SILICON TIMES REPORT ==================== INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ============================= from STR Electronic Publishing Inc. March 25, 1994 No. 1013 ====================================================================== Silicon Times Report International Online Magazine Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 R.F. Mariano Publisher-Editor ----------------------------------------- Voice: 1-904-783-3319 10am-4pm EST STR Publishing Support BBS Network System * THE BOUNTY BBS * ITCNet 85:881/253 JAX HUB ~ FNET 350 ~ Nest 90:21/350 904-786-4176 MULTI-NODE 24hrs-7 days 2400-57.6 bps V.32-42 bis 16.8 USR Dual Standard FAX: 904-783-3319 12am-6am EST ----------------------------------------- Fido 1:374/147.3 The Bounty STR Support Central 1-904-786-4176 FNET. 620 : Leif's World ................1-904-573-0734 FNET. 690 : PASTE BBS....................1-206-284-8493 FNET. 489 : Steal Your Face BBS..........1-908-920-7981 MNET - Toad Hall BBS.....................1-617-567-8642 ______________________________________________________________________ > 03/25/94 STR 1013 "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!" """"""""""""""""" - CPU INDUSTRY REPORT - Harmony GUILTY - WP 6.0a Update - Unix in Danger? - People Talking - Kid Desk - Apple WhitePaper - Radius Cuts $$$ - The Old Fishin' Hole -* NOVELL BUYS OUT WORDPERFECT! *- -* WINDOWS 3.11 Q & A *- -* NINTENDO LOSES APPEAL! *- ====================================================================== STReport International Online Magazine The Original * Independent * Online Magazine -* FEATURING WEEKLY *- "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information" Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports ====================================================================== STReport's BBS - The Bounty BBS, invites all BBS systems, worldwide, to participate in the ITC/PROWL/USENET/NEST/F-Net/Fido Mail Networks. You may also call The Bounty BBS direct @ 1-904-786-4176. Enjoy the wonder and excitement of exchanging all types of useful information relative to c o m puters, worldwide, through the use of excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps, worldwide, are welcome to join the STReport International Conferences. ITC Node is 85:881/250, The Fido Node is 1:374/147.3, Crossnet Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is #620. All computer platforms BBS systems are welcome and invited to participate. ====================================================================== CIS ~ AOL ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ PROWL ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET ~ CIX USENET ~ USPOLNET ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ FNET ~ GENIE ====================================================================== COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME to the Readers of; STREPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine" NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY! CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198 You will receive your complimentary time and be online in no time at all! "Enjoy CompuServe's forums; where information is at its very best! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > From the Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""" I refuse to mention the weather this week as its simply been beautiful. Computing... yeah! that's the ticket! New goodies are already beginning to appear! For example, Access Software, creators of the world famous Links series of Golf simulations has released yet another top notch Championship course; The Castle Pines Golf Club, of Castle Rock Colorado. If you like Golf you will simply love this super realistic simulation. In the application and productivity departments, keep an eye on the contents each and every week from now on as the new goodies are beginning to flow. Desktop Publishing in all its glory will become the "sweetheart" of the PC community. The beauty of it all is the supreme file compatibility between the MAC and the PC platforms and the cross program file compatibility within each. This makes for a very easy way the user may alter, modify enhance or redo his files for direct to press printer ready results. Its all terrific. WordPerfect aficionados got a real surprise this week when they were told Novell now owns WordPerfect Corp. Move over Mr. Gates... This week's issue is chock full of news and other tidbits. Thanks for reading us and do enjoy. Ralph.... """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's Staff DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU! """""""""""""""" Publisher -Editor """""""""""""""""" Ralph F. Mariano Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor, Current Affairs Section Editors """"""""""""""" PC SECTION AMIGA SECTION MAC SECTION ATARI SECTION ---------- ------------- ----------- ------------- R.D. Stevens R. Niles R. Noak D. P. Jacobson STReport Staff Editors: """"""""""""""""""""""" Dana P. Jacobson Michael Arthur John Deegan Lucien Oppler Brad Martin Judith Hamner John Szczepanik Dan Stidham Joseph Mirando Doyle Helms Frank Sereno John Duckworth Jeff Coe Steve Keipe Guillaume Brasseur Melanie Bell Jay Levy John Donohue Jeff Kovach Marty Mankins Carl Prehn Paul Charchian Contributing Correspondents: """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Tim Holt Norman Boucher Harry Steele Clemens Chin Neil Bradley Eric Jerue Ron Deal Robert Dean Ed Westhusing Glenwood Drake Vernon W. Smith Bruno Puglia Paul Haris Kevin Miller Craig Harris Allen Chang Dominick Fontana IMPORTANT NOTICE """""""""""""""" Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: Compuserve................... 70007,4454 America Online..................STReport Delphi......................... RMARIANO BIX............................ RMARIANO FIDONET..................... 1:347/147.3 FNET........................... NODE 350 ITC NET...................... 85:881/253 NEST........................ 90:21/350.0 GEnie......................... ST-REPORT Internet.............RMARIANO@DELPHI.COM """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > CPU STATUS REPORT LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS """"""""""""""""" IBM/POWER-PC/PC SECTION (I) =========================== Computer Products Update - CPU Report ------------------------ ---------- Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Issue #13 By: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr. ******* General Computer News ******* ** Unix in Danger? ** Unix partisans, on guard: Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT technology is threatening to quickly become the world's dominant computing system. That was the warning Intel Corp. President/CEO Andrew S. Grove sounded this week in San Francisco to some of Unix's staunchest allies at the opening session of UniForum, the annual gathering of the open systems industry. "Unix has gone from being the attacker to being the defender, without having won in the process," Grove told the 3,000 people attending his address, which also was beamed by satellite to a concurrent UniForum Association gathering in the United Kingdom. ** Nintendo Loses Appeal Motion ** In California, a federal appeals court has let stand a $15 million damage award to Lewis Galoob Toys Inc. in its case against video game maker Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s U.S. subsidiary. Lewis Galoob originally was awarded the sum by a federal court in July 1992 after it claimed it had been prevented from selling the enhancer, Game Genie. ** Sega Channel Gets New Affiliate ** Sega Channel says it has signed Post-Newsweek Cable as a "launch partner" for its new interactive video game channel. Post-Newsweek has about 500,000 subscribers in 15 states. It will launch Sega Channel this fall, following a three-month summer trial. Sega Channel will provide Sega Genesis video games on-demand, 24 hours a day. Sega Channel subscribers will choose from a selection of games, special versions of soon-to-be- released titles, game-play tips, news, contests and promotions. The programming will be updated monthly. Sega Channel will be priced in the range of most premium subscription services. ** Novell Buys Out WordPerfect ** For about $1.4 billion in stock, network maker Novell Inc. has agreed to buy privately held WordPerfect Corp., a move that will create one of the world's largest software publishers. WordPerfect is to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Novell. Sources say the agreement, which is yet to be approved by federal regulators, calls for all WordPerfect stock to be exchanged for about 59 million shares in Novell. WordPerfect has undergone management shakeups in recent years and, despite record sales in 1993, laid off more than 1,000 workers. Last year, co-founder Alan Ashton announced he was retiring. Also this week, Novell announced it will purchase Borland International Inc.'s "Quattro Pro" spreadsheet business for about $145 million. The joined companies are likely to become the software industry's third biggest, behind Microsoft and Oracle. ** ComputerLand Changes Name ** ComputerLand Corp. is taking on a new name and a new plan. Starting this week, the firm becomes Vanstar Inc. and it will sell computers and services solely to businesses. ** Apple, IBM Roll Out Taligent ** The new Taligent operating system software from Apple Computer Inc. and IBM has made its formal debut before about 500 people at the PC Forum trade show in Phoenix. Taligent, designed to run on previously incompatible computers, is expected to become generally available next year. The system "uses a new technology called object orientation, which condenses the amount of machine language needed to give the basic commands to computer." Also backed by Hewlett-Packard Co., Taligent is expected to begin distributing tools later this year to developers to help them start writing programs based on the system. ** North American Software Sales Up ** Sales of personal computer applications software reached a record $6.81 billion in North America in 1993, according to figures released today by the Software Publishers Association. North American software revenues grew 18.5% last year from $5.75 billion in 1992. North American unit sales were up 33% for the year, while international units were up 67%. The industry continued to be fueled by Windows applications with some $3.47 billion in sales in 1993, an 80% increase over 1992's sales of similar programs. Meanwhile, DOS applications continued to decline in North America, falling 25% to $1.93 billion. Sales of Macintosh applications were $1.08 billion in 1993, the first time that annual sales of Macintosh applications were over $1 billion. Macintosh applications sales were up 9% from $990 million in 1992. The largest application category in 1993 was word processing with sales of $1.02 billion, a 23% increase from $829 million in 1992. ** Japan's Market Growth Disappointing ** Foreign chipmakers share of the Japanese market grew in the fourth quarter of last year. The new figures show the foreign share of the Japanese chip market rose to 20.7% in the quarter, up 2% from the third quarter level. ** Gray Market' Software Illegal ** The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York has ruled it is illegal for resellers and original equipment manufacturers to obtain software through unauthorized distribution or the "gray market." The landmark ruling is a result of the case Microsoft Corp. vs. Harmony Computers & Electronics Inc. in which Microsoft alleged that Brooklyn, N.Y. based Harmony Computers was distributing unauthorized copies of Microsoft OEM products in violation of the OEM's license agreement. Judge Raymond Dearie declared, "To the extent that (Harmony) bought their Microsoft products from authorized Microsoft licensees, they were subject to the same licensing restrictions under which those licensees operate." Microsoft officials said they have taken a number of positive steps to address this problem directly, in an effort to make it easier for resellers and OEMs to obtain legitimate copies of the MS-DOS and Windows operating systems. Microsoft licenses MS-DOS and Windows to computer manufacturers to distribute with the PCs they sell. Microsoft's OEM license agreements prohibit the distribution of Microsoft products by themselves without an accompanying licensed PC, or as "standalone" products. The products Harmony had offered for sale included both MS-DOS and Windows that Harmony had purchased from an OEM licensee without a computer system, or standalone, in alleged violation of the computer manufacturer's original license agreement. "This is an enormous step forward in our efforts to combat this form of software piracy," said David Curtis, associate general counsel at Microsoft. "This ruling addresses a common belief in the PC industry that the problem lies only with an OEM violating its license agreement. Here, it is clearly stated that any reseller or OEM who sells unauthorized standalone product is also committing copyright infringement and is therefore liable for both criminal penalties and money damages." In 1992, Congress amended the Copyright Act, increasing criminal penalties for copyright infringement of software. Those penalties include imprisonment of up to five years, fines of up to $250,000, or both. As a result, copyright infringement of computer software is now considered to be a felony. Microsoft's complaint against Harmony Computers seeks civil damages and injunctive relief. ** Radius Cuts Monitor Prices ** Radius Inc. has lowered by as much as 28% the prices on its 20-inch general-purpose color monitors. Effective immediately, the price of: -:- The IntelliColor Display/20 has been cut 28%, or $900, to $2,299. -:- The PrecisionColor Display/20v has been cut by $200, or 9%, to $1,999. ** Germans Crack Cracker Group ** German officials have thwarted what they say was a nationwide ring of computer crackers who found a way to phone around the world without being billed. Officials with the regional criminal office in Munich are quoted as saying U.S. phone companies alone lost millions of dollars in revenue because of the ring. "In a coordinated search, police raided the homes of about 60 suspected hackers all over Germany. Two arrests were made and hundreds of computer disks, hard-disks and calling-card codes were confiscated." ******* General PC News ******* ** Compaq to Bundle Stacker 4.0 ** Stac Electronics Inc. says Compaq Computer Corp. has licensed the DOS and Windows versions of Stacker 4.0 to ship with its desktop and portable computers. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "Compaq customers have become accustomed to getting the additional disk capacity that compression provides and with Stacker 4.0 pre-installed we are able to provide our customers with an industry-leading compression product," says Lorie Strong, Compaq's vice president of portable and software marketing. Stac's agreement with Compaq comes less than a month after Stac won a patent-infringement lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. and Microsoft's removal of the DoubleSpace compression technology from DOS 6.2. ** Advanced Logic Gets Chip Patent ** Advanced Logic Research Inc. has received a patent for a chip upgrading technology. ALR Chairman/CEO Gene Lue said the patent covers a technology that provides a processing unit upgrade path to i486 and Pentium technology for Advanced Logic clients. ******* General Mac News ******* ** Apple Ships New QuickTime Kit ** Apple Computer Inc. has released the Apple QuickTime Starter Kit 1.1. The package is designed to give users the tools they need to get started with multimedia software. With QuickTime, users can work with video, sound, and music as easily as they work with text and graphics. New to the QuickTime Starter Kit 1.1 is PixelPlay 2.0 from Silicon Sports, which allows users to save QuickTime movies as screen savers. In addition, users can now access QuickTime to digitize sound from an audio CD, as well as incorporate Photo CD images. The QuickTime Starter Kit 1.1 costs $99. It requires a Macintosh computer with a 68020, 68030, 68040 or PowerPC microprocessor; at least 4MB of RAM; an Apple SuperDrive floppy disk drive; and a hard disk. Also needed is System 6.0.7 or later or System 7.0 or later and a CD-ROM drive for accessing the contents of the supplied CD-ROM. ____________________________________________ > Windows 3.11 Q&A STR Spotlight """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Windows 3.11 Q&A ================ 1. WHAT IS WINDOWS 3.11? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM WINDOWS 3.1? Microsoft Windows 3.11 is a "refresh" release that implements packaging changes designed to reduce counterfeiting. The release also includes some updated device drivers and a few bug fixes to address issues such as diskless workstation support. 2. WHY WERE THESE CHANGES MADE? It's been nearly two years since Windows 3.1 was introduced to the market. These new drivers and bug fixes will improve the experience of a customer buying Windows for the first time. Also, these changes had already been incorporated in our Windows for Workgroups 3.11 release. 3. WHO SHOULD UPDATE TO WINDOWS 3.11? There is no new functionality in the 3.11 release of Windows and all of the drivers being added or refreshed have been available on the Windows Driver Library up on CompuServe and Microsoft's Download Service. So unless a customer is having a problem related to one of the areas covered by the fixes detailed below, there should be no need for them to update to this release. If a customer does need to update they should call Microsoft at (800) 871-3270 for more information. 4. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINDOWS 3.11 AND WFW 3.11. Windows 3.11: Windows 3.11 is simply Windows 3.1 plus the additional video and printer drivers and the five bug fixes described below. As mentioned above, there is no new functionality or performance improvements, features, etc. Windows for Workgroups 3.11: WFW 3.11 offers a number of enhancements to our Windows 3.1 product. WFW 3.11 includes enhanced performance, from 50-150% faster disk I/O and up to 100% faster network access. It also includes integrated networking, Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Schedule+, Microsoft At Work Fax, and Microsoft's Remote Access Services, and a number of other enhancements for both standalone and networked Windows PCs. 5. DOES WIN 3.11 WORK WITH OS/2 FOR WINDOWS? No it does not. From what we have been able to learn without the benefit of source code, which IBM refused to provide Microsoft, OS/2 for Windows patches Windows in memory at fixed address locations. Such a design makes OS/2 for Windows extremely fragile because it depends on Windows code being frozen over time. Microsoft encourages developers to write well-behaved Windows apps using documented API's and good programming practices. By establishing these ground rules we can move the platform forward and maintain support for these applications. Windows 3.11 did not break any well-behaved applications that we are aware of. Though we regret the inconvenience to customers, IBM has to be responsible for writing well-behaved applications -- they have taken shortcuts with OS/2 for Windows that have put their customers in a bad position. We presume that one or more of the bug fixes incorporated in Windows 3.11 (which were included in Windows for Workgroups 3.11 released November 6, 1993) changed the fixed address locations that are patched by OS/2 for Windows. As a result, OS/2 for Windows no longer runs correctly. 6. DID MICROSOFT DO THIS TO THWART IBM? No we did not. We have been talking publicly about this release since August of last year -- well before IBM even announced their OS/2 for Windows product. Negotiations with Novell and a desire not to interrupt the Christmas selling season caused us to delay, but Windows has been on the market for nearly two years now and we felt that customers would benefit from a refresh of the product. 7. WHAT SHOULD CUSTOMERS DO THAT HAVE PURCHASED OS/2 FOR WINDOWS AND WANT TO UPDATE TO WINDOWS 3.11? IBM has the means at its disposal to permit purchasers of OS/2 for Windows to use it with Windows 3.11. First IBM can release a new version of OS/2 for Windows that patches Windows 3.11 at the appropriate address locations in memory. Second, IBM can provide customers with the KERNEL, USER, and GDI modules from Windows 3.1 that do not contain the bug fixes which apparently are the source of the problem. Alternatively customers can purchase the full OS/2 2.1 product from IBM. 8. WHAT ABOUT CUSTOMERS THAT BUY WINDOWS 3.11 AND THEN WANT TO RUN OS/2 FOR WINDOWS? We think IBM bears the responsibility for designing OS/2 for Windows in such a way that virtually guaranteed it would break if Microsoft made any changes in Windows. Nonetheless, in an effort to assist our mutual customers, Microsoft will provide purchasers of Windows 3.11 who experience difficulty running the product with OS/2 for Windows with the unimproved Windows 3.1 files which we modified in Windows 3.11 to fix various bugs. Our Product Support Services will distribute these as soon as a diskette can be made available. 9. WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE CODE CHANGES MADE TO WIN 3.11 AND WHAT DO THEY DO? First the following drivers have been added or refreshed in the Windows 3.11 release: - HPLJIV driver - 256 Color generic SVGA video driver - which will support TSENG ET4000 chipsets and V7, but not ATI Ultra or S3 chipsets. - As well as the following drivers: PSCRIPT.DRV UNIDRV.DLL PSCRIPT.HLP UNIDRV.HLP HPPCL5MS.DRV HPDSKJET.DRV HPPCL5E.DRV HPPCL.DRV HPPCL5E.HLP PAINTJET.DRV HPPCL5E1.DLL L100_425.WPD HPPCL5E2.DLL L300_471.WPD HPPCL5E3.DLL L300_493.WPD HPPCL5E4.DLL L500_493.WPD HPPCL5EO.DLL L200230&.WPD FINSTALL.DLL L330_52&.WPD FINSTALL.HLP L630_52&.WPD EPSON24.DRV EPSON9.DRV V7VDD.386 V7VGA.DRV In addition, the following 5 files were changed: 1) krnl386.exe: Minimal kernel changes to more gracefully shut down the Windows system after installing products which call the ExitWindows API to shut Windows down before returning focus to program manager. 2) gdi.exe: Changes which assist ISVs currently writing graphics applications, especially those that call the 'draw rectangle function'. This will minimize the number of API calls the programmer needs to write and maximize the system resources available on the system when using graphics intensive applications. 3) commdlg.dll: Changes which allow Windows apps on diskless workstations to use common dialog boxes. (Formerly available as a PSS application note) 4) pscript.drv & unidrv.dll: Updated to eliminate a font enumeration conflict that occurs with many word processors when 60 or more fonts are used in a single document. (Formerly available as a PSS application note) 5) vtda.386: The updated vtda.386 solves a very small percentage of timer related problems that occur when starting an MS-DOS based application under Windows on large Novell Netware networks. (Formerly available as a PSS application note) __________________________________________ > KidDesk STR Review """""""""""""""""" KID'S COMPUTING CORNER KIDDESK by Frank Sereno This week's article will not be a review of an educational software program. Instead I will examine a graphical menuing shell, KidDesk from Edmark Corporation. KidDesk allows users to launch DOS and some Windows programs from icons on the KidDesktop. It can be used to protect your system files and applications from your children while allowing them the freedom to explore their own programs. KidDesk is available for IBM compatible computers and needs 550k of free memory and a Microsoft compatible mouse. KidDesk is also available for the Macintosh. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price is $39.95 but it can be found at many locations for under $30. KidDesk offers protection to the system as it can be installed to autorun in the autoexec.bat file and can be set up so the program cannot be exited to DOS unless the user knows a password that you input. If KidDesk is set up in this manner, the user will only have access to the desktop accessories and the icon buttons for the programs that you designate for him to use. This program has two main sections, the Kid Section that will be the interface the children will use to launch programs and the Adult Section that parents or teachers will install applications and customize the program. Let's examine the Kid Section first. Running KidDesk will first bring up the title screen, followed by a screen featuring kid icons. Clicking on one of the icons will bring up the individualized kiddesk. There are six different styles of desks featuring nine accessories. The accessories are the Name Plate, Picture Frame, Lamp, Pen and Pencils, Clock, Calculator, Recorder, Phone and Calendar. The Name Plate will show the name of the child. Clicking on the Name Plate will alternate it between showing only the child's first name and showing both the first and last names. The Picture Frame displays an icon for your child. Graphics can be imported from other programs. If you have a SoundBlaster or compatible sound card, a sound file can be recorded or imported to be played when the Picture Frame is clicked upon. A Lamp on the desk can be clicked on to darken and brighten the screen. Pencils and Pens allows the child to choose a style of desktop of his own preference. An analog Clock shows the time of your computer's internal clock and clicking on it will cause the time to be pronounced aloud. The Recorder allows the recording of messages. The Phone is used to hear the recorded messages. If none are recorded, a busy signal will be heard. If recording is turned off in the Adult section, a variety of greetings will be heard. The most impressive accessory is the Calendar. A day calendar is displayed on the desk. Just like the clock, it is based on the computer's internal clock. Clicking on the calendar will bring up a monthly calendar that the child may place daily notes and place icons for important dates. The child can cycle through thirteen months. Each monthly calendar can be printed. The remainder of the Kid Section is the application-launching icons. All the DOS programs that I ran from KidDesk worked flawlessly. I did have some problems running some Windows applications, one being Alphabet Blocks. I haven't contacted Edmark yet about this problem so there may be a remedy. You must have Windows to run Windows programs. KidDesk merely starts Windows and then immediately launches the chosen application. The Adult Section allows the parent or teacher to install kids, applications, sound clips and graphics. Access is gained by the key combination of alternate-control-a. After the initial setup, a password can be added as further security. There are four headers on a menu bar (File, Kid, Application and Options) and two folders (Kids and Applications). Click on a header to open a new menu of options. Under File you will find Return to Kid Section, Return to Windows and Return to Dos. These are the three ways that the Adult Section can be exited. Under Kid you will find Add Kid, Kid Settings, Remove Kid and Limit Applications. The excellent documentation fully explains how to use these functions. Limit Applications will permit you to pick and choose from your applications for each child. You may want to set up your three- old's desktop so it doesn't include some your older children's more complicated programs. Under Application are Add Application, Application Settings, Remove Applications. For adding applications there is an auto search feature. Windows programs will use their regular icons for launching in KidDesk. There are a variety of icons that can be chosen for DOS programs or new ones can be created with the included icon maker. Under the Options header are Adult Password, Screen Saver, Kid's Exit Options, Time Reminder and KidDesk Accessories. The Adult Password option allows the parent to choose a password that must be used to enter the Adult Section. The Screen Saver can be set to kick in after a chosen period of inactivity to prevent screen burn-in. Kid's Exit Options can be set to allow exiting or not to DOS from the Kid Section. Time Reminder can be used to limit the child's time at the computer. KidDesk Accessories allows the turning on or off of the nine desktop accessories. Edmark has recently come out with an improved product, KidDesk Family Edition. Family Edition runs only from Windows. Edmark claims that it can run DOS programs without the many sound and memory conflicts usually encountered running those programs from Windows alone. New features include electronic mail, an address cardfile, a note pad and voice mail. Family Edition can be used as a family communications center. MSRP is $59.95. Since I purchased KidDesk only 2 weeks ago, I do not know if there is an upgrade path from KidDesk to KidDesk Family Edition. If you feel you need these extra features, purchase Family Edition. KidDesk is a very good program. It allows younger children to use the computer by themselves while allowing parents and teachers peace of mind knowing that their own programs are safe from harm. With the use of icons, the children do not need to know how to read. The accessories are great. The manual is excellent and even includes several pages of hints on using KidDesk as an educational tool. Edmark customer service can be reached at 206-556-8484 from 8am to 5pm Pacific Time. Thank you for reading! _____________________________________________________ > WordPerfect 6.0a STR FOCUS! """"""""""""""""""""""""""" WordPerfect 6.0a for Windows Interim Release Information Executive Summary ----------------- Note: The information contained in this document is subject to change prior to the release of WPWin 6.0a. WordPerfect Corporation has always had a policy of responding to customer needs between major product upgrades with interim releases. In keeping with this customer-oriented focus, WordPerfect will ship an interim release of WordPerfect 6.0a Windows (WPWin 6.0a) in April 1994. The four major objectives for WPWin 6.0a are reliability, speed, ease of use, and transition tools. All registered users of WPWin 6.0 will receive the interim release free of charge upon request. If users have not registered their software, WordPerfect representatives can register them when they call (800) 321-4566. The interim release ships on a reduced span set containing only the necessary files needed to update WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows. When installing the files from the reduced span set, make sure that the current version of WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows (release date of 10/01/93) is installed on the computer. The interim release updates only those files you installed from the initial release of WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows. For example, if you chose the Custom installation option when you originally installed WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows, the interim will update only those files. In addition, if you originally chose the Custom or Minimum installation option for WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows, but now prefer a Standard installation with the interim disks, you need to reinstall the 10/01/93 version using the Standard install option, before installing the interim release. The interim disks will then update the Standard installation files. Enhancements: ------------- Speed: Speed improvements have been made in the following areas: basic formatting, scrolling, printing, graphics handling, table manipulation and editing, importing WordPerfect 5.x documents, generate, document compare, outline, launching WP Draw, automation of ExpressDocs Templates and opening large documents. Reliability: Many changes have been made to improve the overall reliability of the product. Every effort was made to address reliability issues raised by our customers. Printing: With the Windows or WPWin 6.0a (*.PRS) printer drivers, the printing of tables, borders, and bitmap graphics is much faster. In addition, with WordPerfect-supplied Postscript and Hewlett Packard printer drivers, WPWin 6.0 printed ATM and TrueType fonts as graphics, which caused large output file sizes and long total print times. WPWin 6.0a now downloads ATM and TrueType fonts to these printers, improving overall printing speed. Integration: WPWin 6.0a now works better under Windows NT and IBM OS/2 2.1, including seamless integration with the OS/2 Advanced Workplace Shell. The OS/2 Integration Tools Disk is available separately by calling (800) 321-4566. Conversion of Fonts: In WPWin 6.0, converting WordPerfect 5.x documents to the WordPerfect 6.0 format would sometimes result in fonts not converting correctly. Fonts will now convert correctly if the same printer is selected in WordPerfect 5.x and WPWin 6.0a. In addition, round-trip compatibility from WPWin 6.0a to WPWin 5.2 and back to a WPWin 6.0a format will result in accurate font matching. Fonts: The last four fonts used are now displayed at the top of the font list, accessed by clicking the font button on the Power Bar. This is similar to the existing capability to display the names of the four most recently used files on the Files pull-down menu. Graphics: You can now easily save a graphic as a file from within WPWin 6.0a by selecting the graphic and choosing Save As from the File menu. Full WYSIWYG: Display Character widths are now displayed more accurately on screen, resulting in a truer graphical representation of fonts. WP Draw: With some scanners, the error message Scan Operation Failed... would appear and prevent an image from scanning directly into WP Draw. This has now been corrected. 256 Color Driver: If a problem is detected with a 256 color driver, WPWin 6.0a will advise you to add a /fl startup switch (for example, c:\wpwin60\wpwin.exe /fl) to the command line under Properties for the WPWin 6.0a icon. This will eliminate known problems with certain video drivers. DDEML.DLL: We are aware of conflicts with a Windows file, DDEML.DLL, dated 4/22/92. The correct version of this file should be found in the System directory (c:\window\system). If the version of this file (DDEML.DLL, 4/22/92) is found in the Windows directory, and the correct version is found in the Windows System directory, the file will be automatically deleted from the Windows directory. Additions: QuickCorrect This feature automatically replaces errors in mistyped or misspelled words. For instance, if you accidentally type adn, it is automatically replaced with and as soon as you press the space bar or another word delimiter (comma, period, semi-colon, etc.). QuickCorrect can automatically fix hundreds of commonly mistyped or misspelled words as you type. QuickCorrect can also automatically expand abbreviations on the fly. For example, you could type wpc and have WordPerfect Corporation appear as you press the space bar. QuickCorrect will also fix two initial caps such as COrporation. QuickSelect WPWin 6.0a understands that you need the ability to select complete words, sentences, and paragraphs as well as individual letters. QuickSelect gives you the flexibility to select precisely the text you need. Click twice, holding the mouse down the second time, then drag to select word by word. Click three times and drag to select sentence by sentence, and click four times and drag to select paragraph by paragraph. In addition, WPWin 6.0a has always let you click in the left margin to select a sentence, and double click to select a paragraph, or use the right mouse button in the left margin for more QuickSelect options. QuickStart Coach When you first launch WPWin 6.0a an interactive QuickStart Coach appears to give you an overview of the product. This will assist WordPerfect for DOS users, as well as users of other word processors such as Microsoft Word and Lotus Ami Pro as they make the transition to WPWin 6.0a. Transition Advisor Accessed from the Help menu, the Transition Advisor helps WordPerfect for DOS users make a smooth transition to Windows. The Transition Advisor displays keystrokes and commands from WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS and then shows how to perform the equivalent tasks in WPWin 6.0a. Also available is a WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS keyboard that retains familiar keystrokes as you work. ExpressDocs templates WPWin 6.0a will ship with a WPLite template which provides a scaled-down menu and feature list. WPWin 6.0a will include several other templates: WPAmiPro, business card creation, workgroup, term paper, and an additional form letter template. In addition, to answer requests from the legal community, a pleading macro (PLEADING.WCM) and a pleading template (PLEADING.WPT) will ship with WPWin 6.0a. This automated template guides you through creating a pleading document. Save A "fail safe" save option will now verify that the document saved on disk is identical to the current document in WPWin 6.0a. Uninstall The Setup Program includes an Uninstall facility which allows for a standard or custom uninstall of WPWin 6.0a. Improvements have also been made to the installation routine. Paragraph Numbers Paragraph numbering is now equivalent to the functionality found in WPWin 5.2 and is part of the Bullet and Numbers feature. Tables You can now save table data to the clipboard with tabs that allow you to read data into a spreadsheet or save it as an ASCII (DOS) Text file. In addition, you can save table data to a Borland Quattro Pro format. Import/Export A conversion for Professional Write files has been added, as well as ODBC support, which provides direct support for Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel 5.0. In addition, WPWin 6.0a will now import Lotus 123 version 4.0 format. New Button Bars Three new Button Bars have been added to WPWin 6.0a: Legal, Design Tools, and Utilities. Network Users WPWin 6.0a includes Universal Naming Convention (UNC) support as well as shareable paper size forms for Windows drivers. Encryption Password protection has been improved, with support for both the old and new formats for compatibility with existing WPWin users and documents, as well as case-sensitive password protection. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT: _________________________________ Set your communications software to Half Duplex (or Local Echo) Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN. GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ___ ___ _____ _______ /___| /___| /_____| /_______/ The Macintosh RoundTable /____|/____| /__/|__| /__/ ________________________ /_____|_____|/__/_|__|/__/ /__/|____/|__|________|__/ /__/ |___/ |__|_/ |__|_/____ Managed by SyndiComm /__/ |__/ |__|/ |__|______/ An Official Forum of the International Computer Users Group *** STReport available in MAC RT *** ASCII TEXT for ALL GEnie users! MAC/APPLE SECTION (II) ====================== Randy Noak, Editor Oh! Am I sick! All of us here at Mac Report HQ have come down with a nasty case of intestinal flu. I'll tell you, I'm getting sick of looking at porcelain! Mac Report Monthly is out and the first issue is a success, garnering large amounts of downloads on the three services where it is available (AOL, CIS and GEnie). One side benefit is that STReport downloads are also up as Mac Report Monthly readers check out STR to find out what they've been missing. Look for the April issue of MRM around April 1, 1994. I had a big editorial planned for this issue, but. due to the flu, it will have to wait until next week when my health returns. For this week, here is some interesting Apple info. ___________________________________________________ > Inside Track! STR FOCUS! """""""""""""""""""""""" APPLE SYSTEM SOFTWARE COMPETITIVE WHITE PAPER ============================================= Introduction ------------ This paper examines some crucial issues confronting the personal computer industry today. Fundamental shifts in technology are driving major changes in the realm of operating system software changes that will have a tremendous impact on the personal computing market. In particular, this paper addresses four important trends: the emergence of mainstream RISC computers, the move to object technologies, the new emphasis on collaboration and communication, and the leap from today's passive, graphical user interface to interfaces that are both active and "intelligent." The Macintosh operating system, System 7, meets fundamental requirements in these areas, providing customers with the capabilities they need, as well as offering a foundation for providing the advances they will be looking for in the future. Already, the Macintosh operating system is recognized as providing leadership technology in areas such as ease of use, graphics and imaging, and multimedia. This paper explains how Apple intends to build on its current strong position, comparing and contrasting its approach with that of other vendors. RISC Goes Mainstream -------------------- RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) microprocessor architectures have been commercially successful in the workstation market since the 1980s. In 1991, Apple, IBM, and Motorola joined forces to bring the benefits of this technology to the mainstream personal computing arena. These three companies combined efforts to create a powerful, scalable, and cost-effective RISC-based microprocessor architecture. The result, known as the PowerPC microprocessor, will power that next generation of computers from both Apple and IBM. The three companies in the PowerPC alliance believe that the inherent advantages of RISC microprocessor technology over microprocessors based on older, 1980s CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) technology will allow the PowerPC chip to offer significant and increasing performance and price/performance leadership over the competing Intel architecture based on CISC technology. The PowerPC chip derives its price/performance advantage over the Intel CISC architecture through less complex chip design, which translates to a smaller die size and more cost-effective manufacturing. Intel's Pentium chip, the PowerPC chip's competitor, demonstrates the cost and manufacturing burden of having to maintain exact compatibility with the large CISC instruction set. PowerPC growth path. In addition to the initial PowerPC 601 chip, the Apple, IBM, and Motorola alliance has announced a series of follow- on PowerPC chips, under concurrent development. These include the low- power, low-cost PowerPC 603 (designed for use in PowerBook and low-end Macintosh computers), the high-performance PowerPC 604 (which will eventually replace the PowerPC 601 in desktop and midrange systems), and the superior-performance, full 64-bit implementation PowerPC 620 (designed for use in high-end workstations and servers). As a result, the PowerPC architecture offers a well-understood, compelling growth path for years to come. The Intel response. Intel, alone in investing in Pentium, is responding to the PowerPC threat by preannouncing the details of a Pentium follow-on chip P6. According to Intel, P6 will be a very complex chip, with more than 6 million transistors (twice as many as in the Pentium chip), offer two to three times the performance of Pentium, and ship in volume at the end of 1995. Operating Systems for RISC Microprocessors ------------------------------------------ Microprocessors and operating systems have a strong interrelationship. DOS grew up as the operating system for the Intel 80x86 architecture, and now Microsoft Windows is succeeding to that position. Although these operating systems have had a commanding role in the CISC microprocessor world, Microsoft has no announced plans to port Windows or MS-DOS (the Microsoft version of DOS) to a RISC platform the effort would be tremendous. (It's important to understand that DOS and Windows applications will run, through software emulation, on Macintosh computers with PowerPC processors.) Because of this basic incompatibility, the PowerPC chip's dramatic, high-volume entrance into the personal computer arena will profoundly affect the operating system market, as new contenders seek to establish the standard. As RISC achieves mainstream status in 1994, the crucial question is which operating system will dominate the PowerPC platform. Several operating systems are jockeying for this leadership position. The operating system vendors Apple, Microsoft, IBM, and so on all have different approaches to providing operating system software for RISC- based personal computers. Some vendors require users to adopt a new operating system altogether, while others take an evolutionary approach. To become the new standard in the personal computing market of the near future, an operating system must meet the following criteria: Availability for RISC. This may be the most important factor to even be in the competition, the operating system must be able to run on PowerPC. Operating systems vary in the ease in which they can be moved from platform to platform. For example, both UNIX and Windows NT were designed for easy portability. Other operating systems, notably Windows, are intrinsically tied to a certain microprocessor architecture and cannot easily be adapted to another. Volume. Platform shipment volumes drive developers' decisions on whether to develop software applications for the platform. High-volume platforms will attract developer attention, while low-volume platforms will suffer a lack of programs. Customers demand a broad selection of applications. Availability and compatibility of current programs. Customers moving up from current-generation computers (both DOS and Windows software based computers and Macintosh computers) will insist on support for their existing applications and data. The level of compatibility offered will be an important factor in their choice of an operating system. Native applications. Because the transition to RISC centers around high performance and the new capabilities enabled by that high performance customers will also judge operating systems by the breadth of selection of native applications (applications that offer full RISC performance) available. Software developers must choose a specific operating system for their PowerPC products, because, for example, an application ported to System 7 for PowerPC will not operate on Windows NT for PowerPC. Ease of setup, use, and administration. Easy-to-use system software has become a defacto requirement of personal computer users. Customers want systems that they can set up in a straightforward manner, easily configure with add-on devices, manage by themselves without requiring an administrator, and so on. Traditionally, RISC systems have used UNIX a complex operating system appropriate for the highly technical market occupied by high-end engineering and graphic workstations, but difficult for mainstream customers to work with. Operating systems designed for personal computer users must appeal to a broader, more numerous market. Hardware efficiency. Operating systems differ in their appetite for hardware resources such as memory and hard disk space. Workstation and server operating systems typically require 20 megabytes or more of RAM and at least a 250-megabyte hard disk drive. In contrast, RISC-based personal computer operating systems must operate comfortably with 8 to 12 megabytes of RAM and 80-megabyte hard disk drives. Scalability. PowerPC processor based personal computers will come in a range of designs, including desktop and notebook models. An operating system must be able to meet the varying requirements of these different computers. Advanced features. To build the next generation of applications, system software extensions, and user interfaces, designers require robustness, performance, and additional services beyond those provided by today's personal computer operating systems. High-capacity, high- performance file systems are necessary to accommodate the larger amounts of data generated by new technologies such as multimedia. The full 32-bit operation enabled by RISC performance speeds access to and processing of data and instructions. Preemptive, multithreaded execution will allow the construction of more sophisticated programs. And memory protection will isolate the effects of errant programs. The Macintosh Operating System System 7 for PowerPC --------------------------------------------------- Apple's Macintosh operating system (System 7) the industry benchmark for easy-to-use system software maps well against all of these criteria, positioning it to assume operating system leadership on RISC. During the past two years, the Macintosh system software has been enhanced to run on the PowerPC microprocessor. With a 68040 software emulator as a standard component, System 7 for PowerPC offers exceptional compatibility with all existing programs for Macintosh. A mixed-mode architecture also supports new native applications that run at full PowerPC speeds. And Apple has been working closely with the third-party development community to ensure a broad range of native application software for the PowerPC processor based Macintosh computers. To date, more than 60 companies including all leading software vendors have publicly announced commitments to bringing out versions of their applications for PowerPC processor based Macintosh computers. It is expected that hundreds of off-the-shelf applications will be available in 1994 for these new Macintosh systems. Apple also offers migration paths for customers who want to move up from existing IBM PC environments to the PowerPC environment. Already, hardware-based solutions for PC compatibility are available in the Macintosh Quadra line. The PowerPC chip brings a new level of performance to software-based compatibility solutions, rendering them highly practical. Through a partnership with Insignia Solutions, a leading vendor of emulation technology, Apple can provide software-based emulation of both DOS and Windows programs. Apple has announced that it forecasts shipping 1 million PowerPC processor based Macintosh computers within the year following their introduction. Because System 7 for PowerPC will be the standard operating system installed on these computers, Apple expects it to quickly become the operating system volume leader for not only PowerPC processor based computers, but for all RISC systems, far surpassing other contenders. Looking down the road, Apple is rapidly enhancing Macintosh system software to provide a solid foundation for the future. Although few of the differences in System 7 for PowerPC will be perceptible to users, significant changes have occurred within the core. A new runtime architecture, adapted from workstation-class operating environments, makes application development more straightforward. And subsequent versions of Macintosh system software will add true multitasking capability, memory protection, and enhanced file-system capabilities. The Approach Taken by Other Vendors ----------------------------------- In contrast to Apple's moves with the Macintosh operating system, the strategies of the other major operating system vendors for their transition to PowerPC have serious shortcomings. The following sections describe these approaches and their implications for customers. Microsoft. Microsoft's message to customers about RISC is clear: Customers who want RISC must adopt a new operating system Windows NT. But because Windows NT was designed as a server operating system, it requires significant storage capacity and includes operating complexities (for example, in the area of security) that make it an inappropriate choice for mainstream users. Windows NT also lacks mainstream applications, and even programs available on the 80x86 version of Windows NT must be ported to run on a RISC microprocessor such as the PowerPC chip. Microsoft's mainstream operating system Windows 3.1 is simply not available for PowerPC or any other RISC microprocessor. This is because Windows 3.1 (like its eventual successor, Chicago) is built around the Intel architecture, contains significant amounts of 80x86 assembly- language code and, according to Microsoft officials, is not easily ported to other computer architectures. Windows customers who want RISC performance must migrate to a different operating system. IBM. IBM's strategy for the PowerPC chip is to offer a number of high-end, workstation operating systems and leave the choice to the customer. Operating system choices to be offered by IBM include AIX, Workplace OS, Solaris, Taligent, and OS/2 (on Workplace OS). Each of these operating systems alone is a weak contender and the combination of them does nothing to strengthen the proposition. Workplace OS, a new operating system under development at IBM, promises to host multiple operating system "personalities," such as OS/2 and Taligent. However, these choices fall short on several of the criteria for a successful operating system (native applications, efficient operation, and ease of use). And AIX and Solaris, the two UNIX operating system based choices, are burdened with the administrative complexity and massive appetite for computing resources associated with UNIX. The abundance of operating system options confuses the situation for both developers and users. Developers will be uncertain where to focus their limited development resources, resulting in an extremely limited selection of native applications for each operating system. And users will simply be unsure which operating system to choose. Conclusion ---------- The Macintosh operating system should become the leading operating system for next-generation personal computers based on PowerPC RISC microprocessors. Because Apple took a fundamentally different approach to moving to RISC than did other companies, Apple can provide what customers want: a mature, easy-to-use operating system with a broad selection of native programs from leading developers and excellent compatibility with existing programs. Driven by the volumes of Apple's hardware business, the Macintosh operating system will offer developers a far stronger proposition than its competitors. The Move to Object Technologies ------------------------------- Apple is not alone in recognizing some of the problems with computing today and the benefits to be realized from moving to an object-based applications framework. Two major problems can be addressed through the use of object-based technologies: the difficulty today of creating documents with varying media and the increasing complexity of applications. Compound documents. Ten years ago, most of what people did with computers centered around text and numbers. The graphical nature of the Macintosh computer brought a new emphasis to working with graphics on the computer, because the graphics-based user interface allowed easy manipulation, editing, and integration of words and images. Today, however, many computer users engage in the creation of compound documents with parts containing various media, such as text, tables, movies, sound, and graphics in a variety of file formats. Currently, each medium requires users to work in different ways, and often in separate applications or editors, demanding a labor-intensive series of actions to move data from each creator application to the final document. This lengthy and cumbersome process tends to be error-prone and frustrating and, consequently, time-consuming. Application complexity. In recent years, developers have found that the demands of the marketplace encourage an ever-increasing complexity in successive releases of applications; they are under constant competitive pressure to add more features to their products. The result is paradoxical: As applications become more powerful in terms of features, they also become more difficult to learn and use and hence less useful to people. In addition, they require more time and effort to develop, enhance, and maintain. Compound Document Architectures ------------------------------- Compound document architectures have emerged as the answer to these issues, by reducing the complexity and increasing the flexibility of software for both end users and developers. They offer an evolutionary approach to restructuring software into independent modules, or "parts," which can be flexibly combined in a variety of ways. The result is an entirely different way of both using and writing personal computer software one that offers a number of significant benefits. For users, compound document architectures offer the following: => Easy creation of compound documents => Editing "in place" => Powerful document management capabilities => Cross-platform support => Consistency of operation => Uniformity of interface => Scalability => "Plug-and-play" solutions For developers, compound document architectures enable: => Faster, more efficient development => Reduction of application complexity => Diminished cost and risk of software development. The OpenDoc architecture. OpenDoc is a compound document architecture championed by Apple and other leading industry vendors. Specifically, Apple is combining its expertise in user-interface technology with WordPerfect's competence in document centric computing and Novell's skills in collaborative systems to define and implement the OpenDoc technology. In addition, a number of other system and software vendors have helped shape the OpenDoc specifications, and many are expected to support OpenDoc in their products and to assist in implementing OpenDoc on their platforms. The OpenDoc coalition is working closely with recognized industry associations such as the Object Management Group (OMG), the Open Software Foundation (OSF), and the X Consortium. Apple's stated intent is to make OpenDoc technology not only cross platform but also truly open with both systems vendors and independent software vendors able to obtain the source code easily. OpenDoc advantages include a superior user interface, a simple development model, multiplatform support, and network readiness. The competition. In contrast to OpenDoc, the other major effort along these lines Microsoft's OLE 2.0 takes a closed and proprietary approach, with the OLE 2.0 source code being held by Microsoft and provided only under Microsoft license. However, a goal of the OpenDoc effort will be interoperability with OLE 2.0, which will allow developers to take advantage of its broader feature set, additional support platforms, and truly open nature without sacrificing OLE support. Enhancing Collaboration and Communication ----------------------------------------- Just as the personal computer initially boosted individual productivity, today the technology is being applied to increase the productivity of groups working together. In the current competitive and fast-paced business environment, effective communications and, more specifically, effective teamwork can provide organizations with the competitive edge that can spell the difference between success and failure. Too often in the past, however, users have been hindered rather than helped by the technology daunted by multiple formats, competing communications services, and the sheer bulk of information they receive. Increasingly, it's becoming obvious that merely having information at our fingertips isn't enough. What we need are technologies that help us to manage information not just get more of it. Already, Apple has demonstrated industry-leading directions in these kinds of useful collaborative technologies. New developments will continue to help customers navigate vast stores of information and collaborate with others without concern for the platforms or protocols involved. To provide advanced collaborative solutions, strong, consistent networking capabilities must be built directly into the operating system. Customers should be able to deploy systems, applications, and services and have them transparently take advantage of the appropriate network protocol. Toward that end, Apple is delivering the Open Transport Architecture an architecture that allows all networking protocols (AppleTalk, IPX, IP, DECnet, and more) to function at a high level in the Macintosh networking world. In contrast, networking in the Windows world is complex, with multiple, competing implementations of the same protocol and no unifying architecture for developers or users. For users to get the full advantages of computer-based collaboration and communications, electronic-mail services should be integrated directly into the operating system not a separate utility and mail should be gathered from different sources into a single desktop mailbox. The architecture should have an open back end to facilitate the integration of gateways providing access to a variety of mail environments, such the Internet and QuickMail. The messaging system should scale from peer-to-peer offerings for small workgroups up to server-based systems for large groups and organizations. And the mail service should go beyond simple text to support media-rich data, including graphics, animation, sound, and video. True workflow in groups and organizations becomes possible when electronic-mail services are augmented with authentication, digital signature, and privacy services, so that organizations can build systems that are trustworthy and secure. Systemwide scripting is also critical, to allow people to take off-the-shelf programs and weave them together into custom workflow solutions. Apple products for collaboration. PowerTalk system software, delivered in the System 7 Pro product, is the first comprehensive collaboration product for the individual user. Its built-in electronic messaging, catalog, security, and digital signature capabilities make it easy for individuals to communicate and work with other individuals or groups on a network. PowerShare Collaboration Servers are the focal point of Apple's team-oriented collaboration platform. PowerShare Collaboration Server software is designed to provide a powerful platform for team-oriented collaboration solutions: reducing management overhead and costs through the consolidation of system administration, improving network security, and facilitating the creation of systems with large numbers of PowerTalk users on an AppleTalk network. It provides server-based mail, catalog, and privacy services for PowerTalk users. Apple recognizes that today's computing environments are seldom homogeneous. Inter-operation and coexistence with products and services from other vendors is a core component of Apple's strategy. We believe that users must have the flexibility to mix and match desktop machines and departmental servers from several vendors. To address this requirement, Apple has forged an agreement with Microsoft that allows users to deploy a variety of computers and servers with the confidence that they will all work together no matter what combination of equipment is selected. In addition, departmental systems must integrate well with other mail systems and the enterprise's centrally managed messaging and directory backbones. To address this need, Apple is working with third- party vendors to deliver both personal and server gateways to allow individuals and teams to interoperate with mail and collaboration systems other than Macintosh system based services, as well as enterprise backbones. The competitive approach. The approach taken by Apple with its System 7 Pro software, as well as with the next version of Macintosh operating system software, is in stark contrast to that of Microsoft and its collaborative solution Windows for Workgroups as shown in the following figure: Feature Macintosh System 7 Pro Windows for Workgroups ----------------------------------------------------- E-mail Desktop mail [x] Peer-to-peer LAN mail [x] Limited Point-to-point dialup [x] Server independent (open back-end extensibility) [x] Single log-in (key chain) [x] Simple directory services [x] [x] Server based [x] [x] Rich data content [x] Workflow services Digital signatures [x] Bidirectional authentication [x] Scriptable With the next version of Macintosh system software Extensible catalog [x] Privacy [x] Collaboration integrated in O/S [x] Third-party support [x] Limited Available for PowerPC [x] Moving from Passive to Active User Interfaces --------------------------------------------- In the 1980s, Apple pioneered the concept of the personal computer graphical user interface, incorporating features such as windows, menus, icons, and copy-and-paste functionality to simplify the process of working with computers. Apple made the interface even richer with the addition of built-in collaboration via PowerTalk, and with speech recognition via PlainTalk software on the Macintosh computers that support Apple AV Technologies. As a result, the power of computing technology is now accessible to more people than ever before. The popularity of the Macintosh system software and of Microsoft Windows has demonstrated the relative superiority of the graphical user interface over older, command-line interfaces. But after 10 years of experience, Apple is able to recognize potential limitations in the current and relatively passive graphical user interface (GUI) model. Based on this experience, Apple is poised to evolve the user interface from a passive GUI to one of active assistance that accomplishes specific tasks with minimal direction, and even anticipates user preferences and needs. Computers in the future will incorporate intelligence that will understand what the user is attempting to do and guide him or her through the task. A logical next step is allowing people to "delegate" complete tasks to the computer, freeing them to focus on other activities. When this technology is in place, the user interface will be transformed from a passive player to an active, "intelligent" assistant. Users will benefit from an intelligent interface that adapts to their way of working. The technology necessary to implement an active interface is wide- ranging. First, active interfaces will require tremendous power. Advanced natural-interface technologies such as speech-recognition and text-to-speech software are necessary to improve communication with the user. Second, the system software must also have high-level control over portions of itself, as well as over applications. Apple is actively working toward the creation of such an interface, harnessing the power of RISC and OpenDoc technology to deliver the next generation of system software based functionality. Already delivered are key technologies such as PlainTalk speech-recognition and text-to-speech software, Apple Events and AppleScript scripting technologies, and QuickTime multimedia software. And the next release of Macintosh system software will include Apple Guide technology, which provides step-by- step context-sensitive assistance even to the extent of showing users precisely how to complete a task using scripting. Apple s System Software Strategy -------------------------------- In the computer industry, it s been conventional wisdom for the last decade that Apple's Macintosh computer platform has the most advanced, sophisticated, and easy-to-use operating system available. People who use it are more productive. Competitors try to imitate it. And it s set the standard for how a computer should work. But there s always been a few caveats. First, people thought the initial Macintosh systems in the 1980s were underpowered. Over the past decade, however, Apple has brought to market a series of increasingly powerful computers. And with the imminent introduction of Macintosh systems based on the PowerPC microprocessor, Macintosh will become the most powerful personal computer available from any manufacturer. Second, people thought Macintosh systems were too expensive. No more. Over the past four years, Apple has steadily reduced prices on its Macintosh models. As a result, Macintosh systems are now priced competitively with leading personal computers based on Intel microprocessors. In many categories, Apple has the most competitively priced models available. Finally, people thought that Macintosh system software didn t fit in. It didn't support other standard operating systems such as MS-DOS or Windows. It didn't interoperate well enough in mixed computing environments. And it didn't make the job easy for developers who wanted to write applications for more than one platform. With its new system software strategy, however, Apple expects to drop that final caveat into the dustbin of history. That's because Apple is implementing an aggressive, competitive, and comprehensive software development and marketing effort aimed at one goal: making Apple and Macintosh technology relevant and available to mainstream personal computer users around the world. And that includes users of MS-DOS and Windows software based personal computers in addition to users of Macintosh personal computers. This strategy has two parts: fitting in and standing out. Fitting In For many years, Apple has offered ways for users of other types of computers to exchange information with Macintosh users, and vice versa. But these initial efforts left barriers between the platforms for many people. Those barriers, however, are coming down as Apple aims to greatly expand and improve interoperability between Macintosh and other platforms. Here's how Apple will increase Macintosh interoperability: --------------------------------------------------------- => Apple will make it easier for people to run Macintosh, MS-DOS, and Windows applications on the same system. Apple has announced a dual- processor configuration of its popular Macintosh Quadra 610 computer (it includes both a Motorola microprocessor and an Intel 80486 SX microprocessor) so people will be able to run Macintosh and MS-DOS or Windows applications in tandem and even cut and paste information between the two environments. In addition, Apple s upcoming PowerPC processor based Macintosh systems will be able to run MS-DOS and Windows applications, via SoftWindows software from Insignia Solutions, at speeds up to those of an 80486 SX processor based computer. => Apple aims to make it easier for users of Macintosh and Windows software based computers to work together. Many people work in mixed computing environments, or work on one type of computer at the office and another at home. And they want to exchange data files between these systems. Apple currently offers Macintosh PC Exchange and Macintosh Easy Open software, which let people open and edit MS-DOS, Windows, and OS/2 files from within Macintosh applications. Apple intends to include these utilities in the next reference release of the Macintosh operating system. => Apple plans to improve compatibility with major networking and enterprise systems. Apple currently builds Ethernet and Token Ring connectivity into most of its Macintosh systems. And it also supports a range of options for network support of other mainstream protocols. But Apple aims to go further in the future, making it even easier for people on mainstream networks to work with the Macintosh. The next reference release of the Macintosh operating system is scheduled to include software that supports TCP/IP, a popular protocol for business and education networks. In January 1994, Apple signed an agreement with Microsoft Corporation that ensures interoperation between Apple's messaging services and Microsoft s messaging services. Apple is also working with other vendors to ensure similar interoperability with their mail and messaging systems. This means that Macintosh users can easily collaborate with their colleagues, any time, anywhere. In addition, Apple is refining a software architecture that lets developers write a single application that automatically supports all major networking protocols. Called the Open Transport communications architecture, this software simplifies development and more fully integrates Macintosh into mixed environment networks. => Apple plans to make it easy for users of computers based on the UNIX operating system to run Macintosh applications. For several years, Apple has offered A/UX, an industry-standard UNIX implementation on the Macintosh platform, giving people the advantages of UNIX (such as multitasking) and the ease of use of Macintosh. Soon, Apple aims to license a set of Macintosh operating system services to UNIX hardware vendors. By doing so, people who use UNIX operating system based computers will have an even broader choice of hardware platforms from which they can enjoy the benefits of Macintosh. => Apple intends to make it easy for developers to write programs, or application parts, for many different platforms. Apple is developing the OpenDoc component software architecture, which is next-generation system software. OpenDoc takes today s monolithic applications and allows developers to break them into smaller, easily customized programs called parts. People will then be able to conveniently combine their favorite components from different vendors just as they might combine the components in a stereo system to create a unified, customized workspace that contains many different functions. Apple has designed OpenDoc so that the components developers create will interoperate not only with Macintosh applications, but also with programs that support Microsoft s Object Linking and Embedding (OLE 2.0) protocol. All of which means that developers who write for OpenDoc will essentially be writing for all major personal computing platforms. => Apple will be guided by the principle of open innovation in the development of technology. Apple will continue its legacy of developing the industry s most innovative technologies; however, the company will do so in partnership with other vendors. Following on the success of its alliance with IBM and Motorola in bringing the PowerPC chip to market, Apple is working with another group of vendors WordPerfect, Novell, IBM, Sun, and Xerox to provide OpenDoc component software on all personal computer platforms. Although Apple developed the OpenDoc technology, it is contributing OpenDoc to an industry wide consortium that can ensure that the technology is maintained as an open standard. Other examples of Apple s work with industry partners to establish innovative standards include the Taligent and Kaleida joint ventures, as well as industry consortia such as the Newton Industry Association and Worldwide Publishing Consortium. Standing Out Apple is committed to remaining the industry s technology leader creating interfaces, solutions, and ways of computing that distinguish themselves by their thoughtful concern for how people like to do their work. In the coming years, Apple intends to extend that leadership by delivering new technologies that go far beyond making products easy to use technologies that actively assist people in completing their work. Apple s new technologies will be focused on these areas: ------------------------------------------------------- => Building on the power of RISC. With the introduction of PowerPC processor based Macintosh computers in spring 1994, Apple will be the first company in the world to offer computers that combine the power of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) microprocessors with a mainstream personal computer operating system. This integration of affordable power with ease of use represents a watershed for personal computer users, and a turning point for the computer industry. Wholly new ways of using computers will become possible, as the power of these microprocessors enable new software advances. Computation-intensive software is no longer relegated only to high- end workstations it can be applied to new applications and new interface design. PowerPC technology helps break the barriers to next-generation computing. Areas in which Apple plans to stake a leadership position include intelligent agents (software that actually anticipates what people want to do), animation, three-dimensional design, high-resolution video, integrated voice communication, speech recognition, and text-to-speech capability. => Putting people in control of their workspace, not the other way around. There s widespread recognition that application software has become too complex. Feature-rich software often means feature-laden software. And people have to change the way they work to match the way applications work. Apple aims to change all that with its OpenDoc technology. OpenDoc will allow people to mix and match parts of traditional application programs, so they can do their work in any way they want. OpenDoc is as its name implies an open technology, which supports not only Macintosh applications, but also applications and parts developed for OLE 2.0, Microsoft's component software architecture. => Making it easy for people to work effectively with others. Apple has a history of delivering industry-leading technologies that help people connect to, work with, and share information with other people. Apple was the first personal computer vendor to offer built-in networking, with the AppleTalk protocol. The Macintosh platform supports all major networking protocols, making Macintosh the most networked brand of personal computer. And with the recently delivered Apple Open Collaboration Environment (also known as AOCE), Apple has created a system software level foundation for collaborative applications and services. These include mail, messaging, digital signature, and security services that let people send mail and share information with others making collaboration an integral part of every program. Moving forward, Apple intends to extend its leadership in collaboration solutions by building on its OpenDoc and Open Transport architectures. With OpenDoc, Apple will enable interoperation between parts for use across networks, which means people will be able to develop a single solution that can be used by everyone in their workgroup even if they use different hardware platforms. With Open Transport, developers will be able to write a single application that automatically supports all major networking protocols. People will be able to select the applications or parts they want without worrying about network protocols, and network administrators will be able to choose the networking protocols that make the most sense for them. => Moving from ease of use to ease of doing. The graphical user interface that Apple designed for the Macintosh personal computer went a long way toward making computers easy to use. It was a dramatic reversal from the previous, text-based systems that were difficult to learn and use. Since then, Apple has continued to build on its human-like interface. The Macintosh user interface of the future aims to be as invisible as possible, so people can focus on their work, not on using a device. It will incorporate intelligent agents that can provide customized assistance for both learning and automating tasks. In addition, the power of RISC technology will provide the basis for a more natural means of communication with the computer, such as through speech recognition and text-to-speech capability. A Strategy Aligned with Industry Trends --------------------------------------- Apple believes that this strategy will be effective in the industry's competitive landscape, because it is aligned with the major trends that are reshaping the information industry. => CISC to RISC. The industry s transition from CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) to RISC technology seems inevitable. And Apple believes that as the first vendor to bring to market a personal computer that combines a mainstream operating system with a RISC microprocessor it stands to gain the consideration of large numbers of Intel customers who are still relying on CISC technology. => Monolithic to component applications. The days of increasingly complex, memory-intensive applications are limited. Instead, people will look for applications that allow them to create a workspace they can customize to fit their work needs. Apple believes that OpenDoc technology will be the clear leader in this area, since it will interoperate across major platforms, including Windows and Macintosh. => Stand-alone to collaborative systems. Personal computers are increasingly becoming the collaborative tool on which workgroups depend, even if the people in the group are time zones away from one another. As a result, platforms that are designed to enhance collaboration such as the Macintosh operating system, with its built-in mail, messaging, and networking capabilities will have a competitive advantage. => Passive to active interfaces. As personal computers become more a part of everyday life, those companies with the expertise at making computers more than just easy to use so they re designed around the way people work will have a fundamental advantage. This expertise has always been Apple s greatest strength. And Apple s adoption of a RISC microprocessor as the basis for its flagship personal computers allows the company to tap the incredible power of RISC technology, so that computers can eventually assist users with their tasks. Summary ------- This system software strategy represents a major and fundamental shift for Apple's business. By fitting in and standing out, Apple aims to make its technology relevant to a much broader group of customers. And by aligning its development efforts with the major trends reshaping the computing industry, Apple believes that it can provide people with the smoothest, most productive, and ultimately most promising path to the next generation of computing. That's it for this week. Hopefully, next week I'll be healthy again! As always, please feel free to send your comments or questions to me at: America ONLINE: STReportRN CompuServe: 70323,1031 GEnie: R.NOAK ********************************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTICE! ================= STReport International Online Magazine is available every week for your reading pleasure on DELPHI. STReport's readers are invited to join DELPHI and become a part of a friendly community of enthusiastic computer users there. SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI ====================== Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access DELPHI services via a local phone call JOIN --DELPHI -------------- Via modem, dial up DELPHI at 1-800-695-4002 then... When connected, press RETURN once or twice and... At Password: type STREPORT and press RETURN. DELPHI's Basic Plan offers access for only $6.00 per hour, for any baud rate. The $5.95 monthly fee includes your first hour online. For more information, call: DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005 DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, MA. Try DELPHI for $1 an hour! For a limited time, you can become a trial member of DELPHI, and receive 5 hours of evening and weekend access during this month for only $5. If you're not satisfied, simply cancel your account before the end of the calendar month with no further obligation. If you keep your account active, you will automatically be enrolled in DELPHI's 10/4 Basic Plan, where you can use up to 4 weekend and evening hours a month for a minimum $10 monthly charge, with additional hours available at $3.96. But hurry, this special trial offer will expire soon! To take advantage of this limited offer, use your modem to dial 1-800-365-4636. Press once or twice. When you get the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press again. Then, just answer the questions and within a day or two, you'll officially be a member of DELPHI! DELPHI-It's the BEST Value and getting better all the time! ********************************************************************** ATARI/JAG SECTION (III) ======================= Dana Jacobson, Editor > From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Here it is, another week. I'm going to try one last time to say that we haven't had a snowstorm this week, and hope that it doesn't backfire on me again! It actually reached 70 degrees here today, so maybe Spring is really here, finally. It's been relatively quiet on the home front. Except for the continuing "debate" regarding GemView with regard to Lexicor; and now the beginnings of a debate regarding Current Notes author David Barkin's review of Lexicor's Nova card, including his "pre-review" letter to Lexicor - things are relatively quiet. <> It's truly a sad state of affairs to see this type of activity still going on. Where it all ends up is really anyone's guess at this time. It's not surprising to see it still happening, but you'd think that eventually, it would finally grow tiresome. The reporter side of me says that the information should be covered as fairly as possible; and that will happen if a number of questions to various people are answered. Otherwise, I'll let it ride and hope that answers are provided by other means. Personally, I wish that the two or three parties directly involved would just sit down and hash out any differences that each has. Regarding our upcoming expanded Jaguar coverage, things are moving along well. Our new staffers have a lot of great ideas and I expect the response from our Jaguar-owning readers to be very positive. I'm very pleased at the response, so far, that we've all been getting these past few weeks; the results will be informative to us all. Now, if my Jaguar would just show up at the door, I could get even more enthusiastic and really have a reason to be more involved in all of the fun!! Seriously though, the staff is really excited and material is being finalized as I write. There are still a few details to be worked out, but that's normal. Anyway, I expect that we'll be on schedule and you'll see the additional coverage a week from today. For a change, I'm going to keep this real short this week (ahhhh, I hear those cheers!). We've got some interesting stuff for you, so let's get to it. Until next time... Delphi's Atari Advantage TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (3/23/94) (1) DATABASE CHANGES *(6) ST TOOLS 1.93 (2) Z*NET #94-02 (7) ST-ZIP 2.4 FIX (3) WHATIS 6.6 (8) MOUSE-KA-MANIA II VERSION 2.1 (4) AU! USER GROUP DIRECTORY *(9) STIS (5) CLEVELAND FREENET NEWSLETTER *(10) FRONTIER - ELITE II DEMO * = New on list HONORARY TOP 10 The following on-line magazines are always top downloads, frequently out-performing every other file in the databases. STREPORT (Current issue: STREPORT #10.12) ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE (Current issue: AEO - VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5) Look for the above files in the RECENT ARRIVALS database. > Delphi PR STR InfoFile Delphi's Mail/Data Storage Charges Gone! """""""""""""""""""""" Effective April 1, 1994, all DELPHI storage charges will be eliminated. Using DELPHI and the Internet will now be easier and more economical for all members. There will be no explicit limits placed on the number of e-mail messages and data files that may be left online, and there will be no individual message size limit. While this new policy is as liberal as possible, DELPHI still reserves the right to enforce mail and/or storage restrictions if any single member's files become so large that it adversely impacts system performance for other members. Also, your personal Workspace and E-mail message storage will be managed automatically by limiting the amount of time that messages and files may remain online. Messages and files that have passed the specified time limit (see below) will be subject to deletion, beginning April 15, 1994. E-mail messages and Workspace files will be deleted according to the following rules: E-mail: Unread mail messages are subject to deletion after 30 days have passed from the date the message was sent. Messages that have been read are subject to deletion 7 days from the date the message was sent. Workspace: Workspace is your personal temporary file storage area on DELPHI. You can store files in your Workspace for up to 48 hours, giving you ample time to transfer the files to your own computer. All Workspace files will be subject to deletion after 48 hours have passed since transfer, creation, or last modification, whichever is most recent. The time limits outlined above are minimums, as deletion of files and messages will be scheduled and exercised at the discretion of DELPHI management. As a result, files and messages may occasionally remain online longer than the time periods specified above. Some files are exempted from automatic deletion, and can be left online in your workspace indefinitely. Exempted files include: FAVORITES.SAV -- This is the file that stores your "Personal Favorites" from Gopher and Usenet, if you have any saved, and will not be deleted. E-mail distribution lists (*.DIS) -- Distribution lists of reasonable length can be stored in workspace and will not be deleted. DELPHI game data files (*.DAT) -- Data files which store your player data for DELPHI games like Stellar Conquest will not be deleted. Once a file or E-mail message has been deleted, it cannot be recovered. You are responsible for transferring files and messages to your home computer within the specified time periods if you wish to save them. If you'd like some tips on saving E-mail messages on your home computer, see the next article in this area, "Saving Your E-mail Messages". ______________________________________________ > Atari User Groups "Flea Market" STR InfoFile """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ACT Groups' 2nd Annual "Connecticut Computer Shop & Swap" Event! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RE SATURDAY APRIL 9 EVENT For more information call (203) 637-1034 or 327-7250 ATARI COMPUTER CLUBS TO STAGE 'FLEA MARKET' STAMFORD, Conn. - Kiss your outmoded computer equipment goodbye and collect quick cash for that long-awaited system upgrade. Make your own deals with computer users who've run out of room and have to sell their wares at deep discounts. Discover lost caches of out-of-print software and sample demonstrations the latest that the Atari market has to offer. That's the agenda for the 2nd annual "Connecticut Computer Shop & Swap," a high-tech "flea market" slated for Saturday, April 9 at St. Benedict's Church Social Hall in Stamford. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The second-year event being staged by ACT Atari Group, a network of seven non-profit user groups throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. The "Shop & Swap" is aimed at computer owners looking for new products and services with which to upgrade their systems, or those seeking buyers for old gear they've outgrown. Some leading East Coast Atari developers are expected to attend, offering attractive discounts on their hardware and software products. They and regional user groups are expected to provide exciting demonstrations featuring the Atari Falcon030 computer and the 64-bit Jaguar game system. The exhibitor line-up is not finalized, but some of last year's vendors included Gribnif Software, BaggettaWare Software, Derric Electronics and Atari user groups from Fairfield County, New Haven, Danbury, Bristol, Greater Hartford and Western Massachusetts. Admission for the show is $4 for adults, $2 for children under 12. Any individual may bring computer equipment to sell, regardless of the brand or model, for an exhibitor's fee of $15; recognized Atari user groups will be charged $25 per booth. Space is limited, tables will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so make your reservations now. For more information about exhibiting or attending, contact Vincent Veich, 1 St. Benedict Circle, Stamford, CT 06902 [Phone (203) 327-7250; E-Mail EAGLES (GEnie)]; or Doug Finch, 46 Park Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT 06870 [Phone (203) 637-1034; E-Mail D.FINCH7 (GEnie), 76337,1067 (CompuServe)]. Look for travel directions and other show news in upcoming bulletins in this forum. ____________________________________________ > JAGUAR UPDATE! STR FOCUS Tempest 2000 & S-Video Cables """""""""""""""""""""""" We received word late in the week that the Atari S-Video cables for the Jaguar are now in stock. Atari will be initially filling the 200+ pre-orders. Also, Tempest 2000 should be in stock within a day or so, so those orders will also be going out. ___________________________________________________ > THE OLD FISHIN' HOLE STR Feature """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" THE OLD FISHIN' HOLE ==================== -A Guide to the Online PD/Shareware Waters. by John R. Duckworth Looking for that certain file on your hard drive...you know the one...it has the word _VIEW_ somewhere in it's filename, and has either a .PRG or .TTP extender. Maybe you've found the file (after a lengthy search) and you'd like to find out just how much processor time it consumes. Perhaps you'd like a break from the hard work you've been doing...how about looking at a few 3-D pictures? This week I'll take a look at three small programs that will allow us to do those very specific tasks. "Searcher 2.01" by Alex Nicholls is a small shareware utility which will search a users drive (floppy, RAM, and hard drives are supported) for a specific file or group of files. Once loaded, the program presents the user with a GEM dialog box with several configurable selections. The user may choose which drives he/she wishes to search and the name of the file(s) to find (wildcards may be used). Once "GO" is selected, the program will simply output the list of files selected, allowing the user to see exactly where on their drive they reside or one of two other actions may be taken. The program may be instructed to delete the named file(s) or change one of their flags. An output configuration button is also present which lets the user choose where he/she wants the output sent (i.e. screen, printer, or file), and what the output list is to consist of...such as showing the full or partial path of the file(s), the files' attributes, the sizes of the files, and their datestamp. "Searcher" works well, although it is not the fastest file finder I've ever seen. Still, it gets the job done, and is very useful for finding lost programs or making lists (of say .GIF pictures) of files which friends may be interested. "Searcher" will work on any Atari TOS computer, although memory may be a factor if you have a large hard drive partition with hundreds of folders. Another small utility I received this week was "Speedom" by Erin Matthew Monaco. When run, the program displays (in a very small window) how much CPU time is being used by other tasks concurrently running. For this program to be used for any useful purpose, MultiTOS or Geneva should be installed. The utility automatically calibrates itself when run for the first time, therefore different system speeds and set-up configurations shouldn't cause it any problem. For those who like collecting gadgets with only limited utility, "Speedom" may be worth as look. The last program is a fun (for some) application called "STIS" (Which stands for Stereoscopic Image System) by Phillip W. O'Neal. This program will create a 3-D stereo type image, from a normal degas picture, like those made popular by "Games Magazine" and now found at virtually any, and every mall in the country. If you've never seen on of these stereo images, they simply look like a bunch of dots resembling TV static. When looked at by focusing your eyes a bit beyond the plane of the image, a 3-D object seems to pop out of the background. At least I'm told that's what happens...personally, I've never been able to see one yet. Other members of my family see the images very easily, perhaps I just need more practice. At any rate, the program will run in any ST resolution, and is GEM based for ease of use. Simply load in a degas picture (not a too complicated one) and select the create stereo image option. After a minute or so, the new stereo picture appears in it's own window. The new image may then be saved or printed. If you are a fan of the 3-D stereo pictures, I suggest you download "STIS" and give it a try. For those who haven't been able to see them, only get this program if you want some more practice . Join me again next week for another fabulous issue of STReport. I hear great things are in the works, and if I'm lucky...I'll get a great new application program to review which will knock everyone's socks off! Until next time...keep the earth clean. Remember e-mail: JDUCKWORTH@delphi.com. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Old Fishin Hole Tackle Box * | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Searcher 2.01 | | Delphi: Atari Advantage Area - READ SEARCHER | | Speedom | | GEnie: Atari RT - #32318 | | STIS | | Delphi: Atari Advantage Area - READ STIS | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ * The Tackle Box is meant to provide assistance in finding files mentioned in the column. It should not be considered a COMPLETE listing and is provided for convenience only. Delphi Atari Advantage files should be found in the Recent Arrivals section of the database until moved to their appropriate sections. ________________________________________ > ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" PEOPLE... ARE TALKING ===================== On CompuServe ------------- compiled by Joe Mirando Hidi ho friends and neighbors. It looks like spring has sprung... at least for the time being. Boy, whoever it was that told me to "have a spring wedding" is going to get a smack in the head. It's coming up quick and things are getting hectic. Well, at any rate, no matter how busy I get, I can always find the time to check out the goings-on along that much-touted electronic highway. With "on ramps" as close as your telephone line, its easy to go cruisin' to check out the scenery. And its a lot safer because you don't have to worry about accidents. So, now that I've included my usual inane reference to the electronic highway, let's take a look at the info, hints, and tips to be found on my favorite pit stop along the electronic highway, CompuServe (see that? there's one of those lame references again). Well... let's get to it... From the Atari Productivity Forum ================================= Every once in a while someone from the DOS world (isn't that the universe that Bizarro Superman came from?) asks about viewing Atari format pictures on their machine. This is one of those times. Marlene Apel asks: "Is there a program that will allow me to view SPC formatted images on my IBM. I have a 486 with a Super VGA, windows, Dos and most other things. I really want to view some SPC formatted images, but I can't view them. Is there a way to convert these images to any other format, like GIF. I saw a program to convert GIFs to SPC's, but I haven't sen one to convert SPC's to GIF's. Help me if you can!" Sysop Bob Retelle tells Marlene: "You're in luck..! Forum member Merrick Stemem has just uploaded an entire series of viewers designed to allow viewing Atari format pictures on IBM compatible systems..! For now they're in the ATARIARTs software libraries, in the "viewers" library. There are individual viewers for SPC, SPU, Degas, TNY and NeoChrome picture files. The only "converter" program I've ever seen that works very well to actually change Spectrum files into GIF files is a commercial program called DIGISPEC. Probably the easiest thing to do though, would be to use one of Merrick's viewers on your PC, then use a PC "screen snapshot" program to convert the displayed image into a GIF file right on your PC. Let us know how it works..!" Marlene asks Bob: "Thanks, I'll download those viewers, but what is a PC "screen snapshot" program? Sorry, I'm new at this! Thanks a ton!" Bob tells Marlene: "A "snapshot" program will save the current screen as a GIF file onto your disk... you can use them to make a copy of, say a spreadsheet display for use as "clipart" to import into a desktop publishing document, or to make "slides" for a presentation... or in our case, to make GIF files from the pictures you display with the Atari picture viewers. Usually the way they work is you first load the "snapshot" program and it will stay resident in your PC's memory. Then when you load and run the viewer program, you can save the screen display to disk by pressing a "Hot Key" combination... something like CTRL S to save the screen. These programs usually name the GIF files something like SNAP001.GIF, SNAP002.GIF, and so on, so you'll have to rename the files when you're done, but it usually works quite well.. Ones I've used in the past, and which you can find in the IBM and Graphics Forum libraries here on CompuServe, are VGACAP and Screen Thief... Let me know if you have any questions about using them.." Meanwhile, Joseph Zecchin asks: "Can I use my STE to connect to INTERNET? I use Stalker for communications. If I can where can I get information on how to do it?" Yat Siu of Lexicor Software tells Joseph: "Yes you can use any telecomm program to connect via the Internet providing it has VT XXX emulation or whatever you Internet site has. What you need is the direct dial number of an Internet site in your area, unless you work for an institution or university or whatever there are also commercial Internet sites such as netcom.com" Paul Peeraerts asks Yat: "Is there some "telephone book" with direct dial Internet numbers? I would like to find the numbers for Belgium, but I didn't succeed so far." Yat tells Paul: "The best way to date I found out it to join one of the Usenet groups labelled something like alt.online-access.internet or something like that. However...not having Internet access makes it awfully hard to read those newsgroups *g* Anyway, here's what I have for you: 14,400 Connection Mortsel 32-3-4552073 the S-team in Belgium has Internet and Fidonet access." Sysop Bob Retelle jumps in and says: "In addition to the info Yat gave you, we also have a software package in our libraries here called KA9Q which lets your ST essentially become a node on the Internet, so you don't have to have an account on a host system... IF... you can find a local dial-in number that will let you have Internet access. There is also a lot of info in the UNIXFORUM here on CompuServe, including lists of local dialup numbers and services for Internet access." Sysop Jim Ness adds a plug for CIS: "Don't forget the new Internet Forum, as an info source. GO INETFOR." Sysop Bob Retelle tells Jim: "Ah yes..! I've been meaning to drop over there to INETFORUM and check it out.. I just wish thee was some kind of LZH utility that worked to compress more than 24 hours into one day..!" Yat Siu of Lexicor Software tells Bob Retelle: "Yes..that is true...but KA9Q requires the use of SLIP or PPP or similar Internet Protocols. The problem is that only institutions such as large Universities offer this as an additional option where you can get your own Internet site/address etc. for the duration of your modem log-on. Problem? Most of the time you need to be an affiliate of whatever institution and if you want to start your very own Internet Site with all the extra's complete ftp etc. UUNET then that would be very costly (like XXXX U$D) per year and an additional cost for a T1 Connection and a line-modem. Incidentally I wouldn't be using an ST to drive it then *grin* *smile* for more info about THAT specifically one can email info@uunet.com. I understand that they make it available to create you own commercial service via all the CIS dial in numbers as well...but for quite a price. Joseph, I have two Internet Site numbers (rimenet) for your area code you gave me which are 732 5290 and 848 9925 There are also 1-800 lines....but they tend to be a little more expensive, and often only provide mailbox service or have very small diskspace (like 2 Meg's or so). 1-800-877-5045 (cris.com) but they ARE expensive. and BTW Stalker will do just fine :)" Horst Droege tells us: "This is my first posting in the Atari forum. A coworker asked me yesterday, if there is an application available for the PC, which can emulate an Atari. He likes to use some of his old applications. If this isn't possible, is there a way to transfer the data, that he can use the old spreadsheets and text files on his PC ?" Master Sysop Ron Luks tells Horst: "There is a HW/SW combination called GEMULATOR that lets you emulate an Atari ST on a 386 or 486 based PC." Just in case Horst reads STReport, I'd also like to mention that straight (ASCII) text files can be read by a DOS machine if they are written to a 720k disk that has been formatted on the DOS machine. And most spreadsheet programs for the ST came with some sort of conversion utility to change their own file formats to the more common WKS format. In short, there is very little that can't be converted from ST to PC. Brian Amundsen asks about compression formats: "Say, I've noticed a lot of the newer files are using .ZIP extensions. I've been using .ARC and .LHC files successfully on my ST. However, I now would like to get a .ZIP file and try it, but don't have an unZIP program. Brings to mind a couple of questions....a) is the unZIP utility in the forums? and b) what shell could I use the utility with? I don't suppose the folks at LGF have a nice little shell for us again?" Mike Mortilla tells Brian: "There is a PD prog called ST ZIP. You don't need a shell to run it. It's easy to use but can be a little cryptic at times. Basically, I think the only problem I've heard about it is some incompatibility with using a RAM disk, but that may have been de-bugged by now." Gilles DesChenes jumps in and adds: "I have used ST ZIP successfully with a ramdisk. At least I believe it's the same. :) 2.4 I think, or 2.04, and it was the only one with a version higher than 2. with inflate, at the time. My only problem with it is it doesn't seem to let you add any comments to ZIP files. I use it with the GEM mode / interface only." George Smyth asks: "Does anyone know if it is possible to get a PD terminal emulator for by ST any longer If so I would greatly appreciate it if you could email me the info, the cost, and where to send for it." Bill Troy tells George: "If you are interested, there is a fast but limited VT102 emulator called BAT100. It only works in 80 column mode (640 pixels doesn't really allow for more). For the most part its bug free and will run as an .ACC. I should know, I wrote it. I have used it for 4 months and it works fast enough for 9600 baud. I have an XMODEM receive version hanging about somewhere." Federico Hernandez tells us: "I am new to CIS, but a long user of ATARI. Nevertheless I couldn't anything on how to connect a IBM-compatible Mouse (serial interface) to an ATARI ST Computer. Does anyone know how to do it?" Sysop Bob Retelle tells Federico: "We have a number of text files in our library that give information on how to convert an IBM compatible _bus_ mouse to use on an Atari ST. Unfortunately, converting a _serial_ mouse is a more complicated.. if you can't find an economical bus mouse, the best bet would be a driver, as was already mentioned..." Tim O'Connor posts: "I have a Syquest 44 MB SCSI hard drive that I use for a digital sampling keyboard. Can my Atari ST interface with a SCSI drive? Do I need an adapter? Since it is a removable media I would like to be able to use the drive with both computer and keyboard." Sysop Bob Retelle tells Tim: "Your Syquest drive is definitely usable on your Atari ST..! What you need is a "host adapter card" to go between the DMA output of your ST and the SCSI input of the Syquest. ICD, Inc. makes several types of these, depending on your needs and the physical setup of your drive... You can get in touch with them in the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN) if you have any questions about their products." Robert Aries adds: "ICD's "Link" will do the job for you; it's a small device that attaches to the ST's DMA port and converts it to SCSI. About $80." Henry Rapoport asks: "Does anybody know about or have a copy of ST basic 2 from Atari. I know that there was some talk about trying to improve ST Basic but I don't know if they gave up. I already have GFA basic, but I need it for a specific program (if it's somewhat compatible with ST Basic)." Carl Barron tells Henry: "Hisoft [Oregon research distributor] has a basic that will compile Microsoft Q basic, ST basic 1, and its structured basic. Nice package to handle basic, and get out spaghetti habit easily. ST basic 2 exists but who uses it? It was not much of an improvement. Still buggy.... GO ATARIVEN as Oregon Research is online there...." Kris Gasteiler tells us: "I've not been hanging out on CIS recently due to the purchase of a Falcon. Nice Machine! Since there isn't a lot of info on these beasts, I was wondering if Falcon owners might be interested in having a discussion "group" here in the Atari forum? Maybe call ourselves FOG or FUG or some such, and talk up our uses, configuration, program compatibility, etc. I really like my falcon, and would love to see a growing user base... Right now, I'm still in the act of figuring out how to configure it, and which of my ST programs won't break on it. As I try different things, I'll post stuff here in hopes of sparing others some of my trials..." Sysop Ron Luks tells Kris: "GO ATARIGAMING forum to access the very busy Jaguar message sections." Well folks, I realize that this week's column is short, but with my wedding coming up, I've got lots to do! I'll see you next week. Tune in again next week, same time, same station, and be prepared to sit back and listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" STReport's "EDITORIAL CARTOON" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > A "Quotable Quote" Why some Nets never quite get "there" .. """"""""""""""""" "SMALL MINDED, JR. EXECUTIVES ARE.... GUARANTEED TO MAKE SMALL MINDED, INEFFECTIVE DECISIONS!" ...J. P. 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