournikova worm.
It has "Antrax info" in the subject line and carries an attachment that
purports to be a photo of side effects of the disease. When the attachment
is opened, the worm is released, invading a user's e-mail address book, as
the Melissa worm did before it.
The anthrax worm spreads itself to all the names in the address book and
also attacks the computer's hard disk by overwriting some files.
However, the script that sends it through e-mail to the Microsoft Outlook
address book entries has a flaw that prevents it from proliferating.
In fact, after an initial burst of attention, several security companies
are not now even listing it as a threat.
The SirCam bug surfaced in July and is still sending out worm-riddled
e-mail to the Internet from infected PCs running Microsoft Windows.
That worm's originator planned it so that it would have a one in 20 chance
of deleting all files on an infected computer when the date reached
October 16th, which in Europe is formatted as 16/10/01. But, again, a flaw
in the way the malicious code was written means the file-deleting code
will never be run, said the British security firm, Sophos.
Last year, CERT officials said it received 21,756 reports of "security
incidents," which it defines as "attempts, either failed or successful, to
gain unauthorized access to a system or its data." It has received 34,754
this year, with 75 days left, a 60 percent increase over the entire total
for last year.
If the reports continue at that pace, they will reach 46,000, more than
twice last year's total.
There have also been more software vulnerabilities reported -- 1,820 this
year as opposed to 1,090 for all of last year, a 66 percent increase.
There have been 29 security alerts published this year as opposed to 26
last year.
New Malicious Computer Worm Preys on Anthrax Scare
A computer virus purporting to provide information about anthrax and its
side effects has been discovered, computer security experts said on Tuesday.
The new computer virus, technically a worm because it is self-propagating,
is spreading through e-mail instant relay chat channels on the Internet,
according to Steven Sundermeier, product manager at Central Command which
monitors corporate e-mail systems for viruses.
The e-mail, written in Spanish, has a subject line that says ``Antrax
Info.'' The message claims that the attachment is a photo that shows what
the side effects of anthrax are.
Once the attachment is opened the worm spreads itself to everyone listed in
the email address book. The worm also can overwrite certain files on remote
drives, Central Command said in a statement on its Web site.
Researchers in September discovered a worm masquerading as a program to
allow people to vote on whether the United States should go to war over the
Sept. 11 attacks. However, the ``Vote Virus" did not become widespread.
U.S. authorities say one person has died and others in three states and
Washington, D.C., have been infected by or exposed to anthrax, a bacterial
disease spread by spores. The bacteria is believed to have been spread via
powder in or on letters.
I Know What You Did On Your PC Last Summer
The old cracker practice of "dumpster driving" is about to take a very
sophisticated and scary turn. Deleting a file on a disk is not enough to
keep someone with a little patience and the right software from sampling
every file you've ever saved to that disk.
While such a scenario is still remote for average users, with more and
more personal data being stored in applications on home and office
computers, it's a good idea nonetheless to start "shredding" files before
physically discarding your floppies and hard drives.
When you save a file in the DOS/Windows universe, an entry is made to your
PC's File Allocation Table (FAT) to indicate file name, size, and where
the data lives. When a file is deleted, basically the entry to the FAT is
removed, allowing the space allotted to that file to be available once
again. It's important to note that at this point, no data is erased or
overwritten.
IN FACT, Windows safeguards deleted files, which are sent to the Recycle
Bin until the bin is emptied. This second chance is sometimes helpful if
you delete an important file by mistake. However, even if the file is
"emptied" or erased from the Recycle Bin, it is still possible to
"undelete" a file. Software such as Norton Utilities can reconstruct the
FAT entry and allow the file to be accessed once again.
In a perfect world, you might ask Windows to write new data over deleted
old data. Even if Windows allowed this, some applications in Windows
litter the hard drive with temporary or intermediate backup files. Thus,
when you delete a saved file, you've deleted only the last, final
copy--all the backups and temp files still remain.
But that's not all. When files are first saved, they fill in pre-set
clusters. That's fine, as long as every file fits perfectly. Typically,
the end of a file falls short, meaning there's a gap between the end of
the file and the pre-set end of that final cluster. This gap is known as
"slack space." If the end of a file happens to occur over a previously
"erased" cluster, it's also possible to read some of the previously
written data.
ADDITIONALLY, SAVED FILES may also contain random pieces of RAM data,
called "RAM slack." If you consider how many files, saved backups, and
temporary files you may have, there's a lot of slack space on, say, a
typical 4GB drive, and a lot of old data hanging around.
Note that neither reformatting nor defragging the drive erases data. So
even if you defrag, delete all the files at a command prompt, and then
reformat your drive, in theory someone could still recover your data. For
an illustration of how slack space, RAM slack, and deleted files can work
against you, take a look at a software product called EnCase; it's used by
legitimate forensic investigators to crack criminal cases.
FORTUNATELY, programs such as File Shredder and Eraser 5.1 can help. What
these programs do is delete a file by overwriting the clusters with junk
data. The Department of Defense requires at least seven overwrites. These
programs allow up to 100 overwrites.
Another program, Evidence Eliminator, scrubs bits of files that don't
appear in the FAT, that exist only in the slack space, and could be
reassembled to reveal information about you or your company, including Web
sites you visited long ago.
There also are ways to read the magnetic 1 and 0 signatures found on the
physical drive itself. Some government agencies worldwide require that old
disks be sanded or dissolved with acid. The retrieval of such minute
signatures, however, requires very expensive, specialized equipment.
It's highly unlikely that you or I are worth the time and effort for such
extreme data recovery. Then again, just as carbons and discarded documents
found in dumpsters once fueled pranks in the early days of computing,
carelessness with magnetic media today could come back to haunt us
tomorrow. It's yet one more thing to consider when saving your credit card
or password information to your hard drive.
Apple to Launch Digital Device - 'Not a Mac'
Apple Computer Inc. teased its loyal fans on Wednesday that it would debut
a "breakthrough digital device" next week as aficionados buzzed that the
maker of Macintosh personal computers would show off a new digital music
system.
``Hint: it's not a Mac," Apple said in an invitation to the unveiling next
Tuesday, two days before one of its biggest shareholders and competitor,
Microsoft Corp., launches its new operating system, Windows XP, which is
full of digital media capabilities.
An Apple spokeswoman declined to elaborate on plans or to comment on
speculation that the PC icon would launch a music device that would work
with or be built upon its popular music jukebox program for the computer,
iTunes.
Web site (http://www.thinksecret.com), devoted to uncovering secrets from
Apple, said the device would be a "music-type recorder-player".
Apple has said the personal computer is becoming the hub of a digital
lifestyle linking entertainment and other digital devices. iTunes has been
a hit with Apple fans and reviewers who have praised the simplicity of the
free software.
Known for design and innovation, Apple still is suffering from a slump in
consumer spending that has hit the PC industry hard.
With a $4 billion cash stockpile, executives have said the firm has room
for taking some risks, such as Apple's recent move into retail sales with a
line of flagship stores designed to turn a profit and win new Apple fans.
Apple stock is one of the best performers among personal computer makers
this year, although it is still far below highs set last year, before the
economy began to crumble, leaving Apple with a glut of unsold machines.
Yahoo Sells Ring of Community Sites
Yahoo said Monday that it has closed its sale of community network WebRing
and is notifying members to transfer to a new site.
Yahoo said Monday that it has closed its sale of community network WebRing
and is notifying members to transfer to a new site.
The Web portal said it sold WebRing to Tim Killeen, one of the early
engineers who created the system. WebRing consists of communities of Web
sites featuring related content, allowing people who share interests to
reach one another. For instance, a Web site on grizzly bears would provide
links to other sites with relevant information.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
It "was in the best interest to sell (WebRing) to Tim because it's
difficult for us to sell advertising inventory on pages that are hosted on
other companies' Web sites or other companies' networks," said Nicki
Dugan, a spokeswoman for Yahoo.
The sale of WebRing marks Yahoo's latest effort to refocus its business on
varied sources of revenue that will help it offset ad-sale losses. The
company released its third-quarter earnings last week, reporting that its
revenue had fallen to $166.1 million and that it may lay off additional
employees.
Yahoo said WebRing members were notified Friday that the portal would not
automatically transfer WebRing information, and members must repost their
sites through the new system. Dugan said the company's terms of service do
not allow it to transfer member information to another service.
The company said rings and sites that are not transferred will be lost
when the migration period ends, a date that has yet to be determined.
=~=~=~=
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